Exodus Cross References - NSB

¹ These are the names of the sons of Israel who came with their families and with Jacob to Egypt: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; ³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ⁴ Dan and Naphtali and Gad and Asher. ⁵ Joseph was already in Egypt. The total number of Jacob’s descendants was seventy. ⁶ Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. ⁷ The children of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them. ⁸ A new king, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt. ⁹ He said to his people: »There are too many Israelites! They are stronger than we are. ¹⁰ »We must outsmart them or they will increase in number. If war breaks out they will leave the country and join our enemies to fight against us.« ¹¹ So the Egyptians put slave masters over them in order to oppress them through forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply (storage) cities for Pharaoh. ¹² However the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they increased in number and spread out. The Egyptians could not stand them any longer. ¹³ They forced the Israelites to work hard as slaves. ¹⁴ They made their lives bitter with backbreaking work in mortar and bricks and every kind of work in the fields. All the jobs the Egyptians gave them were brutally hard work. ¹⁵ The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives. Shiphrah and Puah were among them. ¹⁶ He said: »When you help the Hebrew women give birth on the birth stool, if it is a son you shall put him to death. If it is a daughter, then she shall live.« ¹⁷ The midwives respected God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them. They let the boys live. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said: »Why have you let the boys live?« ¹⁹ The midwives replied to Pharaoh: »Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.« ²⁰ God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. ²¹ Because the midwives respected God, He established households for them. ²² Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: Every son who is born must be thrown into the Nile River. However, keep every daughter alive.

²⁰ God said: »Let the waters be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.«

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them: »Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and dominate the birds of the air. Have dominion over every living creature that moves on the ground.«

¹ God blessed Noah and his sons. He said: »Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.

² »I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing.

¹⁶ »I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust, your offspring could be counted.

⁵ He brought him outside and said: »Look toward heaven and count the stars. Are you able to count them?« He continued: »So shall your descendants be.«

¹³ Jehovah said to Abram: »Know this for sure; your offspring will be strangers (aliens) in a land that is not theirs. They will be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years.

⁴ »This is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. ⁵ »You will no longer be called Abram (Exalted Father). Your name will be Abraham (means Father of Many). I have made you a father of many nations. ⁶ »I will make you very fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

¹⁶ »I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.«

¹¹ Abraham said: »I thought that because there are no people who reverence God in this place, I would be killed because of my wife.

¹⁷ ‘»I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities.

⁴ »I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth.

³ »Almighty God will bless your marriage and give you many children. You will become the father of many nations! ⁴ »He will bless you and your descendants as he blessed Abraham. You may take possession of this land, in which you have lived and which God gave to Abraham!«

¹⁴ »Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Every family on earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants.

³¹ Jehovah saw that Leah was loved less, so he made it possible for her to have children. But Rachel had none.

¹¹ God also said: »I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and an assembly of nations will come from you. Kings shall come forth from you.

¹⁸ Rachel was dying! With her last breath she named her son Ben-oni (Son of My Sorrow), but his father named him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand).

²² While Israel lived in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons. ²³ The sons of Leah were Jacob’s firstborn Reuben, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

²³ The sons of Leah were Jacob’s firstborn Reuben, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. ²⁴ The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁵ The sons of Rachel’s slave Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali. ²⁶ The sons of Leah’s slave Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob’s sons, who were born in Paddan-aram.

¹ Two years later Pharaoh had a dream. He dreamed he was standing by the Nile River.

¹⁸ On the third day, Joseph said: »Do this and live, for I too respect God.

³ God said: »I am God! I am the same God your father worshiped. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. I will give you so many descendants that one day they will become a nation.

⁸ These are the names of Israel’s descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn. ⁹ The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁰ The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. ¹¹ The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹² The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan died in Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³ The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. ¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These were the sons Leah gave to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of these sons and daughters was thirty-three. ¹⁶ The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. ¹⁷ The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel. ¹⁸ These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She gave birth to these children for Jacob. The total was sixteen. ¹⁹ The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁰ In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. ²¹ The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob. The total was fourteen. ²³ The son of Dan was Hushim. ²⁴ The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These were the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. She gave birth to these sons for Jacob. The total was seven. ²⁶ The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt was sixty-six. This did not include the wives of Jacob’s sons.

²⁶ The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt was sixty-six. This did not include the wives of Jacob’s sons. ²⁷ Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. There were a total of seventy people in Jacob’s household who went to Egypt.

¹¹ Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt. He gave them property in the best of the land near the city of Rameses. This was as the king had commanded.

