TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Copyright

1. License

2. About

1. Sources

2. Features

3. Old Testament

1. The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

37. Chapter 37

38. Chapter 38

39. Chapter 39

40. Chapter 40

41. Chapter 41

42. Chapter 42

43. Chapter 43

44. Chapter 44

45. Chapter 45

46. Chapter 46

47. Chapter 47

48. Chapter 48

49. Chapter 49

50. Chapter 50

2. The Second Book of Moses, Called Exodus

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

37. Chapter 37

38. Chapter 38

39. Chapter 39

40. Chapter 40

3. The Third Book of Moses, Called Leviticus

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

4. The Fourth Book of Moses, Called Numbers

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

5. The Fifth Book of Moses, Called Deuteronomy

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

6. The Book of Joshua

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

7. The Book of Judges

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

8. The Story of Ruth

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

9. The First Book of Samuel

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

10. The Second Book of Samuel

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

11. The First Book of the Kings

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

12. The Second Book of the Kings

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

13. The First Book of the Chronicles

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

14. The Second Book of the Chronicles

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

15. The Story of Ezra

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

16. The Words of Nehemiah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

17. The Story of Esther

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

18. The Trial of Job

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

37. Chapter 37

38. Chapter 38

39. Chapter 39

40. Chapter 40

41. Chapter 41

42. Chapter 42

19. The Psalms

1. BOOK I

2. Psalm 1

3. Psalm 2

4. Psalm 3

5. Psalm 4

6. Psalm 5

7. Psalm 6

8. Psalm 7

9. Psalm 8

10. Psalm 9

11. Psalm 10

12. Psalm 11

13. Psalm 12

14. Psalm 13

15. Psalm 14

16. Psalm 15

17. Psalm 16

18. Psalm 17

19. Psalm 18

20. Psalm 19

21. Psalm 20

22. Psalm 21

23. Psalm 22

24. Psalm 23

25. Psalm 24

26. Psalm 25

27. Psalm 26

28. Psalm 27

29. Psalm 28

30. Psalm 29

31. Psalm 30

32. Psalm 31

33. Psalm 32

34. Psalm 33

35. Psalm 34

36. Psalm 35

37. Psalm 36

38. Psalm 37

39. Psalm 38

40. Psalm 39

41. Psalm 40

42. Psalm 41

43. BOOK II

44. Psalm 42

45. Psalm 43

46. Psalm 44

47. Psalm 45

48. Psalm 46

49. Psalm 47

50. Psalm 48

51. Psalm 49

52. Psalm 50

53. Psalm 51

54. Psalm 52

55. Psalm 53

56. Psalm 54

57. Psalm 55

58. Psalm 56

59. Psalm 57

60. Psalm 58

61. Psalm 59

62. Psalm 60

63. Psalm 61

64. Psalm 62

65. Psalm 63

66. Psalm 64

67. Psalm 65

68. Psalm 66

69. Psalm 67

70. Psalm 68

71. Psalm 69

72. Psalm 70

73. Psalm 71

74. Psalm 72

75. BOOK III

76. Psalm 73

77. Psalm 74

78. Psalm 75

79. Psalm 76

80. Psalm 77

81. Psalm 78

82. Psalm 79

83. Psalm 80

84. Psalm 81

85. Psalm 82

86. Psalm 83

87. Psalm 84

88. Psalm 85

89. Psalm 86

90. Psalm 87

91. Psalm 88

92. Psalm 89

93. BOOK IV

94. Psalm 90

95. Psalm 91

96. Psalm 92

97. Psalm 93

98. Psalm 94

99. Psalm 95

100. Psalm 96

101. Psalm 97

102. Psalm 98

103. Psalm 99

104. Psalm 100

105. Psalm 101

106. Psalm 102

107. Psalm 103

108. Psalm 104

109. Psalm 105

110. Psalm 106

111. BOOK V

112. Psalm 107

113. Psalm 108

114. Psalm 109

115. Psalm 110

116. Psalm 111

117. Psalm 112

118. Psalm 113

119. Psalm 114

120. Psalm 115

121. Psalm 116

122. Psalm 117

123. Psalm 118

124. Psalm 119

125. Psalm 120

126. Psalm 121

127. Psalm 122

128. Psalm 123

129. Psalm 124

130. Psalm 125

131. Psalm 126

132. Psalm 127

133. Psalm 128

134. Psalm 129

135. Psalm 130

136. Psalm 131

137. Psalm 132

138. Psalm 133

139. Psalm 134

140. Psalm 135

141. Psalm 136

142. Psalm 137

143. Psalm 138

144. Psalm 139

145. Psalm 140

146. Psalm 141

147. Psalm 142

148. Psalm 143

149. Psalm 144

150. Psalm 145

151. Psalm 146

152. Psalm 147

153. Psalm 148

154. Psalm 149

155. Psalm 150

20. The Proverbs

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

21. The Words of Ecclesiastes

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

22. Song of Solomon

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

23. The Vision of Isaiah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

37. Chapter 37

38. Chapter 38

39. Chapter 39

40. Chapter 40

41. Chapter 41

42. Chapter 42

43. Chapter 43

44. Chapter 44

45. Chapter 45

46. Chapter 46

47. Chapter 47

48. Chapter 48

49. Chapter 49

50. Chapter 50

51. Chapter 51

52. Chapter 52

53. Chapter 53

54. Chapter 54

55. Chapter 55

56. Chapter 56

57. Chapter 57

58. Chapter 58

59. Chapter 59

60. Chapter 60

61. Chapter 61

62. Chapter 62

63. Chapter 63

64. Chapter 64

65. Chapter 65

66. Chapter 66

24. The Word of the Lord to Jeremiah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

37. Chapter 37

38. Chapter 38

39. Chapter 39

40. Chapter 40

41. Chapter 41

42. Chapter 42

43. Chapter 43

44. Chapter 44

45. Chapter 45

46. Chapter 46

47. Chapter 47

48. Chapter 48

49. Chapter 49

50. Chapter 50

51. Chapter 51

52. Chapter 52

25. The Lamentations of Jeremiah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

26. The Word of the Lord to Ezekiel

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

29. Chapter 29

30. Chapter 30

31. Chapter 31

32. Chapter 32

33. Chapter 33

34. Chapter 34

35. Chapter 35

36. Chapter 36

37. Chapter 37

38. Chapter 38

39. Chapter 39

40. Chapter 40

41. Chapter 41

42. Chapter 42

43. Chapter 43

44. Chapter 44

45. Chapter 45

46. Chapter 46

47. Chapter 47

48. Chapter 48

27. The Story of Daniel

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

28. The Word of the Lord to Hosea

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

29. The Word of the Lord to Joel

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

30. The Words of Amos

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

31. The Vision of Obadiah

1. Chapter 1

32. The Story of Jonah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

33. The Word of the Lord to Micah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

34. The Vision of Nahum

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

35. The Word of the Lord to Habakkuk

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

36. The Word of the Lord to Zephaniah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

37. The Word of the Lord to Haggai

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

38. The Word of the Lord to Zechariah

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

39. The Word of the Lord to Malachi

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

4. New Testament

1. The Gospel According to Matthew

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

2. The Gospel According to Mark

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

3. The Gospel According to Luke

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

4. The Gospel According to John

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

5. The Acts of the Apostles

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

23. Chapter 23

24. Chapter 24

25. Chapter 25

26. Chapter 26

27. Chapter 27

28. Chapter 28

6. Paul’s Letter to the Romans

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

7. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

8. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

9. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

10. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

11. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

12. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

13. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

14. Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

15. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

16. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

17. Paul’s Letter to Titus

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

18. Paul’s Letter to Philemon

1. Chapter 1

19. The Letter to the Hebrews

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

20. The Letter from James

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

21. The First Letter from Peter

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

22. The Second Letter from Peter

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

23. The First Letter from John

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

24. The Second Letter from John

1. Chapter 1

25. The Third Letter from John

1. Chapter 1

26. The Letter from Jude

1. Chapter 1

27. The Revelation of the Apostle John

1. Chapter 1

2. Chapter 2

3. Chapter 3

4. Chapter 4

5. Chapter 5

6. Chapter 6

7. Chapter 7

8. Chapter 8

9. Chapter 9

10. Chapter 10

11. Chapter 11

12. Chapter 12

13. Chapter 13

14. Chapter 14

15. Chapter 15

16. Chapter 16

17. Chapter 17

18. Chapter 18

19. Chapter 19

20. Chapter 20

21. Chapter 21

22. Chapter 22

5. Glossary of Terms

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. E

6. F

7. G

8. H

9. I

10. J

11. K

12. L

13. M

14. N

15. O

16. P

17. Q

18. R

19. S

20. T

21. U

22. V

23. W

24. X

25. Y

26. Z

6. Appendix

1. A Gospel Message: How can I be Born Again?

2. One Year Bible Reading Plan

1. Introduction

2. Key

3. January

4. February

5. March

6. April

7. May

8. June

9. July

10. August

11. September

12. October

13. November

14. December

3. License

1. Eclipse Public License - v 2.0

COPYRIGHT

The Holy Bible: Revised Common Version

Containing the text of the Old Testament and the New Testament

Edited by: William Masopust

http://www.revisedcommonversion.com or http://rcv.xyz

© 2024 William Masopust

License

This work and the accompanying materials are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License 2.0. Information on this license may be found at https://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-2.0/.

You are free to copy, display, distribute, quote, or share this work in part or in whole. You are also free to modify this work or create derivative works of your own based upon this work.

Freely you have received, freely give.

~ Matthew 10:8

When quoting the RCV, you may simply use the "RCV" abbreviation with quotations, or you may note the Revised Common Version as a source for quotations, such as in a list of sources or a bibliography. When attributing this work in other modifications and derivative works, please retain all copyright notices and note that your work is based on or a derivative of the Revised Common Version. I would also appreciate a link to the RCV website with any attributions.

Any distribution of the RCV text, with or without modifications or as a derivative work, must be made under the terms of the Eclipse Public License 2.0. Please follow the above URL so that you may read the license and know your rights regarding the usage of this work. The full text of the license is also contained at the end of this book under the section, License, in the Appendix. The Eclipse Public License is a Copyleft license that ensures that everyone who receives a work under the license is given the same freedoms to use the work. The source code of the RCV text is available at http://source.rcv.xyz.

The title, The Holy Bible: Revised Common Version, and the RCV logo are unregistered trademarks. They may not be used for derivative works, except as may be necessary to comply with the attribution requirements of the license.

If you have any questions concerning the terms or usage of this text, please feel free to contact me via e-mail (info@revisedcommonversion.com).

ABOUT

A modern Bible revision of a classic Bible text.

The Revised Common Version (RCV) is a derivative work of Noah Webster’s 1833 Common Version of the Bible (a revision of the King James Version). As with Webster’s Common Version, the RCV aims to make updates to words and phrases so that they are better understood by the everyday reader who may not read the Scriptures with the aid of commentaries. Care has been taken so that changes to the text are not theologically motivated, but rather are consistent with the original text. Changes include the updating of archaic words to the current equivalent, rearranging of sentences to better follow current English, adjusting of punctuation to aid the reader in the flow of reading, addition of quotation marks, notation of Old Testament quotes in the New Testament, and an outline for each chapter. Digital versions of the RCV have the words of Christ in blue.

Sources

Sources used in the revision process of the RCV are in the Public Domain. They are divided into three groups: Biblical Texts, Reference Texts, and Commentaries.

Biblical Texts

King James Version, The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament and Apocrypha (Brenton), The Interlinear Literal Translation of the Greek New Testament (G.R. Berry), Young’s Literal Translation, World English Bible, American Standard Version, JPS Tanakh (1917), The Greek New Testament (Tregelles), The Greek New Testament (Nestle, 1904), Geneva Bible (1560), Biblia Sacra Juxta Vulgatam Clementinam.

Reference Texts

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, The Analytical Greek Lexicon (Bagster), Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language (1828 and 1913), Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, John Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible, Matthew Poole’s Commentary, and the Kiel-Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament.

Features

Features are listed in alphabetical order.

Bible Reading Plan

Included in this version of the RCV is a one-year Bible reading plan. The plan is designed to take you once through the Old Testament and twice through the New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and Job.

Chapter Outlines

Each chapter in the RCV has an outline or a statement describing the chapter. These outlines were primarily derived from The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible. Supporting sources include Matthew Henry’s Commentary, John Gill’s Exposition, Adam Clarke’s Commentary, and Matthew Poole’s Commentary.

Concordance

I have put together a concordance of the full text of the RCV, with the exception of 67 words. This concordance is freely accessible online at http://concordance.rcv.xyz where you can find more information about the concordance along with the list of excluded words.

Glossary of Terms

This book also contains a glossary of terms, which is a list of terms found in the text of the RCV that are either theological in nature or that may not be common to the current-day reader. This glossary is not comprehensive, but is a usable resource for most theological or uncommon words. There will still be words found in the text of the RCV where you might need the aid of a dictionary for the definition. Definitions are taken from Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language (1828 and 1913) and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. Other sources are noted where used.

Implied Text for Clarity

There are forty verses throughout the text of the RCV where I have added implied text in square brackets. I added this implied text only after consulting either another verse or one of the commentaries I have listed as a source work for the RCV. The only exception to this is the verse from Romans 6, which was added by Noah Webster. The forty verses are, Genesis 9:5, Genesis 14:20, Genesis 32:25-27, Exodus 10:14, Exodus 16:28, Exodus 33:14-15, Exodus 33:18-19, Leviticus 15:11, Numbers 28:9, Deuteronomy 22:11, Deuteronomy 32:7, Joshua 5:4, Joshua 12:8, 2nd Samuel 12:25, 2nd Kings 5:24, Job 33:27, Psalm 84:10, Proverbs 3:12, Isaiah 17:5, Isaiah 43:2, Isaiah 58:13, Isaiah 66:6, Ezekiel 47:8, Hosea 12:4, Micah 6:5, John 3:7, Romans 6:19, Romans 11:18, 1st Corinthians 7:19, 2nd Corinthians 6:1, Ephesians 4:22, Ephesians 4:28, 1st Timothy 2:9, 1st Timothy 3:15, 2nd Peter 2:10, and Jude 1:8. I have noted the source of the implied text in comments on the RCV website where necessary.

Old Testament Quotes

Throughout the text of the New Testament, I have marked the passages of Old Testament quotes in italics. At the end of each chapter containing Old Testament quotes, I have included a section that lists which passage in the Old Testament is being quoted. Some Old Testament quotes are marked with "LXX" which indicates that either the quote is directly from the Septuagint, that the Greek of the New Testament matches the Septuagint word for word or essentially matches it with the use of synonyms, or that the Septuagint text was likely paraphrased. In addition, I have referenced each of the Old Testament passages that are quoted to the appropriate New Testament passage.

RCV Website

Visit the RCV website at http://www.revisedcommonversion.com or http://rcv.xyz for additional content and features, such as, book introductions, daily devotional and reading plan, full Bible commentary, glossary of terms, text notes and references in the chapter text, and more.

Words of Christ Marked

Throughout the text of the New Testament, I have marked the words of Christ in a blue color (RGB: 7, 55, 99; HEX: #073763). On grayscale devices, this color may not be noticeable and will likely be the same shade of color as the rest of the text.

OLD TESTAMENT

THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED GENESIS

Chapter 1

God creates heaven and earth, 1; the light, 3; the firmament, 6; separates the dry land, 9; forms the sun, moon, and stars, 14; fish and birds, 20; cattle, wild beasts, and creeping things, 24; creates man in his own image, blesses him, 26; grants the fruits of the earth for food, 29.

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light "day," and he called the darkness "night," and the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." 7 And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. 8 And God called the firmament "heaven." And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. 10 And God called the dry land "earth," and he called the collection of waters "seas." And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth." And it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, for seasons, for days, and years. 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth." And it was so. 16 And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 To rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, "Let the waters abundantly bring forth the moving creature that has life and the bird that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven." 21 And God created the great sea-creatures and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged bird after his kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply in the earth." 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind: cattle, the creeping animal, and the beast of the earth after his kind." And it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, cattle after their kind, and every animal that creeps upon the earth after his kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping animal that creeps upon the earth."

27 So God created man in his own image. /

In the image of God he created him. /

Male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the bird of the air, and over every living animal that moves upon the earth." 29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed. To you it shall be for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to every animal that creeps upon the earth, in which is life, I have given every green herb for food." And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

References

[v.27]: Quoted in Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6.

Chapter 2

The first Sabbath, 1-3. Further particulars concerning the manner of creation, 4-7. The planting of the garden of Eden and its situation, 8-14; man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge only forbidden, 15-17. The animals are named by Adam, 18. The making of woman and the institution of marriage, 21-25.

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made. And he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. 5 And no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet grown, because the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, and also the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden. And from there it was parted and became into four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison, which compasses the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. There is bdellium and the onyx-stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon, the same that compasses the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel, which flows toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

15 And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From every tree of the garden you may freely eat. 17 But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it. For in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him." 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam, a helper suitable for him was not found. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. And he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, he made into a woman, and brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said,

"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.   /

She shall be called Woman, /

because she was taken out of man."

24 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Hebrews 4:4. [v.7]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 15:45. [v.24]: Quoted in Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7-8; 1st Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:31.

Chapter 3

The serpent deceives Eve, 1-5. Both she and Adam transgress the divine command and fall into sin and misery, 6, 7. God arraigns them, 8-13. The serpent is cursed, 14. The promised offspring, 15. The punishment of mankind, 16-20. Their first clothing, 21. Their expulsion from paradise, 22-24.

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made, and he said to the woman, "Has God truly said, 'You shall not eat from every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees of the garden, 3 But concerning the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 And the serpent said to the woman, "You shall not surely die. 5 For God knows, that in the day you eat from it, your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate, and gave some also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig-leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 And he said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." 11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" 12 And the man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me some from the tree, and I ate." 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."

14 And the LORD God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this,   /

you are cursed above all cattle /

and above every beast of the field. /

Upon your belly you shall go, /

and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman   /

and between your offspring and her offspring. /

He shall bruise your head, /

and you shall bruise his heel."

16 To the woman he said,

"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception.   /

In sorrow you shall bring forth children. /

And your desire shall be for your husband, /

and he shall rule over you."

17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'—

The ground is cursed for your sake.   /

In sorrow you shall eat from it all the days of your life.

18 Thorns and thistles it shall also bring forth to you,   /

and you shall eat the herb of the field.

19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread   /

until you return to the ground, /

for out of it you were taken. /

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living. 21 For Adam and also for his wife the LORD God made coats of skins and clothed them.

22 And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he should put forth his hand and take from the tree of life and eat and live forever—" 23 Therefore, the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man, and he placed Cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.

Chapter 4

The birth, occupation, and offering of Cain and Abel, 1-7. Cain murders his brother Abel, 8-10. The curse of Cain, 11-16. He has a son named Enoch and builds a city, which he calls after his name, 17. His descendants, with Lamech and his two wives, 18-24. The birth of Seth, 25, and Enos, 26.

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have gotten a man from the LORD." 2 And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought from the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought some of the first-born of his flock and some of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect for Abel and for his offering, 5 But for Cain and for his offering he did not have respect. And Cain was very angry and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire shall be for you, and you must rule over it." 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother. And it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.

9 And the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?" 10 And he said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall not from now on yield to you its strength. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be in the earth." 13 And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me this day from the face of the earth, and from your face I shall be hid. And I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. And it will come to pass, that everyone who finds me will slay me." 15 And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold." And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 And to Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methusael; and Methusael begot Lamech. 19 And Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and of those who have cattle. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who handle the harp and pipe. 22 And Zillah, she also bore Tubalcain, a forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. And the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

23 And Lamech said to his wives,

"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice.   /

Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. /

For I have slain a man for wounding me, /

even a young man for hurting me.

24 If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold,   /

truly Lamech seventy-seven-fold."

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed me another child instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." 26 And to Seth, to him there was also born a son, and he called his name Enos. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Chapter 5

Recapitulation of the creation of man, 1, 2. The genealogy, age, and death of the patriarchs from Adam to Noah, 3-31. The godliness and translation of Enoch, 22-24. The birth of Noah, etc., 29-32.

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Adam in the day when they were created.

3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called his name Seth. 4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years. And he begot sons and daughters. 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.

6 And Seth lived one hundred and five years and begot Enos. 7 And Seth lived after he begot Enos eight hundred and seven years and begot sons and daughters. 8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.

9 And Enos lived ninety years and begot Cainan. 10 And Enos lived after he begot Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years and begot sons and daughters. 11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years, and he died.

12 And Cainan lived seventy years and begot Mahalaleel. 13 And Cainan lived after he begot Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years and begot sons and daughters. 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.

15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty-five years and begot Jared. 16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begot Jared eight hundred and thirty years and begot sons and daughters. 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.

18 And Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years and he begot Enoch. 19 And Jared lived after he begot Enoch eight hundred years and begot sons and daughters. 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.

21 And Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years and begot sons and daughters. 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God, and he was no more, for God took him.

25 And Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. 26 And Methuselah lived after he begot Lamech seven hundred and eighty-two years and begot sons and daughters. 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.

28 And Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years and begot a son, 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed." 30 And Lamech lived after he begot Noah five hundred and ninety-five years and begot sons and daughters. 31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.

32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

References

[v.2]: Reference, Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6. [v.24]: Quoted in Hebrews 11:5.

Chapter 6

The wickedness of the world, which provoked God’s wrath and caused the flood, 1-7. Noah finds grace, 8. His generations, etc., 9-13. The order, form, dimensions, and end of the ark, 14-22.

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair. And they took for themselves wives from all whom they chose. 3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man, because he is flesh; therefore, his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." 4 There were Nephilim in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. The same became mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD repented that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. 7 And the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth—man, beast, the creeping animal, and the birds of the air. For I repent that I have made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 The earth was also corrupt before God. And the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13 And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher-wood. You shall make rooms in the ark and shall pitch it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion in which you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit upward. And the door of the ark you shall set in its side. With lower, second, and third stories you shall make it. 17 And behold, I, even I bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh, in which is the breath of life, from under heaven. And everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But with you I will establish my covenant. And you shall come into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort you shall bring into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of birds after their kind, of cattle after their kind, and of every creeping animal of the earth after its kind, two of every sort shall come to you to keep them alive. 21 And take for yourself from all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself, and it shall be for food for you and for them." 22 And Noah did so. According to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Chapter 7

Noah, with his family and the living creatures, enters the ark, and the flood begins, 1-16. The increase and continuance of the flood for forty days, 17-20. All flesh is destroyed by it, 21-23. Its duration, 24.

1 And the LORD said to Noah, "Come—you and all your house—into the ark. For I have seen you righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast you shall take with you by sevens, the male and his female, and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female, 3 Of birds of the air also by sevens, the male and the female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For after seven more days, I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And every living substance that I have made I will destroy from the face of the earth." 5 And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.

6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was on the earth. 7 And Noah went in, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean beasts, of beasts that are not clean, of birds, and of every animal that creeps upon the earth, 9 There went in two and two with Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the same day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

13 In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth (the sons of Noah), Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ark— 14 They, every beast after its kind, all the cattle after their kind, every creeping animal that creeps upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. 15 And they went in with Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, in which is the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.

17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth. And the waters increased and bore up the ark, and it was lifted above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed and were increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark moved upon the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth, and all the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward the waters prevailed, and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, of bird, of cattle, of beast, of every creeping animal that creeps upon the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. 23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground—man, cattle, the creeping animals, and the bird of heaven—and they were destroyed from the earth. And only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. 24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.

Chapter 8

God remembers Noah and assuages the waters, 1-3. The ark rests on Ararat, 4, 5. Noah sends forth a raven and then a dove, 6-12. Noah, being commanded, goes forth from the ark, 13-19. He builds an altar and offers sacrifice, which God accepts and promises to curse the earth no more, 20-22.

1 And God remembered Noah and every living animal and all the cattle that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters were checked. 2 Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained, 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually. And after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. 7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro until the waters were dried from off the earth. 8 Also he sent forth a dove from him to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground, 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot and she returned to him into the ark, because the waters were on the face of the whole earth. Then he put forth his hand, took her, and pulled her in to him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. 11 And the dove returned to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was an olive-leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet another seven days and sent forth the dove, which did not return again to him anymore.

13 And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. 15 And God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 "Go forth from the ark—you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring forth with you every living animal that is with you of all flesh, of bird, of cattle, and of every creeping animal that creeps upon the earth, so that they may breed abundantly on the earth, be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth." 18 And Noah went forth, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping animal, every bird, and whatever creeps upon the earth, after their kinds, went out of the ark.

20 And Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took some of every clean beast and some of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savor, and the LORD said in his heart, "I will not again curse the ground anymore for man’s sake, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, neither will I ever again smite every living animal as I have done.

22 While the earth remains,   /

seed-time and harvest, /

cold and heat, /

summer and winter, /

and day and night shall not cease."

Chapter 9

God blesses Noah and his sons and grants them flesh for food, 1-3. Blood and murder are forbidden, 4- 7. God’s covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge, 8-17. Noah’s family replenish the world, 18, 19. Noah plants a vineyard, 20. Is drunken and mocked by his son, 21-24. Curses Canaan, 25. Blesses Shem, 26. Prays for Japheth, and dies, 27-29.

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, upon every bird of the air, upon all that moves on the earth, and upon all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. Even as the green herb, I have given you all things. 4 But flesh with its life, which is its blood, you shall not eat. 5 And surely for your blood of your lives I will require [an accounting]. At the hand of every beast I will require it. And at the hand of man, at the hand of every man’s brother I will require [an accounting for] the life of man.

6 "Whoever sheds man’s blood,   /

by man his blood shall be shed, /

for in the image of God he made man.

7 And you, be fruitful, multiply, bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein."

8 And God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 "And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you and with your posterity after you, 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the bird, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you, from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of a flood, neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said, "This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations: 13 I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, 15 And I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it so that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." 17 And God said to Noah, "This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth."

18 And the sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.

20 And Noah began to be a farmer and he planted a vineyard. 21 And he drank the wine and was drunken and uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backward and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 And he said,

"Canaan is cursed.   /

A servant of servants he shall be to his brothers."

26 And he said,

"Blessed be the LORD God of Shem,   /

and Canaan shall be his servant.

27 God shall enlarge Japheth,   /

and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, /

and Canaan shall be his servant."

28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years. And he died.

Chapter 10

The generations of Noah, 1. Japheth, 2-5. Ham, 6, 7. Nimrod the first monarch and the descendants of Canaan, 8-20. The sons of Shem, 21-32.

1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And to them sons were born after the flood.

2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these the islands of the Gentiles were divided in their lands, each after his language, after their families, in their nations.

6 And the sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8 And Cush begot Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore, it is said, "Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD." 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land Ashur went forth and built Nineveh, the city Rehoboth, Calah, 12 And Resen, between Nineveh and Calah—the same is a great city. 13 And Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (out of whom came Philistim), and Caphtorim.

15 And Canaan begot Sidon his first-born, Heth, 16 The Jebusite, the Emorite, the Girgasite, 17 The Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, 18 The Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. And afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as far as to Gerar, to Gaza, as far as to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, even to Lashah. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their countries, and in their nations.

21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him children were born. 22 The children of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. 25 And to Eber two sons were born: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as far as to Sephar, a mountain of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations.

32 These are the families of the sons of Noah after their generations, in their nations. And by these the nations were divided in the earth after the flood.

Chapter 11

One language in the world, 1. The building of Babel, 2-4. It is interrupted by the confusion of languages, and the builders dispersed, 5-9. The generations of Shem, 10-26. The generations of Terah, the father of Abram, 27-30. Terah, with Abram and Lot, gepart from Ur and go to Haran, 31, 32.

1 And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and they dwelt there. 3 And they said to one another, "Come, let us make brick and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone and they had slime for mortar. 4 And they said, "Come, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach to heaven. And let us make ourselves a name, lest we should be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men were building. 6 And the LORD said, "Behold, the people are one and they all have one language. And this they begin to do, and now nothing will be restrained from them which they have purposed to do. 7 Come, let us go down and there confound their language so that they may not understand one another’s speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore, its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confounded the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

10 These are the generations of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. 11 And Shem lived after he begot Arphaxad five hundred years and begot sons and daughters.

12 And Arphaxad lived thirty-five years and begot Salah. 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begot Salah four hundred and three years and begot sons and daughters.

14 And Salah lived thirty years and begot Eber. 15 And Salah lived after he begot Eber four hundred and three years and begot sons and daughters.

16 And Eber lived thirty-four years and begot Peleg. 17 And Eber lived after he begot Peleg four hundred and thirty years and begot sons and daughters.

18 And Peleg lived thirty years and begot Reu. 19 And Peleg lived after he begot Reu two hundred and nine years and begot sons and daughters.

20 And Reu lived thirty-two years and begot Serug. 21 And Reu lived after he begot Serug two hundred and seven years and begot sons and daughters.

22 And Serug lived thirty years and begot Nahor. 23 And Serug lived after he begot Nahor two hundred years and begot sons and daughters.

24 And Nahor lived twenty-nine years and begot Terah. 25 And Nahor lived after he begot Terah one hundred and nineteen years and begot sons and daughters.

26 And Terah lived seventy years and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran begot Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 And Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren. She had no child.

31 And Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.

Chapter 12

God calls Abram and blesses him with a promise of Christ, 1-3. He departs with Lot from Haran and comes to Canaan, 4, 5. He journeys through Canaan, 6, which is promised him in a vision, 7-9. He is driven by a famine into Egypt, 10. Fear makes him feign his wife to be his sister, 11-13. Pharaoh, having taken her from him, by plagues is compelled to restore her, 14-17. He reproves Abram, whom he dismisses, 18-20.

1 Now the LORD had said to Abram, "Depart from your country, from your kindred, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.

3 And I will bless those who bless you and curse him who curses you. And in you all families of the earth shall be blessed."

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls whom they had gotten in Haran, and they went to go forth into the land of Canaan. And into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the land to the place of Sichem to the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." And there he erected an altar to the LORD who appeared to him. 8 And he departed from there to a mountain on the east of Beth-el and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west and Hai on the east. And there he erected an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10 And there was a famine in the land. And Abram went down into Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he had come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Behold now, I know that you are a fair woman to look upon; 12 Therefore, it will come to pass, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife,' and they will kill me, but they will save you alive. 13 Say, I pray you, you are my sister so that it may be well with me for your sake, and my soul shall live because of you." 14 And it came to pass, that when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her before Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And he treated Abram well for her sake, and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, men-servants, women-servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 And the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues, because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she is your wife? 19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so I might have taken her to me for a wife? Now therefore, behold your wife, take her and go your way." 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him. And they sent him away, along with his wife and all that he had.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Acts 7:3. [v.3]: Quoted in Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8. [v.7]: Reference, Acts 7:5.

Chapter 13

Abram and Lot return with great riches out of Egypt, 1-5. Strife arises between Abram’s herdsmen and those of Lot, 6, 7. Abram meekly refers it to Lot to choose his part of the country, 8, 9, and Lot goes to Sodom, 10-13. God renews the promise to Abram, 14-17. He moves to Hebron and there builds an altar, 18.

1 And Abram returned from Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the south.

2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai, 4 To the place of the altar which he had made there at the first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them so that they might dwell together, for their substance was so great that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.

8 And Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. 9 Is the whole land not before you? Separate yourself, I pray you, from me. If you will take the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you will depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as far as to Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan and Lot journeyed east. And they separated themselves one from the other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners before the LORD.

14 And the LORD said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are northward, southward, eastward, and westward. 15 All the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your offspring forever. 16 And I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your offspring shall also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth, for I will give it to you." 18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.

Chapter 14

The battle of four kings against the king of Sodom and his allies, 1-11. Lot is taken prisoner, 12, 13. Abram rescues him, 14-16. Melchizedek blesses Abram at his return, who gives him tithes, 17-20. The king offers the rest of the plunder to Abram, which he declines, but desires a portion be given to his partners, 21-24.

1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the valley of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzims in Ham, the Emins in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in the mountains of Seir, to El-paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites and also the Amorites, who dwelt in Hazezontamar. 8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) went out, and they joined battle with them in the valley of Siddim, 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, with Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings with five. 10 And the valley of Siddim was full of slime-pits. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell there. And those who remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 And someone who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. For he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner, and these were confederates with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them to Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants by night, and smote them and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods. He also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, and also the women and the people.

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine. He was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him and said,

"Blessed is Abram of the most high God,   /

possessor of heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be the most high God   /

who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

And [Abram] gave him tithes of all.

21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons and take the goods for yourself." 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That from a thread even to a shoe-latchet I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich,' 24 Except that which the young men have eaten and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion."

Chapter 15

God encourages Abram, who complains for lack of an heir, 1-3. God promises him a son and a multiplying of his offspring, 4, 5. Abram is justified by faith, 6. Canaan is promised again and confirmed by a sign and a vision, prophetic of the condition of his posterity until brought out of Egypt, 7-21.

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward."

2 And Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given no children to me, and behold, a domestic worker in my house is my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This shall not be your heir. But he who comes forth out of your own body shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him forth abroad and said, "Now look toward heaven and tell the stars, if you are able to number them." And he said to him, "Thus shall your offspring be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to inherit it." 8 And he said, "Lord GOD, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?" 9 And he said to him, "Bring me a heifer of three years old, a female goat of three years old, a ram of three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought all these to him, divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another, but the birds he did not divide. 11 And when the birds came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and behold, a horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said to Abram, "Know certainly that your offspring shall be strangers in a land that is not theirs and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also that nation which they shall serve, I will judge. And afterward they shall come out with great substance. 15 And you shall go to your fathers in peace. You shall be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full."

17 And it came to pass, that when the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

18 On that same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River, 19 The land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 The Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaims, 21 The Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Romans 4:18. [v.6]: Quoted in Romans 4:3, 4:9, 4:22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23. [v.13]: Quoted in Acts 7:6. [v.14]: Quoted in Acts 7:7.

Chapter 16

Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram, 1-3. Hagar, being afflicted for despising her mistress, runs away, 4-6. An angel commands her to return and submit herself, promises her a numerous posterity, and shows their character and condition, 7-12. Hagar names the place and returns to Sarai, 13, 14. Ishmael is born, 15. The age of Abram, 16.

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. And she had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing. I pray you go in to my servant. It may be that I may obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her servant, the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong is upon you. I have given my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. May the LORD judge between you and me." 6 But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your hand. Do to her as it pleases you." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her face.

7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And he said, "Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? And where will you go?" And she said, "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." 9 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hands." 10 And the angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your offspring exceedingly so that they shall not be numbered for multitude." 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her,

"Behold, you are with child   /

and shall bear a son /

and call his name Ishmael, /

because the LORD has heard your affliction.

12 And he will be a wild man.   /

His hand will be against every man, /

and every man’s hand against him. /

And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brothers."

13 And she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God who sees me," for she said, "Have I also here looked after him who sees me?" 14 Therefore, the well was called Beer-la-hai-roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bore Abram a son. And Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Chapter 17

God renews the covenant with Abram and changes his name to Abraham, in token of a greater blessing, 1-8. Circumcision is instituted, 9-14. Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah and she is blessed, 15, 16. Isaac is promised and the time of his birth fixed, 17-22. Abraham and Ishmael are circumcised, 23-27.

1 And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am the Almighty God. Walk before me and be perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and you and will multiply you exceedingly."

3 And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,

4 "As for me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.

5 Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, because a father of many nations I have made you.

6 And I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make nations of you, and kings shall proceed from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. And I will be their God."

9 And God said to Abraham, "You shall keep my covenant therefore—you and your offspring after you in their generations. 10 This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you shall keep: every male child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you. 12 And he who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any stranger who is not of your offspring. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised. And my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant."

15 And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son also by her. I will even bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations. Kings of people shall proceed from her." 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear?" 18 And Abraham said to God, "O that Ishmael might live before you!" 19 And God said, "Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his offspring after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. Twelve princes he shall beget, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year." 22 And he ceased talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin, in the same day, as God had said to him. 24 And Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day Abraham and Ishmael his son were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, born in the house and bought with money from the stranger, were circumcised with him.

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Romans 4:17. [v.7-8]: Quoted in Galatians 3:16. [v.8]: Quoted in Acts 7:5.

Chapter 18

The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels, 1-8. Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son, 9-15. The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham, 16-22. Abraham makes intercession for the inhabitants, 23-33.

1 And the LORD appeared to him in the plains of Mamre as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, "My Lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, do not pass away, I pray you, from your servant. 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be brought, and wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, and you may comfort your hearts. After that you shall pass on, for therefore you have come to your servant." And they said, "Do so, as you have said." 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly make ready three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth." 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, brought a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man, and he hastened to dress it. 8 And he took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

9 And they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "Behold, in the tent." 10 And he said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and far advanced in age, and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore, Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I certainly bear a child, who am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. And he said, "No, but you did laugh."

16 And the men rose up from there and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him." 20 And the LORD said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to its cry which has come to me, and if not, I will know."

22 And the men turned their faces from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23 And Abraham drew near and said, "Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 That is far from you to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked. That is far from you. Shall the Judge of all the earth not do right?" 26 And the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." 27 And Abraham answered and said, "Behold now, I, who am dust and ashes, have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. 28 Perhaps there will lack five of the fifty righteous. Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" And he said, "If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it." 29 And he spoke to him yet again, and said, "Perhaps there will be forty found there." And he said, "I will not do it for the forty’s sake." 30 And he said, "Oh, do not let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps there will be thirty found there." And he said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 And he said, "Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. Perhaps there will be twenty found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake." 32 And he said, "Oh do not let the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Perhaps ten will be found there." And he said, "I will not destroy it for ten’s sake." 33 And the LORD went his way as soon as he had left communing with Abraham. And Abraham returned to his place.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Romans 9:9.

Chapter 19

Lot entertains two angels, 1-3. The vicious Sodomites are smitten with blindness, 4-11. Lot is warned, and in vain warns his sons-in-law, 12-14. He is directed to flee with his family to the mountains, but obtains leave to go into Zoar, 15-23. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, 24, 25. Lot’s wife becomes a pillar of salt, 26-28. Lot dwells in a cave, 29, 30. The incestuous origin of Moab and Ammon, 31-38.

1 And there came two angels to Sodom at evening. And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot, seeing them, rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face toward the ground, 2 And he said, "Behold now, my lords, turn, I pray you, into your servant’s house and stay all night and wash your feet, and you shall rise early and go on your ways." And they said, "No, but we will abide in the street all night." 3 And he urged them greatly, and they turned aside to him and entered into his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us so that we may know them." 6 And Lot went out at the door to them and shut the door behind him, 7 And said, "I pray you, brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters who have not known man. Let me, I pray you, bring them out to you, and do to them as is good in your eyes. Only do nothing to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof." 9 And they said, "Stand back." And they said again, "This one came in as a sojourner and he wants to be a judge. Now we will deal worse with you than with them." And they pressed hard upon the man, Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 And they smote the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

12 And the men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of this place. 13 For we will destroy this place, because their cry has become great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it." 14 And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, "Arise, depart from this place, for the LORD will destroy this city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law as one who mocked.

15 And when the morning arose, the angels hastened Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city." 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters—the LORD being merciful to him—and they brought him forth and set him outside the city. 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, "Escape for your life. Do not look behind you, neither stay in all the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed." 18 And Lot said to them, "Oh, not so, my Lord! 19 Behold now, your servant has found grace in your sight, and you have magnified your mercy, which you have shown to me in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil should take me and I die. 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee to and it is a small one. Oh, let me escape there (Is it not a small one?) and my soul shall live!" 21 And he said to him, "Behold, I have accepted you concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for which you have spoken. 22 Hasten, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you get there." Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar.

23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him and she became a pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham rose early in the morning to go to the place where he stood before the LORD. 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain and beheld, and behold, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.

30 And Lot went up from Zoar and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he feared to dwell in Zoar. And he dwelt in a cave—he and his two daughters. 31 And the first-born said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man on the earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him so that we may preserve the family of our father." 33 And they made their father drink wine that night. And the first-born went in and lay with her father, and he did not perceive when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the next day that the first born said to the younger, "Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine this night also, and you go in and lie with him so that we may preserve the family of our father." 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not perceive when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus both of the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 And the first-born bore a son and called his name Moab, the same is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi, the same is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.

Chapter 20

Abraham sojourns at Gerar, 1. He denies his wife, who is taken by Abimelech, 2. Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream, 3-8. He rebukes Abraham, 9-13; restores Sarah, 14, 15; and reproves her, 16. Abimelech and his family are healed at Abraham’s prayer, 17, 18.

1 And Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur and sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "Behold, you are but a dead man on account of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife." 4 But Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, "Lord, will you also slay a righteous nation? 5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister?' And she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this." 6 And God said to him in a dream, "Indeed, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore, I did not allow you to touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore to the man his wife, for he is a prophet and he shall pray for you, and you shall live. And if you shall not restore her, know that you shall surely die—you and all who are yours."

8 Therefore, Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears. And the men were greatly afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And in what have I offended you that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done." 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see that you have done this thing?" 11 And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, 'This is your kindness which you shall show to me: at every place where we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" 14 And Abimelech took sheep, oxen, men-servants, and women-servants and gave them to Abraham and restored to him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you." 16 And to Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother one thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is to you a covering of the eyes to all who are with you. And before all others, you are righted." 17 So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his women-servants, and they bore children. 18 For the LORD had made barren all the females of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Chapter 21

Isaac is born and circumcised, 1-5. Sarah’s joy, 6, 7. Isaac is weaned, 8. Hagar and Ishmael are cast out, 9-14. Hagar in distress, 15, 16. The angel relieves and comforts her, 17-21. Abimelech’s covenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba, 22-34.

1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, "God has made me to laugh so that all who hear will laugh with me." 7 And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah shall nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."

8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast the day that Isaac was weaned.

9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore, she said to Abraham, "Cast out this woman-servant and her son. For the son of this woman-servant shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son. 12 And God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy and because of your woman-servant. In all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice. For in Isaac your offspring shall be called. 13 And also of the son of the woman-servant I will make a nation because he is your child." 14 And Abraham rose early in the morning, took bread and a bottle of water, gave it to Hagar (putting it on her shoulder) and the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16 And she went and sat herself down over against him a good way off, about a bow-shot, for she said, "Do not let me see the death of the child." And she sat over against him and raised her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy. And the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand, for I will make him a great nation." 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the bottle with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 And God was with the boy, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness and became an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother took for him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son. But according to the kindness that I have done to you, you shall do to me and to the land in which you have sojourned." 24 And Abraham said, "I will swear." 25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. 26 And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing, neither did you tell me, neither yet have I heard of it, but today."

27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and both of them made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What do these seven ewe-lambs mean which you have set by themselves?" 30 And he said, "For these seven ewe-lambs you shall take from my hand so that they may be a witness to me that I have dug this well." 31 Therefore, he called that place Beer-sheba, because there the both of them swore. 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. Then Abimelech arose, with Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. 33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Galatians 4:30. [v.12]: Quoted in Romans 9:7; Hebrews 11:18.

Chapter 22

Abraham is tested to offer Isaac, 1, 2. He gives proof of his faith and obedience, 3-10. The angel prevents him, 11, 12. Isaac is exchanged for a ram, 13. The place is called Yahweh Will Provide, 14. Abraham is again blessed, 15-19. The generations of Nahor to Rebekah, 20-24.

1 And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham." And he said, "Behold, here I am." 2 And he said, "Now take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will name to you." 3 And Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son, split the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose and went to the place which God had named to him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Abide here with the donkey, and the boy and I will go yonder and worship and return to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his hand and a knife, and the both of them went together. 7 And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, "My father." And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering." So the both of them went together.

9 And they came to the place which God had named to him. And Abraham built an altar there, laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham." And he said, "Here I am." 12 And he said, "Do not lay your hand upon the boy, neither do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him for a burnt-offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be seen."

15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven the second time, 16 And said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, for because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the sea shore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies. 18 And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beer-sheba, and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told to Abraham, saying, "Behold, Milcah, she has also borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Huz his first-born, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel." 23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor Abraham’s brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.

References

[v.17]: Quoted in Hebrews 6:14. [v.18]: Reference, Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8.

Chapter 23

The age and death of Sarah, 1, 2. The purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah, 3-18; where Sarah is buried, 19, 20.

1 And Sarah was one hundred and twenty-seven years old. These were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba, the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a possession for a burying-place with you so that I may bury my dead out of my sight." 5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 "Hear us, my lord. You are a mighty prince among us. In the choice of our sepulchers bury your dead. None of us will withhold from you his sepulcher so that you may bury your dead." 7 And Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children of Heth. 8 And he communed with them, saying, "If it is your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 So that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For as much money as it is worth he shall give it to me as a possession for a burying-place among you." 10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, of all who entered the gates of his city, saying, 11 "No, my lord, hear me. I give the field to you, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead." 12 And Abraham bowed himself before the people of the land. 13 And he spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, "But if you will give it, I pray you, hear me. I will give you money for the field. Take it from me, and I will bury my dead there." 14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15 "My lord, listen to me. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? Therefore, bury your dead." 16 And Abraham listened to Ephron. And Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

17 And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were throughout all its borders, were made sure 18 To Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who entered the gate of his city. 19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 20 And the field and the cave that is in it were made sure to Abraham for a possession for a burying-place by the sons of Heth.

Chapter 24

Abraham _gives charge to his servant, 1-9. The servant’s journey, 10, 11. His prayer, 12, 13. His sign, 14. Rebekah meets him, 15-17; fulfills his sign, 18-21; receives jewels, 22; shows her kindred, 23, 24; and invites him home, 25. The servant blesses God, 26, 27. Laban entertains him, 29-33. The servant relates his message, 34-49. Laban and Bethuel approve it, 50-57. Rebekah consents to go and departs, 58-61. Isaac meets and marries her, 62-67._

1 And Abraham was old and far advanced in age, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house who ruled over all that he had, "Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, 3 And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell. 4 But you shall go to my country and to my kindred and take a wife for my son Isaac." 5 And the servant said to him, "It may be that the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I bring your son back to the land from where you came?" 6 And Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not bring my son there again. 7 The LORD God of heaven who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath of mine. Only do not bring my son there again." 9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning that matter.

10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master and departed (for all the goods of his master were in his hands), and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray you, prosper me this day and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. 14 And let it come to pass, that the young woman to whom I say, 'Let down your pitcher, I pray you, so that I may drink,' and she shall say, 'Drink, and I will give your camels drink also,' let the same be she whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. And by that I shall know that you have shown kindness to my master."

15 And it came to pass before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the young woman was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her. And she went down to the well and filled her pitcher and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Let me, I pray you, drink a little water from your pitcher." 18 And she said, "Drink, my lord." And she hastened and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him drink. 19 And when she had finished giving him drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also until they have finished drinking." 20 And she hastened and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man, wondering at her, held his peace to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous, or not.

22 And it came to pass as the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 23 And said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, I pray you, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?" 24 And she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." 25 She said moreover to him, "We have enough of both straw and provender and room to lodge in." 26 And the man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD. 27 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not left my master destitute of his mercy and his truth. I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brothers."

28 And the young woman ran and told these things to her mother’s house. 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. And Laban ran out to the man at the well. 30 And it came to pass when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "Thus spoke the man to me," that he came to the man. And behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, "Come in, you blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels." 32 And the man came into the house, and he ungirded his camels and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 And there was food set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." And he said, "Speak on." 34 And he said, "I am Abraham’s servant. 35 And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great. And he has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, men-servants, woman-servants, camels, and donkeys. 36 And Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. And to him he has given all that he has. 37 And my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell. 38 But you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred and take a wife for my son.' 39 And I said to my master, 'It may be that the woman will not follow me.' 40 And he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and prosper your way, and you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house. 41 Then you shall be clear from this oath of mine when you come to my kindred. And if they do not give you one, you shall be clear from my oath.'

42 "And I came this day to the well and said, 'O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now you prosper my way which I go, 43 Behold, I stand by the well of water, and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, "Give me, I pray you, a little water from your pitcher to drink," 44 And she says to me, "Drink, and I will also draw for your camels," let the same be the woman whom the LORD has pointed out for my master’s son.'

45 "And before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, 'Let me drink, I pray you.' 46 And she made haste and let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.' So I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47 And I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.' And I put the earring upon her face and the bracelets upon her hands. 48 And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter for his son. 49 And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me so that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left."

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and said, "The thing proceeds from the LORD. We cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken."

52 And it came to pass, that when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother precious things. 54 And they ate and drank—he and the men who were with him—and stayed all night. And they rose in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master." 55 And her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman abide with us a few days, at the least ten. After that she shall go." 56 And he said to them, "Do not hinder me, seeing the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away so that I may go to my master." 57 And they said, "We will call the young woman and inquire at her mouth." 58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go." 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her,

"You are our sister—may you be the mother of thousands of millions,   /

and let your offspring possess the gate of those who hate them."

61 And Rebekah and her attendants arose, and they rode upon the camels and followed the man. And the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi, for he dwelt in the south country. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, the camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel, 65 And she said to the servant, "What man is this who walks in the field to meet us?" And the servant said, "It is my master." Therefore, she took a veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Chapter 25

The sons of Abraham, by Keturah, 1-4. The division of his goods, 5, 6. His age, death, and burial, 7-10. God blesses Isaac, 11. The generations of Ishmael, 12-16. His age and death, 17, 18. Isaac prays for Rebekah, being barren, 19-21. The children strive in her womb, 22, 23. The birth of Esau and Jacob, 24-26. Their different characters and pursuits, 27, 28. Esau sells his birthright, 29-34.

1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 And Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts and sent them away from Isaac his son (while he yet lived) eastward to the east country.

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham expired and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre, 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife. 11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The first-born of Ishmael, Nebajoth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their towns and by their castles, twelve princes according to their nations. 17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years. And he expired and died and was gathered to his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah to Shur, that is before Egypt, as far as toward Assyria. And he died in the presence of all his brothers.

19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to be his wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is so, why am I thus?" And she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb,   /

and two manner of people shall be separated from your body. /

One people shall be stronger than the other people, /

and the elder shall serve the younger."

24 And when her days to deliver were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first was born red, all over like a hairy garment. And they called his name Esau. 26 And after that his brother was born, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel. And his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 And the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob boiled pottage, and Esau came from the field and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage, for I am faint." Therefore, his name was called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, "Sell to me this day your birth-right." 32 And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birth-right bring to me?" 33 And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day." And he swore to him and sold his birth-right to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birth-right.

References

[v.23]: Quoted in Romans 9:12.

Chapter 26

Isaac, because of famine, sojourns in Gerar, and the Lord instructs and blesses him, 1-6. He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife, 7-11. He grows rich, and the Philistines envy his prosperity, 12-17. He digs Esek, Sitnah, and Rehoboth, 18-22. God appears to him at Beer-sheba and blesses him; and Abimelech makes a covenant with him, 23-33. Esau’s wives, 34, 35.

1 And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down into Egypt. Dwell in the land which I shall tell you of. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and to your offspring I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your offspring to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these countries. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked him about his wife, and he said, "She is my sister," for he feared to say, "She is my wife"—"lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she is fair to look upon." 8 And it came to pass when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac and said, "Behold, surely she is your wife. And how did you say, 'She is my sister'?" And Isaac said to him, "Because I thought, 'Lest I should die on her account.'" 10 And Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might lightly have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guiltiness upon us." 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year one hundred-fold. And the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man became great and went forward and grew until he became very great. 14 For he had possession of flocks and possession of herds, and very many servants. And the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go from us, for you are much mightier than we are." 17 And Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there.

18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdsmen of Gerar contended with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." And he called the name of the well Esek because they strove with him. 21 And they dug another well and contended for that also, and he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he departed from there and dug another well. And for that they did not contend. And he called its name Rehoboth and he said, "For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

23 And he went up from there to Beer-sheba.

24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not fear, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake."

25 And he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And Isaac’s servants dug a well there.

26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, along with Ahuzzath one of his friends and Phichol the chief captain of his army. 27 And Isaac said to them, "Why do you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?" 28 And they said, "We saw certainly that the LORD was with you. And we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 That you will do us no hurt, as we have not touched you and as we have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.'" 30 And he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 And they rose early in the morning and swore to one another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came and told him concerning the well which they had dug and said to him, "We have found water." 33 And he called it Shebah; therefore, the name of the city is Beer-sheba to this day.

34 And Esau was forty years old when he took for a wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 Who were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.

References

[v.4]: Reference, Acts 3:25.

Chapter 27

Isaac sends Esau to hunt for some wild game, 1-5. Rebekah instructs Jacob to obtain the blessing, 6-13. Jacob, feigning to be Esau, obtains it, 14-29. Esau brings his wild game, 30-32. Isaac trembles, 33. Esau complains, and by importunity obtains a blessing, 34-40. He threatens Jacob’s life, 41. Rebekah disappoints him by sending Jacob away, 42-46.

1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son and said to him, "My son." And he said to him, "Behold, here I am." 2 And he said, "Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now therefore, take, I pray you, your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt some wild game for me. 4 And make me savory food such as I love and bring it to me so that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die."

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for wild game and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 'Bring me wild game and make me savory food so that I may eat and bless you before the LORD before my death.' 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, according to that which I command you. 9 Go now to the flock and bring me from there two good kids of the goats, and I will make them savory food for your father such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father so that he may eat and that he may bless you before his death." 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 My father perhaps will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing." 13 And his mother said to him, "Let your curse be upon me, my son. Only obey my voice and go, bring them to me." 14 And he went and took and brought them to his mother. And his mother made savory food such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took fine clothing of her eldest son Esau, which was with her in the house, and put it upon Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she gave the savory food and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 And he came to his father and said, "My father." And he said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?" 19 And Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your first-born. I have done according as you told me. Arise, I pray you, sit and eat some of my wild game so that your soul may bless me." 20 And Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" And he said, "Because the LORD your God brought it to me." 21 And Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near, I pray you, so that I may feel you, my son, whether you are my very son Esau, or not." 22 And Jacob went near to Isaac his father. And he felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." 23 And he did not discern him because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 And he said, "Are you my very son Esau?" And he said, "I am." 25 And he said, "Bring it near to me, and I will eat some of my son’s wild game so that my soul may bless you." And he brought it near to him, and he ate, and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said to him, "Come near now and kiss me, my son." 27 And he came near and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his clothing and blessed him and said,

"Behold, the smell of my son   /

is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed.

28 Therefore, may God give you of the dew of heaven   /

and the fatness of the earth /

and plenty of grain and wine.

29 Let people serve you   /

and nations bow down to you. /

Be lord over your brothers, /

and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. /

Cursed is everyone who curses you, /

and blessed is he who blesses you."

30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob had yet scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savory food and brought it to his father, and said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat some of his son’s wild game so that your soul may bless me." 32 And Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am your son, your first-born Esau." 33 And Isaac trembled exceedingly and said, "Who? Where is he who has taken this wild game and brought it to me, and I have eaten all of it before you came and have blessed him? Indeed, he shall be blessed." 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceedingly bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father." 35 And he said, "Your brother came with subtlety and has taken away your blessing." 36 And he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me twice: he took away my birth-right, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?" 37 And Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. And what shall I do now to you, my son?" 38 And Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father." And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 And Isaac his father answered and said to him,

"Behold, your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth   /

and of the dew of heaven from above.

40 And by your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother.   /

And it shall come to pass, when you have the dominion, /

that you shall break his yoke from off your neck."

41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will slay my brother Jacob." 42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau, as concerning you, comforts himself, purposing to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. And arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran. 44 And stay with him a few days until your brother’s fury turns away, 45 Until your brother’s anger turns away from you and he forgets that which you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?"

46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, such as these, who are from the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?"

Chapter 28

Isaac blesses Jacob and sends him to Padan-aram, 1-5. Esau marries Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, 6-9. Jacob journeys and has a vision of a ladder, 10-17. The stone of Beth-el, 18, 19. Jacob’s vow, 20-22.

1 And Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and charged him, and said to him, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take for yourself from there a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 And may God Almighty bless you, make you fruitful, and multiply you so that you may be a multitude of people, 4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, so that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham." 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob. And he went to Padan-aram, to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan-aram to take for himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him, he gave him a charge, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan," 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan-aram, 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan did not please Isaac his father, 9 Then Esau went to Ishmael and took, besides the wives which he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.

10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he alighted upon a certain place and stayed there all night because the sun had set. And he took some of the stones of that place and set them for his head-rest and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your offspring. 14 And your offspring shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south. And in you and in your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 And behold, I am with you and will keep you in all places where you go and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have declared to you." 16 And Jacob awoke out of his sleep and he said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome this place is! This is no other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

18 And Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el, but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, keep me in this way that I go, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 So that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set for a pillar shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me, I will surely give the tenth to you."

References

[v.12]: Reference, John 1:51.

Chapter 29

Jacob comes to the well of Haran, 1-8. He becomes acquainted with Rachel, 9-12. Laban entertains him, 13-17. Jacob covenants for Rachel, 18-22. He is deceived by Laban with Leah, 23-27. He serves for seven more years and marries Rachel also, 28-31. Leah bears Reuben, 32; Simeon, 33; Levi, 34; and Judah, 35.

1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it, for out of that well they watered the flocks. And a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. 3 And there all the flocks were gathered. And they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the sheep, and put the stone back upon the well’s mouth in its place.

4 And Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" And they said, "We are from Haran." 5 And he said to them, "Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?" And they said, "We know him." 6 And he said to them, "Is he well?" And they said, "He is well, and behold, Rachel his daughter comes with the sheep." 7 And he said, "Behold, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be collected. Water the sheep and go and feed them." 8 And they said, "We cannot until all the flocks are collected and until they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we water the sheep."

9 And while he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother and that he was Rebekah’s son. And she ran and told her father.

13 And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him the space of a month.

15 And Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well-favored. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel and said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." 19 And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Abide with me." 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

21 And Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife (for my days are fulfilled) so that I may go in to her." 22 And Laban assembled all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to him, and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah as a servant. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 And Laban said, "It must not be thus done in our country to give the younger before the first-born. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you the other also, for the service which you shall serve with me yet seven other years." 28 And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. And he gave him Rachel, his daughter, for a wife also. 29 And Laban gave Bilhah his servant to Rachel his daughter to be her servant. 30 And he went in also to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he made her fruitful, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Surely the LORD has looked upon my affliction; therefore, now my husband will love me." 33 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I was hated, he has therefore given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will adhere to me because I have borne him three sons." Therefore, his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise the LORD." Therefore, she called his name Judah, and ceased bearing.

Chapter 30

Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, gives Bilhah her servant to Jacob, 1-4. Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali, 5-8. Leah gives Zilpah her servant, who bears Gad and Asher, 9-13. Reuben finds mandrakes, with which Leah buys her husband’s company from Rachel, 14-16. Leah bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, 17-21. Rachel bears Joseph, 22-24. Jacob desires to depart, 25, 26. Laban detains him on a new agreement, 27-36. Jacob’s policy, whereby he becomes rich, 37-43.

1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die." 2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel and he said, "Am I in God’s stead, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" 3 And she said, "Behold, my servant Bilhah, go in to her, and she shall bear upon my knees so that I may also have children by her." 4 And she gave him Bilhah her servant for a wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, "God has judged me and has also heard my voice and has given me a son." Therefore, she called his name Dan. 7 And Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, "With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed." And she called his name Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing, she took Zilpah her servant and gave her to Jacob for a wife. 10 And Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, "A troop comes." And she called his name Gad. 12 And Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed." And she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went, in the days of wheat-harvest, and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Give me, I pray you, some of your son’s mandrakes." 15 And she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? And would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?" And Rachel said, "Therefore, he shall lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes." 16 And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come in to me. For surely I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes." And he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, "God has given me my hire because I have given my servant to my husband." And she called his name Issachar. 19 And Leah conceived again and bore Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dower. Now my husband will dwell with me because I have borne him six sons." And she called his name Zebulun. 21 And afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.

22 And God remembered Rachel. And God listened to her and rendered her fruitful. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach." 24 And she called his name Joseph and said, "The LORD will add to me another son."

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away so that I may go to my own place and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, and let me go. For you know my service which I have done for you." 27 And Laban said to him, "I pray you, if I have found favor in your eyes, stay, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake." 28 And he said, "Appoint me your wages and I will give it." 29 And he said to him, "You know how I have served you and how your cattle were with me. 30 For it was little which you had before I came, and it is now increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now when shall I provide for my own house also?" 31 And he said, "What shall I give you?" And Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flock. 32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, all the brown ones among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and of such shall be my hire. 33 So my righteousness shall answer for me in time to come when you come for my hire before your face. Each one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, shall be accounted stolen with me." 34 And Laban said, "Behold, let it be according to your word." 35 And he removed that day the male goats that were striped and spotted and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, each one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hands of his sons. 36 And he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob. And Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37 And Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the hazel and plane-tree, and peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods, which he had peeled, before the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs when the flocks came to drink so that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flock brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the brown in the flock of Laban. And he put his own flocks by themselves, and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 And it came to pass whenever the stronger flock conceived, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters so that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 And the man increased exceedingly and had many flocks, women-servants, men-servants, camels, and donkeys.

Chapter 31

Jacob, displeased with the envy of Laban and his sons, departs secretly, 1-21. Rachel steals her father’s images, 19. Laban pursues after him and complains of the wrong, 22-33. Rachel’s stratagem to hide the images, 34, 35. Jacob’s complaint of Laban, 36-42. The covenant of Laban and Jacob at Galeed, 43-55.

1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from that which was our father’s he has obtained all this glory." 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and behold, it was not toward him as before. 3 And the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you." 4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was, 5 And said to them, "I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my power I have served your father. 7 And your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said, 'The speckled shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled. And if he said, 'The striped shall be your hire,' then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the flock of your father and given them to me. 10 And it came to pass at the time that the flock conceived, that I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flock were striped, speckled, and grizzled. 11 And the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, 'Jacob.' And I said, 'Here I am.' 12 And he said, 'Lift up now your eyes and see that all the rams which leap upon the flock are striped, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13 I am the God of Beth-el, where you anointed the pillar and where you vowed to me a vow. Now arise, depart from this land, and return to the land of your kindred.'" 14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, "Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not counted by him strangers? For he has sold us and has also quite consumed our money. 16 For all the riches which God has taken from our father, that is ours and our children’s. Now then whatever God has said to you, do."

17 Then Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives upon camels. 18 And he carried away all his cattle and all his goods which he had gained, his own cattle which he had gained in Padan-aram, to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. 19 And Laban went to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s. 20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he was about to depart. 21 So he fled with all that he had, and he arose and passed over the river and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.

22 And it was told to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 And he took his brothers with him and pursued after him seven days' journey, and they overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream by night and said to him, "Take heed that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad."

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, and Laban, with his brothers, pitched on the mountain of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done that you have deceived me and carried away my daughters as captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me and not tell me so that I might have sent you away with mirth, with songs, with tambourine, and with harp, 28 And have not allowed me to kiss my sons and my daughters? You have now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take heed that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.' 30 And now, you have gone away because you earnestly longed after your father’s house, yet why have you stolen my gods?" 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought it may be that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. Before our brothers, discern what is yours with me and take it." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two women-servants' tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, "Do not let it displease my lord that I cannot rise up before you, for the custom of women is upon me." And he searched, but did not find the images.

36 And Jacob was angry and chided with Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban, "What is my trespass? What is my sin that you have so eagerly pursued after me? 37 Whereas you have searched all my stuff, what have you found of all your household-stuff? Set it here before my brothers and your brothers so that they may judge between us both. 38 These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and the rams of your flock I have not eaten. 39 That which was torn by beasts, I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. 40 Thus I was: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been twenty years in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. 42 Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac had been with me, surely you had now sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands and he rebuked you last night."

43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, "These daughters are my daughters, these children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these daughters of mine, or to their children which they have borne? 44 Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant—you and I—and let it be for a witness between you and me." 45 And Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his brothers, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there upon the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 And Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me this day." Therefore, the name of it was called Galeed, 49 And Mizpah, for he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent from one another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, and no man is with us, behold, God is witness between you and me." 51 And Laban said to Jacob, "Behold this heap and behold this pillar which I have set between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness and this pillar is a witness that I will not pass over this heap to you and that you shall not pass over this heap and this pillar to me for harm. 53 May the God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mountain and called his brothers to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. 55 And early in the morning Laban arose, kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. And Laban departed and returned to his place.

Chapter 32

Jacob’s vision at Mahanaim, 1, 2. His message to Esau, 3-5. He is afraid of Esau’s coming, 6-8. He prays for deliverance, 9-12. He sends a present to Esau and passes the brook Jabbok, 13-23. He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel, 24-30. He _limps, 31, 32._

1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God’s host." And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, to the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, "Thus you shall speak to my lord Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says thus: "I have sojourned with Laban and stayed there until now. 5 And I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, men-servants, and women-servants. And I have sent to tell my lord so that I may find grace in your sight."'"

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he is also coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. And he divided the people who were with him, along with the flocks, herds, and camels, into two bands, 8 And said, "If Esau comes to one company and smites it, then the other company which is left will escape."

9 And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you,' 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which you have shown to your servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two bands. 11 Deliver me, I pray you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, lest he should come and smite me with the mothers and the children. 12 And you said, 'I will surely do you good and make your offspring as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbered for multitude.'"

13 And he lodged there that same night and took from that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother: 14 Two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, 15 Thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten foals. 16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me and put a space between drove and drove." 17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you? And where do you go? And whose are these before you?' 18 Then you shall say, 'They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau. And behold he is also behind us.'" 19 And likewise he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, "In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him. 20 And say moreover, 'Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept of me." 21 So the present went over before him, and he himself lodged that night in the company.

22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two women-servants, and his eleven sons and passed over the ford of the Jabbok. 23 And he took them and sent them over the brook, and sent over that which he had.

24 And Jacob was left alone. And there a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when [the man] saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the hollow of [Jacob’s] thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 And [the man] said, "Let me go, for the day breaks." And [Jacob] said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 And [the man] said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28 And he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel. For as a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29 And Jacob asked him and said, "Tell me, I pray you, your name." And he said, "Why is it that you ask for my name?" And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he limped upon his thigh. 32 Therefore, the children of Israel do not eat of the sinew which shrunk, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrunk.

Chapter 33

Jacob and Esau’s meeting; and Esau’s departure, 1-16. Jacob comes to Succoth, 17. At Shalem he buys a field and builds an altar called El-elohe-Israel, 18-20.

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two women-servants. 2 And he put the women-servants and their children foremost, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost. 3 And he passed on before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother.

4 And Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And he lifted up his eyes and saw the women and the children and said, "Who are those with you?" And he said, "The children which God has graciously given to your servant." 6 Then the women-servants came near—they and their children—and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed themselves. And afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, "What do you mean by all this drove which I met?" And he said, "These are to find grace in the sight of my lord." 9 And Esau said, "I have enough, my brother. Keep what you have to yourself." 10 And Jacob said, "No, I pray you, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand. For therefore I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you have been pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray you, my blessing that is brought to you because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have enough." And he urged him, and he took it.

12 And he said, "Let us take our journey and let us go, and I will go before you." 13 And he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender and the flocks and herds with young are with me, and if men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray you, pass over before his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according as the cattle that go before me and the children are able to endure, until I come to my lord at Seir."

15 And Esau said, "Let me now leave with you some of the people who are with me." And he said, "What need is there? Let me find grace in the sight of my lord." 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house and made booths for his cattle. Therefore, the name of the place is called Succoth.

18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram, and pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought a part of a field where he had spread his tent at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected an altar there and called it El-elohe-Israel.

Chapter 34

Dinah is ravished by Shechem, 1-3. He appeals to marry her, 4-12. The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites, 13-19. Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it, 20-24. The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them and plunder their city, 25-29. Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi, 30, 31.

1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her and defiled her. 3 And his soul cleaved to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. 4 And Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this young woman for a wife." 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. But his sons were with his cattle in the field, and Jacob held his peace until they had come. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to commune with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came from the field when they heard it, and the men were grieved and were very angry because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, which thing ought not to be done.

8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. I pray you give her to him for a wife. 9 And make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 And you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade therein and get possessions therein." 11 And Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and what you shall say to me, I will give. 12 Ask me ever so much dowry and gift and I will give according as you shall say to me, but give me the young woman for a wife."

13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully and said (because he had defiled Dinah their sister), 14 And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, because that would be a reproach to us. 15 But in this we will consent to you: if you will be as we are, that every male of you shall be circumcised, 16 Then we will give our daughters to you and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and we will be gone."

18 And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. 19 And the young man did not defer to do the thing because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter. And he was more honorable than all the house of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 "These men are peaceable with us; therefore, let them dwell in the land and trade therein. For the land, behold, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters for wives and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only herein will the men consent to us to dwell with us to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23 Will their cattle, their substance, and every beast of theirs not be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us." 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and to Shechem his son. And every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city boldly and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their sheep, their oxen, their donkeys, that which was in the city, and that which was in the field. 29 And all their wealth, all their little ones, and their wives they took captive and plundered even all that was in the house. 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have troubled me to make me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. And I being few in number, they will assemble themselves against me and slay me, and I shall be destroyed—I and my house." 31 And they said, "Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?"

Chapter 35

God commands Jacob to go to Bethel, 1. He purges his house of idols, 2-5. He builds an altar at Bethel, 6, 7. Deborah dies at Allon-bachuth, 8. God blesses Jacob at Bethel, 9-15. Rachel travails with Benjamin and dies in the way to Edar, 16-21. Reuben lies with Bilhah, 22. The sons of Jacob, 23-26. Jacob comes to Isaac at Hebron, 27. The age, death, and burial of Isaac, 28, 29.

1 And God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Beth-el and dwell there. And make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." 2 Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the strange gods which are among you, and be clean and change your garments. 3 And let us arise and go up to Beth-el. And I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went." 4 And they gave to Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand and the earrings which were in their ears. And Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

5 And they journeyed. And the terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan (that is Beth-el)—he and all the people who were with him. 7 And he erected there an altar and called the place El-beth-el because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 But Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak. And its name was called Allon-bachuth.

9 And God appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and he blessed him.

10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." And he called his name Israel.

11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a multitude of nations shall spring from you, and kings shall come out of your loins.

12 And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you. And to your offspring after you I will give the land."

13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink-offering thereon and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him Beth-el.

16 And they journeyed from Beth-el. And there was but a little way to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed and had hard labor. 17 And it came to pass when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear. You shall have this son also." 18 And it came to pass as her soul was departing (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave. That is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 And Israel journeyed and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan-aram.

27 And Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre, near Kirjath-arbah (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

28 And the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29 And Isaac expired and died and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Chapter 36

Esau’s three wives, 1-5. He moves to mount Seir, 6-8. His sons, 9-14. The chiefs who descended from his sons, 15-19. The sons and chiefs of Seir the Horite, 20-30. Anah finds mules, 24. The kings of Edom, 31-39. The chiefs who descended from Esau, 40-43.

1 Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, 3 And Bashemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; and Bashemath bore Reuel; 5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

6 And Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the persons of his house, his cattle, all his beasts, and all his substance which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7 For their riches were too abundant for them to dwell together, and the land wherein they were strangers could not sustain them because of their cattle. 8 Thus Esau dwelt in the mountains of Seir. Esau is Edom.

9 And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the mountains of Seir. 10 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau. 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were, Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was a concubine to Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the sons of Bashemath, Esau’s wife. 14 And these are the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife, and she bore to Esau, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.

15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the first-born son of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, 16 Chief Korah, chief Gatam, and chief Amalek. These are the chiefs, descendants of Eliphaz, in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Adah. 17 And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These are the chiefs, descendants of Reuel, in the land of Edom. These are the sons of Bashemath, Esau’s wife. 18 And these are the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jaalam, chief Korah. These are the chiefs, descendants of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau (who is Edom) and these are their chiefs.

20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23 And the children of Shobal are these: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon: Ajah and Anah. This was that Anah who found the mules in the wilderness as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25 And the children of Anah are these: Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The children of Ezer are these: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Achan. 28 The children of Dishan are these: Uz and Aran. 29 These are the chiefs, descendants of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30 Chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan. These are the chiefs, descendants of Hori, among their chiefs in the land of Seir.

31 And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 34 And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad (who smote Midian in the field of Moab) reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith. 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. 38 And Saul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

40 And these are the names of the chiefs, descendants of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: chief Timnah, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth, 41 Chief Aholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 42 Chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 43 Chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations, in the land of their possession. He is Esau the father of the Edomites.

Chapter 37

Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers, 1-4. His two dreams, 5-11. Jacob sends him to visit his brothers, 12-17. His brothers conspire his death, 18-20. Reuben saves him, 21-24. They sell him to the Ishmaelites, 25-30. His father, deceived by the coat covered with blood, mourns for him, 31-35. He is sold to Potiphar in Egypt, 36.

1 And Jacob dwelt in the land in which his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph being seventeen years old was feeding the flock with his brothers, and the boy was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought to his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a coat of many colors. 4 And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

5 And Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said to them, "Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. 7 For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright, and behold, your sheaves stood around and made obeisance to my sheaf." 8 And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream again, and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." 10 And he told it to his father and to his brothers. And his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to the earth?" 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father observed the saying.

12 And his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, "Do your brothers not feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." And he said to him, "Here I am." 14 And he said to him, "Go, I pray you, see whether it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring me word again." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 And a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, "What do you seek?" 16 And he said, "I seek my brothers. Tell me, I pray you, where they feed their flocks." 17 And the man said, "They have departed from here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" And Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said to one another, "Behold, this dreamer is coming. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him and cast him into some pit. And we will say, 'Some evil beast has devoured him.' Then we shall see what will become of his dreams." 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him from their hands and said, "Let us not kill him." 22 And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood. Cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness and lay no hand upon him," so that he might deliver him from their hands to bring him back to his father. 23 And it came to pass when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him. 24 And they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty. There was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat bread. And they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, going to carry them down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood. 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and do not let our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our flesh." And his brothers were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites, merchants, and they drew and lifted Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29 And Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit. And he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers and said, "The child is not there. And I, where shall I go?" 31 And they took Joseph’s coat, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood. 32 And they sent the coat of many colors and brought it to their father and said, "This we have found. Know now whether it is your son’s coat or not." 33 And he knew it and said, "It is my son’s coat. An evil beast has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I will go down into the grave to my son mourning." Thus his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

Chapter 38

Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah, 1-5. Er’s marriage with Tamar and death, 6, 7. The trespass of Onan, 8-10. Tamar is reserved for Shelah, 11. Judah’s wife dies, 12. Tamar deceives Judah, 13-26. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah, 27-30.

1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw a daughter of a certain Canaanite there, whose name was Shuah, and he took her and went in to her. 3 And she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again conceived and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. And he was at Chezib when she bore him.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD slew him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up a child for your brother." 9 And Onan knew that the child would not be his. And it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he frustrated the purpose, lest he should give a child to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore, he slew him also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow at your father’s house until Shelah my son is grown," for he said, "Lest perhaps he die also as his brothers did." And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

12 And in process of time, the daughter of Shuah, Judah’s wife, died. And Judah was comforted and went up to his sheep-shearers to Timnath—he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told to Tamar, saying, "Behold, your father-in-law goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep." 14 And she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath, for she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given to him for a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned to her by the way and said, "Come, I pray you, let me have access to you"—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me so that you may have access to me?" 17 And he said, "I will send you a kid from the flock." And she said, "Will you give me a pledge until you send it?" 18 And he said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your signet, your bracelets, and your staff that is in your hand." And he gave them to her and came in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose and went her way and took off her veil from her and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, "Where is the harlot who was openly by the wayside?" And they said, "There was no harlot in this place." 22 And he returned to Judah and said, "I cannot find her. And also the men of the place said that there was no harlot in this place." 23 And Judah said, "Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this kid, and you have not found her."

24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told to Judah, saying, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot, and also, behold she is with child by lewdness." And Judah said, "Bring her forth and let her be burnt." 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I am with child by the man whose these are." And she said, "Discern, I pray you, whose these are: the signet, bracelets, and staff." 26 And Judah acknowledged them and said, "She has been more righteous than I have because I did not give her to Shelah my son." And he knew her again no more.

27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass when she travailed, that one put out his hand, and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, "This one came out first." 29 And it came to pass as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out, and she said, "How have you broken forth? This breach is upon you." Therefore, his name was called Pharez. 30 And afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread upon his hand, and his name was called Zarah.

Chapter 39

Joseph is bought by Potiphar and preferred in the family, 1-6. He resists his mistress’s temptation, 7-12. He is falsely accused by her, 13-19. He is cast into prison, 20. God is with him there, and he is advanced by the keeper of the prison, 21-23.

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hands of the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. And the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know anything that he had, except the bread which he ate. And Joseph was a handsome person and well favored.

7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, "Behold, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in his house than I am, neither has he kept back anything from me but you because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" 10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass, about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business, and there were none of the men of the house there within. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." And he left his garment in her hand and fled and went out. 13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled forth, 14 That she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. 15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I raised my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled and went out." 16 And she laid up his garment by her until his lord came home. 17 And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant which you have brought to us came in to me to mock me. 18 And it came to pass, as I raised my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled."

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying, "After this manner your servant did to me," that his wrath was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. And whatever they did there was done by him. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look to anything that was under his hand because the LORD was with him. And that which he did the LORD made it to prosper.

Chapter 40

The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh being imprisoned, Joseph is charged with them, 1-4. He interprets their dreams, 5-19. They are accomplished according to his interpretation, 20-22. The ingratitude of the butler in forgetting Joseph, 23.

1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with two of his officers: with the chief of the butlers and with the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them, and they continued a season in custody. 5 And the both of them dreamed a dream, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream—the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt who were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came to them in the morning and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" 8 And they said to him, "We have dreamed a dream and there is no interpreter of it." And Joseph said to them, "Do interpretations not belong to God? Tell me them, I pray you."

9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was before me. 10 And on the vine were three branches. And it was as though it budded, and its blossoms shot forth and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. And I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand." 12 And Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh shall lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you shall deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand after the former manner when you were his butler. 14 But think of me when it is well with you, and show kindness to me, I pray you, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white baskets on my head. 17 And in the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head." 18 And Joseph answered and said, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh shall lift up your head from off you and hang you on a tree. And the birds shall eat your flesh from off you."

20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast to all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Chapter 41

Pharaoh has two dreams, 1-8. Joseph interprets them, 9-32. He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced and married to Asenath, 33-45. The seven years of plenty, 46-49. He begets children, 50-52. The famine begins, 53-57.

1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed. And behold, he stood by the river. 2 And behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored and fat-fleshed cows, and they fed in a meadow. 3 And behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed cows ate up the seven well-favored and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time. And behold, seven heads of grain came up upon one stalk, healthy and good. 6 And behold, seven heads, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin heads devoured the seven healthy and full heads. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morning, that his spirit was troubled and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all the wise men thereof. And Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults this day. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me in custody in the captain of the guard’s house—both the chief baker and me. 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night—he and I. We each dreamed according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted our dreams to us. To each man according to his dream he interpreted. 13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, it was so. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him."

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And he shaved himself and changed his clothing and came before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream and there is no one who can interpret it. And I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream to interpret it." 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river. 18 And behold, there came out of the river seven cows, fat-fleshed and well-favored, and they fed in a meadow. 19 And behold, seven other cows came out after them, poor, very ill-favored, and lean-fleshed, such that I never saw worse in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the lean and the ill-favored cows ate up the first seven fat cows. 21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. 23 And behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. And I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."

25 And Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years and the seven good heads are seven years. The dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years and the seven empty heads blasted with the east wind will be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. What God is about to do he shows to Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land. 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine following, for it will be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled to Pharaoh twice. It is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33 Now therefore, let Pharaoh look for a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be a store for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine."

37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.

38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a man as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" 39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your word all my people shall be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. And they cried before him, "Bow the knee." And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without you no man shall lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah, and he gave him for a wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went over all the land of Egypt.

46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities. The food of the field which was around every city, he laid up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he ceased numbering, for it was without number.

50 And to Joseph two sons were born before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bore to him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh. "For God," he said, "has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house." 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim. "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

53 And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt had ended. 54 And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said. And the famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do." 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the store-houses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain because the famine was distressing in all lands.

Chapter 42

Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt, 1-15. They are imprisoned by Joseph, accused of being spies, 16, 17. They are set at liberty on the condition that they bring Benjamin, 18-20. They have remorse for Joseph, 21-23. Simeon is kept for a pledge, 24. They return with grain and their money, 25-28. They tell Jacob what happened, 29-35. Jacob refuses to send Benjamin, 36-38.

1 Now when Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" 2 And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us from there so that we may live and not die." 3 And Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob did not send with his brothers, for he said, "Lest perhaps mischief befalls him." 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but made himself strange to them and spoke roughly to them, and he said to them, "From where have you come?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."

8 And Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them and said to them, "You are spies. You have come to see the nakedness of the land." 10 And they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man’s sons. We are true men. Your servants are no spies." 12 And he said to them, "No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land." 13 And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father and one is no more." 14 And Joseph said to them, "It is as I spoke to you, saying, 'You are spies.' 15 By this you shall be proved: by the life of Pharaoh you shall not go forth from here unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you and let him bring your brother. You shall be kept in prison so that your words may be proved whether there is any truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies." 17 And he put them all together into custody three days.

18 And Joseph said to them on the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God. 19 If you are true men, let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your prison. Go, carry grain for the famine of your houses, 20 But bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words shall be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so. 21 And they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he implored us, and we would not hear; therefore, this distress has come upon us." 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the young man,' and you would not hear? Therefore, behold, his blood is also required." 23 And they did not know that Joseph understood them because he spoke to them by an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. And he returned to them again and communed with them, and took from them Simeon and bound him before their eyes. 25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way. And thus he did to them.

26 And they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey provender in the inn, he saw his money, for behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. 28 And he said to his brothers, "My money is restored, and see it is even in my sack." And their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, "What is this that God has done to us?"

29 And they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that befell them, saying, 30 "The man who is the lord of the land spoke roughly to us and took us for spies of the country. 31 And we said to him, 'We are true men. We are no spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.' 33 And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, 'By this I shall know that you are true men: leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and depart, 34 But bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are no spies, but that you are true men. Then I will deliver your brother to you and you shall trade in the land.'"

35 And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me. Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me." 37 And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Slay my two sons if I do not bring him to you. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again." 38 And he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he is left alone. If mischief befalls him by the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave."

Chapter 43

Jacob is hardly persuaded to send Benjamin, 1-14. Joseph entertains his brothers, 15-18. They reveal their fears to the steward, 19-25. Joseph makes them a feast, 26-34.

1 And the famine was severe in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had consumed the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back, buy us a little food." 3 And Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly testified to us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" 6 And Israel said, "Why did you deal so ill with me, as to tell the man whether you had another brother?" 7 And they said, "The man asked us strictly concerning our state and our kindred, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' And we told him according to the tenor of these words. Could we certainly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'" 8 And Judah said to Israel, his father, "Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go so that we may live and not die—we, you, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. 10 For if we had not delayed, surely now we would have returned a second time."

11 And their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so now, do this: take some of the best fruits in the land in your vessels and carry to the man a present—a little balm, a little honey, spices, myrrh, nuts, and almonds. 12 And take double money in your hand. And the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks, carry it back in your hand. It may be that it was an oversight. 13 Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. 14 And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man so that he may send away your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved." 15 And the men took these presents, and they took double money in their hand and Benjamin, and arose, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, "Bring these men home, and slay and make ready, for these men shall dine with me at noon." 17 And the man did as Joseph commanded. And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. 18 And the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house, and they said, "Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time, we are brought in, so that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us and take us for slaves, along with our donkeys." 19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20 And said, "O sir, we came down indeed at the first time to buy food. 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. And we have brought it back in our hand. 22 And we have brought other money down in our hands to buy food. We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks." 23 And he said, "Peace be to you. Do not fear. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money." And he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave their donkeys provender. 25 And they made ready the present until the coming of Joseph at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 27 And he asked them about their welfare and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?" 28 And they answered, "Your servant, our father, is in good health. He is still alive." And they bowed their heads and made obeisance. 29 And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, "Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son." 30 And Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned toward his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered into his chamber and wept there. 31 And he washed his face, went out, and refrained himself, and said, "Serve the bread." 32 And they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, for the Egyptians do not eat bread with the Hebrews because that is an abomination to the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birth-right and the youngest according to his youth. And the men wondered at one another. 34 And he took and sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

Chapter 44

Joseph’s stratagem to detain his brothers, 1-5. The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, 6-13. They are brought before Joseph, 14-17. Judah’s humble supplication to Joseph, 18-34.

1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, along with his grain money." And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away—they and their donkeys. 4 And when they had gone out of the city and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Arise, follow after the men. And when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you rewarded evil for good? 5 Is this not the cup in which my lord drinks and by which indeed he divines? You have done evil in so doing.'"

6 And he overtook them and he spoke to them these same words. 7 And they said to him, "Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do according to this thing. 8 Behold, the money which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then should we steal from your lord’s house silver or gold? 9 With whomever of your servants it shall be found, both let him die and we also will be my lord’s slaves." 10 And he said, "Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it shall be found shall be my servant, and you shall be blameless." 11 Then they each speedily took down his sack to the ground and each opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes and each loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

14 And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house (for he was still there), and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can certainly divine?" 16 And Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold we are my lord’s servants—both we and he also with whom the cup is found." 17 And he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant. And as for you, go in peace to your father."

18 Then Judah came near to him, and said, "Oh my lord, let your servant, I pray you, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not let your anger burn against your servant, for you are even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Do you have a father, or a brother?' 20 And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one. And his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.' 21 And you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me so that I may set my eyes upon him.' 22 And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.' 23 And you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.' 24 And it came to pass, when we came to your servant, my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, 'Go back. Buy us a little food.' 26 And we said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down, for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.' 27 And your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 And one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he is torn in pieces," and I have not seen him since. 29 And if you take this one also from me and mischief befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.' 30 Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us (seeing that his life is bound up in the boy’s life), 31 It shall come to pass, when he sees that the boy is not with us, that he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him to you, then I will bear the blame before my father forever.' 33 Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant abide instead of the boy, as a slave to my lord, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 For how shall I return to my father, if the boy is not with me?—Lest perhaps I see the evil that shall come on my father."

Chapter 45

Joseph makes himself known to his brothers, 1-4. He comforts them in God’s providence, 5-8. He sends for his father, 9-15. Pharaoh confirms it, 16-20. Joseph furnishes them for their journey and exhorts them to be in agreement, 21-24. Jacob is revived with the news, 25-28.

1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all those who stood by him. And he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me." And there stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Does my father still live?" And his brothers could not answer him because they were troubled at his presence.

4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore, do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves that you sold me here because God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there shall neither be tillage nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God. And he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Hasten, return to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: "God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Do not delay. 10 And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen and you shall be near to me—you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 And there I will nourish you (for there are still five years of famine), lest you, your household, and all that you have should come to poverty."' 12 And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 And you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and of all that you have seen. And you shall hasten and bring down my father here." 14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 Moreover, he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

16 And the fame of this was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, "Joseph’s brothers have come." And it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your beasts and go, return to the land of Canaan, 18 And take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.' 19 Now you are commanded, 'Do this: take for yourselves wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. 20 Also do not regard your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

21 And the children of Israel did so. And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. 23 And to his father he sent after this manner: ten donkeys laden with the good things of Egypt and ten female donkeys laden with grain, bread, and food for his father on the way.

24 So he sent his brothers away and they departed. And he said to them, "See that you do not contend on the way." 25 And they went up from Egypt and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he did not believe them. 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said to them. And when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. 28 And Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

Chapter 46

Jacob is comforted by God at Beer-sheba, 1-4. From there he goes into Egypt with his family, 5-7. The number of his family that went into Egypt, 8-27. Joseph meets Jacob, 28-30. He instructs his brothers how to answer Pharaoh, 31-34.

1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." 3 And he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not fear to go down into Egypt. For I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again. And Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes."

5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba. And the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle and their goods which they had acquired in the land of Canaan and came into Egypt—Jacob and all his family with him: 7 His sons and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. He brought all his family with him into Egypt.

8 And these are the names of the children of Israel who came into Egypt—Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s first-born. 9 And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. 11 And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 And the sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons of Issachar: Tola, Phuvah, Job, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, which she bore to Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three. 16 And the sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggai, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of Asher: Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter. And these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob. All the souls were fourteen. 23 And the son of Dan: Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob. All the souls were seven. 26 All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons' wives, all the souls were sixty-six. 27 And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were seventy.

28 And he sent Judah before him to Joseph to direct his face to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph made ready his chariot and went to meet Israel his father at Goshen. And he presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die since I have seen your face, because you are still alive." 31 And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s house, "I will go up and show Pharaoh, and say to him, 'My brothers and my father’s house who were in the land of Canaan have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for their employment has been to feed cattle. And they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.' 33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?' 34 You shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now—both we and also our fathers,' so that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

Chapter 47

Joseph presents his father and five of his brothers before Pharaoh, 1-10. He gives them habitation and maintenance, 11, 12. He gets the Egyptians' money, 13-16; their cattle, 16, 17; and their lands, except the priests', for Pharaoh, 18-22. He restores the land for a fifth, 23-26. Jacob’s age, 28. He swears Joseph to bury him with his fathers, 29-31.

1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers, their flocks, their herds, and all that they have, have come from the land of Canaan, and behold, they are in the land of Goshen." 2 And he took some of his brothers, even five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds—both we and also our fathers." 4 They said moreover to Pharaoh, "We have come to sojourn in the land, for your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen." 5 And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. In the best of the land make your father and brothers to dwell. In the land of Goshen let them dwell. And if you know any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle."

7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father and set him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old are you?" 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, nor have they attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from before Pharaoh. 11 And Joseph placed his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph nourished his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to their families.

13 And there was no bread in all the land, for the famine was very distressing so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the grain which they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread. For why should we die in your presence? For the money fails." 16 And Joseph said, "Give your cattle and I will give you food for your cattle, if money has failed." 17 And they brought their cattle to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, for the flocks, for the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. And he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year had ended, they came to him the second year and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord how our money is spent. My lord also has our herds of cattle. There is not anything left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19 Why shall we die before your eyes—both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed so that we may live and not die, so that the land may not be desolate."

20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians each sold his field because the famine prevailed over them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he moved them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a portion assigned to them by Pharaoh and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them; therefore, they did not sell their lands. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, "Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that you shall give the fifth part to Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, for your food, for those of your households, and for food for your little ones." 25 And they said, "You have saved our lives. Let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants." 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.

27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen. And they had possessions in it and grew and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the whole age of Jacob was one hundred and forty-seven years.

29 And the time drew near that Israel must die. And he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh and deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me, I pray you, in Egypt. 30 But I will lie with my fathers. And you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying-place." And he said, "I will do as you have said." 31 And he said, "Swear to me." And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

References

[v.31]: Quoted in Hebrews 11:21

Chapter 48

Joseph and his sons visit his sick father, 1. Jacob strengthens himself to bless them, 2. He repeats God’s promise, 3, 4. He takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, 5, 6. He tells Joseph of his mother’s grave, 7. He blesses Ephraim and Manasseh, 8-16. He prefers the younger before the elder, 17-20. He prophesies their return to Canaan, 21, 22.

1 And it came to pass after these things, that someone told Joseph, "Behold, your father is sick." And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And someone told Jacob, and said, "Behold, your son Joseph comes to you." And Israel strengthened himself and sat upon the bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 And said to me, 'Behold I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make you into a multitude of people, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.' 5 And now, your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt, before I came to you into Egypt, are mine. As Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6 And your family, which you beget after them, shall be yours and shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan, on the way, when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way of Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem)."

8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons and said, "Who are these?" 9 And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place." And he said, "Bring them, I pray you, to me and I will bless them." 10 (Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age so that he could not see.) And he brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face, and behold, God has shown me your children also." 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands by design, for Manasseh was the first-born. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said,

"God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,   /

the God who has fed me all my life long to this day,

16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys,   /

and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. /

And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. And he lifted his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father. For this is the first-born. Put your right hand upon his head." 19 And his father refused and said, "I know it, my son, I know it. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great, but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he is, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."20 And he blessed them that day, saying,

"In you Israel shall bless, saying,   /

'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'"

And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I die, but God shall be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow."

Chapter 49

Jacob calls his sons to bless them, 1, 2. Their blessing in particular, 3-28. He charges them about his burial, 29-32. He dies, 33.

1 And Jacob called to his sons and said, "Assemble yourselves so that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

2 "Assemble yourselves and hear, sons of Jacob,   /

and listen to Israel your father.

3 "Reuben, you are my first-born,   /

my might, and the beginning of my strength, /

the excellence of dignity, and the excellence of power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel,   /

because you went up to your father’s bed. /

Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers.   /

Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

6 O my soul, do not come into their secret.   /

To their assembly, my honor, do not be united, /

for in their anger they slew a man /

and in their self-will they dug down a wall.

7 Cursed is their anger, for it was fierce,   /

and their wrath, for it was cruel. /

I will divide them in Jacob /

and scatter them in Israel.

8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise.   /

Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. /

Your father’s children shall bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp.   /

From the prey, my son, you have gone up. /

He stooped down, he couched as a lion, /

and as an old lion. Who shall rouse him up?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,   /

nor a lawgiver from between his feet /

until Shiloh comes. /

And to him shall be the gathering of the people.

11 Binding his foal to the vine   /

and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, /

he washed his garments in wine /

and his clothes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes shall be red with wine   /

and his teeth white with milk.

13 "Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea,   /

and he shall be for a haven of ships. /

And his border shall be to Zidon.

14 "Issachar is a strong donkey,   /

couching down between two burdens.

15 And he saw that rest was good,   /

and the land that it was pleasant, /

and bowed his shoulder to bear /

and became a servant to tribute.

16 "Dan shall judge his people,   /

as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way,   /

an adder in the path, /

that bites the horse-heels /

so that his rider shall fall backward.

18 I have waited for your salvation, O LORD.

19 "Gad, a troop shall overcome him,   /

but he shall overcome at the last.

20 "Out of Asher his bread shall be fat,   /

and he shall yield royal dainties.

21 "Naphtali is a doe let loose,   /

who gives delightful words.

22 "Joseph is a fruitful bough,   /

even a fruitful bough by a well, /

whose branches run over the wall.

23 The archers have sorely grieved him,   /

and shot at him and hated him,

24 But his bow remained in strength,   /

and the arms of his hands were made strong /

by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob /

(from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),

25 Even by the God of your father who shall help you,   /

and by the Almighty who shall bless you /

with blessings of heaven above, /

blessings of the deep that lies beneath, /

blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father   /

have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors /

to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. /

They shall be on the head of Joseph, /

and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.

27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf.   /

In the morning he shall devour the prey /

and at night he shall divide the plunder."

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. And this is that which their father spoke to them and blessed them. Each according to his blessing he blessed them. 29 And he charged them and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a burying-place. 31 (There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.) 32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is in it was from the children of Heth." 33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and expired, and was gathered to his people.

Chapter 50

The mourning for Jacob, 1-3. Joseph gets leave of Pharaoh to go to bury him, 4-6. The funeral, 7-14. Joseph comforts his brothers who crave his pardon, 15-21. His age, 22. He sees the third generation of his sons, 23. He prophesies to his brothers of their return, 24. He takes an oath of them concerning his bones, 25. He dies and is put into a coffin, 26.

1 And Joseph fell upon his father’s face and wept upon him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. And the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him (for thus they fulfilled the days of those who are embalmed), and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

4 And when the days of his mourning had past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I die. In my grave which I have dug for me in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me." Now therefore, let me go, I pray you, and bury my father, and I will come back.'" 6 And Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, according as he made you swear."

7 And Joseph went up to bury his father. And with him went all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 All the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And both chariots and horsemen went with him. And it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation. And he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians." Therefore, its name was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

12 And his sons did to him according as he commanded them. 13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field as a possession for a burying-place of Ephron the Hittite before Mamre. 14 And Joseph returned to Egypt—he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father—after he had buried his father.

15 And when Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Joseph will perhaps hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did to him." 16 And they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before he died, saying, 17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "Forgive, I pray you now, the trespass of your brothers and their sin, for they did evil to you."' And now, we pray you, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 And his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19 And Joseph said to them, "Do not fear. For am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not fear. I will nourish you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt—he and his father’s house. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I die, but God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." 25 And Joseph made the children of Israel take an oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here." 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old. And they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

[Tanach reading: go to Exodus]

THE SECOND BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED EXODUS

Chapter 1

The children of Israel, after Joseph’s death, increase, 1-7. The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply, 8-14. The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive, 15-21. Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river, 22.

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came into Egypt, every man and his household came with Jacob: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls who descended from Jacob were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, increased abundantly, multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, and the land was filled with them.

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we are. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass that when any war breaks out, they will join with our enemies and fight against us and depart from the land." 11 Therefore, they set over them task-masters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities: Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.

15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives (of which the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah), 16 And he said, "When you do the service of a midwife to the Hebrew women and see them upon the stools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing and have saved the male children alive?" 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women. For they are lively and deliver before the midwives come to them." 20 Therefore, God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and became very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, "Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive."

References

[v.8]: Quoted in Acts 7:18.

Chapter 2

Moses is born and then laid in an ark in the reeds, 1-4. He is found and brought up by Pharaoh’s daughter, 5, 6; who employs his mother to nurse him, 7-10. He slays an Egyptian, 11, 12. He reproves a Hebrew, 13, 14. He flees into Midian and marries Zipporah, 15-21. Gershom is born, 22. God respects the Israelites' cry, 23-25.

1 And there went a man of the house of Levi who married a daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw him that he was a handsome child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him a basket of bulrushes, daubed it with slime and with pitch, put the child therein, and she laid it in the reeds by the river’s brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off to know what would be done to him.

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river, and her attendants walked along by the river’s side. And when she saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her servant to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children." 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, "Shall I go and call for you a nurse of the Hebrew women so that she may nurse the child for you?" 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, "Go." And the young woman went and called the child’s mother. 9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, "Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages." And the woman took the child and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water."

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brothers and looked at their burdens. And he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brothers. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together. And he said to him who did the wrong, "Why do you smite your fellow?" 14 And he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" And Moses feared and said, "Surely this thing is known."

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, "How is it that you have come so soon today?" 19 And they said, "An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and also drew enough water for us and watered the flock." 20 And he said to his daughters, "And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him so that he may eat bread." 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man. And he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land."

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage and they cried. And their cry ascended to God, by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect to them.

References

[v.14]: Quoted in Acts 7:27-28, 7:35. [v.15]: Quoted in Acts 7:29.

Chapter 3

Moses keeps Jethro’s flock, 1. God appears to him in a burning bush, 2-8. He sends him to deliver Israel, 9-12. The name of God, 13, 14. His message to Israel and Pharaoh, whose opposition is foretold, 15-19. He is assured of Israel’s deliverance, 20-22.

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. And he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here I am." 5 And he said, "Do not approach here. Take off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground." 6 Moreover, he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their task-masters. For I know their sorrows, 8 And I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

10 "Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt." 11 And Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 And he said, "Certainly I will be with you. And this shall be a token to you that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain."

13 And Moses said to God, "Behold, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' they may say to me, 'What is his name?' What shall I say to them?" 14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 And God said again to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations. 16 Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you and seen that which is done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have said I will bring you out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey."' 18 And they shall listen to your voice, and you shall come—you and the elders of Israel—to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us. And now let us go (we implore you) three days journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' 19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even by a mighty hand. 20 And I will stretch out my hand and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof. And after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. And it shall come to pass, that when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 But every woman shall ask her neighbor and her who dwells in her house for jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing. And you shall put them upon your sons and upon your daughters. And you shall plunder the Egyptians."

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Acts 7:30. [v.5]: Quoted in Acts 7:33. [v.6]: Quoted in Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 7:32. [v.7]: Quoted in Acts 7:34. [v.8]: Quoted in Acts 7:34. [v.10]: Quoted in Acts 7:34. [v.12]: Quoted in Acts 7:7. [v.14]: Quoted in John 8:58.

Chapter 4

Moses’s rod is turned into a serpent, 1-5. His hand is leprous, 6-9. He is reluctant to be sent, 10-12. Aaron is appointed to assist him, 13-17. Moses departs from Jethro, 18-20. God’s message to Pharaoh, 21-23. Zipporah circumcises her son, 24-26. Aaron is sent to meet Moses, 27, 28. The people believe them, 29-31.

1 And Moses answered and said, "But behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.'" 2 And the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A rod." 3 And he said, "Cast it on the ground." And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent. And Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said to Moses, "Put forth your hand and take it by the tail." And he put forth his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. 5 "This is so that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has appeared to you."

6 And the LORD said furthermore to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom." And he put his hand into his bosom. And when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7 And he said, "Put your hand into your bosom again." And he put his hand into his bosom again and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8 "And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe you, neither listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither listen to your voice, that you shall take some of the water of the river and pour it upon the dry land. And the water which you take out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land."

10 And Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before, nor since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue." 11 And the LORD said to him, "Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." 13 And he said, "O my Lord, send, I pray you, by the hand of him whom you will send."

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also behold, he comes forth to meet you. And when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 And you shall speak to him and put words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you shall do. 16 And he shall speak for you to the people. And he shall be, even he shall be to you as a mouth, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall perform signs."

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go, I pray you, and return to my brothers who are in Egypt and see whether they are yet alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." 19 And the LORD said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return into Egypt. For all the men are dead who sought your life." 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons and set them upon a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

21 And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go to return into Egypt, see that you perform all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart so that he shall not let the people go. 22 And you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is my son, even my first-born. 23 And I say to you, 'Let my son go so that he may serve me.' And if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, even your first-born."'"

24 And it came to pass on the way at a lodging place, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, "Surely a bloody husband you are to me." 26 So he let him go. Then she said, "A bloody husband you are because of the circumcision."

27 And the LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." And he went and met him on the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the children of Israel. 30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses and performed the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed. And when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Chapter 5

Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message, 1-5. He increases the Israelites' task, 6-14. He checks their complaints, 15-18. They cry out upon Moses and Aaron, 19-21. Moses complains to God, 22, 23.

1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let my people go so that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" 2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, neither will I let Israel go." 3 And they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go, we pray you, three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword." 4 And the king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, hinder the people from their works? Go to your burdens." 5 And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens." 6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the task-masters of the people and their officers, saying, 7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the number of the bricks which they made before, you shall lay upon them. You shall not diminish anything thereof. Because they are idle, therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 Let more work be laid upon the men so that they may labor therein, and do not let them regard vain words."

10 And the task-masters of the people went out, along with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh: 'I will not give you straw. 11 Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it, yet not anything of your work shall be diminished.'" 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the task-masters hastened them, saying, "Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw." 14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s task-masters had set over them, were beaten and were demanded, "Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick, both yesterday and today, as before?"

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal thus with your servants? 16 There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, 'Make brick.' And behold, your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people." 17 But he said, "You are idle, you are idle. Therefore, you say, 'Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Therefore, go now and work. For no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the number of bricks." 19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil case after it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your bricks of your daily task." 20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh, 21 And they said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge, because you have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to slay us."

22 And Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have you so ill treated this people? Why is it that you have sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, neither have you delivered your people at all."

Chapter 6

God renews his promise by his name YAHWEH, 1-8. Moses vainly attempts to encourage the Israelites, 9. He and Aaron are again sent to Pharaoh, 10-13. The genealogy of Reuben, of Simeon, and of Levi, from whom came Moses and Aaron, 14-25. The history resumed, 26-30.

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he shall let them go, and with a strong hand he shall drive them from his land."

2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. 3 And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob by the name of God Almighty, but by my name, YAHWEH, I was not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Therefore, say to the children of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you from under the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage and redeem you with an out-stretched arm and with great judgments. 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land, concerning which I swore to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the LORD.'" 9 And Moses thus spoke to the children of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses by reason of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

10 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 11 "Go in, speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel depart from his land." 12 And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, "Behold, the children of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?" 13 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron and gave them a charge to the children of Israel and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

14 These are the heads of their father’s houses. The sons of Reuben (the first-born of Israel): Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These are the families of Reuben. 15 And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. These are the families of Simeon. 16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimi, according to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three years. 19 And the sons of Merari: Mahali and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations. 20 And Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, for a wife. And she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven years. 21 And the sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Zithri. 23 And Aaron took for himself Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, for a wife. And she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 And the sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the families of the Korhites. 25 And Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himself one of the daughters of Putiel for a wife. And she bore to him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. 26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, "Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies." 27 These are those who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.

28 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 That the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "I am the LORD. Speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, all that I say to you." 30 And Moses said before the LORD, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?"

Chapter 7

Moses and Aaron are encouraged to go again to Pharaoh, 1-6. Their age, 7. Aaron’s rod is turned into a serpent, 8-10. The sorcerers do the like; but their rods are swallowed up by Aaron’s, 11, 12. Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, 13. God’s message to Pharaoh, 14-18. The river is turned into blood; and the consequent distress of the Egyptians, 19-25.

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I have made you a god to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh, so that he sends the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh shall not listen to you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth my armies, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them." 6 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them. And they did so. 7 And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

8 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Show a miracle,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh,' and it shall become a serpent." 10 And Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and they did so as the LORD had commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise-men and the sorcerers. And the magicians of Egypt also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they each cast down his rod, and they became serpents, but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

14 And the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh’s heart is hardened. He refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, behold, he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s brink to meet him. And the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. 16 And you shall say to him, 'The LORD God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, "Let my people go so that they may serve me in the wilderness. And behold, until now you would not hear." 17 Thus says the LORD: "In this you shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. 18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall be offensive in smell, and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river."'" 19 And the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and stretch out your hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, so that they may become blood and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'"

20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded. And he lifted up the rod and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned into blood. 21 And the fish that were in the river died, and the river was offensive in smell, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river. And there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments. And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he listen to them, as the LORD had said. 23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he regard this also. 24 And all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink because they could not drink of the water of the river. 25 And seven days were fulfilled after the LORD had smitten the river.

Chapter 8

Frogs are sent, 1-7. Pharaoh appeals to Moses, who by prayer takes them away, 8-15. The dust is turned into lice, which the magicians could not do, 16-19. The plague of flies, 20-24. Pharaoh inclines to let the people go, but yet is hardened, 25-32.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Let my people go so that they may serve me. 2 And if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your borders with frogs. 3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bed-chamber, upon your bed, into the house of your servants, upon your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. 4 And the frogs shall come upon you, upon your people, and upon all your servants."'" 5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch forth your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.'" 6 And Aaron stretched his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Entreat the LORD that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go so that they may do sacrifice to the LORD." 9 And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Glory over me in this: when shall I entreat for you, for your servants, and for your people to destroy the frogs from you and your houses so that they may remain in the river only?" 10 And he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "May it be according to your word so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only."

12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried to the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. 13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. 14 And they gathered them into heaps, and the land was offensive in smell. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

16 And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your rod and smite the dust of the land so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.'" 17 And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and on beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice upon man and upon beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

20 And the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh (behold, he comes forth to the water) and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Let my people go so that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon you, upon your servants, upon your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they are. 22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, to the end you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be."'" 24 And the LORD did so. And there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.

25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in the land." 26 And Moses said, "It is not proper to do so, for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. Behold, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he commands us." 28 And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go so that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness. Only you shall not go very far away. Entreat for me." 29 And Moses said, "Behold, I go out from you, and I will entreat the LORD so that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow. But do not let Pharaoh deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD."

30 And Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. 31 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses and removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. 32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

Chapter 9

The pestilence upon the beasts, 1-7. The plague of boils and sores, 8-12. The message of Moses about the hail, 13-21. The plague of hail, 22-26. Pharaoh appeals to Moses, but yet is hardened, 27-35.

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let my people go so that they may serve me. 2 For if you refuse to let them go and will hold them still, 3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon your livestock which are in the field, and also upon the horses, upon the donkeys, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep, and there shall be a very grievous pestilence. 4 And the LORD shall make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt, and there shall nothing die of all that belongs to the children of Israel."'" 5 And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land." 6 And the LORD did that thing on the next day, and all the cattle of Egypt died, but of the cattle of the children of Israel, not one died. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he did not let the people go.

8 And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes of the furnace and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt and shall be a boil breaking forth with sores upon man and upon beast throughout all the land of Egypt." 10 And they took ashes of the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it toward heaven, and it became a boil breaking forth with sores upon man and upon beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boil, for the boil was upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. 12 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had spoken to Moses.

13 And the LORD said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let my people go so that they may serve me. 14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon your heart, upon your servants, and upon your people so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For now I will stretch out my hand so that I may smite you and your people with pestilence, and you shall be cut off from the earth. 16 And indeed for this cause I have raised you up: to show in you my power so that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. 17 Still you exalt yourself against my people so that you will not let them go. 18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail such as has not been in Egypt since its foundation even until now. 19 Now therefore, send and gather your cattle and all that you have in the field, for upon every man and beast which is found in the field and is not brought home, the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die."'" 20 He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses. 21 And he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

22 And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand toward heaven so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt upon man, upon beast, and upon every herb of the field throughout the land of Egypt." 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground, and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there had been none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And throughout all the land of Egypt the hail smote all that was in the field, both man and beast, and the hail smote every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.

27 And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron and said to them, "I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28 Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail, and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." 29 And Moses said to him, "As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to the LORD, and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’S. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the LORD God." 31 And the flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was budding and the flax was in bloom. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten, for they were not grown up. 33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread abroad his hands to the LORD, and the thunders and hail ceased and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders had ceased, he sinned yet more and hardened his heart—he and his servants. 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

References

[v.16]: Quoted in Romans 9:17.

Chapter 10

God threatens to send locusts, 1-6. Pharaoh, moved by his servants, inclines to let the Israelites go, 7-11. The plague of the locusts, 12-15. Pharaoh entreats Moses, 16-20. The plague of darkness, 21-23. Pharaoh again entreats Moses, but yet is hardened, 24-29.

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, so that I might show these signs of mine before him, 2 And that you may tell in the ears of your son and of your son’s son what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them, so that you may know that I am the LORD."

3 And Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and said to him, "Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go so that they may serve me. 4 Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring the locusts into your border. 5 And they shall cover the face of the earth so that no one will be able to see the earth. And they shall eat the remnant of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field. 6 And they shall fill your houses, the houses of all your servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians, which neither your fathers, nor your fathers' fathers have seen since the day that they were upon the earth to this day.'" And he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh. 7 And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, "How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?" 8 And Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, "Go, serve the LORD your God, but who are those who shall go?" 9 And Moses said, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds we will go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD." 10 And he said to them, "The LORD be with you if I let you go with your little ones. Look to it, for evil is before you. 11 Not so. Go now you who are men and serve the LORD, for that you desired." And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.

12 And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts so that they may come upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left." 13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. And when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. 14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in all the borders of Egypt. They were very grievous. Before them there had never been [so many] locusts as this, neither after them will there be such. 15 For they covered the face of the whole earth so that the land was darkened. And they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. And there did not remain any green thing on the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste and he said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. 17 Now therefore, forgive, I pray you, my sin only this once and entreat the LORD your God so that he may take away from me this death only." 18 And he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the LORD. 19 And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind which took away the locusts and cast them into the Red Sea. There did not remain one locust in all the borders of Egypt. 20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the children of Israel go.

21 And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt." 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. 23 They did not see one another, neither did any rise from his place for three days, but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24 And Pharaoh called to Moses and said, "Go, serve the LORD. Only leave your flocks and your herds. Let your little ones also go with you." 25 And Moses said, "You must also give us sacrifices and burnt-offerings so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26 Our cattle shall also go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind. For from them we will take some to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we get there." 27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28 And Pharaoh said to him, "Depart from me, take heed to yourself, see my face no more. For in that day you see my face, you shall die." 29 And Moses said, "You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more."

Chapter 11

God’s message to the Israelites to borrow jewels from their neighbors, 1-3. Moses threatens Pharaoh with the death of the firstborn, 4-10.

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Yet I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he shall surely thrust you out from here altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold." 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.

4 And Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt. 5 And all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sits upon his throne, even to the first-born of the woman-servant who is behind the mill, and all the first-born of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has been none like it, nor shall be like it anymore. 7 But against any of the children of Israel a dog shall not move his tongue, against man or beast, so that you may know how the LORD puts a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.' 8 And all these servants of yours shall come down to me and bow down themselves to me, saying, 'Depart—you and all the people who follow you.' And after that I will depart." And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

9 And the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt." 10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the children of Israel depart from his land.

Chapter 12

The beginning of the year is changed, 1, 2. The passover is instituted, 3-10. The import of the rite of the passover, 11-14. Unleavened bread, etc., 15-28. The firstborn are slain, 29, 30. The Israelites are driven out of the land, 31-36. They come to Succoth, 37-40. The time of their sojourning, 41, 42. The ordinance of the passover, 43-51.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth day of this month they shall each take for themselves a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the souls, each according to his eating you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You shall take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and strike it on the two side-posts and on the upper door-post of the houses in which they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire. With unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire, its head with its legs and with its entrails. 10 And you shall let nothing of it remain until the morning. And that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus you shall eat it: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’S passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.

14 'And this day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. Even the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And on the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you. No manner of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat. That only may be done by you. 17 And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread, for on this same day I have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you shall observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses. For whoever eats that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or born in the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.'"

21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Draw out and take a lamb, according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians. And when he sees the blood upon the lintel and on the two side-posts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.

24 "And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when you have come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he has promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' 27 You shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses.'" And the people bowed the head and worshiped. 28 And the children of Israel went away and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. And they did so.

29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose in the night—he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians—and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Arise, and depart from among my people, both you and the children of Israel, and go, serve the LORD as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also."

33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people so that they might send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We are all dead men." 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.

35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses. And they asked the Egyptians for jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they let them have such things as they requested. And they plundered the Egyptians.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, besides children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them, and also flocks and herds, even very many cattle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought from Egypt, for it was not leavened because they were driven from Egypt and could not delay, neither had they prepared for themselves any food.

40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass, at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD departed from the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night to be much observed to the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD to be observed by all the children of Israel in their generations.

43 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the passover: no stranger shall eat of it, 44 But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he shall eat of it. 45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 In one house it shall be eaten. You shall not carry anything of the flesh abroad out of the house, neither shall you break a bone of it. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger sojourns with you and wishes to keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised and then let him come near and keep it, and he shall be as one who is born in the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 One law shall be to him who is home-born and to the stranger who sojourns among you."

50 Thus all the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And they did so. 51 And it came to pass the same day, that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Chapter 13

The firstborn are sanctified to God, 1, 2. The memorial of the passover is commanded, 3-10. The first-born of man and beast are set apart, 11-16. The Israelites go out of Egypt and carry Joseph’s bones with them, 17-19. They come to Etham, 20. God guides them by a pillar of a cloud and a pillar of fire, 21, 22.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Sanctify to me all the first-born. Whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is mine."

3 And Moses said to the people, "Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place. There shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day you came out in the month Abib. 5 And it shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters. 8 And you shall show your son in that day, saying, 'This is done because of that which the LORD did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.' 9 And it shall be for a sign to you upon your hand and for a memorial between your eyes so that the LORD’S law may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

11 "And it shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12 That you shall set apart to the LORD all that opens the womb. And of every first-born that comes of a beast which you have, the males shall be the LORD’S. 13 And every first-born of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck. And all the first-born of man among your children you shall redeem. 14 And it shall be that your son shall ask you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' Then you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the first-born of beasts. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the womb, being males, but all the first-born of my children I redeem.' 16 And it shall be for a token upon your hand and for frontlets between your eyes. For by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt."

17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near, for God said, "Lest perhaps the people repent when they see war and they return to Egypt." 18 But God led the people around through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up armed from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had strictly sworn the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you and you shall carry up my bones from here with you." 20 And they took their journey from Succoth and encamped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Luke 2:23.

Chapter 14

God instructs the Israelites in their journey, 1-4. Pharaoh pursues after them, 5-9. The Israelites murmur, 10-12. Moses comforts them, 13, 14. God instructs Moses, 15-18. The cloud moves behind the camp, 19, 20. The Israelites pass through the Red Sea, which drowns the Egyptians, 21-31.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon. Before it you shall encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They wander aimlessly in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.' 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he shall follow them. And I will be honored upon Pharaoh and upon all his host so that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD." And they did so.

5 And it was told to the king of Egypt that the people fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, "Why have we done this that we have let Israel go from serving us?" 6 And he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots and all the chariots of Egypt and captains over every one of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel. And the children of Israel went out with a high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued them (all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army) and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them, and they were greatly afraid. And the children of Israel cried to the LORD. 11 And they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way to conduct us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."

13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear. Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD which he will show to you today. For the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall see them again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

15 And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel that they go forward. 16 But lift your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I, behold I, will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them, and I will get myself honor upon Pharaoh and upon all his host, upon his chariots and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD when I have gotten myself honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen."

19 And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. And the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them. 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. It was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these, so that one did not come near the other all the night.

21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning-watch, the LORD looked to the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot-wheels and made them to move heavily, so that the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians."

26 And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen." 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared. And the Egyptians fled against it, but the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. There did not remain so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD and believed the LORD and his servant Moses.

Chapter 15

The song of Moses, Miriam, and Israel on their deliverance, 1-21. The people want water in the wilderness, 22. The waters at Marah are bitter, they murmur, Moses prays, and sweetens the waters by God’s direction, 23-26. They encamp at Elim, where there are twelve wells and seventy palm trees, 27.

1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying,

"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously.   /

The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

2 The LORD is my strength and song,   /

and he has become my salvation. /

He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation, /

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

3 The LORD is a man of war.   /

Yahweh is his name.

4 "Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he has cast into the sea.   /

His chosen captains are also drowned in the Red Sea.

5 The depths have covered them.   /

They sunk to the bottom as a stone.

6 Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power.   /

Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed in pieces the enemy.

7 And in the greatness of your excellence you have overthrown   /

those who rose up against you. /

You sent forth your wrath, /

which consumed them as stubble.

8 And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were collected,   /

the floods stood upright as a heap, /

and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy said,   /

'I will pursue and I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. /

My lust shall be satisfied upon them. /

I will draw my sword. My hand shall destroy them.'

10 You blew with your wind, the sea covered them.   /

They sunk as lead in the mighty waters.

11 "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?   /

Who is like you, glorious in holiness, /

fearful in praises, doing wonders?

12 You stretched out your right hand,   /

the earth swallowed them.

13 "You in your mercy have led forth the people which you have redeemed.   /

You have guided them in your strength to your holy habitation.

14 The people shall hear and be afraid.   /

Sorrow shall take hold upon the inhabitants of Palestina.

15 Then the chiefs of Edom shall be amazed.   /

The mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them. /

All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them.   /

By the greatness of your arm they shall be as still as a stone /

until your people pass over, O LORD, /

until the people pass over, which you have purchased.

17 You shall bring them in and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance,   /

in the place, O LORD, which you have made for you to dwell in, /

in the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

18 The LORD shall reign forever and ever."

19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them,

"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously.   /

The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."

22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah because they were bitter. Therefore, its name was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" 25 And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree, which he cast into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, do that which is right in his sight, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the LORD who heals you."

27 And they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm-trees. And they encamped there by the waters.

Chapter 16

The Israelites come to Sin and murmur for lack of bread, 1-3. God promises them bread and flesh from heaven, and they are rebuked, 4-12. Quails and manna are sent, 13-15. The ordering of manna, 16-24. It was not to be found on the sabbath, 25-31. An omer of it is preserved, 32-36.

1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 And the children of Israel said to them, "O that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt when we sat by the flesh-pots and when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day so that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in. And it shall be twice as much as they gather daily." 6 And Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, "At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out from the land of Egypt, 7 And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, for he hears your murmurings against the LORD. And what are we that you murmur against us?"

8 And Moses said, "This shall be when the LORD gives you flesh to eat in the evening and bread to the full in the morning, for the LORD hears your murmurings which you murmur against him. And what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD."

9 And Moses spoke to Aaron, "Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, 'Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your murmurings.'" 10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. 11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, 'At evening you shall eat flesh and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'"

13 And it came to pass, that at evening the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay around the host. 14 And when the dew that lay had gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "It is manna," for they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 'Gather of it every man according to his eating. You shall take an omer for every man according to the number of your persons, each for those who are in his tent.'" 17 And the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 And when they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing left over and he who gathered little had no lack. They each gathered according to his eating. 19 And Moses said, "No man is to let any of it remain until the morning." 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some of them let it remain until the morning, and it bred worms and became offensive. And Moses was angry with them. 21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 And he said to them, "This is that which the LORD has said, 'Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake that which you will bake today and boil that which you will boil. And that which is left over, lay up for yourselves to be kept until the morning.'" 24 And they laid it up until the morning as Moses ordered, and it did not putrefy, neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses said, "Eat that today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD. Today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there will be none."

27 And it came to pass, that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather and they found none. 28 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long do you [all] refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 Behold, because the LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore he gives to you on the sixth day the bread for two days. Each of you abide in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like coriander-seed, white, and its taste was like wafers made with honey. 32 And Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded, 'Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.'" 33 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a pot and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD to be kept for your generations." 34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony to be kept. 35 And the children of Israel ate manna forty years until they came to a land inhabited. They ate manna until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan. 36 (Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.)

References

[v.18]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 8:15.

Chapter 17

The people murmur for water at Rephidim, 1-4. God sends them for water to the rock in Horeb, 5, 6. The place is called Massah and Meribah, 7. Amalek is overcome by Joshua, while Moses holds up his hands with the rod of God, 8-13. Amalek is doomed to destruction; and Moses builds the altar, Yahweh is My Banner, 14-16.

1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and encamped in Rephidim. And there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore, the people contended with Moses and said, "Give us water so that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you chide with me? Why do you test the LORD?" 3 And the people thirsted there for water. And the people murmured against Moses and said, "Why is this that you have brought us out of Egypt to kill us, our children, and our cattle with thirst?" 4 And Moses cried to the LORD, saying, "What shall I do to this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go on before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel. And also take in your hand your rod with which you smote the river, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. And you shall smite the rock, and water shall come out of it so that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the chiding of the children of Israel and because they tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us, or not?"

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed. And when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’s hands were heavy, and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua completely defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 And the LORD said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name Yahweh is My Banner, 16 For he said, "Because the LORD has sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

Chapter 18

Jethro brings his wife and two sons to Moses, 1-6. Moses entertains him and relates the goodness of the Lord, 7, 8. Jethro rejoices, blesses God, and offers sacrifice, 9-12. He gives good counsel, which is accepted, 13-26. Jethro departs, 27.

1 When Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses’s father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt, 2 Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’s wife, after he had sent her back, 3 And her two sons, of which the name of one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been a foreigner in a strange land"), 4 And the name of the other was Eliezer ("For the God of my father," he said, "was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh").

5 And Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And he said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, your wife, and her two sons with her have come to you." 7 And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and did obeisance and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and they came into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way and how the LORD delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, "Blessed be the LORD who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly, he was above them." 12 And Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’s father-in-law before God.

13 And it came to pass on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood by Moses from the morning to the evening. 14 And when Moses’s father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do to the people? Why do you sit yourself alone, and all the people stand by you from morning to evening?" 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between one and another and make them know the statutes of God and his laws."

17 And Moses’s father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. 18 You will surely wear away, both you and this people who is with you, for this thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone. 19 Listen now to my voice, I will give you counsel, and God shall be with you. You represent the people toward God so that you may bring the causes to God, 20 And you shall teach them ordinances and laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover, you shall provide out of all the people able men, those who fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place those over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons. And it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge. So it shall be easier for yourself and they shall bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God commands you so, then you shall be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace."

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons. The hard causes they brought to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 And Moses let his father-in-law depart. And he went his way into his own land.

Chapter 19

The people arrive at Sinai, 1, 2. God’s message by Moses to the people out of the mountain, 3-7. The people’s answer returned again, 8. The people are prepared for the third day, for the giving of the law, 9-11. The mountain must not be touched, 12-15. The fearful presence of God upon the mountain, 16-25.

1 In the third month, when the children of Israel had gone forth from the land of Egypt, the same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim and had come to the desert of Sinai and had pitched in the wilderness. And there Israel encamped before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to me above all people, for all the earth is mine. 6 And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses returned the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud so that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever." And Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

10 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes 11 And be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 12 And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up upon the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. 13 There shall not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through. Whether it be beast or man, it shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain." 14 And Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day. Do not come near your wives."

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, a thick cloud upon the mountain, and the voice of the trumpet exceedingly loud so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the nether part of the mountain.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether in a smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire. And its smoke ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long and grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, charge the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. 22 And let the priests also who come near the LORD sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them." 23 And Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to mount Sinai, for you charged us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain and sanctify it.'" 24 And the LORD said to him, "Away, go down, and you shall come up—you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break forth upon them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:9. [v.13]: Quoted in Hebrews 12:20.

Chapter 20

The Ten Commandments are spoken by Yahweh, 1-17. The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them, 18-20. Idolatry is forbidden, 21, 22. Of what sort the altar should be, 23-26.

1 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 "I am the LORD your God who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself any engraved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 And showing mercy to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 "Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall not do any work—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your woman-servant, your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore, the LORD blessed the sabbath-day and hallowed it.

12 "Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you.

13 "You shall not kill.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his man-servant, his woman-servant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s."

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, the lightnings, the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. And when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 And they said to Moses, "Speak with us and we will hear, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die." 20 And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to prove you, so that his fear may be before your faces and that you do not sin." 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

22 And the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth you shall make to me and shall sacrifice thereon your burnt-offerings, your peace-offerings, your sheep, and your oxen. In all places where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you. 25 And if you will make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone, for if you lift up your tool upon it, you have polluted it. 26 You shall not go up by steps to my altar so that your nakedness is not discovered thereon.'"

References

[v.11]: Quoted in Acts 14:15; Revelation 10:6. [v.12]: Quoted in Matthew 15:4, 19:19; Mark 7:10, 10:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2-3. [v.13]: Quoted in Matthew 5:21, 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11. [v.14]: Quoted in Matthew 5:27, 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11. [v.15]: Quoted in Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9. [v.16]: Quoted in Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9. [v.17]: Quoted in Romans 7:7, 13:9.

Chapter 21

Laws for men servants, 1-4. For the servant whose ear is bored, 5, 6. For women servants, 7-11. For manslaughter, 12-15. For those who steal men, 16. For cursers of parents, 17. For smiters, 18-21. For a hurt by chance, 22-27. For an ox that gores, 28-32. For him that is an occasion of harm, 33-36.

1 "Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them.

2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve. And in the seventh he shall depart free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall depart by himself. If he was married, then his wife shall depart with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s and he shall depart by himself. 5 And if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not depart free,' 6 Then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the door-post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

7 "And if a man sells his daughter to be a woman-servant, she shall not depart as the men-servants do. 8 If she shall not please her master who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no power to sell her to a strange nation, seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10 If he takes him another wife, her food, her clothing, and her duty of marriage he shall not diminish. 11 And if he does not perform these three to her, then she shall depart free without money.

12 "He who smites a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13 And if the man did not lie in wait, but God has delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee. 14 But if a man comes presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, you shall take him from my altar so that he may die.

15 "And he who smites his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

16 "And he who steals a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

17 "And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

18 "And if men contend together, and one smites another with a stone, or with his fist, and he does not die, but remains in his bed, 19 If he rises again and walks abroad upon his staff, then he who smote him shall be acquitted. Only he shall pay for the loss of his time and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

20 "And if a man smites his man-servant, or his woman-servant, with a rod and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21 But if he survives a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his money.

22 "If men contend and hurt a woman with child so that her fruit departs from her, and yet no mischief follows, he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him. And he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 "And if a man smites the eye of his man-servant, or the eye of his woman-servant, so that it perishes, he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. 27 And if he smites out his man-servant’s tooth, or his woman-servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.

28 "If an ox gores a man or a woman so that they die, then the ox shall surely be stoned and his flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. 29 But if the ox was accustomed to push with his horn in time past, and it has been testified to his owner and he has not restrained him, but that he has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and his owner also shall be put to death. 30 If there is laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatever is laid upon him. 31 Whether he has gored a son, or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. 32 If the ox gores a man-servant, or woman-servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver and the ox shall be stoned.

33 "And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit, and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 The owner of the pit shall make compensation and give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.

35 "And if one man’s ox hurts another’s so that he dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its money, and the dead ox also they shall divide. 36 Or if it is known that the ox is one accustomed to gore in time past and his owner has not restrained him, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead shall be his own."

References

[v.17]: Quoted in Matthew 15:4; Mark 7:10. [v.24]: Quoted in Matthew 5:38.

Chapter 22

Of theft, 1-4. Of damage, 5, 6. Of trespasses, 7-13. Of borrowing, 14, 15. Of fornication, 16, 17. Of witchcraft, 18. Of bestiality, 19. Of idolatry, 20. Of strangers, widows, and fatherless, 21-24. Of usury, 25. Of pledges, 26, 27. Of reverence to magistrates, 28. Of the first fruits, 29, 30. Of torn flesh, 31.

1 "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.

2 "If a thief is found breaking through and is smitten so that he dies, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun has risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him, for he should make full restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found in his hand alive, whether an ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall restore double.

5 "If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten, and puts in his beast and feeds in another man’s field, of the best of his own field and of the best of his own vineyard he shall make restitution.

6 "If fire breaks out and catches in thorns and then stacks of grain, standing grain, or a field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7 "If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, let him pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to see whether he has put his hand to his neighbor’s goods. 9 For all manner of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any manner of lost thing which another challenges to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges. And he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 "If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any beast to keep and it dies, is hurt, or is driven away, no man seeing it, 11 Then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both that he has not put his hand to his neighbor’s goods. And its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. 12 And if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

14 "And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor and it is hurt or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 But if its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a hired thing, it came for his hire.

16 "And if a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

18 "You shall not allow a witch to live.

19 "Whoever lies with a beast shall surely be put to death.

20 "He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21 "You shall neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry. 24 And my wrath shall wax hot and I will kill you with the sword. And your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.

25 "If you lend money to any of my people who is poor by you, you shall not be to him as a creditor, neither shall you lay upon him usury. 26 If you ever take your neighbor’s clothing to pledge, you shall deliver it to him by the setting of the sun. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his clothing for his skin. Wherein shall he sleep? And it shall come to pass, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.

28 "You shall not revile God, nor curse the ruler of your people.

29 "You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits and of your liquors. The first-born of your sons you shall give to me. 30 You shall do likewise with your oxen and with your sheep. Seven days it shall be with his mother. On the eighth day you shall give it to me.

31 "And you shall be holy men to me; therefore, you shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs."

References

[v.28]: Quoted in Acts 23:5.

Chapter 23

Of slander, false witness, and partiality, 1-3. Of charitableness, 4, 5. Of justice in judgment, 6, 7. Of taking bribes, 8. Of oppressing a stranger, 9. Of the year of rest, 10, 11. Of the sabbath, 12. Of idolatry, 13. Of the three feasts, 14-17. Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice, 18, 19. An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him, 20-33.

1 "You shall not raise a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a multitude to do evil, neither shall you speak in a cause to side with a multitude to wrest judgment, 3 Neither shall you favor a poor man in his cause.

4 "If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of him who hates you lying under his burden, you shall forbear to leave him. You shall surely help him with it.

6 "You shall not wrest the judgment of your poor in his cause. 7 Keep far from a false matter and do not slay the innocent and righteous, for I will not justify the wicked.

8 "And you shall take no gift, for the gift blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

9 "Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

10 "And six years you shall sow your land and shall gather in the fruits thereof. 11 But the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie still so that the poor of your people may eat. And what they leave, the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner you shall deal with your vineyard and with your olive-grove.

12 "Six days you shall do your work and on the seventh day you shall rest so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your woman-servant and the stranger may be refreshed. 13 And in all things that I have said to you be circumspect. And make no mention of the names of other gods, neither let it be heard from your mouth.

14 "Three times you shall keep a feast to me in the year: 15 You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, in the time appointed of the month Abib, for in it you came out from Egypt, and no one shall appear before me empty); 16 And the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field; and the feast of in-gathering, which is at the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

18 "You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread, neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.

19 "The first of the first-fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in his mother’s milk.

20 "Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him and obey his voice. Do not provoke him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him. 22 But if you indeed obey his voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 For my Angel shall go before you and bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will cut them off. 24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works, but you shall utterly overthrow them and quite break down their images. 25 And you shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26 None shall miscarry their young, nor be barren in your land. I will complete the number of your days. 27 I will send my fear before you and will destroy all the people to whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land should become desolate and the beast of the field should multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you until you have increased and inherit the land. 31 And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the river, for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you to sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."

Chapter 24

Moses is called up onto the mountain, 1-2. The people promise obedience, 3. Moses builds an altar and twelve pillars, 4, 5. He sprinkles the blood of the covenant, 6-8. The glory of God appears, 9-13. Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people, 14. Moses goes onto the mountain, where he continues forty days and forty nights, 15-18.

1 And he said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD—you, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel—and worship afar off. 2 And Moses alone shall come near the LORD, but they shall not come near, neither shall the people go up with him."

3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words which the LORD has said we will perform." 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose early in the morning and built an altar under the hill and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel who offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant and read in the audience of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do and be obedient." 8 And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, "Behold, the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you concerning all these words."

9 Then Moses went up, along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet something like a paved work of a sapphire-stone and like the body of heaven in its clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he did not lay his hand. They also saw God and ate and drank.

12 And the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and be there, and I will give you tablets of stone with the law and the commandments which I have written so that you may teach them." 13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up upon the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has any matters to do, let him come to them." 15 And Moses went up upon the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. 16 And the glory of the LORD stayed upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud and ascended the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

References

[v.8]: Quoted in Hebrews 9:20.

Chapter 25

What the Israelites were to offer for the formation of the tabernacle, 1-9. The form of the ark, 10-16. The mercy seat with the cherubim, 17-22. The table of show-bread with the furniture thereof, 23-30. The golden candlestick with the instruments thereof, 31-40.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel that they bring me an offering. Of every man who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering. 3 And this is the offering which you shall take of them: gold, silver, brass, 4 Blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, 5 Rams' skins dyed red, badgers' skins, shittim wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breast-plate. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you after the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its instruments, even so you shall make it.

10 "And they shall make an ark of shittim wood. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And you shall overlay it with pure gold. Inside and outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make upon it a crown of gold around it. 12 And you shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four corners, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. 13 And you shall make staffs of shittim wood and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the staffs into the rings by the sides of the ark so that the ark may be borne with them. 15 The staffs shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

17 "And you shall make a mercy-seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work you shall make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. 19 And make one cherub on one end and the other cherub on the other end, even of the mercy-seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces shall look to one another. Toward the mercy-seat the faces of the cherubim shall be. 21 And you shall put the mercy-seat above upon the ark. And in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 And there I will meet with you, and I will commune with you from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

23 "You shall also make a table of shittim wood. Its length shall be two cubits, its breadth a cubit, and its height a cubit and a half. 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold and make for it a crown of gold around it. 25 And you shall make for it a border of a hand-breadth around it, and you shall make a golden crown for its border around it. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold and put the rings on the four corners that are on its four feet. 27 Over against the border the rings shall be for places of the staffs to bear the table. 28 And you shall make the staffs of shittim wood and overlay them with gold so that the table may be borne with them. 29 And you shall make its dishes, its spoons, its covers, and its bowls to cover it with. Of pure gold you shall make them. 30 And you shall set show-bread upon the table before me always.

31 "And you shall make a candlestick of pure gold. Of beaten work the candlestick shall be made. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers shall be of the same. 32 And six branches shall extend from its sides: three branches of the candlestick from one side and three branches of the candlestick from the other side. 33 Three bowls shall be made like almonds with a knob and a flower in one branch, and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch with a knob and a flower—likewise in the six branches that project from the candlestick. 34 And in the candlesticks there shall be four bowls made like almonds with their knobs and their flowers. 35 And there shall be a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that project from the candlestick. 36 Their knobs and their branches shall be of the same. All of it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And you shall make its seven lamps. And they shall light its lamps so that they may give light over against it. 38 And its tongs and its snuff-dishes shall be of pure gold. 39 Of a talent of pure gold he shall make it, with all these vessels. 40 And see that you make them after their pattern which was shown to you on the mountain."

References

[v.40]: Quoted in Hebrews 8:5.

Chapter 26

The ten curtains of the tabernacle, 1-6. The eleven curtains of goats' hair, and the coverings of rams' and badgers' skins, 7-14. The boards of the tabernacle with their sockets and bars, 15-30. The veil for the ark, 31-36. The hanging for the door, 36, 37.

1 "Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue, purple, and scarlet. With cherubim of skillful work you shall make them. 2 The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits and the breadth of one curtain four cubits, and each of the curtains shall have one measure. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue upon the edge of one curtain from the selvage in the coupling. And you shall do likewise in the uttermost edge of another curtain in the coupling of the second. 5 Fifty loops you shall make in the curtain and fifty loops you shall make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second so that the loops may take hold one of another. 6 And you shall make fifty buttons of gold, and couple the curtains together with the buttons. And it shall be one tabernacle.

7 "And you shall make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle. Eleven curtains you shall make. 8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits and the breadth of one curtain four cubits, and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure. 9 And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and shall double the sixth curtain in the front of the tabernacle. 10 And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which couples the second.

11 "And you shall make fifty buttons of brass, and put the buttons into the loops and couple the tent together so that it may be one. 12 And the remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side to cover it. 14 And you shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red and a covering above of badgers' skins.

15 "And you shall make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board. 17 There shall be two tenons in one board, set in order one against another. You shall do likewise for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards on the south side southward, 19 And you shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under one board for its two tenons and two sockets under another board for its two tenons; 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards, 21 And their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board; 22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards. 23 And two boards you shall make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above its head to one ring. Thus it shall be for them both. They shall be for the two corners. 25 And they shall be eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets, two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board.

26 "And you shall make bars of shittim wood: five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle for the two sides westward. 28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. 29 And you shall overlay the boards with gold and make their rings of gold for places for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 And you shall rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shown to you on the mountain.

31 "And you shall make a veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen of skillful work. With cherubim it shall be made. 32 And you shall hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold upon the four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil under the buttons so that you may bring in there within the veil the ark of the testimony. And the veil shall be for you a separation between the holy place and the most holy. 34 And you shall put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south, and you shall put the table on the north side.

36 "And you shall make a hanging for the door of the tent of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needle work. 37 And you shall make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold. And you shall cast five sockets of brass for them."

Chapter 27

The altar of burnt offering with the vessels thereof, 1-8. The court of the tabernacle enclosed with hangings and pillars, 9-17. The measure of the court and the furniture of brass, 18, 19. The oil for the lamp, 20, 21.

1 "And you shall make an altar of shittim wood five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2 And you shall make its horns upon the four corners thereof. Its horns shall be of the same, and you shall overlay it with brass. 3 And you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, its shovels, its basins, its flesh-hooks, and its fire-pans. All its vessels you shall make of brass. 4 And you shall make for it a grate of net-work of brass, and upon the net you shall make four brazen rings in its four corners. 5 And you shall put it under the compass of the altar beneath so that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. 6 And you shall make staffs for the altar, staffs of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass. 7 And the staffs shall be put into the rings, and the staffs shall be upon the two sides of the altar to bear it. 8 You shall make it hollow with boards. As it was shown to you on the mountain, so they shall make it.

9 "And you shall make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of one hundred cubits long for one side. 10 And its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets shall be of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of one hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 12 And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits with their ten pillars and their ten sockets. 13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits with their three pillars and their three sockets. 15 And on the other side shall be hangings, fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets. 16 And for the gate of the court there shall be a hanging of twenty cubits of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needle-work, with their four pillars and their four sockets. 17 All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver with their hooks of silver and their sockets of brass. 18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the breadth fifty everywhere, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. 19 All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

20 "And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring the pure olive-oil beaten for the light to cause the lamp to always burn. 21 In the Tabernacle of the Congregation outside the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel."

Chapter 28

Aaron and his sons are set apart for the priest’s office, 1. Holy garments are appointed, 2-5. The ephod and girdle, 6-14. The breast-plate with twelve precious stones, 15-29. The Urim and Thummim, 30. The robe of the ephod with pomegranates and bells, 31-35. The plate of the miter, 36-38. The embroidered coat, 39. The garments for Aaron’s sons, 40-43.

1 "And bring to you Aaron your brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 And you shall speak to all who are wise in heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. 4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breast-plate, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered coat, a miter, and a girdle. And they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. 5 And they shall take gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.

6 "And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with skillful work. 7 It shall have the two shoulder-pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof, and thus it shall be joined together. 8 And the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to its work, even of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 And you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel: 10 Six of their names on one stone and the six names of the rest on the other stone according to their birth. 11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel. You shall make them to be set in settings of gold. 12 And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial to the children of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. 13 And you shall make settings of gold, 14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends. Of wreathed work you shall make them, and fasten the wreathed chains to the settings.

15 "And you shall make the breast-plate of judgment with skillful work. After the work of the ephod you shall make it. Of gold, of blue, of purple, of scarlet, and of fine twined linen you shall make it. 16 It shall be square, being doubled. A span shall be its length and a span shall be its breadth. 17 And you shall set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones. The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle, this shall be the first row. 18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold in their enclosings. 21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each with his name they shall be according to the twelve tribes. 22 And you shall make upon the breast-plate chains at the ends of wreathed work of pure gold. 23 And you shall make upon the breast-plate two rings of gold and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breast-plate. 24 And you shall put the two wreathed chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breast-plate. 25 And the other two ends of the two wreathed chains you shall fasten in the two settings and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod before it. 26 And you shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them upon the two ends of the breast-plate in its border, which is in the side of the ephod inward. 27 And two other rings of gold you shall make and shall put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward its forepart, over against the other coupling thereof, above the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod. 28 And they shall bind the breast-plate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue so that it may be above the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod and that the breast-plate does not come loose from the ephod. 29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breast-plate of judgment upon his heart when he enters into the holy place for a memorial before the LORD continually. 30 And you shall put in the breast-plate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the LORD. And Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

31 "And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 And there shall be a hole in its top in the midst of it. It shall have a binding of woven work around its hole, as the hole of a habergeon, so that it is not rent. 33 And beneath, upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, of purple, and of scarlet around its hem and bells of gold between them around it: 34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe around it. 35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister. And his sound shall be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out so that he may not die.

36 "And you shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD.' 37 And you shall put it on a blue lace so that it may be upon the miter. Upon the front of the miter it shall be. 38 And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead so that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts. And it shall always be upon his forehead so that they may be accepted before the LORD.

39 "And you shall embroider the coat of fine linen, you shall make the miter of fine linen, and you shall make the girdle of needle-work.

40 "And for Aaron’s sons you shall make coats, and you shall make for them girdles and you shall make for them caps for glory and for beauty. 41 And you shall put them upon Aaron your brother and on his sons with him and shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them so that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. 42 And you shall make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness. From the loins even to the thighs they shall reach. 43 And they shall be upon Aaron and upon his sons when they enter into the Tabernacle of the Congregation or when they come near to the altar to minister in the holy place so that they do not bear iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and to his offspring after him."

Chapter 29

The sacrifice and ceremonies of consecrating the priests and the altar, 1-37. The continual burnt offering, 38-44. God’s promise to dwell among the children of Israel, 45, 46.

1 "And this is the thing that you shall do to them to hallow them, to minister to me in the priest’s office. Take one young bull and two rams without blemish, 2 And also unleavened bread, unleavened cakes tempered with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Of wheat flour you shall make them. 3 And you shall put them into one basket and bring them in the basket with the bull and the two rams. 4 And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and shall wash them with water. 5 And you shall take the garments and put upon Aaron the coat, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breast-plate, and gird him with the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod. 6 And you shall put the miter upon his head and put the holy crown upon the miter. 7 Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it upon his head and anoint him. 8 And you shall bring his sons and put coats upon them. 9 And you shall gird them with girdles (Aaron and his sons) and put the caps on them. And the priest’s office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute. And you shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.

10 "And you shall cause a bull to be brought before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bull. 11 And you shall kill the bull before the LORD by the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 12 And you shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it upon the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar. 13 And you shall take all the fat that covers the inwards, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar. 14 But the flesh of the bull, his skin, and his dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin-offering.

15 "You shall also take one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. 16 And you shall slay the ram and take his blood and sprinkle it around upon the altar. 17 And you shall cut the ram in pieces and wash his inwards and his legs and put them with his pieces and with his head. 18 And you shall burn the whole ram upon the altar. It is a burnt-offering to the LORD. It is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

19 "And you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. 20 Then you shall kill the ram and take some of his blood and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood around upon the altar. 21 And you shall take some of the blood that is upon the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it upon Aaron, upon his garments, upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him. And he shall be hallowed, and his garments, his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

22 "Also you shall take from the ram the fat and the rump, the fat that covers the inwards, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat that is upon them, the right shoulder (for it is a ram of consecration), 23 One loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread, that is before the LORD. 24 And you shall put all in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons, and shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 25 And you shall receive them from their hands and burn them upon the altar for a burnt-offering for a sweet savor before the LORD. It is an offering made by fire to the LORD.

26 "And you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s consecration and wave it for a wave-offering before the LORD, and it shall be your part. 27 And you shall sanctify the breast of the wave-offering and the shoulder of the heave-offering, which is waved and which is heaved up of the ram of the consecration, even of that which is for Aaron and of that which is for his sons. 28 And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons' by a statute forever from the children of Israel, for it is a heave-offering. And it shall be a heave-offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace-offerings, even their heave-offering to the LORD.

29 "And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein and to be consecrated in them. 30 And that son, who is priest in his stead, shall put them on seven days when he comes into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to minister in the holy place.

31 "And you shall take the ram of the consecration and boil his flesh in the holy place. 32 And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket by the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 33 And they shall eat those things with which the atonement was made to consecrate and to sanctify them, but a stranger shall not eat of them because they are holy. 34 And if anything of the flesh of the consecration, or of the bread, remains until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten because it is holy.

35 "And thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons according to all things which I have commanded you. Seven days you shall consecrate them. 36 And you shall offer every day a bull for a sin-offering for atonement. And you shall cleanse the altar when you have made an atonement for it and you shall anoint it to sanctify it. 37 Seven days you shall make an atonement for the altar and sanctify it, and it shall be an altar most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

38 "Now this is that which you shall offer upon the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at evening. 40 And with one lamb a tenth-portion of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink-offering. 41 And the other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the food-offering of the morning and according to the drink-offering thereof for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire to the LORD. 42 This shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak there to you. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 And I will sanctify the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the altar. I will also sanctify both Aaron and his sons to minister to me in the priest’s office. 45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt so that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God."

