Genesis 27 Cross References - NSB

¹ Isaac was old and going blind. He called his older son Esau and said to him: »Son!« Esau answered: »Here I am.« ² Isaac said: »I am old. I do not know when I will die. ³ »Please take your hunting equipment, your quiver and bow, and go out into the open country and hunt some wild game for me. ⁴ »Prepare a good-tasting meal for me. Prepare it the way I like it. Bring it to me to eat so that I will bless you before I die.« ⁵ Rebekah listened while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau. Esau went into the open country to hunt for some wild game to bring back. ⁶ Rebekah said to her son Jacob: »I have just heard your father speak to your brother Esau. ⁷ »He said: ‘Bring me some wild game, and prepare a good-tasting meal for me to eat. Then I will bless you in the presence of Jehovah before I die.’ ⁸ »Now listen to me, Son, and do what I tell you. ⁹ »Go to the flock and pick out two fat young goats. I will cook them and make some of that food your father likes so much. ¹⁰ »You take it to him to eat. Then he will give you his blessing before he dies.« ¹¹ Jacob said to his mother: »You know that Esau is a hairy man. I have smooth skin. ¹² »Perhaps my father will touch me and find out that I am deceiving him. That way, I will bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.« ¹³ His mother replied: »Let any curse against you fall on me, my son. Just do as I say, and go and get the goats for me.« ¹⁴ So Jacob brought the meat to his mother. And she cooked the tasty food that his father liked. ¹⁵ Then she took Esau’s best clothes and dressed Jacob in them. ¹⁶ She also covered the smooth part of his hands and neck with goatskins. ¹⁷ She gave her son Jacob the good-tasting meal and the bread she had prepared. ¹⁸ He went to his father and said: »Father?« »Yes,« he answered. »Who are you, Son?« ¹⁹ Jacob answered: »I am your older son Esau. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of the meat that I brought you. Then you can give me your blessing.« ²⁰ Isaac said: »How did you find it so quickly, son?« Jacob answered: »Jehovah your God helped me find it.« ²¹ Isaac said to Jacob: »Please come closer. Let me touch you. Are you really Esau?« ²² Jacob went closer. His father touched him. He said: »You sound like Jacob, but your hands feel hairy like Esau’s.« ²³ So Isaac blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau. ²⁴ Isaac asked: »Are you really my son Esau?« »Yes, I am,« Jacob answered. ²⁵ So Isaac told him: »Serve me the wild meat. I can give you my blessing.« Jacob gave him some meat, and he ate it. He also gave him some wine, and he drank it. ²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him: »Come close, my son, and kiss me.« ²⁷ He came close and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his garments. Then he blessed him and said: »See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field Jehovah has blessed.« ²⁸ »May God give you of the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine. ²⁹ »May peoples serve you. And nations bow down to you. Be master of your brothers. And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you. Blessed be those who bless you.« ³⁰ No sooner had Isaac finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob left his presence, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. ³¹ He also prepared a good-tasting meal and brought it to his father. Then he said to his father: »Please, Father, eat some of the meat I have hunted for you so that you will bless me.« ³² »Who are you?« his father Isaac asked him. »I am your firstborn son, Esau,« he answered. ³³ Isaac began to tremble and shake all over. He asked: »Who was it, then, who killed an animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my final blessing, and so it is his forever.« ³⁴ When Esau heard this he cried out loudly and bitterly. He said: »Give me your blessing also, Father!« ³⁵ Isaac responded: »Your brother deceived me. He has taken your blessing.« ³⁶ Esau said: »This is the second time that he has cheated me. No wonder his name is Jacob. He took my rights as the firstborn son. Now he has taken my blessing. Have you saved a blessing for me?« ³⁷ Isaac answered: »I have already made him master over you. I have made all his relatives his slaves. I have given him grain and wine. Now there is nothing that I can do for you, son!« ³⁸ Esau pleaded: »Father, please! Do you have only one blessing, Father? Bless me too, Father!« Esau broke down and wept. ³⁹ Then Isaac said to him: »You will live off the land and what it yields. ⁴⁰ »You will live by your sword. You will serve your brother. Soon you will become restless and break his yoke from your neck.« ⁴¹ So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him. Esau said to himself: »The days of mourning for my father are near. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.« ⁴² When Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans to kill Jacob, she called her younger son, Jacob. She said: »Your brother Esau is comforting himself by planning to kill you. ⁴³ »Go quickly, my son. Run away to my brother Laban in Haran. ⁴⁴ »Stay with him until your brother’s anger cools down. ⁴⁵ »When your brother’s anger is gone and he has forgotten what you did to him, I will let you know. Then you may come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?« ⁴⁶ Rebekah said to Isaac: »I cannot stand Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.«

² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ As time went by, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to Jehovah. ⁴ But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn (firstlings) of his flock. Jehovah looked with favor on Abel and his offering. ⁵ He did not look with favor on Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was downcast (he had a bad attitude). ⁶ Jehovah said to Cain: »Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ »If you do what is right, will not your attitude improve? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must master it.« ⁸ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁸ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹ Jehovah asked Cain: »Where is your brother Abel?« »I do not know,« he replied. »Am I my brother’s keeper?« ¹⁰ Jehovah said: »What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood (life) cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ »Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² »When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer (vagabond) on the earth.« ¹³ Cain said to Jehovah: »My punishment is more than I can bear. ¹⁴ »You are driving me from the land today. I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless (homeless) wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me.« ¹⁵ Jehovah replied to him: »If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.« Then Jehovah put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. ¹⁶ Cain went out from Jehovah’s presence and lived in the land of Nod (Fugitiveness). Nod is east of Eden.

⁵ »I will require your lifeblood as an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. I will demand an accounting from each man for the life of his fellow man. ⁶ »Whoever sheds the blood of man will have his blood shed by man. For man was made in the image of God.

²⁵ He (Noah) said: »Canaan is cursed! He will be a lowly slave to his brothers.«

²⁵ He (Noah) said: »Canaan is cursed! He will be a lowly slave to his brothers.« ²⁶ He also said: »Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem.

⁹ He was a mighty hunter before Jehovah. That is why it is said: »Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Jehovah.«

³¹ Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.

