Proverbs 29 Cross References - LEB

¹ A man who is reproved, being stubborn of neck— suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing. ² When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan. ³ A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad, but the friend of prostitutes* will squander his wealth. ⁴ By justice a king gives stability to a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it. ⁵ A strong man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet. ⁶ In transgression, an evil man is a snare, but the righteous will sing and rejoice.* ⁷ The righteous knows the case of the poor, but the wicked does not understand knowledge. ⁸ Men of scoffing set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. ⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule,* but there is no relief. ¹⁰ Men of blood hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.* ¹¹ A fool gives all his breath,* but the wise holds back in quiet. ¹² A ruler listening to a word of falsehood, all his officials are wicked. ¹³ The poor and a man of oppression have this in common: Yahweh gives _⌊light to the eyes of them both_⌋.* ¹⁴ A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever. ¹⁵ As for a rod and reproof, they* will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother. ¹⁶ With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase, but the righteous will look on his downfall. ¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you rest, and they will give delight to your soul.* ¹⁸ When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his. ¹⁹ By words, a servant is not disciplined, for he will understand, but there is no giving heed. ²⁰ You see a man who is hasty in his words: there is more hope for a fool than him. ²¹ He who pampers his servant from childhood, _⌊arrogance will be his end_⌋.* ²² A man of anger will stir strife, and the owner of anger, much transgression. ²³ The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor. ²⁴ Being a partner with a thief is hating one's life;* a curse he will hear, but not disclose. ²⁵ The fear of a person will lay a snare, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be secure. ²⁶ Many are those who seek the _⌊favor_⌋* of a ruler, but from Yahweh _⌊one obtains justice_⌋.* ²⁷ A man of injustice is an abomination to the righteous, but the _⌊upright_⌋* is an abomination to the wicked.

²⁵ If a man sins against a man, then God can intercede for him. But if a man sins against Yahweh, who can intercede for him?" But they did not _⌊obey_⌋* their father, because Yahweh wanted to kill them.

³⁴ This is the sign for you that will come regarding your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: they will both die on the same day!

¹ Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe of Gilead said to Ahab, "_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* the God of Israel before whom I stand, there shall surely not be dew nor rain these years _⌊except by my command_⌋."*

¹⁸ He said, "I did not throw Israel into confusion; rather you and the house of your father have by forsaking the commands of Yahweh when you went after the Baals!

⁴² He said to him, "Thus says Yahweh: 'Because you have let the man I devoted for destruction go from your hand, your life shall be in place of his life and your people in place of his people.'"

²⁰ Then Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" He said, "I have found you because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of Yahweh. ²¹ 'Look, I am bringing disaster on you, and I will sweep away after you. I will cut off for Ahab _⌊every male_⌋* in Israel, bond or free. ²² I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, _⌊because you made me angry_⌋* and have caused Israel to sin.' ²³ Moreover, concerning Jezebel, Yahweh has said, 'The dogs will eat Jezebel in the outer rampart of Jezreel.'

²⁰ And Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?' Then _⌊this one was saying one thing and the other one was saying another_⌋.* ²¹ Then a spirit came out and stood before Yahweh and said, 'I will entice him,' and Yahweh said to him, 'How?' ²² He said, 'I will go out and I will be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he* said, 'You shall entice and succeed, go out and do so.' ²³ So then, see that Yahweh has placed a false spirit in the mouth of all of these your prophets, and Yahweh has spoken disaster concerning you."

²⁸ Then Micaiah said, "If you indeed return in peace, then Yahweh has not spoken with me." Then he said, "Let all the peoples hear!"

³⁴ But another man drew his bow fully and struck the king of Israel between the armor scales and the breastplate; so he said to his chariot driver, "Turn _⌊the chariot_⌋* and bring me out from the camp, for I am wounded." ³⁵ The battle intensified on that day, and the king was being propped up in the chariot opposite Aram, but he died in the evening, and the blood of the wound ran out to the floor of the chariot. ³⁶ Then the shout passed through the camp about sunset, saying, "Each man to his city and each to his land!" ³⁷ So the king died, and _⌊they brought him_⌋* to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.

¹⁶ And it happened that while he was speaking to him, he said to him, "Have we appointed you as a counselor to the king? Stop—_⌊why should you be killed_⌋?"* So the prophet stopped and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice."

¹⁰ And Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not listen.

¹³ And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

¹⁵ And Yahweh, the God of their ancestors,* had repeatedly and persistently sent to them by the hand of his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. ¹⁶ But they were mocking the messengers of God and despising his words and scoffing at his prophets until the wrath of Yahweh rose against his people until there was no remedy. ¹⁷ Therefore he brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, and he killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary. He showed no mercy on a young man, a virgin, the elderly, or decrepit. He delivered all into his hand.

²⁹ You warned them so that they would return to your law.* Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to your commandments but sinned against your judgments that a person must do so that they may live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not listen.

²⁴ Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds. ²⁵ You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing to accept. ²⁶ I will also laugh at your calamity;* I will mock when panic* comes upon you. ²⁷ When your panic comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you, ²⁸ then they will call* me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me. ²⁹ Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh, ³⁰ they were not willing to accept my counsel, they despised all my reproof. ³¹ They shall eat from the fruit of their way, and they shall be sated from their own schemes,

¹⁵ Upon _⌊such a man_⌋,* suddenly shall his calamity come; in a moment he will be damaged and there is no healing.*

¹⁸ He who walks in integrity will be safe, but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.

¹³ therefore this iniquity shall come for you like a breach about to fall, bulging out on a high wall _⌊that breaks_⌋* suddenly, in an instant. ¹⁴ And he breaks it like a vessel of _⌊a potter_⌋* breaks, that is crushed; he has no compassion, and no potsherd is found among its fragments* _⌊to take fire_⌋* from the hearth, or _⌊to skim_⌋* water from the cistern."

⁴ because _⌊I know_⌋* that you are obstinate, and your neck an iron sinew, and your forehead bronze.

²³ Yet they did not listen, and they did not incline their ear, and they hardened their neck so as to not hear, nor to receive discipline.

³ "From the thirteenth year of Josiah, the son of Amon, the king of Judah, even up to this day, these twenty-three years* the word of Yahweh has come to me, and _⌊I have spoken to you over and over again_⌋,* but you have not listened. ⁴ And though Yahweh has sent all his servants the prophets to you _⌊over and over again_⌋* you have not listened, and you have not inclined your ear to hear, ⁵ _⌊saying_⌋,* 'Turn back please, each one from his evil way, and from the evil of your deeds, and live on the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your ancestors* from a long time back and until forever,

³ Perhaps they will listen and turn back each from his evil way, and I will relent of the disaster that I am planning to do to them because of their evil deeds. ⁴ And you shall say to them, "Thus says Yahweh: 'If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set* _⌊before you_⌋,* ⁵ to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I have sent to you, _⌊over and over again_⌋,* though you have not listened,

¹³ "Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Go and say to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "Can you not learn a lesson to listen to my words?" _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh. ¹⁴ "The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, that he commanded his descendants* to not drink, have been carried out, and they have not drunk until this day, for they have obeyed the command of their ancestor.* But _⌊I have spoken to you over and over again_⌋,* and you have not listened to me. ¹⁵ And I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, _⌊I have sent them over and over again_⌋,* _⌊saying_⌋,* 'Turn back please each one from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and you must not go after other gods to serve them, _⌊so that you may live_⌋* on the land that I gave to you and to your ancestors.'* But you did not incline your ear and you did not listen to me. ¹⁶ For the descendants* of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, have carried out the command of their ancestor* that he commanded them, but this people did not listen to me."