Chapter 30

The altar of incense, 1-10. The ransom of souls, 11-16. The basin of brass, 17-21. The holy anointing oil, 22-33. The composition of the incense, 34-38.

1 "And you shall make an altar to burn incense upon. Of shittim wood you shall make it. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of the same. 3 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around and its horns, and you shall make for it a crown of gold all around. 4 And two golden rings you shall make for it under its crown by its two corners. Upon its two sides you shall make it and they shall be for places for the staffs to bear it with. 5 And you shall make the staffs of shittim wood and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you. 7 And Aaron shall burn upon it sweet incense every morning. When he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9 You shall offer no strange incense upon it, nor burnt-sacrifice, nor food-offering, neither shall you pour drink-offering upon it. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon its horns once in a year with the blood of the sin-offering of atonements. Once in a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."

11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "When you take the sum of the children of Israel after their number, they shall each give a ransom for his soul to the LORD when you number them so that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 This they shall give, everyone who passes among those who are numbered: half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). A half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. 14 Everyone who passes among those who are numbered from twenty years old and above shall give an offering to the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel when they give an offering to the LORD to make an atonement for your souls. 16 And you shall take the atonement-money of the children of Israel and shall appoint it for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation so that it may be a memorial to the children of Israel before the LORD to make an atonement for your souls."

17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 "You shall also make a basin of brass, and its foot also of brass, to wash in. And you shall put it between the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the altar, and you shall put water therein. 19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it. 20 When they go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, they shall wash with water so that they do not die, or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD. 21 Thus they shall wash their hands and their feet so that they do not die. And it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations."

22 Moreover, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Take also for yourself principal spices: of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, of sweet cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24 Of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive-oil a hin. 25 And you shall make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 And you shall anoint the Tabernacle of the Congregation with it, and also the ark of the testimony, 27 The table and all its vessels, the candlestick and its vessels, the altar of incense, 28 The altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the basin and its foot. 29 And you shall sanctify them so that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy. 30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. 31 And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations. 32 Upon man’s flesh it shall not be poured, neither shall you make any other like it after its composition. It is holy and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.'"

34 And the LORD said to Moses, "Take for yourself sweet spices: stacte, onycha, and galbanum, these sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each there shall be a similar weight). 35 And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the perfumer, tempered together, pure and holy. 36 And you shall beat some of it very small and put some of it before the testimony in the Tabernacle of the Congregation where I will meet with you. It shall be to you most holy. 37 And as for the perfume which you shall make, you shall not make for yourselves according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD. 38 Whoever makes any like it to be refreshed by it shall even be cut off from his people."

Chapter 31

Bezaleel and Aholiab are appointed and qualified for the work of the tabernacle, 1-11. The observation of the sabbath is again commanded, 12-17. Moses receives the two tables, 18.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Behold, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass, 5 In cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. And in the hearts of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom so that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 The Tabernacle of the Congregation, the ark of the testimony, the mercy-seat that is upon it, all the vessels of the tabernacle, 8 The table and its vessels, the pure candlestick with all its vessels, the altar of incense, 9 The altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, the basin and its foot, 10 The clothes of service, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office, 11 And the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do."

12 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Truly you shall keep my sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death, for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days work may be done, but on the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the sabbath-day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe the sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever, for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

18 And to Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, he gave two tablets of testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Chapter 32

The people, in the absence of Moses, cause Aaron to make a calf, 1-6. God informs Moses, who intercedes for Israel and prevails, 7-14. Moses comes down with the tables, 15-18. He breaks them, 19. He destroys the calf, 20, 21. Aaron’s excuse for himself, 22-24. Moses causes the idolaters to be slain, 25-29. He prays for the people, 30-35.

1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled themselves to Aaron and said to him, "Arise, make us gods which shall go before us. For as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." 2 And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters and bring them to me." 3 And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand and fashioned it with an engraving tool and made it a molten calf. And they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt." 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD." 6 And they rose early on the next day and offered burnt-offerings and brought peace-offerings. And the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play.

7 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go, go down, for your people, which you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly from the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, worshiped it, sacrificed to it, and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt.'" 9 And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore, leave me alone so that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them, and I will make of you a great nation."

11 And Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "LORD, why does your wrath wax hot against your people which you have brought forth from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak and say, 'For evil he brought them out to slay them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath and repent of this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by your own self and said to them, 'I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'" 14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people.

15 And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both their sides, on one side and on the other they were written. 16 And the tablets were the work of God and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp."

18 And he said, "It is not the voice of those who shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of those who cry for being overcome, but the noise of those who sing I hear."

19 And it came to pass as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. And Moses’s anger waxed hot, and he cast the tablets from his hands and broke them beneath the mountain. 20 And he took the calf which they had made, burnt it in the fire, ground it to powder, strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink it.

21 And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?" 22 And Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord wax hot. You know the people that they are set on mischief. 23 For they said to me, 'Make us gods which shall go before us. For as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 24 And I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.' So they gave it to me. Then I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out."

25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked (for Aaron had made them naked to their shame, among their enemies), 26 Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the LORD’S side? Let him come to me." And all the sons of Levi assembled themselves to him. 27 And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Every man put his sword by his side and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each slay his brother, each his companion, and each his neighbor.'" 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 For Moses had said, "Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son and upon his brother, so that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day."

30 And it came to pass on the next day, that Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD. It may be that I shall make an atonement for your sin." 31 And Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, this people has sinned a great sin and has made themselves gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin. And if not, blot me, I pray you, out of your book which you have written." 33 And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book. 34 And now, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them." 35 And the LORD afflicted the people because they made the calf which Aaron made.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Acts 7:40. [v.6]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 10:7.

Chapter 33

The Lord refuses to go as he had promised with the people, 1-3. The people mourn thereat, 4-6. The tabernacle is moved out of the camp, 7, 8. The Lord talks familiarly with Moses, 9-11. Moses prevails with God and desires to see his glory, 12-23.

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Depart and go up from here—you and the people which you have conducted from the land of Egypt—to the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'To your offspring I will give it.' 2 And I will send an angel before you and will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up in the midst of you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you in the way."

4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned, and no man put on his ornaments. 5 For the LORD had said to Moses, "Say to the children of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people. I will come up into the midst of you in a moment and consume you. And now, take off your ornaments from you so that I may know what to do to you.'" 6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

7 And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it outside the camp far from the camp and called it the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And it came to pass, that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the Tabernacle of the Congregation, which was outside the camp. 8 And it came to pass when Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each stood at his tent-door and looked after Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each in his tent-door. 11 And the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he turned back into the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart out of the tabernacle.

12 And Moses said to the LORD, "Behold, you say to me, 'Bring up this people,' and you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name and you have also found grace in my sight.' 13 Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found grace in your sight, show me now your way so that I may know you and that I may find grace in your sight. And consider that this nation is your people." 14 And [the LORD] said, "My presence shall attend you and I will give you rest." 15 And [Moses] said to him, "If your presence shall not attend me, do not conduct us from here. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and your people have found grace in your sight? Is it not in your going with us? So we shall be separated—I and your people—from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."

17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you have spoken, for you have found grace in my sight and I know you by name." 18 And [Moses] said, "I implore you, show me your glory." 19 And [the LORD] said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." 20 And he said, "You cannot see my face, for no man shall see me and live." 21 And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand upon a rock. 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock and will cover you with my hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back parts, but my face shall not be seen."

References

[v.19]: Quoted in Romans 9:15.

Chapter 34

The tables are renewed, 1-4. The name of the LORD proclaimed, 5-7. Moses entreats God to go with them, 8, 9. God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain duties of the first table, 10-27. Moses, after forty days on the mount, comes down with the tables, 28. His face shines and he covers it with a veil, 29-35.

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Hew two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke. 2 And be ready in the morning and come up in the morning to mount Sinai and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. 3 And no man shall come up with you, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mountain, neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mountain." 4 And he hewed two tablets of stone like the first. And Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, patient, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children to the third and to the fourth generation." 8 And Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, "If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray you, go among us (for it is a stiff-necked people) and pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for your inheritance."

10 And he said, "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. And all the people among which you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

11 "Observe that which I command you this day. Behold, I drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you go, lest it be for a snare in the midst of you. 13 But you shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves. 14 For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, 15 Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go astray after their gods and do sacrifice to their gods, and one call you, and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 And you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters go astray after their gods and make your sons go astray after their gods. 17 You shall make yourself no molten gods.

18 "The feast of unleavened bread you shall keep. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, in the time of the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt.

19 "Every first-born is mine, and every first-born among your cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. 20 But the first-born of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you shall not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the first-born of your sons you shall redeem. And no one shall appear before me empty.

21 "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In time of plowing and in harvest you shall rest. 22 And you shall observe the feast of weeks, of the first-fruits of wheat-harvest, and the feast of in-gathering at the year’s end. 23 Three times in the year all your male children shall appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. 24 For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders. No man shall desire your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.

25 "You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven, neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left until the morning.

26 "The first of the first-fruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in his mother’s milk."

27 And the LORD said to Moses, "Write these words. For after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

29 And it came to pass when Moses came down from mount Sinai (with the two tablets of testimony in Moses’s hand, when he came down from the mountain) that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 And Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 And afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on mount Sinai. 33 And until Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off until he came out. And he came out and spoke to the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’s face shone. And Moses put the veil upon his face again until he went in to speak with him.

References

[v.34]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 3:16.

Chapter 35

The sabbath, 1-3. The free gifts for the tabernacle, 4-19. The readiness of the people to offer, 20-29. Bezaleel and Aholiab are called to the work, 30-35.

1 And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel and said to them, "These are the words which the LORD has commanded, that you should do them. 2 'Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does work therein shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath-day.'"

4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, 5 'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD: gold, silver, brass, 6 Blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, 7 Rams' skins dyed red, badgers' skins, shittim wood, 8 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil and for the sweet incense, 9 And onyx stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breast-plate.

10 'And every wise-hearted among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: 11 The tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its buttons, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 12 The ark and its staffs, the mercy-seat, the veil of the covering, 13 The table and its staffs and all its vessels, and the show-bread, 14 The candlestick also for the light, its vessels, and its lamps with the oil for the light, 15 The incense-altar and its staffs, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the hanging for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle, 16 The altar of burnt-offering with its brazen grate, its staffs, and all its vessels, the basin and its foot, 17 The hangings of the court, its pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court, 18 The pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court and their cords, 19 The clothes of service to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.'"

20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, each whose heart excited him, and each whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and for all his service and for the holy garments. 22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought bracelets, earrings, rings, tablets, all jewels of gold. And every man who offered, offered an offering of gold to the LORD. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them. 24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’S offering. And every man with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service brought it. 25 And all the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, of purple, of scarlet, and of fine linen. 26 And all the women whose heart moved them in wisdom spun goats' hair. 27 And the rulers brought onyx stones and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breast-plate, 28 And spice and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering to the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, "Behold, the LORD has called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, in all manner of workmanship, 32 To devise skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass, 33 In the cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of skillful work. 34 And he has put in his heart that he may teach—both he and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work of the engraver, of the skillful workmen, of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any work, and of those who devise skillful work."

Chapter 36

The offerings are delivered to the workmen, 1-3. The liberality of the people is restrained, 4-7. The curtains with cherubim, 8-13. The curtains of goats' hair, 14-18. The covering of skins, 19. The boards with their sockets, 20-30. The bars, 31-34. The veil, 35, 36. The hanging for the door, 37, 38.

1 "Then Bezaleel, Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the LORD has commanded."

2 And Moses called Bezaleel, Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even everyone whose heart excited him to come to the work to do it, 3 And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary to make it. And they brought yet to him voluntary-offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men, who wrought all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which they made. 5 And they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded to make." 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it and too much.

8 And every wise-hearted man among those who wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. He made them with cherubim of skillful work. 9 The length of one curtain was twenty-eight cubits and the breadth of one curtain four cubits. The curtains were all of one size. 10 And he coupled the five curtains to one another and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvage in the coupling. He did likewise in the extremity of another curtain in the coupling of the second. 12 Fifty loops he made on one curtain and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second. The loops held one curtain to another. 13 And he made fifty buttons of gold and coupled the curtains to one another with the buttons. Thus it became one tabernacle.

14 And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. 15 The length of one curtain was thirty cubits and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain. The eleven curtains were of one size. 16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops upon the outermost edge of the curtain in the coupling and fifty loops he made upon the edge of the curtain which couples the second. 18 And he made fifty buttons of brass to couple the tent together so that it might be one. 19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red and a covering of badgers' skins above that.

20 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. 21 The length of a board was ten cubits and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half. 22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another. Thus he made for all the boards of the tabernacle. 23 And he made boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward. 24 And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards, two sockets under one board for its two tenons and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 25 And for the other side of the tabernacle which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards. 26 And their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board. 27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28 And he made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the rear. 29 And they were coupled beneath and coupled together at the head thereof to one ring. Thus he did to both of them for both the corners. 30 And there were eight boards and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.

31 And he made bars of shittim wood: five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 32 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from one end to the other. 34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. With cherubim he made it of skillful work. 36 And he made for it four pillars of shittim wood and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold and he cast for them four sockets of silver. 37 And he made a hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needle-work, 38 And its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, but their five sockets were of brass.

Chapter 37

The ark and mercy seat with cherubim made, 1-9. The table of show-bread with its vessels, 10-16. The candlestick with its lamps and instruments, 17-24. The altar of incense, 25-28. The anointing oil and sweet incense, 29.

1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood. Two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside and made a crown of gold for it all around. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold to be set by its four corners, even two rings upon one side of it and two rings upon the other side of it. 4 And he made staffs of shittim wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he put the staffs into the rings by the sides of the ark to bear the ark. 6 And he made the mercy-seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits was its length and one cubit and a half its breadth. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold, beaten out of one piece he made them, on the two ends of the mercy-seat: 8 One cherub on the end on this side and another cherub on the other end on that side. Of one piece with the mercy-seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces to one another, even toward the mercy-seat were the faces of the cherubim.

10 And he made the table of shittim wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold and made for it a crown of gold all around. 12 Also he made for it a border of a hand-breadth all around and made a crown of gold for its border all around. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold and put the rings upon the four corners that were on its four feet. 14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staffs, to bear the table. 15 And he made the staffs of shittim wood and overlaid them with gold to bear the table. 16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its covers to cover with, of pure gold.

17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold. Of beaten work he made the candlestick. Its shaft, its branch, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers were of the same. 18 And there were six branches proceeding from its sides: three branches of the candlestick from one side of it and three branches of the candlestick from the other side of it. 19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knob and a flower—likewise throughout the six branches proceeding from the candlestick. 20 And in the candlestick there were four bowls made like almonds, its knobs and its flowers, 21 And a knob under two branches of the same, a knob under two branches of the same, and a knob under two branches of the same, according to the six branches proceeding from it. 22 Their knobs and their branches were of the same. All of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23 And he made its seven lamps, its snuffers, and its snuff-dishes of pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold he made it and all its vessels.

25 And he made the incense-altar of shittim wood. Its length was a cubit and its breadth a cubit. It was square and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both its top and its sides all around and its horns. He also made for it a crown of gold all around. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under its crown, by its two corners, upon its two sides, to be places for the staffs to bear it with. 28 And he made the staffs of shittim wood and overlaid them with gold. 29 And he made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices according to the work of the perfumer.

Chapter 38

The altar of burnt offering, 1-7. The basin of brass, 8. The court and its hangings, 9-20. The sum of what the people offered and the use to which it was applied, 21-31.

1 And he made the altar of burnt-offering of shittim wood. Five cubits was its length and five cubits its breadth. It was square and its height was three cubits. 2 And he made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of the same and he overlaid it with brass. 3 And he made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the flesh-hooks, and the fire-pans. All its vessels he made of brass. 4 And he made for the altar a brazen grate of net-work under its compass beneath to the midst of it. 5 And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass to be places for the staffs. 6 And he made the staffs of shittim wood and overlaid them with brass. 7 And he put the staffs into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it with. He made the altar hollow with boards.

8 And he made the basin of brass and its foot of brass from the mirrors of the women assembling, who assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

9 And he made the court. On the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits. 10 Their pillars were twenty and their brazen sockets twenty. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 11 And for the north side, the hangings were one hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty and their sockets of brass twenty. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were made of silver. 12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten and their sockets ten. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were made of silver. 13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three. 15 And for the other side of the court-gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits, their pillars three and their sockets three. 16 All the hangings of the court all around were of fine twined linen. 17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were made of silver. And the overlaying of their capitals were made of silver. And all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver. 18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needle-work of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. And twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. 19 And their pillars were four and their sockets of brass four. Their hooks were made of silver and also the overlaying of their capitals and their fillets were made of silver. 20 And all the pins of the tabernacle and of the court all around were of brass.

21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and fine linen.

24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 And the silver of those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, 26 A bekah for every man (that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty men. 27 And from the hundred talents of silver the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil were cast—one hundred sockets from the hundred talents, a talent for a socket. 28 And from the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and filleted them. 29 And the brass of the offering was seventy talents and two thousand and four hundred shekels. 30 And with this he made the sockets to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the brazen altar, the brazen grate for it, all the vessels of the altar, 31 The sockets of the court all around, the sockets of the court gate, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court all around.

Chapter 39

The cloths of service and holy garments, 1. The ephod, 2-7. The breast-plate, 8-21. The robe of the ephod, 22-26. The coats, miter, and girdle of fine linen, 27-29. The plate of the holy crown, 30, 31. All is finished, reviewed, and approved by Moses, 32-43.

1 And from the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made clothes of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD commanded Moses.

2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 And they beat the gold into thin plates and cut it into wires to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen with skillful work. 4 They made shoulder-pieces for it to couple it together. By the two edges it was coupled together. 5 And the skillfully woven girdle of his ephod that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof, of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as the LORD commanded Moses.

6 And they wrought onyx stones enclosed in settings of gold, engraved as signets are engraved with the names of the children of Israel. 7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod so that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.

8 And he made the breast-plate of skillful work like the work of the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was square. They made the breast-plate double. A span was its length and a span its breadth, being doubled. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle (this was the first row); 11 The second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 12 The third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold in their enclosings. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each with his name, according to the twelve tribes. 15 And they made upon the breast-plate chains at the ends of wreathed work of pure gold. 16 And they made two settings of gold and two gold rings, and put the two rings in the two ends of the breast-plate. 17 And they put the two wreathed chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breast-plate. 18 And the two ends of the two wreathed chains they fastened in the two settings and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod before it. 19 And they made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breast-plate upon its border, which was on the side of the ephod inward. 20 And they made two other golden rings and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath toward its forepart, over against the other coupling thereof, above the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod. 21 And they bound the breast-plate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue so that it might be above the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod and that the breast-plate might not come loose from the ephod, as the LORD commanded Moses.

22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. 23 And there was a hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of a habergeon, with a band around the hole so that it should not rend. 24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, around between the pomegranates: 26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the LORD commanded Moses.

27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron and for his sons, 28 And a miter of fine linen, fancy caps of fine linen, linen breeches of fine twined linen, 29 And a girdle of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, of needle-work, as the LORD commanded Moses.

30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing like the engravings of a signet, 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD.' 31 And they tied to it a lace of blue to fasten it on high upon the miter, as the LORD commanded Moses.

32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. And they did so. 33 And they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent, all its vessels, its buttons, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets, 34 The covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of badgers' skins, the veil of the covering, 35 The ark of the testimony and its staffs, the mercy-seat, 36 The table, all its vessels, the show-bread, 37 The pure candlestick with its lamps, even with the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for light, 38 The golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the hanging for the tabernacle door, 39 The brazen altar and its grate of brass, its staffs, and all its vessels, the basin and its foot, 40 The hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the hanging for the court-gate, its cords, and its pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, 41 The clothes of service to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest’s office. 42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. 43 And Moses looked upon all the work, and behold, they had done it. As the LORD had commanded, even so they had done it. And Moses blessed them.

Chapter 40

The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, anointed, and consecrated, 1-12. Aaron and his sons to be sanctified, 13-15. Moses performs all things accordingly, 16-33. A cloud covers the tabernacle, 34-38.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3 And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony and cover the ark with the veil. 4 And you shall bring in the table and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it. And you shall bring in the candlestick and light its lamps. 5 And you shall set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And you shall set the altar of the burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And you shall set the basin between the tent of the congregation and the altar and shall put water in it. 8 And you shall set up the court all around and hang up the hanging at the court-gate. 9 And you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall hallow it and all its vessels, and it shall be holy. 10 And you shall anoint the altar of the burnt-offering and all its vessels and sanctify the altar, and it shall be an altar most holy. 11 And you shall anoint the basin and its foot and sanctify it. 12 And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and wash them with water. 13 And you shall put upon Aaron the holy garments, anoint him, and sanctify him so that he may minister to me in the priest’s office. 14 And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with coats. 15 And you shall anoint them as you anointed their father so that they may minister to me in the priest’s office, for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." 16 Thus Moses did, according to all that the LORD commanded him. And he did so.

17 And it came to pass in the first month, in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and reared up its pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent above upon it, as the LORD commanded Moses. 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, set the staffs on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, set up the veil of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony, as the LORD commanded Moses. 22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, outside the veil. 23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. 24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 And he lit the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. 26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil, 27 And he burnt sweet incense on it, as the LORD commanded Moses. 28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he put the altar of burnt-offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the food-offering, as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And he set the basin between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there to wash with. 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet in it. 32 When they went into the tent of the congregation and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 And he reared up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar and set up the hanging of the court-gate. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud stayed upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey until the day that it was taken up. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

[Tanach reading: go to Leviticus]

THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED LEVITICUS

Chapter 1

The law of burnt offerings, 1, 2; of the herd, 3-9; of the flocks, 10-14; of the birds, 14-17.

1 And the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him out of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'If any man of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd and of the flock. 3 If his offering is a burnt-sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish. He shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the LORD. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 And he shall kill the bull before the LORD. And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood around upon the altar that is by the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 6 And he shall flay the burnt-offering and cut it into its pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar and lay the wood in order upon the fire. 8 And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar. 9 But his inwards and his legs he shall wash in water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar to be a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.

10 'And if his offering is of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt-sacrifice, he shall bring it a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD. And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood around upon the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into its pieces with its head and its fat, and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar, 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water. And the priest shall bring it all and burn it upon the altar. It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.

14 'And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD is of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons. 15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. And its blood shall be wrung out at the side of the altar. 16 And he shall pluck away its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east part by the place of the ashes. 17 And he shall cleave it with its wings, but shall not divide it apart. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire. It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.'"

Chapter 2

The food-offering of flour with oil and incense, 1-3, either baked in the oven, 4, or on a plate, 5, 6, or in a frying-pan, 7-11. The first-fruits not to be burnt on the altar, 12. Salt to be used with every offering, 13. The offering of first-fruits in the ear, 14-16.

1 "'And when anyone will offer a food-offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil upon it and put frankincense upon it. 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take out of it his handful of its flour and of its oil, with all its frankincense, and the priest shall burn its memorial upon the altar to be an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD. 3 And the remnant of the food-offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons'. It is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

4 'And if you bring an oblation of a food-offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 And if your oblation is a food-offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil. 6 You shall part it in pieces and pour oil upon it. It is a food-offering. 7 And if your oblation is a food-offering baked in the frying-pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And you shall bring the food-offering that is made of these things to the LORD. And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the food-offering a memorial of it and shall burn it upon the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD. 10 And that which is left of the food-offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons'. It is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

11 'No food-offering which you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven. For you shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire. 12 As for the oblation of the first-fruits, you shall offer them to the LORD, but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savor. 13 And every oblation of your food-offering you shall season with salt, neither shall you allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your food-offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

14 'And if you offer a food-offering of your first-fruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the food-offering of your first-fruits green heads of grain dried by the fire, even grain beaten out of full heads. 15 And you shall put oil upon it and lay frankincense upon it. It is a food-offering. 16 And the priest shall burn its memorial, part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all its frankincense. It is an offering made by fire to the LORD.'"

Chapter 3

The peace offering of the herd, 1-5; of the flock, 6; whether a lamb, 7-11, or a goat, 12-16. A prohibition to eat fat or blood, 17.

1 "'And if his oblation is a sacrifice of peace-offering, if he offers it from the herd, whether a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. 2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering and kill it at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood all around upon the altar. 3 And he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace-offering an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the inwards, all the fat that is upon the inwards, 4 The two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. 5 And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar, upon the burnt-sacrifice which is upon the wood that is on the fire. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.

6 'And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace-offering to the LORD is of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the LORD. 8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering and kill it before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood around upon the altar. 9 And he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace-offering an offering made by fire to the LORD: its fat, the whole rump which he shall take off close to the back-bone, the fat that covers the inwards and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 10 The two kidneys and the fat that is upon them which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire to the LORD.

12 'And if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD. 13 And he shall lay his hand upon its head and kill it before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood all around upon the altar. 14 And he shall offer from it his offering, even an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the inwards and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 15 The two kidneys and the fat that is upon them which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. 16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savor. All the fat is the LORD’S. 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings that you eat neither fat nor blood.'"

Chapter 4

The sin offering of ignorance, 1, 2; for the priest, 3-12; for the congregation, 13-21; for the ruler, 22-26; for any of the people, 27-35.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'If a soul sins through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done and violates any of them, 3 If the priest who is anointed sins according to the sin of the people, then let him bring, for his sin which he has sinned, a young bull without blemish to the LORD for a sin-offering. 4 And he shall bring the bull to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the LORD, lay his hand upon the bull’s head, and kill the bull before the LORD. 5 And the priest who is anointed shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and shall pour all the blood of the bull at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, which is at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bull for the sin-offering, the fat that covers the inwards and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9 The two kidneys and the fat that is upon them which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys, 10 As it was taken off from the bull of the sacrifice of peace-offerings. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt-offering. 11 And the skin of the bull and all his flesh, with his head, with his legs, his inwards, and his dung, 12 Even the whole bull he shall carry forth outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire. Where the ashes are poured out he shall be burnt.

13 'And if the whole congregation of Israel sins through ignorance, and the thing is hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty, 14 When the sin which they have sinned against it is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bull for the sin and bring him before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the LORD. 16 And the priest who is anointed shall bring some of the bull’s blood to the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the veil. 18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, which is at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 19 And he shall take all his fat from him and burn it upon the altar. 20 And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull for a sin-offering. And he shall do so with this. And the priest shall make an atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. 21 And he shall carry forth the bull outside the camp and burn him as he burned the first bull. It is a sin-offering for the congregation.

22 'When a ruler has sinned and done something through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty, 23 Or if his sin, in which he has sinned, comes to his knowledge, he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish. 24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt-offering before the LORD. It is a sin-offering. 25 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering. And he shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt-offering. 26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace-offerings. And the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and he shall be forgiven.

27 'And if anyone of the common people sins through ignorance, while he does something against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and is guilty, 28 Or if his sin which he has sinned comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has sinned. 29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering and slay the sin-offering in the place of the burnt-offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering. And he shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. 31 And he shall take away all its fat, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace-offerings, and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor to the LORD. And the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.

32 'And if he brings a lamb for a sin-offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering and slay it for a sin-offering in the place where they kill the burnt-offering. 34 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering. And he shall pour out all its blood at the bottom of the altar. 35 And he shall take away all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace-offerings, and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the LORD. And the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.'"

Chapter 5

He who sins in concealing his knowledge, 1; in touching an unclean thing, 2, 3; or in making an oath, 4, 5. His trespass offering, of the flock, 6; of birds, 7-10; or of flour, 11-13. The trespass offering in sacrilege, 14-16; and in sins of ignorance, 17-19.

1 "'And if a soul sins and hears the voice of swearing and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of it, if he does not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. 2 Or if a soul touches any unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean beast, a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping animals, and it is hidden from him, he also shall be unclean and guilty. 3 Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever uncleanness it may be that a man shall be defiled with, and it is hid from him, when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty. 4 Or if a soul swears, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it may be that a man pronounces with an oath, and it is hid from him, when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. 5 And it shall be, when he is guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing, 6 And he shall bring his trespass-offering to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin-offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

7 'And if he is not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass which he has committed two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, to the LORD, one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering. 8 And he shall bring them to the priest who shall offer that which is for the sin-offering first and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it apart. 9 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin-offering upon the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar. It is a sin-offering. 10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt-offering, according to the ordinance. And the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven.

11 'But if he is not able to bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering. He shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense upon it, for it is a sin-offering. 12 Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial of it, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the LORD. It is a sin-offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin that he has sinned in one of these, and he shall be forgiven. And the remnant shall be the priest’s as a food-offering.'"

14 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 15 "If a soul commits a trespass and sins through ignorance in the holy things of the LORD, then he shall bring for his trespass to the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with your estimation by shekels of silver after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering. 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he has done in the holy thing, and shall add to it the fifth part and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering, and he shall be forgiven.

17 "And if a soul sins and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he did not know it, yet he is guilty, he shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with your estimation, for a trespass-offering to the priest. And the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and did not know it, and he shall be forgiven. 19 It is a trespass-offering. He has certainly trespassed against the LORD."

Chapter 6

The trespass offering for sins done wittingly, 1-7. The law of the burnt offering, 8-13; and of the food-offering, 14-18. The offering at the consecration of a priest, 19-23. The law of the sin offering, 24-30.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "If a soul sins and commits a trespass against the LORD and lies to his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or has deceived his neighbor, 3 Or has found that which was lost and lies concerning it and swears falsely, in any of all these that a man does, sinning therein, 4 Then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by force, the thing which he obtained by deceit, that which was delivered to him to keep, the lost thing which he found, 5 Or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall even restore it in the principal and shall add to it the fifth part more and give it to him to whom it appertains in the day of his trespass-offering. 6 And he shall bring to the priest his trespass-offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with your estimation, for a trespass-offering. 7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for anything of all that he has done in trespassing therein."

8 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 9 "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt-offering. It is the burnt-offering because of the burning upon the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen breeches on his body. And he shall take up the ashes which the fire has consumed with the burnt-offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. 11 And he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry forth the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning on it. It shall not be extinguished. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt-offering in order upon it and burn on it the fat of the peace-offerings. 13 The fire shall continually be burning upon the altar. It shall never go out.

14 'And this is the law of the food-offering. The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. 15 And he shall take from it his handful of the flour of the food-offering and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the food-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even its memorial, to the LORD. 16 And its remainder Aaron and his sons shall eat. With unleavened bread it shall be eaten in the holy place. In the court of the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall eat it. 17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it to them for their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as is the sin-offering and as the trespass-offering. 18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire. Everyone who touches them shall be holy.'"

19 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 20 "This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the LORD in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a perpetual food-offering, half of it in the morning and half of it at night. 21 In a pan it shall be made with oil. And when it is baked, you shall bring it in, and the baked pieces of the food-offering you shall offer for a sweet savor to the LORD. 22 And the priest from among his sons who is anointed in his stead shall offer it. It is a statute forever to the LORD. It shall be wholly burnt. 23 For every food-offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt. It shall not be eaten."

24 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 25 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sin-offering. In the place where the burnt-offering is killed the sin-offering shall be killed before the LORD. It is most holy. 26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In the holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 27 Whatever touches its flesh shall be holy. And when there is sprinkled some of its blood upon any garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in the holy place. 28 But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken. And if it is boiled in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured and rinsed in water. 29 All the males among the priests shall eat of it. It is most holy. 30 And no sin-offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to make reconciliation in the holy place, shall be eaten. It shall be burnt in the fire.'"

Chapter 7

The law of the trespass offering, 1-10; and of the peace offering, 11; whether it be for a thanksgiving, 12-15; or a vow, or a voluntary offering, 16-21. The fat and the blood are forbidden, 22-27. The priests' portion in the peace offerings, 28-34. The whole summed up, 35-38.

1 "'Likewise, this is the law of the trespass-offering. It is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt-offering they shall kill the trespass-offering, and its blood he shall sprinkle around upon the altar. 3 And he shall offer of it all its fat: the rump, the fat that covers the inwards, 4 The two kidneys and the fat that is on them which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall take away with the kidneys. 5 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a trespass-offering. 6 Every male among the priests shall eat of it. It shall be eaten in the holy place. It is most holy. 7 As the sin-offering is, so is the trespass-offering. There is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it. 8 And the priest who offers any man’s burnt-offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt-offering which he has offered. 9 And all the food-offering that is baked in the oven and all that is dressed in the frying-pan and in the pan shall be the priest’s who offers it. 10 And every food-offering mingled with oil, and dry, all the sons of Aaron shall have, one as much as another.

11 'And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he shall offer to the LORD. 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil of fine flour, fried. 13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace-offerings. 14 And from it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for a heave-offering to the LORD, and it shall be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the peace-offerings.

15 'And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day also its remainder shall be eaten. 17 But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. 18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed to him who offers it. It shall be an abomination. And the soul who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

19 'And the flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burnt with fire. And as for the flesh, all who are clean shall eat of it. 20 But the soul who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings that pertain to the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 Moreover, the soul who touches any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings which pertain to the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.'"

22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'You shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, of sheep, or of goat. 24 And the fat of the beast that dies of itself and the fat of that which is torn by beasts may be used for any other purpose, but you shall in no way eat of it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, even the soul who eats it shall be cut off from his people. 26 Moreover, you shall eat no manner of blood, whether of bird or of beast, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whatever soul it may be who eats any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.'"

28 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 29 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'He who offers the sacrifice of his peace-offerings to the LORD shall bring his oblation to the LORD from the sacrifice of his peace-offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire. The fat with the breast, those he shall bring so that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before the LORD. 31 And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons'. 32 And the right shoulder you shall give to the priest for a heave-offering of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings. 33 He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace-offerings and the fat shall have the right shoulder for his part. 34 For the wave-breast and the heave-shoulder I have taken from the children of Israel, from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons by a statute forever from among the children of Israel.'"

35 This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to the LORD in the priest’s office, 36 Which the LORD commanded to be given to them by the children of Israel in the day that he anointed them by a statute forever throughout their generations.

37 This is the law of the burnt-offering, of the food-offering, of the sin-offering, of the trespass-offering, of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace-offerings, 38 Which the LORD commanded Moses on mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations to the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai.

Chapter 8

Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons, 1-13. Their sin offering, 14-17. Their burnt offering, 18-21. The ram of consecration, 22-30. The place and time of their consecration, 31-36.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, a bull for the sin-offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread, 3 And assemble all the congregation to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation." 4 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the assembly was gathered to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 5 And Moses said to the congregation, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done."

6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. 7 And he put upon him the coat, girded him with the girdle, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him. And he girded him with the skillfully woven girdle of the ephod and bound it to him with it. 8 And he put the breast-plate upon him. He also put in the breast-plate the Urim and the Thummim. 9 And he put the miter upon his head. Also upon the miter, even upon his front, he put the golden plate, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.

10 And Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it and sanctified them. 11 And he sprinkled part of it upon the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its vessels, both the basin and its foot, to sanctify them. 12 And he poured some of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head and anointed him to sanctify him. 13 And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and put coats upon them, girded them with girdles, and put caps upon them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

14 And he brought the bull for the sin-offering. And Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bull for the sin-offering. 15 And he slew it, and Moses took the blood and put it upon the horns of the altar all around with his finger and purified the altar. And he poured the blood at the bottom of the altar and sanctified it to make reconciliation upon it. 16 And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar. 17 But the bull and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire outside the camp, as the LORD commanded Moses.

18 And he brought the ram for the burnt-offering. And Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 19 And Moses killed it and sprinkled the blood all around upon the altar. 20 And Moses cut the ram into pieces and burnt the head, the pieces, and the fat, 21 And he washed the inwards and the legs in water. And then Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar. It was a burnt-sacrifice for a sweet savor and an offering made by fire to the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

22 And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration. And Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 23 And Moses slew it and took some of its blood and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 24 And he brought Aaron’s sons, and Moses put some of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around upon the altar. 25 And he took the fat, the rump, all the fat that was upon the inwards, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right shoulder. 26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat and upon the right shoulder. 27 And he put all upon Aaron’s hands and upon his sons' hands and waved them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 28 And Moses took them from off their hands and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt-offering. They were consecrations for a sweet savor. It is an offering made by fire to the LORD. 29 And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave-offering before the LORD. It was Moses’s part of the ram of consecration, as the LORD commanded Moses.

30 And Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was upon the altar and sprinkled it upon Aaron, upon his garments, upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

31 And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the flesh at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons shall eat it.' 32 And that which remains of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn with fire. 33 And you shall not go out of the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation for seven days, until the days of your consecration are at an end. For seven days he shall consecrate you. 34 As he has done this day, so the LORD has commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore, you shall abide at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation day and night seven days and keep the charge of the LORD so that you do not die, for so I am commanded." 36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Chapter 9

The first offerings of Aaron, for himself and the people, 1-7. The sin offering, 8-11, and the burnt offering for himself, 12-14. The offerings for the people, 16-22. Moses and Aaron bless the people, 23. Fire comes from the Lord upon the altar, 24.

1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. 2 And he said to Aaron, "Take a young calf for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. 3 And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, 'Take a kid of the goats for a sin-offering and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt-offering, 4 And also a bull and a ram for peace-offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a food-offering mingled with oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.'" 5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. 6 And Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded that you should do so that the glory of the LORD appears to you." 7 And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar and offer your sin-offering and your burnt-offering and make an atonement for yourself and for the people. And offer the offering of the people and make an atonement for them, as the LORD commanded."

8 Aaron therefore went to the altar and slew the calf of the sin-offering, which was for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him. And he dipped his finger in the blood and put it upon the horns of the altar. And he poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar. 10 But the fat, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver of the sin-offering, he burnt upon the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. 11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire outside the camp.

12 And he slew the burnt-offering. And Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled around upon the altar. 13 And they presented the burnt-offering to him, with its pieces and the head, and he burnt them upon the altar. 14 And he washed the inwards and the legs and burnt them upon the burnt-offering on the altar.

15 And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin-offering for the people, and slew it and offered it for sin, as the first. 16 And he brought the burnt-offering and offered it according to the manner. 17 And he brought the food-offering, took a handful of it, and burnt it upon the altar beside the burnt-sacrifice of the morning.

18 He also slew the bull and the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, which was for the people. And Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled around upon the altar, 19 And the fat of the bull and of the ram, the rump, and that which covers the inwards, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver. 20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar. 21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave-offering before the LORD, as Moses commanded.

22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin-offering, the burnt-offering, and peace-offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and came out and blessed the people. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 And a fire came out from before the LORD and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat, which when all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Chapter 10

Nadab and Abihu are burnt by fire for offering strange fire, 1-5. Aaron and his sons are forbidden to mourn for them, 6, 7. The priests are forbidden wine when they are to go into the tabernacle, 8-11. The law of eating the holy things, 12-15. Aaron’s excuse for transgressing thereof, 16-20.

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he did not command them. 2 And fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'I will be sanctified in those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" And Aaron held his peace.

4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp." 5 So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar his sons, "Do not uncover your heads, neither rend your clothes, lest you die, and lest wrath come upon all the people. But let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD has kindled. 7 And you shall not go out from the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." And they did according to the word of Moses.

8 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 "Do not drink wine nor strong drink—you, nor your sons with you—when you go into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 So that you may make a difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean, 11 And that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."

12 And Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left, "Take the food-offering that remains of the offerings of the LORD made by fire and eat it without leaven beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 And you shall eat it in the holy place because it is your due and your sons' due of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire, for so I am commanded. 14 And the wave-breast and heave-shoulder you shall eat in a clean place—you, your sons, and your daughters with you—for they are your due and your sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace-offerings of the children of Israel. 15 The heave-shoulder and the wave-breast they shall bring, with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave-offering before the LORD, and it shall be yours and your sons' with you by a statute forever, as the LORD has commanded."

16 And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering, and behold, it was burnt. And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left alive, saying, 17 "Why have you not eaten the sin-offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation to make atonement for them before the LORD? 18 Behold, its blood was not brought within the holy place. You should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded." 19 And Aaron said to Moses, "Behold, this day they have offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before the LORD, and such things have befallen me. And if I had eaten the sin-offering today, would it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?" 20 And when Moses heard that, he was content.

Chapter 11

What beasts may, 1-3; and what may not be eaten, 4-8. What fish, 9-12. What birds and flying insects, 13-23. The creeping things which are unclean, 29-47.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the beasts which you may eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatever parts the hoof, is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the beasts, that you shall eat. 4 Nevertheless, these you shall not eat, of those that chew the cud, or of those that divide the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud, but does not divide the hoof, he is unclean to you; 5 The coney, because he chews the cud, but does not divide the hoof, he is unclean to you; 6 The hare, because he chews the cud, but does not divide the hoof, he is unclean to you; 7 And the swine, though he divides the hoof and is cloven-footed, yet he does not chew the cud, he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh you shall not eat and their carcass you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.

9 'These you shall eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them you shall eat. 10 And all that do not have fins or scales in the seas and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living animal which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination to you. 11 They shall be even an abomination to you. You shall not eat of their flesh, but you shall consider their carcasses as an abomination. 12 Whatever has no fins or scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination to you.

13 'And these you shall consider as an abomination among the birds and they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, 14 The falcon, the kite after his kind, 15 Every raven after his kind, 16 The owl, the night-hawk, the gull, the hawk after his kind, 17 The little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 The swan, the pelican, the vulture, 19 The stork, the heron after her kind, the lapwing, and the bat.

20 'All winged things that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination to you. 21 Yet these you may eat of every flying creeping animal that goes upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap with upon the earth, 22 Even these of them you may eat: the swarming-locust after its kind, the consuming-locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the locust after its kind. 23 But all other flying creeping animals which have four feet shall be an abomination to you.

24 'And for these you shall be unclean. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 25 And whoever bears anything of their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. 26 The carcasses of every beast which divides the hoof and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, are unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean. 27 And whatever goes upon its paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 28 And he who bears their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.

29 'These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping animals that creep upon the earth: the weasel, the mouse, the great lizard after its kind, 30 The ferret, the chameleon, the lizard, the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. 32 And upon whatever any of them falls when they are dead, it shall be unclean, whether it is any vessel of wood, clothing, skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, in which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening. Then it shall be cleansed. 33 And every earthen vessel into which any of them falls, whatever is in it shall be unclean and you shall break it. 34 Of all food which may be eaten, that on which such water comes shall be unclean. And all drink that may be drank in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And everything on which any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean. Whether an oven or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down, for they are unclean and shall be unclean to you. 36 Nevertheless, a fountain or pit in which there is plenty of water shall be clean, but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcass shall fall upon any sowing-seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water is put upon the seed, and any part of their carcass falls on it, it shall be unclean to you.

39 'And if any beast of which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 40 And he who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. He also who bears its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.

41 'And every creeping animal that creeps upon the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes upon the belly, whatever goes upon all four, or whatever has more feet among all creeping animals that creep upon the earth, them you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. 43 You shall not make your selves abominable with any creeping animal that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them. 44 For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any manner of creeping animal that creeps upon the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brings you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.'"

46 This is the law of the beasts, of the bird, of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth, 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

References

[v.44]: Quoted in 1st Peter 1:16. [v.45]: Reference, 1st Peter 1:16.

Chapter 12

The purification of a woman after childbirth, 1-5. Her offerings for her purifying, 6-8.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. According to the days of the separation for her infirmity she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing or come into the sanctuary until the days of her purifying are fulfilled. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying sixty-six days.

6 'And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation to the priest, 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD and make an atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female. 8 And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, one for the burnt-offering and the other for a sin-offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.'"

References

[v.8]: Quoted in Luke 2:24.

Chapter 13

The laws and tokens whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy, 1-59.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 "When a man has in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it is in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons the priests. 3 And the priest shall look at the plague in the skin of the flesh. And when the hair in the plague is turned white and the plague in sight is deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy. And the priest shall look at him and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot is white in the skin of his flesh and in sight, not deeper than the skin, and the hair of it not turned white, then the priest shall shut him up who has the plague seven days. 5 And the priest shall look at him on the seventh day, and behold, if the plague in his sight is at a stay and the plague does not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven more days. 6 And the priest shall look at him again on the seventh day, and behold, if the plague is somewhat dark and the plague does not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is but a scab. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean.

7 "But if the scab spreads much in the skin after he has been seen by the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen by the priest again. 8 And if the priest sees, and behold, the scab spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprosy.

9 "When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest. 10 And the priest shall see him, and behold, if the rising is white in the skin and it has turned the hair white and there is raw flesh in the rising, 11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean and shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if a leprosy breaks out in the skin and the leprosy covers all the skin of him who has the plague from his head even to his foot, wherever the priest looks, 13 Then the priest shall consider, and behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean who has the plague. It is all turned white. He is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh and pronounce him to be unclean, for the raw flesh is unclean. It is a leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turns again and is changed into white, he shall come to the priest, 17 And the priest shall see him, and behold, if the plague is turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean who has the plague. He is clean.

18 "The flesh also, in which there was a boil, even in its skin, and is healed, 19 And in the place of the boil there is a white rising or a bright spot, white and somewhat reddish, and it is shown to the priest, 20 And if when the priest sees it, behold, it is in sight lower than the skin and its hair is turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest looks at it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it and if it is not lower than the skin, but somewhat dark, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 22 And if it has spread much in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stays in its place and does not spread, it is a burning boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24 "Or if there is any flesh in the skin of which there is a hot burning, and the live flesh that burns has a white bright spot, somewhat reddish or white, 25 Then the priest shall look upon it, and behold, if the hair in the bright spot is turned white and it is in sight deeper than the skin, it is a leprosy broken out of the burning; therefore, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest looks at it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot and it is no lower than the other skin, but is somewhat dark, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 27 And the priest shall look upon him on the seventh day. And if it is spread much in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 28 And if the bright spot stays in its place and does not spread in the skin, but is somewhat dark, it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is an inflammation of the burning.

29 "If a man or woman has a plague upon the head or the beard, 30 Then the priest shall see the plague, and behold, if it is in sight deeper than the skin and there is in it a yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, even a leprosy upon the head or beard. 31 And if the priest looks at the plague of the itching, and behold, it is not in sight deeper than the skin and no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut him up who has the plague of the itching seven days. 32 And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the plague, and behold, if the itch does not spread and there is in it no yellow hair and the itch is not in sight deeper than the skin, 33 He shall be shaved, but the itch he shall not shave, and the priest shall shut him up who has the itch seven more days. 34 And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the itch, and behold, if the itch has not spread in the skin, nor is in sight deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads much in the skin after his cleansing, 36 Then the priest shall look at him, and behold, if the itch is spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair. He is unclean. 37 But if the itch is in his sight at a stay and there is black hair grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean. And the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 "If also a man or a woman has in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots, 39 Then the priest shall look, and behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh are darkish white, it is a freckled spot that grows in the skin. He is clean.

40 "And the man whose hair has fallen off his head, he is bald. He is clean. 41 And he who has his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead-bald. He is clean. 42 And if there is in the bald head or bald forehead a white reddish sore, it is a leprosy sprung up on his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look upon it, and behold, if the rising of the sore is white reddish on his bald head, or on his bald forehead, as the leprosy appears in the skin of the flesh, 44 He is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean. His plague is in his head.

45 "And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip and shall cry, 'Unclean, unclean.' 46 All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be defiled. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

47 "Also the garment that the plague of leprosy is in, whether a woolen garment or a linen garment, 48 Whether in the warp or woof of linen or of woolen, whether in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 And if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the skin, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is a plague of leprosy and shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague and shut up that which has the plague seven days. 51 And he shall look at the plague on the seventh day. If the plague is spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in a skin or in any work that is made of skin, the plague is a fretting leprosy, it is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof in woolen or in linen, or anything of skin, in which the plague is, for it is a fretting leprosy. It shall be burnt in the fire.

53 "And if the priest looks, and behold, the plague is not spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything of skin, 54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which the plague is and he shall shut it up seven more days. 55 And the priest shall look at the plague after it is washed, and behold, if the plague has not changed its color, even though the plague has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire. It is a fret, whether it is bare inside or outside.

56 "And if the priest looks, and behold, the plague is somewhat dark after its washing, then he shall rend it out of the garment, out of the skin, out of the warp, or out of the woof. 57 And if it appears still in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is a spreading plague. You shall burn that in which the plague is with fire. 58 And the garment, either warp or woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed a second time and shall be clean."

59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woolen or linen, either in the warp or woof, or anything of skins, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.

Chapter 14

The rites and sacrifices in cleansing the leper, 1-32. The signs of leprosy in a house, 33-47. The cleansing of that house, 48-57.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp and the priest shall look, and behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 Then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, cedar-wood, scarlet, and hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar-wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times and shall pronounce him clean, and shall release the living bird into the open field. 8 And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water so that he may be clean. And after that he shall come into the camp and shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head, his beard, and his eye-brows, even all his hair he shall shave off. And he shall wash his clothes and also he shall wash his flesh in water and he shall be clean.

10 "And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish, three tenth-parts of fine flour for a food-offering mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest who makes him clean shall present the man who is to be made clean and those things before the LORD at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 12 And the priest shall take one male lamb and offer him for a trespass-offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 13 And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he kills the sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the holy-place. As the sin-offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass-offering. It is most holy. 14 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand, the priest shall put upon the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass-offering. 18 And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him who is to be cleansed. And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin-offering and make an atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness, and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the food-offering upon the altar. And the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

21 "And if he is poor and cannot afford these things, then he shall take one lamb for a trespass-offering to be waved to make an atonement for him, one tenth-part of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering, a log of oil, 22 And two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford, and one shall be a sin-offering and the other a burnt-offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing to the priest to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass-offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass-offering and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 26 And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand. 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD. 28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass-offering. 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put upon the head of him who is to be cleansed to make an atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can afford, 31 Even such as he is able to afford, one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering, with the food-offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for him who is to be cleansed before the LORD. 32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to afford that which pertains to his cleansing."

33 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 34 "When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession, 35 And he who owns the house comes and tells the priest, saying, 'It seems to me there is something like a plague in the house,' 36 The priest shall command that they empty the house before the priest enters to see the plague so that all that is in the house may not be made unclean. And afterward the priest shall go in to see the house. 37 And he shall look at the plague, and behold, if the plague is in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall, 38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house and shut the house up seven days. 39 And the priest shall come back the seventh day and shall look, and behold, if the plague is spread in the walls of the house, 40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place outside the city. 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside on all sides, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off outside the city into an unclean place. 42 And they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and shall plaster the house.

43 "And if the plague returns and breaks out in the house after he has taken away the stones, after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered, 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and behold, if the plague is spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house. It is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, its stones, its timber, and all the mortar of the house, and he shall carry them forth out of the city to an unclean place. 46 Moreover, he who goes into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening. 47 And he who lies in the house shall wash his clothes. And he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.

48 "And if the priest comes in and looks upon it, and behold, the plague has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, cedar-wood, scarlet, and hyssop. 50 And he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water, 51 And he shall take the cedar-wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird and dip them in the blood of the slain bird and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar-wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet. 53 But he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open fields and make an atonement for the house. And it shall be clean."

54 This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy and itch, 55 And for the leprosy of a garment and of a house, 56 And for a rising, for a scab, and for a bright spot, 57 To teach when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.

Chapter 15

The uncleanness of men in their issues, 1-12. The cleansing of them, 13-18. The uncleanness of women in their issues, 19-27. Their cleansing, 28-33.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When any man has a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh shall run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed on which he lies who has the issue is unclean. And everything on which he sits shall be unclean. 5 And whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 6 And he who sits on anything on which he sat who has the issue shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 7 And he who touches the flesh of him who has the issue shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 8 And if he who has the issue spits upon him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 9 And whatever saddle he rides upon that has the issue shall be unclean. 10 And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. And he who bears any of those things shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 11 And whomever he touches who has the issue (and has not rinsed his hands in water), he [who was touched] shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 12 And the vessel of earth that he who has the issue touches shall be broken, and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

13 'And when he who has an issue is cleansed of his issue, he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and give them to the priest. 15 And the priest shall offer them, one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.

16 'And if any man’s seed of copulation shall go from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water and be unclean until the evening. 17 And every garment and every skin on which is the seed of copulation shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening. 18 The woman also with whom a man lies with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening.

19 'And if a woman has an issue, and her issue in her flesh is blood, she shall be put apart seven days. And whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. 20 And everything that she lies upon in her separation shall be unclean. Everything that she sits upon shall also be unclean. 21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 22 And whoever touches anything that she sat upon shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 23 And if it is on her bed or on anything on which she sits when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening. 24 And if any man lies with her at all, and her flowers are upon him, he shall be unclean seven days. And every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.

25 'And if a woman has an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it runs beyond the time of her separation, all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation. She shall be unclean. 26 Every bed on which she lies all the days of her issue shall be to her as the bed of her separation. And whatever she sits upon shall be unclean as the uncleanness of her separation. 27 And whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. 28 But if she is cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 30 And the priest shall offer one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.'

31 "Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness so that they do not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them." 32 This is the law of him who has an issue and of him whose seed goes from him, and he is defiled thereby, 33 And of her who is unwell with her flowers, and of him who has an issue, of the man and of the woman, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

Chapter 16

How the high priest must enter into the holy place, 1-10. The sin offering for himself, 11-14. The sin offering for the people, 15-19. The scape-goat, 20-28. The yearly feast of the expiations, 29-34.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered before the LORD and died. 2 And the LORD said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron your brother that he shall not come at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat. 3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bull for a sin-offering and a ram for a burnt-offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and have the linen breeches upon his body, and he shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen miter he shall be attired. These are holy garments; therefore, he shall wash his flesh in water and put them on in this manner. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin-offering and one ram for a burnt-offering. 6 And Aaron shall offer his bull of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself and for his house. 7 And he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scape-goat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell and offer him for a sin-offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scape-goat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make an atonement with him and to let him go for a scape-goat into the wilderness.

11 "And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin-offering which is for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of the incense shall cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testimony so that he will not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy-seat eastward. And before the mercy-seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin-offering that is for the people and bring his blood within the veil. And he shall do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat and before the mercy-seat. 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins. And he shall do likewise for the Tabernacle of the Congregation that remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 And there shall be no man in the Tabernacle of the Congregation when he goes in to make an atonement in the holy place until he comes out and has made an atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make an atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat and put it upon the horns of the altar all around. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

20 "And when he has made an end of reconciling the holy place, the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities to a land not inhabited. And he shall let the goat go in the wilderness.

23 "And Aaron shall come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the holy place and leave them there. 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, put on his garments, come forth, offer his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin-offering he shall burn upon the altar. 26 And he who let the goat go for the scape-goat shall wash his clothes, bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. 27 And the bull for the sin-offering and the goat for the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, someone shall carry forth outside the camp and they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes, bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

29 "And this shall be a statute forever to you, that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger who sojourns among you. 30 For on that day the priest shall make an atonement for you to cleanse you so that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls by a statute forever. 32 And the priest whom he anoints and whom he consecrates to minister in the priest’s office in his father’s stead shall make the atonement and put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments. 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary and shall make an atonement for the Tabernacle of the Congregation and for the altar. And he shall make an atonement for the priests and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute to you to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year." And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Chapter 17

The blood of all slain beasts must be offered to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle, 1-6. They must not offer to idols, 7-9. All eating of blood is forbidden, 10-14; and of all that dies by itself or is torn, 15, 16.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons and to all the children of Israel and say to them, 'This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying, 3 "Whatever man there may be of the house of Israel who kills an ox, lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it out of the camp, 4 And does not bring it to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation to offer an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD, blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is so that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they offer in the open field, even so that they may bring them to the LORD, to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to the priest, and offer them for peace-offerings to the LORD. 6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and burn the fat for a sweet savor to the LORD. 7 And they shall no longer offer their sacrifices to idols, with which they have committed idolatry. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations."'

8 "And you shall say to them, 'Whatever man there may be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, who offers a burnt-offering or sacrifice, 9 And does not bring it to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation to offer it to the LORD, even that man shall be cut off from among his people.

10 'And whatever man there may be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among you, who eats any manner of blood, I will even set my face against that soul who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.' 12 Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, 'No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.' 13 And whatever man there may be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among you, who hunts and catches any beast or bird that may be eaten, he shall even pour out its blood and cover it with dust.

14 "For it is the life of all flesh, its blood is for its life; therefore, I said to the children of Israel, 'You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood.' Whoever eats it shall be cut off. 15 And every soul who eats that which died of itself or that which was torn by beasts (whether it is someone of your own country, or a stranger), he shall both wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Then he shall be clean. 16 But if he does not wash them, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity."

Chapter 18

Unlawful marriages and unlawful lusts, 1-30.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt in which you dwelt, you shall not do, and after the doings of the land of Canaan where I bring you, you shall not do, neither shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall perform my judgments and keep my ordinances to walk in them. I am the LORD your God. 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am the LORD.

6 'None of you shall approach any who is near of kin to him to uncover their nakedness. I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother, you shall not uncover. She is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover. It is your father’s nakedness. 9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father or daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad, even their nakedness you shall not uncover. 10 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness you shall not uncover, for theirs is your own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father (she is your sister), you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister. She is your father’s near kinswoman. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s near kinswoman. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shall you take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness, for they are her near kinswomen. It is wickedness. 18 Neither shall you take a wife in addition to her sister as a rival, to uncover her nakedness in opposition to her in her life-time.

19 'Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness. 20 Moreover, you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife to defile yourself with her. 21 And you shall not let any of your children pass through the fire to Molech, neither shall you profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. 22 You shall not lie with mankind as with womankind. It is an abomination. 23 You shall not lie with any beast to defile yourself therewith, neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto. It is a perversion.

24 'Do not defile yourselves in any of these things. For in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you, 25 And the land is defiled; therefore, I visit its iniquity upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments and shall not commit any of these abominations, neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger who sojourns among you 27 (For all these abominations the men of the land have done who were before you, and the land is defiled), 28 So that the land may not vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, even the souls who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore, you shall keep my ordinance so that you do not commit any one of these abominable customs which were committed before you and that you do not defile yourselves in them. I am the LORD your God.'"

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Galatians 3:12. [v.7]: Quoted in Romans 10:5.

Chapter 19

A repetition of various laws, 1-37.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. 3 You shall each fear his mother and his father and keep my sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. 4 Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.

5 'And if you offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings to the LORD, you shall offer it at your own will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it and on the next day. And if anything remains until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. 7 And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable. It shall not be accepted. 8 Therefore, everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity because he has profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD. And that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

9 'And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather every grape of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and stranger. I am the LORD your God.

11 'You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shall you profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

13 'You shall not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not abide with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but shall fear your God. I am the LORD.

15 'You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. You shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty, but in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go up and down as a gossiper among your people, neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall certainly rebuke your neighbor and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

19 'You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle engender with a diverse kind. You shall not sow your field with mingled seed, neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon you.

20 'And whoever lies carnally with a woman who is a servant betrothed to a husband and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given to her, she shall be scourged. They shall not be put to death because she was not free. 21 And he shall bring his trespass-offering to the LORD to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, even a ram for a trespass-offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering before the LORD for his sin which he has done. And the sin which he has done shall be forgiven.

23 'And when you come into the land and have planted all manner of trees for food, then you shall count its fruit as uncircumcised. Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten of. 24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy to praise the LORD with. 25 And in the fifth year you shall eat of its fruit so that it may yield its increase to you. I am the LORD your God.

26 'You shall not eat anything with the blood. You shall not use enchantment, nor observe times. 27 You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you. I am the LORD.

29 'Do not profane your daughter to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land should fall to lewdness and the land become full of wickedness. 30 You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the LORD.

31 'Do not regard those who have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

32 'You shall rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man, and fear your God. I am the LORD.

33 'And if a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not oppress him. 34 But the stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

35 'You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity. 36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin you shall have. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Therefore, you shall observe all my statutes and all my judgments and do them. I am the LORD.'"

References

[v.13]: Quoted in Mark 10:19. [v.18]: Quoted in Matthew 5:43, 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8.

Chapter 20

Of him who gives his children to Moloch, 1-3. Of him who favors such a one, 4, 5. Of going to wizards, 6. Of sanctification, 7, 8. Of him who curses his parents, 9. Of adultery, 10. Of incest, 11, 12. Of sodomy, 13, 14. Of bestiality, 15-17. Of uncleanness, 18-21. Obedience is required with holiness, 22-26. Wizards must be put to death, 27.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Again you shall say to the children of Israel, 'Any man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who gives any of his children to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 And I will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he has given his children to Molech to defile my sanctuary and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land at all hide their eyes from the man when he gives his children to Molech and do not kill him, 5 Then I will set my face against that man and against his family and will cut him off and all who go astray after him to commit lewdness with Molech from among their people.

6 'And the soul who turns after those who have familiar spirits and after wizards to go astray after them, I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people. 7 Sanctify yourselves therefore and be holy. For I am the LORD your God. 8 And you shall keep my statutes and do them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

9 'For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.

10 'And the man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. 11 And the man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 12 And if a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed a perversion. Their blood shall be upon them. 13 If a man also lies with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 14 And if a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burnt with fire—both he and they—so that there is no wickedness among you. 15 And if a man lies with a beast, he shall surely be put to death. And you shall slay the beast. 16 And if a woman approaches any beast and lies down thereto, you shall kill the woman and the beast. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

17 'And if a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing, and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity. 18 And if a man lies with a woman having her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has discovered her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood, and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 19 And you shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, nor of your father’s sister, for he uncovers his near kin. They shall bear their iniquity. 20 And if a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless. 21 And if a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless.

22 'You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my judgments and do them so that the land where I bring you to dwell therein may not vomit you out. 23 And you shall not walk in the manners of the nations which I cast out before you, for they committed all these things, and therefore, I abhorred them. 24 But I have said to you, "You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land that flows with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who have separated you from other people. 25 You shall therefore distinguish between clean beasts and unclean and between unclean birds and clean. And you shall not make your souls abominable by beast or by bird, or by any manner of living animal that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26 And you shall be holy to me, for I, the LORD, am holy and have severed you from other people so that you should be mine.

27 'Also a man or a woman who has a familiar spirit, or who is a wizard, shall surely be put to death. They shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.'"

References

[v.9]: Reference, Matthew 15:4; Mark 7:10.

Chapter 21

Of the priests' mourning, 1-5. Of their holiness, 6. Of their marriages, 7. Of their estimation, 8. Of the priest’s daughter convicted of lewdness, 9. Of the high priest’s holiness, 10-12. Of his marriage, 13-15. The priests who have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary, 16-24.

1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, 'No one shall be defiled for the dead among his people, 2 But for his kin who are near to him, for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother, 3 And for his sister, a virgin, who is near to him and has had no husband—for her he may be defiled. 4 But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. 5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire and the bread of their God; therefore, they shall be holy. 7 They shall not take a wife who is a lewd woman, or profane, neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband, for he is holy to his God. 8 You shall sanctify him therefore, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you. For I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy. 9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by lewdness, she profanes her father. She shall be burnt with fire.

10 'And he who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes, 11 Neither shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself for his father or for his mother, 12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am the LORD. 13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 A widow, a divorced woman, profane, or a harlot, these he shall not take, but he shall take a virgin of his own people for a wife, 15 Neither shall he profane his offspring among his people. For I, the LORD, sanctify him.'"

16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "Speak to Aaron, saying, 'Whoever he may be of your offspring in their generations who has any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatever man he may be who has a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or anything superfluous, 19 Or a man who is broken-footed, broken-handed, 20 Crooked-backed, a dwarf, who has a blemish in his eye, has scurvy, is scabbed, or has his peculiar members broken. 21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire. He has a blemish. He shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. 22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy. 23 Only he shall not go in to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish, so that he may not profane my sanctuaries. For I, the LORD, sanctify them.'" 24 And Moses told it to Aaron and to his sons and to all the children of Israel.

Chapter 22

The priests in their uncleanness must abstain from the holy things, 1-5. How they shall be cleansed, 6-9. Who of the priest’s house may eat of the holy things, 10-16. The sacrifices must be without blemish, 17-25. The age of the sacrifice, 26-28. The law of eating the sacrifice of thanksgiving, 29-33.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel and that they do not profane my holy name in those things which they hallow to me. I am the LORD. 3 Say to them, 'Any man of all your posterity among your generations who approaches the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow to the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD. 4 If any man of the offspring of Aaron is a leper or has a running issue, he shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. And whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him, 5 Or whoever touches any creeping animal, by which he may be made unclean, or a man by whom he may become unclean, whatever uncleanness he has, 6 The soul which has touched any of these shall be unclean until evening and shall not eat of the holy things unless he washes his flesh with water. 7 And when the sun is set, he shall be clean and shall afterward eat of the holy things, because it is his food. 8 That which dies of itself or is torn by beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself with it. I am the LORD. 9 They shall therefore keep my ordinance, lest they bear sin for it and die therein, if they profane it. I, the LORD, sanctify them.

10 'There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing. A sojourner of the priest or a hired servant shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if the priest buys any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and also he who is born in his house, they shall eat of his food. 12 If the priest’s daughter also is married to a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things. 13 But if the priest’s daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child and has returned to her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s food, but no stranger shall eat of it. 14 And if a man eats of the holy thing unknowingly, then he shall add to it a fifth part and shall give it to the priest with the holy thing. 15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel which they offer to the LORD, 16 Or allow them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things. For I, the LORD, sanctify them.'"

17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons and to all the children of Israel and say to them, 'Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, who will offer his oblation for all his vows and for all his voluntary-offerings, which they will offer to the LORD for a burnt-offering, 19 You shall offer at your own will a male without blemish of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But whatever has a blemish, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of peace-offerings to the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a voluntary-offering in bulls or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted. There shall be no blemish in it. 22 Blind, broken, maimed, having a wen, scurvy, or scabbed, you shall not offer these to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar to the LORD. 23 Either a bull or a lamb that has anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a voluntary-offering, but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 You shall not offer to the LORD that which is bruised, crushed, broken, or cut, neither shall you make any offering thereof in your land, 25 Neither from a stranger’s hand shall you offer the bread of your God of any of these, because their corruption is in them and blemishes are in them. They shall not be accepted for you.'"

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 27 "When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is brought forth, it shall remain seven days with its mother. And from the eighth day and thereafter it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 And whether it is cow, or ewe, you shall not kill it and her young both in one day. 29 And when you will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it at your own will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten up. You shall leave none of it until the next day. I am the LORD. 31 Therefore, you shall keep my commandments and do them. I am the LORD.

32 "You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who hallows you, 33 Who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD."

Chapter 23

The feasts of the Lord, 1, 2. The sabbath, 3. The passover, 4-8. The sheaf of first-fruits, 9-14. The feast of Pentecost, 15-21. Gleanings to be left for the poor, 22. The feast of trumpets, 23-25. The day of atonement, 26-32. The feast of tabernacles, 33-44.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'Concerning the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

3 'Six days work shall be done, but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

4 'These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at evening is the LORD’S passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD. Seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work on it. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation, you shall do no servile work on it.'"

9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I give to you and reap the harvest thereof, you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for you. On the next day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And you shall offer on the day when you wave the sheaf a male lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt-offering to the LORD. 13 And the food-offering thereof shall be two tenth-parts of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD for a sweet savor. And the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. 14 And you shall eat neither bread, parched grain, nor green ears until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

15 'And you shall count for yourselves from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave-offering, seven complete sabbaths. 16 Even to the next day after the seventh sabbath you shall number fifty days, and you shall offer a new food-offering to the LORD. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth-parts. They shall be of fine flour and they shall be baked with leaven. They are the first-fruits to the LORD. 18 And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bull and two rams. They shall be for a burnt-offering to the LORD, with their food-offering and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD. 19 Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin-offering and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace-offerings. 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 And you shall proclaim on the same day that it may be a holy convocation to you. You shall do no servile work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

22 'And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not make clean riddance of the corners of your field when you reap, neither shall you gather any gleaning of your harvest. You shall leave them to the poor and to the stranger. I am the LORD your God.'"

23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no servile work on it, but you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.'"

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 27 "Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict your souls and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is a day of atonement to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatever soul it may be who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatever soul it may be who does any work on that same day, the same soul I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be to you a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls on the ninth day of the month at evening. From evening to evening you shall celebrate your sabbath."

33 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work on it. 36 Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day there shall be a holy convocation to you and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly and you shall do no servile work on it.

37 'These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt-offering, a food-offering, a sacrifice, and drink-offerings, everything upon its day, 38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, beside your gifts, beside all your vows, and beside all your voluntary-offerings which you give to the LORD.

39 'Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days. On the first day there shall be a sabbath and on the eighth day there shall be a sabbath. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the boughs of beautiful trees, branches of palm-trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41 And you shall keep it a feast to the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths seven days. All who are natives of Israel shall dwell in booths, 43 So that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'" 44 And Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

Chapter 24

The oil for the lamps, 1-4. The show-bread, 5-9. Shelomith’s son blasphemes, 10-12. The law of blasphemy, 13-16. Of murder, 17. Of damage, 18-22. The blasphemer is stoned, 23.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, Aaron shall order it from the evening to the morning before the LORD continually. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. 4 You shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.

5 "And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two tenth-parts shall be in one cake. 6 And you shall set them in two rows, six in a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense upon each row so that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to the LORD. 8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons', and they shall eat it in the holy place, for it is most holy to him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute."

10 And the son of an Israelite woman whose father was an Egyptian went out among the children of Israel, and this son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp. 11 And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD and cursed. And they brought him to Moses (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan), 12 And they put him in custody so that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them.

13 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 14 "Bring forth him who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he who blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The stranger, as well as he who is born in the land, when he blasphemes the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.

17 'And he who kills any man shall surely be put to death. 18 And he who kills a beast shall make it good, beast for beast. 19 And if a man causes a blemish in his neighbor, as he has done, so it shall be done to him, 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has caused a blemish in a man, so it shall be done to him. 21 And he who kills a beast, he shall restore it. And he who kills a man, he shall be put to death. 22 You shall have one manner of law for the stranger as well as for someone of your own country. For I am the LORD your God.'"

23 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel that they should bring forth him who had cursed out of the camp and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.

References

[v.20]: Reference, Matthew 5:38.

Chapter 25

The sabbath of the seventh year, 1-7. The jubilee in the fiftieth year, 8-13. Of oppression, 14-17. A blessing of obedience, 18-22. The redemption of land, 23-28. Of houses, 29-34. Compassion to the poor, 35-38. The usage of servants, 39-46. The redemption of servants, 47-55.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses on mount Sinai, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall keep a sabbath to the LORD. 3 Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in the fruit thereof, 4 But in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of rest for the land, a sabbath for the LORD. You shall neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard. 5 That which grows of its own accord of your harvest, you shall not reap, neither gather the grapes of your vine undressed, for it is a year of rest for the land. 6 And the sabbath of the land shall be food for you—for you, for your man-servant, for your woman-servant, for your hired servant, for your stranger who sojourns with you, 7 For your cattle, and for the beasts that are in your land. All of its increase shall be food.

8 'And you shall number seven sabbaths of years to you, seven times seven years, so that the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the day of atonement you shall make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10 And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you, and you shall return every man to his possession and return every man to his family. 11 A jubilee that fiftieth year shall be to you. You shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of your vine undressed. 12 For it is the jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You shall eat its increase out of the field.

13 'In the year of this jubilee you shall return every man to his possession. 14 And if you sell anything to your neighbor or buy anything from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not oppress one another. 15 According to the number of years after the jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor and according to the number of years of the fruits he shall sell to you. 16 According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price and according to the fewness of years you shall diminish its price, for according to the number of the years of the fruits he sells to you. 17 You shall not therefore oppress one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the LORD your God.

18 'Therefore, you shall do my statutes, keep my judgments, and do them, and you shall dwell in the land in safety. 19 And the land shall yield her fruit, and you shall eat your fill and dwell in it in safety. 20 And if you say, "What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow nor gather in our increase," 21 Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. 22 And you shall sow the eighth year and eat of old fruit until the ninth year. Until its fruits come in you shall eat of the old store.

23 'The land shall not be sold forever, for the land is mine, for you are strangers and sojourners with me. 24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land.

25 'If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his possession, and if any of his kin comes to redeem it, then he shall redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man has no one to redeem it and he is able to redeem it, 27 Then let him count the years of its sale and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it so that he may return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him who has bought it until the year of jubilee. And in the jubilee it shall go out and he shall return to his possession.

29 'And if a man sells a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold. Within a full year he may redeem it. 30 And if it is not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established forever to him who bought it throughout his generations. It shall not go out in the jubilee. 31 But the houses of the villages which have no walls around them shall be counted as the fields of the country. They may be redeemed and they shall go out in the jubilee. 32 Nevertheless, the cities of the Levites and the houses of the cities of their possession, the Levites may redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchases from the Levites, then the house that was sold and the city of his possession shall go out in the year of jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold, for it is their perpetual possession.

35 'And if your brother becomes poor and falls in decay with you, then you shall relieve him as though he were a stranger or a sojourner and he shall live with you. 36 Take no interest from him or increase, but fear your God so that your brother may live with you. 37 You shall not give him your money upon interest, nor lend him your food for increase. 38 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

39 'And if your brother who dwells by you becomes poor and is sold to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. 40 But as a hired servant and as a sojourner he shall be with you and shall serve you until the year of jubilee. 41 And then he shall depart from you—both he and his children with him—and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers he shall return. 42 For they are my servants which I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him with rigor, but shall fear your God. 44 Both your men-servants and your women-servants which you may have shall be of the heathen who are around you. Of them you shall buy men-servants and women-servants. 45 Moreover, of the children of the strangers who sojourn among you, of them you shall buy, and of their families who are with you, which they begot in your land, and they shall be your possession. 46 And you shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you to inherit them for a possession. They shall be your servants forever. But over your brothers the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor.

47 'And if a sojourner or a stranger becomes rich by you, and your brother who dwells by him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner by you, or to the stock of the stranger’s family, 48 After he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him, 49 His uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him, anyone who is near of kin to him of his family may redeem him, or if he is able, he may redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he was sold to him to the year of jubilee, and the price of his sale shall be according to the number of years, according to the time of a hired servant it shall be with him. 51 If there are yet many years behind, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 And if there remain but few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according to his years he shall give him back the price of his redemption. 53 And as a yearly hired servant he shall be with him. And the other shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. 54 And if he is not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee—both he and his children with him. 55 For to me the children of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'"

Chapter 26

Of idolatry, 1. Religiousness, 2. A blessing to those who keep the commandments, 3-13. A curse to those who break them, 14-39. God promises to remember those who repent, 40-46.

1 "'You shall make for yourselves no idols nor engraved image, neither rear up for yourselves a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God. 2 You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the LORD. 3 If you walk in my statutes, keep my commandments, and do them, 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, 5 And your threshing shall reach to the vintage and the vintage shall reach to the sowing time, and you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land safely. 6 And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down and no one shall make you afraid. And I will rid the land of evil beasts, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase one hundred, and one hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight. And your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 For I will have respect to you, make you fruitful, multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10 And you shall eat old store and bring forth the old because of the new. 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you should not be their slaves, and I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you go upright.

14 'But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, 15 And if you despise my statutes or if your soul abhors my judgments so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you break my covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the fever that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 And I will set my face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. 18 And if you will not yet for all this listen to me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power. And I will make your heaven as iron and your earth as brass. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

21 'And if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. 22 I will also send wild beasts among you which shall rob you of your children, destroy your cattle, and make you few in number. And your high-ways shall be desolate.

23 'And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me, 24 Then I will also walk contrary to you and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant. And when you are gathered within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied.

27 'And if you will not for all this listen to me, but walk contrary to me, 28 Then I will walk contrary to you also in fury, and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And you shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters you shall eat. 30 And I will destroy your high places, cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen and will draw out a sword after you, and your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.

34 'Then the land shall enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land. Even then the land shall rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate, it shall rest, because it did not rest in your sabbaths when you dwelt upon it. 36 And upon those who are left alive of you, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. And the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them, and they shall flee as fleeing from a sword, and they shall fall when no one pursues. 37 And they shall fall one upon another, as before a sword, when no one pursues. And you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And you shall perish among the heathen and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And those who are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands, and also in the iniquities of their fathers they shall pine away with them.

40 'If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that they also have walked contrary to me, 41 And that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies, if then their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity, 42 Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham I will remember, and I will remember the land. 43 The land shall also be left by them and shall enjoy her sabbaths while she lies desolate without them. And they shall accept the punishment of their iniquity because they despised my judgments and their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly and to break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, to be their God. I am the LORD.'"

46 These are the statutes, judgments, and laws which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel on mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

Chapter 27

He who makes a singular vow must be the Lord’s, 1, 2. The estimation of the person, 3-8; of a beast given by vow, 9-13; of a house, 14, 15; of a field and the redemption thereof, 16-27. No devoted thing may be redeemed, 28, 29. The tithe may not be changed, 30-34.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When a man makes a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by your estimation. 3 And your estimation shall be, of the male from twenty years old even to sixty years old, even your estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 And if it is a female, then your estimation shall be thirty shekels. 5 And if it is from five years old even to twenty years old, then your estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 6 And if it is from a month old even to five years old, then your estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female your estimation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 And if it is from sixty years old and above, if a male, then your estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 8 But if he is poorer than your estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him. According to the ability of him who vowed the priest shall value him.

9 'And if it is a beast of which men bring an offering to the LORD, all that any man gives of such to the LORD shall be holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor exchange it, a good for a bad or a bad for a good. And if he at all exchanges beast for beast, then it and its exchange shall be holy. 11 And if it is any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice to the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest, 12 And the priest shall value it, whether it is good or bad. As you value it, who are the priest, so it shall be. 13 But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part of it to your estimation.

14 'And when a man sanctifies his house to be holy to the LORD, the priest shall estimate it, whether it is good or bad. As the priest estimates it, so it shall stand. 15 And if he who sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your estimation to it and it shall be his.

16 'And if a man sanctifies to the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then your estimation shall be according to its seed. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. 17 If he sanctifies his field from the year of jubilee, according to your estimation it shall stand. 18 But if he sanctifies his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain, even to the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from your estimation. 19 And if he who sanctified the field will in any way redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your estimation to it and it shall be assured to him. 20 And if he will not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore. 21 But the field, when it goes out in the jubilee, shall be holy to the LORD as a field devoted. Its possession shall be the priest’s. 22 And if a man sanctifies to the LORD a field which he has bought, which is not of the fields of his possession, 23 Then the priest shall reckon to him the worth of your estimation, even to the year of the jubilee, and he shall give your estimation in that day, as a holy thing to the LORD. 24 In the year of the jubilee, the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land belonged. 25 And all your estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

26 'Only the first-born of the beasts, which should be the LORD’S first-born, no man shall sanctify it, whether ox or sheep. It is the LORD’S. 27 And if it is of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it, according to your estimation, and shall add to it a fifth part of it. Or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your estimation.

28 'But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the LORD of all that he has, both of man and beast and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed. Every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD. 29 No one devoted who is devoted by men shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death.

30 'And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S. It is holy to the LORD. 31 And if a man will at all redeem anything of his tithes, he shall add to it its fifth part. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock, even of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD. 33 He shall not search whether it is good or bad, neither shall he exchange it. And if he exchanges it at all, then both it and its exchange shall be holy. It shall not be redeemed.'"

34 These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on mount Sinai.

[Tanach reading: go to Numbers]

THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED NUMBERS

Chapter 1

God commands Moses to number the people, 1-4. The princes of the tribes, 5-16. The number of every tribe, 17-46. The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord, 47-54.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel after their families by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their poll. 3 From twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe. Each is a head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men who shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; 6 Of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; 7 Of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; 8 Of Issachar, Nethaneel the son of Zuar; 9 Of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; 10 Of the children of Joseph, of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; 11 Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; 12 Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; 13 Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran; 14 Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; 15 Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan. 16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel."

17 And Moses and Aaron took these men who are expressed by their names. 18 And they assembled all the congregation on the first day of the second month and declared their ancestry after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. 19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 21 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand and five hundred.

22 Of the children of Simeon—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those who were numbered of them according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 23 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand and three hundred.

24 Of the children of Gad—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 25 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26 Of the children of Judah—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 27 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were seventy-four thousand and six hundred.

28 Of the children of Issachar—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 29 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand and four hundred.

30 Of the children of Zebulun—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 31 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty-seven thousand and four hundred.

32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 33 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

34 Of the children of Manasseh—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 35 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand and two hundred.

36 Of the children of Benjamin—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 37 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand and four hundred.

38 Of the children of Dan—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 39 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand and seven hundred.

40 Of the children of Asher—by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 41 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand and five hundred.

42 Of the children of Naphtali—throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war— 43 Those who were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand and four hundred.

44 These are those who were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men. Each one was for the house of his fathers. 45 Thus all those who were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war in Israel, 46 Even all those who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

47 But the Levites, after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them. 48 For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying, 49 "Only you shall not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel. 50 But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, over all its vessels, and over all things that belong to it. They shall bear the tabernacle and all its vessels, and they shall minister to it and encamp around the tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle moves forward, the Levites shall take it down. And when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 52 And the children of Israel shall each pitch their tents by his own camp and each by his own standard throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch around the tabernacle of testimony so that there may be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel. And the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony." 54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. And they did so.

Chapter 2

The order of the tribes in their tents, 1-34.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard with the ensign of their father’s house. Far off around the Tabernacle of the Congregation they shall pitch. 3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the camp of Judah shall pitch throughout their armies, and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. 4 And his host and those who were numbered of them were seventy-four thousand and six hundred. 5 And those who shall pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6 And his host and those who were numbered of it were fifty-four thousand and four hundred. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun, and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. 8 And his host and those who were numbered of it were fifty-seven thousand and four hundred. 9 All who were numbered in the camp of Judah were one hundred and eighty-six thousand and four hundred throughout their armies. These shall first move forward.

10 "On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies, and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11 And his host and those who were numbered of it were forty-six thousand and five hundred. 12 And those who pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 And his host and those who were numbered of them were fifty-nine thousand and three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad, and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15 And his host and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. 16 All who were numbered in the camp of Reuben were one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty throughout their armies. And they shall move forward in the second rank.

17 "Then the Tabernacle of the Congregation shall move forward with the camp of the Levites, in the midst of the camp. As they encamp, so they shall move forward, every man in his place by their standards.

18 "On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies, and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 And his host and those who were numbered of them were forty thousand and five hundred. 20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh, and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 And his host and those who were numbered of them were thirty-two thousand and two hundred. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And his host and those who were numbered of them were thirty-five thousand and four hundred. 24 All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred and eight thousand and one hundred throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

25 "The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies, and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his host and those who were numbered of them were sixty-two thousand and seven hundred. 27 And those who encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28 And his host and those who were numbered of them were forty-one thousand and five hundred. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 And his host and those who were numbered of them were fifty-three thousand and four hundred. 31 All those who were numbered in the camp of Dan were one hundred and fifty-seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards."

32 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers. All those who were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. 33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel as the LORD commanded Moses. 34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. So they pitched by their standards and so they moved forward, each after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Chapter 3

The sons of Aaron, 1-4. The Levites are given to the priests instead of the first-born, 5-13; and are numbered by their families, 14-20. The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites, 21-26; of the Kohathites, 27-32; of the Merarites, 33-37. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron, 38, 39. The first-born are freed by the Levites, 40-43. The surplus are redeemed, 44-51.

1 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses, in the day that the LORD spoke with Moses on mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the first-born, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. And Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest so that they may minister to him. 7 And they shall keep his charge and the charge of the whole congregation before the Tabernacle of the Congregation to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the charge of the children of Israel to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel. 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office. And the stranger who comes near shall be put to death."

11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites shall be mine, 13 Because all the first-born are mine. For on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I hallowed for myself all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be mine. I am the LORD."

14 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 "Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families. Every male from a month old and upward you shall number them." 16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.

21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites. These are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were numbered of them, were seven thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. 24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the Tabernacle of the Congregation shall be the tabernacle and the tent, its covering, the hanging for the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 26 The hangings of the court, the curtain for the door of the court which surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords, for all its service.

27 And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites. These are the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the males from a month old and upward were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge shall be the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, the hanging, and all its service. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites and have the oversight of those who keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34 And those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. 36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its vessels, all its service, 37 The pillars of the court all around, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.

38 But those who encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the Tabernacle of the Congregation eastward shall be Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel. And the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

40 And the LORD said to Moses, "Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel, from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 And you shall take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the first-born among the cattle of the children of Israel." 42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel. 43 And all the first-born males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.

44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine. I am the LORD. 46 And for those who are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy-three, of the first-born of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites, 47 You shall even take five shekels apiece by the poll. After the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs). 48 And you shall give to Aaron and to his sons the money with which the surplus of them is to be redeemed." 49 And Moses took the redemption-money of those who exceeded those who were redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the first-born of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels after the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses gave the money of those who were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Chapter 4

The age at which the Levites were to begin to serve and the duration of the service, 1-3. The duty of the Kohathites, 4-15. The charge of Eleazar, 16. The office of the priests, 17-20. The duty of the Gershonites, 21-28; of the Merarites, 29-33. The number of the Kohathites, 34-37; of the Gershonites, 38-41; and of the Merarites, 42-49.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 3 From thirty years old and upward, even until fifty years old, all who enter into the host to do the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Congregation: the most holy things.

5 "And when the camp moves forward, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of testimony with it, 6 And shall put on it the covering of badgers' skins, spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and put in its staffs. 7 And upon the table of show-bread they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and covers to cover with. And the continual bread shall be upon it. 8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins and put in its staffs. 9 And they shall take a cloth of blue and cover the candlestick of the light, its lamps, its tongs, its snuff-dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it. 10 And they shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of badgers' skins and put it upon a bar. 11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and put to it its staffs. 12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and put them on a bar. 13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth upon it. 14 And they shall put upon it all its vessels, with which they minister there, even the censers, the flesh-hooks, the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar, and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins and put to it its staffs. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary and all the vessels of the sanctuary as the camp is to move forward, after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it, but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

16 "And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertain the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily food-offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, in the sanctuary, and in its vessels."

17 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 "Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites, 19 But do thus to them so that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his service and to his burden, 20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die."

21 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 22 "Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon throughout the house of their fathers, by their families. 23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old you shall number them, all who enter in to perform the service to do the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites to serve and for burdens: 25 They shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, its covering, the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, the hanging for the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 26 The hangings of the court, the hanging for the door of the gate of the court which surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, their cords, all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them. Thus they shall serve. 27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service. And you shall appoint to them in charge all their burdens. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29 "As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them after their families, by the house of their fathers. 30 From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old you shall number them, everyone who enters into the service to do the work of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 31 And this is the charge of their burden according to all their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 The pillars of the court all around and their sockets, their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments and with all their service. And by name you shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari according to all their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."

34 And Moses, Aaron, and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families and after the house of their fathers, 35 From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters into the service for the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 36 And those who were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were those who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who might do service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

38 And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon throughout their families and by the house of their fathers, 39 From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters into the service for the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 40 Even those who were numbered of them throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand six hundred and thirty. 41 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all who might do service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD.

42 And those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 43 From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters into the service for the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 44 Even those who were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

46 All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families and after the house of their fathers, 47 From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who came to do the service of the ministry and the service of the burden in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 48 Even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred and eighty. 49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, each according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Chapter 5

The unclean are removed from the camp, 1-4. Restitution is to be made in trespass, 5-10. The trial of jealousy, 11-31.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has an issue, and whoever is defiled by the dead. 3 Both male and female you shall put out. Outside the camp you shall put them so that they do not defile their camps, in the midst of which I dwell." 4 And the children of Israel did so and put them out outside the camp. As the LORD spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did.

5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Speak to the children of Israel, 'When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person is guilty, 7 They shall confess their sin which they have done. And he shall recompense his trespass with its principal and add to it its fifth part and give it to him against whom he has trespassed. 8 But if the man has no kinsman to recompense the trespass to, let the trespass be recompensed to the LORD, even to the priest, besides the ram of the atonement, by which an atonement is made for him. 9 And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel which they bring to the priest shall be his. 10 And every man’s hallowed things shall be his. Whatever any man gives to the priest, it shall be his.'"

11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'If any man’s wife goes astray and commits a trespass against him, 13 And a man lies with her carnally, and it is hid from the eyes of her husband and is kept close, and she is defiled and there is no witness against her, neither is she taken with the manner, 14 And the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous of his wife and she is defiled, or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous of his wife and she is not defiled, 15 Then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley-meal. He shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense upon it, for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

16 'And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the LORD. 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy-offering. And the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causes the curse. 19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath and say to the woman, "If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of your husband, be free from this bitter water that causes the curse. 20 But if you have gone aside to another instead of your husband, and if you are defiled and some man has lain with you besides your husband"— 21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing and the priest shall say to the woman—"May the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people when the LORD causes your thigh to perish and your belly to swell. 22 And this water that causes the curse shall go into your bowels to cause your belly to swell and your thigh to perish." And the woman shall say, "Amen, amen."

23 'And the priest shall write these curses in a book and he shall blot them out with the bitter water. 24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causes the curse. And the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter. 25 Then the priest shall take the jealousy-offering out of the woman’s hand and shall wave the offering before the LORD and offer it upon the altar. 26 And the priest shall take a handful of the offering, even its memorial, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water. 27 And when he has made her to drink the water, it shall come to pass, that if she is defiled and has done trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter, and her belly shall swell and her thigh shall perish, and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman is not defiled, but is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.

29 'This is the law of jealousies when a wife goes astray to another instead of her husband and is defiled, 30 Or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he is jealous over his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 Then the man shall be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.'"

Chapter 6

The law of the Nazarite in the days of his separation, 1-12; and after their completion, 13-21. The form of blessing the people, 22-27.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When either man or woman separates themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves to the LORD, 3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink and shall drink no vinegar of wine or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist or dried grapes. 4 All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the vine-tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

5 'All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head. Until the days are fulfilled in which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

6 'All the days that he separates himself to the LORD, he shall come near to no dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister when they die because the consecration of his God is upon his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.

9 'And if any man dies very suddenly by him and he has defiled the head of his consecration, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day he shall shave it. 10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtle-doves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 11 And the priest shall offer one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering, and make an atonement for him, for he sinned by the dead and shall hallow his head that same day. 12 And he shall consecrate to the LORD the days of his separation and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass-offering. But the days that were before shall be lost because his separation was defiled.

13 'And this is the law of the Nazarite when the days of his separation are fulfilled. He shall be brought to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 14 And he shall offer his offering to the LORD: one male lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt-offering, one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin-offering, one ram without blemish for peace-offerings, 15 A basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their food-offering and their drink-offerings. 16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD and offer his sin-offering and his burnt-offering. 17 And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings to the LORD with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall also offer his food-offering and his drink-offering. 18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and take the hair of the head of his separation and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace-offerings. 19 And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer and put them upon the hands of the Nazarite after the hair of his separation is shaved. 20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the LORD. This is the holy portion for the priest, with the wave-breast and heave-shoulder. And after that, the Nazarite may drink wine.'

21 "This is the law of the Nazarite who has vowed and of his offering to the LORD for his separation, besides that which his hand shall get. According to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation."

22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'In this way you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them,

24 "May the LORD bless you and keep you.

25 May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

26 May the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."'

27 "And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them."

Chapter 7

The offering of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle, 1-9. Their several offerings at the dedication of the altar, 10-88. God speaks to Moses from the mercy seat, 89.

1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, had anointed it, and sanctified it and all its instruments—both the altar and all its vessels—and had anointed them and sanctified them, 2 That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes and were over those who were numbered, offered. 3 And they brought their offering before the LORD: six covered wagons and twelve oxen—a wagon for two of the princes and for each one an ox. And they brought them before the tabernacle. 4 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 5 "Take it from them so that they may be used to perform the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and you shall give them to the Levites, to each according to his service." 6 And Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon according to their service. 8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

10 And the princes offered for dedicating the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, "They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar."

12 And he who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 14 One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense; 15 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 16 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 17 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, offered. 19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 20 One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense; 21 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 22 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 23 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, offered. 25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 26 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 27 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 28 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 29 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, offered. 31 His offering was one silver charger, of the weight of one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 32 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 33 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 34 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 35 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, offered. 37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 38 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 39 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 40 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 41 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered. 43 His offering was one silver charger, of the weight of one hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 44 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 45 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 46 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 47 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered. 49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 50 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 51 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 52 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 53 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh, offered. 55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 56 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 57 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 58 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 59 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered. 61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 62 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 63 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 64 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 65 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered. 67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 68 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 69 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 70 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 71 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered. 73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 74 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 75 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 76 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 77 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered. 79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a food-offering; 80 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 81 One young bull, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; 82 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 83 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication of the altar (in the day when it was anointed) by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold, 85 Each charger of silver weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy; all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; 86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the spoons was one hundred and twenty shekels; 87 All the oxen for the burnt-offering were twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their food-offering; and the kids of the goats for sin-offering, twelve; 88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace-offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after it was anointed.

89 And when Moses had entered into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to speak with him, he heard the voice of one speaking to him from off the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubim. And he spoke to him.

Chapter 8

How the lamps are to be lit, 1-4. The consecration of the Levites, 5-22. The age and time of their service, 23-26.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to Aaron and say to him, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.'" 3 And Aaron did so. He lit its lamps over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. 4 And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, to its shaft, to its flowers, was beaten work. According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the candlestick.

5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them. 7 And thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh and wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8 Then let them take a young bull with his food-offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bull you shall take for a sin-offering. 9 And you shall bring the Levites before the Tabernacle of the Congregation and you shall convene the whole assembly of the children of Israel. 10 And you shall bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites. 11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel so that they may execute the service of the LORD. 12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls. And you shall offer one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering to the LORD to make an atonement for the Levites. 13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons and offer them for an offering to the LORD.

14 "Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that the Levites shall go in to perform the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And you shall cleanse them and offer them for an offering, 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the children of Israel. Instead of those who open every womb, even instead of the first-born of all the children of Israel, I have taken them for myself, 17 For all the first born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast. On the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. 18 And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and to make an atonement for the children of Israel, so that there may be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near to the sanctuary."

20 And Moses, Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites according to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites. And the children of Israel did so to them. 21 And the Levites were purified and they washed their clothes. And Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD. And Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And after that the Levites went in to perform their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before Aaron and before his sons. As the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "This is that which belongs to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon its service and shall serve no more, 26 But shall minister with their brothers in the Tabernacle of the Congregation to keep the charge and shall do no service. Thus you shall do to the Levites concerning their charge."

Chapter 9

The passover is again commanded, 1-5. A second passover for the unclean or absent, 6-14. The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites, 15-23.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at its appointed season. 3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you shall keep it in its appointed season. According to all its rites and according to all its ceremonies, you shall keep it." 4 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel that they should keep the passover. 5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at evening in the wilderness of Sinai. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did. 6 And there were some men who were defiled by the dead body of a man and they could not keep the passover on that day. And they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day, 7 And those men said to him, "We are defiled by the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back so that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of Israel?" 8 And Moses said to them, "Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you."

9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'If any man of you or of your posterity is unclean by reason of a dead body, or is in a journey afar off, he shall still keep the passover to the LORD. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at evening, they shall keep it and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any bone of it. According to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean and is not in a journey and forbears to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people because he did not bring the offering of the LORD in its appointed season. That man shall bear his sin. 14 And if a stranger sojourns among you and wishes to keep the passover to the LORD, according to the ordinance of the passover and according to its manner so he shall do. You shall have one ordinance both for the stranger and for him who was born in the land.'"

15 And on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony. And at evening there was upon the tabernacle something like the appearance of fire until the morning. 16 Thus it always was: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel journeyed. And in the place where the cloud stayed, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. 18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed and at the commandment of the LORD they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. 19 And when the cloud remained upon the tabernacle many days, the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not journey. 20 And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle. Then according to the commandment of the LORD they stayed in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. 21 And sometimes the cloud stayed from evening until the morning. And when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed. Whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Or whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained upon the tabernacle, remaining upon it, the children of Israel stayed in their tents and did not journey. But when it was taken up, they journeyed. 23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. They kept the charge of the LORD at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

Chapter 10

The use of the silver trumpets, 1-10. The Israelites depart from Sinai to Paran, 11-13. The order of their march, 14-28. Hobab is entreated by Moses not to leave them, 29-32. The blessing of Moses at the moving and resting of the ark, 33-36.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Make for yourself two trumpets of silver. Of a whole piece you shall make them so that you may use them for the calling of the assembly and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And when they blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to you at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes who are heads of the thousands of Israel shall assemble themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 6 When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the congregation is to be convened, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets, and they shall be to you for an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 9 And if you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall blow an alarm with the trumpets, and you shall be remembered before the LORD your God and be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt-offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings so that they may be to you for a memorial before your God. I am the LORD your God."

11 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 14 In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies. And over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

17 And the tabernacle was taken down. And the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari moved forward, bearing the tabernacle. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben moved forward according to their armies. And over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

21 And the Kohathites moved forward, bearing the sanctuary, and the other set up the tabernacle before they came. 22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim moved forward according to their armies. And over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan moved forward, which was the rear-ward of all the camps throughout their hosts. And over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies when they moved forward.

29 And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’s father-in-law, "We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will do you good, for the LORD has spoken good concerning Israel." 30 And he said to him, "I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my kindred." 31 And he said, "Do not leave us, I pray you, because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 And it shall be, if you will go with us, indeed, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD does to us, the same we will do to you."

33 And they departed from the mountain of the LORD three days' journey. And the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey to seek a resting-place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day when they went out of the camp.

35 And it came to pass, when the ark moved forward, that Moses said, "Arise, LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you."

36 And when it rested, he said, "Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel."

Chapter 11

The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer, 1-3. The people lust for flesh and loathe manna, 4-9. Moses complains about his charge, 10-15. God promises to divide his burden to seventy elders and to give the people flesh for a month, 16-20. Moses' faith is staggered, 21-30. Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth-hattaavah, 31-35.

1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD. And the LORD heard it and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burnt among them and consumed those who were in the uttermost parts of the camp. 2 And the people cried to Moses. And when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched. 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

4 And the mixed multitude who was among them fell to lusting. And the children of Israel also wept again and said, "Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish which we ate in Egypt freely, and also the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our soul is dried away. There is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes."

7 And the manna was as coriander-seed and its color as the color of bdellium. 8 And the people went around and gathered it and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar and baked it in pans and made cakes of it. And its taste was as the taste of fresh oil. 9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each in the door of his tent. And the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was also displeased. 11 And Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you afflicted your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight that you lay the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? Have I begotten them that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nursing-father bears the nursing child, to the land which you swore to their fathers'? 13 From where should I get flesh to give to all this people? For they weep to me, saying, 'Give us flesh that we may eat.' 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if you deal thus with me, kill me, I pray you, out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness."

16 And the LORD said to Moses, "Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them, and bring them to the Tabernacle of the Congregation so that they may stand there with you. 17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit which is upon you and put it upon them. And they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you may not bear it yourself alone. 18 And say to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh, for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, "Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." Therefore, the LORD will give you flesh, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days, 20 But even a whole month until it comes out at your nostrils and it is loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come forth out of Egypt?"'" 21 And Moses said, "The people among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen, and you have said, 'I will give them flesh so that they may eat a whole month.' 22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them to suffice for them?" 23 And the LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD’S hand shortened? You shall see now whether my word shall come to pass for you, or not."

24 And Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and set them around the tabernacle. 25 And the LORD came down in a cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit who was upon him and gave it to the seventy elders. And it came to pass, that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied and did not cease.

26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad, and the Spirit rested upon them, and they were of those who were described, but did not go out to the tabernacle. And they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran there and told Moses, and said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, "My lord, Moses, forbid them." 29 And Moses said to him, "Do you envy for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’S people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them." 30 And Moses withdrew into the camp—he and the elders of Israel.

31 And there went forth a wind from the LORD and brought quails from the sea and let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side around the camp, and about two cubits high upon the face of the earth. 32 And the people stood up all that day, all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails. He who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them all abroad for themselves around the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah because there they buried the people who lusted. 35 And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah to Hazeroth and stayed at Hazeroth.

Chapter 12

God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron, 1-10. Miriam’s leprosy is healed at the prayer of Moses, 11-13. God commands her to be shut out of the host, 14, 15. The people encamp in the wilderness of Paran, 16.

1 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? Has he not spoken also by us?" And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek above all the men who were upon the face of the earth.) 4 And the LORD spoke suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the Tabernacle of the Congregation." And the three of them came out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forth.

6 And he said, "Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will make myself known to him in a vision and will speak to him in a dream.

7 "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house.

8 With him I will speak mouth to mouth, even apparently and not in dark speeches, and the similitude of the LORD he shall behold. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle, and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow. And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, "Alas, my lord, I implore you, do not lay the sin upon us in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 Do not let her be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed at the time of his birth." 13 And Moses cried to the LORD, saying, "Heal her now, O God, I implore you." 14 And the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received again." 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days. And the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in again.

16 And afterward the people departed from Hazeroth and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Hebrews 3:2, 5.

Chapter 13

The names of the men who were sent to search the land, 1-16. Their instructions, 17-20. Their acts, 21-25. Their relation, 26-33.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men so that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, each a ruler among them." 3 And Moses, by the commandment of the LORD, sent them from the wilderness of Paran. All those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur; 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh; 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph; 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun; 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu; 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi; 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manassah, Gaddi the son of Susi; 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli; 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael; 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi; 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to explore the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun, Jehoshua.

17 And Moses sent them to explore the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up this way southward and ascend the mountain, 18 And see the land, what it is, and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, few or many, 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad, and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in tents or in strongholds, 20 And what the land is, whether it is fertile or barren, whether there are trees in it or not. And be of good courage, and bring some of the fruit of the land." Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.

21 So they went up and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south and came to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23 And they came to the brook of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it between two upon a staff, and they brought some of the pomegranates and some of the figs. 24 The place was called the Brook of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from there.

25 And they returned from exploring the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh, and brought back word to them, and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him and said, "We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey. And this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless, the people are strong who dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great. And moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south. And the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the side of the Jordan."

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it." 31 But the men who went up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are." 32 And they brought an evil report of the land which they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, "The land through which we have passed to search it is a land that eats up its inhabitants. And all the people who we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim, and we were in our own sight as locusts, and we were likewise in their sight."

Chapter 14

The people murmur at the news, 1-5. Joshua and Caleb labor to still them, 6-10. God threatens them, 11, 12. Moses intercedes with God and obtains pardon, 13-25. The murmurers are debarred from entering into the land, 26-35. The men who raised the evil report die by a plague, 36-39. The people who would invade the land against the will of God are smitten, 40-45.

1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. And the whole congregation said to them, "O that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or O that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword so that our wives and our children should be plunder? Would it not be better for us to return into Egypt?" 4 And they said to one another, "Let us make a captain and let us return into Egypt."

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who searched the land, rent their clothes, 7 And they spoke to all the company of the children of Israel, saying, "The land which we passed through to search it is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense has departed from them and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." 10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before all the children of Israel.

11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be before they believe me for all the signs which I have shown among them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of you a greater and mightier nation than they are."

13 And Moses said to the LORD, "Then the Egyptians will hear it (for you brought up this people in your might from among them), 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land, for they have heard that you LORD are among this people, that you LORD are seen face to face, and that your cloud stands over them and that you go before them in a pillar of a cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, 16 'Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.' 17 And now, I implore you, let the power of my Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 18 'The LORD is patient and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation.' 19 Pardon, I implore you, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your mercy, as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now."

20 And the LORD said, "I have pardoned according to your word. 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 Because all those men who have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness and have tested me now these ten times and have not listened to my voice, 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who provoked me see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him and has followed me fully, I will bring him into the land into which he went, and his offspring shall possess it. 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn and pass into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea."

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against me. 28 Say to them, 'As truly as I live,' says the LORD, 'as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you. 29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all who were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me. 30 Doubtless you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones which you said should be plunder, I will bring them in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years and bear your lewd deeds until your carcasses are wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days (each day for a year) you shall bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise. 35 I, the LORD, have spoken. I will surely do it to all this evil congregation who are gathered against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.'"

36 And the men whom Moses sent to search the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing a slander upon the land, 37 Even those men who brought the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of the men who went to search the land, lived still.

39 And Moses told these sayings to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40 And they rose early in the morning and ascended to the top of the mountain, saying, "Behold, we are here and will go up to the place which the LORD has promised, for we have sinned." 41 And Moses said, "Why now do you transgress the commandment of the LORD? But it shall not prosper. 42 Do not go up, for the LORD is not among you, so that you are not smitten before your enemies. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you." 44 But they presumed to go up to the hill-top. Nevertheless, the ark of the covenant of the LORD and Moses did not depart out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill and smote them and completely defeated them, even to Hormah.

References

[v.16]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 10:5.

Chapter 15

The law of the meat offering and the drink offering, 1-13. The stranger is under the same law. 14-16. The law of the first of the dough for a heave offering. 17-21. The sacrifice for sins of ignorance, 22-29. The punishment of presumption, 30, 31. He who violated the sabbath is stoned, 32-36. The law of fringes, 37-41.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land of your habitations which I give to you, 3 And will make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt-offering, a sacrifice in performing a vow, in a voluntary-offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savor to the LORD, of the herd or of the flock, 4 Then he who offers his offering to the LORD shall bring a food-offering of a tenth part of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of oil. 5 And the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink-offering you shall prepare with the burnt-offering or sacrifice for one lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a food-offering two tenth parts of flour mingled with the third part of a hin of oil. 7 And for a drink-offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine for a sweet savor to the LORD. 8 And when you prepare a bull for a burnt-offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace-offerings to the LORD, 9 You shall bring with a bull a food-offering of three tenth parts of flour mingled with half a hin of oil. 10 And you shall bring for a drink-offering half a hin of wine for an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.

11 'Thus it shall be done for one bull, for one ram, for a lamb, or a kid. 12 According to the number that you prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number. 13 All who are born in the country shall do these things after this manner in offering an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.

14 'And if a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD, he shall do as you do. 15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation and also for the stranger who sojourns with you, an ordinance forever in your generations. As you are, so the stranger shall be before the LORD. 16 One law and one manner shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.'"

17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land where I bring you, 19 It shall be, that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a heave-offering to the LORD. 20 You shall offer a cake of the first of your dough for a heave-offering. As you do the heave-offering of the threshing-floor, so you shall heave it. 21 Of the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD a heave-offering in your generations.

22 'And if you have erred and not observed all these commandments which the LORD has spoken to Moses, 23 Even all that the LORD has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and from now on among your generations, 24 Then it shall be, if anything is committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt-offering for a sweet savor to the LORD, with his food-offering and his drink-offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering. 25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, for it is ignorance. And they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD, and their sin-offering before the LORD, for their ignorance. 26 And all the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, and also the stranger who sojourns among them, seeing all the people were in ignorance.

27 'And if any soul sins through ignorance, then he shall bring a female goat of the first year for a sin-offering. 28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul who sins ignorantly when he sins by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him. And he shall be forgiven. 29 You shall have one law for him who sins through ignorance, both for him who is born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. 30 But the soul who does anything presumptuously, whether he is born in the land or a stranger, the same reproaches the LORD, and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off. His iniquity shall be upon him.'"

32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man who gathered sticks upon the sabbath-day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. 34 And they put him in custody because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35 And the LORD said to Moses, "The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." 36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died, as the LORD commanded Moses.

37 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 38 "Speak to the children of Israel and bid them that they make themselves fringes on the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a thread of blue. 39 And it shall be to you for a fringe, so that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes after which you used to go astray, 40 And that you may remember and do all my commandments and be holy to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God."

Chapter 16

The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, 1-22. Moses separates the people from the rebel’s tents, 23-30. The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others, 31-35. The censers are reserved for holy use, 36-40. Fourteen thousand and seven hundred are slain by a plague for murmuring against Moses and Aaron, 41-45. Aaron by incense stays the plague, 46-50.

1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men, 2 And they rose up before Moses, with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown, 3 And they assembled themselves against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, seeing all the congregation are holy, each of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you raise yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?"

4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face, 5 And he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, "Even tomorrow the LORD will show who are his and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he has chosen he will cause to come near to him. 6 Do this: take for yourselves censers—Korah and all his company— 7 And put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow. And it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses, he shall be holy. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi."

8 And Moses said to Korah, "Hear, I pray you, you sons of Levi. 9 Does it seem but a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? 10 And he has brought you near to him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you, and you seek the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both you and all your company are assembled against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you murmur against him?"

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, who said, "We will not come up. 13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us out of a land that flows with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, but you also make yourself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up."

15 And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them." 16 And Moses said to Korah, "You and all your company go before the LORD—you, they, and Aaron—tomorrow, 17 And each take his censer and put incense in them, and each bring before the LORD his censer, two hundred and fifty censers—you and also Aaron, each his censer." 18 And they each took his censer, put fire in them, laid incense on them, and stood in the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 "Separate yourselves from among this congregation so that I may consume them in a moment." 22 And they fell upon their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?"

23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Withdraw yourselves from around the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'"

25 And Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram. And the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins." 27 So they withdrew from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents, along with their wives, their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they are visited after the visitation of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD makes a new thing, and the earth opens her mouth and swallows them up with all that appertains to them and they go down alive into the pit, then you shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD."

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them cleaved apart, 32 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, their houses, all the men who appertained to Korah, and all their goods. 33 They and all that appertained to them went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel who were round about them, fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also." 35 And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who offered incense.

36 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 37 "Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest that he take up the censers out of the burning, and you scatter the fire yonder, for they are hallowed. 38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them be made broad plates for a covering of the altar. Because they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed. And they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." 39 And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, with which those who were burnt had offered, and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar, 40 To be a memorial to the children of Israel, so that no stranger who is not of the offspring of Aaron should come near to offer incense before the LORD, so that he may not be as Korah and as his company, as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

41 But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD." 42 And it came to pass when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came before the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45 "Get away from among this congregation so that I may consume them as in a moment." And they fell upon their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from off the altar and put incense on it, and go quickly to the congregation and make an atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." 47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded and ran into the midst of the congregation, and behold, the plague had begun among the people. And he put incense on it and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed. 49 Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those who died on account of the matter with Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, for the plague had been stayed.

References

[v.5]: Quoted in 2nd Timothy 2:19.

Chapter 17

Aaron’s rod, among all the rods of the tribes, only flourishes, 1-9. It is left for a monument against the rebels, 10-13.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel and take from each of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods. Write every man’s name upon his rod. 3 And you shall write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi, for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. 4 And you shall lay them in the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the testimony where I will meet with you. 5 And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man whom I choose shall blossom. And I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, by which they murmur against you." 6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods. And the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses laid the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

8 And it came to pass, that on the next day Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had budded, and brought forth buds and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds. 9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel, and they looked, and each took his rod. 10 And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron’s rod back before the testimony to be kept for a token against the rebels, and you shall quite take away their murmurings from me so that they do not die." 11 And Moses did so. As the LORD commanded him, so he did.

12 And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. 13 Whoever approaches the tabernacle of the LORD shall die. Shall we be consumed with dying?"

Chapter 18

The charge of the priests and Levites, 1-7. The priests' portion, 8-20. The Levites' portion, 21-24. The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion, 25-32.

1 And the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary. And you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 And also your brothers of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring with you so that they may be joined to you and minister to you, but you and your sons with you shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. 3 And they shall keep your charge and the charge of all the tabernacle. Only they shall not come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar so that neither they, nor you also, die. 4 And they shall be joined to you and keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the Congregation for all the service of the tabernacle. And a stranger shall not come near you. 5 And you shall keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar so that there is no wrath anymore upon the children of Israel. 6 And I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel. To you they are given as a gift for the LORD to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 7 Therefore, you and your sons with you shall keep your priest’s office for everything of the altar and within the veil, and you shall serve. I have given your priest’s office to you as a service of gift. And the stranger who comes near shall be put to death."

8 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, "Behold, I also have given you the charge of my heave-offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel. To you I have given them by reason of the anointing and to your sons by an ordinance forever. 9 This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved from the fire. Every oblation of theirs, every food-offering of theirs, every sin-offering of theirs, and every trespass-offering of theirs which they shall render to me shall be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 In the most holy place you shall eat it. Every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you. 11 And this is yours: the heave-offering of their gift with all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel. I have given them to you, to your sons, and to your daughters with you by a statute forever. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 12 All the best of the oil, all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the first-fruits of them which they offer to the LORD, I have given them to you. 13 And whatever is first ripe in the land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 14 Everything devoted in Israel shall be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb in all flesh, which they bring to the LORD, whether of men or beast, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the first born of man you shall surely redeem and the first-born of unclean beasts you shall redeem. 16 And those who are to be redeemed from a month old you shall redeem, according to your estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. 17 But the first-born of a cow, the first-born of a sheep, or the first-born of a goat, you shall not redeem. They are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood upon the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire for a sweet savor to the LORD. 18 And their flesh shall be yours, as the wave-breast and as the right shoulder are yours. 19 All the heave-offerings of the holy things which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you, to your sons, and your daughters with you by a statute forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD to you and to your posterity with you." 20 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, "You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any part among them. I am your part and your inheritance among the children of Israel.

21 "And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve, even the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, 22 Neither must the children of Israel from now on come near the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest they bear sin and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. 24 But the tithes of the children of Israel which they offer as a heave-offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit. Therefore, I have said to them, 'Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.'"

25 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 26 "Thus speak to the Levites and say to them, 'When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, you shall offer up a heave-offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27 And this your heave-offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing-floor and as the fullness of the wine-press. 28 Thus you also shall offer a heave-offering to the LORD of all your tithes which you receive of the children of Israel. And from them you shall give the LORD’S heave-offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave-offering of the LORD, of all the best of it, even its hallowed part out of it.' 30 Therefore, you shall say to them, 'When you have heaved from it its best, it shall be counted to the Levites as the increase of the threshing-floor and as the increase of the wine-press. 31 And you shall eat it in every place—you and your households—for it is your reward for your service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 32 And you shall bear no sin by reason of it when you have heaved from it its best, neither shall you pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest you die.'"

Chapter 19

The water of separation made of the ashes of a red heifer, 1-10. The law for the use of it in purification of the unclean, 11-22.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel that they bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish and upon which never came a yoke. 3 And you shall give her to Eleazar the priest so that he may bring her forth outside the camp, and someone shall slay her before his face. 4 And Eleazar the priest shall take some of her blood with his finger and sprinkle some of her blood directly before the Tabernacle of the Congregation seven times. 5 And someone shall burn the heifer in his sight—her skin, her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, he shall burn. 6 And the priest shall take cedar-wood, hyssop, and scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the evening. 8 And he who burns her shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his flesh in water and be unclean until the evening. 9 And a man who is clean shall gather the ashes of the heifer and lay them outside the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation. It is a purification for sin. 10 And he who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And it shall be to the children of Israel and to the stranger who sojourns among them for a statute forever.

11 'He who touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. 12 He shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean. But if he does not purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. 13 Whoever touches the dead body of any man who is dead and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is yet upon him.

14 'This is the law when a man dies in a tent. All who come into the tent and all that is in the tent shall be unclean seven days. 15 And every open vessel which has no covering bound upon it is unclean. 16 And whoever touches someone who is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put to it in a vessel. 18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, upon all the vessels, upon the persons who were there, and upon him who touched a bone, someone slain, someone dead, or a grave. 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. And on the seventh day he shall purify himself, wash his clothes, bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening.

20 'But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of separation has not been sprinkled upon him. He is unclean. 21 And it shall be a perpetual statute to them, that he who sprinkles the water of separation shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water of separation shall be unclean until the evening. 22 And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and the soul who touches it shall be unclean until the evening.'"

Chapter 20

The children of Israel come to Zin where Miriam dies, 1. They murmur for lack of water, 2-6. Moses, smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah, 7-13. Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him, 14-21. At mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar and dies, 22-29.

1 Then the children of Israel came, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.

2 And there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves against Moses and against Aaron. 3 And the people chided with Moses and spoke, saying, "O that we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! 4 And why have you brought the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness so that we and our cattle should die there? 5 And why have you conducted us from Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place of seed, of figs, of vines, or of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink." 6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and they fell upon their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

8 "Take the rod and convene the assembly—you and Aaron your brother—and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it shall give forth its water. And you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock, and you shall give drink to the congregation and their beasts."

9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels. Must we fetch you water out of this rock?" 11 And Moses lifted his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." 13 This is the water of Meribah because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the travail that has befallen us: 15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers, 16 And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and has brought us forth from Egypt, and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. 17 Let us pass, I pray you, through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s high-way. We will not turn to the right hand nor to the left until we have passed your borders.'"

18 And Edom said to him, "You shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with the sword." 19 And the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by the highway, and if I and my cattle drink of your water, then I will pay for it. I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet." 20 And he said, "You shall not go through." And Edom came out against him with many people and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore, Israel turned away from him.

22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to mount Hor.

23 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 "Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel because you rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there." 27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they ascended mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Chapter 21

Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah, 1-3. The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents, 4-6. Those repenting are healed by a brazen serpent, 7-9. Various journeys of the Israelites, 10-20. Sihon is overcome, 21-32, and Og, 33-35.

1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, who dwelt in the south, heard that Israel came by the way of the spies, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. 2 And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, "If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities." 3 And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. And he called the name of the place Hormah.

4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea to compass the land of Edom. And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and our soul loathes this light bread."

6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and many people of Israel died. 7 Therefore, the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD that he take away the serpents from us." And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make for yourself a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole. And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live." 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

10 And the children of Israel moved forward and pitched in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth and pitched at Ije-abarim in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they departed and pitched in the valley of Zared. 13 From there they departed and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the border of the Amorites, for Arnon is the border of Moab between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore, it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD,

"At Vaheb in Suphah and in the brooks of Arnon,

15 And at the stream of the brooks   /

that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, /

and lies upon the border of Moab."

16 And from there they went to Beer. This is the well where the LORD spoke to Moses, "Assemble the people and I will give them water." 17 Then Israel sang this song:

"Spring up, O well. Sing to it.

18 The princes dug the well.   /

The nobles of the people dug it, /

by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staffs."

And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 19 From Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 And from Bamoth in the valley, which is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks toward Jeshimon.

21 And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 "Let me pass through your land. We will not turn into the fields or into the vineyards. We will not drink of the waters of the well. But we will go along by the king’s high-way until we have passed your borders." 23 And Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. But Sihon collected all his people and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon, for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities. And Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, even to Arnon. 27 Therefore, those who speak in proverbs say,

"Come into Heshbon,   /

let the city of Sihon be built and prepared.

28 For a fire has gone out of Heshbon,   /

a flame from the city of Sihon. /

It has consumed Ar of Moab /

and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

29 Woe to you, Moab!   /

You are undone, O people of Chemosh. /

He has given his sons who escaped, /

and his daughters, into captivity /

to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 We have shot at them.   /

Heshbon has perished even to Dibon, /

and we have laid them waste even to Nophah, /

which reaches to Medeba."

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to explore Jaazer, and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan went out against them—he and all his people—to the battle at Edrei. 34 And the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon." 35 So they smote him, his sons, and all his people until there was no remnant left to him. And they possessed his land.

Chapter 22

Balak’s first message for Balaam is refused, 1-14. His second message obtains him, 15-21. An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey, 22-35. Balak entertains him, 36-41.

1 And the children of Israel moved forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of the Jordan by Jericho.

2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was greatly afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this company shall lick up all that is around us as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 He sent messengers therefore to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people has come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the face of the earth and abide over against me. 6 Come now therefore, I pray you, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. It may be that I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed and he whom you curse is cursed."

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again as the LORD shall speak to me." And the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, "What men are these with you?" 10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, which covers the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me. It may be that I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out.'" 12 And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 13 And Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Depart into your land, for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you." 14 And the princes of Moab rose up and they went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

15 And Balak sent yet again more princes, and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Let nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming to me. 17 For I will promote you to very great honor and I will do whatever you say to me. Come therefore, I pray you, curse this people for me.'" 18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore you also, I pray you, stay here this night so that I may know what more the LORD will say to me." 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise and go with them, but only the word which I shall say to you, you shall perform."

21 And Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam smote the donkey to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. And he smote her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled and he smote the donkey with a staff. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have smitten me these three times?" 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me. I wished there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you." 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you smitten your donkey these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand you because your way is perverse before me. 33 And the donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. If she had not turned from me, surely now I would have also slain you and saved her alive." 34 And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. For I did not know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will return again." 35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men. But only the word that I speak to you, you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost limit. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?" 38 And Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak." 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth. 40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

41 And it came to pass on the next day, that Balak took Balaam and conducted him to the high places of Baal so that from there he might see the utmost part of the people.

Chapter 23

Balak’s sacrifices, 1-6, 13-17, 25-30. Balaam’s parables, 7-12, 18-24.

1 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare me seven oxen and seven rams here." 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken. And Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt-offering, and I will go. It may be that the LORD will come to meet me. And whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a high place.

4 And God met Balaam. And he said to him, "I have prepared seven altars and I have offered upon every altar a bull and a ram." 5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." 6 And he returned to him and behold, he stood by his burnt-sacrifice—he and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he took up his parable and said,

"Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram,   /

out of the mountains of the east, saying, /

'Come, curse Jacob for me, /

and come, defy Israel.'

8 How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?   /

Or how shall I defy whom the LORD has not defied?

9 For from the top of the rocks I see him,   /

and from the hills I behold him. /

Behold, the people shall dwell alone /

and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob   /

and the number of the fourth part of Israel? /

Let me die the death of the righteous, /

and let my last end be like his!"

11 And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether." 12 And he answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD has put in my mouth?"

13 And Balak said to him, "Come, I pray you, with me to another place, from where you may see them. You shall see but the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all. And from there curse them for me." 14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on every altar. 15 And he said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt-offering while I meet the LORD yonder." 16 And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and say this." 17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?" 18 And he took up his parable and said,

"Rise, Balak, and hear.   /

Listen to me, son of Zippor.

19 God is not a man that he should lie,   /

neither the son of man that he should repent. /

Has he said, and shall he not do it? /

Or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless.   /

And he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

21 He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob,   /

neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. /

The LORD his God is with him, /

and the shout of a king is among them.

22 God brought them out of Egypt.   /

He has the strength as a wild ox.

23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob,   /

neither is there any divination against Israel. /

According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, /

'What God has wrought!'

24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion   /

and lift up himself as a young lion. /

He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey /

and drinks the blood of the slain."

25 And Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, nor bless them at all." 26 But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Did I not tell you, saying, 'All that the LORD speaks, that I must do'?"

27 And Balak said to Balaam, "Come, I pray you, I will bring you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may from there curse them for me." 28 And Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor that looks toward Jeshimon. 29 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams here." 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said and offered a bull and a ram on every altar.

Chapter 24

Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel, 1-9. Balak, in anger, dismisses him, 10-14. He prophesies of the Star of Jacob and the destruction of some nations, 15-25.

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his parable and said,

"Balaam the son of Beor has said,   /

and the man whose eyes are open has said,

4 He has said, who heard the words of God,   /

who saw the vision of the Almighty, /

falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

5 How beautiful your tents are, O Jacob,   /

and your tabernacles, O Israel!

6 As the valleys they are spread forth,   /

as gardens by the river’s side, /

as the trees of lign-aloes which the LORD has planted, /

and as cedar-trees beside the waters.

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets   /

and his seed shall be in many waters, /

and his king shall be higher than Agag /

and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brought him forth from Egypt.   /

He has the strength as a wild ox. /

He shall eat up the nations his enemies, /

and shall break their bones /

and pierce them through with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion   /

and as a great lion. Who shall rouse him? /

Blessed is he who blesses you /

and cursed is he who curses you."

10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam and he smote his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 And now, flee to your place. I thought to promote you to great honor, but behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor." 12 And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not speak also to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of the LORD to do either good or bad of my own mind, but what the LORD says, that I will speak'? 14 And now, behold, I go to my people. Come therefore, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days."

15 And he took up his parable and said,

"Balaam the son of Beor has said,   /

and the man whose eyes are open has said,

16 He has said, who heard the words of God   /

and knew the knowledge of the Most High, /

who saw the vision of the Almighty, /

falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now.   /

I shall behold him, but not near. /

There shall come a Star out of Jacob, /

and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel /

and shall smite the corners of Moab /

and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession,   /

Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies. /

And Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he who has dominion,   /

and shall destroy him who remains of the city."

20 And when he looked at Amalek, he took up his parable and said,

"Amalek was the first of the nations,   /

but his latter end shall be that he shall perish forever."

21 And he looked at the Kenites and took up his parable and said,

"Your dwelling-place is strong   /

and you put your nest in a rock.

22 Nevertheless, the Kenite shall be wasted   /

until Asher carries you away captive."

23 And he took up his parable and said,

"Alas! Who shall live when God does this?

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim   /

and shall afflict Ashur and shall afflict Eber, /

and he also shall perish forever."

25 And Balaam arose and went and returned to his place. And Balak also went his way.

Chapter 25

Israel commits lewdness and idolatry at Shittim, 1-5. Phinehas kills Zimri and Cozbi, 6-9. God therefore gives him an everlasting priesthood, 10-15. The Midianites are to be vexed, 16-18.

1 And Israel stayed in Shittim, and the people began to commit lewdness with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4 And the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the heads of the people and hang them up to the LORD before the sun so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel." 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each slay his men who were joined to Baal-peor."

6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand. 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.

10 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 11 "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel (while he was zealous for my sake among them) so that I did not consume the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Therefore, say, 'Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace. 13 And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made an atonement for the children of Israel.'"

14 Now the name of the slain Israelite, who was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianitish woman who was slain was Cozbi the daughter of Zur. He was head over a people and of a chief house in Midian.

16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "Distress the Midianites and smite them. 18 For they distress you with their wiles, with which they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake."

Chapter 26

The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab, 1-51. The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land, 52-56. The families and number of the Levites, 57-62. None was left of those who were numbered at Sinai, except Caleb and Joshua, 63-65.

1 And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and upward throughout their fathers' house, all who are able to go to war in Israel." 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho, saying, 4 "Take the sum of the people from twenty years old and upward as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt."

5 Reuben, the eldest son of Israel—the children of Reuben: Hanoch, of whom comes the family of the Hanochites; Of Phallu, the family of the Phalluites; 6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites. And those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. 8 And the son of Phallu: Eliab. 9 And the sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah when they strove against the LORD, 10 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign. 11 But the children of Korah did not die.

12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; 13 Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand and two hundred.

15 The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggai, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 16 Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; 17 Of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the children of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.

19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan. And Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And these were the sons of Judah after their families: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Pharez, the family of the Pharezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. 21 And these were the sons of Pharez: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, seventy-six thousand and five hundred.

23 Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Pua, the family of the Punites; 24 Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand and three hundred.

26 Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, sixty thousand and five hundred.

28 The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites, and Machir begot Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 Of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32 Of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters. And the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh and those who were numbered of them, fifty-two thousand and seven hundred.

35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites; of Becher, the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.

38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; 39 Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families. And those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand and six hundred.

42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites according to those who were numbered of them were sixty-four thousand and four hundred.

44 Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, who were fifty-three thousand and four hundred.

48 Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; 49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families. And those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand and four hundred.

51 These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.

52 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 53 "To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To many you shall give the more inheritance and to few you shall give the less inheritance. To each his inheritance shall be given according to those who were numbered of him. 55 But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot its possession shall be divided between many and few."

57 And these are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begot Amram. 59 And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bore to Levi in Egypt. And to Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister. 60 And to Aaron was born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61 And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD. 62 And those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, all males from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the children of Israel because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel.

63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the LORD had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." And there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

Chapter 27

The daughters of Zelophehad appeal for an inheritance, 1-5. The law of inheritances, 6-11. Moses, being told of his death, appeals for a successor, 12-17. Joshua is appointed to succeed him, 18-23.

1 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation by the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, saying, 3 "Our father died in the wilderness and he was not in the company of those who assembled themselves against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died in his own sin and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family because he has no son? Give to us therefore a possession among the brothers of our father." 5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

6 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 7 "The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. And it shall be to the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.'"

12 And the LORD said to Moses, "Ascend this mount Abarim and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13 And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people as Aaron your brother was gathered. 14 For you rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes." That is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

15 And Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, 16 "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 Who may go out before them, who may go in before them, who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD is not as sheep which have no shepherd." 18 And the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom the Spirit is, and lay your hand upon him, 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And you shall put some of your honor upon him so that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out and at his word they shall come in—both he and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation." 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. And he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, 23 And he laid his hands upon him and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Chapter 28

Offerings are to be observed, 1, 2. The continual burnt offering, 3-8. The offering on the sabbath, 9, 10; on the new moons, 11-15; at the passover, 16-25; in the day of first-fruits, 26-31.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel and say to them, 'My offering and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire for a sweet savor to me, you shall observe to offer to me in their due season.' 3 And you shall say to them, 'This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two lambs of the first year without spot day by day for a continual burnt-offering, 4 One lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at evening; 5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a food-offering, mingled with a fourth part of a hin of beaten oil— 6 It is a continual burnt-offering, which was ordained at mount Sinai for a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD; 7 And its drink-offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for one lamb—in the holy place you shall cause the strong wine to be poured to the LORD for a drink-offering; 8 And the other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the food-offering of the morning and as its drink-offering, you shall offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD.

9 'And on the sabbath-day [you shall offer] two lambs of the first year without spot and two tenth-parts of flour for a food-offering mingled with oil and its drink-offering. 10 This is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering and its drink-offering.

11 'And in the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt-offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without spot; 12 Three tenth-parts of flour for a food-offering, mingled with oil, for one bull; two tenth-parts of flour for a food-offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 13 And a single tenth-part of flour mingled with oil for a food-offering for one lamb, for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD. 14 And their drink-offering shall be half a hin of wine to a bull, the third part of a hin to a ram, and a fourth part of a hin to a lamb. This is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering to the LORD shall be offered, besides the continual burnt-offering and its drink-offering.

16 'And on the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. 17 And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast. Seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten. 18 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no manner of servile work. 19 But you shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt-offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year—they shall be to you without blemish; 20 And their food-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil; three tenth-parts you shall offer for a bull and two tenth-parts for a ram; 21 A single tenth-part you shall offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 22 And one goat for a sin-offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 You shall offer these besides the burnt-offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt-offering. 24 After this manner you shall offer daily throughout the seven days the food of the sacrifice made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD. It shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering and its drink-offering. 25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work.

26 'Also in the day of the first-fruits, when you bring a new food-offering to the LORD, after your weeks have ended, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work. 27 But you shall offer the burnt-offering for a sweet savor to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their food-offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth-parts to one bull, two tenth-parts to one ram, 29 A single tenth part to one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 You shall offer them besides the continual burnt-offering and its food-offering (they shall be to you without blemish) and their drink-offerings.'"

Chapter 29

The offering at the feast of trumpets, 1-6; at the day of afflicting their souls, 7-11; and on the eight days of the feast of tabernacles, 12-40.

1 "'And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work. It is a day of blowing the trumpets for you. 2 And you shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor to the LORD: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish; 3 And their food-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth-parts for a bull, two tenth-parts for a ram, 4 And one tenth-part for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering, to make an atonement for you, 6 Besides the burnt-offering of the month and its food-offering, the daily burnt-offering and its food-offering, and their drink-offerings, according to their manner, for a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD.

7 'And you shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month a holy convocation, and you shall afflict your souls. You shall not do any work. 8 But you shall offer a burnt-offering to the LORD for a sweet savor: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year—they shall be to you without blemish; 9 And their food-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth-parts to a bull, two tenth-parts to one ram, 10 And a single tenth-part for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 11 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering, besides the sin-offering of atonement, the continual burnt-offering and its food-offering, and their drink-offerings.

12 'And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work and you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days. 13 And you shall offer a burnt-offering, a sacrifice made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year—they shall be without blemish; 14 And their food-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth-parts to every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenth-parts to each ram of the two rams, 15 And a single tenth-part to each lamb of the fourteen lambs; 16 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

17 'And on the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot; 18 And their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 19 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and their drink-offerings.

20 'And on the third day eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 21 And their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 22 And one goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

23 'And on the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 24 Their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 25 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

26 'And on the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot; 27 And their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 28 And one goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

29 'And on the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 30 And their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 31 And one goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

32 'And on the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; 33 And their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 34 And one goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

35 'On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no servile work. 36 But you shall offer a burnt-offering, a sacrifice made by fire, a sweet savor to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish; 37 Their food-offering and their drink-offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs shall be according to their number, after the manner; 38 And one goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, its food-offering, and its drink-offering.

39 'These things you shall do to the LORD in your set feasts, besides your vows and your voluntary-offerings, for your burnt-offerings, for your food-offerings, for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings.'" 40 And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

Chapter 30

Vows are not to be broken, 1, 2. The exceptions of a maid’s vows, 3-5; of a wife’s, 6-8; of a widow’s, or her who is divorced, 9-16.

1 And Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded. 2 If a man vows a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

3 "If a woman also vows a vow to the LORD and binds herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth, 4 And her father hears her vow and her bond with which she has bound her soul and her father holds his peace at her, then all her vows shall stand and every bond with which she has bound her soul shall stand. 5 But if her father disallows her in the day that he hears, none of her vows or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul shall stand. And the LORD shall forgive her because her father disallowed her.

6 "And if she had a husband when she vowed or uttered anything from her lips with which she bound her soul, 7 And her husband heard it and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it, then her vows shall stand and her bonds with which she bound her soul shall stand. 8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it, then he shall make her vow which she vowed and that which she uttered with her lips with which she bound her soul of no effect. And the LORD shall forgive her.

9 "But every vow of a widow and of her who is divorced, with which they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. 10 And if she vowed in her husband’s house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath, 11 And her husband heard it and held his peace at her and did not disallow her, then all her vows shall stand and every bond with which she bound her soul shall stand. 12 But if her husband has utterly made them void on the day he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning the bond of her soul shall not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the LORD shall forgive her. 13 Every vow and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 14 But if her husband altogether holds his peace at her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her bonds which are upon her. He confirms them because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. 15 But if he at all makes them void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity."

16 These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 5:33.

Chapter 31

The Midianites are plundered and Balaam slain, 1-12. Moses is angry with the officers for saving the women alive, 13-18. How the soldiers, with their captives and plunder, are to be purified, 19-24. The proportion in which the plunder is to be divided, 25-47. The voluntary oblation to the treasury of the Lord, 48-54.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people." 3 And Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves for the war, and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the LORD on Midian. 4 Of every tribe one thousand throughout all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war." 5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel one thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6 And Moses sent them to the war, one thousand of every tribe, along with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments and the trumpets to blow in his hand. 7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they slew all the males. 8 And they slew the kings of Midian, besides the rest of those who were slain, namely, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also slew with the sword. 9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives with their little ones, and took as plunder all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods. 10 And they burnt all their cities in which they dwelt and all their encampments with fire. 11 And they took all the captives and all the plunder, both of men and of beasts. 12 And they brought the captives, the plunder, and the loot to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan near Jericho.

13 And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the princes of the congregation went forth to meet them outside the camp. 14 And Moses was angry with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, who came from the battle. 15 And Moses said to them, "Have you saved all the women alive? 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 17 Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. 18 But all the female children who have not known a man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves. 19 And you, abide outside the camp seven days. Whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day. 20 And purify all your clothing, all that is made of skins, all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood."

21 And Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses: 22 Only the gold, the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 Everything that may abide in the fire, you shall make it go through the fire and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall be purified with the water of separation. And all that does not abide in the fire you shall make go through the water. 24 And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and you shall be clean, and afterward you shall come into the camp."

25 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 26 "Take the sum of the plunder that was taken, both of man and of beast—you, Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation— 27 And divide the plunder into two parts between those who took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation. 28 And levy a tribute to the LORD of the men of war who went out to battle, one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, of the bulls, of the donkeys, and of the sheep. 29 Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest for a heave-offering of the LORD. 30 And of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one portion of fifty of the persons, of the bulls, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them to the Levites who keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD." 31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.

32 And the captives, being the rest of the plunder which the men of war had taken, was six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep, 33 Seventy-two thousand bulls, 34 Sixty-one thousand donkeys, 35 And thirty-two thousand persons in all, of women who had not known man by lying with him.

36 And the half which was the portion of those who went out to war was in number three hundred and thirty-seven thousand and five hundred sheep. 37 And the LORD’S tribute of the sheep was six hundred and seventy-five. 38 And the bulls were thirty-six thousand, of which the LORD’S tribute was seventy-two. 39 And the donkeys were thirty thousand and five hundred, of which the LORD’S tribute was sixty-one. 40 And the persons were sixteen thousand, of which the LORD’S tribute was thirty-two persons. 41 And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD’S heave-offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

42 And of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided from the men who warred 43 (Now the half that pertained to the congregation was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand and five hundred sheep, 44 Thirty-six thousand bulls, 45 Thirty thousand and five hundred donkeys, 46 And sixteen thousand persons), 47 Even from the children of Israel’s half Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them to the Levites who kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

48 And the officers who were over thousands of the hosts, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds came near to Moses, 49 And they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our charge, and there does not lack one man of us. 50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man has obtained of jewels of gold, chains, bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD." 51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all wrought jewels. 52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered to the LORD, from the captains of thousands and from the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. 53 (For the men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.) 54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tabernacle of the Congregation for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Chapter 32

The Reubenites and Gadites appeal for their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, 1-5. Moses reproves them, 6-15. They offer him conditions with which he is content, 16-32. Moses assigns them the land, 33-38. They conquer it, 39-42.

1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle. And when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that behold, the place was a place for cattle, 2 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the princes of the congregation, saying, 3 "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and your servants have cattle. 5 Therefore," they said, "if we have found grace in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession, and do not bring us over the Jordan."

6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to war and shall you sit here? 7 And why do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD has given them? 8 Thus your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel so that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them. 10 And the LORD’S anger was kindled the same time and he swore, saying, 11 'Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, 12 Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' 13 And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years until all the generation who had done evil in the sight of the LORD was consumed. 14 And behold, you have risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel. 15 For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness and he will destroy all this people."

16 And they came near to him and said, "We will build sheep-folds here for our cattle and cities for our little ones, 17 But we ourselves will go armed ready before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our houses until the children of Israel have each inherited his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan, or forward, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan eastward."

20 And Moses said to them, "If you will do this thing, if you will go armed before the LORD to war, 21 And all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven out his enemies from before him, 22 And the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be guiltless before the LORD and before Israel. And this land shall be your possession before the LORD. 23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD. And be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build yourselves cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth."

25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle shall be there in the cities of Gilead, 27 But your servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord says."

28 So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, 29 And Moses said to them, "If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man armed for battle, before the LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession. 30 But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan." 31 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, "As the LORD has said to your servants, so we will do. 32 We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan so that the possession of our inheritance on this side of the Jordan may be ours."

33 And Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities in the borders, even the cities of the country around. 34 And the children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth, Shophan, Jaazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran—fortified cities—and folds for sheep. 37 And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kirjathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal-meon (their names being changed), and Shibmah, and gave other names to the cities which they built. 39 And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it and dispossessed the Amorite who was in it. 40 And Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he dwelt in it. 41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its small towns and called them Havoth-jair. 42 And Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name.

Chapter 33

The forty-two journeys of the Israelites, 1-49. The Canaanites are to be destroyed, 50-56.

1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel who went forth from the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their outgoings according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD. And these are their journeys according to their outgoings. 3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the next day after the passover the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 For the Egyptians buried all their first-born, whom the LORD had smitten among them. Upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

5 And the children of Israel departed from Rameses and encamped in Succoth. 6 And they departed from Succoth and encamped in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. 7 And they departed from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. 8 And they departed from before Pi-hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham and encamped in Marah. 9 And they departed from Marah and came to Elim. And in Elim there were twelve fountains of water and seventy palm-trees, and they encamped there. 10 And they departed from Elim and encamped by the Red Sea. 11 And they departed from the Red Sea and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they departed from Dophkah and encamped in Alush. 14 And they departed from Alush and encamped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they departed from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 And they departed from the desert of Sinai and encamped at Kibroth-hattaavah.

17 And they departed from Kibroth-hattaavah and encamped at Hazeroth. 18 And they departed from Hazeroth and encamped in Rithmah. 19 And they departed from Rithmah and encamped at Rimmon-parez. 20 And they departed from Rimmon-parez and encamped in Libnah. 21 And they departed from Libnah and encamped at Rissah. 22 And they journeyed from Rissah and encamped in Kehelathah. 23 And they went from Kehelathah and encamped at mount Shapher. 24 And they departed from mount Shapher and encamped in Haradah. 25 And they departed from Haradah and encamped in Makheloth. 26 And they departed from Makheloth and encamped at Tahath. 27 And they departed from Tahath and encamped at Tarah. 28 And they departed from Tarah and encamped in Mithcah. 29 And they went from Mithcah and encamped in Hashmonah. 30 And they departed from Hashmonah and encamped at Moseroth. 31 And they departed from Moseroth and encamped in Bene-jaakan. 32 And they departed from Bene-jaakan and encamped at Hor-hagidgad. 33 And they went from Hor-hagidgad and encamped in Jotbathah. 34 And they departed from Jotbathah and encamped at Ebronah. 35 And they departed from Ebronah and encamped at Ezion-gaber. 36 And they departed from Ezion-gaber and encamped in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. 37 And they departed from Kadesh and encamped at mount Hor on the edge of the land of Edom.

38 And Aaron the priest ascended mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel departed from the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. 39 And Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on mount Hor.

40 And king Arad the Canaanite who dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

41 And they departed from mount Hor and encamped in Zalmonah. 42 And they departed from Zalmonah and encamped in Punon. 43 And they departed from Punon and encamped in Oboth. 44 And they departed from Oboth and encamped in Ije-abarim, in the border of Moab. 45 And they departed from Iim and encamped in Dibon-gad. 46 And they departed from Dibon-gad and encamped in Almon-diblathaim. 47 And they departed from Almon-diblathaim and encamped on the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 And they departed from the mountains of Abarim and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho. 49 And they encamped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth even to Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.

50 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you have passed over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 You shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their pictures, destroy all their molten images, and quite demolish all their high places. 53 And you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess it. 54 And you shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families. To the more you shall give the more inheritance and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. Every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falls. According to the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. 55 But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them shall be prickles in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and shall harass you in the land in which you dwell. 56 Moreover, it shall come to pass, that I shall do to you as I thought to do to them.'"

Chapter 34

The borders of the land, 1-15. The names of the men who shall divide the land, 16-29.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with its borders), 3 Your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the border of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward. 4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim and pass on to Zin. Its limit shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea and shall go on to Hazar-addar and pass on to Azmon. 5 And the border shall form a circuit from Azmon to the river of Egypt, and its limits shall be at the sea.

6 'And as for the western border, you shall even have the Great Sea for a border. This shall be your west border.

7 'And this shall be your north border: from the Great Sea you shall designate for yourselves mount Hor. 8 From mount Hor you shall designate your border to the entrance of Hamath, and the limits of the border shall be at Zedad. 9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and its limits shall be at Hazar-enan. This shall be your north border.

10 'And you shall designate your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 And the limit shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. And the border shall descend and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward. 12 And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its limits shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its limits on all sides.'"

13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, "This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half tribe. 14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers have received their inheritance, and also half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. 15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan near Jericho eastward toward the sunrise."

16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun. 18 And you shall take one prince of every tribe to divide the land by inheritance. 19 And the names of the men are these: of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh; 20 Of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud; 21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon; 22 The prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli; 23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod; 24 The prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan; 25 The prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach; 26 The prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan; 27 The prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi; 28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud." 29 These are those whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

Chapter 35

Forty-eight cities for the Levites, with their suburbs, and the measure thereof, 1-5. Six of them are to be cities of refuge, 6-8. The laws of murder and manslaughter, 9-30. No satisfaction for murder, 31-34.

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2 "Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in. And you shall also give to the Levites suburbs for the cities around them. 3 And they shall have the cities to dwell in. And their suburbs shall be for their cattle, for their goods, and for all their beasts.

4 "And the suburbs of the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward one thousand cubits on all sides. 5 And you shall measure from outside the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, and the city shall be in the midst. This shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.

6 "And among the cities which you shall give to the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which you shall appoint for the man-slayer so that he may flee there. And to them you shall add forty-two cities. 7 So all the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities. You shall give them with their suburbs. 8 And the cities which you shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel. From those who have many you shall give many, but from those who have few you shall give few. Everyone shall give some of his cities to the Levites according to his inheritance which he inherits."

9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, 'When you have passed over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 You shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you so that the slayer may flee there who kills any person unintentionally. 12 And they shall be to you cities for refuge from the avenger so that the man-slayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment. 13 And of these cities which you shall give, six cities you shall have for refuge. 14 You shall give three cities on this side of the Jordan and three cities you shall give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be a refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them so that everyone who kills any person unintentionally may flee there.

16 'And if anyone smites another with an instrument of iron so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 And if he smites him by throwing a stone, by which he may die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he smites him with a hand-weapon of wood, with which he may die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer. When he meets him, he shall slay him. 20 But if he thrusts him of hatred, or hurls at him by lying in wait so that he dies, 21 Or in enmity smites him with his hand so that he dies, he who smote him shall surely be put to death, for he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meets him.

22 'But if anyone pushes another suddenly without enmity, or casts upon him anything without lying in wait, 23 Or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and casts it upon him so that he dies, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm, 24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments. 25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge where he had fled. And he shall abide in it to the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the slayer at anytime comes outside the border of the city of his refuge where he had fled, 27 And the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the city of his refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, 28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

29 'So these things shall be for a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

30 'Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses. But one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 31 Moreover, you shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. 32 And you shall take no satisfaction for him who has fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come back to dwell in the land until the death of the priest. 33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it. 34 Therefore, do not defile the land which you inhabit, in which I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the children of Israel.'"