³ »I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.« ⁴ So Abram left, just as Jehovah told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. ⁵ He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran. They set out for the land of Canaan and soon arrived there.

¹⁹ He blessed him and said: »Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth.

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. ¹⁸ ‘»All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants. This is because you obeyed my command.’«

³ »I want you to swear by Jehovah God of heaven and earth that you will not get my son a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am living.

¹² He said: »O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today. Show loving-kindness to my master Abraham.

²⁹ Rebecca’s brother was named Laban. He ran outside to go to the well where Abraham’s servant was.

⁶⁰ They gave Rebecca their blessing in these words: »May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendants conquer the cities of their enemies!«

²² She was going to have twins. Before they were born they struggled against each other in her womb. She said: »Why should something like this happen to me?« She asked Jehovah for an answer. ²³ Jehovah said: »Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.«

²³ Jehovah said: »Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.«

²³ Jehovah said: »Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.« ²⁴ The time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to twin sons. ²⁵ The first one was reddish. His skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau.

²⁵ The first one was reddish. His skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau. ²⁶ The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. ²⁷ The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors. Jacob was an upright man who stayed at home.

²⁷ The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors. Jacob was an upright man who stayed at home. ²⁸ Isaac preferred Esau. This is because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed. Rebecca preferred Jacob.

²⁸ Isaac preferred Esau. This is because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed. Rebecca preferred Jacob.

³¹ Jacob answered: »I will give it to you if you give me your birthright as the firstborn son.« ³² Esau said: »All right! I am about to die. What good are rights as firstborn to me?« ³³ Jacob answered: »First make a vow that you will give me your birthright.« Esau made the vow and gave his rights as firstborn to Jacob.

³³ Jacob answered: »First make a vow that you will give me your birthright.« Esau made the vow and gave his rights as firstborn to Jacob. ³⁴ Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. Esau did not care about his birthright.

¹² Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. Jehovah blessed him.

³⁴ When Esau was forty he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. ³⁵ These two women brought a lot of grief to his parents, Isaac and Rebekah.

⁴ »Prepare a good-tasting meal for me. Prepare it the way I like it. Bring it to me to eat so that I will bless you before I die.«

⁷ »He said: ‘Bring me some wild game, and prepare a good-tasting meal for me to eat. Then I will bless you in the presence of Jehovah before I die.’ ⁸ »Now listen to me, Son, and do what I tell you. ⁹ »Go to the flock and pick out two fat young goats. I will cook them and make some of that food your father likes so much.

¹² »Perhaps my father will touch me and find out that I am deceiving him. That way, I will bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.« ¹³ His mother replied: »Let any curse against you fall on me, my son. Just do as I say, and go and get the goats for me.«

¹⁶ She also covered the smooth part of his hands and neck with goatskins. ¹⁷ She gave her son Jacob the good-tasting meal and the bread she had prepared. ¹⁸ He went to his father and said: »Father?« »Yes,« he answered. »Who are you, Son?« ¹⁹ Jacob answered: »I am your older son Esau. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of the meat that I brought you. Then you can give me your blessing.« ²⁰ Isaac said: »How did you find it so quickly, son?« Jacob answered: »Jehovah your God helped me find it.« ²¹ Isaac said to Jacob: »Please come closer. Let me touch you. Are you really Esau?«

²¹ Isaac said to Jacob: »Please come closer. Let me touch you. Are you really Esau?«

²¹ Isaac said to Jacob: »Please come closer. Let me touch you. Are you really Esau?« ²² Jacob went closer. His father touched him. He said: »You sound like Jacob, but your hands feel hairy like Esau’s.«

²² Jacob went closer. His father touched him. He said: »You sound like Jacob, but your hands feel hairy like Esau’s.« ²³ So Isaac blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau.

²³ So Isaac blessed Jacob, thinking he was Esau. ²⁴ Isaac asked: »Are you really my son Esau?« »Yes, I am,« Jacob answered. ²⁵ So Isaac told him: »Serve me the wild meat. I can give you my blessing.« Jacob gave him some meat, and he ate it. He also gave him some wine, and he drank it.

²⁵ So Isaac told him: »Serve me the wild meat. I can give you my blessing.« Jacob gave him some meat, and he ate it. He also gave him some wine, and he drank it.

²⁷ He came close and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his garments. Then he blessed him and said: »See, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field Jehovah has blessed.« ²⁸ »May God give you of the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine.

²⁸ »May God give you of the dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine. ²⁹ »May peoples serve you. And nations bow down to you. Be master of your brothers. And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you. Blessed be those who bless you.«

³¹ He also prepared a good-tasting meal and brought it to his father. Then he said to his father: »Please, Father, eat some of the meat I have hunted for you so that you will bless me.«

³⁴ When Esau heard this he cried out loudly and bitterly. He said: »Give me your blessing also, Father!« ³⁵ Isaac responded: »Your brother deceived me. He has taken your blessing.« ³⁶ Esau said: »This is the second time that he has cheated me. No wonder his name is Jacob. He took my rights as the firstborn son. Now he has taken my blessing. Have you saved a blessing for me?« ³⁷ Isaac answered: »I have already made him master over you. I have made all his relatives his slaves. I have given him grain and wine. Now there is nothing that I can do for you, son!«

³⁹ Then Isaac said to him: »You will live off the land and what it yields.

⁴³ »Go quickly, my son. Run away to my brother Laban in Haran.

³ »Almighty God will bless your marriage and give you many children. You will become the father of many nations!

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!«

⁷ Jacob did as his father and mother said. He went to Paddan-aram. ⁸ It was clear to Esau that his father despised the local Canaanite women.

¹⁰ Jacob left Beer-sheba and traveled toward Haran.

²³ In the evening when it was dark, he took Leah, his daughter, and gave her to him. Jacob slept with her. ²⁴ Laban gave Zilpah, his servant-girl, to Leah, to be her maid. ²⁵ »What have you done to me?« Jacob asked Laban: »Did I work for you in return for Rachel? Why did you cheat me?«

³⁸ »I have been with you now for twenty years. Your sheep and your goats have not failed to reproduce. I have not even eaten any rams from your flocks.

⁴¹ »I have been in your house twenty years! I was your servant for fourteen years because of your daughters. I kept your flock for six years. You changed my wages ten times.