³ You must say to them: 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts: "Return to me," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh of hosts, "and I will return to you," says Yahweh of hosts. ⁴ "Do not be like your ancestors,* to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts: "Return from your evil ways and your evil deeds!" ' But they did not hear* and they did not pay attention* to me," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh. ⁵ "Your ancestors,* where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? ⁶ However, did not my words and my regulations which I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors?* And they repented and said, 'Yahweh of hosts planned to do with us according to our ways, and according to our deeds so he has dealt with us.'" '"

¹¹ But they refused to listen, and turned* a stubborn shoulder and _⌊stopped their ears from listening_⌋.* ¹² _⌊They made their hearts adamant_⌋* in order not to hear the law* and the words that Yahweh of hosts had sent by his spirit through* the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts. ¹³ 'Thus, just as I* called and they would not hear, so they will call and I will not hear,' says Yahweh of hosts. ¹⁴ 'And I scattered them with a wind among all the nations that they had not known; the land was made desolate behind them— no one crossing through it or returning—and they made the desirable land* a desolation.'"

²¹ And while* they were eating he said, "Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me." ²² And greatly distressed, each one began to say to him, "_⌊Surely I am not he, am I_⌋,* Lord?" ²³ And he answered and* said, "The one who dips his* hand in the bowl with me—this one will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man is going just 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 that man had not been born." ²⁵ And Judas, the one who was betraying him, answered and* said, "_⌊Surely I am not he, am I_⌋,* Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said it."*

⁷⁰ Jesus replied to them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is the devil?" ⁷¹ (Now he was speaking about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, because this one—one of the twelve—was going to betray him.)

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed _⌊only needs_⌋* to wash his* feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you." ¹¹ (For he knew the one who would betray him; because of this he said, "Not all of you are clean.")

¹⁸ "I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but in order that the scripture would be fulfilled, 'The one who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'*

²⁶ Jesus replied, "It is he to whom I dip the piece of bread and give it* to him." Then after* dipping the piece of bread, he gave it** to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

¹⁸ (Now this man acquired a field for the wages of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out.

²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to depart to his own place."

³ Whenever they say "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of _⌊a pregnant woman_⌋*, and they will not possibly escape.

¹⁵ The couriers went out quickly by order of the king, and the law was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; and the city of Susa was bewildered.*

¹⁵ Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in _⌊royal clothing_⌋* of blue cloth and white linen, and a great crown of gold and a robe of fine white linen and purple, and the city of Susa was shouting and rejoicing.

¹ Of Solomon.*
O God, give your judgments to the king, and your righteousness to the king's son. ² May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. ³ Let the mountains yield prosperity* for the people, and the hills in righteousness. ⁴ May he provide justice for the poor of the people, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor. ⁵ May he live long* _⌊while the sun endures_⌋* _⌊as long as the moon_⌋* _⌊for all generations_⌋.* ⁶ May he descend like rain on mown grass, like showers watering the earth. ⁷ May what is right blossom in his days and an abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

¹⁰ When good is with the righteous, the city rejoices, and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.

¹² When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory, but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.

²⁸ With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden, and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.

⁵ There is an evil I have seen under the sun— it is an error that proceeds from a ruler!

¹ See, a king will rule according to righteousness, and princes will rule according to justice. ² And each one will be like a hiding place from the wind and a covering from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a dry region, like the shade of a large rock in a weary land.

⁵ "Look, days are coming," _⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, and he will reign as king, and he will achieve success, and he will do justice and righteousness in the land. ⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell _⌊in safety_⌋,* and this is his name by which he will be called: 'Yahweh is our righteousness.'

³ And when* King Herod heard it,* he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him,

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he* saw that he had been deceived by the wise men, became very angry, and he sent soldiers* and* executed all the children in Bethlehem and in all the region around it from the age of two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined precisely from the wise men.

¹⁵ And the seventh angel blew the trumpet, and there was a loud voice in heaven saying,
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign _⌊forever and ever_⌋*."

⁸ Keep your paths far from her, and do not go near to the door of her house, ⁹ lest you give your honor to the others, and your years to the merciless, ¹⁰ lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,

²⁶ For the price of a woman, a prostitute,* is the price of a loaf of bread, but the _⌊woman belonging to a man_⌋* hunts precious life.

¹ The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child grieves his mother.

²⁰ A child of wisdom will make a father glad, but a _⌊foolish person_⌋,* he despises his mother.

¹⁷ A man of want is he who loves pleasure; he who loves wine and oil* will not become rich.

²⁰ Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise, but the foolish person* will devour them.*

¹⁵ My child, if your heart* is wise, my heart will be glad—even me!

²⁴ The father of the righteous will surely rejoice; he who bears a wise person will be happy with him. ²⁵ May your father and your mother be glad, and may she who bore you rejoice.

¹¹ Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.

⁷ He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding, but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.

¹⁹ He who tills his ground will have plenty bread, but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.

¹³ But the angel said to him,
"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John. ¹⁴ And _⌊you will experience joy and exultation_⌋,* and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is* still in his mother's womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready."

¹³ And after not many days, the younger son gathered everything and* went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth by* living wastefully.

³⁰ But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!'

¹³ Then Samuel said to Saul, "You have behaved foolishly! You have not kept the command of Yahweh your God which he commanded you. For then, Yahweh would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

¹⁵ David reigned over all of Israel, and he* was administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

¹² Then Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.

¹⁸ But he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh. He did not depart all of his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat which he caused Israel to sin. ¹⁹ Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, so Menahem gave a thousand talents of silver to Pul so that his hand would be with him _⌊to strengthen his hold on the kingdom_⌋.* ²⁰ Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all _⌊the very rich_⌋,* to give to the king of Assyria fifty shekels of silver for each one. Then the king of Assyria returned and did not stay there in the land.

⁸ Blessed be Yahweh your God who took delight in you, to put you on his throne as king for Yahweh your God! Because your God loved Israel, he established him forever and has put you over them as king to do justice and righteousness!"

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness* come before your face.*

⁴ And the strength of the king loves justice.* You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

¹⁵ By me kings reign, and rulers decree righteousness.

¹² An abomination to kings is doing evil, for by righteousness the throne will be established.

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

¹⁴ A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever.