Chapter 36

The inconvenience of the inheritance of daughters is remedied by marrying in their own tribes, 1-6, lest the inheritance should be removed from the tribe, 7-9. The daughters of Zelophehad marry their father’s brothers' sons, 10-13.

1 And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel. 2 And they said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel. And my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. 3 And if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and will be put to the inheritance of the tribe into which they are received. So it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 4 And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then their inheritance will be put to the inheritance of the tribe into which they are received. So their inheritance shall be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers."

5 And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, "The tribe of the sons of Joseph has said well. 6 This is the thing which the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them marry to whom they think best. Only to the family of the tribe of their father they shall marry.' 7 So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not move from tribe to tribe, for each of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8 And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father so that the children of Israel may each enjoy the inheritance of his fathers. 9 The inheritance shall not move from one tribe to another tribe, but each of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance."

10 Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did. 11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to their father’s brothers' sons. 12 And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.

13 These are the commandments and the judgments which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho.

[Tanach reading: go to Deuteronomy]

THE FIFTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED DEUTERONOMY

Chapter 1

Moses' speech in the end of the fortieth year, 1-5; briefly rehearsing the history of God’s sending them from Horeb, 6-13; of giving them officers, 14-18; of sending the spies to search the land, 19-33; of his anger for their incredulity, 34-40; and disobedience, 41-46.

1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on the east side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against Suf, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 (There are eleven days journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.) 3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them, 4 After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei. 5 On the east side of the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses began to declare this law, saying,

6 "The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying, 'You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. 7 Turn, and take your journey, and go to the mountain of the Amorites, and to all the places near it, in the plain, on the hills, in the valley, in the south, and by the sea-side, to the land of the Canaanites, and to Lebanon, to the great river, the Euphrates River. 8 Behold, I have set the land before you. Go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them and to their posterity after them.'

9 "And I spoke to you at that time, saying, 'I am not able to bear you myself alone. 10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. 11 (May the LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you!) 12 How can I alone bear your encumbrance, your burden, and your strife? 13 Take wise men of understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.' 14 And you answered me, and said, 'The thing which you have spoken is good for us to do.' 15 So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, captains over hundreds, captains over fifties, captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

16 "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the causes between your brothers, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger who is with him. 17 You shall not respect persons in judgment, but you shall hear the small as well as the great. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. And the cause that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.' 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do.

19 "And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which you saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us, and we came to Kadesh-barnea. 20 And I said to you, 'You have come to the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God gives to us. 21 Behold, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has said to you. Do not fear, neither be discouraged.'

22 "And each of you came near to me, and said, 'We will send men before us, and they shall explore the land for us and bring us word again by what way we must go up and into what cities we shall come.' 23 And the saying pleased me well, and I took twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. 24 And they turned and ascended the mountain and came to the valley of Eshcol and explored it. 25 And they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us, and brought us word again, and said, 'It is a good land which the LORD our God gives us.'

26 "Yet, you would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God. 27 And you murmured in your tents, and said, 'Because the LORD hated us, he has brought us forth from the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where shall we go up? Our brothers have discouraged our heart, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we are. The cities are great and walled up to heaven. And moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakims there."' 29 Then I said to you, 'Do not dread, neither be afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God who goes before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 And in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God bore you, as a man bears his son, in all the way that you went, until you came into this place.' 32 Yet in this thing you did not believe the LORD your God, 33 Who went in the way before you to search out for you a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night to show you by what way you should go, and in a cloud by day.

34 "And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was angry, and swore, saying, 35 'Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I swore to give to your fathers, 36 Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him I will give the land that he has trod upon, and to his children, because he has wholly followed the LORD.' 37 Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, 'You also shall not go in there. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. 39 Moreover, your little ones, which you said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in there, and I will give it to them, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.'

41 "Then you answered and said to me, 'We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us.' And when you had each girded on his weapons of war, you were ready to ascend the hill. 42 And the LORD said to me, 'Say to them, "Do not go up, neither fight, for I am not among you, lest you be smitten before your enemies."' 43 So I spoke to you, and you would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD and presumptuously ascended the hill. 44 And the Amorites, who dwelt on that mountain, came out against you and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even to Hormah. 45 And you returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD would not listen to your voice, nor give ear to you. 46 So you stayed in Kadesh many days, according to the days that you stayed there."

Chapter 2

The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edomites, 1-8; nor with the Moabites, 9-15; nor with the Ammonites, 16-23; but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them, 24-37.

1 "Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me. And we compassed mount Seir many days. 2 And the LORD spoke to me, saying, 3 'You have compassed this mountain long enough. Turn northward. 4 And command the people, saying, "You are to pass through the border of your brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, and they will be afraid of you. Therefore, take good heed to yourselves. 5 Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you of their land, not even so much as a foot-breadth, because I have given mount Seir to Esau for a possession. 6 You shall buy food from them with money, so that you may eat. And you shall also buy water from them with money, so that you may drink. 7 For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the works of your hand. He knows your walking through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing."'

8 "And when we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the LORD said to me, 'Do not distress the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.' 10 (The Emims dwelt in it in times past, a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakims, 11 Who also were accounted Rephaim, as the Anakims, but the Moabites call them Emims. 12 The Horims also dwelt formerly in Seir, but the children of Esau succeeded them when they had destroyed them from before them and dwelt in their stead, as Israel did to the land of his possession, which the LORD gave to them.) 13 'Now rise,' I said, 'and pass over the brook Zered.' And we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we passed the brook Zered, was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war were wasted from among the host, as the LORD swore to them. 15 For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.

16 "So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, 17 That the LORD spoke to me, saying, 18 'You are to pass over through Ar, the border of Moab, this day. 19 And when you come near over against the children of Ammon, do not distress them, nor meddle with them, for I will not give you any possession of the land of the children of Ammon, because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.' 20 (That also was accounted a land of Rephaim. Rephaim dwelt in it in old time, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims, 21 A people great, and many, and tall as the Anakims, but the LORD destroyed them before them, and they succeeded them and dwelt in their stead, 22 As he did to the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir when he destroyed the Horims from before them, and they succeeded them and dwelt in their stead even to this day. 23 And the Avims who dwelt in Hazerim even to Azzah, the Caphtorims, who came forth from Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their stead.) 24 'Arise, take your journey and pass over the Arnon River. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it and contend with him in battle. 25 This day I will begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you upon the nations who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of you, shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you.'

26 "And I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, 27 'Let me pass through your land. I will go along by the highway. I will neither turn to the right hand nor to the left. 28 You shall sell me food for money, so that I may eat, and give me water for money, so that I may drink. Only let me pass through on my feet 29 (As the children of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did to me), until I pass over the Jordan into the land which the LORD our God gives us.' 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, so that he might deliver him into your hand, as appears this day. 31 And the LORD said to me, 'Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you. Begin to possess it, so that you may inherit his land.'

32 "Then Sihon came out against us—he and all his people—to fight at Jahaz. 33 And the LORD our God delivered him before us, and we smote him, his sons, and all his people. 34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, the women, and the little ones of every city. We left no one to remain. 35 Only the cattle we took as plunder for ourselves, with the loot of the cities which we took. 36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even to Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us. The LORD our God delivered all to us. 37 Only to the land of the children of Ammon you did not come, nor to any place of the Jabbok River, nor to the cities on the mountains, nor to whatever the LORD our God had forbidden us."

Chapter 3

The conquest of Og, king of Bashan, 1-10. The size of his bed, 11. The distribution of his lands to the two and a half tribes, 12-22. Moses prays to enter into the land, 23-25. He is permitted to see it, 26-29.

1 "Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against us—he and all his people—to battle at Edrei. 2 And the LORD said to me, 'Do not fear him, for I will deliver him, all his people, and his land into your hand. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.' 3 So the LORD our God also delivered into our hands Og the king of Bashan and all his people. And we smote him until no one was left to him remaining. 4 And we took all his cities at that time. There was not a city which we did not take from them, sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides unwalled towns a great number. 6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city. 7 But all the cattle and the loot of the cities we took as plunder for ourselves.

8 "And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side of the Jordan, from the river of Arnon to mount Hermon 9 (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Shenir), 10 All the cities of the plain, all Gilead, and all Bashan, to Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron. Is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was its length and four cubits its breadth, after the cubit of a man.

12 "And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the Arnon River, and half mount Gilead, and its cities, I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites. 13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob, to the borders of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called them after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair, to this day. 15 And I gave Gilead to Machir. 16 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the Arnon River, to the middle of the valley for a border, even to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the children of Ammon, 17 And also the plain and the Jordan as a border, from Chinnereth even to the sea of the plain, even the Salt Sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah eastward.

18 "And I commanded you at that time, saying, 'The LORD your God has given you this land to possess it. You shall pass over armed before your brothers the children of Israel, all who are suitable for the war. 19 But your wives, your little ones, and your cattle (for I know that you have many cattle) shall abide in your cities which I have given you, 20 Until the LORD has given rest to your brothers, as well as to you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God has given them beyond the Jordan. And then you shall each return to his possession which I have given you.' 21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. Thus the LORD shall do to all the kingdoms where you pass. 22 You shall not fear them, for the LORD your God, he shall fight for you.'

23 "And I implored the LORD at that time, saying, 24 'O Lord GOD, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or in earth who can do according to your works and according to your might? 25 I pray you, let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good mountain, and Lebanon.' 26 But the LORD was angry with me for your sakes and would not hear me. And the LORD said to me, 'Let it suffice you. Speak no more to me of this matter. 27 Ascend to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward, northward, southward, and eastward, and behold with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.' 29 So we stayed in the valley over against Beth-peor."

Chapter 4

An exhortation to obedience, 1-40. Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of the Jordan, 41-43. Recapitulation, 44-49.

1 "Now therefore, listen, O Israel, to the statutes and to the judgments which I teach you, to do them, so that you may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish anything from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-peor. For all the men who followed Baal-peor, the LORD your God has destroyed them from among you. 4 But you who adhered to the LORD your God, each of you are alive this day.

5 "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the land where you go to possess it. 6 Therefore, keep and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations which will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what nation is there so great, which has God so near to them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

9 "Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you should forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. But teach them to your sons, and your sons' sons, 10 Especially the day that you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.' 11 And you came near and stood under the mountain. And the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 12 And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude. You only heard a voice. 13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them upon two tablets of stone. 14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, so that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it.

15 "Therefore, take good heed to yourselves, for you saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make for yourselves an engraved image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18 The likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth, 19 And lest you should lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, should be driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has divided to all nations under the whole heaven. 20 But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, even from Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as you are this day.

21 "Furthermore, the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not enter that good land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance. 22 But I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan. But you shall go over and possess that good land. 23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves an engraved image, or the likeness of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

25 "When you beget children and children’s children, and you have remained long in the land, and corrupt yourselves and make an engraved image or the likeness of anything, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD your God, to provoke him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from the land to which you go over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall be utterly destroyed. 27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the heathen, where the LORD leads you. 28 And there you shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, hear, eat, or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you shall find him, if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation and all these things have come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the LORD your God and are obedient to his voice 31 (For the LORD your God is a merciful God), he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers, which he swore to them.

32 "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from one side of heaven to the other, whether there has been any such thing as this great thing is, or has been heard like it. 33 Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and lived? 34 Or has God essayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an out-stretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, so that you might know that the LORD he is God. There is no one besides him. 36 Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, so that he might instruct you. And upon earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their offspring after them, and brought you out of Egypt in his sight with his mighty power, 38 To drive out nations from before you, greater and mightier than you are, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD, he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath. There is no one else. 40 Therefore, you shall keep his statutes and his commandments which I command you this day, so that it may be well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days upon the earth which the LORD your God gives you forever."

41 Then Moses set apart three cities on the side of the Jordan toward the sunrise, 42 So that the slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally, and when he had not hated him in times past, and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live, 43 Namely, Bezer in the wilderness in the plain country of the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead of the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan of the Manassites.

44 And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel. 45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which Moses spoke to the children of Israel after they came forth from Egypt, 46 On the east side of the Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote after they had come forth from Egypt. 47 And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, who were on the side of the Jordan toward the sunrise, 48 From Aroer, which is by the bank of the Arnon River, even to mount Sion, which is Hermon, 49 And all the plain on the side of the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the plain under the springs of Pisgah.

References

[v.16]: Quoted in Hebrews 12:29. [v.32]: Possibly quoted in Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:27. [v.35]: Quoted in Mark 12:32.

Chapter 5

The covenant in Horeb, 1-5. The Ten Commandments, 6-21. At the people’s request Moses receives the law from God, 22-33.

1 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them, "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, so that you may learn them and observe to do them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain, from the midst of the fire 5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time to show you the word of the LORD, for you were afraid by reason of the fire and did not go up upon the mountain), saying,

6 'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

7 'You shall have no other gods before me.

8 'You shall not make for yourself any engraved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth. 9 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 And showing mercy to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

11 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

12 'Keep the sabbath-day to sanctify it, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall not do any work—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your woman-servant, your ox, your donkey, any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates—so that your man-servant and your woman-servant may rest as well as you. 15 And remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and by an out-stretched arm; therefore, the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath-day.

16 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be prolonged and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

17 'You shall not kill.

18 'You shall not commit adultery.

19 'You shall not steal.

20 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

21 'You shall not desire your neighbor’s wife, neither shall you covet your neighbor’s house, his field, his man-servant, his woman-servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.'

22 "These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly on the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness with a great voice, and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and delivered them to me. 23 And it came to pass, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness (for the mountain burned with fire), that you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes and your elders, 24 And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God talks with man, and he lives. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near, and hear all that the LORD our God says, and speak to us all that the LORD our God speaks to you, and we will hear it and do it.'

28 "And the LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, 'I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever! 30 Go, say to them, "Return to your tents again." 31 But as for you, stand here by me and I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, so that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 32 You shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess."

References

[v.16]: Reference, Matthew 15:4, 19:19; Mark 7:10, 10:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2-3. [v.17]: Reference, Matthew 5:21, 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11. [v.18]: Reference, Matthew 5:27, 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11. [v.19]: Reference, Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9. [v.20]: Reference, Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9. [v.21]: Quoted in Romans 7:7; Romans 13:9.

Chapter 6

The end of the law is obedience, 1, 2. An exhortation thereto, 3-19. What they are to teach their children, 20-25.

1 "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, so that you may do them in the land where you go to possess it, 2 And that you may fear the LORD your God to keep all his statutes and his commandments which I command you—you, your son, and your son’s son—all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it, so that it may be well with you and that you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey.

4 "Hear, O Israel. The LORD our God, Yahweh, is one. 5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. 7 And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 And you shall write them upon the posts of your house and on your gates.

10 "And it shall be, when the LORD your God has brought you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you great and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 And houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and wells dug which you did not dig, vineyards and olive-trees which you did not plant, when you have eaten and are full, 12 Then beware lest you should forget the LORD who brought you forth from the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 You shall fear the LORD your God and serve him, and shall swear by his name. 14 You shall not go after other gods of the gods of the people which are around you 15 (For the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God should be kindled against you and destroy you from off the face of the earth.

16 "You shall not test the LORD your God, as you tested him in Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes which he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to your fathers, 19 To cast out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has spoken.

20 "And when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments mean which the LORD our God has commanded you?' 21 Then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and distressing, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household before our eyes. 23 And he brought us out from there, so that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he swore to our fathers.' 24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, so that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us."

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Mark 12:29, 32. [v.5]: Quoted in Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27. [v.13]: Quoted in Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8. [v.16]: Quoted in Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12.

Chapter 7

All communion with the nations is forbidden, 1-4; for fear of idolatry, 5; for the holiness of the people, 6-8; for the nature of God in his mercy and justice, 9-16; for the assuredness of victory which God will give over them, 17-26.

1 "When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you go to possess it and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perrizites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, 2 And when the LORD your God delivers them before you, you shall smite them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them. 3 You shall not make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to his son, neither shall you take his daughter for your son, 4 For they will turn away your son from following me, so that they may serve other gods. Thus the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and destroy you suddenly. 5 But this is how you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, break down their images, cut down their groves, and burn their engraved images with fire. 6 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a special people for himself above all people who are upon the face of the earth.

7 "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people. 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore, that the LORD your God, he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations, 10 And repays those who hate him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him who hates him. He will repay him to his face. 11 You shall therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you this day, to do them.

12 "Therefore, it shall come to pass, if you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which he swore to your fathers. 13 And he will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless your children, and the fruit of your land, your grain, your wine, and your oil, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all people. There shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt (which you know) upon you, but will lay them upon all those who hate you. 16 And you shall consume all the people which the LORD your God shall deliver to you. Your eye shall have no pity upon them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

17 "If you say in your heart, 'These nations are more than I. How can I dispossess them?' 18 You shall not be afraid of them, but shall well remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, 19 The great trials which your eyes saw, and the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the out-stretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. Thus the LORD your God shall do to all the people of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. 21 You shall not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God is among you, a mighty and awesome God. 22 And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little. You may not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon you. 23 But the LORD your God shall deliver them to you and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction until they are destroyed. 24 And he shall deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall destroy their name from under heaven. No man shall be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them. 25 The engraved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you should be snared in it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. 26 You shall not bring an abomination into your house, lest you should be a cursed thing like it. But you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is a cursed thing."

Chapter 8

An exhortation to obedience in regard of God’s mercy and goodness in his dealings with Israel, 1-20.

1 "All the commandments which I command you this day you shall observe to do, so that you may live, multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and allowed you to be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, neither did your fathers know, so that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing has not become old upon you, neither has your foot swelled these forty years. 5 You shall also consider in your heart, that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you. 6 Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways and to fear him. 7 For the LORD your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, barley, vines, fig-trees, and pomegranates, a land of olive-oil and honey; 9 A land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you may dig brass. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which he has given you.

11 "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God, in not keeping his commandments, his judgments, and his statutes which I command you this day, 12 Lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and dwelt in them, 13 And when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are increased, and all that you have is increased, 14 Your heart be lifted up and you forget the LORD your God—who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, 15 Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which there were fiery serpents, scorpions, and drought, where there was no water, who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint, 16 Who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not know, so that he might humble you and that he might prove you, to do you good at your latter end— 17 And you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.' 18 But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if you at all forget the LORD your God and walk after other gods, and serve and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the LORD destroys before your face, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God."

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4.

Chapter 9

Moses dissuades them from the opinion of their own righteousness by rehearsing their various rebellions, 1-29.

1 "Hear, O Israel. You are to pass over the Jordan this day to go in and dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, 'Who can stand before the children of Anak?' 3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD your God is he who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He shall destroy them and he shall bring them down before your face. So you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.

4 "Do not speak in your heart after the LORD your God has cast them out from before you, saying, 'For my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land, but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD drives them out from before you.' 5 Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your heart do you go to possess their land, but for the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God drives them out from before you, so that he may perform the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

6 "Understand therefore, that the LORD your God does not give you this good land to possess it for your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. 7 Remember, and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day that you departed from the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. 8 Also in Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you. 9 When I ascended the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, even the tablets of the covenant which the LORD made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread, nor drank water. 10 And the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God. And on them was written according to all the words which the LORD spoke with you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, even the tablets of the covenant. 12 And the LORD said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people which you have brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten image.' 13 Furthermore, the LORD spoke to me, saying, 'I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 14 Leave me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they are.'

15 "So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain burned with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God and had made yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you. 17 And I took the two tablets, cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes. 18 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread, nor drank water, because of all your sins which you sinned in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 19 (For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the LORD was angry against you to destroy you.) But the LORD listened to me at that time also. 20 And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 And I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burnt it with fire, stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust. And I cast the dust of it into the brook that descended from the mountain.

22 "And at Taberah, at Massah, and Kibroth-hattaavah, you provoked the LORD to wrath. 23 Likewise, when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, 'Go up and possess the land which I have given you,' you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and you did not believe him, nor listen to his voice. 24 You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.

25 "Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first, because the LORD had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed therefore to the LORD, and said, 'O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people and your inheritance which you have redeemed through your greatness, which you have brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not look to the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin, 28 Lest the land from which you have brought us should say, "Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to slay them in the wilderness." 29 Yet they are your people and your inheritance which you have brought out by your mighty power and by your out-stretched arm.'"

Chapter 10

God’s mercy in restoring the two tables, 1-5; in continuing the priesthood, 6, 7; in separating the tribe of Levi, 8, 9; in listening to Moses' appeal for his people, 10, 11. An exhortation to obedience, 12-22.

1 "At that time the LORD said to me, 'Hew two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me upon the mountain, and make an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were in the first tablets which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.' 3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tablets of stone like the first, and ascended the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the LORD spoke to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. And the LORD gave them to me. 5 And I turned myself and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made. And they are there, as the LORD commanded me."

6 "And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jakan to Mosira. Aaron died there, and he was buried there. And Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead. 7 From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters. 8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day. 9 Therefore, Levi has no part nor inheritance with his brothers. The LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD your God promised him.

10 "And I stayed on the mountain, according to the first-time, forty days and forty nights. And the LORD listened to me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy you. 11 And the LORD said to me, 'Arise, take your journey before the people, so that they may go in and possess the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.'

12 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 And to keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good? 14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens belongs to the LORD your God, and also the earth, with all that it contains. 15 Only the LORD had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their posterity after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. 16 Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great, a mighty, and an awesome God, who does not regard persons, nor take reward. 18 He executes the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, in giving him food and clothing. 19 Therefore, love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and you shall cleave to him, and swear by his name. 21 He is your praise and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as the stars of heaven for multitude."

Chapter 11

An exhortation to obedience, 1; by their own experience of God’s great works, 2-7; by promise of God’s great blessings, 8-15; and by threatenings, 16, 17. A careful study is required in God’s words, 18-25. The blessing and curse set before them, 26-32.

1 "Therefore, you shall love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his judgments, and his commandments, always. 2 And know this day, for I do not speak with your children who have not known and who have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his out-stretched arm; 3 And his miracles and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land; 4 And what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD has destroyed them to this day; 5 And what he did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place; 6 And what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, along with their households, their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel. 7 But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did.

8 "Therefore, you shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land where you go to possess it, 9 And that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them and to their posterity, a land that flows with milk and honey. 10 For the land, where you go in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from where you came out, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs. 11 But the land, where you go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinks water of the rain of heaven, 12 A land which the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year.

13 "And it shall come to pass, if you listen diligently to my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in its due season, the former rain and the latter rain, so that you may gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil. 15 And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, so that you may eat and be full. 16 Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; 17 And the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he restrain the heavens so that there shall be no rain and the land shall not yield her fruit; and lest you perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD gives you.

18 "Therefore, you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul and bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 And you shall write them upon the door posts of your house and upon your gates, 21 So that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give to them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. 22 For if you diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave to him, 23 Then the LORD will drive out all these nations from before you, and you shall possess greater and mightier nations than yourselves. 24 Every place on which the soles of your feet tread shall be yours. From the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the Euphrates River, even to the uttermost sea shall be your limit. 25 No man shall be able to stand before you, for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that you shall tread upon, as he has said to you.

26 "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: 27 A blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, 28 And a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day to go after other gods which you have not known.

29 "And it shall come to pass when the LORD your God has brought you in to the land where you go to possess it, that you shall put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. 30 Are they not on the other side of the Jordan, by the way where the sun goes down in the land of the Canaanites, who dwell in the plain over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? 31 For you shall pass over the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you, and you shall possess it and dwell in it. 32 And you shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day."

Chapter 12

Monuments of idolatry are to be destroyed, 1-3. The place of God’s service to be kept, 4-14. Blood is forbidden, 15, 16, 20-25. Holy things must be eaten in the holy place, 17, 18, 26-28. The Levite is not to be forsaken, 19. Idolatry is not to be inquired after, 29-32.

1 "These are the statutes and judgments which you shall observe to do in the land which the LORD God of your fathers gives you to possess it, all the days that you live upon the earth. 2 You shall utterly destroy all the places in which the nations which you shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, upon the hills, and under every green tree. 3 And you shall overthrow their altars, break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire. And you shall hew down the engraved images of their gods and destroy their names out of that place. 4 You shall not do so to the LORD your God. 5 But the place which the LORD your God chooses out of all your tribes to put his name there, even his habitation you shall seek, and there you shall come. 6 And there you shall bring your burnt-offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, heave-offerings of your hand, your vows, your voluntary-offerings, and the first-born of your herds and of your flocks. 7 And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to—you and your households—in which the LORD your God has blessed you.

8 "You shall not do according to all the things that we do here this day, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes. 9 For you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the LORD your God gives you. 10 But when you go over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the LORD your God gives you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies on every side so that you dwell in safety, 11 There shall be a place which the LORD your God chooses to cause his name to dwell there. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt-offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to the LORD. 12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons, your daughters, your men-servants, your women-servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no part nor inheritance with you.

13 "Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt-offerings in every place that you see. 14 But in the place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt-offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

15 "However, you may kill and eat flesh in all your gates, whatever your soul desires, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it upon the earth as water. 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, of your wine, of your oil, or the first-born of your herds or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your voluntary-offerings, or heave-offering of your hand. 18 But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your woman-servant, and the Levite who is within your gates. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you put your hands to. 19 Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live upon the earth.

20 "When the LORD your God enlarges your border, as he has promised you, and you say, 'I will eat flesh,' because your soul longs to eat flesh, you may eat flesh, whatever your soul desires. 21 If the place which the LORD your God has chosen to put his name there is too far from you, then you shall kill from your herd and from your flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and you shall eat in your gates whatever your soul desires. 22 Even as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you shall eat them. The unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike. 23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you may not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it. You shall pour it upon the earth as water. 25 You shall not eat it, so that it may be well with you and with your children after you, when you do that which is right in the sight of the LORD. 26 You shall take only your holy things which you have and your vows, and go to the place which the LORD chooses, 27 And you shall offer your burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD your God. And the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD your God, and you shall eat the flesh.

28 "Observe and hear all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.

29 "When the LORD your God cuts off the nations from before you, where you go to possess them, and you succeed them and dwell in their land, 30 Take heed to yourself that you are not snared by following them after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? Even so I will do likewise.' 31 You shall not do so to the LORD your God, for every abomination to the LORD which he hates they have done to their gods. For even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

32 "Whatever thing I command you, observe to do it. You shall not add to it, nor diminish from it."

Chapter 13

Enticers to idolatry, 1-5; however near to you, 6-8; are to be stoned to death, 9-11. Idolatrous cities are not to be spared, 12-18.

1 "If there arises among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them,' 3 You shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God proves you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God, fear him, keep his commandments, obey his voice, serve him, and cleave to him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to thrust you out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. Thus you shall remove the evil from the midst of you.

6 "If your brother, the son of your mother, your son, your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known—you, nor your fathers— 7 Namely, of the gods of the people who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth, 8 You shall not consent to him, nor listen to him, neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him. 9 But you shall surely kill him. Your hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones so that he dies, because he has sought to thrust you away from the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage. 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall no longer do any such wickedness as this among you.

12 "If you hear it said in one of your cities which the LORD your God has given you to dwell there, 13 That some men, the children of Belial, have gone out from among you and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known, 14 Then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently. And behold, if it is truth and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought among you, 15 You shall surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword. 16 And you shall gather all its plunder into the midst of its street, and shall completely burn the city and all its plunder with fire for the LORD your God. And it shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. 17 And there shall cleave nothing of the cursed thing to your hand, so that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, show you mercy, have compassion upon you, and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers, 18 When you listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all his commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD your God."

References

[v.5]: Reference, 1st Corinthians 5:13.

Chapter 14

God’s children are not to disfigure themselves in mourning, 1, 2. What may, and what may not be eaten, 3; of beasts, 4-8; of fish, 9, 10; of birds, 11-20. That which dies of itself may not be eaten, 21. Tithes of divine service, 22. Tithes and first-born to be eaten before the Lord, 23-27. The third year’s tithe of alms and charity, 28, 29.

1 "You are the children of the LORD your God. You shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a peculiar people for himself above all the nations who are upon the earth.

3 "You shall not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the beasts which you shall eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 The deer, the gazelle, the fallow-deer, the wild-goat, the ibex, the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every beast that parts the hoof and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud among the beasts, that you shall eat. 7 Nevertheless, these you shall not eat, of those that chew the cud, or of those that divide the cloven hoof: the camel, the hare, and the coney. For they chew the cud, but do not divide the hoof; therefore, they are unclean to you. 8 And the swine, because it divides the hoof, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.

9 "These you shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales you shall eat. 10 And whatever does not have fins and scales you may not eat. It is unclean to you.

11 "Of all clean birds you shall eat. 12 But these are those of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, 13 The glede, the kite, the falcon after his kind, 14 Every raven after his kind, 15 The owl, the night-hawk, the gull, the hawk after his kind, 16 The little owl, the great owl, the swan, 17 The pelican, the vulture, the cormorant, 18 The stork, the heron after her kind, the lapwing, and the bat. 19 And every creeping animal that flies is unclean to you. They shall not be eaten. 20 But of all clean birds you may eat.

21 "You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself. You shall give it to the stranger who is in your gates, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in his mother’s milk.

22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed that the field brings forth year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he chooses to place his name there, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, of your oil, and the first-born of your herds and of your flocks, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, or if the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses to set his name there, when the LORD your God has blessed you, 25 Then you shall turn it into money, bind up the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 26 And you shall bestow that money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, for sheep, for wine, for strong drink, or for whatever your soul desires. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice—you, and your household. 27 And the Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.

28 "At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year and shall lay it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite (because he has no part nor inheritance with you), the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come and shall eat and be satisfied, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do."

Chapter 15

The seventh year shall be a year of release for the poor, 1-6. It must be no lease of lending or giving, 7-11. A Hebrew servant, unless he does not want to depart, must in the seventh year be let go free and well furnished, 12-18. All first-born males of the cattle are to be sanctified to the Lord, 19-23.

1 "At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: every creditor who lends anything to his neighbor shall release it. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother, because it is called the LORD’S release. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it again, but that which is yours with your brother your hand shall release. 4 However, there shall be no poor among you, for the LORD shall greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, 5 If only you carefully listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command you this day. 6 For the LORD your God shall bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

7 "If there is among you a poor man of one of your brothers within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother. 8 But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he lacks. 9 Beware that there is not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye is evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cries to the LORD against you, and it shall be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God shall bless you in all your works and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor shall never cease from the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy in your land.'

12 "And if your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you send him out free from you, you shall not let him depart empty. 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your floor, and out of your wine-press. Of that with which the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore, I command you this thing this day. 16 And it shall be, if he says to you, 'I will not leave you,' because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you, 17 Then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. And also to your woman-servant you shall do likewise.

18 "It shall not seem hard to you when you send him away free from you, for he has been of double the worth of a hired servant to you in serving you six years. And the LORD your God shall bless you in all that you do.

19 "All the first-born males that come of your herd and of your flock you shall sanctify to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the first-born of your bull, nor shear the first-born of your sheep. 20 You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD chooses—you and your household. 21 And if there is any blemish in it, as if it is lame, blind, or has any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. 22 You shall eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it upon the ground as water."

Chapter 16

The feast of the passover, 1-8, of weeks, 9-12, of tabernacles, 13-15. Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts, 16, 17. Of judges and justice, 18-20. Groves and images are forbidden, 21, 22.

1 "Observe the month Abib, and keep the passover to the LORD your God. For in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you forth from Egypt by night. 2 You shall therefore sacrifice the passover to the LORD your God of the flock and the herd in the place which the LORD chooses to place his name there. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, even the bread of affliction, for you came forth from the land of Egypt in haste, so that you may remember the day when you came forth from the land of Egypt, all the days of your life. 4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with you in all your borders seven days, neither shall there anything of the flesh, which you sacrificed the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. 5 You may not sacrifice the passover within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you. 6 But at the place which the LORD your God chooses to place his name in, there you shall sacrifice the passover at evening, at the setting of the sun, at the time of your departure from Egypt. 7 And you shall roast and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses. And you shall turn in the morning and go to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work.

9 "Seven weeks you shall number to you. Begin to number the seven weeks from the time when you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10 And you shall keep the feast of weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a voluntary-offering of your hand, which you shall give to the LORD your God, according as the LORD your God has blessed you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your woman-servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you—in the place which the LORD your God has chosen to place his name there. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. And you shall observe and do these statutes.

13 "You shall observe the feast of tabernacles seven days after you have gathered in your grain and your wine. 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your son, your daughter, your man-servant, your woman-servant, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. 15 Seven days you shall keep a solemn feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God shall bless you in all your increase and in all the works of your hands; therefore, you shall surely rejoice.

16 "Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. And they shall not appear before the LORD empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you.

18 "You shall make judges and officers for yourself throughout your tribes in all your gates which the LORD your God gives you. And they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 You shall not wrest judgment. You shall not respect persons, neither take a gift, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 That which is altogether just you shall follow, so that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God gives you.

21 "You shall not plant for yourself a grove of any trees near the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make for yourself, 22 Neither shall you set yourself up any image, which the LORD your God hates."

Chapter 17

The things sacrificed must be sound, 1. Idolaters must be slain, 2-7. Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges, 8-11. The despiser of that determination must die, 12, 13. The election, 14, 15; and duty of a king, 16-20.

1 "You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God any bull or sheep on which there is a blemish or any defect, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.

2 "If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, a man or woman who has wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun, moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, 4 And it is told to you, and you have heard of it and inquired diligently, and behold, it is true and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, 5 Then you shall bring forth to your gates that man or that woman who has committed that wicked thing, even that man or that woman, and shall stone them with stones until they die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is worthy of death shall be put to death, but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward, the hands of all the people. Thus you shall remove the evil from among you.

8 "If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 9 And you shall come to the priests the Levites, and to the judge who shall be in those days, and inquire, and they shall show you the sentence of judgment. 10 And you shall do according to the sentence, which those of that place which the LORD chooses shall show you. And you shall observe to do according to all that they inform you. 11 According to the sentence of the law which they teach you, and according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do. You shall not decline from the sentence which they show you to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man who will do presumptuously and will not listen to the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die. And you shall remove the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear and fear and no longer act presumptuously.

14 "When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,' 15 You shall surely set him king over you whom the LORD your God chooses. One from among your brothers you shall set king over you. You may not set a stranger over you, who is not your brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses, because the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way anymore.' 17 He shall not multiply wives for himself, so that his heart may not turn away, neither shall he greatly accumulate for himself silver and gold.

18 "And it shall be when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them, 20 And that his heart may not be lifted above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom—he and his children—in the midst of Israel."

References

[v.7]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 5:13.

Chapter 18

The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance, 1, 2. The priests' due, 3-5. The Levites' portion, 6-8. The abominations of the nations are to be avoided, 9-14. Christ the Prophet is to be heard, 15-19. The presumptuous prophet is to die, 20-22.

1 "The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 Therefore, they shall have no inheritance among their brothers. The LORD is their inheritance, as he has said to them.

3 "And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether ox or sheep, and they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the stomach. 4 Also the first-fruit of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name of the LORD—him and his sons forever.

6 "And if a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD chooses, 7 Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which comes of the sale of his patrimony.

9 "When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, who uses divination, an observer of times, an enchanter, a witch, 11 A charmer, a consulter with familiar spirits, a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be perfect with the LORD your God. 14 For these nations, which you shall possess, listened to observers of times and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.

15 "The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet like me from the midst of you, out of your brothers. To him you shall listen. 16 This is according to all that you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Do not let me hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire anymore, so that I may not die.' 17 And the LORD said to me, 'They have well spoken of that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise up to them a prophet like you from among their brothers and will put my words in his mouth. And he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.' 21 And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not follow, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him."

References

[v.15]: Quoted in Acts 3:22, 7:37. [v.19]: Quoted in Acts 3:23.

Chapter 19

The cities of refuge, 1-3. The privilege thereof for the slayer, 4-13. The land-mark is not to be removed, 14. Two witnesses at the least are required, 15. The punishment of a false witness, 16-21.

1 "When the LORD your God has cut off the nations, whose land the LORD your God gives you, and you succeed them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2 You shall separate three cities for yourself in the midst of your land which the LORD your God gives you to possess it. 3 You shall prepare yourself a way, and divide the limits of your land which the LORD your God gives you to inherit into three parts, so that every slayer may flee there.

4 "And this is the case of the slayer who flees there so that he may live. Whoever kills his neighbor ignorantly, whom he did not hate in time past, 5 As when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand makes a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the helve and falls upon his neighbor so that he dies, he shall flee to one of these cities and live, 6 Lest the avenger of blood pursues the slayer while his heart is hot and overtakes him, because the way is long, and slay him, whereas he was not worthy of death, since he did not hate him in time past. 7 Therefore, I command you, saying, 'You shall separate three cities for yourself.'

8 "And if the LORD your God enlarges your limits, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which he promised to give to your fathers, 9 If you keep all these commandments to do them, which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God and to walk ever in his ways, then you shall add three cities more for yourself, besides these three, 10 So that innocent blood may not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, and so blood is upon you.

11 "But if any man hates his neighbor, and lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and smites him mortally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and bring him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, so that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.

14 "You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess it.

15 "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, the matter shall be established. 16 If a false witness rises up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong, 17 Then both the men between whom the controversy is shall stand before the LORD, and before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days. 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition, and behold, if the witness is a false witness and has testified falsely against his brother, 19 Then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. Thus you shall remove the evil from among you. 20 And those who remain shall hear and fear, and shall no more from now on commit any such evil among you. 21 And your eye shall not pity. But life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

References

[v.15]: Quoted in Matthew 18:16; 2nd Corinthians 13:1. [v.21]: Reference, Matthew 5:38.

Chapter 20

The priest’s exhortation to encourage the people to battle, 1-4. The officers' proclamation of who are to be dismissed from the war, 5-9. How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace, 10-15. What cities must be devoted, 16-18. Trees that are food for man must not be destroyed in the siege, 19, 20.

1 "When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and a people more than you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be when you come near the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people, 3 And shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you approach this day to battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts faint, do not fear, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them, 4 For the LORD your God is he who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.' 5 And the officers shall speak to the people, saying, 'What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he should die in the battle and another man should dedicate it. 6 And what man is he who has planted a vineyard and has not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return to his house, lest he should die in the battle and another man should eat of it. 7 And what man is there who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he should die in battle and another man should take her.' 8 And the officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, 'What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brothers' hearts should faint as well as his heart.' 9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

10 "When you come near to a city to fight against it, proclaim peace to it. 11 And it shall be, if it makes you an answer of peace and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people who are found therein shall be tributaries to you and they shall serve you. 12 And if it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 And when the LORD your God has delivered it into your hands, you shall smite every male of it with the edge of the sword, 14 But the women, the little ones, the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for yourself. And you shall eat the plunder of your enemies which the LORD your God has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very distant from you, which are not of the cities of these nations. 16 But of the cities of these people which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 But you shall utterly destroy them, namely, the Hittites, the Amorites, Canaanites, the Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded you, 18 So that they may not teach you to do after all their abominations which they have done to their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God.

19 "When you besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by forcing an ax against them. You may eat of them, but you shall not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to employ them in the siege. 20 Only the trees which you know that are not trees for food you shall destroy and cut down. And you shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you until it is subdued."

Chapter 21

The expiation of an uncertain murder, 1-9. The usage of a captive taken for a wife, 10-14. The first-born is not to be disinherited upon private affection, 15-17. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death, 18-21. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree, 22, 23.

1 "If someone is found slain in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess it, lying in the field, and it is unknown who has slain him, 2 Then your elders and your judges shall come forth, and they shall measure to the cities which are around him who is slain. 3 And it shall be that the city which is next to the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer which has not been worked, and which has not drawn in the yoke, 4 And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a rough valley, which is neither tilled nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley. 5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near (for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of the LORD) and by their word every controversy and every stroke shall be tried. 6 And all the elders of that city who are next to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley. 7 And they shall answer and say, 'Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. 8 Be merciful, O LORD, to your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not lay innocent blood to the charge of your people Israel.' And the blood shall be forgiven. 9 Thus you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

10 "When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive, 11 And you see among the captives a beautiful woman and have a desire for her, that you would have her for your wife, 12 Then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and pare her nails. 13 And she shall take off from her the clothing of her captivity, and shall remain in your house and bewail her father and her mother a full month. And after that, you shall go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 14 And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall let her go where she wishes. But you shall not sell her at all for money and you shall not make merchandise of her, because you have humbled her.

15 "If a man has two wives, one beloved and another hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated, and if the first-born son is hers who was hated, 16 Then it shall be, when he makes his sons inherit that which he has, that he may not prefer the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated, which is indeed the first-born, 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the first-born is his.

18 "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not listen to them, 19 Then his father and his mother shall lay hold upon him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his place. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard.' 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, so that he may die. Thus you shall remove evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.

22 "And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he must be put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that your land may not be defiled, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance."

References

[v.23]: Quoted in Galatians 3:13.

Chapter 22

Of humanity toward brothers, 1-4. Gender is to be distinguished by apparel, 5. The hen is not to be taken with her young ones, 6, 7. The house must have parapets, 8. Confusion is to be avoided, 9-11. Fringes upon the vesture, 12. The punishment of him who slanders his wife, 13-21. Of adultery, 22; of rape, 23-27; of fornication, 28, 29; of incest, 30.

1 "You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You shall in any case bring them back to your brother. 2 And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks after it. Then you shall restore it to him again. 3 Thus you shall do with his donkey and likewise with his clothing, and you shall do the same with all lost things of your brother’s which he has lost and you have found. You may not hide yourself. 4 You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fall down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.

5 "A woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.

6 "If a bird’s nest happens to be before you in the way on any tree or on the ground, whether with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting upon the young or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. 7 But you shall surely let the mother go and take the young to you, so that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.

8 "When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you may not bring blood upon your house, if any man falls from there.

9 "You shall not sow your vineyard with diverse seeds, lest the fruit of your seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard should be defiled.

10 "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

11 "You shall not wear a mixed garment [woven] of wool and linen together.

12 "You shall make yourself fringes upon the four quarters of your vesture with which you cover yourself.

13 "If any man takes a wife, goes in to her, and then hates her, 14 And gives occasions of speech against her and brings an evil name upon her, and says, 'I took this woman, and when I came to her, I did not find her a virgin,' 15 Then the father of the young woman, and her mother, shall take and bring forth the tokens of the young woman’s virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. 16 And the young woman’s father shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man for a wife, and he hates her, 17 And behold, he has given occasions of speech against her, saying, "I did not find your daughter a virgin." And yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity.' And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him. 19 And they shall amerce him one hundred shekels of silver, and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought an evil name upon a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife. He may not put her away all his days.

20 "But if this thing is true, and the tokens of virginity are not found for the young woman, 21 Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones so that she may die, because she has wrought folly in Israel by being guilty of lewdness in her father’s house. Thus you shall remove evil from among you.

22 "If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall die, both the man who lay with the woman and the woman. Thus you shall remove evil from Israel.

23 "If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, 24 Then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them with stones so that they may die—the young woman, because she did not cry, being in the city, and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife. Thus you shall remove evil from among you.

25 "But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the field, and the man forces her and lies with her, then the man only who lay with her shall die. 26 But to the young woman you shall do nothing. There is in the young woman no sin worthy of death. For as when a man rises against his neighbor and slays him, even so is this matter. 27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed young woman cried, and there was no one to save her.

28 "If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and lays hold upon her and lies with her, and they are found, 29 Then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife. Because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

30 "A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt."

Chapter 23

Who may or may not enter into the congregation, 1-8. Uncleanness to be avoided in the host, 9-14. Of the fugitive servant, 15, 16. Of filthiness, 17. Of abominable sacrifices, 18. Of lending upon interest, 19. Of vows, 21-23. Of trespasses, 24, 25.

1 "He who is wounded or mutilated in his secrets shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. 2 An illegitimate son shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. Even to his tenth generation he shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. 3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. Even to their tenth generation they shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD forever, 4 Because they did not meet you with bread and with water in the way when you came forth from Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia to curse you. 5 Nevertheless, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you. 6 You shall not seek their peace, nor their prosperity all your days forever.

7 "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a stranger in his land. 8 The children who are begotten by them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.

9 "When the host goes forth against your enemies, keep yourself from every wicked thing.

10 "If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of uncleanness that happens to him by night, then he shall go abroad out of the camp. He shall not come within the camp. 11 But it shall be, when evening comes near, he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

12 "You shall have a place also outside the camp where you shall go forth abroad. 13 And you shall have a paddle upon your weapon, and it shall be when you relieve yourself abroad, you shall dig with it, and shall turn back and cover that which comes from you. 14 For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you; therefore, your camp shall be holy, so that he may see no unclean thing in you and turn away from you.

15 "You shall not deliver to his master the servant who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall dwell with you, even among you in that place which he chooses in one of your gates where it pleases him best. You shall not oppress him.

17 "There shall be no harlot of the daughters of Israel, nor a temple prostitute of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the wages of a harlot, or the price of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any vow, for even both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.

19 "You shall not lend upon interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, or interest of anything that is lent upon interest. 20 To a stranger you may lend upon interest, but to your brother you shall not lend upon interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you set your hand to in the land where you go to possess it.

21 "When you vow a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not defer to pay it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin in you. 22 But if you forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in you. 23 That which is uttered by your lips you shall keep and perform, even a voluntary-offering, according as you have vowed to the LORD your God, which you have promised with your mouth.

24 "When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may satisfy your appetite with grapes at your own pleasure, but you shall not put any in your vessel.

25 "When you come into the standing grain of your neighbor, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain."

References

[v.21]: Reference, Matthew 5:33. [v.23]: Reference, Matthew 5:33.

Chapter 24

Of divorce, 1-4. A new married man does not go to war, 5. Of pledges, 6, 10-13. Of those who steal men, 7. Of leprosy, 8, 9. The hire is to be given, 14, 15. Of justice, 16. Of charity, 19-22.

1 "When a man has taken a wife and married her, and it comes to pass that she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her, let him write her a bill of divorcement, give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she has departed from his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 And if the latter husband hates her and writes her a bill of divorcement, gives it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 Her former husband who sent her away may not take her again to be his wife, since she is defiled, for that is abomination before the LORD. And you shall not cause the land to sin, which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance.

5 "When a man has newly taken a wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business, but he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer his wife which he has taken.

6 "No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone for a pledge, for he takes a man’s life for a pledge.

7 "If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel and makes merchandise of him or sells him, then that thief shall die, and you shall remove evil from among you.

8 "Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that you observe diligently and do according to all that the priests the Levites teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do. 9 Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam by the way after you came forth from Egypt.

10 "When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to take his pledge. 11 You shall stand abroad, and the man to whom you lend shall bring out the pledge abroad to you. 12 And if the man is poor, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13 In any case you shall deliver to him the pledge again when the sun goes down, so that he may sleep in his own clothing, and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.

14 "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your brothers, or of your strangers who are in your land within your gates. 15 At his day you shall give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it, for he is poor and sets his heart upon it, lest he should cry against you to the LORD and it be sin to you.

16 "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

17 "You shall not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless, nor take a widow’s clothing for a pledge. 18 But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. Therefore, I command you to do this thing.

19 "When you cut down your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to fetch it. It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive-tree, you shall not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

21 "When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward. It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22 And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore, I command you to do this thing."

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 5:31; Mark 10:4.

Chapter 25

Stripes must not exceed forty, 1-3. The ox is not to be muzzled, 4. Of raising children for a brother, 5-10. Of the immodest woman, 11, 12. Of unjust weights and measures, 13-16. The memory of Amalek is to be blotted out, 17-19.

1 "If there is a controversy between men and they come to judgment so that the judges may judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. 2 And it shall be, if the wicked man is worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. 3 Forty stripes he may give him, but no more. Otherwise, if he should continue and beat him with many more stripes than these, then your brother would be dishonored in your eyes.

4 "You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain.

5 "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her for himself for a wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be, that the first-born which she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, so that his name may not become extinct in Israel. 7 And if the man does not want to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, 'My husband’s brother refuses to raise up for his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.' 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. And if he stands to it, and says, 'I do not want to take her,' 9 Then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, take his shoe off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, 'So it shall be done to that man who will not build up his brother’s house.' 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, 'The house of him who has his shoe removed.'

11 "When men strive together with one another, and the wife of one draws near to deliver her husband from the hand of him who smites him and puts forth her hand and takes him by the secrets, 12 Then you shall cut off her hand. Your eye shall not pity her.

13 "You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, a great and a small. 14 You shall not have in your house diverse measures, a great and a small. 15 But you shall have a perfect and just weight, and you shall have a perfect and just measure, so that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 16 For all who do such things, and all who do unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God.

17 "Remember what Amalek did to you by the way when you had come forth from Egypt, 18 How he met you by the way and smote the hindmost of you, even all who were feeble behind you, when you were faint and weary. And he did not fear God. 19 Therefore, it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies on all sides in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget it."

References

[v.4]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 9:9; 1st Timothy 5:18. [v.5]: Quoted in Matthew 22:24; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28.

Chapter 26

The confession of him who offers the basket of first-fruits, 1-11. The prayer of him who gives his third year’s tithes, 12-15. The covenant between God and his people, 16-19.

1 "And it shall be, when you come in to the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance and possess it and dwell therein, 2 That you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which you bring from your land that the LORD your God gives you, and shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God chooses to place his name there. 3 And you shall go to the priest who shall be in those days, and say to him, 'I profess this day to the LORD your God, that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' 4 And the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. 5 And you shall speak and say before the LORD your God, 'My father was a Syrian ready to perish, and he went down to Egypt and sojourned there with a few and became a nation there, great, mighty, and populous. 6 And the Egyptians ill-treated us and afflicted us and laid upon us hard bondage. 7 And when we cried to the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction, our labor, and our oppression. 8 And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an out-stretched arm, with great terribleness, with signs, and with wonders, 9 And he has brought us into this place and has given us this land, even a land that flows with milk and honey. 10 And now, behold, I have brought the first-fruits of the land, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. 11 And you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and to your house—you, the Levite, and the stranger who is among you.

12 "When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, 13 You shall say before the LORD your God, 'I have brought away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandments which you have commanded me. I have not transgressed your commandments, neither have I forgotten them. 14 I have not eaten of it in my mourning, neither have I taken away anything of it for any unclean use, nor given anything of it for the dead. But I have listened to the voice of the LORD my God and have done according to all that you have commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the land which you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey.'

16 "This day the LORD your God has commanded you to perform these statutes and judgments. You shall therefore keep and do them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have avouched the LORD this day to be your God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, his commandments, and his judgments, and to listen to his voice. 18 And the LORD has avouched you this day to be his peculiar people, as he has promised you, and that you should keep all his commandments; 19 And to make you high above all nations which he has made, in praise, in name, and in honor; and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, as he has spoken."

Chapter 27

The people are commanded to write the law upon stones, 1-4, and to build an altar of whole stones, 5-10. The tribes to be divided on Gerizim and Ebal, 11-13. The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal, 14-26.

1 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, "Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when you pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones and plaster them with plaster. 3 And you shall write upon them all the words of this law when you have passed over, so that you may enter in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land that flows with milk and honey, as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you. 4 Therefore, it shall be, when you have gone over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones which I command you this day on mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. 5 And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6 You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of whole stones. And you shall offer on it burnt-offerings to the LORD your God. 7 And you shall offer peace-offerings, and shall eat there and rejoice before the LORD your God. 8 And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly."

9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, "Take heed and listen, O Israel. This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God and do his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day."

11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12 "These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people when you have come over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15 'Cursed is the man who makes any engraved or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place.' And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.'

16 'Cursed is he who sets light by his father or his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

17 'Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

18 'Cursed is he who makes the blind to wander out of the way.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

19 'Cursed is he who perverts the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

20 'Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he uncovers his father’s skirt.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

21 'Cursed is he who lies with any manner of beast.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

22 'Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

23 'Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

24 'Cursed is he who smites his neighbor secretly.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

25 'Cursed is he who takes reward to slay an innocent person.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

26 'Cursed is he who does not confirm all the words of this law to do them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'"

References

[v.26]: Quoted in Galatians 3:10.

Chapter 28

The blessings for obedience, 1-14. The curses for disobedience, 15-68.

1 "And it shall come to pass, if you listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God to observe and to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you, if you listen to the voice of the LORD your God.

3 "Blessed you shall be in the city, and blessed you shall be in the field.

4 "Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your cattle, and the flocks of your sheep.

5 "Blessed shall be your basket and your store.

6 "Blessed you shall be when you come in, and blessed you shall be when you go out.

7 "The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be smitten before your face. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon you in your store-houses and in all that you set your hand to. And he shall bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you. 9 The LORD shall establish you a holy people to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 And all the people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the LORD shall make you to abound in goods, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. 12 The LORD shall open to you his good treasure, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall lend to many nations, and you shall not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make you the head and not the tail. And you shall be above only and not beneath if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day to observe and to do them. 14 And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

15 "But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of the LORD your God to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day, that all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.

16 "Cursed you shall be in the city, and cursed you shall be in the field.

17 "Cursed shall be your basket and your store.

18 "Cursed shall be the fruit of your body, the fruit of your land, the increase of your cows, and the flocks of your sheep.

19 "Cursed you shall be when you come in, and cursed you shall be when you go out.

20 "The LORD shall send upon you cursing, vexation, and rebuke in all that you undertake to perform until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings by which you have forsaken me. 21 The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave to you until he has consumed you from off the land where you go to possess it. 22 The LORD shall smite you with a consumption, with a fever, with an inflammation, with an extreme burning, with the sword, with blight, and with mildew. And they shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And your heaven that is over your head shall be brass, and the earth that is under you shall be iron. 24 The LORD shall make the rain of your land powder and dust. From heaven it shall come down upon you until you are destroyed.

25 "The LORD shall cause you to be smitten before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be an object of trembling to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 And your carcass shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth, and no man shall drive them away.

27 "The LORD will smite you with the boil of Egypt, with the emerods, with the scab, and with the itch, of which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD shall smite you with the madness, blindness, and astonishment of heart. 29 You shall grope at noon-day, as the blind gropes in darkness. You shall not prosper in your ways. You shall only be oppressed and plundered evermore, and no man shall save you. 30 You shall betroth a wife and another man shall lie with her. You shall build a house and you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard and shall not gather its grapes. 31 Your ox shall be slain before your eyes and you shall not eat of it. Your donkey shall be violently taken away from before your face and shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies and you shall have no one to rescue them. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long, and there shall be no might in your hand. 33 The fruit of your land and all your labors shall be eaten by a nation which you do not know. You shall only be oppressed and crushed always, 34 So that you are mad for the sight of your eyes which you shall see. 35 The LORD shall smite you in the knees and in the legs with a sore boil that cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. 36 The LORD shall bring you and your king which you shall set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a by-word among all nations where the LORD leads you.

38 "You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but shall neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. 40 You shall have olive-trees throughout all your borders, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olive shall cast its fruit. 41 You shall beget sons and daughters, but you shall not enjoy them, for they shall go into captivity. 42 All your trees and fruit of your land the locust shall consume. 43 The stranger who is within you shall rise above you very high, and you shall come down very low. 44 He shall lend to you and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head and you shall be the tail.

45 "Moreover, all these curses shall come upon you, and shall pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not listen to the voice of the LORD your God to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and for a wonder, and upon your offspring forever.

47 "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and with gladness of hert, for the abundance of all things, 48 Therefore you shall serve your enemies which the LORD shall send against you in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in lack of all things. And he shall put a yoke of iron upon your neck until he has destroyed you.

49 "The LORD shall bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you shall not understand, 50 A nation of fierce countenance which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young. 51 And he shall eat the fruit of your cattle and the fruit of your land until you are destroyed. He also shall not leave you either grain, wine, oil, the increase of your cattle, or flocks of your sheep until he has destroyed you. 52 And he shall besiege you in all your gates until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout all your land. And he shall besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you. 53 And you shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters which the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. 54 And the man who is tender among you and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children whom he leaves, 55 So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you in all your gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, toward her son, toward her daughter, 57 Toward her young one, her own offspring, and toward her children which she shall bear, for she shall eat them for lack of all things secretly in the siege and distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your gates.

58 "If you will not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, so that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, YAHWEH YOUR GOD, 59 Then the LORD will make your plagues and the plagues of your offspring wonderful, even great plagues and of long continuance, and severe sicknesses and of long continuance. 60 Moreover, he will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cleave to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this law, the LORD will bring them upon you until you are destroyed. 62 And you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. 63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and to bring you to nothing. And you shall be plucked from off the land where you go to possess it. 64 And the LORD shall scatter you among all people from one end of the earth even to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65 And among these nations you shall find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest, but the LORD shall give you there a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind. 66 And your life shall hang in doubt before you. And you shall fear day and night, and shall have no assurance of your life. 67 In the morning you shall say, 'O that it were evening!' and at evening you shall say, 'O that it were morning!' for the fear of your heart with which you shall fear, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see. 68 And the LORD shall bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way of which I have said to you, 'You shall no more see it again.' And there you shall be sold to your enemies for men-servants and women-servants, and no man shall buy you."

Chapter 29

Moses exhorts them to obedience by the memory of the works they had seen, 1-9. All are presented before the Lord to enter into his covenant, 10-17. The great wrath on him who flatters himself in his wickedness, 18-28. Secret things belong to God, 29.

1 These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.

2 And Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land, 3 The great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles, 4 Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive, eyes to see, and ears to hear to this day. 5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not become old upon you, and your shoe has not become old upon your foot. 6 You have not eaten bread, neither have you drank wine or strong drink, so that you might know that he is the LORD your God. 7 And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we smote them. 8 And we took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh. 9 Therefore, keep the words of this covenant and do them, so that you may prosper in all that you do.

10 "All of you stand this day before the LORD your God—your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, 11 Your little ones, your wives, and your stranger who is in your camp, from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water— 12 So that you should enter into covenant with the LORD your God and into his oath, which the LORD your God makes with you this day, 13 So that he may establish you today for a people to himself, and that he may be to you a God, as he has said to you and as he has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

14 "Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, 15 But with him who stands here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him who is not here with us this day 16 (For you know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the nations which you passed by. 17 And you have seen their abominations and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them), 18 Lest there should be among you man, woman, family, or tribe whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of these nations, lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood, 19 And it should come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he should bless himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart,' to sweep away the moist with the dry. 20 The LORD will not spare him. But then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him. And the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. 21 And the LORD shall separate him to evil out of all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law, 22 So that the generation to come of your children who arise after you and the stranger who comes from a distant land shall say—when they see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD has laid upon it, 23 And that its whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow in it like the overthrow of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath— 24 Then all the nations shall say, 'Why has the LORD done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?' 25 Then men shall say, 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers which he made with them when he brought them forth from the land of Egypt. 26 For they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods which they did not know and which he had not given to them. 27 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book. 28 And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.'

29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all the words of this law."

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Romans 11:8.

Chapter 30

Great mercies promised to the penitent, 1-10. The commandment is manifest, 11-14. Death and life are set before them, 15-20.

1 "And it shall come to pass, when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, 2 And return to the LORD your God and obey his voice according to all that I command you this day—you and your children—with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 That the LORD your God will turn your captivity and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. 4 If any of your outcasts are driven out to the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you. 5 And the LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. And he will do you good and multiply you above your fathers.

6 "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. 7 And the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your enemies and upon those who hate you, who have persecuted you. 8 And you shall return and obey the voice of the LORD and do all his commandments which I command you this day. 9 And the LORD your God will make you to abound in every work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your land for good, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, as he rejoiced over your fathers, 10 If you listen to the voice of the LORD your God to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

11 "For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hid from you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, so that you should say, 'Who shall ascend for us to heaven and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, so that you should say, 'Who shall go over the sea for us and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it.

15 "Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil, 16 In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his judgments, so that you may live and multiply, and the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you will not hear, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I denounce to you this day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not prolong your days upon the land where you pass over the Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your offspring may live, 20 To love the LORD your God, to obey his voice, and to cleave to him (for he is your life and the length of your days), so that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:27. [v.12]: Quoted in Romans 10:6. [v.13]: Paraphrased in Romans 10:7. [v.14]: Quoted in Romans 10:8.

Chapter 31

Moses encourages the people, 1-6. He encourages Joshua, 7, 8. He delivers the law to the priests to be read in the seventh year to the people, 9-13. God gives a charge to Joshua, 14-18; and a song to testify against the people, 19-23. Moses delivers the book of the law to the Levites to keep, 24-27. He makes a protestation, 28-30.

1 And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them, "I am one hundred and twenty years old this day. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not go over this Jordan.' 3 The LORD your God, he will go over before you and he will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall possess them. And Joshua, he shall go over before you, as the LORD has said. 4 And the LORD shall do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and to their land, whom he destroyed. 5 And the LORD shall give them up before your face, so that you may do to them according to all the commandments which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of a good courage, do not fear, nor be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, it is he who goes with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you."

7 And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of a good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them. And you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the LORD, it is he who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you, neither forsake you. Do not fear, neither be dismayed."

9 And Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11 When all Israel has come to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Convene the people—men, women, children, and your stranger who is within your gates—so that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law, 13 And that their children who have not known anything, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it."

14 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, so that I may give him a charge." And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 15 And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud. And the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle. 16 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers, and this people will rise up and commit idolatry with the gods of the strangers of the land where they go to be among them, and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured and many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, 'Have these evils not come upon us, because our God is not among us?' 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they have wrought, because they have turned to other gods.

19 "Now therefore, write this song for yourselves and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 20 For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers that flows with milk and honey and they have eaten and filled themselves and waxed fat, they will turn to other gods, serve them, provoke me, and break my covenant. 21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles have befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their offspring. For I know their imagination which they form, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore." 22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day and taught it to the children of Israel.

23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, "Be strong and of a good courage, for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them. And I will be with you."

24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book until they were finished, 25 That Moses commanded the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, 26 "Take this book of the law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the LORD. And how much more after my death? 28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, so that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to record against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands."

30 And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song until they were finished.

Chapter 32

Moses' song, which sets forth God’s mercy and vengeance, 1-45. He exhorts them to set their hearts upon it, 46, 47. God sends him up to mount Nebo to see the land and to die, 48-52.

1 "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak.   /

And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain,   /

my speech shall distill as the dew, /

as the small rain upon the tender herb, /

and as the showers upon the grass.

3 For I will publish the name of the LORD.   /

Ascribe greatness to our God.

4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect,   /

for all his ways are judgment. /

A God of truth and without iniquity. /

He is just and right.

5 They have corrupted themselves.   /

Their spot is not the spot of his children. /

They are a perverse and crooked generation.

6 Do you thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise?   /

Is he not your Father who has bought you? /

Has he not made you and established you?

7 Remember the days of old,   /

consider the years of many generations. /

Ask your father, and he will declare to you. /

[Ask] your elders, and they will tell you.

8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance   /

when he separated the sons of Adam, /

he set the bounds of the people /

according to the number of the children of Israel.

9 For the LORD’S portion is his people.   /

Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

10 "He found him in a desert land,   /

and in the barren, howling wilderness. /

He led him around, he instructed him, /

he kept him as the apple of his eye.

11 As an eagle stirs up her nest,   /

flutters over her young, /

spreads abroad her wings, takes them, /

bears them on her wings,

12 So the LORD alone led him,   /

and there was no strange god with him.

13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth.   /

He ate the increase of the fields. /

He nourished him with honey out of the rock, /

and oil out of the flinty rock,

14 With butter of cows, and milk of sheep,   /

with fat of lambs, /

and rams of the breed of Bashan and goats, /

with the finest of the wheat. /

And you drank the pure blood of the grape.

15 "But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked.   /

You have waxed fat, you have grown thick, you are covered with fatness. /

Then he forsook God who made him /

and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods.   /

With abominations they provoked him to anger.

17 They sacrificed to devils, not to God, /

to gods which they did not know, /

to new gods who came newly up, /

whom your fathers did not fear.

18 Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful,   /

and have forgotten God who formed you.

19 "And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them,   /

because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters.

20 And he said, 'I will hide my face from them.   /

I will see what their end will be, /

for they are a very perverse generation, /

children in whom there is no faith.

21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. /

They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. /

And I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. /

I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 For a fire is kindled in my anger,   /

and shall burn to the lowest hell, /

consume the earth with her increase, /

and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.

23 'I will heap mischiefs upon them.   /

I will spend my arrows upon them.

24 They shall be burnt with hunger and devoured with burning heat   /

and with bitter destruction. /

I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, /

with the poison of serpents of the dust.

25 The sword outside and terror inside,   /

shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, /

the nursing child also with the man of gray hairs.

26 I said, "I would scatter them into corners   /

and I would make their remembrance to cease from among men,"

27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy,   /

lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, /

and lest they should say, "Our hand is high, /

and the LORD has not done all this."'

28 "For they are a nation void of counsel,   /

neither is there any understanding in them.

29 O that they were wise, that they understood this,   /

that they would consider their latter end!

30 How should one chase a thousand   /

and two put ten thousand to flight, /

unless their Rock had sold them /

and the LORD had shut them up?

31 For their rock is not as our Rock,   /

even our enemies themselves being judges.

32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom   /

and of the fields of Gomorrah. /

Their grapes are grapes of gall, /

their clusters are bitter.

33 Their wine is the poison of serpents   /

and the cruel venom of asps.

34 "Is this not laid up in store with me   /

and sealed up among my treasures?

35 To me belongs vengeance and recompense. /

Their foot shall slide in due time, /

for the day of their calamity is at hand, /

and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

36 For the LORD shall judge his people /

and have compassion on his servants /

when he sees that their power is gone /

and there is no one shut up or left.

37 And he shall say, 'Where are their gods,   /

their rock in whom they trusted,

38 Which ate the fat of their sacrifices   /

and drank the wine of their drink-offerings? /

Let them rise up and help you /

and be your protection.

39 'See now that I, even I am he,   /

and there is no god with me. /

I kill and I make alive. /

I wound and I heal. /

There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.

40 For I lift up my hand to heaven,   /

and say, "I live forever."

41 If I whet my glittering sword   /

and my hand takes hold of judgment, /

I will render vengeance to my enemies /

and will recompense those who hate me.

42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood   /

and my sword shall devour flesh, /

and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives /

from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.'

43 "Rejoice, O nations, with his people, /

for he will avenge the blood of his servants, /

and will render vengeance to his adversaries, /

and will be merciful to his land and to his people."

44 And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people—he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 And he said to them, "Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it."

48 And the LORD spoke to Moses that same day, saying, 49 "Ascend this mountain Abarim, to mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho, and behold the land of Canaan which I give to the children of Israel for a possession, 50 And die on the mountain where you go and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 Because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not sanctify me in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there to the land which I give the children of Israel."

References

[v.17]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 10:20. [v.21]: Quoted in Romans 10:19. [v.35]: Quoted in Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30. [v.36]: Quoted in Hebrews 10:30. [v.43]: Quoted in Romans 15:10; possibly quoted in Hebrews 1:6.

Chapter 33

The majesty of God, 1-5. The blessings of the twelve tribes, 6-25. The excellency of Israel, 26-29.

1 And this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death: 2 And he said,

"The LORD came from Sinai,   /

and rose up from Seir to them. /

He shined forth from mount Paran, /

and he came with tens of thousands of saints. /

From his right hand went a fiery law for them.

3 Indeed, he loved the people.   /

All his saints are in your hand, /

and they sat down at your feet. /

Each receives your words.

4 Moses commanded us a law,   /

even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

5 And he was king in Jeshurun   /

when the heads of the people /

and the tribes of Israel were assembled.

6 "Let Reuben live, and not die,   /

and do not let his men be few."

7 And this is the blessing of Judah:

"Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah,   /

and bring him to his people. /

Let his hands be sufficient for him. /

May you be a help to him from his enemies."

8 And of Levi he said,

"Let your Thummim and your Urim be with your holy one,   /

whom you proved at Massah /

and with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah,

9 Who said to his father and to his mother,   /

'I have not seen him,' /

neither did he acknowledge his brothers, /

nor know his own children, /

for they have observed your word /

and kept your covenant.

10 They shall teach Jacob your judgments   /

and Israel your law. /

They shall put incense before you /

and whole burnt sacrifice upon your altar.

11 Bless, LORD, his substance,   /

and accept the work of his hands. /

Smite through the loins of those who rise against him /

and of those who hate him, /

so that they do not rise again."

12 And of Benjamin he said,

"The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him,   /

and the LORD shall cover him all day long, /

and he shall dwell between his shoulders."

13 And of Joseph he said,

"Blessed of the LORD be his land   /

for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, /

for the deep that couches beneath,

14 For the precious fruits brought forth by the sun,   /

for the precious things put forth by the moon,

15 For the chief things of the ancient mountains,   /

for the precious things of the lasting hills,

16 For the precious things of the earth and its fullness,   /

and for the good will of him who dwelt in the bush. /

Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph /

and upon the top of the head of him who was separated from his brothers.

17 His glory is like the first-born of his bull,   /

and his horns are like the horns of wild oxen. /

With them he shall push the people together /

to the ends of the earth. /

And they are the tens of thousands of Ephraim, /

and they are the thousands of Manasseh."

18 And of Zebulun he said,

"Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,   /

and Issachar, in your tents.

19 They shall call the people to the mountain.   /

There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness, /

for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas /

and of treasures hid in the sand."

20 And of Gad he said,

"Blessed is he who enlarges Gad.   /

He dwells as a lion /

and tears the arm with the crown of the head.

21 And he provided the first part for himself,   /

because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, he was seated. /

And he came with the heads of the people. /

He executed the justice of the LORD /

and his judgments with Israel."

22 And of Dan he said,

"Dan is a lion’s whelp.   /

He shall leap from Bashan."

23 And of Naphtali he said,

"O Naphtali, satisfied with favor   /

and full with the blessing of the LORD, /

possess the west and the south."

24 And of Asher he said,

"Let Asher be blessed with children.   /

Let him be acceptable to his brothers, /

and let him dip his foot in oil.

25 Your shoes shall be iron and brass.   /

And as your days, so your strength shall be.

26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,   /

who rides upon the heaven to your help /

and in his excellence on the sky.

27 The eternal God is your refuge,   /

and underneath are the everlasting arms. /

And he shall thrust out the enemy from before you, /

and shall say, 'Destroy them.'

28 Israel then shall dwell in safety alone.   /

The fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of grain and wine. /

His heavens shall also drop down dew.

29 Happy are you, O Israel!   /

Who is like you, O people saved by the LORD, /

the shield of your help, /

and he who is the sword of your excellence? /

And your enemies shall be found liars to you, /

and you shall tread upon their high places."

Chapter 34

Moses from mount Nebo views the land, 1-4. He dies there, 5. His burial, 6. His age, 7. Thirty days' mourning for him, 8. Joshua succeeds him, 9. The praise of Moses, 10-12.

1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab upon the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land: from Gilead to Dan, 2 All Naphtali, the land of Ephraim, Manasseh, all the land of Judah, to the utmost sea, 3 The south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm-trees, to Zoar. 4 And the LORD said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your offspring.' I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor. But no man knows of his sepulcher to this day. 7 And Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were finished.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the children of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD commanded Moses. 10 And there did not arise a prophet afterward in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.

[Tanach reading: go to Joshua]

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

Chapter 1

The Lord appoints Joshua to succeed Moses, 1, 2. The borders of the promised land, 3, 4. God promises to assist Joshua, 5-7. He gives him instructions, 8, 9. Joshua prepares the people to pass over the Jordan, 10, 11. He puts the two and a half tribes in mind of their promise to Moses, 12-15. They promise him loyalty, 16-18.

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’s minister, saying, 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan—you and all this people—to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, I have given to you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the Euphrates River, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun, shall be your border. 5 There shall not be any man able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you, nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of a good courage, for to this people you shall divide for an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous so that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left so that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night so that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage. Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the host and command the people, saying, 'Prepare yourselves provisions, for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess it.'"

12 And to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua spoke, saying, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God has given you rest and has given you this land.' 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan, but you shall pass before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them, 15 Until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’S servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

16 And they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you command us, we will do, and wherever you send us, we will go. 17 According as we listened to Moses in all things, so we will listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 18 Everyone who rebels against your commandment and will not listen to your words in all that you command him shall be put to death. Only be strong and of a good courage."

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Hebrews 13:5.

Chapter 2

Rahab receives and conceals the two spies sent from Shittim, 1-7. The covenant between her and them, 8-22. Their return and relation, 23, 24.

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent from Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, even Jericho." And they went, and came into the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men came in here tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country." 3 And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring forth the men who have come to you, who have entered into your house, for they have come to search out all the country." 4 And the woman took the two men and hid them, and said thus: "Men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went, I do not know. Pursue after them quickly, for you will overtake them." 6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7 And the men pursued them the way to the Jordan to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.

8 And before they had lain down, she came up to them upon the roof, 9 And she said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD 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 who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts melted, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you will also show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 That you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." 14 And the men answered her, "Our life for yours, if you do not utter our business. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that 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, and she dwelt upon the wall. 16 And she said to them, "Depart to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. And hide yourselves there three days until the pursuers have returned. And afterward you may go your way." 17 And the men said to her, "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this line of scarlet cord in the window by which you let us down. And you shall bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household home to you. 19 And it shall be, that whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is upon him. 20 And if you utter our business, then we will be acquitted of your oath which you have made us to swear." 21 And she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet line in the window.

22 And they went and came to the mountain and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. And the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them. 24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered into our hands all the land, for even all the inhabitants of the country faint because of us."

Chapter 3

Joshua comes to the Jordan, 1. The officers instruct the people for their passage, 2-6. The Lord encourages Joshua, 7, 8. Joshua encourages the people, 9-13. The waters of the Jordan are divided, 14-17.

1 And Joshua rose early in the morning. And they set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan—he and all the children of Israel—and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host, 3 And they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God and the priests the Levites bearing it, you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it so that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before."

5 And Joshua said to the people, "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." 6 And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass over before the people." And they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And you shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the brink of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" 9 And Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God." 10 And Joshua said, "By this you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above. And they shall stand in a heap."

14 And it came to pass, when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 And as those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark were dipped in the brim of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far from the city of Adam, that is beside Zaretan, and those which came down toward the sea of the plain, even the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off. And the people passed through over against Jericho. 17 And the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground until all the people had quite passed over the Jordan.

Chapter 4

Twelve men are appointed to take twelve stones for a memorial out of the Jordan, 1-8. Twelve other stones are set up in the midst of the Jordan, 9. The people pass over, 10-13. God magnifies Joshua, 14. The priests commanded to come out of the Jordan, 15-19. The twelve stones are pitched in Gilgal, 20-24.

1 And it came to pass, when all the people had quite passed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Take twelve men from the people, from every tribe a man, 3 And command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and you shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging-place where you shall lodge this night.'" 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, of every tribe a man. 5 And Joshua said to them, "Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 So that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What do you mean by these stones?' 7 Then you shall answer them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."

8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD commanded Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood. And they are there to this day. 10 For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua. And the people hastened and passed over. 11 And it came to pass, when all the people had quite passed over, that the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over in the presence of the people. 12 And the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses directed them. 13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD to battle, to the plains of Jericho.

14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

15 And the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 "Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan." 17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, "Come up out of the Jordan." 18 And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up upon the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and flowed over all its banks, as they did before.

19 And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. 21 And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 Then you shall let your children know, saying, 'Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.' 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you until you had passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us until we had gone over, 24 So that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD that it is mighty, and that you might fear the LORD your God forever."

Chapter 5

The Canaanites are afraid, 1. Joshua renews circumcision, 2-9. The passover is kept at Gilgal, 10, 11. Manna ceases, 12. An Angel appears to Joshua, 13-15.

1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the side of the Jordan westward and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until they had passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel.

2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make yourself sharp knives and circumcise the children of Israel again the second time." 3 And Joshua made himself sharp knives and circumcised the children of Israel at the Hill of the Foreskins. 4 And this is the cause why Joshua circumcised [them]: All the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5 Now all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth from Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the people who were men of war who came out of Egypt were consumed because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD swore that he would not show them the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 7 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.

8 And it came to pass when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp until they were whole. 9 And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." Therefore, the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. 11 And they ate unleavened cakes and parched grain of the produce of the land on the next day after the passover—on that very day. 12 And the manna ceased on the next day after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel did not have manna anymore, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

13 And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No, but as captain of the host of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15 And the captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, "Take your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

Chapter 6

Jericho is shut up, 1. God instructs Joshua how to besiege it, 2-11. The city is compassed, 12-16. It must be accursed, 17-19. The walls fall down, 20, 21. Rahab is saved, 22-25. The builder of Jericho is cursed, 26, 27.

1 Now Jericho was closely shut up because of the children of Israel. No one went out, and no one came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given into your hand Jericho, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 And you shall compass the city—all the men of war—and go around the city once. Thus you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns. And the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout. And the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall each ascend straight before him."

6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." 7 And he said to the people, "Pass on, and compass the city, and let him who is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD." 8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD and blew with the trumpets. And the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 And the armed men went before the priests who blew with the trumpets, and the rear-guard came after the ark, the priests going on and blowing with the trumpets. 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, "You shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed from your mouth until the day I bid you to shout. Then you shall shout." 11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going around it once. And they came into the camp and lodged in the camp.

12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them, but the rear-guard came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on and blowing with the trumpets. 14 And on the second day they compassed the city once and returned into the camp. They did so for six days.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day and compassed the city after the same manner seven times. Only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. 17 And the city shall be accursed, even it and all who are in it, to the LORD. Only Rahab the harlot shall live—she and all who are with her in the house—because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, in any way keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron are consecrated to the LORD. They shall come into the treasury of the LORD." 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets. And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

22 But Joshua had said to the two men who spied out the country, "Go into the harlot’s house and bring out from there the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." 23 And the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. And they brought out all her kindred and left them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver, the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 But Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had, Joshua saved alive. And she dwells in Israel even to this day because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, "Cursed is the man before the LORD, who rises up and builds this city Jericho. He shall lay its foundation in his first-born, and in his youngest son he shall set up its gates." 27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

Chapter 7

The Israelites are smitten at Ai, 1-5. Joshua’s complaint, 6-9. God instructs him what to do, 10-15. Achan is taken by the lot, 16-18. His confession, 19-23. He and all he had are destroyed in the valley of Achor, 24-26.

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spoke to them, saying, "Go up and view the country." And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua, and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai. And do not make all the people to labor there, for they are but few." 4 So there went up there of the people about three thousand men. And they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty-six men, and they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim and smote them in the going down. Therefore, the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

6 And Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening—he and the elders of Israel—and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? O that we had been content and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan. 8 O Lord, what shall I say when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do to your great name?"

10 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Arise. Why do you lie thus upon your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them, for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and they have also stolen, dissembled, and put it even among their own goods. 12 Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed. Neither will I be with you anymore unless you destroy the accursed from among you. 13 Rise, sanctify the people, and say, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the LORD God of Israel: "There is an accursed thing in the midst of you, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." 14 In the morning therefore, you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD takes shall come according to their families, and the family which the LORD takes shall come by households, and the household which the LORD takes shall come man by man. 15 And it shall be, that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire—he and all that he has—because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and because he has wrought folly in Israel.'"

16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 And he brought the family of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites. And he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 And he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 And Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give, I pray you, glory to the LORD God of Israel and make confession to him. And tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me." 20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Indeed, I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21 When I saw among the plunder a fine Babylonish garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, I coveted them and took them, and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it."

22 So Joshua sent messengers and they ran to the tent, and behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 23 And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had. And they brought them to the valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? The LORD shall trouble you this day." And all Israel stoned him with stones. And they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones to this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore, the name of that place was called the Valley of Achor to this day.

Chapter 8

God encourages Joshua, 1, 2. The stratagem whereby Ai was taken, 3-28. The king thereof is hanged, 29. Joshua builds an altar, 30, 31; writes the law on stones, 32; and pronounces the blessings and curses, 33-35.

1 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear, neither be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. Behold, I have given into your hand the king of Ai and his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king. Only its loot and its cattle you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it."

3 So Joshua and all the people of war arose to go up against Ai. And Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night. 4 And he commanded them, saying, "Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. 5 And I, and all the people who are with me, will approach the city. And it shall come to pass when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them 6 (For they will come out after us) until we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, 'They flee before us, as at the first.' Therefore, we will flee before them. 7 Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize upon the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand, 8 And it shall be when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD you shall do. Behold, I have commanded you." 9 Joshua therefore sent them forth. And they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai, but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

10 And Joshua rose early in the morning and numbered the people and went up—he and the elders of Israel—before the people to Ai. 11 And all the people, even the people of war who were with him, went up, drew near, came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between them and Ai. 12 And he took about five thousand men and set them to lie in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their ambush on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. 14 And it came to pass when the king of Ai saw it, that they hastened and rose early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle—he and all his people—at a time appointed, before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. 15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them and fled by the way of the wilderness. 16 And all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. 17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el who did not go out after Israel. And they left the city open and pursued Israel.

18 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. 19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. And they entered into the city, took it, and hastened to set the city on fire. 20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way. And the people who fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers. 21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and slew the men of Ai. 22 And the other issued out of the city against them so that they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they smote them so that they let none of them remain or escape. 23 And the king of Ai they took alive and brought him to Joshua.

24 And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness in which they chased them, and when they had all fallen on the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword. 25 And so it was, that all who fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw his hand back with which he stretched out the spear until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. 27 Only the cattle and the loot of that city Israel took as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua. 28 And Joshua burnt Ai and made it a heap forever, even a desolation to this day. 29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree, cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise upon it a great heap of stones, which remains to this day.

30 Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel on mount Ebal, 31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man has lifted up any iron. And they offered upon it burnt-offerings to the LORD and sacrificed peace-offerings. 32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. 33 And all Israel, their elders, officers, and their judges stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD—the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.

Chapter 9

The kings combine against Israel, 1, 2. The Gibeonites by craft obtain a league, 3-21. They are condemned to perpetual bondage, 22-27.

1 And it came to pass, when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan heard these things—those in the hills, in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the Great Sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite— 2 That they assembled themselves with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 They worked craftily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their donkeys, and wine-bottles, old, rent, and bound up, 5 And also old and patched shoes upon their feet and old garments upon themselves. And all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country. Now therefore, make a league with us." 7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "It may be that you dwell among us. How shall we make a league with you?" 8 And they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where did you come from?" 9 And they said to him, "From a very far country your servants have come because of the name of the LORD your God, for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11 Therefore, our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provisions with you for the journey and go to meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants. And now, make a league with us."' 12 Our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go to you, but now, behold, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these bottles of wine which we filled were new, and behold, they are rent. And our garments and our shoes have become old by reason of the very long journey." 14 And the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel at the mouth of the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a league with them, to let them live. And the princes of the congregation swore to them.

16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors and that they dwelt among them. 17 And the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim. 18 And the children of Israel did not smite them because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. Now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 We will do this to them: we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them." 21 And the princes said to them, "Let them live, but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had promised them."

22 And Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you dwell among us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being servants and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God." 24 And they answered Joshua, and said, "Because it was certainly told to your servants how the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were greatly afraid for our lives because of you and have done this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in your hand. Do as it seems good and right to you to do to us." 26 And thus he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not slay them. 27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Chapter 10

Five kings war against Gibeon, 1-5. Joshua rescues it, 6-9. God fights against them with hailstones, 10, 11. The sun and moon stand still at the word of Joshua, 12-15. The five kings are shut up in a cave, 16-21. They are brought forth, 22, 23; scornfully used, 24, 25; and hanged, 26, 27. Seven more kings are conquered, 28-42. Joshua returns to Gilgal, 43.

1 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 That they feared greatly because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 Therefore, Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 "Come up to me and help me so that we may smite Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel." 5 Therefore, the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon assembled themselves and went up—they and all their hosts—and encamped before Gibeon and made war against it.

6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not slack your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains are assembled against us." 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal—he, all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand. There shall not a man of them stand before you." 9 Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the LORD completely defeated them before Israel, slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the way that goes up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah and to Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass as they fled from before Israel and were in the descent to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died with hailstones than those whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

"Sun, stand still upon Gibeon,   /

and you, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon."

13 And the sun stood still and the moon stayed   /

until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.

Is this not written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens and did not hasten to go down about a whole day. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD listened to the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

16 But these five kings fled and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, saying, "The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah." 18 And Joshua said, "Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave and set men by it to keep them. 19 And do not stay, but pursue your enemies and smite the hindmost of them. Do not allow them to enter into their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand." 20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter until they were consumed, that the rest who remained of them entered into fortified cities. 21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings to me out of the cave." 23 And they did so, and brought those five kings to him out of the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, "Come near and put your feet upon the necks of these kings." And they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them. 25 And Joshua said to them, "Do not fear, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD shall do to all your enemies against whom you fight." 26 And afterward Joshua smote them, slew them, and hanged them on five trees. And they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. 27 And it came to pass at the time of the setting of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and cast them into the cave in which they had been hid and laid great stones upon the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.

28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king he utterly destroyed—them, and all the souls who were in it. He let no one remain. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he did to the king of Jericho.

29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah. 30 And the LORD delivered it also, and its king, into the hand of Israel. And he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it. He let no one remain in it, but did to its king as he did to the king of Jericho.

31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it and fought against it. 32 And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel who took it on the second day and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua smote him and his people until he had left him no one remaining.

34 And from Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him, and they encamped against it and fought against it. 35 And they took it on that day and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron, and they fought against it. 37 And they took it and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king, all its cities, and all the souls who were in them. He left no one remaining (according to all that he had done to Eglon) but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls who were in it.

38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it. 39 And he took it, its king, and all its cities, and they smote them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the souls who were in them. He left no one remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and to its king, as he had done also to Libnah and to its king.

40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, of the south, of the valley, and of the springs, and all their kings. He left no one remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon. 42 And all these kings and their land Joshua took at one time because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp in Gilgal.

Chapter 11

Various kings overcome at the waters of Merom, 1-9. Hazor is taken and burnt, 10-15. All the country taken by Joshua, 16-20. The Anakims cut off, 21, 22. The land rests from war, 23.

1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king Achshaph, 2 And to the kings who were on the north of the mountains, of the plains south of Cinneroth, in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, 3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. 4 And they went out—they and all their hosts with them, many people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very numerous. 5 And when all these kings met together, they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

6 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and they fell upon them. 8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them and chased them to great Zidon, to Misrephoth-maim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward. And they smote them until they left to them no one remaining. 9 And Joshua did to them as the LORD told him: he hamstrung their horses and burnt their chariots with fire.

10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor and smote its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they smote all the souls who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was not any left to breathe. And he burnt Hazor with fire. 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only. Joshua burned that one. 14 And all the loot of these cities and the cattle, the children of Israel took as plunder for themselves. But they smote every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, neither did they leave any who breathed. 15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua. And Joshua did so. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, all the south country, all the land of Goshen, the valley, the plain, the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same, 17 Even from the mount Halak that goes up to Seir, even to Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon. And all their kings he took, smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took all in battle. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts and to come against Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, so that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.

21 And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel. Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Chapter 12

The two kings whose countries Moses took and disposed of, 1-6. The thirty-one kings on the other side of the Jordan which Joshua smote, 7-24.

1 Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote and possessed their land on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the Arnon River, to mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the Arnon River, and from the middle of the river and from half Gilead, even to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 3 And from the plain to the sea of Cinneroth on the east and to the sea of the plain, even the Salt Sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah; 4 And the border of Og king of Bashan, who was of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 And reigned over mount Hermon, in Salcah and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites, the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the children of Israel smote them. And Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

7 And these are the kings of the country whom Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side of the Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon, even to the mount Halak that goes up to Seir—which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions, 8 In the mountains, in the valleys, in the plains, in the springs, in the wilderness, and in the south country—[the land of] the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: 9 The king of Jericho one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, one; 10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16 The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Beth-el, one; 17 The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; 18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; 21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one; 23 The king of Dor in the border of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one; 24 The king of Tirzah, one. In all, there were thirty-one kings.

Chapter 13

The bounds of the land not yet conquered, 1-7. The inheritance of the two and a half tribes, 8-13. The Lord and his sacrifices are the inheritance of Levi, 14. The bounds of the inheritance of Reuben, 15-21. Balaam slain, 22, 23. The bounds of the inheritance of Gad, 24-28; and of the half tribe of Manasseh 29-33.

1 Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, "You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed. 2 This is the land that yet remains: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, 3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even to the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite; five lords of the Philistines, the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites, 4 From the south all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, to Aphek to the borders of the Amorites; 5 And the land of the Giblites and all Lebanon toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon to the entering into Hamath. 6 And the inhabitants of the hill-country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim and all the Sidonians, I will drive them out from before the children of Israel. Only divide it by lot to the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. 7 Now therefore, divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh."

8 With him the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: 9 From Aroer that is upon the bank of the Arnon River, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon; 10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon; 11 And Gilead, the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, all mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salcah; 12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Moses smote these and cast them out. 13 Nevertheless, the children of Israel did not expel the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. 14 Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance. The sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said to them.

15 And Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. 16 And their border was from Aroer that is on the bank of the Arnon River, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba; 17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain: Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, 18 Jahaza, Kedemoth, Mephaath, 19 Kirjathaim, Sibmah, Zareth-shahar on the mountain of the valley, 20 Beth-peor, Ashdoth-pisgah, Beth-jeshimoth, 21 All the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. Moses smote him along with the princes of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—chiefs of Sihon who dwelt in the country. 22 Balaam, the son of Beor, the soothsayer, the children of Israel also slayed with the sword, among those who were slain by them. 23 And the border of the children of Reuben was the Jordan and its border. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families: the cities and their villages.

24 And Moses gave inheritance to the tribe of Gad, even to the children of Gad according to their families. 25 And their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah; 26 And from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir; 27 And in the valley, Beth-aram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan and its border, even to the edge of the sea of Cinneroth, on the other side of the Jordan eastward. 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families: the cities and their villages.

29 And Moses gave inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. And this was the possession of the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. 30 And their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities; 31 And half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining to the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

32 These are the countries which Moses distributed for inheritance in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho eastward. 33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses did not give any inheritance. The LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said to them.

Chapter 14

The nine and a half tribes are to have their inheritance by lot, 1-5. Caleb by privilege obtains Hebron, 6-15.

1 And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel distributed for inheritance to them. 2 Their inheritance was by lot, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and for the half-tribe. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half-tribe on the other side of the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; therefore, they gave no part to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. 5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said to him, "You know the thing that the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance, and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' 10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years, even since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day, for you heard in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. If the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said."

13 And Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron for an inheritance to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite to this day because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath-arba. (This Arba was a great man among the Anakims.) And the land had rest from war.

Chapter 15

The borders of the lot of Judah, 1-12. Caleb’s portion and conquest, 13-15. Othniel, for his valor, has Achsah, Caleb’s daughter, for a wife, 16, 17. She obtains a blessing from her father, 18-20. The cities of Judah, 21-62. The Jebusites unconquered, 63.

1 And the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south border. 2 And their south border was from the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward, 3 And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, passed along to Zin, ascended on the south side to Kadesh-barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and turned around to Karkaa. 4 From there it passed toward Azmon, and went out to the river of Egypt, and the limits of that border were at the sea. This shall be their south limit. 5 And the east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea, at the uttermost part of the Jordan. 6 And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah. And the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. And the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and its borders were at En-rogel. 8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom, to the south side of the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem). And the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of Rephaim northward. 9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron. And the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim. 10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward to mount Seir, passed along to the side of mount Jearim (which is Chesalon) on the north side, went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah. 11 And the border went out to the side of Ekron northward. And the border was drawn to Shicron, passed along to mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel. And the terminations of the border were at the sea. 12 And the west border was to the Great Sea, and its coast. This is the border of the children of Judah all around according to their families.

13 And to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak (which city is Hebron). 14 And Caleb drove from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15 And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir. And the name of Debir was formerly Kirjath-sepher. 16 And Caleb said, "He who smites Kirjath-sepher, and takes it, I will give Achsah my daughter to him for a wife." 17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. 18 And it came to pass, as she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" 19 She answered, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the south, give me also springs of water." And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom southward were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth, 25 Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth, Hezron (which is Hazor), 26 Aman, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-palet, 28 Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Bizjothjah, 29 Baalah, Iim, Azem, 30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah, 31 Ziglag, Madmannah, Sansannah, 32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. All the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, Zoreah, Ashnah, 34 Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 36 Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.

37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdalgad, 38 Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel, 39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahman, Kithlish, 41 Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.

42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Jiphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, 44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.

45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages; 46 From Ekron even to the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages.

47 Ashdod, with her towns and her villages; Gaza, with her towns and her villages, to the river of Egypt, and the Great Sea, and its border.

48 And in the mountains, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, 49 Dannah, Kirjath-sannah (which is Debir), 50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.

52 Arab, Dumah, Eshean, 53 Janum, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 54 Humtah, Kirjath-arba (which is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.

58 Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.

60 Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim) and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.

61 In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.

63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not expel them. But the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.

Chapter 16

The general borders of the sons of Joseph, 1-4. The border of the inheritance of Ephraim, 5-9. The Canaanites of Gezer not conquered, 10.

1 And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from the Jordan by Jericho, to the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout mount Beth-el, 2 And goes out from Beth-el to Luz, and passes along to the borders of Archi to Ataroth, 3 And goes down westward to the border of Japhleti, to the border of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer, and its limits are at the sea.

4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance. 5 And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-adar, to Beth-horon the upper, 6 And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side, and the border went around eastward to Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah, 7 And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and terminated at the Jordan. 8 The border went out from Tappuah westward to the Kanah River, and its limits were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. 9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 10 And they did not expel the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer. But the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, and serve under tribute.

Chapter 17

The lot of Manasseh, 1-6. His coast, 7-11. The Canaanites not driven out, 12, 13. The children of Joseph obtain another lot, 14-18.

1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the first-born of Joseph, namely, for Machir the first-born of Manasseh, the father of Gilead. Because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. 2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families: for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek, for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem, for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida. These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." Therefore, according to the commandment of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father. 5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan, 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons. And the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

7 And the border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lies before Shechem, and the border went along on the right hand to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. 8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim. 9 And the border descended to the Kanah River, southward of the river. These cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh. Then the border of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and its limits were at the sea. 10 Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border. And they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east. 11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher, Beth-shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Tanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, even three countries. 12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not expel the inhabitants of those cities. But the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel had become strong, that they subjected the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly expel them.

14 And the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people because the LORD has until now blessed me?" 15 And Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, if mount Ephraim is too narrow for you." 16 And the children of Joseph said, "The hill is not enough for us. And all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron—both those who are of Beth-shean and its towns, and those who are of the valley of Jezreel." 17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, "You are a great people, and have great power. You shall not have one lot only. 18 But the mountain shall be yours. Although it is a forest, you shall cut it down. And its limits shall be yours, for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they are strong."

Chapter 18

The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh, 1. The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts, 2-9. Joshua distributes it by lot, 10. The lot and border of Benjamin, 11-20. Their cities, 21-28.

1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle of the Congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 And Joshua said to the children of Israel, "How long are you slack to go to possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? 4 Select from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them, and they shall rise, go through the land, describe it according to their inheritance, and they shall come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall abide in their border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their borders on the north. 6 You shall therefore describe the land in seven parts and bring the description here to me so that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God. 7 But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them."

8 And the men arose and departed. And Joshua charged those who went to describe the land, saying, "Go, and walk through the land, describe it, and come back to me so that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh." 9 And the men went and passed through the land, described it by cities in seven parts in a book, and came back to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. 10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD. And there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.

11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families. And the border of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12 And their border on the north side was from the Jordan. And the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward. And its limits were at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 And the border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz (which is Beth-el) southward. And the border descended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lies on the south side of the nether Beth-horon. 14 And the border was drawn from there, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lies before Beth-horon southward. And its limits were at Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim) a city of the children of Judah. This was the west quarter. 15 And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah. 16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to En-rogel, 17 And was drawn from the north, went forth to En-shemesh, went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18 Passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down to Arabah. 19 And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward. And the limits of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border. 20 And the Jordan was its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to its borders all around, according to their families.

21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, the valley of Keziz, 22 Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Beth-el, 23 Avim, Parah, Ophrah, 24 Chephar-haamonai, Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages. 25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, 26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, 28 Zelah, Eleph, Jebusi (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

Chapter 19

The lot of Simeon, 1-9; of Zebulun, 10-16; of Issachar, 17-23; of Asher, 24-31; of Naphtali, 32-39; of Dan, 40-48. The children of Israel give an inheritance to Joshua, 49-51.

1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. And their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. 2 And they had in their inheritance, Beer-sheba (or Sheba), Moladah, 3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Azem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, 6 Beth-lebaoth, and Sheruhen; thirteen cities and their villages; 7 Ain, Remmon, Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages; 8 And all the villages that were around these cities to Baalath-beer (Ramath of the south). This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. 9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon, for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them; therefore, the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance.

10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families. And the border of their inheritance was to Sarid. 11 And their border went up toward the sea and Maralah, reached to Dabbasheth, reached to the river that is before Jokneam, 12 Turned from Sarid eastward, toward the sunrise, to the border of Chisloth-tabor, then goes out to Daberath, then goes up to Japhia; 13 From there passes along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goes out to Remmon-methoar to Neah; 14 And the border compasses it on the north side to Hannathon; and its limits are in the valley of Jiphthah-el; 15 And Kattath, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Beth-lehem; twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 18 And their border was toward Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shihon, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Abez, 21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez; 22 And the border reaches to Tabor, Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh, and the limits of their border were at the Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 25 And their border was Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 26 Alammelech, Amad, and Misheal, and reaches to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath, 27 And turns toward the sunrise to Beth-dagon, and reaches to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goes out to Cabul on the left hand, 28 And Hebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Zidon; 29 And then the border turns to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre, and the border turns to Hosah; and its limits are at the sea by the region of Achzib; 30 Also Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob; twenty-two cities with their villages. 31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. 33 And their border was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakum; and the limits thereof were at the Jordan; 34 And then the border turns westward to Aznoth-tabor, goes out from there to Hukkok, reaches to Zebulun on the south side, reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon the Jordan toward the sunrise; 35 And the fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 41 And the border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, 42 Shaalabbim, Ajalon, Jethlah, 43 Elon, Thimnathah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, 46 Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. 47 And the border of the children of Dan, went out too little for them; therefore, the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, took it, smote it with the edge of the sword, possessed it, and dwelt in it, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them. 50 According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in the mountains of Ephraim. And he built the city and dwelt in it.

51 These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

Chapter 20

God commands, 1-6, and the children of Israel appoint the six cities of refuge, 7-9.

1 The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses, 3 So that the slayer who kills any person unintentionally and ignorantly may flee there. And they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And when he who flees to one of those cities stands at the entering of the gate of the city and declares his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city to them and give him a place so that he may dwell among them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand because he smote his neighbor ignorantly and had not hated him before. 6 And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment and until the death of the high-priest who shall be in those days. Then the slayer shall return, and come to his own city and to his own house, to the city from where he fled.'"

7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah. 8 And on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, so that whoever kills any person unintentionally might flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.

Chapter 21

Forty-eight cities given by lot, out of the other tribes, to the Levites, 1-42. God gives the land, and rest to the Israelites, according to his promise, 43-45.

1 Then the heads of the fathers of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel. 2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for our cattle." 3 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. 4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

8 And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name, 10 Which the children of Aaron had, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, for theirs was the first lot. 11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak (which city is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah, with its suburbs around it. 12 But the fields of the city, and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with its suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer, Libnah with its suburbs, 14 Jattir with its suburbs, Eshtemoa with its suburbs, 15 Holon with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs, 16 Ain with its suburbs, Juttah with its suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes. 17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs, 18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities. 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites who remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the mountains of Ephraim to be a city of refuge for the slayer, Gezer with its suburbs, 22 Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth-horon with its suburbs; four cities. 23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, 24 Ajalon with its suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; four cities. 25 And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities. 26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs, for the families of the children of Kohath who remained.

27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with its suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Beesh-terah with its suburbs; two cities. 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with its suburbs, Dabareh with its suburbs, 29 Jarmuth with its suburbs, and En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities. 30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs, 31 Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities. 32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer, Hammoth-dor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites, according to their families, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.

34 And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, Kartah with its suburbs, 35 Dimnah with its suburbs, and Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities. 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, Jahazah with its suburbs, 37 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities. 38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer, Mahanaim with its suburbs, 39 Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.

41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs. 42 These cities were each with their suburbs around them. Thus were all these cities.

43 And the LORD gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers. And they possessed it and dwelt in it. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on all sides, according to all that he swore to their fathers. And there did not stand a man of all their enemies before them. The LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 There did not fail anything of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

Chapter 22

The two and a half tribes with a blessing are sent home, 1-9. They build the altar of testimony in their journey, 10. The Israelites are offended on account of it, 11-20. They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction, 21-34.

1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 And said to them, "You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. 3 You have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. 4 And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. And now, return, and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 But take diligent heed to perform the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to cleave to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." 6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.

7 Now to one half of the tribe of Manasseh, Moses had given possession in Bashan, but to its other half Joshua gave among their brothers on this side of the Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also to their tents, he blessed them, 8 And he spoke to them, saying, "Return with great riches to your tents, and with very many cattle, with silver, with gold, with brass, with iron, and with very many clothes. Divide the plunder of your enemies with your brothers." 9 And the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, of which they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

10 And when they came to the borders of the Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a great altar to the sight. 11 And the children of Israel heard it said, "Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of the Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel." 12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go up to war against them.

13 And the children of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh into the land of Gilead, 14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel, and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. 15 And they came to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16 "Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD: 'What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have built yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day against the LORD? 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD, 18 But that you must turn away this day from following the LORD? And it will be, seeing you rebel today against the LORD, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. 19 However, if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of the LORD, in which the LORD’S tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us. But do not rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building yourselves an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God. 20 Did Achan the son of Zerah not commit a trespass in the accursed thing and wrath fall on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.'"

21 Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 "The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knows, and Israel he shall know, if it is in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD (do not save us this day), 23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer on it burnt-offering, food-offering, or if to offer peace-offerings on it, let the LORD himself require it. 24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, 'In time to come your children may speak to our children, saying, "What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel? 25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no part in the LORD." So your children shall make our children cease from fearing the LORD.'

26 "Therefore, we said, 'Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt-offering or for sacrifice, 27 But it shall be a witness between us and you and our generations after us so that we may do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt-offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings, and that your children may not say to our children in time to come, "You have no part in the LORD."' 28 Therefore, we said that it shall be, when they say so to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, 'Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offerings, nor for sacrifices, but it is a witness between us and you.' 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt-offerings, for food-offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle."

30 And when Phinehas the priest, the princes of the congregation, and heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, "This day we perceive that the LORD is among us because you have not committed this trespass against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD."

32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the princes returned from the children of Reuben and from the children of Gad, from the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel. And the children of Israel blessed God and did not intend to go up against them in battle to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed, saying, "For it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God."

Chapter 23

Joshua’s exhortation before his death, 1, 2; by former benefits, 3, 4; by promises, 5-10; and by threatenings, 11-16.

1 And it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on all sides, that Joshua became old and advanced in age. 2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them, "I am old and advanced in age. 3 And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is he who has fought for you. 4 Behold, I have divided to you by lot these nations which remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations which I have cut off, even to the Great Sea westward. 5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from your sight, and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God has promised to you. 6 Therefore, be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you do not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 That you do not come among these nations, these which remain among you, neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves to them. 8 But cleave to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 9 For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations. But as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God, it is he who fights for you, as he has promised you. 11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God. 12 But if you do in any way go back and cleave to the remnant of these nations, even those who remain among you, and make marriages with them and associate with them, and they with you, 13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no longer drive out any of these nations from before you, but they shall be snares and traps to you, scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

14 "And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass to you, and not one thing has failed of it. 15 Therefore, it shall come to pass, that as all good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD shall bring upon you all evil things until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. 16 If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods and bowed yourselves to them, then the anger of the LORD shall be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you."

Chapter 24

Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem, 1. A brief history of God’s benefits, from Terah, 2-13. He renews the covenant between them and God, 14-25. A stone the witness of the covenant, 26-28. Joshua’s age, death, and burial, 29-31. Joseph’s bones are buried, 32. Eleazar dies, 33.

1 And Joshua convened all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, multiplied his offspring, and gave him Isaac. 4 And I gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac. And I gave mount Seir to Esau to possess it, but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I also sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them. And afterward I brought you out. 6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them and covered them. And your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt. And you dwelt in the wilderness for a long season. 8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you. And I gave them into your hand so that you might possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam; therefore, he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand. 11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you—the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites—and I delivered them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword, nor with your bow. 13 And I have given you a land for which you did not labor and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them. You eat of the vineyards and olive-groves which you did not plant.'

14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in truth. And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served who were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

16 And the people answered, and said, "Be it far from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods. 17 For the LORD our God, it is he who brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went and among all the people through whom we passed. 18 And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore, we will also serve the LORD, for he is our God."

19 And Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your transgressions, nor your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt and consume you, after he has done you good." 21 And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." 22 And Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore," he said, "put away the strange gods which are among you and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone and set it up there under an oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God." 28 So Joshua let the people depart, each to his inheritance.

29 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun the servant of the LORD died, being one hundred and ten years old. 30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.

31 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and who had known all the works of the LORD that he had done for Israel.

32 And the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel brought out of Egypt, they buried in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver. And it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him on a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given to him on mount Ephraim.

[Tanach reading: go to Judges]

THE BOOK OF JUDGES

Chapter 1

The acts of Judah and Simeon, 1-3. Adonibezek justly requited, 4-7. Jerusalem taken, 8, 9. Hebron taken, 10. Othniel has Achsah for a wife for the taking of Debir, 11-15. The Kenites dwell in Judah, 16. Hormah, Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron taken, 17-20. The acts of Benjamin, 21. Of the house of Joseph, who take Beth-el, 22-29. Of Zebulun, 30. Of Asher, 31, 32. Of Naphtali, 33. Of Dan, 34-36.

1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, "Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first to fight against them?" 2 And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up. Behold, I have delivered the land into his hand." 3 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into my lot so that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into your lot." So Simeon went with him. 4 And Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand. And they slew ten thousand men in Bezek. 5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adoni-bezek fled, and they pursued him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 7 And Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their food under my table. As I have done, so God has requited me." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

8 (Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, had taken it, had smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.) 9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt on the mountain, in the south, and in the valley. 10 And Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath-arba), and they slew Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 And from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was formerly Kirjath-sepher). 12 And Caleb said, "He who smites Kirjath-sepher and takes it, I will give Achsah my daughter to him for a wife." 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, and he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. 14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask her father for a field. And she alighted from off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" 15 And she said to him, "Give me a blessing, for you have given me a south land, give me also springs of water." And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.

16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses’s father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm-trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the south of Arad, and they went and dwelt among the people. 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. 18 Also Judah took Gaza with its border, Askelon with its border, and Ekron with its border. 19 And the LORD was with Judah, and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain, but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses said. And he expelled from there the three sons of Anak. 21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem, but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el, and the LORD was with them. 23 And the house of Joseph sent to explore Beth-el. Now the name of the city was formerly Luz. 24 And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, "Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will show you mercy." 25 And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword, but they let go the man and all his family. 26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.

27 Manasseh did not expel the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its towns, nor Tanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 28 And it came to pass when Israel was strong, that they subjected the Canaanites to tribute and did not utterly expel them.

29 Ephraim did not expel the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer, but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

30 Zebulun did not expel the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol, but the Canaanites dwelt among them and became tributaries.

31 Asher did not expel the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, of Ahlab, of Achzib, of Helbah, of Aphik, or of Rehob, 32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not expel them.

33 Naphtali did not expel the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries to them.

34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan to the mountain, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley. 35 But the Amorites wished to dwell at mount Heres in Ajalon and in Shaalbim, yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 36 And the border of the Amorites was from the ascent to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

Chapter 2

An angel rebukes the people at Bochim, 1-5. The wickedness of the new generation after Joshua, 6-13. God’s anger and pity toward them, 14-19. The Canaanites left to prove Israel, 20-23.

1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, "I made you to depart from Egypt and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers, and I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you. 2 And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land. You shall throw down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this? 3 Therefore, I also said, 'I will not drive them out from before you, but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.'" 4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the LORD.

6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel each went to his inheritance to possess the land. 7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD that he did for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, on the mountain of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them, which did not know the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served Baalim. 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people who were around them, and bowed themselves to them and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. And he delivered them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 And yet they would not listen to their judges, but they went astray after other gods and bowed themselves to them. They turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD, but they did not do so. 18 And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge (for the LORD repented because of their groanings by reason of those who oppressed them and burdened them). 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned and corrupted themselves more than their fathers in following other gods to serve them and to bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. 20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he said, "Because this people has transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to my voice, 21 I also will not from now on drive out from before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 So that through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or not." 23 Therefore, the LORD left those nations, without driving them out speedily, neither did he deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

Chapter 3

The nations which were left to prove Israel, 1-4. By communion with them they commit idolatry, 5-7. Othniel delivers them from Chushan-rishathaim, 8-11; Ehud from Eglon, 12-30; and Shamgar from the Philistines, 31.

1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them (even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan, 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least those who before knew nothing of it), 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt on mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of the LORD which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and forgot the LORD their God, and they served Baalim and the groves. 8 Therefore, the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.

9 And when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 13 And he gathered to himself the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm-trees. 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjaminite, a man left-handed. And by him the children of Israel sent a present to Eglon king of Moab. 16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length, and he girded it under his clothing upon his right thigh. 17 And he brought the present to Eglon king of Moab (Eglon was a very fat man). 18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people who bore the present. 19 But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret errand for you, O king." He said, "Keep silence." And all who stood by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came to him. And he was sitting in a summer-parlor, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God to you." And he arose from his seat. 21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 22 And the hilt also entered after the blade, and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly. And the dirt came out. 23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor upon him and locked them.

24 When he had gone out, his servants came. And when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, "Surely he covers his feet in his summer-chamber." 25 And they waited until they were ashamed. And behold, he did not open the doors of the parlor; therefore, they took a key and opened them, and behold, their lord lay dead on the earth.

26 And Ehud escaped while they waited, and passed beyond the quarries and escaped to Seirath. 27 And it came to pass when he had come, that he blew a trumpet on the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountain, and he before them. 28 And he said to them, "Follow me, for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand." And they went down after him and took the fords of the Jordan toward Moab, and did not allow a man to pass over. 29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty and all men of valor, and there did not escape a man. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.

31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad, and he also delivered Israel.

Chapter 4

Deborah and Barak deliver Israel from Jabin and Sisera, 1-16. Jael kills Sisera, 17-24.

1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud was dead. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor, the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried to the LORD, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron. And twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Beth-el in the mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, "Has the LORD God of Israel not commanded, saying, 'Go, and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun, 7 And I will draw to you, to the Kishon River, Sisera the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand'?" 8 And Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go. But if you will not go with me, then I will not go." 9 And she said, "I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take shall not be for your honor, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet. And Deborah went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite, who was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent to the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

12 And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera collected all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said to Barak, "Arise, for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has the LORD not gone out before you?" So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD completely defeated Sisera and all his chariots and all his host with the edge of the sword before Barak. And Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the host to Harosheth of the Gentiles. And all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword, and there was not a man left.

17 But Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn in, my lord, turn in to me. Do not fear." And when he had turned in to her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said to her, "Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." And she opened a bottle of milk and gave him drink and covered him. 20 Again he said to her, "Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man comes and inquires of you, asking if there is any man here, that you shall say, 'No.'" 21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a nail of the tent and took a hammer in her hand, went softly to him, and smote the nail into his temples and fastened it into the ground, for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek." And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Chapter 5

The song of Deborah and Barak, 1-31.

1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

2 "Praise the LORD for the avenging of Israel   /

when the people willingly offered themselves.

3 "Hear, O kings. Give ear, O princes.   /

I, even I, will sing to the LORD. /

I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.

4 "LORD, when you went out of Seir,   /

when you marched out of the field of Edom, /

the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, /

the clouds also dropped water.

5 The mountains melted from before the LORD,   /

even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

6 "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,   /

in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, /

and the travelers walked through by-ways.

7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased,   /

they ceased in Israel /

until I, Deborah, arose, /

until I arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods,   /

then war was in the gates. /

Was there a shield or spear seen /

among forty thousand in Israel?

9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel   /

who offered themselves willingly among the people. /

Bless the LORD.

10 "Speak, you who ride on white donkeys,   /

you who sit in judgment and walk by the way.

11 Those who are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water,   /

there they shall rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, /

even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel. /

Then the people of the LORD shall go down to the gates.

12 "Awake, awake, Deborah.   /

Awake, awake, utter a song. /

Arise, Barak, and lead your captivity captive, son of Abinoam.

13 Then he made him who remains have dominion over the nobles among the people.   /

The LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

14 Out of Ephraim there was a root of them against Amalek.   /

After you was Benjamin among your people. /

Out of Machir governors came down, /

and out of Zebulun those who handle the pen of the writer.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah,   /

even Issachar, and also Barak. /

He was sent on foot into the valley. /

For the divisions of Reuben /

there were great thoughts of heart.

16 Why did you abide among the sheep-folds   /

to hear the bleatings of the flocks? /

For the divisions of Reuben /

there were great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan.   /

And why did Dan remain in ships? /

Asher continued on the sea-shore /

and stayed in his breaches.

18 Zebulun was a people who jeopardized their lives to death,   /

and Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

19 "The kings came and fought,   /

then the kings of Canaan fought /

in Tanach by the waters of Megiddo. /

They took no gain of money.

20 They fought from heaven.   /

The stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

21 The river of Kishon swept them away,   /

that ancient river, the Kishon River. /

O my soul, you have trodden down strength.

22 "Then the horse’s hooves were broken   /

by the means of the prancings, /

the prancings of their mighty ones.

23 "'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD,   /

'bitterly curse its inhabitants, /

because they did not come to the help of the LORD, /

to the help of the LORD against the mighty.'

24 "Blessed above women Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite shall be,   /

blessed she shall be above women in the tent.

25 He asked water, and she gave him milk.   /

She brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

26 She put her hand to the nail   /

and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. /

And with the hammer she smote Sisera, /

she smote off his head /

when she had pierced and struck through his temples.

27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down.   /

At her feet he bowed, he fell. /

Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

28 "The mother of Sisera looked out of a window   /

and cried through the lattice, /

'Why is his chariot so long in coming? /

Why do the wheels of his chariots delay?'

29 Her wise ladies answered her,   /

and she returned answer to herself.

30 'Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder:   /

to every man a woman or two, /

to Sisera plunder of diverse colors, /

plunder of diverse colors of needle-work, /

of diverse colors of needle-work on both sides, /

suitable for the necks of those who take the plunder?'

31 "So let all your enemies perish, O LORD.   /

But let those who love him be as the sun /

when he goes forth in his might."

And the land had rest forty years.

Chapter 6

The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian, 1-7. A prophet rebukes them, 8-10. An angel sends Gideon for their deliverance, 11-16. Gideon’s present is consumed with fire, 17-23. Gideon destroys Baal’s altar and offers a sacrifice upon the altar Yahweh is Peace, 24-27. Joash defends his son and calls him Jerubbaal, 28-32. Gideon’s army, 33-35. Gideon’s signs, 36-40.

1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. And because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, and also caves and strongholds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites and the children of the east, even they came up against them, 4 And they encamped against them and destroyed the increase of the earth as far as Gaza, and they left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, ox, or donkey. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as swarming-locusts for multitude, for both they and their camels were without number. And they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites. And the children of Israel cried to the LORD.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried to the LORD because of the Midianites, 8 That the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought you up from Egypt and brought you forth from the house of bondage, 9 And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you and gave you their land, 10 And I said to you, "I am the LORD your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed my voice."'"

11 And an angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abi-ezrite. And his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-press to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor." 13 And Gideon said to him, "O my Lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this befallen us? And where are all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, 'Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 15 And he said to him, "O my Lord, by what means shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house." 16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man." 17 And he said to him, "If now I have found grace in your sight, then show me a sign that you talk with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray you, until I come to you and bring forth my present and set it before you." And he said, "I will remain until you come back."

19 And Gideon went in and made ready a kid and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour. He put the flesh in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and he brought it out to him under the oak and presented it. 20 And the angel of God said to him, "Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes and lay them upon this rock and pour out the broth." And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And there rose fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed from his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face." 23 And the LORD said to him, "Peace be to you. Do not fear. You shall not die." 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it Yahweh is Peace. To this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, "Take your father’s young bull, even the second bull of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has and cut down the grove that is by it. 26 And build an altar to the LORD your God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bull and offer a burnt-sacrifice with the wood of the grove which you shall cut down." 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD had said to him. And it was so, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, so he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered upon the altar that was built. 29 And they said to one another, "Who has done this thing?" And when they inquired and asked, they said, "Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing." 30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, "Bring out your son so that he may die, because he has cast down the altar of Baal and because he has cut down the grove that was by it." 31 And Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you plead for Baal? Will you save him? He who will plead for him, let him be put to death while it is yet morning. If he is a god, let him plead for himself because someone has cast down his altar." 32 Therefore, on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal plead against him because he has thrown down his altar."

33 Then all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east were assembled and went over and encamped in the valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, and Abiezer was called after him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also was called after him. And he sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali, and they came up to meet them.

36 And Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the floor. And if the dew is on the fleece only, and it is dry upon all the earth beside it, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said." 38 And it was so. For he rose early on the next day and pressed the fleece, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water. 39 And Gideon said to God, "Do not let your anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once. Let me make trial, I pray you, but this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew." 40 And God did so that night. For it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Chapter 7

Gideon’s army of thirty-two thousand is reduced to three hundred, 1-8. He is encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the barley cake, 9-15. His stratagem of trumpets and lamps in pitchers, 16-23. The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb, 24, 25.

1 Then Jerubbaal (who is Gideon) and all the people who were with him, rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

2 And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.'" And there returned of the people twenty-two thousand, and there remained ten thousand.

4 And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and I will try them for you there. And it shall be, that of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' the same shall go with you, and of whomever I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' the same shall not go." 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue as a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; likewise, everyone who bows down upon his knees to drink." 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men, but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand, and let all the other people each go to his place." 8 So the people took provisions in their hand and their trumpets. And he sent of all the rest of Israel each to his tent and retained those three hundred men. And the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said to him, "Arise, go down to the host, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you fear to go down, go with Phurah your servant down to the host. 11 And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down to the host." Then he went down with Phurah his servant to the outside of the armed men who were in the host. 12 And the Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like swarming-locusts for multitude. And their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. 13 And when Gideon had come, behold, there was a man who told a dream to his fellow, and said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley-bread rolled into the host of Midian, came to a tent, and smote it so that it fell and overturned it so that the tent lay flat." 14 And his fellow answered, and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. For into his hand God has delivered Midian and all the host."

15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped and returned to the host of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered into your hand the host of Midian." 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 17 And he said to them, "Look at me and do likewise. And behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that as I do, so you shall do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet—I and all who are with me—then you blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon.'"

19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, and they had but newly set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow with, and they cried, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon." 21 And they each stood in his place around the camp. And all the host ran, cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host. And the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zereroth and to the border of Abel-meholah, to Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel assembled out of Naphtali, out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.

24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and take the waters before them to Beth-barah and the Jordan." Then all the men of Ephraim assembled and took the waters to Beth-barah and the Jordan. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb. And they slew Oreb upon the rock of Oreb, and they slew Zeeb at the wine-press of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.

Chapter 8

Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites, 1-3. Succoth and Penuel refuse to deliver Gideon’s army, 4-9. Zebah and Zalmunna are taken, 10-12. Succoth and Penuel are destroyed, 13-16. Gideon revenges his brothers' death on Zebah and Zalmunna, 17-21. He refuses government, 22, 23. His ephod is the cause of idolatry, 24-27. Midian subdued, 28. Gideon’s children and death, 29-32. The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude, 33-35.

1 And the men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you treated us like this, not calling for us when you went to fight with the Midianites?" And they chided with him sharply. 2 And he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison of you? Is the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim not better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison of you?" Then, when he had said that, their anger toward him abated.

4 And Gideon came to the Jordan and passed over—he and the three hundred men who were with him—faint, yet pursuing them. 5 And he said to the men of Succoth, "Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are faint, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian." 6 And the princes of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand that we should give bread to your army?" 7 And Gideon said, "Therefore, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers." 8 And he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them likewise. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 9 And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come back in peace, I will break down this tower."

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the hosts of the children of the east, for there fell one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of those who dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah and smote the host, for the host was secure. 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and completely defeated all the host.

13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun had risen, 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth and questioned him. And he described to him the princes of Succoth and its elders, even seventy-seven men. 15 And he came to the men of Succoth, and said, "Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom you upbraided me, saying, 'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand that we should give bread to your men who are weary?'" 16 And he took the elders of the city, and he took thorns and briers of the wilderness and with them taught the men of Succoth a lesson. 17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel and slew the men of the city.

18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor?" And they answered, "As you are, so were they. Each one resembled the child of a king." 19 And he said, "They were my brothers, even the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you." 20 And he said to Jether his first-born, "Arise, and slay them." But the youth did not draw his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise, and fall upon us. For as the man is, so is his strength." And Gideon arose, slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us—you, your son, and your son’s son also—for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian." 23 And Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. The LORD shall rule over you." 24 And Gideon said to them, "I would desire a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings of his plunder." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, "We will willingly give them." And they spread a garment, and each cast into it the earrings of his plunder. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides ornaments, collars, and purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels' necks. 27 And Gideon made of it an ephod and put it in his city, even in Ophrah. And all Israel went astray after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house.

28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they raised their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had seventy sons of his body begotten, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

33 And it came to pass as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned back and went astray after Baalim and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side, 35 Neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.

Chapter 9

Abimelech, by conspiracy with the Shechemites and murder of his brothers, is made king, 1-6. Jotham, by a parable, rebukes them and foretells their ruin, 7-21. Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him, 22-29. Zebul reveals it, 30-33. Abimelech overcomes them and sows the city with salt, 34-45. He burns the hold of the god Berith, 46-49. At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone, 50-55. Jotham’s curse is fulfilled, 56, 57.

1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers and communed with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 "Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are seventy persons, should reign over you, or that one should reign over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." 3 And his mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. And their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light persons who followed him. 5 And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and slew his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, upon one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem assembled, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive-tree, 'Reign over us.' 9 But the olive-tree said to them, 'Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?' 10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, 'Come, and reign over us.' 11 But the fig-tree said to them, 'Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit and go to be promoted over the trees?' 12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come, and reign over us.' 13 And the vine said to them, 'Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?' 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come, and reign over us.' 15 And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow. And if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

16 "Now therefore, if you have done truly and sincerely, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands 17 (For my father fought for you, and put his life in jeopardy and delivered you from the hand of Midian, 18 And you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have slain his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his woman-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother), 19 If you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo. And let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech." 21 And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 So that the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother who slew them and upon the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brothers. 25 And the men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the top of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them. And it was told to Abimelech.

26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, gathered their vineyards, trod the grapes, made merry, and went into the house of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem. For why should we serve him? 29 Oh that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Increase your army and come out."

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech privately, saying, "Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem, and behold, they fortify the city against you. 32 Now therefore, rise by night—you and the people who are with you—and lie in wait in the field. 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun has risen, you shall rise early and attack the city. And behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as you find occasion."

34 And Abimelech rose, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose, and the people who were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, there, people come down from the top of the mountains." And Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men." 37 And Gaal spoke again, and said, "See, there, people come down by the middle of the land, and another company comes along by the plain of Meonenim." 38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now with which you said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the people whom you have despised? Go out, I pray now, and fight with them." 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even to the entrance of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brothers, so that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42 And it came to pass on the next day, that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field. And he looked, and behold, the people had come out of the city. So he rose up against them and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company who was with him, rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. And the two other companies ran upon all the people who were in the fields and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. And he took the city, and slew the people who were in it, beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith. 47 And it was told to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were assembled. 48 And Abimelech ascended mount Zalmon—he and all the people who were with him—and Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done." 49 And all the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them. And all the men of the tower of Shechem died, about one thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled there, shut it after them, and ascended to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it. And he came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head and broke his skull. 54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and slay me so that men do not say of me, 'A woman slew him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place. 56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brothers. 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem God rendered upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Chapter 10

Tola judges Israel in Shamir, 1, 2. Jair, whose thirty sons had thirty cities, 3-5. The Philistines and Ammonites oppress Israel, 6-9. In their misery God sends them to their false gods, 10-14. Upon their repentance he pities them, 15-18.

1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar. And he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty-three years, died, and was buried in Shamir.

3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty-two years. 4 And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died and was buried in Camon.

6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD and served Baalim, Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Zidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD and did not serve him. 7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the children of Ammon. 8 And that year they harassed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years—all the children of Israel who were on the other side of the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 Moreover, the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.

10 And the children of Israel cried to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken our God and also served Baalim." 11 And the LORD said to the children of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 Also the Zidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13 Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore, I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation." 15 And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good to you. Only deliver us, we pray you, this day." 16 And they put away the strange gods from among them and served the LORD, and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

17 Then the children of Ammon were assembled and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves and encamped in Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said to one another, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

Chapter 11

The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should be their head, 1-11. The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain, 12-28. Jephthah’s vow, 29-31. His conquest of the Ammonites, 32, 33. He performs his vow on his daughter, 34-40.

1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot. And Gilead begot Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife bore him sons. And his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father’s house, for you are the son of a strange woman." 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob. And vain men were gathered to Jephthah, and they went out with him.

4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah out of the land of Tob, 6 And they said to Jephthah, "Come, and be our captain so that we may fight with the children of Ammon." 7 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?" 8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "Therefore, we turn back to you now so that you may go with us and fight against the children of Ammon and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead." 9 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them before me, shall I be your head?" 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD shall be a witness between us, if we do not do so according to your words." 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them. And Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

12 And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, "What have you to do with me that you have come against me to fight in my land?" 13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land when they came out of Egypt, from Arnon even to Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, restore those lands again peaceably." 14 And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon, 15 And said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: 'Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon, 16 But when Israel came up from Egypt and walked through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh, 17 Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, "Let me, I pray you, pass through your land." But the king of Edom would not listen to it. And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. And Israel stayed in Kadesh. 18 Then they went along through the wilderness and compassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but did not come within the border of Moab, for Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, "Let us pass, we pray you, through your land to my place." 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon collected all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them. So Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 And they possessed all the borders of the Amorites, from Arnon even to Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan. 23 So now the LORD God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess it? 24 Will you not possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whomever the LORD our God drives out from before us, we will possess them. 25 And now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them, 26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that are along by the borders of Arnon, three hundred years? Why therefore did you not recover them within that time? 27 Therefore, I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. May the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.'" 28 But the king of the children of Ammon did not listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, "If you without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, 31 Then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it for a burnt-offering." 32 So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands. 33 And he smote them from Aroer even as far as Minnith, even twenty cities, and to the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. And she was his only child. Besides her, he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low and you are one of those who trouble me. For I have opened my mouth to the LORD and I cannot go back." 36 And she said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because the LORD has taken vengeance for you of your enemies, even of the children of Ammon." 37 And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months so that I may go up and down upon the mountains and bewail my virginity—I and my fellows." 38 And he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months. And she went with her companions and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. And she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Chapter 12

The Ephraimites, quarreling with Jephthah and discerned by Shibboleth, are slain by the Gileadites, 1-6. Jephthah dies, 7. Ibzan, who had thirty sons and thirty daughters, 8-10; and Elon, 11, 12; and Abdon, who had forty sons and thirty nephews, judge Israel, 13-15.

1 And the men of Ephraim assembled and went northward and said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house upon you with fire." 2 And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon. And when I called you, you did not deliver me out of their hands. 3 And when I saw that you did not deliver me, I put my life in my hands and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?" 4 Then Jephthah collected all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, "You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites." 5 And the Gileadites took the passages of the Jordan before the Ephraimites. And it was so, that when those Ephraimites who had escaped, said, "Let me go over," that the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," 6 Then they said to him, "Now say, 'Shibboleth,'" and he said, "Sibboleth," for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him and slew him at the passages of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty-two thousand.

7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel. 9 And he had thirty sons and thirty daughters whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried at Beth-lehem.

11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon the Zebulonite died and was buried in Ajalon in the country of Zebulun.

13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, who rode on seventy donkey colts. And he judged Israel eight years. 15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim on the mountain of the Amalekites.

Chapter 13

Israel is delivered into the hand of the Philistines, 1. An angel appears to Manoah’s wife, 2-7. The angel appears to Manoah, 8-14. Manoah’s sacrifice, whereby the angel is discovered, 15-23. Samson is born, 24, 25.

1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah, and his wife was barren and did not bear. 3 And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, now, you are barren and do not bear, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Now therefore, beware, I pray you, and do not drink wine, nor strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from his birth. And he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines." 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very awesome. But I did not ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And now drink no wine or strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from his birth to the day of his death.'"

8 Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, "O my Lord, let the man of God whom you sent come back to us and teach us what we shall do to the child who shall be born." 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 And the woman made haste and ran and declared to her husband, and said to him, "Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me." 11 And Manoah arose, went after his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to the woman?" And he said, "I am." 12 And Manoah said, "Now let your words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and what shall we do to him?" 13 And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman, let her beware. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe."

15 And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "I pray you, let us detain you until we have made ready a kid for you." 16 And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Though you should detain me, I will not eat of your bread. And if you will offer a burnt-offering, you must offer it to the LORD." For Manoah did not know that he was an angel of the LORD. 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "What is your name so that we may do you honor when your sayings come to pass?" 18 And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask for my name, seeing it is secret?" 19 So Manoah took a kid, with a food-offering, and offered it upon a rock to the LORD, and the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it came to pass, when the flame ascended toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on and fell on their faces to the ground.

21 But the angel of the LORD no longer appeared to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die because we have seen God." 23 But his wife said to him, "If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a food-offering at our hands, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would, as at this time, have told us such things as these."

24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Chapter 14

Samson desires a wife of the Philistines, 1-5. In his journey he kills a lion, 6, 7. In a second journey he finds honey in the carcass, 8, 9. Samson’s marriage feast, 10, 11. His riddle by his wife is made known, 12-18. He plunders thirty Philistines, 19. His wife is married to another, 20.

1 And Samson went down to Timnath and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up and told his father and his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore, get her for me for a wife." 3 Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there not a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well." 4 But his father and his mother did not know that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

5 Then Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath. And behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. 9 And he took some of it in his hands and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.

10 So his father went down to the woman. And Samson made a feast there, for so the young men used to do. 11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12 And Samson said to them, "I will now propose a riddle to you. If you can certainly declare it to me within the seven days of the feast and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. 13 But if you cannot declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments." And they said to him, "Propose your riddle so that we may hear it." 14 And he said to them,

"Out of the eater came forth food,   /

and out of the strong came forth sweetness."

And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson’s wife, "Entice your husband so that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to take what we possess? Is it not so?" 16 And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, "You do but hate me and do not love me. You have proposed a riddle to the children of my people and have not told it to me." And he said to her, "Behold, I have not told it to my father nor to my mother, and shall I tell it to you?" 17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she urged him. And she told the riddle to the children of her people.

18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle."

19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, slew thirty men of them, took their plunder, and gave change of garments to those who expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. 20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.

Chapter 15

Samson is denied his wife, 1, 2. He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands, 3-5. His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines, 6. Samson smites them hip and thigh, 7, 8. He is bound by the men of Judah and delivered to the Philistines, 9-13. He kills them with a jawbone, 14-17. God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi, 18-20.

1 But it came to pass after a while, in the time of wheat-harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid, and he said, "I will go in to my wife into the chamber." But her father would not allow him to go in. 2 And her father said, "I truly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore, I gave her to your companion. Is her younger sister not fairer than she is? Take her, I pray you, instead of her." 3 And Samson said concerning them, "Now I shall be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure." 4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took fire-brands, turned tail to tail, and put a fire-brand in the midst between two tails. 5 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines and burnt up both the stacks and also the standing grain, with the vineyards and olives. 6 Then the Philistines said, "Who has done this?" And they answered, "Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife and given her to his companion." And the Philistines came up and burnt her and her father with fire. 7 And Samson said to them, "Though you have done this, yet I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease." 8 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter. And he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

9 Then the Philistines went up and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" And they answered, "We have come to bind Samson, to do to him as he has done to us." 11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this that you have done to us?" And he said to them, "As they did to me, so I have done to them." 12 And they said to him, "We have come down to bind you so that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines." And Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not fall upon me yourselves." 13 And they spoke to him, saying, "No, but we will bind you firmly and deliver you into their hand. But surely we will not kill you." And they bound him with two new cords and brought him up from the rock.

14 And when he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and the bonds dropped off his hands. 15 And he found a fresh jaw-bone of a donkey, and put forth his hand, took it, and slew a thousand men with it.

16 And Samson said, "With the jaw-bone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of a donkey I have slain a thousand men."

17 And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jaw-bone out of his hand and called that place Ramath-lehi. 18 And he was very thirsty and called on the LORD, and said, "You have given this great deliverance into the hand of your servant. And now shall I die by thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?" 19 But God cleaved a hollow place that was in the jaw, and water came out of it. And when he had drank, his spirit came back, and he revived. Therefore, he called its name, En-hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines, twenty years.

Chapter 16

Samson, at Gaza, escapes and carries away the gates of the city, 1-3. Delilah, corrupted by the Philistines, entices Samson, 4, 5. Three times she is deceived, 6-14. At last she overcomes him, 15-20. The Philistines take him and put out his eyes, 21. His strength renewing, he pulls down the house upon the Philistines and dies, 22-31.

1 Then Samson went to Gaza, and saw a harlot there and went in to her. 2 And it was told to the Gazites, saying, "Samson has come here." And they encompassed him and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, "In the morning when it is day we shall kill him." 3 And Samson lay until midnight, and at midnight he arose and took the doors of the gate of the city, with the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders and carried them up to the top of a hill that is before Hebron.

4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came to her, and said to her, "Entice him, and see in what his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him so that we may bind him to afflict him. And we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." 6 And Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, I pray you, in what your great strength lies and with what you may be bound to afflict you." 7 And Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then I shall be weak and be as another man." 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 (Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber.) And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson." And he broke the cords as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.

10 And Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now tell me, I pray you, with what you may be bound." 11 And he said to her, "If they bind me firmly with new ropes that were never used, then I shall be weak and be as another man." 12 Delilah therefore took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson." (And there were men lying in wait and abiding in the chamber.) And he broke them from off his arms like a thread.

13 And Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you may be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web." 14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson." And he awoke out of his sleep and went away with the pin of the beam and with the web.

15 And she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me in what your great strength lies." 16 And it came to pass when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him so that his soul was vexed to death, 17 That he told her all his heart, and said to her, "There has not come a razor upon my head, for I have been a Nazarite to God from my birth. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man."

18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he has disclosed to me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought money in their hand. 19 And she made him sleep upon her knees. And she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head. And she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson." And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times before and shake myself." And he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. 21 But the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with fetters of brass. And he ground in the prison-house. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow back after he was shaved.

23 Then the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, for they said, "Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand."

24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, "Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy and the destroyer of our country, who slew many of us."

25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson so that he may entertain us." And they called for Samson out of the prison-house, and he entertained them. And they set him between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, "Allow me that I may feel the pillars upon which the house stands so that I may lean upon them." 27 Now the house was full of men and women. And all the lords of the Philistines were there. And there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women that beheld while Samson entertained.

28 And Samson called to the LORD, and said, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray you, and strengthen me, I pray you, only this once, O God, so that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood and on which it was supported, and laid hold of one with his right hand and the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." And he bowed himself with all his might, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than those which he slew in his life. 31 Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, took him, brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

Chapter 17

Of the money that Micah first stole, then restored, his mother makes images, 1-4; and the ornaments for them, 5, 6. He hires a Levite to be his priest, 7-13.

1 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you, about which you cursed and spoke of also in my ears, behold, the silver is with me. I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my son." 3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, "I had wholly dedicated the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son to make an engraved image and a molten image. Now therefore, I will restore it to you." 4 So he restored the money to his mother, and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the founder, who made from it an engraved image and a molten image. And they were in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod and teraphim and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

7 And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed out of the city from Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find a place. And he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah and I go to sojourn where I may find a place." 10 And Micah said to him, "Dwell with me and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silver by the year, a suit of apparel, and your food." So the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man was to him as one of his sons. 12 And Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite for my priest."

Chapter 18

The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance 1, 2. At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan and are encouraged on their way, 3-6. They search Laish and bring back news of good hope, 7-10. Six hundred men are sent to surprise it, 11-14. On their way, they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things, 14-26. They win Laish and call it Dan, 27-29. They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood, 30, 31.

1 In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites sought for themselves an inheritance to dwell in, for to that day all their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. 2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their borders, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to explore the land and to search it. And they said to them, "Go, search the land." When they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there. 3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite. And they turned in there and said to him, "Who brought you here? And what do you do in this place? And what do you have here?" 4 And he said to them, "In this manner Micah deals with me and has hired me, and I am his priest." 5 And they said to him, "Ask counsel, we pray you, of God, so that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous." 6 And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The way in which you go is before the LORD."

7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish and saw the people who were in it, how they dwelt carelessly after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure. And there was no magistrate in the land who might put them to shame in anything. And they were far from the Zidonians and had no business with any man. 8 And they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, "What do you say?" 9 And they said, "Arise, so that we may go up against them. For we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And are you still? Do not be slothful to go and to enter to possess the land. 10 When you go, you shall come to a secure people and to a large land, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth."

11 And there went from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. 12 And they went up and encamped in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah. Therefore, they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day. Behold, it is behind Kirjath-jearim. 13 And they passed from there to mount Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

14 Then the five men who went to explore the country of Laish answered and said to their brothers, "Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, teraphim, an engraved image, and a molten image? Now therefore, consider what you have to do." 15 And they turned there and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and saluted him. 16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 And the five men who went to explore the land went up, came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image. And the priest stood in the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were appointed with weapons of war. 18 And these went into Micah’s house and brought the carved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image. Then the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 19 And they said to him, "Hold your peace, lay your hand upon your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or that you should be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?" 20 And the priest’s heart was glad and he took the ephod, the teraphim, and the engraved image and went in the midst of the people.

21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the cattle, and the goods before them. 22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house were collected and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And they cried to the children of Dan. And they turned their faces and said to Micah, "What ails you that you come with such a company?" 24 And he said, "You have taken away my gods which I made and the priest, and you have gone away. And what more do I have? And what is this that you say to me, 'What ails you?'" 25 And the children of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows rush upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household." 26 And the children of Dan departed. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

27 And they took the things which Micah had made and the priest which he had, and came to Laish, to a people who were quiet and secure, and they smote them with the edge of the sword and burnt the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer because it was far from Zidon and they had no business with any man. And it was in the valley that lies by Beth-rehob. And they built a city and dwelt in it. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel; however, the name of the city was Laish at the first. 30 And the children of Dan set up the engraved image. And Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 And they set up for themselves Micah’s engraved image which he made the whole time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Chapter 19

A Levite goes to Beth-lehem to return home his concubine, 1-15. An old man entertains him at Gibeah, 16-21. The Gibeonites abuse his concubine to death, 22-28. He divides her into twelve pieces and sends them to the twelve tribes, 29, 30.

1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim, who took for himself a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah. 2 And his concubine played the harlot against him and went away from him to her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months. 3 And her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her and to bring her back, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house. And when the father of the young woman saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 And his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, retained him, and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there. 5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he arose to depart, and the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, "Comfort your heart with a morsel of bread and afterward depart." 6 And they sat down and ate and drank both of them together, for the young woman’s father had said to the man, "Be content, I pray you, and stay all night, and let your heart be merry." 7 And when the man rose to depart, his father-in-law urged him; therefore, he lodged there again. 8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, and the young woman’s father said, "Comfort your heart, I pray you." And they waited until afternoon, and the both of them ate. 9 And when the man arose to depart—he, his concubine, and his servant—his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, said to him, "Behold now the day draws toward evening, I pray you stay all night. Behold, the day is coming to an end. Lodge here so that your heart may be merry. And tomorrow get on your way early so that you may go home."

10 But the man would not stay that night, but he arose and departed and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem. And there were with him two saddled donkeys. His concubine was also with him. 11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent. And the servant said to his master, "Come, I pray you, and let us turn in to this city of the Jebusites and lodge in it." 12 And his master said to him, "We will not turn aside here into the city of a stranger that is not of the children of Israel. We will pass over to Gibeah." 13 And he said to his servant, "Come, and let us draw near to one of these places, and we will lodge all night in Gibeah, or in Ramah." 14 And they passed on and went their way. And the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 And they turned aside there to go in and to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in a street of the city, for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.

16 And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening, who was also of mount Ephraim, and he dwelt in Gibeah. But the men of the place were Benjaminites. 17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a way-faring man in the street of the city. And the old man said, "Where do you go? And where did you come from?" 18 And he said to him, "We are passing from Beth-lehem-Judah toward the side of mount Ephraim. I am from there. And I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD. And there is no man who receives me into his house. 19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys, and there is bread and wine also for me, for your woman-servant, and for the young man which is with your servants. There is no lack of anything." 20 And the old man said, "Peace be with you; however, let all your needs lie upon me. Only do not lodge in the street." 21 So he brought him into his house and gave provender to the donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.

22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, some sons of Belial, beset the house on all sides and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring forth the man who came into your house so that we may know him." 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, no, I pray you, do not do so wickedly. Seeing that this man has come into my house, do not do this folly. 24 Behold, here is my daughter, a virgin, and his concubine. I will bring them out now, and you may humble them and do with them what seems good to you, but to this man do not do such a vile thing." 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and brought her forth to them. And they knew her and abused her all the night until the morning. And when the day began to spring, they let her go. 26 Then the woman came in the dawning of the day and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was until it was light.

27 And her lord rose in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way. And behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. 28 And he said to her, "Rise, and let us be going." But no one answered. Then the man took her upon a donkey, and the man rose and went to his place. 29 And when he had come into his house, he took a knife, laid hold upon his concubine, and divided her, with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the borders of Israel. 30 And it was so, that all who saw it, said, "There has been no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take advice, and speak your minds."

Chapter 20

The Levite, in a general assembly, declares the wrong done to him, 1-7. The decree of the assembly, 8-11. The Benjaminites, being cited, make head against the Israelites, 12-17. The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand, 18-25. They destroy by a stratagem all the Benjaminites, except six hundred, 26-48.

1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD in Mizpeh. 2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword. 3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpeh.) Then the children of Israel said, "Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?" 4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was slain, answered and said, "I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin—I and my concubine—to lodge. 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house upon me by night. They wished to slay me, and they have forced my concubine so that she is dead. 6 And I took my concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. 7 Behold, you are all children of Israel. Give your advice and counsel here."

8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, "Not one of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us turn into his house. 9 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up by lot against it, 10 And we will take ten men for one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred for one thousand, and one thousand for ten thousand, to fetch provisions for the people, so that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may do according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel." 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What wickedness is this that is done among you? 13 Now therefore, deliver us the men, the children of Belial, who are in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and banish evil from Israel." But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel. 14 But the children of Benjamin assembled out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed. Each could sling stones to a hair-breadth and not miss.

17 And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war.

18 And the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God and asked counsel of God, and said, "Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first."

19 And the children of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth from Gibeah and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty-two thousand men. 22 And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?" And the LORD said, "Go up against him.")

24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword. 26 Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, came to the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD. 27 And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand."

29 And Israel set an ambush around Gibeah. 30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And they began to smite and kill the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to the house of God and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the children of Benjamin said, "They are smitten down before us, as at the first." But the children of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them from the city to the highways." 33 And all the men of Israel rose out of their place and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the ambushers of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah. 34 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe, but they did not know that evil was near them. 35 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel. And the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjaminites that day twenty-five thousand and one hundred men. All these drew the sword.

36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten, for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjaminites because they trusted in the ambushers which they had set beside Gibeah. 37 And the ambushers hastened and rushed upon Gibeah, and they drew themselves along and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers, that they should make a great flame with smoke to rise from the city. 39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons. For they said, "Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle." 40 But when the flame began to rise from the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the flame of the city ascended to heaven. 41 And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin were amazed, for they saw that evil had come upon them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them. 43 So they enclosed the Benjaminites on all sides and chased them and trod them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrise. 44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men. All these were men of valor. 45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. And they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and pursued hard after them to Gidom and slew two thousand men of them. 46 So all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon and stayed at the rock Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned back upon the children of Benjamin and smote them with the edge of the sword—the men of every city, as well as the beast, and all that came to hand. They also set all the cities that they came to on fire.

Chapter 21

The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin, 1-7. By the destruction of Jabesh-gilead they provide them four hundred wives, 8-15. They advise the remainder to surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh, 16-25.

1 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, "Not one of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin for a wife." 2 And the people came to the house of God and stayed there until evening before God, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly, 3 And said, "O LORD God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?" 4 And it came to pass on the next day, that the people rose early, built an altar there, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.

5 And the children of Israel said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up with the congregation to the LORD?" For they had made a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." 6 And the children of Israel repented for Benjamin their brother, and said, "There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 7 What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?"

8 And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Mizpeh to the LORD?" And behold, no one came to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly. 9 For the people were numbered, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there. 10 And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men of the most valiant, and commanded them, saying, "Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children. 11 And this is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male and every woman who has lain by man." 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had known no man by lying with any male, and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock Rimmon and to call peaceably to them. 14 And Benjamin came back at that time. And they gave them the women which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, yet they did not suffice them. 15 And the people repented for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16 Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?" 17 And they said, "There must be an inheritance for those who have escaped of Benjamin so that a tribe is not destroyed out of Israel. 18 However, we may not give them wives from our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, 'Cursed is he who gives a wife to Benjamin.'"

19 Then they said, "Behold, there is a yearly feast of the LORD in Shiloh in a place which is on the north side of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah." 20 Therefore, they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, "Go, lie in wait in the vineyards, 21 And when you see the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, come out of the vineyards and each of you catch his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, that we will say to them, 'Be favorable to them for our sakes, because we did not reserve to each man his wife in the war, neither did you give them to them; otherwise, you would now be guilty.'" 23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took wives, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they caught. And they went and returned to their inheritance and repaired the cities and dwelt in them. 24 And the children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went from there each to his inheritance.

