Job 29 Cross References - LEB

¹ Then* Job again took up his discourse and said, ² "_⌊O that I were_⌋* as in the months before, as in the days when God watched over me, ³ when his shining lamp was over my head— by his light I walked through darkness— ⁴ as when I was in the days of my prime, when God's confiding was over my _⌊house_⌋,* ⁵ when Shaddaiwas still with me, my children were all around me, ⁶ when my paths were washed in sour milk, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me. ⁷ "At my going out the gate to the city, I secured my seat in the square. ⁸ Young men saw me and stepped aside, and the aged rose up and stood. ⁹ Officials refrained from talking, and they laid their hand on their mouth. ¹⁰ The voices* of nobles were hushed, and their tongue stuck to their palate. ¹¹ "When the ear heard and commended me, and the eye saw and testified in support of me ¹² because I saved the needy who cried for help, and I saved* the orphan for whom there was no helper. ¹³ The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. ¹⁴ I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a headband. ¹⁵ "I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. ¹⁶ I was a father to the poor, and I investigated _⌊the stranger's_⌋* legal dispute. ¹⁷ And I broke the evil one's jaw bones, and I made his prey drop from his teeth. ¹⁸ "And I thought, 'I will pass away in my nest, and like the phoenix I shall multiply my days. ¹⁹ My roots were open to water, and dew spent the night on my branches; ²⁰ My glory was new with me, and _⌊I was revitalized regularly_⌋.'* ²¹ "They listened to me and waited, and they kept silent for my counsel. ²² After my word, they did not speak again, and my word dropped down like dew upon them. ²³ And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain. ²⁴ I smiled for them when they had no confidence in anything, and they did not extinguish the light of my face. ²⁵ I chose their way, and I sat as head, and I dwelled like a king among the troops, like one who comforts mourners.

⁷ And he lifted up his oracle and said,
"From Aram Balak lead me, from the mountains of the east the king of Moab, 'Go for me, curse Jacob, and go, denounce Israel.'

¹² Your* maxims are proverbs of ashes; your* defenses are defenses of clay.

¹ Then* Job again took up his discourse and said,

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose* name was Job. That* man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. ² And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³ Then* his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs* of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east. ⁴ And his sons used to go and hold a feast _⌊at each other's house_⌋* on his day, and they would send, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵ _⌊Then when_⌋* the days of the feast had run their course, _⌊Job would send_⌋,* and he would sanctify them. Thus* he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of all of them, because Job thought,* "Perhaps my children have sinned and _⌊cursed_⌋* God in their heart." This is what Job used to do _⌊all the time_⌋.*

¹⁰ Have you* not put a fence around him and his household and around _⌊all that belongs to him_⌋* _⌊on every side_⌋?* You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock* has increased in the land.

³ So _⌊I had to inherit_⌋* months of worthlessness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

²⁸ For Yahweh loves justice and will not forsake his faithful ones. They are protected forever. But the children of the wicked will be cut off.

²⁸ _⌊And then_⌋* as I have watched over them to pull up, and to tear down, and to annihilate, and to destroy, and to do evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

¹ Jude,* a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, loved in God the Father and kept for* Jesus Christ.

¹⁷ "_⌊And your life will be brighter than noon_⌋;* its darkness will be like the morning.

⁶ The light becomes dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out.

¹⁷ "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and their disaster comes upon them? He* distributes pains in his anger.

²⁸ And you will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

⁶ Many are saying, "Who will show us something good?" Lift up over* us the light of your face, O Yahweh.

²⁸ For you light my lamp; Yahweh, my God, lights up my darkness.

⁴ Even when I walk in a dark valley, I fear no evil because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

¹ Of David.*
Yahweh is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the refuge of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

¹¹ Because Yahweh God is a sun and a shield; Yahweh gives grace and honor. He does not withhold good from those who walk blamelessly.

⁹ The light of the righteous will rejoice, but the lamp of the wicked will die out.

²⁰ He who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished _⌊in the midst of darkness_⌋.*

²⁰ For there will not be a future for the evil; the lamp of the wicked will die out.

⁴ He shall judge between the nations and he shall arbitrate for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. A nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation, and they shall not learn war again.