⁷ _⌊His dominion will grow continually, and to peace there will be no end_⌋* on* the throne of David and over* his kingdom, to establish it* and sustain it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

⁸ Thus says Yahweh:
"I have answered you in a time of favor, and helped you on a day of salvation, and watched over you, and given you as a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to give the desolate hereditary property as an inheritance,

¹³ Woe to the one who builds his house without righteousness, and his upper rooms without justice. His fellow countryman, he works for nothing, and he does not give to him his wages.* ¹⁴ Who says 'I will build for myself a spacious house with large upper rooms,' and he cuts windows for it, and it is* paneled with cedar, and he paints it* with vermilion. ¹⁵ Do you reign as king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and he did justice and righteousness, then it was well with him? 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. ¹⁷ "But there is nothing in your eyes and your heart _⌊except_⌋* your unlawful gain, and on shedding the blood of the innocent, and on committing oppression and extortion."

²⁰ "Then in his place will arise one sending an official throughout the glory* of his kingdom, and _⌊in a few days_⌋* he will be broken, but not in anger and not in battle.

³ Their hands are upon evil, to do it well; the official and the judge ask for the bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; and they weave it together.

¹⁷ Your servant also thought, 'May the word of my lord the king _⌊bring rest_⌋,* for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king, _⌊to sense what is good and what is bad_⌋.'* May Yahweh your God be with you." ¹⁸ The king answered and said to the woman, "Please do not withhold from me a thing which I am about to ask you." The woman said, "Please let my lord the king speak." ¹⁹ The king asked, "Was the hand of Joab with you in all of this?" The woman answered and said, "_⌊As your soul lives_⌋,* my lord the king, surely one cannot go to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king has spoken. Yes, your servant Joab himself commanded me, and he put all of these words in the mouth of your servant. ²⁰ In order _⌊to change the situation_⌋,* your servant Joab did this thing. But my lord has wisdom, as the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is on the earth." ²¹ Then the king said to Joab, "Look, please, I will grant this thing. Go and bring back the young man Absalom." ²² Joab fell with his face to the ground and did obeisance. And he blessed the king, and he* said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant." ²³ Then Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ²⁴ The king said, "Let him go over to his house, and he may not see my face." So Absalom went over to his house, and did not see the face of the king.

⁵ He denounces friends for reward, so* his children's eyes will fail.

⁹ For there is not anything reliable in his mouth; their inner part is destruction.* Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.*

² They speak falseness _⌊to each other_⌋.* With flattering lips, with _⌊a double heart_⌋* they speak.

¹⁷ for "in vain* is the net scattered, in the sight of any _⌊winged bird_⌋."*

⁵ In order to guard yourself from _⌊an adulteress_⌋,* from the foreigner who _⌊makes her words smooth_⌋.*

²¹ She persuades him with the greatness of her teachings; with her smooth lips she compels him.

¹⁹ He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip, and do not associate with a babbler's lips.

²⁴ On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but _⌊inside_⌋* he will harbor deceit. ²⁵ When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations are in his heart.

²⁸ A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.

¹³ From heaven he sent fire, into my bones he let it descend. He spread out a net for my feet; he turned me back, he gave me devastation, fainting all day.

¹ Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! Because the judgment applies to you; because you have been a snare for Mizpah, and a net spread out on Tabor;

²⁰ And they watched him* closely and* sent spies who pretended they were upright, in order that they could catch him in a statement, so that they could hand him over to the authority and the jurisdiction of the governor. ²¹ And they asked him, saying, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not _⌊show partiality_⌋,* but teach the way of God in truth.

¹⁸ For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach, and by smooth speech and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

⁵ _⌊For never_⌋* did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God is witness),

¹ Then Moses and the _⌊Israelites_⌋* sang this song to Yahweh, _⌊and they said_⌋,*
"Let me sing to Yahweh because he is highly exalted; the horse and its rider he hurled into the sea.

⁷ "_⌊His strong steps_⌋* are shortened, and his own schemes* throw him down, ⁸ for he is thrust into a net by his feet, and he walks into a pitfall. ⁹ A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare takes hold of him. ¹⁰ His rope is hidden in the ground, and his trap on the path.

⁶ He will rain coals* on the wicked. Burning sulfur and scorching wind will be the portion of their cup.

¹¹ Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

¹⁵ The sound of rejoicing and salvation* is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of Yahweh has done valiantly.

¹⁶ I will also clothe its priests with salvation, and its faithful will shout exuberantly for joy.

²² His iniquities shall ensnare him, the evildoer, and in the vanity of his sin he shall be caught.

⁵ The righteousness of the blameless will keep his ways straight, but the wicked will fall by his wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright will save them, but by a scheme the treacherous will be taken captive.

¹³ By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

¹² For man does not know his time. Just as fish are caught in a cruel net and like birds who are seized in a snare, so also _⌊humans_⌋* are ensnared at a cruel time when it falls suddenly upon them.

¹⁴ And he will become like a sanctuary and a stumbling-stone, and like a stumbling-rock for the two houses of Israel, like a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵ And many shall stumble among them, and they shall fall and they shall be broken, and they shall be ensnared and they shall be caught."

² through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we* know that affliction produces patient endurance,

²⁶ and they will come to their senses again and escape from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to do his will.

² Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials,

⁸ whom, although you* have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, although you* do not see him, and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

⁴ And these things we write, in order that our joy may be complete.

⁹ So David's young men came and they spoke all these words to Nabal in the name of David. Then they waited. ¹⁰ But Nabal answered David's servants and said, "Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? Today, there are many servants breaking away from the presence of their masters. ¹¹ Should I take my bread and my water and my meat which I have slaughtered for my shearers and give it to men whom I do not know where they are from?

¹⁶ I was a father to the poor, and I investigated _⌊the stranger's_⌋* legal dispute.

¹³ "If I have rejected my male or* female slave's case when their complaint was against me,

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

⁷ I will exult and rejoice in your loyal love. Because you have seen my misery, you know the distresses of my life.*

¹ For the music director. A psalm of David.*
Blessed is the one who has regard for the poor; in the day of disaster, Yahweh delivers him.

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

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.

²⁸ They have grown fat, they have grown sleek, also, _⌊their evil deeds have no limit_⌋.* They do not judge with justice, the legal cause of the orphan, or allow it to succeed, and the legal case of the poor, they do not defend.

⁷ They have treated father and mother with contempt in you; _⌊they violated_⌋* the alien with* extortion; in the midst of you they mistreated the orphan and widow.

²⁹ They severely oppress the people of the land, and _⌊they committed robbery_⌋,* and they mistreated the needy and the poor, and they oppressed the alien _⌊without_⌋* justice. ³⁰ And so I sought for them somebody, one repairing the wall and standing in the breach _⌊before me_⌋* on behalf of the land not to destroy it, but I did not find anyone, ³¹ and so I poured out my indignation on them. With the fire of my wrath I destroyed them; I returned their way upon their head," _⌊declares_⌋* the Lord Yahweh.