25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

[Tanach reading: go to First Samuel]

THE STORY OF RUTH

Chapter 1

Elimelech, driven by famine into Moab, dies there, 1-3. Mahlon and Chilion, having married wives of Moab, die also, 4, 5. Naomi, returning homeward, 6, 7, dissuades her two daughters-in-law from going with her, 8-13. Orpah leaves her, but Ruth with great constancy accompanies her, 14-18. The two of them come to Beth-lehem where they are gladly received, 19-22.

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to dwell in the country of Moab—he, his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab and continued there. 3 And Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left, she and her two sons. 4 And they took for themselves wives of the women of Moab: the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion both died also, and the woman was left by her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law so that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab how the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Therefore, she went forth from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go. Return each to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 May the LORD grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept. 10 And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11 And Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Shall I bear more sons so that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, 'I have hope,' if I should have a husband also tonight and should also bear sons, 13 Would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you forbear from having husbands for them? No, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me."

14 And they lifted up their voice and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth cleaved to her.

15 And she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law." 16 And Ruth said, "Do not entreat me to leave you, or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death shall part you and me." 18 When she saw that she was steadfastly resolved to go with her, then she ceased speaking to her.

19 So the two of them went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they had come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was stirred because of them, and they said, "Is this Naomi?" 20 And she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why then do you call me Naomi, seeing the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley-harvest.

Chapter 2

Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz, 1-3. Boaz takes notice of her, 4-7, and shows her great favor, 8-16. That which she got, she carries to Naomi, 17-23.

1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me now go to the field and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I shall find grace." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." 3 And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to a part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem and said to the reapers, "May the LORD be with you." And they answered him, "May the LORD bless you." 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" 6 And the servant who was set over the reapers answered and said, "It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, 'I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came and has continued even from the morning until now, and she rested a little in the house."

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field, neither go from here, but abide here close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch you? And when you are thirsty go to the vessels and drink of that which the young men have drawn." 10 Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found grace in your eyes that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?" 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has fully been shown to me all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your nativity and have come to a people which you did not know before. 12 May the LORD recompense your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to trust." 13 Then she said, "Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not like one of your women-servants."

14 And Boaz said to her, "At meal-time, come here and eat some of the bread and dip your morsel in the vinegar." And she sat beside the reapers, and he gave her parched grain, and she ate, was satisfied, and left. 15 And when she had risen to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also let some of the handfuls fall on purpose for her, and leave them so that she may glean them. And do not rebuke her."

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening and beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it and went into the city. And her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. And she brought forth and gave to her what she had reserved after she was satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where have you labored? Blessed is he who took knowledge of you." And she revealed to her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz." 20 And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed is he of the LORD, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead." And Naomi said to her, "The man is near of kin to us, one of our next kinsmen." 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, "He also said to me, 'You shall keep close by my young men until they have ended all my harvest.'" 22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you should go out with his young women, and that they not meet you in any other field." 23 So she kept close by the young women of Boaz to glean until the end of barley-harvest and of wheat-harvest, and dwelt with her mother-in-law.

Chapter 3

By Naomi’s instruction, 1-4. Ruth lies at Boaz’s feet, 5-8. Boaz acknowledges the right of a kinsman, 9-13. He sends her away with six measures of barley, 14-18.

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you so that it may be well with you? 2 And now, is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose young women you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing-floor. 3 Therefore, wash yourself, anoint yourself, put your clothing upon yourself, and go down to the floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he lies, and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lay yourself down, and he will tell you what you shall do." 5 And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do."

6 And she went down to the floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drank, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. And she came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid herself down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid and turned himself, and behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your servant. Therefore, spread your skirt over your servant, for you are a near kinsman." 10 And he said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter. For you have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning because you did not follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do to you all that you require, for all the city of my people knows that you are a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am your near kinsman. Yet there is a kinsman nearer than I am. 13 Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform to you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman to you, then I will do the part of a kinsman to you, as the LORD lives. Lie down until the morning."

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose before one could know another. And he said, "Do not let it be known that a woman came to the floor." 15 Also he said, "Bring the veil that you have upon you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. And she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, "These six measures of barley he gave me, for he said to me, 'Do not go empty to your mother-in-law.'" 18 Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall. For the man will not be in rest until he has finished the thing this day."

Chapter 4

Boaz calls into judgment the next kinsman, 1-5. He refuses the redemption according to the manner in Israel, 6-8. Boaz buys the inheritance, 9, 10. He marries Ruth, 11, 12. She bears Obed, the grandfather of David, 13-17. The generations of Pharez to David, 18-22.

1 Then Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by. And he said to him, "Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here." And they sat down. 3 And he said to the kinsman, "Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, sells a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s. 4 And I thought to advertise it to you, saying, 'Buy it before the inhabitants and before the elders of my people.' If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me, so that I may know. For there is no one to redeem it besides you, and I am after you." And he said, "I will redeem it." 5 Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also accept Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance." 6 And the kinsman said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance. Redeem my right for yourself, for I cannot redeem it."

7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for confirming all things: a man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor, and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore, the kinsman said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." So he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, so that the name of the dead is not cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day." 11 And all the people who were in the gate and the elders said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel. And may you do worthily in Ephratah and be famous in Beth-lehem. 12 And let your house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD shall give you from this young woman."

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife. And when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 And the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD who has not left you this day without a kinsman. May his name be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be to you a restorer of your life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."

16 And Naomi took the child, laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. 17 And the women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begot Hezron, 19 Hezron begot Ram, Ram begot Amminadab, 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, Nahshon begot Salmon, 21 Salmon begot Boaz, Boaz begot Obed, 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

[Tanach reading: go to Lamentations]

THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL

Chapter 1

Elkanah, a Levite, having two wives, worships yearly at Shiloh, 1-3. He cherishes Hannah, though barren and provoked by Peninnah, 4-8. Hannah in grief prays for a child, 9-11. Eli at first rebukes her, but afterward blesses her, 12-18. Hannah, having given birth to Samuel, stays at home until he is weaned, 19-23. She presents him to the Lord according to her vow, 24-28.

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 And this man went up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a worthy portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had rendered her barren. 6 And her adversary also provoked her greatly to make her fret, because the LORD had made her barren. 7 And so it happened year by year. When she went up to the house of the LORD, Peninnah provoked her; therefore, she wept and did not eat. 8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

9 So Hannah rose after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had drank. (Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.) 10 And she was in bitterness of soul and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli observed her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart. Only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you." 15 And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drank neither wine or strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Do not count your servant for a daughter of Belial. For out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." 17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel grant you your petition that you have asked of him." 18 And she said, "Let your servant find grace in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance was no longer sad.

19 And they rose early in the morning, worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 Therefore, it came to pass, when the time had arrived after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD."

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "I will not go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him so that he may appear before the LORD and abide there forever." 23 And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you. Stay until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD establish his word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 And they slew a bull and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "O my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him. 28 Therefore, I have also lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.

Chapter 2

Hannah’s song in thankfulness, 1-11. The sin of Eli’s sons, 12-17. Samuel’s ministry, 18, 19. By Eli’s blessing Hannah is more fruitful, 20, 21. Eli reproves his sons, 22-26. A prophecy against Eli’s house, 27-36.

1 And Hannah prayed and said,

"My heart rejoices in the LORD.   /

My horn is exalted in the LORD. /

My mouth is enlarged over my enemies /

because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 "There is no one holy as the LORD,   /

for there is no one besides you, /

neither is there any rock like our God.

3 No longer talk so very proudly.   /

Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth. /

For the LORD is a God of knowledge, /

and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken,   /

and those who stumbled are girded with strength.

5 Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread,   /

and those who were hungry ceased. /

Even the barren has borne seven, /

and she who has many children has become feeble.

6 The LORD kills and makes alive.   /

He brings down to the grave and brings up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich.   /

He brings low and lifts up.

8 He raises the poor out of the dust   /

and lifts the beggar from the dunghill /

to set them among princes /

and to make them inherit the throne of glory. /

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, /

and he has set the world upon them.

9 "He will keep the feet of his saints,   /

and the wicked shall be silent in darkness. /

For by strength no man shall prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces.   /

Out of heaven he shall thunder upon them. /

The LORD shall judge the ends of the earth, /

and he shall give strength to his king /

and exalt the horn of his anointed."

11 And Elkanah went to his house in Ramah. And the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.

12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. They did not know the LORD. 13 And the priest’s custom with the people was this: when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand while the flesh was boiling, 14 And he struck it into the pan, kettle, cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. They did so in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came and said to the man who sacrificed, "Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have boiled flesh from you, only raw." 16 And if any man said to him, "Do not let them fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as your soul desires," then he would answer him, "No, but you shall give it to me now. And if not, I will take it by force." 17 Therefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19 Moreover, his mother made him a little coat and brought it to him from year to year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife and said, "May the LORD give you children from this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD." And they went to their own home.

21 And the LORD visited Hannah so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

22 Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did to all Israel and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 23 And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 No, my sons. For it is no good report that I hear. You cause the LORD’S people to transgress. 25 If one man sins against another, the judge shall judge him, but if a man sins against the LORD, who shall entreat for him?" Nevertheless, they did not listen to the voice of their father because the LORD was inclined to slay them.

26 And the child Samuel continued to grow and was in favor both with the LORD and also with men.

27 And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Did I plainly appear to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give to the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?' 30 Therefore, the LORD God of Israel says, 'I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.' But now the LORD says, 'Be it far from me, for those who honor me I will honor and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house so that there shall not be an old man in your house. 32 And you shall see an enemy in my habitation in all the wealth which God shall give Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 And the man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from my altar, is to consume your eyes and to grieve your heart. And all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age. 34 And this shall be a sign to you that shall come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day both of them shall die. 35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before my Anointed forever. 36 And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is left in your house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, "Put me, I pray you, into one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread."'"

Chapter 3

How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel, 1-10. God tells Samuel the destruction of Eli’s house, 11-14. Samuel, though reluctant, tells Eli the vision, 15-18. Samuel grows in credit, 19-21.

1 And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days. There was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place and his eyes began to grow dim so that he could not see, 3 And before the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, 4 That the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." And he said, "I did not call. Lie down again." And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, "Samuel." And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am. You did call me." And he answered, "I did not call, my son. Lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 9 Therefore, Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down. And it shall be, if he calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant hears." 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. When I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows because his sons made themselves vile and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore, I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever."

15 And Samuel lay until the morning and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he answered, "Here I am." 17 And he said, "What is the thing that the LORD has said to you? I pray you do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all the things that he said to you." 18 And Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him."

19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Chapter 4

The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer, 1, 2. They fetch the ark to the terror of the Philistines, 3-9. They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain, 10, 11. Eli hears the news and falls backward and breaks his neck, 12-18. Phinehas’s wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies, 19-22.

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle and encamped beside Eben-ezer. And the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines. And they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD smitten us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh to us, so that when it comes among us, it may save us from the hand of our enemies." 4 So the people sent to Shiloh so that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout so that the earth resounded. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. 7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before. 8 Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong and acquit yourselves like men, O Philistines, so that you may not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Acquit yourselves like men and fight."

10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they each fled into his tent. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent and with earth upon his head. 13 And when he came, behold, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, "What does the noise of this tumult mean?" And the man came in hastily and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see. 16 And the man said to Eli, "I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army." And he said, "How did the matter go, my son?" 17 And the messenger answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines. And there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead. And the ark of God has been taken." 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate and his neck broke and he died, for he was an old and heavy man. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19 And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child and about to deliver. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death, the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"—because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken."

Chapter 5

The Philistines, having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house of Dagon, 1, 2. Dagon is smitten down and cut in pieces, and those of Ashdod smitten with emerods, 3-7. In the same manner God deals with those of Gath when it was brought there, 8, 9; and likewise with those of Ekron when it was brought there, 10-12.

1 And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Eben-ezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 And when those of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold. Only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore, neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon those of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and its borders. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us, for his hand is severe upon us and upon Dagon our god." 8 They sent therefore, and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" And they answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried to Gath." And they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 And it was so, that after they had carried it there, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction, and he smote the men of the city both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts. 10 Therefore, they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people." 11 So they sent and convened all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go back to its own place so that it does not slay us and our people." For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men who did not die were smitten with the emerods, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Chapter 6

After seven months the Philistines take counsel on how to send back the ark, 1-9. They bring it on a new cart with an offering to Beth-shemesh, 10-18. The people are smitten for looking into the ark, 19, 20. They send to those of Kirjath-jearim to fetch it, 21.

1 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place." 3 And they said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but certainly return him a trespass-offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you." 4 Then they said, "What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him?" They answered, "Five golden emerods and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on you all and on your lords. 5 Therefore, you shall make images of your emerods and images of your mice that mar the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. It may be that he will lighten his hand from off you, from off your gods, and from off your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? 7 Now therefore, make a new cart and take two milk cows on which there has come no yoke, tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them. 8 And take the ark of the LORD, lay it upon the cart, and put the jewels of gold which you return to him for a trespass-offering in a coffer by its side, and send it away so that it may go. 9 And behold, if it goes up by the way of his own border to Beth-shemesh, then he has done us this great evil, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us. It was a chance that happened to us."

10 And the men did so, and took two milk cows, tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. 12 And the cows took the straight way to the way of Beth-shemesh and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth-shemesh.

13 And the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And they lifted up their eyes, saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there where there was a great stone. And they cleaved the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt-offering to the LORD. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the coffer that was with it, in which were the jewels of gold, and put them on the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to the LORD. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering to the LORD: for Ashdod, one; for Gaza, one; for Askelon, one; for Gath, one; for Ekron, one; 18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone of Abel on which they set down the ark of the LORD—which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.

19 And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He even smote of the people fifty thousand and seventy men. And the people lamented because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up from us?" 21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD. Come down and bring it up to you."

Chapter 7

Those of Kirjath-jearim bring the ark into the house of Abinadab and sanctify Eleazar his son to keep it, 1. After twenty years, 2, the Israelites, by Samuel’s means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh, 3-6. While Samuel prays and sacrifices, the Lord confuses the Philistines by thunder at Eben-ezer, 7-12. The Philistines are subdued, 13, 14. Samuel judges Israel, 15-17.

1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came and brought up the ark of the LORD. And they brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 And it came to pass, while the ark stayed in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long, for it was twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, prepare your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines." 4 Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Ashtaroth and served the LORD only.

5 And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh and I will pray for you to the LORD." 6 And they assembled at Mizpeh and drew water, poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and there said, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were assembled at Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us so that he will save us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 And Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly to the LORD. And Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him. 10 And as Samuel was offering the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and confused them, and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, pursued the Philistines, and smote them until they came under Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called its name Eben-ezer, saying, "Until now the LORD has helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and they no longer came into the borders of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath, and its borders Israel delivered from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there. There he judged Israel and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Chapter 8

By occasion of the ill government of Samuel’s sons, the Israelites ask for a king, 1-5. Samuel, praying in grief, is comforted by God, 6-9. He describes the manner of a king, 10-18. God tells Samuel to yield to the importunity of the people, 19-22.

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel and the name of his second was Abiah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4 Then all the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 And said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me so that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt even to this day, by which they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you. 9 Now therefore, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly testify to them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them."

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked of him a king. 11 And he said, "This will be the manner of the king who shall reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for himself and for his chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself captains over thousands and captains over fifties and will set them to till his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectioners, to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive-groves, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 And he will take your men-servants, your women-servants, your most choice young men, and your donkeys and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day."

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, 20 So that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles." 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and make them a king." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man go to his city."

Chapter 9

Saul despairing to find his father’s donkeys, 1-5, by the counsel of his servant, 6-10, and direction of young women, 11-14, according to God’s revelation, 15-17, comes to Samuel, 18. Samuel entertains Saul at the feast, 19-24. Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way, 25-27.

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome young man. And there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he was. From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

3 And the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Now take one of the servants with you and arise and go seek the donkeys." 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shalim, and they were not there. And he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they did not find them.

5 And when they had come to the land of Zuf, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father cease caring for the donkeys and be anxious for us." 6 And he said to him, "Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man. All that he says surely comes to pass. Now let us go there. It may be that he can show us our way that we should go." 7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But behold, if we go, what shall we bring to the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" 8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God to tell us our way." 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke: "Come, and let us go to the seer." For he who is now called a Prophet was formerly called a Seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, "Is the seer here?" 12 And they answered them and said, "He is. Behold, he is before you. Make haste now, for he came today to the city, for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes because he blesses the sacrifice. And afterward, those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him." 14 And they went up into the city. And when they had come into the city, behold, Samuel came out meeting them, to go up to the high place.

15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel so that he may save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon my people because their cry has come to me." 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "Behold the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall reign over my people." 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me, I pray you, where the seer’s house is." 19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And tomorrow I will let you go and tell you all that is in your heart. 20 And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?" 21 And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is my family not the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this manner?"

22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chief place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Set it by you.'" 24 And the cook took up the shoulder and that which was upon it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, "Behold that which is left! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 And when they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26 And they rose early, and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, "Arise so that I may send you away." And Saul arose, and the both of them went out—he and Samuel—abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Bid the servant pass on before us"—and he passed on—"but stand still a while so that I may show you the word of God."

Chapter 10

Samuel anoints Saul, 1. He confirms him by prediction of three signs, 2-8. Saul’s heart is changed and he prophesies, 9-13. He conceals the matter of the kingdom from his uncle, 14-16. Saul is chosen at Mizpeh by lot, 17-25. The different affections of his subjects, 26, 27.

1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance? 2 When you have departed from me today, you shall find two men by Rachel’s sepulcher in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to seek are found, and behold, your father has ceased caring for the donkeys and sorrows for you, saying, "What shall I do for my son?"' 3 Then you shall go on forward from there and shall come to the plain of Tabor, and three men going up to God at Beth-el shall meet you there: one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine. 4 And they will salute you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. 5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the garrison of the Philistines is. And it shall come to pass, when you have come there to the city, that you shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, a tambourine, a pipe, and a harp before them, and they will prophesy. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you shall prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs have come to you, that you do as occasion serves you, for God is with you. 8 And you shall go down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt-offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings. Seven days you shall wait until I come to you and show you what you shall do."

9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came there to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass when all who formerly knew him saw, that behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said to one another, "What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" 12 And someone of the same place answered and said, "But who is their father?" Therefore, it became a proverb: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 And Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel." 15 And Saul’s uncle said, "Tell me, I pray you, what Samuel said to you." 16 And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys were found." But of the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel spoke, he did not tell him.

17 And Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpeh, 18 And said to the children of Israel, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of those who oppressed you. 19 And you have this day rejected your God who saved you himself out of all your adversities and your tribulations, and you have said to him, "No, but set a king over us." Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands.'"

20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken. And when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore, they inquired of the LORD further if the man would yet come there. And the LORD answered, "Behold, he has hid himself among the vessels." 23 And they ran and brought him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?" And all the people shouted and said, "God save the king."

25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah, and a band of men went with him, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, "How shall this man save us?" And they despised him and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

Chapter 11

Nahash offers those of Jabesh-gilead a reproachful condition, 1-3. They send messengers and are delivered by Saul, 4-11. Saul thereby is confirmed and his kingdom renewed, 12-15.

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, "On this condition I will make a covenant with you: that I may thrust out all your right eyes and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel." 3 And the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days respite so that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel. And then, if there is no man to save us, we will come out to you." 4 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the tidings in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5 And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field, and Saul said, "What ails the people so that they weep?" And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, this is what shall be done to his oxen." And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said to the messengers who came, "Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: 'Tomorrow by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help.'" And the messengers came and declared it to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. 10 Therefore, the men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you." 11 And it was so on the next day, that Saul disposed the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the host in the morning-watch and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it came to pass, that those who remained were scattered so that two of them were not left together.

12 And the people said to Samuel, "Who is he who said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men so that we may put them to death." 13 And Saul said, "There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the LORD has wrought salvation in Israel."

14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there." 15 And all the people went to Gilgal. There they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal, sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Chapter 12

Samuel testifies his integrity, 1-5. He reproves the people of ingratitude, 6-15. He terrifies them with thunder in harvest time, 16-19. He comforts them in God’s mercy, 20-25.

1 And Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, but I am old and gray-headed, and behold, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. 3 Behold, here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you." 4 And they said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from any man’s hand." 5 And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "He is witness."

6 And Samuel said to the people, "It is the LORD who advanced Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore, stand still so that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD which he did to you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the LORD, the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers from Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9 And when they forgot the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, who was captain of the host of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth. But now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.' 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel and delivered you from the hand of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt safely.

12 "And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now therefore, behold the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired! And behold, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the LORD, serve him, obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you shall continue following the LORD your God. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD shall be against you as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat-harvest today? I will call to the LORD, and he will send thunder and rain so that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the LORD in asking for yourselves a king." 18 So Samuel called to the LORD. And the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God so that we do not die. For we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside, for then you would go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver because they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake because it has pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you. But I will teach you the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD and serve him in truth with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you will be consumed—both you and your king."

Chapter 13

Saul’s select band, 1, 2. He calls the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines, whose garrison Jonathan had smitten, 3, 4. The Philistines' great host, 5. The distress of the Israelites, 6, 7. Saul, weary of waiting for Samuel, sacrifices, 8-10. Samuel reproves him, 11-16. The three raiding bands of the Philistines, 17, 18. The stratagem of the Philistines to allow no smith in Israel, 19-23.

1 Saul reigned one year. And when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel, of which two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Beth-el and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the people he sent each to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." 4 And all Israel heard it said that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were distressed), the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in high places, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he waited seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. 9 And Saul said, "Bring here to me a burnt-offering and peace-offerings." And he offered the burnt-offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him so that he might salute him. 11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me and that you did not come within the days appointed and that the Philistines assembled at Michmash, 12 Therefore I said, 'The Philistines will now come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' I felt compelled therefore and offered a burnt-offering." 13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God which he commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom upon Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for himself a man after his own heart and the LORD has commanded him to be captain over his people because you have not kept that which the LORD commanded you."

15 And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. 16 And Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them stayed in Gibeah of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And the raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah to the land of Shual, 18 Another company turned the way to Beth-horon, and another company turned to the way of the border that looks to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears." 20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his share, his colter, his ax, and his mattock. 21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, for the colters, for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but they were found with Saul and with Jonathan his son. 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

References

[v.14]: Quoted in Acts 13:22.

Chapter 14

Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistines' garrison, 1-14. A divine terror makes them beat themselves, 15, 16. Saul and his company, seeing the confusion in the Philistine host, come out against them, 17-20. The captivated Hebrews and the hidden Israelites join against them, 21-23. Saul’s unadvised adjuration hinders the victory, 24-30. He restrains the people from eating blood, 31-34. He builds an altar, 35, 36. Jonathan, taken by lot, is saved by the people, 37-46. Saul’s victories, strength, and family, 47-52.

1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father. 2 And Saul stayed in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. And the people who were with him were about six hundred men, 3 Along with Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan was gone. 4 And between the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over to the garrison of the Philistines, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The front of one was situated northward over against Michmash and the other southward over against Gibeah.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Turn yourself. Behold, I am with you according to your heart." 8 Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will pass over to these men and reveal ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the LORD has delivered them into our hand. And this shall be a sign to us." 11 And both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, "Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves." 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel." 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, was about twenty men, within about a half-acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 15 And there was a trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled, and the earth quaked, and it was a very great trembling.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away and they went on beating down one another. 17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Number now, and see who has gone from us." And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahiah, "Bring here the ark of God"—for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19 And it came to pass while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased. And Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20 And Saul and all the people who were with him assembled themselves and came to the battle. And behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow and there was a very great confusion. 21 Moreover, the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the country around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle passed over to Beth-aven.

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had adjured the people, saying, "Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening and until I am avenged of my enemies." So none of the people tasted any food. 25 And all the people of the land came to a forest and there was honey upon the ground. 26 And when the people had come into the forest, behold, the honey dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan did not hear when his father charged the people with the oath; therefore, he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, dipped it in a honey-comb, and put his hand to his mouth and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then one of the people answered and said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed is the man who eats any food this day.'" And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See, I pray you, how my eyes have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if perhaps the people had eaten freely today of the plunder of their enemies which they found? For had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?"

31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Ajalon. And the people were very faint. 32 And the people flew upon the plunder and took sheep, oxen, and calves and slew them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, "Behold, the people sin against the LORD in that they eat with the blood." And he said, "You have transgressed. Roll a great stone to me this day." 34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, 'Every man bring me here his ox and every man his sheep, and slay them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD in eating with the blood.'" And all the people each brought his ox with him that night and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD. The same was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

36 And Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light, and do not let us leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here." 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Draw near here all the chief of the people, and know and see wherein this sin has been this day. 39 For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 41 Therefore, Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." And Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him and said, "I tasted but a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and behold, I must die." 44 And Saul answered, "May God do so and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 And the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? By no means. As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has wrought with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, against the children of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. And wherever he turned himself, he harassed them. 48 And he gathered a host and smote the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab and the name of the younger Michal. 50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. 51 And Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 And there was violent war against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him into his service.

Chapter 15

Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek, 1-5. Saul favors the Kenites, 6. He spares Agag and the best of the plunder, 7-9. Samuel denounces to Saul God’s rejection of him for his disobedience, 10-23. Saul’s humiliation, 24-31. Samuel kills Agag, 32, 33. Samuel and Saul part, 34, 35.

1 Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore, listen to the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them, but slay both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

4 And Saul assembled the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek and laid wait in the valley. 6 And Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, withdraw yourselves from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah, as far as Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the oxen, of the fattened calves, the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. But everything that was vile and refuse, that they utterly destroyed.

10 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I repent that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And it grieved Samuel and he cried to the LORD all night. 12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told to Samuel, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set himself up a place, then has turned around and passed on and gone down to Gilgal." 13 And Samuel came to Saul. And Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD." 14 And Samuel said, "What then does this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen which I hear mean?" 15 And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed." 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stay, and I will tell you what the LORD has said to me this night." And he said to him, "Say on."

17 And Samuel said, "When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel and the LORD anointed you king over Israel? 18 And the LORD sent you on a journey and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but flew upon the plunder and did evil in the sight of the LORD?"

20 And Saul said to Samuel, "Indeed, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek and utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took some of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." 22 And Samuel said,

"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices   /

as in obeying the voice of the LORD? /

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice /

and to listen than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft   /

and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. /

Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, /

he has also rejected you from being king."

24 And Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray you, pardon my sin and turn back with me so that I may worship the LORD." 26 And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." 27 And as Samuel turned around to depart, Saul laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle and it rent. 28 And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has rent the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent." 30 Then he said, "I have sinned. Yet honor me now, I pray you, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and turn back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

32 Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me." And Agag came to him delicately. And Agag said, "Surely the bitterness of death is past." 33 And Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother shall be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel no longer came to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul. And the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Chapter 16

Samuel, sent by God under pretense of a sacrifice, comes to Beth-lehem, 1-5. His human judgment is reproved, 6-10. He anoints David, 11-14. Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit, 15-23.

1 And the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go, I will send you to Jesse the Beth-lehemite, for I have provided myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint to me him whom I name to you." 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 And he said, "Peaceably. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass when they had come, that he looked on Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his countenance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees—for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one." 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he keeps the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he has come here."

12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and also of a beautiful countenance and a good appearance. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek a man who is a skillful player on a harp. And it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he will play with his hand, and you will be well." 17 And Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well and bring him to me." 18 Then one of the servants answered and said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty valiant man, a man of war, prudent in matters, and a handsome person, and the LORD is with him." 19 Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send to me David your son, who is with the sheep." 20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a bottle of wine and a kid and sent them to Saul by David his son. 21 And David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David, I pray you, stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight." 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp and played with his hand. Then Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Chapter 17

The armies of the Israelites and Philistines being ready to battle, 1-3, Goliath challenges a combat, 4-11. David, sent by his father to visit his brothers, takes the challenge, 12-27. Eliab chides him, 28, 29. He is brought to Saul, 30, 31; shows the reason of his confidence, 32-37; and slays the giant, 38-54. Saul takes notice of David, 55-58.

1 Now the Philistines collected their armies to battle and were assembled at Shochoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Shochoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were assembled and encamped by the valley of Elah, and they set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had a helmet of brass upon his head and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs and a javelin of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And someone bearing a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and cried to the armies of Israel and said to them, "Why have you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man so that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse, who had eight sons and was an old man in the days of Saul and aged among men. 13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the first-born, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest. And the three eldest followed Saul, 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse said to David his son, "Now take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. See how your brothers fare and take their pledge." 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.

20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and took and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the trench as the host was going forth to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 And Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran into the army and came and saluted his brothers. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, from the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words. And David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were exceedingly afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely to defy Israel he has come. And it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel."

26 And David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, "So it shall be done to the man who kills him."

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the wickedness of your heart. For you have come down so that you may see the battle." 29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" 30 And he turned from him toward another and spoke after the same manner. And the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul. And he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, "Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth." 34 And David said to Saul, "Your servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock. 35 And I went after him, smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, smote him, and slew him. 36 Your servant slew both the lion and the bear. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 David said moreover, "The LORD who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with you." 38 And Saul armed David with his armor and he put a helmet of brass upon his head. He also armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armor and he essayed to go, for he had not proved it. And David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them." And David took them off from him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a pouch. Then, with his sling in his hand, he drew near to the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine advanced and drew near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked around and saw David, he disdained him, for he was a youth, ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog that you come to me with staffs?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. And I will smite you and take your head from you. And I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands."

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, took from there a stone, hurled it with his sling, and smote the Philistine in his forehead so that the stone sunk into his forehead and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. He smote the Philistine and slew him, but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore, David ran and stood upon the Philistine, took his sword, drew it out of its sheath, slew him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, shouted, and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and to Ekron. 53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner the captain of the host, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I cannot tell." 56 And the king said, "Inquire whose son the young man is." 57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite."

Chapter 18

Jonathan loves David, 1-4. Saul envies his praise, 5-9; seeks to kill him in his fury, 10, 11; fears him for his good success, 12-16; offers him his daughters for a snare, 17-21. David persuaded to be the king’s son-in-law, gives two hundred foreskins of the Philistines for Michal’s dowry, 22-27. Saul’s hatred and David’s glory increase, 28-30.

1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would no longer let him go home to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, to his bow, and to his girdle. 5 And David went out wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music. 7 And the women answered one another as they played and said,

"Saul has slain his thousands,   /

and David his tens of thousands."

8 And Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him. And he said, "They have ascribed to David tens of thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands. And what can he have more but the kingdom?" 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the next day, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played with his hand, as at other times. And there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin, for he said, "I will smite David even to the wall." And David escaped from his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him, and had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore, Saul sent him away from him and made him his captain over one thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to David, "Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’S battles." For Saul thought, "Do not let my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him." 18 And David said to Saul, "Who am I? And what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" 19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

20 And Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, "I will give her to him so that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore, Saul said to David, "You shall this day be my son-in-law, in the one of the two." 22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, "Commune with David secretly and say, 'Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, be the king’s son-in-law.'" 23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?" 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, "In this manner David spoke." 25 And Saul said, "Thus you shall say to David: 'The king does not desire any dowry, but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines to be avenged of the king’s enemies.'" But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. And the days had not expired. 27 Therefore, David arose and went—he and his men—and slew of the Philistines two hundred men. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king so that he might be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David. And Saul became David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth. And it came to pass after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul so that his name was much esteemed.

Chapter 19

Jonathan discloses his father’s purpose to kill David, 1-3. He persuades his father to reconciliation, 4-7. By reason of David’s good success in a new war, Saul’s malicious rage breaks out against him, 8-11. Michal deceives her father with an image in David’s bed, 12-17. David comes to Samuel in Naioth, 18, 19. Saul’s messengers, sent to take David, 20, 21, and Saul himself, prophesy, 22-24.

1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should kill David. 2 But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, saying, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now, therefore, I pray you, take heed to yourself until the morning, abide in a secret place, and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and I will commune with my father about you. And what I see, that I will tell you." 4 And Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you and because his works have been very good toward you. 5 For he put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood to slay David without a cause?" 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. And Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be slain." 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8 And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and slew them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him. 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand. And David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence as he drove the javelin into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be slain." 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went, fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image, laid it in the bed, put a pillow of goat’s hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." 15 And Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, "Bring him to me in the bed so that I may slay him." 16 And when the messengers had come in, behold, there was an image in the bed with a pillow of goat’s hair for his bolster. 17 And Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me like this and sent away my enemy so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go. Why should I kill you?'"

18 So David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19 And it was told to Saul, saying, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied. 21 And when it was told to Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then he went also to Ramah and came to a great well that is in Sechu. And he asked and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah." 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he stripped off his clothes also and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore, they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Chapter 20

David consults with Jonathan for his safety, 1-10. Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath, 11-17. Jonathan’s token to David, 18-23. Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan, 24-34. Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David, 35-42.

1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father that he seeks my life?" 2 And he said to him, "Far be it from you. You shall not die. Behold, my father will do nothing, either great or small, but that he will show it to me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so." 3 And David swore moreover and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found grace in your eyes and he says, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he should be grieved.' But truly as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." 4 Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you." 5 And David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new-moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king. But let me go so that I may hide myself in the field until the third day at evening. 6 If your father at all misses me, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me so that he might run to Beth-lehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.' 7 If he says, 'It is well,' your servant will have peace. But if he is very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore, you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is in me iniquity, slay me yourself. For why should you bring me to your father?" 9 And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you. For if I knew certainly that evil is determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell it to you?" 10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me? Or what if your father answers you roughly?" 11 And Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." And the both of them went out into the field.

12 And Jonathan said to David, "O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, and behold, if there is good toward David, and I then do not send to you and show it to you, 13 May the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will show it to you and send you away so that you may go in peace. And may the LORD be with you as he has been with my father. 14 And you shall, while I yet live, not only show me the kindness of the LORD so that I may not die, 15 But also you shall not withdraw your kindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies." 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the new-moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty. 19 And when you have stayed three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when the business was in hand, and you shall remain by the stone of Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And behold, I will send a boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I expressly say to the boy, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then come, for there is peace to you, and no hurt, as the LORD lives. 22 But if I say to the young man, 'Behold, the arrows are beyond you,' go your way, for the LORD has sent you away. 23 And as to the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever."

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new-moon had come, the king sat down to eat food. 25 And the king sat upon his seat as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 26 Nevertheless, Saul did not speak anything that day, for he thought, "Something has befallen him, he is not clean. Surely he is not clean." 27 And it came to pass on the next day, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why does the son of Jesse not come to eat, neither yesterday, nor today?" 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem. 29 And he said, 'Let me go, I pray you, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, I pray you, and see my brothers.' Therefore, he does not come to the king’s table."

30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of the perverse rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. And now, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die." 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, "Why shall he be slain? What has he done?" 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him—by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to slay David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David because his father had done him shame.

35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him. 36 And he said to his boy, "Run, find the arrows which I shoot." And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy and said, "Is the arrow not beyond you?" 38 And Jonathan cried after the boy, "Make speed, hasten, do not stay." And Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the boy did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his arms to his boy and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city." 41 And as soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring forever.'" 43 And he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

Chapter 21

At Nob, David obtains hallowed bread from Ahimelech, 1-6. Doeg is present, 7. David takes Goliath’s sword, 8, 9. At Gath, David feigns himself mad, 10-15.

1 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David and said to him, "Why are you alone and no man with you?" 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has commanded me a business and has said to me, 'Let no man know anything of the business about which I send you and what I have commanded you. And I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.' 3 Now therefore, what is under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present." 4 And the priest answered David and said, "There is no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves at least from women." 5 And David answered the priest and said to him, "Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a common manner, even though it was sanctified this day in the vessel." 6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was no bread there but the show-bread, which was taken from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

8 And David said to Ahimelech, "And is there not here under your hand a spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me because the king’s business required haste." 9 And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you slew in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is no other except that here." And David said, "There is none like that. Give it to me."

10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, saying,

'Saul has slain his thousands,   /

and David his tens of thousands?'"

12 And David laid up these words in his heart and was greatly afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behavior before them and feigned himself mad in their hands, scrabbling on the doors of the gate and letting his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of mad-men that you have brought this man to play the mad-man in my presence? Shall this man come into my house?"

Chapter 22

Companies resort to David at Adullam, 1, 2. At Mizpeh he commends his parents to the king of Moab, 3, 4. Admonished by Gad, he comes to Hareth, 5. Saul, going to pursue him, complains of his servants' unfaithfulness, 6-8. Doeg accuses Ahimelech, 9, 10. Saul commands to kill the priests, 11-16. The footmen refusing, Doeg executes it, 17-19. Abiathar escapes and brings David the news, 20-23.

1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented resorted to him, and he became a captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, "Let my father and my mother, I pray you, come forth and be with you until I know what God will do for me." 4 And he brought them before the king of Moab. And they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. 5 And the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not abide in the hold. Depart, and come into the land of Judah." Then David departed and came into the forest of Hareth.

6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him (now Saul stayed in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him), 7 Saul said to his servants who stood around him, "Hear now, you Benjaminites. Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, 8 That all of you have conspired against me? And there is no one who shows me that my son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is not one of you who is sorry for me, or shows to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as at this day." 9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, answered and said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob. And all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub." And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." 13 And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me—you and the son of Jesse—in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him so that he should rise against me to lie in wait, as at this day?"

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and goes at your bidding and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Be it far from me. Do not let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more." 16 And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech—you and all your father’s house." 17 And the king said to the footmen who stood around him, "Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD because their hand is also with David and because they knew when he fled and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, "Turn, and fall upon the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and he fell upon the priests and slew on that day eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar reported to David that Saul had slain the LORD’S priests. 22 And David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. 23 Abide with me. Do not fear, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. But with me you shall be in safeguard."

Chapter 23

David, inquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah, 1-6. After God tells him of the coming of Saul and the treachery of the Keilites, he escapes from Keilah, 7-13. In Ziph, Jonathan comes and comforts him, 14-18. The Ziphites reveal him to Saul, 19-24. At Maon, he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines, 25-28. He dwells at En-gedi, 29.

1 Then they told David, saying, "Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah and they rob the threshing-floors." 2 Therefore, David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and smite these Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go, smite the Philistines and save Keilah." 3 And David’s men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" 4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought with the Philistines, brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. 7 And it was told to Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he is shut in by entering into a town that has gates and bars." 8 And Saul called all the people together to war to go down to Keilah and to besiege David and his men. 9 And David knew that Saul secretly plotted mischief against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." 10 Then David said, "O LORD God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I implore you, tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will come down." 12 Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will deliver you up." 13 Then David and his men who were about six hundred arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. And it was told to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he forbore to go forth. 14 And David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

15 And David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a forest. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the forest and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. And you will be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. And Saul, my father, also knows that." 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the forest, and Jonathan went to his house.

19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Does David not hide himself with us in strongholds in the forest, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down, and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand." 21 And Saul said, "Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me. 22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet and know, and see his place where his haunt is and who has seen him there, for it is told to me that he deals very subtly. 23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hides himself and come back to me with the certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall come to pass, if he is in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah."

24 And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul, but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul and his men also went to seek him. And they told David. Therefore, he came down into a rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David made haste to get away for fear of Saul, for Saul and his men surrounded David and his men to take them. 27 But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, "Make haste and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land." 28 Therefore, Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore, they called that place Sela-hammah-lekoth. 29 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En-gedi.

Chapter 24

David, in a cave at En-gedi, having cut off Saul’s skirt, spares his life, 1-7. He shows thereby his innocence, 8-15. Saul, acknowledging his fault, binds David with an oath and departs, 16-22.

1 And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told to him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheep-folds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men remained in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, "Behold the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand so that you may do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and privately cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe. 5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6 And he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." 7 So David restrained his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. But Saul rose out of the cave and went on his way.

8 David also rose afterward, went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord the king." And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself. 9 And David said to Saul, "Why do you hear men’s words, saying, 'Behold, David seeks your hurt?' 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD has delivered you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but my eye spared you. And I said, 'I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’S anointed.' 11 Moreover, my father, look. Look at the skirt of your robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my soul to take it. 12 May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you. But my hand shall not be upon you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.' But my hand shall not be upon you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea? 15 May the LORD therefore be judge and judge between you and me, and see and plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand."

16 And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I am, for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt with me, because when the LORD had delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away well? Therefore, may the LORD reward you with good, for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know well that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my offspring after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house." 22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the hold.

Chapter 25

Samuel dies, 1. David in Paran sends to Nabal, 2-9. Provoked by Nabal’s churlishness, he minds to destroy him, 10-13. When this is revealed to Abigail, 14-17, she takes a present, 18-22; and by her wisdom, 23-31, pacifies David, 32-35. After Nabal hears about this, he dies, 36-38. David takes Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives, 39-43. Michal is given to Phalti, 44.

1 And Samuel died. And all the Israelites assembled, lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel. And the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance, but the man was churlish and evil in his doings. And he was of the house of Caleb. 4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5 And David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. 6 And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: 'Peace be with you, and peace be with your house, and peace be with all that you have. 7 And now I have heard that you have shearers. Now your shepherds who were with us, we did not hurt them, neither was there anything missing to them all the while they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men and they will show you. Therefore, let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we come in a good day. Give, I pray you, whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.'"

9 And when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal in the name of David according to all these words and ceased. 10 And Nabal answered David’s servants and said, "Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants in these days that each break away from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread, my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men whom I do not know where they are from?" 12 So David’s young men turned their way, went back, and came and told him all these sayings. 13 And David said to his men, "Each of you gird on his sword." And they each girded on his sword. And David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, and two hundred stayed by the goods.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, "Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to salute our master, and he railed at them. 15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither did we miss anything as long as we were conversant with them when we were in the fields. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and day all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for evil is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a son of Belial that a man cannot speak to him."

18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready and dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19 And she said to her servants, "Go on before me. Behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 And it was so, as she rode on the donkey, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and behold, David and his men came down over against her, and she met them. 21 (Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have kept all that this man has in the wilderness so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him, and he has requited me evil for good. 22 May God do so and more also to the enemies of David if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any male person.")

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hastened, alighted off the donkey, fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground. 24 And she fell at his feet and said, "Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be. And let your servant, I pray you, speak in your audience, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Do not let my lord, I pray you, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal, for as his name is, so he is. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

26 "Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, seeing the LORD has withheld you from coming to shed blood and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27 And now this blessing which your servant has brought to my lord, let it even be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 I pray you, forgive the trespass of your servant, for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil has not been found in you all your days. 29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and to seek your soul, but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God. And the souls of your enemies, he shall sling them out, as from the middle of a sling. 30 And it will come to pass, when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31 That this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, remember your servant."

32 And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel who sent you this day to meet me. 33 And blessed is your advice, and blessed are you who have kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hastened and come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any male person." 35 So David received from her hand that which she had brought him and said to her, "Return in peace to your house. Behold, I have listened to your voice and have accepted your person."

36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken. Therefore, she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. 37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine had left Nabal and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him and he became as a stone. 38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal so that he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept his servant from evil, for the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head." And David sent and communed with Abigail to take her for himself for a wife. 40 And when the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you to take you to him for a wife." 41 And she arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth and said, "Behold, let your servant be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." 42 And Abigail hastened, arose, and rode upon a donkey, with five of her attendants who went after her. And she went after the messengers of David and became his wife.

43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and the both of them were his wives.

44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

Chapter 26

Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, comes to Hachilah against David, 1-3. David, coming into the trench, prevents Abishai from killing Saul, but takes his spear and cruse, 4-12. David reproves Abner, 13-16; and exhorts Saul, 17-20. Saul acknowledges his sin, 21-25.

1 And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Does David not hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?" 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul had indeed come. 5 And David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David beheld the place where Saul lay, along with Abner, the son of Ner, the captain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench and the people pitched around him.

6 Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster, but Abner and the people lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear, even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time." 9 And David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him. For who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be guiltless?" 10 David said furthermore, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will smite him, or his day will come to die, or he will descend into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the LORD’S anointed. But now, I pray you, take the spear that is at his bolster and the cruse of water and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster, and they departed, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awakened, for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great space being between them. 14 And David cried to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Do you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered and said, "Who are you who cries to the king?" 15 And David said to Abner, "Are you not a valiant man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept your lord the king? For there came in one of the people to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing is not good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die because you have not kept your master, the LORD’S anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster."

17 And Saul knew David’s voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18 And he said, "Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering, but if they are the children of men, they are cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no longer do you harm because my soul was precious in your eyes this day. Behold I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly." 22 And David answered and said, "Behold the king’s spear! And let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 May the LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the LORD’S anointed. 24 And behold, as your life was precious this day in my eyes, so let my life be precious in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David. You shall both do great things and also shall still prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Chapter 27

Saul, hearing David to be in Gath, seeks no more for him, 1-4. David asks Achish for Ziklag, 5-7. He, invading other countries, persuades Achish he fought against Judah, 8-12.

1 And David said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any border of Israel, and I shall escape from his hand." 2 And David arose and he passed over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath—he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife. 4 And it was told to Saul that David had fled to Gath. And he no longer sought for him again.

5 And David said to Achish, "If I have now found grace in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country so that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?" 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore, Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

8 And David and his men went up and invaded the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as far as to Shur, even to the land of Egypt. 9 And David smote the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish. 10 And Achish said, "Where have you made a road today?" And David said, "Against the south of Judah, against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites." 11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring tidings to Gath, saying, "Lest they should inform against us, saying, 'Thus David did, and so will be his manner all the time he dwells in the country of the Philistines.'" 12 And Achish believed David, saying, "He has made himself utterly abhorred among his people in Israel; therefore, he shall be my servant forever."

Chapter 28

Achish puts confidence in David, 1, 2. Saul, having destroyed the witches, 3, and now in his fear is forsaken by God, 4-6, has recourse to a witch, 7; who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel, 8-14. Saul, hearing his ruin, faints, 15-20. The woman and his servants refresh him with meat, 21-25.

1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines collected their armies for warfare to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you shall go out with me to battle—you and your men." 2 And David said to Achish, "Surely you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Therefore, I will make you keeper of my head forever."

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. 4 And the Philistines assembled and came and encamped in Shunem. And Saul collected all Israel and they encamped in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit so that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at En-dor."

8 And Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "I pray you, divine to me by the familiar spirit and bring up for me whom I shall name to you." 9 And the woman said to him, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life to cause me to die?" 10 And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall happen to you for this thing." 11 Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up to you?" And he said, "Bring me up Samuel." 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul." 13 And the king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What did you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I saw gods ascending out of the earth." 14 And he said to her, "What is his form?" And she said, "An old man comes up, and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed himself.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disquieted me to bring me up?" And Saul answered, "I am grievously distressed, for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore, I have called you so that you may make known to me what I shall do." 16 Then Samuel said, "Why then do you ask of me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 And the LORD has done to him, as he spoke by me, for the LORD has rent the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, even to David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, nor execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

20 Then Saul immediately fell his full length on the earth and was exceedingly afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day, nor all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled and said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed your voice. And I have put my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke. 22 Now therefore, I pray you, listen also to the voice of your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you. And eat so that you may have strength when you go on your way." 23 But he refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fattened calf in the house and she hastened and killed it, and took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it. 25 And she brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. Then they arose and went away that night.

Chapter 29

David, marching with the Philistines, 1, 2, is disallowed by their princes, 3-5. Achish dismisses him with commendations of his fidelity, 6-11.

1 Now the Philistines collected all their armies to Aphek. And the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish. 3 Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? I have found no fault in him since he fell to me to this day." 4 And the princes of the Philistines were angry with him. And the princes of the Philistines said to him, "Make this man return so that he may go back to his place which you have appointed him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he should be an adversary to us. For with what would he reconcile himself to his master? Would it not be with the heads of these men? 5 Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying,

'Saul slew his thousands,   /

and David his tens of thousands'?"

6 Then Achish called David and said to him, "Surely, as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the host is good in my sight. For I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not favor you. 7 Now therefore, return and go in peace so that you do not displease the lords of the Philistines." 8 And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant, so long as I have been with you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" 9 And Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the princes of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.' 10 Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you have risen early in the morning and have light, depart." 11 So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Chapter 30

The Amalekites plunder Ziklag, 1-3. David, asking counsel, is encouraged by God to pursue them, 4-10. By the means of a revived Egyptian, he is brought to the enemies and recovers all the plunder, 11-21. David’s law to divide the plunder equally between those who fight and those who keep the stuff, 22-25. He sends presents to his friends, 26-31.

1 And it came to pass, when David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south and Ziklag, smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire, 2 And had taken the women captive who were in it. They did not slay any, either great or small, but carried them away and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives, their sons, and their daughters were taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives were taken captive—Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters, but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, "I pray you, bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod there to David. 8 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And he answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." 9 So David went—he and the six hundred men who were with him—and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind remained. 10 But David pursued—he and four hundred men—while two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook of Besor.

11 And they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. And they gave him bread, and he ate, and they made him drink water. 12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit came back to him, for he had eaten no bread, nor drank any water, three days and three nights. 13 And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" And he said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me because three days ago I fell sick. 14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the land which belongs to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." 15 And David said to him, "Can you conduct me down to this company?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will lead you down to this company."

16 And when he had conducted him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating, drinking, and dancing, because of all the great plunder that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 And David smote them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day. And there did not escape a man of them, except four hundred young men, who rode upon camels and fled. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away. And David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither plunder, nor anything that they had taken to them. David recovered all. 20 And David took all the flocks and the herds which they drove before those other cattle and said, "This is David’s plunder."

21 And David came to the two hundred men who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook of Besor. And they went forth to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people, he saluted them. 22 Then all the wicked men and men of Belial among those who went with David answered and said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them anything of the plunder that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children so that they may lead them away and depart." 23 Then David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. 24 For who will listen to you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who remains by the goods. They shall share alike." 25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.

26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, "Behold a present for you from the plunder of the enemies of the LORD: 27 To those who were in Beth-el, to those who were in south Ramoth, to those who were in Jattir, 28 To those who were in Aroer, to those who were in Siphmoth, to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29 To those who were in Rachal, to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30 To those who were in Hormah, to those who were in Chor-ashan, to those who were in Athach, 31 To those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to resort."

Chapter 31

Having lost his army and his sons slain, Saul and his armor-bearer kill themselves, 1-6. The Philistines possess the forsaken towns of the Israelites, 7. They triumph over the dead carcasses, 8-10. Those of Jabesh-gilead, recovering the dead bodies by night, burn them at Jabesh and mournfully bury their bones, 11-13.

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain on mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons, and the Philistines slew Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons. 3 And the battle was severe against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised should come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he was exceedingly afraid. Therefore, Saul took a sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died that same day together.

7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those who were on the other side of the Jordan saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 And it came to pass on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head, stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around to publish it in the house of their idols and among the people. 10 And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 All the valiant men arose and went all night, took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh and fasted seven days.

[Tanach reading: go to Second Samuel]

THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL

Chapter 1

The Amalekite who brought tidings of the overthrow and accused himself of Saul’s death is slain, 1-16. David laments Saul and Jonathan with a song, 17-27.

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth and did obeisance. 3 And David said to him, "From where did you come?" And he said to him, "Out of the camp of Israel I have escaped." 4 And David said to him, "How did the matter go? I pray you, tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle and many of the people have also fallen and are dead. And Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also." 5 And David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?" 6 And the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear, and behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.' 8 And he said to me, 'Who are you?' And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' 9 He said to me again, 'Stand, I pray you, upon me and slay me, for anguish has come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.' 10 So I stood upon him and slew him because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them here to my lord."

11 Then David took hold of his clothes and rent them. And all the men who were with him did likewise. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite." 14 And David said to him, "How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?" 15 And David called one of the young men and said, "Go near and fall upon him." And he smote him so that he died. 16 And David said to him, "Your blood is upon your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have slain the LORD’S anointed.'"

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (He also told them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow, as it is written in the book of Jasher):

19 "The beauty of Israel is slain upon your high places.   /

How the mighty have fallen!

20 Do not tell it in Gath,   /

do not publish it in the streets of Askelon, /

lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, /

lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 "You mountains of Gilboa,   /

let there be no dew, neither rain upon you, /

nor fields of offerings, /

for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, /

the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 "From the blood of the slain,   /

from the fat of the mighty, /

the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, /

and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 "Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,   /

and in their death they were not divided. /

They were swifter than eagles, /

they were stronger than lions.

24 "You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,   /

who clothed you in scarlet with other delights, /

who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 "How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!   /

O Jonathan you were slain in your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan.   /

Very pleasant you have been to me. /

Your love to me was wonderful, /

passing the love of women.

27 "How the mighty have fallen   /

and the weapons of war perished!"

Chapter 2

David, by God’s direction, with his company goes up to Hebron where he is made king of Judah, 1-4. He commends those of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul, 5-7. Abner makes Ish-bosheth king of Israel, 8-11. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner’s and twelve of Joab’s men, 12-17. Asahel is slain, 18-24. At Abner’s motion, Joab sounds a retreat, 25-31. Asahel’s burial, 32.

1 And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." And David said, "Where shall I go up?" And he said, "To Hebron." 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And his men who were with him David brought up, every man with his household. And they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh-gilead were those who buried Saul." 5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, "Blessed are you of the LORD in that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now, may the LORD show kindness and truth to you. And I also will requite you this kindness because you have done this thing. 7 And now, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 And he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, was seven years and six months.

12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met together by the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise." 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, who pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And they each caught his fellow by the head and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side so that they fell down together. Therefore, that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very severe battle that day. And Abner was defeated, along with the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 And Asahel pursued after Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Are you Asahel?" And he answered, "I am." 21 And Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, lay hold upon one of the young men, and take for yourself his armor." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I smite you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?" 23 But he refused to turn aside; therefore, Abner with the back end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib so that the spear came out behind him. And he fell down there and died in the same place. And it came to pass, that everyone stood still who came to the place where Asahel fell down and died.

24 Also, Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin assembled themselves after Abner, became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then before you will bid the people return from following their brothers?" 27 And Joab said, "As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up, each from following his brother." 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still and no longer pursued Israel, neither did they fight anymore. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain. And they passed over the Jordan, went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.

30 And Joab returned from following Abner. And when he had assembled all the people, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin and of Abner’s men so that three hundred and sixty men died. 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulcher of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night and came to Hebron at the break of day.

Chapter 3

During the war, David still grows stronger, 1. Six sons are born to him in Hebron, 2-5. Abner, displeased with Ish-bosheth, 6, revolts to David, 7-12. David requires as a condition to bring him his wife Michal, 13-16. Abner communes with the Israelites, and David makes him a feast and dismisses him, 17-21. Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king and kills Abner, 22-27. David curses Joab, 28-30; and mourns for Abner, 31-39.

1 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 His second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 The fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?" 8 Then Abner was very angry for the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "Am I a dog’s head of Judah? I show kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman. 9 May God do so to Abner and more also, unless, as the LORD has sworn to David, I do this for him: 10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba." 11 And he could not answer Abner a word again because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and also saying, "Make your league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring about all Israel to you." 13 And he said, "Good. I will make a league with you. But one thing I require of you, that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face." 14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Deliver to me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines." 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her, weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned.

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, "You sought for David in times past to be king over you. 18 Now then do it, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'" 19 And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner also went to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner came to David in Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 21 And Abner said to David, "I will arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make a league with you and that you may reign over all that your heart desires." And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop and brought in a large amount of plunder with them, but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the host that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace." 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do."

26 And when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly and smote him there under the fifth rib so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house, and let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, who is a leper, who leans on a staff, who falls on the sword, or who lacks bread." 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And king David himself followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner. And all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented over Abner and said,

"Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound,   /

nor your feet put into fetters. /

As a man falls before wicked men, /

so you fell."

And all the people wept again over him. 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, "May God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else until the sun is down." 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. The LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."

Chapter 4

The Israelites are troubled at the death of Abner, 1. Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-bosheth and bring his head to Hebron, 2-8. David causes them to be slain and Ish-bosheth’s head to be buried, 9-12.

1 And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 2 And Saul’s son had two men who were captains of bands: the name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin, 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day).

4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the tidings of Saul and Jonathan came out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6 And they came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat, and they smote him under the fifth rib. And Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, and they smote him, slew him, beheaded him, and took his head and went away through the plain all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life. And the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his offspring."

9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 When someone told me, saying, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' (thinking to have brought good tidings), I took hold of him and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings. 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand and take you away from the earth?" 12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron.

Chapter 5

The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel, 1-3. David’s age, 4, 5. Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it, 6-10. Hiram sends to David, 11, 12. Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem, 13-16. David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim, 17-21; and again at the mulberry trees, 22-25.

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall feed my people Israel and you shall be a captain over Israel.'" 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "Unless you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here," thinking David could not get in there. 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, "Whoever gets up to the gutter and smites the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind who are hated by David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain." Therefore, they said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house." 9 So David dwelt in the fort and called it the city of David. And David built around from Millo and inward. 10 And David went on and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and also cedar-trees, carpenters, and masons, and they built David a house. 12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

13 And David took for himself more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem after he had come from Hebron. And there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David. And David heard of it and went down to the hold. 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there and said, "The LORD has broken forth upon my enemies before me, as the breach of waters." Therefore, he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

22 And the Philistines came yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, "You shall not go up, but make a circuit behind them and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. 24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry-trees, you shall move quickly, for then the LORD shall go out before you to smite the host of the Philistines." 25 And David did so as the LORD had commanded him and smote the Philistines from Geba as far as Gazer.

Chapter 6

David fetches the ark from Kirjath-jearim on a new cart, 1-5. Uzzah is smitten at Perez-uzzah, 6-8. God blesses Obed-edom for the ark, 9-11. David brings the ark into Zion with sacrifices and dances before it, 12-15. Michal despises him for his dancing, 16. He places it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting, 17-19. Michal, reproving David for his religious joy, is childless to her death, 20-23.

1 Again, David assembled all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who dwells between the cherubim. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God. And Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, on psalteries, on tambourines, on horns, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error. And there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah. And he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, "How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?" 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the city of David. But David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

12 And it was told to king David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that pertains to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so, that when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fattened calves. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, to the women as well as the men, to everyone a cake of bread, a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed each to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants' women-servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" 21 And David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me before your father and before all his house to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore, I will play before the LORD. 22 And I shall yet be more vile than this and be base in my own sight. And by the women-servants which you have spoken of, by them I shall be had in honor." 23 Therefore, Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.

Chapter 7

Nathan, first approving the purpose of David to build God a house, 1-3, afterward, by the word of God, forbids him, 4-11. God promises him benefits and blessings in his offspring, 12-17. David’s prayer and thanksgiving, 18-29.

1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest around from all his enemies, 2 That the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains." 3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."

4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Will you build a house for me to dwell in? 6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7 In all the places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, 'Why do you not build me a house of cedar?'"'

8 "Now therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheep-fold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel. 9 And I was with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight and made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are in the earth. 10 Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more, neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as formerly, 11 Even since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also, the LORD tells you that he will make you a house. 12 And when your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, which shall proceed from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men, 15 But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."'" 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

18 Then king David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house that you have brought me thus far? 19 And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord GOD, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? 20 And what can David say more to you? For you, Lord GOD, know your servant. 21 For your word’s sake and according to your own heart you have done all these great things to make your servant know them. 22 Therefore, you are great, O LORD God. For there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, to make a name for himself, and to do for you great and awesome things, driving out nations and their gods before your people, which you redeemed for yourself from Egypt? 24 For you have confirmed to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever. And you, LORD, have become their God. 25 And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as you have said. 26 And let your name be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.' And let the house of your servant David be established before you. 27 For you, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore, your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant. 29 And now, let it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever."

References

[v.14]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:5.

Chapter 8

David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites, 1, 2. He smites Hadadezer and the Syrians, 3-8. Toi sends Joram with presents to bless him, 9, 10. The presents and the plunder David dedicates to God, 11-13. He puts garrisons in Edom, 14, 15. David’s officers, 16-18.

1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he smote Moab and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground. Even with two lines he measured to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants and brought gifts.

3 David also smote Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the Euphrates River. 4 And David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. And David hamstrung all the chariot-horses, but reserved some of them for one hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took an exceeding amount of brass.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent Joram his son to king David to salute him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him (for Hadadezer had wars with Toi). And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of brass, 11 Which also king David dedicated to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued: 12 Of Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David made himself a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men. 14 And he put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the people of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

15 And David reigned over all Israel, and David executed judgment and justice to all his people. 16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, Seraiah was the scribe, 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.

Chapter 9

David, by Ziba, sends for Mephibosheth, 1-6. For Jonathan’s sake he entertains him at his table and restores him all that was Saul’s, 7, 8. He makes Ziba his farmer, 9-13.

1 And David said, "Is there yet anyone who is left of the house of Saul so that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?" 2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "Your servant is he." 3 And the king said, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul so that I may show the kindness of God to him?" And Ziba said to the king, "Jonathan has yet a son who is lame in his feet." 4 And the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar." 5 Then king David sent and brought him from the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he answered, "Behold your servant!" 7 And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father and will restore you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat bread at my table continually." 8 And he bowed himself and said, "What is your servant that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am?"

9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, "I have given to your master’s son all that pertained to Saul, and to all his house. 10 Therefore, you, your sons, and your servants shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in the fruits so that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall always eat bread at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so your servant shall do." "As for Mephibosheth," the king said, "he shall eat at my table as one of the king’s sons." 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

Chapter 10

David’s messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are villainously treated, 1-5. The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai, 6-14. Shobach, making a new supply of the Syrians at Helam, is slain by David, 15-19.

1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David honors your father in that he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?" 4 Therefore, Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off one half of their beards and cut off their garments in the middle, even past the small of the back, and sent them away. 5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown and then return."

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, of king Maacah one thousand men and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob and the men of Ish-tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother so that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do that which seems good to him." 13 And Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they assembled themselves. 16 And Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river. And they came to Helam, and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And when it was told to David, he assembled all Israel, passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel. And David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen, and he smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon anymore.

Chapter 11

While Joab besieges Rabbah, David commits adultery with Bath-sheba, 1-5. Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home. 6-13. He carries to Joab the letter of his death, 14-17. Joab sends the news thereof to David, 18-25. David takes Bath-sheba to be his wife, 26, 27.

1 And it came to pass, after the year had expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon and destroyed Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from off his bed and walked upon the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 And David sent messengers and took her, and she came in to him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness. And she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David and said, "I am with child."

6 And David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah had come to him, David asked him how Joab did, how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and a gift from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord and did not go down to his house. 10 And when they had told David, saying, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Did you not come from your journey? Why then did you not go down to your house?" 11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark, Israel, and Judah abide in tents. And my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go into my house to eat, to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing." 12 And David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day. 13 And when David had called him, he ate and drank before him, and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but did not go down to his house.

14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the front of the hottest battle and retire from him so that he may be smitten and die." 16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab, and some of the people of the servants of David fell there. And Uriah the Hittite also died. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, 19 And charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king, 20 And if the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, 'Why did you approach so near to the city for the fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did a woman not cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?' then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"

22 So the messenger went and came and related to David all that Joab had sent him for. 23 And the messenger said to David, "Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us into the field, and we were upon them even to the entrance of the gate. 24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon your servants. And some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also." 25 Then David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city and overthrow it.' And encourage him."

26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

Chapter 12

Nathan’s parable of the ewe lamb causes David to be his own judge, 1-6. David, reproved by Nathan, confesses his sin and is pardoned, 7-14. David mourns and prays for the child while he lives, 15-23. Solomon is born and named Jedidiah, 24, 25. David takes Rabbah and tortures the people thereof, 26-31.

1 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him, "There were two men in one city: one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very numerous flocks and herds, 3 But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe-lamb, which he had bought and nourished. And it grew up together with him and with his children. It fed of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.

4 "And a traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the way-faring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and dressed it for the man who had come to him."

5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. And he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this thing shall surely die. 6 And he shall restore the lamb four-fold because he did this thing and because he had no pity."

7 And Nathan said to David, "You are the man. Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, I delivered you from the hand of Saul, 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your bosom and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that had been too little, I would moreover have given to you such and such things. 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD to do evil in his sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 11 Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house and will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly. But I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'" 13 And David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin. You shall not die. 14 But because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." 15 And Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child whom Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he was very sick. 16 David therefore implored God for the child. And David fasted, went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him from the earth, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to our voice. How will he then be grieved if we tell him that the child is dead?" 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore, David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." 20 Then David arose from the earth, washed, anointed himself, changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he came to his own house. And when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.

21 Then his servants said to him, "What thing is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but after the child was dead, you rose and ate bread." 22 And he said, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me so that the child may live?' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife and went in to her and lay with her. And she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him, 25 And sent [a message] by the hand of Nathan the prophet. And he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah and have taken the city of waters. 28 Now therefore, collect the rest of the people, encamp against the city, and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name." 29 And David collected all the people, went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight of which was a talent of gold with the precious stones, and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the plunder of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought forth the people who were in it and put them under saws, under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 13

Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab’s counsel feigning himself sick, defiles her, 1-14. He hates her and shamefully turns her away, 15-18. Absalom entertains her and conceals his purpose, 19-22. At a sheep-shearing among all the king’s sons, he kills Amnon, 23-30. David grieving at the news, is comforted by Jonadab, 31-36. Absalom flies to Talmai at Geshur, 37-39.

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister whose name was Tamar. And Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so afflicted that he fell sick for his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin. And Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very subtle man. 4 And he said to him, "Why are you, being the king’s son, pining from day to day? Will you not tell me?" And Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister." 5 And Jonadab said to him, "Lay yourself down on your bed and make yourself sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'I pray you, let my sister Tamar come and give me food and dress the food in my sight so that I may see it and eat it at her hand.'" 6 So Amnon lay down and made himself sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "I pray you, let Tamar my sister come and make for me a couple of cakes in my sight so that I may eat at her hand."

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him." 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was laid down. And she took flour, kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9 And she took a pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, "Have all men go out from me." And every man went out from him. 10 And Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the chamber so that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." 12 And she answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not do this folly. 13 And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you." 14 But he would not listen to her voice, and being stronger than she was, he forced her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone." 16 And she said to him, "There is no cause. This evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me." But he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him and said, "Now put this woman out from me and bolt the door after her." 18 And she had a garment of diverse colors upon her, for with such robes the king’s daughters who were virgins were appareled. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, rent her garment of diverse colors that was on her, laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

20 And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But hold now your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not regard this thing." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king and said, "Behold now, your servant has sheep-shearers. Let the king, I implore you, and his servants go with your servant." 25 And the king said to Absalom, "No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be chargeable to you." And he pressed him, yet he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then Absalom said, "If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king said to him, "Why should he go with you?" 27 But Absalom pressed him that he should let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Now mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Smite Amnon,' then kill him. Do not fear. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant." 29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man rode upon his mule, and fled.

30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that information came to David, saying, "Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left." 31 Then the king arose, tore his garments, and lay on the earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, "Do not let my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart to think that all the king’s sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead."

34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there came many people by the way of the hillside behind him. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, "Behold, the king’s sons come. As your servant said, so it is." 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept exceedingly.

37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years. 39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

Chapter 14

Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah by a parable to incline the king’s heart to fetch home Absalom, brings him to Jerusalem, 1-24. Absalom’s beauty, hair, and children, 25-27. After two years, Absalom is brought into the king’s presence by Joab, 28-33.

1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, "I pray you, feign yourself to be a mourner and put on mourning apparel and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who had a long time mourned for the dead. 3 And come to the king and speak in this manner to him." So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance and said, "Help, O king." 5 And the king said to her, "What ails you?" And she answered, "I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead. 6 And your servant had two sons, and the two of them strove together in the field, and there was no one to part them, but one smote the other and slew him. 7 And behold, the whole family has risen against your servant and they said, 'Deliver him who smote his brother so that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew. And we will destroy the heir also.' And so they will quench my coal which is left and will not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth."

8 And the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you." 9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, "My lord, O king, the iniquity is on me and on my father’s house. And the king and his throne are guiltless." 10 And the king said, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore." 11 Then she said, "I pray you, let the king remember the LORD your God, that you would not allow the revengers of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son." And he said, "As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth."

12 Then the woman said, "Let your servant, I pray you, speak one word to my lord the king." And he said, "Say on." 13 And the woman said, "Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is faulty, in that the king does not bring his banished back home. 14 For we must die and are as water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. God does not respect any person, yet he devises means so that his banished is not expelled from him. 15 Now therefore, seeing that I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. And your servant said, 'I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. 16 For the king will hear to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.' 17 Then your servant said, 'The word of my lord the king will now be comfortable. For as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. Therefore, the LORD your God will be with you.'"

18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, "Do not hide from me, I pray you, the thing that I shall ask you." And the woman said, "Let my lord the king now speak." 19 And the king said, "Is the hand of Joab not with you in all this?" And the woman answered and said, "As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab, he told me and put all these words in the mouth of your servant. 20 In order to change the face of the matter, your servant Joab has done this thing. And my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth."

21 And the king said to Joab, "Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again." 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant." 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, "Let him turn to his own house, and do not let him see my face." So Absalom returned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.

25 But in all Israel there was no one to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty. From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he polled his head (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it; because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight. 27 And to Absalom there were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of a fair countenance.

28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem and did not see the king’s face. 29 Therefore, Absalom sent for Joab so that he might send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 Therefore, he said to his servants, "See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?" 32 And Absalom answered Joab, "Behold, I sent to you, saying, 'Come here so that I may send you to the king to say, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still."' Now therefore, let me see the king’s face, and if there is any iniquity in me, let him kill me." 33 So Joab came to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

Chapter 15

Absalom, by fair speeches and courtesies, steals the hearts of Israel, 1-6. Under pretense of a vow, he obtains leave to go to Hebron, 7-9. He makes there a great conspiracy, 10-12. Upon hearing the news, David flees from Jerusalem, 13-18. Ittai will not leave him, 19-23. Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark, 24-29. David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping, 30. He curses Ahithophel’s counsel, 31. Hushai is sent back with instructions, 32-37.

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared himself chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom rose early and stood beside the way of the gate. And it was so, that when any man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, Absalom called to him and said, "Of what city are you?" And he said, "Your servant is one of the tribes of Israel." 3 And Absalom said to him, "See, your matters are good and right, but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you." 4 Absalom said moreover, "Oh that I were made judge in the land so that every man who has any petition or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!" 5 And it was so, that when any man came near to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, took him, and kissed him. 6 And in this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, "I pray you, let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the LORD in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, 'If the LORD brings me back indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'" 9 And the king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom reigns in Hebron.'" 11 And two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were called, and they went in their simplicity and did not know anything. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom." 14 And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, or else we shall not escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he should overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the sword." 15 And the king’s servants said to the king, "Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king appoints." 16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women who were concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and stayed in Beth-hermak. 18 And all his servants passed on by his side, and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why do you also go with us? Return to your place and abide with the king, for you are a stranger and also an exile. 20 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. May mercy and truth be with you." 21 And Ittai answered the king and said, "As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be." 22 And David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 And behold, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city. 25 And the king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and show me both it and his habitation. 26 But if he says, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him." 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 Behold, I will wait in the plain of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me." 29 Therefore, Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet and wept as he went. He had his head covered and he went barefoot. And all the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And someone told David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness."

32 And it came to pass, that when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head. 33 David said to him, "If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant until now, so I will now also be your servant,' then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. 35 And do you not have there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? Therefore, it shall be, that whatever thing you hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons: Ahimaaz the son of Zadok and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. And by them you shall send to me everything that you can hear." 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Chapter 16

Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtains his master’s inheritance, 1-4. At Bahurim, Shimei curses David, 5-8. David, with patience, abstains and restrains others from revenge, 9-14. Hushai insinuates himself into Absalom’s counsel, 15-19. Ahithophel’s counsel, 20-23.

1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, "What do you mean by these?" And Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine so that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink." 3 And the king said, "And where is your master’s son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he abides at Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel shall restore to me the kingdom of my father.'" 4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that pertained to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly implore you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king."

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man came out from there of the family of the house of Saul whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came forth and cursing as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David and at all the servants of king David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus Shimei said when he cursed: "Come out, come out, you bloody man, and you man of Belial. 8 The LORD has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned. And the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And behold, you are taken in your mischief because you are a bloody man."

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head." 10 And the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who shall then say, 'Why have you done so?'" 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my son who came forth from my body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjaminite do it? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day." 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him, and cast dust. 14 And the king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and refreshed themselves there.

15 And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "God save the king. God save the king." 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?" 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel choose, I will be his, and with him I will abide. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence."

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel on what we shall do." 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father’s concubines, which he has left to keep the house, and all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you shall be strong." 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God. All the counsel of Ahithophel was so, both with David and with Absalom.

Chapter 17

Ahithophel’s counsel is overthrown by Hushai’s, according to God’s appointment, 1-14. Secret intelligence is sent to David, 15-22. Ahithophel hangs himself, 23, 24. Amasa is made captain, 25, 26. David, at Mahanaim, is furnished with provisions, 27-29.

1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night. 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king only. 3 And I will bring back all the people to you. The man whom you seek is as if all returned. And all the people shall be in peace." 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says." 6 And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, "Ahithophel has spoken after this manner. Shall we do after his saying? If not, you speak." 7 And Hushai said to Absalom, "The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For," Hushai said, "you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field. And your father is a man of war and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is now hid in some pit, or in some other place. And it will come to pass, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, 'There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' 10 And he also who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore, I counsel that all Israel should be generally gathered to you, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you should go to battle in your own person. 12 So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found and we will fall upon him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and of all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he has entered into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river until there is not one small stone found there." 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel." For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "In this manner Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and in such a manner I have counseled. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, 'Do not lodge this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.'" 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel, for they might not be seen to come into the city. And a woman-servant went and told them, and they went and told king David. 18 Nevertheless, a boy saw them and told Absalom. But the both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, into which they descended. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth and spread ground grain upon it, and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" And the woman said to them, "They have gone over the brook of water." And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 And it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came out of the well and went and told king David and said to David, "Arise and pass quickly over the water, for in this manner Ahithophel has counseled against you." 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, hanged himself, and died and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.

24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan—he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab (which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra, an Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother). 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 And it came to pass, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched pulse, 29 Honey, butter, sheep, and cheese of cows for David and for the people who were with him to eat, for they said, "The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness."

Chapter 18

David, viewing the armies in their march, gives them charge of Absalom, 1-5. The Israelites are sorely smitten in the forest of Ephraim, 6-8. Absalom, hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab and cast into a pit, 9-17. Absalom’s place, 18. Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David, 19-32. David mourns for Absalom, 33.

1 And David numbered the people who were with him and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. 2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah (Joab’s brother), and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I myself will surely go forth with you also." 3 But the people answered, "You shall not go forth. For if we flee away, they will not care for us. Even if half of us die, they will not care for us. But now you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore, it is better that you give us aid from the city." 4 And the king said to them, "What seems to you best I will do." And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. 7 There the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak and he was suspended between the heaven and the earth, and the mule that was under him went away. 10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak." 11 And Joab said to the man who told him, "And behold, you saw him, and why did you not smite him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a girdle." 12 And the man said to Joab, "Though I should receive one thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king charged you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.' 13 Otherwise, I should have wrought falsehood against my own life (for there is no matter hid from the king), and you yourself would have set yourself against me." 14 Then Joab said, "I will not wait like this with you." And he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and smote Absalom and slew him.

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 And they took Absalom, cast him into a great pit in the forest, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his life-time had taken and raised for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." And he called the pillar after his own name, and it is called to this day, Absalom’s Place.

19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me now run and inform the king how the LORD has avenged himself of his enemies." 20 And Joab said to him, "You shall not bear tidings this day, but you shall bear tidings another day. But this day you shall bear no tidings because the king’s son is dead." 21 Then Joab said to Cushi, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." And Cushi bowed himself to Joab and ran. 22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again said to Joab, "But whatever may come, let me also, I pray you, run after Cushi." And Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no tidings ready?" 23 "But whatever may come," he said, "let me run." And he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and outran Cushi.

24 And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate on the wall and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone. 25 And the watchman called and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth." And he came apace and drew near. 26 And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running alone." And the king said, "He also brings tidings." 27 And the watchman said, "I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man and comes with good news."

28 And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king." 29 And the king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king’s servant and me, your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was." 30 And the king said to him, "Turn aside and stand here." And he turned aside and stood still.

31 And behold, Cushi came. And Cushi said, "Tidings, my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you." 32 And the king said to Cushi, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" And Cushi answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise against you to do you hurt be as that young man is."

33 And the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! O that I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

Chapter 19

Joab causes the king to cease his mourning, 1-8. The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back, 9, 10. David sends to the priests to incite the men of Judah, 11-17. Shimei is pardoned, 18-23; Mephibosheth excused, 24-31; Barzillai is dismissed and Chimham his son taken into the king’s family, 32-40. The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them, 41-43.

1 And it was told to Joab, "Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom." 2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people withdrew by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 5 And Joab came into the house to the king and said, "You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, the lives of your sons and of your daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 In that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared this day that you regard neither princes nor servants. For this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died this day then it would have pleased you. 7 Now therefore, arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you shall not go forth, no one will remain with you this night. And that will be worse to you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now."

8 Then the king rose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, "Behold, the king sits in the gate." And all the people came before the king, for Israel had fled each to his tent. 9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king saved us from the hand of our enemies and he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land for Absalom. 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore, why do you not speak a word of bringing the king back?"

11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, seeing the speech of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? 12 You are my brothers, you are my bones and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?' 13 And say to Amasa, 'Are you not of my bone and of my flesh? May God do so to me and more also, if you are not captain of the host before me continually in place of Joab.'" 14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king, "Return—you and all your servants." 15 So the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king to conduct the king over the Jordan.

16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjaminite, who was of Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were one thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him, and they went over the Jordan before the king. 18 And a ferry-boat went to carry over the king’s household and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he came over the Jordan, 19 And said to the king, "Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, neither remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph, to go down to meet my lord the king." 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Shall Shimei not be put to death for this because he cursed the LORD’S anointed?" 22 And David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? Shall any man be put to death this day in Israel? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?" 23 Therefore, the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king swore to him.

24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes from the day the king departed until the day he came back in peace. 25 And it came to pass, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?" 26 And he answered, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, 'I will saddle myself a donkey so that I may ride on it and go to the king,' because your servant is lame. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is as an angel of God. Do therefore what is good in your eyes. 28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore do I have yet to cry anymore to the king?" 29 And the king said to him, "Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, 'You and Ziba divide the land.'" 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, "Yes, let him take all because my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house."

31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went over the Jordan with the king to conduct him over the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old, and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem." 34 And Barzillai said to the king, "How long do I have to live that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day eighty years old. And can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing-men and singing-women? Why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. And why should the king recompense me with such a reward? 37 Let your servant, I pray you, return again so that I may die in my own city and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king and do to him what seems good to you." 38 And the king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which seems good to you. And whatever you shall require of me, that I will do for you." 39 And all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, "Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and have brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?" 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry for this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s cost? Or has he given us any gift?" 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, "We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than you. Why then did you despise us so that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king?" And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Chapter 20

By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba makes a party in Israel, 1, 2. David’s ten concubines are put in confinement for life, 3. Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab, 4-13. Joab pursues Sheba to Abel, 14, 15. A wise woman saves the city by Sheba’s head, 16-22. David’s officers, 23-26.

1 And there happened to be a man of Belial there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. And he blew a trumpet and said, "We have no part in David, neither do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel."

2 So every man of Israel, withdrawing from David, followed Sheba the son of Bichri, but the men of Judah adhered to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women his concubines whom he had left to keep the house and put them in custody and fed them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 Then the king said to Amasa, "Assemble to me the men of Judah within three days and be present here yourself." 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri shall do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he get for himself fortified cities and escape us." 7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded to him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in its sheath, and as he went forth it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, "Are you in health, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he smote him in the fifth rib and shed out his bowels to the ground and did not strike him again, and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him and said, "He who favors Joab and he who is for David, let him go after Joab." 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field and cast a cloth upon him, because he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites, and they were assembled and went also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah and cast up a siege-mound against the city, and it stood in the trench. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down. 16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, "Hear, hear! I pray you, say to Joab, 'Come near here so that I may speak with you.'" 17 And when he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am he." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your servant." And he answered, "I do hear." 18 Then she spoke, saying, "They were accustomed to speak in old time, saying, 'They will surely ask counsel at Abel,' and so they ended the matter. 19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" 20 And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so. But a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall." 22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.

23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites, 24 Adoram was over the tribute, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 25 Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were the priests, 26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief minister to David.

Chapter 21

Three years of famine on account of the Gibeonites ceases by hanging seven of Saul’s sons, 1-9. Rizpah’s kindness to the dead, 10, 11. David buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father’s sepulcher, 12-14. Four battles against the Philistines, wherein four of David’s valiant men slay four giants, 15-22.

1 Then there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites." 2 And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites. And the children of Israel had sworn to them, but Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 3 Therefore, David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make the atonement so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?" 4 And the Gibeonites said to him, "We will have no silver or gold of Saul, or of his house, neither for us shall you kill any man in Israel." And he said, "What you say, that I will do for you." 5 And they answered the king, "The man who consumed us and who devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining within the borders of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose." And the king said, "I will give them."

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD’S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah (the daughter of Aiah) whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Michal (the daughter of Saul) whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. And they fell all seven together and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and allowed neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told to David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah the concubine of Saul had done. 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa. 13 And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son they buried in the country of Benjamin in Zelah in the sepulcher of Kish his father. And they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.

15 Moreover, the Philistines had yet warred again with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David became faint. 16 And Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and smote the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall no longer go out with us to battle so that you may not extinguish the light of Israel."

18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was yet a battle in Gath where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers and on every foot six toes, twenty-four in number, and he also was born to the giant. 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Chapter 22

David’s psalm of thanksgiving for God’s powerful deliverance and manifold blessings, 1-51.

1 And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said,

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,

3 My God, my rock in whom I will trust.   /

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, /

my high tower and my refuge, my preserver. /

You save me from violence.

4 I will call on the LORD who is worthy to be praised.   /

So I shall be saved from my enemies.

5 "When the waves of death compassed me,   /

the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

6 The sorrows of hell encompassed me.   /

The snares of death seized me.

7 "In my distress I called upon the LORD   /

and cried to my God. /

And he heard my voice out of his temple, /

and my cry entered into his ears.

8 "Then the earth shook and trembled.   /

The foundations of heaven moved /

and shook because he was angry.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,   /

and fire out of his mouth devoured. /

Coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down,   /

and darkness was under his feet.

11 And he rode upon a cherub and flew, /

and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 And he made darkness a pavilion around him,   /

a gathering of dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

13 Through the brightness before him   /

coals of fire were kindled.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven,   /

and the most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows and scattered them,   /

lightning, and completely defeated them.

16 And the channels of the sea appeared,   /

the foundations of the world were laid open, /

at the rebuking of the LORD, /

at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17 "He sent from above and he took me.   /

He drew me out of many waters.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,   /

from those who hated me, /

for they were too strong for me.

19 They fell upon me in the day of my calamity,   /

but the LORD was my support.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place.   /

He delivered me because he delighted in me.

21 "The LORD rewarded me   /

according to my righteousness. /

According to the cleanness of my hands /

he has recompensed me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD   /

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his judgments were before me.   /

And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was also upright before him   /

and have kept myself from my iniquity.

25 Therefore, the LORD has recompensed me   /

according to my righteousness, /

according to my cleanness in his eye-sight.

26 "With the merciful you will show yourself merciful,   /

and with the upright man you will show yourself upright.

27 With the pure you will show yourself pure,   /

and with the perverse you will contend.

28 And the afflicted people you will save,   /

but your eyes are upon the haughty /

so that you may bring them down.

29 For you are my lamp, O LORD.   /

And the LORD will lighten my darkness.

30 For by you I have run through a troop.   /

By my God I have leaped over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect.   /

The word of the LORD is tried. /

He is a buckler to all those who trust in him.

32 "For who is God, except the LORD?   /

And who is a rock, except our God?

33 God is my strength and power,   /

and he makes my way perfect.

34 He makes my feet like those of a doe   /

and sets me upon my high places.

35 He teaches my hands to war   /

so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.

36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation,   /

and your gentleness has made me great.

37 You have enlarged my steps under me   /

so that my feet have not slipped.

38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them,   /

and did not turn back until I had consumed them.

39 And I have consumed them and wounded them   /

so that they could not arise. /

Indeed, they have fallen under my feet.

40 For you have girded me with strength to battle.   /

Those who rose up against me you have subdued under me.

41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies   /

so that I might destroy those who hate me.

42 They looked, but there was none to save,   /

even to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth.   /

I stamped them as the mire of the street and spread them abroad.

44 "You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people.   /

You have kept me to be head of the heathen. /

A people which I did not know shall serve me.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves to me.   /

As soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.

46 Strangers shall fade away   /

and shall tremble from their close places.

47 "The LORD lives.   /

Blessed be my rock. /

The God of the rock of my salvation is exalted.

48 It is God who avenges me,   /

who brings down the people under me,

49 And who brings me forth from my enemies.   /

You also have lifted me up on high above those who rose up against me. /

You have delivered me from the violent man.

50 "Therefore, I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the heathen /

and I will sing praises to your name.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king   /

and he shows mercy to his anointed, /

to David, and to his offspring forevermore."

References

[v.50]: Reference, Romans 15:9.

Chapter 23

David, in his last words, professes his faith in God’s promises to be beyond sense or experience, 1-5. The different state of the wicked, 6, 7. A catalog of David’s mighty men, 8-39.

1 Now these are the last words of David.

David the son of Jesse   /

and the man who was raised on high, /

the anointed of the God of Jacob /

and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me,   /

and his word was on my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said,   /

the Rock of Israel spoke to me, /

'He who rules over men must be just, /

ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises,   /

even a morning without clouds, /

as the tender grass springing out of the earth /

from clear shining after the rain.'

5 "Although my house is not so with God,   /

yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, /

ordered in all things and sure, /

for this is all my salvation and all my desire, /

although he does not make it to grow.

6 But the sons of Belial shall all be as thorns thrust away   /

because they cannot be taken with hands.

7 But the man who touches them   /

must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear. /

And they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place."

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite who sat in the seat, chief among the captains (the same was Adino the Eznite), he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there to battle and the men of Israel had gone away. 10 He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand adhered to the sword. And the LORD wrought a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to plunder.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were collected into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, defended it, and slew the Philistines. And the LORD wrought a great victory.

13 And three of the thirty chiefs went down and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam, and the troop of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. 15 And David longed and said, "Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!" 16 And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD. 17 And he said, "Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore, he would not drink it. These three mighty men did these things.

18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, slew them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honorable of three? Therefore, he was their captain, yet he did not attain to the first three.

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion-like men of Moab. He went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 21 And he slew an Egyptian, a handsome man. And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, along with Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah (a Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, (of the sons of Jashen) Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armor-bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah), 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.

Chapter 24

David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people, 1-4. The captains, in nine months and twenty days, bring the muster of one million three hundred thousand fighting men, 5-9. David repents, and having three plagues propounded by God, chooses the three days' pestilence, 10-14. After the death of seventy thousand men, David, by prayer, prevents the destruction of Jerusalem, 15-17. David, by God’s direction, purchases Araunah’s threshing floor, 18-24. There David builds an altar and sacrifices, and the plague is stopped, 25.

1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel and he moved David against them to say, "Go number Israel and Judah." 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host who was with him, "Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number the people so that I may know the number of the people." 3 And Joab said to the king, "Now may the LORD your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred-fold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?" 4 But the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. 5 And they passed over the Jordan and pitched in Aroer on the right side of the city that lies in the midst of the river of Gad and toward Jazer. 6 Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi. And they came to Dan-jaan and around to Zidon, 7 And came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab presented the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

10 And David’s heart smote him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. And now, I implore you, O LORD, take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly." 11 For when David had risen in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 "Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things. Choose one of them so that I may do it to you."'" 13 So Gad came to David and told him. And he said to him, "Shall seven years of famine come upon you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and see what answer I shall return to him who sent me." 14 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let us fall now into the hand of the LORD, for his mercies are great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."

15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba died. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented of the evil and said to the angel who destroyed the people, "It is enough. Now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing-place of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 And David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who smote the people and said, "Behold, I have sinned and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray you, be against me and against my father’s house."

18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, "Go up, rear an altar to the LORD in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite." 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. 20 And Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. And Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21 And Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing-floor from you to build an altar to the LORD so that the plague may be stayed from the people." 22 And Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, here are oxen for burnt-sacrifice and threshing-instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood." 23 All these things Araunah gave to the king, as a king. And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you." 24 And the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you at a price. I will not offer burnt-offerings to the LORD my God of that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

[Tanach reading: go to First Kings]

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS

Chapter 1

Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age, 1-4. Adonijah aspires to the kingdom, 5-10. By the counsel of Nathan, 11-14, Bath-sheba moves the king, 15-21, and Nathan seconds her, 22-27. David renews his oath to Bath-sheba, 28-31. Solomon, by David’s appointment, is anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, and the people triumph, 32-40. Jonathan brings the news, and Adonijah’s guests flee, 41-49. Adonijah, fleeing to the horns of the altar, is dismissed by Solomon upon his good behavior, 50-53.

1 Now king David was old and advanced in years. And they covered him with clothes, but he did not get heat. 2 Therefore, his servants said to him, "Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. And let her stand before the king, let her cherish him, and let her lie in your bosom so that my lord the king may get heat." 3 So they sought for a fair young woman throughout all the borders of Israel and found Abishag a Shunamite and brought her to the king. 4 And the young woman was very fair, and she cherished the king and ministered to him, but the king did not know her.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." And he prepared himself chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, "Why have you done so?" And he also was a very handsome man. And his mother bore him after Absalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And following Adonijah, they helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah slew sheep, oxen, and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and called all his brothers the king’s sons and all the men of Judah the king’s servants, 10 But Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he did not call.

11 Therefore, Nathan spoke to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord does not know it? 12 Now therefore, come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13 Go at once to king David and say to him, 'Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your servant, saying, "Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me and sit upon my throne"? Why then does Adonijah reign?' 14 Behold, while you are yet talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words."

15 And Bath-sheba went to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunamite ministered to the king. 16 And Bath-sheba bowed and did obeisance to the king. And the king said, "What do you wish?" 17 And she said to him, "My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your servant, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me and sit upon my throne.' 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigns, and you, my lord the king, do not know it. 19 And he has slain oxen, fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host, but Solomon your servant he has not called. 20 And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise, it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders."

22 And behold, while she was yet talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 And they told the king, saying, "Behold, Nathan the prophet." And when he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan said, "My lord, O king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me and sit upon my throne'? 25 For he has gone down this day and has slain oxen, fat cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they eat and drink before him and say, 'God save king Adonijah.' 26 But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not called. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not shown it to your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

28 Then king David answered and said, "Call to me Bath-sheba." And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 And the king swore and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me and sit upon my throne in my stead,' even so I will certainly do this day." 31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth and did reverence to the king, and said, "Let my lord king David live forever."

32 And king David said, "Call for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." And they came before the king. 33 The king also said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord and cause Solomon my son to ride upon my own mule and bring him down to Gihon. 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. And blow with the trumpet and say, 'God save king Solomon.' 35 Then you shall come up after him so that he may come and sit upon my throne, for he shall be king in my stead. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah." 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen. May the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD has been with my lord the king, even so let him be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David."

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet. And all the people said, "God save king Solomon." 40 And all the people came up after him. And the people piped with pipes and rejoiced with great joy so that the earth shook with their sound.

41 And Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is there a noisy commotion in the city?" 42 And while he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said to him, "Come in, for you are a valiant man, and bring good tidings." 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, "Truly our lord king David has made Solomon king. 44 And the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule. 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. And they have come from there rejoicing so that the city resounded. This is the noise that you have heard. 46 And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. 47 And moreover, the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, 'May God make the name of Solomon better than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And also the king said, 'Blessed be the LORD God of Israel who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.'"

49 And all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and they arose and each went his way. 50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and he arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told to Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon. For behold, he has caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let king Solomon swear to me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.'" 52 And Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth. But if wickedness is found in him, he shall die." 53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon. And Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

Chapter 2

David, having given a charge to Solomon, 1, 2, of religiousness, 3, 4; of Joab, 5, 6; of Barzillai, 7; of Shimei, 8, 9; dies, 10, 11. Solomon succeeds, 12. Adonijah, moving Bath-sheba to appeal to Solomon for Abishag, is put to death, 13-25. Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood, 26, 27. Joab, fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain, 28-34. Benaiah is put in Joab’s place, and Zadok in Abiathar’s, 35. Shimei, confined to Jerusalem by occasion of going there to Gath, is put to death, 36-46.

1 Now the days of David drew near that he should die. And he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 "I go the way of all the earth. Be strong therefore, and show yourself a man. 3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself, 4 So that the LORD may continue his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your children take heed to their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,' he said, 'a man on the throne of Israel.'

5 "Moreover, you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me and what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, shedding the blood of war in peace and putting the blood of war upon his girdle that was around his loins and in his shoes that were on his feet. 6 Do therefore according to your wisdom, and do not let his hoary head go down to the grave in peace. 7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be of those who eat at your table, for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom your brother. 8 And behold, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjaminite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.' 9 Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him, but his hoary head you shall bring down to the grave with blood."

10 So David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years. Seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. 12 Then Solomon was seated upon the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was greatly established.

13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably." 14 He said moreover, "I have something to say to you." And she said, "Say on." 15 And he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me that I should reign. But the kingdom has turned and become my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD. 16 And now I ask one petition of you, do not deny me." And she said to him, "Say on." 17 And he said, "Speak, I pray you, to Solomon the king (for he will not deny you) that he give me Abishag the Shunamite for a wife." 18 And Bath-sheba said, "Very well. I will speak for you to the king."

19 Bath-sheba therefore went to king Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, bowed himself to her, sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand. 20 Then she said, "I desire one small petition of you. I pray you, do not deny me." And the king said to her, "Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you." 21 And she said, "Let Abishag the Shunamite be given to Adonijah your brother for a wife." 22 And king Solomon answered and said to his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunamite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother, even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah." 23 Then king Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, "May God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. 24 Now therefore, as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day." 25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he fell upon him so that he died.

26 And to Abiathar the priest, the king said, "Depart to your own fields in Anathoth, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death because you bore the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father and because you have been afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted." 27 So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the LORD so that he might fulfill the word of the LORD which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

28 Then tidings came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he did not turn after Absalom. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the LORD and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And it was told to king Solomon that Joab had fled to the tabernacle of the LORD, and behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, fall upon him." 30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD and said to him, "Thus says the king: 'Come forth.'" And he said, "No, but I will die here." And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." 31 And the king said to him, "Do as he has said and fall upon him and bury him so that you may take away the innocent blood which Joab shed from me and from the house of my father. 32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he is and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing of it, namely, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah. 33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his offspring forever. But upon David, upon his offspring, upon his house, and upon his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD." 34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went, fell upon him, and slew him. And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. 35 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army. And the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.

36 And the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, dwell there, and do not go forth from there to any place. 37 For it shall be, that on the day you go out and pass over the brook Kidron, you shall know for certain that you shall surely die. Your blood shall be upon your own head." 38 And Shimei said to the king, "The saying is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do." And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

39 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, "Behold, your servants are in Gath." 40 And Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants. And Shimei went and brought his servants from Gath. 41 And it was told to Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned. 42 And the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the LORD and testify to you, saying, 'Know for certain, on the day you go out and walk anywhere abroad, that you shall surely die'? And you said to me, 'The word that I have heard is good.' 43 Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD and the commandment that I have charged you with?" 44 The king said moreover to Shimei, "You know all the wickedness which your heart has known that you did to David my father; therefore, the LORD will return your wickedness upon your own head. 45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever." 46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, who went out and fell upon him so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

Chapter 3

Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter, 1. High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon, 2-4. Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him, preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom, riches, and honor, 5-15. Solomon’s judgment makes him renowned, 16-28.

1 And Solomon made himself son-in-law to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had made an end of building his own house, the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem on every side. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places because there was no house built to the name of the LORD until those days.

3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father. Only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. One thousand burnt-offerings Solomon offered upon that altar. 5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give you."

6 And Solomon said, "You have shown to your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. And you have kept for him this great kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people who cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people so that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?"

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment, 12 Behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you. 13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways to keep my statutes and my commandments as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."

15 And Solomon awoke. And behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD and offered up burnt-offerings, offered peace-offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

16 Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. 17 And one woman said, "O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house, and I had delivered a child with her in the house. 18 And it came to pass on the third day after I had delivered, that this woman had delivered also. And we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, except the two of us in the house. 19 And this woman’s child died in the night because she laid upon it. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid it in her bosom and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 And when I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead. But when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son which I bore." 22 And the other woman said, "No, but the living is my son and the dead is your son." And the first woman said, "No, but the dead is your son and the living is my son." Thus they spoke before the king.

23 Then the king said, "One says, 'This is my son who lives and your son is the dead,' and the other says, 'No, but your son is the dead and my son is the living.'" 24 And the king said, "Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other." 26 Then the woman whose child the living one was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned upon her son, and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child and in no way slay it." But the other said, "Let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it." 27 Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child and in no way slay it. She is its mother." 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.

Chapter 4

Solomon’s princes. 1-6. His twelve officers for provision, 7-19. The peace and largeness of his kingdom, 20, 21. His daily provision, 22-25. His stables, 26-28. His wisdom, 29-34.

1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes which he had: Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah the sons of Shisha were scribes, Jehosaphat the son of Ahilud the recorder, 4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army, Zadok and Abiathar were the priests, 5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers, Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer and the king’s friend, 6 Ahishar was over the household, and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.

7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel who provided food for the king and his household. Each man made provision for a month in the year. 8 And these are their names: the son of Hur, in the mountains of Ephraim; 9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan; 10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth—to him pertained Sochoh and all the land of Hepher; 11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor, who had Taphath the daughter of Solomon for a wife; 12 Baana the son of Ahilud—to him pertained Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, even to the place that is beyond Jokneam; 13 The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead—to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and also to him pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and brazen bars; 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali—he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon for a wife; 16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan, and he was the only officer who was in the land.

20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.

21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought presents and served Solomon all the days of his life.

22 And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, sixty measures of meal, 23 Ten fat oxen, twenty oxen out of the pastures, one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, and fallow-deer, and fattened birds. 24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side of the river. And he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 And those officers provided food for king Solomon and for all who came to king Solomon’s table, every man in his month. They lacked nothing. 28 Also barley and straw for the horses and dromedaries they brought to the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

29 And God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore. 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. 33 And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall. He also spoke of beasts, of birds, of creeping animals, and of fish. 34 And men came of all the peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Chapter 5

Hiram, sending to congratulate Solomon, is desired to furnish him with timber to build the temple, 1-6. Hiram, blessing God for Solomon and requesting food for his family, furnishes him with trees, 7-12. The number of Solomon’s workmen and laborers, 13-18.

1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 "You know how David my father could not build a house to the name of the LORD his God, for the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. 5 And behold, I purpose to build a house to the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your stead, he shall build a house to my name.' 6 Now therefore, command that they hew for me cedar trees out of Lebanon. And my servants shall be with your servants, and I will give hire to you for your servants according to all that you shall appoint, for you know that there is not among us anyone who is skilled in hewing timber like the Sidonians."

7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day who has given to David a wise son over this great people." 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have considered the things which you sent to me for, and I will perform all your desire concerning timber of cedar and concerning timber of fir. 9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will convey them by sea in floats to the place that you shall appoint me and cause them to be discharged there, and you shall receive them. And you shall accomplish my desire in giving food for my household." 10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household and twenty measures of pure oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year. 12 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a league together.

13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon ten thousand a month by courses. They were a month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens and eighty thousand hewers in the mountains, 16 Besides the chief of Solomon’s officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who ruled over the people who wrought in the work. 17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones to lay the foundation of the house. 18 And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders hewed them, along with the stone-squarers. So they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

Chapter 6

The building of Solomon’s temple, 1-4. The chambers thereof, 5-10. God’s promise to it, 11-14. The ceiling and adorning of it, 15-22. The cherubim, 23-30. The doors, 31-35. The court, 36. The time of building it, 37, 38.

1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. 2 And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, its length was sixty cubits, its breadth twenty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 3 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was its length, according to the breadth of the house, and ten cubits was its breadth, before the house. 4 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights. 5 And against the wall of the house he built chambers all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the oracle. And he made chambers all around. 6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For outside in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests all around so that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought there so that there was neither hammer, ax, or any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building.

8 The door for the middle chamber was on the right side of the house. And they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house and finished it and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. 10 And then he built chambers against all the house five cubits high. And they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

11 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, 12 "Concerning this house which you are in building, if you will walk in my statutes, execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will perform my word with you which I spoke to David your father. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel."

14 So Solomon built the house and finished it. 15 And he built the walls of the house inside with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house and the walls of the ceiling. And he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir. 16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar. He even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place. 17 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long. 18 And the cedar of the house within was carved with knobs and open flowers. All was cedar. There was no stone seen. 19 And he prepared the oracle within the house to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. 20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in its height, and he overlaid it with pure gold. And he also overlaid the altar which was of cedar. 21 So Solomon overlaid the house inside with pure gold. And he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle and he overlaid it with gold. 22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold until he had finished all the house. Also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

23 And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high. 24 And five cubits was one wing of the cherub and five cubits the other wing of the cherub. From the uttermost part of one wing to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. 25 And the other cherub was ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of one measure and one size. 26 The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and that was the height of the other cherub. 27 And he set the cherubim within the inner house. And they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim so that the wing of one touched one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall, and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. 28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

29 And he carved all the walls of the house around with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside. 30 And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside.

31 And for the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive tree. The lintel and side-posts were a fifth part of the wall. 32 The two doors were also of olive tree, and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold. And he spread gold upon the cherubim and upon the palm trees.

33 In the same manner he also made for the door of the temple posts of olive tree out of a fourth part of the wall. 34 And the two doors were of fir tree. The two leaves of one door were folding and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 35 And he carved thereon cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and covered them with gold, fitted upon the carved work. 36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewn stone and a row of cedar beams.

37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Zif. 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul (which is the eighth month) the house was finished throughout all its parts and according to all its fashion. So he was seven years in building it.

Chapter 7

The building of Solomon’s house, 1. Of the house of Lebanon, 2-5. Of the porch of pillars, 6. Of the porch of judgment, 7. Of the house for Pharaoh’s daughter, 8-12. Hiram’s work of the two pillars, 13-22. Of the molten sea, 23-26. Of the ten bases, 27-37. Of the ten basins, 38, 39, and all the vessels, 40-51.

1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 He also built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams that lay on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row. 4 And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. 5 And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows, and light was against light in three ranks.

6 And he made a porch of pillars. Its length was fifty cubits and its breadth thirty cubits. And the porch was before them, and the other pillars and the thick beams were before them.

7 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment. And it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

8 And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of similar work. Solomon also made a house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married, like this porch.

9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewn stones, sawed with saws, inside and outside, even from the foundation to the coping, and likewise on the outside toward the great court.

10 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewn stones, and cedars. 12 And the great court around was with three rows of hewn stones and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD and for the porch of the house.

13 And king Solomon sent and brought Hiram out of Tyre. 14 He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass. And he was filled with wisdom, understanding, and skill to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon and wrought all his work.

15 For he cast two pillars of brass, each of eighteen cubits high, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed each of them. 16 And he made two capitals of molten brass to set upon the tops of the pillars. The height of one capital was five cubits and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 And there were nets of checker-work and wreaths of chain-work for the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars, seven for one capital and seven for the other capital. 18 And he made the pillars with two rows of pomegranates around upon one net-work to cover the capitals that were upon the top. And he did likewise for the other capital. 19 And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily-work in the porch, four cubits. 20 And the capitals upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the net-work. And the pomegranates were two hundred in rows around upon the other capital. 21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple. And he set up the right pillar and called its name Jachin, and he set up the left pillar and called its name Boaz. 22 And upon the top of the pillars was lily-work. So the work of the pillars was finished.

23 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from one brim to the other. It was entirely round and its height was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits encompassed it. 24 And under its brim around there were knobs compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea around. The knobs were cast in two rows when it was cast. 25 It stood upon twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. And the sea was set above upon them, and all their hindquarters were inward. 26 And it was a hand-breadth thick, and its brim was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies. It contained two thousand baths.

27 And he made ten bases of brass. Four cubits was the length of one base, four cubits its breadth, and three cubits its height. 28 And the work of the bases was in this manner: They had borders, and the borders were between the ledges, 29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim. And upon the ledges there was a base above, and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work. 30 And every base had four brazen wheels and plates of brass, and its four corners had supports. Under the basin were molten supports at the side of every addition. 31 And its mouth within the capital and above was a cubit, but its mouth was round after the work of the base, a cubit and a half. And also upon its mouth were engravings with their borders, square, not round. 32 And under the borders were four wheels. And the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base. And the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. Their axletrees, their rims, their hubs, and their spokes were all molten. 34 And there were four supports at the four corners of one base. And the supports were of one piece with the base itself. 35 And on the top of the base there was a round compass of half a cubit high, and on the top of the base its ledges and its borders were of the same. 36 For on the plates of its ledges and on its borders, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of each, and additions around. 37 After this manner he made the ten bases. All of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.

38 Then he made ten basins of brass. One basin contained forty baths, and every basin was four cubits. And upon each of the ten bases was one basin. 39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house and five on the left side of the house. And he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

40 And Hiram made the basins, the shovels, and the bowls. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he executed for king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 41 The two pillars and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two net-works to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars; 42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two net-works, even two rows of pomegranates for one net-work, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the pillars; 43 And the ten bases, and ten basins on the bases; 44 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 45 And the pots, the shovels, and the basins. And all these vessels which Hiram made for king Solomon for the house of the LORD were of bright brass. 46 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed because they were very numerous, neither was the weight of the brass ascertained.

48 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained to the house of the LORD: the altar of gold; the table of gold, upon which was the show-bread; 49 The candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left, before the oracle; the flowers, the lamps, the tongs of gold; 50 The bowls, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, namely, of the temple.

51 So all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated. Even the silver, the gold, and the vessels he placed among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

Chapter 8

The feast of the dedication of the temple, 1-11. Solomon’s blessing, 12-21, 54-61. Solomon’s prayer, 22-53. His sacrifice of peace offerings, 62-66.

1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, so that they might bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought the ark of the LORD, the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those the priests and the Levites brought. 5 And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 6 And the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark and the cherubim covered the ark and the staffs thereof above. 8 And they drew out the staffs so that the ends of the staffs were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen outside. And they are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone, which Moses deposited there at Horeb when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And it came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

12 Then Solomon spoke, "The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

13 I have surely built you a house to dwell in, a settled place for you to abide in forever."

14 And the king turned his face around and blessed all the congregation of Israel. And all the congregation of Israel was standing. 15 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel who spoke with his mouth to David my father and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying, 16 'Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel from Egypt, I have chosen no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house so that my name might be therein, but I chose David to be over my people Israel.' 17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18 And the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house to my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house to my name.' 20 And the LORD has performed his word that he spoke, and I have risen in place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And I have set a place for the ark there, in which is the covenant of the LORD which he made with our fathers when he brought them from the land of Egypt."

22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands toward Heaven. 23 And he said, "LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, who keeps covenant and mercy with your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 24 Who have kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. You spoke also with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day. 25 Now therefore, LORD God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you promised him, saying, 'There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, provided your children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as you have walked before me.' 26 And now, O God of Israel, let your word, I pray you, be verified which you spoke to your servant David my father.

27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you. How much less this house that I have built? 28 Yet have respect to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day, 29 So that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' so that you may listen to the prayer which your servant makes toward this place. 30 And listen to the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. And hear in heaven your dwelling-place. And when you hear, forgive.

31 "If any man trespasses against his neighbor, and an oath is laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house, 32 Then hear in heaven and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked to bring his way upon his head, and justifying the righteous to give him according to his righteousness.

33 "When your people Israel are smitten before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn back to you, confess your name, pray, and make supplication to you in this house, 34 Then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land which you gave to their fathers.

35 "When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them, 36 Then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel so that you may teach them the good way in which they should walk and give rain upon your land which you have given to your people for an inheritance.

37 "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, blight, mildew, swarming-locust, or if there is ravaging-locust, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 Whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man or by all your people Israel, who shall each know the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house, 39 Then hear in heaven your dwelling-place, and forgive, do, and give to each according to his ways, whose heart you know (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men), 40 So that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.

41 "Moreover, concerning a stranger who is not of your people Israel, but comes out of a far country for your name’s sake 42 (For they shall hear of your great name, of your strong hand, and of your out-stretched arm) when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 Then hear in heaven your dwelling-place and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for so that all people of the earth may know your name to fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.

44 "If your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever you send them, and pray to the LORD toward the city which you have chosen and toward the house that I have built for your name, 45 Then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause.

46 "If they sin against you (for there is no man who does not sin), and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy so that they carry them away captives to the land of the enemy, far or near, 47 Yet if they repent themselves in the land where they were carried captives and repent and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captives, saying, 'We have sinned and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness,' 48 And so return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who led them away captive, and pray to you toward their land which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name, 49 Then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven your dwelling-place, maintain their cause, 50 And forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you, and give them compassion before those who carried them captive so that they may have compassion on them 51 (For they are your people and your inheritance which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron), 52 So that your eyes may be open to the supplication of your servant and to the supplication of your people Israel to listen to them in all their supplications to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the people of the earth to be your inheritance, as you spoke by the hand of Moses your servant when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD."

54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 And he stood and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,

56 "Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There has not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 May the LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us, nor forsake us, 58 So that he may incline our hearts to him to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his judgments which he commanded our fathers. 59 And let these words of mine with which I have made supplication before the LORD be near to the LORD our God day and night so that he may maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require, 60 So that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no one else. 61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God to walk in his statutes and to keep his commandments, as at this day."

62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace-offerings which he offered to the LORD: twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64 The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered burnt-offerings, food-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt-offerings, food-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings.

65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entrance into Hamath to the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant and for Israel his people.

Chapter 9

God’s covenant in a vision with Solomon, 1-9. The mutual presents of Solomon and Hiram, 10-14. In Solomon’s works the Gentiles were his tributary servants, the Israelites honorable servants, 15-23. Pharaoh’s daughter moves to her house, 24. Solomon’s yearly solemn sacrifices, 25. His navy fetches gold from Ophir, 26-28.

1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to perform, 2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before me. I have hallowed this house which you have built to put my name there forever. And my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you and keep my statutes and my judgments, 5 Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, 'There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Israel.'

6 "But if you at all turn from following me—you or your children—and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 Then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and this house which I have hallowed for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel shall be a proverb and a by-word among all people. 8 And at this house which is high, everyone who passes by it shall be astonished and shall hiss. And they shall say, 'Why has the LORD done so to this land and to this house?' 9 And they shall answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God who brought forth their fathers from the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods and have worshiped them and served them, therefore the LORD has brought all this evil upon them.'"

10 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king’s house 11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees and with gold, according to all his desire), that king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. 12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. 13 And he said, "What cities are these which you have given me, my brother?" And he called them the land of Cabul to this day. 14 And Hiram sent to the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold.

15 And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised: to build the house of the LORD, his own house, Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. 16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, taken Gezer, burnt it with fire, slain the Canaanites who dwelt in the city, and given it for a present to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. 17 And Solomon built Gezer, Beth-horon the nether, 18 Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness in the land, 19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, cities for his chariots, cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion. 20 And all the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel, 21 Their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able to utterly destroy, upon those Solomon levied a tribute of service to this day. 22 But Solomon did not make slaves of the children of Israel, but they were men of war, his servants, his princes, his captains, rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.

23 These were the chief of the officers who were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people who wrought in the work.

24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the city of David to her house which Solomon had built for her. Then he built Millo.

25 And three times in a year Solomon offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon the altar which he built to the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.

26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. 28 And they came to Ophir and imported four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there and brought it to king Solomon.

Chapter 10

The queen of Sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon, 1-13. Solomon’s gold, 14, 15. His bucklers, 16, 17. The throne of ivory, 18-20. His vessels, 21-23. His presents, 24, 25. His chariots and horse, 26, 27. His tribute, 28, 29.

1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones. And when she had come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions. There was not anything hid from the king which he did not tell her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, the house that he had built, 5 The provisions of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their apparel, his cup-bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. 6 And she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. 7 Although, I did not believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard. 8 Happy are your men. Happy are these your servants who stand continually before you and who hear your wisdom. 9 Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king to do judgment and justice." 10 And she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did there come such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

11 And also the navy of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a great plenty of almug trees and precious stones. 12 And the king made from the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also harps and psalteries for singers. There have not come such almug trees, nor have they been seen to this day.

13 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country—she and her servants.

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 15 Besides what he had of the merchants, of the traffic of the spice-merchants, of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. 16 And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler. 17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three minas of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 18 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the best gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round and behind it. And there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. 20 And twelve lions stood there on one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any kingdom. 21 And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, for it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram. Once in three years the navy of Tarshish came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. 24 And all the earth sought for Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. 25 And every man brought his present: vessels of silver, vessels of gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules—a rate year by year.

26 And Solomon collected chariots and horsemen. And he had one thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots and with the king at Jerusalem. 27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars he made to be as the sycamore trees that are in the valley, for abundance. 28 And Solomon had horses brought from Egypt and from Keveh. The king’s merchants received from Keveh at a price. 29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty. And in this manner they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.

Chapter 11

Solomon’s wives and concubines, 1-3. In his old age they draw him to idolatry, 4-8. God threatens him, 9-13. Solomon’s adversaries were Hadad, who was entertained in Egypt, 14-22; Rezon, who reigned in Damascus, 23-25; and Jeroboam, to whom Ahijah prophesied, 26-40. Solomon’s acts, reign, and death. Rehoboam succeeds him, 41-43.

1 But king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites, 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said to the children of Israel, "You shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in to you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." Solomon cleaved to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father was. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not go fully after the LORD, as David his father did. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives who burnt incense and sacrificed to their gods.

9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods, but he did not keep that which the LORD commanded. 11 Therefore, the LORD said to Solomon, "Because this is done by you and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely rend the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. 12 Although, in your days, I will not do it, for David your father’s sake, but I will rend it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet, I will not rend away all the kingdom, but will give one tribe to your son for David my servant’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen."

14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary for Solomon: Hadad the Edomite. He was of the king’s offspring in Edom. 15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host had gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom 16 (For six months Joab remained there with all Israel until he had cut off every male in Edom), 17 That Hadad fled—he and some Edomites of his father’s servants with him—to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child. 18 And they arose out of Midian and came to Paran. And they took men with them from Paran and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, appointed him food, and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh so that he gave him for a wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart so that I may go to my own country." 22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me that, behold, you seek to go to your own country?" And he answered, "Nothing. Yet, you must certainly let me go."

23 And God stirred him up another adversary: Rezon the son of Eliadah, who fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 And he gathered men to him and became captain over a band when David slew them of Zobah. And they went to Damascus, dwelt in it, and reigned in Damascus. 25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad did. And he abhorred Israel and reigned over Syria.

26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he raised his hand against the king. 27 And this was the cause why he raised his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. 28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. And Solomon, seeing that the young man was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way. And he had clad himself with a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the field. 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him and rent it in twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, "Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will rend the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you 32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 Because they have forsaken me and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways to do that which is right in my eyes and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as David his father did. 34 Yet I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and will give it to you, even ten tribes. 36 And to his son I will give one tribe so that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for me to put my name there. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires and shall be king over Israel. 38 And it shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, walk in my ways, and do right in my sight to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, that I will be with you and build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. 39 And I will afflict the offspring of David for this, but not forever.'" 40 Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41 And the rest of the acts of Solomon and all that he did and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? 42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 12

The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, by Jeroboam make an appeal of relaxation to him, 1-5. Rehoboam, refusing the old men’s counsel, answers them roughly, 6-15. Ten tribes revolt, kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee, 16-20. Rehoboam, raising an army, is forbidden by Shemaiah, 21-24. Jeroboam strengthens himself by cities, 25; and by the idolatry of the two calves, 26-33.

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was still in Egypt, heard of it (for he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt), 3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore, lighten the grievous service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve you." 5 And he said to them, "Depart for three days, then come back to me." And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men who stood before Solomon his father while he still lived and said, "How do you advise that I may answer this people?" 7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people this day and serve them, answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, and who stood before him. 9 And he said to them, "What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, 'Make the yoke which your father put upon us lighter'?" 10 And the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus shall you speak to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us.' Thus you shall say to them: 'My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 11 And now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'"

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, "Come to me again the third day." 13 And the king answered the people roughly and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him, 14 And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke. My father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 15 Therefore, the king did not listen to the people, for the cause was from the LORD that he might perform his saying which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 So when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David? We do not have inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel. Now see to your own house, David." So Israel departed to their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute. And all Israel stoned him with stones so that he died. Therefore, king Rehoboam made speed to enter his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

20 And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, that they sent and called him to the congregation and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

21 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 24 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house, for this thing is from me."'" They listened therefore to the word of the LORD and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem on mount Ephraim and dwelt in it, and went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom shall return to the house of David. 27 If this people goes up to perform sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people shall turn back to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." 28 Upon this the king took counsel and made two calves of gold, and said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you out of the land of Egypt." 29 And he set one in Beth-el and the other he placed in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan. 31 And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. Thus he did in Beth-el, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart. And he ordained a feast to the children of Israel and he offered upon the altar and burned incense.

Chapter 13

Jeroboam’s hand withers, 1-5, and at the prayer of the prophet is restored, 6. The prophet departs from Beth-el, 7-10. An old prophet brings him back, 11-19. He is reproved by God, 20-22, slain by a lion, 23-25, buried by the old prophet, 26-30, who confirms his prophecy, 31, 32. Jeroboam’s obstinacy, 33, 34.

1 And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Beth-el. And Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: 'Behold, a child shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and upon you he shall offer the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon you.'" 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: 'Behold, the altar shall be rent and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.'" 4 And it came to pass when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God who had cried against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, "Lay hold upon him." And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up so that he could not draw it to him again. 5 The altar also was rent and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6 And the king answered and said to the man of God, "Entreat now the face of the LORD your God and pray for me so that my hand may be restored to me again." And the man of God implored the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him again and became as it was before. 7 And the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward." 8 And the man of God said to the king, "If you will give me half of your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place, 9 For thus it was charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn back by the same way that you came.'" 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Beth-el.

11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth-el. And his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el. The words which he had spoken to the king, they also told them to their father. 12 And their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" For his sons had seen which way the man of God went who came from Judah. 13 And he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him and he rode upon it. 14 And he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak. And he said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" And he said, "I am." 15 Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread." 16 And he said, "I may not return with you, nor go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place, 17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, 'You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn back to go by the way that you came.'" 18 He said to him, "I am also a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'" But he lied to him. 19 So he went back with him and ate bread in his house and drank water.

20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who brought him back. 21 And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because you have disobeyed the mouth of the LORD and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, 22 But have returned and have eaten bread and drank water in the place of which the LORD said to you, "Eat no bread and drink no water," your carcass shall not come to the sepulcher of your fathers.'" 23 And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread and after he had drank, that he saddled the donkey for him, namely, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 And when he had gone, a lion met him by the way and slew him. And his carcass was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the carcass. 25 And behold, men passed by and saw the carcass cast in the way and the lion standing by the carcass. And they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.

26 And when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, "It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore, the LORD has delivered him to the lion which has torn him and slain him, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke to him." 27 And he spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle the donkey for me." And they saddled it for him. 28 And he went and found his carcass cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the carcass. The lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the donkey. 29 And the prophet took up the carcass of the man of God, laid it upon the donkey, and brought it back. And the old prophet came to the city to mourn and bury him. 30 And he laid his carcass in his own grave. And they mourned over him, saying, "Alas, my brother!" 31 And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, bury me in the sepulcher in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Beth-el and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria shall surely come to pass."

33 After this thing Jeroboam did not return from his evil way, but again made of the lowest of the people priests of the high places. Whoever wanted, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 34 And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.

Chapter 14

Abijah falls sick, and Jeroboam disguises his wife and sends her with presents to the prophet Ahijah at Shiloh, 1-4. Ahijah, forewarned by God, denounces God’s judgment, 5-16. Abijah dies and is buried, 17, 18. Nadab succeeds Jeroboam, 19, 20. Rehoboam’s wicked reign, 21-24. Shishak plunders Jerusalem, 25-28. Abijam succeeds Rehoboam, 29-31.

1 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Arise, I pray you, disguise yourself so that you may not be known to be the wife of Jeroboam and go to Shiloh. Behold, there is Ahijah the prophet who told me that I should be king over this people. 3 And take with you ten loaves, cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall become of the child."

4 And Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5 And the LORD said to Ahijah, "Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to ask a thing of you for her son, for he is sick. In this manner you shall speak to her, for it shall be, when she comes in, that she will feign herself to be another woman."

6 And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, that he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you feign yourself to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy tidings. 7 Go, tell Jeroboam, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Because I exalted you from among the people and made you prince over my people Israel, 8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments and who followed me with all his heart to do that only which was right in my eyes, 9 But you have done evil above all who were before you, for you have gone and made yourself other gods and molten images to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, 10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam the males and him who is shut up and left in Israel and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man takes away dung until it is all gone. 11 He who dies of Jeroboam in the city the dogs shall eat, and he who dies in the field the birds of the air shall eat, for the LORD has spoken it."' 12 Therefore, arise, depart to your own house. And when your feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 14 Moreover, the LORD shall raise himself up a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day. But what? Even now.

15 "For the LORD will smite Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers and scatter them beyond the river because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 16 And he will give up Israel because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel to sin."

17 And Jeroboam’s wife arose, departed, and came to Tirzah. And when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died. 18 And they buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20 And the days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty-two years. And he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

21 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed above all that their fathers had done. 23 For they also built for themselves high places and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree. 24 And there were also temple prostitutes in the land. And they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. 26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house. He even took away everything. And he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 27 And king Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard who kept the door of the king’s house. 28 And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bore them and brought them back into the guard chamber.

29 Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 15

Abijam’s wicked reign, 1-6. Asa succeeds him, 7, 8. Asa’s good reign, 9-15. The war between Baasha and him causes him to make a league with Ben-hadad, 16-22. Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa, 23, 24. Nadab’s wicked reign, 25, 26. Baasha, conspiring against him, executes Ahijah’s prophecy, 27-30. Nadab’s acts and death, 31, 32. Baasha’s wicked reign, 33, 34.

1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam reigned over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him. And his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem, 5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

8 And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his stead.

9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa reigned over Judah. 10 And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12 And he banished the temple prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 And also Maachah his mother, he even removed her from being queen because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa destroyed her idol and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 15 And he brought the things which his father had dedicated and the things which he himself had dedicated into the house of the LORD: silver, gold, and vessels.

16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah so that he might not allow any to go out or come to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying, 19 "There is a league between you and me and between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your league with Baasha king of Israel so that he may depart from me." 20 So Ben-hadad listened to king Asa and sent the captains of the armies which he had against the cities of Israel and smote Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building of Ramah and dwelt in Tirzah. 22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah. No one was exempted. And they took away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had built it, and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.

23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless, in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.

25 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin. 27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.

28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha slayed him and reigned in his stead. 29 And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam any who breathed until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30 Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned and which he made Israel sin by his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.

31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah twenty-four years. 34 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.

Chapter 16

Jehu’s prophecy against Baasha, 1-4. Elah succeeds him, 5-7. Zimri, conspiring against Elah, succeeds him, 8-10. Zimri executes Jehu’s prophecy, 11-14. Omri, made king by the soldiers, forces Zimri desperately to burn himself, 15-20. The kingdom being divided, Omri prevails against Tibni, 21, 22. Omri builds Samaria, 23, 24. His wicked reign, 25, 26. Ahab succeeds him, 27, 28. Ahab’s most wicked reign, 29-33. Joshua’s curse upon Hiel the builder of Jericho, 34.

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 "Because I exalted you from the dust and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin to provoke me to anger with their sins, 3 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house and will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 He who dies of Baasha in the city the dogs shall eat, and he who dies of his in the fields the birds of the air shall eat."

5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

6 So Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son reigned in his stead. 7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani the word of the LORD came against Baasha and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed him.

8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah two years. 9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. 10 And Zimri went in and smote him and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. 11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha. He left him not one male, neither of his kinsman, nor of his friends.

12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 For all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son by which they sinned and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16 And the people who were encamped heard it said, "Zimri has conspired and has also slain the king." Therefore, all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house and burnt the king’s house over him with fire and died, 19 Because of his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did to make Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah. 24 And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He built on the hill and called the name of the city which he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.

25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD and did worse than all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

29 And in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. And Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all who were before him.

31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took for a wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 And he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove. And Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel the Beth-elite built Jericho. He laid its foundation in Abiram his first-born and set up its gates in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

Chapter 17

Elijah, having prophesied against Ahab, is sent to Cherith where the ravens feed him, 1-7. He is sent to the widow of Zarephath, 8-16. He raises the widow’s son, 17-23. The woman believes him, 24.

1 And Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead said to Ahab, "As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 2 And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 "Depart from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook. And I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. For he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, which is before the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Bring me, I pray you, a little water in a vessel that I may drink." 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of bread in your hand." 12 And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I do not have a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse. And behold, I am gathering two sticks so that I may go in and dress it for me and my son and that we may eat it and die." 13 And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear. Go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of it first and bring it to me, and afterward make some for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" 15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. And she and he, and her house, ate many days. 16 And the barrel of meal did not waste, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by Elijah.

17 And it came to pass after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick. And his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to call my sin to remembrance and to slay my son?" 19 And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him out of her bosom, carried him up into a loft where he stayed, and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, have you also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn by slaying her son?" 21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, and said, "O LORD my God, I pray you, let this child’s soul come into him again." 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah. And the soul of the child came into him again and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, brought him down from the chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives." 24 And the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."

Chapter 18

In the extremity of famine, Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah, 1-8. Obadiah brings Ahab to Elijah 9-16. Elijah, reproving Ahab by fire from heaven, convinces Baal’s prophets, 17-40. Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel, 41-46.

1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." 2 And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And there was a grievous famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly. 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go into the land to all fountains of water and to all brooks. It may be that we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive so that we do not lose all the beasts." 6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And he knew him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?" 8 And he answered him, "I am. Go, tell your lord, 'Behold, Elijah is here.'" 9 And he said, "What have I sinned that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab to slay me? 10 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation nor kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they said, 'He is not there,' he took an oath of the kingdom and nation that they did not find you. 11 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here."' 12 And it will come to pass, as soon as I have gone from you, that the Spirit of the LORD will carry you where I do not know. And so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will slay me. But I, your servant, fear the LORD from my youth. 13 Was it not told to my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid one hundred men of the LORD’S prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here,"' and he will slay me." 15 And Elijah said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today." 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.

17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Are you he who troubles Israel?" 18 And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, along with your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed Baalim. 19 Now therefore, send and gather to me all Israel at mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of the groves who eat at Jezebel’s table."

20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel and gathered the prophets at mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people and said, "How long do you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophet’s are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Let them therefore give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, lay it on wood, and put no fire under it. And I will dress the other bull, lay it on wood, and put no fire under it. 24 And you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And the God who answers by fire, let him be God." And all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."

25 And Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and dress it first, for you are many. And call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under it." 26 And they took the bull which was given to them and they dressed it and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, nor any who answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god! Either he is talking, he is pursuing, he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awakened." 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when mid-day was past and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who regarded.

30 And Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name." 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench around the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid him on the wood and said, "Fill four barrels with water and pour it on the burnt-sacrifice and on the wood." 34 And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. 35 And the water ran around the altar. And he filled the trench also with water.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me so that this people may know that you are the LORD God and that you have turned their heart back again." 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt-sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. And they said, "The LORD, he is the God. The LORD, he is the God." 40 And Elijah said to them, "Take the prophets of Baal. Let not one of them escape." And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there.

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of abundance of rain." 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, and he cast himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go back seven times." 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, "Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea about the size of a man’s palm." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down so that the rain may not hinder you.'" 45 And it came to pass in a little while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah. And he girded his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Chapter 19

Elijah, threatened by Jezebel, flees to Beer-sheba, 1-3. In the wilderness, being weary of his life, he is comforted by an angel, 4-8. At Horeb God appears to him, sending him to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, 9-18. Elisha, taking leave of his friends, follows Elijah, 19-21.

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." 3 And when he saw that, he arose and went for his life and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper-tree. And he requested for himself that he might die and said, "It is enough. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers." 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper-tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." 6 And he looked, and behold, there was a cake baked on the coals and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid himself down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat because the journey is too great for you." 8 And he arose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

9 And he came to a cave there and lodged there. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 And he said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left. And they seek my life to take it away."

11 And he said, "Go forth and stand upon the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 And he said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left. And they seek my life to take it away."

15 And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your stead. 17 And it shall come to pass, that he who escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall slay. And he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall slay. 18 Yet I have left for myself seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him."

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again. For what have I done to you?" 21 And he returned from following him, took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, went after Elijah, and ministered to him.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Romans 11:3. [v.18]: Quoted in Romans 11:4.

Chapter 20

Ben-hadad, not content with Ahab’s homage, besieges Samaria, 1-12. By the direction of a prophet, the Syrians are slain, 13-21. As the prophet forewarned Ahab, the Syrians, trusting in the valleys, come against him in Aphek, 22-27. By the word of the prophet and God’s judgment, the Syrians are smitten again, 28-30. The Syrians submit themselves, and Ahab sends Ben-hadad away with a covenant, 31-34. The prophet, under the parable of a prisoner and making Ahab judge himself, denounces God’s judgment against him, 35-43.

1 And Ben-hadad the king of Syria collected all his army. And there were thirty-two kings with him and horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria and warred against it. 2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city and said to him, "Thus says Ben-hadad: 3 'Your silver and gold are mine, and also your wives and your children, even the best, are mine.'" 4 And the king of Israel answered and said, "My lord, O king, according to your saying, I and all that I have are yours." 5 And the messengers came again and said, "Thus speaks Ben-hadad, saying, 'Although I have sent to you, saying, "You shall deliver to me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children," 6 Yet I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants. And it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall take it in their hand and carry it away.'"

7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, "Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeks mischief, for he sent to me for my wives, for my children, for my silver, and for my gold, and I did not deny him." 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen to him, nor consent." 9 Therefore, he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, "Tell my lord the king, 'All that you sent for to your servant at the first, I will do, but this thing I may not do.'" And the messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 And Ben-hadad sent to him and said, "May the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me." 11 And the king of Israel answered and said, "Tell him, 'Do not let him who girds on his harness boast himself as he who takes it off.'" 12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking—he and the kings in the pavilions—that he said to his servants, "Set yourselves in array." And they set themselves in array against the city.

13 And behold, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day. And you shall know that I am the LORD.'" 14 And Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who shall order the battle?" And he answered, "You." 15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two. And after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.

16 And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions—he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him. 17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, "There are men coming out of Samaria." 18 And he said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive, or if they have come out for war, take them alive."

19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. 20 And they each slew his man. And the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with the horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out and smote the horses and chariots and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

22 And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and mark and see what you do, for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you."

23 And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, "Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore, they were stronger than we were. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they are. 24 And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their stead, 25 And number an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. And we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they are." And he listened to their voice and did so.

26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. 27 And the children of Israel were numbered and were all present and went against them. And the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids, but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And there came a man of God and spoke to the king of Israel and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys," therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'" 29 And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined. And the children of Israel slew of the Syrians one hundred thousand footmen in one day. 30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and there a wall fell upon twenty-seven thousand of the men who were left. And Ben-hadad fled and came into the city, into an inner chamber.

31 And his servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us, I pray you, put sackcloth on our loins and ropes upon our heads and go out to the king of Israel. It may be that he will save your life." 32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'I pray you, let me live.'" And he said, "Is he yet alive? He is my brother." 33 Now the men diligently observed whether anything would come from him, and hastily caught it, and they said, "Your brother Ben-hadad." Then he said, "Go, bring him." Then Ben-hadad came forth to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said to him, "The cities, which my father took from your father, I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Then Ahab said, "I will send you away with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him and sent him away.

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor in the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray you." And the man refused to smite him. 36 Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will slay you." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and slew him. 37 Then he found another man and said, "Smite me, I pray you." And the man smote him so that in smiting he wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. 39 And as the king passed by, he cried to the king. And he said, "Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, 'Keep this man. If by any means he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.' 40 And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." And the king of Israel said to him, "Thus your judgment shall be. You have decided it yourself." 41 And he hastened and took the ashes away from his face, and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because you have let go out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life and your people for his people.'" 43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased and came to Samaria.

Chapter 21

Ahab being denied Naboth’s vineyard, is grieved, 1-4. Jezebel writes letters against Naboth, and he is condemned for blasphemy, 5-14. Ahab takes possession of the vineyard, 15, 16. Elijah denounces judgments against Ahab and Jezebel, 17-24. Wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgment, 25-29.

1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard so that I may have it for a garden of herbs. For it is near to my house and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid me that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you." 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he laid himself down upon his bed and turned away his face and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sad that you eat no bread?" 6 And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money. Or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be merry. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high among the people. 10 And set two men before him, sons of Belial, to bear witness against him, saying, 'You blasphemed God and the king.' And then carry him out and stone him so that he may die."

11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them and as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And two men came in, children of Belial, and sat before him. And the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth blasphemed God and the king." Then they carried him forth out of the city and stoned him with stones so that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth is stoned and is dead."

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.

17 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel who is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to possess it. 19 And you shall speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Have you killed and also taken possession?"' And you shall speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours."'"

20 And Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring evil upon you. I will take away your posterity and will cut off from Ahab the males and him who is shut up and left in Israel. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah because of the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin. 23 And the LORD also spoke of Jezebel, saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' 24 He who dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat, and he who dies in the field the birds of the air shall eat."

25 But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife instigated. 26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things that the Amorites did, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, put sackcloth upon his flesh, fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days. But in his son’s days I will bring the evil upon his house."

Chapter 22

Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain at Ramoth-gilead, 1-36. The dogs lick up his blood, and Ahaziah succeeds him, 37-40. Jehoshaphat’s good reign, 41-44. His acts, 45. Jehoram succeeds him, 46-50. Ahaziah’s evil reign, 51-53.

1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we are still and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, I pray you, at the word of the LORD today." 6 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king." 7 And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of the LORD that we may inquire of him?" 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Do not let the king say so." 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Hasten here Micaiah the son of Imlah." 10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron. And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall push the Syrians until you have consumed them.'" 12 And all the prophets similarly prophesied, saying, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king’s hand."

13 And the messenger who went to call Micaiah, spoke to him, saying, "Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word, I pray you, be like the word of one of them and speak that which is good." 14 And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak."

15 So he came to the king. And the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?" And he answered him, "Go and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king." 16 And the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?"

17 And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that do not have a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.'"

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?"

19 And he said, "Hear therefore the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the LORD said, 'Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said in this manner and another said in that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will persuade him.' 22 And the LORD said to him, 'With what?' And he said, 'I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You shall persuade him and prevail also. Go forth and do so.' 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you."

24 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and smote Micaiah on the cheek and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 25 And Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see in that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself." 26 And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27 And say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this man in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I come in peace."'" 28 And Micaiah said, "If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Listen, O people, every one of you."

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and enter into the battle, but you put on your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. 31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty-two captains who had rule over his chariots, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, but only with the king of Israel." 32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel." And they turned aside to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

34 And a certain man drew a bow at random and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness. Therefore, he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn your hand and carry me out of the host, for I am wounded." 35 And the battle increased that day. And the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians and died at evening. And the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. 36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host at about the setting of the sun, saying, "Every man to his city and every man to his own country."

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And someone washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and they washed his armor, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

41 And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 43 And he walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away, and the people still offered and burnt incense in the high places. 44 And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat and his might that he showed and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 46 And the remnant of the temple prostitutes, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he removed from the land.

47 There was then no king in Edom, for a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not. 50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. 52 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 53 For he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

[Tanach reading: go to Second Kings]

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS

Chapter 1

Moab rebels, 1. Ahaziah, sending to Baal-zebub, has his judgment by Elijah, 2-4. Elijah twice brings fire from heaven upon those who were sent by Ahaziah to apprehend him, 5-12. He pities the third captain, and, encouraged by an angel, tells the king of his death, 13-16. Jehoram succeeds Ahaziah, 17, 18.

1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria and was sick. And he sent messengers and said to them, "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron to see if I shall recover from this disease." 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, 'Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?' 4 Now therefore, thus says the LORD: 'You shall not come down from that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.'" And Elijah departed.

5 And when the messengers turned back to him, he said to them, "Why have you now returned?" 6 And they said to him, "There came up a man to meet us and said to us, 'Go, turn back to the king who sent you and say to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Is it not because there is not a God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Therefore, you shall not come down from that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.'"'" 7 And he said to them, "What manner of man was he who came up to meet you and told you these words?" 8 And they answered him, "He was a hairy man and girt with a girdle of leather around his loins." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."

9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he sat on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him, "You, man of God, the king has said, 'Come down.'" 10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again he also sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, "O man of God, thus has the king said: 'Come down quickly.'" 12 And Elijah answered and said to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and implored him and said to him, "O man of God, I pray you, let my life and the life of these fifty your servants be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties. Therefore, let my life now be precious in your sight." 15 And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him." And he arose and went down with him to the king. 16 And he said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore, you shall not come down off that bed on which you have gone up, but shall surely die.'"

17 So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because he had no son. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Chapter 2

Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, divides the Jordan with his mantle, 1-8; and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven, 9-11. Elisha, dividing the Jordan with Elijah’s mantle, is acknowledged his successor, 12-15. The young prophets, hardly obtaining leave to seek Elijah, cannot find him, 16-18. Elisha heals the unwholesome waters with salt, 19-22. Bears destroy the children that mocked Elisha, 23-25.

1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me to Beth-el." And Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Beth-el. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?" And he said, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."

4 And Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." And he said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from your head today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace." 6 And Elijah said to him, "Stay here, I pray you, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." And the two of them went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood to view afar off. And the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together and smote the waters, and they were divided here and there so that the two of them went over on dry ground.

9 And it came to pass, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away from you." And Elisha said, "I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 10 And he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you, but if not, it shall not be so." 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and parted them both apart. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and smote the waters and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted here and there, and Elisha went over.

15 And when the sons of the prophets who were viewing at Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Let them go, we pray you, and seek your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send." 17 And when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men. And they sought three days, but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him (for he stayed at Jericho), he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

19 And the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, I pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the ground barren." 20 And he said, "Bring me a new cruse and put salt therein." And they brought it to him. 21 And he went forth to the spring of the waters and cast the salt in there and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or barren land.'" 22 So the waters were healed to this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spoke.

23 And he went up from there to Beth-el. And as he was going up by the way, little children came forth out of the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you bald-head. Go up, you bald-head." 24 And he turned back, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came forth out of the forest and tore forty-two of the children. 25 And he went from there to mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Chapter 3

Jehoram’s reign, 1-3. Mesha rebels, 4, 5. Jehoram, with Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom, being distressed for lack of water, by Elisha obtains water and promise of victory, 6-20. The Moabites, deceived by the color of the water, coming to plunder, are overcome, 21-25. The king of Moab, failing in his attempt to break through to the king of Edom, sacrifices his son and raises the siege, 26, 27.

1 Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah and reigned twelve years. 2 And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and his mother, for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless, he cleaved to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. He did not depart from it.

4 And Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master, and he rendered to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs and one hundred thousand rams, with the wool. 5 But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. 6 And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time and numbered all Israel. 7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?" And he said, "I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, and my horses as your horses." 8 And he said, "Which way shall we go up?" And he answered, "The way through the wilderness of Edom."

9 So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom went. And they made a circuit of seven days' journey, and there was no water for the army and for the cattle that followed them. 10 And the king of Israel said, "Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab!" 11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of the LORD by him?" And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat who poured water on the hands of Elijah." 12 And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

13 And Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother." And the king of Israel said to him, "No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab." 14 And Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you. 15 But now bring me a minstrel." And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 16 And he said, "Thus says the LORD: 'Make this valley full of ditches.' 17 For thus says the LORD: 'You shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water so that you may drink—you, your cattle, and your beasts. 18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD. He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand. 19 And you shall smite every fortified city and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.'" 20 And it came to pass in the morning, when the food-offering was offered, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

21 And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered all who were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood in the border. 22 And they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water. And the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. 23 And they said, "This is blood. The kings are surely slain and they have smitten one another. Now therefore, Moab, to the plunder." 24 And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose and smote the Moabites so that they fled before them. And they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country. 25 And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land every man cast his stone and filled it. And they stopped all the wells of water and felled all the good trees. Only the stones of Kirhara-seth were left, but the slingers surrounded it and smote it. 26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. 27 Then he took his eldest son who was to reign in his stead and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel. And they departed from him and returned to their own land.

Chapter 4

Elisha multiplies the widow’s oil, 1-7. He obtains a son for the good Shunammite, 8-17. He restores her son when dead, 18-37. At Gilgal he heals the deadly pottage, 38-41. He satisfies a hundred men with twenty loaves, 42-44.

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead. And you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor has come to take for himself my two sons to be slaves." 2 And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your servant does not have anything in the house, except for a pot of oil." 3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels abroad from all your neighbors, even empty vessels. Do not borrow a few. 4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door upon you and upon your sons, and shall pour out into all those vessels and set aside that which is full." 5 So she went from him and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her, and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your children shall live on the remainder."

8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem where a distinguished woman was, and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread. 9 And she said to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually. 10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray you, on the wall and set for him there a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick. And it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there."

11 And it fell on a day, that he came there, and he turned into the chamber and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunamite." And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, "Now say to her, 'Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host?'" And she answered, "I dwell among my own people." 14 And he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Truly she has no child, and her husband is old." 15 And he said, "Call her." And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16 And he said, "About this season, according to the time of life, you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord, man of God, do not lie to your servant."

17 And the woman conceived and bore a son at that season that Elisha had said to her, according to the time of life.

18 And when the child was grown, it happened on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, "My head, my head." And he said to a young man, "Carry him to his mother." 20 And when he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon and then died. 21 And she went up, laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 And she called to her husband and said, "Send me, I pray you, one of the young men and one of the donkeys so that I may run to the man of God and come back." 23 And he said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither new-moon, nor sabbath." And she said, "It shall be well." 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, "Drive, and go forward. Do not slack your riding for me unless I bid you." 25 So she went and came to the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, "Behold, yonder is that Shunamite. 26 Now run, I pray you, to meet her, and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?'" And she answered, "It is well." 27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, "Leave her alone, for her soul is sorrowful within her, and the LORD has hid it from me and has not told me." 28 Then she said, "Did I ask a son from my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me.'"

29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand and go your way. And if you meet any man, do not salute him. And if anyone salutes you, do not answer him again. And lay my staff upon the face of the child." 30 And the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." And he arose and followed her. 31 And Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff upon the face of the child, but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore, he went back to meet him and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened."

32 And when Elisha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them both and prayed to the LORD. 34 And he went up and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands. And he stretched himself upon the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro, and went up and stretched himself upon him. And the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunamite." So he called her. And when she had come in to him, he said, "Take up your son." 37 Then she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son and went out.

38 And Elisha came back to Gilgal. And there was a famine in the land. And the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. And he said to his servant, "Set on the great pot and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets." 39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, found a wild vine, gathered his lap full of wild gourds from it, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage, for they did not know them. 40 So they poured out some for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out and said, "O man of God, there is death in the pot." And they could not eat it. 41 But he said, "Then bring meal." And he cast it into the pot and he said, "Pour some out for the people so that they may eat." And there was no harm in the pot.

42 And there came a man from Baal-shalisha and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and full heads of grain in its husk. And he said, "Give to the people so that they may eat." 43 And his servitor said, "What, should I set this before one hundred men?" He said again, "Give the people so that they may eat, for thus says the LORD: 'They shall eat and shall leave some of it.'" 44 So he set it before them, and they ate and left some of it, according to the word of the LORD.

Chapter 5

Naaman, by the report of a captive girl, is sent to Samaria to be cured of his leprosy, 1-7. Elisha, sending him to the Jordan, cures him, 8-14. He refuses Naaman’s gifts, but allows him to take some of the earth, 15-19. Gehazi, abusing his master’s name to Naaman, is smitten with leprosy, 20-27.

1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance to Syria. He was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies and had taken away a little girl captive out of the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 And she said to her mistress, "I wish that my lord was with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy." 4 And someone went in and told his lord, saying, "In this manner the girl spoke who is of the land of Israel." 5 And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." And he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent with this Naaman my servant to you so that you may recover him of his leprosy." 7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to recover a man of his leprosy? Therefore, consider, I pray you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me."

8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you rent your clothes? Let him come now to me and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come back to you and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman was angry and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, stand, call on the name of the LORD his God, strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.' 12 Are Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, not better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had bid you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14 Then he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh came back like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.

15 And he returned to the man of God—he and all his company—and came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, take a blessing from your servant." 16 But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 And Naaman said, "Shall there not then, I pray you, be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth? For your servant will from now on offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD. 18 In this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing." 19 And he said to him, "Go in peace." So he departed from him a little way.

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, "Behold, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. But as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him." 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he alighted down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?" 22 And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from mount Ephraim. Give them, I pray you, a talent of silver and two changes of garments.'" 23 And Naaman said, "Be content, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of garments and laid them upon two of his servants. And they bore them before him. 24 And when he came to the tower, he took [the things] from their hand and stored them in the house. And he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, "Where did you come from, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere."

26 And he said to him, "Did my heart not go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and to receive garments, olive-groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, men-servants, and women-servants? 27 Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your offspring forever." And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

Chapter 6

Elisha, giving leave to the young prophets to enlarge their dwellings, causes iron to float, 1-7. He discloses the king of Syria’s counsel, 8-12. The army which was sent to Dothan to apprehend Elisha is smitten with blindness, 13-18. Being brought into Samaria, they are dismissed in peace, 19-23. The famine in Samaria causes women to eat their own children, 24-29. The king sends to slay Elisha, 30-33.