²⁷ The Israelites lived in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They became rich and had many children.

⁴ »He promised: ‘I will give you a large family with many descendants that will grow into a nation. I am giving you this land that will belong to you and your family from generation to generation.’« (Hebrew: olam olam) (long lasting possession)

¹⁶ »May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.«

³ »Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons. ⁴ »You are like a raging flood. But you will not be the most important, for you slept with my concubine. You dishonored your father’s bed. ⁵ »Simeon and Levi are brothers. They use their weapons to commit violence. ⁶ »I will not join in their secret talks. I will not take part in their meetings. They killed people in anger. They crippled bulls for sport. ⁷ »A curse is on their anger, because it is so fierce. And a curse is on their fury, because it is so cruel. I will scatter them throughout the land of Israel. I will disperse them among its people. ⁸ »Judah, your brothers will praise you. You hold your enemies by the neck. Your brothers will bow down before you. ⁹ »Judah is like a lion, killing his victim and returning to his den. He is like a lion stretching out and lying down. No one dares disturb him. ¹⁰ »The royal scepter shall not depart from Judah. His descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute and bow in obedience before him. This, until Shiloh comes and all will obey him. ¹¹ »He will tie his donkey to a grapevine, his colt to the best vine. He will wash his clothes in wine, his garments in the blood of grapes. ¹² »His eyes are darker than wine. His teeth are whiter than milk. ¹³ »Zebulun will live by the coast. He will have ships by the coast. His border will go as far as Sidon. ¹⁴ »Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags. ¹⁵ »When he sees that his resting place is good and that the land is pleasant, he will bend his back to the burden and will become a slave laborer. ¹⁶ »Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁷ »Dan will be a snake on a road, a viper on a path that bites a horse’s heels so that its rider falls backwards. ¹⁸ »I wait with hope for your salvation, O Jehovah. ¹⁹ »Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders. He will strike back at their heels. ²⁰ »Asher’s food will be rich. He will provide delicacies fit for a king. ²¹ »Naphtali is a deer set free with beautiful fawns (words). ²² »Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall. ²³ »Archers provoked him, shot at him, and harassed him. ²⁴ »His bow stayed steady! His arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, ²⁵ »because of the God of your father who helps you, because of the Almighty who blesses you from the heavens above, blessings from the deep springs below the ground, blessings from breasts and womb. ²⁶ »The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains and the riches of the ancient hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince among his brothers. ²⁷ »Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning and evening he destroys his enemies.«

²⁴ Before Joseph died, he told his brothers: »I will not live much longer. God will take care of you. He will lead you out of Egypt to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

²⁶ Joseph died in Egypt at the age of one hundred and ten. His body was embalmed and put in a coffin.

⁷ The children of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them.

⁹ He said to his people: »There are too many Israelites! They are stronger than we are.

¹² However the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they increased in number and spread out. The Egyptians could not stand them any longer. ¹³ They forced the Israelites to work hard as slaves.

¹⁶ He said: »When you help the Hebrew women give birth on the birth stool, if it is a son you shall put him to death. If it is a daughter, then she shall live.«

²⁰ God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. ²¹ Because the midwives respected God, He established households for them. ²² Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: Every son who is born must be thrown into the Nile River. However, keep every daughter alive.

¹¹ After Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people (his brothers) were hard at work. He saw an Egyptian beating one of them.

²³ Time went by and the king of Egypt died. The Israelites still groaned because they were slaves. So they cried out, and their cries for help went up to God.

⁷ Jehovah said: »I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt. I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them.

⁴ The king of Egypt replied: »Moses and Aaron, why do you distract the people from their work? Get back to work!« ⁵ Pharaoh added: »Look how many people there are in the land! Do you want them to quit working?« ⁶ Pharaoh gave these orders to the slave drivers and foremen: ⁷ »Do not give the people any more straw to make bricks as you have been doing. Let them gather their own straw. ⁸ »Insist that they make the same number of bricks they were making before. Making fewer bricks will not be acceptable. They are lazy! That is why they are crying: Let us go offer sacrifices to our God. ⁹ »Make the work harder for these people so that they will be too busy to listen to lies.« ¹⁰ The slave drivers and the Israelite foremen went out and said to the Israelites: »The king has said that he will not supply you with any more straw. ¹¹ »He says that you must go and get it for yourselves wherever you can find it. You must still make the same number of bricks.« ¹² So the people went all over Egypt looking for straw. ¹³ The slave bosses were hard on them. They kept saying: »Each day you have to make as many bricks as you did when you were given straw.« ¹⁴ The bosses beat the men in charge of the slaves and said: »Why did you not force the slaves to make as many bricks yesterday and today as they did before?« ¹⁵ Finally, the men in charge of the slaves went to the king and asked: »Why are you treating us like this?