¹ And I said, "Listen, O heads of Jacob and leaders of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice? ² Those of you who are haters of good and lovers of evil, who tear their skin from them and their flesh from their bones, ³ and who eat the flesh of my people, and strip their skin from them, and break their bones, and chop them like meat in the pot, and like flesh in the midst of a cooking pot." ⁴ Then they will cry to Yahweh, but he will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time, when they have made their deeds evil.

¹ Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted.

¹⁰ And now leave me alone so that _⌊my anger may blaze_⌋* against them, and let me destroy them, and I will make you into a great nation." ¹¹ And Moses _⌊implored Yahweh_⌋* his God, and he said, "Why, Yahweh, should _⌊your anger blaze_⌋* against your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians _⌊say_⌋*, 'With evil intent he brought them out to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth'?* Turn from _⌊your fierce anger_⌋* and relent concerning the disaster for your people. ¹³ Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by yourself, and you told them, 'I will multiply your offspring like the stars of the heavens, and all this land that I promised I will give to your offspring, and they will inherit it forever.'" ¹⁴ And Yahweh relented concerning the disaster that he had _⌊threatened_⌋* to do to his people.

⁴⁸ He stood between the dead and between the living, and the plague was stopped.

¹¹ "Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, turned away my anger from among the _⌊Israelites_⌋* when he was jealous with my jealousy in their midst, and I did not destroy the _⌊Israelites_⌋* with my jealousy.

¹⁸ And then I lay prostrate _⌊before_⌋* Yahweh, as earlier, forty days* and forty nights;* I did not eat food and I did not drink water because of all your sins that you committed, by doing evil in the eyes of Yahweh and so provoking him. ¹⁹ For _⌊I was in dread_⌋* from being in the presence of the anger and the wrath with which Yahweh was angry with you so as to destroy you, but Yahweh listened to me also _⌊at that time_⌋.* ²⁰ And with Aaron Yahweh was _⌊angry enough_⌋* to destroy him, and I prayed also for Aaron at that time.

¹⁶ When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, Yahweh regretted about the evil, and he said to the angel who brought destruction among the people, "Enough, now relax your hand." Now the angel of Yahweh was at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. ¹⁷ David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel destroying among the people, and he said, "Look, I have sinned and I have done wrong, but these sheep, what did they do? Please let your hand be against me and against the house of my father."

¹¹ By the blessing of the upright, a city will be exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked, it will be overthrown.

¹⁴ The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but one who is wise will appease* it.

¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, men of mockery, rulers of these people in Jerusalem: ¹⁵ Because you have said,
"We have _⌊made_⌋* a covenant with death, and we have made an agreement with Sheol.
The overwhelming flood, when it passes through, will not come to us,
for we have made lies* our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves in falsehood." ¹⁶ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this:
"Look! I am laying a stone in Zion, a _⌊tested_⌋* stone, a precious cornerstone, a founded foundation:
'The one who trusts will not _⌊panic_⌋.'* ¹⁷ And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,* and waters will flood over the hiding place. ¹⁸ And your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; you will become a trampling place for the overwhelming flood when it passes through. ¹⁹ _⌊As often as it passes through_⌋,* it will take you, for _⌊morning by morning_⌋* it will pass through, in the day and in the night,
and understanding the message will be only terror." ²⁰ For the bed is too short _⌊to stretch out on_⌋,* and the covering is too narrow when wrapping oneself. ²¹ For Yahweh will rise up as at Mount Perazim; he will rave as in the valley at Gibeon to do his deed—his deed is strange— and to work his work—his work is alien! ²² And now you must not scoff, or your bonds will be strong,
for I have heard from the Lord, Yahweh of hosts:
complete destruction decreed upon all the land.

¹ Then Yahweh said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood _⌊before me_⌋,* my heart would not be to this people. Send them away from my _⌊sight_⌋,* and let them go out.

³⁰ And so I sought for them somebody, one repairing the wall and standing in the breach _⌊before me_⌋* on behalf of the land not to destroy it, but I did not find anyone,

² And then when they* finished eating the vegetation of the land, I said, "O Lord Yahweh, please forgive! How can Jacob stand, because he is small?" ³ Yahweh relented concerning this. "It will not be," said Yahweh. ⁴ This is what my Lord Yahweh showed me, and look, my Lord Yahweh was going to call for a legal case with fire, and it devoured the great deep and it ate up the plots of ground. ⁵ Then I said, "O Lord Yahweh, please stop! How can Jacob stand, because he is small?" ⁶ Yahweh also relented concerning this. "This also will not be," said my Lord Yahweh.

³⁹ And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, "The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it* in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" ⁴¹ In the same way also the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him,* saying, ⁴² "He saved others; he is not able to save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him! ⁴³ He trusts in God; let him deliver him now if he wants to,* because he said, 'I am the Son of God'!"

⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and said to him, "We are not also blind, are we?"* ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

⁴⁷ So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs! ⁴⁸ If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place* and our* nation." ⁴⁹ But a certain one of them, Caiaphas (who was high priest in that year), said to them, "You do not know anything at all! ⁵⁰ Nor do you consider that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish."

¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people, ¹⁶ hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that they always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.*

⁵ So also the tongue is a small member of the body* and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire! The world of unrighteousness,* the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire _⌊the course of human existence_⌋*, being set on fire by hell.

¹⁵ 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_⌋*. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a human being* with the same nature as us, and _⌊he prayed fervently_⌋* for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you become like him—even you.

¹³ He begins by saying what is foolish and ends by uttering what is wicked delusion.

⁶ "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls in front of pigs, lest they trample them with their feet, and turn around and* tear you to pieces.

¹⁷ saying,
'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not mourn.' ¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!' ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."*

⁵ but to Cain and to his offering he did not look with favor. And Cain became very angry, and his face fell. ⁶ And Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why is your face fallen? ⁷ If you do well _⌊will I not accept you_⌋?* But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. And its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." ⁸ Then* Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out into the field."* And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

¹¹ "I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not kept my word." _⌊Samuel became angry_⌋,* and he cried out to Yahweh all night.

³¹ For _⌊as long as_⌋* the son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established! So then, send and bring him to me, for _⌊he will surely die_⌋!"* ³² But Jonathan answered his father Saul and said to him, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" ³³ Then Saul hurled his* spear at him to kill him. So Jonathan knew _⌊that his father had decided_⌋* to kill David.

¹¹ So the king sent to summon Ahimelech the son of Ahitub the priest, and all his father's household, the priests who were at Nob. So all of them came to the king. ¹² Saul said, "Listen please, son of Ahitub." He said, "Here I am, my lord." ¹³ Then Saul said to him, "Why did you conspire against me, you and the son of Jesse, when you gave to him bread and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him so that he might arise against me to ambush me as has been done this day?" ¹⁴ But Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the son-in-law of the king who moves quickly to safeguard you and is honored in your house. ¹⁵ Only today I began to inquire of God for him. Far be it from me that _⌊the king should impute anything against his servant_⌋* or against my father's household, for your servant has not known any of this matter, little or much." ¹⁶ Then the king said, "You must certainly die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!" ¹⁷ So the king said to the runners who were stationed around him, "Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh, because _⌊they also support David_⌋* and because they knew that he was fleeing and _⌊did not disclose it to me_⌋."* But the servants of the king were not willing to raise their hand to attack the priests of Yahweh. ¹⁸ Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and attack the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests himself, and on that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. ¹⁹ And _⌊he put to the sword_⌋* Nob, the city of the priests, from man to woman, from child to infant, and ox and donkey and sheep;* all _⌊to the sword_⌋.* ²⁰ But, one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, whose name was Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. ²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of Yahweh. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day that Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul. _⌊I am responsible for the deaths of all your father's household_⌋!* ²³ Stay with me! Do not fear, because he who seeks my life seeks your life. You are in good care with me."