1 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "Behold now, the place where we dwell with you is too narrow for us. 2 Let us go, we pray you, to the Jordan and each take from there a beam, and let us make us a place there where we may dwell." And he answered, "Go." 3 And one said, "Be content, I pray you, and go with your servants." And he answered, "I will go." 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood. 5 But as one was felling a beam, the ax head fell into the water, and he cried and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed." 6 And the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick and cast it in there, and the iron floated. 7 Therefore, he said, "Take it up to you." And he put out his hand and took it.

8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel and took counsel with his servants, saying, "In such and such a place my camp shall be." 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Beware that you do not pass such a place, for there the Syrians have come down." 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

11 Therefore, the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled for this thing. And he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" 12 And one of his servants said, "No one, my lord, O king, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bed-chamber." 13 And he said, "Go, and spy where he is so that I may send and bring him." And it was told to him, saying, "Behold, he is in Dothan." 14 Therefore, he sent there horses, chariots, and a great host, and they came by night and encompassed the city.

15 And when the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 And he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed and said, "LORD, I pray you, open his eyes so that he may see." And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Smite this people, I pray you, with blindness." And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." But he led them to Samaria.

20 And it came to pass, when they had come into Samaria, that Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so that they may see." And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 And the king of Israel said to Elisha when he saw them, "My father, shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?" 22 And he answered, "You shall not smite them. Would you smite those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them so that they may eat and drink and go to their master." 23 And he prepared great provision for them. And when they had eaten and drank, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria no longer came into the land of Israel.

24 And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria. And behold, they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. 26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king." 27 And he said, "If the LORD does not help you, from where shall I help you? Out of the barn-floor, or out of the wine-press?" 28 And the king said to her, "What ails you?" And she answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, 'Give your son so that we may eat him.' And she has hid her son." 30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes. And he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. 31 Then he said, "May God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat stands on him this day."

32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him, and the king sent a man from before him. But before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, "See how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door firmly against him. Is the sound of his master’s feet not behind him?" 33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"

Chapter 7

Elisha prophesies incredible plenty in Samaria, 1, 2. Four lepers, venturing on the host of the Syrians, bring tidings of their flight, 3-11. The king, finding by spies the news to be true, plunders the tents of the Syrians, 12-16. The lord who would not believe the prophecy of plenty, having the charge of the gate, is trodden to death by a crowd, 17-20.

1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria.'" 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" And he said, "Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it."

3 And there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. And they said to one another, "Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, 'We will enter into the city,' then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore, come, and let us fall to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall live, and if they kill us, we shall but die." 5 And they rose in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. And when they had come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 6 (For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army. And they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to come upon us." 7 Therefore, they arose and fled in the twilight and left their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.) 8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, ate and drank, and carried from there silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. And they came back, entered into another tent, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said to one another, "We do not do right. This day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace. If we wait until the morning light, some mischief will come upon us. Now therefore, come, so that we may go and tell the king’s household." 10 So they came and called to the gatekeeper of the city. And they told him, saying, "We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, donkeys tied, and the tents as they were." 11 And he called the gatekeepers, and they told it to the king’s house within. 12 And the king arose in the night and said to his servants, "I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore, they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.'" 13 And one of his servants answered and said, "Let some take, I pray you, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel who are left in it, behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites who are consumed), and let us send and see." 14 They took therefore two chariots with horses. And the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, "Go and see."

15 And they went after them to the Jordan. And behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king.

16 And the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate. And the people trod upon him in the gate and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two measures of barley for a shekel and a measure of fine flour for a shekel shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria." 19 And that lord answered the man of God and said, "Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?" And he said, "Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it." 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trod upon him in the gate and he died.

Chapter 8

The Shunammite, having left her country seven years, to avoid the forewarned famine, for Elisha’s miracle’s sake has her land restored by the king, 1-6. Hazael, being sent with a present by Ben-hadad to Elisha at Damascus, after he had heard the prophecy, kills his master and succeeds him, 7-15. Jehoram’s wicked reign in Judah, 16-19. Edom and Libnah revolt, 20-22. Ahaziah succeeds Jehoram, 23, 24. Ahaziah’s wicked reign, 25-27. He goes to Jezreel and visits Joram, who was wounded, 28, 29.

1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise, and go—you and your household—and sojourn wherever you can sojourn, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it shall also come upon the land seven years." 2 And the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God. And she went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines. And she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land. 4 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me, I pray you, all the great things that Elisha has done." 5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life." 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, "Restore all that was hers and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land even until now."

7 And Elisha came to Damascus. And Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And it was told to him, saying, "The man of God has come here." 8 And the king said to Hazael, "Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, 'Shall I recover of this disease?'" 9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him and said, "Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover of this disease?'" 10 And Elisha said to him, "Go, say to him, 'You may certainly recover,' but the LORD has shown me that he shall surely die." 11 And he settled his countenance steadfastly until he was ashamed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, "Why does my lord weep?" And he answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: you will set their strongholds on fire and you will slay their young men with the sword, dash their children, and rip up their women with child." 13 And Hazael said, "But what, is your servant a dog that he should do this great thing?" And Elisha answered, "The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Syria." 14 So he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" And he answered, "He told me that you should surely recover." 15 And it came to pass on the next day, that he took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on his face so that he died. And Hazael reigned in his stead.

16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel (Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah), Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 19 Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give a light to him and to his children always.

20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah and made a king over themselves. 21 So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him. And he rose by night and smote the Edomites who encompassed him and the captains of the chariots, and the people fled into their tents. 22 Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 And the rest of the acts of Joram and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

24 And Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab did, for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

28 And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel because he was sick.

Chapter 9

Elisha sends a young prophet with instructions to anoint Jehu at Ramoth-gilead, 1-3. The prophet, having done his errand, flees, 4-10. Jehu, being made king by the soldiers, kills Joram in the field of Naboth, 11-26. Ahaziah is slain at Gur and buried at Jerusalem, 27-29. Proud Jezebel is thrown down out of a window and eaten by dogs, 30-37.

1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets and said to him, "Gird up your loins, take this box of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you come there, look for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in, make him rise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the box of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus says the LORD: "I have anointed you king over Israel."' Then open the door and flee, and do not wait."

4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting, and he said, "I have an errand to you, O captain." And Jehu said, "To which of us all?" And he said, "To you, O captain." 6 And he arose, went into the house, and he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. 7 And you shall smite the house of Ahab your master so that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD at the hand of Jezebel. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish. And I will cut off from Ahab the males and him who is shut up and left in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be no one to bury her.'" And he opened the door and fled.

11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord. And one of them said to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad man come to you?" And he said to them, "You know the man and his communication." 12 And they said, "It is false. Tell us now." And he said, "In this manner he spoke to me, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I have anointed you king over Israel."'" 13 Then they hastened, and every man took his garment, put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, "Jehu is king."

14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramoth-gilead—he and all Israel—because of Hazael king of Syria. 15 But king Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, "If this is how you would have it, then let no one go forth nor escape from the city to go to tell it in Jezreel." 16 So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'" 18 So a horseman went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king: 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me." And the watchman told, saying, "The messenger came to them, but he does not return." 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, "Thus says the king: 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Turn behind me." 20 And the watchman told, saying, "He came even to them and does not return. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

21 And Joram said, "Make ready." And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What peace, so long as the lewd acts of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" 23 And Joram turned his hands and fled and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah." 24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength and smote Jehoram between his arms. The arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Take up and cast him into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember how, when I and you rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him: 26 'Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD, 'and I will requite you in this plat,' says the LORD. Now therefore, take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD."

27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed him and said, "Smite him also in the chariot." And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his sepulcher with his fathers in the city of David.

29 And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.

30 And when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her face, adorned her head, and looked out a window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, "Did Zimri have peace, who slew his master?" 32 And he lifted up his face to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" And two or three eunuchs looked out to him.

33 And he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down. And some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses. And he trod her under foot. 34 And when he had come in, he ate and drank, and said, "Go, see now this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter." 35 And they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 Therefore, they came back and told him. And he said, "This is the word of the LORD which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'In the portion of Jezreel, dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel. 37 And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel so that they shall not say, "This is Jezebel."'"

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Revelation 19:2.

Chapter 10

Jehu, by his letters, causes seventy of Ahab’s children to be beheaded, 1-7. He excuses the fact by the prophecy of Elijah, 8-11. At the shearing house he slays forty-two of Ahaziah’s brothers, 12-14. He takes Jehonadab into his company, 15-17. By subtlety he destroys all the worshipers of Baal, 18-28. Jehu follows Jeroboam’s sins, 29-31. Hazael oppresses Israel, 32, 33. Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu, 34-36.

1 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s children, saying, 2 "Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor, 3 Choose the best and fittest of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house." 4 But they were exceedingly afraid and said, "Behold, two kings did not stand before him. How then shall we stand?" 5 And he who was over the house and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants and will do all that you shall bid us. We will not make any king. Do that which is good in your eyes." 6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are mine and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your master’s sons and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time." Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city who brought them up. 7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slew them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him to Jezreel. 8 And a messenger came and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king’s sons." And he said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning." 9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master and slew him. But who slew all these? 10 Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah." 11 So Jehu slew all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel and all his great men, his kinsmen, and his priests until he left him without a remnant.

12 And he arose and departed and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing-house in the way, 13 Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, "Who are you?" And they answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah, and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen." 14 And he said, "Take them alive." And they took them alive and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even forty-two men. He did not leave any of them.

15 And when he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he saluted him and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?" And Jehonadab answered, "It is." "If it is, give me your hand." And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 And he said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD." So they made him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all who remained to Ahab in Samaria until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD which he spoke to Elijah.

18 And Jehu convened all the people and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu shall serve him much. 19 Now therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Let no one be lacking, for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal. Whoever is lacking, he shall not live." But Jehu did it in subtlety to the intent that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal." And they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they came into the house of Baal. And the house of Baal was full from one end to another. 22 And he said to him who was over the wardrobe, "Bring forth clothing for all the worshipers of Baal." And he brought forth clothing for them. 23 And Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the house of Baal and said to the worshipers of Baal, "Search, and see that there are here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshipers of Baal only." 24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings, Jehu appointed eighty men outside and said, "If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him."

25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in and slay them. Let none come forth." And they smote them with the edge of the sword. And the guard and the captains cast them out and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal and burned them. 27 And they broke down the image of Baal. Then they broke down the house of Baal and made it a latrine-house to this day.

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29 Yet from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu did not depart from after them, namely, the golden calves that were in Beth-el and that were in Dan. 30 And the LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart, for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.

32 In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short. And Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel: 33 From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Arnon River, even Gilead and Bashan.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35 And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. 36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Chapter 11

Jehoash, being saved by Jehosheba his aunt from Athaliah’s massacre of the royal family, is hid six years in the house of God, 1-3. Jehoiada, giving order to the captains, in the seventh year anoints him king, 4-12. Athaliah is slain, 13-16. Jehoiada restores the worship of God, 17-21.

1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were slain. And they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bed-chamber from Athaliah so that he was not slain. 3 And he was hid with her in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

4 And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and took the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD. Then he made a covenant with them and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD and showed them the king’s son. 5 And he commanded them, saying, "This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you who enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house, 6 And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third part at the gate behind the guard. Thus you shall keep the watch of the house so that it is not broken down. 7 And two parts of all you who go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD around the king. 8 And you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And he who comes within the ranges, let him be slain. And be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in."

9 And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And they each took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And to the captains over hundreds the priest gave king David’s spears and shields that were in the temple of the LORD. 11 And the guard stood, each with his weapons in his hand, around the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple. 12 And he brought forth the king’s son, put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony. And they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "God save the king."

13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. 14 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew with trumpets. And Athaliah rent her clothes and cried, "Treason, treason!" 15 But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said to them, "Bring her forth outside the ranges and kill with the sword him who follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be slain in the house of the LORD." 16 And they laid hands on her. And she went by the way by which the horses came into the king’s house and there she was slain.

17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people, between the king also and the people. 18 And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal and broke it down. His altars and his images they broke wholly in pieces and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD. 19 And he took the rulers over hundreds, the captains, the guard, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet. And they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house. 21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.

Chapter 12

Jehoash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada, 1-3. He gives order for the repair of the temple, 4-16. Hazael is diverted from Jerusalem by a present of the hallowed treasures, 17, 18. Jehoash being slain, Amaziah succeeds him, 19-21.

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

4 And Jehoash said to the priests, "All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of everyone who passes the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that comes into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD, 5 Let the priests take it to them, each from his acquaintance, and let them repair the breaches of the house wherever any breach is found."

6 But it was so, that in the twenty-third year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. 7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, "Why do you not repair the breaches of the house? Now therefore, receive no more money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house." 8 And the priests consented to receive no more money from the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD. And the priests who kept the door put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. 10 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put it up in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD. 11 And they gave the money, being counted, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD. And they laid it out to the carpenters and builders who wrought upon the house of the LORD, 12 And to masons and hewers of stone, and for buying timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. 13 Yet, there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. 14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired with it the house of the LORD. 15 Moreover, they did not reckon with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen, for they dealt faithfully. 16 The trespass-money and sin-money was not brought into the house of the LORD. It was the priests'.

17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath and took it. And Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. 18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria. And he went away from Jerusalem.

19 And the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20 And his servants arose and made a conspiracy and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goes down to Silla. 21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 13

Jehoahaz’s wicked reign, 1, 2. Jehoahaz, oppressed by Hazael, is relieved by prayer, 3-7. Joash succeeds him, 8, 9. His wicked reign, 10, 11. Jeroboam succeeds him, 12, 13. Elisha, dying, prophesies to Joash three victories over the Syrians, 14-19. While the Moabites invade the land, Elisha’s bones raise a dead man, 20, 21. Joash gets three victories over Ben-hadad, 22-25.

1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. He did not depart from it. 3 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael all their days. 4 And Jehoahaz implored the LORD, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (And the LORD gave Israel a savior so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians, and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before. 6 Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam who made Israel sin, but walked in them. And the grove also remained in Samaria.) 7 Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust by threshing. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Joash his son reigned in his stead.

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel sin, but he walked in them. 12 And the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 13 And Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha had fallen sick of his disease of which he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over his face and said, "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." 15 And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and arrows." And he took a bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand upon the bow." And he put his hand upon it. And Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. 17 And he said, "Open the window eastward." And he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot." And he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the LORD’S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria, for you shall smite the Syrians in Aphek until you have consumed them." 18 And he said, "Take the arrows." And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Smite upon the ground." And he smote three times and ceased. 19 And the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have smitten five or six times. Then you would have smitten Syria until you had consumed it, whereas now you shall smite Syria but three times."

20 And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that behold, they spied a band of men, and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha. And when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 And the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither did he reject them from his presence as yet.

24 So Hazael king of Syria died, and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead. 25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz again took from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken from the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the cities of Israel.

Chapter 14

Amaziah’s good reign, 1-4. His justice on the murderers of his father, 5, 6. His victory over Edom, 7. Amaziah, provoking Jehoash, is overcome and plundered, 8-14. Jeroboam succeeds Jehoash, 15, 16. Amaziah is slain by a conspiracy, 17-20. Azariah succeeds him, 21, 22. Jeroboam’s wicked reign, 23-27. Zachariah succeeds him, 28, 29.

1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah reigned. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father. He did according to all things as Joash his father did. 4 But the high places were not taken away. As yet the people sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places. 5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants who had slain the king his father. 6 But the children of the murderers he did not slay, according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers. But every man shall be put to death for his own sin."

7 He slew of Edom in the valley of Salt ten thousand and took Selah by war and called its name Joktheel to this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face." 9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife.' And there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trod down the thistle. 10 You have indeed smitten Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Glory in this and stay at home. For why should you meddle to your hurt that you should fall, even you and Judah with you?"

11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore, Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 12 And Judah was defeated before Israel, and they each fled to their tents. 13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14 And he took all the gold and silver, all the vessels found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

15 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did and his might and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 16 And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

17 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years. 18 And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 19 Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and slew him there. 20 And they brought him on horses, and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 22 He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher. 26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter, for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. 27 And the LORD did not say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might, how he warred and how he recovered for Israel Damascus and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel. And Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 15

Azariah’s good reign, 1-4. He dies a leper, and Jotham succeeds, 5-7. Zachariah, the last of Jehu’s generation, reigning ill, is slain by Shallum, 8-12. Shallum, reigning a month, is slain by Menahem, 13-15. Menahem strengthens himself by Pul, 16-20. Pekahiah succeeds him, 21, 22. Pekahiah is slain by Pekah, 23-26. Pekah is oppressed by Tiglath-pileser and slain by Hoshea, 27-31. Jotham’s good reign, 32-35. Ahaz succeeds him, 36-38.

1 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, 4 Except that the high places were not removed. The people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. 5 And the LORD smote the king so that he was a leper to the day of his death and dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land. 6 And the rest of the acts of Azariah and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7 So Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. 10 And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, smote him before the people, slew him, and reigned in his stead. 11 And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 12 This was the word of the LORD which he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." And so it came to pass.

13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, slew him, and reigned in his stead. 15 And the rest of the acts of Shallum and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16 Then Menahem smote Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah because they did not open to him; therefore, he smote it, and all the women in it who were with child he ripped up.

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin.

19 And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land. And Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver so that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. 20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21 And the rest of the acts of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. 24 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin. 25 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh and with him fifty men of the Gileadites. And he killed him and reigned in his stead. 26 And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. 28 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, came and took Ijon, Abel-beth-maachah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. 30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, smote him, slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31 And the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. 34 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD. He did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35 Yet the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD. 36 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 37 In those days the LORD began to send Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38 And Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. And Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 16

Ahaz’s wicked reign, 1-4. Ahaz, assailed by Rezin and Pekah, hires Tiglath-pileser against them, 5-9. Ahaz, sending a pattern of an altar from Damascus to Urijah, diverts the brazen altar to his own devotions, 10-16. He plunders the temple, 17, 18. Hezekiah succeeds him, 19, 20.

1 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. 3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel and even made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war. And they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria and drove the Jews from Elath. And the Syrians came to Elath and have dwelt there to this day.

7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up, and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel who rise up against me." 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king’s house and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. 9 And the king of Assyria listened to him, for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir and slew Rezin.

10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria and saw an altar that was at Damascus. And king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship. 11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus. So Urijah the priest made it before king Ahaz came from Damascus. 12 And when the king had come from Damascus, the king saw the altar. And the king approached the altar and offered on it. 13 And he burnt his burnt-offering and his food-offering, poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings upon the altar. 14 And he also brought the brazen altar, which was before the LORD, from the front of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. 15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, "Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, the evening food-offering, the king’s burnt-sacrifice, and his food-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, their food-offering, and their drink-offerings, and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering and all the blood of the sacrifice. And the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by." 16 Thus Urijah the priest did according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it and put it upon a pavement of stones. 18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house and the king’s entry outside, he turned from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 17

Hoshea’s wicked reign, 1, 2. Being subdued by Shalmaneser, he conspires against him with So, king of Egypt, 3, 4. The Lord rejects the offspring of Israel for their sins, and they are led into captivity, 5-23. The strange nations which were transplanted into Samaria, being plagued with lions, make a mixture of religions, 24-41.

1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. 3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and gave him presents. 4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and brought no present to the king of Assyria as he had done year by year. Therefore, the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.

5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the cities of the Medes.

7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel and of the kings of Israel which they had made. 9 And the children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city. 10 And they set up for themselves images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree. 11 And there they burnt incense on all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them, and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger. 12 For they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, "You shall not do this thing." 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah by all the prophets and by all the seers, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets." 14 But they would not hear, but hardened their necks like the neck of their fathers who did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them, and they followed vanity, became vain, and went after the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves molten images, even two calves, made a grove, worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore, the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. There was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the LORD rejected all the offspring of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of raiders until he had cast them out of his sight.

21 For he rent Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD and made them sin a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did. They did not depart from them, 23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria to this day.

24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, from Cuthah, from Ava, from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel. And they possessed Samaria and dwelt in its cities. 25 And it was so at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they did not fear the LORD. Therefore, the LORD sent lions among them which slew some of them. 26 Therefore, they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations which you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the manner of the God of the land. Therefore, he has sent lions among them, and behold, they slay them because they do not know the manner of the God of the land."

27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there, and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land." 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

29 Yet every nation made gods of their own and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they dwelt. 30 And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31 The Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 So they feared the LORD, but also made for themselves from the lowest of them priests of the high places who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 33 They feared the LORD, but also served their own gods after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from there.

34 To this day they do according to the former manners. They do not fear the LORD, neither do they follow their statutes, follow their ordinances, or follow the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel, 35 With whom the LORD had made a covenant and charged them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them, 36 But the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an out-stretched arm, you shall fear him, you shall worship him, and you shall do sacrifice to him. 37 And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forevermore. And you shall not fear other gods. 38 And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, neither shall you fear other gods. 39 But you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." 40 Yet they did not listen, but they did according to their former manner. 41 So these nations feared the LORD, but also served their engraved images, both their children and their children’s children. As their fathers did, so they do to this day.

Chapter 18

Hezekiah’s good reign, 1-3. He destroys idolatry and prospers, 4-8. The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins, 9-12. Sennacherib, invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute, 13-16. Rab-shakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt, 17-37.

1 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. 4 He removed the high places, broke the images, cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it. And he called it Nehushtan. 5 He trusted in the LORD God of Israel so that after him there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any who were before him. 6 For he cleaved to the LORD and did not depart from following him, but kept his commandments which the LORD commanded Moses.

7 And the LORD was with him, and he prospered wherever he went forth. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 8 He smote the Philistines to Gaza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.

9 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. 10 And at the end of three years they took it. Even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 And the king of Assyria carried away Israel to Assyria and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the cities of the Medes, 12 Because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.

13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, "I have offended. Return from me. That which you put on me I will bear." And the king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king’s house. 16 At that time Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.

17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rab-saris, and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they had come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field. 18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

19 And Rab-shakeh said to them, "Speak now to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: "What confidence is this in which you trust? 20 You say (but they are but vain words), 'I have counsel and strength for the war.' Now in whom do you trust that you rebel against me? 21 Now behold, you trust upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. Thus is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 22 But if you say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God,' is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem'? 23 Now therefore, I pray you, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders upon them. 24 How then will you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 25 Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.'"'"

26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to Rab-shakeh, "Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not talk with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people who are on the wall." 27 But Rab-shakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, who will have to feed on their vilest excretions with you?"

28 Then Rab-shakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria. 29 Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, "The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria." 31 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: "Make an agreement with me by a present and come out to me, and then each of you eat of his own vine and each one of his fig-tree, and each of you drink the waters of his cistern, 32 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive-oil and of honey, so that you may live and not die." And do not listen to Hezekiah when he persuades you, saying, "The LORD will deliver us." 33 Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 35 Who among all the gods of the countries have delivered their country out of my hand that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'"

36 But the people held their peace and did not answer him a word, for the king’s commandment was, saying, "Do not answer him." 37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes rent and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.

Chapter 19

Hezekiah, mourning, sends to Isaiah to pray for them, 1-5. Isaiah comforts them, 6, 7. Sennacherib, going to encounter Tirhakah, sends a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah, 8-13. Hezekiah’s prayer, 14-19. Isaiah’s prophecy of the pride and destruction of Sennacherib and the good of Zion, 20-34. An angel slays the Assyrians, 35. Sennacherib is slain by his own sons, 36, 37.

1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. 2 And he sent Eliakim who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3 And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah: 'This day is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and blasphemy, for the children have come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. 4 It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'" 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master: 'Thus says the LORD: "Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and shall return to his own land, and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'"

8 So Rab-shakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish. 9 And when he heard it said of Tirhakah king of Cush, "Behold, he has come out to fight against you," he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria." 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Thelasar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?'"

14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. And Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, "O LORD God of Israel, dwelling between the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 LORD, bow down your ear and hear. LORD, open your eyes and see. And hear the words of Sennacherib who has sent him to reproach the living God. 17 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18 And have cast their gods into the fire, for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore, they have destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I implore you, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD God, even you only."

20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'That which you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.' 21 This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him:

'The virgin daughter of Zion   /

has despised you and laughed you to scorn. /

The daughter of Jerusalem /

has shaken her head at you.

22 'Whom have you reproached and blasphemed?   /

And against whom have you exalted your voice /

and lifted up your eyes on high? /

Even against the Holy One of Israel.

23 By your messengers you have reproached the Lord   /

and have said, "With the multitude of my chariots /

I have come up to the height of the mountains, /

to the sides of Lebanon, /

and will cut down its tall cedar trees /

and its choice fir trees. /

And I will enter into the lodgings of his borders /

and into the forest of his Carmel.

24 I have dug and drank strange waters,   /

and with the sole of my feet I have dried up /

all the rivers of besieged places."

25 'Have you not heard long ago how I have done it,   /

and of ancient times that I have formed it? /

Now I have brought it to pass, /

that fortified cities should be laid waste in ruinous heaps.

26 Therefore, their inhabitants were of small power,   /

they were dismayed and confounded, /

they were as the grass of the field, /

as the green herb, as the grass on the house-tops, /

and as grain blasted before it is grown up.

27 'But I know your abode,   /

your going out, your coming in, /

and your rage against me.

28 Because your rage against me   /

and your tumult has come up into my ears, /

therefore I will put my hook in your nose /

and my bridle in your lips, /

and I will turn you back on the way by which you came.

29 'And this shall be a sign to you: you shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruits. 30 And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward and bear fruit upward. 31 For out of Jerusalem a remnant shall go forth, and also those who escape from mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

32 'Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: "He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a siege-mound against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same he shall return and shall not come into this city,"' says the LORD. 34 'For I will defend this city to save it for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.'"

35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went and returned and dwelt at Nineveh. 37 And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 20

Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened, 1-7. The sun goes ten degrees backward for a sign of that promise, 8-11. Berodach-baladan, sending to visit Hezekiah because of the wonder, has notice of his treasures, 12, 13. Isaiah understanding thereof, foretells the Babylonian captivity, 14-19. Manasseh succeeds Hezekiah, 20, 21.

1 In those days Hezekiah was sick to death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'" 2 Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3 "I implore you, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept grievously. 4 And it came to pass, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 "Turn back and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake."'" 7 And Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?" 9 And Isaiah said, "This sign you shall have from the LORD that the LORD will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?" 10 And Hezekiah answered, "It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten degrees. No, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees." 11 And Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.

12 At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah listened to them and showed them all the house of his precious things: the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious ointment, all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah and said to him, "What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?" And Hezekiah said, "They have come from a far country even from Babylon." 15 And he said, "What have they seen in your house?" And Hezekiah answered, "All the things that are in my house they have seen. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."

16 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD. 17 'Behold, the days come that all that is in your house and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day shall be carried into Babylon. Nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. 18 'And of your sons who shall issue from you, which you shall beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'" 19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken." And he said, "Is it not good if peace and truth are in my days?"

20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made a pool and a conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 21

Manasseh’s reign, 1, 2. His great idolatry, 3-9. His wickedness causes prophecies against Judah, 10-16. Amon succeeds him, 17, 18. Amon’s wicked reign, 19-22. He is slain by his servants, and those murderers slain by the people, and Josiah is made king, 23-26.

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzi-bah. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed, he reared altars for Baal, he made a grove as Ahab king of Israel did, and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, "In Jerusalem I will put my name." 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he made his son pass through the fire, observed times, used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards. He committed much wickedness in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger. 7 And he set an engraved image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8 I will not make the feet of Israel move anymore out of the land which I gave their fathers, only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them." 9 But they did not listen. And Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 And the LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, 11 "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, 12 Therefore, thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah so that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 And I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become captives and plunder to all their enemies, 15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.'"

16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. 17 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his own house in the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son reigned in his stead.

19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD as his father Manasseh did. 21 And he walked in all the way that his father walked in and served the idols that his father served and worshiped them. 22 And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers and did not walk in the way of the LORD. 23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him and slew the king in his own house. 24 And the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against king Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. 25 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 26 And he was buried in his sepulcher in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 22

Josiah’s good reign, 1, 2. He takes care for the repair of the temple, 3-7. After Hilkiah finds the book of the law, Josiah sends to Huldah to inquire of the Lord, 8-14. Huldah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah’s time, 15-20.

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father and did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

3 And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying, 4 "Go to Hilkiah the high priest so that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered from the people. 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work who have the oversight of the house of the LORD, and let them give it to the doers of the work who are in the house of the LORD to repair the breaches of the house, 6 To carpenters, builders, and masons, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 But there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."

8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought the king word again and said, "Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who have the oversight of the house of the LORD." 10 And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.

11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s, saying, 13 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words of this book that is found, for the wrath of the LORD is great that is kindled against us because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book to do according to all that which is written concerning us."

14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asahiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they communed with her. 15 And she said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched.'" 18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus you shall say to him: "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Concerning the words which you have heard, 19 Because your heart was tender and you have humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have rent your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,' says the LORD. 20 'Behold therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered into your grave in peace. And your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place.'"'" And they brought back word to the king.

Chapter 23

Josiah causes the book to be read in a solemn assembly, 1, 2. He renews the covenant of the Lord, 3. He destroys idolatry, 4-14. He burns dead men’s bones upon the altar of Beth-el, as was before prophesied, 15-20. He keeps a most solemn passover, 21-23. He puts away witches and all abomination, 24, 25. God’s final wrath against Judah, 26-28. Josiah, provoking Pharaoh-nechoh, is slain at Megiddo, 29, 30. Jehoahaz, succeeding him, is imprisoned by Pharaoh-nechoh, who makes Jehoiakim king, 31-35. Jehoiakim’s wicked reign, 36, 37.

1 And the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. 2 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. 3 And the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes, with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, for the grove, and for all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Beth-el. 5 And he put down the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places around Jerusalem, those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. 6 And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, outside Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, stamped it to powder, and cast its powder upon the graves of the children of the people. 7 And he broke down the houses of the temple prostitutes that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove. 8 And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beer-sheba, and broke down the high places of the gates that were in the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city. 9 Nevertheless, the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate of the unleavened bread among their brothers. 10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, so that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. 11 And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun at the entrance of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 12 And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king beat down and broke them down from there and cast their dust into the brook Kidron. 13 And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, the king defiled. 14 And he broke the images in pieces, cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

15 Moreover, the altar that was at Beth-el and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down and burned the high place and stamped it to powder and burned the grove. 16 And as Josiah turned himself, he espied the sepulchers that were there in the mountain, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchers and burned them upon the altar and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed who proclaimed these words. 17 Then he said, "What title is that which I see?" And the men of the city told him, "It is the sepulcher of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Beth-el." 18 And he said, "Leave him alone. Let no man move his bones." So they left his bones alone with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria. 19 And all the houses of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth-el. 20 And he slew all the priests of the high places who were there upon the altars, burnt men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.

21 And the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant." 22 Surely there was not held such a passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, this passover was held to the LORD in Jerusalem.

24 Moreover, the workers with familiar spirits, the wizards, the images, the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, Josiah put away so that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 25 And there was no king like him before him who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, neither after him did there arise any like him.

26 But, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of his great wrath with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations by which Manasseh had provoked him. 27 And the LORD said, "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will reject this city Jerusalem which I have chosen and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.'"

28 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 29 In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the Euphrates River. And king Josiah went against him, and Pharaoh-nechoh slew him at Megiddo when he had seen him. 30 And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulcher. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in his father’s stead.

31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and subjected the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

34 And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of Josiah his father and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and he took Jehoahaz away. And he came to Egypt and died there. 35 And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh. He exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land, from each according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaoh-nechoh.

36 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. 37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

Chapter 24

Jehoiakim, first subdued by Nebuchadnezzar, then rebelling against him, procures his own ruin, 1-4. Jehoiachin succeeds him, 5, 6. The king of Egypt is vanquished by the king of Babylon, 7. Jehoiachin’s evil reign, 8, 9. Jerusalem is taken and carried captive into Babylon, 10-16. Zedekiah is made king and reigns ill to the utter destruction of Judah, 17-20.

1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, bands of the Syrians, bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came upon Judah to remove them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did, 4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood which the LORD would not pardon. 5 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead. 7 And the king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants besieged it. 12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon—he, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers. And the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. 13 And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. 14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, all the princes, all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land.

15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the mighty of the land, those he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths one thousand, all who were strong and apt for war, even these the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead and changed his name to Zedekiah.

18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Chapter 25

Jerusalem is besieged, 1-3. Zedekiah taken, his sons slain, his eyes put out, 4-7. Nebuzar-adan defaces the city, carries the remnant into captivity, except a few poor laborers, 8-12; and plunders and carries away the treasures, 13-17. The nobles are slain at Riblah, 18-21. Gedaliah, who was over those who remained, is slain, and the rest flee into Egypt, 22-26. Evil-merodach advances Jehoiachin in his court, 27-30.

1 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came—he and all his army—against Jerusalem and encamped against it. And they built forts against it on all sides. 2 And the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 4 And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city on all sides). And the king went the way toward the plain. 5 And the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 6 So they took the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they gave judgment upon him. 7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 And he burnt the house of the LORD, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and he burnt every great man’s house with fire. 10 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem on all sides. 11 Now the rest of the people who were left in the city, and the fugitives who fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away. 12 But the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land to be vine-dressers and farmers.

13 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried their brass to Babylon. 14 And the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, they took away. 15 And the fire-pans, the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away. 16 The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the brass of all these vessels was without weight. 17 The height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the capital upon it was brass. And the height of the capital was three cubits. And the net-work and pomegranates upon the capital around were all of brass. And the second pillar was like these with net-work.

18 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door, 19 And out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war, five men of those who were in the king’s presence who were found in the city, the principal scribe of the host who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city. 20 And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah. 21 And the king of Babylon smote them and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

22 And as for the people who remained in the land of Judah whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler over them. 23 And when all the captains of the armies—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite—they and their men. 24 And Gedaliah swore to them and to their men and said to them, "Do not fear to be the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon and it shall be well with you."

25 But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah so that he died, along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. 26 And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose and came to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison. 28 And he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 29 And he changed his prison garments. And he ate bread continually before him all the days of his life. 30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given to him by the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

[Tanach reading: go to Isaiah]

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES

Chapter 1

Adam’s line to Noah, 1-4. The sons of Japheth, 5-7. The sons of Ham, 8-16. The sons of Shem, 17-23. Shem’s line to Abraham, 24-28. Ishmael’s sons, 29-31. The sons of Keturah, 32, 33. The posterity of Abraham by Esau, 34-37. The sons of Seir, 38-42. The kings of Edom, 43-50. The chiefs of Edom, 51-54.

1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, 3 Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6 And the sons of Gomer: Ashchenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 7 And the sons of Javan: Elisha, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9 And the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 10 And Cush begot Nimrod. He began to be mighty upon the earth.

11 And Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 12 Pathrusim, Casluhim (of whom came the Philistines), and Caphthorim.

13 And Canaan begot Zidon his first-born and Heth, 14 The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, the Girgashite, 15 The Hivite, the Archite, the Sinite, 16 The Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

17 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18 And Arphaxad begot Shelah, and Shelah begot Eber. 19 And to Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. 20 And Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26 Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27 Abram—the same is Abraham.

28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. 29 These are their generations. The first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. 32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. 33 And the sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Henoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.

34 And Abraham begot Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. 35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. 36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek. 37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 38 And the sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezar, and Dishan. 39 And the sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. And Timna was Lotan’s sister. 40 The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. 41 The son of Anah: Dishon. And the sons of Dishon: Amram, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 42 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

43 Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44 And when Bela was dead Jobab the son of Zera of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 45 And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. 46 And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith. 47 And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 48 And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. 49 And when Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 50 And when Baal-hanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pai. And his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51 Hadad also died. And the chiefs of Edom were chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth, 52 Chief Aholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 53 Chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 54 Chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

Chapter 2

The sons of Israel, 1, 2. The posterity of Judah by Tamar, 3-12. The children of Jesse, 13-17. The posterity of Caleb the son of Hezron, 18-20. Hezron’s posterity by the daughter of Machir, 21-24. Jerahmeel’s posterity, 25-33. Sheshan’s posterity, 34-41. Another branch of Caleb’s posterity, 42-49. The posterity of Caleb the son of Hur, 50-55.

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

3 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the first-born of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he slew him. 4 And Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.

5 The sons of Pharez: Hezron and Hamul. 6 And the sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all. 7 And the son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. 8 And the son of Ethan: Azariah.

9 The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10 And Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon prince of the children of Judah, 11 Nahshon begot Salma, Salma begot Boaz, 12 Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse. 13 And Jesse begot his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, Shimma the third, 14 Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh, 16 Whose sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. 17 And Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

18 And Caleb the son of Hezron begot children of Azubah his wife and of Jerioth. These are her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19 And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took to him Ephrath who bore to him Hur, 20 And Hur begot Uri, and Uri begot Bezaleel.

21 And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old, and she bore him Segub. 22 And Segub begot Jair who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23 And he took Geshur and Aram with the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath and its towns, even sixty cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead. 24 And after Hezron was dead in Caleb-ephratah, then Abiah, Hezron’s wife, bore him Ashur the father of Tekoa.

25 And the sons of Jerahmeel the first-born of Hezron were Ram (the first-born), Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had also another wife whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam. 27 And the sons of Ram the first-born of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker. 28 And the sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. And the sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. 29 And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid. 30 And the sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. And Seled died without children. 31 And the son of Appaim: Ishi. And the son of Ishi: Sheshan. And the child of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32 And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan. And Jether died without children. 33 And the sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34 Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35 And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant for a wife, and she bore him Attai. 36 And Attai begot Nathan, Nathan begot Zabad, 37 Zabad begot Ephlal, Ephlal begot Obed, 38 Obed begot Jehu, Jehu begot Azariah, 39 Azariah begot Helez, Helez begot Eleasah, 40 Eleasah begot Sisamai, Sisamai begot Shallum, 41 Shallum begot Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begot Elishama.

42 Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his first-born, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43 And the sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44 And Shema begot Raham the father of Jorkoam, and Rekem begot Shammai. 45 And the son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth-zur. 46 And Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. And Haran begot Gazez. 47 And the sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. 48 Maachah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea. And the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50 These were the sons of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephratah: Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim, 51 Salma the father of Beth-lehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. 52 And Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim had sons: Haroeh and half of the Manahethites. 53 And the families of Kirjath-jearim: the Ithrites, the Puhites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From them came the Zereathites and the Eshtaulites. 54 The sons of Salma: Beth-lehem and the Netophathites, Ataroth-beth-joab, half of the Menahethites, and the Zorites. 55 And the families of the scribes who dwelt at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites who came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Chapter 3

The sons of David, 1-9. His line to Zedekiah, 10-16. The successors of Jeconiah, 17-24.

1 Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess; 2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; 3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. 4 These six were born to him in Hebron. And there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. 5 And these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel, 6 And also Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. 9 These were all the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines and Tamar their sister.

10 And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 14 Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15 And the sons of Josiah were the first-born Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16 And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son and Zedekiah his son. 17 And the sons of Jeconiah: Assir, Salathiel his son, 18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19 And the sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 20 And Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed, five. 21 And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jesaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. 22 And the son of Shechaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igeal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23 And the sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three. 24 And the sons of Elioenai were Hodaiah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

Chapter 4

The posterity of Judah by Caleb, the son of Hur, 1-4. Of Ashur, the posthumous son of Hezron, 5-8. Of Jabez and his prayer, 9, 10. The other families of the same stock, 11-20. The sons of Shelah, 21-23. The posterity and cities of Simeon, 24-38. Their conquest of Gedor and of the Amalekites in mount Seir, 39-43.

1 The sons of Judah: Pharez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. 2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. 3 And these were of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi, 4 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephratah, the father of Beth-lehem. 5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives: Helah and Naarah. 6 And Naarah bore him Ahuzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 And the sons of Helah were Zereth, Jezoar, and Ethnan. 8 And Coz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum. 9 And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. And his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him with sorrow." 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil so that it may not grieve me!" And God granted him that which he requested.

11 And Chelub the brother of Shuah begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 And Eshton begot Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Rechah.

13 And the sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. And the sons of Othniel: Hathath, 14 Meonothai who begot Ophrah, and Seraiah who begot Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim, for they were craftsmen. 15 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. And the son of Elah: Kenaz. 16 And the sons of Jehaleleel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel. 17 And the sons of Ezra were Jethur, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered took a wife and she bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. 18 And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh whom Mered took. 19 And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite. 20 And the sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Benzoheth. 21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, the families of the house of those who wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea, 22 Jokim, the men of Chozeba, Joash, Saraph who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these are ancient things. 23 These were the potters and those who dwelt among plants and hedges. There they dwelt with the king for his work.

24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul; 25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26 And the sons of Mishma: Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, and Shimei his son. 27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, neither did all their family multiply like the children of Judah. 28 And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 At Bilhah, at Ezem, at Tolad, 30 At Bethuel, at Hormah, at Ziklag, 31 At Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities to the reign of David. 32 And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, 33 And also all their villages that were around the same cities to Baal. These were their habitations and their genealogy.

34 And Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah— 38 These mentioned by their names were princes in their families, and the house of their fathers increased greatly. 39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. 40 And they found rich and good pasture. And the land was wide, quiet, and peaceable, for those of Ham had dwelt there of old. 41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and smote their tents and the habitations that were found there, destroyed them utterly to this day, and dwelt in their stead, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they smote the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped and have dwelt there to this day.

Chapter 5

The line of Reuben (who lost his birthright) to the captivity, 1-8. Their habitation and conquest of the Hagarites, 9, 10. The chief men and habitations of Gad, 11-17. The number and conquest of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 18-22. The habitations and chief men of that half tribe, 23, 24. Their captivity for their sin, 25, 26.

1 Now the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birth-right was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right; 2 For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and from him came the chief ruler, but the birth-right was Joseph’s), 3 The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son, 6 And Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive. He was prince of the Reubenites. 7 And his brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief: Jeiel, Zechariah, 8 And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even to Nebo, and Baal-meon. 9 And eastward he inhabited to the entrance of the wilderness from the Euphrates River because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead. 10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand. And they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.

11 And the children of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of Bashan to Salcah: 12 Joel the chief, Shapham the next, Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 And their brothers of the house of their fathers were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Heber, seven. 14 These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz. 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of the house of their fathers. 16 And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan and in its towns and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders. 17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, who went out to the war. 19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, Nephish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated by them because they put their trust in him. 21 And they took away their cattle: of their camels fifty thousand, of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, of donkeys two thousand, and of men one hundred thousand. 22 For many fell slain there because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity.

23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land. They increased from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and to mount Hermon. 24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers: even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.

25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers and went astray after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. 26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the Gozan River to this day.

Chapter 6

The sons of Levi, 1-3. The line of Eleazar to the captivity, 4-15. The families of Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, 16-48. The office of Aaron and his line to Ahimaaz, 49-53. The cities of the priests and Levites, 54-81.

1 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2 And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3 And the children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar begot Phinehas, Phinehas begot Abishua, 5 Abishua begot Bukki, Bukki begot Uzzi, 6 Uzzi begot Zerahiah, Zerahiah begot Meraioth, 7 Meraioth begot Amariah, Amariah begot Ahitub, 8 Ahitub begot Zadok, Zadok begot Ahimaaz, 9 Ahimaaz begot Azariah, Azariah begot Johanan, 10 Johanan begot Azariah (it is he who executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem), 11 Azariah begot Amariah, Amariah begot Ahitub, 12 Ahitub begot Zadok, Zadok begot Shallum, 13 Shallum begot Hilkiah, Hilkiah begot Azariah, 14 Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak. 15 And Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17 And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. 18 And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. 20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeaterai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 And the sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son, Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. 28 And the sons of Samuel: the first-born Vashni and Abiah. 29 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

31 And these are those whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD after the ark had rest. 32 And they ministered before the dwelling-place of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with singing until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and then they waited on their office according to their order. 33 And these are those who waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, 34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; 39 And his brother Asaph who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, 40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah, 41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi; 44 And their brothers the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, 47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 48 Their brothers the Levites were also appointed to all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

49 But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt-offering and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the most holy place and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50 And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.

54 Now these are their dwelling-places throughout their encampments in their limits, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for theirs was the lot. 55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah and its suburbs around it. 56 But the fields of the city and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron (the city of refuge), Libnah with its suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its suburbs, 58 Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs, 59 Ashan with its suburbs, Beth-shemesh with its suburbs. 60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its suburbs, Alemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

61 And to the sons of Kohath who were left of the family of that tribe, cities were given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities. 62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families were given out of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 63 To the sons of Merari were given by lot throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs. 65 And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

66 And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim. 67 And they gave them the cities of refuge: Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim with its suburbs, Gezer with its suburbs, 68 Jokmeam with its suburbs, Beth-horon with its suburbs, 69 Ajalon with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs. 70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its suburbs and Bileam with its suburbs for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.

71 To the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs and Ashtaroth with its suburbs. 72 And out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs, 73 Ramoth with its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs. 74 And out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs, 75 Hukok with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs. 76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, Hammon with its suburbs, and Kirjathaim with its suburbs.

77 To the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with its suburbs and Tabor with its suburbs. 78 And on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, Jahzah with its suburbs, 79 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs. 80 And out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, Mahanaim with its suburbs, 81 Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.

Chapter 7

The sons of Issachar, 1-5; of Benjamin, 6-12; of Naphtali, 13; of Manasseh, 14; and of Ephraim, 15-20. The calamity of Ephraim by the men of Gath. 21, 22. His posterity by Beriah, 23-27. Their habitations, 28, 29. The sons of Asher, 30-40.

1 Now the sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. 2 And the sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house, namely, of Tola. They were valiant men of might in their generations whose number was in the days of David twenty-two thousand and six hundred. 3 And the son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishaiah, five. All of them were chief men. 4 And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, thirty-six thousand men, for they had many wives and sons. 5 And their brothers among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies eighty-seven thousand.

6 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three. 7 And the sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor. They were reckoned by their genealogies twenty-two thousand and thirty-four. 8 And the sons of Becher: Zemira, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jerimoth, Abiah, Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher. 9 And their number, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, was twenty thousand and two hundred. 10 The son of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11 All these the sons of Jediael by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valor, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers fit to go out for war and battle. 12 Shuppim and Huppim were the children of Ir. And Hushim was the son of Aher.

13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.

14 The sons of Manasseh: Ashriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore (she bore Machir the father of Gilead, 15 And Machir took for a wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maachah), and the name of the second was Zelophehad, and Zelophehad had daughters. 16 And Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son and she called his name Peresh. And the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17 And the son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18 And his sister Hammoleketh bore Ishod, Abiezer, and Mahalah. 19 And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

20 And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah his son, Tahath his son, 21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in that land slew because they came down to take away their cattle. 22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. 23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah because it went evil with his house. 24 (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Beth-horon the nether and the upper and Uzzen-sherah.) 25 And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son, 26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27 Non his son, and Jehoshua his son.

28 And their possessions and habitations were Beth-el and its towns, and eastward Naaram, and westward Gezer with its towns, Shechem also and its towns, to Gaza and its towns, 29 And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, and Dor and its towns. The children of Joseph the son of Israel dwelt in these.

30 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Isuah, Ishua, Beriah, and Serah their sister. 31 And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith. 32 And Heber begot Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister. 33 And the sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet. 34 And the sons of Shamer: Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. 35 And the sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36 The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera. 38 And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara. 39 And the sons of Ulla: Arah, Haniel, and Rezia. 40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father’s house, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of those who were fit for war and for battle was twenty-six thousand men.

Chapter 8

The sons and chief men of Benjamin, 1-32. The stock of Saul and Jonathan, 33-40.

1 Now Benjamin begot Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3 And the sons of Bela were Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6 And these are the sons of Ehud, who are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath: 7 Naaman, Ahiah, and Gera—he carried them captive and begot Uzza and Ahihud. 8 And Shaharaim begot children in the country of Moab after he had sent them away. Hushim and Baara were his wives. 9 And he begot of Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcham, 10 Jeuz, Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers. 11 And of Hushim he begot Ahitub and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shamed (who built Ono and Lod, with its town), 13 Beriah and Shema (who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Ajalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath), 14 And Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth. 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Ader, 16 Michael, Ispah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. 17 And Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hezeki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Jezliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 And Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zilthai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimhi. 22 And Ishpan, Heber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah, 25 Iphedeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 And Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaresiah, Eliah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28 These were heads of the fathers by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.

29 And at Gibeon the father of Gibeon dwelt, whose wife’s name was Maachah, 30 And his first-born son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, and Zacher. 32 And Mikloth begot Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brothers in Jerusalem over against them.

33 And Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 34 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal begot Micah. 35 And the sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 And Ahaz begot Jehoadah, and Jehoadah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri begot Moza. 37 And Moza begot Bineah. Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 And Azel had six sons whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his first-born, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons and sons' sons numbering one hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.

Chapter 9

The original of Israel and Judah’s genealogies, 1. The Israelites, 2-9; the priests, 10-13; and the Levites, with Nethinims, which dwelt in Jerusalem, 14-26. The charge of certain Levites, 27-34. The stock of Saul and Jonathan, 35-44.

1 So all of Israel were reckoned by genealogies, and behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

2 Now the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims. 3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah. 5 And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the first-born and his sons. 6 And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred and ninety. 7 And of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah, 8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah, 9 And their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

10 And of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God; 12 And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah; and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13 And their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, one thousand seven hundred and sixty, very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14 And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; 16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 And the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief), 18 Who until now waited in the king’s gate eastward. They were gatekeepers in the companies of the children of Levi. 19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle, and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry. 20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. 21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. 22 All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their set office. 23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. 24 In four quarters were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south. 25 And their brothers, who were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them. 26 For these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in their set office and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. 27 And they lodged around the house of God because the charge was upon them and its opening every morning pertained to them.

28 And some of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by number. 29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, all the instruments of the sanctuary, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices. 30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. 31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans. 32 And others of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show-bread to prepare it every sabbath.

33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who, remaining in the chambers, were free, for they were employed in that work day and night. 34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations. These dwelt at Jerusalem.

35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah, 36 And his first-born son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 And Mikloth begot Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brothers at Jerusalem over against their brothers. 39 And Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 40 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal begot Micah. 41 And the sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42 And Ahaz begot Jarah, and Jarah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri begot Moza. 43 And Moza begot Binea, and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 44 And Azel had six sons whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Chapter 10

Saul’s overthrow and death, 1-7. The Philistines triumph over Saul, 8-10. The kindness of Jabesh-gilead toward Saul and his sons, 11, 12. Saul’s sin, for which the kingdom was translated from him to David, 13, 14.

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain on mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons. And the Philistines slew Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle prevailed against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took a sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword and died. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons and all his house died together.

7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 And it came to pass on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on mount Gilboa. 9 And when they had stripped him, they took his head and his armor and sent into the land of the Philistines around to carry tidings to their idols and to the people. 10 And they put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

11 And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 They arose—all the valiant men—and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, brought them to Jabesh, buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he did not keep, and also for asking counsel of one who had a familiar spirit to inquire of it, 14 And did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore, he slew him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

Chapter 11

David by general consent is made king at Hebron, 1-3. He wins the castle of Zion from the Jebusites by Joab’s valor, 4-9. A catalog of David’s mighty men, 10-47.

1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David at Hebron, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 And moreover, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were he who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD your God said to you, 'You shall feed my people Israel and you shall be ruler over my people Israel.'" 3 Therefore, all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. And David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come here." Nevertheless, David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. 6 And David said, "Whoever smites the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." So Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief. 7 And David dwelt in the castle; therefore, they called it, The City of David. 8 And he built the city around, even from Millo around. And Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 So David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

10 These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom and with all Israel, to make him king according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains. He lifted his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered to battle, where a parcel of ground full of barley was, and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, delivered it, and slew the Philistines, and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.

15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Beth-lehem. 17 And David longed and said, "Oh that someone would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem that is at the gate!" 18 And the three broke through the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David. But David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19 And said, "My God forbids me that I should do this thing. Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it." Therefore, he would not drink it. These three mightiest did these things.

20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three. For lifting his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three. 21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, for he was their captain, but he did not attain to the first three.

22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lion-like men of Moab. Also he went down and slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. And in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam. And he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 24 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was honorable among the thirty, but did not attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

26 Also the valiant men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem, 27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah who pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphel the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite—the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite—a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri and Joha his brother the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mehavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

Chapter 12

The companies that came to David at Ziklag, 1-22. The armies that came to him at Hebron, 23-40.

1 Now these are those who came to David at Ziklag while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war. 2 They were armed with bows and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows from a bow, even of Saul’s brothers of Benjamin. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash (the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite), and Jeziel and Pelet (the sons of Azmaveth), and Berachah and Jehu the Antothite, 4 Ismaiah the Gibeonite (a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty), and Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Josabad the Gederathite, 5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6 Elkanah, Jesiah, Azareel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (the Korhites), 7 And Joelah and Zebadiah (the sons of Jeroham of Gedor).

8 And from the Gadites there separated themselves to David in the hold in the wilderness men of might and men of war fit for the battle, who could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh. 14 These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host. One of the least was over one hundred, and the greatest over one thousand. 15 These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks, and they put to flight all those of the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.

16 And there came some of the children of Benjamin and Judah to David at the hold. 17 And David went out to meet them and answered and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you, but if you have come to betray me to my enemies, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and rebuke it." 18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said,

"We are yours, David,   /

and on your side, son of Jesse. /

Peace, peace to you /

and peace to your helpers, /

for your God helps you."

Then David received them and made them captains of the band.

19 And there fell some from Manasseh to David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, "He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads." 20 And as he went to Ziklag, there fell to him from Manasseh, Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zilthai—captains of the thousands who were of Manasseh. 21 And they helped David against the marauding band, for they were all mighty men of valor and were captains in the host. 22 For at that time day by day there came some to David to help him until it was a great host, like the host of God.

23 And these are the numbers of the bands who were ready armed for the war and came to David at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed for war. 25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for war, seven thousand and one hundred. 26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. 27 And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred. 28 And Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. 29 And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, for until now the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul. 30 And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous throughout the house of their fathers. 31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were expressed by name to come and make David king. 32 And of the children of Issachar, who were men who had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred, and all their brothers were at their command. 33 Of Zebulun, those who went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, were fifty thousand, who could keep rank. They were not of double heart. 34 And of Naphtali there were one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear. 35 And of the Danites there were twenty-eight thousand and six hundred expert in war. 36 And of Asher, those who went forth to battle, expert in war, were forty thousand. 37 And on the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, were one hundred and twenty thousand.

38 All these men of war, who could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had prepared for them. 40 Moreover, those who were near them, even to Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen, and provision, meal, cakes of figs, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.

Chapter 13

David fetches the ark with great solemnity from Kirjath-jearim, 1-8. Uzza being smitten, the ark is left at the house of Obed-edom, 9-14.

1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds and with every leader. 2 And David said to all the congregation of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and that it is of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and suburbs, so that they may assemble to us. 3 And let us bring back to us the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of it in the days of Saul." 4 And all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 So David assembled all Israel from Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hemath to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim. 6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who dwells between the cherubim, whose name is called on it. 7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab. And Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, with singing, with harps, with psalteries, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets.

9 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza and he smote him because he put his hand to the ark. And there he died before God. 11 And David was displeased because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza. Therefore, that place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?" 13 So David did not bring the ark to himself into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.

Chapter 14

Hiram’s kindness to David, 1. David’s felicity in people, wives, and children, 2-7. His two victories against the Philistines, 8-17.

1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars with masons and carpenters to build him a house. 2 And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was exalted on high because of his people Israel.

3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem. And David begot more sons and daughters. 4 Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpalet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will you deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim. And David smote them there. Then David said, "God has broken in upon my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters." Therefore, they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment and they were burned with fire.

13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14 Therefore, David inquired again of God. And God said to him, "Do not go up after them. Turn away from them and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone forth before you to smite the host of the Philistines." 16 David therefore did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17 And the fame of David went out into all lands. And the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Chapter 15

David having prepared a place for the ark, the priests and Levites bring it from Obed-edom, 1-24. He performs the solemnity thereof with great joy, 25-28. Michal despises him, 29.

1 And David made himself houses in the city of David and prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, "No one ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister to him forever." 3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 And David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites. 5 Of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief and his brothers one hundred and twenty. 6 Of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief and his brothers two hundred and twenty. 7 Of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief and his brothers one hundred and thirty. 8 Of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and his brothers two hundred. 9 Of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief and his brothers eighty. 10 Of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief and his brothers one hundred and twelve.

11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 And said to them, "You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves—both you and your brothers—so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for we did not seek him after the due order." 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staffs on it, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the LORD.

16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music—psalteries, harps, and cymbals—sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 And with them their brothers of the second degree: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; 20 And Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah with psalteries on Alamoth; 21 And Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah with harps on the Sheminith to excel. 22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the music. He directed the music because he was skillful. 23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were door-keepers for the ark. 24 And Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethaneel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests blew with the trumpets before the ark of God. And Obed-edom and Jehiah were door-keepers for the ark.

25 So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, along with all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers. David also had upon him an ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sound of the horn, with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

29 And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart.

Chapter 16

David’s festival sacrifice, 1-3. He orders a choir to sing thanksgiving, 4-6. The psalm of thanksgiving, 7-36. He appoints ministers, porters, priests, and musicians to attend continually on the ark, 37-43.

1 So they brought the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt-sacrifices and peace-offerings before God. 2 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3 And he dealt to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, a loaf of bread, a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD to record and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-edom; and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals; 6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day, David first delivered this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brothers:

8 "Give thanks to the LORD. Call upon his name.   /

Make his deeds known among the people.

9 Sing to him. Sing psalms to him.   /

Talk of all his wondrous works.

10 Glory in his holy name.   /

Let the heart of those rejoice who seek the LORD.

11 Seek the LORD and his strength.   /

Seek his face continually.

12 Remember his wonderful works that he has done,   /

his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,

13 O offspring of Israel his servant,   /

children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the LORD our God.   /

His judgments are in all the earth.

15 Be mindful always of his covenant,   /

the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham   /

and of his oath to Isaac,

17 And which he confirmed to Jacob for a law   /

and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

18 Saying, 'To you I will give the land of Canaan,   /

the lot of your inheritance,'

19 When you were but few,   /

even a few, and strangers in it.

20 And when they went from nation to nation   /

and from one kingdom to another people,

21 He allowed no man to do them wrong.   /

Indeed, he reproved kings for their sakes,

22 Saying, 'Do not touch my anointed   /

and do my prophets no harm.'

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth.   /

Show forth from day to day his salvation.

24 Declare his glory among the heathen,   /

his wonderful works among all nations.

25 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised.   /

He also is to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the people are idols,   /

but the LORD made the heavens.

27 Glory and honor are in his presence,   /

strength and gladness are in his place.

28 Give to the LORD, you kindreds of the people,   /

give to the LORD glory and strength.

29 Give to the LORD the glory due to his name.   /

Bring an offering and come before him. /

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

30 Fear before him, all the earth.   /

The world also shall be stable so that it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice.   /

And let men say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns.'

32 Let the sea roar and the fullness thereof.   /

Let the fields rejoice and all that is therein.

33 Then the trees of the wood shall sing at the presence of the LORD   /

because he comes to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.   /

For his mercy endures forever.

35 And say, 'Save us, O God of our salvation,   /

and gather us together and deliver us from the heathen /

so that we may give thanks to your holy name /

and glory in your praise.'

36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel   /

forever and ever."

And all the people said, "Amen," and praised the LORD.

37 So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brothers to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required, 38 And also Obed-edom with their brothers, sixty-eight. Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun and also Hosah were gatekeepers. 39 And David left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, 40 To offer burnt-offerings to the LORD upon the altar of the burnt-offering continually morning and evening and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel. 41 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD because his mercy endures forever. 42 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.

43 And all the people departed, each to his house. And David returned to bless his house.

Chapter 17

Nathan first approving the purpose of David to build God a house, 1, 2, and afterward forbids him by the word of God, 3-10. He promises him blessings and benefits in his offspring, 11-15. David’s prayer and thanksgiving, 16-27.

1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remains under curtains." 2 Then Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you."

3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 "Go and tell David my servant, 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not build me a house to dwell in, 5 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedars?'"' 7 Now therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheep-fold, even from following the sheep, so that you should be ruler over my people Israel. 8 And I have been with you wherever you have walked, have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are in the earth. 9 Also, I will ordain a place for my people Israel and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place and shall no longer be moved, neither shall the children of wickedness waste them anymore, as at the beginning, 10 Since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover, I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore, I tell you that the LORD will build you a house. 11 And it shall come to pass, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forevermore."'" 15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house that you have brought me thus far? 17 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God, for you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18 What can David speak more to you for the honor of your servant? For you know your servant. 19 O LORD, for your servant’s sake and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness in making known all these great things. 20 O LORD, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And what one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make you a name of greatness and awesomeness, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you have redeemed out of Egypt? 22 For you made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, LORD, became their God.

23 "And now, LORD, let the thing that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have said. 24 Let it even be established so that your name may be magnified forever, saying, 'The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. And let the house of David your servant be established before you.' 25 For you, O my God, have told your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore, your servant has found in his heart to pray before you. 26 And now, LORD, you are God and have promised this goodness to your servant. 27 Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may be before you forever, for you bless, O LORD, and it shall be blessed forever."

References

[v.13]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:5.

Chapter 18

David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites, 1, 2. He smites Hadarezer and the Syrians, 3-8. Tou sends Hadoram with presents to bless David, 9, 10. The presents and the plunder David dedicates to God, 11, 12. He puts garrisons in Edom, 13. David’s officers, 14-17.

1 Now after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants and brought gifts.

3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah to Hamath as he went to establish his dominion by the Euphrates River. 4 And David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David also hamstrung all the chariot-horses, but reserved of them one hundred chariots.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus, and the Syrians became David’s servants and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Likewise, from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, David brought large amounts of brass, with which Solomon made the brazen sea, the pillars, and the vessels of brass.

9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah, 10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David to inquire of his welfare and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him (for Hadarezer had warred with Tou), and with him all manner of vessels of gold, silver, and brass. 11 King David also dedicated them to the LORD with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations: from Edom, from Moab, from the children of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. 13 And he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel and executed judgment and justice among all his people. 15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, Shavsha was scribe, 17 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chief deputies of the king.

Chapter 19

David’s messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are villainously treated, 1-5. The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai, 6-15. Shophach, making a new supply of the Syrians, is slain by David, 16-19.

1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died and his son reigned in his stead. 2 And David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash because his father showed kindness to me." And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him. 3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David honors your father in that he has sent comforters to you? Have his servants not come to you to search, to overthrow, and to explore the land?" 4 Therefore, Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst, even past the small of the back, and sent them away. 5 Then some went and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire themselves chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah. 7 So they hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon assembled from their cities and came to battle. 8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 9 And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array before the gate of the city. And the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he selected all the choice of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he delivered to the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12 And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God. And let the LORD do that which is good in his sight." 14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle, and they fled before him. 15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 And when the Syrians saw that they were defeated before Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the river, and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And it was told to David. And he gathered all Israel, passed over the Jordan, came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. 18 But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. 19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. And the Syrians would not help the children of Ammon anymore.

Chapter 20

Rabbah is besieged by Joab, plundered by David, and the people thereof tortured, 1-3. Three giants are slain in three separate overthrows of the Philistines, 4-8.

1 And it came to pass, that after the year had expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army and wasted the country of the children of Ammon and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from his head and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set upon David’s head. And he also brought a great quantity of plunder out of the city. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and cut them with saws, with harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus David dealt with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines. At that time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, who was of the children of the giant, and they were subdued. 5 And there was war again with the Philistines. And Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear-staff was like a weaver’s beam. 6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes numbered twenty-four, six on each hand and six on each foot, and he also was the son of the giant. 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, slew him. 8 These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Chapter 21

David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people, 1-4. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it, 5-8. David having three plagues propounded by Gad, chooses the pestilence, 9-13. After the death of seventy thousand, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem, 14-17. David, by Gad’s direction, purchases Ornan’s threshing-floor; where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire and stays the plague, 18-27. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel, 28-30.

1 And Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan, and bring their number to me so that I may know it." 3 And Joab answered, "May the LORD make his people one hundred times more numerous than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" 4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed, went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all the people of Israel numbered one million and one hundred thousand men who drew sword. And Judah was four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew sword. 6 But Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.

7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore, he smote Israel. 8 And David said to God, "I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now, I implore you, put away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly."

9 And the LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10 "Go and tell David, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I offer you three things. Choose one of them so that I may do it to you."'" 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Choose for yourself: 12 Either three years' famine, or three months to be destroyed before your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the borders of Israel.' Now therefore, advise yourself what word I shall bring back to him who sent me." 13 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."

14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel, and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented of the evil and said to the angel who destroyed, "It is enough. Now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said to God, "Is it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is even I who have sinned and done evil indeed, but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray you, O LORD my God, be upon me and on my father’s house, but not upon your people so that they should be afflicted."

18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and erect an altar to the LORD in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD. 20 And Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground. 22 Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the place of this threshing-floor so that I may build an altar in it to the LORD. You shall grant it to me for the full price so that the plague may be stayed from the people." 23 And Ornan said to David, "Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes. Behold, I also give you the oxen for burnt-offerings, the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the food-offering. I give it all." 24 And king David said to Ornan, "No, but I will truly buy it for the full price, for I will not take that which is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt-offerings without cost." 25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. 26 And David built an altar to the LORD there, offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and called upon the LORD, and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering. 27 And the LORD commanded the angel, and he put up his sword back into its sheath.

28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt-offering were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

Chapter 22

David, foreknowing the place of the temple, prepares abundance for the building of it, 1-5. He instructs Solomon in God’s promises and his duty in building the temple, 6-16. He charges the princes to assist his son, 17-19.

1 Then David said, "This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel."

2 And David commanded to assemble the strangers who were in the land of Israel. And he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates and for the couplings, and also brass in abundance without weight, 4 And also cedar trees in abundance, for the Zidonians and those of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. 5 And David said, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be very magnificent for fame and glory throughout all countries. I will therefore now make preparation for it." So David made abundant preparation before his death.

6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon, "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name because you have shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. And I will give him rest from all his enemies around, for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. And he shall be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.' 11 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you and may you prosper and build the house of the LORD your God as he has said of you. 12 May the LORD give you wisdom and understanding and give you charge concerning Israel so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you shall prosper if you take heed to fulfill the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not dread, nor be dismayed. 14 Now behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone, and you may add to them. 15 Moreover, there are workmen with you in great numbers, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of skillful men for every manner of work. 16 Of the gold, the silver, the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and work, and may the LORD be with you."

17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 "Is the LORD your God not with you? And has he not given you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD."

Chapter 23

David in his old age makes Solomon king, 1. The number and distribution of the Levites, 2-6. The families of the Gershonites, 7-11. The sons of Kohath, 12-20. The sons of Merari, 21-23. The office of the Levites, 24-32.

1 So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2 And he assembled all the princes of Israel with the priests and the Levites.

3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward, and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand. 4 "Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD and six thousand were officers and judges, 5 Moreover, four thousand were gatekeepers and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made," said David, "to praise with them." 6 And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 Of the Gershonites were Laadan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Laadan: the chief was Jehiel, Zetham, and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan. 10 And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 And Jahath was the chief and Zizah the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; therefore, they were in one reckoning according to their father’s house.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated so that he should sanctify the most holy things—he and his sons forever—to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever. 14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer. 16 Of the sons of Gershom: Shebuel was the chief. 17 And the son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18 The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19 Of the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jehaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 Of the sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Jesiah the second.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters, and their brothers the sons of Kish took them. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers, even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward. 25 For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to his people so that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever. 26 And also the Levites shall no longer carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for its service." 27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above, 28 Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, in the chambers, in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29 For the show-bread, for the fine flour for food-offering, for the unleavened cakes, for that which is baked in the pan, for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; 30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening; 31 And to offer all burnt-sacrifices to the LORD on the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded to them, continually before the LORD; 32 And that they should keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers in the service of the house of the LORD.

Chapter 24

The division of the sons of Aaron by lot into twenty-four orders, 1-19. The Kohathites, 20-25, and the Merarites, divided by lot, 26-31.

1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron: The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children; therefore, Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. 3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. 4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers. 5 Thus they were divided by lot, one sort with another, for the governors of the sanctuary and governors of the house of God were of the sons of Eleazar and of the sons of Ithamar. 6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites. One principal household being taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, 11 The ninth to Jeshuah, the tenth to Shecaniah, 12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, 13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, 15 The seventeenth to Hezer, the eighteenth to Aphses, 16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, 17 The twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, 18 The twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19 These were their orderings in their service to come into the house of the LORD according to their manner under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram: Shubael. Of the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. 21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. 22 Of the Izharites: Shelomoth. Of the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath. 23 And the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jehaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 24 Of the sons of Uzziel: Michah. Of the sons of Michah: Shamir. 25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah. Of the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno. 27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons. 29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel. 30 The sons also of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers. 31 These likewise cast lots over against their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brothers.

Chapter 25

The number and offices of the singers, 1-7. Their division by lot into twenty-four orders, 8-31.

1 Moreover, David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals. And this is the number of the workmen according to their service: 2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph who prophesied according to the order of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the hands of their father in the music in the house of the LORD with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. 7 So their number, with their brothers who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.

8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the scholar.

9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah—he, his brothers, and sons were twelve; 10 The third to Zaccur—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 11 The fourth to Izri—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 12 The fifth to Nethaniah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 13 The sixth to Bukkiah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 14 The seventh to Jesharelah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 15 The eighth to Jeshaiah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 16 The ninth to Mattaniah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 17 The tenth to Shimei—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 18 The eleventh to Azareel—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 19 The twelfth to Hashabiah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 20 The thirteenth to Shubael—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 21 The fourteenth to Mattithiah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 22 The fifteenth to Jeremoth—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 23 The sixteenth to Hananiah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 24 The seventeenth to Joshbekashah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 25 The eighteenth to Hanani—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 26 The nineteenth to Mallothi—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 27 The twentieth to Eliathah—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 28 The twenty-first to Hothir—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 29 The twenty-second to Giddalti—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 30 The twenty-third to Mahazioth—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve; 31 And the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer—he, his sons, and his brothers were twelve.

Chapter 26

The divisions of the porters, 1-12. The gates assigned by lot, 13-19. The Levites that had charge of the treasures, 20-28. Officers and judges, 29-32.

1 Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Elioenai the seventh. 4 Moreover, the sons of Obed-edom were Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethaneel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peulthai the eighth, for God blessed him. 6 To Shemaiah his son, sons were also born who ruled throughout the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad (whose brothers were strong men), Elihu, and Semachiah. 8 All these of the sons of Obed-edom—they, their sons, and their brothers—able men for strength for the service, were sixty-two of Obed-edom. 9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, strong men, eighteen. 10 Hosah, of the children of Merari, also had sons: Simri the chief (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him the chief), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, even among the chief men, having wards against one another, to minister in the house of the LORD. 13 And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. 14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots, and his lot came out northward. 15 To Obed-edom southward, and to his sons the house of Asuppim. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the way of the ascent, ward against ward. 17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim, two and two. 18 At Parbar westward, four at the highway, and two at Parbar. 19 These are the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Kore and among the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God and over the treasures of the dedicated things. 21 As concerning the sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonite, Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli.

22 The sons of Jehieli: Zetham and Joel his brother, who were over the treasures of the house of the LORD. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites, 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. 25 And his brothers, by Eliezer, were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26 This Shelomith and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things which David the king, the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host had dedicated. 27 They dedicated some of the plunder won in battles to maintain the house of the LORD. 28 And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, and whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomith and of his brothers.

29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side of the Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead. 32 And his brothers, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God and affairs of the king.

Chapter 27

The twelve captains for their respective month, 1-15. The princes of the twelve tribes, 16-22. The numbering of the people is hindered, 23, 24. David’s various officers 25-34.

1 Now the children of Israel after their number, namely, the chief fathers, captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty-four thousand.

2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 4 And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was also Mikloth the ruler. In his course likewise were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 6 This is that Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty and above the thirty, and in his course was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab and Zebadiah his son after him. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjaminites. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim. And in his course were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. And in his course were twenty-four thousand.

16 Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel, the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of the Aaronites, Zadok; 18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David did not take the number of them from twenty years old and under because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he did not finish because wrath came for it against Israel, neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

25 And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the store-houses in the fields, in the cities, in the villages, and in the castles was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 And over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite; 28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the cellars of oil was Joash; 29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai; 30 And over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; 31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.

32 Also, Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, wise man, and scribe, and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons, 33 And Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion, 34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah and Abiathar, and the general of the king’s army was Joab.

Chapter 28

David, in a solemn assembly, having declared God’s favor to him and promise to his son Solomon, exhorts them to fear God, 1-8. He encourages Solomon to build the temple, 9, 10. He gives him patterns, gold and silver, etc., 11-21.

1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, the captains over the thousands, captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king and of his sons, with the officers, with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men to Jerusalem. 2 Then David the king stood upon his feet and said, "Hear me, my brothers and my people. As for me, I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building. 3 But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for my name because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.' 4 However, the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for he has chosen Judah to be the ruler, and of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father he approved me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 And he said to me, 'Solomon your son, he shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son and I will be his father. 7 Moreover, I will establish his kingdom forever if he is constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.' 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you forever.

9 "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Take heed now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it."

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, of its houses, of its treasuries, of its upper chambers, of its inner parlors, and of the place of the mercy-seat, 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things, 13 And also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD. 14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service, and also silver for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service, 15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for its lamps, and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick and also for its lamps, according to the use of every candlestick. 16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of show-bread, for every table, and likewise silver for the tables of silver. 17 He also gave pure gold for the flesh-hooks, the bowls, and the cups. And for the golden basins he gave gold by weight for every basin, and likewise silver by weight for every basin of silver. 18 And for the altar of incense he gave refined gold by weight. And he gave gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

19 "All this," David said, "the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern."

20 And David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it. Do not fear, nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, will be with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 21 And behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with you for all the service of the house of God. And there shall be with you for all manner of workmanship every willing skillful man for any manner of service. Also, the princes and all the people will be wholly at your command."

Chapter 29

David, by his example and entreaty, 1-5, causes the princes and people to offer willingly, 6-9. David’s thanksgiving and prayer, 10-19. The people, having blessed God and sacrificed, make Solomon king, 20-25. David’s reign and death, 26-30.

1 Furthermore, David the king said to all the congregation, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great, for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, the silver for things of silver, the brass for things of brass, iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood, onyx-stones and stones to be set, glittering stones and of diverse colors, and all manner of precious stones and marble stones in abundance. 3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have given from my own possessions of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house: 4 Even three thousand talents of gold of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver to overlay the walls of the houses, 5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of craftsmen. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day to the LORD?"

6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly, 7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, of silver ten thousand talents, of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, for they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD. And David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

10 Therefore, David blessed the LORD before all the congregation. And David said, "Blessed are you, LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you reign over all. And in your hand is power and might. And it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.

14 "But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as were all our fathers. Our days on the earth are as a shadow and there is no abiding. 16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. And now I have seen with joy your people who are present here to offer willingly to you. 18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you. 19 And give to Solomon my son a perfect heart to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things and to build the palace for which I have made provision."

20 And David said to all the congregation, "Now bless the LORD your God." And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD and the king.

21 And they sacrificed sacrifices to the LORD and offered burnt-offerings to the LORD on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 And they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time and anointed him to the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest. 23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father and prospered. And all Israel obeyed him. 24 And all the princes, the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David submitted themselves to Solomon the king. 25 And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. Seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.

28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his stead. 29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, 30 With all his reign and his might and the times that went over him, over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.

[Tanach reading: go to Second Chronicles]

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES

Chapter 1

The solemn offering of Solomon at Gibeon, 1-6. Solomon’s choice of wisdom is blessed by God, 7-12. Solomon’s forces and wealth, 13-17.

1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and magnified him exceedingly.

2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 3 So Solomon and all the congregation with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the Tabernacle of the Congregation of God was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Moreover, the brazen altar that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the congregation sought for it. 6 And Solomon went up there to the brazen altar before the LORD, which was at the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and offered one thousand burnt-offerings upon it.

7 In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."

8 And Solomon said to God, "You have shown great mercy to David my father and have made me to reign in his stead. 9 Now, O LORD God, let your promise to David my father be established, for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may go out and come in before this people. For who can judge this your great people?" 11 And God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, neither yet have asked for long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself so that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king, 12 Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. And I will give you riches, wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the like." 13 Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and reigned over Israel.

14 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. And he had one thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees he made as the sycamore trees that are in the valley for abundance. 16 And Solomon had horses brought from Egypt and from Keveh. The king’s merchants received from Keveh at a price. 17 And they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver and a horse for one hundred and fifty. And so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Syria by their means.

Chapter 2

Solomon’s laborers for the building of the temple, 1, 2, 17, 18. His sending to Huram for workmen and provision of stuff, 3-10. Huram sends him a kind answer, 11-16.

1 And Solomon determined to build a house for the name of the LORD and a house for his kingdom. 2 And Solomon numbered out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, eighty thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.

3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, "As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedars to build him a house to dwell in it, even so deal with me. 4 Behold, I build a house to the name of the LORD my God to dedicate it to him, to burn before him sweet incense, for the continual show-bread and for the burnt-offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel. 5 And the house which I build is great, for our God is great above all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? Who am I then that I should build him a house, except only to burn sacrifice before him? 7 Now send me therefore a man skillful to work in gold, in silver, in brass, in iron, in purple, crimson, and blue, and who has skill to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees out of Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber in Lebanon. And behold, my servants shall be with your servants, 9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance, for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderfully great. 10 And behold, I will give to your servants, the hewers who cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, twenty thousand measures of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil."

11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, "Because the LORD has loved his people, he has made you king over them." 12 Huram said moreover, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, who may build a house for the LORD and a house for his kingdom.

13 "And now I have sent a skillful man, endued with understanding, even Huram my chief workman, 14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, in timber, in purple, in blue, in fine linen, and in crimson, and also to engrave any manner of engraving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with your skillful men and with the skillful men of my lord David your father. 15 Now therefore, the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants. 16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need, and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa, and you may convey it to Jerusalem."

17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them. And they were found one hundred and fifty-three thousand and six hundred. 18 And he set seventy thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, eighty thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people to work.

Chapter 3

The place and time of building the temple, 1, 2. The measure and ornaments of the house, 3-10. The cherubim, 11-13. The veil and pillars, 14-17.

1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on mount Moriah where the LORD appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 And he began to build on the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

3 Now these are the things in which Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God: The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits and the breadth twenty cubits. 4 And the porch that was in the front of the house, its length was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was one hundred and twenty. And he overlaid it inside with pure gold. 5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold and set on it palm trees and chains. 6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty. And the gold was gold of Parvaim. 7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, its walls, and its doors with gold and engraved cherubim on the walls.

8 And he made the most holy house, the length of which was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits. And he overlaid it with fine gold amounting to six hundred talents. 9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work and overlaid them with gold. 11 And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long. One wing of one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. 12 And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits. And they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward. 14 And he made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim upon it.

15 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16 And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars. And he made one hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 And he erected the pillars before the temple: one on the right hand and the other on the left. And he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin and the name of the one on the left Boaz.

Chapter 4

The altar of brass, 1. The molten sea upon twelve oxen, 2-5. The ten basins, candlesticks, and tables, 6-8. The courts and the instruments of brass, 9-18. The instruments of gold, 19-22.

1 Moreover, he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits its length, twenty cubits its breadth, and ten cubits its height. 2 Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits was its height, and a line of thirty cubits encompassed it. 3 And under it was the similitude of oxen, which encompassed it, ten in a cubit, encompassing the sea. Two rows of oxen were cast when it was cast. 4 It stood upon twelve oxen: three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. And the sea was set above upon them, and all their hindquarters were inward. 5 And its thickness was a hand-breadth and its brim like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies, and it received and held three thousand baths. 6 He also made ten basins and put five on the right hand and five on the left to wash in them. Such things as they offered for the burnt-offering they washed in them. But the sea was for the priests to wash in.

7 And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form and set them in the temple: five on the right hand and five on the left. 8 He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple: five on the right side and five on the left. And he made one hundred basins of gold. 9 Furthermore, he made the court of the priests, the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with brass. 10 And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.

11 And Huram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God, 12 Namely, the two pillars, the bowls, the capitals which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars, 13 And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths, two rows of pomegranates on each wreath to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were upon the pillars. 14 He also made bases and made basins upon the bases, 15 One sea and twelve oxen under it. 16 The pots also, the shovels, the flesh-hooks, and all their instruments, Huram his chief workman made for king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass. 17 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah. 18 Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance, for the weight of the brass could not be ascertained.

19 And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God: the golden altar and the tables on which the show-bread was set; 20 Moreover, the candlesticks with their lamps (that they should burn after the manner before the oracle) of pure gold; 21 And the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, he made of gold (and that of perfect gold); 22 And the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold; and the entry of the house, its inner doors for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple were of gold.

Chapter 5

The dedicated treasures, 1. The solemn induction of the ark into the oracle, 2-10. God being praised, gives a visible sign of his favor, 11-14.

1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated. And the silver, the gold, and all the instruments he put among the treasures of the house of God.

2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the city of David, which is Zion. 3 Therefore, all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought these up. 6 Also king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled to him before the ark sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim, 8 For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its staffs above. 9 And they drew out the staffs of the ark so that the ends of the staffs were seen from the ark before the oracle, but they were not seen outside. And it is there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put in it at Horeb when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt.

11 And it came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present were sanctified, and did not keep their courses, 12 And also the Levites who were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brothers, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets), 13 It even came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and praised the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his mercy endures forever," that the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD, 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Chapter 6

Solomon, having blessed the people, blesses God, 1-11. Solomon’s prayer in the consecration of the temple, upon the brazen scaffold, etc., 12-42.

1 Then Solomon said,

"The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

2 But I have built a house of habitation for you   /

and a place for your dwelling forever."

3 And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel. And all the congregation of Israel stood. 4 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has with his hands fulfilled that which he spoke with his mouth to my father David, saying, 5 'Since the day that I brought forth my people from the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there, neither did I choose any man to be a ruler over my people Israel, 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.' 7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel, 8 But the LORD said to David my father, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well in that it was in your heart. 9 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my name.' 10 The LORD therefore has performed his word that he has spoken, for I am raised up in place of David my father and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 11 And in it I have put the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the children of Israel."

12 And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands. 13 (For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court. And upon it he stood and kneeled upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands toward heaven.) 14 And he said, "O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heaven, nor on the earth, keeping covenant and showing mercy to your servants who walk before you with all their hearts— 15 You who have kept with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, and have spoken with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day. 16 Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, 'There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel, provided your children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.' 17 Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let your word be verified which you have spoken to your servant David.

18 "But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you. How much less this house which I have built! 19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and the prayer which your servant prays before you, 20 So that your eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place of which you have said that you would put your name there, to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place. 21 Listen therefore to the supplications of your servant and of your people Israel which they shall make toward this place. Hear from your dwelling-place, even from heaven, and when you hear, forgive.

22 "If a man sins against his neighbor, and an oath is laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath comes before your altar in this house, 23 Then hear from heaven and do, and judge your servants by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head, and by justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness.

24 "And if your people Israel are smitten before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and return and confess your name and pray and make supplication before you in this house, 25 Then hear from the heavens, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.

26 "When the heaven is shut and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, yet if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them, 27 Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel when you have taught them the good way in which they should walk and send rain upon your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.

28 "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, mildew, swarming-locusts, or ravaging-locusts, if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land, whatever calamity or whatever sickness there is, 29 Then whatever prayer, or whatever supplication is made by any man, or by all the people of Israel, when each knows his own calamity and his own grief and spreads forth his hands in this house, 30 Then hear from heaven your dwelling-place, forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for you alone know the hearts of the children of men), 31 So that they may fear you to walk in your ways as long as they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.

32 "Moreover, concerning the stranger who is not of your people Israel, but has come from a distant country for your great name’s sake and your mighty hand and your out-stretched arm, if they come and pray in this house, 33 Then hear from the heavens, even from your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the stranger calls to you for, so that all people of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.

34 "If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you send them and they pray to you toward this city which you have chosen and the house which I have built for your name, 35 Then hear from the heavens their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause.

36 "If they sin against you (for there is no man who does not sin), and you are angry with them and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives to a land far off or near, 37 Yet if they repent themselves in the land where they are carried captive and turn and pray to you in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, we have done amiss and have dealt wickedly,' 38 If they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land which you gave to their fathers, toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name, 39 Then hear from the heavens, even from your dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.

40 "Now, my God, I implore you, let your eyes be open and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

41 "Now therefore, arise, O LORD God, into your resting-place—   /

you and the ark of your strength. /

Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation /

and let your saints rejoice in goodness.

42 "O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed.   /

Remember the mercies of David your servant."

Chapter 7

God, having given testimony to Solomon’s prayer by fire from heaven and glory in the temple, is worshiped by the people, 1-3. Solomon’s solemn sacrifice, 4-7. Solomon, having kept the feast of tabernacles and the feast of the dedication of the altar, dismisses the people, 8-11. God, appearing to Solomon, gives him promises upon condition, 12-22.

1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, worshiped, and praised the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his mercy endures forever."

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests waited on their offices, the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endures forever, when David praised by their ministry. And the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

7 Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered burnt-offerings and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offerings, the food-offerings, and the fat.

8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they made a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. 10 And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shown to David, to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house. And all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven so that there is no rain, if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, 14 If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes shall be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house so that my name may be there forever. And my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you and observe my statutes and my judgments, 18 Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, 'There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.'

19 "But if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 Then I will pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them. And this house, which I have sanctified for my name, I will cast out of my sight and will make it to be a proverb and a by-word among all nations. 21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to everyone who passes by it, so that he shall say, 'Why has the LORD done so to this land and to this house?' 22 And it shall be answered, 'Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold upon other gods, worshiped them, and served them, therefore he has brought all this evil upon them.'"

Chapter 8

Solomon’s buildings, 1-6. The Canaanites which were left, Solomon makes tributaries, but the Israelites rulers, 7-10. Pharaoh’s daughter moves to her house, 11. Solomon’s yearly solemn sacrifices, 12, 13. He appoints the priests and Levites to their places, 14-16. The navy fetches gold from Ophir, 17, 18.

1 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

3 And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and prevailed against it. 4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities which he built in Hamath. 5 Also he built Beth-horon the upper and Beth-horon the nether, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars, 6 And Baalath, all the store cities that Solomon had, all the chariot cities and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

7 As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel— 8 But of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel did not consume—Solomon made them to pay tribute until this day. 9 But Solomon did not make servants for his work of the children of Israel, but they were men of war, chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. 10 And these were the chief of king Solomon’s officers, even two hundred and fifty, who bore rule over the people.

11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, to which the ark of the LORD has come."

12 Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built before the porch, 13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, the Levites to their charges to praise and minister before the priests as the duty of every day required, and the gatekeepers by their courses at every gate, for thus David the man of God had commanded. 15 And they did not depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.

16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared from the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD until it was finished. Thus the house of the LORD was perfected.

17 Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. 18 And Huram sent to him by the hands of his servants ships and servants who had knowledge of the sea, and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold and brought them to king Solomon.

Chapter 9

The queen of Sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon, 1-12. Solomon’s revenue in gold, 13, 14. His bucklers and shields, 15, 16. The throne of ivory, 17-19. His vessels, 20-22. His presents, 23, 24. His chariots and horse, 25. His tributes, 26-28. His reign and death, 29-31.

1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company and camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. And when she had come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 2 And Solomon answered all her questions, and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he did not tell her. 3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 4 The provisions of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his ministers and their apparel, his cup-bearers and their apparel, and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. 5 And she said to the king, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. 6 Yet, I did not believe their words until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told to me, for you exceed the fame that I heard. 7 Happy are your men and happy are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom. 8 Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on his throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel to establish them forever, therefore he made you king over them to do judgment and justice." 9 And she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices of great abundance, and precious stones. Never was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

10 And also the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 And the king made terraces from the algum trees for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and harps and psalteries for singers. And there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned and went away to her own land—she and her servants.

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 14 Besides that which traders and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to each buckler. 16 And three hundred shields he made of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to each shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

17 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting-place, and two lions standing by the stays. 19 And twelve lions stood there on one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any kingdom. 20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, for it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

22 And king Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart. 24 And they each brought his present: vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. 27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees he made as the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance. 28 And they brought to Solomon horses from Egypt and from all lands.

29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and he was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 10

The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, by Jeroboam make an appeal of relaxation to him, 1-5. Rehoboam, refusing the old men’s counsel, by the advice of young men answers them roughly, 6-15. The ten tribes revolt, kill Hadoram, and make Rehoboam flee, 16-19.

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it, who was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 "Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore, somewhat ease the grievous servitude of your father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you." 5 And he said to them, "Come back to me after three days." And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?" 7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be kind to this people, please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever." 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who were brought up with him, who stood before him. 9 And he said to them, "What advice do you give that we may return answer to this people who have spoken to me, saying, 'Ease somewhat the yoke that your father put upon us'?" 10 And the young men who were brought up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall answer the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us,' thus you shall say to them: 'My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'"

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king directed, saying, "Come to me again on the third day." 13 And the king answered them roughly. And king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for the cause was of God so that the LORD might perform his word which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David? And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel. And now, David, see to your own house." So all Israel went to their tents.

17 But as for the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram who was over the tribute. And the children of Israel stoned him with stones so that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.

Chapter 11

Rehoboam, raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah, 1-4. He strengthens his kingdom with forts and provisions, 5-12. The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, strengthen the kingdom of Judah, 13-17. The wives and children of Rehoboam, 18-23.

1 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors to fight against Israel so that he might bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers. Every man return to his house, for this thing is done by me."'" And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built even Beth-lehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Shocho, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities. 11 And he fortified the strongholds and put captains in them, and store of provisions and of oil and wine. 12 And in every single city he put shields and spears and made them exceedingly strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him from all their borders.

14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office to the LORD. 15 And he ordained himself priests for the high places, for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 16 And those who set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them out of all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam took to himself Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David for a wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, 19 Who bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters). 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief to be ruler among his brothers, for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely and dispersed some of his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city, and he gave them provisions in abundance. And he desired many wives.

Chapter 12

Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished by Shishak, 1-4. He and the princes, repenting at the preaching of Shemaiah, are delivered from destruction, but not from being plundered, 5-12. The reign and death of Rehoboam, 13-16.

1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. 2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem because they had transgressed against the LORD, 3 With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Cushites. 4 And he took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah who were assembled at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus says the LORD: 'You have forsaken me, and therefore, I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.'" 6 Upon this the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is righteous."

7 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves; therefore, I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. And my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless, they shall be his servants so that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house. He took everything. He also carried away the shields of gold which Solomon had made. 10 And king Rehoboam made shields of brass in their place and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard who kept the entrance of the king’s house. 11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and conveyed them and brought them back into the guard-chamber. 12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him so that he would not destroy him altogether. And also in Judah things went well.

13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. For Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 14 And he did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer, concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. And Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 13

Abijah, succeeding, makes war against Jeroboam, 1-3. He declares the right of his cause, 4-12. Trusting in God, he overcomes Jeroboam, 13-20. The wives and children of Abijah, 21, 22.

1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor.

4 And Abijah stood upon mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel. 5 Should you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the son of David has risen up and rebelled against his lord. 7 And there are vain men gathered to him, the children of Belial, and they have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted and could not withstand them.

8 "And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made for yourselves priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of those who are no gods. 10 But as for us, the LORD is our God and we have not forsaken him. And the priests who minister to the LORD are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business. 11 And they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt-sacrifices and sweet incense. They also set the show-bread in order upon the pure table and the candlestick of gold with its lamps to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him. 12 And behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not prosper."

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come around behind them. So they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind, and they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout. And as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. 17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter. So there fell slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Beth-el with its towns, Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephron with its towns.

20 Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah. And the LORD struck him and he died.

21 But Abijah became mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

Chapter 14

Asa succeeding, destroys idolatry, 1-5. Having peace, he strengthens his kingdom with forts and armies, 6-8. Calling on God, he overthrows Zerah and plunders the Ethiopians, 9-15.

1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods and the high places, broke down the images, cut down the groves, 4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to do the law and the commandment. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images. And the kingdom was quiet before him. 6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. And he had no war in those years because the LORD had given him rest. 7 Therefore, he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of men who bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, who bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand. All these were mighty men of valor.

9 And Zerah the Cushite came out against them with a host of one million, and also three hundred chariots, and came to Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathath at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God. Do not let man prevail against you." 12 So the LORD smote the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. 13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. And the Cushites were overthrown so that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his host. And they carried away a large amount of plunder. 14 And they smote all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came upon them. And they plundered all the cities, for there was an abundance of plunder in them. 15 They also smote the tents of cattle and carried away sheep and camels in abundance and returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 15

Asa, with Judah and many of Israel, moved by the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, make a solemn covenant with God, 1-15. He puts down Maachah his mother for her idolatry, 16, 17. He brings dedicated things into the house of God and enjoys a long peace, 18, 19.

1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2 And he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with him. And if you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law. 4 But when they in their trouble returned to the LORD God of Israel and sought him, he was found by them. 5 And in those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. 6 And nation was destroyed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with all adversity. 7 Be strong therefore, and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."

8 And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD that was before the porch of the LORD. 9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh and out of Simeon, for they resorted to him out of Israel in multitudes when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. 10 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11 And they offered to the LORD at the same time from the plunder which they had brought seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. 12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 That whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. 14 And they swore to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with horns. 15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them. And the LORD gave them rest on all sides.

16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa cut down her idol, stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. 17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and vessels. 19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

Chapter 16

Asa, by the aid of the Syrians, diverts Baasha from building Ramah, 1-6. Being reproved thereof by Hanani, he puts him in prison, 7-10. Among his other acts in his disease he seeks not to God, but to the physicians, 11, 12. His death and burial, 13, 14.

1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came against Judah and built Ramah so that he might let no one go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying, 3 "There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel so that he may depart from me." 4 And Ben-hadad listened to king Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. And they smote Ijon, Dan, Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off the building of Ramah and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha was building, and he built with it Geba and Mizpah.

7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Syria and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the host of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand. 8 Were the Cushites and the Lubims not a numerous army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. In this you have done foolishly. Therefore, from now on you shall have wars." 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in a prison house, for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

11 And behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And Asa in the thirty-ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet until his disease was exceedingly severe. Yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. 13 And Asa slept with his fathers and died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 And they buried him in his own sepulchers which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and diverse kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers' art. And they made a very great burning for him.

Chapter 17

Jehoshaphat, succeeding Asa, reigns well and prospers, 1-6. He sends Levites with the princes to teach Judah, 7-9. His enemies being terrified by God, some of them bring him presents and tribute, 10, 11. His greatness, captains, and armies, 12-19.

1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David and did not seek Baalim, 4 But sought the LORD God of his father and walked in his commandments and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore, the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. Moreover, he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, to Obadiah, to Zechariah, to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. 8 And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. 9 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went around throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also, some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and tribute silver. And the Arabians brought him flocks: seven thousand and seven hundred rams and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats. 12 And Jehoshaphat became exceedingly great. And in Judah he built castles and cities of store. 13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah. And the men of war, mighty men of valor, were in Jerusalem. 14 And these are their numbers according to the house of their fathers. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand; 15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; 16 And next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. 17 And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed men with bow and shield; 18 And next to him was Jehozabad, and with him one hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for the war. 19 These waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

Chapter 18

Jehoshaphat, becoming son-in-law to Ahab, is persuaded to go with him against Ramoth-gilead, 1-3. Ahab, seduced by false prophets, according to the word of Micaiah, is slain there, 4-34.

1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance and made himself son-in-law to Ahab. 2 And after some years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead. 3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" And he answered him, "I am as you are and my people as your people. And we will be with you in the war."

4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire, I pray you, at the word of the LORD today." 5 Therefore, the king of Israel collected of prophets four hundred men and said to them, "Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And they said, "Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand." 6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD so that we may inquire of him?" 7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good to me, but always evil. The same is Micaiah the son of Imla." And Jehoshaphat said, "Do not let the king say so."

8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers and said, "Quickly bring Micaiah the son of Imla." 9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah each sat on his throne clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. And all the prophets prophesied before them. 10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD: 'With these you shall push Syria until they are consumed.'" 11 And all the prophets similarly prophesied, saying, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king."

12 And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one consent. Let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs and speak good." 13 And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, even what my God says, that I will speak."

14 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?" And he said, "Go up and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand." 15 And the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure you that you say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?"

16 Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master. Let them each return therefore to his house in peace.'"

17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good to me, but evil?"

18 Again he said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the LORD said, 'Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one spoke saying after this manner and another saying after that manner. 20 Then a spirit came out and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'With what?' 21 And he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall entice him and you shall also prevail. Go out and do even so.' 22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours and the LORD has spoken evil against you."

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and smote Micaiah upon the cheek and said, "Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 24 And Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself." 25 Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 26 And say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this man in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I return in peace."'" 27 And Micaiah said, "If you certainly return in peace, then the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Listen, all you people."

28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go to the battle, but put on your robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went to the battle. 30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, "Do not fight with small or great, but only with the king of Israel." 31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel." Therefore, they turned around to fight him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. And God moved them to depart from him. 32 For it came to pass, that when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him. 33 And a certain man drew a bow at random and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness. Therefore, he said to his chariot-man, "Turn your hand so that you may carry me out of the host, for I am wounded." 34 And the battle increased that day. Nevertheless, the king of Israel supported himself in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening. And about the time of the sunset he died.

Chapter 19

Jehoshaphat, reproved by Jehu, visits his kingdom, 1-4. His instructions to the judges, 5-7; to the priests and Levites, 8-11.

1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore, wrath is upon you from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless, there are good things found in you, in that you have taken away the groves out of the land and have prepared your heart to seek God."

4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem. And he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD God of their fathers.

5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 And said to the judges, "Take heed what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the LORD who is with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Take heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts."

8 Moreover, in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat set some of the Levites, priests, and chief of the fathers of Israel for the judgment of the LORD and for controversies when they returned to Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them, saying, "Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and with a perfect heart. 10 And whatever cause comes to you of your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall even warn them that they do not trespass against the LORD so that wrath may not come upon you and upon your brothers. Do this and you shall not trespass. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters. Also, the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD will be with the good."

Chapter 20

Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab, proclaims a fast, 1-4. His prayer, 5-13. The prophecy of Jahaziel, 14-19. Jehoshaphat exhorts the people and sets singers to praise the Lord, 20, 21. The great overthrow of his enemies, 22-25. The people, having blessed God at Berachah, return in triumph, 26-30. Jehoshaphat’s reign, 31-34. His convoy of ships, according to the prophecy of Eliezer, unhappily perish, 35-37.

1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some who told Jehoshaphat, saying, "There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria, and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi." 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to ask help from the LORD. Even from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court, 6 And said, "O LORD God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? And do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in your hand is there not power and might so that no one is able to withstand you? 7 Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it to the offspring of Abraham your friend forever? 8 And they dwelt in it and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name, saying, 9 'If, when evil comes upon us, as the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house and in your presence (for your name is in this house) and cry to you in our affliction, then you will hear and help.' 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them, 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no might against this great company who comes against us, neither do we know what to do. But our eyes are upon you."

13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.

14 Then upon Jehaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, the Spirit of the LORD came in the midst of the congregation. 15 And he said, "Listen, all Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and king Jehoshaphat, thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, go down against them. Behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz, and you shall find them at the end of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You shall not need to fight in this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear, nor be dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them, for the LORD will be with you.'"

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa. And as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God and you shall be established. Believe his prophets and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to the LORD who should praise the beauty of his holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, "Praise the LORD, for his mercy endures forever." 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were smitten. 23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.

24 And when Judah came toward the watch-tower in the wilderness, they looked to the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth and no one escaped. 25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their plunder, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away. And they were three days in gathering the plunder because it was so much.

26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore, the name of the same place has been called The Valley of Berachah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries, harps, and trumpets to the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 Thus the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest on all sides.

31 And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 And he walked in the way of Asa his father and did not depart from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. 33 But the high places were not taken away. For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts to the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.

35 And after this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly. 36 And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish. And they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken your works." And the ships were broken so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

Chapter 21

Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slays his brothers, 1-4. His wicked reign, 5-7. Edom and Libnah revolt, 8-11. The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing, 12-15. Philistines and Arabians oppress him, 16, 17. His incurable disease, infamous death, and burial, 18-20.

1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 2 And he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah. But the kingdom he gave to Jehoram because he was the first-born.

4 Now when Jehoram had risen to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and slew all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for he had the daughter of Ahab for a wife. And he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever.

8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah and made themselves a king. 9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and smote the Edomites who encompassed him and the captains of the chariots. 10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. At the same time Libnah also revolted from under his hand because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers. 11 Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah to do the same.

12 And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the LORD God of David your father: 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit idolatry, like the idolatries of the house of Ahab, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself, 14 Behold, with a great plague the LORD will smite your people, your children, your wives, and all your goods. 15 And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.'"

16 Moreover, the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians, who were near the Cushites. 17 And they came up into Judah, broke into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him, save Jehoahaz the youngest of his sons.

18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness. Thus he died of severe diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 20 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years and departed without being desired. Yet they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchers of the kings.

Chapter 22

Ahaziah, succeeding, reigns wickedly, 1-4. In his confederacy with Joram, the son of Ahab, he is slain by Jehu, 5-9. Athaliah, destroying all the royal family, except Joash, whom Jehoshabeath his aunt hid, usurps the kingdom, 10-12.

1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead, for the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. Thus Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 2 Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. 4 Therefore, he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors, after the death of his father, to his destruction.

5 He also walked after their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians smote Joram. 6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given to him at Ramah when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel because he was sick.

7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was from God by coming to Joram, for when he had come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

8 And it came to pass, that when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab and found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, who ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. 9 And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (for he was hid in Samaria) and brought him to Jehu. And when they had slain him, they buried him, because they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." So the house of Ahaziah had no power to retain the kingdom.

10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were slain and put him and his nurse in a bed chamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not slay him. 12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

Chapter 23

Jehoiada, having set things in order, makes Joash king, 1-11. Athaliah is slain, 12-15. Jehoiada restores the worship of God, 16-21.

1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and took the captains of hundreds, even Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. 2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, "Behold, the king’s son shall reign as the LORD has said of the sons of David. 4 This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be gatekeepers of the doors, 5 A third part shall be at the king’s house, and a third part at the gate of the foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. 6 But let no one come into the house of the LORD, except the priests and those who minister of the Levites. They shall go in, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. 7 And the Levites shall encompass the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death. But be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out."

8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and each took his men who were to come in on the sabbath with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the courses. 9 Moreover, Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, bucklers, and shields, which had been king David’s, which were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people, each having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king on all sides. 11 Then they brought out the king’s son, put the crown upon him, gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "God save the king."

12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD. 13 And she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and the princes and the trumpets by the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and sounded with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of music were leading the singing of praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes and said, "Treason, treason." 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the host and said to them, "Bring her forth outside the ranges. And whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword." For the priest said, "Do not slay her in the house of the LORD." 15 So they laid hands on her, and when she had come to the entrance of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there.

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD’S people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, broke it down, broke his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD to offer the burnt-offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one who was unclean in anything should enter. 20 And he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD. And they came through the high gate into the king’s house and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom. 21 And all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet after they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

Chapter 24

Joash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada, 1-3. He gives order for the repair of the temple, 4-14. Jehoiada’s death and honorable burial, 15, 16. Joash, falling into idolatry, slays Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, 17-22. Joash is plundered by the Syrians and slain by Zabad and Jehozabad, 23-26. Amaziah succeeds him, 27.

1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives and he begot sons and daughters.

4 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD. 5 And he convened the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you hasten the matter." But the Levites did not hasten it. 6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief and said to him, "Why have you not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?" 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God, and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD they bestowed upon Baalim.

8 And at the king’s commandment they made a chest and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, brought in, and cast into the chest until they had made an end. 11 Now it came to pass, that at the time the chest was brought to the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day and collected money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also those who wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD. 13 Thus the workmen wrought and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in its state and strengthened it. 14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, of which were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister and to offer with, and spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days when he died. He was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and toward his house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers and served groves and idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their trespass. 19 Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the LORD. And they testified against them, but they would not give ear.

20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.'" 21 And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, "May the LORD look upon it and require it."

23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the army of Syria came up against him. And they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all their plunder to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment against Joash.

25 And when they had departed from him (for they left him in great diseases), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest and slew him on his bed, and he died. And they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the sepulchers of the kings. 26 And these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 25

Amaziah begins to reign well, 1, 2. He executes justice on the traitors, 3, 4. Having hired an army of Israelites against the Edomites, at the word of a prophet dismisses them, 5-10. He overthrows the Edomites, 11, 12. The Israelites, discontented with their dismission, plunder as they return home, 13. Amaziah, proud of his victory, serves the gods of Edom and despises the admonitions of the prophet, 14-16. He provokes Joash to his overthrow, 17-24. His reign, 25, 26. He is slain by conspiracy, 27, 28.

1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. 3 Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants who had killed the king his father. 4 But he did not slay their children, but did as it is written in the law of the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, "The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin."

5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and made them captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from twenty years old and above and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield. 6 He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him, saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, namely, with all the children of Ephraim. 8 But if you will go, do it, be strong for the battle. God will make you fall before the enemy, for God has power to help and to cast down." 9 And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." 10 Then Amaziah separated them, namely, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Therefore, their anger was greatly kindled against Judah and they returned home in great anger.

11 And Amaziah strengthened himself, led forth his people, went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand. 12 And the children of Judah carried away captive another ten thousand left alive, brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock so that they were all broken in pieces. 13 But the soldiers of the army whom Amaziah sent back, so that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth-horon, and smote three thousand of them and took a large amount of plunder.

14 Now it came to pass, after Amaziah had come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, set them up to be his gods, bowed himself before them, and burned incense to them. 15 Therefore, the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, "Why have you sought after the gods of the people which could not deliver their own people out of your hand?" 16 And it came to pass as he talked with him, that the king said to him, "Are you made of the king’s council? Forbear! Why should you be smitten?" Then the prophet forbore and said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."

17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us see one another in the face." 18 And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife.' And a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trod down the thistle. 19 You say, 'Behold, you have smitten the Edomites,' and your heart lifts you up to boast. Now abide at home. Why should you meddle to your hurt so that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?"

20 But Amaziah would not hear, for it came from God so that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies because they sought after the gods of Edom. 21 So Joash the king of Israel went up, and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. 22 And Judah was defeated before Israel, and every man fled to his tent. 23 And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 24 And he took all the gold and the silver, all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, the treasures of the king’s house, and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.

25 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, fifteen years. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 Now after the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent to Lachish after him and slew him there. 28 And they brought him upon horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

Chapter 26

Uzziah, succeeding and reigning well in the days of Zechariah, prospers, 1-15. Growing proud, he invades the priest’s office and is smitten with leprosy, 16-21. He dies and Jotham succeeds him, 22, 23.

1 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 And God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims. 8 And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah. And his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he strengthened himself exceedingly. 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10 Also, he built towers in the desert and dug many wells, for he had many cattle, both in the low country and in the plains, and also farmers and vine-dressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved farming. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of fighting men that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12 The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand and six hundred. 13 And under their hand was an army, three hundred and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the army shields, spears, helmets, habergeons, bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 And he made war machines in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad, for he was helped in a wonderful manner until he was strong.

16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the LORD who were valiant men. 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king and said to him, "It does not appertain to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed. It will not be for your honor from the LORD God." 19 Then Uzziah was angry and had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked upon him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from there. Indeed, he himself hastened to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, were written by Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amos. 23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." And Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 27

Jotham, reigning well, prospers, 1-4. He subdues the Ammonites, 5, 6. His reign and death; Ahaz succeeds him, 7-9.

1 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did; however, he did not enter into the temple of the LORD. And the people yet again acted corruptly. 3 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers. 5 He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So the children of Ammon payed much to him, both the second year and the third. 6 Thus Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Ahaz his son reigned in his stead

Chapter 28

Ahaz, reigning very wickedly, is greatly afflicted by the Syrians, 1-5. Judah, being captivated by the Israelites, is sent home by the counsel of Oded the prophet, 6-15. Ahaz, sending for aid to Assyria, is not helped thereby, 16-21. In his distress he grows more idolatrous, 22-25. After he dies, Hezekiah succeeds him, 26, 27.

1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. But he did not do that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father, 2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made molten images for Baalim. 3 Moreover, he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 4 He also sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 Therefore, the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria, and they smote him and carried away a great multitude of them captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah one hundred and twenty thousand in one day, who were all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.

8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and also took away a large amount of plunder from them and brought the plunder to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out before the army that came to Samaria and said to them, "Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage that reaches to heaven. 10 And now you purpose to subdue the children of Judah and Jerusalem for men-servants and women-servants to you. But are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? 11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives back which you have taken captive of your brothers, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you." 12 Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war. 13 And said to them, "You shall not bring the captives in here. For whereas we have offended against the LORD already, you intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass, for our trespass is great and there is fierce wrath against Israel." 14 So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the princes and all the congregation. 15 And the men who were expressed by name arose, took the captives, and with the plunder clothed all who were naked among them and arrayed them, shod them, gave them something to eat and to drink, anointed them, carried all the feeble of them upon donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time king Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria to help him. 17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah and carried away captives. 18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Ajalon, Gederoth, Shocho with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they dwelt there. 19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he made Judah naked and greatly transgressed against the LORD. 20 And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, but did not strengthen him. 21 For Ahaz took away a portion from the house of the LORD and from the house of the king and of the princes and gave it to the king of Assyria, but he did not help him.

22 And in the time of his distress he trespassed yet more against the LORD—this same king Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which smote him, and he said, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz collected the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God. And he shut up the doors of the house of the LORD and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. 26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the sepulchers of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 29

Hezekiah’s good reign, 1, 2. He restores religion, 3, 4. He exhorts the Levites, 5-11. They sanctify themselves and cleanse the house of God, 12-19. Hezekiah offers solemn sacrifices, wherein the Levites are more forward than the priests, 20-36.

1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

3 He, in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4 And he brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the east street, 5 And said to them, "Hear me, you Levites, now sanctify yourselves and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and have forsaken him, turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. 7 Also, they have shut up the doors of the porch, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt-offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the wrath of the LORD has been upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel so that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister to him and burn incense."

12 Then the Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari: Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehalelel; and of the Gershonites: Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 And of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 And of the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 And they assembled their brothers, sanctified themselves, and came to cleanse the house of the LORD according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD. 16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. 17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the LORD. Thus they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days. And on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end. 18 Then they went inside to Hezekiah the king and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the show-bread table with all its vessels. 19 Moreover, all the vessels which king Ahaz in his reign cast away in his transgression, we have prepared and sanctified, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD."

20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, convened the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin-offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22 So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. They also killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 23 And they brought forth the male goats for the sin-offering before the king and the congregation and laid their hands upon them. 24 And the priests killed them and made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar to make an atonement for all Israel, for the king commanded that the burnt-offering and the sin-offering should be made for all Israel.

25 And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet, for thus was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. 28 And all the congregation worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. And all this continued until the burnt-offering was finished.

29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 Moreover, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD, with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of the LORD." And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank-offerings. And as many as were of a free heart brought burnt-offerings. 32 And the number of the burnt-offerings, which the congregation brought, was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. All these were for a burnt-offering to the LORD. 33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. 34 But the priests were too few so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings. Therefore, their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. 35 And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance with the fat of the peace-offerings and the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was set in order. 36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people, for the thing was done suddenly.

Chapter 30

Hezekiah proclaims a solemn passover on the second month for Judah and Israel, 1-12. The assembly, having destroyed the altars of idolatry, keep the feast fourteen days, 13-26. The priests and Levites bless the people, 27.

1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to keep the passover to the LORD God of Israel. 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people assembled themselves at Jerusalem. 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem, for they had not done it for a long time in the manner as it was written. 6 So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, "Children of Israel, turn back to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And do not be like your fathers and like your brothers, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now do not be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and enter into his sanctuary which he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God so that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if you turn back to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion before those who lead them captive so that they will return into this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you if you return to him."

10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even to Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless, some of Asher, Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also in Judah to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of the LORD.

13 And many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense they took away and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15 Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed and sanctified themselves and brought in the burnt-offerings into the house of the LORD. 16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the congregation who were not sanctified; therefore, the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for everyone who was not clean to sanctify them to the LORD. 18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the passover in a way other than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD pardon everyone, 19 Who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." 20 And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness. And the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments to the LORD. 22 And Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD. And they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace-offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.

23 And the whole assembly took counsel to keep another seven days. And they kept the seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the congregation one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep, and the princes gave to the congregation one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. And a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25 And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation who came out of Israel, and the strangers who came from the land of Israel, and who dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was nothing like it in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard and their prayer ascended to his holy dwelling-place, even to heaven.

Chapter 31

The people are forward in destroying idolatry, 1. Hezekiah orders the courses of the priests and Levites and provides for their work and maintenance, 2-4. The people’s forwardness in offerings and tithes, 5-10. Hezekiah appoints officers to dispose of the tithes, 11-19. The sincerity of Hezekiah, 20, 21.

1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the images in pieces, cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel each returned to his possession into their own cities.

2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

3 He also appointed the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, namely, for the morning and evening burnt-offerings, and the burnt-offerings for the sabbaths, for the new-moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. 4 Moreover, he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites so that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. 5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first-fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the increase of the field. And the tithe of all things they brought in abundantly. 6 And the children of Israel and Judah who dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. 7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him and said, "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have left plenty, for the LORD has blessed his people. And that which is left is this great abundance."

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD. And they prepared them, 12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully, over which Conaniah the Levite was ruler and Shimei his brother was next. 13 And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper toward the east, was over the voluntary-offerings of God to distribute the oblations of the LORD and the most holy things. 15 And under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brothers by courses, to the great as well as to the small, 16 Besides their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even to everyone who enters into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses. 17 This is the distribution of the priests by the house of their fathers and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses, 18 And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation. For in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19 Also, of the sons of Aaron the priests who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every single city, there were men who were expressed by name to give portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.

20 And thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and performed that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. 21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart and prospered.

Chapter 32

Sennacherib invading Judah, Hezekiah fortifies himself and encourages his people, 1-8. Against the blasphemies of Sennacherib, Hezekiah and Isaiah pray, 9-20. An angel destroys the host of the Assyrians, 21-23. Hezekiah prays in his sickness, and God gives him a sign of recovery, 24. Growing proud, he is humbled by God, 25, 26. His wealth and works, 27-30. His error in the business of Babylon, 31. After he dies, Manasseh succeeds him, 32, 33.

1 After these things and their establishment, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he purposed to fight against Jerusalem, 3 He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were outside the city. And they helped him. 4 So there were many people assembled who stopped all the fountains and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?" 5 He also strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, built another wall outside, repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6 And he set captains of war over the people, assembled them to him in the street of the gate of the city, and encouraged them, saying, 7 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him) against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 "Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: 'On what do you trust that you abide in the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Does Hezekiah not persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, "The LORD our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria"? 12 Has the same Hezekiah not taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, "You shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it"? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand? 15 Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this manner, neither yet believe him. For no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers. How much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?'"

16 And his servants spoke yet more against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to rail at the LORD God of Israel and to speak against him, saying, "As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand." 18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall to terrify them and to fill them with consternation so that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem as against the gods of the people of the earth, the work of the hands of man.

20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed and cried to heaven. 21 And the LORD sent an angel who cut off all the mighty men of valor and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he had come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own body slew him there with the sword. 22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the LORD in Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that from thereafter he was magnified in the sight of all nations.

24 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD. And he spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not render again according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was lifted up. Therefore, there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 However, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels, 28 And also store-houses for the increase of grain, wine, and oil, and stalls for all manner of beasts, and folds for flocks. 29 Moreover, he provided for himself cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him substance in great abundance. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 But, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to try him so that he might know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chief of the sepulchers of the sons of David. And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 33

Manasseh’s wicked reign, 1, 2. He sets up idolatry and will not be admonished, 3-10. He is carried into Babylon, 11. Upon his prayer to God, he is released and puts down idolatry, 12-17. His acts, 18, 19. After he dies, Amon succeeds him, 20; who is slain by his servants, 21-24. The murderers being slain, Josiah succeeds him, 25.

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down and he reared up altars for Baalim, made groves, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 He also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "In Jerusalem my name shall be forever." 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. He also observed times, used enchantments, used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit and with wizards. He wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger. 7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8 I will no more remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, provided they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses." 9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

10 And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not listen. 11 Therefore, the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria who took Manasseh among the thorns, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 And he prayed to him, and God was entreated by him, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

14 Now after this, he built a wall outside the city of David on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish-gate, and he encircled Ophel with it and raised it up a very great height. And he put captains of war in all the fortified cities of Judah. 15 And he took away the strange gods, the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace-offerings and thank-offerings on it, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. 17 Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed in the high places, but to the LORD their God only.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated by him, and all his sin, his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up groves and engraved images, before he was humbled, behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son reigned in his stead.

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father did, for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made and served them, 23 And did not humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself. But Amon trespassed more and more. 24 And his servants conspired against him and slew him in his own house. 25 But the people of the land slew all those who had conspired against king Amon. And the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

Chapter 34

Josiah’s good reign, 1, 2. He destroys idolatry, 3-7. He takes order for the repair of the temple, 8-13. Hilkiah, having found a book of the law, Josiah sends to Huldah to inquire of the Lord, 14-22. Huldah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem, but respite thereof in Josiah’s time, 23-28. Josiah, causing it to be read in a solemn assembly, renews the covenant with God, 29-33.

1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD and walked in the ways of David his father and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father. And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the groves, the carved images, and the molten images. 4 And they broke down the altars of Baalim in his presence, and he cut down the images that were on high above them. And the groves, the carved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces and made dust of them and strewed it upon the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 And he did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and even to Naphtali, with their mattocks around. 7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, beaten the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder to repair the house of the LORD his God. 9 And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the doors had collected from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 And they put it in the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen who wrought in the house of the LORD to repair and mend the house. 11 They even gave it to the carpenters and builders to buy hewn stone and timber for couplings and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed. 12 And the men did the work faithfully. And their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to superintend it; and others of the Levites, all who had skill in instruments of music. 13 They were also over the bearers of burdens and were overseers of all who wrought the work in any manner of service. And of the Levites there were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.

14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. 15 And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king and brought the king word back again, saying, "All that was committed to your servants, they perform. 17 And they have collected the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and to the hand of the workmen." 18 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.

19 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. 20 And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 21 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah concerning the words of the book that is found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book."

22 And Hilkiah and those whom the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect. 23 And she answered them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Tell the man who sent you to me, 24 "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah. 25 Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods in order to provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place and shall not be quenched.'"' 26 And as for the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus you shall say to him: 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which you have heard: 27 "Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before me and rent your clothes and wept before me, I have even heard you also," says the LORD. 28 "Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same."'" So they brought the king word again.

29 Then the king sent and convened all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 And the king went into the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, great and small, and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

31 And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 32 And he caused all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel and made all who were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they did not depart from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Chapter 35

Josiah keeps a most solemn passover, 1-19. Provoking Pharaoh-necho, he is slain at Megiddo, 20-24. Lamentations for Josiah, 25-27.

1 Moreover, Josiah kept a passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. And they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 And he set the priests in their charges and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD, 3 And said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD, "Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built. It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel, 4 And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brothers the people and after the division of the families of the Levites. 6 And kill the passover, sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brothers, so that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses."

7 And Josiah gave to the people lambs and kids from the flock, all for the passover-offerings, for all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls. These were of the king’s substance. 8 And his princes gave willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the passover-offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen. 9 And also Conaniah, Shemaiah, Nethaneel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jehiel, and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave to the Levites for passover-offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.

10 So the service was prepared and the priests stood in their place and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment. 11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them. 12 And they removed the burnt-offerings so that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And they did so with the oxen. 13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance, but the other holy offerings they boiled in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people. 14 And afterward, they made ready for themselves and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering burnt-offerings and the fat until night; therefore, the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests the sons of Aaron. 15 And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers waited at every gate. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.

16 So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day to keep the passover and to offer burnt-offerings upon the altar of the LORD according to the commandment of king Josiah. 17 And the children of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. 18 And there was no passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet, neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 19 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this passover was kept.

20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by the Euphrates. And Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I do not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war. For God commanded me to make haste. Forbear from meddling with God, who is with me, so that he may not destroy you." 22 Nevertheless, Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself that he might fight with him, and did not listen to the words of Necho from the mouth of God and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot at king Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded." 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died and was buried in one of the sepulchers of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. And all the singing men and the singing women have spoken of Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel. And behold, they are written in the lamentations. 26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his goodness according to that which was written in the law of the LORD, 27 And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

Chapter 36

Jehoahaz, succeeding, is deposed by Pharaoh and carried into Egypt, 1-4. Jehoiakim, reigning ill, is carried bound into Babylon, 5-8. Jehoiachin, succeeding, reigns ill and is brought into Babylon, 9, 10. Zedekiah, succeeding, reigns ill, despises the prophets, and rebels against Nebuchadnezzar, 11-13. Jerusalem, for the sins of the priests and the people, is wholly destroyed, 14-21. The proclamation of Cyrus, 22, 23.

1 Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem. 2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 And the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem and condemned the land in one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.

5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. 6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

10 And when the year had expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. 13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart from turning to the LORD God of Israel. 14 Moreover, all the chief of the priests and the people transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling-place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and misused his prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore, he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion upon young man, virgin, old man, or him who stooped for age. He gave them all into his hand. 18 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19 And they burnt the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burnt all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels. 20 And those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, 21 To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths. For as long as she lay desolate she rested to fulfill seventy years.

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? May the LORD his God be with him and let him go up.'"

[End of Tanach reading]

THE STORY OF EZRA

Chapter 1

The proclamation of Cyrus for the building of the temple, 1-4. The people provide for their return, 5, 6. Cyrus restores the vessels of the temple to Sheshbazzar, 7-11.

1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, so that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing, saying,

2 "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: 'The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (he is the God), who is in Jerusalem. 4 And whoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, besides the voluntary-offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.'"

5 Then arose the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, the priests, and the Levites, with all whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. 6 And all those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. 7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods, 8 Even those Cyrus king of Persia brought forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. 9 And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, one thousand chargers of silver, twenty-nine knives, 10 Thirty basins of gold, four hundred and ten silver basins of a second sort, and one thousand other vessels. 11 All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought with those of the captivity who were brought from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Chapter 2

The number who return of the people, 1-35; of the priests, 36-39; of the Levites, 40-42; of the Nethinims, 43-54; of Solomon’s servants, 55-60; of the priests who could not show their pedigree, 61-63. The whole number of them, with their substance, 64-67. Their oblations, 68-70.

1 Now these are the children of the province who went up from the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and came back to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, 2 Who came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; 4 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; 5 The children of Arah, seven hundred and seventy-five; 6 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve; 7 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 8 The children of Zattu, nine hundred and forty-five; 9 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; 10 The children of Bani, six hundred and forty-two; 11 The children of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three; 12 The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred and twenty-two; 13 The children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six; 14 The children of Bigvai, two thousand and fifty-six; 15 The children of Adin, four hundred and fifty-four; 16 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; 17 The children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-three; 18 The children of Jorah, one hundred and twelve; 19 The children of Hashum, two hundred and twenty-three; 20 The children of Gibbar, ninety-five; 21 The children of Beth-lehem, one hundred and twenty-three; 22 The men of Netophah, fifty-six; 23 The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight; 24 The children of Azmaveth, forty-two; 25 The children of Kirjath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; 26 The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred and twenty-one; 27 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; 28 The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred and twenty-three; 29 The children of Nebo, fifty-two; 30 The children of Magbish, one hundred and fifty-six; 31 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 32 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty; 33 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-five; 34 The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; 35 The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred and thirty.

36 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 37 The children of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 38 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 39 The children of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

40 The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four. 41 The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and twenty-eight. 42 The children of the gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, and the children of Shobai, in all one hundred and thirty-nine.

43 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 44 The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon, 45 The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub, 46 The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, 47 The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah, 48 The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam, 49 The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai, 50 The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim, 51 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 52 The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 53 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah, 54 The children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.

55 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda, 56 The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 57 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the children of Ami.

58 All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.

59 And these were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses or their genealogy, whether they were of Israel: 60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, and the children of Nekoda, six hundred and fifty-two.

61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called after their name. 62 These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found. Therefore, they were deemed polluted and taken from the priesthood. 63 And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

64 The whole congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 65 Besides their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven, and there were among them two hundred singing-men and singing-women. 66 Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six; their mules, two hundred and forty-five; 67 Their camels, four hundred and thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

68 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in its place. 69 They gave after their ability to the treasure of the work sixty-one thousand drams of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.

70 Thus the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Chapter 3

The altar is set up, 1-3. Offerings renewed, 4-6. Workmen employed in preparing materials, 7. The foundations of the temple are laid in great joy and mourning, 8-13.

1 And when the seventh month had come and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people assembled themselves as one man at Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up, with his brothers the priests, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings on it as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. 3 And they set the altar upon its bases, for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries, and they offered burnt-offerings on it to the LORD, even burnt-offerings morning and evening. 4 They also kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required, 5 And afterward the continual burnt-offering, the offerings of the new moons and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a voluntary-offering to the LORD. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt-offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. 7 They gave money also to the masons and to the carpenters, and provisions, drink, and oil to those of Zidon and to those of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.

8 Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, the remnant of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD. 9 Then Jeshua stood with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks to the LORD, because he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, and many shouted aloud for joy, 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of the joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout and the noise was heard afar off.

Chapter 4

The adversaries, being not accepted in the building of the temple with the Jews, endeavor to hinder it, 1-6. Their letter to Artaxerxes, 7-16. The answer and decree of Artaxerxes, 17-22. The building is hindered, 23, 24.

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building the temple to the LORD God of Israel, 2 They came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of the fathers, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God, as you do, and we have sacrificed to him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, who brought us up here." 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us to build a house to our God. But we ourselves together will build to the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah and troubled them in building, 5 And hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote to him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian language and interpreted in the Syrian language.

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort. 9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dianites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnapper brought over and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest who are on this side of the river, and at such a time. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to him, even to Artaxerxes the king: "Your servants the men on this side of the river, and at such a time. 12 May it be known to the king, that the Jews who came from you to us have come to Jerusalem and they are building the rebellious and noxious city. They have set up its walls and joined the foundations. 13 May it now be known to the king, that if this city is built and the walls set up again, they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and thus you will damage the revenue of the kings. 14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we have sent and informed the king, 15 So that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. Thus you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time, for which cause this city was destroyed. 16 We make known to the king that if this city is built again and its walls set up, by this means you will have no portion on this side of the river."

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the rest beyond the river: "Peace, and at such a time. 18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19 And I commanded, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. 20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all countries beyond the river, and toll, tribute, and custom was paid to them. 21 Now give commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until another commandment is given from me. 22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?"

23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews and made them to cease by force and power.

24 Then the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased. Thus it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Chapter 5

Zerubbabel and Jeshua, incited by Haggai and Zechariah, set forward the building of the temple, 1, 2. Tatnai and Shethar-boznai are not able to hinder the Jews, 3-5. Their letter to Darius against the Jews, 6-17.

1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even to them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem. And with them were the prophets of God helping them.

3 At the same time Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, came to them and said thus to them: "Who has commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall?" 4 Then we told them, after this manner, what were the names of the men who were making this building. 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they could not cause them to cease, until the matter came to Darius. And then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

6 This is the copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were on this side of the river, sent to Darius the king. 7 They sent a letter to him, in which was written as follows: "To Darius the king: All peace. 8 May it be known to the king, that we went into the province of Judea to the house of the great God, which is being built with great stones and timber is laid in the walls. And this work proceeds rapidly and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders, and said thus to them: 'Who commanded you to build this house and to erect these walls?' 10 We asked their names also, to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were the chief of them. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was erected these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and set up. 12 But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And also the vessels of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the temple of Babylon, Cyrus the king took those out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to someone whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor, 15 And said to him, "Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place." 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem. And since that time even until now it has been in building, and yet it is not finished.' 17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is that a decree was made by Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem. And let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

Chapter 6

Darius, finding the decree of Cyrus, makes a new decree for the advancement of the building, 1-12. By the help of Tatnai and Shethar-boznai, according to the decree, the temple is finished, 13-15. The feast of the dedication is kept, 16-18; and the passover, 19-22.

1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the scrolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And a scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, and in it was a record thus written: 3 "In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem: 'Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid—its height sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, 4 With three rows of great stones and a row of new timber. And let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple which is at Jerusalem, each to its place, and place them in the house of God.'"

6 "Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the river, keep far from there. 7 Leave the work of this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8 Moreover, I make a decree as to what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that from the king’s goods, even from the tribute beyond the river, expenses are to be paid to these men immediately, so that they are not hindered, 9 And that which they have need of—young bulls, rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests who are at Jerusalem—let it be given to them day by day without fail, 10 So that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and of his sons. 11 Also, I have made a decree, that whoever alters this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged upon it, and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And may the God who has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people who attempt to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I, Darius, have made a decree. Let it be done with speed."

13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, Shethar-boznai, and their companions, speedily did according to that which Darius the king had sent. 14 And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel and according to the commandment of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

16 And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and for a sin-offering for all Israel twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God who is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together and all of them were pure. And they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 And the children of Israel who had returned from captivity, and all those who had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate, 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Chapter 7

Ezra goes up to Jerusalem, 1-10. The gracious commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra, 11-20. Ezra blesses God for this favor, 27, 28.

1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 This Ezra went from Babylon, and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given, and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. 7 And there went some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinims to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For upon the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. 10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and judgments in Israel.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD and of his statutes to Israel: 12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel and of his priests and Levites in my realm who are disposed of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. 14 Because you are sent by the king and by his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15 And to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that you can find in all the province of Babylon, with the voluntary-offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem, 17 Therefore you may speedily buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their food-offerings and their drink-offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, do that according to the will of your God. 19 The vessels also that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver those before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatever more is needful for the house of your God, which you have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure-house.

21 "And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done speedily, 22 To one hundred talents of silver, to one hundred measures of wheat, to one hundred baths of wine, to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also, we inform you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom upon them.

25 "And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the river, even all those who know the laws of your God, and teach those who do not know them. 26 And whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be to death, to banishment, to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment."

27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28 And has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I assembled out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Chapter 8

The companions of Ezra, who returned from Babylon, 1-14. He sends to Iddo for ministers for the temple, 15-20. He keeps a fast, 21-23. He commits the treasures to the custody of the priests, 24-30. From Ahava they come to Jerusalem, 31, 32. The treasure is weighed in the temple, 33-35. The commission is delivered, 36.

1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king. 2 Of the sons of Phinehas: Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar: Daniel. Of the sons of David: Hattush. 3 Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh: Zechariah, and with him were one hundred and fifty reckoned by genealogy of the males. 4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. 5 Of the sons of Shechaniah: the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. 6 Of the sons also of Adin: Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. 7 Of the sons of Elam: Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. 8 Of the sons of Shephatiah: Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him eighty males. 9 Of the sons of Joab: Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. 10 Of the sons of Shelomith: the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred and sixty males. 11 Of the sons of Bebai: Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males. 12 Of the sons of Azgad: Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred and ten males. 13 And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males. 14 Of the sons also of Bigvai: Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.

15 And I assembled them at the river that runs to Ahava, and there we stayed in tents three days. And I viewed the people and the priests and found none of the sons of Levi there. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, for Elnathan, for Jarib, for Elnathan, for Nathan, for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men, and also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 And I sent them with commandment to Iddo the chief in Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo and to his brothers the Nethinims in Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel: Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen men. 19 And they also brought Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men, 20 And also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims. All of them were expressed by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the Ahava River, so that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from him a right way for us, for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this. And he was entreated by us.

24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them. 25 And I weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, his counselors, his lords, and all Israel present there had offered. 26 I even weighed to their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; and of gold one hundred talents, 27 And also twenty basins of gold, of one thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, "You are holy to the LORD. The vessels are also holy. And the silver and the gold are a voluntary-offering to the LORD God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites and chief of the fathers of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD." 30 So the priests and the Levites took the weight of the silver, the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

31 Then we departed from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from those who lay in wait by the way. 32 And we came to Jerusalem and stayed there three days.

33 Now on the fourth day the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites. 34 Everything was accounted for and weighed, and all the weight was written at that time.

35 Also, the children of those who had been carried away, who had come out of the captivity, offered burnt-offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin-offering. All this was a burnt-offering to the LORD. 36 And they delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s lieutenants and to the governors on this side of the river, and they furthered the people and the house of God.

Chapter 9

Ezra mourns for the intermarrying of the people with strangers, 1-4. He prays to God, with confession of sins, 5-15.

1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy nation has mixed with the people of those lands. Even the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass." 3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel was assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away. And I sat confounded until the evening sacrifice.

5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose from my heaviness, and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6 And said, "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God. For our iniquities have increased over our head, and our trespass has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass to this day. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to disgrace, as it is this day. 8 And now for a brief moment, grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in his holy place, so that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we were slaves, yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, to repair its desolations, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10 "And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 Which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. 12 Now therefore, do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth forever, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.' 13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great trespass, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such deliverance as this, 14 Should we again break your commandments and intermarry with the people of these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? 15 O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left a remnant that has escaped. Behold, we are before you in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before you because of this."

Chapter 10

Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages, 1-5. Ezra assembles the people, 6-8. The people repent, and promise amendment, 9-14. The care to perform it, 15-17. The names of those who had married strange wives, 18-44.

1 Now when Ezra had prayed and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled to him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children, for the people wept very bitterly. 2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God and have taken foreign wives of the people of the land, yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and those who are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise, for this matter belongs to you. We also will be with you. Be of good courage, and do it."

5 Then Ezra arose and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel to swear that they would do according to this word. And they swore. 6 Then Ezra arose from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib. And when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water, for he mourned because of the transgression of those who had been carried away. 7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8 And that whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited and he himself separated from the congregation of those who had been carried away.

9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, and the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You have transgressed and have taken foreign wives to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do his pleasure. And separate yourselves from the people of the land and from the foreign wives." 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, "As you have said, so we must do. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand abroad, neither is this a work of one day or two, for we are many who have transgressed in this thing. 14 Now let our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all those who have taken foreign wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter is turned from us." 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter. And Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.

16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers' houses for each house of their fathers, all of them by their names, were separated and sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 And they finished with all the men who had taken foreign wives by the first day of the first month.

18 And among the sons of the priests there were found some who had taken foreign wives, namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives. And being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. 20 And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 And of the sons of Pashur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23 Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24 Of the singers: Eliashib. And of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25 Moreover, of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Miamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah. 26 And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Eliah. 27 And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. 28 Of the sons also of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29 And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth. 30 And of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 And of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasau, 38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azareel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, Joel, and Benaiah. 44 All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

[Tanach reading: go to Nehemiah]

THE WORDS OF NEHEMIAH

Chapter 1

Nehemiah, understanding by Hanani the misery of Jerusalem, mourns, fasts, and prays, 1-4. His prayer, 5-11.

1 [The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.] And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the palace of Shushan, 2 That Hanani, one of my brothers, came—he and some men of Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, "The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down and its gates are burned with fire."

4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept. And I mourned for some days, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, 5 And said, "I implore you, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy for those who love him and observe his commandments, 6 Let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, so that you may hear the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you now day and night for the children of Israel your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I implore you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations, 9 But if you turn to me and keep my commandments and do them, though there were some of you driven to the uttermost part of the heaven, yet I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to set my name.' 10 Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I implore you, now let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who desire to fear your name. And prosper, I pray you, your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." (I was the king’s cup-bearer.)

Chapter 2

Artaxerxes, understanding the cause of Nehemiah’s sadness, sends him with letters and commission to Jerusalem, 1-8. Nehemiah, to the grief of the enemies, comes to Jerusalem, 9-11. He views secretly the ruins of the walls, 12-16. He incites the Jews to build, 17-20.

1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him. And I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not before been sad in his presence. 2 Therefore, the king said to me, "Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart." Then I was very greatly afraid, 3 And said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should my countenance not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lies waste and its gates are consumed with fire?" 4 Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, "If it should please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchers, so that I may build it." 6 And the king said to me (the queen also sitting by him), "For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time. 7 Moreover, I said to the king, "If it should please the king, let letters be given to me for the governors beyond the river, so that they may convey me over until I come into Judah, 8 And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter." And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night—I and a few men with me—neither did I tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, neither was there any beast with me, except the beast that I rode upon. 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon-well and to the dung-port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down and their gates were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the brook, viewed the wall, turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. 16 And the rulers did not know where I went, or what I did, neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, to the priests, to the nobles, to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.

17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burned with fire. Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no more be a reproach." 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me and of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise and build." So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you do? Will you rebel against the king?" 20 Then I answered them, and said to them, "The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore, we his servants will arise and build. But you have no portion, right, nor memorial in Jerusalem."

Chapter 3

The names and order of those who built the wall, 1-32.

1 Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep-gate. They sanctified it and set up its doors. Even to the tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananeel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 But the fish-gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah, who also laid its beams, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel, repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.

6 Moreover, the old gate was repaired by Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars. 7 And next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired to the throne of the governor on this side of the river. 8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah the son of one of the perfumers repaired, and they fortified Jerusalem to the broad wall. 9 And next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, repaired. 10 And next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired, even over against his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabniah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab repaired the other piece and the tower of the furnaces. 12 And next to him Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, repaired—he and his daughters.

13 The valley-gate was repaired by Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah. They built it, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and one thousand cubits on the wall to the dung-gate.

14 But the dung-gate was repaired by Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem. He built it, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.

15 But the gate of the fountain was repaired by Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah. He built it, covered it, set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king’s garden, and to the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, repaired to the place over against the sepulchers of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, repaired in his part. 18 After him their brothers, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, repaired. 19 And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another piece over against the ascent to the armory, at the turning of the wall. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, repaired another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib, even to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 And after him the priests, the men of the plain, repaired. 23 After him Benjamin and Hashub repaired over against their house. After him Azariah the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, repaired by his house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another piece, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, even to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai repaired over against the turning of the wall and the tower which lies out from the king’s high house, that was by the court of the prison, and after him Pedaiah the son of Parosh; 26 Moreover, the Nethinims dwelling in Ophel, to the place over against the water-gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece over against the great projecting tower, even to the wall of Ophel.

28 From above the horse-gate the priests repaired, each over against his house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired over against his house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another piece. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired over against his chamber. 31 After him Malchiah, the goldsmith’s son, repaired to the place of the Nethinims and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad and to the ascent of the corner. 32 And between the ascent of the corner to the sheep-gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

Chapter 4

While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work, 1-6. Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch, 7-12. He arms the laborers, 13-18; and gives military precepts, 19-23.

1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of debris which are burned?" 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, "Even that which they build, if a fox should go up, he would even break down their stone wall."

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. And turn their reproach upon their own head and give them for plunder in the land of captivity. 5 And do not cover their iniquity and do not let their sin be blotted out from before you, for they have provoked you to anger before the builders.

6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to the half of it, for the people had a mind to work.

7 But it came to pass, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were set up and that the breaches began to be stopped, they were very angry, 8 And all of them conspired together to come and to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it.

9 Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

10 And Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading and there is much debris. We are not able to build the wall."

11 And our adversaries said, "They shall not know, neither see, until we come in the midst among them, slay them, and cause the work to cease." 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said to us ten times, "From all places where you shall return to us they will be upon you." 13 Therefore, I set in the lower places behind the wall and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, arose, and said to the nobles, to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had brought their counsel to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that one half of my servants wrought in the work and the other half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the habergeons. And the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built the wall and those who carried loads, as they were loaded, each did the work with one of his hands, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For each of the builders had his sword girded by his side, and in this manner built. And he who sounded the trumpet was by me. 19 And I said to the nobles, to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20 In what place therefore you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort there to us. Our God will fight for us."

21 Thus we labored in the work. And half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. 22 And at the same time I said to the people, "Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, so that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labor in the day." 23 Thus neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

Chapter 5

The Jews complain of their debt, mortgage, and bondage, 1-5. Nehemiah rebukes those who exact interest, and causes them to make a covenant of restitution, 6-13. He forbears his own allowance, and keeps hospitality, 14-19.

1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews. 2 For there were some who said, "We, our sons, and our daughters are many. Therefore, we take up grain for them, so that we may eat and live." 3 There were also some who said, "We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, so that we might buy grain, because of the famine." 4 There were also some who said, "We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that is upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. And behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought to bondage already, neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards."

6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, "You exact interest, each from his brother." And I set a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, "We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews who were sold to the heathen. And will you even sell your brothers? Or shall they be sold to us?" Then they held their peace and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said, "That which you do is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10 I likewise, my brothers and my servants, might exact from them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 I pray you, restore to them even this day their lands, their vineyards, their olive-groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil that you exact from them." 12 Then they said, "We will restore them and will require nothing of them. We will do so as you say." Then I called the priests and bound them by oath that they would do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, "In this manner may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise. Even in this manner, may he be shaken out and emptied." And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

14 Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king (that is, twelve years), I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15 But the former governors who had been before me were burdensome to the people and had taken from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. And even their servants bore rule over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. 16 And I also continued in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there to the work. 17 Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from among the heathen who were around us. 18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep, birds were also prepared for me, and once in ten days an abundance of all sorts of wine. Yet for all this I did not require the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. 19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Chapter 6

Sanballat practices by craft, by rumors, and by hired prophecies, to terrify Nehemiah, 1-14. The work is finished, to the terror of the enemies, 15, 16. Secret intelligence passes between the enemies and the nobles of Judah, 17-19.

1 Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates), 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me mischief. 3 And I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and come down to you?" 4 Yet they sent to me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner. 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, 6 In which this was written: "It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause you build the wall so that you may be their king, according to these words. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah.' And now it shall be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together." 8 Then I sent to him, saying, "There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart." 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, "Their hands shall be weakened from the work, so that it may not be done." Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 Afterward, I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up. And he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, for they will come to slay you. Indeed, in the night they will come to slay you." 11 And I said, "Should such a man as I flee? And who is there who, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." 12 And behold, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me, for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore, he was hired, so that I should be afraid and do so and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, so that they might reproach me. 14 My God, think upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and on the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have put me in fear.

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard of it and all the heathen who were around us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought by our God. 17 Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. 18 For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah, and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also, they reported his good deeds before me and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.

Chapter 7

Nehemiah commits the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah, 1-4. A register of the genealogy of those who came at the first out of Babylon, 5-8; of the people, 9-38; of the priests, 39-42; of the Levites, 43-45; of the Nethinims, 46-56; of Solomon’s servants, 57-62; and of the priests who could not find their pedigree, 63-65. The whole number of them, with their substance, 66-69. Their oblations, 70-73.

1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were appointed, 2 That I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the ruler of the palace charge over Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God above many. 3 And I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they stand by, let them shut the doors and bar them. And appoint watches from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each in his watch and each to be over against his house." 4 Now the city was large and great, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not built.

5 And my God put into my heart to assemble the nobles, the rulers, and the people, so that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and found this written in it:

6 These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity, of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came back to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his city, 7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel was this: 8 The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two; 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred and seventy-two; 10 The children of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two; 11 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen; 12 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred and forty five; 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and sixty; 15 The children of Binnui, six hundred and forty-eight; 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-eight; 17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two; 18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-seven; 19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand and sixty-seven; 20 The children of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five; 21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight; 22 The children of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight; 23 The children of Bezai, three hundred and twenty-four; 24 The children of Hariph, one hundred and twelve; 25 The children of Gibeon, ninety-five; 26 The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, one hundred and eighty-eight; 27 The men of Anathoth, one hundred and twenty-eight; 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two; 29 The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty-three; 30 The men of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred and twenty-one; 31 The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two; 32 The men of Beth-el and Ai, one hundred and twenty-three; 33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two; 34 The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred and fifty-four; 35 The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty; 36 The children of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five; 37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one; 38 The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.

39 The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three; 40 The children of Immer, one thousand and fifty-two; 41 The children of Pashur, one thousand two hundred and forty-seven; 42 The children of Harim, one thousand and seventeen.

43 The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four. 44 The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred and forty-eight. 45 The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, and the children of Shobai, one hundred and thirty-eight.

46 The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48 The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49 The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50 The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56 The children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.

57 The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, and the children of Amon.

60 All the Nethinims and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two.

61 And these were those who went up also from Tel-mela, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not show their fathers' house, nor their genealogy, whether they were of Israel. 62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, and the children of Nekoda, six hundred and forty-two. 63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, and the children of Barzillai, who took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite for a wife and was called after their name. 64 These sought their register among those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore, they were deemed polluted and taken from the priesthood. 65 And the Tirshatha said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there should stand up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole congregation together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, 67 Besides their men-servants and their women-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And they had two hundred and forty five singing-men and singing-women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred and thirty-six; their mules, two hundred and forty-five; 69 Their camels, four hundred and thirty-five; and their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.

70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure one thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priests' garments. 71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand and two hundred minas of silver. 72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests' garments.

73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the Nethinims, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Chapter 8

The religious manner of reading and hearing the law, 1-8. They comfort the people, 9-12. The forwardness of them to hear and be instructed, 13-15. They keep the feast of tabernacles, 16-18.

1 And all the people assembled as one man in the street that was before the water-gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water-gate from the morning until mid-day, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for this purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people). And when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," with lifting their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the law. And the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, giving the sense so that they understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who is the Tirshatha, Ezra the priest and the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn, nor weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

13 And on the second day the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were assembled to Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month, 15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go forth to the mountain and fetch olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees to make booths, as it is written." 16 So the people went forth, brought them, and made themselves booths, each upon the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of the house of God, in the street of the water-gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the congregation of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day, the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the manner.

Chapter 9

A solemn fast, and repentance of the people, 1-3. The Levites make a religious confession of God’s goodness, and their wickedness, 4-38.

1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting and with sackcloth and earth upon them. 2 And the offspring of Israel separated themselves from all strangers and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God. 4 Then, of the Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood upon the stairs and cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, "Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever. And blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 You are Yahweh, even you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all things that are in it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. And the host of heaven worships you.