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

⁴⁶ I have come as a light into the world, in order that everyone who believes in me will not remain in the darkness.

⁸ for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light

¹⁴ for everything made visible is light. Therefore it says,
Wake up, sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.*

⁸ Have you listened in God's confidential discussion? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?

¹⁴ Intimate fellowship with Yahweh is for those who fear him, and he makes known his covenant to them.

⁵ Because he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble. He will conceal me in the hiding place of his tent. He will set me high upon a rock.

¹ One who lives in the secret place* of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of Shaddai.*

³² for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh, but those who are upright are his confidence.

³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

²⁷ The God of _⌊ancient time_⌋* is a hiding place, and underneath are the arms of eternity,* and he drove out _⌊from before_⌋* you your enemy, and he said, 'Destroy them!' ²⁸ So Israel dwells alone and carefree, the spring of Jacob in a land of grain and wine; his heavens even drip dew. ²⁹ Blessed are you, O Israel. Who is like you, a people who is saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, and who is the sword of your triumph, and your enemies, they shall fawn before you,* and you shall tread on their backs."

⁹ Did I not command you? Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you _⌊wherever you go_⌋."*

¹² The angel of Yahweh appeared to him and said to him, "Yahweh is with you, _⌊you mighty warrior_⌋."* ¹³ Gideon said to him, "Excuse me, my lord. If Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors* recounted to us, saying, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has forsaken us; he has given us into the palm of Midian."

³ _⌊O that_⌋* I knew and that I might find him; O that I might come to his dwelling.

⁸ "When I go forward, _⌊he is not there_⌋,* or* backward, I cannot see him.* ⁹ _⌊When he works_⌋* on the left, _⌊I cannot perceive_⌋* him; he turns to the right, but* I cannot see him. ¹⁰ But he knows _⌊the way that I take_⌋;* he tests me—I shall come out like gold.

¹³ _⌊And he had_⌋* seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ And he called the name of the first Jemimah and the name of the second Keziah and the name of the third Qeren-Happuk. ¹⁵ And beautiful women were not found in all the land like Job's daughters, and their father gave to them an inheritance in the midst of their brothers. ¹⁶ And Job lived after this one hundred and forty years, and he saw his sons and his _⌊grandsons_⌋* for four generations.

⁷ O Yahweh, by your favor you caused my strong mountain to stand. You hid your face. I was bewildered.

² because you are the God of my refuge. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

⁸ In God we boast all the day, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah ⁹ Surely you have rejected and disgraced us, and have not gone out with our armies.

³ Look, children* are the heritage* of Yahweh; the fruit of the womb is a reward. ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children* of one's youth. ⁵ Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.* They shall not be put to shame when they speak with enemies at the gate.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine _⌊within_⌋* your house. Your children* will be like olive shoots about your table.

⁶ The crown of the elderly are _⌊grandchildren_⌋,* and the glory of children is their fathers.

⁴ He brought me to the house of the wine, and his intention was love toward me.

¹ On my bed in the night, I sought* him whom my _⌊heart_⌋* loves. I sought him, but I did not find him. ² Now I will arise, and I will go about in the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my _⌊heart_⌋* loves. I sought him, but I did not find him.

⁸ You are the hope of Israel, its savior in time of distress. Why should you be like an alien in the land, or like a traveler who spreads out his tent * to spend the night?

¹⁵ And Jesus said to them, "_⌊The bridegroom's attendants_⌋* are not able to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them. But days are coming when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

¹¹ Binding his donkey to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his clothing in the wine and his garment in the blood of grapes.

¹³ And he set him on the high places of the land, and he fed him the crops* of the field, and he nursed him with honey from crags,* and with oil from flinty rock, ¹⁴ With curds* from the herd, and with milk from the flock, with the fat of young rams, and rams, the offspring of Bashan, and with goats along with the finest kernels of wheat, and from the blood of grapes* you drank fermented wine.*

²⁴ And of Asher he said, "Blessed _⌊more than sons_⌋* is Asher; _⌊may he be the favorite_⌋* of his brothers, _⌊dipping his feet in the oil_⌋.*

¹⁷ _⌊He will not enjoy the streams_⌋,* the torrents of honey and curds.

¹⁶ But he would feed him* from the choicest wheat,* and I would satisfy you with honey from a rock."