²⁰ Then Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" He said, "I have found you because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of Yahweh.

⁸ Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man to inquire from Yahweh, but I despise him, for he never prophesies anything good concerning me, but only bad: Micaiah the son of Imlah." Then Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say so."

⁷ Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom to seek Yahweh, but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but _⌊always_⌋* disaster. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah." Then Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say thus."

¹⁵ Listen, and pay attention, you must not be haughty, for Yahweh has spoken. ¹⁶ Give glory to Yahweh your God _⌊before_⌋* he brings darkness, and _⌊before_⌋* your feet stumble on the mountains at twilight. And you will hope for light, but he makes it as gloom, he makes it* as thick darkness. ¹⁷ But if you will not listen to it, my inner self* will weep in secret places, because of _⌊the presence of_⌋* your pride. And my eyes* will weep bitterly, and they will melt in tears, because the flock of Yahweh has been taken captive.

²⁰ Should good be repaid in place of evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember my standing _⌊before you_⌋* to speak good for them, to avert your wrath from them.

¹⁴ and said to him, "_⌊Are you at all aware_⌋* that Baalis, the king of the _⌊Ammonites_⌋,* has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, to kill you?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them. ¹⁵ Then Johanan the son of Kareah said to Gedaliah in secrecy at Mizpah, _⌊saying_⌋,* "Please let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and _⌊nobody_⌋* will know. Why should he kill you, so that all of Judah who are gathered to you will be scattered, and the remnant of Judah will perish?" ¹⁶ But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "You must not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael."

¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not permitted for you to have your brother's wife." ¹⁹ So Herodias held a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and was not able to do so.

²⁴ And she went out and* said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and* asked, saying, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately." ²⁶ And although he* was deeply grieved, the king, because of his* oaths and _⌊dinner guests_⌋,* did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner and* ordered him* to bring his head. And he went and* beheaded him in the prison.

³⁴ But Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."* And they cast lots to divide his clothes.

³⁴ (And I do not receive testimony from people, but I say these things in order that you may be saved.)

¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated* you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.

⁶⁰ And falling to his* knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" And after he* said this, he fell asleep.*

¹ Brothers, the desire of my heart and my prayer to God on behalf of them is for their salvation.

¹² not as Cain, who was of the evil one and violently murdered his brother. And _⌊for what reason_⌋* did he violently murder him? Because his deeds were evil and the deeds of his brother were righteous. ¹³ Do not marvel,* brothers, if the world hates you.

¹⁷ So _⌊he confided everything to her_⌋,* and he said to her, "A razor _⌊has never touched_⌋* my head, for I am a _⌊Nazirite of God_⌋* _⌊from birth_⌋.* If I am shaved my strength will leave me, and I will become weak, like everyone else.

¹⁶ As for a fool, _⌊on that very day_⌋* he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult is prudent.

²³ A clever person conceals knowledge, but the heart* of a fool* announces folly.

³³ In the heart* of him who has understanding, wisdom rests, but even in the midst of fools it becomes known.

¹¹ The understanding of a person makes him slow to his _⌊anger_⌋,* and his glory overlooks offense.

¹³ Therefore, whoever has insight will keep silent in that time, for it is a time of evil.

⁵ Do not put faith in a friend; put no trust in a close friend. Guard the doorways of your mouth from the one who lies in your lap.

⁸ For all of you have conspired against me, and _⌊no one discloses to me_⌋* the _⌊making_⌋* of an agreement between my son and the son of Jesse! None of you have had sympathy for me or _⌊disclosed to me_⌋* that _⌊my son commissioned my servant against me to ambush me_⌋* as has been done this day!" ⁹ But Doeg the Edomite, who was stationed among the servants of Saul, answered and said, "I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. ¹⁰ And he inquired of Yahweh for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

¹⁹ Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ So then, O king, _⌊whenever you want_⌋* to come down, come down, and it will be for us to deliver him into the hand of the king." ²¹ And Saul said to them, "May you be blessed by Yahweh, for you have shown me compassion! ²² Go, please, make certain again! Find out and see _⌊exactly where he is_⌋* and who has seen him there! For they have said to me, 'He is very cunning.' ²³ Look, find out all of the hiding places where he hides. Then return to me _⌊with dependable information_⌋,* and I will go with you. And then if he is there in the land, then I will seek him among all the thousands of Judah."

⁷ Saul had had a concubine, and her name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah. Then Ish-Bosheth* said to Abner, "Why _⌊did you have sex with_⌋* my father's concubine?" ⁸ _⌊Abner became very angry_⌋* at the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he said, "Am I the head of a dog which is for Judah today? Do I not continue to show loyal love with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends? I have not let you fall into the hands of David, yet you have _⌊accused me of sin with this woman_⌋* today. ⁹ Thus _⌊may God punish Abner_⌋,* _⌊if I do not accomplish what Yahweh has sworn to David_⌋;* ¹⁰ specifically, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba!" ¹¹ And Ish-Bosheth was no longer able to _⌊answer_⌋* Abner _⌊because he feared him_⌋.*

⁵ When the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Recab and Baanah, set out, they came at the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Bosheth while _⌊he was taking a noontime rest_⌋.* ⁶ They came as far as the middle of the house as if takers of wheat, and they struck him in the stomach. Then Recab and Baanah his brother escaped. ⁷ When they had come into the house, he was lying on his couch _⌊in his bedchamber_⌋,* and they attacked him and killed him. Then they _⌊beheaded him_⌋,* and they took his head and went on the way of the Arabah all night. ⁸ They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron, and they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life. Yahweh has given to my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and on his offspring." ⁹ Then David answered Recab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and he said to them, "_⌊As Yahweh lives_⌋,* who redeemed my soul from all trouble, ¹⁰ when the one who told me, "Look, Saul is dead," _⌊thought that he was bringing good news_⌋,* I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was as my giving the news back to him. ¹¹ _⌊How much more_⌋* when wicked men kill a righteous man in his house, on his bed! So then, shall I not seek his lifeblood from your hand, so that I may destroy you from the earth?" ¹² Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them, and they cut off their hands and their feet, and they hung them at the pool at Hebron, but the head of Ish-Bosheth they took and buried in the grave of Abner at Hebron.