¹⁵ Finally, the men in charge of the slaves went to the king and asked: »Why are you treating us like this? ¹⁶ »No one brings us any straw. Yet we are still ordered to make the same number of bricks. We are beaten with whips, and your own people are to blame.« ¹⁷ The king replied: »You are lazy. You are just lazy! That is why you keep asking me to let you go and sacrifice to Jehovah. ¹⁸ »Get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks.« ¹⁹ The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told: »Do not make fewer bricks each day than you are supposed to.« ²⁰ Leaving the Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting for them. ²¹ They said: »May Jehovah see what you have done and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have given them an excuse to kill us.«

⁶ »Tell the sons of Israel: ‘I am Jehovah. I will bring you out from under the oppression of the Egyptians. I will free you from slavery! I will rescue you with my powerful arm and with mighty acts of judgment.’ ⁷ »I will make you my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Jehovah your God. I brought you out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians.

⁹ Moses reported this to the Israelites. But they would not listen to him. For they were so discouraged by their backbreaking work.

¹⁴ The following men were the heads of their father’s households: The sons of Reuben, Jacob’s oldest son, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁵ The sons of Simeon: Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon. ¹⁶ These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. Levi lived one hundred and thirty-seven years.

¹⁹ Jehovah then spoke to Moses: »Tell Aaron, Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt; its rivers, canals, ponds, and all its reservoirs. They will turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt, even in the buckets of wood and stone pitchers.« ²⁰ Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the Nile in front of Pharaoh and his officials. All the water in the river turned into blood. ²¹ The fish in the Nile died. The river smelled bad. The Egyptians could not drink any water from the river. There was blood everywhere in Egypt.

³⁷ The Israelites left Rameses to go to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children.

² »I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

²⁰ »In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings.

⁴³ »‘Do not treat them harshly. Respect your God.

⁴⁶ »‘You may leave them as an inheritance to your children, whom they must serve as long as they live. But you must not treat any Israelites harshly.

⁵³ »‘He should serve his buyer as a hired worker during those years. His buyer should not treat him harshly.

¹⁵ »‘Our ancestors went to Egypt. We lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated our ancestors and us.

⁴ So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian: »All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way cattle eat up the grass in a field. At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab.« ⁵ He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak’s message was: »A nation has just come here from Egypt. They have spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me. ⁶ »They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then maybe we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse.«

²⁰ »But you are Jehovah’s people! He led you through fiery trials and rescued you from Egypt.

²² »Your fathers traveled to Egypt, seventy persons in all. Now Jehovah your God has made you as numerous as the stars of the universe (physical heavens).

⁵ »Answer before Jehovah your God: ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and traveled there. They were few in number but he became a great, mighty and populous nation. ⁶ »‘The Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us. They imposed hard labor on us.

⁴ The woman took the two men, and hid them. She said: »Men came to me but I did not know where they came from.« ⁵ When it was dark and they shut the gate the men went out. I do not know where they went. Pursue them quickly and you will overtake them. ⁶ She hid them on the rooftop of the house. She covered them with stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof. ⁷ The men pursued them by the road to Jordan to the fords. As soon the pursuers went out they shut the gate. ⁸ Before they laid down to sleep she came up to them on the roof. ⁹ She said to the men: »I know Jehovah has given you the land and the terror of you has fallen on us. All the inhabitants of the land are afraid of you. ¹⁰ »We heard how Jehovah dried up the water of the Red sea for you when you came out of Egypt. And what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ¹¹ »As soon as we heard these things we became discouraged. No man had courage because of you. Jehovah your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. ¹² »I pray that you will swear to me by Jehovah, since I have showed you kindness that you will also show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token(sign) (pledge of truth); ¹³ »That you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers and sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.« ¹⁴ The men answered her: »Our life for yours, if you do not reveal our business. It will be, when Jehovah has given us the land. We will deal kindly and truly with you.« ¹⁵ Then she let them down by a cord through the window for her house was upon the town wall. She lived on the wall. ¹⁶ She said: »Go to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers return and afterward go your way.« ¹⁷ The men said to her: »We will be free from this oath you made us swear. ¹⁸ »When we come into the land, tie this scarlet cord in the window from which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers and sisters and your father’s entire household into your home. ¹⁹ »Whoever goes out of your house into the street will be responsible for his own life. We will be guiltless: and whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is laid on him. ²⁰ »If you tell what we are doing we will be released from the oath you made us swear.« ²¹ She said: »Let it be according to your words.« They departed and she tied the scarlet line in the window. ²² They went to the mountain and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers looked for them everywhere but did not find them. ²³ So the two men descended from the mountain. They returned to Joshua the son of Nun and told him all the things that happened to them. ²⁴ They said to Joshua: »Truly Jehovah has delivered into our hands all of the land. The inhabitants of the country are afraid of us.«

³⁰ He had many wives and seventy sons.