7 You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, brought him forth from Ur of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name of Abraham,

8 And found his heart faithful before you and made a covenant with him, to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it to his offspring, and have performed your words, for you are righteous.

9 And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry by the Red Sea,

10 And showed signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, upon all his servants, and upon all the people of his land, for you knew that they dealt proudly against them. Thus you made yourself a name, as it is this day.

11 And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land. And you threw their persecutors into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.

12 Moreover, you led them in the day by a cloudy pillar and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way in which they should go.

13 You came down also upon mount Sinai, spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right judgments, true laws, good statutes, and commandments,

14 And made your holy sabbath known to them, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your servant,

15 And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and did not listen to your commandments,

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you performed among them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and did not forsake them.

18 Indeed, when they had made themselves a molten calf, and said, 'This is your God who brought you out of Egypt,' and had wrought great provocations,

19 Yet you in your manifold mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire by night to show them light and the way in which they should go.

20 You also gave your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

21 Indeed, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not grow old and their feet did not swell.

22 Moreover, you gave them kingdoms and nations and divided them into corners. Thus they possessed the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 Their children you also multiplied as the stars of heaven and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

24 Thus the children went in and possessed the land and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, so that they might do with them as they wished.

25 And they took strong cities and a fat land and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dug, vineyards and olive-groves, and fruit trees in abundance. Thus they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their backs and slew your prophets who testified against them to turn them to you, and they wrought great provocations.

27 Therefore, you delivered them into the hand of their enemies who distressed them. And in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard them from heaven. And according to your manifold mercies you gave them deliverers who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore, you left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard them from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,

29 And testified against them, so that you might bring them back to your law. Yet they dealt proudly and did not listen to your commandments, but sinned against your judgments (which if a man does, he shall live in them), withdrew the shoulder, hardened their neck, and would not hear.

30 Yet many years you forbore over them and testified against them by your Spirit in your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore, you gave them into the hand of the people of the lands.

31 Nevertheless, for your great mercies' sake you did not utterly consume them, nor forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy, do not let all the trouble seem little before you that has come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.

33 But you are just in all that is brought upon us. For you have done right, but we have done wickedly.

34 Neither our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers have kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies, with which you testified against them.

35 For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it.

37 And it yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They also have dominion over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant and write it. And our princes, Levites, and priests set their seals to it."

Chapter 10

The names of those who sealed the covenant, 1-28. The points of the covenant, 29-39.

1 Now those who sealed were Nehemiah (the Tirshatha and the son of Hachaliah), Zidkijah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests. 9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, and Kadmiel, 10 And their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu. 14 The chief of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, 18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, 24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.

28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinims, and all those who had separated themselves from the people of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge and having understanding, 29 They united with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, his judgments, and his statutes, 30 And that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 31 And if the people of the land should bring wares or any provisions on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it from them on the sabbath, or on the holy day; and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

32 We also made ordinances for us to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33 For the show-bread, for the continual food-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people for the wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law; 35 And to bring the first-fruits of our ground and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the LORD; 36 Also the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the first-born of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God to the priests who minister in the house of our God; 37 And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine, and of oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, so that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. 38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the treasure house. 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine, and the oil to the chambers where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, the gatekeepers, and the singers. And we will not forsake the house of our God.

Chapter 11

The rulers, voluntary men, and the tenth man chosen by lot, dwell at Jerusalem, 1, 2. A catalog of their names, 3-19. The remnant dwell in other cities, 20-36.

1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

3 Now these are the chief of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his possession in their cities, namely, Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants. 4 And some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin dwelt at Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez; 5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. 6 All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah; 8 And after him, Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. 9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer. And Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin; 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God. 12 And their brothers who performed the work of the house numbered eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, 13 And his brothers, chief of the fathers, two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 And their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight. And their overseer was Zabdiel the son of one of the great men.

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God; 17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city numbered two hundred and eighty-four.

19 Moreover, the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers who kept the gates numbered one hundred and seventy-two.

20 And the rest of Israel, the priests, and the Levites were in all the cities of Judah each in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel. And Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.

22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of God. 23 For it was the king’s commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.

25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba and in its villages, at Dibon and in its villages, at Jekabzeel and in its villages, 26 At Jeshua, at Moladah, at Beth-phelet, 27 At Hazar-shual, at Beer-sheba and in its villages, 28 At Ziklag, at Mekonah and in its villages, 29 At En-rimmon, at Zareah, at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish and its fields, and at Azekah and in its villages. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children of Benjamin also dwelt from Geba, at Michmash, Aija, and Beth-el, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites some divisions in Judah were joined to Benjamin.

Chapter 12

The priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel, 1-9. The succession of high priests, 10-21. Certain chief Levites, 22-26. The solemnity of the dedication of the walls, 27-43. The offices of priests and Levites appointed in the temple, 44-47.

1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.

8 Moreover, the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was over the thanksgiving—he and his brothers. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, were over against them in the watches. 10 And Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim also begot Eliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada, 11 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathan begot Jaddua.

12 And in the days of Joiakim the priests, the chief of the fathers, were, of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 Of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.

22 The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were recorded chief of the fathers and also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers over against them, to praise and to give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. 26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and the scribe.

27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings, with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 28 And the sons of the singers assembled, both out of the plain country around Jerusalem and from the villages of Netophathi, 29 Also from the house of Gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall and appointed two great companies of those who gave thanks, of which one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung-gate. 32 And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the princes of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 And some of the priests' sons with trumpets, namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph; 36 And his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 37 And at the fountain-gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David at the ascent of the wall above the house of David, even to the water-gate eastward.

38 And the other company of those who gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even to the broad wall, 39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, above the old gate, above the fish-gate, the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even to the sheep-gate. And they stood still in the prison-gate. 40 So the two companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and the half of the rulers with me; 41 And the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42 And Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43 Also that day, they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. The wives and the children also rejoiced. Thus the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

44 And at that time some were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited. 45 And both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the ward of their God and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old, there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the gatekeepers, every day his portion. And they sanctified holy things to the Levites, and the Levites sanctified them to the children of Aaron.

Chapter 13

Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude, 1-3. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed, 4-9. He reforms the offices in the house of God, 10-14; the violation of the sabbath, 15-22; and the marriages with the strange wives, 23-31.

1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people. And therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God forever, 2 Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Baalam against them, so that he would curse them—but our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah. 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where they formerly laid the food-offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the offerings of the priests. 6 But in all this time I was not at Jerusalem. For in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and after some days I obtained leave of the king. 7 And I came to Jerusalem and discerned the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah in preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me greatly; therefore, I cast all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers. And I brought there again the vessels of the house of God, with the food-offering and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, for the Levites and the singers who did the work had each fled to his field. 11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I assembled them and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were accounted faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brothers. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for its offices.

15 In those days I saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. And I testified against them in the day in which they sold provisions. 16 Also men of Tyre dwelt therein who brought fish and all manner of wares and sold on the sabbath to the children of Judah, even in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the sabbath day? 18 Did your fathers not do so, and did our God not bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath."

19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants at the gates, so that there should be no burden brought in on the sabbath day. 20 And the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you lodge in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time forth they no longer came on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come and keep the gates to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. 24 And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. 25 And I contended with them, cursed them, smote some of them, plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did Solomon king of Israel not sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him who was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women even caused him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying foreign wives?" 28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore, I chased him away from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

30 Thus I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, each in his business, 31 And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

[Tanach reading: go to First Chronicles]

THE STORY OF ESTHER

Chapter 1

Ahasuerus makes royal feasts, 1-9. Vashti, sent for, refuses to come, 10-12. Ahasuerus, by the counsel of Memucan, puts away Vashti and makes the decree of men’s sovereignty, 13-22.

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Cush, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces), 2 That in those days, when king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in the palace of Shushan, 3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants. The power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, were before him, 4 When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred and eighty days.

5 And when these days had expired, the king made a feast for all the people who were present in the palace of Shushan, both for great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace, 6 Where white, green, and blue hangings were fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. The beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement of red, blue, white, and black marble. 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse from one another) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. 8 And the drinking was according to the law, and no one was forced, for thus the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she was fair to look upon. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains. Therefore, the king was very angry and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for thus was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and judgment, 14 And were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face and who sat the first in the kingdom), 15 "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law because she has not performed the commandment of king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?" 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes and to all the people who are in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when they say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she did not come.' 18 The ladies of Persia and Media will speak likewise this day to all the king’s princes, who have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus there will arise too much contempt and wrath. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti may no longer come before king Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she is. 20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his empire (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small."

21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

Chapter 2

Out of the choice of young women a queen is to be chosen, 1-4. Mordecai the adoptive father of Esther, 5-7. Esther preferred before the rest, 8-11. The manner of purification and going before the king, 12-14. Esther best pleasing the king, is made queen, 15-20. Mordecai discovering a treason, is recorded in the chronicles, 21-23.

1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s servants who ministered to him said, "Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom so that they may collect all the fair young virgins to the palace of Shushan to the house of the women, into the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women. And let their things for purification be given to them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.

5 Now in the palace of Shushan there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. And the young woman was fair and beautiful. And when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

8 So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree were heard, and when many young women were assembled at the palace of Shushan to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also to the king’s house to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and she obtained kindness from him. And he speedily gave her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven attendants who were suitable to be given to her out of the king’s house. And he moved her and her attendants to the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not revealed her people nor her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her that she should not disclose it. 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house to know how Esther did and what would become of her.

12 Now when every young woman’s turn had come to go before king Ahasuerus, after she had been there twelve months, according to the manner of the women (for thus were the days of their purifications accomplished, namely, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women), 13 Then in this manner every young woman came to the king: whatever she desired was given to her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king’s house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines. She came before the king no more unless the king delighted in her and she was called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, had come to go before the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked upon her. 16 Thus Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast. And he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

19 And when the virgins were assembled the second time, Mordecai sat in the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not yet revealed her kindred, nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther performed the commandment of Mordecai, as when she was brought up with him.

21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were angry and sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it to Esther the queen. And Esther told the king of it in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter and it was discovered, they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Chapter 3

Haman, advanced by the king and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon all the Jews, 1-6. He casts lots, 7. He obtains by slander a decree of the king to put the Jews to death, 8-15.

1 After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed and did obeisance to Haman, for the king had thus commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow, nor do him obeisance. 3 Then the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king’s commandment?" 4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him and he did not listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow, nor do him obeisance, Haman was full of wrath. 6 And he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had revealed to him the people of Mordecai. Therefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7 In the first month (that is, the month Nisan), in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot) before Haman from day to day and from month to month, to the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar). 8 And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are diverse from all people, neither do they keep the king’s laws. Therefore, it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed. And I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who have the charge of the business to bring it into the king’s treasuries." 10 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."

12 Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and all that Haman had commanded was written to the king’s lieutenants, to the governors who were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to its writing, and to every people after their language. In the name of king Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king’s ring. 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), and to plunder their goods. 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people that they should be ready for that day. 15 The posts departed, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in the palace of Shushan. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Chapter 4

The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews, 1-3. Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai, who tells the cause and advises her to undertake the appeal, 4-9. She, excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai, 10-14. She, appointing a fast, undertakes the appeal, 15-17.

1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and cried with a loud and bitter cry, 2 And came even before the king’s gate, for no one might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, weeping, and wailing. And many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 So Esther’s attendants and her chamberlains came and told it to her. Then the queen was exceedingly grieved, and she sent clothing to clothe Mordecai and to take away his sackcloth from him, but he did not receive it. 5 Then Esther called for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was and why it was. 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai to the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them to show it to Esther, to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go before the king to make supplication to him and to make request before him for her people.

9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again, Esther spoke to Hatach and gave him commandment to say to Mordecai, 11 "All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except him to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But I have not been called to come before the king these thirty days." 12 And they told Esther’s words to Mordecai.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, "Do not think to yourself that you shall escape in the king’s house more than all the Jews. 14 For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then enlargement and deliverance will arise to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

15 Then Esther told them to return Mordecai this answer: 16 "Go, assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I also and my attendants will fast likewise. And so I will go before the king, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish." 17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Chapter 5

Esther, adventuring on the king’s favor, obtains the grace of the golden scepter and invites the king and Haman to a banquet, 1-5. She, being encouraged by the king in her appeal, invites them to another banquet the next day, 6-8. Haman, proud of his advancement, complains at the contempt of Mordecai, 9-13. By the counsel of Zeresh he prepares for him a gallows, 14.

1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house. And the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter. 3 Then the king said to her, "What do you wish, queen Esther? And what is your request? It shall be given to you even to the half of the kingdom." 4 And Esther answered, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

5 Then the king said, "Cause Haman to make haste so that he may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 7 Then Esther answered, and said, "My petition and my request is this: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said."

9 Then Haman went forth that day joyful and with a glad heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand up, nor move for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself. And when he came home, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, "Even Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself. And tomorrow I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate." 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak to the king so that Mordecai may be hanged upon it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.

Chapter 6

Ahasuerus, reading in the chronicles of the good service done by Mordecai, takes care for his reward, 1-3. Haman, coming to appeal that Mordecai might be hanged, gives counsel that he might do him honor, 4-11. Complaining of this, his friends tell him of his final destiny, 12-14.

1 On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had reported Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains and the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, "What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?" Then the king’s servants who ministered to him said, "There has nothing been done for him." 4 And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king’s house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "To whom would the king delight to do honor more than myself?" 7 And Haman answered the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king uses to wear, the horse that the king rides upon, and the royal crown which is set upon his head. 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, so that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor, bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, 'Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.'"

10 Then the king said to Haman, "Make haste and take the apparel and the horse as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken." 11 Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor."

12 And Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hastened to his house mourning and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him."

14 And while they were yet talking with him, the king’s chamberlains came and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Chapter 7

Esther, entertaining the king and Haman, makes an appeal for her own life and for her people’s, 1-4. She accuses Haman, 5, 6. The king, in his anger, understanding of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai, causes him to be hanged thereon, 7-10.

1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? It shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom." 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given to me at my petition and my people at my request, 4 For we are sold—I and my people—to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for men-servants and women-servants, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could not have compensated for the damage to the king." 5 Then king Ahasuerus answered and said to Esther the queen, "Who is he and where is he who dares presume in his heart to do so?" 6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman." Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7 And the king arose from the banquet of wine in his wrath and went into the palace-garden. And Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace-garden into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman had fallen upon the bed on which Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he force the queen also before me in the house?" As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, "Behold also the gallows fifty cubits high which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman." Then the king said, "Hang him upon it." 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.

Chapter 8

Mordecai is advanced, 1, 2. Esther makes an appeal to reverse Haman’s letters, 3-6. Ahasuerus grants to the Jews to defend themselves, 7-14. Mordecai’s honor and the Jews' joy, 15-17.

1 On that day king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 And Esther spoke yet again before the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his plan that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king, 5 And said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?"

7 Then king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him upon the gallows because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Also write to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring, for the writing which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s ring, no man may reverse."

9 Then the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month Sivan), on the twenty-third day. And it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India to Cush, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language. 10 And he wrote in king Ahasuerus’s name and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries, 11 In which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to plunder their goods, 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (which is the month Adar). 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people so that the Jews would be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the posts who rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. And the decree was given at the palace of Shushan.

15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple, and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Chapter 9

The Jews slay their enemies and the ten sons of Haman, 1-11. Ahasuerus, at the request of Esther, grants another day of slaughter and Haman’s sons to be hanged, 12-19. The two days of Purim are made a festival, 20-32.

1 Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month Adar), on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them), 2 The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of king Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their hurt. And no man could withstand them, for the fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the rulers of the provinces, the lieutenants, the deputies, and officers of the king helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house and his fame went out throughout all the provinces, for this man Mordecai became greater and greater. 5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter, and with destruction, and did what they pleased to those who hated them. 6 And in the palace of Shushan the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men. 7 And they slew Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha, 10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

11 On that day the number of those who were slain in the palace of Shushan was brought before the king. 12 And the king said to Esther the queen, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the palace of Shushan and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your request further? It shall be done." 13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows." 14 And the king commanded it to be done so. And the decree was given at Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 15 For the Jews who were in Shushan assembled on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar and slew three hundred men at Shushan. But on the plunder they did not lay their hands.

16 But the other Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled and stood for their lives and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy-five thousand (but they did not lay their hands on the plunder) 17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar. And on the fourteenth day of the same they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18 But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled on the thirteenth day of the month and on the fourteenth day. And on the fifteenth day of the same they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore, the Jews of the villages, who dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions to one another.

20 And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 As the days in which the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned for them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day, that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions to one another, and gifts to the poor.

23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun and as Mordecai had written to them, 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur (that is, the lot) to consume them and to destroy them. 25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked plan which he devised against the Jews should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore, they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore, for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come to them, 27 The Jews ordained and took upon themselves, upon their descendants, and upon all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail that they would keep these two days according to their writing and according to their appointed time every year, 28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their memorial perish from their descendants.

29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 And he sent the letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their descendants, the matters of the fastings and their cry. 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

Chapter 10

Ahasuerus' greatness, 1, 2. Mordecai’s advancement, 3.

1 And king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land and upon the islands of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus, great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the wealth of his people and speaking peace to all his nation.

[Tanach reading: go to Daniel]

THE TRIAL OF JOB

Chapter 1

The holiness, riches, and religious care of Job for his children, 1-5. Satan, appearing before God, by slander obtains leave to afflict Job, 6-12. Realizing the loss of his children and goods, in his mourning Job blesses God, 13-22.

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was upright and just, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household. This man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, each his day, and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting had ended, that Job sent and sanctified them, rose early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where did you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From searching around on the earth and from walking up and down upon it." 8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him on the earth, an upright and a just man, one who fears God, and shuns evil?" 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not made a hedge around him, around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance has increased in the land. 11 But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." 12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not put forth your hand upon him." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, 14 And a messenger to Job came and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them and took them away. They have even slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped to tell you." 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, saying, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and only I have escaped alone to tell you." 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, saying, "The Chaldeans made three bands and fell upon the camels and have carried them away. They have even slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped to tell you." 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, saying, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, 19 And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and only I alone have escaped to tell you."

20 Then Job arose, rent his mantle, shaved his head, fell upon the ground, and worshiped, 21 And said,

"Naked I came from my mother’s womb,   /

and naked I shall return there. /

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. /

Blessed be the name of the LORD."

22 In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.

Chapter 2

Satan, appearing again before God, obtains further leave to test Job, 1-6. He smites him with sore boils, 7, 8. Job reproves his wife, who moved him to curse God, 9, 10. His three friends condole with him in silence, 11-13.

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where did you come from?" And Satan answered the LORD and said, "From searching around on the earth and from walking up and down upon it." 3 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him on the earth, an upright and a just man, one who fears God, and shuns evil? And still he holds firmly to his integrity, although you moved me against him to destroy him without cause." 4 And Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin, even all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But put forth your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face." 6 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but save his life."

7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself with it and sat down among the ashes.

9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die." 10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, they did not know him. And they raised their voice and wept, and they each rent his mantle and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 Thus they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

Chapter 3

Job curses the day and services of his birth, 1-12. The ease of death, 13-19. He complains of life because of his anguish, 20-26.

1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. 2 And Job spoke, and said,

3 "Let the day perish in which I was born, /

and the night in which it was said, /

'There is a male child conceived.'

4 Let that day be darkness. /

Do not let God regard it from above, /

neither let the light shine upon it.

5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it. /

Let a cloud dwell upon it. /

Let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it. /

Do not let it be joined to the days of the year. /

Do not let it come into the number of the months.

7 Behold, let that night be solitary. /

Let no joyful voice come therein.

8 Let them curse it who curse the day, /

who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.

9 Let the stars of its twilight be dark. /

Let it look for light, but have none, /

neither let it see the dawning of the day,

10 Because it did not prevent my birth, /

nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 Why did I not die from the womb? /

Why did I not expire at the time of my birth?

12 Why did the knees receive me, /

or why the breasts so that I should be nursed?

13 For now I should have lain still and been quiet. /

I should have slept. Then I would have been at rest,

14 With kings and counselors of the earth /

who built desolate places for themselves,

15 Or with princes who had gold, /

who filled their houses with silver.

16 Or why was I not as a hidden untimely birth, /

as infants which never saw light?

17 There the wicked cease from troubling, /

and there the weary are at rest.

18 There the prisoners rest together. /

They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there, /

and the servant is free from his master.

20 Why is light given to him who is in misery, /

and life to the bitter in soul,

21 Who long for death, but it does not come, /

and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

22 Who rejoice exceedingly /

and are glad when they can find the grave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid /

and whom God has hedged in?

24 For my sighing comes before I eat, /

and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

25 For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me, /

and that which I dreaded has come to me.

26 I was not in safety, neither did I have rest, /

neither was I quiet, yet trouble came."

Chapter 4

Eliphaz reproves Job for lack of religion, 1-6. He teaches God’s judgments to be not for the righteous, but for the wicked, 7-11. His fearful vision to humble the excellency of creatures before God, 12-21.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 "If we essay to commune with you, will you be grieved? /

But who can refrain from speaking?

3 Behold, you have instructed many /

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

4 Your words have upheld him who was falling, /

and you have strengthened the feeble knees.

5 But now it has come upon you, and you faint. /

It touches you, and you are troubled.

6 Is this not your fear, your confidence, your hope, /

and the uprightness of your ways?

7 Remember, I pray you: who has perished, being innocent? /

Or where were the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity /

and sow wickedness reap the same.

9 By the blast of God they perish, /

and by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, /

and the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, /

and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, /

and my ear received a small sound of it.

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, /

when deep sleep falls on men,

14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, /

which made all my bones to shake.

15 Then a spirit passed before my face. /

The hair of my flesh stood up.

16 It stood still, but I could not discern its form. /

An image was before my eyes, /

there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

17 'Shall mortal man be more just than God? /

Shall a man be more pure than his maker?

18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants, /

and his angels he charged with folly.

19 How much less in those who dwell in houses of clay, /

whose foundation is in the dust, /

who are crushed before the moth?

20 They are destroyed from morning to evening. /

They perish forever without any regarding it.

21 Does their excellence which is in them not depart? /

They die, even without wisdom.'"

Chapter 5

Eliphaz shows that the end of the wicked is misery, 1-5; that man is born to trouble, 6, 7; that God is to be regarded in affliction, 8-16; the happy end of God’s correction, 17-27.

1 "Call now, if there is any who will answer you. /

And to which of the saints will you turn?

2 For wrath kills the foolish man, /

and envy slays the silly one.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root, /

but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

4 His children are far from safety. /

They are crushed in the gate, /

neither is there anyone to deliver them.

5 The hungry eat up his harvest /

and take it even out of the thorns, /

and the robber swallows up their substance.

6 Although affliction does not come forth from the dust, /

neither does trouble spring out of the ground,

7 Yet man is born to trouble, /

as the sparks fly upward.

8 I would seek God, /

and to God I would commit my cause,

9 Who does great and unsearchable things, /

wonderful things without number.

10 He gives rain upon the earth /

and sends waters upon the fields,

11 To set on high those who are low /

so that those who mourn may be exalted to safety.

12 He disappoints the devices of the crafty /

so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness, /

and the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

14 They meet with darkness in the day-time /

and grope in the noon-day as in the night.

15 But he saves the poor from the sword, from their mouth, /

and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor has hope, /

and iniquity stops her mouth.

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; /

therefore, do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

18 For he makes sore and binds up. /

He wounds and his hands make whole.

19 He will deliver you in six troubles, /

even in seven no evil shall touch you.

20 In famine he will redeem you from death, /

and in war from the power of the sword.

21 You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue, /

neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.

22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, /

neither shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, /

and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

24 And you shall know that your tabernacle will be in peace, /

and you shall visit your habitation and miss nothing.

25 You shall also know that your posterity will be great /

and your offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 You shall come to your grave in a full age, /

as a stack of grain comes in its season.

27 Behold this, we have searched it, and it is so. /

Hear it, and know it for your good."

References

[v.13]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 3:19.

Chapter 6

Job shows that his complaints are not causeless, 1-7. He wishes for death, wherein he is assured of comfort, 8-13. He reproves his friends of unkindness, 14-30.

1 But Job answered and said,

2 "Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed /

and my calamity laid in the balances together!

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea. /

Therefore, my words are swallowed up.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, /

the poison of which drinks up my spirit. /

The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? /

Or does the ox low over his fodder?

6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? /

Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 The things that my soul refused to touch /

are as my sorrowful food.

8 Oh that I might have my request, /

and that God would grant me the thing that I long for,

9 Even that it would please God to destroy me, /

that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

10 Then I should yet have comfort— /

I would even harden myself in sorrow, which does not spare— /

for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength that I should hope? /

And what is my end that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? /

Or is my flesh of brass?

13 Is my help not in me? /

And is wisdom driven quite from me?

14 To him who is afflicted, pity should be shown from his friend, /

but he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, /

and as the stream of brooks they pass away,

16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, /

and in which the snow is hid.

17 In the time when they become warm, they vanish. /

When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18 The paths of their way are turned aside. /

They go to nothing and perish.

19 The troops of Tema looked, /

the companies of Sheba waited for them.

20 They were confounded because they had hoped. /

They came there and were ashamed.

21 For now you are nothing. /

You see my casting down and are afraid.

22 Did I say, 'Bring to me,' /

or, 'Give a reward for me from your substance,'

23 Or, 'Deliver me from the enemy’s hand,' /

or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the mighty'?

24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue. /

And cause me to understand in what I have erred.

25 How forcible right words are! /

But what does your arguing reprove?

26 Do you think to reprove words, /

seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

27 You even overwhelm the fatherless /

and you dig a pit for your friend.

28 Now therefore, be content, look upon me, /

for it is evident to you if I lie.

29 Return, I pray you, do not let it be iniquity. /

Yes, return again, for my righteousness is in it.

30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? /

Can my taste not discern perverse things?"

Chapter 7

Job excuses his desire of death, 1-11. He complains of his own restlessness and expostulates with God, 12-21.

1 "Is there not an appointed time for man upon earth? /

Are his days not also like the days of a hireling?

2 As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, /

and as a hireling looks for the reward of his work,

3 So I am made to possess months of vanity, /

and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise and the night be gone?' /

And I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. /

My skin has broken and become loathsome.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle /

and are spent without hope.

7 O remember that my life is wind. /

My eye will no longer see good.

8 The eye of him who has seen me shall see me no more. /

Your eyes are upon me and I shall not be.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, /

so he who goes down to the grave shall come up no more.

10 He shall no longer return to his house, /

neither shall his place know him anymore.

11 Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth. /

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. /

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea or a sea-creature /

that you set a watch over me?

13 When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me. /

My couch shall ease my complaint,'

14 You scare me with dreams /

and terrify me through visions,

15 So that my soul chooses strangling /

and death rather than my life.

16 I loathe it. I would not live always. /

Leave me alone, for my days are vanity.

17 What is man that you should magnify him, /

that you should set your heart upon him,

18 And that you should visit him every morning /

and try him every moment?

19 How long will you not depart from me, /

nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?

20 I have sinned. What shall I do to you, O you preserver of men? /

Why have you set me as a mark against you /

so that I am a burden to myself?

21 And why do you not pardon my transgression /

and take away my iniquity? /

For now I shall sleep in the dust. /

And you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be."

Chapter 8

Bildad shows God’s justice in dealing with men according to their works, 1-7. He alleges antiquity to prove the certain destruction of the hypocrite, 8-19. He applies God’s just dealing to Job, 20-22.

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

2 "How long will you speak these things? /

And how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

3 Does God pervert judgment? /

Or does the Almighty pervert justice?

4 If your children have sinned against him, /

he has cast them away for their transgression.

5 If you would seek God diligently /

and make your supplication to the Almighty,

6 If you were pure and upright, /

surely now he would awake for you /

and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

7 Though your beginning was small, /

yet your latter end would greatly increase.

8 For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, /

and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out.

9 (For we are but of yesterday and know nothing /

because our days upon earth are a shadow.)

10 Will they not teach you and tell you /

and utter words out of their heart?

11 Can the rush grow without mire? /

Can the reed grow without water?

12 While it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, /

it withers before any other herb.

13 Thus are the paths of all who forget God. /

And the hypocrite’s hope shall perish,

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, /

and whose trust shall be a spider’s web.

15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand. /

He shall firmly hold it, but it shall not endure.

16 He is green before the sun, /

and his branch shoots forth in his garden.

17 His roots are wrapped around the heap. /

He sees the place of stones.

18 If he destroys him from his place, /

then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, /

and out of the earth others shall grow.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, /

neither will he help the evildoers,

21 Until he fills your mouth with laughing /

and your lips with rejoicing.

22 Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. /

And the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing."

Chapter 9

Job acknowledges God’s justice, 1-21. Man’s innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions, 22-35.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 "Truly I know that it is so, /

but how should man be just with God?

3 If he will contend with him, /

he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. /

Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?

5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know, /

and he overturns them in his anger.

6 He shakes the earth out of her place, /

and its pillars tremble.

7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise, /

and also seals up the stars.

8 He alone spreads out the heavens /

and treads upon the waves of the sea.

9 He made Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, /

and the chambers of the south.

10 He does great things past finding out /

and even wonders without number.

11 Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. /

He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.

12 Behold, he takes away. Who can hinder him? /

Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, /

the proud helpers stoop under him.

14 How much less shall I answer him /

and choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer. /

But I would make supplication to my judge.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me, /

yet I would not believe that he had listened to my voice.

17 For he breaks me with a tempest /

and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 He will not allow me to take my breath, /

but fills me with bitterness.

19 If I speak of strength, behold, he is strong. /

And if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

20 If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me. /

If I say, 'I am perfect,' that also will prove me perverse.

21 Though I were perfect, yet I would not know my soul. /

I would despise my life.

22 This is one thing; therefore, I said, /

'He destroys the perfect and the wicked.'

23 If the scourge slays suddenly, /

he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. /

He covers the faces of its judges. /

If not, where, and who is he?

25 Now my days are swifter than a runner. /

They flee away. They see no good.

26 They have passed away as the swift ships, /

as the eagle that hastens to the prey.

27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint. /

I will leave off my heaviness and comfort myself,'

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. /

I know that you will not hold me innocent.

29 If I am wicked, /

why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water /

and make my hands clean with lye,

31 Yet you will plunge me in the ditch, /

and my own clothes shall abhor me.

32 For he is not a man as I am that I should answer him, /

that we should come together in judgment.

33 There is no judge between us /

who might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Let him take away his rod from me, /

and do not let his fear terrify me.

35 Then I would speak and not fear him, /

but it is not so with me."

Chapter 10

Job, taking liberty of complaint, expostulates with God about his afflictions, 1-17. He complains of life and craves a little ease before death, 18-22.

1 "My soul is weary of my life. /

I will leave my complaint upon myself. /

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me. /

Show me why you contend with me.

3 Is it good to you that you should oppress, /

that you should despise the work of your hands /

and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

4 Do you have eyes of flesh? /

Or do you see as man sees?

5 Are your days as the days of man? /

Are your years as man’s days,

6 That you inquire after my iniquity /

and search after my sin?

7 You know that I am not wicked. /

And there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.

8 Your hands have made me and fashioned me /

in all my parts, yet you destroy me.

9 Remember, I implore you, that you have made me as the clay. /

And will you bring me into dust again?

10 Have you not poured me out as milk /

and curdled me like cheese?

11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh /

and fenced me with bones and sinews.

12 You have granted me life and favor, /

and your visitation has preserved my spirit.

13 And these things you have hid in your heart. /

I know that this is with you.

14 If I sin, then you mark me /

and will not acquit me from my iniquity.

15 If I am wicked, woe to me. /

And if I am righteous, yet I will not lift up my head. /

I am full of shame; /

therefore, see my affliction.

16 And if my head exalts itself, you hunt me as a fierce lion, /

and again you show yourself wonderful upon me.

17 You renew your witnesses against me /

and increase your indignation upon me. /

Changes and war are against me.

18 Why then have you brought me forth from the womb? /

O that I had expired, and no eye had seen me!

19 I should have been as though I had not been. /

I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.'

20 Are my days not few? /

Cease then and leave me alone /

so that I may take comfort a little,

21 Before I go where I shall not return from, /

even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death,

22 A land of darkness as darkness itself, /

and of the shadow of death without any order, /

and where the light is as darkness."

Chapter 11

Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself, 1-4. God’s wisdom is unsearchable, 5-12. The assured blessing of repentance, 13-20.

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 "Should the multitude of words not be answered? /

And should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should your falsehoods make men hold their peace? /

And when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

4 For you have said, 'My doctrine is pure /

and I am clean in your eyes.'

5 But oh that God would speak /

and open his lips against you,

6 And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, /

that they are manifold in understanding! /

Know therefore that God exacts of you /

less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Can you by searching find out God? /

Can you find out the Almighty to perfection?

8 It is as high as heaven. What can you do? /

It is deeper than hell. What can you know?

9 Its measure is longer than the earth /

and broader than the sea.

10 If he cuts off and shuts up, /

or gathers together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knows vain men. /

He sees wickedness also. Will he not then consider it?

12 For vain man would be wise, /

though man is born like a wild donkey’s colt.

13 If you prepare your heart, /

stretch out your hands toward him.

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, /

and do not let wickedness dwell in your tabernacles.

15 For then you shall lift up your face without spot. /

You shall even be steadfast and shall not fear.

16 For you shall forget your misery, /

and remember it as waters that pass away.

17 And your age shall be clearer than the noon-day. /

You shall shine forth. You shall be as the morning.

18 And you shall be secure because there is hope. /

You shall even dig around you and take your rest in safety.

19 Also you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid. /

Indeed, many shall make petition to you.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. /

They shall not escape. /

Their hope shall be as the expiration of the breath."

Chapter 12

Job maintains himself against his friends who reprove him, 1-6. He acknowledges the general doctrine of God’s omnipotence, 7-25.

1 And Job answered and said,

2 "No doubt, but you are the people, /

and wisdom shall die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you. /

I am not inferior to you. /

Indeed, who does not know such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked by his neighbor, /

who calls upon God, and he answers him. /

The just upright man is derided.

5 He who is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised /

in the thought of him who is at ease.

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, /

and those who provoke God are secure, /

into whose hand God brings abundantly.

7 But now ask the beasts, and they shall teach you, /

and the birds of the air, and they shall tell you;

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you, /

and the fish of the sea shall declare to you.

9 Who does not know in all these /

that the hand of the LORD has wrought this?

10 In his hand is the soul of every living thing /

and the breath of all mankind.

11 Does the ear not try words, /

and the mouth taste its food?

12 With the ancient is wisdom, /

and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength. /

He has counsel and understanding.

14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. /

He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.

15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. /

He also sends them out, and they overturn the earth.

16 With him is strength and wisdom. /

The deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leads counselors away captive /

and makes the judges fools.

18 He releases the bonds of kings /

and girds their loins with a girdle.

19 He leads princes away captive /

and overthrows the mighty.

20 He removes away the speech of the trusty /

and takes away the understanding of the aged.

21 He pours contempt upon princes /

and weakens the strength of the mighty.

22 He reveals deep things out of darkness /

and brings to light the shadow of death.

23 He increases nations and destroys them. /

He enlarges nations and diminishes them.

24 He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth /

and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

25 They grope in the dark without light, /

and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man."

Chapter 13

Job reproves his friends for partiality, 1-13. He professes his confidence in God, and then entreats to know his own sins and God’s purpose in afflicting him, 14-28.

1 "Behold, my eye has seen all this, /

my ear has heard and understood it.

2 What you know, the same I also know. /

I am not inferior to you.

3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, /

and I desire to reason with God.

4 But you are forgers of lies. /

You are all physicians of no value.

5 O that you would altogether hold your peace /

and it would be your wisdom.

6 Hear now my reasoning /

and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly for God /

and talk deceitfully for him?

8 Will you accept his person? /

Will you contend for God?

9 Is it good that he should search you out? /

Or as one man mocks another, do you likewise mock him?

10 He will surely reprove you, /

if you secretly accept persons.

11 Shall his excellence not make you afraid /

and his dread fall upon you?

12 Your remembrances are like ashes, /

your defenses like defenses of clay.

13 Hold your peace. Leave me alone so that I may speak. /

And let come on me what will.

14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth /

and put my life in my hand?

15 Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him. /

But I will maintain my own ways before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation, /

for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech /

and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause. /

I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he who will plead with me? /

For now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.

20 Only do not do two things to me, /

then I will not hide myself from you:

21 Withdraw your hand far from me /

and do not let your dread make me afraid.

22 Then call, and I will answer. /

Or let me speak, and answer me.

23 How many are my iniquities and sins? /

Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why do you hide your face /

and hold me for your enemy?

25 Will you terrify a leaf driven to and fro? /

And will you pursue the dry stubble?

26 For you write bitter things against me /

and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27 You put my feet also in the stocks /

and look narrowly to all my paths. /

You set a print upon the soles of my feet.

28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumes, /

as a garment that is moth-eaten."

References

[v.16]: Quoted in Philippians 1:19.

Chapter 14

Job entreats God for favor by the shortness of life and certainty of death, 1-6. He waits for his change, 7-15. By sin the creature is subject to corruption, 16-22.

1 "Man, who is born of a woman, /

is of few days and full of trouble.

2 He comes forth like a flower and is cut down. /

He flees also as a shadow and does not continue.

3 And do you open your eyes upon such a one /

and bring me into judgment with you?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? /

No one.

5 Seeing his days are determined, /

the number of his months is with you, /

and you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.

6 Turn from him so that he may rest /

until he accomplishes his day as a hireling.

7 For there is hope for a tree /

if it is cut down, that it will sprout again /

and that its tender branch will not cease.

8 Though its root becomes old in the earth /

and its stock dies in the ground,

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud /

and bring forth boughs like a plant.

10 But man dies and wastes away. /

Indeed, man yields his breath, and where is he?

11 As the waters fail from the sea /

and the flood decays and dries up,

12 So man lies down and does not rise. /

Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, /

nor be raised out of their sleep.

13 O that you would hide me in the grave, /

that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, /

that you would appoint me a set time and remember me!

14 If a man dies, shall he live again? /

All the days of my appointed time I will wait /

until my change comes.

15 You shall call, and I will answer you. /

You will have a desire to the work of your hands.

16 For now you number my steps. /

Do you not watch over my sin?

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, /

and you sew up my iniquity.

18 And surely the mountain falling comes to nothing, /

and the rock is removed out of its place.

19 The waters wear the stones. /

You wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth /

and you destroy the hope of man.

20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes. /

You change his countenance and send him away.

21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it. /

And they are brought low, but he does not perceive it of them.

22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, /

and his soul within him shall mourn."

Chapter 15

Eliphaz reproves Job for impiety in justifying himself, 1-16. He proves by tradition the unquietness of wicked men, 17-35.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge /

and fill his belly with the east wind?

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk, /

or with speeches with which he can do no good?

4 You even cast off fear /

and restrain prayer before God.

5 For your mouth utters your iniquity, /

and you choose the language of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. /

Your own lips even testify against you.

7 Are you the first man who was born? /

Or were you made before the hills?

8 Have you heard the secret of God? /

And do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9 What do you know that we do not know? /

What do you understand which is not in us?

10 With us are both the gray headed and very aged men, /

much older than your father.

11 Are the consolations of God small with you? /

Is there any secret thing with you?

12 Why does your heart carry you away? /

And what do your eyes wink at,

13 That you turn your spirit against God /

and let such words go out of your mouth?

14 What is man that he should be clean, /

and he who is born of a woman that he should be righteous?

15 Behold, he puts no trust in his saints. /

The heavens are not even clean in his sight.

16 How much more abominable and filthy /

is man who drinks iniquity like water?

17 I will show you. Hear me. /

And that which I have seen, I will declare

18 (Which wise men have told /

from their fathers and have not hid it,

19 To whom alone the earth was given, /

and no stranger passed among them).

20 The wicked man travails with pain all his days, /

and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

21 A dreadful sound is in his ears. /

In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

22 He does not believe that he shall return out of darkness, /

and he is waited for by the sword.

23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' /

He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid. /

They shall prevail against him, as a king ready for the battle.

25 For he stretches out his hand against God /

and strengthens himself against the Almighty.

26 He runs upon him with a stiff neck, /

with the thick bosses of his bucklers,

27 Because he covers his face with his fatness /

and makes collops of fat on his loins.

28 And he dwells in desolate cities /

and in houses which no man inhabits, /

which are ready to become heaps.

29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, /

neither shall he prolong its perfection upon the earth.

30 He shall not depart out of darkness. /

The flame shall dry up his branches, /

and by the breath of his mouth he shall go away.

31 Do not let him who is deceived trust in vanity, /

for vanity shall be his recompense.

32 It shall be accomplished before his time, /

and his branch shall not be green.

33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine /

and cast off his flower as the olive.

34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, /

and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

35 They conceive mischief and bring forth vanity, /

and their belly prepares deceit."

Chapter 16

Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness, 1-16. He maintains his innocence, 17-22.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 "I have heard many such things. /

You are all miserable comforters.

3 Shall vain words have an end? /

Or what emboldens you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as you do. /

If your soul were in my soul’s stead, /

I could heap up words against you /

and shake my head at you.

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, /

and the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged. /

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he has made me weary. /

You have made all my company desolate.

8 And you have filled me with wrinkles, /

which is a witness against me. /

And my leanness rising up in me /

bears witness to my face.

9 He tears me in his wrath and hates me. /

He gnashes upon me with his teeth. /

My enemy sharpens his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth. /

They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully. /

They have gathered themselves against me.

11 God has delivered me to the ungodly /

and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he has broken me apart. /

He has also taken me by my neck, shaken me to pieces, /

and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers encompass me. /

He cleaves my kidneys apart and does not spare. /

He pours out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaks me with breach upon breach. /

He runs upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin /

and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, /

and on my eyelids are the shades of death,

17 Although there is no injustice in my hands /

and my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, do not cover my blood, /

and let my cry have no place.

19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, /

and he who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends scorn me. /

My eye pours out tears to God.

21 O that one might plead for a man with God /

as a man pleads for his neighbor!

22 When a few years have come, /

then I shall go the way from where I shall not return."

Chapter 17

Job appeals from men to God, 1-5. The unmerciful dealing of men with the afflicted may astonish, but not discourage the righteous, 6-10. His hope is not in life, but in death, 11-16.

1 "My breath is corrupt. My days are extinct. /

The graves are ready for me.

2 Are there not mockers with me? /

And does my eye not continue in their provocation?

3 Give now a pledge and put me in a surety with you. /

Who is he who will strike hands with me?

4 For you have hid their heart from understanding; /

therefore, you shall not exalt them.

5 He who speaks flattery to his friends, /

even the eyes of his children shall fail.

6 He has made me also a by-word of the people, /

and they spit in my face.

7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, /

and all my members are like a shadow.

8 Upright men shall be astonished at this, /

and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

9 The righteous shall also hold on his way, /

and he who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

10 But as for you all, return, and come now, /

for I cannot find one wise man among you.

11 My days are past. My purposes are broken off, /

even the thoughts of my heart.

12 They change the night into day. /

The light is short because of darkness.

13 If I wait, the grave is my house. /

I have made my bed in the darkness.

14 I have said to corruption, 'You are my father,' /

and to the worm, 'You are my mother and my sister.'

15 And now where is my hope? /

As for my hope, who will see it?

16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit /

when our rest together is in the dust."

Chapter 18

Bildad reproves Job for presumption and impatience, 1-4. The calamities of the wicked, 5-21.

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

2 "How long will it be before you make an end of words? /

Mark, and afterward we will speak.

3 Why are we counted as beasts /

and reputed vile in your sight?

4 He tears himself in his anger. /

Shall the earth be forsaken for you? /

And shall the rock be removed out of its place?

5 Indeed, the light of the wicked shall be put out /

and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, /

and his lamp above him shall be put out.

7 The steps of his strength shall be hindered, /

and his own counsel shall cast him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, /

and he walks upon a snare.

9 The snare shall take him by the heel, /

and the robber shall prevail against him.

10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, /

and a trap for him in the way.

11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side /

and shall chase him at his heels.

12 His strength shall be hunger-bitten, /

and destruction shall be ready at his side.

13 It shall devour the strength of his skin. /

Even the first-born of death shall devour his strength.

14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle /

and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.

15 There shall dwell in his tabernacle that which is no longer his. /

Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, /

and his branch shall be cut off above.

17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, /

and he shall have no name in the street.

18 He shall be driven from light into darkness /

and chased out of the world.

19 He shall have neither son nor posterity among his people, /

nor anyone remaining in his dwellings.

20 Those who come after him shall be astonished at his day, /

as those who went before were terrified.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, /

and this is the place of him who does not know God."

Chapter 19

Job, complaining of his friends' cruelty, shows there is misery enough in him to feed their cruelty, 1-20. He craves pity, 21, 22. He believes the resurrection, 23-29.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 "How long will you vex my soul /

and break me in pieces with words?

3 These ten times you have reproached me. /

You are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me.

4 And if it is indeed that I have erred, /

my error remains with myself.

5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me /

and plead against me my reproach,

6 Know now that God has overthrown me /

and has encompassed me with his net.

7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. /

I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

8 He has fenced up my way so that I cannot pass /

and he has set darkness in my paths.

9 He has stripped me of my glory /

and taken the crown from my head.

10 He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone. /

And my hope he has removed like a tree.

11 He has also kindled his wrath against me, /

and he counts me to him as one of his enemies.

12 His troops come together, /

raise up their way against me, /

and encamp around my tabernacle.

13 He has put my brothers far from me, /

and my acquaintances are truly estranged from me.

14 My kinsmen have failed, /

and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

15 Those who dwell in my house and my women-servants /

count me for a stranger. /

I am a foreigner in their sight.

16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer. /

I entreated him with my mouth.

17 My breath is strange to my wife, /

and I entreated to the children of my mother’s womb.

18 Young children even despise me. /

I arose, and they spoke against me.

19 All my intimate friends abhorred me. /

And those whom I loved have turned against me.

20 My bone cleaves to my skin and to my flesh, /

and I have escaped with the skin of my teeth.

21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O my friends, /

for the hand of God has touched me.

22 Why do you persecute me as God /

and are not satisfied with my flesh?

23 Oh that my words were now written! /

Oh that they were printed in a book!

24 Oh that they were engraved with an iron pen and lead /

in the rock forever!

25 For I know that my redeemer lives /

and that he will stand at the latter day upon the earth.

26 And after my skin is destroyed, /

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

27 Whom I shall see for myself, /

and my eyes shall behold, and not another. /

My heart is consumed within me.

28 Therefore, you should say, 'Why do we persecute him, /

seeing the root of the matter is found in him?'

29 Be afraid of the sword, /

for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, /

so that you may know there is a judgment."

Chapter 20

Zophar shows the state and portion of the wicked, 1-29.

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 "Therefore, my thoughts cause me to answer, /

and for this I make haste.

3 I have heard the correction of my reproach, /

and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

4 Do you not know this of old, /

since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short /

and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6 Though his excellence mounts up to the heavens /

and his head reaches to the clouds,

7 Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. /

Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

8 He shall fly away as a dream and will not be found. /

He shall even be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 Also the eye which saw him shall see him no more, /

neither shall his place behold him anymore.

10 His children shall seek to please the poor, /

and his hands shall restore their goods.

11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, /

which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness may be sweet in his mouth, /

though he may hide it under his tongue,

13 Though he may spare it and not forsake it, /

but keep it still within his mouth,

14 Yet his food in his bowels is turned, /

it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He has swallowed down riches and he shall vomit them up again. /

God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps. /

The viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not see the river, the floods, /

the brooks of honey and buttermilk.

18 That for which he labored he shall restore /

and shall not swallow it. /

According to his substance the restitution shall be, /

and he shall not rejoice in it.

19 For he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor. /

He has violently taken away a house which he did not build.

20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly. /

He shall not save of that which he desired.

21 None of his food shall be left; /

therefore, no man shall look for his goods.

22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in distress. /

Every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

23 When he is about to fill his belly, /

God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him /

and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, /

and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25 It is drawn and comes out of the body. /

The glittering sword even comes out of his gall. /

Terrors are upon him.

26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places. /

A fire not blown shall consume him. /

It shall go ill with him who is left in his tabernacle.

27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity, /

and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, /

and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God /

and the heritage appointed to him by God."

Chapter 21

Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved, 1-6. Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God, 7-15. Sometimes their destruction is manifest, 16-20. The happy and unhappy are alike in death, 21-26. The judgment of the wicked is in another world, 27-34.

1 But Job answered and said,

2 "Hear diligently my speech, /

and let this be your consolations.

3 Allow me that I may speak. /

And after I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint to man? /

And if it were so, why should my spirit not be troubled?

5 Mark me, be astonished, /

and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am afraid, /

and trembling takes hold of my flesh.

7 Why do the wicked live, /

become old, and are mighty in power?

8 Their posterity is established in their sight with them, /

and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear, /

neither is the rod of God upon them.

10 Their bull engenders and does not fail. /

Their cow brings forth and does not miscarry her calf.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, /

and their children dance.

12 They take the tambourine and harp /

and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13 They spend their days in wealth /

and in a moment go down to the grave.

14 Therefore, they say to God, 'Depart from us, /

for we do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? /

And what profit should we have if we pray to him?'

16 Behold, their good is not in their hand. /

The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 How often is the candle of the wicked put out? /

And how often does their destruction come upon them? /

God distributes sorrows in his anger.

18 They are as stubble before the wind /

and as chaff that the storm carries away.

19 God lays up his iniquity for his children. /

He rewards him, and he shall know it.

20 His own eyes shall see his destruction /

and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what pleasure does he have in his house after him /

when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22 Shall any teach God knowledge, /

seeing that he judges those who are high?

23 One dies in his full strength, /

being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 His pails are full of milk /

and his bones are moistened with marrow.

25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul /

and never eats with pleasure.

26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, /

and the worms shall cover them.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts /

and the devices which you wrongfully plot against me.

28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? /

And where are the dwelling places of the wicked?'

29 Have you not asked those who go by the way? /

And do you not know their tokens,

30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of destruction? /

They will be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31 Who shall declare his way to his face? /

And who shall repay him what he has done?

32 Yet he shall be brought to the grave /

and shall remain in the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley will be sweet to him, /

and every man will draw after him, /

as there are innumerable before him.

34 How then do you comfort me in vain, /

seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?"

Chapter 22

Eliphaz shows that man’s goodness does not profit God, 1-4. He accuses Job of various sins, 5-20. He exhorts him to repentance, with promises of mercy, 21-30.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 "Can a man be profitable to God, /

as he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? /

Or is it gain to him that you make your ways perfect?

4 Will he reprove you for fear of you? /

Will he enter with you into judgment?

5 Is your wickedness not great /

and your iniquities infinite?

6 For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing /

and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 You have not given water to the weary to drink /

and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth, /

and the honorable man dwelt in it.

9 You have sent widows away empty, /

and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore, snares are around you, /

and sudden fear troubles you,

11 Or darkness so that you cannot see, /

and abundance of waters cover you.

12 Is God not in the height of heaven? /

And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And you say, 'How does God know? /

Can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him so that he does not see, /

and he walks in the circuit of heaven.'

15 Have you marked the old way /

which wicked men have trodden?

16 They were cut down out of time, /

their foundation was overflowed with a flood!

17 They said to God, 'Depart from us,' /

and, 'What can the Almighty do for us?'

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things. /

But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it and are glad, /

and the innocent deride them:

20 'Surely our substance is not cut down, /

and the fire consumes their remnant.'

21 Now acquaint yourself with him and be at peace. /

By this good shall come to you.

22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth /

and lay up his words in your heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up. /

If you put away iniquity far from your tabernacles,

24 Then you shall lay up gold as dust /

and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 The Almighty shall even be your defense /

and you shall have plenty of silver.

26 For then you shall have your delight in the Almighty /

and shall lift up your face to God.

27 You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, /

and you shall pay your vows.

28 You shall also decree a thing, /

and it shall be established to you. /

And the light shall shine upon your ways.

29 When men are cast down, you shall say, /

'There is exaltation,' /

and he shall save the humble person.

30 He shall deliver even him who is not innocent. /

And he shall be delivered by the pureness of your hands."

Chapter 23

Job longs to appear before God, 1-5, in confidence of his mercy, 6, 7. God, who is invisible, observes our ways, 8-10. Job’s innocence, 11, 12. God’s decree is immutable, 13-17.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 "Even today my complaint is bitter. /

My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! /

Oh that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him /

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me /

and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he plead against me with his great power? /

No, but he would put strength in me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him, /

and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there. /

I go backward, but I cannot perceive him.

9 I go on the left hand where he works, /

but I cannot behold him. /

He hides himself on the right hand /

so that I cannot see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take. /

When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot has held his steps. /

His way I have kept and not declined,

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips. /

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my appointed food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? /

And what his soul desires, even that he does.

14 For he performs the thing that is appointed for me. /

And many such things are with him.

15 Therefore, I am troubled at his presence. /

When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God makes my heart soft, /

and the Almighty troubles me.

17 For I am not cut off by the darkness, /

but he has hidden the darkness from my face."

Chapter 24

Wickedness often goes unpunished, 1-16. There is a secret judgment for the wicked, 17-25.

1 "Why, seeing times are not hid from the Almighty, /

do those who know him not see his days?

2 Some remove the landmarks. /

They violently take away flocks and their feed.

3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless, /

they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

4 They turn the needy out of the way. /

The poor of the earth hide themselves together.

5 Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, /

they go forth to their work, seeking for a prey. /

The wilderness yields food for them and for their children.

6 They each reap his grain in the field, /

and they gather the vintage of the wicked.

7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing /

and they have no covering in the cold.

8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains /

and embrace the rock for lack of a shelter.

9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast /

and take a pledge of the poor.

10 They cause him to go naked without clothing /

and they take away the sheaf from the hungry,

11 Who make oil within their walls, /

tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.

12 Men groan from out of the city, /

and the soul of the wounded cries out. /

Yet God does not lay folly to them.

13 They are of those who rebel against the light. /

They do not know its ways, /

nor abide in its paths.

14 The murderer rising with the light /

kills the poor and needy, /

and in the night is as a thief.

15 Also the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, /

saying, 'No eye shall see me,' /

and disguises his face.

16 In the dark they dig through houses /

which they had marked for themselves in the day-time. /

They do not know the light.

17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death, /

because they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.

18 He is swift as the waters. /

Their portion is cursed in the earth. /

He does not behold the way of the vineyards.

19 As drought and heat consume the snow-waters, /

so does the grave to those who have sinned.

20 The womb shall forget him. /

The worm shall feed sweetly on him. /

He shall no longer be remembered. /

And wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

21 He oppresses the barren who does not bear /

and does not do good to the widow.

22 He also draws the mighty with his power. /

He rises up, and no man is sure of life.

23 Though it is given him to be in safety, on which he rests, /

yet his eyes are upon their ways.

24 They are exalted for a little while, /

but are gone and brought low. /

They are taken out of the way as all others, /

and cut off as the tops of the heads of grain.

25 And if it is not so now, who will make me a liar /

and make my speech of no worth?"

Chapter 25

Bildad shows that man cannot be justified before God, 1-6.

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

2 "Dominion and fear are with him. /

He makes peace in his high places.

3 Is there any number to his armies? /

And upon whom does his light not arise?

4 How then can man be justified with God? /

Or how can he be clean who is born of a woman?

5 Behold, even the moon has no brightness, /

and the stars are not pure in his sight.

6 How much less is man who is a maggot, /

and the son of man who is a worm?"

Chapter 26

Job, reproving the uncharitable spirit of Bildad, 1-4, acknowledges the power of God to be infinite and unsearchable, 5-14.

1 But Job answered and said,

2 "How have you helped him who is without power? /

How do you save the arm that has no strength?

3 How have you counseled him who has no wisdom? /

And how have you abundantly declared the thing as it is?

4 To whom have you uttered words? /

And whose spirit came from you?

5 Those who are dead tremble /

beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

6 Hell is naked before him, /

and destruction has no covering.

7 He stretches out the north over the empty place /

and hangs the earth upon nothing.

8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, /

and the cloud is not rent under them.

9 He holds back the face of his throne /

and spreads his cloud upon it.

10 He has encompassed the waters with bounds /

until the day and night come to an end.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble /

and are astonished at his reproof.

12 He divides the sea by his power, /

and by his understanding he smites through the proud.

13 By his Spirit he has garnished the heavens. /

His hand has formed the crooked serpent.

14 Behold, these are parts of his ways, /

and how little a portion is heard of him! /

But the thunder of his power, who can understand?"

Chapter 27

Job protests his sincerity, 1-7. The hypocrite is without hope, 8-10. The blessings which the wicked have are turned into curses, 11-23.

1 Moreover, Job continued his parable and said,

2 "As God lives, who has taken away my judgment, /

and the Almighty who has afflicted my soul,

3 All the while my breath is in me, /

and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,

4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, /

nor my tongue utter deceit.

5 Far be it from me that I should justify you. /

Until I die I will not remove my integrity from me.

6 My righteousness I hold firmly and will not let it go. /

My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

7 Let my enemy be as the wicked, /

and he who rises up against me as the unrighteous.

8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, /

when God takes away his soul?

9 Will God hear his cry /

when trouble comes upon him?

10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? /

Will he always call upon God?

11 I will teach you by the hand of God. /

That which is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

12 Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves. /

Why then are you thus altogether vain?

13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God /

and the heritage of oppressors, /

which they shall receive from the Almighty.

14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword, /

and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death, /

and his widows shall not weep.

16 Though he should heap up silver as the dust /

and prepare clothing as the clay,

17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on /

and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18 He builds his house as a moth /

and as a booth that the watchman makes.

19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered. /

He opens his eyes and he is no more.

20 Terrors take hold of him as waters, /

a tempest steals him away in the night.

21 The east wind carries him away, and he departs. /

It sweeps him out of his place.

22 For God shall cast upon him and not spare. /

He would willingly flee out of his hand.

23 Men shall clap their hands at him /

and hiss him out of his place."

Chapter 28

There is a knowledge of natural things, 1-11. But wisdom is an excellent gift of God, 12-28.

1 "Surely there is a vein for the silver /

and a place for gold where they refine it.

2 Iron is taken out of the earth, /

and brass is melted out of the stone.

3 He sets an end to darkness, /

and to all perfection he searches out /

the stones of darkness and the shadow of death.

4 The flood breaks out from the inhabitant, /

even the waters forgotten by the foot. /

They are dried up. They have gone away from men.

5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, /

and underneath it is turned up as by fire.

6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, /

and it has dust of gold.

7 There is a path which no bird knows, /

and which the falcon’s eye has not seen.

8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, /

nor the fierce lion passed by it.

9 He puts forth his hand upon the rock. /

He overturns the mountains by the roots.

10 He cuts out rivers among the rocks. /

His eye sees every precious thing.

11 He binds the floods from overflowing. /

The thing that is hid he brings forth to light.

12 But where shall wisdom be found? /

And where is the place of understanding?

13 Man does not know its price, /

neither is it found in the land of the living.

14 The depth says, 'It is not in me.' /

And the sea says, 'It is not with me.'

15 It cannot be obtained for gold, /

neither shall silver be weighed for its price.

16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, /

with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it, /

and its exchange shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls, /

for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

19 The topaz of Cush shall not equal it, /

neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

20 Where then does wisdom come from? /

And where is the place of understanding?

21 It is hid from the eyes of all living /

and kept close from the birds of the air.

22 Destruction and death say, /

'We have heard its fame with our ears.'

23 God understands its way /

and knows its place.

24 For he looks to the ends of the earth /

and sees under the whole heaven.

25 When he made the weight for the winds /

and weighed the waters by measure,

26 When he made a decree for the rain /

and a way for the lightning of the thunder,

27 He saw it and declared it. /

He prepared it and even searched it out.

28 And to man he said, /

'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. /

And to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Chapter 29

Job bemoans his former prosperity, 1-25.

1 Moreover, Job continued his parable and said,

2 "Oh that I were as in months past, /

as in the days when God preserved me,

3 When his candle shined upon my head /

and by his light I walked through darkness,

4 As I was in the days of my youth; /

when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

5 When the Almighty was yet with me; /

when my children were around me;

6 When I washed my steps with butter, /

and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

7 When I went out to the gate through the city; /

when I prepared my seat in the street!

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. /

And the aged arose and stood up.

9 The princes refrained from talking /

and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The nobles held their peace /

and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard me, it blessed me. /

And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.

12 For I delivered the poor who cried, /

and the fatherless, and him who had no one to help him.

13 The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, /

and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. /

My judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind /

and I was feet to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor. /

And the cause which I did not know, I searched out.

17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked /

and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18 Then I said, 'I shall die in my nest /

and multiply my days as the sand.

19 My root was spread out by the waters, /

and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 My glory was fresh in me, /

and my bow was renewed in my hand.'

21 To me men gave ear, waited, /

and kept silence at my counsel.

22 After my words they did not speak again, /

and my speech dropped upon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the rain, /

and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 If I laughed at them, they did not believe it. /

And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.

25 I chose out their way, sat as chief, /

and dwelt as a king in the army, /

as one who comforts the mourners."

Chapter 30

Job’s honor is turned into extreme contempt, 1-14; and his prosperity into calamity, 15-31.

1 "But now those who are younger than I /

have me in derision, /

whose fathers I would have disdained /

to put with the dogs of my flock.

2 Indeed, to what might the strength of their hands profit me, /

in whom old age had perished?

3 For lack and famine they were solitary, /

fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

4 They cut up mallows by the bushes /

and juniper roots for their food.

5 They were driven forth from among men /

(they cried after them as after a thief),

6 To dwell in the clefts of the valleys, /

in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed. /

Under the nettles they were collected.

8 They were children of fools, even children of base men. /

They were viler than the earth.

9 And now I am their song. /

Indeed, I am their by-word.

10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, /

and they do not spare to spit in my face.

11 Because he has loosened my cord and afflicted me, /

they have also let loose the bridle before me.

12 Upon my right hand rise the youth. /

They push away my feet /

and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

13 They mar my path. /

They set forward my calamity. /

They have no helper.

14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters. /

In the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

15 Terrors are turned upon me. /

They pursue my soul as the wind, /

and my welfare passes away as a cloud.

16 And now my soul is poured out upon me. /

The days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season /

and my sinews take no rest.

18 By the great force of my disease my garment is changed. /

It binds me around as the collar of my coat.

19 He has cast me into the mire, /

and I have become like dust and ashes.

20 I cry to you, and you do not hear me. /

I stand up, and you do not regard me.

21 You have become cruel to me. /

With your strong hand you oppose yourself against me.

22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride upon it. /

You dissolve my substance.

23 For I know that you will bring me to death /

and to the house appointed for all living.

24 Yet he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, /

though they cry in his destruction.

25 Did I not weep for him who was in trouble? /

Was my soul not grieved for the poor?

26 When I looked for good, evil came. /

And when I waited for light, there came darkness.

27 My bowels boiled and did not rest. /

The days of affliction came upon me.

28 I went mourning without the sun. /

I stood up and cried in the congregation.

29 I am a brother to jackals /

and a companion to owls.

30 My skin is black upon me /

and my bones are burned with heat.

31 My harp is also turned to mourning /

and my pipe into the voice of those who weep."

Chapter 31

Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in various duties, 1-40.

1 "I made a covenant with my eyes. /

Why then should I think upon a virgin?

2 For what portion of God is there from above, /

and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3 Is destruction not for the wicked /

and a strange punishment for the workers of iniquity?

4 Does he not see my ways /

and count all my steps?

5 If I have walked with vanity, /

or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 Let me be weighed in an even balance /

so that God may know my integrity.

7 If my step has turned out of the way /

and my heart walked after my eyes, /

and if any blot has cleaved to my hands,

8 Then let me sow and let another eat, /

even let my offspring be rooted out.

9 If my heart has been deceived by a woman, /

or if I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door,

10 Then let my wife grind to another /

and let others bow down upon her.

11 For this is a heinous crime. /

Indeed, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

12 For it is a fire that consumes to destruction /

and would root out all my increase.

13 If I despised the cause of my man-servant /

or of my woman-servant /

when they contended with me,

14 What then shall I do when God rises up? /

And when he visits, what shall I answer him?

15 Did he who made me in the womb not make him? /

And did one not fashion us in the womb?

16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, /

or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, /

and the fatherless has not eaten of it

18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, /

and I have guided her from my mother’s womb),

19 If I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, /

or any poor without covering,

20 If his loins have not blessed me /

and if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless /

when I saw my help in the gate,

22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder-blade /

and my arm be broken from the bone.

23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, /

and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

24 If I have made gold my hope, /

or have said to the fine gold, 'You are my confidence,'

25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great /

and because my hand had gained much,

26 If I have beheld the sun when it shined, /

or the moon walking in brightness,

27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, /

or my mouth has kissed my hand,

28 This also would have been an iniquity to be punished by the judge, /

for I would have denied the God who is above.

29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, /

or have lifted up myself when evil found him

30 (For I have not allowed my mouth to sin /

by wishing a curse to his soul),

31 If the men of my tabernacle have not said, /

'Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his flesh?'

32 (The stranger did not lodge in the street, /

but I opened my doors to the traveler),

33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam /

by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared a great multitude, /

or the contempt of families terrified me, /

so that I kept silence and did not go out of the door,

35 Oh that one would hear me! /

Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me /

and that my adversary had written a book.

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder /

and bind it as a crown to me.

37 I would declare to him the number of my steps. /

As a prince I would go near to him.

38 If my land cries against me, /

or its furrows likewise complain,

39 If I have eaten its fruits without money, /

or have caused its owners to lose their life,

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat /

and weeds instead of barley."

[ The words of Job are finished. ]

Chapter 32

Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends, 1-5. Because wisdom does not come from age, he excuses the boldness of his youth, 6-10. He reproves them for not satisfying Job, 11-15. His zeal to speak, 16-22.

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was kindled against Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was kindled because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he was. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said,

"I am young, and you are very old;   /

therefore, I was afraid and dared not show you my opinion.

7 I said, 'Days should speak,   /

and multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

8 But there is a spirit in man,   /

and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding.

9 Great men are not always wise,   /

neither do the aged understand judgment.

10 Therefore, I said, 'Listen to me.   /

I also will show my opinion.'

11 Behold, I waited for your words.   /

I gave ear to your reasons /

while you searched out what to say.

12 I even attended to you,   /

and behold, there was none of you who convinced Job, /

or who answered his words,

13 Lest you should say, 'We have found out wisdom.   /

God thrusts him down, not man.'

14 Now he has not directed his words against me,   /

neither will I answer him with your speeches.

15 They were amazed. They answered no more.   /

They left off speaking.

16 Seeing that I had waited (for they did not speak,   /

but stood still, and answered no more),

17 I will also answer my part   /

and will also show my opinion.

18 For I am full of matter,   /

and the spirit within me constrains me.

19 Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent,   /

it is ready to burst like new bottles.

20 I will speak so that I may be refreshed.   /

I will open my lips and answer.

21 Do not let me, I pray you, accept any man’s person,   /

neither let me give flattering titles to man.

22 For I do not know to give flattering titles.   /

In so doing, my Maker would soon take me away."

Chapter 33

Elihu offers himself instead of God to reason with Job, 1-7. He excuses God from giving man an account of his ways, by his greatness, 8-13. God calls man to repentance by visions, by afflictions, and by his ministry, 14-30. He incites Job to attention, 31-33.

1 "Therefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches /

and listen to all my words.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth. /

My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart /

and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

4 The Spirit of God has made me /

and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

5 If you can answer me, /

set your words in order before me and stand up.

6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God’s stead. /

I also am formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, /

neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, /

and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

9 'I am clean without transgression. /

I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, /

he counts me for his enemy,

11 He puts my feet in the stocks, /

and he marks all my paths.'

12 Behold, in this you are not just. /

I will answer you that God is greater than man.

13 Why do you strive against him? /

For he does not give account of any of his matters.

14 For God speaks once, even twice, /

yet man does not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, /

when deep sleep falls upon men, /

in slumberings upon the bed,

16 He opens the ears of men /

and seals their instruction,

17 So that he may withdraw man from his purpose /

and hide pride from man.

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit /

and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, /

and the multitude of his bones with strong pain,

20 So that his life abhors bread /

and his soul dainty food.

21 His flesh is consumed away so that it cannot be seen. /

And his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 His soul even draws near to the grave /

and his life to the destroyers.

23 If there is a messenger with him, /

an interpreter, one among a thousand, /

to show to man his uprightness,

24 Then he is gracious to him and says, /

'Deliver him from going down to the pit. /

I have found a ransom.'

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s. /

He will return to the days of his youth.

26 He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him. /

And he shall see his face with joy, /

for he will render to man his righteousness.

27 He looks upon [his fellow] man and says, /

'I have sinned and perverted that which was right, /

and it did not profit me.

28 He will deliver my soul from going into the pit, /

and my life shall see the light.'

29 Behold, all these things God often works with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, /

to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job, listen to me. /

Hold your peace, and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me. /

Speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 If not, listen to me. /

Hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom."

Chapter 34

Elihu accuses Job of charging God with injustice, 1-9. God cannot be unjust because he is omnipotent, 10-30. Man must humble himself to God, 31-33. Elihu reproves Job, 34-37.

1 Furthermore, Elihu answered and said,

2 "Hear my words, O you wise men, /

and give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 For the ear tries words /

as the mouth tastes food.

4 Let us choose for ourselves judgment. /

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job has said, 'I am righteous, /

and God has taken away my judgment.

6 Should I lie against my right? /

My wound is incurable without transgression.'

7 What man is like Job /

who drinks up scorning like water,

8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity /

and walks with wicked men?

9 For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing /

that he should delight himself with God.'

10 Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. /

Far be it from God that he should do wickedness, /

and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work of a man he shall render to him /

and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Surely God will not do wickedly, /

neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? /

Or who has disposed the whole world?

14 If he should set his heart upon man, /

if he should gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

15 All flesh would perish together /

and man would return to dust.

16 If now you have understanding, hear this. /

Listen to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he who hates right govern? /

And will you condemn him who is most just?

18 Is it fit to say to a king, 'You are wicked,' /

and to princes, 'You are ungodly'?

19 How much less to him who does not accept the persons of princes, /

nor regards the rich more than the poor? /

For they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment they shall die. /

And the people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away. /

And the mighty shall be taken away without the hand [of men].

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man /

and he sees all his goings.

22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, /

where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon man more than right, /

that he should enter into judgment with God.

24 He shall break mighty men in pieces without number /

and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore, he knows their works /

and he overturns them in the night so that they are destroyed.

26 He strikes them as wicked men /

in the open sight of others,

27 Because they turned back from him /

and would not consider any of his ways,

28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him. /

And he hears the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? /

And when he hides his face, who then can behold him, /

whether it be done against a nation or against a man only?

30 This is so that the hypocrite may not reign, /

lest the people should be ensnared.

31 Surely it is proper to be said to God, /

'I have borne chastisement. I will not offend anymore.

32 That which I do not see, teach me. /

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.'

33 Should it be according to your mind? He will recompense it, /

whether you refuse or whether you choose, and not I. /

Therefore, speak what you know.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, /

and let a wise man listen to me.

35 Job has spoken without knowledge, /

and his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is that Job may be tried to the end /

because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. /

He claps his hands among us /

and multiplies his words against God."

Chapter 35

Comparison is not to be made with God, because our good or evil cannot extend to him, 1-8. Many cry in their afflictions, but are not heard for lack of faith, 9-16.

1 Elihu spoke moreover and said,

2 "Do you think this to be right that you said, /

'My righteousness is more than God’s'?

3 For you said, 'What advantage will it be to you? /

What profit shall I have if I am cleansed from my sin?'

4 I will answer you /

and your companions with you.

5 Look to the heavens and see, /

and behold the clouds which are higher than you.

6 If you sin, what do you do against him? /

Or if your transgressions are multiplied, /

what do you do to him?

7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him? /

Or what does he receive from your hand?

8 Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, /

and your righteousness may profit the son of man.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions /

they make the oppressed to cry. /

They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10 But no one says, 'Where is God my maker /

who gives songs in the night,

11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth /

and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?'

12 There they cry, but no one gives answer /

because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, /

neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although you say you shall not see him, /

yet judgment is before him; therefore, trust in him.

15 But now, because it is not so, he has visited in his anger, /

yet he does not know it in great extremity.

16 Therefore, Job opens his mouth in vain. /

He multiplies words without knowledge."

Chapter 36

Elihu shows how God is just in his ways, 1-15. How Job’s sins hinder God’s blessings, 16-23. God’s works are to be magnified, 24-33.

1 Elihu also proceeded and said,

2 "Allow me a little, and I will show you /

that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

3 I will bring my knowledge from afar /

and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4 For truly my words shall not be false. /

He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

5 Behold, God is mighty and does not despise anyone. /

He is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, /

but gives right to the poor.

7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous. /

But with kings on the throne, /

he even establishes them forever, and they are exalted.

8 And if they are bound in fetters /

and are held in cords of affliction,

9 Then he shows them their work /

and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He also opens their ear to discipline /

and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve him, /

they shall spend their days in prosperity /

and their years in pleasures.

12 But if they do not obey, /

they shall perish by the sword /

and die without knowledge.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath. /

They do not cry when he binds them.

14 They die in youth /

and their life is among the unclean.

15 He delivers the poor in his affliction /

and opens their ears in oppression.

16 Even so he would have enticed you out of distress /

into a broad place where there is no constraint, /

and that which should be set on your table /

would be full of fatness.

17 But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked. /

Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18 Because there is wrath, /

beware lest he take you away with his stroke. /

Then a great ransom cannot deliver you.

19 Will he esteem your riches? No, not gold, /

nor all the forces of strength.

20 Do not desire the night /

when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, do not regard iniquity, /

for this you have chosen rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God exalts by his power. /

Who teaches like him?

23 Who has enjoined him his way? /

Or who can say, 'You have wrought iniquity'?

24 Remember that you magnify his work, /

which men behold.

25 Every man may see it. /

Man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we do not know him, /

neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 For he makes the drops of water small. /

They pour down rain according to its vapor,

28 Which the clouds drop /

and distill upon man abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, /

or the noise of his tabernacle?

30 Behold, he spreads his light upon it /

and covers the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them he judges the people. /

He gives food in abundance.

32 With clouds he covers the light /

and commands it not to shine by the intervening cloud.

33 The noise thereof announces him, /

the cattle also, concerning the storm that comes up."

Chapter 37

God is to be feared because of his great works, 1-14. His wisdom is unsearchable in them, 15-24.

1 "At this also my heart trembles /

and is moved out of its place.

2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice /

and the sound that goes out of his mouth.

3 He directs it under the whole heaven, /

and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 After it a voice roars. /

He thunders with the voice of his excellence, /

and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with his voice. /

He does great things which we cannot comprehend.

6 For he says to the snow, 'Be on the earth,' /

and likewise to the small rain /

and to the great rain of his strength.

7 He seals up the hand of every man /

so that all men may know his work.

8 Then the beasts go into dens /

and remain in their places.

9 From the south comes the whirlwind, /

and cold from the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given, /

and the breadth of the waters is constrained.

11 Also by watering he wearies the thick cloud. /

He scatters his bright cloud,

12 And it is turned around by his counsels /

so that they may do whatever he commands them /

upon the face of the world on the earth.

13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, /

for his land, or for mercy.

14 Listen to this, O Job. /

Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Do you know when God disposed them /

and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, /

the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,

17 You whose garments are warm, /

when he quiets the earth by the south wind?

18 Have you with him spread out the sky /

which is strong and as a cast metal mirror?

19 Teach us what we shall say to him, /

for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told to him that I speak? /

If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up.

21 And now men do not see the bright light /

which is in the clouds. /

But the wind passes and cleanses them.

22 Fair weather comes from the north. /

With God is awesome majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out. /

He is excellent in power, /

in judgment, and in abundance of justice. /

He will not afflict.

24 Men therefore fear him. /

He does not respect any who are wise of heart."

Chapter 38

God challenges Job to answer, 1-3. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance, 4-30, and of imbecility, 31-41.

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

2 "Who is this who darkens counsel /

by words without knowledge?

3 Now gird up your loins like a man, /

for I will demand of you, and answer me.

4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? /

Declare, if you have understanding.

5 Who has laid its measures, if you know? /

Or who has stretched the line upon it?

6 Upon what are its foundations fastened? /

Or who laid its corner stone,

7 When the morning stars sang together /

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors /

when it broke forth as if it had issued out of the womb,

9 When I made a cloud its garment /

and thick darkness a swaddling cloth for it,

10 And broke up for it my decreed place /

and set bars and doors,

11 And said, 'You shall come here, but no further, /

and your proud waves shall be stayed here'?

12 Have you commanded the morning since your days /

and caused the day-spring to know its place

13 So that it might take hold of the ends of earth /

and that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal, /

and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withheld, /

and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? /

Or have you walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened to you? /

Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? /

Declare if you know it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwells? /

And as for darkness, where is its place,

20 That you should take it to its bound /

and that you should know the paths to its house?

21 Do you know it because you were born then, /

or because the number of your days is great?

22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? /

Or have you seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, /

against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, /

which scatters the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, /

or a way for the lightning of thunder,

26 To cause it to rain on the earth where no man is, /

on the wilderness in which there is no man,

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, /

and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Has the rain a father? /

Or who has begotten the drops of the dew?

29 Out of whose womb did the ice come? /

And the hoary frost of heaven, who has engendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone /

and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, /

or loosen the cords of Orion?

32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in its season? /

Or can you guide Arcturus with its sons?

33 Do you know the ordinances of heaven? /

Can you set its dominion on the earth?

34 Can you lift your voice to the clouds /

so that abundance of waters may cover you?

35 Can you send lightnings so that they may go /

and say to you, 'Here we are'?

36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? /

Or who has given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? /

Or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust grows into hardness /

and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion, /

or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens /

and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provides for the raven his food? /

When his young ones cry to God, /

they wander for lack of food."

Chapter 39

Of the wild goats and hinds, 1-4. Of the wild donkey, 5-8. The wild ox, 9-12. The peacock and ostrich, 13-18. The horse, 19-25. The hawk, 26. The eagle, 27-30.

1 "Do you know the time /

when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? /

Or can you mark when the deer bring forth?

2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? /

Or do you know the time when they bring forth?

3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, /

they cast out their sorrows.

4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up with grain, /

they go forth and do not return to them.

5 Who has sent out the wild donkey free? /

Or who has loosened the bonds of the wild donkey,

6 Whose house I have made the wilderness /

and the barren land his dwellings?

7 He scorns the multitude of the city, /

neither does he regard the crying of the driver.

8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, /

and he searches after every green thing.

9 Will the wild ox be willing to serve you, /

or abide by your crib?

10 Can you bind the wild ox with ropes in the furrow? /

Or will he harrow the valleys after you?

11 Will you trust him because his strength is great? /

Or will you leave your labor to him?

12 Will you believe him that he will bring home your seed /

and gather it into your barn?

13 Did you give the beautiful wings to the peacocks, /

or wings and feathers to the ostrich,

14 Which leaves her eggs in the earth, /

warms them in the dust,

15 And forgets that the foot may crush them, /

or that the wild beast may break them?

16 She is hardened against her young ones /

as though they were not hers. /

Her labor is in vain without fear,

17 Because God has withheld wisdom from her, /

neither has he imparted to her understanding.

18 When she lifts herself on high, /

she scorns the horse and his rider.

19 Have you given the horse strength? /

Have you clothed his neck with thunder?

20 Can you make him afraid as a locust? /

The glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21 He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength. /

He goes on to meet the armed men.

22 He mocks at fear and is not terrified, /

neither does he turn back from the sword.

23 The quiver rattles against him, /

the glittering spear and the shield.

24 He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage, /

neither does he believe that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25 He says among the trumpets, 'Ha, ha,' /

and he smells the battle afar off, /

the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 Does the hawk fly by your wisdom /

and stretch her wings toward the south?

27 Does the eagle mount up at your command /

and make her nest on high?

28 She dwells and abides on the rock, /

upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29 From there she seeks the prey, /

and her eyes behold afar off.

30 Her young ones also sip up blood. /

And where the slain are, there she is."

Chapter 40

Job humbles himself to God, 1-5. God stirs him up to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom, 6-15. Of the behemoth, 16-24.

1 Moreover, the LORD answered Job and said,

2 "Shall he who contends with the Almighty instruct him?   /

He who reproves God, let him answer it."

3 Then Job answered the LORD and said,

4 "Behold, I am vile.   /

What shall I answer you? /

I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer,   /

even twice, but I will proceed no further."

6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

7 "Now gird up your loins like a man.   /

I will demand of you, and you declare to me.

8 Will you also disannul my judgment?   /

Will you condemn me so that you may be righteous?

9 Have you an arm like God?   /

Or can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Deck yourself now with majesty and excellence   /

and array yourself with glory and beauty.

11 Cast abroad the rage of your wrath.   /

Behold everyone who is proud and abase him.

12 Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low.   /

Tread down the wicked in their place.

13 Hide them in the dust together.   /

Bind their faces in secret.

14 Then I will also confess to you   /

that your own right hand can save you.

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with you,   /

he eats grass as an ox.

16 Behold now, his strength is in his loins   /

and his force is in the navel of his belly.

17 He moves his tail like a cedar.   /

The sinews of his male organs are wrapped together.

18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass.   /

His bones are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the ways of God.   /

He who made him can make his sword to approach him.

20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food,   /

and all the beasts of the field play there.

21 He lies under the shady trees,   /

in the covert of the reed and mire.

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow.   /

The willows of the brook encompass him.

23 Behold, he drinks up a river and does not hasten.   /

He trusts that he can draw up the Jordan into his mouth.

24 He takes it with his eyes.   /

His nose pierces through snares."

Chapter 41

Of God’s great power in the leviathan, 1-34.

1 "Can you draw out leviathan with a hook, /

or his tongue with a cord which you let down?

2 Can you put a hook into his nose, /

or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

3 Will he make many supplications to you? /

Will he speak soft words to you?

4 Will he make a covenant with you? /

Will you take him for a servant forever?

5 Will you play with him as with a bird? /

Or will you bind him for your young women?

6 Shall the traders make a banquet of him? /

Shall they part him among the merchants?

7 Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, /

or his head with fish spears?

8 Lay your hand upon him. /

Remember the battle, and do so no more.

9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain. /

Shall one not be cast down even at the sight of him?

10 No one is so fierce that he dare rouse him. /

Who then is able to stand before me?

11 Who has first benefited me that I should repay him? /

Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12 I will not conceal his parts, /

nor his power, nor his orderly proportion.

13 Who can discover the face of his garment? /

Or who can come to him with his double bridle?

14 Who can open the doors of his face? /

His teeth are terrible around.

15 His scales are his pride, /

shut together as with a compact seal.

16 One is so near to another /

that no air can come between them.

17 They are joined to one another. /

They stick together so that they cannot be separated.

18 His sneezings flash light, /

and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps /

and sparks of fire dart forth.

20 Out of his nostrils issues smoke /

as out of a boiling pot or cauldron.

21 His breath kindles coals /

and a flame issues from his mouth.

22 In his neck remains strength, /

and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

23 The hanging parts of his flesh are joined together. /

They are firm in themselves. They cannot be moved.

24 His heart is as firm as a stone, /

even as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

25 When he raises himself, the mighty are afraid. /

By reason of breakings they purify themselves.

26 The sword of him who attacks him cannot hold, /

nor the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

27 He esteems iron as straw /

and brass as rotten wood.

28 The arrow cannot make him flee. /

Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.

29 Darts are counted as stubble. /

He laughs at the shaking of a spear.

30 Sharp stones are under him. /

He spreads sharp pointed things upon the mire.

31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. /

He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

32 He makes a path to shine after him. /

One would think the deep to be hoary.

33 Upon earth there is nothing like him, /

who is made without fear.

34 He beholds all high things. /

He is a king over all the children of pride."

References

[v.11]: Quoted in Romans 11:35.

Chapter 42

Job submits himself to God, 1-6. God prefers Job’s cause and reproves Job’s friends, Job prays for his friends, and God accepts Job, 7-9. He magnifies and blesses Job, 10-15. Job’s age and death, 16, 17.

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said,

2 "I know that you can do everything   /

and that no thought can be withheld from you.

3 Who is he who hides counsel without knowledge?   /

Therefore, I have uttered that which I did not understand, /

things too wonderful for me which I did not know.

4 Hear, I implore you, and I will speak.   /

I will ask of you, and you declare to me.

5 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear,   /

but now my eye sees you.

6 Therefore, I abhor myself   /

and repent in dust and ashes."

7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer for yourselves a burnt-offering. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job." 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did according as the LORD commanded them. The LORD also accepted Job.

10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends. The LORD also gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then all his brothers came there to him, along with all his sisters and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they condoled with him and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money and everyone an earring of gold. 12 Thus the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning, for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemima, and the name of the second Kezia, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. 15 And in all the land no women were found so fair as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years and saw his sons and his sons' sons, even four generations. 17 And Job died, being old and full of days.

[Tanach reading: go to Song of Solomon]

THE PSALMS

BOOK I

Psalm 1

The happiness of the godly, 1-3. The unhappiness of the ungodly, 4-6.

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, /

nor stands in the way of sinners, /

nor sits in the seat of scoffers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, /

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water /

that brings forth its fruit in season, /

and its leaf shall not wither. /

And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so, /

but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, /

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous. /

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2

The kingdom of Christ, 1-9. Kings are exhorted to accept it, 10-12.

1 Why do the heathen rage /

and the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, /

and the rulers take counsel together, /

against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,

3 "Let us break their bonds apart /

and cast away their cords from us."

4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. /

The Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then he shall speak to them in his wrath /

and trouble them in his sore displeasure.

6 "Yet I have set my king /

upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree. /

The LORD has said to me, 'You are my Son. /

This day I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance /

and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron. /

You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.'"

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings. /

Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear /

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way /

when his wrath is kindled but a little. /

Blessed are all those who put their trust in him.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Acts 4:25. [v.2]: Quoted in Acts 4:26. [v.7]: Quoted in Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5, 5:5. [v.8]: Quoted in Revelation 2:26. [v.9]: Quoted in Revelation 2:27, 12:5, 19:15.

Psalm 3

The security of God’s protection, 1-8.

1 [A Psalm of David: when he fled from Absalom his son.]

LORD, how those who trouble me are multiplied! /

Many are those who rise up against me.

2 There are many who say of my soul, /

"There is no help for him in God." /

[ Selah. ]

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield for me, /

my glory and the lifter up of my head.

4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, /

and he heard me from his holy hill. /

[ Selah. ]

5 I laid myself down and slept. /

I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people /

who have set themselves against me on all sides.

7 Arise, O LORD. Save me, O my God. /

For you have smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone. /

You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. /

Your blessing is upon your people. /

[ Selah. ]

Psalm 4

David prays for audience, 1. He reproves and exhorts his enemies, 2-5. Man’s happiness is in God’s favor, 6-8.

1 [To the Chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalm of David.]

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness. /

You have enlarged me when I was in distress. /

Have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into shame? /

How long will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? /

[ Selah. ]

3 But know that the LORD has set apart him who is godly for himself. /

The LORD will hear when I call to him.

4 Stand in awe and do not sin. /

Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. /

[ Selah. ]

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness /

and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" /

LORD, lift upon us the light of your countenance.

7 You have put gladness in my heart, /

more than in the time when their grain and their wine increased.

8 I will both lay myself down in peace and sleep, /

for you only, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Ephesians 4:26.

Psalm 5

David prays and professes his diligence in prayer, 1-3. God does not favor the wicked, 4-6. David, professing his faith, prays to God to guide him, 7-9; to destroy his enemies, 10; and to preserve the godly, 11, 12.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Nehiloth. A Psalm of David.]

Give ear to my words, O LORD. /

Consider my meditation.

2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God. /

For to you I will pray.

3 My voice you shall hear in the morning, O LORD. /

In the morning I will direct my prayer to you and will look up.

4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness, /

neither shall evil dwell with you.

5 The foolish shall not stand in your sight. /

You hate all workers of iniquity.

6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. /

The LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into your house /

in the multitude of your mercy, /

and in your fear I will worship /

toward your holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies. /

Make your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. /

Their inward part is wickedness. /

Their throat is an open sepulcher. /

They flatter with their tongue.

10 Destroy them, O God. /

Let them fall by their own counsels. /

Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions. /

For they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all those who put their trust in you rejoice. /

Let them always shout for joy because you defend them. /

Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.

12 For you, LORD, will bless the righteous. /

With favor you will compass him as with a shield.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in Romans 3:13.

Psalm 6

David’s complaint in his sickness, 1-7. He triumphs over his enemies, 8-10.

1 [To the Chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.]

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, /

neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak. /

O LORD, heal me, for my bones are agitated.

3 My soul is also greatly disquieted. /

But you, O LORD, how long?

4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul. /

Oh save me for your mercy’s sake.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of you. /

In the grave, who will give you thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning. /

All the night I make my bed to swim. /

I water my couch with my tears.

7 My eye is consumed because of grief. /

It grows old because of all my enemies.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, /

for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my supplication. /

The LORD will receive my prayer.

10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly disquieted. /

Let them return and be suddenly ashamed.

References

[v.3]: Quoted in John 12:27 [v.8]: Quoted in Matthew 7:23; Luke 13:27.

Psalm 7

David prays against the malice of his enemies, professing his innocence, 1-9. By faith he sees his defense and the destruction of his enemies, 10-17.

1 [Shiggaion of David: which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite.]

O LORD my God, I put my trust in you. /

Save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me,

2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, /

rending it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, /

if there is iniquity in my hands,

4 If I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me /

(I have even delivered him who without cause is my enemy),

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul and take it. /

Let him even tread down my life upon the earth /

and lay my honor in the dust. /

[ Selah. ]

6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger, /

lift up yourself because of the rage of my enemies, /

and awake for me to the judgment that you have commanded.

7 And the congregation of the people shall encompass you. /

For their sakes therefore return on high.

8 The LORD shall judge the people. /

Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness /

and according to my integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, /

but establish the just, /

for the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

10 My defense is from God, /

who saves the upright in heart.

11 God judges the righteous, /

and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he does not turn, he will whet his sword. /

He has bent his bow and made it ready.

13 He has also prepared for him the instruments of death. /

He ordains his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travails with iniquity, /

has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, dug it, /

and has fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, /

and his violent dealing shall come down upon the crown of his own head.

17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness /

and sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psalm 8

God’s glory is magnified by his works and by his love to man, 1-9.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Gittith. A Psalm of David.]

O Yahweh our Lord, /

how excellent your name is in all the earth! /

You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants you have ordained strength /

because of your enemies, /

so that you might still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, /

the moon and the stars, which you have ordained,

4 What is man that you are mindful of him, /

and the son of man that you visit him?

5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels /

and have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of your hands. /

You have put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen /

and even the beasts of the field,

8 The bird of the air, the fish of the sea, /

and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O Yahweh our Lord, /

how excellent your name is in all the earth!

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 21:16. [v.4]: Quoted in Hebrews 2:6. [v.5]: Quoted in Hebrews 2:7. [v.6]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 2:7-8.

Psalm 9

David praises God for executing judgment, 1-10. He incites others to praise him, 11, 12. He prays that he may have cause to praise him, 13-20.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Muthlabben. A Psalm of David.]

I will praise you, O LORD, with my whole heart. /

I will show forth all your wonderful works.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you. /

I will sing praise to your name, O most High.

3 When my enemies are turned back, /

they shall fall and perish at your presence.

4 For you have maintained my right and my cause. /

You sat on the throne judging right.

5 You have rebuked the heathen, /

you have destroyed the wicked, /

you have blotted out their name forever and ever.

6 O enemy, destructions have come to a perpetual end, /

and you have destroyed cities. /

Their memorial has perished with them.

7 But the LORD shall endure forever. /

He has prepared his throne for judgment.

8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness. /

He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

9 The LORD will also be a refuge for the oppressed, /

a refuge in times of trouble.

10 And those who know your name will put their trust in you, /

for you, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD who dwells in Zion. /

Declare among the people his doings.

12 When he makes inquisition for blood, he remembers them. /

He does not forget the cry of the humble.

13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD. /

Consider my trouble which I suffer from those who hate me, /

and lift me up from the gates of death,

14 So that I may show forth all your praise /

in the gates of the daughter of Zion. /

I will rejoice in your salvation.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made. /

In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.

16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executes. /

The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. /

[ Higgaion. Selah. ]

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, /

and all the nations who forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten. /

The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O LORD. /

Do not let man prevail. /

Let the heathen be judged in your sight.

20 Put them in fear, O LORD, /

so that the nations may know themselves to be but men. /

[ Selah. ]

Psalm 10

David complains of the wicked, 1-11. He prays for remedy, 12-15. He professes his confidence, 16-18.

1 Why do you stand afar off, O LORD? /

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor. /

Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.

3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire /

and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, /

will not seek after God. /

God is not in all his thoughts.

5 His ways are always grievous. /

Your judgments are far above out of his sight. /

As for all his enemies, he puffs at them.

6 He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved, /

for I shall never be in adversity."

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud. /

Under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages. /

In the secret places he murders the innocent. /

His eyes are secretly set against the poor.

9 He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den. /

He lies in wait to catch the poor. /

He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.

10 He crouches and humbles himself /

so that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11 He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten. /

He hides his face. He will never see it."

12 Arise, O LORD. O God, lift up your hand. /

Do not forget the humble.

13 Why does the wicked despise God? /

He has said in his heart, "You will not require it."

14 You have seen it, /

for you behold mischief and spite to requite it with your hand. /

The poor commits himself to you. /

You are the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man. /

Seek out his wickedness until you find none.

16 The LORD is King forever and ever. /

The heathen have perished out of his land.

17 LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. /

You will prepare their heart /

and you will cause your ear to hear,

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed /

so that the man of the earth may no longer oppress.

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Romans 3:14.

Psalm 11

David encourages himself in God against his enemies, 1-3. The providence and justice of God, 4-7.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

I put my trust in the LORD. /

How can you say to my soul, /

"Flee as a bird to your mountain"?

2 For behold, the wicked bend their bow, /

they make ready their arrow upon the string /

so that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed, /

what can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in his holy temple. /

The LORD’S throne is in heaven. /

His eyes behold. His eyelids try the children of men.

5 The LORD tries the righteous, /

but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, /

fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest. /

This shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For Yahweh is righteous. /

He loves righteousness. /

His countenance beholds the upright.

Psalm 12

David, destitute of human comfort, craves help from God, 1, 2. He comforts himself with God’s promises and judgments on the wicked, 3-8.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.]

Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases, /

for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They each speak vanity with his neighbor. /

With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips /

and the tongue that speaks proud things,

4 Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. /

Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?"

5 "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, /

now I will arise," says the LORD. /

"I will set him in safety from him who puffs at him."

6 The words of the LORD are pure words, /

as silver tried in a furnace of earth, /

purified seven times.

7 You shall keep them, O LORD, /

you shall preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side /

when the vilest men are exalted.

Psalm 13

David complains of delay, 1, 2. He prays for preventing grace, 3, 4. He boasts of divine mercy, 5, 6.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

How long will you forget me, O LORD? Forever? /

How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, /

having sorrow in my heart daily? /

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God. /

Lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4 Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed against him." /

And those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5 But I have trusted in your mercy. /

My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD /

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 14

David describes a natural man, 1-3. He convinces the wicked by the light of their conscience, 4-6. He glories in the salvation of God, 7.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." /

They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. /

There is no one who does good.

2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men /

to see if there were any who understood and sought God.

3 They have all gone aside. /

They have all together become filthy. /

There is no one who does good, not even one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, /

who eat up my people as they eat bread /

and do not call upon the LORD?

5 There they were in great fear, /

for God is in the generation of the righteous.

6 You have shamed the counsel of the poor /

because the LORD is his refuge.

7 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! /

When the LORD brings back the captivity of his people, /

Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.

References

[v.1]: Reference, Romans 3:10.

Psalm 15

David describes a citizen of Zion, 1-5.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

LORD, who shall abide in your tabernacle? /

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks uprightly, works righteousness, /

and speaks the truth in his heart;

3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, /

nor does evil to his neighbor, /

nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;

4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, /

but he honors those who fear the LORD; /

he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 He who does not put out his money to usury, /

nor takes reward against the innocent. /

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 16

David, in distrust of merits and hatred of idolatry, flees to God for preservation, 1-4. He shows the hope of his calling, of the resurrection, and life everlasting, 5-11.

1 [Michtam of David.]

Preserve me, O God, /

for I put my trust in you.

2 O my soul, you have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord. /

My goodness does not extend to you."

3 But to the saints who are in the earth, /

and to the excellent, /

all my delight is in them.

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied /

who hasten after another god. /

Their drink-offerings of blood I will not offer, /

nor take their names into my lips.

5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. /

You maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. /

Indeed, I have a beautiful heritage.

7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel. /

My heart also instructs me in the night season.

8 I have set the LORD always before me. /

Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. /

My flesh shall also rest in hope.

10 For you will not leave my soul in hell, /

neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.

11 You will show me the path of life. /

In your presence is fullness of joy. /

At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

References

[v.8]: Quoted in Acts 2:25. [v.9]: Quoted in Acts 2:26. [v.10]: Quoted in Acts 2:27, 13:35. [v.11]: Quoted in Acts 2:28.

Psalm 17

David, in confidence of his integrity, craves defense from God against his enemies, 1-9. He shows their pride, craft, and eagerness, 10-12. He prays against them in confidence of his hope, 13-15.

1 [A Prayer of David.]

Hear the right, O LORD. /

Attend to my cry. /

Give ear to my prayer, /

which does not go out of feigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence. /

Let your eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 You have proved my heart. /

You have visited me in the night. /

You have tried me and shall find nothing. /

I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 Concerning the works of men, /

by the word of your lips /

I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Uphold my goings in your paths /

so that my footsteps do not slip.

6 I have called upon you, for you will hear me, O God. /

Incline your ear to me and hear my speech.

7 Show your wonderful loving-kindness, /

O you who save by your right hand /

those who put their trust in you /

from those who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. /

Hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 From the wicked who oppress me, /

from my deadly enemies who encompass me.

10 They are enclosed in their own fat. /

They speak proudly with their mouth.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps. /

They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth,

12 Like a lion that is greedy of his prey /

and like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O LORD. /

Disappoint him. Cast him down. /

Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

14 From men who are your hand, O LORD, /

from men of the world who have their portion in this life /

and whose belly you fill with your hidden treasure. /

They are full of children /

and leave the rest of their substance to their babies.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness. /

I shall be satisfied with your likeness when I awake.

Psalm 18

David praises God for his manifold and marvelous blessings, 1-50.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the Servant of the LORD: who spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul, and he said,]

I will love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, /

my God, my strength in whom I will trust, /

my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised. /

So I shall be saved from my enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me /

and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of hell encompassed me. /

The snares of death seized me.

6 In my distress I called upon the LORD /

and cried to my God. /

He heard my voice out of his temple, /

and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled, /

and also the foundations of the hills moved /

and were shaken, because he was angry.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, /

and fire out of his mouth devoured. /

Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down, /

and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub and flew. /

He even flew upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place, his pavilion around him, /

dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed /

with hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, /

and the Highest gave his voice /

with hail stones and coals of fire.

14 He even sent out his arrows and scattered them, /

and he shot out lightnings and completely defeated them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen /

and the foundations of the world were uncovered /

at your rebuke, O LORD, /

at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, he took me, /

he drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy /

and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

18 They attacked me in the day of my calamity, /

but the LORD was my stay.

19 He also brought me forth in a large place. /

He delivered me because he delighted in me.

20 The LORD rewarded me /

according to my righteousness. /

According to the cleanness of my hands /

he has recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD /

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, /

and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him /

and I kept myself from my iniquity.

24 Therefore, the LORD has recompensed me /

according to my righteousness, /

according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. /

With an upright man you will show yourself upright.

26 With the pure you will show yourself pure. /

With the perverse you will contend.

27 For you will save the afflicted people, /

but will bring down high looks.

28 For you will light my candle. /

The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by you I have run through a troop. /

And by my God I have leaped over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect. /

The word of the LORD is tried. /

He is a buckler to all those who trust in him.

31 For who is God except the LORD? /

Or who is a rock except our God?

32 It is God who girds me with strength /

and makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like those of a doe /

and sets me upon my high places.

34 He teaches my hands to war /

so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.

35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. /

And your right hand has held me up /

and your gentleness has made me great.

36 You have enlarged my steps under me, /

and my feet have not slipped.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them, /

neither did I turn back until they were consumed.

38 I have wounded them so that they were not able to rise. /

They have fallen under my feet.

39 For you have girded me with strength to battle. /

You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies /

so that I might destroy those who hate me.

41 They cried, but there was no one to save them, /

even to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

42 Then I beat them as small as the dust before the wind. /

I cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people /

and you have made me the head of the heathen. /

A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. /

The strangers shall submit themselves to me.

45 The strangers shall fade away /

and be afraid from their close places.

46 The LORD lives. Blessed be my rock. /

Let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God who avenges me /

and subdues the people under me.

48 He delivers me from my enemies. /

You even lift me up above those who rise up against me. /

You have delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore, I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the heathen /

and sing praises to your name.

50 He gives great deliverance to his king /

and shows mercy to his anointed, /

to David, and to his offspring forever.

References

[v.49]: Quoted in Romans 15:9.

Psalm 19

The creatures show God’s glory, 1-6. The excellency of the divine law, 7-12. David prays for grace, 12-14.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

The heavens declare the glory of God, /

and the firmament shows the work of his hands.

2 Day to day utters speech, /

and night to night shows knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language /

where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth /

and their words to the end of the world. /

In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun.

5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. /

It rejoices like a strong man running a race.

6 Its going forth is from the end of the heaven /

and its circuit to its ends, /

and there is nothing hid from its heat.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, /

converting the soul. /

The testimony of the LORD is sure, /

making the simple wise.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, /

rejoicing the heart. /

The commandment of the LORD is pure, /

enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, /

enduring forever. /

The judgments of the LORD are true /

and righteous altogether.

10 They are to be more desired than gold, /

even much fine gold, /

and also sweeter than honey /

and the honey-comb.

11 Moreover, by them your servant is warned, /

and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? /

Cleanse me from secret faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. /

Do not let them have dominion over me. /

Then I shall be upright /

and be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth /

and the meditation of my heart /

be acceptable in your sight, /

O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Romans 10:18. [v.9]: Quoted in Revelation 19:2.

Psalm 20

The church blesses the king in his exploits, 1-6; and expresses her confidence in God’s aid, 7-9.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

May the LORD hear you in the day of trouble. /

May the name of the God of Jacob defend you,

2 Send you help from the sanctuary, /

strengthen you out of Zion,

3 Remember all your offerings, /

and accept your burnt-sacrifice. /

[ Selah. ]

4 May he grant you according to your own heart /

and fulfill all your counsel.

5 We will rejoice in your salvation, /

and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. /

May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed. /

He will hear him from his holy heaven /

with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, /

but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

8 They are brought down and fallen, /

but we are raised and stand upright.

9 Save, LORD. /

Let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 21

A thanksgiving for victory, 1-6; with confidence of further success, 7-13.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

The king shall rejoice in your strength, O LORD. /

And in your salvation how greatly he shall rejoice!

2 You have given him his heart’s desire /

and have not withheld the request of his lips. /

[ Selah. ]

3 For you have met him with the blessings of goodness. /

You have set a crown of pure gold on his head.

4 He asked life of you, and you gave it to him, /

even length of days forever and ever.

5 His glory is great in your salvation. /

Honor and majesty you have laid upon him.

6 For you have made him most blessed forever. /

You have made him exceedingly glad with your countenance.

7 For the king trusts in the LORD, /

and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

8 Your hand shall find out all your enemies. /

Your right hand shall find out those who hate you.

9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger. /

The LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, /

and the fire shall devour them.

10 You shall destroy their fruit from the earth /

and their offspring from among the children of men.

11 For they intended evil against you. /

They conceived a mischievous device which they are not able to perform.

12 Therefore, you shall make them turn their back /

when you make ready your arrows upon your strings against their face.

13 Be exalted, LORD, in your own strength, /

and we will sing and praise your power.

Psalm 22

David complains in great discouragement, 1-8. He prays in great distress, 9-22. He praises God, 23-31.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar. A Psalm of David.]

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? /

Why are you so far from helping me /

and from the words of my roaring?

2 O my God, I cry in the day-time, but you do not hear, /

and in the night season, and I am not silent.

3 But you are holy, /

O you who inhabit the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in you. /

They trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were delivered. /

They trusted in you and were not confounded.

6 But I am a worm and no man, /

a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see me deride me. /

They shoot out the lip and shake the head, saying,

8 "He trusted in the LORD that he would deliver him. /

Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."

9 But you are he who brought me forth into life. /

You made me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon you from my birth. /

You are my God from the time I was born.

11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near. /

For there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded me. /

Strong bulls of Bashan have compassed me.

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths /

like a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, /

and all my bones are out of joint. /

My heart is like wax. /

It is melted in the midst of my body.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, /

and my tongue cleaves to my jaws. /

And you have brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me. /

The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me. /

They pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may number all my bones. /

They look and stare upon me.

18 They part my garments among them /

and cast lots upon my vesture.

19 But do not be far from me, O LORD. /

O my strength, hasten to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword, /

my darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth, /

for you have heard me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers. /

In the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him. /

All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him. /

And fear him, all you offspring of Israel.

24 For he has not despised nor abhorred /

the affliction of the afflicted, /

neither has he hid his face from him. /

But when he cried to him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of you in the great congregation. /

I will pay my vows before those who fear him.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied. /

They shall praise the LORD who seek him. /

Your heart shall live forever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, /

and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before you.

28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S, /

and he is the governor among the nations.

29 All those who are fat upon earth shall eat and worship. /

All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him. /

And no one can keep his own soul alive.

30 Posterity shall serve him. /

It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come and declare his righteousness /

to a people who shall be born, /

that he has done this.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34. [v.8]: Quoted in Matthew 27:43. [v.18]: Quoted in Matthew 27:35; John 19:24. [v.22]: Quoted in Hebrews 2:12.

Psalm 23

David’s confidence in God’s grace, 1-6.

1 [A Psalm of David.] The LORD is my shepherd. /

I shall lack nothing.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures. /

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul. /

He leads me in the paths of righteousness /

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, /

I will fear no evil, /

for you are with me. /

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me /

in the presence of my enemies. /

You anoint my head with oil. /

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me /

all the days of my life. /

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 24

God’s lordship in the world, 1, 2. The citizens of his spiritual kingdom, 3-6. An exhortation to receive him, 7-10.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof, /

the world, and those who dwell therein.

2 For he has founded it upon the seas /

and established it upon the floods.

3 Who shall ascend upon the hill of the LORD? /

And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, /

who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, /

nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD /

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is the generation of those who seek him, /

who seek your face, O Jacob. /

[ Selah. ]

7 Lift up your heads, O gates, /

and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, /

and the King of glory shall come in.

8 Who is this King of glory? /

The LORD, strong and mighty, /

the LORD, mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O gates, /

even lift them up, you everlasting doors, /

and the King of glory shall come in.

10 Who is this King of glory? /

The LORD of hosts, /

he is the King of glory. /

[ Selah. ]

References

[v.1]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 10:26, 10:28.

Psalm 25

David’s confidence in prayer, 1-6. He prays for remission of sins, 7-15; and for help in affliction, 16-22.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, I trust in you. /

Do not let me be ashamed. /

Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

3 Also, let no one who waits for you be ashamed. /

Let them be ashamed who transgress without cause.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD. /

Teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, /

for you are the God of my salvation. /

On you I wait all the day.

6 Remember, O LORD, your tender mercies /

and your loving kindnesses, /

for they have always been from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, /

nor my transgressions. /

According to your mercy remember me /

for your goodness' sake, O LORD.

8 Good and upright is the LORD; /

therefore, he will teach sinners in the way.

9 He will guide the meek in judgment, /

and to the meek he will teach his way.

10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth /

to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, /

pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

12 What man is he who fears the LORD? /

He shall teach him in the way that he chooses.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease /

and his offspring shall inherit the earth.

14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear him, /

and he will show them his covenant.

15 My eyes are continually toward the LORD, /

for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me, /

for I am desolate and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. /

O bring me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon my affliction and my pain /

and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider my enemies, for they are many, /

and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20 O keep my soul and deliver me. /

Do not let me be ashamed, for I put my trust in you.

21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, /

for I wait on you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, /

out of all his troubles.

Psalm 26

David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity, 1-12.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Judge me, O LORD, /

for I have walked in my integrity. /

I have also trusted in the LORD; /

therefore, I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me. /

Try my mind and my heart.

3 For your loving-kindness is before my eyes, /

and I have walked in your truth.

4 I have not sat with vain persons, /

neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evildoers /

and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence /

and will compass your altar, O LORD,

7 So that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving /

and tell of all your wondrous works.

8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of your house /

and the place where your honor dwells.

9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, /

nor my life with bloody men,

10 In whose hands is mischief, /

and their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. /

Redeem me and be merciful to me.

12 My foot stands in an even place. /

In the congregations I will bless the LORD.

Psalm 27

David sustains his faith by prayer, 1-14.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

The LORD is my light and my salvation. /

Whom shall I fear? /

The LORD is the strength of my life. /

Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, /

even my enemies and my foes, /

came upon me to eat up my flesh, /

they stumbled and fell.

3 Though a host should encamp against me, /

my heart shall not fear. /

Though war should rise against me, /

in this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the LORD /

that I will seek after: /

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD /

all the days of my life /

to behold the beauty of the LORD /

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion. /

In the secret of his tabernacle he will hide me. /

He will set me up upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted /

above my enemies around me; /

therefore, I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. /

I will sing, I will even sing praises to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, /

and have mercy upon me and answer me.

8 When you said, "Seek my face," my heart said to you, /

"Your face, LORD, I will seek."

9 Do not hide your face from me. /

Do not put your servant away in anger. /

You have been my help. /

Do not leave me, neither forsake me, /

O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, /

the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, /

and lead me in a plain path /

because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me over to the will of my enemies, /

for false witnesses have risen against me, /

and those who breathe out cruelty.

13 I would have fainted unless I had believed to see /

the goodness of the LORD /

in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD. /

Be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart. /

Wait, I say, for the LORD.

Psalm 28

David prays earnestly against his enemies, 1-5; and for the people, 6-9.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

To you I will cry, O LORD my rock. /

Do not be silent to me, /

lest, if you should be silent to me, /

I should become like those who go down into the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to you, /

when I lift my hands toward your holy oracle.

3 Do not draw me away with the wicked /

and with the workers of iniquity, /

who speak peace to their neighbors, /

but mischief is in their hearts.

4 Give them according to their deeds /

and according to the wickedness of their endeavors. /

Give them after the work of their hands. /

Render to them what they deserve.

5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, /

nor the operation of his hands, /

he will destroy them and not build them up.

6 Blessed be the LORD /

because he has heard the voice of my supplications.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield. /

My heart trusted in him, and I am helped; /

therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, /

and with my song I will praise him.

8 The LORD is their strength, /

and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance. /

Feed them also and lift them up forever.

Psalm 29

David exhorts princes to give glory to God, 1, 2; by reason of his power, 3-10; and protection of his people, 11.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Give to the LORD, O you mighty, /

give to the LORD glory and strength.

2 Give to the LORD the glory due to his name. /

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters. /

The God of glory thunders. /

The LORD is upon many waters.

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful. /

The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars. /

The LORD even breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes them also to skip like a calf, /

Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.

8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness. /

The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer bring forth /

and makes the forests bare. /

And in his temple everyone speaks of his glory.

10 The LORD sits upon the flood. /

The LORD even sits king forever.

11 The LORD will give strength to his people. /

The LORD will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 30

David praises God for his deliverance, 1-3. He exhorts others to praise him by example of God’s dealings with him, 4-12.

1 [A Psalm and Song: for the dedication of the house of David.]

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have lifted me up /

and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, /

I cried to you, and you have healed me.

3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from the grave. /

You have kept me alive /

so that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing to the LORD, O saints of his, /

and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endures but a moment. /

In his favor is life. /

Weeping may endure for a night, /

but joy comes in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, /

"I shall never be moved."

7 LORD, by your favor /

you have made my mountain to stand strong. /

You hid your face, /

and I was troubled.

8 I cried to you, O LORD. /

And to the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood /

when I go down to the pit? /

Shall the dust praise you? /

Shall it declare your truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me. /

LORD, be my helper.

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. /

You have put off my sackcloth /

and girded me with gladness,

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to you and not be silent. /

O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Psalm 31

David, showing his confidence in God, craves his help, 1-6. He rejoices in his mercy, 7, 8. He prays in his calamity, 9-18. He praises God for his goodness, 19-24.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

In you, O LORD, I put my trust. /

Let me never be ashamed. /

Deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. /

Be my strong rock, /

a house of defense to save me.

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; /

therefore, for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, /

for you are my strength.

5 Into your hand I commit my spirit. /

You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

6 I have hated those who regard lying vanities, /

but I trust in the LORD.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy, /

for you have considered my trouble. /

You have known my soul in adversities,

8 And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. /

You have set my foot in a large room.

9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble. /

My eye is consumed with grief, even my soul and my belly.

10 For my life is spent with grief /

and my years with sighing. /

My strength fails because of my iniquity /

and my bones are consumed.

11 I was a reproach among all my enemies, /

but especially among my neighbors, /

and a fear to my acquaintances. /

Those who saw me outside fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind. /

I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many. /

Fear was on every side. /

While they took counsel together against me, /

they devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in you, O LORD. /

I said, "You are my God."

15 My times are in your hand. /

Deliver me from the hand of my enemies /

and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant. /

Save me for your mercies' sake.

17 Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, /

for I have called upon you. /

Let the wicked be ashamed. /

Let them be silent in the grave.

18 Let the lying lips be put to silence, /

which speak grievous things proudly /

and contemptuously against the righteous.

19 Oh how great your goodness is, /

which you have laid up for those who fear you, /

which you have wrought for those who trust in you /

before the sons of men!

20 You shall hide them in the secret of your presence /

from the pride of man. /

You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion /

from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the LORD, /

for he has shown me his wonderful kindness in a strong city.

22 For I said in my haste, /

"I am cut off from before your eyes." /

Nevertheless, you heard the voice of my supplications /

when I cried to you.

23 O love the LORD, all his saints, /

for the LORD preserves the faithful /

and fully recompenses the proud doer.

24 Be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart, /

all you who hope in the LORD.

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Luke 23:46.

Psalm 32

Blessedness consists in remission of sins, 1, 2. Confession of sins gives case to the conscience, 3-7. God’s promises bring joy, 8-11.

1 [A Psalm of David. Maschil.]

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, /

whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, /

and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3 When I kept silence, my bones became old /

through my roaring all the day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me. /

My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. /

[ Selah. ]

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, /

and my iniquity I have not hid. /

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," /

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. /

[ Selah. ]

6 For this everyone who is godly shall pray to you /

in a time when you may be found. /

Surely in the floods of great waters /

they shall not come near to him.

7 You are my hiding place. /

You will preserve me from trouble. /

You will surround me with songs of deliverance. /

[ Selah. ]

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. /

I will guide you with my eye.

9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule, /

which have no understanding, /

whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, /

lest they come near to you.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, /

but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall encompass him.

11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous, /

and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Romans 4:7. [v.2]: Quoted in Romans 4:8.

Psalm 33

God is to be praised for his goodness, 1-5; for his power, 6-11; and for his providence, 12-19. Confidence is to be placed in God, 20-22.

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, /

for praise is fitting for the upright.

2 Praise the LORD with the harp. /

Sing to him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing to him a new song. /

Play skillfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the LORD is right /

and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loves righteousness and judgment. /

The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, /

and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. /

He lays up the depth in store-houses.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD. /

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it was done. /

He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The LORD brings the counsel of the heathen to nothing. /

He makes the devices of the people of no effect.

11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, /

the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD /

and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The LORD looks from heaven. /

He beholds all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looks /

upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashions their hearts alike. /

He considers all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of a host. /

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

17 A horse is a vain thing for safety, /

neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, /

upon those who hope in his mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death /

and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD. /

He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him /

because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, /

according as we hope in you.

Psalm 34

David praises God and exhorts others thereto by his experience, 1-7. They are blessed who trust in God, 8-10. He exhorts to the fear of God, 11-14. The privileges of the righteous, 15-22.

1 [A Psalm of David: when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.]

I will bless the LORD at all times. /

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD. /

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 O magnify the LORD with me, /

and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me /

and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to him and were radiant, /

and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him /

and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him /

and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the LORD is good. /

Blessed is the man who trusts in him.

9 O fear the LORD, you his saints, /

for there is no lack with those who fear him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, /

but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me. /

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 What man is he who desires life /

and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil /

and your lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil and do good. /

Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, /

and his ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil /

to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears /

and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to those who are of a broken heart /

and saves those who are of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, /

but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones. /

Not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked, /

and those who hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants, /

and none of those who trust in him shall be desolate.

References

[v.8]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:3. [v.12]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:10. [v.13]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:10. [v.14]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:11. [v.15]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:12. [v.16]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:12. [v.20]: Quoted in John 19:36.

Psalm 35

David prays for his own safety and shame for his enemies, 1-10. He complains of their wrongful dealing, 11-21. Thereby he incites God against them, 22-28.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me. /

Fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler /

and stand up for my help.

3 Draw out the spear also and stop the way /

against those who persecute me. /

Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame /

who seek after my soul. /

Let them be turned back and brought to shame /

who devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, /

and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, /

and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7 For without cause they have hid for me their net in a pit, /

which without cause they have dug for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, /

and let his net that he has hid catch himself. /

Into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD. /

It shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, "LORD, who is like you, /

delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, /

even the poor and the needy from him who robs him?"

11 False witnesses arose. /

They laid to my charge things that I did not know.

12 They rewarded me evil for good /

to the bereaving of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, /

my clothing was sackcloth. /

I humbled my soul with fasting, /

and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother. /

I bowed down heavily as one who mourns for his mother.

15 But in my adversity they rejoiced and assembled themselves. /

The abjects even assembled themselves against me, /

and I did not know it. /

They tore me and did not cease.

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, /

they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long will you look on? /

Rescue my soul from their destructions, /

my darling from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great congregation. /

I will praise you among many people.

19 Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, /

neither let them wink with the eye /

who hate me without a cause.

20 For they do not speak peace, /

but they devise deceitful matters /

against those who are quiet in the land.

21 They even opened their mouth wide against me /

and said, "Aha, aha, our eye has seen it."

22 This you have seen, O LORD. Do not keep silence. /

O Lord, do not be far from me.

23 Stir up yourself and awake to my judgment, /

even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, /

according to your righteousness, /

and do not let them rejoice over me.

25 Do not let them say in their hearts, /

"Ah, we would have it so." /

Do not let them say, /

"We have swallowed him up."

26 Let them be ashamed and confounded together /

who rejoice at my hurt. /

Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor /

who magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy and be glad /

who favor my righteous cause. /

Let them even say continually, /

"Let the LORD be magnified, /

who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

28 And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness /

and of your praise all the day long.

References

[v.19]: Quoted in John 15:25.

Psalm 36

The grievous estate of the wicked, 1-4. The excellency of God’s mercy, 8, 9. David prays for favor to God’s children, 10-12.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the Servant of the LORD.]

The transgression of the wicked says within my heart /

that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes /

until his iniquity is found to be hateful.

3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. /

He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

4 He devises mischief upon his bed. /

He sets himself in a way that is not good. /

He does not abhor evil.

5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens /

and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains. /

Your judgments are a great deep. /

O LORD, you preserve man and beast.

7 How excellent your loving-kindness is, O God! /

Therefore, the children of men put their trust /

under the shadow of your wings.

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house, /

and you shall make them drink of the river of your delights.

9 For with you is the fountain of life. /

In your light we shall see light.

10 O continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, /

and your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Do not let the foot of pride come against me, /

and do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen. /

They are cast down and shall not be able to rise.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Romans 3:18.

Psalm 37

David persuades to patience and confidence in God by the different estate of the godly and the wicked, 1-40.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Do not fret yourself because of evildoers, /

neither be envious against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass /

and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good. /

Dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed.

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, /

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD. /

Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.

6 And he will bring forth your righteousness as the light /

and your judgment as the noon-day.

7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for him. /

Do not fret yourself because of him who prospers in his way, /

because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath. /

Do not fret yourself. It leads only to evil-doing.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off, /

but those who wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be. /

You shall even diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth /

and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plots against the just /

and gnashes upon him with his teeth.

13 The Lord will laugh at him, /

for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword and bent their bow /

to cast down the poor and needy /

and to slay those who are of upright deportment.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, /

and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man has is better /

than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, /

but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, /

and their inheritance shall be forever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, /

and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, /

and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs. /

They shall consume. Into smoke they shall consume away.

21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back, /

but the righteous shows mercy and gives.

22 For those who are blessed by him shall inherit the earth, /

and those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, /

and he delights in his way.

24 Though he should fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, /

for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old, /

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, /

nor his children begging for bread.

26 He is ever merciful and lends, /

and his offspring is blessed.

27 Depart from evil and do good, /

and dwell forevermore.

28 For the LORD loves judgment /

and does not forsake his saints. /

They are preserved forever, /

but the offspring of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land /

and dwell therein forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, /

and his tongue talks of judgment.

31 The law of his God is in his heart. /

None of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watches the righteous /

and seeks to slay him.

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, /

nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait on the LORD and keep his way, /

and he will exalt you to inherit the land. /

When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power /

and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more. /

I even sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, /

for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together. /

The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD. /

He is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the LORD will help them and deliver them. /

He will deliver them from the wicked and save them /

because they trust in him.

Psalm 38

David moves God to take compassion on his pitiful case, 1-22.

1 [A Psalm of David: to bring to remembrance.]

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your wrath, /

neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

2 For your arrows stick firmly in me /

and your hand falls heavy upon me.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, /

neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. /

As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are offensive and are corrupt /

because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled. I am bowed down greatly. /

I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease, /

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and grievously broken. /

I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before you, /

and my groaning is not hid from you.

10 My heart pants. My strength fails me. /

As for the light of my eyes, that also is gone from me.

11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my affliction, /

and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 Those who also seek after my life lay snares for me. /

And those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things /

and plot deceits all the day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, did not hear. /

And I was as a mute man who does not open his mouth.

14 Thus I was as a man who does not hear, /

and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in you, O LORD, I hope. /

You will hear, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, "Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me. /

When my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me."

17 For I am ready to fall, /

and my sorrow is continually before me.

18 For I will declare my iniquity. /

I will be sorry for my sin.

19 But my enemies are lively and they are strong, /

and those who hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20 Those who also render evil for good /

are my adversaries because I follow the thing that is good.

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD. /

O my God, do not be far from me.

22 Make haste to help me, /

O Lord my salvation.

Psalm 39

David’s care of his thoughts, 1-3. The consideration of the brevity and vanity of life, 4-6; the reverence of God’s judgments, 7-9, and prayer, are his bridles of impatience, 10-13.

1 [To the Chief Musician, even to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.]

I said, "I will take heed to my ways /

so that I do not sin with my tongue. /

I will keep my mouth with a bridle /

while the wicked is before me."

2 I was mute with silence. /

I held my peace, even from good, /

and my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me. /

While I was musing, the fire burned. /

Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "LORD, make me to know my end /

and the measure of my days, what it is, /

so that I may know how frail I am.

5 Behold, you have made my days as a hand-breadth /

and my age is as nothing before you. /

Truly every man at his best state is altogether vanity." /

[ Selah. ]

6 "Surely every man walks in a vain show. /

Surely they are disquieted in vain. /

He heaps up riches and does not know who gathers them.

7 And now, Lord, what do I wait for? /

My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. /

Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was mute. I did not open my mouth /

because you did it.

10 Remove your stroke away from me. /

I am consumed by the blow of your hand.

11 When you, with rebukes, correct man for iniquity, /

you make his beauty to consume away like a moth. /

Surely every man is vanity." /

[ Selah. ]

12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry. /

Do not hold your peace at my tears, /

for I am a stranger with you, /

and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 O spare me so that I may recover strength /

before I go from here and am no more."

Psalm 40

The benefit of confidence in God, 1-5. Obedience is the best sacrifice, 6-10. The sense of David’s evils inflames his prayer, 11-17.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

I waited patiently for the LORD, /

and he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, /

out of the miry clay, /

and set my feet upon a rock /

and established my goings.

3 And he has put a new song in my mouth, /

even praise to our God. /

Many shall see it and fear /

and trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust /

and does not respect the proud, /

nor those who turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O LORD, my God, /

are your wonderful works which you have done /

and your thoughts which are toward us. /

They cannot be reckoned up in order to you. /

If I would declare and speak of them, /

they are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire. /

You have opened my ears. /

Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required.

7 Then I said, "Behold, I come. /

In the volume of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do your will, O my God. /

Your law is even within my heart."

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation. /

Behold, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, as you know.

10 I have not hid your righteousness within my heart. /

I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. /

I have not concealed your loving-kindness and your truth /

from the great congregation.

11 Do not withhold your tender mercies from me, O LORD. /

Let your loving-kindness and your truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have encompassed me. /

My iniquities have taken hold upon me /

so that I am not able to look up. /

They are more than the hairs of my head; /

therefore, my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me. /

O LORD, make haste to help me.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together /

who seek after my soul to destroy it. /

Let them be driven backward and put to shame /

who wish me evil.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame /

who say to me, "Aha, aha."

16 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. /

Let those who love your salvation say continually, /

"May the LORD be magnified."

17 But I am poor and needy, /

yet the Lord thinks upon me. /

You are my help and my deliverer. /

Make no delay, O my God.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Hebrews 10:5-6, 10:8. [v.7]: Quoted in Hebrews 10:7, 10:9. [v.8]: Quoted in Hebrews 10:7, 10:9.

Psalm 41

The recompense of the charitable, 1-3. David complains of his enemies' treachery, 4-9. He flees to God for help, 10-13.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

Blessed is he who considers the poor. /

The LORD will deliver him in the time of trouble.

2 The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, /

and he shall be blessed upon the earth. /

And you will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.

3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing. /

You will restore his health in his sickness.

4 I said, "LORD, be merciful to me. /

Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies speak evil of me, /

"When shall he die and his name perish?"

6 And if he comes to see me, he speaks vanity. /

His heart gathers iniquity to itself. /

When he goes abroad, he tells it.

7 All who hate me whisper together against me. /

They devise my hurt against me.

8 "An evil disease," they say, "cleaves fast to him. /

And now that he lies he shall rise no more."

9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, /

who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

10 But you, O LORD, be merciful to me and raise me up /

so that I may requite them.

11 By this I know that you favor me, /

because my enemy does not triumph over me.

12 And as for me, you uphold me in my integrity /

and set me before your face forever.

13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel /

from everlasting to everlasting. /

Amen and amen.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in John 13:18.

BOOK II

Psalm 42

David’s zeal to serve God in the temple, 1-4. He encourages his soul to trust in God, 5-11.

1 [To the Chief Musician. Maschil for the Sons of Korah.]

As the deer pants after the water brooks, /

so my soul pants after you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. /

When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night /

while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"

4 When I remember these things, /

I pour out my soul in me. /

For I had gone with the multitude. /

I went with them to the house of God, /

with the voice of joy and praise, /

with a multitude who kept holy-day.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? /

And why are you disquieted in me? /

Hope in God. For I shall yet praise him /

for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; /

therefore, I will remember you from the land of the Jordan /

and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the noise of your water-spouts. /

All your waves and your billows have gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, /

and in the night his song shall be with me, /

and my prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my rock, /

"Why have you forgotten me? /

Why do I go mourning /

because of the oppression of the enemy?"

10 As with a sword in my bones, my enemies reproach me /

while they daily say to me, "Where is your God?"

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? /

And why are you disquieted within me? /

Hope in God. For I shall yet praise him /

who is the health of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 43

David, praying to be restored to the temple, promises to serve God joyfully, 1-4. He encourages his soul to trust in God, 5.

1 Judge me, O God, /

and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. /

O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

2 For you are the God of my strength. /

Why do you cast me off? /

Why do I go mourning /

because of the oppression of the enemy?

3 O send out your light and your truth. /

Let them lead me. /

Let them bring me to your holy hill /

and to your tabernacles.

4 Then I will go to the altar of God, /

to God, my exceeding joy. /

Upon the harp I will even praise you, /

O God my God.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? /

And why are you disquieted within me? /

Hope in God. For I shall yet praise him /

who is the health of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 44

The church, in memory of former favors, 1-6, complains of her present evils, 7-16. Professing her integrity, 17-23, she fervently prays for help, 24-26.

1 [To the Chief Musician for the Sons of Korah. Maschil.]

We have heard with our ears, O God. /

Our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, /

in the times of old:

2 How you drove out the heathen with your hand /

and planted them, /

how you afflicted the people /

and cast them out.

3 For they did not obtain the land in possession by their own sword, /

neither did their own arm save them, /

but your right hand, your arm, /

and the light of your countenance, /

because you were favorable to them.

4 You are my King, O God. /

Command deliverances for Jacob.

5 Through you we will push down our enemies. /

Through your name we will tread them under who rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, /

neither shall my sword save me.

7 But you have saved us from our enemies /

and have put them to shame who hated us.

8 In God we boast all the day long. /

We will praise your name forever. /

[ Selah. ]

9 But you have cast off and put us to shame /

and do not go forth with our armies.

10 You make us to turn back from the enemy. /

And those who hate us plunder for themselves.

11 You have given us like sheep appointed for food /

and scattered us among the heathen.

12 You sell your people for nothing /

and have not increased your wealth by their price.

13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, /

a scorn and a derision to those who are around us.

14 You make us a by-word among the heathen, /

a shaking of the head among the people.

15 My disgrace is continually before me /

and the shame of my face has covered me,

16 Because of the voice of him who reproaches and blasphemes, /

because of the enemy and avenger.

17 All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you, /

neither have we dealt falsely in your covenant.

18 Our heart has not turned back, /

neither have our steps declined from your way,

19 Though you have severely broken us in the place of jackals /

and covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God /

or stretched out our hands to a strange god,

21 Will God not search this out? /

For he knows the secrets of the heart.

22 Indeed, for your sake we are killed all the day long. /

We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Awake, why do you sleep, O Lord? /

Arise, do not cast us off forever.

24 Why do you hide your face /

and forget our affliction and our oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. /

Our belly cleaves to the earth.

26 Arise for our help /

and redeem us for your mercies' sake.

References

[v.22]: Quoted in Romans 8:36.

Psalm 45

The majesty and grace of Christ’s kingdom, 1-9. The duty of the church and the benefits thereof, 10-17.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim for the Sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of Love.]

My heart is inditing a good matter. /

I speak of the things which I have made concerning the king. /

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2 You are fairer than the children of men. /

Grace is poured into your lips; /

therefore, God has blessed you forever.

3 Gird your sword upon your thigh, O most mighty, /

with your glory and your majesty.

4 And in your majesty ride prosperously /

because of truth, meekness, and righteousness. /

And your right hand shall teach you awesome things.

5 Your arrows are sharp /

in the heart of the king’s enemies, /

by which the people fall under you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. /

The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; /

therefore, God, your God, has anointed you /

with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

8 All your garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia. /

Out of the ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.

9 Kings' daughters were among your honorable women. /

Upon your right hand stood the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Listen, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear. /

Also forget your own people and your father’s house.

11 And the king shall greatly desire your beauty, /

for he is your lord. Worship him.

12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift. /

Even the rich among the people shall entreat your favor.

13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within. /

Her clothing is of wrought gold.

14 She shall be brought to the king in clothing of needle-work. /

The virgins, her companions who follow her, /

shall be brought to you.

15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought. /

They shall enter into the king’s palace.

16 In place of your fathers will be your children, /

whom you may make princes in all the earth.

17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations; /

therefore, the people shall praise you forever and ever.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:8. [v.7]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:9.

Psalm 46

The confidence which the church has in God, 1-7. An exhortation to behold it, 8-11.

1 [To the Chief Musician for the Sons of Korah. A Song upon Alamoth.]

God is our refuge and strength, /

a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore, we will not fear /

though the earth is changed, /

though the mountains are carried /

into the midst of the sea,

3 Though its waters roar and are disturbed, /

though the mountains shake with its swelling. /

[ Selah. ]

4 There is a river, /

the streams of which shall make the city of God glad, /

the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. /

God shall help her at the turning of dawn.

6 The heathen raged. The kingdoms were moved. /

He uttered his voice, and the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us. /

The God of Jacob is our refuge. /

[ Selah. ]

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, /

what desolations he has made in the earth.

9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth. /

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear apart. /

He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 "Be still and know that I am God. /

I will be exalted among the heathen. /

I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD of hosts is with us. /

The God of Jacob is our refuge. /

[ Selah. ]

Psalm 47

The nations are exhorted cheerfully to entertain the kingdom of Christ, 1-9.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.]

O clap your hands, all you people. /

Shout to God with the voice of triumph.

2 For the LORD most high is awesome. /

He is a great King over all the earth.

3 He shall subdue the people under us /

and the nations under our feet.

4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, /

the excellence of Jacob whom he loved. /

[ Selah. ]

5 God has gone up with a shout, /

the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises. /

Sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth. /

Sing praises with understanding.

8 God reigns over the heathen. /

God sits upon the throne of his holiness.

9 The princes of the people are assembled, /

even the people of the God of Abraham. /

For the shields of the earth belong to God. /

He is greatly exalted.

Psalm 48

The ornaments and privileges of the church, 1-14.

1 [A Song and Psalm for the Sons of Korah.]

The LORD is great and greatly to be praised /

in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, /

is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, /

the city of the great King.

3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

4 For behold, the kings were assembled. /

They passed by together.

5 They saw it, and so they wondered. /

They were troubled and hastened away.

6 Fear took hold upon them there, /

and pain, as of a woman in travail.

7 You break the ships of Tarshish /

with an east wind.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen /

in the city of the LORD of hosts, /

in the city of our God. /

God will establish it forever. /

[ Selah. ]

9 We have thought of your loving-kindness, O God, /

in the midst of your temple.

10 According to your name, O God, /

so is your praise to the ends of the earth. /

Your right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, /

let the daughters of Judah be glad /

because of your judgments.

12 Walk around Zion and encompass her. /

Number her towers,

13 Mark well her bulwarks, /

and consider her palaces /

so that you may tell it to the generation following.

14 For this God is our God forever and ever. /

He will be our guide even to death.

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 5:35.

Psalm 49

An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection, not on worldly power, but on God, 1-15. Worldly prosperity is not to be admired, 16-20.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.]

Hear this, all you people. /

Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 Both low and high, /

rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom. /

The meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a parable. /

I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil /

when the iniquity of my heels encompasses me?

6 Those who trust in their wealth /

and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches,

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, /

nor give to God a ransom for him

8 (For the redemption of their soul is costly, /

and it ceases forever),

9 That he should still live forever /

and not see corruption.

10 For he sees that wise men die; /

likewise the fool and the brutish person perish /

and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue forever /

and their dwelling places to all generations. /

They call their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless, man being in honor does not abide. /

He is like the beasts that perish.

13 Their way is their folly, /

yet their posterity approve their sayings. /

[ Selah. ]

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave. /

Death shall feed on them. /

The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. /

Their beauty shall consume /

in the grave from their dwelling.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, /

for he shall receive me. /

[ Selah. ]

16 Do not be afraid when one is made rich, /

when the glory of his house is increased,

17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. /

His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul— /

and men will praise you when you do well to yourself—

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers. /

They shall never see light.

20 A man who is in honor and does not understand /

is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 50

The majesty of God in the church, 1-4. His order to gather his saints, 5, 6. The pleasure of God is not in ceremonies, 7-13, but in sincerity of obedience, 14-23.

1 [A Psalm of Asaph.]

The mighty God, even the LORD, has spoken /

and called the earth from the rising to the setting of the sun.

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, /

God has shined.

3 Our God shall come and shall not keep silence. /

A fire shall devour before him /

and it shall be very tempestuous around him.

4 He shall call to the heavens from above /

and to the earth so that he may judge his people.

5 "Gather my saints together to me, /

those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, /

for God is judge himself. /

[ Selah. ]

7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, /

O Israel, and I will testify against you. /

I am God, even your God.

8 I will not reprove you for your sacrifices /

or your burnt-offerings which have been continually before me.

9 I will take no bull out of your house, /

nor male goats out of your folds.

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, /

and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the birds of the mountains. /

And the wild beasts of the field are mine.

12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, /

for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.

13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls /

or drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer to God thanksgiving /

and pay your vows to the Most High.

15 And call upon me in the day of trouble. /

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

16 But to the wicked, God says, /

"What have you to do to declare my statutes, /

or that you should take my covenant in your mouth,

17 Seeing you hate instruction /

and cast my words behind you?

18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him. /

You have been partaker with adulterers.

19 You give your mouth to evil /

and your tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother. /

You slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I kept silence. /

You thought that I was altogether such a one as yourself. /

But I will reprove you and set them in order before your eyes.

22 Now consider this, you who forget God, /

lest I tear you in pieces and there be no one to deliver:

23 Whoever offers praise glorifies me, /

and to him who orders his deportment aright /

I will show the salvation of God."

Psalm 51

David prays for remission of sins, whereof he makes a deep confession, 1-5. He prays for sanctification, 6-15. God does not delight in sacrifice, but in sincerity, 16, 17. He prays for the church, 18, 19.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David: when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.]

Have mercy upon me, O God, /

according to your loving-kindness. /

According to the multitude of your tender mercies, /

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity /

and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, /

and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, I have sinned /

and done this evil in your sight, /

so that you may be justified when you speak /

and clear when you judge.

5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity, /

and in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. /

And in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. /

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness /

so that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins /

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, /

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from your presence, /

and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation /

and uphold me with your free spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, /

and sinners shall be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, /

God of my salvation, /

and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips /

and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

16 For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it. /

You do not delight in burnt-offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. /

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 Do good in your good pleasure to Zion. /

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, /

with burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering. /

Then they shall offer bulls upon your altar.

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Romans 3:4.

Psalm 52

David, condemning the spitefulness of Doeg, prophesies his destruction, 1-5. The righteous shall rejoice at it, 6, 7. David, upon his confidence in God’s mercy, gives thanks, 8, 9.

1 [To the Chief Musician. Maschil. A Psalm of David: when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."]

Why do you boast yourself in mischief, O mighty man? /

The goodness of God endures continually.

2 Your tongue devises mischiefs, /

like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3 You love evil more than good /

and lying rather than speaking righteousness. /

[ Selah. ]

4 You love all devouring words, /

O deceitful tongue.

5 God shall likewise destroy you forever. /

He shall take you away and pluck you out of your dwelling-place. /

He shall root you out of the land of the living. /

[ Selah. ]

6 The righteous also shall see and fear. /

They shall laugh at him:

7 "Behold, this is the man who did not make God his strength, /

but trusted in the abundance of his riches /

and strengthened himself in his wickedness."

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. /

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

9 I will praise you forever because you have done it. /

I will wait on your name, for it is good, /

in the presence of your saints.

Psalm 53

David describes the corruption of a natural man, 1-3. He convinces the wicked by the light of their own conscience, 4, 5. He glories in the salvation of God, 6.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Mahalath. Maschil. A Psalm of David.]

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." /

They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity. /

There is no one who does good.

2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men /

to see if there were any who understood, /

who sought God.

3 Every one of them has gone back. /

They have altogether become filthy. /

There is no one who does good, not even one.

4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, /

who eat up my people as they eat bread /

and have not called upon God?

5 There they were in great fear, /

where no fear was, /

for God has scattered the bones /

of him who encamps against you. /

You have put them to shame /

because God has despised them.

6 O that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! /

When God brings back the captivity of his people, /

Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Romans 3:10. [v.2]: Quoted in Romans 3:11. [v.3]: Quoted in Romans 3:12.

Psalm 54

David, complaining of the Ziphims, prays for salvation, 1-3. Upon his confidence in God’s help he promises sacrifice, 4-7.

1 [To the Chief Musician on Neginoth. Maschil. A Psalm of David: when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, "Does David not hide himself with us?"]

Save me, O God, by your name /

and judge me by your strength.

2 Hear my prayer, O God. /

Give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen up against me /

and oppressors seek after my soul. /

They have not set God before them. /

[ Selah. ]

4 Behold, God is my helper. /

The Lord is with those who uphold my soul.

5 He will reward evil to my enemies. /

Cut them off in your truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice to you. /

I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good.

7 For he has delivered me out of all trouble, /

and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

Psalm 55

David, in his prayer, complains of his fearful case, 1-8. He prays against his enemies, of whose wickedness and treachery he complains, 9-15. He comforts himself in God’s preservation of him and confusion of his enemies, 16-23.

1 [To the Chief Musician on Neginoth. Maschil. A Psalm of David.]

Give ear to my prayer, O God, /

and do not hide yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me and hear me. /

I mourn in my complaint and make a noise,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, /

because of the oppression of the wicked. /

For they cast iniquity upon me /

and in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me, /

and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, /

and horror has overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, "O that I had wings like a dove! /

For then I would fly away and be at rest.

7 Behold, then I would wander far off /

and remain in the wilderness." /

[ Selah. ]

8 "I would hasten my escape /

from the windy storm and tempest."

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their languages, /

for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it upon its walls. /

Also mischief and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11 Wickedness is in the midst of it. /

Deceit and guile do not depart from her streets.

12 For it was not an enemy who reproached me— /

then I could have borne it— /

neither was it he who hated me who magnified himself against me— /

then I would have hid myself from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal, /

my guide, and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together /

and walked to the house of God in company.

15 Let death seize upon them, /

and let them go down alive into hell, /

for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God, /

and the LORD will save me.

17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud, /

and he will hear my voice.

18 He has delivered my soul in peace /

from the battle that was against me, /

for there were many with me.

19 God will hear and afflict them, /

even he who abides of old. /

[ Selah. ]

Because they have no changes, /

therefore they do not fear God.

20 He has put forth his hands /

against those who are at peace with him. /

He has broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, /

but war was in his heart. /

His words were softer than oil, /

yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden upon the LORD, /

and he will sustain you. /

He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

23 But you, O God, will bring them down /

into the pit of destruction. /

Bloody and deceitful men /

shall not live out half their days. /

But I will trust in you.

References

[v.22]: Quoted in 1st Peter 5:7.

Psalm 56

David, praying to God in confidence of his word, complains of his enemies, 1-8. He professes his confidence in God’s word and promises to praise him, 9-13.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Jonathelem-rechokim. Michtam of David: when the Philistines took him in Gath.]

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up. /

Fighting daily he oppresses me.

2 My enemies would swallow me up daily, /

for they are many who fight against me, O Most High.

3 In the time when I am afraid, /

I will trust in you.

4 In God (I will praise his word), /

in God I have put my trust. /

I will not fear /

what flesh can do to me.

5 Every day they wrest my words. /

All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They assemble themselves, they hide themselves, /

they mark my steps /

when they wait for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? /

In your anger cast down the people, O God.

8 You number my wanderings. /

Put my tears into your bottle. /

Are they not in your book?

9 When I cry to you, my enemies shall turn back. /

I know this, for God is for me.

10 In God (I will praise his word), /

in the LORD (I will praise his word),

11 In God I have put my trust. /

I will not be afraid /

of what man can do to me.

12 Your vows are upon me, O God. /

I will render praises to you.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death. /

Will you not deliver my feet from falling /

so that I may walk before God /

in the light of the living?

Psalm 57

David, in prayer fleeing to God, complains of his dangerous case, 1-6. He encourages himself to praise God, 7-11.

1 [To the Chief Musician. Al-taschith. Michtam of David: when he fled from Saul in the cave.]

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, /

for my soul trusts in you. /

Even in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge /

until these calamities have passed.

2 I will cry to God most high, /

to God who performs all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven and save me /

from the reproach of him who would swallow me up. /

[ Selah. ]

God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4 My soul is among lions. /

And I lie even among those who are set on fire, /

even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows /

and their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. /

Let your glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps. /

My soul is bowed down. /

They have dug a pit before me, /

into the midst of which they have fallen themselves. /

[ Selah. ]

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. /

I will sing and give praise.

8 Awake, my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp. /

I myself will awake early.

9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the people. /

I will sing to you among the nations.

10 For your mercy is great to the heavens /

and your truth to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. /

Let your glory be above all the earth.

Psalm 58

David reproves wicked judges, 1, 2; describes the nature of the wicked, 3-5; devotes them to God’s judgments, 6-9; at which the righteous shall rejoice, 10, 11.

1 [To the Chief Musician. Al-taschith. Michtam of David.]

Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? /

Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

2 Indeed, in heart you work wickedness. /

You weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

3 The wicked are estranged from their birth. /

They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent. /

They are like the deaf adder that stops her ear,

5 Which will not listen to the voice of charmers, /

charming ever so wisely.

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth. /

Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually. /

When he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, /

let them be as though they were cut off.

8 As a snail which melts, /

let every one of them pass away /

like the untimely birth of a woman /

so that they may not see the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, /

he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, /

both living, and in his wrath.

10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. /

He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

11 So that a man shall say, /

"Truly there is a reward for the righteous. /

Truly he is a God who judges in the earth."

Psalm 59

David prays to be delivered from his enemies, 1-5. He complains of their cruelty, 6, 7. He trusts in God, 8-10. He prays against them, 11-15. He praises God, 16, 17.

1 [To the Chief Musician. Al-taschith. Michtam of David: when Saul sent and they watched the house to kill him.]

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. /

Defend me from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity /

and save me from bloody men.

3 For behold, they lie in wait for my soul. /

The mighty are gathered against me, /

not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault. /

Awake to help me, and behold.

5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, /

awake to visit all the heathen. /

Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. /

[ Selah. ]

6 They return at evening. /

They make a noise like a dog /

and go throughout the city.

7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth. /

Swords are in their lips, /

for they say, "Who hears?"

8 But you, O LORD, shall laugh at them. /

You shall have all the heathen in derision.

9 Because of his strength I will wait upon you, /

for God is my defense.

10 As for my God, his mercy shall go before me. /

God will let me see my desire upon my enemies.