¹¹ The men of his city and the elders and nobles who were living in his city did according to what Jezebel had sent to them, as was written in the letters which she had sent to them. ¹² They called a fast, and they seated Naboth at the head of the people. ¹³ Then the two men, _⌊scoundrels_⌋,* came, sat opposite him, and the _⌊scoundrels_⌋* witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king," so they brought him outside of the city and stoned him with stones, and he died.

⁶ Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, "If you are for me, and you are listening to my voice, take the heads of the men of the sons of your master and come to me at this time tomorrow at Jezreel." Now the sons of the king, seventy men, were with the leaders of the city who were raising them. ⁷ When the letter came to them, they took the sons of the king, and they killed seventy men. Then they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.

² Your tongue plans destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceit. ³ You love evil more than good, a lie more than speaking _⌊what is right_⌋.* Selah ⁴ You love all devouring words, O deceitful tongue,

⁵ One who slanders his neighbor in secret, him I will destroy. One haughty of eyes and _⌊arrogant_⌋* of heart, him I will not endure. ⁶ My eyes will be on the faithful of the land, that they may live with me. He who walks in the way of integrity, he shall minister to me. ⁷ There will not live in the midst of my house a worker of deceit. One who speaks lies will not remain* before my eyes.

²³ The wind of the north produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.

²⁵ " 'If you lend money to my people, to the needy with you, you will not be to him as a creditor; you will not _⌊charge him interest_⌋.* ²⁶ If indeed you require the cloak of your neighbor as a pledge, you will return it to him at sundown,

³⁵ " 'And if your* countryman* becomes poor and _⌊if he becomes dependent on you_⌋,* then* you shall support him like an alien and like a temporary resident, and he shall live with you. ³⁶ You* must not take interest or* usury from him, but* you shall revere your God, and your countryman* shall live with you. ³⁷ You* must not give your money to him with interest or* give your food for* profit.

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,

³ Consider* and answer me, O Yahweh my God. Give light to my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death,

² Rich and poor have much in common; Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

⁴⁵ in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust.

⁹ And as* Jesus was going away from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth and said to him, "Follow me!" And he stood up and* followed him.

¹⁰ nor thieves, nor greedy persons, not drunkards, not abusive persons, not swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

¹ And you, _⌊although you were dead_⌋** in your trespasses and sins,

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.

² May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. ³ Let the mountains yield prosperity* for the people, and the hills in righteousness. ⁴ May he provide justice for the poor of the people, save the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor.

¹² Indeed he will deliver the needy who is crying for help, and the afflicted who has no helper. ¹³ He will take pity on the helpless and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. ¹⁴ From oppression and from violence he will redeem their lives, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.

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.

² For I say, "Forever your loyal love is built up. The heavens you have established with your faithfulness in them."

²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king, and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.

⁵ Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.*

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is* a cruel oppressor, but those who hate unjust gain will have long* days.

⁴ By justice a king gives stability to a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it.

¹⁷ Learn to do good! Seek justice! Rescue the oppressed! Defend the orphan! Plead for the widow!

⁶ For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ _⌊His dominion will grow continually, and to peace there will be no end_⌋* on* the throne of David and over* his kingdom, to establish it* and sustain it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

⁴ But he shall judge the poor with righteousness, and he shall decide for the needy of the earth with rectitude. And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and he shall kill the wicked person with the breath of his lips.

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 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you and your sin remove* with righteousness and your iniquity with having mercy on the oppressed, _⌊in case there might be a prolongation of your prosperity_⌋.'"*

³² This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ And he will reign over the house of Jacob _⌊forever_⌋,* and of his kingdom there will be no end.

⁸ but concerning the Son,
"Your throne, O God, is _⌊forever and ever_⌋*, and the scepter of righteous is the scepter of your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this God, your God, has anointed you with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.*

⁶ His father did not rebuke him _⌊at any time_⌋* by saying, "Why did you do so?" Now he was also very handsome of appearance; she had borne him after Absalom.*

⁵ He who gathers in the summer is a child who is prudent; he who sleeps at the harvest is a child who brings shame.

²⁴ He who withholds his rod hates his child, but he who loves him _⌊gives him_⌋* discipline.

²¹ He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him; the father of a fool will not rejoice.

²⁵ A grief to his father is the child of a fool, and bitterness to her who bore him.

⁶ Train the child _⌊concerning his way_⌋;* even when he is old, he will not stray from it.

¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart* of a boy;* the rod of discipline will drive it* from him.

¹³ Do not withhold discipline from a child, if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die. ¹⁴ As for you, with the rod you shall beat him, and his life* you will save from Sheol.*

¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you rest, and they will give delight to your soul.*

²¹ He who pampers his servant from childhood, _⌊arrogance will be his end_⌋.*

¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed appropriate to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we can have a share in his holiness. ¹¹ Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

³⁴ Wait for Yahweh and keep his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

³⁶ Then he passed on* and behold, he was not. And I sought him, but he could not be found.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

⁸ You will only look with your eyes, and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ For behold, your enemies, O Yahweh, for behold, your enemies will perish. All the workers of evil will be scattered.

¹¹ And so my eye looks on my enemies.* My ears hear those evildoers who rise up against me.

⁸ His heart is sustained; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his enemies.

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

⁴ Who would never fear, Lord, and glorify your name? For only you are holy, because all the nations* will come and worship before you, because your righteous deeds have been revealed."

²⁰ Rejoice over her, heaven and the saints and the apostles and the prophets, because God has pronounced your judgment on her!"

¹⁸ Discipline your child, for there is hope, but on his destruction do not set your desire.*

¹⁵ As for a rod and reproof, they* will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.

²⁵ And Moses saw the people, that they were running wild* because Aaron had allowed them to run wild,* for a laughingstock among _⌊their enemies_⌋.*

¹ Now the boy Samuel was serving Yahweh _⌊in the presence_⌋* of Eli. The word of Yahweh was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

¹⁹ For Yahweh subdued Judah for the sake of Ahaz, king of Israel, for he created disorder in Judah and acted unfaithfully against Yahweh.

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked; nor does he stand in the way of sinners; nor does he sit in the assembly of mockers. ² Instead, in the law of Yahweh is his delight, and on his law he meditates day and night.

¹¹ Moreover, your servant is warned* by them; in keeping them is great reward.

⁹ We do not see our signs, and there is no longer a prophet. No one with us knows how long.

² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies; they seek him with a whole heart.

¹⁶ He who guards commandments guards his life;* he who is careless of his ways will be killed.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from acting as a priest for me.* And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.*

¹¹ Look, the days are coming," _⌊declares_⌋* my Lord Yahweh, "when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine for bread and not a thirst for water, but _⌊of hearing_⌋* the words of Yahweh! ¹² And they will wander from sea to sea and from the north and to the east. They will roam about to seek the word of Yahweh, but they will not find it!

³⁶ And when he* saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd.

²⁸ But he said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it!"*

¹⁷ If you understand these things, you are blessed if you do them.