⁶ When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said: »We went to your brother Esau. He is already on his way to meet you. He has four hundred men with him.«

¹¹ »Save me from the hand of Esau, my brother. I fear that he will attack me and kill both mothers and children.

²⁸ The man said: »Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel (He Struggles With God), because you have struggled with God and with men and you have won.«

¹ One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the Canaanite women. ² Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite, who was chief of that region, saw her. He grabbed her and raped (sexually defiled) her.

²⁹ Isaac took his last breath and died. He joined his ancestors in death at a very old age. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

⁶ Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. ⁷ For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. ⁸ So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.

⁴ Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and could not speak to him in a friendly way.

⁷ »We were all in the field tying up sheaves of wheat. My sheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mine and bowed down to it.« ⁸ »Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?« his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and because of what he said about them.

¹⁸ Before he arrived, they saw him coming and made plans to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another: »Look, here comes the hero of those dreams! ²⁰ »Let us kill him and throw him into a water pit. We can say that some wild animal ate him. Then we will see what happens to those dreams.«

²¹ They said to one another: »Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw his distress when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen. Therefore this distress has come upon us.« ²² Reuben said: »Did I not tell you? Did I say, ‘Do not sin against the boy’? You would not listen! Now comes the reckoning for his blood.«

⁹ »I guarantee that he will come back. You can hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here in front of you, you can blame me the rest of my life.

¹⁸ »Have them get their father and their families and come back here. I will give them the best of the land in Egypt. They will have more than enough to live on.

²⁹ When the time drew near for him to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him: »Place your hand under my thighs and make a solemn vow that you will not bury me in Egypt.

⁹ »They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt.« »Bring them to me,« Jacob said. »I want to give them my blessing.« Joseph brought the boys to him. ¹⁰ Israel’s eyesight was failing because of old age. He could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father. Israel hugged them and kissed them.

¹⁵ Jacob blessed Joseph. He said: »May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may this God who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, 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.« ¹⁷ Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Joseph did not like it. So he took his father’s hand in order to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. ¹⁸ He said to his father: »That is not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.« ¹⁹ His father refused and said: »I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations.« ²⁰ That day he blessed them. He said: »Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’ In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.« ²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph: »I am about to die. God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

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.

²⁰ »Asher’s food will be rich. He will provide delicacies fit for a king.

²⁸ These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is how Jacob blessed each of them.

³ It took forty days, which is the normal time for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. ⁴ When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the king’s officials: »Please take this message to the king:

¹⁰ They mourned loudly for a long time at the threshing place at Atad east of the Jordan. Joseph performed mourning ceremonies for seven days. ¹¹ The citizens of Canaan saw those people mourning at Atad. They said: »What a solemn ceremony of mourning the Egyptians are holding!« That is why the place was named Abel-mizraim.

⁷ »Never use the name of Jehovah your God in a false and evil way. Jehovah will make sure that anyone who is false, evil, careless and vain with his name will be punished.

²² Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. He sacrificed the offering for sin, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Then he came down from the altar. ²³ Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. As soon as they came out, they blessed the people. Then Jehovah’s glory appeared to all the people.

¹⁵ »If you treat me like this have pity on me and kill me. That way I will not have to endure my shame any longer.«

¹¹ »Some people came from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I will be able to fight them and force them out.« ¹² God said to Balaam: »Do not go with them! Do not curse these people. They are blessed!«

²⁰ »Is the soil rich or poor? Does the land have trees or not? Do your best to bring back some fruit from the land.« It was the season when grapes were beginning to ripen.

¹² »I also give you the first of the produce they give Jehovah. It is the best of all the olive oil and the best of the new wine and fresh grain.

⁸ »‘How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom Jehovah has not condemned?

⁹ »He bows down and he lies down like a lion. Like a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you! Cursed is everyone who curses you!«

¹³ »He will love you, bless you, and increase the number of your descendants. He will bless you with children. He will bless your land with produce: grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will bless your herds with calves, and your flocks with lambs and kids. This will all happen in the land Jehovah will give you, as he swore to your fathers.

⁷ »Jehovah your God will lead you into a good land. It is a land with rivers that do not dry up. Springs and underground streams flow through the valleys and the hills. ⁸ »The land has wheat and barley, grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates. The land has honey and olive trees for olive oil. ⁹ »The land will have enough food for you, and you will have everything you need. The land has rocks with iron ore. You will be able to mine copper ore in the mountains.

¹¹ »But the land you go to possess is a land of hills and valleys. It drinks water from the rain from the clouds in the sky. ¹² »Jehovah your God cares about this land. Jehovah watches over it day after day and year by year.

¹⁸ »‘Cursed is the man who misleads a blind person on the road. And all the people answer: Amen.

² »My instruction shall drop as the rain; my words shall descend like dew, as the gentle rains on the tender plant, and as the showers on vegetation.

¹ These are the blessings that Moses, the man of God, pronounced on the people of Israel before he died:

¹ These are the blessings that Moses, the man of God, pronounced on the people of Israel before he died: ² »Jehovah came from Mount Sinai. He rose like the sun over Edom and shone on his people from Mount Paran. Ten thousand angels were with him. A flaming fire was at his right hand. ³ »Jehovah loves his people. All Your holy ones are in your hand. They followed in your steps and everyone receives your words. ⁴ »Moses commanded us with a law (these teachings), a heritage of the assembly of Jacob. ⁵ »He was king in Jeshurun (Israel) when the leaders and all the tribes of the people of Israel were gathered. ⁶ »Do not let his men be few.« ⁷ »Hear, O Jehovah, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them. May you (Jehovah) be help against his adversaries.« ⁸ »Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to your godly man, whom you tested at Massah and with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah. ⁹ »Who said of his father and mother: ‘I have not seen them; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons. They observed your word and kept your covenant.’ ¹⁰ »They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar. ¹¹ »O Jehovah, bless his skills and accept the work of his hands. Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him and those who hate him, so that they will not rise again.« ¹² »May the beloved of Jehovah dwell in security by him who shields him all the day. He dwells between his shoulders.« ¹³ »Blessed of Jehovah is his land. Bless it with the dew from heaven above and with the deep waters lying below.