¹⁸ "You shall appoint judges and officials for you in all your _⌊towns_⌋* that Yahweh your God is giving to you throughout your tribes, and you shall render for the people _⌊righteous judgments_⌋.*

¹⁹ then his father and his mother shall take hold of him, and they shall bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his _⌊town_⌋,*

¹ And Boaz had gone up to the city gate and sat there. And look, the redeemer of whom Boaz had spoken was passing by. And he said, "Come over here to sit, _⌊friend_⌋."* And he came over and sat. ² And he took ten men from the elders of the city and said, "Sit here." And they sat.

¹¹ And all of the people who were at the gate and the elders said, "We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman coming into your house as Rachel and as Leah, who _⌊together_⌋* built the house of Israel. May you have strength in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem.

²¹ if I have raised my hand against an orphan because I saw my supporters at the gate,

¹⁶ These are the things that you must do: speak truth, each of you, with his neighbor; practice trustworthy judgment and peace in your gates.

³² " '_⌊Before_⌋* old age you* shall get up, and you* shall show respect for an old person; and you* shall revere your God; I am Yahweh.

³¹ A crown of glory is gray hair; by a righteous life it is gained.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

³ For rulers are not a cause of terror for a good deed, but for bad conduct. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from it, ⁴ for it is God's servant to you for what is good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose. For it is God's servant, the one who avenges for punishment on the one who does what is bad.

⁷ Pay to everyone what is owed: pay taxes to whom taxes are due; pay customs duties to whom customs duties are due; pay respect to whom respect is due; pay honor to whom honor is due.*

¹ Remind them to be subject to the rulers and to the authorities, to obey, to be prepared for every good work,

¹⁷ Honor all people, love the community of believers, fear God, honor the king.*

⁵ In the same way, younger men, 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.

¹⁹ And they said to him, "Keep quiet! Put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be for us a father and a priest. Is it better being a priest for a house of one man or being a priest for a tribe and clan in Israel?"

² "If someone would test a word with you, would you be offended? But* who can refrain from speaking?

¹¹ "Even* I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in my spirit's anguish; I will complain in my inner self's* bitterness.

⁵ Turn to me and be appalled, and place your hand on your mouth.

⁴ "Look, I am insignificant. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

¹⁹ In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

³² If you have been foolish by exalting yourself, and if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth.

¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

⁶ Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if do not I exalt Jerusalem above my highest joy.

²⁶ And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, and you will be silenced, and you will not be a reproving man for them, for they _⌊are a rebellious house_⌋.*

²⁰ if his loins have not blessed me, or* by means of my sheep's fleece he has warmed himself,

² When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.

²² And they were all speaking well of him, and were astonished at the gracious words that were coming out of his mouth. And they were saying, "Is this man not the son of Joseph?"

²⁷ Now it happened that as he said these things, a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and* said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!"

²² " 'You will not afflict any widow or orphan. ²³ If you indeed afflict him, yes, if he cries out at all to me, I will certainly hear his cry of distress. ²⁴ And _⌊I will become angry_⌋,* and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children orphans.

¹⁸ And he executes justice for the orphan and widow, and he is one who loves the alien, to give to them food and clothing.

² There were those who were saying, "Our sons and daughters, we are many. We must get grain so that we may eat and live." ³ There were also those saying, "We have pledged our fields and our vineyards and our houses so that we can get grain in the famine." ⁴ And there were those who were saying, "We have borrowed money on our fields and our vineyards for the tax of the king. ⁵ Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our sons are like their sons. Look, we are subduing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and there are some from our daughters being molested. _⌊We are powerless_⌋,* and our fields and vineyards belong to others." ⁶ I was very angry when I heard their shouts and these words. ⁷ I thought over this in my heart, and then I quarreled with the nobles and the prefects. I said to them, "You yourselves are taking interest from your own brother!" So I called the great assembly against them, ⁸ and I said to them: "We ourselves have bought back our brothers the Jews who were sold to the nations as we were able. But now you yourselves have sold your brothers so they may be sold to us!" They were silent and could not find a word to say. ⁹ 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 disgrace from the nations, our enemies? ¹⁰ Also, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please stop taking this interest. ¹¹ Please restore to them this day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, their houses, and the interest on the money, the grain, the grape juice, and the olive oil that you have been taking from them." ¹² So they said, "We will restore it and will not request anything more. So we will do as you say." Then I called the priests and made them take an oath to do this promise. ¹³ I also shook out my garment and said, "This is how God will shake out everyone from his house who will not keep this promise. So this is how his possessions will be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised Yahweh, and the people kept this promise.