²¹ The one who has my commandments and keeps them—that one is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him." ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, why* is it that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" ²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and _⌊will take up residence with him_⌋.*

¹³ For "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."* ¹⁴ How then will they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him about whom they have not heard? And how will they hear about him without one who preaches to them? ¹⁵ And how will they preach, unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How timely are the feet of those who bring good news of good things."*

²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed _⌊in what he does_⌋*.

¹⁴ Blessed are the ones who wash their robes, so that their authority will be over the tree of life and they may enter into the city through the gates.

¹⁶ I call to my servant, but* he does not answer; I must _⌊personally_⌋* plead with him.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

²² under a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is satisfied with food;

²⁹ He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the hasty of spirit* exalts folly.

⁵ The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance, but all who are hasty, only to want.

¹² Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹¹ A fool gives all his breath,* but the wise holds back in quiet.

² Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be quick to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore, let your words be few.

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

¹² Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers over all offenses.

¹⁷ He who is short of _⌊temper_⌋* will act foolishly, and the man who schemes will be hated.

¹⁸ A man who is hot-tempered will stir up strife, but he who is slow to _⌊anger_⌋,* he will calm contention.

¹⁹ He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.

²⁴ Do not befriend an owner* of _⌊anger_⌋,* and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;

²¹ As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire, so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.

³³ For pressing milk produces curd, and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing _⌊anger_⌋* produces strife.

¹⁶ For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.

² And you shall remember all of the way that Yahweh your God led you during these forty years in the desert in order to humble you and to test you to know what is in your heart, whether you would diligently keep his commandments or not. ³ And he humbled you and let you go hungry, and then he fed you with that which you did not know nor did your ancestors* know, in order to make you know that not by bread alone but by all that goes out* of the mouth of Yahweh humankind shall live.

¹⁶ the one _⌊feeding you_⌋* manna in the desert, food that your ancestors* did not know, in order to humble you and in order to test you so that he could do good to you _⌊in the future_⌋.*

²⁵ But Hezekiah did not reciprocate according to the benefit placed upon him, because his heart became proud. So wrath was upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. ²⁶ But Hezekiah humbled himself with respect to the arrogance of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

¹⁰ And Yahweh spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not listen. ¹¹ So Yahweh brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria upon them, and they took Manasseh captive with hooks, and they bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon. ¹² And when he was in distress he entreated Yahweh his God and greatly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors*

²³ And he did not humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father humbled himself, but Amon himself multiplied his guilt. ²⁴ And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his house.

²⁹ When they are humiliated, _⌊you say_⌋,* 'It is pride,' for* he saves _⌊the humble_⌋.*

¹² Look at all the proud, humble them, and tread down the wicked _⌊where they stand_⌋.*

² Pride comes, then disgrace comes, but wisdom is with the humble.

³³ Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise, and before honor comes humility.

¹⁸ Before destruction comes pride, and before a fall, a haughty spirit.*

¹² In the presence of destruction, the heart* of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.

¹¹ The _⌊haughty eyes_⌋* of humanity will* be brought low, and the pride of everyone will be humbled, and Yahweh alone will be exalted on that day. ¹² For there is a day for Yahweh of hosts against all of the proud and the lofty and against all that is lifted up and humble,*

¹⁵ For thus says the high and lofty one who resides forever, and whose name is holy:
"I reside in a high and holy place, and with the _⌊contrite_⌋* and humble of spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the _⌊contrite_⌋.*

² And my hand has made all these things, and all these _⌊came to be_⌋,"*
_⌊declares_⌋* Yahweh, "but* I look to this one:
to the humble and the contrite of spirit and the one frightened at my word.

³⁰ And the king answered and said, "Is this not the great Babylon which I have built as a royal palace by the strength of my own power, and for the glory of my own majesty?" ³¹ While the words were still in the mouth of the king, a voice from heaven came, saying, 'To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you, ³² and you will be driven away from _⌊human society_⌋* and your dwelling will be with the animals* of the field and they will cause you to graze the grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind and that he gives it to whom he wills.' ³³ _⌊Immediately_⌋* the word was fulfilled _⌊concerning_⌋* Nebuchadnezzar, and he was expelled from _⌊human society_⌋* and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair was like the hair of an eagle and his nails grew like a bird's claws. ³⁴ "But at the end of _⌊that period_⌋,* I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and then my reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and _⌊the one who lives forever_⌋* I praised and I honored.
"For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom continues from generation to generation. ³⁵ And all the dwellers of the earth are regarded as nothing, and he does _⌊according to_⌋* his desire in the host of heaven and among the dwellers of earth, and there is not one who can hold back his hand, or _⌊ask him_⌋,* 'What are you doing?' ³⁶ "_⌊At that time_⌋* my reason returned to me, and also the glory of my kingdom and my majesty and splendor returned to me, and my advisers and my lords* searched me out, and I was established over my kingdom and abundant greatness was added to me. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are truth,* and his ways are justice and that he is able to humble those who walk in pride."

²⁰ But _⌊when_⌋* his heart became arrogant and his spirit became hard so as to act proudly, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom and the* glory _⌊was taken away from him_⌋.* ²¹ And he was driven away _⌊from human society_⌋* and his mind was made like the animals* and his dwelling was with the wild asses; and _⌊he was given_⌋* grass like oxen to eat, and with* the dew of heaven his body was bathed, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and _⌊whoever_⌋* he wants he sets over it.

³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,

¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one! For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

²³ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down _⌊because_⌋* he did not give the glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and* died.

⁶ But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says,
"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."* ⁷ Therefore subject yourselves to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded! ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your* joy to gloominess. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

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.

¹ " 'When a person* sins in that* he hears the utterance of a curse and he is a witness or he sees or he knows, if he does not make it known, then* he shall bear his guilt.

² And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, and about which you also pronounced a curse _⌊in my hearing_⌋,* are with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by Yahweh."

¹⁸ When you see a thief, then you are pleased with him, and your association is with adulterers. ¹⁹ You give your mouth free rein for evil, and you harness your tongue to deceit. ²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your mother's son. ²¹ These things you have done, and I have been silent; You imagined that I was just like you. I will rebuke you and present an argument before your eyes. ²² Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there will be none to deliver.

¹¹ If they say, "Come with us! We shall lie in wait for blood; we shall ambush the innocent without cause.* ¹² Like Sheol,* we will swallow them alive and whole, _⌊like those who descend to the pit_⌋.* ¹³ We shall find all precious wealth, we shall fill our houses with booty, ¹⁴ you shall throw your lot in our midst, there will be one purse for all of us." ¹⁵ My child, do not walk in their way.* Keep your foot from their paths, ¹⁶ for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood, ¹⁷ for "in vain* is the net scattered, in the sight of any _⌊winged bird_⌋."* ¹⁸ They lie in wait for their own blood. They ambush their own lives. ¹⁹ Thus are the ways of all who are greedy for gain— it will take the life of its possessors.

³² He who commits adultery with a woman lacks _⌊sense_⌋,* he destroys himself* who does it.

³⁶ But he who misses me injures himself.* All those who hate me love death."