¹³ »Blessed of Jehovah is his land. Bless it with the dew from heaven above and with the deep waters lying below. ¹⁴ »Bless with the choice yield of the sun, and with the bounty produced each month. ¹⁵ »Bless with the best things of the ancient mountains, and with the choice things of the everlasting hills. ¹⁶ »Bless with the choice things of the earth and its fullness. Let the favor of him who dwelt in the bush come to the head of Joseph and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. ¹⁷ »As the firstborn of his bulls, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild bull. With them he will push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.« ¹⁸ »Rejoice Zebulun in your going out. And rejoice Issachar in your tents. ¹⁹ »They will call peoples to the mountain. There they will offer righteous sacrifices. They will draw out the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.« ²⁰ »Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad. He lies down as a lion and tears the arm, also the crown of the head. ²¹ »He provided the first part for himself. There the ruler's portion was reserved. He came with the leaders of the people and executed his ordinance of Israel and the justice of Jehovah.« ²² »Dan is a lion's cub. He leaps forth from Bashan.« ²³ »O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of Jehovah, take possession of the sea and the south.« ²⁴ »Asher is the most blessed with sons. May his brothers favor him. And may he dip his foot in oil. ²⁵ »Your locks will be iron and bronze. According to your days, so will your leisurely walk be. ²⁶ »There is none like the God of Jeshurun (Israel). He rides the heavens to give you help. He goes through the skies in his majesty. ²⁷ »The eternal God is a dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He drove out the enemy from before you, and said: ‘Destroy!’ ²⁸ »Israel dwells in security. The fountain of Jacob is secluded in a land of grain and new wine. His heavens also drop down dew.

²⁸ »Israel dwells in security. The fountain of Jacob is secluded in a land of grain and new wine. His heavens also drop down dew. ²⁹ »You are blessed O Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Jehovah? He is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you and you will tread upon their high places.«

⁸ So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.

⁶ The children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of Jehovah. Jehovah swore that he would not show them the land, which he swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey.

¹³ Joshua blessed Caleb the son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron for an inheritance.

²⁶ Joshua pronounced an oath at that time, saying: »Cursed be the man before Jehovah, that rises up and builds this city Jericho. He will lay the foundation at the cost of his firstborn. He will set up the gates at the cost of his youngest son.«

⁶ Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way.

⁴ and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Edom as his possession, but your ancestor Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

¹⁵ Not knowing that it was Jehovah’s angel, Manoah said: »Please do not go yet. Let us cook a young goat for you.«

² Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes became dim and he could not see.

²⁰ Jesse loaded a donkey with bread and a goatskin full of wine. He told David to take the donkey and a young goat to Saul.

³ David again said: »Your father has certainly known that I have found favor in your eyes.« He said: »Do not let Jonathan know this, that he not be grieved. And yet, as Jehovah lives, and you live, there is only a step between death and me.«

¹⁹ »You would not let me live if you were my enemy. I pray that Jehovah will reward you for what you did today.

²⁴ She fell at his feet and said: »Let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to me.

¹⁰ Achish would ask: »Whom did you raid today?« David would answer: »The south country (Negev) in Judah, or the south country of the Jerahmeelites, or the south country of the Kenites.«

⁴ David and his men cried loudly until they did not have the strength to cry anymore. ⁵ The Amalekites also captured David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal’s widow, from Carmel.

²⁴ And all the people were with Saul. There were about twenty thousand men. The fight was general through all the mountains of Ephraim. Saul made a great error that day. He put the people under an oath, saying: »Let that man be cursed who eats any food before evening. I have taken vengeance on my enemies.« So the people did not eat. ²⁵ All the people came to the forest. There was honey on the ground. The bees had gone from it. ²⁶ When the people entered the woods, the honey was flowing. But no one put his hand to his mouth. The people were afraid of violating their oath. ²⁷ Jonathan had not heard that his father forced the people to take an oath. So he stretched out the tip of the staff he had in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he put it to his mouth his eyes lit up. ²⁸ Then one of the people told him: »Your father forced the people to take a solemn oath, saying: ‘Cursed is anyone who eats food today.’« That is why the people were exhausted.

³⁶ Saul said: »Let us attack the Philistines again while it is still dark. We can fight them all night. Let us kill them and take everything they own!« The people answered: »We will do whatever you want.« Ahijah the priest said: »Wait! Let us ask God what we should do.« ³⁷ Saul asked God: »Should I attack the Philistines? Will you help us win?« This time God did not answer. ³⁸ Saul called his army officers together and said: »We have to find out what sin has kept God from answering. ³⁹ »I promise by the living Jehovah, who gives Israel victory, that the guilty one will be put to death, even if he is my son Jonathan.« But no one said anything. ⁴⁰ Then Saul said to them: »All of you stand over there. Jonathan and I will stand over here.« »Do whatever you think best,« they answered. ⁴¹ Saul said to Jehovah the God of Israel, give a perfect lot. Jonathan and Samuel were taken, but the people escaped. ⁴² Then Saul said: »Cast lots to decide between my son Jonathan and me.« And Jonathan was indicated. ⁴³ Then Saul asked Jonathan: »What have you done?« Jonathan answered: »I ate a little honey with the stick I was holding. Here I am. I am ready to die.« ⁴⁴ Saul said: »May God strike me dead if you are not put to death!« ⁴⁵ But the people said to Saul: »Will Jonathan, who won this great victory for Israel, be put to death?« »No! We promise by the living Jehovah that he will not lose even a hair from his head. What he did today was done with God’s help.« So the people saved Jonathan from being put to death.

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.«

¹³ Right there in front of everyone, he pretended to be insane. He acted confused and scratched up the doors of the town gate. He drooled in his beard.

²¹ »Let no rain or dew fall on the mountains of Gilboa. Let its fields be barren! For the shields of the mighty lie there in disgrace. The shield of Saul is no longer polished with oil.