⁵ Is not your wickedness great, and there is no end to your iniquities? ⁶ "Indeed, you have required a pledge from your family for nothing, and you have stripped off the clothes of the naked. ⁷ You have given no water for the weary to drink, and you withheld food from the hungry. ⁸ And the land _⌊belongs to the man of power_⌋,* and _⌊the favored_⌋* lives in it. ⁹ You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of orphans were crushed.

⁴ They thrust the poor off the road; the needy of the earth hide themselves together.*

¹⁷ or I have eaten my morsel _⌊alone_⌋,* and the orphan has not eaten from it

⁵ A father to orphans and a judge for widows is God in his holy habitation.

¹² Indeed he will deliver the needy who is crying for help, and the afflicted who has no helper.

² "How long will you judge unjustly and _⌊show favoritism to the wicked_⌋?* Selah ³ Judge on behalf of the helpless and the orphan; provide justice to the afflicted and the poor. ⁴ Rescue the helpless and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

¹³ He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor, he also will cry out and not be heard.

¹¹ Rescue those who are led away to the death and those who stagger to the slaughter. If you hold back, ¹² if you say, "Look, we do not know this," does not he who weighs hearts perceive it? And he who keeps your soul,* he knows and will repay humankind according to his deeds.

¹⁶ He judged the legal cause of the needy and the poor, and then it was well. _⌊Is that not what it means to know me_⌋?*" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our* God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

¹¹ And you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you and your son and your daughter and your slave and your slave woman and the Levite that is in your _⌊towns_⌋* and the alien and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst in the place that Yahweh your God will choose to let his name dwell there.

¹³ You shall certainly return the pledge to him _⌊as the sun sets_⌋,* so that he may sleep in his cloak and may bless you, and it shall be considered righteousness _⌊on your behalf_⌋* _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh your God.

⁵ And _⌊you shall declare_⌋* and you shall say _⌊before_⌋* your God, 'My ancestor* was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt, and there he dwelt as an alien _⌊few in number_⌋,* and there he became a great nation, mighty and numerous.

¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go, eat festive food and drink sweet drinks, and send a share to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our lord. Do not be grieved because the joy of Yahweh is your refuge." ¹¹ So the Levites silenced all of the people, saying, "Silence, for this day is holy. Do not be grieved." ¹² All of the people went to eat, to drink, to send a share, and to have great joy because they understood the words that they had made known to them.

⁹ You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of orphans were crushed.

¹⁹ if I have seen the one who perishes because of no clothing or* that there is no covering for the poor, ²⁰ if his loins have not blessed me, or* by means of my sheep's fleece he has warmed himself,

⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, because you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations on the earth. Selah

⁶ Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those _⌊in bitter distress_⌋.* ⁷ He will drink and forget his poverty, and his misery he will not remember any more. ⁸ Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights* of all the _⌊needy_⌋.* ⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteousness, and defend the poor and needy.

¹³ And this shall happen:
on that day, a great trumpet will be blown,
and those who were lost in the land of Assyria will come, and those who were scattered in the land of Egypt,
and they will bow down to Yahweh on the _⌊holy mountain_⌋* at Jerusalem.

¹⁴ Look! My servants shall shout _⌊for joy_⌋,* but* you, you shall cry out _⌊for pain_⌋* and howl _⌊for sadness_⌋.*

³⁹ So Peter got up and* accompanied them. When he* arrived, they brought him* up to the upstairs room, and all the widows came to him, weeping and showing him* tunics and other clothing that Dorcas used to make while she* was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter sent them all outside, and, falling to his* knees, he prayed. And turning toward the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up!" And she opened her eyes, and when she* saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ And he gave her his hand and* raised her up. And he called the saints and the widows and* presented her alive.

¹² because the service of this ministry is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but also is overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. ¹³ Through the proven character of this service they will glorify God because of the submission of your confession to the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your participation toward them and toward everyone, ¹⁴ and they are longing for you in their prayers for you, because of the surpassing grace of God to you.

¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me many times, and was not ashamed of my imprisonment, ¹⁷ but when he* was in Rome, he diligently sought me and found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he served me in Ephesus you know very well.

⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

⁶ I hold fast to my righteousness, and I will not let it go; my heart will not blame any of my days.

⁹ Let your priests clothe themselves with righteousness, and let your faithful sing for joy.

⁵ In that day, Yahweh of hosts will become a garland of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of his people,

¹⁷ And he put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head, and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a robe.

¹⁰ I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh; my being shall shout in exultation in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns himself with a head wrap like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewelry.

³ And you shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a headband of royalty in the hand of your God.

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not make provision for the desires of the flesh.

⁷ in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,

¹⁴ Stand therefore, girding your waist with truth, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness,

⁸ But because* we are of the day, we must be sober, by* putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation,

⁸ And it has been granted to her that she be dressed in bright, clean fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).

³¹ He* said, "Please, do not abandon us because you know our encampment in the desert, and _⌊you should be our guide_⌋.*

⁵ the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to them.*

¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, although they* are many, are one body, thus also Christ. ¹³ For by* one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free persons, and all were made to drink one Spirit. ¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," not because of this is it not a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body, not because of this is it not a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body just as he wanted. ¹⁹ And if they all were one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now there are many members, but one body. ²¹ Now the eye is not able to say to the hand, "I do not have need of you," or again, the head to the feet, "I do not have need of you." ²² But by much more the members of the body which are thought to be weaker are necessary, ²³ and the parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, these we clothe with more abundant honor, and our unpresentable parts come to have more abundant presentability, ²⁴ but our presentable parts do not have need of this. Yet God composed the body by giving more abundant honor to the part which lacked it, ²⁵ in order that there not be a division in the body, but the members would have the same concern for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if a member* is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members _⌊of it individually_⌋*, ²⁸ and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Not all are apostles, are they?* Not all are prophets, are they?* Not all are teachers, are they?* Not all are workers of miracles, are they?* ³⁰ Not all have gifts of healing, do they?* Not all speak with tongues, do they?* Not all interpret, do they?* ³¹ But strive* for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

²⁶ And they judged the people all the time; the difficult issues* they would bring to Moses, and every minor issue they would judge themselves.

¹⁴ then you shall inquire and examine and interrogate thoroughly, and, look! It is true; the thing has actually been done, this detestable thing in your midst,

⁸ "_⌊If a matter is too difficult for you_⌋,* for example disputes between blood and blood,* between legal claim and legal claim* and between assault and assault* and between matters of discernment in your _⌊towns_⌋,* then you shall get up and you shall go to the place that Yahweh your God will choose; ⁹ then you shall go to the priests and the Levites and to the judge who will be in office in those days, and you shall enquire, and they shall announce to you _⌊the verdict_⌋.* ¹⁰ "And _⌊you shall carry out exactly the decision_⌋* that they announced to you from that place that Yahweh will choose, and _⌊you shall diligently observe_⌋* according to all that they instruct you.

¹⁶ Then two prostitutes came to the king, and they stood before him. ¹⁷ The one woman said, "Please my lord, I and this woman are living in one house, and I gave birth, with her in the house. ¹⁸ It happened on the third day after my giving birth, this woman also gave birth, and we were together. There was not anyone with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. ¹⁹ Then the son of this woman died in the night because she laid on him. ²⁰ So she got up in the middle of the night, and she took my son from beside me while your servant was asleep, and she put him in her lap, and she put her dead son in my lap. ²¹ When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead! When I looked closely at him in the morning, behold, it was not my son whom I had borne." ²² Then the other woman said, "No, for my son is the living one, and your son is the dead one." The other kept on saying, "No, for your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one," and so they argued in front of the king. ²³ Then the king said, "This one is saying, 'This is my son, the living one, but your son is the dead one,' and the other one keeps saying, 'But no! Your son is the dead one, and my son is living!'" ²⁴ So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought the sword before the king. ²⁵ Then the king said, "Divide the living child into two, and give half to the one and half to the other." ²⁶ Then the woman whose son was the living one spoke to the king because her compassion was aroused for her son, and she said, "Please, my lord, give her the living child, but certainly do not kill him!" The other one was saying, "As for me, so for you! Divide him!" ²⁷ Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to her, and do not kill him; she is his mother." ²⁸ When all of Israel heard the judgment that the king had rendered, they _⌊stood in awe_⌋* of the king, because they realized that the wisdom of God was in him to execute justice.