11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget. /

Scatter them by your power and bring them down, /

O Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips /

let them even be taken in their pride, /

and also for cursing and lying which they speak.

13 Consume them in wrath, /

consume them, so that they may not be. /

And let them know that God rules in Jacob /

to the ends of the earth. /

[ Selah. ]

14 And at evening let them return. /

And let them make a noise like a dog /

and go throughout the city.

15 Let them wander up and down for food /

and wait all night if they are not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of your power. /

I will even sing aloud of your mercy in the morning, /

for you have been my defense /

and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To you, O my strength, I will sing, /

for God is my defense and the God of my mercy.

Psalm 60

David, complaining to God of former judgment, 1-3, now upon better hope, prays for deliverance, 4, 5. Comforting himself in God’s promises, he craves that help whereon he trusts, 6-12.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Shushan-eduth. Michtam of David for Teaching: when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, when Joab returned and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.]

O God, you have cast us off. /

You have scattered us. /

You have been displeased. /

O turn yourself to us again.

2 You have made the earth to tremble. /

You have broken it. /

Heal its breaches, for it shakes.

3 You have shown your people hard things. /

You have made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

4 You have given a banner to those who fear you /

so that it may be displayed because of the truth. /

[ Selah. ]

5 So that your beloved may be delivered, /

save with your right hand and hear me.

6 God has spoken in his holiness, "I will rejoice. /

I will divide Shechem /

and measure out the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine. And Manasseh is mine. /

Ephraim also is the strength of my head. /

Judah is my lawgiver.

8 Moab is my wash-pot. /

Over Edom I will cast out my shoe. /

Over Philistia I shout in triumph."

9 Who will bring me into the strong city? /

Who will lead me into Edom?

10 Will you not, O God, who had cast us off, /

and you, O God, who did not go out with our armies?

11 Give us help from trouble, /

for the help of man is vain.

12 Through God we shall do valiantly, /

for he will tread down our enemies.

Psalm 61

David flees to God upon his former experience, 1-3. He vows perpetual service to him because of his promises, 4-8.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Neginah. A Psalm of David.]

Hear my cry, O God. /

Attend to my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth I will cry to you /

when my heart is overwhelmed. /

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I am.

3 For you have been a shelter for me /

and a strong tower from the enemy.

4 I will abide in your tabernacle forever. /

I will trust in the covert of your wings. /

[ Selah. ]

5 For you, O God, have heard my vows. /

You have given me the heritage /

of those who fear your name.

6 You will prolong the king’s life. /

His years shall be as many generations.

7 He shall abide before God forever. /

O prepare mercy and truth, /

which may preserve him.

8 So I will sing praise to your name forever /

when I daily perform my vows.

Psalm 62

David, professing his confidence in God, discourages his enemies, 1-4. In the same confidence he encourages the godly, 5-8. No trust is to be put in worldly things, 9, 10. Power and mercy belong to God, 11, 12.

1 [To the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.]

Truly my soul waits upon God. /

My salvation comes from him.

2 Only he is my rock and my salvation. /

He is my defense. /

I shall not be greatly moved.

3 How long will you devise mischief against a man? /

All of you shall be slain. /

You shall be as a bowing wall and as a tottering fence.

4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellence. /

They delight in lies. /

They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. /

[ Selah. ]

5 My soul, wait only upon God, /

for my expectation is from him.

6 Only he is my rock and my salvation. /

He is my defense. /

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory. /

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, you people. /

Pour out your heart before him. /

God is a refuge for us. /

[ Selah. ]

9 Surely men of low degree are vanity /

and men of high degree are a lie. /

They will be laid in the balance. /

They are altogether lighter than vanity.

10 Do not trust in oppression /

and do not become vain in robbery. /

If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

11 God has spoken once, /

and twice I have heard this: /

that power belongs to God,

12 And to you, O Lord, belongs mercy. /

For you render to every man according to his work.

References

[v.12]: Quoted in Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6.

Psalm 63

David’s thirst for God, 1-3. His manner of blessing God, 4-8. His confidence of his enemies' destruction and of his own safety, 9-11.

1 [A Psalm of David: when he was in the wilderness of Judah.]

O God, you are my God. /

Early I will seek you. /

My soul thirsts for you. /

My flesh longs for you /

in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

2 Thus I have seen you in the sanctuary, /

seeing your power and your glory.

3 Because your loving-kindness is better than life, /

my lips shall praise you.

4 Thus I will bless you while I live. /

I will lift up my hands in your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, /

and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,

6 When I remember you upon my bed /

and meditate on you in the night watches.

7 Because you have been my help, /

therefore in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul follows hard after you. /

Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my soul to destroy it /

shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword. /

They shall be a portion for foxes.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God. /

Everyone who swears by him shall glory. /

But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

Psalm 64

David prays for deliverance, complaining of his enemies, 1-6. He promises himself to see such an evident destruction of his enemies, as the righteous shall rejoice at it, 7-10.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer. /

Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, /

from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity,

3 Who whet their tongue like a sword /

and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words,

4 So that they may shoot in secret at the perfect. /

Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter. /

They commune of laying snares secretly. /

They say, "Who will see them?"

6 They search out iniquities. /

They accomplish a diligent search. /

Both the inward thought and the heart of every one of them is deep.

7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow. /

Suddenly they shall be wounded.

8 Thus they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves. /

All who see them shall flee away.

9 And all men shall fear /

and declare the work of God, /

for they shall wisely consider his work.

10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD and trust in him, /

and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Psalm 65

David praises God for his grace, 1-3. The blessedness of God’s chosen by reason of benefits, 4-13.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm and Song of David.]

Praise waits for you, O God, in Zion. /

And to you the vow shall be performed.

2 O you who hear prayer, /

to you all flesh shall come.

3 Iniquities prevail against me. /

As for our transgressions, you shall purge them away.

4 Blessed is the man whom you choose and cause to approach you /

so that he may dwell in your courts. /

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, /

even of your holy temple.

5 By terrible things in righteousness you will answer us, /

O God of our salvation. /

You are the confidence of all the ends of the earth /

and of those who are afar off upon the sea,

6 Who by his strength firmly sets the mountains, /

being girded with power,

7 Who stills the noise of the seas, /

the noise of their waves, /

and the tumult of the people.

8 Also those who dwell in the uttermost parts are in awe of your signs. /

You make the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

9 You visit the earth and water it. /

You greatly enrich it with the river of God, /

which is full of water. /

You prepare their grain when you have thus provided for it.

10 You water its ridges abundantly. /

You settle its furrows. /

You make it soft with showers. /

You bless its springing.

11 You crown the year with your goodness /

and your paths drop fatness.

12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness, /

and the little hills rejoice on every side.

13 The pastures are clothed with flocks. /

The valleys are also covered over with grain. /

They shout for joy. They also sing.

Psalm 66

David exhorts to praise God, 1-4; to observe his great works, 5-7; to bless him for his gracious benefits, 8-11. He vows for himself religious service to God, 12-15. He declares God’s special goodness to himself, 16-20.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Song or Psalm.]

Make a joyful noise to God, all you lands.

2 Sing forth the honor of his name. /

Make his praise glorious.

3 Say to God, "How awesome you are in your works! /

Through the greatness of your power /

your enemies shall submit themselves to you.

4 All the earth shall worship you /

and sing to you. /

They shall sing to your name." /

[ Selah. ]

5 Come and see the works of God. /

He is awesome in his doings toward the children of men.

6 He turned the sea into dry land. /

They went through the flood on foot. /

There we rejoiced in him.

7 He rules by his power forever. /

His eyes behold the nations. /

Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. /

[ Selah. ]

8 O bless our God, you people, /

and make the voice of his praise to be heard,

9 Who holds our soul in life /

and does not allow our feet to be moved.

10 For you, O God, have proved us. /

You have tried us as silver is tried.

11 You have brought us into the net. /

You have laid affliction upon our loins.

12 You have caused men to ride over our heads. /

We went through fire and through water, /

but you brought us out into a wealthy place.

13 I will go into your house with burnt-offerings. /

I will pay you my vows,

14 Which my lips have uttered /

and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer to you burnt-sacrifices of fattened calves /

with the incense of rams. /

I will offer bulls with goats. /

[ Selah. ]

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, /

and I will declare what he has done for my soul.

17 I cried to him with my mouth, /

and he was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, /

the Lord will not hear me.

19 But truly God has heard me. /

He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God /

who has not turned away my prayer, /

nor his mercy from me.

Psalm 67

A prayer for the enlargement of God’s kingdom, 1, 2; to the joy of the people, 3-5; and the increase of God’s blessings, 6, 7.

1 [To the Chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalm or Song.]

May God be merciful to us and bless us /

and cause his face to shine upon us. /

[ Selah. ]

2 Then your way may be known upon earth, /

your saving health among all nations.

3 Let the people praise you, O God. /

Let all the people praise you.

4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, /

for you shall judge the people righteously /

and govern the nations upon earth. /

[ Selah. ]

5 Let the people praise you, O God. /

Let all the people praise you.

6 Then the earth shall yield her increase, /

and God, even our own God, will bless us.

7 God will bless us, /

and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Psalm 68

A prayer at the removing of the ark, 1-3. An exhortation to praise God for his mercies, 4-6; for his care of the church, 7-18; for his great works, 19-35.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm or Song of David.]

Let God arise. Let his enemies be scattered. /

Let those who also hate him flee before him.

2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. /

As wax melts before the fire, /

so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad. /

Let them rejoice before God. /

Indeed, let them exceedingly rejoice.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name. /

Extol him who rides upon the heavens /

by his name, YAH, /

and rejoice before him.

5 A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows /

is God in his holy habitation.

6 God sets the solitary in families. /

He brings out those who are bound with chains. /

But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

7 O God, when you went forth before your people, /

when you marched through the wilderness, /

[ Selah. ]

8 The earth shook, /

the heavens also dropped at the presence of God. /

Even Sinai itself was moved /

at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, /

by which you confirmed your inheritance when it was weary.

10 Your congregation has dwelt therein. /

You, O God, have prepared your goodness for the poor.

11 The Lord gave the word. /

The company of those who published it was great.

12 Kings of armies fled apace. /

And she who waited at home divided the plunder.

13 Though you have lain among the pots, /

yet you shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver /

and her feathers with yellow gold.

14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, /

it was white as snow in Salmon.

15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan, /

a high hill as the hill of Bashan.

16 Why do you leap, you lofty hills? /

This is the hill which God desires to dwell in. /

Indeed, the LORD will dwell in it forever.

17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, /

even thousands of angels. /

The Lord is among them, /

as in Sinai, in the holy place.

18 You have ascended on high. /

You have led captivity captive. /

You have received gifts among men, /

even among the rebellious also, /

so that the LORD God might dwell with them.

19 Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits, /

even the God of our salvation. /

[ Selah. ]

20 He who is our God is the God of salvation. /

And the issues from death belong to GOD the Lord.

21 But God will wound the head of his enemies /

and the hairy scalp of such a one as goes on still in his trespasses.

22 The Lord said, "I will bring back from Bashan, /

I will bring my people back from the depths of the sea,

23 So that your foot may be dipped /

in the blood of your enemies /

and the tongue of your dogs in the same."

24 They have seen your goings, O God, /

even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

25 The singers went before. /

The players on instruments followed after. /

Among them were the young women playing with tambourines.

26 Bless God in the congregations, /

even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

27 There is the youngest, Benjamin, with their ruler, /

the princes of Judah and their counsel, /

the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28 Your God has commanded your strength. /

Strengthen, O God, that which you have wrought for us.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, /

kings shall bring presents to you.

30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, /

the multitude of the bulls with the calves of the people, /

until each submits himself with pieces of silver. /

Scatter the people who delight in war.

31 Princes shall come out of Egypt. /

Cush shall soon stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. /

O sing praises to the Lord, /

[ Selah. ]

33 To him who rides upon the heavens of heavens, which are of old. /

Behold, he sends out his voice—a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe strength to God. /

His excellence is over Israel /

and his strength is in the clouds.

35 O God, you are awesome out of your holy places. /

The God of Israel is he who gives strength and power to his people. /

Blessed be God.

References

[v.18]: Quoted in Ephesians 4:8.

Psalm 69

David complains of his affliction, 1-12. He prays for deliverance, 13-21. He devotes his enemies to destruction, 22-29. He praises God with thanksgiving, 30-36.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim. A Psalm of David.]

Save me, O God, /

for the waters have come to my soul.

2 I sink in deep mire /

where there is no standing. /

I have come into deep waters /

where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary of my crying. /

My throat is dried. /

My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4 Those who hate me without a cause /

are more than the hairs of my head. /

Those who would destroy me, /

being my enemies without cause, /

are mighty. /

Then I restored that which I did not take away.

5 O God, you know my foolishness /

and my sins are not hid from you.

6 Do not let those who wait on you, /

O Lord GOD of hosts, /

be ashamed for my sake. /

Do not let those who seek you /

be confounded for my sake, /

O God of Israel.

7 Because for your sake I have borne reproach. /

Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers /

and a foreigner to my mother’s children.

9 For the zeal of your house has eaten me up. /

And the reproaches of those who reproached you /

have fallen upon me.

10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, /

that was to my reproach.

11 I also made sackcloth my garment /

and became a proverb to them.

12 Those who sit in the gate speak against me. /

I was the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD, /

in an acceptable time. /

O God, in the multitude of your mercy, /

hear me in the truth of your salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire /

and do not let me sink. /

Let me be delivered from those who hate me /

and out of the deep waters.

15 Do not let the flood waters overflow me, /

neither let the deep swallow me up, /

or the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16 Hear me, O LORD, for your loving-kindness is good. /

Turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies.

17 And do not hide your face from your servant, /

for I am in trouble. Hear me speedily.

18 Draw near to my soul and redeem it. /

Deliver me because of my enemies.

19 You have known my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. /

My adversaries are all before you.

20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. /

And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, /

and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They also gave me gall for my food, /

and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table become a snare before them. /

And that which should have been for their welfare, /

let it become a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see /

and make their loins continually shake.

24 Pour out your indignation upon them /

and let your wrathful anger take hold of them.

25 Let their habitation be desolate /

and let no one dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom you have smitten /

and talk to the grief of those whom you have wounded.

27 Add iniquity to their iniquity. /

And do not let them come into your righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living /

and not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am poor and sorrowful. /

Let your salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song /

and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox /

or bull that has horns and hooves.

32 The humble shall see this and be glad. /

And you who seek God, your heart shall live.

33 For the LORD hears the poor /

and does not despise his prisoners.

34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, /

the seas and everything that moves therein.

35 For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah /

so that they may dwell there and have it in possession.

36 The offspring of his servants shall also inherit it. /

And those who love his name shall dwell therein.

References

[v.4]: Reference, John 15:25. [v.9]: Quoted in John 2:17; Romans 15:3. [v.22]: Quoted in Romans 11:9. [v.23]: Quoted in Romans 11:10. [v.25]: Quoted in Acts 1:20.

Psalm 70

David solicits God to the speedy destruction of the wicked and the preservation of the godly, 1-5.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David: to bring to remembrance.]

Make haste, O God, to deliver me. /

Make haste to help me, O LORD.

2 Let them be ashamed and confounded /

who seek after my soul. /

Let them be turned backward and put to shame /

who desire my hurt.

3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame /

who say, "Aha, aha."

4 Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. /

And let those who love your salvation say continually, /

"Let God be magnified."

5 But I am poor and needy. /

Make haste to me, O God. /

You are my help and my deliverer. /

O LORD, make no delay.

Psalm 71

David, in confidence of faith and experience of God’s favor, prays both for himself and against the enemies of his soul, 1-13. He promises constancy, 14-16. He prays for perseverance, 17, 18. He praises God and promises to do it cheerfully, 19-24.

1 In you, O LORD, I put my trust. /

Let me never be put to shame.

2 Deliver me in your righteousness and cause me to escape. /

Incline your ear to me and save me.

3 Be my strong habitation to which I may continually resort. /

You have given commandment to save me, /

for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, /

from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For you are my hope, O Lord GOD. /

You are my trust from my youth.

6 I have been sustained by you from my birth. /

You are he who brought me into life. /

My praise shall be continually of you.

7 I am as a wonder to many, /

but you are my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with your praise /

and with your honor all the day.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age. /

Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies speak against me, /

and those who lie in wait for my soul take counsel together,

11 Saying, "God has forsaken him. /

Persecute and take him, for there is no one to deliver him."

12 O God, do not be far from me. /

O my God, make haste for my help.

13 Let them be confounded and consumed /

who are adversaries to my soul. /

Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor /

who seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually /

and will yet praise you more and more.

15 My mouth shall show forth your righteousness /

and your salvation all the day, /

for I do not know the numbers thereof.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. /

I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours only.

17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, /

and until now I have declared your wondrous works.

18 And even when I am old and gray-headed, /

O God, do not forsake me, /

until I have shown your strength to this generation /

and your power to everyone who is to come.

19 Your righteousness also, O God, is very high, /

who have done great things. O God, who is like you?

20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, /

will revive me again /

and bring me back from the depths of the earth.

21 You will increase my greatness /

and comfort me on every side.

22 I will also praise you with the psaltery, /

even your truth, O my God. /

To you I will sing with the harp, /

O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to you, /

along with my soul which you have redeemed.

24 My tongue shall also talk /

of your righteousness all the day long. /

For they are confounded, /

for they are brought to shame who seek my hurt.

Psalm 72

David, praying for Solomon, shows the goodness and glory of his kingdom, and in type of Christ’s kingdom, 1-17. He blesses God, 18-20.

1 [A Psalm for Solomon.]

Give the king your judgments, O God, /

and your righteousness to the king’s son.

2 He shall judge your people with righteousness /

and your poor with judgment.

3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, /

and the little hills, by righteousness.

4 He shall judge the poor of the people. /

He shall save the children of the needy /

and break the oppressor in pieces.

5 They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, /

throughout all generations.

6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, /

as showers that water the earth.

7 In his days the righteous shall flourish, /

and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures.

8 He shall also have dominion from sea to sea /

and from the river to the ends of the earth.

9 Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him, /

and his enemies shall lick the dust.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands shall bring presents. /

The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

11 Indeed, all kings shall fall down before him. /

All nations shall serve him.

12 For he shall deliver the needy when he cries, /

and also the poor and him who has no helper.

13 He shall spare the poor and needy /

and save the souls of the needy.

14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, /

and precious shall be their blood in his sight.

15 And he shall live, and to him the gold of Sheba shall be given. /

Prayer shall also be made for him continually, /

and daily he shall be praised.

16 There shall be a handful of grain in the earth /

upon the top of the mountains. /

Its fruit shall shake like Lebanon. /

And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

17 His name shall endure forever. /

His name shall be continued as long as the sun. /

And men shall be blessed in him. /

All nations shall call him blessed.

18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, /

who only does wondrous things.

19 And blessed be his glorious name forever. /

And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. /

Amen and amen.

20 [The prayers of David the son of Jesse have ended.]

BOOK III

Psalm 73

The prophet, prevailing in a temptation, 1, shows the occasion thereof, the prosperity of the wicked, 2-12; the wound given thereby, diffidence, 13, 14; the victory over it, and knowledge of God’s purpose in destroying the wicked and sustaining the righteous, 15-28.

1 [A Psalm of Asaph.]

Truly God is good to Israel, /

even to those who are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. /

My steps had well near slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish /

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pangs in their death, /

but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men, /

neither are they afflicted like other men.

6 Therefore, pride encompasses them as a chain. /

Violence covers them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness. /

The imaginations of their heart transgressed.

8 They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression. /

They speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens /

and their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore, his people return here. /

And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, "How does God know? /

And is there knowledge in the Most High?"

12 Behold, these are the ungodly /

who prosper in the world. They increase in riches.

13 Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain /

and washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all the day long I have been afflicted /

and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, "I will speak thus," /

behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.

16 When I thought to know this, /

it was too painful for me,

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God. /

Then I understood their end.

18 Surely you set them in slippery places. /

You cast them down into destruction.

19 How they are brought into desolation as in a moment! /

They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awakes, /

so, O Lord, when you awake, you will despise their image.

21 Thus my soul was grieved /

and I was pricked in my heart.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant. /

I was as a beast before you.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. /

You have held me by my right hand.

24 You will guide me with your counsel /

and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? /

And there is no one upon earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart fails, /

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish. /

You have destroyed all those who go astray from you.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. /

I have put my trust in the Lord GOD /

so that I may declare all your works.

Psalm 74

The prophet complains of the desolation of the sanctuary, 1-9. He moves God to help in consideration of his power, 10-17; of his reproachful enemies, of his children, and of his covenant, 18-23.

1 [Maschil of Asaph.]

O God, why have you cast us off forever? /

Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?

2 Remember your congregation which you have purchased of old, /

the rod of your inheritance which you have redeemed, /

this mount Zion in which you have dwelt.

3 Lift up your feet to the perpetual desolations, /

even all that the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary.

4 Your enemies roar in the midst of your congregations. /

They set up their ensigns for signs.

5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes /

upon the thick trees.

6 But now they break down its carved work /

at once with axes and hammers.

7 They have cast fire into your sanctuary. /

They have defiled by casting down /

the dwelling-place of your name to the ground.

8 They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them together." /

They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

9 We do not see our signs. /

There is no longer any prophet, /

neither is there among us any who knows how long.

10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? /

Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

11 Why do you withdraw your hand, /

even your right hand? Pluck it out of your bosom.

12 For God is my King of old, /

working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 You divided the sea by your strength. /

You broke the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.

14 You broke the head of leviathan in pieces /

and gave him to be food for the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 You cleaved the fountain and the flood. /

You dried up mighty rivers.

16 The day is yours, the night also is yours. /

You have prepared the light and the sun.

17 You have set all the borders of the earth. /

You have made summer and winter.

18 Remember this: the enemy has reproached, O LORD, /

and the foolish people have blasphemed your name.

19 O do not deliver the soul of your turtle-dove to the multitude of the wicked. /

Do not forget the congregation of your poor forever.

20 Have respect to the covenant, /

for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

21 O do not let the oppressed return ashamed. /

Let the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead your own cause. /

Remember how the foolish man reproaches you daily.

23 Do not forget the voice of your enemies. /

The tumult of those who rise against you increases continually.

Psalm 75

The prophet praises God, 1. He promises to judge uprightly, 2, 3. He rebukes the proud by consideration of God’s providence, 4-8. He praises God and promises to execute justice, 9, 10.

1 [To the Chief Musician. Al-taschith. A Psalm or Song of Asaph.]

To you, O God, we give thanks, /

to you we give thanks, for your name is near. /

Your wondrous works we declare.

2 "When I receive the congregation, /

I will judge uprightly.

3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved. /

I bear up its pillars." /

[ Selah. ]

4 "I said to the fools, 'Do not deal foolishly,' /

and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn.

5 Do not lift up your horn on high. /

Do not speak with a stiff neck.'"

6 For promotion comes neither from the east, /

nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge. /

He puts down one and sets up another.

8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, /

and the wine is red. /

It is full of mixture, /

and he pours out of the same. /

But all the wicked of the earth /

shall wring out its dregs and drink them.

9 But I will declare it forever. /

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, /

but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalm 76

A declaration of God’s majesty in the church, 1-10. An exhortation to serve him reverently, 11, 12.

1 [To the Chief Musician on Neginoth. A Psalm or Song of Asaph.]

God is known in Judah. /

His name is great in Israel.

2 Also in Salem is his tabernacle /

and his dwelling place in Zion.

3 There he broke the arrows of the bow, /

the shield, the sword, and the battle. /

[ Selah. ]

4 You are more glorious and excellent /

than the mountains of prey.

5 The stout-hearted are plundered. /

They have slept their sleep. /

And none of the men of might have found their hands.

6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, /

both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

7 You, even you, are to be feared. /

And who may stand in your sight when you are angry?

8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven. /

The earth feared and was still,

9 When God arose to judgment /

to save all the meek of the earth. /

[ Selah. ]

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you. /

The remainder of wrath you will restrain.

11 Vow, and pay to the LORD your God. /

Let all who are around him bring presents /

to him who ought to be feared.

12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes. /

He is fearful to the kings of the earth.

Psalm 77

The psalmist shows what fierce combat he had with diffidence, 1-9. The victory which he had by consideration of God’s great and gracious works, 10-20.

1 [To the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.]

I cried to God with my voice, /

even to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. /

My hand was stretched out in the night and did not cease. /

My soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God and was troubled. /

I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. /

[ Selah. ]

4 You hold my eyes waking. /

I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, /

the years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night. /

I commune with my own heart, /

and my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off forever? /

And will he no longer be favorable?

8 Is his mercy wholly gone forever? /

Does his promise fail forevermore?

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? /

Has he in anger shut up his tender mercies? /

[ Selah. ]

10 And I said, "This is my infirmity, /

but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High."

11 I will remember the works of the LORD. /

Surely I will remember your wonders of old.

12 I will meditate also of all your work /

and talk of your doings.

13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary. /

Who is so great a God as our God?

14 You are the God who does wonders. /

You have declared your strength among the people.

15 You have with your arm redeemed your people, /

the sons of Jacob and Joseph. /

[ Selah. ]

16 The waters saw you, O God, /

the waters saw you. They were afraid. /

The depths also were disturbed.

17 The clouds poured out water. /

The skies sent out a sound. /

Your arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of your thunder was in the heaven. /

The lightnings lightened the world. /

The earth trembled and shook.

19 Your way is in the sea /

and your paths in the great waters, /

and your footsteps are not known.

20 You led your people like a flock /

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 78

An exhortation both to learn and to preach the law of God, 1-8. The story of God’s wrath against the incredulous and disobedient, 9-66. The Israelites being rejected, God chose Judah, Zion, and David, 67-72.

1 [Maschil of Asaph.]

Give ear, O my people, to my law. /

Incline your ear to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable. /

I will utter dark sayings of old,

3 Which we have heard and known /

and our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children, /

showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, /

his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob /

and appointed a law in Israel, /

which he commanded our fathers, /

that they should make them known to their children,

6 So that the generation to come might know them, /

even the children who should be born, /

who should arise and declare them to their children;

7 So that they might set their hope in God /

and not forget the works of God, /

but keep his commandments,

8 And might not be as their fathers, /

a stubborn and rebellious generation, /

a generation that did not set their heart aright /

and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, /

turned back in the day of battle.

10 They did not keep the covenant of God /

and refused to walk in his law,

11 And forgot his works /

and his wonders that he had shown them.

12 He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, /

in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through. /

He made the waters to stand as a heap.

14 In the day-time he also led them with a cloud /

and all the night with a light of fire.

15 He cleaved the rocks in the wilderness /

and gave them drink as out of the great depths.

16 He also brought streams out of the rock /

and caused waters to run down like rivers.

17 And they sinned yet more against him /

by provoking the Most High in the wilderness.

18 And they tested God in their heart /

by asking food for their desire.

19 They even spoke against God. /

They said, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

20 Behold, he smote the rock so that the waters gushed out /

and the streams overflowed. /

Can he give bread also? /

Can he provide flesh for his people?"

21 Therefore, the LORD heard this and was angry. /

Thus a fire was kindled against Jacob /

and anger also came up against Israel,

22 Because they did not believe in God /

and did not trust in his salvation,

23 Though he commanded the clouds from above /

and opened the doors of heaven,

24 And rained down manna upon them to eat /

and gave them the grain of heaven.

25 Man ate angels' food. /

He sent them food to the full.

26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven. /

And by his power he brought in the south wind.

27 He also rained flesh upon them as dust, /

and feathered birds as the sand of the sea.

28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp /

around their habitations.

29 So they ate and were well filled, /

for he gave them their own desire.

30 They were not estranged from their desire. /

But while their food was yet in their mouths,

31 The wrath of God came upon them /

and slew the fattest of them /

and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

32 For all this they sinned still /

and did not believe in his wondrous works.

33 Therefore, he consumed their days in vanity /

and their years in trouble.

34 When he slew them, they sought him. /

They returned and inquired early after God.

35 And they remembered that God was their rock /

and the high God their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless, they flattered him with their mouth /

and they lied to him with their tongues.

37 For their heart was not right with him, /

neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

38 But he, being full of compassion, /

forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. /

Many a time he even turned his anger away /

and did not stir up all his wrath.

39 For he remembered that they were but flesh, /

a wind that passes away and does not return.

40 How often they provoked him in the wilderness /

and grieved him in the desert!

41 They even turned back and tested God /

and limited the Holy One of Israel.

42 They did not remember his hand, /

nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy,

43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt /

and his wonders in the field of Zoan,

44 And had turned their rivers into blood, /

and also their floods, so that they could not drink.

45 He sent swarms of flies among them which devoured them, /

and also frogs which destroyed them.

46 He also gave their increase to the ravaging-locust /

and their labor to the swarming-locust.

47 He destroyed their vines with hail /

and their sycamore trees with frost.

48 He also gave up their cattle to the hail /

and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, /

wrath, indignation, and trouble, /

by sending evil angels among them.

50 He made a way to his anger. /

He did not spare their soul from death, /

but gave their life over to the pestilence,

51 And smote all the first-born in Egypt, /

the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham,

52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep /

and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

53 And he led them on safely so that they did not fear. /

But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, /

even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.

55 He also cast out the heathen before them. /

He divided them an inheritance by line /

and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

56 Yet they tested and provoked the most high God /

and did not keep his testimonies,

57 But turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers. /

They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places /

and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.

59 When God heard this, he was angry /

and greatly abhorred Israel,

60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, /

the tent which he placed among men,

61 And delivered his strength into captivity /

and his glory into the enemy’s hand.

62 He also gave over his people to the sword /

and was angry with his inheritance.

63 The fire consumed their young men, /

and their young women were not given to marriage.

64 Their priests fell by the sword /

and their widows made no lamentation.

65 Then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep /

and like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.

66 And he smote his enemies backward. /

He put them to a perpetual reproach.

67 Moreover, he refused the tabernacle of Joseph /

and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 But chose the tribe of Judah, /

the mount Zion which he loved.

69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, /

like the earth which he has established forever.

70 He also chose David his servant /

and took him from the sheep-folds.

71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him /

to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance.

72 Thus he fed them according to the integrity of his heart /

and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 13:35. [v.24]: Quoted in John 6:31.

Psalm 79

The psalmist complains of the desolation of Jerusalem, 1-7. He prays for deliverance, 8-12; and promises thankfulness, 13.

1 [A Psalm of Asaph.]

O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance. /

They have defiled your holy temple. /

They have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants /

to be food for the birds of the heaven, /

the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem, /

and there was no one to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, /

a scorn and derision to those who are around us.

5 How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? /

Shall your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your wrath upon the heathen /

who have not known you /

and upon the kingdoms /

that have not called upon your name.

7 For they have devoured Jacob /

and laid waste his dwelling-place.

8 O do not hold former iniquities against us. /

Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, /

for we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, /

for the glory of your name, /

and deliver us and purge away our sins /

for your name’s sake.

10 Why should the heathen say, "Where is their God?" /

Let him be known among the heathen in our sight /

by avenging the blood of your servants which is shed.

11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. /

According to the greatness of your power /

preserve those who are appointed to die.

12 And render to our neighbors seven-fold into their bosom /

their reproach with which they have reproached you, O Lord.

13 So we your people and sheep of your pasture /

will give you thanks forever. /

We will show forth your praise to all generations.

Psalm 80

The psalmist in his prayer complains of the miseries of the church, 1-7. God’s former favors are turned into judgments, 8-13. He prays for deliverance, 14-19.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Shoshannim Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.]

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, /

you who lead Joseph like a flock. /

You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth.

2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, /

stir up your strength /

and come and save us.

3 Turn us back, O God, /

and cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved.

4 O LORD God of hosts, /

how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?

5 You feed them with the bread of tears /

and give them tears to drink in great measure.

6 You make us a strife to our neighbors, /

and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Turn us back, O God of hosts, /

and cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved.

8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt. /

You have cast out the heathen and planted it.

9 You prepared room before it /

and caused it to take deep root, and it filled the land.

10 The hills were covered with its shade, /

and its boughs were like the beautiful cedars.

11 She sent out her boughs to the sea /

and her branches to the river.

12 Why have you then broken down her hedges /

so that all those who pass by the way pluck her?

13 The boar from the forest wastes it /

and the wild beast of the field devours it.

14 Return, we implore you, O God of hosts. /

Look down from heaven and behold. Visit this vine,

15 The vineyard which your right hand planted, /

the branch that you made strong for yourself.

16 It is burnt with fire. It is cut down. /

They perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

17 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, /

upon the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.

18 Then we will not go back from you. /

Revive us, and we will call upon your name.

19 Turn us back, O LORD God of hosts, /

cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved.

Psalm 81

An exhortation to a solemn praising of God, 1-3. God challenges that duty by reason of his benefits, 4-7. God, exhorting to obedience, complains of their disobedience, which proves their own hurt, 8-16.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.]

Sing aloud to God our strength. /

Make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

2 Take a psalm and bring here the tambourine, /

the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

3 Blow the trumpet in the new moon, /

in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

4 For this was a statute for Israel /

and a law of the God of Jacob.

5 He ordained this in Joseph for a testimony /

when he went out through the land of Egypt. /

I heard a language that I did not understand:

6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden. /

His hands were delivered from the pots.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you. /

I answered you in the secret place of thunder. /

I proved you at the waters of Meribah." /

[ Selah. ]

8 "Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you, /

O Israel, if you would listen to me.

9 There shall no strange god be in you, /

neither shall you worship any strange god.

10 I am the LORD your God /

who brought you out of the land of Egypt. /

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people would not listen to my voice, /

and Israel would not obey me.

12 So I gave them up to the lust of their hearts, /

and they walked in their own counsels.

13 O that my people had listened to me /

and Israel had walked in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies /

and turn my hand against their adversaries.

15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves to him, /

and their time should have endured forever.

16 He would have fed them also with the finest of the wheat. /

And with honey out of the rock I would satisfy you."

Psalm 82

The psalmist, having exhorted the judges, 1-4, and reproved their negligence, 5-7, prays God to judge, 8.

1 [A Psalm of Asaph.]

God stands in the congregation of the mighty. /

He judges among the gods.

2 "How long will you judge unjustly /

and accept the persons of the wicked?" /

[ Selah. ]

3 "Defend the poor and fatherless. /

Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4 Deliver the poor and needy. /

Deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5 They do not know, neither will they understand. /

They walk on in darkness. /

All the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6 I have said, 'You are gods, /

and all of you are children of the Most High.

7 But you shall die like men /

and fall like one of the princes.'"

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth, /

for you will inherit all nations.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in John 10:34.

Psalm 83

A complaint to God of the enemies' conspiracies, 1-8. A prayer against those who oppress the Church, 9-18.

1 [A Song or Psalm of Asaph.]

Do not keep silent, O God. /

Do not hold your peace and do not be still, O God.

2 For behold, your enemies make a tumult, /

and those who hate you have lifted up the head.

3 They have taken crafty counsel against your people /

and consulted against your hidden ones.

4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation /

so that the name of Israel may no longer be in remembrance."

5 For they have consulted together with one consent. /

They are confederated against you:

6 The tabernacles of Edom and the Ishmaelites, /

of Moab and the Hagarenes,

7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, /

the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre.

8 Assur is also joined with them. /

They have helped the children of Lot. /

[ Selah. ]

9 Do to them as to the Midianites, /

as to Sisera and to Jabin at the brook of Kison,

10 Who perished at En-dor. /

They became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, /

even all their princes as Zebah and as Zalmunna,

12 Who said, "Let us take for ourselves /

the houses of God in possession."

13 O my God, make them like a wheel, /

as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burns a forest /

and as the flame sets the mountains on fire,

15 So persecute them with your tempest /

and make them afraid with your storm.

16 Fill their faces with shame /

so that they may seek your name, O LORD.

17 Let them be confounded and troubled forever. /

Let them even be put to shame and perish,

18 So that men may know that you, whose name alone is YAHWEH, /

are the most high over all the earth.

Psalm 84

The prophet, longing for the communion of the sanctuary, 1-3, shows how blessed those are who dwell therein, 4-7. He prays to be restored to it, 8-12.

1 [To the Chief Musician upon Gittith. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.]

How amiable your tabernacles are, /

O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longs and even faints for the courts of the LORD. /

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a house /

and the swallow a nest for herself /

where she may lay her young /

near your altars, O LORD of hosts, /

my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house. /

They will be still praising you. /

[ Selah. ]

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, /

in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a well. /

The rain also fills the pools.

7 They go from strength to strength. /

Every one of them in Zion appears before God.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer. /

Give ear, O God of Jacob. /

[ Selah. ]

9 Behold, O God our shield, /

and look upon the face of your anointed.

10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]. /

I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God /

than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield. /

The LORD will give grace and glory. /

No good will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, /

blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Psalm 85

The Psalmist, out of the experience of former mercies, prays for the continuance thereof, 1-7. He promises to wait thereon, out of confidence of God’s goodness, 8-13.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.]

LORD, you have been favorable to your land. /

You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.

2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. /

You have covered all their sin. /

[ Selah. ]

3 You have taken away all your wrath. /

You have turned yourself from the fierceness of your anger.

4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, /

and cause your anger toward us to cease.

5 Will you be angry with us forever? /

Will you draw out your anger to all generations?

6 Will you not revive us again /

so that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your mercy, O LORD, /

and grant us your salvation.

8 I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, /

for he will speak peace to his people and to his saints. /

But do not let them turn back to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him /

so that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth are met together. /

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, /

and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 Indeed, the LORD will give that which is good, /

and our land shall yield her increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him /

and set us in the way of his steps.

Psalm 86

David strengthens his prayer by the consciousness of his religion, 1-4; by the goodness and power of God 5-10. He desires the continuance of former grace, 11-13. Complaining of the proud, he craves some token of God’s goodness, 14-17.

1 [A Prayer of David.]

Bow down your ear, O LORD. /

Hear me, for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my soul, for I am holy. /

O you, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.

3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, /

for I cry to you daily.

4 Bring joy to the soul of your servant, /

for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

5 For you, Lord, are good and ready to forgive /

and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you.

6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer /

and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, /

for you will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is no one like you, O Lord, /

neither are there any works like your works.

9 All nations whom you have made /

shall come and worship before you, /

O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

10 For you are great and do wondrous things. /

You are God alone.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD. /

I will walk in your truth. /

Unite my heart to fear your name.

12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart /

and I will glorify your name forevermore.

13 For your mercy is great toward me, /

and you have delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud have risen against me /

and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul. /

They have not set you before them.

15 But you, O Lord, are a God full of compassion and gracious. /

You are patient and abundant in mercy and truth.

16 O turn to me and have mercy upon me. /

Give your strength to your servant /

and save the son of your woman-servant.

17 Show me a token for good /

so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, /

because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in Revelation 15:4.

Psalm 87

The nature and glory of the church, 1-3. The increase, honor, and comfort of the members thereof, 4-7.

1 [A Psalm or Song for the Sons of Korah.]

His foundation is in the holy mountains.

2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion /

more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

3 Glorious things are spoken of you, /

O city of God. /

[ Selah. ]

4 "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon /

to those who know me. /

Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Cush: /

'This one was born there.'"

5 And of Zion it shall be said, /

"This and that man was born in her. /

And the Highest himself shall establish her."

6 The LORD shall reckon when he registers the people: /

"This man was born there." /

[ Selah. ]

7 The singers as well as the players on instruments shall be there. /

All my springs are in you.

Psalm 88

A prayer containing a grievous complaint, 1-18.

1 [A Song or Psalm for the Sons of Korah, to the Chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.]

O LORD God of my salvation, /

I have cried day and night before you.

2 Let my prayer come before you. /

Incline your ear to my cry,

3 For my soul is full of troubles /

and my life draws near to the grave.

4 I am counted with those who go down into the pit. /

I am as a man who has no strength,

5 Free among the dead, /

like the slain who lie in the grave, /

whom you no longer remember, /

and they are cut off from your hand.

6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, /

in darkness, in the deeps.

7 Your wrath lies hard upon me, /

and you have afflicted me with all your waves. /

[ Selah. ]

8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me. /

You have made me an abomination to them. /

I am shut up and I cannot come forth.

9 My eye mourns by reason of affliction. /

LORD, I have called daily upon you. /

I have stretched out my hands to you.

10 Will you show wonders to the dead? /

Shall the dead arise and praise you? /

[ Selah. ]

11 Shall your loving-kindness be declared in the grave, /

or your faithfulness in destruction?

12 Shall your wonders be known in the dark /

and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But to you I have cried, O LORD, /

and in the morning my prayer shall come before you.

14 LORD, why do you cast off my soul? /

Why do you hide your face from me?

15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. /

While I suffer your terrors I am distracted.

16 Your fierce wrath goes over me. /

Your terrors have cut me off.

17 They came around me daily like water. /

They encompassed me together.

18 You have put loved one and friend far from me /

and my acquaintances into darkness.

Psalm 89

The psalmist praises God for his covenant, 1-4; for his wonderful power, 5-14; for the care of his church, 15-18; for his favor to the kingdom of David, 19-37. Then complaining of contrary events, 38-45, he expostulates, prays, and blesses God, 46-52.

1 [Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.]

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever. /

With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known to all generations.

2 For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever. /

You will establish your faithfulness in the very heavens."

3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen. /

I have sworn to David my servant,

4 'I will establish your offspring forever /

and build up your throne to all generations.'" /

[ Selah. ]

5 And the heavens shall praise your wonders, O LORD, /

and also your faithfulness in the congregation of the saints.

6 For who in the heaven can be compared to the LORD? /

Who among the sons of the mighty can be compared to the LORD?

7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints /

and to be had in reverence by all those who are around him.

8 O LORD God of hosts, /

who is mighty like you, O Yah? /

And your faithfulness is around you.

9 You rule the raging of the sea. /

When its waves arise, you still them.

10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain. /

You have scattered your enemies with your strong arm.

11 The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours. /

As for the world and its fullness, you have founded them.

12 The north and the south, you have created them. /

Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in your name.

13 You have a mighty arm. /

Your hand is strong and your right hand is high.

14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of your throne. /

Mercy and truth shall go before your face.

15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound. /

They shall walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance.

16 In your name they shall rejoice all the day, /

and in your righteousness they shall be exalted.

17 For you are the glory of their strength, /

and in your favor our horn shall be exalted.

18 For the LORD is our defense, /

and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

19 Then you spoke in a vision to your holy one /

and said, "I have laid help upon one who is mighty. /

I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20 I have found David my servant. /

With my holy oil I have anointed him.

21 With him my hand shall be established. /

My arm shall also strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not exact upon him, /

nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23 And I will beat down his foes before his face /

and afflict those who hate him.

24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, /

and in my name his horn shall be exalted.

25 I will set his hand also in the sea /

and his right hand in the rivers.

26 He shall cry to me, 'You are my father, /

my God, and the rock of my salvation.'

27 Also I will make him my first-born, /

higher than the kings of the earth.

28 I will keep my mercy for him forevermore, /

and my covenant shall stand firmly with him.

29 I will also make his offspring to endure forever, /

and his throne as the days of heaven.

30 If his children forsake my law /

and do not walk in my judgments,

31 If they break my statutes /

and do not keep my commandments,

32 Then I will visit their transgression with the rod /

and their iniquity with stripes.

33 Nevertheless, I will not utterly take my loving-kindness from him, /

nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

34 I will not break my covenant, /

nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips.

35 Once I have sworn by my holiness, /

I will not lie to David.

36 His offspring shall endure forever, /

and his throne as the sun before me.

37 It shall be established forever as the moon /

and as a faithful witness in heaven." /

[ Selah. ]

38 But you have cast off and abhorred, /

you have been angry with your anointed.

39 You have made the covenant of your servant void. /

You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

40 You have broken all his hedges down. /

You have brought his strongholds to ruin.

41 All who pass by the way plunder him. /

He is a reproach to his neighbors.

42 You have set up the right hand of his adversaries. /

You have made all his enemies to rejoice.

43 You have also turned the edge of his sword /

and have not made him to stand in the battle.

44 You have made his glory to cease /

and cast his throne down to the ground.

45 The days of his youth you have shortened. /

You have covered him with shame. /

[ Selah. ]

46 How long, LORD, will you hide yourself? /

Forever? Shall your wrath burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my time is. /

Why have you made all men in vain?

48 What man is he who lives and shall not see death? /

Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? /

[ Selah. ]

49 Lord, where are your former loving-kindnesses /

which you swore to David in your truth?

50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, /

how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people,

51 With which your enemies have reproached, O LORD, /

with which they have reproached the footsteps of your anointed.

52 Blessed be the LORD forevermore. /

Amen and amen.

References

[v.20]: Quoted in Acts 13:22.

BOOK IV

Psalm 90

Moses, setting forth God’s providence, 1, 2, complains of human fragility, 3-6, divine chastisements, 7-9, and brevity of life, 10, 11. He prays for the knowledge and sensible experience of God’s good providence, 12-17.

1 [A Prayer of Moses the Man of God.]

Lord, you have been our dwelling-place /

in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, /

or before you had formed the earth and the world, /

even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

3 You turn man to destruction /

and say, "Return, you children of men."

4 For a thousand years in your sight /

are but as yesterday when it is past /

and as a watch in the night.

5 You carry them away as with a flood. They are as a dream. /

In the morning they are like grass which grows.

6 In the morning it flourishes and grows. /

In the evening it is cut down and withers.

7 For we are consumed by your anger, /

and by your wrath we are troubled.

8 You have set our iniquities before you, /

our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in your wrath. /

We spend our years as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are seventy years. /

And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, /

yet their strength is labor and sorrow, /

for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of your anger? /

Even according to your fear, so is your wrath.

12 So teach us to number our days /

so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

13 Return, O LORD, how long? /

And repent concerning your servants.

14 O satisfy us early with your mercy /

so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad according to the days in which you have afflicted us /

and the years in which we have seen evil.

16 Let your work appear to your servants /

and your glory to their children.

17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us. /

And establish the work of our hands upon us. /

Yes, the work of our hands, establish it.

Psalm 91

The state of the godly, 1, 2. Their safety, 3-8. Their habitation, 9, 10. Their servants, 11-13. Their friend; with the effects of them all, 14-16.

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High /

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, /

my God in whom I trust."

3 Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler /

and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with his feathers, /

and under his wings you shall trust. /

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night, /

nor for the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness, /

nor for the destruction that wastes at noon-day.

7 A thousand shall fall at your side, /

and ten thousand at your right hand, /

but it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes you shall behold /

and see the reward of the wicked.

9 For you, LORD, are my refuge! /

You have made the Most High your habitation.

10 There shall no evil befall you, /

neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over you /

to keep you in all your ways.

12 They shall bear you up in their hands, /

lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder. /

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample under feet.

14 "Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him. /

I will set him on high because he has known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. /

I will be with him in trouble. /

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him /

and show him my salvation."

References

[v.11]: Quoted in Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:10. [v.12]: Quoted in Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:11.

Psalm 92

The prophet exhorts to praise God, 1-3, for his great works, 4, 5; for his judgments on the wicked, 6-9; and for his goodness to the godly, 10-15.

1 [A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath Day.]

It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD /

and to sing praises to your name, O Most High,

2 To show forth your loving-kindness in the morning /

and your faithfulness every night,

3 Upon an instrument of ten strings and upon the psaltery, /

upon the harp with a solemn sound.

4 For you, LORD, have made me glad through your work. /

I will triumph in the works of your hands.

5 O LORD, how great your works are! /

And your thoughts are very deep.

6 A brutish man does not know, /

neither does a fool understand this.

7 When the wicked spring as the grass /

and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, /

it is that they shall be destroyed forever.

8 But you, LORD, are most high forevermore.

9 For behold, your enemies, O LORD, /

for behold, your enemies shall perish. /

All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

10 But you shall exalt my horn like the horn of a wild ox. /

I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

11 My eye has also seen my enemies, /

and my ears shall hear the wicked /

who rise up against me.

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree. /

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD /

shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. /

They shall be fat and flourishing,

15 To show that the LORD is upright. /

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 93

The majesty, stability, power, and holiness of Christ’s kingdom, 1-5.

1 The LORD reigns. /

He is clothed with majesty. /

The LORD is clothed with strength, /

with which he has girded himself. /

The world is also established so that it cannot be moved.

2 Your throne is established of old. /

You are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, /

the floods have lifted up their voice. /

The floods lift their waves.

4 The LORD on high is mightier /

than the noise of many waters, /

even mightier than the mighty waves of the sea.

5 Your testimonies are very sure. /

Holiness is suitable for your house, O LORD, forever.

Psalm 94

The prophet, calling for justice, complains of tyranny and impiety, 1-7. He teaches God’s providence, 8-11. He shows the blessedness of affliction, 12-15. God is the defender of the afflicted, 16-23.

1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs, /

O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself.

2 Lift up yourself, judge of the earth. /

Render a reward to the proud.

3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, /

how long shall the wicked triumph?

4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things, /

and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

5 They break your people in pieces, O LORD, /

and afflict your heritage.

6 They slay the widow and the stranger /

and murder the fatherless.

7 Yet they say, "The LORD will not see, /

neither will the God of Jacob regard it."

8 Understand, you brutish among the people. /

And you fools, when will you be wise?

9 He who planted the ear, shall he not hear? /

He who formed the eye, shall he not see?

10 He who chastises the heathen, shall he not correct? /

He who teaches man knowledge, shall he not know?

11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, /

that they are vanity.

12 Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD, /

and teach him out of your law,

13 So that you may give him rest from the days of adversity /

until the pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, /

neither will he forsake his inheritance.

15 But judgment shall return to righteousness, /

and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? /

Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the LORD had been my help, /

my soul would have almost dwelt in silence.

18 When I said, "My foot slips," /

your mercy, O LORD, held me up.

19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me, /

your comforts delight my soul.

20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, /

which frames mischief by a law?

21 They assemble themselves against the soul of the righteous /

and condemn the innocent blood.

22 But the LORD is my defense, /

and my God is the rock of my refuge.

23 And he will bring upon them their own iniquity /

and will cut them off in their own wickedness. /

Indeed, the LORD our God will cut them off.

References

[v.11]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 3:20. [v.14]: Quoted in Romans 11:2.

Psalm 95

An exhortation to praise God, 1, 2, for his greatness, 3-5; and for his goodness, 6, 7; and not to test him, 8-11.

1 O come, let us sing to the LORD. /

Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving /

and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God /

and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth. /

The strength of the hills is his also.

5 The sea is his, and he made it. /

And his hands formed the dry land.

6 O come, let us worship and bow down. /

Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

7 For he is our God, /

and we are the people of his pasture /

and the sheep of his hand. /

Today, if you will hear his voice,

8 Do not harden your heart, as at Meribah, /

and as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

9 When your fathers tested me, /

proved me, and saw my work.

10 Forty long years I was grieved with this generation /

and said, "It is a people who err in their heart, /

and they have not known my ways,"

11 To whom I swore in my wrath, /

"They shall not enter into my rest."

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Hebrews 3:7, 3:15, 4:7. [v.8]: Quoted in Hebrews 3:8, 3:15, 4:7. [v.9]: Quoted in Hebrews 3:9. [v.10]: Quoted in Hebrews 3:10. [v.11]: Quoted in Hebrews 3:11, 4:3, 4:5.

Psalm 96

An exhortation to praise God, 1-3, for his greatness, 4-7; for his kingdom, 8-10; for his general judgment, 11-13.

1 O sing to the LORD a new song. /

Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Sing to the LORD. Bless his name. /

Show forth his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the heathen, /

his wonders among all people.

4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised. /

He is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, /

but the LORD made the heavens.

6 Honor and majesty are before him. /

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Give to the LORD, O kindreds of the people, /

give to the LORD glory and strength.

8 Give to the LORD the glory due to his name. /

Bring an offering and come into his courts.

9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. /

Fear before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigns. /

The world shall also be established so that it shall not be moved. /

He will judge the people righteously.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. /

Let the sea roar, and its fullness.

12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. /

Then all the trees of the forest shall rejoice before the LORD.

13 For he comes, /

for he comes to judge the earth. /

He will judge the world with righteousness, /

and the people with his truth.

Psalm 97

The majesty of God’s kingdom, 1-6. The church rejoices at God’s judgments upon idolaters, 7-9. An exhortation to godliness and gladness, 10-12.

1 The LORD reigns. Let the earth rejoice. /

Let the multitude of islands be glad.

2 Clouds and darkness surround him. /

Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

3 A fire goes before him /

and burns up his enemies all around.

4 His lightnings enlightened the world. /

The earth saw and trembled.

5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, /

at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, /

and all the people see his glory.

7 Confounded are all those who serve engraved images, /

who boast themselves of idols. /

Worship him, all you gods.

8 Zion heard and was glad. /

And the daughters of Judah rejoiced /

because of your judgments, O LORD.

9 For you, LORD, are high above all the earth. /

You are exalted far above all gods.

10 You who love the LORD, hate evil. /

He preserves the souls of his saints. /

He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous, /

and gladness for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, /

and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

References

[v.7]: Possibly quoted in Hebrews 1:6.

Psalm 98

The psalmist exhorts the Jews, 1-3, the Gentiles, 4-6, and all the creatures to praise God, 7-9.

1 [A Psalm.]

O sing to the LORD a new song, /

for he has done marvelous things. /

His right hand and his holy arm /

have gotten him the victory.

2 The LORD has made his salvation known. /

His righteousness he has openly shown /

in the sight of the heathen.

3 He has remembered his mercy and his truth /

toward the house of Israel. /

All the ends of the earth /

have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. /

Make a loud noise, rejoice, and sing praise.

5 Sing to the LORD with the harp, /

with the harp and the voice of a psalm.

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn /

make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

7 Let the sea roar and its fullness, /

the world and those who dwell therein.

8 Let the floods clap their hands. /

Let the hills be joyful together,

9 Before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. /

With righteousness he will judge the world, /

and the people with equity.

Psalm 99

The prophet, setting forth the kingdom of God in Zion, 1-4, exhorts all, by the example of their forefathers, to worship God at his holy hill, 5-9.

1 The LORD reigns. Let the people tremble. /

He sits between the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.

2 The LORD is great in Zion /

and he is high above all people.

3 Let them praise your great and awesome name, /

for it is holy.

4 The king’s strength also loves judgment. /

You establish equity. /

You execute judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt the LORD our God /

and worship at his footstool, /

for he is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, /

and Samuel was among those who call upon his name. /

They called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar. /

They kept his testimonies /

and the ordinance that he gave them.

8 You answered them, O LORD our God. /

You were a God who forgave them, /

though you took vengeance on their inventions.

9 Exalt the LORD our God /

and worship at his holy hill, /

for the LORD our God is holy.

Psalm 100

An exhortation to praise God cheerfully, 1, 2, for his greatness, 3; and for his power, 4, 5.

1 [A Psalm of Praise.]

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness. /

Come before his presence with singing.

3 Know that the LORD himself is God. /

It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves. /

We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving /

and into his courts with praise. /

Be thankful to him and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good. His mercy is everlasting /

and his truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 101

David makes a vow and profession of godliness, 1-8.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

I will sing of mercy and judgment. /

To you, O LORD, I will sing.

2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. /

O when will you come to me? /

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

3 I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. /

I hate the work of those who turn aside. /

It shall not cleave to me.

4 A perverse heart shall depart from me. /

I will not know a wicked person.

5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, /

I will cut him off. /

Him who has a high look and a proud heart, /

I will not endure.

6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land /

so that they may dwell with me. /

He who walks in a perfect way, /

he shall serve me.

7 He who works deceit /

shall not dwell within my house. /

He who tells lies /

shall not remain in my sight.

8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land /

so that I may cut off all who practice wickedness /

from the city of the LORD.

Psalm 102

In his prayer, the prophet makes a grievous complaint, 1-11. He takes comfort in the eternity and mercy of God, 12-17. The mercies of God are to be recorded, 18-22. He sustains his weakness by the unchangeableness of God, 23-28.

1 [A Prayer of the Afflicted: when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD.]

Hear my prayer, O LORD, /

and let my cry come to you.

2 Do not hide your face from me /

in the day when I am in trouble. /

Incline your ear to me. /

In the day when I call, answer me speedily.

3 For my days are consumed like smoke, /

and my bones are burned as a hearth.

4 My heart is smitten and withered like grass /

so that I forget to eat my bread.

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, /

my bones cleave to my skin.

6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. /

I am like an owl of the desert.

7 I watch and am as a sparrow /

alone upon the housetop.

8 My enemies reproach me all the day, /

and those who are enraged against me have sworn against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread /

and mingled my drink with weeping,

10 Because of your indignation and your wrath. /

For you have lifted me up and cast me down.

11 My days are like a shadow that declines, /

and I am withered like grass.

12 But you, O LORD, shall endure forever, /

and your remembrance to all generations.

13 You shall arise and have mercy upon Zion, /

for the time to favor her, /

even the set time, has come.

14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones /

and favor the dust thereof.

15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, /

and all the kings of the earth your glory.

16 When the LORD builds up Zion, /

he will appear in his glory.

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute /

and not despise their prayer.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come. /

And the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. /

From heaven the LORD has beheld the earth,

20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, /

to release those who are appointed to death,

21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion /

and his praise in Jerusalem,

22 When the people are assembled, /

and also the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23 He weakened my strength in the way. /

He shortened my days.

24 I said, "O my God, do not take me away /

in the midst of my days. /

Your years are throughout all generations.

25 Of old you have laid the foundation of the earth, /

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They shall perish, but you will endure. /

Indeed, all of them shall grow old like a garment. /

As a vesture you will change them, /

and they shall be changed.

27 But you are the same, /

and your years will have no end.

28 The children of your servants shall continue, /

and their offspring shall be established before you."

References

[v.25]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:10. [v.26]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:11-12. [v.27]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:12.

Psalm 103

An exhortation to bless God for his mercy, 1-14, and for the constancy thereof, 15-22.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Bless the LORD, O my soul. /

And all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, /

and do not forget all his benefits.

3 It is he who forgives all your iniquities, /

who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction, /

who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things /

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD executes righteousness /

and judgment for all who are oppressed.

7 He made his ways known to Moses, /

his acts to the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, /

slow to anger, and abundant in mercy.

9 He will not always chide, /

neither will he keep his anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, /

nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, /

so is his mercy great toward those who fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, /

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like a father pities his children, /

so the LORD pities those who fear him.

14 For he knows our frame. /

He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass. /

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, /

and its place shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting /

upon those who fear him, /

and his righteousness to children’s children,

18 To those who keep his covenant, /

and to those who remember his commandments to do them.

19 The LORD has prepared his throne in the heavens, /

and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, you angels of his, /

who excel in strength, who do his commandments, /

listening to the voice of his word.

21 Bless the LORD, all you hosts of his, /

you ministers of his, who do his pleasure.

22 Bless the LORD, all his works /

in all places of his dominion. /

Bless the LORD, O my soul.

References

[v.17]: Quoted in Luke 1:50.

Psalm 104

A meditation upon the mighty power, 1-6, and wonderful providence of God, 7-30. God’s glory is eternal, 31, 32. The prophet vows perpetually to praise God, 33-35.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. /

O LORD my God, you are very great. /

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

2 Who covers himself with light as with a garment, /

who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

3 Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters, /

who makes the clouds his chariot, /

who walks upon the wings of the wind,

4 Who makes his angels spirits, /

his ministers a flaming fire,

5 Who laid the foundations of the earth /

so that it should not be moved forever.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment. /

The waters stood above the mountains.

7 At your rebuke they fled. /

At the voice of your thunder they hastened away.

8 They go up by the mountains. They go down by the valleys /

to the place which you have founded for them.

9 You have set a bound that they may not pass over /

so that they do not turn back to cover the earth.

10 He sends the springs into the valleys, /

which run among the hills.

11 They give drink to every beast of the field. /

The wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 By them the birds of the heaven shall have their habitation, /

which sing among the branches.

13 He waters the hills from his chambers. /

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works.

14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle /

and the herb for the service of man /

so that he may bring forth food out of the earth,

15 And wine that rejoices the heart of man, /

oil to cause his face to shine, /

and bread which strengthens man’s heart.

16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap, /

the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted.

17 There the birds make their nests. /

As for the stork, the fir-trees are her house.

18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, /

and the rocks for the conies.

19 He appoints the moon for seasons. /

The sun knows his going down.

20 You make darkness, and it is night, /

in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.

21 The young lions roar after their prey /

and seek their food from God.

22 The sun arises, and they collect /

and lay themselves down in their dens.

23 Man goes forth to his work /

and to his labor until the evening.

24 O LORD, how manifold your works are! /

In wisdom you have made them all. /

The earth is full of your riches.

25 Thus is this great and wide sea /

in which are moving things innumerable, /

both small and great beasts.

26 There go the ships. /

There is that leviathan which you have made to play therein.

27 These all wait upon you /

so that you may give them their food in due season.

28 That which you give them, they gather. /

You open your hand, and they are filled with good.

29 You hide your face, and they are troubled. /

You take away their breath, and they die /

and return to their dust.

30 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created. /

And you renew the face of the earth.

31 The glory of the LORD shall endure forever. /

The LORD shall rejoice in his works.

32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles. /

He touches the hills, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. /

I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34 My meditation of him shall be sweet. /

I will be glad in the LORD.

35 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, /

and let the wicked be no more. /

Bless the LORD, O my soul. /

Praise the LORD.

References

[v.4]: Quoted in Hebrews 1:7.

Psalm 105

An exhortation to praise God and to seek out his works, 1-6. The story of God’s providence over Abraham, 7-15; over Joseph, 16-22; over Jacob in Egypt, 23-25; over Moses delivering the Israelites, 26-36; over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the wilderness, and planted in Canaan, 37-45.

1 O give thanks to the LORD. Call upon his name. /

Make his deeds known among the people.

2 Sing to him. Sing psalms to him. /

Talk of all his wondrous works.

3 Glory in his holy name. /

Let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

4 Seek the LORD and his strength. /

Seek his face evermore.

5 Remember his wonderful works which he has done, /

his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,

6 O you offspring of Abraham his servant, /

you children of Jacob his chosen.

7 He is the LORD our God. /

His judgments are in all the earth.

8 He has remembered his covenant forever, /

the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,

9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, /

and his oath to Isaac,

10 And confirmed the same to Jacob for a law /

and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,

11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, /

the lot of your inheritance,"

12 When they were a few men in number, /

even very few, and strangers in it.

13 When they went from one nation to another, /

from one kingdom to another people,

14 He allowed no man to do them wrong. /

He even reproved kings for their sakes,

15 Saying, "Do not touch my anointed /

and do my prophets no harm."

16 Moreover, he called for a famine upon the land. /

He broke the whole staff of bread.

17 He sent a man before them, /

even Joseph, who was sold for a servant.

18 They hurt his feet with fetters, /

and he was laid in iron.

19 Until the time that his word came to pass, /

the word of the LORD tried him.

20 The king sent and released him, /

even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

21 He made him lord of his house /

and ruler of all his substance,

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure /

and teach his elders wisdom.

23 Israel also came into Egypt, /

and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24 And he increased his people greatly /

and made them stronger than their enemies.

25 He turned their heart to hate his people, /

to deal subtly with his servants.

26 He sent Moses his servant /

and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27 They showed his signs among them /

and wonders in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness and made it dark, /

and they did not rebel against his word.

29 He turned their waters into blood /

and slew their fish.

30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance /

in the chambers of their kings.

31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies /

and lice in all their borders.

32 He gave them hail for rain /

and flaming fire in their land.

33 He also smote their vines and their fig-trees /

and broke the trees of their borders.

34 He spoke, and the swarming-locusts /

and licking-locusts came—and that without number—

35 And ate up all the herbs in their land /

and devoured the fruit of their ground.

36 He also smote all the first-born in their land, /

the chief of all their strength.

37 He also brought them forth with silver and gold. /

And there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed, /

for the fear of them fell upon them.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering /

and fire to give light in the night.

40 The people asked, and he brought quails /

and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out. /

They ran in the dry places like a river.

42 For he remembered his holy promise /

and Abraham his servant.

43 And he brought forth his people with joy /

and his chosen with gladness.

44 He gave them the lands of the heathen, /

and they inherited the labor of the people,

45 So that they might observe his statutes /

and keep his laws. /

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 106

The psalmist exhorts to praise God, 1-3. He prays for pardon of sin, as God pardoned the fathers, 4-6. The story of the people’s rebellion and God’s mercy, 7-46. He concludes with prayer and praise, 47, 48.

1 Praise the LORD. /

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. /

For his mercy endures forever.

2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? /

Who can show forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are those who keep judgment /

and he who does righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, O LORD, /

with the favor that you bear to your people. /

O visit me with your salvation,

5 So that I may see the good of your chosen, /

so that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, /

so that I may glory with your inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers. /

We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.

7 Our fathers did not understand your wonders in Egypt. /

They did not remember the multitude of your mercies, /

but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless, he saved them for his name’s sake /

so that he might make his mighty power to be known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up. /

Thus he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the hand of him who hated them /

and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 And the waters covered their enemies. /

There was not one of them left.

12 Then they believed his words. /

They sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works. /

They did not wait for his counsel,

14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness /

and tested God in the desert.

15 And he gave them their request, /

but sent leanness into their soul.

16 They also envied Moses in the camp, /

and Aaron the saint of the LORD.

17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan /

and covered the company of Abiram.

18 And a fire was kindled in their company. /

The flame burned up the wicked.

19 They made a calf in Horeb /

and worshiped the molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory /

into the similitude of an ox that eats grass.

21 They forgot God their Savior /

who had done great things in Egypt,

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham /

and awesome things by the Red Sea;

23 Therefore, he said that he would destroy them, /

had Moses his chosen not stood before him in the breach /

to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

24 They even despised the pleasant land /

and did not believe his word,

25 But murmured in their tents /

and did not listen to the voice of the LORD;

26 Therefore, he lifted up his hand against them /

to overthrow them in the wilderness,

27 To overthrow their offspring also among the nations, /

and to scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves also to Baal-peor /

and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions, /

and the plague broke in upon them.

30 Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment. /

And so the plague was stayed.

31 And that was counted to him for righteousness /

to all generations forever.

32 They also angered him at the waters of strife /

so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes,

33 For they provoked his spirit /

and he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the nations, /

concerning whom the LORD commanded them,

35 But were mingled among the heathen /

and learned their works.

36 And they served their idols, /

which were a snare to them.

37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons,

38 And shed innocent blood, /

even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, /

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. /

And the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus they were defiled with their own works /

and went astray with their own inventions.

40 Therefore, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against his people /

because he abhorred his own inheritance.

41 And he gave them into the hand of the heathen, /

and those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies also oppressed them, /

and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

43 Many times he delivered them, /

but they provoked him with their counsel /

and were brought low for their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless, he regarded their affliction /

when he heard their cry.

45 And he remembered for them his covenant /

and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

46 He also made them to be pitied /

by all those who carried them captives.

47 Save us, O LORD our God, /

and gather us from among the heathen, /

so that we may give thanks to your holy name /

and triumph in your praise.

48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel /

from everlasting to everlasting. /

And let all the people say, "Amen." /

Praise the LORD.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Luke 1:71.

BOOK V

Psalm 107

The psalmist exhorts the redeemed to praise God and to observe his manifold providence, 1-3, over travelers, 4-9; over captives, 10-16; over sick men, 17-22; over sailors, 23-32; and in many varieties of life, 33-43.

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. /

For his mercy endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, /

whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

3 And gathered them out of the lands /

from the east, from the west, /

from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way. /

They found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, /

their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, /

and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way /

so that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness /

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfies the longing soul /

and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 There are those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, /

being bound in affliction and iron,

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God /

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12 Therefore, he brought down their heart with labor. /

They fell down, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, /

and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death /

and broke their bonds apart.

15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness /

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he has broken the gates of brass /

and cut the bars of iron apart.

17 Fools, because of their transgression /

and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhors all manner of food, /

and they draw near to the gates of death.

19 Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, /

and he saves them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word and healed them /

and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness /

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving /

and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, /

who do business on great waters,

24 These see the works of the LORD /

and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commands and raises the stormy wind, /

which lifts up its waves.

26 They mount up to the heaven. /

They go down again to the depths. /

Their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man. /

They are at their wit’s end.

28 Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, /

and he brings them out of their distresses.

29 He makes the storm a calm /

so that the waves of the sea are still.

30 Then they are glad because they are quiet. /

Thus he brings them to their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness /

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people /

and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, /

the water-springs into dry ground,

34 And a fruitful land into barrenness /

because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.

35 He turns the wilderness into a standing water /

and dry ground into water-springs.

36 And there he makes the hungry to dwell /

so that they may prepare a city for habitation,

37 And sow the fields and plant vineyards, /

which may yield fruits of increase.

38 He also blesses them so that they are multiplied greatly. /

He does not allow their cattle to decrease.

39 Again, they are diminished and brought low /

through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40 He pours contempt upon princes /

and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way.

41 Yet he sets the poor on high from affliction /

and increases their families like a flock.

42 The righteous shall see it and rejoice, /

and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoever is wise and will observe these things, /

even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in Luke 1:53.

Psalm 108

David encourages himself to praise God, 1-4. He prays for God’s assistance according to his promise, 5-10. His confidence in God’s help, 11-13.

1 [A Song or Psalm of David.]

O God, my heart is fixed. /

I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

2 Awake, psaltery and harp. /

I myself will awake early.

3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the people, /

and I will sing praises to you among the nations.

4 For your mercy is great above the heavens /

and your truth reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, /

and your glory above all the earth,

6 So that your beloved may be delivered. /

Save with your right hand, and answer me.

7 God has spoken in his holiness: "I will rejoice. /

I will divide Shechem /

and measure out the valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead is mine. /

Manasseh is mine. /

Ephraim also is the strength of my head. /

Judah is my lawgiver.

9 Moab is my wash-pot. /

Over Edom I will cast out my shoe. /

Over Philistia I will triumph."

10 Who will bring me into the strong city? /

Who will lead me into Edom?

11 Will you not, O God, who have cast us off? /

And will you not, O God, go forth with our armies?

12 Give us help from trouble, /

for vain is the help of man.

13 Through God we shall do valiantly, /

for he will tread down our enemies.

Psalm 109

David speaks against his slanderous enemies, 1-5. He prays against them and declares God’s judgment, 6-15. He shows their sin, 16-20. Complaining of his own misery, he prays for help, 21-28. He promises thankfulness, 29-31.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

Do not hold your peace, O God of my praise,

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful /

are opened against me. /

They have spoken against me /

with a lying tongue.

3 They encompassed me also with words of hatred /

and fought against me without a cause.

4 For my love they are my adversaries, /

but I give myself to prayer.

5 And they have rewarded me evil for good /

and hatred for my love.

6 Set a wicked man over him, /

and let Satan stand at his right hand.

7 When he is judged, let him be condemned /

and let his prayer become sin.

8 Let his days be few /

and let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless /

and his wife a widow.

10 Let his children continually wander around and beg. /

Let them also seek their bread out of their desolate places.

11 Let the extortioner catch all that he has, /

and let strangers plunder his labor.

12 Let there be no one to extend mercy to him, /

neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off, /

and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD, /

and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15 Let them be before the LORD continually /

so that he may cut off their memory from the earth.

16 For he did not remember to show mercy, /

but persecuted the poor and needy man /

so that he might even slay the broken in heart.

17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him. /

As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, /

so let it come into his body like water /

and like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be to him as the garment which covers him /

and for a girdle with which he is girded continually.

20 Let this be the reward of my adversaries from the LORD /

and of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But deal with me, O GOD the Lord, for your name’s sake. /

Because your mercy is good, deliver me.

22 For I am poor and needy, /

and my heart is wounded within me.

23 I am gone like the shadow when it declines. /

I am tossed up and down as the locust.

24 My knees are weak through fasting, /

and my flesh fails of fatness.

25 I also became a reproach to them. /

When they looked upon me, they shook their heads.

26 Help me, O LORD my God. /

O save me according to your mercy,

27 So that they may know that this is your hand, /

that you, LORD, have done it.

28 They may curse, but you bless. /

When they arise, let them be ashamed, /

but let your servant rejoice.

29 Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, /

and let them cover themselves with their own shame /

as with a mantle.

30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth. /

I will even praise him among the multitude.

31 For he will stand at the right hand of the poor /

to save him from those who condemn his soul.

References

[v.8]: Quoted in Acts 1:20.

Psalm 110

The kingdom, 1-3; the priesthood, 4; the conquest, 5, 6; and the passion of Christ, 7.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand /

until I make your enemies your footstool."

2 The LORD will send the rod of your strength out of Zion. /

Rule in the midst of your enemies.

3 Your people shall be willing /

in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness. /

From the womb of the morning, /

you have the dew of your youth.

4 The LORD has sworn and will not repent, /

"You are a priest forever /

after the order of Melchizedek."

5 The Lord at your right hand /

will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

6 He will judge among the heathen. /

He will fill the places with the dead bodies. /

He will wound the heads over many countries.

7 He will drink of the brook in the way. /

Therefore, he will lift up the head.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 22:44, 26:64; Mark 12:36, 14:62; Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13, 10:12-13. [v.4]: Quoted in Hebrews 5:6, 6:20, 7:17, 7:21.

Psalm 111

The psalmist, by his example, incites others to praise God for his glorious, 1-4, and gracious works, 5-9. The fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom, 10.

1 Praise the LORD. /

I will praise the LORD with my whole heart /

in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

2 The works of the LORD are great, /

sought out by all those who have pleasure in them.

3 His work is honorable and glorious /

and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has made his wonderful works to be remembered. /

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

5 He has given food to those who fear him. /

He will always be mindful of his covenant.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works /

so that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment. /

All his commandments are sure.

8 They stand fast forever and ever /

and are done in truth and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption to his people. /

He has commanded his covenant forever. /

Holy and reverend is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. /

All those who do his commandments have a good understanding. /

His praise endures forever.

Psalm 112

Godliness has the promises of this life, 1-3, and of the life to come, 4-9. The prosperity of the godly shall be an eyesore to the wicked, 10.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, /

who delights greatly in his commandments.

2 His offspring shall be mighty upon earth. /

The generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house, /

and his righteousness endures forever.

4 To the upright there arises light in darkness. /

He is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man shows favor and lends. /

He will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he shall not be moved forever. /

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings. /

His heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

8 His heart is established. He shall not be afraid /

until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

9 He has dispersed. He has given to the poor. /

His righteousness endures forever. /

His horn shall be exalted with honor.

10 The wicked shall see it and be grieved. /

He shall gnash with his teeth and melt away. /

The desire of the wicked shall perish.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 9:9.

Psalm 113

An exhortation to praise God for his excellency, 1-5; for his mercy, 6-9.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Praise, O servants of the LORD, /

praise the name of the LORD.

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD /

from this time forth and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, /

the LORD’S name is to be praised.

4 The LORD is high above all nations /

and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God /

who dwells on high,

6 Who humbles himself to behold /

the things that are in heaven and in the earth?

7 He raises the poor out of the dust /

and lifts the needy out of the dunghill,

8 So that he may set him with princes, /

even with the princes of his people.

9 He makes the barren woman to keep house /

and to be a joyful mother of children. /

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 114

The miracles wrought by God when he brought his people out of Egypt are a just ground for fearing him, 1-8.

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, /

the house of Jacob from a people of a foreign language,

2 Judah was his sanctuary /

and Israel his dominion.

3 The sea saw it and fled. /

The Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams /

and the little hills like lambs.

5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled; /

O Jordan, that you were driven back;

6 O mountains, that you skipped like rams; /

O little hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, /

at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8 Who turned the rock into a standing water, /

the flint into a fountain of waters.

Psalm 115

Because God is truly glorious, 1-3, and idols are vanity, 4-8, the psalmist exhorts to confidence in God, 9-11. God is to be blessed for his blessings, 12-18.

1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, /

but to your name give glory /

for your mercy and for your truth’s sake.

2 Why should the heathen say, /

"Where now is their God?"

3 But our God is in the heavens. /

He has done whatever he pleased.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, /

the work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they do not speak. /

They have eyes, but they do not see.

6 They have ears, but they do not hear. /

They have noses, but they do not smell.

7 They have hands, but they do not handle. /

They have feet, but they do not walk. /

They do not speak through their throat.

8 Those who make them are like them, /

and so is everyone who trusts in them.

9 O Israel, trust in the LORD. /

He is their help and their shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD. /

He is their help and their shield.

11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD. /

He is their help and their shield.

12 The LORD has been mindful of us. /

He will bless us. /

He will bless the house of Israel. /

He will bless the house of Aaron.

13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, /

both small and great.

14 The LORD will increase you more and more— /

you and your children.

15 You are blessed of the LORD /

who made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S, /

but the earth he has given to the children of men.

17 The dead do not praise the LORD, /

neither any who go down into silence.

18 But we will bless the LORD /

from this time forth and forever. /

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 116

The psalmist professes his love and duty to God for his deliverance, 1-11. He gives diligence to be thankful, 12-19.

1 I love the LORD because he has heard /

my voice and my supplications.

2 Because he has inclined his ear to me, /

therefore I will call upon him as long as I live.

3 The sorrows of death encompassed me, /

and the pains of hell came upon me. /

I found trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: /

"O LORD, I implore you, deliver my soul."

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous. /

Indeed, our God is merciful.

6 The LORD preserves the simple. /

I was brought low, and he helped me.

7 Return to your rest, O my soul, /

for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death, /

my eyes from tears, /

and my feet from falling.

9 I will walk before the LORD /

in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore, I said, /

"I was greatly afflicted."

11 I said in my haste, /

"All men are liars."

12 What shall I render to the LORD /

for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation /

and call upon the name of the LORD.

14 I will pay my vows to the LORD now /

in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD /

is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant. /

I am your servant, the son of your woman-servant. /

You have loosened my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving /

and will call upon the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD now /

in the presence of all his people,

19 In the courts of the LORD’S house, /

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. /

Praise the LORD.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 4:13.

Psalm 117

An exhortation to praise God for his mercy and truth, 1-2.

1 O praise the LORD, all you nations. /

Praise him, all you people.

2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us. /

And the truth of the LORD endures forever. /

Praise the LORD.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Romans 15:11.

Psalm 118

An exhortation to praise God for his mercy, 1-4. The psalmist, by his experience, shows how good it is to trust in God, 5-18. Under the type of the psalmist the coming of Christ in his kingdom is expressed, 19-29.

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. /

For his mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say /

that his mercy endures forever.

3 Let the house of Aaron now say /

that his mercy endures forever.

4 Let those who fear the LORD now say /

that his mercy endures forever.

5 I called upon the LORD in distress. /

The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is on my side. /

I will not fear. /

What can man do to me?

7 The LORD takes my part with those who help me; /

therefore, I shall see my desire upon those who hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the LORD /

than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the LORD /

than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations encompassed me, /

but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

11 They encompassed me. Yes, they encompassed me, /

but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

12 They encompassed me like bees. /

They are quenched as the fire of thorns, /

for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13 You have violently thrust at me so that I might fall, /

but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and song /

and has become my salvation.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation /

is in the tabernacles of the righteous. /

The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted. /

The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

17 I shall not die, but live /

and declare the works of the LORD.

18 The LORD has chastened me severely, / +but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. /

I will enter them, and I will praise the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD, /

into which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise you, for you have heard me /

and have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused /

has become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD’S doing. /

It is wonderful in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD has made. /

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I implore you, O LORD. /

O LORD, I implore you, send prosperity now.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. /

We have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

27 God is the LORD, who has shown us light. /

Bind the sacrifice with cords, /

even to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you. /

My God, I will exalt you.

29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. /

For his mercy endures forever.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Hebrews 13:6. [v.22]: Quoted in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1st Peter 2:7. [v.23]: Quoted in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:11. [v.26]: Quoted in Mark 11:9; John 12:13. [v.26]: Quoted in Matthew 21:9, 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35, 19:38; John 12:13.

Psalm 119

This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience, 1-176.

[ ALEPH ]

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,   /

who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,   /

who seek him with the whole heart.

3 They also do no iniquity.   /

They walk in his ways.

4 You have commanded us   /

to keep your precepts diligently.

5 O that my ways were directed   /

to keep your statutes!

6 Then I shall not be ashamed   /

when I have respect for all your commandments.

7 I will praise you with uprightness of heart   /

when I have learned your righteous judgments.

8 I will keep your statutes.   /

O do not forsake me utterly.

[ BET ]

9 How shall a young man cleanse his way?   /

By taking heed to it, according to your word.

10 With my whole heart I have sought you.   /

O do not let me wander from your commandments.

11 I have hid your word in my heart   /

so that I might not sin against you.

12 Blessed are you, O LORD.   /

Teach me your statutes.

13 With my lips I have declared   /

all the judgments of your mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies,   /

as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in your precepts   /

and have respect for your ways.

16 I will delight myself in your statutes.   /

I will not forget your word.

[ GIMEL ]

17 Deal bountifully with your servant   /

so that I may live and keep your word.

18 Open my eyes so that I may behold   /

wondrous things out of your law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth.   /

Do not hide your commandments from me.

20 My soul breaks for the longing   /

that it has to your judgments at all times.

21 You have rebuked the proud who are cursed,   /

who err from your commandments.

22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,   /

for I have kept your testimonies.

23 Princes also sat and spoke against me,   /

but your servant meditated in your statutes.

24 Your testimonies are also my delight   /

and my counselors.

[ DALET ]

25 My soul cleaves to the dust.   /

Revive me according to your word.

26 I have declared my ways, and you heard me.   /

Teach me your statutes.

27 Make me to understand the way of your precepts,   /

and I shall talk of your wondrous works.

28 My soul melts for heaviness.   /

Strengthen me according to your word.

29 Remove from me the way of lying   /

and grant me your law graciously.

30 I have chosen the way of truth.   /

Your judgments I have laid before me.

31 I have adhered to your testimonies.   /

O LORD, do not put me to shame.

32 I will run the way of your commandments   /

when you enlarge my heart.

[ HE ]

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes,   /

and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law.   /

I shall even observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of your commandments,   /

for in that I delight.

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies   /

and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity   /

and revive me in your way.

38 Establish your word to your servant   /

who is devoted to your fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear,   /

for your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have longed after your precepts.   /

Revive me in your righteousness.

[ VAV ]

41 Let your mercies come also to me, O LORD,   /

even your salvation, according to your word.

42 And I shall have an answer for him who reproaches me,   /

for I trust in your word.

43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,   /

for I have hoped in your judgments.

44 And I shall keep your law continually   /

forever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty,   /

for I seek your precepts.

46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings   /

and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in your commandments,   /

which I have loved.

48 I will also lift my hands to your commandments, which I have loved.   /

And I will meditate in your statutes.

[ ZAYIN ]

49 Remember the word to your servant,   /

upon which you have caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction,   /

for your word has revived me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision,   /

yet I have not declined from your law.

52 I remembered your judgments of old, O LORD,   /

and have comforted myself.

53 Horror has taken hold upon me   /

because of the wicked who forsake your law.

54 Your statutes have been my songs   /

in the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered your name, O LORD, in the night   /

and have kept your law.

56 This I had   /

because I kept your precepts.

[ HET ]

57 You are my portion, O LORD.   /

I have said that I would keep your words.

58 I entreated your favor with my whole heart.   /

Be merciful to me according to your word.

59 I considered my ways   /

and turned my feet to your testimonies.

60 I made haste and did not delay   /

to keep your commandments.

61 The ropes of the wicked have surrounded me,   /

but I have not forgotten your law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you   /

because of your righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all those who fear   /

you and of those who keep your precepts.

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your mercy.   /

Teach me your statutes.

[ TET ]

65 You have dealt well with your servant,   /

O LORD, according to your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,   /

for I have believed your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,   /

but now I have kept your word.

68 You are good and do good.   /

Teach me your statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me,   /

but I will keep your precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as gross as fat,   /

but I delight in your law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted   /

so that I might learn your statutes.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me   /

than thousands of gold and silver.

[ YOD ]

73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me.   /

Give me understanding so that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me   /

because I have hoped in your word.

75 I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right   /

and that you in faithfulness have afflicted me.

76 Let, I pray you, your merciful kindness be for my comfort,   /

according to your word to your servant.

77 Let your tender mercies come to me so that I may live,   /

for your law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause.   /

But I will meditate in your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me,   /

and those who have known your testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes   /

so that I may not be ashamed.

[ KAF ]

81 My soul faints for your salvation,   /

but I hope in your word.

82 My eyes fail for your word,   /

saying, "When will you comfort me?"

83 For I have become like a bottle in the smoke,   /

yet I do not forget your statutes.

84 How many are the days of your servant?   /

When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

85 The proud have dug pits for me,   /

which are not according to your law.

86 All your commandments are faithful.   /

They persecute me wrongfully. Help me.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth,   /

but I did not forsake your precepts.

88 Revive me after your loving-kindness,   /

and I shall keep the testimony of your mouth.

[ LAMED ]

89 Forever, O LORD,   /

your word is settled in heaven.

90 Your faithfulness is to all generations.   /

You have established the earth, and it abides.

91 They continue this day according to your ordinances,   /

for all are your servants.

92 Unless your law had been my delight,   /

I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts,   /

for with them you have revived me.

94 I am yours. Save me,   /

for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me,   /

but I will consider your testimonies.

96 I have seen an end of all perfection,   /

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

[ MEM ]

97 O how I love your law!   /

It is my meditation all the day.

98 You, through your commandments, have made me wiser than my enemies,   /

for they are always with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,   /

for your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients   /

because I keep your precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way   /

so that I might keep your word.

102 I have not departed from your judgments,   /

for you have taught me.

103 How sweet your words are to my taste!   /

They are even sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts I get understanding;   /

therefore, I hate every false way.

[ NUN ]

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet   /

and a light to my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it,   /

that I will keep your righteous judgments.

107 I am afflicted very much.   /

Revive me, O LORD, according to your word.

108 Accept, I implore you, the voluntary-offerings of my mouth, O LORD,   /

and teach me your judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hand,   /

yet I do not forget your law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,   /

yet I did not err from your precepts.

111 I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever,   /

for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

112 I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes   /

always, even to the end.

[ SAMEKH ]

113 I hate vain thoughts,   /

but I love your law.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield.   /

I hope in your word.

115 Depart from me, you evil-doers, /

for I will keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to your word so that I may live,   /

and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

117 Support me, and I shall be safe   /

and will have respect to your statutes continually.

118 You have trodden down all those who err from your statutes,   /

for their deceit is falsehood.

119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;   /

therefore, I love your testimonies.

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you,   /

and I am afraid of your judgments.

[ AYIN ]

121 I have done judgment and justice.   /

Do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Be surety for your servant for good.   /

Do not let the proud oppress me.

123 My eyes fail for your salvation   /

and for the word of your righteousness.

124 Deal with your servant according to your mercy   /

and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant. Give me understanding   /

so that I may know your testimonies.

126 It is time for you, LORD, to work,   /

for they have made your law void.

127 Therefore, I love your commandments   /

above gold, even above fine gold.

128 Therefore, I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right   /

and I hate every false way.

[ PE ]

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;   /

therefore, my soul keeps them.

130 The entrance of your words gives light.   /

It gives understanding to the simple.

131 I opened my mouth and panted,   /

for I longed for your commandments.

132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,   /

as you always do to those who love your name.

133 Order my steps in your word   /

and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me from the oppression of man,   /

and I will keep your precepts.

135 Make your face to shine upon your servant   /

and teach me your statutes.

136 Rivers of waters run down my eyes   /

because they do not keep your law.

[ TSADI ]

137 You are righteous, O LORD,   /

and your judgments are upright.

138 Your testimonies that you have commanded are righteous   /

and very faithful.

139 My zeal has consumed me   /

because my enemies have forgotten your words.

140 Your word is very pure;   /

therefore, your servant loves it.

141 I am small and despised,   /

yet I do not forget your precepts.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness   /

and your law is the truth.

143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me,   /

yet your commandments are my delights.

144 The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting.   /

Give me understanding, and I shall live.

[ QOF ]

145 I cried with my whole heart. Hear me, O LORD.   /

I will keep your statutes.

146 I cried to you. Save me,   /

and I shall keep your testimonies.

147 I came before the dawning of the morning and cried.   /

I hoped in your word.

148 My eyes anticipated the night watches   /

so that I might meditate in your word.

149 Hear my voice according to your loving-kindness.   /

O LORD, revive me according to your judgment.

150 They draw near who follow after mischief.   /

They are far from your law.

151 You are near, O LORD,   /

and all your commandments are truth.

152 Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old   /

that you have founded them forever.

[ RESH ]

154 Consider my affliction and deliver me,   /

for I do not forget your law.

154 Plead my cause and deliver me.   /

Revive me according to your word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked,   /

for they do not seek your statutes.

156 Your tender mercies are great, O LORD.   /

Revive me according to your judgments.

157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies,   /

yet I do not decline from your testimonies.

158 I beheld the transgressors and was grieved   /

because they did not keep your word.

159 Consider how I love your precepts.   /

Revive me, O LORD, according to your loving-kindness.

160 Your word is true from the beginning.   /

Every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.

[ SHIN ]

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause,   /

but my heart stands in awe of your word.

162 I rejoice at your word   /

as one who finds great plunder.

163 I hate and abhor lying,   /

but I love your law.

164 Seven times a day I praise you   /

because of your righteous judgments.

165 Those who love your law have great peace,   /

and nothing shall cause them to stumble.

166 LORD, I have hoped for your salvation   /

and performed your commandments.

167 My soul has kept your testimonies,   /

and I love them exceedingly.

168 I have kept your precepts and your testimonies,   /

for all my ways are before you.

[ TAV ]

169 Let my cry come near before you, O LORD.   /

Give me understanding according to your word.

170 Let my supplication come before you.   /

Deliver me according to your word.

171 My lips shall utter praise   /

when you have taught me your statutes.

172 My tongue shall speak of your word,   /

for all your commandments are righteousness.

173 Let your hand help me,   /

for I have chosen your precepts.

174 I have longed for your salvation, O LORD,   /

and your law is my delight.

175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise you.   /

Let your judgments help me.

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant,   /

for I do not forget your commandments.

References

[v.115]: Reference, Matthew 7:23.

Psalm 120

David prays against Doeg, 1, 2; reproves his tongue, 3, 4; deplores the necessity of his residence with the ungodly, 5-7.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

In my distress I cried to the LORD, /

and he heard me.

2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips /

and from a deceitful tongue.

3 What shall be given to you? /

Or what shall be done to you, /

you false tongue?

4 Sharp arrows of the mighty /

with coals of juniper.

5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, /

that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

6 My soul has long dwelt /

with him who hates peace.

7 I am for peace, /

but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalm 121

The great safety of the godly who put their trust in God’s protection, 1-8.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

I will lift up my eyes to the hills. /

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD /

who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved. /

He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel /

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper. /

The LORD is your shade upon your right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite you by day, /

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will preserve you from all evil. /

He will preserve your soul.

8 The LORD will preserve your going out and your coming in /

from this time forth and even forever.

Psalm 122

David professes his joy for the church, 1-5; and prays for the peace thereof, 6-9.

1 [A Song of Degrees of David.]

I was glad when they said to me, /

"Let us go into the house of the LORD."

2 Our feet shall stand /

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built as a city /

that is compact together,

4 Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, /

to the testimony of Israel /

to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5 For there thrones for judgment are set, /

the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. /

They shall prosper who love you.

7 May peace be within your walls /

and prosperity within your palaces.

8 For the sake of my brothers and my companions, /

I will now say, "May peace be within you."

9 Because of the house of the LORD our God /

I will seek your good.

Psalm 123

The godly profess their confidence in God, 1, 2; and pray to be delivered from contempt, 3, 4.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

I raise my eyes to you, /

O you who dwell in the heavens.

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants /

look to the hand of their masters, /

and as the eyes of a woman-servant /

to the hand of her mistress, /

so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God /

until he has mercy upon us.

3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, /

for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

4 Our soul is exceedingly filled /

with the scorning of those who are at ease /

and with the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 124

The church blesses God for a miraculous deliverance, 1-8.

1 [A Song of Degrees of David.]

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— /

now may Israel say—

2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side /

when men rose up against us,

3 Then they would have swallowed us up alive /

when their wrath was kindled against us;

4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, /

the stream would have gone over our soul;

5 Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.

6 Blessed be the LORD /

who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers. /

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the name of the LORD /

who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

The safety of those who trust in God, 1-3. A prayer for the godly and against the wicked, 4, 5.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

Those who trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, /

which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains are around Jerusalem, /

so the LORD is around his people /

from now on even forever.

3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest /

upon the lot of the righteous, /

lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good /

and to those who are upright in their hearts.

5 As for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, /

the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, /

but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 126

The church, celebrating her incredible return out of captivity, 1-3, prays for and prophesies the good success thereof, 4-6.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

When the LORD turned back the captivity of Zion, /

we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter /

and our tongue with singing. /

Then they said among the heathen, /

"The LORD has done great things for them."

3 The LORD has done great things for us, /

of which we are glad.

4 Turn back our captivity, O LORD, /

as the streams in the south.

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He who goes forth and weeps, /

bearing precious seed, /

shall doubtless return with rejoicing, /

bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127

The virtue of God’s blessing, 1, 2. Good children are his gift, 3-5.

1 [A Song of Degrees for Solomon.]

Unless the LORD builds the house, /

they labor in vain who build it. /

Unless the LORD keeps the city, /

the watchman wakes in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise early, /

to sit up late, /

to eat the bread of sorrows, /

for he gives his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD, /

and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, /

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. /

They shall not be ashamed, /

but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128

The various blessings which follow those who fear God, 1-6.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, /

who walks in his ways.

2 For you shall eat the labor of your hands. /

You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine /

by the sides of your house, /

your children like olive plants /

around your table.

4 Behold, thus the man who fears the LORD /

shall be blessed.

5 The LORD shall bless you out of Zion, /

and you shall see the good of Jerusalem /

all the days of your life.

6 Indeed, you shall see your children’s children /

and peace upon Israel.

Psalm 129

An exhortation to praise God for saving Israel in their great afflictions, 1-4. The haters of the church are cursed, 5-8.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth— /

may Israel now say—

2 Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth, /

yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back. /

They made their furrows long.

4 The LORD is righteous. /

He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

5 Let them all be confounded and turned back /

who hate Zion.

6 Let them be as the grass upon the house-tops, /

which withers before it grows up,

7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, /

nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom;

8 Neither do those who go by, say, /

"May the blessing of the LORD be upon you. /

We bless you in the name of the LORD."

Psalm 130

The psalmist professes his hope in prayer, 1-4; and his patience in hope, 5, 6. He exhorts Israel to trust in God, 7, 8.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

Out of the depths I have cried to you, O LORD.

2 Lord, hear my voice. /

Let your ears be attentive /

to the voice of my supplications.

3 If you, LORD, should mark iniquities, /

O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with you /

so that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the LORD. My soul waits, /

and I hope in his word.

6 My soul waits for the Lord /

more than those who watch for the morning, /

even more than those who watch for the morning.

7 Let Israel hope in the LORD, /

for with the LORD there is mercy /

and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel /

from all his iniquities.

Psalm 131

David, professing his humility, 1, 2, exhorts Israel to trust in God, 3.

1 [A Song of Degrees of David.]

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty, /

neither do I exercise myself in great matters, /

or in things too high for me.

2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself /

as a child who is weaned by his mother. /

My soul is even as a weaned child.

3 Let Israel hope in the LORD /

from now on and forever.

Psalm 132

In his prayer, David commends to God the religious care he had for the ark. 1-7. His prayer at the removing of the ark, 8-10; with a repetition of God’s promises, 11-18.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

LORD, remember David /

and all his afflictions,

2 How he swore to the LORD /

and vowed to the mighty God of Jacob:

3 "Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, /

nor go up into my bed,

4 I will not give sleep to my eyes /

or slumber to my eyelids,

5 Until I find a place for the LORD, /

a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob."

6 Behold, we heard of it at Ephratah. /

We found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 We will go into his tabernacles. /

We will worship at his footstool.

8 Arise, O LORD, into your rest— /

you and the ark of your strength.

9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness /

and let your saints shout for joy.

10 For your servant David’s sake /

do not turn away the face of your anointed.

11 The LORD has sworn in truth to David /

and he will not turn from it: /

"Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.

12 If your children will keep my covenant /

and my testimony that I shall teach them, /

their children shall also sit upon your throne forever."

13 For the LORD has chosen Zion. /

He has desired it for his habitation.

14 "This is my rest forever. /

Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

15 I will abundantly bless her provision. /

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, /

and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

17 There I will make the horn of David to bud. /

I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.

18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, /

but upon himself his crown shall flourish."

Psalm 133

The blessedness of unity among brothers, 1-3.

1 [A Song of Degrees of David.]

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is /

for brothers to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head /

that ran down upon the beard, /

even Aaron’s beard, /

that went down to the skirts of his garment,

3 As the dew of Hermon /

and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, /

for there the LORD commanded the blessing, /

even life forever.

Psalm 134

An exhortation to bless God, 1-3.

1 [A Song of Degrees.]

Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD, /

who by night stand in the house of the LORD.

2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary /

and bless the LORD.

3 May the LORD who made heaven and earth /

bless you out of Zion.

Psalm 135

An exhortation to praise God for his mercy, 1-4; for his power, 5-7; for his judgments, 8-14. The vanity of idols, 15-18. An exhortation to bless God, 19-21.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Praise the name of the LORD. /

Praise him, O servants of the LORD.

2 You who stand in the house of the LORD, /

in the courts of the house of our God,

3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good. /

Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant.

4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, /

Israel for his peculiar treasure.

5 For I know that the LORD is great /

and that our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatever the LORD pleased, he did /

in heaven and in earth, /

in the seas and all deep places.

7 He causes the vapors to ascend /

from the ends of the earth. /

He makes lightnings for the rain. /

He brings the wind out of his treasuries.

8 He smote the first-born of Egypt, /

both of man and beast.

9 He sent tokens and wonders /

into the midst of you, O Egypt, /

upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants.

10 He smote great nations /

and slew mighty kings:

11 Sihon king of the Amorites, /

Og king of Bashan, /

and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

12 He gave their land for a heritage, /

a heritage to Israel his people.

13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, /

and your memorial, O LORD, /

throughout all generations.

14 For the LORD will judge his people /

and have compassion on his servants.

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, /

the work of men’s hands.

16 They have mouths, but they do not speak. /

They have eyes, but they do not see.

17 They have ears, but they do not hear, /

neither is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them are like them, /

and so is everyone who trusts in them.

19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel. /

Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron.

20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi. /

You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD.

21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, /

who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 136

An exhortation to give thanks to God for particular mercies, 1-26.

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good— /

for his mercy endures forever—

2 O give thanks to the God of gods— / +for his mercy endures forever—

3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords— /

for his mercy endures forever—

4 To him who alone does great wonders— /

for his mercy endures forever—

5 To him who by wisdom made the heavens— /

for his mercy endures forever—

6 To him who stretched out the earth above the waters— /

for his mercy endures forever—

7 To him who made great lights— /

for his mercy endures forever—

8 The sun to rule by day— /

for his mercy endures forever—

9 The moon and stars to rule by night— /

for his mercy endures forever—

10 To him who smote Egypt in their first-born— /

for his mercy endures forever—

11 And brought out Israel from among them— /

for his mercy endures forever—

12 With a strong hand and with an out-stretched arm— /

for his mercy endures forever—

13 To him who divided the Red Sea into parts— /

for his mercy endures forever—

14 And made Israel to pass through its midst— /

for his mercy endures forever—

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea— /

for his mercy endures forever—

16 To him who led his people through the wilderness— /

for his mercy endures forever—

17 To him who smote great kings— /

for his mercy endures forever—

18 And slew famous kings— /

for his mercy endures forever—

19 Sihon king of the Amorites— /

for his mercy endures forever—

20 And Og king of Bashan— /

for his mercy endures forever—

21 And gave their land for a heritage— /

for his mercy endures forever—

22 Even a heritage to Israel his servant— /

for his mercy endures forever—

23 Who remembered us in our low estate— /

for his mercy endures forever—

24 And has redeemed us from our enemies— /

for his mercy endures forever—

25 Who gives food to all flesh— /

for his mercy endures forever—

26 O give thanks to the God of heaven— /

for his mercy endures forever.

Psalm 137

The constancy of the Jews in captivity, 1-6. The prophet curses Edom and Babel, 7-9.

1 By the rivers of Babylon /

we sat down. We even wept /

when we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps /

upon the willows in its midst.

3 For there those who carried us away captive /

required of us a song, /

and those who wasted us /

required of us mirth, saying, /

"Sing us one of the songs of Zion."

4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song /

in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, /

let my right hand forget her skill.

6 If I do not remember you, /

let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, /

if I do not prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom /

in the day of Jerusalem, /

who said, "Raze it, raze it, /

even to its foundation."

8 O daughter of Babylon, who is to be destroyed, /

happy shall he be who rewards you /

as you have served us.

9 Happy shall he be who takes and dashes your little ones /

against the stones.

Psalm 138

David praises God for the truth of his word, 1-3. He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God, 4-6. He professes his confidence in God, 7, 8.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

I will praise you with my whole heart. /

Before the gods I will sing praise to you.

2 I will worship toward your holy temple /

and praise your name /

for your loving-kindness and for your truth, /

for you have magnified your word /

above all your name.

3 In the day when I cried you answered me /

and strengthened me with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, /

when they hear the words of your mouth.

5 Indeed, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD, /

for the glory of the LORD is great.

6 Though the LORD is high, /

yet he has respect to the lowly. /

But the proud he knows afar off.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, /

you will revive me. /

You will stretch forth your hand /

against the wrath of my enemies, /

and your right hand will save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me. /

Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever. /

Do not forsake the works of your own hands.

Psalm 139

David praises God for his all-seeing providence, 1-16; and for his infinite mercies, 17, 18. He defies the wicked, 19-22. He prays for sincerity, 23, 24.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

O LORD, you have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. /

You understand my thought afar off.

3 You compass my path and my lying down /

and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue, /

but behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

5 You have beset me behind and before /

and laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. /

It is high. I cannot attain to it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? /

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, you are there. /

If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning /

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there your hand shall lead me /

and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, /

even the night shall be light around me,"

12 Even the darkness does not hide from you, /

but the night shines as the day. /

The darkness and the light are both alike to you.

13 For you have possessed my inmost being. /

You have covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. /

Your works are wonderful, /

and that my soul knows well.

15 My substance was not hid from you /

when I was made in secret /

and skillfully formed in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, yet being imperfect. /

And in your book all my members were written, /

which in continuance were fashioned, /

when as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious your thoughts are to me, O God! /

How great the sum of them is!

18 If I should count them, /

they are more in number than the sand. /

When I awake, I am still with you.

19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God. /

Depart from me therefore, you bloody men.

20 For they speak against you wickedly, /

and your enemies take your name in vain.

21 Do I, O LORD, not hate those who hate you? /

And am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred. /

I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart. /

Try me and know my thoughts.

24 See if there is any wicked way in me /

and lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 140

David prays to be delivered from Saul and Doeg, 1-7. He prays against them, 8-11. He comforts himself by confidence in God, 12, 13.

1 [To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.]

Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil men. /

Preserve me from the violent men,

2 Who devise mischiefs in their heart. /

Continually they are assembled for war.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. /

Adder’s poison is under their lips. /

[ Selah. ]

4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. /

Preserve me from the violent men /

who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and also cords. /

They have spread a net by the wayside. /

They have set traps for me. /

[ Selah. ]

6 I said to the LORD, "You are my God." /

Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, /

you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked. /

Do not further his wicked device, /

lest they exalt themselves. /

[ Selah. ]

9 As for the head of those who encompass me, /

let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them. /

Let them be cast into the fire, /

into deep pits, so that they do not rise again.

11 Do not let an evil speaker be established on the earth. /

Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the LORD will maintain /

the cause of the afflicted /

and the right of the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name. /

The upright shall dwell in your presence.

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Romans 3:13.

Psalm 141

David prays that his appeal may be acceptable, 1, 2; his conscience sincere, 3-6; and his life free from snares, 7-10.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

LORD, I cry to you. Make haste to me. /

Give ear to my voice when I cry to you.

2 Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense, /

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth. /

Keep the door of my lips.

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing /

or to practice wicked works /

with men who work iniquity. /

And do not let me eat of their dainties.

5 Let the righteous smite me—it shall be a kindness. /

And let him reprove me—it shall be an excellent oil, /

which shall not break my head. /

For yet my prayer shall also be in their calamities.

6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, /

they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.

7 Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, /

as when one cuts and cleaves wood upon the earth.

8 But my eyes are to you, O GOD the Lord. /

My trust is in you. Do not leave my soul destitute.

9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me /

and the traps of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets /

while I escape.

Psalm 142

David shows that in his trouble all his comfort was in prayer to God, 1-7.

1 [Maschil of David: a prayer when he was in the cave.]

I cried to the LORD with my voice. /

With my voice to the LORD I made my supplication.

2 I poured out my complaint before him. /

I uttered before him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, /

you knew my path. /

In the way in which I walked /

they have secretly laid a snare for me.

4 I looked on my right hand and beheld, /

but there was no man who would know me. /

Refuge failed me. /

No man cared for my soul.

5 I cried to you, O LORD. /

I said, "You are my refuge /

and my portion in the land of the living."

6 Attend to my cry, /

for I am brought very low. /

Deliver me from my persecutors, /

for they are stronger than I am.

7 Bring my soul out of prison /

so that I may praise your name. /

The righteous shall encompass me, /

for you will deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 143

David prays for favor in judgment, 1, 2. He complains of his griefs, 3, 4. He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer, 5, 6. He prays for grace, 7, 8; for deliverance, 9; for sanctification, 10, 11; for destruction of his enemies, 12.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Hear my prayer, O LORD. Give ear to my supplications. /

Answer me in your faithfulness and in your righteousness.

2 And do not enter into judgment with your servant, /

for in your sight no living man is righteous.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul. /

He has smitten my life down to the ground. /

He has made me to dwell in darkness /

as those who have been long dead.

4 Therefore, my spirit is overwhelmed within me. /

My heart within me is desolate.

5 I remember the days of old. /

I meditate on all your works. /

I muse on the work of your hands.

6 I stretch forth my hands to you. /

My soul thirsts after you as a thirsty land. /

[ Selah. ]

7 Hear me speedily, O LORD. My spirit fails. /

Do not hide your face from me, /

lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear your loving-kindness in the morning, /

for I trust in you. /

Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, /

for I lift up my soul to you.

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies. /

I flee to you to hide me.

10 Teach me to do your will, /

for you are my God. /

Your Spirit is good. /

Lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Revive me, O LORD, for your name’s sake. /

For your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And in your mercy cut off my enemies /

and destroy all those who afflict my soul, /

for I am your servant.

Psalm 144

David blesses God for his mercy, both to him and to man, 1-4. He prays that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies, 5-8. He promises to praise God, 9, 10. He prays for the happy state of the kingdom, 11-15.

1 [A Psalm of David.]

Blessed be the LORD my strength /

who teaches my hands to war /

and my fingers to fight;

2 My goodness, my fortress, /

my high tower, and my deliverer; /

my shield, and he in whom I trust, /

who subdues my people under me.

3 LORD, what is man that you take knowledge of him, /

or the son of man that you make account of him?

4 Man is like vanity. /

His days are as a shadow that passes away.

5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down. /

Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Cast forth lightning and scatter them. /

Shoot your arrows and destroy them.

7 Send your hand from above. /

Rid me and deliver me from the great waters, /

from the hand of strange children,

8 Whose mouth speaks vanity /

and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God. /

Upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings /

I will sing praises to you.

10 It is he who gives salvation to kings, /

who delivers David his servant /

from the hurtful sword.

11 Rid me and deliver me /

from the hand of strange children, /

whose mouth speaks vanity /

and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood,

12 So that our sons may be as plants /

grown up in their youth; /

so that our daughters may be as corner stones, /

polished after the similitude of a palace;

13 So that our granaries may be full, /

affording all manner of store; /

so that our sheep may bring forth thousands /

and ten thousands in our streets;

14 So that our oxen may be strong to labor; /

so that there is no breaking in, nor going out; /

and so that there is no complaining in our streets.

15 Happy are the people who are in such a case. /

Indeed, happy are the people whose God is the LORD.

Psalm 145

David praises God for his fame, 1-7; for his goodness, 8-10; for his kingdom, 11-13; for his providence, 14-16; for his justice, holiness, and saving mercy, 17-21.

1 [David’s Psalm of Praise.]

I will extol you, my God, O king, /

and I will bless your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless you /

and will praise your name forever and ever.

3 The LORD is great and greatly to be praised, /

and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise your works to another /

and declare your mighty acts.

5 I will speak of the glorious honor of your majesty /

and of your wondrous works.

6 And men shall speak of the might of your awesome acts. /

And I will declare your greatness.

7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of your great goodness /

and sing of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, /

slow to anger and of great mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all, /

and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 All your works shall praise you, O LORD, /

and your saints shall bless you.

11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom /

and talk of your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts /

and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, /

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholds all who fall /

and raises up all those who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon you, /

and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand /

and satisfy the desire of every living creature.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways /

and holy in all his works.

18 The LORD is near to all those who call upon him, /

to all who call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. /

He also will hear their cry and save them.

20 The LORD preserves all those who love him, /

but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD. /

And let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Psalm 146

The psalmist vows perpetual praises to God, 1, 2. He exhorts not to trust in man, 3, 4. God, for his power, justice, mercy, and kingdom, is only worthy to be trusted, 5-10.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 While I live I will praise the LORD. /

I will sing praises to my God while I have any being.

3 Do not put your trust in princes, /

nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 His breath goes forth and he returns to the earth. /

In that very day his thoughts perish.

5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, /

whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 Who made heaven, earth, /

the sea, and all that is in them, /

who keeps truth forever,

7 Who executes judgment for the oppressed, /

who gives food to the hungry. /

The LORD sets the prisoners free.

8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. /

The LORD raises those who are bowed down. /

The LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD preserves the strangers. /

He relieves the fatherless and widow, /

but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.

10 The LORD will reign forever, /

even your God, O Zion, to all generations. /

Praise the LORD.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Acts 4:24.

Psalm 147

The prophet exhorts to praise God for his care of the church, 1-3; his power and wisdom, 4, 5; his mercy, 6; his providence, 7-11; to praise him for his blessings upon the kingdom, 12-14; for his power over the elements, 15-18; and for his ordinances in the church, 19, 20.

1 Praise the LORD, /

for it is good to sing praises to our God. /

For it is pleasant, and praise is fitting.

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem. /

He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

3 He heals the broken in heart /

and binds up their wounds.

4 He tells the number of the stars. /

He calls them all by their names.

5 Our Lord is great and of great power. /

His understanding is infinite.

6 The LORD lifts up the meek. /

He casts the wicked down to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. /

Sing praise upon the harp to our God,

8 Who covers the heaven with clouds, /

who prepares rain for the earth, /

who makes grass to grow upon the mountains.

9 He gives to the beast his food, /

and to the young ravens which cry.

10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse. /

He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, /

in those who hope in his mercy.

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem. /

Praise your God, O Zion.

13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. /

He has blessed your children within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders /

and fills you with the finest of the wheat.

15 He sends forth his commandment upon earth. /

His word runs very swiftly.

16 He gives snow like wool. /

He scatters the hoar-frost like ashes.

17 He casts forth his ice like morsels. /

Who can stand before his cold?

18 He sends out his word and melts them. /

He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

19 He shows his word to Jacob, /

his statutes and his judgments to Israel.

20 He has not dealt so with any nation. /

And as for his judgments, they have not known them. /

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 148

The psalmist exhorts the celestial, 1-6, the terrestrial, 7-10, and the rational creatures to praise God, 11-14.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Praise the LORD from the heavens. /

Praise him in the heights.

2 Praise him, all his angels. /

Praise him, all his hosts.

3 Praise him, sun and moon. /

Praise him, all you stars of light.

4 Praise him, you heavens of heavens /

and you waters that are above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, /

for he commanded and they were created.

6 He has also established them forever and ever. /

He has made a decree which shall not pass.

7 Praise the LORD from the earth, /

you sea-creatures and all deeps,

8 Fire and hail, snow and vapors, /

stormy wind fulfilling his word,

9 Mountains and all hills, /

fruitful trees and all cedars,

10 Beasts and all cattle, /

creeping animals and flying birds,

11 Kings of the earth and all people, /

princes and all judges of the earth,

12 Both young men and virgins, /

old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, /

for his name alone is excellent. /

His glory is above the earth and heaven.

14 He also exalts the horn of his people, /

the praise of all his saints, /

even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. /

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 149

The prophet exhorts to praise God for his love to the church, 1-4; and for that power which he has given to the church, 3-9.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Sing to the LORD a new song, /

and his praise in the congregation of saints.

2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. /

Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3 Let them praise his name in the dance. /

Let them sing praises to him with the tambourine and harp.

4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people. /

He will beautify the meek with salvation.

5 Let the saints be joyful in glory. /

Let them sing aloud upon their beds.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth /

and a two-edged sword in their hand,

7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen /

and punishments upon the people,

8 To bind their kings with chains /

and their nobles with fetters of iron,

9 To execute upon them the judgment written. /

All his saints have this honor. /

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150

An exhortation to praise God, 1, 2; with all kinds of instruments, 3-6.

1 Praise the LORD. /

Praise God in his sanctuary. /

Praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts. /

Praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet. /

Praise him with the psaltery and harp.

4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance. /

Praise him with stringed instruments and pipes.

5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals. /

Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath /

praise the LORD. /

Praise the LORD.

[Tanach reading: go to Proverbs]

THE PROVERBS

Chapter 1

The use of the proverbs, 1-6. An exhortation to fear God, and believe his word, 7-9; to avoid the enticings of sinners, 10-19. Wisdom complains of her contempt, 20-23. She threatens her despisers, 24-33.

1 [The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.]

2 To know wisdom and instruction, /

to perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, /

justice, judgment, and equity,

4 To give subtlety to the simple, /

to the young man knowledge and discretion,

5 A wise man will hear and will increase learning, /

and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels,

6 To understand a proverb and the interpretation, /

the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, /

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father /

and do not forsake the law of your mother,

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace to your head /

and chains around your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, /

do not consent.

11 If they say, "Come with us. Let us lie in wait for blood. /

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, /

and whole, as those who go down into the pit.

13 We shall find all precious substance. /

We shall fill our houses with plunder.

14 Cast in your lot among us. /

Let us all have one purse,"

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. /

Refrain your foot from their path,

16 For their feet run to evil /

and make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain the net is spread /

in the sight of any bird.

18 And they lie in wait for their own blood. /

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

19 Thus are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain, /

who takes away the life of its owners.

20 Wisdom cries outside. /

She utters her voice in the streets.

21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, /

in the openings of the gates. /

In the city she utters her words, saying,

22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity, /

and the scorners delight in their scorning, /

and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn at my reproof. /

Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you. /

I will make my words known to you.

24 Because I have called and you refused, /

I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded.

25 But you have set at nothing all my counsel /

and rejected my reproof.

26 I also will laugh at your calamity. /

I will mock when your fear comes,

27 When your fear comes as desolation, /

and your destruction comes as a whirlwind, /

when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 They shall call upon me, but I will not answer. /

They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

29 For they hated knowledge /

and did not choose the fear of the LORD.

30 They rejected my counsel. /

They despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore, they shall eat of the fruit of their own way /

and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them /

and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoever listens to me shall dwell in safety /

and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

Chapter 2

Wisdom promises godliness to her children, 1-9; and safety from evil company, 10-19; and direction in good ways, 20-22.

1 My son, if you will receive my words /

and hide my commandments with you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom /

and apply your heart to understanding,

3 If you even cry after knowledge /

and lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver /

and search for her as for hidden treasures,

5 Then you shall understand the fear of the LORD /

and find the knowledge of God,

6 For the LORD gives wisdom. /

Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous. /

He is a buckler to those who walk uprightly.

8 He keeps the paths of judgment /

and preserves the way of his saints.

9 Then you shall understand righteousness, judgment, /

equity, and every good path.

10 When wisdom enters into your heart /

and knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11 Discretion shall preserve you, /

understanding shall keep you,

12 To deliver you from the way of the evil men, /

from the men who speak perverse things,

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness /

to walk in the ways of darkness,

14 Who rejoice to do evil /

and delight in the perverseness of the wicked,

15 Whose ways are crooked, /

and who are perverse in their paths;

16 To deliver you from the strange woman, /

even from the stranger who flatters with her words,

17 Who forsakes the guide of her youth /

and forgets the covenant of her God.

18 For her house inclines to death /

and her paths to the dead.

19 None who go to her return again, /

neither do they take hold of the paths of life.

20 So you shall walk in the way of good men /

and keep the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land /

and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth /

and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Chapter 3

Various exhortations, 1-12. The gain of wisdom, 13-26. Exhortation to doing good, etc. 27-32. The different state of the wicked and upright, 33-35.

1 My son, do not forget my law, /

but let your heart keep my commandments,

2 For length of days, long life, /

and peace, they shall add to you.

3 Do not let mercy and truth forsake you. /

Bind them around your neck. /

Write them upon the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you shall find favor and good understanding /

in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, /

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, /

and he will direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. /

Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to your body /

and marrow to your bones.

9 Honor the LORD with your substance /

and with the first-fruits of all your increase,

10 And your barns shall be filled with plenty /

and your presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, /

neither be weary of his correction,

12 For whom the LORD loves he corrects, /

even as a father [corrects] the son in whom he delights.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom /

and the man who gets understanding,

14 For its merchandise is better than the merchandise of silver /

and its gain than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies, /

and all the things you can desire are not to be compared to her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand, /

and in her left hand, riches and honor.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness /

and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. /

And happy is everyone who retains her.

19 The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth. /

By understanding he has established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, /

and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not let them depart from your eyes. /

Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 And they shall be life to your soul /

and grace to your neck.

23 Then you shall walk in your way safely, /

and your foot shall not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid. /

You shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear /

or of the desolation of the wicked when it comes,

26 For the LORD will be your confidence /

and will keep your foot from being taken.

27 Do not withhold good from them to whom it is due, /

when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, /

and tomorrow I will give," when you have it with you.

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, /

seeing he dwells securely by you.

30 Do not strive with a man without cause, /

if he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the oppressor, /

and choose none of his ways,

32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, /

but his secret is with the righteous.

33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked, /

but he blesses the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorns the scorners, /

but he gives grace to the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory, /

but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

References

[v.11]: Quoted in Hebrews 12:5. [v.12]: Quoted in Hebrews 12:6. [v.25]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:6. [v.34]: Quoted in James 4:6; 1st Peter 5:5.

Chapter 4

Solomon persuades to wisdom, 1-13, and to shun wickedness, 14-19. He exhorts to sanctification, 20-27.

1 Hear, children, the instruction of a father, /

and attend to know understanding,

2 For I give you good doctrine. /

Do not forsake my law.

3 For I was my father’s son, /

tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me also, and said to me, /

"Let your heart retain my words. /

Keep my commandments, and live.

5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. /

Do not forget it. Do not decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she shall preserve you. /

Love her, and she shall keep you.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. /

And with all your getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you. /

She shall bring you to honor when you embrace her.

9 She shall give to your head an ornament of grace. /

A crown of glory she shall deliver to you."

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, /

and the years of your life shall be many.

11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. /

I have led you in right paths.

12 When you go, your steps shall not be hindered, /

and when you run, you shall not stumble.

13 Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. /

Keep her, for she is your life.

14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked, /

and do not go in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, do not pass by it, /

turn from it, and pass on.

16 For they do not sleep, unless they have done mischief, /

and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness /

and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light /

that shines more and more to the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness. /

They do not know at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words. /

Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not let them depart from your eyes. /

Keep them in the midst of your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them /

and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, /

for out of it flows the source of life.

24 Put away from you a crooked mouth, /

and perverse lips put far from you.

25 Let your eyes look right on, /

and let your eyelids look straight before you.

26 Ponder the path of your feet, /

and let all your ways be established.

27 Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. /

Turn your foot away from evil.

Chapter 5

Solomon exhorts to wisdom, 1, 2. He shows the mischief of lewdness and riot, 3-14. He exhorts to contentedness, liberality, and chastity, 15-21. The wicked are overtaken with their own sins, 22, 23.

1 My son, attend to my wisdom /

and bow your ear to my understanding,

2 So that you may regard discretion, /

and that your lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honey-comb, /

and her mouth is smoother than oil,

4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, /

sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death. /

Her steps take hold upon hell.

6 Lest you should ponder the path of life, /

her ways are movable, so that you cannot know them.

7 Hear me now therefore, O children, /

and do not depart from the words of my mouth.

8 Keep your way far from her, /

and do not come near the door of her house,

9 Lest you give your honor to others /

and your years to the cruel,

10 Lest strangers be filled with your wealth /

and your labors be in the house of a stranger,

11 And you mourn at the last /

when your flesh and your body are consumed,

12 And say, "How I have hated instruction, /

and my heart despised reproof,

13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, /

nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!

14 I was almost in all evil /

in the midst of the congregation and assembly."

15 Drink waters out of your own cistern, /

and running waters out of your own well.

16 Let your fountains be dispersed abroad, /

and rivers of waters in the streets.

17 Let them be only your own, /

and not for strangers with you.

18 Let your fountain be blessed, /

and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

19 Let her be as the loving doe and pleasant deer. /

Let her breasts satisfy you at all times, /

and be ravished always with her love.

20 And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman /

and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, /

and he ponders all his goings.

22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, /

and he shall be held with the cords of his sins.

23 He shall die without instruction, /

and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Chapter 6

Against suretyship, 1-5; idleness, 6-11; and mischievousness, 12-15. Seven things hateful to God, 16-19. The blessings of obedience, 20-24. The mischiefs of lewdness, 25-35.

1 My son, if you are surety for your friend, /

if you have stricken your hand with a stranger,

2 You are snared with the words of your mouth, /

you are taken with the words of your mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself /

when you have come into the hand of your friend: /

go, humble yourself, and make urgent request to your friend.

4 Do not give sleep to your eyes, /

nor slumber to your eyelids.

5 Deliver yourself as a gazelle from the hand of the hunter /

and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. /

Consider her ways and be wise.

7 She, having no guide, /

overseer, or ruler,

8 Provides her provisions in the summer /

and gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? /

When will you arise out of your sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, /

a little folding of the hands to sleep,

11 And your poverty shall come as one who travels, /

and your lack as an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, /

walks with a crooked mouth.

13 He winks with his eyes. /

He speaks with his feet. /

He teaches with his fingers.

14 Perverseness is in his heart. /

He devises mischief continually. /

He sows discord.

15 Therefore, his calamity shall come suddenly. /

He shall be suddenly broken without remedy.

16 These six things the LORD hates, /

even seven are abominations to him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, /

hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked imaginations, /

feet that are swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness who speaks lies, /

and him who sows discord among brothers.

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment /

and do not forsake the law of your mother.

21 Bind them continually upon your heart /

and tie them around your neck.

22 When you go, it shall lead you. /

When you sleep, it shall keep you. /

And when you awake, it shall talk with you.

23 For the commandment is a lamp, the law is light, /

and reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

24 To keep you from the evil woman, /

from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, /

neither let her take you with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a lewd woman a man is brought to a piece of bread, /

and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom /

and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals /

and his feet not be burned?

29 Such is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. /

Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals /

to satisfy his soul when he is hungry.

31 But if he is found, he shall restore seven-fold. /

He shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding. /

He who does it destroys his own soul.

33 He shall get a wound and dishonor, /

and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man; /

therefore, he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom, /

neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

Chapter 7

Solomon persuades to a sincere and kind familiarity with wisdom, 1-5. In an example of his own experience, he shows, 6-9, the cunning of a harlot, 10-21; and the desperate simplicity of a young incontinent man, 22, 23. He dissuades from such wickedness, 24-27.

1 My son, keep my words /

and lay up my commandments with you.

2 Keep my commandments and live, /

and my law as the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them upon your fingers. /

Write them upon the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," /

and call understanding your kinswoman,

5 So that they may keep you from the strange woman, /

from the stranger who flatters with her words.

6 For at the window of my house /

I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones. /

I discerned among the youths /

a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner. /

And he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, /

in the black and dark night.

10 And behold, a woman met him /

with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.

11 (She is loud and stubborn. /

Her feet do not abide in her house.

12 Now she is outside, now in the streets, /

and lies in wait at every corner.)

13 So she caught him, kissed him, /

and with an impudent face said to him,

14 "I have peace-offerings with me. /

This day I have paid my vows.

15 Therefore, I came forth to meet you, /

diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.

16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, /

with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed /

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning. /

Let us solace ourselves with affection.

19 For the husband is not at home. /

He has gone on a long journey.

20 He has taken a bag of money with him /

and will come home at the day appointed."

21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield. /

With the flattering of her lips she impelled him.

22 He goes after her quickly, /

as an ox goes to the slaughter, /

or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,

23 Until a dart strikes through his liver, /

as a bird hastens to the snare, /

and does not know that it is for his life.

24 Now therefore, listen to me, O children, /

and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Do not let your heart decline to her ways. /

Do not go astray in her paths.

26 For she has cast down many wounded, /

and many strong men have been slain by her.

27 Her house is the way to hell, /

going down to the chambers of death.

Chapter 8

The fame, 1-5, and evidence of wisdom, 6-9. The excellency, 10, 11, the nature, 12-14, the power, 15-17, the riches, 18-21, and the eternity of wisdom, 22-31. Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it brings, 32-36.

1 Does wisdom not cry, /

and understanding put forth her voice?

2 She stands on the top of high places, /

by the way in the places of the paths.

3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, /

at the entrance of the doors,

4 "To you, O men, I call, /

and my voice is to the sons of man.

5 O you simple, understand wisdom, /

and you fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 Hear, for I will speak of excellent things, /

and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth, /

and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. /

There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him who understands, /

and right to those who find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction instead of silver, /

and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies, /

and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence /

and find out knowledge of ingenious inventions.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. /

Pride, arrogance, the evil way, /

and the perverse mouth, I hate.

14 Counsel and sound wisdom are mine. /

I am understanding. I have strength.

15 By me kings reign /

and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, /

and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17 I love those who love me, /

and those who seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honor are with me, /

durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, /

even fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, /

in the midst of the paths of judgment,

21 So that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance. /

And I will fill their treasures.

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, /

before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, /

or before the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, /

when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, /

before the hills I was brought forth,

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, /

nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there. /

When he set a compass upon the face of the depth,

28 When he established the clouds above, /

when he strengthened the fountains of the deep,

29 When he gave to the sea his decree /

that the waters should not pass his commandment, /

and when he appointed the foundations of the earth,

30 I was by him, as one brought up with him, /

and I was daily his delight, /

rejoicing always before him,

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth. /

And my delights were with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore, listen to me, O children, /

for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction and be wise, /

and do not refuse it.

34 Blessed is the man who hears me, /

watching daily at my gates, /

waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoever finds me finds life /

and obtains favor from the LORD.

36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. /

All those who hate me love death."

Chapter 9

The discipline, 1-3, and doctrine of wisdom, 4-12. The custom, 13-15, and error of folly, 16-18.

1 Wisdom has built her house. /

She has hewn out her seven pillars.

2 She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. /

She has also furnished her table.

3 She has sent forth her attendants. /

She cries upon the highest places of the city,

4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." /

As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

5 "Come, eat of my bread, /

and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Forsake the foolish and live. /

And go in the way of understanding."

7 He who reproves a scorner gets shame for himself. /

And he who rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.

8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you. /

Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. /

Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, /

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, /

and the years of your life shall be increased.

12 If you are wise, you shall be wise for yourself, /

but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous. /

She is simple and knows nothing.

14 For she sits at the door of her house, /

on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call to passengers /

who go right on their ways,

16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." /

And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 "Stolen waters are sweet, /

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

18 But he does not know that the dead are there, /

and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Chapter 10

From this chapter to the twenty-fifth are various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-32.

1 [The proverbs of Solomon.]

A wise son makes a glad father, /

but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, /

but righteousness delivers from death.

3 The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish, /

but he casts away the substance of the wicked.

4 He becomes poor who deals with a slack hand, /

but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, /

but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

6 Blessings are upon the head of the just, /

but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the just is blessed, /

but the name of the wicked shall perish.

8 The wise in heart will receive commandments, /

but a prating fool shall fall.

9 He who walks uprightly walks surely, /

but he who perverts his ways shall be known.

10 He who winks with the eye causes sorrow, /

but a prating fool shall fall.

11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, /

but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, /

but love covers all sins.

13 In the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found, /

but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge, /

but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. /

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labor of the righteous tends to life, /

but the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He is in the way of life who keeps instruction, /

but he who refuses reproof errs.

18 He who hides hatred has lying lips, /

and he who utters a slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of sin, /

but he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver. /

The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, /

but fools die for lack of wisdom.

22 The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, /

and he adds no sorrow with it.

23 To do mischief is pleasure to a fool, /

but a man of understanding has wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him, /

but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more, /

but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, /

so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days, /

but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, /

but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright, /

but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous shall never be removed, /

but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom, /

but the perverse tongue shall be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, /

but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverseness.

Chapter 11

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-31.

1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, /

but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride comes, shame comes, /

but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, /

but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, /

but righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, /

but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, /

but transgressors shall be taken in their own desires.

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish, /

and the hope of unjust men perishes.

8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, /

and the wicked comes in his stead.

9 A hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth, /

but through knowledge the just shall be delivered.

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices, /

and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, /

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor, /

but a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 A gossiper reveals secrets, /

but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.

14 Where no counsel is, the people fall, /

but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is surety for a stranger shall suffer for it, /

and he who hates suretyship is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor, /

and strong men retain riches.

17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, /

but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18 The wicked works a deceitful work, /

but to him who sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.

19 As righteousness tends to life, /

so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

20 Those who are of a perverse heart are abominations to the LORD, /

but those who are upright in their way are his delight.

21 Though hand joins in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished, /

but the offspring of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, /

so is a fair woman who is without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good, /

but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is one who scatters, /

and yet increases, /

and there is one who withholds more than is proper, /

but it tends to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat, /

and he who waters shall be watered also himself.

26 He who withholds grain, the people shall curse him, /

but blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells it.

27 He who diligently seeks good procures favor, /

but he who seeks mischief, it shall come to him.

28 He who trusts in his riches shall fall, /

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, /

and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, /

and he who wins souls is wise.

31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed upon the earth, /

much more the wicked and the sinner.

References

[v.31]: Quoted in 1st Peter 4:18.

Chapter 12

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-28.

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, /

but he who hates reproof is brutish.

2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD, /

but he will condemn a man of wicked devices.

3 A man shall not be established by wickedness, /

but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, /

but she who makes him ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, /

but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood, /

but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, /

but the house of the righteous shall stand.

8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, /

but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

9 He who is despised and has a servant, /

is better than he who honors himself and is destitute of bread.

10 A righteous man regards the life of his beast, /

but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, /

but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.

12 The wicked desires the net of evil men, /

but the root of the righteous yields fruit.

13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips, /

but the just shall come out of trouble.

14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, /

and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered to him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, /

but he who listens to counsel is wise.

16 A fool’s wrath is presently known, /

but a prudent man covers shame.

17 He who speaks truth shows forth righteousness, /

but a false witness, deceit.

18 There is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword, /

but the tongue of the wise is health.

19 The lip of truth shall be established forever, /

but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, /

but to the counselors of peace is joy.

21 No evil shall happen to the just, /

but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, /

but those who deal truly are his delight.

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, /

but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule, /

but the slothful shall be under tribute.

25 Heaviness in the heart of man depresses it, /

but a good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor, /

but the way of the wicked seduces them.

27 The slothful man does not roast that which he took in hunting, /

but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

28 In the way of righteousness is life, /

and in its path there is no death.

Chapter 13

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-25.

1 A wise son hears his father’s instruction, /

but a scorner does not hear rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth, /

but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

3 He who keeps his mouth keeps his life, /

but he who opens his lips wide shall have destruction.

4 The soul of the sluggard desires, yet has nothing, /

but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

5 A righteous man hates lying, /

but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

6 Righteousness keeps him who is upright in the way, /

but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing. /

There is one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, /

but the poor does not hear rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices, /

but the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.

10 Only by pride comes contention, /

but with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, /

but he who gathers by labor shall increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, /

but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed, /

but he who fears the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, /

to depart from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding gives favor, /

but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 Every prudent man deals with knowledge, /

but a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into mischief, /

but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him who refuses instruction, /

but he who regards reproof shall be honored.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, /

but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men shall be wise, /

but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 Evil pursues sinners, /

but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, /

and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor, /

but there is one who is destroyed for lack of judgment.

24 He who spares his rod hates his son, /

but he who loves him chastens him diligently.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, /

but the belly of the wicked shall be lacking.

Chapter 14

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-35.

1 Every wise woman builds her house, /

but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, /

but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, /

but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, /

but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness will not lie, /

but a false witness will utter lies.

6 A scorner seeks wisdom and does not find it, /

but knowledge is easy to him who understands.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, /

when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, /

but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools make a mock at sin, /

but among the righteous there is favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness, /

and a stranger does not intermeddle with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, /

but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seems right to a man, /

but the ways of death are at its end.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, /

and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, /

and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

15 The simple believes every word, /

but the prudent man looks well to his going.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, /

but the fool rages and is confident.

17 He who is quick to anger deals foolishly, /

and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly, /

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before the good, /

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, /

but the rich has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins, /

but he who has mercy on the poor is happy.

22 Do those who devise evil not err? /

But mercy and truth shall be to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit, /

but the talk of the lips tends only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches, /

but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls, /

but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence, /

and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, /

to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honor, /

but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding, /

but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh, /

but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, /

but he who honors him has mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, /

but the righteous has hope in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, /

and it is made known in the midst of fools.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, /

but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, /

but his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Chapter 15

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-33.

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, /

but grievous words stir up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright, /

but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, /

beholding the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, /

but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, /

but he who regards reproof is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, /

but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise diffuse knowledge, /

but the heart of the foolish does not do so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, /

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, /

but he loves him who follows after righteousness.

10 Correction is grievous to him who forsakes the way, /

and he who hates reproof shall die.

11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD, /

how much more the hearts of the children of men!

12 A scorner does not love one who reproves him, /

neither will he go to the wise.

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, /

but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, /

but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, /

but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD, /

than great treasure and trouble with it.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, /

than a stalled ox and hatred with it.

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife, /

but he who is slow to anger appeases strife.

19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns, /

but the way of the righteous is made plain.

20 A wise son makes a glad father, /

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of wisdom, /

but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed, /

but in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, /

and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

24 The way of life is above to the wise, /

so that he may depart from hell beneath.

25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, /

but he will establish the border of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are abominations to the LORD, /

but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

27 He who is greedy of gain troubles his own house, /

but he who hates gifts shall live.

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, /

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked, /

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, /

and a good report makes the bones fat.

31 The ear that hears the reproof of life /

abides among the wise.

32 He who refuses instruction despises his own soul, /

but he who hears reproof gets understanding.

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, /

and before honor is humility.

Chapter 16

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-33.

1 The preparations of the heart are in man, /

but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, /

but the LORD weighs the spirits.

3 Commit your works to the LORD, /

and your thoughts shall be established.

4 The LORD has made all things for himself, /

and even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD. /

Though hand joins in hand, they shall not be unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, /

and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, /

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness, /

than great revenues without right.

9 A man’s heart devises his way, /

but the LORD directs his steps.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king. /

His mouth does not transgress in judgment.

11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’S. /

All the weights of the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, /

for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, /

and they love him who speaks right.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death, /

but a wise man will pacify it.

15 In the light of a king’s countenance is life, /

and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! /

And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. /

He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction, /

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, /

than to divide the plunder with the proud.

20 He who handles a matter wisely shall find good. /

And whoever trusts in the LORD is happy.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. /

And the sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a well-spring of life to him who has it, /

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, /

and adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are as a honey-comb, /

sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, /

but the ways of death are at its end.

26 He who labors, labors for himself, /

for his mouth craves it of him.

27 An ungodly man digs up evil, /

and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

28 A perverse man sows strife, /

and a whisperer separates chief friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor, /

and leads him into the way that is not good.

30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things. /

Moving his lips he brings evil to pass.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, /

if it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, /

and he who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, /

but its every verdict is from the LORD.

Chapter 17

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-28.

1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it, /

than a house full of sacrifices with strife.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son who causes shame, /

and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining-pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, /

but the LORD tries the hearts.

4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips, /

and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, /

and he who is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, /

and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool, /

much less are lying lips for a prince.

8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it. /

Wherever it turns, it prospers.

9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, /

but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.

10 A reproof enters more into a wise man, /

than one hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; /

therefore, a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, /

rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, /

evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water; /

therefore, withdraw from contention before it is meddled with.

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the just, /

even the both of them are abominations to the LORD.

16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, /

seeing he has no heart to it?

17 A friend loves at all times, /

and a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, /

and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He loves transgression who loves strife. /

And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a perverse heart finds no good, /

and he who has a deceitful tongue falls into mischief.

21 He who begets a fool does it to his sorrow. /

And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart does good like a medicine, /

but a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom /

to pervert the ways of judgment.

24 Wisdom is before him who has understanding, /

but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, /

and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, /

nor to strike princes for equity.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words, /

and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise, /

and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Chapter 18

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-24.

1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, /

seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding, /

but only that his heart may reveal itself.

3 When the wicked comes, then contempt also comes, /

and with ignominy comes reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, /

and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked /

or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, /

and his mouth calls for strokes.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, /

and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a gossiper are as wounds, /

and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

9 He also who is slothful in his work /

is brother to him who is a great waster.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower. /

The righteous runs into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, /

and as a high wall in his own conceit.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, /

and before honor is humility.

13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, /

it is folly and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, /

but who can bear a wounded spirit?

15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge, /

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him, /

and brings him before great men.

17 He who is first in his own cause seems just, /

but his neighbor comes and searches him.

18 The lot causes contentions to cease /

and parts between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, /

and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth. /

And with the increase of his lips he shall be filled.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, /

and those who love it shall eat its fruit.

22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing /

and obtains favor from the LORD.

23 The poor uses entreaties, /

but the rich answers roughly.

24 A man of many friends may come to ruin, /

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Chapter 19

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-29.

1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, /

than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2 Also, for the soul to be without knowledge, it is not good. /

And he who hastens with his feet sins.

3 The foolishness of man perverts his way, /

and his heart frets against the LORD.

4 Wealth makes many friends, /

but the poor is separated from his neighbor.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, /

and he who speaks lies shall not escape.

6 Many will entreat the favor of the prince. /

And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him. /

How much more do his friends go far from him? /

He pursues them with words, yet they are no more.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. /

He who keeps understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, /

and he who speaks lies shall perish.

10 Delight is not appropriate for a fool, /

much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man defers his anger, /

and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion, /

but his favor is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father, /

and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers, /

but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, /

and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, /

but he who despises his ways shall die.

17 He who has pity upon the poor lends to the LORD, /

and that which he has given he will pay him back.

18 Chasten your son while there is hope, /

and do not let your soul spare for his crying.

19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment, /

for if you deliver him, yet you must do it again.

20 Hear counsel and receive instruction /

so that you may be wise in your latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man’s heart, /

but the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

22 The desire of a man is his kindness. /

And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD tends to life, /

and he who has it shall abide satisfied. /

He shall not be visited with evil.

24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bosom, /

and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scorner and the simple will take heed. /

And reprove one who has understanding and he will understand knowledge.

26 He who wastes his father and chases away his mother /

is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction /

that causes you to err from the words of knowledge.

28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment, /

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, /

and stripes for the back of fools.

Chapter 20

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-30.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, /

and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.

2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion. /

Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, /

but every fool will be meddling.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; /

therefore, he shall beg in harvest and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, /

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will each proclaim his own goodness, /

but who can find a faithful man?

7 The just man walks in his integrity. /

His children are blessed after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment /

scatters away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean. /

I am pure from my sin"?

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, /

both of them are alike abominations to the LORD.

11 Even a child is known by his doings, /

whether his work is pure and whether it is right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, /

the LORD has made even both of them.

13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. /

Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

14 "It is nothing, it is nothing," says the buyer, /

but when he is gone, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies, /

but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, /

and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, /

but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel, /

and with good advice make war.

19 He who goes around as a gossiper reveals secrets; /

therefore, do not meddle with him who flatters with his lips.

20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, /

his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, /

but its end shall not be blessed.

22 Do not say, "I will recompense evil." /

But wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, /

and a false balance is not good.

24 Man’s goings are of the LORD. /

How can a man then understand his own way?

25 It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, /

and later vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked /

and brings the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, /

searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, /

and his throne is upheld by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength, /

and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil, /

and so do stripes to the inward parts of the belly.

Chapter 21

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-31.

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water. /

He turns it wherever he pleases.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, /

but the LORD ponders the hearts.

3 To do justice and judgment /

is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4 A high look and a proud heart, /

which is the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, /

but of everyone who is hasty, only to poverty.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue /

is a vanity tossed to and fro by those who seek death.

7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them, /

because they refuse to do judgment.

8 Crooked is the way of a guilty man, /

but as for the pure, his work is right.

9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, /

than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10 The soul of the wicked desires evil. /

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise. /

And when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked, /

but God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness.

13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, /

he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, /

and a reward in the bosom, strong wrath.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment, /

but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding /

shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. /

He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, /

and the transgressor for the upright.

19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness /

than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20 There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, /

but a foolish man spends it up.

21 He who follows after righteousness and mercy /

finds life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty /

and casts down the strength of its confidence.

23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue /

keeps his soul from troubles.

24 The proud and haughty man, "Scoffer," is his name. /

He works in the arrogance of pride.

25 The desire of the slothful kills him, /

for his hands refuse to labor.

26 He covets greedily all the day long, /

but the righteous gives and does not spare.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination. /

How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind?

28 A false witness shall perish, /

but the man who hears speaks constantly.

29 A wicked man hardens his face, /

but as for the upright, he directs his way.

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding /

nor counsel against the LORD.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, /

but safety is from the LORD.

Chapter 22

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-29.

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, /

and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and poor meet together. /

The LORD is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, /

but the simple pass on and are punished.

4 By humility and the fear of the LORD /

are riches, honor, and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse. /

He who keeps his soul shall be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, /

and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor, /

and the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He who sows iniquity shall reap vanity, /

and the rod of his anger shall fail.

9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, /

for he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scorner and contention shall end, /

even strife and reproach shall cease.

11 He who loves pureness of heart and has grace on his lips, /

the king shall be his friend.

12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, /

and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.

13 The slothful man says, "There is a lion outside. /

I shall be slain in the streets."

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit. /

He who is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, /

but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, /

and he who gives to the rich, shall surely come to poverty.

17 Bow down your ear and hear the words of the wise, /

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, /

if they are ready in your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, /

I have made known to you this day, even to you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things /

in counsels and knowledge,

21 So that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth, /

and so that you might answer the words of truth to those who send to you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, /

neither oppress the afflicted in the gate,

23 For the LORD will plead their cause /

and plunder the soul of those who plundered them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, /

and with a furious man you shall not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways /

and get a snare to your soul.

26 Do not be one of those who strike hands, /

or of those who are sureties for debts.

27 If you have nothing to pay, /

why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark /

which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man diligent in his business? /

He shall stand before kings. /

He shall not stand before obscure men.

References

[v.8]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 9:7.

Chapter 23

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-35.

1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, /

consider diligently what is before you,

2 And put a knife to your throat, /

if you are a man given to appetite.

3 Do not be desirous of his dainties, /

for they are deceitful food.

4 Do not labor to be rich. /

Cease from your own wisdom.

5 Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? /

For riches certainly make for themselves wings. /

They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

6 Do not eat the bread of him who has an evil eye, /

neither desire his dainties,

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so he is. /

"Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

8 You shall vomit up the morsel which you have eaten /

and lose your sweet words.

9 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, /

for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not remove the old landmark, /

and do not enter into the fields of the fatherless,

11 For their redeemer is mighty. /

He will plead their cause with you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction /

and your ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold correction from the child, /

for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.

14 You shall beat him with the rod /

and shall deliver his soul from hell.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, /

my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16 Indeed, my heart shall rejoice /

when your lips speak right things.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, /

but be in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

18 For surely there is an end, /

and your expectation shall not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise, /

and guide your heart in the way.

20 Do not be among drunkards, /

among riotous eaters of flesh,

21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, /

and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22 Listen to your father who begot you, /

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth and do not sell it, /

even wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice. /

And he who begets a wise child shall have joy of him.

25 Your father and your mother shall be glad, /

and she who bore you shall rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, /

and let your eyes observe my ways.

27 For a lewd woman is a deep ditch, /

and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28 She also lies in wait as for prey /

and increases the transgressors among men.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? /

Who has babbling? Who has wounds without cause? /

Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who stay long at the wine, /

and those who go to seek mixed wine.

31 Do not look upon the wine when it is red, /

when it gives its color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.

32 At the last it bites like a serpent /

and stings like an adder.

33 Your eyes shall behold strange women, /

and your heart shall utter perverse things.

34 And you shall be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, /

or as he who lies upon the top of a mast.

35 "They have stricken me," you will say, "and I was not sick. /

They have beaten me, and I did not feel it. /

When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."

Chapter 24

Various observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices, 1-34.

1 Do not be envious against evil men, /

neither desire to be with them,

2 For their heart devises destruction /

and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom a house is built, /

and by understanding it is established,

4 And by knowledge the chambers shall be filled /

with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong, /

and a man of knowledge increases strength.

6 For by wise counsel you shall make your war, /

and in multitude of counselors there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. /

He does not open his mouth in the gate.

8 He who devises to do evil /

shall be called a mischievous person.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin, /

and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, /

your strength is small.

11 Hold back and deliver those who are drawn to death /

and those who are ready to be slain.

12 If you say, "Behold, we did not know it," /

does he who ponders the heart not consider it? /

And he who keeps your soul, does he not know it? /

And will he not render to every man according to his works?

13 My son, eat honey because it is good, /

and the honey-comb which is sweet to your taste.