¹ King David attacked the Philistines again. He defeated them and ended their control over Methegammah. ² He defeated the Moabites. He made the prisoners lie down on the ground and put two out of every three of them to death. So the Moabites became his subjects and paid taxes to him. ³ David defeated the king of the Syrian state of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob. Hadadezer was on his way to restore his control over the territory by the upper Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured seventeen hundred of his cavalry and twenty thousand of his foot soldiers. He kept enough horses for a hundred chariots and crippled (hamstrung) all the rest. ⁵ The Syrians of Damascus sent an army to help King Hadadezer. David attacked it and killed twenty-two thousand men. ⁶ Then he set up military camps in their territory. They became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Jehovah made David victorious everywhere. ⁷ David captured the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officials and took them to Jerusalem. ⁸ King David also took a large quantity of copper from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities. ⁹ Soon King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s entire army. ¹⁰ He sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. There had often been war between Hadadezer and Toi. Joram brought articles of gold, silver, and copper with him. ¹¹ King David dedicated these articles to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold he dedicated from all the nations he conquered. ¹² These nation included: Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the goods taken from Zobah’s King Hadadezer, son of Rehob. ¹³ David made a name for himself by killing eighteen thousand Edomites in the Dead Sea region as he returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ He put troops everywhere in Edom. All the Edomites were David’s subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.

¹⁴ He put troops everywhere in Edom. All the Edomites were David’s subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories. ¹⁵ So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records. ¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, were the priests. Seraiah was the secretary. ¹⁸ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of David’s bodyguard. David’s sons were priests.

¹ Later the king of Ammon died. His son Hanun became king in his place. ² David thought: »I will show kindness to Hanun since his father Nahash showed me kindness.« David sent his servants to comfort Hanun after his father’s death. When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory, ³ the Ammonite princes asked their master Hanun: »Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Perhaps David sent his men to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it.« ⁴ Hanun seized David’s men and shaved off half of each man’s beard. He cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away. ⁵ David was told what happened. He sent someone to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them: »Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back. Then return to Jerusalem.« ⁶ The Ammonites realized they had made themselves repulsive to David. They hired the Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah, with twenty thousand foot soldiers. From the army of the king of Maacah they hired one thousand men, and twelve thousand men of Tob. ⁷ After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. ⁸ The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country. ⁹ Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind. He took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. ¹⁰ He put his brother Abishai in command of the rest of the army and had them fight the Ammonites. ¹¹ Joab told his brother: »If the Arameans are too much for me to handle, you can come and help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you. ¹² »Be brave and fight hard to protect our people and the cities of our God. I pray that Jehovah will do whatever pleases him.« ¹³ Joab and his men advanced to attack the Syrians. The Syrians retreated. ¹⁴ The Ammonites saw the Syrians (Arameans) running away. They fled from Abishai and retreated into the city. Then Joab turned back from fighting the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem. ¹⁵ The Syrians knew they had been defeated by the Israelites. They called all their troops together. ¹⁶ King Hadadezer sent for the Syrians (Arameans) who were on the east side of the Euphrates River. They came to Helam under the command of Shobach, commander of the army of King Hadadezer of Zobah. ¹⁷ David heard of it. So he gathered the Israelite troops and crossed the Jordan River. They marched to Helam, where the Syrians took up their position facing him. The fighting began, ¹⁸ and the Israelites drove the Syrian army back. David and his men killed seven hundred Syrian chariot drivers and forty thousand cavalry. They wounded Shobach, the enemy commander, who died on the battlefield. ¹⁹ As soon as the kings who were subject to Hadadezer realized that they had been defeated by the Israelites, they made peace with them and became their subjects. The Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.

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.« ²⁹ Absalom’s servants did to Amnon as Absalom ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled.

⁵ The king asked her: »What can I do for you?« She answered: »I am a widow; my husband is dead. ⁶ »I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other. ⁷ »All my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them. They want to kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope. They will leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive.«

⁹ »Your Majesty,« she said, »do whatever you must. My family and I will take the blame. You and the royal family are innocent.«

²¹ Solomon's kingdom included all the nations from the Euphrates River to Philistia and the Egyptian border. They paid him taxes and were subject to him all his life.

¹¹ Solomon provided Hiram with one hundred thousand bushels of wheat and one hundred and ten thousand gallons of pure olive oil every year to feed his men.

¹⁵ When David had sent destruction on Edom, and Joab, the commander of the army went to bury the dead. They put to death every male in Edom.

¹⁵ When David had sent destruction on Edom, and Joab, the commander of the army went to bury the dead. They put to death every male in Edom. ¹⁶ Joab and all Israel stayed there six months until they had destroyed every male in Edom.

¹⁶ Joab and all Israel stayed there six months until they had destroyed every male in Edom. ¹⁷ Hadad was a young boy at the time. He and some of his father's Edomite servants fled to Egypt.

¹⁸ Then he said: »I am a prophet like you. An angel said to me by the word of Jehovah, Take him back with you and give him food and water.« But he lied to him.

² Jeroboam said to his wife: »Disguise yourself so that no one will recognize you, and go to Shiloh. That is where the prophet Ahijah lives. He is the one who said I would be king of Israel.

⁴ Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down under a broom plant and wished he would die. »It is just too much, Jehovah,« he prayed. »Take away my life. I could just as well be dead.«

⁴⁷ The land of Edom had no king. A deputy appointed by the king of Judah ruled it.

¹ Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab: »By the living Jehovah, the God of Israel, whose servant I am, there will be no dew or rain in these years, but only at my word.«

²⁰ Edom revolted against Judah and became an independent kingdom. ²¹ Jehoram and his chariots went to Zair. The Edomite army surrounded them. He and his chariot commanders managed to break out and escape. His soldiers scattered to their homes. ²² Edom has been independent of Judah ever since. The city of Libnah also revolted at that time.

¹⁹ »Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death.« Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal.

⁷ He put to the sword twelve thousand men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He captured Sela in war, and named it Joktheel, as it is to this day.

¹⁰ »It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted. Let that glory be enough for you and stay in your own country. Why do you make causes for trouble, putting yourself and Judah with you in danger of downfall?«

² and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph

¹⁰ »As provisions for your lumbermen, I will send you one hundred thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred thousand bushels of barley, one hundred and ten thousand gallons of wine, and one hundred and ten thousand gallons of olive oil.«

¹¹ King David dedicated all the articles of gold, silver, and bronze to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations-from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek. ¹² Zeruiah’s son Abishai killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Dead Sea region. ¹³ He put troops in Edom, and all its people became David’s subjects. Everywhere David went Jehovah gave him victories.