³² He who ignores instruction despises himself,* but he who hears admonition gains heart.*

² Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king; he who provokes him forfeits his life.*

²³ Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Every one loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan and the legal dispute of the widow does not come before them.

¹⁷ And he began to teach* and was saying to them, "Is it not written,
'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations,'*
but you have made it a cave of robbers!"

¹¹ And it happened that as he drew near to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "Look now, I know that you are a woman beautiful of appearance, ¹² and it shall happen that, if the Egyptians see you, then they will say, 'This is his wife,' then they will kill me but let you live. ¹³ Please say you are my sister so that it will go well for me on your account. _⌊Then I will live_⌋* on account of you."

² And Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

¹¹ And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place; they will kill me on account of the matter of my wife.

⁷ When the men of the place asked concerning his wife, he said, "She is my sister," for he was afraid to say, "my wife," thinking* "the men of the place will kill me on account of Rebekah, for _⌊she was beautiful_⌋."*

²² And Aaron said, "_⌊Let not my lord become angry_⌋.* You yourself know the people, that _⌊they are intent on evil_⌋.* ²³ And they said to me, 'Make for us gods who will go before us, because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' ²⁴ And I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off.' And they gave it to me, and I threw it in the fire, and out came this bull calf."

²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned because I have transgressed _⌊the commandment of Yahweh_⌋* and your words, for I feared the troops and I listened to their voice.

¹ Then David _⌊thought to himself_⌋,* "Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me but that I must certainly escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will desist from searching for me further in all of the territories of Israel, and so I will escape from his hand."

¹¹ And David did not leave alive a man or a woman to bring them back to Gath, thinking,* "So that they will not report about us, saying, 'David did thus and so.'" Thus was his practice all the days that he lived in the countryside of the Philistines.

³ Then he became afraid,* got up, and _⌊fled for his life_⌋.* He came to Beersheba which belongs to Judah, and he left his servant there.

²⁰ And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he responded to their prayer because they trusted in him.

²⁹ But as for me, though I am afflicted and pained, your salvation will protect* me, O God.

¹⁴ Because he loves me, therefore I will deliver him; I will protect* him because he knows my name.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust in humans.*

¹ A song of ascents.*
Those who trust in Yahweh are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

²⁰ He who is attentive to a matter will find goodness, and he who trusts in Yahweh, his own happiness.

¹⁰ A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him* the righteous will run and be safe.

²⁵ The _⌊greedy person_⌋* will stir up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.

⁵ Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield for him who takes refuge in him.

¹⁸ It is good to take hold of the one and also must not let go of the other; for whoever fears God will hold both of them secure.

¹¹ And of whom were you afraid and feared, that you deceived and did not remember me? Did you not place it on your heart? Have I not been silent, even from long ago, and so you do not fear me?

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar _⌊responded_⌋,* saying, "Blessed be their God, the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel* and rescued his servants who trusted in him, and the command of the king they disobeyed, and they gave their bodies so that they did not serve and did not worship any god except their God.

²³ Then the king was exceedingly glad over it* and commanded that Daniel be lifted up from the pit; and there was not any wound found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁸ And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

¹² Then the disciples came and* said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they* heard this saying?"

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a female slave came up to him and* said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." ⁷⁰ But he denied it* in the presence of them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean!" ⁷¹ And when he* went out to the gateway, another female slave* saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." ⁷² And again he denied it* with an oath, "I do not know the man!" ⁷³ And after a little while those who were standing there came up and* said to Peter, "You really are one of them also, because even your accent _⌊reveals who you are_⌋."* ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

⁴ "And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after these things do not have anything more to do.

² This man came to him at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are* a teacher who has come from God, for no one is able to perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him."

²² (His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already decided that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.

⁴² Yet despite that, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it,* so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved the praise of men more than praise from God.

¹² From this point on Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews shouted, saying, "If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar! Everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar!" ¹³ So Pilate, when he* heard these words, brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat, in the place called The Stone Pavement (but Gabbatha in Aramaic).

¹¹ But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was condemned. ¹² For before certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he* was afraid of those who were of the circumcision, ¹³ and the rest of the Jews also joined in this hypocrisy with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with them in their hypocrisy.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my aid, but they all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord helped me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fulfilled and all the Gentiles might hear, and he rescued me from the lion's mouth.

²¹ who through him are believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

¹⁴ And may El-Shaddai* grant you compassion before the man that he may release your other brother to you and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved."

²⁷ Blessed be Yahweh the God of our ancestors,* who put this in the heart of the king to glorify the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem ²⁸ and who extended to me loyal love before the king and his counselors, and before all of the mighty officials of the king. I took courage, for the hand of Yahweh my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

¹¹ O Lord, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to revere in your name. Please, let your servant be successful this day and give him compassion before this man."
I was cupbearer for the king.

¹⁶ "Go, gather all the Jews that are found in Susa and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, both night and day. I and my young girls will fast likewise, and then I will go to the king, which is not according to the law; if I perish, I perish.

⁹ Rescue,* O Yahweh. Let the king answer us when we call.

¹² And to you belongs loyal love, O Lord, because you will render to each according to his work.

⁷ When the ways of a man are pleasing to Yahweh, even his enemies he will cause to make peace with him.

⁶ Many will seek favor before the generous, and everyone is the friend of a man of gifts.*

²¹ Many plans are in the heart* of a man, but the purpose of Yahweh will be established.

¹ Streams of water are the heart* of a king in the hand of Yahweh; _⌊wherever_⌋* he will desire, he will turn.

⁹ Remember the former things from _⌊a long time ago_⌋,* for I am God and there is none besides me, God and there is none like me, ¹⁰ who from the beginning declares the end, and from before, things that have not been done, who says, 'My plan shall stand,' and, 'I will accomplish* all my wishes,'* ¹¹ who calls a bird of prey from the east, the man of his* plan from a country from afar. Indeed I have spoken; indeed I will bring it to being. I have formed it; indeed I will do it.

⁴ But* I myself said, "I have labored in* vain; I have used up my strength for nothing and vanity! Nevertheless, my justice is with Yahweh, and my reward is with my God."

³⁵ And all the dwellers of the earth are regarded as nothing, and he does _⌊according to_⌋* his desire in the host of heaven and among the dwellers of earth, and there is not one who can hold back his hand, or _⌊ask him_⌋,* 'What are you doing?'

⁴ For I am conscious of nothing against myself, but not by this am I vindicated. But the one who judges me is the Lord.

¹¹⁵ Turn aside from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commands of my God.

²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O Yahweh? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

⁹ Devising folly is a sin, and an abomination to humankind is a scoffer.

¹⁰ Men of blood hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.*

⁸ And I got rid of three shepherds in one month, for _⌊I grew impatient_⌋* with them, and _⌊they also became tired of me_⌋.*

⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it, that its deeds are evil.

¹⁷ These things I command you: that you love one another.

²³ The one who hates me hates my Father also.

¹³ Do not marvel,* brothers, if the world hates you.