²⁰ She said: »Do not call me Naomi (meaning pleasant). Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life bitter.

³⁵ »‘I will choose a priest who will be faithful to me and do everything I desire him to do. I will give him descendants, who will always serve in the presence of my anointed ones forever.

²⁸ »Also please forgive the transgression of your maidservant. Jehovah will certainly give you a lasting dynasty, because my lord is fighting the battles of Jehovah. Evil will not be found in you all your days.

² The king ordered me to do something, David answered the priest Ahimelech, and he told me: »No one must know anything about this mission I am sending you to do. I have stationed my young men at a certain place.«

¹¹ when I let judges rule my people. I have kept your enemies from attacking you. Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. ¹² »‘I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler. ¹³ »‘I will allow no one to take his long lasting kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me.

²⁷ »Now therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant that it may continue a long time before you. You O Lord Jehovah have spoken. May the house of your servant be blessed from generation to generation. ²⁸ »Lord Jehovah, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. ²⁹ »Please bless my descendants and let them be your chosen kings for a very long time. You have already promised, and I am sure that you will bless my family from generation to generation.«

²⁸ Absalom gave an order to his servants: »Watch now and when Amnon begins to feel good from drinking too much wine, I will tell you, Attack Amnon. Then kill him. Do not be afraid. I give this order. Be strong and courageous.«

¹⁹ The man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the opening of the cistern. She scattered grain over it so that no one would notice anything. ²⁰ Absalom’s officials came to the house and asked the woman: »Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?« She answered: »They crossed the river. The men looked for them but could not find them. So they returned to Jerusalem.«

²⁴ »Now by the living God Jehovah who has given me my throne from David my father. He made me one of a line of kings. He gave me his word. Adonijah will be put to death this day.«

¹⁹ the cities where his supplies were kept, the cities for his horses and chariots, and everything else he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and elsewhere in his kingdom.

³⁸ »‘If you obey me completely I will always be with you. You must live by my laws, and win my approval by doing what I command, as my servant David did. I will make you king of Israel and will make sure that your descendants rule after you, just as I have done for David.

¹ These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, ² Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

²³ These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as Jehovah had promised. ²⁴ From the tribe of Judah, there were six thousand eight hundred warriors armed with shields and spears. ²⁵ From the tribe of Simeon, there were seven thousand one hundred warriors. ²⁶ From the tribe of Levi, there were four thousand six hundred troops. ²⁷ This included Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had three thousand seven hundred under his command. ²⁸ This also included Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two members of his family who were all officers. ²⁹ From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, there were three thousand warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time. ³⁰ From the tribe of Ephraim, there were twenty thousand eight hundred warriors, each famous in his own clan. ³¹ From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, eighteen thousand men were sent for the express purpose of helping David become king. ³² From the tribe of Issachar, there were two hundred leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. ³³ From the tribe of Zebulun, there were fifty thousand skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David. ³⁴ From the tribe of Naphtali, there were one thousand officers and thirty-seven thousand warriors armed with shields and spears. ³⁵ From the tribe of Dan, there were twenty-eight thousand six hundred warriors, all prepared for battle. ³⁶ From the tribe of Asher, there were forty thousand trained warriors, all prepared for battle. ³⁷ From the east side of the Jordan River where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived there were one hundred twenty thousand troops armed with every kind of weapon. ³⁸ All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king of Israel. In fact, all Israel agreed that David should be their king. ³⁹ They feasted and drank with David for three days. Their relatives had made preparations for their arrival. ⁴⁰ People from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine; olive oil, cattle, and sheep were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel

⁴ He rebuilt Tadmor in the desert and built all the storage cities in Hamath.