¹¹ Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed ten thousand men from Seir.

¹¹ Amaziah courageously led his troops. When he came to the Dead Sea region, he killed ten thousand men from Seir. ¹² The Judeans captured another ten thousand alive. They took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered.

¹² The Judeans captured another ten thousand alive. They took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered. ¹³ The troops that Amaziah sent back so that they couldn’t go with him into battle raided the towns in Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and took a lot of goods. ¹⁴ After Amaziah came back from defeating the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down to them, and burned sacrifices to them.

⁸ During Jehoram’s time Edom rebelled against Judah and chose its own king.

¹⁰ So Edom rebelled against Judah’s rule and is still independent today. At the same time Edom rebelled, Libnah rebelled because Jehoram had abandoned Jehovah the God of his ancestors.

¹⁷ The Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and captured prisoners.

²⁴ His officers took him out of the chariot and brought him to Jerusalem in his other chariot. He died and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

²⁰ »Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter in heart? ²¹ »They long for death that does not come. They search for it more than for hidden treasure. ²² »They are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave.

¹⁶ »I hate my life. I do not want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for these few remaining days.

⁵ »Your sin inspires your mouth. You choose the tongue of the crafty.

¹² »Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, ¹³ though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, ¹⁴ yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him.

⁶ »When I think of it I am dismayed, and trembling seizes my flesh.

¹⁶ »To him belong strength and victory. Both deceived and deceivers are his.

⁷ »Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?

⁷ »Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? ⁸ »Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?

¹³ »If only you would hide me in the grave (Sheol) and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set a time for me and then remember me!

¹ »The storm makes my heart beat wildly.

⁶ »I have installed (anointed) (established) my king on Zion, my holy mountain.« ⁷ I will proclaim the decree of Jehovah: He said to me: »You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. (I have begotten you.) ⁸ »Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. ⁹ »You will rule them with an iron scepter. You will dash them to pieces like pottery!«

¹⁴ I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother. I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.

⁸ They drink their fill of the abundance of your house. You give them the river of your delights to drink.

¹² The wicked plots against the righteous and grinds at him with his teeth. ¹³ Jehovah laughs at him, for he sees that his day will come.

¹⁶ Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.

⁸ He will have dominion from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

²⁸ It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in Jehovah God, that I may declare all your works.

⁵ Fear and trembling have overcome me. Horror has overwhelmed me.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) O God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been displeased and angry. Restore us, again. ² You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, for it quakes. ³ You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger. ⁴ You have given a banner to those who fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. ⁵ So that your loved ones may be delivered, save with your right hand, and answer us. ⁶ God has spoken from his sanctuary: I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth. ⁷ Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter. ⁸ Moab is my washbasin. I will throw my shoe on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.

⁸ Moab is my washbasin. I will throw my shoe on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia. ⁹ Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom? ¹⁰ Is it not you O God, who rejected us? You do not go out with our armies, do you God? ¹¹ Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain. ¹² Through God we shall do valiantly, for he will tread down our adversaries.

⁵ They are determined to do evil, and they tell themselves: Let us set traps! No one can see us.

⁹ You visit the earth and cause it to overflow. You greatly enrich it! The stream of God is full of water. You prepare their grain and thus you prepare the earth. ¹⁰ You water its furrows abundantly; you settle its ridges and soften it with showers. You bless its growth.

¹⁰ You water its furrows abundantly; you settle its ridges and soften it with showers. You bless its growth. ¹¹ You have crowned the year with your bounty. Your paths drip with fatness. ¹² The pastures of the wilderness drip, and the hills surround themselves with rejoicing. ¹³ The meadows are clothed with flocks and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout for joy, yes, they sing.

¹⁵ And wine which makes man's heart glad. That he may make his face shine with oil, and food, which sustains man's heart.

³ It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion. For there Jehovah commanded the blessing. It is life forever.

³ When I begin to lose hope, you already know what I am experiencing. My enemies have hidden a trap for me on the path where I walk.

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

²⁴ »I called you! I stretched out my hand to you. You paid no attention to me.

²⁴ »I called you! I stretched out my hand to you. You paid no attention to me. ²⁵ »You have ignored all my counsel. You accept no correction.

²⁵ »You have ignored all my counsel. You accept no correction. ²⁶ »I also will laugh at your trouble. I will mock when your fear comes.

²⁶ »I also will laugh at your trouble. I will mock when your fear comes. ²⁷ »Trouble and distress will surround you like a whirlwind, like a great storm. ²⁸ »You will ask for my help, but I will not listen. You will search, but you will not find me.

³¹ »Now you will get what you deserve for what you have done. Your own advice will make you sick.

¹⁴ Who rejoice in doing evil? They delight in the perversity of the wicked.

¹⁶ They do not sleep unless they have done evil. Their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. ¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

⁴ Protect me from the hands of wicked people, O Jehovah. Keep me safe from violent people. They try to trip me. ⁵ Arrogant people have laid a trap for me. They have spread out a net with ropes. They have set traps for me along the road.

⁴ Do not let me be persuaded to do anything evil or to become involved with wickedness, with people who are troublemakers. Do not let me taste their delicacies.

¹² »Let us swallow them alive and whole just as the grave does, and just as the dead go into the pit. ¹³ »We will find precious material possessions and we fill our houses with plunder.

¹⁴ Fraud is in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he sows discord.

¹⁹ The lip of truth will be established forever. A lying tongue is only for a moment.

²² Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah. Those who deal truly are his delight.

³ Man ruins his life by his own foolishness. His heart chafes with anger against Jehovah.

²¹ Many intentions are in men’s hearts. Only counsel from Jehovah will stand.

² Put a knife to your throat, if you are a man with a strong desire (lust) (passion). ³ Do not crave his delicacies for it is deceptive food.

¹ Do not brag about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring.

⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with food necessary for me.

¹⁷ The eye that mocks his father, and rejects obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles eat it.

⁹ Do not be quick in your spirit (mind) (figurative heart) to be angry. Anger rests in the bosom of fools.

¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, where you are going.