⁷ He* was raising Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter,* for she did not have a father or a mother; the young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had taken her as his daughter.

¹⁸ (for from my childhood he* _⌊grew up with_⌋* me like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided her*),

² The glory of God* conceals things, but the glory of kings searches out things.

⁷ The righteous knows the case of the poor, but the wicked does not understand knowledge.

¹ Therefore become imitators of God, as beloved children,

³⁵ I would go out after it and strike it down and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose against me, I would grab it by its beard and strike it down and kill it.

⁷ Rise up, O Yahweh; deliver me, O my God; for you strike all my enemies on the cheek. The teeth of the wicked you break.

⁸ Let them be like a snail that melts away as it goes; like the stillborn of woman that do not see the sun.

³ then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us.

⁶ Blessed be Yahweh, who has not made* us prey for their teeth.

¹⁴ There is a generation whose teeth are swords, and its jawbones, knives, in order to devour the poor from the earth* and the needy from humankind.

¹² Now you yourself said, 'I will surely deal well with you and make your offspring as the sand of the sea that cannot be counted for abundance.'"

⁴⁹ And Joseph piled up grain like the sand of the sea in great abundance until he stopped counting it, for _⌊it could not be counted_⌋.*

²⁶ You shall come in maturity to the grave, as the raising up of a stack of sheaves in its season.

¹⁶ And Job lived after this one hundred and forty years, and he saw his sons and his _⌊grandsons_⌋* for four generations. ¹⁷ Then* Job died old and full of days.

⁶ But as for me, I had said in my prosperity, "I shall not be moved ever." ⁷ O Yahweh, by your favor you caused my strong mountain to stand. You hid your face. I was bewildered.

¹⁶ With _⌊long life_⌋* I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

²³ Inhabitants* of Lebanon, nestled among the cedars, how you will groan when labor pains come to you, fear and pain as the woman who gives birth.

¹⁶ Your terror has deceived you, the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, you who seize the height of the hill. Though you make your nest high like the eagle, from there I will bring you down," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh.

⁴ Even if you soar like the eagle, even if your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down!" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh:

⁹ Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be saved from the hand of misfortune!

¹⁶ His roots dry up _⌊below_⌋,* and its branches* wither away above.*

³ And so, he is like a tree planted by streams of water that gives its fruit in its season; its leaf also does not wither. Therefore all that he does prospers.

⁸ For he will be like a tree planted by water, and to the stream it sends its roots, and it will not fear when heat comes, and its leaves* will be luxuriant, and in the year of drought it will not be anxious, and it will not cease from the bearing of fruit.

⁵ I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily plant, and he will strike his roots like the trees of Lebanon. ⁶ His new plant shoots will spread out; his splendor will be like the olive tree, and his scent like the trees of Lebanon. ⁷ _⌊They will again dwell_⌋* in my* shadow; they will grow grain and they will blossom like the plant vine; his fame will be like the wine of Lebanon.

¹³ And you must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt and all that you have seen. Now hurry and bring my father here."

²⁴ But his bow remained in a steady position; _⌊his arms_⌋* were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From there is the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

⁹ He has taken my glory from me, and he has removed the crown of* my head.

¹⁴ I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a headband.

³ But* you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory and the one who lifts up my head.

³⁴ He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

⁵ who satisfies your life with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

³¹ But* those who wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength. They shall go up with wings* like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not be faint.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day.

⁹ Officials refrained from talking, and they laid their hand on their mouth. ¹⁰ The voices* of nobles were hushed, and their tongue stuck to their palate.

¹¹ "Look, I waited for your* words; I listened for your* insight, until you searched out _⌊what to say_⌋.* ¹² And I directed my attention to you;* and, look, there is no one for Job who refuted, answering his words among you.

² May my teaching trickle like the dew, my words like rain showers on tender grass, and like spring showers on new growth.