¹⁶ The following officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: for the tribe of Reuben-Eliezer, son of Zichri for the tribe of Simeo, Shephatiah, son of Maacah ¹⁷ for the tribe of Levi, Hashabiah, son of Kemuel for the family of Aaron, Zadok ¹⁸ for the tribe of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers for the tribe of Issachar, Omri, son of Michael ¹⁹ for the tribe of Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah for the tribe of Naphtali, Jerimoth, son of Azriel ²⁰ for the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea, son of Azaziah for half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel, son of Pedaiah ²¹ for the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah for the tribe of Benjamin-Jaasiel, son of Abner ²² for the tribe of Dan, Azarel, son of Jeroham These were the commanders of Israel’s tribes.

¹⁵ Earlier rulers who came before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver. Even their servants were lords over the people. But I did not do so, out of reverence for God.

²³ »You made their children as great in number as the stars of heaven. You took them into the land, of which you had said to their fathers that they were to go in and take it for themselves.

² »To be sure anger kills a stubborn fool. And jealousy murders a gullible person.

¹³ »He catches the wise with their own craftiness. The plans of schemers are quickly halted.

² The wicked proudly persecutes the poor people. He will be caught in the schemes that he contrived.

¹⁹ Your goodness is so great! You reserve it for those who respect you. The sons of men watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you.

³ Trust Jehovah and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Blessed (happy) is the one who has concern for helpless people. Jehovah will rescue (save) him in times of trouble. ² Jehovah will guard him and keep him alive. He will be blessed in the land. Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies.

¹³ Though you stayed among the sheep pens, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, its feathers with yellow gold.

⁵ You have heard my vows, O God, and you have given me what belongs to those who respect your name.

⁹ Indeed, his salvation is near those who reverence him, and his glory will remain in our land.

⁶ »I relieved his shoulder of the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.

³ They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones. ⁴ They say: »Come and let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.«

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy toward those who reverence him.

¹³ They went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people.

²⁴ Jehovah made his people grow rapidly in number and stronger than their enemies.

²⁴ Jehovah made his people grow rapidly in number and stronger than their enemies. ²⁵ He changed their minds so that they hated his people, and they dealt treacherously with his servants.

²⁵ He changed their minds so that they hated his people, and they dealt treacherously with his servants.

⁵ He provides food for those who reverence him. He always remembers his covenant.

¹ ([Psalm of Solomon]) If Jehovah does not build the house, it is vain for the builders to work on it. If Jehovah does not protect a city, it is vain for the guard to stay alert.

³ Children are an inheritance from Jehovah. They are a blessing from him.

¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who reverence him. He will also hear their cry and will save them.

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

¹⁶ They do not sleep unless they have done evil. Their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.

¹¹ If they say: »Come with us. Let us lie in wait to kill someone. Let us ambush the innocent without cause.

¹³ »Respect for Jehovah means to hate evil. I hate: pride, and arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

¹⁸ The wicked works a deceitful work. There is a sure reward for the one who sows righteousness.

²⁸ In the multitude of people is the king's honor, but the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

¹⁷ When you help the poor (needy) (lowly) (depressed) you lend to Jehovah. He will pay you back.

³⁰ There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah!

¹¹ If you do not deliver those who are condemned to death, ¹² You may say: »We did not know this,« but God knows and judges your motives. He keeps watch on you and knows. He will reward each man according to his deeds.

⁶ Sin is atoned by loving kindness and truth. Respect for Jehovah keeps one away from evil.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death!

³ By wisdom a house is built. It is established by understanding.

⁴ Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

¹⁸ I hated all the work I had done under the sun, because I would leave it behind for the man who comes after me. ¹⁹ Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? But he will have power over all the work that I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This too is vanity.

⁴ I have learned why people work so hard to succeed. It is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is vanity! It is like chasing the wind.

⁴ There is power (authority) in the word of a king. Who may ask him: »What are you doing?«

¹² Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and he lives a long life, yet I know that it will be well with those who respect (reverence) God and worship him.

¹⁵ Now there was found in it a poor wise man. By his wisdom he delivered the city. Yet no man remembered that same poor man.

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.

¹⁰ Tell the righteous that blessings will come to them. They will taste the fruit of their labor.

⁶ »They struck the people with fury, with blows that did not stop. They ruled nations in anger, persecuting them without restraint.

²³ »I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you: ‘Lie down that we may walk all over you. You made your back like the ground like a street to be walked over.«’

⁵ »What do I have here?« Declares Jehovah. »For my people have been taken away for nothing. Those who rule them mock,« declares Jehovah. »And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.