³ In the day when the keepers of the house will tremble, and the strong men will bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened,

¹³ ‘The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!’«

¹¹ »Your lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under your tongue; and the smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon. ¹² »A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. ¹³ »Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with ointment, ¹⁴ »Ointment and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

¹⁵ Because you have said: »We have made a covenant with death, and with the grave we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge. We have hidden under falsehood!«

¹⁰ Within a year and some days you will be troubled, O complacent women for the vintage is ended, the fruit gathering will not happen. ¹¹ Tremble you women who are at ease. Be troubled you complacent ones. Undress and put sackcloth on your waist, ¹² Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

¹² »Let us get up early to the vineyards. Let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth. There I will give you my love. ¹³ »The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.

⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will accomplish this.

¹ King Hezekiah became sick and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him. Isaiah said to him: »Jehovah tells you: ‘You are to put everything in order because you will not recover. Get ready to die.«’

³ »Remember, Jehovah, that I have served you faithfully and loyally. I have always tried to do what you wanted me to.« Then he cried bitterly.

⁷ Israel’s Holy God and Savior says to the one who is deeply despised, hated by the nations and is the servant of rulers: »Kings will see you released and will rise to show their respect. Princes will also see it and they will bow low to honor you.«

²³ »Kings will be your guardians. Their princesses will be your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth. They will lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am Jehovah. Those who hopefully wait for me will not be put to shame.

⁸ »Rain down from above, you heavens, and pour down righteousness, you skies. Let the earth open. Let salvation and righteousness sprout. Let them spring up for I Jehovah have created them.«

¹⁴ This is what Jehovah says: »The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans will come over to you and will be yours. They will walk behind you. They will come to you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you. They will say: ‘God is with you and there is no other. There is no other god!’

¹⁹ I create the fruit (praise) of the lips: Peace, peace to the near and the far off, says Jehovah, and I will heal him.

¹⁴ My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.

¹ Who is this coming from Bozrah in Edom with his clothes stained bright red? Who is this dressed in splendor, going forward with great strength? It is I, Jehovah! I am coming to announce my victory. I am powerful enough to save you! ² Why are your clothes red and your garments like those who trample grapes in a winepress? ³ »I have trampled alone in the winepress. No one was with me. In my anger I trampled on people. In my wrath I stomped on them. Their blood splattered my clothes so all my clothing has been stained. ⁴ »The day of vengeance was in my heart. The year for my reclaiming you has come. ⁵ »I looked, but there was no help. I was astounded that there was no outside support. So my own arm (power) brought me salvation. My anger supported me. ⁶ »In my wrath I trampled on people. In my rage I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.«

²² The valueless gods of the nations cannot make it rain. The skies cannot give showers by themselves. But you can, O Jehovah our God. We hope in you because you do all these things.

¹⁴ »Jonadab, Rechab's son, ordered his descendants not to drink wine. This order has been carried out. His descendants have not drunk any wine to this day, because they have obeyed their ancestor's order. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have refused to listen to me.

¹⁰ »Curse those who do not do Jehovah’s work with all their heart! Curse those who do not slash and kill!

³⁷ Who is able to say something should occur if Jehovah has not ordered it.

¹² »The Lord Jehovah says: ‘Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grievous guilt, and avenged themselves upon them, ¹³ therefore the Lord Jehovah says: ‘I will also stretch out my hand (exert my power) against Edom and cut off man and beast from it. I will lay it waste! From Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword. ¹⁴ ‘I will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath. They will know my vengeance, declares the Lord Jehovah.«’ ¹⁵ »The Lord Jehovah says: Because the Philistines have acted in revenge and scorn and have taken vengeance to destroy with everlasting enmity,

⁵ »‘»Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword (to die by warfare) at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end.«’

⁴⁴ »In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Its sovereignty will not be entrusted to another people. It will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it will stand forever! ⁴⁵ »You saw a stone cut out of the mountain without hands. It broke the iron, brass, clay, silver, and the gold to pieces. The great God made known to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is certain, and the interpretation of it is sure.«

¹⁹ Jehovah answered his people: »Behold, I will send you grain, new wine and oil. You will be satisfied with it. I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.«

¹¹ Jehovah declared: »For three and four transgressions of Edom, I will not withdraw punishment. He pursued his brother with the sword. He showed no compassion but was driven with anger and eternal wrath. ¹² »I will send a fire upon Teman, and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah.«

⁵ »I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ »His shoots will sprout and his beauty will be like the olive tree. His fragrance will be like the cedars of Lebanon. ⁷ »Those who live in his shadow will raise grain again. They will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

¹⁰ »You will be covered with shame for the violence done to your brother Jacob. You will be destroyed and disgraced for a very long time. ¹¹ »In that day you stood on the other side! In that day strangers carried away his wealth. Foreigners entered his gates, and cast lots for Jerusalem! It was as if you were one of them! ¹² Do not look on the day of your brother’s disaster. Do not rejoice over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction! Do not speak proudly in the day of distress. ¹³ »Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity! Do not look on their affliction in the day of their tragedy! Do not loot their wealth in the day of their disaster. ¹⁴ »Do not stand in the way of those who escape and do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress.

¹⁷ »There will be those who escape in Mount Zion. It will be holy, and the house of Jacob will take (confiscate) their possessions. ¹⁸ »The house of Jacob will be a fire! The house of Joseph will be a flame! The house of Esau will be for stubble and they will burn among them, and devour them. There will be no survivors of the house of Esau: for Jehovah has spoken! ¹⁹ »And they of the South will possess the mount of Esau! They of the lowland, the Philistines, will possess the field of Ephraim and the field of Samaria! Benjamin will possess Gilead. ²⁰ »The captives of this host of the children of Israel among the Canaanites, will possess Zarephath. The captives of Jerusalem in Sepharad will possess the cities of the South. ²¹ »Saviors will come up on Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau; and the kingdom will be Jehovah's.«

³ »Now, O Jehovah, please take my life from me for it is better for me to die than to live.«

⁹ However God replied to Jonah: »Do you have good reason to be angry at the plant?« He said to God: »I have good reason to be angry even unto death.«

⁷ »Like dew from Jehovah the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples. It will be like showers upon the grass that do not wait for man or for sons of men.