¹⁵ "They are dismayed; they no longer answer; _⌊they have nothing to say_⌋.* ¹⁶ And I have waited because they do not speak, because they stand there and no longer answer.

³¹ "Listen attentively, Job; listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. ³² If _⌊you have anything to say_⌋,* _⌊answer me_⌋;* speak, for I desire _⌊to justify you_⌋.* ³³ If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

¹¹ Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your lips; the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.

¹⁵ so he shall sprinkle many nations; because of him, kings shall shut their mouths.* For they shall see what has not been told them, and they shall consider with full attention what they have not heard.

⁴⁶ "Son of man,* set your face toward the way of the south,* and preach to the south, and prophesy against the forest of the territory of the Negev.

¹⁶ And so then, hear the word of Yahweh! You are saying, 'You must not prophesy against Israel and you must not preach against the house of Isaac!'

⁶ "Do not preach!" they are preaching. They should not preach to these; disgrace will not overtake us.

⁴⁶ And no one was able to answer him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask him any more questions.*

⁶ May he descend like rain on mown grass, like showers watering the earth.

³ Let us know, let us press on to know Yahweh; his rising is sure like the dawn. He will come like the showers to us, like the spring rain that waters the earth.

¹ Ask rain from Yahweh in the season of the spring rain—
Yahweh, who makes storm clouds, and he gives showers of rain to them, to everyone vegetation in the field.

²⁶ And they spoke to him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart _⌊went numb_⌋,* because he did not believe him.

¹⁵ Blessed are the people who know the joyful shout; O Yahweh, they walk about in the light of your countenance.

¹ A song of ascents.*
When Yahweh restored the fortunes* of Zion,* we were like dreamers.

⁴¹ And while* they were still disbelieving because of joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Do you have anything _⌊to eat_⌋* here?"

¹⁴ When* Abram heard that his _⌊relative_⌋* was taken captive, he summoned his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen of them, and he went in pursuit up to Dan. ¹⁵ And he divided his trained men against them at night, he and his servants. And he defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, which is north of Damascus. ¹⁶ And he brought back all the possessions. And he also brought back Lot, his _⌊relative_⌋,* and his possessions, and the women and the people as well. ¹⁷ After his return from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the Valley of the King).

⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and to your word* all my people shall submit. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

⁵ And then a king arose in Jeshurun, at the gathering of the leaders of the people, _⌊united were the tribes of Israel_⌋.*

⁸ And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That being so, we have now returned to you, that you may go with us _⌊to fight_⌋* against the _⌊Ammonites_⌋* and become for us as head of all the inhabitants of Gilead."

² _⌊For some time_⌋,* when Saul was king over us, _⌊you were leading Israel in and out_⌋.* Yahweh had said to you, 'You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be the leader over Israel.'"

¹ And David consulted with the commanders of thousands and hundreds, with every leader. ² And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "_⌊If it seems good to you_⌋* and before Yahweh our God, _⌊let us send word abroad_⌋* to our brothers who remain in all the land of Israel and to the priests and Levites with them in the cities with their pasturelands that they might be gathered to us. ³ Then let us bring around the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul." ⁴ And all the assembly agreed to do so, for the word was pleasing in the eyes of all the people.

³ Then* his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs* of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east.

³ Look, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands. ⁴ Your words have raised up the one who stumbles, and you have strengthened knees giving way.

³⁷ I would give him an account of my steps; I would approach him like a noble.

³ Strengthen the weak hands and make the staggering knees firm. ⁴ Say to those who are hasty of heart,
"Be strong; you must not fear! Look! your God will come with vengeance, with _⌊divine retribution_⌋.* He _⌊is the one who_⌋* will come and save you."

¹ The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up _⌊the brokenhearted_⌋,* to _⌊proclaim_⌋* release to the captives and liberation to those who are bound, ² to _⌊proclaim_⌋* the year of Yahweh's favor, and our God's day of vengeance, to comfort all those in mourning, ³ to _⌊give_⌋* for those in mourning in Zion, to give them a head wrap instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. And _⌊they will be called_⌋* oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

⁵ For even when* we arrived in Macedonia, our body had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—quarrels outside, fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted among you, because he* reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

² and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, in order to strengthen and to encourage you about your faith, ³ so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this,