⁶ »Is this not the fast I choose to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

² »Go into the house of the Rechabites and talk to them. Take them into the House of Jehovah, into one of the rooms, and give them wine.«

³³ Jehovah of Hosts says: »All the people of Israel and Judah are oppressed. All their enemies have captured them. They refuse to let them go. ³⁴ »Their defender is strong. His name is Jehovah of Hosts. He will certainly take up their cause in order to bring rest to the land of Israel and unrest to the people who live in Babylon.

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king: »O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ »If it is so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the blazing furnace. He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ »If not you should know O king that we will not serve your gods. We will not worship the golden image that you set up!«

¹³ Then they said: »Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not show you respect, O king, nor the decree that you signed. He offers his prayer three times a day.«

¹¹ »Ephraim is oppressed. He is crushed in judgment because he was content to walk after man's command.

³ »You eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them! You break their bones, and chop them in pieces similar to the contents of a pot or a caldron.

¹⁶ »The statutes of Omri and the works of the house of Ahab are observed. You walk in their counsels. I will make you desolation! The inhabitants will be hissed. You will bear the reproach of my people.«

¹⁴ »Draw (pump) water for the siege! Strengthen your defenses! Step into the clay pits and trample the clay! Grab hold of the brick mold!

²⁸ »Do not fear those who kill the body. They are not able to take away your [everlasting] life. Instead, fear him who is able to destroy both life and body in the ever-burning fires. (Greek: Gehenna: continuously burning trash fires in the valley of Hinnom.)

⁴² »And whoever gives a drink of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will not lose his reward.«

³⁸ »When the workmen saw the son, they said, ‘Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.’

⁴⁰ »The King will answer: ‘To the extent that you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.’

⁵⁰ »His mercy is to all generations for all who respect him.

⁵ »I will show you the one to fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has power to destroy you (throw into the ever-burning trash fires of the valley of Hinnom) (Greek: Gehenna). This is one you should fear.

¹⁹ The Pharisees spoke among themselves: »You see that you are not accomplishing anything. Look the world has gone after him.«

² They were annoyed because they taught the people through Jesus. They preached the resurrection from the dead. ³ They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening. ⁴ Many who heard the word believed. There were about five thousand men.

¹⁸ They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ Peter and John answered: »You judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God. ²⁰ »We cannot stop speaking the things we have seen and heard.«

¹⁹ »He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our fathers so that they cast out their young children and they did not survive.

³⁴ »I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come to deliver them. Come, I will send you into Egypt.

²⁸ »Did we command you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are willing to bring this man’s blood upon us.« ²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered: »We must obey God rather than men.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered: »We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ »The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed. You hanged him on a stake. ³¹ »God exalted him to his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² »We are witnesses of these things. The Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who obey him, also witnessed.« ³³ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to kill them.

¹⁴ »Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his family, seventy-five people. ¹⁵ »Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers. ¹⁶ »Their bodies were brought to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem. ¹⁷ »When the time of God’s promise to Abraham drew near, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt. ¹⁸ »Another king arose. He did not know Joseph.

¹⁸ »Another king arose. He did not know Joseph.

¹² When day arrived some of the Jews came together and united with an oath saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. It is written: »He catches the wise in their own craftiness (deception).« (Job 5:13) ²⁰ And again: »Jehovah knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain (useless) (empty).« (Psalm 94:11)

³ For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous (unjust) to forget your work and the love you showed for his name. You ministered to the holy ones and continue to minister.

⁶ »Jehovah disciplines those he loves. In fact he scourges every son (child) he receives.« ⁷ God deals with you like children. Endure discipline (instruction) (training). Who is the child whom a father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are without discipline, you are illegitimate children, and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh that corrected us, and we gave them respect. Shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a few days for their own pleasure. He disciplines for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹ Now no discipline for the present seems to be joyous. In fact it seems grievous! Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained.

¹⁴ If you have bitter jealousy (envy) and greedy ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.

¹⁵ This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfishness are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfishness are, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable (yielding), full of mercy and good fruits, without discord (partiality), without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

⁵ Or do you think the scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the attitude of the heart (mental disposition) that he induced to live in us cause us to envy?

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed. There were sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel. ⁵ Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. ⁶ Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand. ⁷ Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. ⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

⁴ His tail swept a third of the stars of heaven, and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered. He was ready to devour her child as soon as it was born.

⁴ Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and fountains of waters and they became blood. ⁵ I heard the angel of the waters say: »You are righteous, Jehovah, who are, and was, the Holy One, because you have judged these things. (Exodus 3:14) ⁶ »They have shed the blood of the holy ones and prophets. You give them blood to drink for they deserve it.«