⁸ »I have heard the reproach of Moab and the taunting by the children of Ammon. They have reproached my people. They behave arrogantly at the border.« ⁹ »Just as I live,« said Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, »Moab will be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah. They will be possessions of nettles and salt pits. They will be deserted forever! My people will plunder them and the remnant of my nation will take possession of their land.

¹² »There will be peace for the seed. The vine will give its fruit. The ground will yield its increase. The heavens will offer their dew and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things!

¹⁶ »These are the things that you should do. Every man should speak the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates (towns).

¹⁷ »How great is his goodness! How great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.«

³ »It will happen when any attempt to prophesy, the father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him: You will not live, for you speak lies in the name of Jehovah. They will stab him through when he prophesies. ⁴ »It will happen! The prophets, each one of them will be ashamed of his vision and his prophesy. They will not wear a hairy mantle to deceive.

² »I have loved you,« said Jehovah. You replied: »How have you loved us?« »Was Esau Jacob's brother?« Responded Jehovah: »Yet I loved Jacob. ³ »And yet I hated Esau and his descendants. I devastated Esau's hill country and abandoned his inheritance to the desert jackals.« ⁴ Esau's descendants, the Edomites, say: »Our towns have been destroyed, but we will rebuild them.« Thus Jehovah (YHWH) will reply: »Let them rebuild. I will tear them down again. People will call them the evil country. They are the nation with whom Jehovah has a long lasting anger. ⁵ The people of Israel will see this with their own eyes. They will say: Jehovah is mighty even outside the land of Israel!«

¹⁴ »The cheater who sacrifices a worthless animal to me will be cursed. For he has in his flock a good animal that he promised to give me! I am a great King,« Jehovah of Hosts declares. »People of all nations will respect my name!«

¹⁰ »Do we all have one father? Did one God create us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers?

³⁴ »Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth. I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

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.’

⁷⁰ In front of everybody, he replied: »I do not know what you are talking about.« ⁷¹ When he reached the gate, another saw him and said: »This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.« ⁷² Again he denied with an oath: »I have no knowledge of the man.« ⁷³ A few moments later, those who were near approached and said to Peter: »Indeed, you are one of them, because the way you speak gives you away.« ⁷⁴ Then with curses and oaths he said: »I do not know the man!« And immediately a rooster crowed.

²⁵ The people answered: »Let his blood be on us, and on our children.«

⁴⁵ »The King will answer: ‘To the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of my brothers, you did not do it to me.’

³⁵ »Watch therefore for you do not know when the lord of the house comes. It could be in the evening, at midnight or in the morning (when the cock crows).

³⁴ Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: »This child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against.

²² »The father called his servants. He said: ‘Hurry and bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.

²⁴ »Strive to go in through the narrow door. Many people will try to go in and will not be able. ²⁵ »The master of the house will close the door. You stand outside and knock on the door and say: ‘Open the door for us, sir!’ He will answer: ‘I do not know where you come from!’ ²⁶ »Then you will answer, we ate and drank with you. You taught in our town! ²⁷ »Again he will say: ‘I do not know where you come from. Get away from me, you wicked people!’ ²⁸ »You will cry and grind your teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you are thrown out!

⁴⁶ »Beware of the scribes for they walk around in long robes. They love greetings in the marketplaces. They sit in the chief seats in the synagogues and the head tables at feasts.

³⁴ »Be awake so your hearts are not weighed down. Do not allow the weight of worldly involvement, drunkenness, and cares of this life be a snare when that day suddenly comes.

⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him. He said: »Look an Israelite indeed. There is no deceit in him!«

³ Jesus answered: »This man did not sin. Neither did his parents sin. The works of God should be made known in him.

¹⁰ »The thief comes to steal, and kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

²⁸ »I give them eternal life. They will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ »My Father has given them to me. He is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

¹⁹ Peter and John answered: »You judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God.

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles answered: »We must obey God rather than men.

⁴ The natives saw the snake hanging on Paul’s hand and said to one another: »This man must be a murderer, but Fate will not let him live, even though he escaped from the sea.«

⁷ But what if my untruth serves God’s glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I be condemned as a sinner? ⁸ Why not say, »Let us do evil so that good may come?« Some people have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They should be condemned and they will be.

¹⁰ Not only that, but Rebecca conceived by Isaac our father. ¹¹ When they had not yet been born nor performed anything good or vile, so the purpose of God regarding the choosing would continue without dependence on works but on the One who calls. ¹² She was told: »The older will serve the younger.«

¹² She was told: »The older will serve the younger.«

¹⁷ Some of the branches are broken off. You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. Therefore you partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree with them.

²⁹ The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

²⁰ The law came that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased God’s loving kindness increased even more. ²¹ And what for? Just as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹² All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient (profitable) (good). All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the authority (power) (control) of anything.

⁷ We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the power beyond what is normal may be from God, and not from ourselves.

⁸ by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places through Christ.

²⁵ Put away falsehood. Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor: for we are members (belonging to) (together with) of one another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down upon your anger (rage). ²⁷ Do not give the devil an opportunity.

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.

⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you got rid of the old self with its evil practices.

⁶ Let no man defraud his brother in any matter. Jehovah is the avenger of this. We also have warned you and testified.

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

¹⁵ To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure. Both their mind and their conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but deny him by their works! They are detestable, disobedient, and not approved for any good work.

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

⁷ The earth that drinks in the rain that comes upon it, and brings forth vegetation for those by whom it was cultivated, receives blessing from God.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

¹⁷ Afterward, you know, he wanted to receive (inherit) his father’s blessing. He was turned back, because he could not find any way to change what he had done. He was in tears when he looked for it.

¹⁴ You do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a vapor (puff of air) that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

¹⁴ You do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a vapor (puff of air) that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ You should say, »If God wills, we should both live, and do this or that.«

⁸ Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (uncertain) (doubter) (skeptic).

¹³ Come now, you that say, »Today or tomorrow we will go to this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and make profit.«

¹² We should not be like Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he murder him? It was because his works were evil, and his brother's were righteous. ¹³ Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love abides in death. ¹⁵ Whoever hates his brother is a murderer! You know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him.

¹⁶ He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, »King of Kings« and »Lord of Lords«!