14 Thus shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul. /

When you have found it, there shall be a reward, /

and your expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, /

against the dwelling of the righteous. /

Do not destroy his resting-place.

16 For a just man falls seven times and rises again, /

but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, /

and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles,

18 Lest the LORD see it and it displease him, /

and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Do not fret yourself because of evil men, /

neither be envious of the wicked,

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man. /

The candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.

21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, /

and do not meddle with those who are given to change,

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly. /

And who knows the ruin of the both of them?

23 These things also belong to the wise. /

It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," /

the people shall curse him, nations shall abhor him.

25 But to those who rebuke him shall be delight, /

and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips /

who gives a right answer.

27 Prepare your work outside /

and make it fit for yourself in the field, /

and afterward build your house.

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, /

and do not deceive with your lips.

29 Do not say, "I will do so to him as he has done to me. /

I will render to the man according to his work."

30 I went by the field of the slothful /

and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding,

31 And behold, it was all grown over with thorns, /

nettles had covered its face, /

and its stone wall was broken down.

32 Then I saw, and considered it well. /

I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, /

a little folding of the hands to sleep,

34 And your poverty shall come as one who travels, /

and your need as an armed man.

References

[v.12]: Reference, Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6.

Chapter 25

Observations about kings, 1-7, and about avoiding causes of quarrels, and various causes thereof, 8-28.

1 [These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.]

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, /

but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

3 The heaven for height and the earth for depth, /

and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver, /

and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king, /

and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

6 Do not put forth yourself in the presence of the king, /

and do not stand in the place of great men,

7 For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," /

than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince /

whom your eyes have seen.

8 Do not go forth hastily to strive, /

lest you not know what to do in the end thereof /

when your neighbor has put you to shame.

9 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself, /

and do not reveal a secret to another,

10 Lest he who hears it put you to shame, /

and your infamy not turn away.

11 A word fitly spoken /

is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, /

so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, /

so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, /

for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Whoever boasts himself of a false gift /

is like clouds and wind without rain.

15 By long forbearing a prince is persuaded, /

and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

16 Have you found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for you, /

lest you be filled with it and vomit it.

17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, /

lest he be weary of you and thus hate you.

18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor /

is a maul, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble /

is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.

20 As he who takes away a garment in cold weather, /

and as vinegar upon soda, /

so is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy hungers, give him bread to eat, /

and if he thirsts, give him water to drink,

22 For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, /

and the LORD will reward you.

23 The north wind drives away rain, /

and so does an angry countenance to a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top /

than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, /

so is good news from a far country.

26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked /

is as a turbid fountain and a corrupt spring.

27 It is not good to eat much honey. /

And for men to search their own glory is not glory.

28 He who has no rule over his own spirit /

is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

References

[v.21-22]: Quoted in Romans 12:20.

Chapter 26

Observations about fools, 1-12; about sluggards, 13-16; and about contentious busy-bodies, 17-28.

1 As snow in summer and as rain in harvest, /

so honor is not appropriate for a fool.

2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, /

so the causeless curse shall not come.

3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, /

and a rod for the fool’s back.

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, /

lest you also be like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, /

lest he be wise in his own conceit.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool /

cuts off the feet and drinks damage.

7 The legs of the lame are not equal, /

and so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

8 As he who binds a stone in a sling, /

so is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, /

so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

10 The great God who formed all things /

both rewards the fool and rewards transgressors.

11 As a dog returns to his vomit, /

so a fool returns to his folly.

12 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit? /

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The slothful man says, "There is a lion in the way. /

A lion is in the streets."

14 As the door turns upon its hinges, /

so does the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hides his hand in his bosom. /

It grieves him to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit /

than seven men who can render a reason.

17 He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him /

is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casts fire-brands, /

arrows, and death,

19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor, /

and says, "Am I not joking?"

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out. /

And where there is no gossiper, the strife ceases.

21 As coals are to burning coals and wood to fire, /

so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a gossiper are as wounds, /

and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Burning lips and a wicked heart /

are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

24 He who hates dissembles with his lips /

and lays up deceit within him.

25 When he speaks fair, do not believe him, /

for there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 His hatred is covered by deceit. /

His wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation.

27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it, /

and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.

28 A lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it, /

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

References

[v.11]: Quoted in 2nd Peter 2:22.

Chapter 27

Observations of self love, 1-4; of true love, 5-10; of care to avoid offenses, 11-22; and of the household care, 23-27.

1 Do not boast yourself of tomorrow, /

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth, /

a stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, /

but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both.

4 Wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous, /

but who is able to stand before envy?

5 Open rebuke is better /

than secret love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, /

but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

7 The full soul loathes a honey-comb, /

but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, /

so is a man who wanders from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, /

and so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

10 Your own friend and your father’s friend, do not forsake, /

neither go into your brother’s house in the day of your calamity, /

for better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, /

so that I may answer him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, /

but the simple pass on and are punished.

13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, /

and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, /

rising early in the morning, /

it shall be counted a curse to him.

15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day /

and a contentious woman are alike.

16 Whoever hides her has hidden the wind /

and has grasped ointment with his right hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron, /

so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 He who keeps the fig-tree shall eat its fruit, /

and he who guards his master shall be honored.

19 As in water face reflects face, /

so the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full, /

and the eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 As the refining-pot for silver and the furnace for gold, /

so is a man to his praise.

22 Though you should bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, /

yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, /

and look well to your herds,

24 For riches are not forever. /

And does the crown endure to every generation?

25 When the grass is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, /

and herbs of the mountains are gathered,

26 The lambs will be for your clothing, /

and the goats the price of a field.

27 And you shall have enough goats' milk for your food, /

for the food of your household, /

and for sustenance for your young women.

Chapter 28

General observations of impiety and religious integrity, 1-28.

1 The wicked flee when no man pursues, /

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 For the transgression of a land many are its princes, /

but by a man of understanding and knowledge /

the state thereof shall be prolonged.

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor /

is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, /

but those who keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil men do not understand judgment, /

but those who seek the LORD understand all things.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his uprightness /

than the rich who is perverse in his ways.

7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, /

but he who is a companion of riotous men shames his father.

8 He who by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, /

he shall gather it for him who will pity the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, /

even his prayer shall be an abomination.

10 Whoever causes the righteous to go astray in an evil way /

shall fall himself into his own pit, /

but the upright shall have good things in possession.

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit, /

but the poor man who has understanding searches him out.

12 When righteous men rejoice, there is great glory, /

but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

13 He who covers his sins shall not prosper, /

but he who confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.

14 Happy is the man who fears always, /

but he who hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.

15 As a roaring lion and a hungry bear, /

so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

16 The prince who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, /

but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

17 A man who does violence to the blood of any person /

shall flee to the pit. Let no man stay him.

18 He who walks uprightly shall be saved, /

but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

19 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, /

but he who follows after vain persons shall be filled with poverty.

20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, /

but he who makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

21 To have respect of persons is not good, /

because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 He who hastens to be rich has an evil eye /

and does not consider that poverty shall come upon him.

23 He who rebukes a man afterward shall find more favor /

than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 He who robs his father or his mother, /

and says, "It is no transgression," /

the same is the companion of a destroyer.

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, /

but he who puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, /

but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.

27 He who gives to the poor shall lack nothing, /

but he who hides his eyes shall have many curses.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, /

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Chapter 29

Observations of public government, 1-14, and of private, 15-21. Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice, and corruption, 22-27.

1 He who is often reproved and hardens his neck /

shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, /

but when the wicked bears rule, the people mourn.

3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, /

but he who keeps company with harlots spends his substance.

4 The king by judgment establishes the land, /

but he who receives gifts overthrows it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor /

spreads a net for his feet.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare, /

but the righteous sings and rejoices.

7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor, /

but the wicked does not regard to know it.

8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare, /

but wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man, /

whether he rages or laughs, there is no rest.

10 The blood-thirsty hate the upright, /

but the just seek his soul.

11 A fool utters all his mind, /

but a wise man keeps it in until afterward.

12 If a ruler listens to lies, /

all his servants are wicked.

13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together, /

the LORD enlightens both their eyes.

14 The king who faithfully judges the poor, /

his throne shall be established forever.

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, /

but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases, /

but the righteous shall see their fall.

17 Correct your son and he shall give you rest. /

He shall even give delight to your soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish, /

but he who keeps the law is happy.

19 A servant will not be corrected by words, /

for though he understands, he will not answer.

20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? /

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 He who delicately brings up his servant from a child /

shall have him at length become his son.

22 An angry man stirs up strife, /

and a furious man abounds in transgression.

23 A man’s pride shall bring him low, /

but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

24 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul. /

He hears cursing and does not disclose it.

25 The fear of man brings a snare, /

but he who puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, /

but every man’s judgment comes from the LORD.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just, /

and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

Chapter 30

Agur’s confession of his faith, 1-6. The two points of his prayer, 7-9. The meanest are not to be wronged, 10. Four wicked generations, 11-14. Four things insatiable, 15, 16. Parents are not to be despised, 17. Four things hard to be known, 18-20. Four things intolerable. 21-23. Four things exceeding wise, 24-28. Four things stately, 29-31. Wrath is to be prevented, 32, 33.

1 [The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy. The man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal.]

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man /

and do not have the understanding of a man.

3 I neither learned wisdom, /

nor have the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? /

Who has gathered the wind in his fists? /

Who has bound the waters in a garment? /

Who has established all the ends of the earth? /

What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you can tell?

5 Every word of God is pure. /

He is a shield to those who put their trust in him.

6 Do not add to his words, /

lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.

7 Two things I have required of you, /

do not deny them to me before I die:

8 Keep vanity and lies far from me, /

and give me neither poverty nor riches. /

Feed me with the food of my portion,

9 Lest I be full and deny you, and say, "Who is the LORD?" /

or lest I be poor and steal, /

and take the name of my God in vain.

10 Do not accuse a servant to his master, /

lest he curse you and you be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curses their father /

and does not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, /

but are not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! /

And their eyelids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords /

and their jaw-teeth as knives /

to devour the poor from off the earth /

and the needy from among men.

15 The horse-leech has two daughters, crying, "Give, give." /

There are three things that are never satisfied, /

even four things that do not say, "It is enough":

16 The grave, the barren womb, /

the earth that is not filled with water, /

and the fire that does not say, "It is enough."

17 The eye that mocks at its father /

and despises to obey its mother, /

the ravens of the valley shall pick it out /

and the young eagles shall eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, /

even four which I do not know:

19 The way of an eagle in the air, /

the way of a serpent upon a rock, /

the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, /

and the way of a man with a young woman.

20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman: /

she eats and wipes her mouth, /

and says, "I have done no wickedness."

21 For three things the earth is disquieted, /

even for four which it cannot bear:

22 A servant when he reigns, /

a fool when he is filled with food,

23 An odious woman when she is married, /

and a woman-servant who is heir to her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, /

but they are very wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, /

yet they prepare their food in the summer,

26 The conies are but a feeble people, /

yet they make their houses in the rocks,

27 The locusts have no king, /

yet all of them go forth by bands,

28 The spider takes hold with her hands, /

and is in kings' palaces.

29 There are three things which go well, /

even four are stately in going:

30 A lion, which is strongest among beasts /

and does not turn away for any,

31 A greyhound, a male goat, /

and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, /

or if you have thought evil, /

lay your hand upon your mouth.

33 Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter, /

and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood, /

and the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.

Chapter 31

Lemuel’s lesson of chastity and temperance, 1-5. The afflicted are to be comforted and defended, 6-9. The praise and properties of a virtuous woman, 10-31.

1 [The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.]

2 What, my son? And what, the son of my womb? /

And what, the son of my vows?

3 Do not give your strength to women, /

nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, /

nor for princes strong drink,

5 Lest they drink, forget the law, /

and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, /

and wine to those who are of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty /

and remember his misery no more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute /

in the cause of all those who are appointed to destruction.

9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, /

and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

[ ALEPH ]

10 Who can find a virtuous woman?   /

For her price is far above rubies.

[ BET ]

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts in her,   /

and he shall have no lack of gain.

[ GIMEL ]

12 She will do him good and not evil   /

all the days of her life.

[ DALET ]

13 She seeks wool and flax   /

and works willingly with her hands.

[ HE ]

14 She is like the merchant’s ships.   /

She brings her food from afar.

[ VAV ]

15 She rises also while it is yet night   /

and gives food to her household /

and a portion to her attendants.

[ ZAYIN ]

16 She considers a field and buys it.   /

With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

[ HET ]

17 She girds her loins with strength   /

and strengthens her arms.

[ TET ]

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good.   /

Her candle does not go out by night.

[ YOD ]

19 She lays her hands to the spindle,   /

and her hands hold the distaff.

[ KAF ]

20 She stretches out her hand to the poor.   /

She even reaches forth her hands to the needy.

[ LAMED ]

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,   /

for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

[ MEM ]

22 She makes herself coverings of tapestry.   /

Her clothing is silk and purple.

[ NUN ]

23 Her husband is known in the gates   /

when he sits among the elders of the land.

[ SAMEKH ]

24 She makes fine linen and sells it,   /

and delivers girdles to the merchant.

[ AYIN ]

25 Strength and honor are her clothing,   /

and she shall rejoice in time to come.

[ PE ]

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,   /

and on her tongue is the law of kindness.

[ TSADI ]

27 She looks well to the ways of her household   /

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

[ QOF ]

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed,   /

her husband also, and he praises her:

[ RESH ]

29 "Many daughters have done virtuously,   /

but you excel them all."

[ SHIN ]

30 Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain,   /

but a woman who fears the LORD shall be praised.

[ TAV ]

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,   /

and let her own works praise her in the gates.

[Tanach reading: go to Job]

THE WORDS OF ECCLESIASTES

Chapter 1

The preacher shows that all human courses are vain, 1-3; because the creatures are restless in their courses, 4-8, they bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten, 9-11; and because he has found it so in the studies of wisdom, 12-18.

1 [The words of the preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.]

2 "Vanity of vanities," says the preacher.   /

"Vanity of vanities. All is vanity."

3 What profit does a man have of all his labor,   /

which he takes under the sun?

4 One generation passes away and another generation comes,   /

but the earth abides forever.

5 The sun also rises,   /

and the sun goes down, /

and hastens to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goes toward the south   /

and turns around to the north. /

It whirls around continually. /

And the wind returns again according to its circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea,   /

yet the sea is not full. /

To the place from where the rivers come, /

there they return again.

8 All things are full of labor.   /

Man cannot utter it. /

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, /

nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that has been, is that which shall be.   /

And that which is done, is that which shall be done. /

And there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there anything of which it may be said,   /

"See, this is new"? /

It has been already of old time, /

which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things,   /

neither shall there be any remembrance /

of things that are to come /

with those that shall come after.

12 I, the preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven. This is a grievous labor that God has given to the sons of man to be exercised with. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight. And that which is lacking cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with my own heart, saying, "Behold, I have come to great estate and have gained more wisdom than all those who have been before me in Jerusalem, and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief. And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Chapter 2

The vanity of human courses in the works of pleasure, 1-11. Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event, 12-17. The vanity of human labor, in leaving it they know not to whom, 18-23. Nothing better than joy in our labor; but that is God’s gift, 24-26.

1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will prove you with mirth; therefore, enjoy pleasure," and behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of mirth, "What does it do?" 3 I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for the sons of men which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. 5 I made myself gardens and orchards and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits. 6 I made myself pools of water, to water with them the forest that brings forth trees. 7 I procured myself men-servants and women-servants and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me. 8 I gathered myself also silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I procured myself men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and of all sorts.

9 Thus I was great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem, and also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. And this was my portion of all my labor. 11 Then I considered all the works that my hands had wrought and the labor that I had labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Even that which has already been done. 13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head,   /

but the fool walks in darkness.

And I myself perceived also that one event happens to them all. 15 Then I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me. And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever, seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? As the fool. 17 Therefore, I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous to me. For all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

18 Indeed, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who shall be after me. 19 And who knows whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Yet he shall have rule over all my labor in which I have labored and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore, I began to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, in knowledge, and in equity, yet to a man who has not labored in it, he shall leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For what does man have of all his labor and of the vexation of his heart, in which he has labored under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows and his labor grief. Even his heart does not take rest in the night. This is also vanity.

24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten to it more than I? 26 For to the man who is good in his sight, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives toil, to gather and to amass, so that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Chapter 3

By the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail, 1-10. There is an excellency in God’s works, 11-15. But as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast, 16-22.

1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die;   /

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal;   /

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh;   /

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;   /

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose;   /

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew;   /

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate;   /

a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit does he have who works in that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the labor which God has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has set the world in their heart so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor, is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. And God does it so that men should fear before him. 15 That which has been is now, and that which is to be has already been. And God requires that which is past.

16 And moreover, I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked." For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I said in my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts, even one thing befalls them: as one dies, so the other dies. Indeed, they all have one breath, so that a man has no pre-eminence above a beast, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward, or whether the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth? 22 Therefore, I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Chapter 4

Vanity is increased to men by oppression, 1-3; by envy, 4; by idleness, 5, 6; by covetousness, 7, 8; by solitariness, 9-12; by willfulness, 13-16.

1 Thus I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter. And on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter. 2 Therefore, I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive. 3 Indeed, better is he than both of them, who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4 Again, I considered all labor and every right work, that for this, a man is envied by his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool folds his hands together   /

and eats his own flesh.

6 Better is a handful with quietness,   /

than both the hands full with toil and vexation of spirit.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, and he has neither child nor brother. Yet there is no end of all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he say, "For whom do I labor and bereave my soul of good?" This is also vanity. It is even a grievous labor.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he does not have another to help him to rise. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat. But how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him. A three-fold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he comes to reign, for even in his own kingdom he has been poor. 15 I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child who shall stand up in his stead. 16 There is no end of all the people, even of all who have been before them. Those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Chapter 5

Vanities in divine service, 1-7; in murmuring against oppression, 8; and in riches, 9-17. Joy in riches is the gift of God, 18-20.

1 Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not consider that they do evil. 2 Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore, let your words be few.

3 For a dream comes through the multitude of business,   /

and a fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not defer to pay it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed. 5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, neither say before the angel that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also diverse vanities. But fear God.

8 If you see the oppression of the poor and violent perversion of judgment and justice in a province, do not wonder at the matter. For he who is higher than the highest regards, and there are higher than those. 9 Moreover, the profit of the earth is for all. The king himself is served by the field.

10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance with increase. This is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased who eat them. And what good is there to their owners, except the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for their owner to his hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil labor, and if he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came into the world, so he shall return naked as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor that he can carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so he shall go. And what profit does he have who has labored for the wind? 17 All his days he also eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

18 Behold that which I have seen. It is good and fitting for one to eat and to drink and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he takes under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him, for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth and has given him power to eat of it, to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not often remember the days of his life, because God answers him in the joy of his heart.

Chapter 6

The vanity of riches without use, 1, 2; though a man have many children and a long life, 3-6. The vanity of sight and wandering desires, 7-9. The conclusion of vanities, 10-12.

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a stranger eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good and he also has no burial, I say that the one of an untimely birth is better than he is. 4 For that one comes with vanity and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover, he has not seen the sun, nor known anything. This one has more rest than the other. 6 Even though he lives a thousand years twice told, yet he has seen no good. Do not all go to one place?

7 All the labor of man is for his mouth,   /

and yet the appetite is not filled.

8 For what does the wise have more than the fool? What does the poor have, who knows how to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

10 That which has been is named already, and it is known what man is, for he cannot contend with him who is mightier than he is. 11 Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Chapter 7

Remedies against vanity are, a good name, 1; mortification, 2-6; patience, 7-10; wisdom, 11-22. The difficulty of wisdom, 23-29.

1 A good name is better than precious ointment,   /

and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning,   /

than to go to the house of feasting, /

for that is the end of all men, /

and the living will lay it to his heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter,   /

for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,   /

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise,   /

than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,   /

so is the laughter of the fool. /

This also is vanity.

7 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad,   /

and a gift destroys the heart.

8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.   /

And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9 Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry,   /

for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

10 Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?"   /

For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance,   /

and by it there is profit to those who see the sun.

12 For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense,   /

but the excellence of knowledge /

is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

13 Consider the work of God,   /

for who can make straight that which he has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider this: God also has set one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

15 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity. There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness. 16 Do not be righteous over much, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Do not be exceedingly wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and also do not withdraw your hand from this, for he who fears God shall escape from them all.

19 Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men who are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth who does good and does not sin. 21 Also take no heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you, 22 For often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out? 25 I applied my heart to know, to search, to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bonds. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.

27 "Behold, I have found this," says the preacher, "counting one by one, to find out the account, 28 Which yet my soul seeks, but I do not find. One man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found. 29 Behold, I have only found this: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions."

Chapter 8

True wisdom is modest, 1. Kings are to be respected, 2-5. Divine providence is to be observed, 6-11. It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity, 12-15. The work of God is unsearchable, 16, 17.

1 Who is as the wise man?   /

And who knows the interpretation of a thing? /

A man’s wisdom causes his face to shine, /

and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

2 I counsel you to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Do not be hasty to go out of his sight. Do not stand in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power. And who may say to him, "What are you doing?"

5 He who keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing.   /

And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment.

6 For to every purpose there is time and judgment; therefore, the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he does not know that which shall be. For who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, neither does he have power in the day of death. And there is no discharge in that war, neither shall wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the holy place, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done so. This is also vanity. 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth: there are just men, to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, and there are wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat, to drink, and to be merry, for that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for there is also one who neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes), 17 I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. Because even though a man may labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it, and even though a wise man thinks to know it, yet he shall not be able to find it.

Chapter 9

Like things happen to good and bad, 1-3. There is a necessity of death to men, 4-6. Comfort is all their portion in this life, 7-10. God’s providence rules over all, 11, 12. Wisdom is better than strength, 13-18.

1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this: that the righteous and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God. No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.

2 All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous, to the wicked, to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner. As is he who swears, so is he who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead do not know anything, neither do they have anymore a reward, for their memory is forgotten. 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has now perished, neither do they have anymore a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

7 Go your way, eat your bread with joy,   /

and drink your wine with a merry heart, /

for God now accepts your works.

8 Let your garments always be white,   /

and let your head lack no ointment.

9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity, for that is your portion in this life and in your labor which you take under the sun.

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 go.

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill, but time and chance happens to them all. 12 For man also does not know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them.

13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed to me great: 14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." Nevertheless, the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet   /

more than the cry of him who rules among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,   /

but one sinner destroys much good.

Chapter 10

Observations of wisdom and folly, 1-15; of riot, 16, 17; slothfulness, 18; and money, 19. Men’s thoughts of kings ought to be reverent, 20.

1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth an offensive odor, /

and so does a little folly to him who is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, /

but a fool’s heart is at his left.

3 Also, when he who is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him /

and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, /

do not leave your place, /

for yielding pacifies great offenses.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, /

as an error which proceeds from the ruler:

6 Folly is set in great dignity, /

and the rich sit in a low place.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, /

and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

8 He who digs a pit shall fall into it, /

and whoever breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 Whoever removes stones shall be hurt by them, /

and he who cleaves wood shall be endangered by it.

10 If the iron is blunt /

and he does not whet the edge, /

then he must use more strength. /

But wisdom has the advantage to give success.

11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment, /

and a babbler is no better.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, /

but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, /

and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool is also full of words. /

A man cannot tell what shall be. /

And what shall be after him, /

who can tell him?

15 The labor of the foolish wearies every one of them, /

because he does not know how to go to the city.

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, /

and your princes eat in the morning!

17 You are blessed, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, /

and your princes eat in due season— /

for strength and not for drunkenness!

18 By much slothfulness the building decays, /

and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.

19 A feast is made for laughter, /

and wine makes merry, /

but money answers all things.

20 Do not curse the king, not even in your thoughts, /

and do not curse the rich in your bed-chamber, /

for a bird of the air will carry the voice, /

and that which has wings will tell the matter.

Chapter 11

Directions for charity, 1-6. Death in life, 7, 8, and the day of judgment in the days of youth, are to be thought on, 9, 10.

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, /

for you shall find it after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, /

for you do not know what evil shall be upon the earth.

3 If the clouds are full of rain, /

they empty themselves upon the earth. /

And if the tree falls toward the south or toward the north, /

in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.

4 He who observes the wind shall not sow, /

and he who regards the clouds shall not reap.

5 As you do not know what is the way of the spirit, /

nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, /

even so you do not know the works of God who makes all.

6 In the morning sow your seed, /

and in the evening do not withhold your hand, /

for you do not know which shall prosper, either this or that, /

or whether they both shall be alike good.

7 Truly the light is sweet, /

and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.

8 But if a man lives many years /

and rejoices in them all, /

yet let him remember the days of darkness, /

for they shall be many. /

All that comes is vanity.

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, /

and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. /

Walk in the ways of your heart /

and in the sight of your eyes. /

But know that for all these things /

God will bring you into judgment.

10 Therefore, remove sorrow from your heart /

and put away evil from your flesh, /

for childhood and youth are vanity.

Chapter 12

The Creator is to be remembered in due time, 1-7. The preacher’s care to edify, 8-12. The fear of God is the chief antidote of vanity, 13, 14.

1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,   /

while the evil days do not come, /

nor the years draw near, when you shall say, /

"I have no pleasure in them";

2 While the sun, the light, the moon,   /

or the stars are not darkened, /

nor the clouds return after the rain;

3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,   /

and the strong men bow themselves, /

and the grinders cease because they are few, /

and those who look out of the windows are darkened,

4 And the doors are shut in the streets;   /

when the sound of the grinding is low, /

and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, /

and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

5 When they are afraid of that which is high,   /

and fears are in the way; /

when the almond tree flourishes, /

the locust is a burden, /

and desire fails. /

For man goes to his eternal home, /

and the mourners go throughout the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is removed,   /

the golden bowl is broken, /

the pitcher is broken at the fountain, /

or the wheel broken at the cistern,

7 And the dust returns to the earth as it was,   /

and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

8 "Vanity of vanities," says the preacher. "All is vanity."

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. He even gave good heed, sought out, and set in order many proverbs. 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words. And that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

[Tanach reading: go to Esther]

SONG OF SOLOMON

Chapter 1

The church’s love for Christ, 1-4. She confesses her deformity, 5, 6, and prays to be directed to his flock, 7. Christ directs her to the shepherds' tents, 8; and showing his love to her, 9, 10, gives her gracious promises, 11. The church and Christ congratulate one another, 12-17.

1 [The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.]

[ Lady: ]

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,   /

for your love is better than wine.

3 Because of the savor of your good ointments,   /

your name is as ointment poured forth; /

therefore, the virgins love you.

4 Draw me. We will run after you.   /

The king has brought me into his chambers.

[ Others: ]

We will be glad and rejoice in you.   /

We will remember your love more than wine. /

The upright love you.

[ Lady: ]

5 I am black, but beautiful,   /

O daughters of Jerusalem, /

as the tents of Kedar, /

as the curtains of Solomon.

6 Do not look upon me because I am black,   /

because the sun has looked upon me. /

My mother’s children were angry with me. /

They made me the keeper of the vineyards, /

but I have not kept my own vineyard.

7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,   /

where you feed, where you make your flock to rest at noon. /

For why should I be as one who turns aside /

by the flocks of your companions?

[ Gentleman: ]

8 If you do not know, O fairest among women,   /

go forth by the footsteps of the flock /

and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents.

9 I have compared you, O my love,   /

to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.

10 Your cheeks are beautiful with rows of jewels,   /

your neck with chains of gold.

[ Others: ]

11 We will make for you borders of gold   /

with studs of silver.

[ Lady: ]

12 While the king sits at his table,   /

my spikenard sends forth its smell.

13 A bundle of myrrh is my well beloved to me.   /

He shall lie all night between my breasts.

14 My beloved is to me as a cluster of camphor   /

in the vineyards of En-gedi.

[ Gentleman: ]

15 Behold, you are fair, my love.   /

Behold, you are fair. /

You have doves' eyes.

[ Lady: ]

16 Behold, you are fair, my beloved, even pleasant.   /

Also our bed is green.

[ Gentleman: ]

17 The beams of our house are cedar   /

and our rafters of fir.

Chapter 2

The mutual love of Christ and his church, 1-7. The hope, 8, 9, and calling of the church, 10-13. Christ’s care of the church, 14, 15. The profession of the church, her faith and hope, 16, 17.

[ Lady: ]

1 I am the rose of Sharon   /

and the lily of the valleys.

[ Gentleman: ]

2 As the lily among thorns,   /

so is my love among the daughters.

[ Lady: ]

3 As the apple-tree among the trees of the forest,   /

so is my beloved among the sons. /

I sat down under his shadow with great delight, /

and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banqueting house,   /

and his banner over me was love.

5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples,   /

for I am sick with love.

6 His left hand is under my head   /

and his right hand embraces me.

7 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,   /

by the gazelles and by the does of the field, /

that you do not stir or awake my love /

until he pleases.

8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes   /

leaping upon the mountains, /

skipping upon the hills.

9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young buck.   /

Behold, he stands behind our wall. /

He looks through the windows. /

He glances through the lattice.

10 My beloved spoke and said to me,   /

"Rise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

11 For behold, the winter is past,   /

the rain is over and gone.

12 The flowers appear on the earth.   /

The time of the singing of birds has come, /

and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.

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."

[ Gentleman: ]

14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,   /

in the secret places of the precipice, /

let me see your countenance, /

let me hear your voice. /

For your voice is sweet and your countenance is beautiful.

15 Take for us the foxes,   /

the little foxes that plunder the vines, /

for our vines have tender grapes.

[ Lady: ]

16 My beloved is mine and I am his.   /

He feeds among the lilies.

17 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away,   /

turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young buck /

upon the mountains of Bether.

Chapter 3

The church’s fight and victory in temptation, 1-5. The church glories in Christ, 6-11.

[ Lady: ]

1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves.   /

I sought him, but I did not find him.

2 I will rise now and go throughout the city in the streets,   /

and in the broad ways /

I will seek him whom my soul loves. /

I sought him, but I did not find him.

3 The watchmen who go throughout the city found me,   /

to whom I said, "Did you see him whom my soul loves?"

4 It was but a little that I passed from them,   /

but I found him whom my soul loves. /

I held him and would not let him go /

until I had brought him into my mother’s house /

and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

5 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,   /

by the gazelles and by the does of the field, /

that you do not stir up or awake my love /

until he pleases.

6 Who is this who comes out of the wilderness   /

like pillars of smoke, /

perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, /

with all powders of the merchant?

7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s.   /

Sixty valiant men are around it, /

of the valiant of Israel.

8 They all hold swords, being expert in war.   /

Every man has his sword upon his thigh /

because of fear in the night.

9 King Solomon made himself a chariot   /

of the wood of Lebanon.

10 He made its pillars of silver,   /

its back of gold, its seat of purple, /

its midst being covered with love /

from the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon   /

with the crown with which his mother crowned him /

in the day of his espousals /

and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Chapter 4

Christ sets forth the graces of the church, 1-7. He shows his love to her, 8-15. The church prays to be made fit for his presence, 16.

[ Gentleman: ]

1 Behold, you are fair, my love.   /

Behold, you are fair. /

You have doves' eyes within your veil. /

Your hair is as a flock of goats /

that appear from mount Gilead.

2 Your teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn,   /

which came up from the washing, /

all of which bear twins, /

and not one is barren among them.

3 Your lips are like a thread of scarlet   /

and your speech is lovely. /

Your temples are like a piece of pomegranate /

within your veil.

4 Your neck is like the tower of David   /

built for an armory, /

on which hang a thousand bucklers, /

all shields of mighty men.

5 Your two breasts are like two fawns   /

that are twins of a gazelle, /

which feed among the lilies.

6 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away,   /

I will go to the mountain of myrrh /

and to the hill of frankincense.

7 You are all fair, my love.   /

There is no spot in you.

8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse,   /

with me from Lebanon. /

Look from the top of Amana, /

from the top of Shenir and Hermon, /

from the lions' dens, /

from the mountains of the leopards.

9 You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse.   /

You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, /

with one chain of your neck.

10 How fair your love is, my sister, my spouse!   /

How much better your love is than wine, /

and the smell of your ointments than all spices!

11 Your lips, O my spouse,   /

drop as the honey-comb. /

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, /

camphor, with spikenard,

14 Spikenard and saffron,   /

calamus and cinnamon, /

with all trees of frankincense, /

myrrh and aloes, /

with all the chief spices,

15 A fountain of gardens,   /

a well of living waters, /

and streams from Lebanon.

[ Lady: ]

16 Awake, O north wind, and come, O south.   /

Blow upon my garden so that its spices may flow out. /

Let my beloved come into his garden /

and eat his pleasant fruits.

Chapter 5

Christ awakes the church with his calling, 1. The church, having a taste of Christ’s love, is sick with love, 2-8. A description of Christ by his graces, 9-16.

[ Gentleman: ]

1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my spouse.   /

I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. /

I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey. /

I have drank my wine with my milk.

[ Others: ]

Eat, O friends.   /

Drink, yes, drink abundantly, O beloved.

[ Lady: ]

2 I sleep, but my heart wakes.   /

It is the voice of my beloved who knocks, saying, /

"Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, /

for my head is filled with dew /

and my locks with the drops of the night."

3 I have put off my coat. How shall I put it on?   /

I have washed my feet. How shall I defile them?

4 My beloved put his hand in by the hole of the door,   /

and my heart was moved for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved.   /

And my hands dropped with myrrh /

and my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh /

upon the handles of the lock.

6 I opened to my beloved,   /

but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone. /

My soul failed when he spoke. /

I sought him, but I could not find him. /

I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 The watchmen who went throughout the city found me,   /

they smote me, they wounded me. /

The keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,   /

if you find my beloved, /

that you tell him that I am sick with love.

[ Others: ]

9 What is your beloved more than another beloved,   /

O fairest among women? /

What is your beloved more than another beloved /

that you charge us so?

[ Lady: ]

10 My beloved is white and ruddy,   /

the chief among ten thousand.

11 His head is as the most fine gold.   /

His locks are bushy and black as a raven.

12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves   /

by the rivers of waters, /

washed with milk /

and set in fullness.

13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices,   /

as sweet flowers. /

His lips are like lilies /

dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.

14 His hands are as gold rings   /

set with the beryl. /

His belly is as bright ivory /

overlaid with sapphires.

15 His legs are as pillars of marble   /

set upon sockets of fine gold. /

His countenance is as Lebanon, /

excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet.   /

Indeed, he is altogether lovely. /

This is my beloved and this is my friend, /

O daughters of Jerusalem.

Chapter 6

The church professes her faith in Christ, 1-3. Christ shows the graces of the church, 4-9; and his love toward her, 10-13.

[ Others: ]

1 Where has your beloved gone,   /

O fairest among women? /

Where has your beloved turned aside /

so that we may seek him with you?

[ Lady: ]

2 My beloved has gone down into his garden,   /

to the beds of spices, /

to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies.

3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.   /

He feeds among the lilies.

[ Gentleman: ]

4 You are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah,   /

lovely as Jerusalem, /

awesome as an army with banners.

5 Turn away your eyes from me,   /

for they have overcome me. /

Your hair is as a flock of goats /

that appear from Gilead.

6 Your teeth are as a flock of sheep   /

which go up from the washing, /

of which every one bears twins, /

and there is not one barren among them.

7 As a piece of pomegranate are your temples   /

within your veil.

8 There are sixty queens, eighty concubines,   /

and virgins without number.

9 My dove, my undefiled is but one.   /

She is the only one of her mother. /

She is the choice one of her who bore her. /

The daughters saw her and blessed her, /

even the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

10 Who is she who looks forth as the morning,   /

fair as the moon, /

clear as the sun, /

and awesome as an army with banners?

[ Lady: ]

11 I went down into the garden of nuts   /

to see the fruits of the valley, /

and to see whether the vine flourished /

and the pomegranates budded.

12 Before I was aware, my soul made me   /

like the chariots of Amminadib.

[ Others: ]

13 Return, return, O Shulamite.   /

Return, return, so that we may look upon you.

[ Gentleman: ]

Why should you gaze at the Shulamite,   /

as at the company of two armies?

Chapter 7

A further description of the church’s graces, 1-9. The church professes her faith and desire, 10-13.

[ Gentleman: ]

1 How beautiful are your feet with shoes,   /

O prince’s daughter! /

The joints of your thighs are like jewels, /

the work of the hands of a skillful workman.

2 Your navel is like a round goblet   /

which does not lack liquor. /

Your belly is like a heap of wheat /

surrounded by lilies.

3 Your two breasts are like two fawns   /

that are twins of a gazelle.

4 Your neck is as a tower of ivory.   /

Your eyes are like the fish-pools in Heshbon /

by the gate of Bath-rabbim. /

Your nose is as the tower of Lebanon /

which looks toward Damascus.

5 Your head upon you is like Carmel,   /

and the hair of your head like purple. /

The king is held in the galleries.

6 How fair and how pleasant you are,   /

O love, for delights!

7 Your stature is like a palm tree,   /

and your breasts like clusters of grapes.

8 I said, "I will go up to the palm tree.   /

I will take hold of its boughs." /

Now also your breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, /

and the smell of your nose like apples.

9 And the roof of your mouth shall be like the best wine—

[ Lady: ]

that goes down sweetly for my beloved,   /

causing the lips of those who are asleep to speak.

10 I am my beloved’s,   /

and his desire is toward me.

11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field.   /

Let us lodge in the villages.

12 Let us get up early to the vineyards.   /

Let us see if the vine flourishes, /

whether the tender grape appears /

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.

Chapter 8

The love of the church for Christ, 1-5. The vehemency of love, 6, 7. The calling of the Gentiles, 8-13. The church prays for Christ’s coming, 14.

[ Lady: ]

1 O that you were as my brother   /

who was nourished at the breasts of my mother! /

When I should find you outside, I would kiss you. /

Indeed, I should not be despised.

2 I would lead you and bring you into my mother’s house,   /

who would instruct me. /

I would cause you to drink of spiced wine /

of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand should be under my head   /

and his right hand should embrace me.

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,   /

that you do not stir or awake my love /

until he pleases.

[ Others: ]

5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness   /

leaning upon her beloved?

[ Lady: ]

I raised you up under the apple-tree.   /

There your mother brought you forth. /

There she brought you forth who bore you.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,   /

as a seal upon your arm. /

For love is as strong as death, /

jealousy as cruel as the grave. /

Its coals are coals of fire /

which has a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,   /

neither can the floods drown it. /

If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, /

it would utterly be despised.

[ Others: ]

8 We have a little sister   /

and she has no breasts. /

What shall we do for our sister /

in the day when she is spoken for?

9 If she is a wall,   /

we will build upon her a palace of silver. /

And if she is a door, /

we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

[ Lady: ]

10 I am a wall and my breasts like towers.   /

Then I was in his eyes as one who found favor.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon.   /

He lent out the vineyard to keepers. /

Each for its fruit was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

12 My vineyard which is mine is before me.   /

You, O Solomon, must have a thousand, /

and those who keep its fruit, two hundred.

[ Gentleman: ]

13 You who dwell in the gardens,   /

the companions listen to your voice. /

Cause me to hear it.

[ Lady: ]

14 Make haste, my beloved,   /

and be like a gazelle or a young buck /

upon the mountains of spices.

[Tanach reading: go to Ruth]

THE VISION OF ISAIAH

Chapter 1

Isaiah gives an accusation against Judah for her rebellion, 1-4. He laments her judgments, 5-9. He upbraids their whole service, 10-15. He exhorts to repentance with promises and threatenings, 16-20. Bewailing their wickedness, he denounces God’s judgments, 21-24. He promises grace, 25-27; and threatens destruction to the wicked, 28-31.

1 [The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.]

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth. /

For the LORD has spoken, /

"I have nourished and brought up children, /

and they have rebelled against me.

3 The ox knows his owner /

and the donkey his master’s crib, /

but Israel does not know, /

my people do not consider."

4 Ah, sinful nation, /

a people laden with iniquity, /

offspring of evil-doers, /

children who are corrupters. /

They have forsaken the LORD. /

They have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger. /

They have gone away backward.

5 Why should you be stricken anymore? /

You will revolt more and more. /

The whole head is sick /

and the whole heart is faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head /

there is no soundness in it, /

but wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores. /

They have not been closed, neither bound up, /

neither mollified with ointment.

7 Your country is desolate. /

Your cities are burned with fire. /

Your land, strangers devour it in your presence /

and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

8 And the daughter of Zion is left /

as a cottage in a vineyard, /

as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, /

as a besieged city.

9 Unless the LORD of hosts /

had left to us a very small remnant, /

we should have been as Sodom, /

we should have been like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the LORD, /

rulers of Sodom. /

Give ear to the law of our God, /

people of Gomorrah.

11 The LORD says, /

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? /

I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams /

and the fat of fed beasts, /

and I do not delight in the blood /

of bulls, of lambs, or of male goats.

12 When you come to appear before me, /

who has required this at your hand /

to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations. /

Incense is an abomination to me. /

The new moons and sabbaths, /

the calling of assemblies, /

I cannot endure. /

It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts /

my soul hates. /

They are a trouble to me. /

I am weary to bear them.

15 And when you spread forth your hands, /

I will hide my eyes from you. /

Indeed, when you make many prayers, /

I will not hear. /

Your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash, make yourselves clean. /

Put away the evil of your doings /

from before my eyes. /

Cease to do evil.

17 Learn to do well. /

Seek judgment. Relieve the oppressed. /

Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.

18 "Come now and let us reason together," says the LORD. /

"Though your sins are as scarlet, /

they shall be white as snow. /

Though they are red like crimson, /

they shall be as wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient, /

you shall eat the good of the land,

20 But if you refuse and rebel, /

you shall be devoured with the sword, /

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it."

21 How the faithful city /

has become a harlot! /

It was full of judgment /

and righteousness lodged in it, /

but now murderers.

22 Your silver has become dross /

and your wine mixed with water.

23 Your princes are rebellious /

and companions of thieves. /

Everyone loves gifts /

and follows after rewards. /

They do not judge the fatherless, /

neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

24 Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, /

the mighty One of Israel, says, /

"Ah, I will ease myself of my adversaries /

and avenge myself of my enemies.

25 And I will turn my hand upon you /

and thoroughly purge away your dross /

and take away all your tin.

26 And I will restore your judges as at the first /

and your counselors as at the beginning. /

Afterward, you shall be called, /

The City of Righteousness, /

The Faithful City."

27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment /

and her converts with righteousness.

28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners /

shall be together, /

and those who forsake the LORD /

shall be consumed.

29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks /

which you have desired, /

and you shall be confounded for the gardens /

that you have chosen.

30 For you shall be as an oak whose leaf fades /

and as a garden that has no water.

31 And the strong shall be as tow /

and its maker as a spark, /

and they shall both burn together, /

and no one shall quench them.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in Romans 9:29.

Chapter 2

Isaiah prophesies the coming of Christ’s kingdom, 1-5. Wickedness is the cause of God’s forsaking, 6-9. He exhorts to fear because of the powerful effects of God’s majesty, 19-22.

1 [The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.]

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, /

that the mountain of the LORD’S house /

shall be established on the top of the mountains /

and shall be exalted above the hills. /

And all nations shall flow to it.

3 And many people shall go and say, /

"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, /

to the house of the God of Jacob. /

And he will teach us of his ways, /

and we will walk in his paths." /

For out of Zion the law shall go forth, /

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 And he will judge among the nations /

and will rebuke many people. /

And they shall beat their swords into plow-shares /

and their spears into pruning-hooks. /

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, /

neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk /

in the light of the LORD.

6 Therefore, you have forsaken your people the house of Jacob, /

because they are replenished from the east /

and are soothsayers like the Philistines, /

and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

7 Their land is also full of silver and gold, /

neither is there any end of their treasures. /

Their land is also full of horses, /

neither is there any end of their chariots.

8 Their land is also full of idols. /

They worship the work of their own hands, /

that which their own fingers have made.

9 And the common man bows down, /

and the great man humbles himself; /

therefore, do not forgive them.

10 Enter into the rock /

and hide in the dust, /

for fear of the LORD /

and for the glory of his majesty.

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled /

and the haughtiness of men shall be abased, /

and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 For the day of the LORD of hosts /

shall be upon everyone who is proud and lofty, /

and upon everyone who is lifted up /

(and he shall be brought low),

13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon /

that are high and lifted up /

and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

14 And upon all the high mountains /

and upon all the hills that are lifted up,

15 And upon every high tower /

and upon every fortified wall,

16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish /

and upon all pleasant pictures.

17 And the loftiness of man shall be abased /

and the haughtiness of men shall be made low, /

and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

18 And he will utterly abolish the idols.

19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks /

and into the caves of the earth, /

for fear of the LORD /

and for the glory of his majesty, /

when he arises to shake the earth terribly.

20 In that day a man shall cast /

his idols of silver and his idols of gold, /

which they made each one for himself to worship, /

to the moles and to the bats,

21 To go into the clefts of the rocks /

and into the tops of the ragged rocks, /

for fear of the LORD /

and for the glory of his majesty, /

when he arises to shake the earth terribly.

22 Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils. /

For what is he to be accounted of?

References

[v.10]: Quoted in 2nd Thessalonians 1:9. [v.19]: Quoted in 2nd Thessalonians 1:9. [v.21]: Quoted in 2nd Thessalonians 1:9.

Chapter 3

The great calamities which come by sin, 1-9. The different reward of the righteous and wicked, 10, 11. The oppression and covetousness of the rulers, 12-15. The judgments which shall be for the pride of the women, 16-24. The general desolation, 25, 26.

1 For behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts,   /

takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah /

the rod and the staff, /

the whole support of bread, /

the whole support of water,

2 The mighty man, the man of war,   /

the judge, the prophet, /

the prudent, the ancient,

3 The captain of fifty, the honorable man,   /

the counselor, the skillful craftsman, /

and the eloquent orator.

4 And I will give children to be their princes,   /

and babies shall rule over them.

5 And the people shall be oppressed,   /

each by another and each by his neighbor. /

The child shall behave himself proudly against the elder, /

and the base against the honorable.

6 When a man takes hold of his brother   /

of the house of his father, saying, /

"You have clothing. /

Be our ruler. /

And let this ruin be under your hand,"

7 In that day he shall swear, saying,   /

"I will not be a healer, /

for in my house there is neither bread nor clothing. /

Do not make me a ruler of the people."

8 For Jerusalem is ruined   /

and Judah has fallen, /

because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, /

to provoke the eyes of his glory.

9 The show of their countenance witnesses against them.   /

And they declare their sin as Sodom. /

They do not hide it. /

Woe to their soul! /

For they have rewarded evil to themselves.

10 Say to the righteous that it shall be well with him,   /

for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him,   /

for the reward of his hands shall be given to him.

12 As for my people, children are their oppressors   /

and women rule over them. /

O my people, those who lead you cause you to err /

and destroy the way of your paths.

13 The LORD stands up to plead   /

and stands to judge the people.

14 The LORD will enter into judgment   /

with the elders of his people and with their princes: /

"For you have eaten up the vineyard. /

The plunder of the poor is in your houses."

15 The Lord GOD of hosts says,   /

"What do you mean that you beat my people to pieces /

and grind the faces of the poor?"

16 Moreover, the LORD says,   /

"Because the daughters of Zion are haughty /

and walk with extended necks /

and wanton eyes, /

walking with short steps as they go /

and making a tinkling with their feet,

17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab   /

the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, /

and the LORD will uncover their secret parts."

18 In that day the Lord will take away the show of their tinkling ornaments around their feet, their headwear, their crescents, 19 The chains, the bracelets, the veils, 20 The caps, the ornaments of the legs, the head-bands, the perfume boxes, the amulets, 21 The rings, nose-jewels, 22 The changeable suits of apparel, the mantles, the cloaks, the purses, 23 The mirrors, the fine linen, the hoods, and the veils.

24 And it shall come to pass, that,

Instead of sweet smell there shall be an offensive odor;   /

and instead of a girdle, a rent; /

and instead of well set hair, baldness; /

and instead of a mantle, a girding of sackcloth; /

and burning instead of beauty.

25 Your men shall fall by the sword   /

and your mighty in the war.

26 And her gates shall lament and mourn.   /

And being desolate, she shall sit upon the ground.

Chapter 4

In the extremity of evils, Christ’s kingdom shall be a sanctuary, 1-6.

1 And in that day seven women   /

shall take hold of one man, saying, /

"We will eat our own bread /

and wear our own apparel. /

Only let us be called by your name /

to take away our reproach."

2 In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be for beauty and glory for those who have escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and has purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst of it by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 The LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for upon all the glory there shall be a defense. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade in the day-time from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Chapter 5

Under the parable of a vineyard, God excuses his severe judgment, 1-7. His judgments upon covetousness, 8-10; upon lasciviousness, 11, 12; upon impiety, 13-19; and upon injustice, 20-25. The executioners of God’s judgments, 26-30.

1 Now I will sing to my well-beloved /

a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard. /

My well-beloved has a vineyard /

in a very fruitful hill.

2 And he fenced it, gathered out its stones, /

planted it with the choicest vine, /

built a tower in the midst of it, /

and made a wine-press therein. /

And he expected that it would bring forth grapes, /

and it brought forth wild grapes.

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, /

judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.

4 What more could have been done to my vineyard /

that I have not done in it? /

Why, when I expected that it would bring forth grapes, /

did it bring forth wild grapes?

5 And now come. I will tell you /

what I will do to my vineyard. /

I will take away its hedge /

and it shall be eaten up, /

and break down its wall /

and it shall be trodden down.

6 And I will lay it waste. /

It shall not be pruned, nor dug, /

but there shall come up briers and thorns. /

I will also command the clouds /

that they rain no rain upon it.

7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, /

and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. /

And he looked for judgment, but behold oppression, /

for righteousness, but behold a cry.

8 Woe to those who join house to house, /

who lay field to field /

until there is no place and you have been placed /

alone in the midst of the earth!

9 In my ears the LORD of hosts said, /

"Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, /

even great and fair, without inhabitant.

10 Even ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, /

and the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah."

11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning /

so that they may follow strong drink, /

who continue until night /

until wine inflames them!

12 And the harp, the psaltery, the tambourine, pipe, /

and wine are in their feasts, /

but they do not regard the work of the LORD, /

neither consider the operation of his hands.

13 Therefore, my people have gone into captivity /

because they have no knowledge. /

And their honorable men are famished /

and their multitude dried up with thirst.

14 Therefore, hell has enlarged herself /

and opened her mouth without measure. /

And their glory, their multitude, their pomp, /

and he who rejoices shall descend into it.

15 And man shall be brought down, /

the mighty man shall be humbled, /

and the eyes of the lofty shall be abased.

16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, /

and God who is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

17 Then the lambs shall feed after their manner, /

and strangers shall eat in the waste places of the fat ones.

18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity /

and sin as with a cart-rope,

19 Who say, "Let him make speed and hasten his work /

so that we may see it. /

And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come /

so that we may know it!"

20 Woe to those who call evil good /

and good evil, /

who put darkness for light /

and light for darkness, /

who put bitter for sweet /

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes /

and prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine /

and men of strength to mingle strong drink,

23 Who justify the wicked for reward /

and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble /

and the flame consumes the chaff, /

so their root shall be as rottenness /

and their blossom shall go up as dust, /

because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts /

and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 Therefore, the anger of the LORD is kindled against his people, /

and he has stretched forth his hand against them and has smitten them. /

And the hills trembled, /

and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. /

For all this his anger is not turned away, /

but his hand is stretched out still.

26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from afar /

and will hiss to them from the end of the earth, /

and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly.

27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them /

and none shall slumber nor sleep, /

neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosened, /

nor the latchet of their shoes be broken,

28 Whose arrows are sharp /

and all their bows bent, /

their horses' hooves shall be counted like flint /

and their wheels like a whirlwind.

29 Their roaring shall be like a lion. /

They shall roar like young lions. /

They shall even roar and lay hold of the prey, /

and shall carry it away safe, /

and no one shall deliver it.

30 And in that day they shall roar against them /

like the roaring of the sea. /

And if one looks to the land, /

behold, darkness and sorrow, /

and the light is darkened in its heavens.

Chapter 6

Isaiah, in a vision of the Lord in his glory, 1-4, being terrified, has his apprehensions removed, 5-7. He offers himself and is sent to show the obstinacy of the people to their desolation, 8-12. A remnant shall be saved, 13.

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I also saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and elevated, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim. Each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said,

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts.   /

The whole earth is full of his glory."

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said,

"Woe is me! For I am undone   /

because I am a man of unclean lips /

and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. /

For my eyes have seen the King, /

the LORD of hosts."

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7 And he laid it upon my mouth and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips, and your iniquity is taken away and your sin purged."

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am. Send me." 9 And he said, "Go, and tell this people,

'In hearing you hear, but do not understand.   /

In seeing you see, but do not perceive.'

10 Make the heart of this people fat, /

make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, /

lest they see with their eyes, /

hear with their ears, /

understand with their heart, /

and convert and be healed."

11 Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And he answered,   /

"Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, /

the houses without man, /

and the land is utterly desolate,

12 And the LORD has moved men far away   /

and there is a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

13 But yet in it shall be a tenth,   /

and it shall return and be eaten. /

As a terebinth and as an oak /

whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves, /

so the holy seed shall be its substance."

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Revelation 4:8. [v.9]: Quoted in Matthew 13:14; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26. See also, Romans 11:8. [v.10]: Quoted in Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; John 12:40; Acts 28:27.

Chapter 7

Ahaz, being troubled with fear of Rezin and Pekah, is comforted by Isaiah, 1-9. Ahaz, having liberty to choose a sign and refusing it, has for a sign Christ promised, 10-16. His judgment is prophesied to come by Assyria, 17-25.

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told to the house of David, saying, "Syria is confederated with Ephraim." And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go forth now to meet Ahaz—you and Shear-jashub your son—at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field, 4 And say to him, 'Take heed and be quiet. Do not fear, neither be faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking fire-brands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have taken evil counsel against you, saying, 6 "Let us go up against Judah and harass it, and let us make a breach therein for us and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal," 7 Thus says the Lord GOD:

"It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

8 For the head of Syria is Damascus,   /

and the head of Damascus is Rezin. /

And within sixty-five years /

Ephraim shall be broken so that it is not a people.

9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,   /

and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. /

If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established."'"

10 Moreover, the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 "Ask for yourself a sign from the LORD your God. Ask it either in the depth, or in the height above." 12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, neither will I test the LORD." 13 And he said, "Hear now, O house of David. Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat butter and honey, so that he may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the child knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you abhor shall be forsaken by both her kings.

17 "The LORD will bring upon you, upon your people, and upon your father’s house days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah, even the king of Assyria."

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19 And they shall come, and all of them shall rest in the desolate valleys, in the holes of the rocks, upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

20 In the same day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired from beyond the river (namely, by the king of Assyria) the head and the hair of the feet. And it shall also consume the beard.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow and two sheep. 22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give, he shall eat butter. For everyone who is left in the land shall eat butter and honey.

23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand pieces of silver, it shall even be for briers and thorns. 24 Men shall come there with arrows and with bows, because all the land shall become briers and thorns. 25 And on all hills that are dug with the mattock, the fear of briers and thorns shall not come there, but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen and for the treading of lesser cattle.

References

[v.14]: Quoted in Matthew 1:23.

Chapter 8

In Maher-shalal-hash-baz, he prophesies that Syria and Israel shall be subdued by Assyria, 1-4. Judah likewise for their infidelity, 5-8. God’s judgments shall be irresistible, 9, 10. Comfort shall be to those who fear God, 11-18. Great afflictions to idolaters, 19-22.

1 Moreover, the LORD said to me, "Take a great scroll and write in it with a man’s pen, 'Maher-shalal-hash-baz.'" 2 And I took for myself faithful witnesses to record: Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. 3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 4 For before the child has knowledge to cry, 'My father,' and, 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria."

5 The LORD also spoke to me again, saying,

6 "Because this people refuses   /

the waters of Shiloah that flow gently /

and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son,

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon them   /

the waters of the river, strong and many, /

even the king of Assyria and all his glory. /

And he shall come up over all its channels /

and go over all its banks.

8 And he shall pass through Judah.   /

He shall overflow and go over. /

He shall reach even to the neck. /

And the extension of his wings /

shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.

9 Associate yourselves, O people, and you shall be broken in pieces.   /

And give ear, all you of far countries. /

Gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces. /

Gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces.

10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nothing.   /

Speak the word, and it shall not stand, /

for God is with us."

11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

12 "Do not say, 'A confederacy,' /

to all those to whom this people shall say, 'A confederacy,' /

neither fear their fear, nor be afraid.

13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself, /

and let him be your fear and let him be your dread.

14 And he will be for a sanctuary, /

but for a stone of stumbling /

and for a rock of offense /

to both the houses of Israel, /

for a trap and for a snare /

to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble,   /

fall, be broken, /

be ensnared, and be taken."

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts who dwells on mount Zion.

19 And when they say to you, "Seek those who have familiar spirits, and wizards who peep, and who mutter," should a people not seek their God? On behalf of the living should they seek the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 21 And they shall pass through it distressed and hungry. And it shall come to pass, that when they are hungry, they shall fret themselves and curse their king and their God and look upward. 22 And they shall look to the earth, and behold, trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish, and they shall be driven to darkness.

References

[v.12]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:14. [v.13]: Quoted in 1st Peter 3:15. [v.14]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:8. [v.17]: Quoted in Hebrews 2:13. [v.18]: Quoted in Hebrews 2:13.

Chapter 9

What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions by the birth and kingdom of Christ, 1-7. The judgments upon Israel for their pride, 8-12, for their hypocrisy, 13-17, and for their impenitence, 18-21.

1 Nevertheless, there shall be no more gloom to her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time, he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness /

have seen a great light. /

Those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, /

upon them the light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation.   /

You have increased its joy. /

They joy before you according to the joy in harvest, /

and as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

4 For you have broken the yoke of his burden   /

and the staff of his shoulder, /

the rod of his oppressor, /

as in the day of Midian.

5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle   /

and the garments rolled in blood /

shall be for burning and fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,   /

to us a son is given. /

And the government shall be upon his shoulder. /

And his name shall be called /

Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, /

The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government   /

and peace there shall be no end, /

upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, /

to order it and to establish it /

with judgment and with justice /

from now on even forever. /

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob   /

and it has fallen upon Israel.

9 And all the people shall know,   /

even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, /

who say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

10 "The bricks have fallen down,   /

but we will build with hewn stones. /

The sycamores are cut down, /

but we will change them into cedars."

11 Therefore, the LORD will set up   /

the adversaries of Rezin against him /

and join his enemies together,

12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind.   /

And they shall devour Israel with open mouth. /

For all this his anger is not turned away, /

but his hand is stretched out still.

13 For the people do not turn to him who smites them,   /

neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

14 Therefore, the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail,   /

branch and rush, in one day.

15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head,   /

and the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err,   /

and those who are led by them are destroyed.

17 Therefore, the Lord will have no joy   /

in their young men, /

neither will he have mercy /

on their fatherless and widows, /

for everyone is a hypocrite and an evil-doer, /

and every mouth speaks folly. /

For all this his anger is not turned away, /

but his hand is stretched out still.

18 For wickedness burns as the fire.   /

It shall devour the briers and thorns /

and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, /

and they shall mount up like the rising of smoke.

19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts   /

the land is darkened, /

and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire. /

No man shall spare his brother.

20 And he shall snatch on the right hand   /

and be hungry. /

And he shall eat on the left hand /

and they shall not be satisfied. /

Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm.

21 Manasseh is against Ephraim,   /

Ephraim is against Manasseh, /

and together they are against Judah. /

For all this his anger is not turned away, /

but his hand is stretched out still.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 4:15. [v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 4:16; Luke 1:79.

Chapter 10

The woe of tyrants, 1-4. Assyria, the rod of hypocrites, shall be broken for his pride, 5-19. A remnant of Israel shall be saved, 20-23. Judah is comforted with promise of deliverance from Assyria, 24-34.

1 Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees   /

and who write grievousness which they have prescribed,

2 To turn aside the needy from judgment   /

and to take away the right from the poor of my people, /

so that widows may be their plunder /

and that they may rob the fatherless!

3 And what will you do in the day of visitation /

and in the desolation which shall come from far? /

To whom will you flee for help? /

And where will you leave your glory?

4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners   /

and they shall fall under the slain. /

For all this his anger is not turned away, /

but his hand is stretched out still.

5 O Assyrian, the rod of my anger,   /

and the staff in their hand is my indignation.

6 I will send him against a hypocritical nation,   /

and against the people of my wrath /

I will give him a charge, /

to take the loot, to take the plunder, /

and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Although he does not mean so,   /

neither does his heart think so, /

yet it is in his heart to destroy /

and cut off many nations.

8 For he says, "Are my princes not altogether kings?

9 Is Calno not as Carchemish?   /

Is Hamath not as Arpad? /

Is Samaria not as Damascus?

10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,   /

and whose engraved images excelled those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,

11 Shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols,   /

do so to Jerusalem and her idols?"

12 Therefore, it shall come to pass, that when the Lord has performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria and the glory of his high looks. 13 For he says,

"By the strength of my hand I have done it,   /

and by my wisdom, for I am prudent. /

And I have removed the bounds of the people /

and have robbed their treasures, /

and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.

14 And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people.   /

And as one gathers eggs that are left, /

I have gathered all the earth, /

and there was no one who moved the wing, /

or opened the mouth, or peeped."

15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who hews with it?   /

Or shall the saw magnify itself against him who moves it? /

That would be as if the rod should shake itself against those who lift it, /

or as if the staff should lift itself as if it were not wood.

16 Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of hosts,   /

will send leanness among his fat ones, /

and under his glory he will kindle /

a burning like the burning of a fire.

17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire   /

and his Holy One for a flame, /

and it shall burn and devour his thorns /

and his briers in one day,

18 And shall consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field,   /

both soul and body, /

and they shall be as when a standard-bearer faints.

19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few   /

so that a child may write them.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day,   /

that the remnant of Israel /

and those who have escaped of the house of Jacob /

shall no longer again lean upon him who smote them, /

but shall lean upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob,   /

to the mighty God.

22 For though your people Israel are as the sand of the sea, /

yet a remnant of them shall return. /

The consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

23 For the Lord GOD of hosts /

will make a consumption, even determined, /

in the midst of all the land.

24 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "O my people who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall smite you with a rod and shall lift up his staff against you after the manner of Egypt. 25 For yet a very little while and the indignation shall cease, and my anger in their destruction. 26 And the LORD of hosts will raise up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. And as his rod was upon the sea, so he shall lift it up after the manner of Egypt. 27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder and his yoke from off your neck. And the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."

28 He has come to Aiath.   /

He has passed to Migron. /

At Michmash he has laid up his baggage.

29 They have gone over the passage.   /

They have taken up their lodging at Geba. /

Ramah is afraid. /

Gibeah of Saul has fled.

30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim.   /

Cause it to be heard to Laish, O poor Anathoth.

31 Madmenah has fled away.   /

The inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

32 As yet he shall remain at Nob that day.   /

He shall shake his hand /

against the mountain of the daughter of Zion, /

the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts   /

will lop the bough with terror, /

and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down /

and the haughty shall be humbled.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forests with iron,   /

and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

References

[v.3]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:12. [v.22]: Quoted in Romans 9:27. [v.23]: Quoted in Romans 9:28.

Chapter 11

The peaceable kingdom of the Branch out of the root of Jesse, 1-9. The victorious restoration of Israel and vocation of the Gentiles, 10-16.

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, /

and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest upon him— /

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, /

the Spirit of counsel and might, /

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD,

3 And will make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD. /

And he will not judge after the sight of his eyes, /

neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.

4 But with righteousness he will judge the poor /

and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. /

He will smite the earth with the rod of his mouth /

and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins /

and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

6 The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb, /

and the leopard shall lie down with the kid. /

The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf shall be together, /

and a little child shall lead them.

7 And the cow and the bear shall feed. /

Their young ones shall lie down together. /

And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 And the nursing child shall play near the hole of the asp, /

and the weaned child shall put his hand on the den of the adder.

9 They shall not hurt nor destroy /

in all my holy mountain, /

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, /

as the waters cover the sea.

10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse /

which shall stand for an ensign of the people. /

The Gentiles shall seek it. /

And his rest shall be glorious.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, /

that the Lord will set his hand again the second time /

to recover the remnant of his people /

which shall be left from Assyria, from Egypt, /

from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, /

from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, /

and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel /

and gather the dispersed of Judah /

from the four corners of the earth.

13 The envy of Ephraim shall also depart /

and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off. /

Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah /

shall not distress Ephraim.

14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west. /

They shall plunder those of the east together. /

They shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab. /

And the children of Ammon shall obey them.

15 And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea. /

And with his mighty wind he will shake his hand over the river /

and will smite it in the seven streams, /

and make men go over in sandals.

16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people /

which shall be left from Assyria, /

as it was to Israel /

in the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.

References

[v.5]: Paraphrased in Ephesians 6:14. [v.10]: Quoted in Romans 15:12.

Chapter 12

A joyful thanksgiving of the faithful for the mercies of God, 1-6.

1 And in that day you shall say,

"O LORD, I will praise you.   /

Though you were angry with me, /

your anger is turned away /

and you have comforted me.

2 Behold, God is my salvation.   /

I will trust and not be afraid, /

for Yah, YAHWEH, is my strength and my song. /

He also has become my salvation."

3 Therefore, with joy you shall draw water   /

out of the wells of salvation.

4 And in that day you shall say,

"Praise the LORD. Call upon his name.   /

Declare his doings among the people. /

Make mention that his name is exalted.

5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done excellent things.   /

This is known in all the earth.

6 Cry aloud and shout, inhabitant of Zion,   /

for the Holy One of Israel is great in the midst of you."

Chapter 13

God musters the armies of his wrath, 1-5. He threatens to destroy Babylon by the Medes, 6-18. The desolation of Babylon, 19-22.

1 [The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.]

2 Lift up a banner upon the high mountain, /

exalt the voice to them, /

and shake the hand so that they may go /

into the gates of the nobles.

3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, /

I have also called my mighty ones for my anger, /

even those who rejoice in my highness.

4 The noise of a multitude is in the mountains, /

as of a great people. /

It is a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms /

of nations assembled. /

The LORD of hosts musters /

the host of the battle.

5 They come from a far country, /

from the end of heaven, /

even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, /

to destroy the whole land.

6 Howl, for the day of the LORD is at hand. /

It shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore, all hands shall be faint, /

every man’s heart shall melt,

8 And they shall be afraid. /

Pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them. /

They shall be in pain as a woman who travails. /

They shall be amazed at one another. /

Their faces shall be as flames.

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, /

cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, /

to lay the land desolate. /

And he will destroy its sinners out of it.

10 For the stars of heaven and its constellations /

shall not give their light. /

The sun shall be darkened in his going forth /

and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil /

and the wicked for their iniquity. /

And I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease /

and lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold, /

even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

13 Therefore, I will shake the heavens /

and the earth shall be shaken out of her place /

in the wrath of the LORD of hosts /

and in the day of his fierce anger.

14 And it shall be as the chased gazelle /

and as a sheep that no man takes up. /

Every man shall turn to his own people /

and flee each to his own land.

15 Everyone who is found shall be thrust through. /

And everyone who is joined to them shall fall by the sword.

16 Their children shall also be dashed to pieces before their eyes. /

Their houses shall be plundered /

and their wives ravished.

17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, /

who shall not regard silver, /

and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.

18 Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces. /

And they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb. /

Their eye shall not spare children.

19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, /

the beauty of the Chaldeans' excellence, /

shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

20 It shall never be inhabited, /

neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation, /

neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there, /

neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there /

and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures. /

And owls shall dwell there /

and wild goats shall dance there.

22 And the wolves shall cry in their desolate houses /

and jackals in their pleasant palaces. /

And her time is near to come, /

and her days shall not be prolonged.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-25.

Chapter 14

God’s merciful restoration of Israel, 1, 2. Their triumphant exultation over Babel, 3-23. God’s purpose against Assyria, 24-28. Palestina is threatened, 29-32.

1 For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel and set them in their own land. And the strangers shall be joined with them and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. 2 And the people shall take them and bring them to their place. And the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for men-servants and women-servants. And they shall take them captives, whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors.

3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, from your fear, and from the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 That you shall take up this proverb against the king of Babylon and say,

"How the oppressor has ceased!   /

The golden city ceased!

5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked   /

and the scepter of the rulers.

6 He who smote the people in wrath   /

with a continual stroke, /

he who ruled the nations in anger /

is persecuted, and no one hinders.

7 The whole earth is at rest and is quiet.   /

They break forth into singing.

8 Even the fir-trees   /

and the cedars of Lebanon rejoice at you, saying, /

'Since you are laid down, /

no feller has come up against us.'

9 Hell from beneath is moved for you   /

to meet you at your coming. /

It stirs up the dead for you, /

even all the chief ones of the earth. /

It has raised up from their thrones /

all the kings of the nations.

10 All of them shall speak and say to you,   /

'Have you also become weak as we are? /

Have you become like us?'

11 Your pomp is brought down to the grave,   /

and also the noise of your harps. /

The worm is spread under you, /

and the worms cover you.

12 How you have fallen from heaven,   /

O morning-star, son of the dawn! /

How you are cut down to the ground, /

who weakened the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart,   /

'I will ascend into heaven. /

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. /

I will also sit upon the mountain of the congregation /

in the uttermost parts of the north.

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.   /

I will be like the Most High.'

15 Yet you shall be brought down to hell,   /

to the sides of the pit.

16 Those who see you shall narrowly look upon you   /

and consider you, saying, /

'Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, /

who shook kingdoms,

17 Who made the world as a wilderness   /

and destroyed its cities, /

who did not open the house of his prisoners?'

18 All the kings of the nations,   /

even all of them, lie in glory, /

each in his own house.

19 But you are cast out of your grave   /

like an abominable branch /

and as the clothing of those who are slain, /

thrust through with a sword, /

who go down to the stones of the pit, /

as a carcass trodden under feet.

20 You shall not be joined with them in burial   /

because you have destroyed your land /

and slain your people. /

The offspring of evil-doers /

shall never be renowned.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children   /

for the iniquity of their fathers, /

so that they may not rise, nor possess the land, /

nor fill the face of the world with cities."

22 "For I will arise against them," says the LORD of hosts, "and cut off from Babylon the name, remnant, son, and nephew," says the LORD. 23 "I will also make it a possession for the bittern and pools of water. And I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says the LORD of hosts.

24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand. 25 I will break the Assyrian in my land and upon my mountains tread him under foot. Then his yoke shall depart from off them and his burden shall depart from off their shoulders. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth. And this is the hand that is stretched over all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who shall make it void? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"

28 [In the year that king Ahaz died, this burden came.]

29 Do not rejoice, all Palestina,   /

because the rod of him who smote you is broken. /

For out of the serpent’s root shall come forth an adder, /

and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

30 And the first-born of the poor shall feed,   /

and the needy shall lie down in safety. /

And I will kill your root with famine, /

and he shall slay your remnant.

31 Howl, O gate. Cry, O city.   /

You, all Palestina, are dissolved. /

For there shall come from the north a smoke, /

and no one shall be alone in his appointed times.

32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation?   /

That the LORD has founded Zion /

and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

Chapter 15

The lamentable state of Moab, 1-9.

1 [The burden of Moab.]

For in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste /

and brought to silence. /

For in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste /

and brought to silence.

2 He has gone up to Bajith and to Dibon, /

the high places, to weep. /

Moab shall howl over Nebo and over Medeba. /

On all their heads there shall be baldness /

and every beard shorn.

3 In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth. /

On the tops of their houses and in their streets /

everyone shall howl, weeping abundantly.

4 And Heshbon shall cry, along with Elealeh. /

Their voice shall be heard even to Jahaz; /

therefore, the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out. /

His life shall be grievous to him.

5 My heart shall cry out for Moab. /

His fugitives shall flee to Zoar, /

a heifer of three years old. /

For they shall go up the ascent of Luhith with weeping, /

for in the way of Horonaim /

they shall raise a cry of destruction.

6 For the waters of Nimrim are desolate, /

for the herb is withered away, the grass fails, /

there is no green thing.

7 Therefore, the abundance they have gained, /

and that which they have laid up, /

they shall carry away to the brook of the willows.

8 For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, /

her howling to Eglaim /

and her howling to Beer-elim.

9 For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood, /

for I will bring more upon Dimon, /

lions upon him who escapes of Moab /

and upon the remnant of the land.

Chapter 16

Moab is exhorted to yield obedience to the throne of David, 1-5. Moab is threatened for her pride, 6-8. The prophet bewails her, 9-11. The judgment of Moab, 12-14.

1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land   /

from Sela to the wilderness, /

to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.

2 For it shall be,   /

that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, /

so the daughters of Moab shall be /

at the fords of Arnon.

3 Take counsel. Execute judgment.   /

Make your shadow as the night /

in the midst of the noon-day. /

Hide the outcasts. /

Do not discover him who wanders.

4 Let my outcasts dwell with you, Moab.   /

Be a covert to them /

from the face of the destroyer. /

For the extortioner is at an end. /

Devastation ceases. /

The oppressors are consumed out of the land.

5 And in mercy the throne shall be established.   /

And he shall sit upon it in truth /

in the tabernacle of David, /

judging, seeking judgment, /

and hastening righteousness.

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab,   /

that he is very proud, /

even of his haughtiness, his pride, and his wrath. /

But his lies shall not be so.

7 Therefore, Moab shall howl for Moab,   /

everyone shall howl. /

For the foundations of Kir-hareseth you shall mourn. /

Surely they are stricken.

8 For the fields of Heshbon   /

and the vine of Sibmah languish. /

The lords of the heathen /

have broken down her principal plants. /

They have come even to Jazer /

and they wandered through the wilderness. /

Her branches are extended, /

they have gone over the sea.

9 Therefore, I will wail with the weeping of Jazer   /

for the vine of Sibmah. /

I will water you with my tears, /

O Heshbon and Elealeh, /

for on your summer fruits and on your harvest /

the battle shout has fallen.

10 And gladness and joy are taken away   /

from the plentiful field, /

and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, /

neither shall there be shouting. /

The treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses. /

I have made their vintage-shouting to cease.

11 Therefore, my heart shall sound like a harp for Moab   /

and my inward parts for Kir-haresh.

12 And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray, but he shall not prevail.

13 This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the LORD has spoken, saying, "Within three years, as the years of a hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant shall be very small and feeble."

Chapter 17

Syria and Israel are threatened, 1-5. A remnant shall forsake idolatry, 6-8. The rest shall be plagued for their impiety, 9-11. The woe of Israel’s enemies, 12-14.

1 [The burden of Damascus.]

"Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city   /

and it shall be a ruinous heap.

2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken.   /

They shall be for flocks, /

which shall lie down and no one shall make them afraid.

3 The fortress shall also cease from Ephraim,   /

and the kingdom from Damascus, /

and the remnant of Syria. /

They shall be as the glory of the children of Israel," /

says the LORD of hosts.

4 "And in that day it shall come to pass,   /

that the glory of Jacob shall be diminished /

and the fatness of his flesh shall become lean.

5 And it shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain   /

and reaps the heads with his arm. /

And it shall be as he who gathers heads [of grain] /

in the valley of Rephaim.

6 Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it,   /

as the shaking of an olive-tree, /

two or three berries /

in the top of the uppermost bough, /

four or five in its outermost fruitful branches," /

says the LORD God of Israel.

7 In that day a man shall look to his Maker   /

and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

8 And he shall not look to the altars,   /

the work of his hands, /

neither shall he respect that which his fingers have made, /

either the groves, or the images.

9 In that day his strong cities shall be as a forsaken bough and an uppermost branch which they left because of the children of Israel. And there shall be desolation.

10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation   /

and have not been mindful of the rock of your strength, /

therefore you shall plant pleasant plants /

and shall set it with foreign cuttings.

11 In the day you shall make your plant to grow   /

and in the morning you shall make your seed to flourish, /

but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief /

and of desperate sorrow.

12 Woe to the multitude of many people   /

who make a noise like the noise of the seas, /

and to the rushing of nations /

who make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters,   /

but God will rebuke them, and they shall flee far off /

and be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind /

and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

14 And behold at the time of evening trouble.   /

And before the morning he is no more. /

This is the portion of those who ravage us /

and the lot of those who rob us.

Chapter 18

God, in care of his people, will destroy the Ethiopians, 1-6. An accession thereby shall be made to the church, 7.

1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings,   /

which is beyond the rivers of Cush,

2 That sends ambassadors by the sea,   /

even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, /

"Go, you swift messengers /

to a nation scattered and peeled, /

to a people awesome from their beginning until now, /

a nation measured by line and trodden down, /

whose land the rivers have laid waste."

3 All you inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth,   /

see when he lifts up an ensign on the mountains. /

And when he blows a trumpet, hear.

4 For thus the LORD said to me:   /

"I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling-place /

like a clear heat upon herbs /

and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."

5 For before the harvest when the bud is perfect   /

and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, /

he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks /

and take away and cut down the branches.

6 They shall be left together to the birds of the mountains   /

and to the beasts of the earth. /

And the birds shall summer upon them /

and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.

7 In that time the present shall be brought to the LORD of hosts from a people scattered and peeled, and from a people awesome from their beginning until now, a nation measured by line and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have divided, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, mount Zion.

Chapter 19

The confusion of Egypt, 1-10. The foolishness of their princes, 11-17. The calling of Egypt into the church, 18-22. The covenant of Egypt, Assyria, and Israel, 23-25.

1 [The burden of Egypt.]

"Behold, the LORD rides upon a swift cloud   /

and will come into Egypt. /

And the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence /

and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians,   /

and each shall fight against his brother /

and each against his neighbor, /

city against city and kingdom against kingdom.

3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of her,   /

and I will destroy her counsel. /

And they shall seek the idols, the charmers, /

those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards.

4 And I will give the Egyptians over   /

into the hand of a cruel lord. /

And a fierce king shall rule over them," /

says the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

5 And the waters shall fail from the sea   /

and the rivers shall be wasted and dried up.

6 And they shall turn the rivers far away,   /

and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up. /

The reeds and rushes shall wither.

7 The paper-reeds by the brooks,   /

by the mouth of the brooks, /

and everything sown by the brooks shall wither, /

be driven away, and be no more.

8 The fishermen shall also mourn,   /

all those who cast a hook into the brooks shall lament, /

and those who spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

9 Moreover, those who work in fine flax   /

and those who weave net-works shall be confounded.

10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof,   /

all who make sluices and ponds for fish.

11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools.   /

The counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh has become brutish. /

How do you say to Pharaoh, "I am the son of the wise, /

the son of ancient kings"?

12 Where are they? Where are your wise men?   /

And let them tell you now, /

and let them know what the LORD of hosts /

has purposed upon Egypt.

13 The princes of Zoan have become fools,   /

the princes of Noph are deceived. /

They have also seduced Egypt, /

even those who are the support of its tribes.

14 The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of it.   /

And they have caused Egypt to err in every work of it, /

as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.

15 There shall not be any work for Egypt   /

which the head or tail, branch or rush, may perform.

16 In that day Egypt shall be like women, and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shakes over it. 17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt. Everyone who makes mention of it shall be afraid in himself because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he has determined against it.

18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan and swear to the LORD of hosts. One shall be called, The City of Destruction.

19 In that day there shall be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar at its border to the LORD. 20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. 21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day and shall do sacrifice and oblation. They shall even vow a vow to the LORD and perform it. 22 And the LORD will smite Egypt. He will smite and heal it. And they shall return even to the LORD, and he will be entreated by them and will heal them.

23 In that day there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 Whom the LORD of hosts will bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance."

Chapter 20

A type prefiguring the shameful captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia, 1-6.

1 In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him) and fought against Ashdod and took it, 2 At the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from off your loins and take off your shoe from your foot." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3 And the LORD said, "As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Cush, 4 So the king of Assyria shall lead away the Egyptians prisoners and the Cushites captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their backsides uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Cush their expectation and of Egypt their glory. 6 And the inhabitant of this coastland shall say in that day, 'Behold, such is our expectation where we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And how shall we escape?'"

Chapter 21

The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people, sees in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians, 1-10. Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance, 11, 12. The set time of Arabia’s calamity, 13-17.

1 [The burden of the desert of the sea.]

As whirlwinds in the south pass through,   /

so it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.

2 A grievous vision is declared to me.   /

The treacherous dealer deals treacherously /

and the destroyer destroys. /

Go up, O Elam. Besiege, O Media. /

All her sighing I have made to cease.

3 Therefore, my loins are filled with pain.   /

Pangs have taken hold upon me /

as the pangs of a woman who travails. /

I was bowed down when I heard it. /

I was dismayed when I saw it.

4 My heart panted, fearfulness terrified me.   /

The night of my pleasure /

he has turned into fear for me.

5 Prepare the table,   /

watch in the watch-tower, /

eat, drink. /

Arise, you princes, /

and anoint the shield.

6 For thus the Lord has said to me:   /

"Go, set a watchman, /

let him declare what he sees.

7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen,   /

a chariot of donkeys and a chariot of camels, /

and he listened diligently with much heed."

8 Then he cried as a lion,   /

"My lord, I stand continually /

upon the watch-tower in the day time, /

and I am set in my ward whole nights.

9 And behold, here comes a chariot of men /

with a couple of horsemen." /

And he answered and said, /

"Babylon has fallen, has fallen, /

and all the engraved images of her gods /

he has broken to the ground."

10 O my threshing and the grain of my floor,   /

that which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, /

the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

11 [The burden of Dumah.]

He calls to me out of Seir,   /

"Watchman, what of the night? /

Watchman, what of the night?"

12 The watchman said,   /

"The morning comes, and also the night. /

If you will inquire, inquire. Return, come."

13 [The burden upon Arabia.]

In the forest in Arabia you shall lodge,   /

O you traveling companies of Dedanim.

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema   /

brought water to him who was thirsty, /

they met with their bread him who fled.

15 For they fled from the swords,   /

from the drawn sword, /

from the bent bow, /

and from the grievousness of war.

16 For thus the Lord has said to me: "Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail. 17 And the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished. For the LORD God of Israel has spoken it."

References

[v.9]: Quoted in Revelation 14:8, 18:2.

Chapter 22

The prophet laments the invasion of Judah and Jerusalem, 1-7. He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy, 8-14. He prophesies Shebna’s deprivation, 15-19, and the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ, 20-25.

1 [The burden of the valley of vision.]

What ails you now,   /

that you have wholly gone up to the house-tops?

2 The tumultuous city, the joyous city,   /

is full of noise. /

Your slain men are not slain with the sword, /

nor dead in battle.

3 All your rulers have fled together,   /

they are bound by the archers. /

All who are found in you are bound together, /

who have fled from far.

4 Therefore, I said,   /

"Look away from me. I will weep bitterly. /

Do not labor to comfort me /

because of the devastation of the daughter of my people."

5 For it is a day   /

of trouble, of treading down, and of perplexity /

by the Lord GOD of hosts /

in the valley of vision, /

breaking down the walls, /

and of crying to the mountains.

6 And Elam bore the quiver   /

with chariots of men and horsemen, /

and Kir uncovered the shield.

7 And it shall come to pass,   /

that your choicest valleys /

shall be full of chariots /

and the horsemen /

shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 And he uncovered the coverings of Judah,   /

and you looked in that day /

to the armor of the house of the forest.

9 You have also seen the breaches of the city of David, that they are many. And you collected the waters of the lower pool. 10 And you have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you have broken down to fortify the wall. 11 You also made a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool.

But you have not looked to its maker,   /

neither had respect to him who fashioned it long ago.

12 And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called   /

to weeping, to mourning, to baldness, /

and to girding with sackcloth.

13 And behold, there is joy and gladness, /

slaying oxen, killing sheep, /

eating flesh, and drinking wine. /

"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die."

14 And it was revealed in my ears   /

by the LORD of hosts, /

"Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you /

until you die," /

says the Lord GOD of hosts.

15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts:   /

"Go, get yourself to this treasurer, /

even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say,

16 'What are you doing here? And who do you have here   /

that you have hewed yourself out a sepulcher here, /

as he who hews himself out a sepulcher on high, /

and who engraves a habitation for himself in a rock?

17 Behold, the LORD will carry you away with a mighty captivity   /

and will surely cover you.

18 With violence he will surely turn   /

and toss you like a ball into a wide country. /

There you shall die, /

and there the chariots of your glory /

shall be the shame of your lord’s house.'

19 And I will drive you from your station,   /

and from your state he shall pull you down.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day,   /

that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,

21 And I will clothe him with your robe   /

and strengthen him with your girdle, /

and I will commit your government into his hand. /

And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem /

and to the house of Judah.

22 And the key of the house of David   /

I will lay upon his shoulder. /

So he shall open, and no one shall shut. /

And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place.   /

And he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.

24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the descendants, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. 25 In that day," says the LORD of hosts, "the nail that is fastened in the sure place shall give way, be cut down, and fall. And the burden that was upon it shall be cut off. For the LORD has spoken it."

References

[v.13]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 15:32.

Chapter 23

The miserable overthrow of Tyre, 1-14. Her restoration and lewdness, 15-18.

1 [The burden of Tyre.]

Howl, you ships of Tarshish,   /

for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. /

From the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

2 Be still, you inhabitants of the coastland,   /

you whom the merchants of Zidon, who pass over the sea, have replenished.

3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor,   /

the harvest of the river, is her revenue, /

and she is a market of nations.

4 Be ashamed, O Zidon, for the sea has spoken,   /

even the strength of the sea, saying, /

"I do not travail, nor bring forth children, /

neither do I nourish young men, nor bring up virgins."

5 As at the report concerning Egypt,   /

so they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

6 Pass over to Tarshish.   /

Howl, you inhabitants of the coast.

7 Is this your joyous city,   /

whose antiquity is of ancient days? /

Her own feet shall carry her far off to sojourn.

8 Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city,   /

whose merchants are princes, /

whose traders are the honorable of the earth?

9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it   /

to stain the pride of all glory /

and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.

10 Pass through your land as a river,   /

O daughter of Tarshish. There is no more strength.

11 He stretched his hand over the sea.   /

He shook the kingdoms. /

The LORD has given a commandment against the merchant city /

to destroy its strongholds.

12 And he said, "You shall no longer rejoice,   /

O oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon. /

Arise, pass over to Chittim. /

You shall have no rest there also."

13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans. This people was not, until the Assyrian founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up its towers, they raised up its palaces, and they brought it to ruin.

14 Howl, you ships of Tarshish,   /

for your strength is laid waste.

15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years Tyre shall sing as a harlot.

16 Take a harp,   /

go throughout the city, /

you harlot who has been forgotten. /

Make sweet melody /

and sing many songs /

so that you may be remembered.

17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her wages and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. 18 And her merchandise and her wages shall be holiness to the LORD. It shall not be treasured nor laid up, for her merchandise shall be for those who dwell before the LORD, for sufficient food, and for durable clothing.

Chapter 24

The doleful judgments of God upon the land, 1-12. A remnant shall joyfully praise him, 13-15. God in his judgments shall advance his kingdom, 16-23.

1 Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, makes it waste, /

turns it upside down, and scatters abroad its inhabitants.

2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; /

as with the servant, so with his master; /

as with the woman-servant, so with her mistress; /

as with the buyer, so with the seller; /

as with the lender, so with the borrower; /

as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.

3 The land shall be utterly emptied and utterly plundered, /

for the LORD has spoken this word.

4 The earth mourns and fades away, /

the world languishes and fades away, /

the haughty people of the earth languish.

5 The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants /

because they have transgressed the laws, /

changed the ordinance, /

broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore, the curse has devoured the earth, /

and those who dwell in it are desolate. /

Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned /

and few men are left.

7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, /

all the merry-hearted sigh.

8 The mirth of tambourines ceases. /

The noise of those who rejoice ends. /

The joy of the harp ceases.

9 They shall not drink wine with a song. /

Strong drink shall be bitter to those who drink it.

10 The city of confusion is broken down. /

Every house is shut up so that no man may enter.

11 There is a crying for wine in the streets. /

All joy is darkened, /

the mirth of the land is gone.

12 Desolation is left in the city, /

and the gate is smitten with destruction.

13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, /

there shall be as the shaking of an olive-tree /

and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

14 They shall lift up their voice. /

They shall sing for the majesty of the LORD. /

They shall cry aloud from the sea.

15 Therefore, glorify the LORD in the fires, /

even the name of the LORD God of Israel /

in the coastlands of the sea.

16 From the uttermost part of the earth we have heard songs, /

even glory to the righteous. /

But I said, "My leanness, my leanness, /

woe to me! /

The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously. /

Indeed, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously."

17 Fear, the pit, and the snare are upon you, /

O inhabitant of the earth.

18 And it shall come to pass, /

that he who flees from the noise of the fear /

shall fall into the pit, /

and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit /

shall be taken in the snare, /

for the windows from on high are open /

and the foundations of the earth shake.

19 The earth is utterly broken down, /

the earth is entirely dissolved, /

the earth is exceedingly moved.

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard /

and shall sway to and fro like a hammock. /

Its transgression shall be heavy upon it. /

It shall fall and not rise again.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, /

that the LORD shall punish /

the host of the high ones who are on high /

and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 And they shall be gathered /

as prisoners are gathered in the pit /

and shall be shut up in the prison, /

and after many days they shall be visited.

23 Then the moon shall be confounded /

and the sun ashamed /

when the LORD of hosts reigns /

on mount Zion, in Jerusalem, /

and before his ancients gloriously.

Chapter 25

God is glorious in his judgments on Babel, 1-5, and his people’s salvation, 6-12.

1 O LORD, you are my God. /

I will exalt you. I will praise your name, /

for you have done wonderful things. /

Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

2 For you have made of a city a heap, /

of a fortified city a ruin, /

a palace of strangers to be no city, /

it shall never be built.

3 Therefore, the strong people shall glorify you, /

the city of the terrible nations shall fear you.

4 For you have been a defense to the poor, /

a defense to the needy in his distress, /

a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, /

when the blast of the terrible ones /

is as a storm against the wall.

5 You will bring down the noise of strangers, /

as the heat in a dry place, /

even the heat with the shade of a cloud. /

The branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

6 And on this mountain /

the LORD of hosts will make for all people /

a feast of fat things, /

a feast of wines on the dregs, /

of fat things full of marrow, /

of wines on the dregs well refined.

7 And he will destroy on this mountain /

the face of the covering cast over all people /

and the veil that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death in victory. /

And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears /

from off all faces, /

and the rebuke of his people /

he will remove from all the earth. /

For the LORD has spoken it.

9 And it shall be said in that day, /

"Behold, this is our God. /

We have waited for him, and he will save us. /

This is the LORD. We have waited for him. /

We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

10 For on this mountain the hand of the LORD shall rest, /

and Moab shall be trodden down under him, /

even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.

11 And he will spread forth his hands in the midst of them, /

as he who swims spreads forth his hands to swim. /

And he will bring down their pride together /

with the tricks of their hands.

12 And the fortress of the high fort of your walls /

he will bring down, lay low, /

and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

References

[v.8]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 15:54.

Chapter 26

A song of praise and confidence in God for the blessings of righteousness, judgments on their enemies, and favor to his people, and their chastisement, repentance, and hope, 1-21.

1 In that day this song shall be sung in the land of Judah:

"We have a strong city.   /

God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.

2 Open the gates   /

so that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.

3 You will keep him in perfect peace,   /

whose mind is stayed on you, /

because he trusts in you.

4 Trust in the LORD forever,   /

for in the LORD YAHWEH is everlasting strength.

5 For he brings down those who dwell on high.   /

The lofty city, he lays it low. /

He lays it low, even to the ground. /

He brings it even to the dust.

6 The foot shall tread it down,   /

even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy."

7 The way of the just is uprightness.   /

You, most upright, weigh the path of the just.

8 Even in the way of your judgments,   /

O LORD, we have waited for you. /

The desire of our soul /

is to your name and to the remembrance of you.

9 With my soul I have desired you in the night.   /

Indeed, with my spirit within me I will seek you early. /

For when your judgments are in the earth, /

the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

10 Let favor be shown to the wicked,   /

yet he will not learn righteousness. /

In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly /

and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

11 LORD, when your hand is lifted up,   /

they will not see. /

But they shall see and be ashamed /

for their envy at the people. /

Even the fire of your enemies shall devour them.

12 LORD, you will ordain peace for us,   /

for you also have wrought all our works in us.

13 O LORD our God,   /

other lords beside you have had dominion over us, /

but by you only we will make mention of your name.

14 They are dead, they shall not live.   /

They are deceased, they shall not rise. /

Therefore, you have visited and destroyed them /

and made all their memory to perish.

15 You have increased the nation, O LORD,   /

you have increased the nation. You are glorified. /

You have enlarged all the borders of the land.

16 LORD, in trouble they have visited you.   /

They poured out a prayer /

when your chastening was upon them.

17 As a woman with child,   /

who draws near the time of her delivery, /

is in pain and cries out in her pangs, /

so we have been in your sight, O LORD.

18 We have been with child. We have been in pain.   /

We have, it seems, brought forth wind. /

We have not wrought any deliverance on the earth, /

neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

19 Your dead men shall live.   /

Together with my dead body they shall arise. /

Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust, /

for your dew is as the dew of herbs, /

and the earth shall cast out the dead.

20 Come, my people, enter into your chambers   /

and shut your doors around you. /

Hide yourself for a little while /

until the indignation has passed.

21 For behold, the LORD comes out of his place   /

to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. /

The earth shall also disclose her blood /

and shall no longer cover her slain.

Chapter 27

God’s care over his vineyard, 1-6. His chastisements on them, 7-9. His severe judgments against them, 10, 11. Their return, 12, 13.

1 In that day the LORD with his keen, great, and strong sword will punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent. And he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

2 In that day sing to her,

"A vineyard of red wine.

3 I, the LORD, keep it.   /

I will water it every moment. /

Lest any hurt it, /

I will keep it night and day.

4 Fury is not in me.   /

Who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? /

I would go through them. /

I would burn them together.

5 Or let him take hold of my strength   /

so that he may make peace with me. /

And he shall make peace with me."

6 He shall cause those who descend from Jacob to take root.   /

Israel shall blossom and bud /

and fill the face of the world with fruit.

7 Has he smitten him,   /

as he smote those who smote him? /

Or is he slain according to the slaughter /

of those who are slain by him?

8 In measure, when it shoots forth,   /

you will debate with it. /

He stays his rough wind /

in the day of the east wind.

9 By this therefore, the iniquity of Jacob shall be purged,   /

and this is all the fruit to take away his sin: /

when he makes all the stones of the altar /

as chalk-stones that are beaten apart, /

the groves and images shall not stand up.

10 Yet the fortified city shall be desolate   /

and the habitation forsaken and left like a wilderness. /

There the calf shall feed, and there he shall lie down /

and consume its branches.

11 When its boughs are withered,   /

they shall be broken off. /

The women come and set them on fire, /

for it is a people of no understanding. /

Therefore, he who made them will not have mercy on them, /

and he who formed them will show them no favor.

12 And it shall come to pass in that day,   /

that the LORD shall gather /

from the channel of the river to the stream of Egypt, /

and you shall be gathered one by one, O children of Israel.

13 And it shall come to pass in that day,   /

that the great trumpet shall be blown, /

and they shall come who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, /

and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, /

and shall worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

Chapter 28

The prophet threatens Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness, 1-4. The remnant shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ, 5, 6. He rebukes their error, 7, 8; their being apt to learn, 9-13; and their security, 14, 15. Christ the sure foundation is promised, 16. Their security shall be tried, 17-22. They are incited to the consideration of God’s discreet providence, 23-29.

1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, /

whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, /

who are on the head of the rich valleys /

of those who are overcome with wine!

2 Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. /

As a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, /

as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, /

he shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim /

shall be trodden under feet.

4 And the glorious beauty, /

which is on the head of the rich valley, /

shall be a fading flower /

and as the early fruit before the summer, /

which he who looks upon it sees, /

and while it is yet in his hand he eats it up.

5 In that day the LORD of hosts will be /

for a crown of glory and for a diadem of beauty /

to the remnant of his people,

6 And for a spirit of judgment to him who sits in judgment /

and for strength to those who turn the battle to the gate.

7 But they also have erred through wine, /

and through strong drink are out of the way. /

The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink. /

They are overwhelmed with wine. /

They are out of the way through strong drink. /

They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.

8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness /

so that there is no clean place.

9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? /

And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? /

Those who are weaned from the milk /

and drawn from the breasts.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, /

line upon line, line upon line, /

here a little, and there a little.

11 For with stammering lips and another language /

he will speak to this people,

12 To whom he said, "This is the rest /

with which you may cause the weary to rest," /

and, "This is the refreshing," /

yet they would not hear.

13 But the word of the LORD was to them, /

precept upon precept, precept upon precept, /

line upon line, line upon line, /

here a little, and there a little, /

so that they might go and fall backward and be broken, /

snared, and taken.

14 Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, /

who rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

15 Because you have said, /

"We have made a covenant with death /

and we are in agreement with hell. /

When the overflowing scourge passes through, /

it shall not reach us, /

for we have made lies our refuge /

and under falsehood we have hid ourselves,"

16 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: /

"Behold, I lay a stone in Zion for a foundation, /

a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. /

He who believes shall not make haste.

17 I will also lay judgment to the line /

and righteousness to the plummet. /

And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies /

and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

18 And your covenant with death shall be made void /

and your agreement with hell shall not stand. /

When the overflowing scourge passes through, /

you shall be trodden down by it.

19 From the time that it goes forth it shall take you. /

For morning by morning it shall pass over, /

by day and by night. /

And it shall be a vexation only to understand the report."

20 For the bed is shorter than a man can stretch himself on, /

and the covering narrower than he can wrap himself in.

21 For the LORD will rise as on mount Perazim, /

he will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon, /

so that he may do his work, his strange work, /

and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

22 Now therefore, do not be mockers, /

lest your bonds be made strong, /

for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, /

even determined upon the whole earth.

23 Give ear and hear my voice. /

Listen and hear my speech.

24 Does the plowman plow all day to sow? /

Does he open and break the clods of his ground?

25 When he has made even its face, /

does he not cast abroad the vetches, scatter the cumin, /

cast in the principal wheat, the appointed barley, /

and the spelt in their place?

26 For his God instructs him to discretion /

and teaches him.

27 For the vetches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, /

neither is a cart-wheel turned around upon the cumin. /

But the vetches are beaten out with a staff /

and the cumin with a rod.

28 Bread-grain is bruised, /

because he will not always be threshing it, /

nor break it with the wheel of his cart, /

nor bruise it with his horsemen.

29 This also comes forth from the LORD of hosts, /

who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in operation.

References

[v.11]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 14:21. [v.12]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 14:21. [v.16]: Quoted in Romans 9:33, 10:11; 1st Peter 2:6.

Chapter 29

God’s heavy judgment upon Jerusalem, 1-6. The insatiableness of her enemies, 7, 8. The senselessness, 9-12, and deep hypocrisy of the Jews, 13-16. A promise of sanctification to the godly, 17-24.

1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt!   /

Add year to year. /

Let them kill sacrifices.

2 Yet I will distress Ariel,   /

and there shall be heaviness and sorrow, /

and it shall be to me as Ariel.

3 And I will encamp against you all around,   /

and I will lay siege against you with siege-works /

and raise forts against you.

4 And you shall be brought down   /

and shall speak out of the ground. /

Your speech shall be low out of the dust. /

Your voice shall be out of the ground, /

as of one who has a familiar spirit. /

And your speech shall whisper out of the dust.

5 Moreover, the multitude of your strangers   /

shall be like small dust /

and the multitude of the terrible ones /

shall be as chaff that passes away. /

It shall even be at an instant, suddenly.

6 You shall be visited by the LORD of hosts   /

with thunder, with an earthquake, with great noise, /

with storm and tempest, /

and with the flame of devouring fire.

7 And the multitude of all the nations   /

who fight against Ariel, /

even all who fight against her and her fortress, /

and who distress her, /

shall be as a dream of a night-vision.

8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams,   /

and behold, he eats, /

but he awakes and his soul is empty, /

or as when a thirsty man dreams, /

and behold, he drinks, /

but he awakes, and behold, he is faint /

and his soul has appetite. /

Thus the multitude of all the nations shall be /

who fight against mount Zion.

9 Stay yourselves, and wonder.   /

Cry out, and cry. /

They are drunken, but not with wine. /

They stagger, but not with strong drink.

10 For the LORD has poured out upon you /

the spirit of deep sleep /

and has closed your eyes (the prophets), /

and he has covered your heads (the seers).

11 And the vision of all has become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is learned, saying, "Read this, I pray you," and he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." 12 And the book is delivered to him who is not learned, saying, "Read this, I pray you," and he says, "I am not learned."

13 Therefore, the Lord said,

"Because this people draw near to me with their mouth   /

and honor me with their lips, /

but have removed their heart far from me, /

and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men,

14 Therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work /

among this people, /

even an astonishing work and a wonder. /

For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish /

and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."

15 Woe to those who seek deep   /

to hide their counsel from the LORD, /

and their works are in the dark /

and they say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?"

16 Surely your turning of things upside down   /

shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay. /

For shall the work say of him who made it, /

"He did not make me"? /

Or shall the thing framed say of him who framed it, /

"He had no understanding"?

17 Is it not yet a very little while,   /

and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, /

and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

18 And in that day the deaf shall hear /

the words of the book, /

and the eyes of the blind shall see /

out of obscurity and out of darkness.

19 The meek shall also increase their joy in the LORD, /

and the poor among men shall rejoice /

in the Holy One of Israel.

20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing   /

and the scoffer is consumed, /

and all who watch for iniquity are cut off,

21 Who make a man an offender for a word,   /

lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, /

and turn aside the just for a thing of nothing.

22 Therefore, thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

"Jacob shall not now be ashamed,   /

neither shall his face now become pale.

23 But when he sees his children,   /

the work of my hands, in the midst of him, /

they shall sanctify my name /

and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, /

and shall fear the God of Israel.

24 Those who also erred in spirit shall come to understanding,   /

and those who murmured shall learn doctrine."

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Romans 11:8. [v.13]: Quoted in Matthew 15:8-9; Mark 7:6-7. [v.14]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 1:19. [v.18]: Reference, Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22. [v.19]: Reference, Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22.

Chapter 30

The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt, 1-7, and contempt of God’s word, 8-17. God’s mercies toward his church, 18-26. God’s wrath and the people’s joy in the destruction of Assyria, 27-33.

1 "Woe to the rebellious children," says the LORD,   /

"who take counsel, but not from me, /

and who cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, /

so that they may add sin to sin,

2 Who walk to go down into Egypt   /

and have not asked at my mouth, /

to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, /

and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore, the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame,   /

and refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

4 For his princes were at Zoan   /

and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

5 They were all ashamed   /

of a people who could not profit them, /

nor be a help nor profit, /

but a shame, and also a reproach."

6 [The burden of the beasts of the south.]

Into the land of trouble and anguish,   /

where the young and the old lion /

and the viper and flying serpent come from, /

they will carry their riches /

upon the shoulders of young donkeys /

and their treasures upon the bunches of camels /

to a people who shall not profit them.

7 For the Egyptian shall help in vain and to no purpose.   /

Therefore, I have cried concerning this, /

"Their strength is to sit still."

8 Now go, write it before them in a tablet   /

and note it in a book, /

so that it may be for the time to come /

forever and ever,

9 That this is a rebellious people,   /

lying children, /

children who will not hear the law of the LORD,

10 Who say to the seers, "Do not see,"   /

and to the prophets, /

"Do not prophesy to us right things. /

Speak to us smooth things. /

Prophesy deceits.

11 Withdraw from the way.   /

Turn aside from the path. /

Cause the Holy One of Israel /

to cease from before us."

12 Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel:   /

"Because you despise this word /

and trust in oppression and perverseness /

and lean upon it,

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you   /

as a breach ready to fall, /

swelling out in a high wall, /

whose breaking comes suddenly at an instant.

14 And he shall break it   /

as the breaking of the potter’s vessel /

that is broken in pieces. /

He shall not spare, /

so that there shall not be found in its bursting /

a piece to take fire from the hearth, /

or to take water out of the pit."

15 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:   /

"In returning and rest you shall be saved. /

In quietness and in confidence your strength shall be." /

And you have not been willing.

16 But you said, "No, for we will flee upon horses."   /

Therefore, you shall flee. /

And you also said, "We will ride upon the swift." /

Therefore, those who pursue you shall be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one.   /

At the rebuke of five you shall flee /

until you are left /

as a beacon upon the top of a mountain /

and as an ensign on a hill.

18 And therefore, the LORD will wait   /

so that he may be gracious to you, /

and therefore, he will be exalted /

so that he may have mercy upon you, /

for the LORD is a God of judgment. /

Blessed are all those who wait for him.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. You shall no longer weep. He will be very gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When he hears it, he will answer you. 20 And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be hidden anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. 22 You shall also defile the covering of your engraved images of silver and the ornament of your molten images of gold. You shall cast them away as a polluted cloth. You shall say to it, "Be gone from me."

23 Then he shall give the rain of your seed, with which you shall sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day your cattle shall feed in large pastures. 24 The oxen likewise and the young donkeys that plow the ground shall eat clean provender, which has been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. 25 And there shall be upon every high mountain and upon every high hill rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven-fold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD binds up the breach of his people and heals the stroke of their wound.

27 Behold, the name of the LORD comes from far,   /

burning with his anger, and its burden is heavy. /

His lips are full of indignation /

and his tongue as a devouring fire.

28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream,   /

shall reach to the midst of the neck, /

to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity. /

And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, /

causing them to err.

29 You shall have a song, as in the night,   /

when a holy solemnity is kept, /

and gladness of heart, /

as when one goes with a pipe /

to come upon the mountain of the LORD, /

to the mighty One of Israel.

30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard   /

and shall show the descent of his arm, /

with the indignation of his anger, /

with the flame of a devouring fire, /

with scattering, tempest, and hailstones.

31 For through the voice of the LORD   /

the Assyrian shall be beaten down, /

who smote with a rod.

32 And in every place where the grounded staff passes,   /

which the LORD lays upon him, /

it shall be with tambourines and harps. /

And in battles of shaking he will fight with it.

33 For Tophet is ordained of old.   /

Indeed, for the king it is prepared. /

He has made it deep and large. /

Its pile is fire and much wood. /

The breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, /

kindles it.

Chapter 31

The prophet shows the folly and danger of trusting to Egypt and forsaking God, 1-5. He exhorts to conversion, 6, 7. He shows the fall of Assyria, 8, 9.

1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt   /

for help and rely on horses, /

and trust in chariots because they are many, /

and in horsemen because they are very strong, /

but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, /

neither seek the LORD!

2 Yet he is also wise   /

and will bring evil /

and will not call back his words, /

but will arise against the house of the evil-doers /

and against the help of those who work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men and not God,   /

and their horses flesh and not spirit. /

When the LORD stretches out his hand, /

both he who helps shall fall /

and he who is helped shall fall down, /

and they all shall fail together.

4 For thus the LORD has spoken to me:   /

"As the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey /

when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, /

and he will not be afraid of their voice, /

nor abase himself for their noise, /

so the LORD of hosts will come down /

to fight for mount Zion and for the hill thereof.

5 As birds flying,   /

so the LORD of hosts will defend Jerusalem. /

Defending, he will also deliver it. /

And passing over, he will preserve it."

6 Turn to him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7 For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made for you for a sin.

8 "Then the Assyrian shall fall by the sword,   /

but not one of a man. /

And the sword shall devour him, /

but not one of a mortal. /

But he shall flee from the sword, /

and his young men shall be forced labor.

9 And he shall pass over to his stronghold for fear,   /

and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign," /

says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion /

and his furnace in Jerusalem.

Chapter 32

The blessings of Christ’s kingdom, 1-8. Desolation is foreshown, 9-14. Restoration is promised to succeed, 15-20.

1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness /

and princes shall rule in judgment.

2 And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind /

and a covert from the tempest, /

as streams of water in a dry place, /

as the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

3 And the eyes of those who see shall not be dim, /

and the ears of those who hear shall listen.

4 The heart of the rash /

shall understand knowledge, /

and the tongue of the stammerers /

shall be ready to speak plainly.

5 The vile person shall no longer be called liberal, /

nor the churl said to be bountiful.

6 For the vile person will speak villainy /

and his heart will work iniquity, /

to practice hypocrisy /

and to utter error against the LORD, /

to make the soul of the hungry empty /

and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

7 The instruments of the churl are evil. /

He devises wicked devices /

to destroy the poor with lying words, /

even when the needy speaks right.

8 But the liberal devises liberal things, /

and by liberal things he shall stand.

9 Rise up, you women who are at ease. /

Hear my voice, you careless daughters. /

Give ear to my speech.

10 Many days and years you shall be troubled, /

you careless women, /

for the vintage shall fail, /

the gathering shall not come.

11 Tremble, you women who are at ease. /

Be troubled, you careless ones. /

Strip, make yourselves bare, /

and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

12 They shall lament for the breasts, /

for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

13 Upon the land of my people /

thorns and briers shall come up, /

and also upon all the houses of joy /

in the joyous city.

14 For the palaces shall be forsaken, /

the multitude of the city shall be left, /

the forts and towers shall be for dens forever, /

a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks,

15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, /

and the wilderness is a fruitful field, /

and the fruitful field is counted for a forest.

16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness /

and righteousness shall remain in the fruitful field.

17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace, /

and the effect of righteousness, /

quietness and assurance forever.

18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, /

in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places,

19 When it hails, coming down on the forest, /

and the city is utterly laid low.

20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, /

who send forth the feet of the ox and the donkey.

Chapter 33

God’s judgments against the enemies of the church, 1-12. The consternation of sinners and privileges of the godly, 13-24.

1 Woe to you destroyer, /

and you were not laid waste, /

and you who deal treacherously, /

and they did not deal treacherously with you! /

When you cease to lay waste, /

you shall be wasted, /

and when you make an end to deal treacherously, /

they shall deal treacherously with you.

2 O LORD, be gracious to us. /

We have waited for you. /

Be their arm every morning, /

also our salvation in the time of trouble.

3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled. /

At the lifting up of yourself the nations were scattered.

4 And your plunder shall be gathered /

like the gathering of the ravaging-locust. /

As the running to and fro of locusts /

he shall run upon them.

5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high. /

He has filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times /

and strength of salvation. /

The fear of the LORD is his treasure.

7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry outside. /

The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

8 The highways lie waste, /

the way-faring man ceases. /

He has broken the covenant. /

He has despised the cities. /

He regards no man.

9 The earth mourns and languishes. /

Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down. /

Sharon is like a wilderness. /

And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

10 "Now I will rise," says the LORD. /

"Now I will be exalted. /

Now I will lift up myself.

11 You shall conceive chaff. /

You shall bring forth stubble. /

Your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime. /

As thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire.

13 You who are far off, hear what I have done. /

And you who are near, acknowledge my might."

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid. /

Fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. /

"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? /

Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, /

he who despises the gain of oppressions, /

who shakes his hands from holding of bribes, /

who stops his ears from hearing of blood /

and shuts his eyes from seeing evil,

16 He shall dwell on high. /

His place of defense shall be the fortresses of rocks. /

Bread shall be given to him. His waters shall be sure.

17 Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty. /

They shall behold the land that is very far off.

18 Your heart shall meditate terror. /

"Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? /

Where is he who counted the towers?"

19 You shall not see a fierce people, /

a people of deeper speech than you can perceive, /

of a stammering tongue, that you cannot understand.

20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities. /

Your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, /

a tabernacle that shall not be taken down. /

Not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, /

neither shall any of its cords be broken.

21 But there the glorious LORD will be for us /

a place of broad rivers and streams, /

in which no galley with oars shall go, /

neither shall gallant ship pass through it.

22 For the LORD is our judge. /

The LORD is our lawgiver. /

The LORD is our king. /

He will save us.

23 Your tacklings are loosened. /

They could not well strengthen their mast. /

They could not spread the sail. /

Then the loot of a great plunder is divided. /

The lame take the plunder.

24 And the inhabitants shall not say, "I am sick." /

The people who dwell therein /

shall have their iniquity forgiven.

Chapter 34

The judgments with which God revenges his church, 1-10. The desolation of her enemies, 11-15. The certainty of the prophecy, 16, 17.

1 Come near, you nations, to hear. /

And listen, you people. /

Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, /

the world, and all things that spring from it.

2 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations /

and his fury upon all their armies. /

He has utterly destroyed them. /

He has delivered them to the slaughter.

3 Their slain shall also be cast out, /

and their ill smell shall come up from their carcasses. /

The mountains shall be melted with their blood.

4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved /

and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. /

And all their hosts shall fall down, /

as the leaf falls from the vine /

and as a falling fig from the fig-tree.

5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven. /

Behold, it shall come down upon Edom /

and upon the people of my curse to judgment.

6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood. /

It is made fat with fatness, /

with the blood of lambs and goats, /

with the fat of the kidneys of rams. /

For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah /

and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

7 And the wild oxen shall come down with them, /

and the young bulls with the strong bulls. /

And their land shall be drenched with blood /

and their dust made fat with fatness.

8 For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, /

and the year of recompenses /

for the controversy of Zion.

9 And its streams shall be turned into pitch /

and its dust into brimstone, /

and its land shall become burning pitch.

10 It shall not be quenched night nor day. /

Its smoke shall ascend forever. /

From generation to generation it shall lie waste. /

None shall pass through it forever and ever.

11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it. /

The owl and the raven shall dwell in it. /

And he shall stretch out upon it /

the line of confusion and the stones of emptiness.

12 They shall call her nobles to the kingdom, /

but no one shall be there, /

and all her princes shall be nothing.

13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, /

nettles and brambles in her fortresses, /

and it shall be a habitation of jackals /

and a court for owls.

14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wolves, /

and the wild goat shall cry to his fellow. /

The screech-owl shall also rest there /

and find for herself a place of rest.

15 There the great owl shall make her nest, lay, /

and hatch and gather under her shadow. /

There the vultures shall also be gathered, /

each with her mate.

16 Seek out of the book of the LORD, and read. /

Not one of these shall fail. /

Not one shall lack her mate. /

For my mouth has commanded, /

and his Spirit has gathered them.

17 And he has cast the lot for them, /

and his hand has divided it to them by line. /

They shall possess it forever. /

From generation to generation they shall dwell therein.

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Revelation 19:3.

Chapter 35

The joyful flourishing of Christ’s kingdom, 1, 2. The weak are encouraged by the virtues and privileges of the Gospel, 3-10.

1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, /

and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, /

even with joy and singing. /

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, /

the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. /

They shall see the glory of the LORD /

and the excellence of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands /

and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, /

"Be strong. Do not fear. /

Behold, your God will come with vengeance, /

even God with a recompense. /

He will come and save you."

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened /

and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then the lame man shall leap as a buck, /

and the tongue of the mute shall sing. /

For in the wilderness waters shall break out, /

and streams in the desert.

7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, /

and the thirsty land springs of water. /

In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, /

there shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, /

and it shall be called, The Way of Holiness. /

The unclean shall not pass over it, /

but it shall be for those who are way-faring men. /

And fools shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, /

nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon. /

It shall not be found there, /

but the redeemed shall walk there.

10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return /

and come to Zion with songs /

and everlasting joy upon their heads. /

They shall obtain joy and gladness, /

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

References

[v.3]: Paraphrased in Hebrews 12:12. [v.5]: Paraphrased in Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22. [v.6]: Paraphrased in Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22.

Chapter 36

Sennacherib invades Judah, 1. Rabshakeh, sent by Sennacherib, by blasphemous persuasions solicits the people to revolt, 2-21. His words are told to Hezekiah, 22.

1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem against king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field. 3 Then Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, who was over the house, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph’s son the recorder, came forth to him.

4 And Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: "What confidence is this in which you trust? 5 I say, that your counsel and strength for war are but vain words. Now in whom do you trust that you rebel against me? 6 Behold, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will enter his hand and pierce it. Thus Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God,' is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar'? 8 Now therefore, give pledges, I pray you, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you can on your part set riders upon them. 9 How then will you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 And have I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.'"'"

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Speak, I pray you, to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. And do not speak to us in the Jew’s language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall." 12 But Rabshakeh said, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Has he not sent me to the men who sit upon the wall, who will have to devour their vilest excretions with you?"

13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jew’s language and said, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. 14 Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you, 15 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, "The LORD will surely deliver us. This city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria." 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah,' for thus says the king of Assyria: 'Make an agreement with me by a present and come out to me. And each of you eat of his vine, and each of his fig-tree, and each of you drink the waters of his own cistern, 17 Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "The LORD will deliver us." Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? And have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these lands, who have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'"

21 But they held their peace and did not answer him a word, for the king’s commandment was, saying, "Do not answer him." 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes rent and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Chapter 37

Hezekiah, mourning, sends to Isaiah to pray for them, 1-5. Isaiah comforts them, 6, 7. Sennacherib, going to encounter Tirhakah, sends a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah, 8-13. Hezekiah’s prayer, 14-20. Isaiah’s prophecy of the pride and destruction of Sennacherib and the good of Zion, 21-35. An angel slays the Assyrians, 36. Sennacherib is slain at Nineveh by his own sons, 37, 38.

1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3 And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah: 'This day is a day of trouble, of rebuke, and of blasphemy, for the children have come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. 4 It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"

5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master: 'Thus says the LORD: "Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'"

8 So Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish. 9 And he heard it said concerning Tirhakah king of Cush: "He has come forth to make war with you." And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?'"

14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. And Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying, 16 "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who dwell between the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear. Open your eyes, O LORD, and see. And hear all the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their countries, 19 And have cast their gods into the fire, for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore, they have destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD, even you only."

21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Because you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him:

"The virgin, the daughter of Zion,   /

has despised you and derided you. /

The daughter of Jerusalem /

has shaken her head at you.

23 Whom have you reproached and blasphemed?   /

And against whom have you exalted your voice /

and lifted your eyes on high? /

Even against the Holy One of Israel.

24 By your servants you have reproached the Lord   /

and have said, 'By the multitude of my chariots /

I have come up to the height of the mountains, /

to the sides of Lebanon, /

and I will cut down its tall cedars /

and its choice fir-trees, /

and I will enter into the height of its border, /

and the forest of its fruitful field.

25 I have dug and drank water,   /

and with the sole of my feet I have dried up /

all the rivers of the besieged places.'

26 Have you not heard long ago,   /

how I have done it, /

and of ancient times, that I have formed it? /

Now I have brought it to pass, /

that you should lay waste fortified cities /

into ruinous heaps.

27 Therefore, their inhabitants were of small power.   /

They were dismayed and confounded. /

They were as the grass of the field, /

as the green herb, /

as the grass on the house-tops, /

and as grain blasted before it is grown up.

28 But I know your sitting down,   /

your going out, your coming in, /

and your rage against me.

29 Because your rage against me   /

and your tumult have come up into my ears, /

therefore I will put my hook in your nose /

and my bridle in your lips, /

and I will turn you back by the way /

by which you came.

30 "And this shall be a sign to you: you shall eat this year that which grows of itself, and the second year that which springs of the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 And the remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem a remnant shall go forth, and those who escape from mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."'

33 "Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a siege-mound against it. 34 By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and shall not come into this city,' says the LORD. 35 'For I will defend this city to save it for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.'"

36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned and dwelt at Nineveh. 38 And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 38

Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened, 1-7. The sun goes ten degrees backward for a sign of that promise, 8. His song of thanksgiving, 9-22.

1 In those days Hezekiah was sick with a mortal disease. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.'" 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 And said, "Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5 "Go and say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add to your days fifteen years. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. And I will defend this city."'

7 "And this shall be a sign to you from the LORD that the LORD will do this thing that he has spoken: 8 Behold, I will bring back the shadow of the degrees, which has gone down on the sun-dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it had gone down.

9 [The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness.]

10 I said, "In the cutting off of my days,   /

I shall go to the gates of the grave. /

I am deprived of the remainder of my years."

11 I said, "I shall not see the LORD,   /

even the LORD, in the land of the living. /

I shall no longer behold man /

with the inhabitants of the world.

12 My dwelling is plucked up and carried away from me   /

as a shepherd’s tent. /

I have cut off my life like a weaver. /

He will cut me off with pining sickness. /

From day even to night you will make an end of me.

13 I reckoned until morning, that as a lion,   /

so he will break all my bones. /

From day even to night you will make an end of me.

14 Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered.   /

I mourned as a dove. /

My eyes fail with looking upward. /

O LORD, I am oppressed. Undertake for me.

15 What shall I say? He has both spoken to me,   /

and he himself has done it. /

I shall go softly all my years /

in the bitterness of my soul.

16 O Lord, by these things men live,   /

and in all these things is the life of my spirit. /

So you will recover me and make me to live.

17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness.   /

But you have in love to my soul delivered it /

from the pit of corruption, /

for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

18 For the grave cannot praise you,   /

death cannot celebrate you. /

Those who go down into the pit /

cannot hope for your truth.

19 The living, the living, he shall praise you,   /

as I do this day. /

The father shall make known your truth to the children.

20 The LORD was ready to save me;   /

therefore, we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments /

all the days of our life in the house of the LORD."

21 For Isaiah had said, "Let them take a lump of figs and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he will recover." 22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?"

Chapter 39

Merodach-baladan, sending to visit Hezekiah because of the wonder, has notice of his treasures, 1, 2. Isaiah, understanding thereof, foretells the Babylonian captivity, 3-8.

1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah rejoiced over them and showed them the house of his precious things: the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious ointment, all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah and said to him, "What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?" And Hezekiah said, "They have come to me from a far country, even from Babylon." 4 Then he said, "What have they seen in your house?" And Hezekiah answered, "All that is in my house they have seen. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them."

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 'Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. 7 'And of your sons who shall issue from you, which you shall beget, they shall take away and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'" 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken." He said moreover, "For there shall be peace and truth in my days."

Chapter 40

The promulgation of the Gospel, 1, 2. The preaching of John Baptist, 3-8. The preaching of the apostles, 9-11. The prophet, by the omnipotence of God, 12-17, and his incomparableness, 18-25, comforts the people, 26-31.

1 "Comfort, comfort my people," /

says your God.

2 "Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, /

and cry to her, /

that her warfare is accomplished, /

that her iniquity is pardoned, /

for she has received from the LORD’S hand /

double for all her sins."

3 The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, /

"Prepare the way of the LORD. /

Make straight in the desert /

a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, /

every mountain and hill shall be made low, /

the crooked shall be made straight, /

and the rough places plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, /

and all flesh together shall see it. /

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken it."

6 The voice said, "Cry." /

And he said, "What shall I cry?" /

All flesh is grass, /

and all its goodliness is as the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades, /

because the spirit of the LORD blows upon it. /

Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, /

but the word of our God shall stand forever.

9 O Zion, who brings good tidings, /

go up upon the high mountain. /

O Jerusalem, who brings good tidings, /

lift up your voice with strength. /

Lift it up, do not be afraid. /

Say to the cities of Judah, /

"Behold your God!"

10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with a strong hand, /

and his arm will rule for him. /

Behold, his reward is with him /

and his work before him.

11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. /

He will gather the lambs with his arm /

and carry them in his bosom, /

and will gently lead those who are with young.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, /

measured heaven with the span, /

comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, /

and weighed the mountains in scales /

and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, /

or being his counselor has taught him?

14 With whom did he take counsel, /

and who instructed him, /

taught him in the path of judgment, /

taught him knowledge, /

and showed to him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket /

and are counted as the small dust of the balance. /

Behold, he takes up the islands as a very little thing.

16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, /

nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt-offering.

17 All nations before him are as nothing, /

and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

18 To whom then will you compare God? /

Or what likeness will you compare to him?

19 The workman melts an engraved image, /

and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold /

and casts silver chains.

20 He who is so impoverished that he has no oblation /

chooses a tree that will not rot. /

He seeks for himself a skillful workman /

to prepare an engraved image that shall not be moved.

21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? /

Has it not been told to you from the beginning? /

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he who sits upon the circle of the earth, /

and its inhabitants are as locusts, /

who stretches out the heavens as a curtain /

and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in,

23 Who brings the princes to nothing. /

He makes the judges of the earth as vanity.

24 They have hardly been planted, /

they have hardly been sown, /

their stock has hardly taken root in the earth, /

and then he blows upon them and they wither, /

and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.

25 "To whom then will you compare me, or shall I be equaled?" /

says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high /

and behold who has created these things, /

who brings out their host by number. /

He calls them all by name, /

by the greatness of his might, /

for he is strong in power. /

Not one fails.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, /

and speak, O Israel, "My way is hid from the LORD /

and my judgment is passed over by my God"?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard, /

that the everlasting God, the LORD, /

the Creator of the ends of the earth, /

does not faint, neither is weary? /

There is no searching of his understanding.

29 He gives power to the faint, /

and to those who have no might he increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, /

and the young men shall utterly fall,

31 But those who wait upon the LORD /

shall renew their strength. /

They shall mount up with wings as eagles. /

They shall run and not be weary. /

They shall walk and not faint.

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23. [v.4]: Quoted in Luke 3:5. [v.5]: Quoted in Luke 3:6. [v.6]: Quoted in 1st Peter 1:24. [v.8]: Quoted in 1st Peter 1:25. [v.13]: Quoted in Romans 11:34; 1st Corinthians 2:16.

Chapter 41

God expostulates with his people about his mercies to the church, 1-9, about his promises, 10-20, and about the vanity of idols, 21-29.

1 "Keep silence before me, O coastlands, /

and let the people renew their strength. /

Let them come near, then let them speak. /

Let us come near together for judgment.

2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, /

called him to his foot, /

gave the nations before him, /

and made him rule over kings? /

He gave them as the dust to his sword /

and as driven stubble to his bow.

3 He pursued them and passed safely, /

even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

4 Who has wrought and done it, /

calling the generations from the beginning? /

I, the LORD, the first /

and with the last, I am he."

5 The coastlands saw it and feared. /

The ends of the earth were afraid, /

drew near, and came.

6 They each helped his neighbor, /

and each said to his brother, /

"Be of good courage."

7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, /

and he who smooths with the hammer /

encouraged him who smote the anvil, /

saying, "It is ready for the soldering." /

And he fastened it with nails /

so that it should not be moved.

8 "But you, Israel, are my servant, /

Jacob whom I have chosen, /

the offspring of Abraham my friend,

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth /

and called you from the chief men thereof, /

and said to you, 'You are my servant. /

I have chosen you, and not cast you away.'

10 Do not fear, for I am with you. /

Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. /

I will strengthen you and I will even help you. /

I will also uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

11 Behold, all those who were incensed against you /

shall be ashamed and confounded. /

They shall be as nothing. /

And those who contend with you shall perish.

12 You shall seek them, and shall not find them, /

even those who contended with you. /

Those who war against you /

shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nothing.

13 For I, the LORD your God, /

will hold your right hand, /

saying to you, 'Do not fear. /

I will help you.'

14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob /

and you men of Israel. /

I will help you," says the LORD, /

"and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15 Behold, I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument /

having teeth. /

You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, /

and shall make the hills as chaff.

16 You shall fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, /

and the whirlwind shall scatter them. /

And you shall rejoice in the LORD /

and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, /

and their tongue fails for thirst, /

I, the LORD, will hear them, /

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in high places /

and fountains in the midst of the valleys. /

I will make the wilderness a pool of water /

and the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, /

the shittah-tree, the myrtle, and the oil-tree. /

I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, /

and the box-tree together,

20 So that they may see, know, /

consider, and understand together, /

that the hand of the LORD has done this, /

and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 Produce your cause," says the LORD. /

"Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob.

22 "Let them bring them forth and show us /

what shall happen. /

Let them show the former things, what they are /

so that we may consider them /

and know the latter end of them, /

or declare to us things to come.

23 Show the things that are to come hereafter /

so that we may know that you are gods. /

Indeed, do good or do evil, /

so that we may be dismayed and behold it together.

24 Behold, you are of nothing, /

and your work of nothing. /

He who chooses you is an abomination.

25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come. /

From the rising of the sun he shall call upon my name. /

And he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, /

and as the potter treads clay.

26 Who has declared from the beginning /

so that we may know, /

and beforehand /

so that we may say, 'He is righteous'? /

Surely, there is no one who shows. /

Surely, there is no one who declares. /

Surely, there is no one who hears your words.

27 The first shall say to Zion, /

'Behold, behold them.' /

And I will give to Jerusalem /

one who brings good tidings.

28 For I beheld, and there was no man, /

even among them, and there was no counselor, /

who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

29 Behold, they are all vanity. /

Their works are nothing. /

Their molten images are wind and confusion."

Chapter 42

The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy, 1-4. God’s promise to him, 5-9. An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel, 10-12. God will manifest himself and check idolatry, 13-17. He reproves the people of incredulity, 18-25.

1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, /

my elect, in whom my soul delights. /

I have put my Spirit upon him. /

He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, /

nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed he shall not break, /

and the smoking flax he shall not quench. /

He shall bring forth judgment to truth.

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged /

until he has set judgment in the earth. /

And the coastlands shall wait for his law."

5 Thus says God the LORD, /

he who created the heavens /

and expanded them, /

he who spread forth the earth /

and that which it produces, /

he who gives breath to the people upon it /

and spirit to those who walk therein:

6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness, /

and will hold your hand /

and will keep you, /

and give you for a covenant of the people, /

for a light of the Gentiles,

7 To open the blind eyes, /

to bring out the prisoners from the prison, /

and those who sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

8 I am the LORD. That is my name. /

And I will not give my glory to another, /

neither my praise to engraved images.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, /

and new things I declare. /

Before they spring forth I tell you of them."

10 Sing to the LORD a new song, /

and his praise from the end of the earth, /

you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, /

the islands, and their inhabitants.

11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, /

the villages that Kedar inhabits. /

Let the inhabitants of the rock sing. /

Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the LORD /

and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 The LORD will go forth as a mighty man, /

he will stir up jealousy like a man of war. /

He will cry and even roar. /

He will prevail against his enemies.

14 "I have long time held my peace. /

I have been still and restrained myself. /

Now I will cry like a travailing woman. /

I will destroy and devour at once.

15 I will make waste mountains and hills /

and dry up all their herbs. /

And I will make the rivers to be islands, /

and I will dry up the pools.

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they did not know. /

I will lead them in paths that they have not known. /

I will make darkness light before them, /

and crooked things straight. /

I will do these things for them, /

and not forsake them."

17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, /

who trust in engraved images, /

who say to the molten images, /

"You are our gods."

18 Hear, you deaf, /

and look, you blind, so that you may see.

19 Who is blind, but my servant, /

or deaf, as my messenger whom I sent? /

Who is blind as he who is perfect, /

and blind as the LORD’S servant?

20 Seeing many things, you do not observe. /

Opening the ears, he does not hear.

21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake. /

He will magnify the law and make it honorable.

22 But this is a people robbed and pillaged. /

All of them are snared in holes, /

and they are hid in prison-houses. /

They are for plunder, and no one delivers, /

for loot, and no one says, "Restore."

23 Who among you will give ear to this? /

Who will listen and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for plunder and Israel to the robbers? /

Was it not the LORD, /

he against whom we have sinned? /

For they would not walk in his ways, /

neither were they obedient to his law.

25 Therefore, he has poured upon him the fury of his anger /

and the strength of battle. /

It has set him on fire around, yet he did not know. /

It burned him, yet he did not lay it to heart.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 12:18. [v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 12:19. [v.3]: Quoted in Matthew 12:20. [v.4]: Quoted in Matthew 12:21.

Chapter 43

The Lord comforts the church with his promises, 1-7. He appeals to the people for witness of his omnipotence, 8-13. He foretells them the destruction of Babylon, 14-17, and his wonderful deliverance of his people, 18-21. He reproves the people as inexcusable, 22-28.

1 But now thus says the LORD who created you, O Jacob, /

and he who formed you, O Israel: /

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. /

I have called you by your name. You are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, /

I will be with you. /

And [when you pass] through the rivers, /

they shall not overflow you. /

When you walk through the fire, /

you shall not be burned, /

neither shall the flame kindle upon you.

3 For I am the LORD your God, /

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. /

I gave Egypt for your ransom, /

Cush and Seba for you.

4 Since you have been precious in my sight, /

you have been honorable, /

and I have loved you, /

therefore I will give men in your stead /

and people for your life.

5 Do not fear, for I am with you. /

I will bring your offspring from the east /

and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, 'Give up,' /

and to the south, 'Do not keep back.' /

Bring my sons from far /

and my daughters from the ends of the earth,

7 Even everyone who is called by my name, /

for I have created him for my glory. /

I have formed him. Truly, I have made him."

8 Bring forth the blind people who have eyes /

and the deaf who have ears.

9 Let all the nations be collected /

and let the people be assembled. /

Who among them can declare this /

and show us former things? /

Let them bring forth their witnesses /

so that they may be justified. /

Or let them hear, and say, "It is truth."

10 "You are my witnesses," says the LORD, /

"and my servant whom I have chosen, /

so that you may know and believe me, /

and understand that I am he. /

Before me there was no god formed, /

neither shall there be after me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD, /

and besides me there is no savior.

12 I have declared, and have saved, /

and I have shown, /

when there was no strange god among you; /

therefore, you are my witnesses," /

says the LORD, "that I am God.

13 Even before the day was, I am he. /

And there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. /

I will work, and who shall hinder it?"

14 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, /

the Holy One of Israel: /

"For your sake I have sent to Babylon /

and have brought down all their nobles /

and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, /

the Creator of Israel, your King."

16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea /

and a path in the mighty waters,

17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, /

the army and the power /

(they shall lie down together, they shall not rise, /

they are extinct, they are quenched as tow):

18 "Do not remember the former things, /

neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing. /

Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? /

I will even make a way in the wilderness /

and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field shall honor me, /

the jackals and the owls, /

because I give waters in the wilderness /

and rivers in the desert /

to give drink to my people, my chosen.

21 This people I have formed for myself, /

they shall show forth my praise.

22 Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, /

but you have been weary of me, O Israel.

23 You have not brought me the small cattle of your burnt-offerings, /

neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. /

I have not caused you to serve with an offering, /

nor wearied you with incense.

24 You have bought me no sweet cane with money, /

neither have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices. /

But you have made me to serve with your sins, /

you have wearied me with your iniquities.

25 I, even I, am he /

who blots out your transgressions for my own sake /

and will not remember your sins.

26 Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. /

Declare, so that you may be justified.

27 Your first father has sinned, /

and your teachers have transgressed against me.

28 Therefore, I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, /

and have given Jacob to the curse /

and Israel to reproaches."

References

[v.20]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:9. [v.21]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:9.

Chapter 44

God comforts the church with his promises, 1-6. The vanity of idols, 7, 8, and folly of idol makers, 9-20. He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence, 21-28.

1 "Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant,   /

and Israel, whom I have chosen.

2 Thus says the LORD who made you   /

and formed you from the womb, who will help you: /

'Do not fear, O Jacob, my servant, /

and you, Jesurun, whom I have chosen,

3 For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty   /

and floods upon the dry ground. /

I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants /

and my blessing upon your offspring.

4 And they shall spring up as among the grass,   /

as willows by the watercourses.'

5 One shall say, 'I am the LORD’S,'   /

and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, /

and another shall write with his hand, 'To the LORD,' /

and surname himself by the name of Israel.

6 Thus says the LORD the King of Israel,   /

and his redeemer the LORD of hosts: /

'I am the first, and I am the last, /

and besides me there is no God.

7 And who, as I, shall call,   /

and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, /

since I appointed the ancient people? /

And the things that are coming, and shall come, /

let them declare these to them.

8 Do not fear, neither be afraid.   /

Have I not told you from that time and declared it? /

You are even my witnesses. /

Is there a God besides me? /

Truly there is no God. I do not know any.'"

9 Those who make an engraved image are all of them vanity, and their delectable things shall not profit, and they are their own witnesses. They do not see, nor know, so that they may be ashamed. 10 Who has formed a god, or cast an engraved image that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed, and the workmen, they are of men. Let them all be assembled. Let them stand up. Yet they shall fear and they shall be ashamed together.

12 The smith with the tongs works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms. Indeed, he is hungry and his strength fails. He drinks no water and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches out his rule. He marks it out with a line. He fits it with planes and marks it out with the compass. He makes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, so that it may remain in the house. 14 He hews down cedars for himself and takes the cypress and the oak, which he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants an ash, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself. Indeed he kindles it and bakes bread. He even makes a god and worships it. He makes it an engraved image and falls down to it. 16 He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it he eats flesh. He roasts meat and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm. I have seen the fire." 17 And from the rest of it he makes a god, even his engraved image. He falls down to it, worships it, and prays to it, and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god."

18 They have not known nor understood, for he has shut their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot understand. 19 And no one considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned part of it in the fire. I have also baked bread upon its coals. I have roasted flesh and eaten it. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?" 20 He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside so that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

21 "Remember these, O Jacob   /

and Israel, for you are my servant. /

I have formed you. You are my servant. /

O Israel, you shall not be forgotten by me.

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions,   /

and as a cloud, your sins. /

Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it.   /

Shout, you lower parts of the earth. /

Break forth into singing, you mountains, /

O forest, and every tree therein, /

for the LORD has redeemed Jacob /

and glorified himself in Israel.

24 Thus says the LORD your Redeemer   /

and he who formed you from the womb: /

"I am the LORD who makes all things, /

who stretches forth the heavens alone, /

who spreads abroad the earth by myself,

25 Who frustrates the tokens of the liars   /

and makes diviners mad, /

who turns wise men backward /

and makes their knowledge foolish,

26 Who confirms the word of his servant   /

and performs the counsel of his messengers, /

who says to Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,' /

and to the cities of Judah, 'You shall be built,' /

and I will raise up her decayed places,

27 Who says to the deep, 'Be dry,'   /

and I will dry up your rivers,

28 Who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd,   /

and he shall perform all my pleasure,' /

even saying to Jerusalem, 'You shall be built,' /

and to the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"

Chapter 45

God calls Cyrus for his church’s sake, 1-4. By his omnipotence he challenges obedience, 5-19. He convinces the idols of vanity by his saving power, 20-25.

1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, /

to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held /

to subdue nations before him, /

and I will ungird the loins of kings, /

to open before him the two-leaved gates, /

and the gates shall not be shut:

2 "I will go before you /

and make the crooked places straight. /

I will break in pieces the gates of brass /

and cut apart the bars of iron.

3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness /

and hidden riches of secret places /

so that you may know that I, the LORD, /

who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant’s sake /

and Israel my elect, /

I have even called you by your name. /

I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is no one else. /

There is no God besides me. /

I girded you, though you have not known me,

6 So that they may know /

from the rising of the sun and from the west, /

that there is no one besides me. /

I am the LORD, and there is no one else.

7 I form the light and create darkness. /

I make peace and create evil. /

I, the LORD, do all these things.

8 Drop down, you heavens, from above, /

and let the skies pour down righteousness. /

Let the earth open, /

and let them bring forth salvation, /

and let righteousness spring up together. /

I, the LORD, have created it.

9 Woe to him who contends with his Maker! /

Let the potsherd contend with the potsherds of the earth. /

Shall the clay say to him who fashions it, /

'What are you making?' /

Or shall your work say, /

'He has no hands'?

10 Woe to him who says to his father, /

'What are you begetting?' /

or to the woman, /

'What have you brought forth?'"

11 Thus says the LORD, /

the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: /

"You ask me of things to come concerning my sons, /

and you command me concerning the work of my hands.

12 I have made the earth, /

and created man upon it. /

I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, /

and all their host I have commanded.

13 I have raised him up in righteousness /

and I will direct all his ways. /

He shall build my city /

and let my captives go, /

not for price nor reward," /

says the LORD of hosts.

14 Thus says the LORD: /

"The labor of Egypt, and merchandise of Cush /

and of the Sabeans, men of stature, /

shall come over to you, /

and they shall be yours. /

They shall come after you. /

In chains they shall come over, /

and they shall fall down to you. /

They shall make supplication to you, saying, /

'Surely God is in you, and there is no one else, /

there is no other God.'"

15 Truly you are a God who hides yourself, /

O God of Israel, the Savior.

16 They shall be ashamed and also confounded, all of them. /

They shall go in disgrace together who are makers of idols.

17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD /

with an everlasting salvation. /

You shall not be ashamed nor confounded /

to a world without end.

18 For thus says the LORD who created the heavens /

(God himself /

who formed the earth and made it, /

who has established it, /

who did not create it in vain, /

who formed it to be inhabited): /

"I am the LORD, and there is no one else.

19 I have not spoken in secret, /

in a dark place of the earth. /

I have not said to the offspring of Jacob, /

'Seek me in vain.' /

I, the LORD, speak righteousness. /

I declare things that are right.

20 Assemble yourselves and come. /

Draw near together, /

you who have escaped of the nations. /

They have no knowledge /

who set up the wood of their engraved image /

and pray to a god that cannot save.

21 Announce, and bring them near, /

even let them take counsel together. /

Who has declared this from ancient time? /

Who has told it from that time? /

Have I, the LORD, not? /

And there is no other God besides me, /

a just God and a Savior. /

There is no one besides me.

22 Look to me and be saved, /

all the ends of the earth, /

for I am God, and there is no one else.

23 I have sworn by myself, /

the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness /

and shall not return, /

that to me every knee shall bow, /

every tongue shall swear.

24 Surely, one shall say, /

'In the LORD I have righteousness and strength.' /

Even to him men shall come. /

And all who are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel /

shall be justified and shall glory."

References

[v.23]: Quoted in Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11.

Chapter 46

The idols of Babylon could not save themselves, 1, 2. God saves his people to the end, 3, 4. Idols are not comparable to God for power, 5-11, or present salvation, 12, 13.

1 Bel bows down and Nebo stoops. /

Their idols were upon the beasts and upon the cattle. /

Your loads were heavy. /

They were a burden to the weary beast.

2 They stoop. They bow down together. /

They could not deliver the burden, /

but they themselves have gone into captivity.

3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, /

and all the remnant of the house of Israel, /

which are borne by me from the birth, /

which are carried from the womb.

4 And even to your old age I am he. /

And even to hoary hairs I will carry you. /

I have made and I will bear. /

I will even carry and will deliver you.

5 To whom will you compare me and make me equal, /

and compare me so that we may be alike?

6 They lavish gold out of the bag /

and weigh silver in the balance, /

and hire a goldsmith and he makes it a god. /

They fall down and they even worship.

7 They bear him upon the shoulder. /

They carry him and set him in his place and he stands. /

From his place he shall not move. /

Indeed, one shall cry to him, yet he cannot answer, /

nor save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this, and show yourselves men. /

Bring it back to mind, O transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old, /

for I am God, and there is no one else. /

I am God, and there is no one like me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, /

and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, /

saying, 'My counsel shall stand, /

and I will do all my pleasure;'

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, /

the man who executes my counsel from a far country. /

I have spoken it and I will also bring it to pass. /

I have purposed it and I will also perform it.

12 Listen to me, you stout-hearted, /

who are far from righteousness.

13 I bring my righteousness near. /

It shall not be far off, /

and my salvation shall not delay. /

And I will place salvation in Zion /

for Israel my glory."

Chapter 47

God’s judgment upon Babylon and Chaldea for their unmercifulness, 1-6. Their pride and other sins, 7-10. Their enchantments shall not deliver them, 11-15.

1 "Come down, and sit in the dust, /

O virgin daughter of Babylon. /

Sit on the ground without a throne, /

O daughter of the Chaldeans. /

For you shall no longer be called /

tender and delicate.

2 Take the millstones and grind meal. /

Remove your veil. /

Make the leg bare. Uncover the thigh. /

Pass over the rivers.

3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered. /

Even your shame shall be seen. /

I will take vengeance, /

and I will not meet you as a man."

4 As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, /

the Holy One of Israel.

5 "Sit silent, and get into darkness, /

O daughter of the Chaldeans, /

for you shall no longer be called, /

The Mistress of Kingdoms.

6 I was angry with my people. /

I have polluted my inheritance /

and given them into your hand. /

You showed them no mercy. /

Upon the ancient /

you have very heavily laid your yoke.

7 And you said, /

'I shall be a mistress forever,' /

so that you did not lay these things to your heart, /

neither remembered its latter end.

8 Now therefore, hear this, you who are given to pleasures, /

who dwell carelessly, /

who say in your heart, /

'I am, and no one else besides me. /

I shall not sit as a widow, /

neither shall I know the loss of children.'

9 But these two things shall come to you /

in a moment in one day: /

the loss of children and widowhood. /

They shall come upon you in their perfection, /

for the multitude of your sorceries /

and for the great abundance of your enchantments.

10 For you have trusted in your wickedness. /

You have said, 'No one sees me.' /

Your wisdom and your knowledge, /

it has perverted you. /

And you have said in your heart, /

'I am, and no one else besides me.'

11 Therefore, evil shall come upon you. /

You shall not know from where it rises. /

And mischief shall fall upon you. /

You shall not be able to put it off. /

And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, /

which you shall not know.

12 Stand now with your enchantments /

and with the multitude of your sorceries /

in which you have labored from your youth. /

It may be you are able to profit. /

Perhaps you may prevail.

13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. /

Now let the astrologers, the star-gazers, /

and the monthly prognosticators /

stand up and save you /

from these things that shall come upon you.

14 Behold, they shall be as stubble. /

The fire shall burn them. /

They shall not deliver themselves /

from the power of the flame. /

There shall not be a coal to warm at, /

nor fire to sit before it.

15 Thus they shall be to you /

with whom you have labored, /

even your merchants, from your youth. /

They shall each wander to his quarter. /

No one shall save you."

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Revelation 18:7. [v.8]: Quoted in Revelation 18:7.

Chapter 48

God, to convince the people of their foreknown obstinacy, revealed his prophecies, 1-8. He saves them for his own sake, 9-11. He exhorts them to obedience because of his power and providence, 12-15. He laments their backwardness, 16-19. He powerfully delivers his people out of Babylon, 20-22.

1 "Hear this, O house of Jacob, /

who are called by the name of Israel /

and have come forth out of the waters of Judah, /

who swear by the name of the LORD /

and make mention of the God of Israel, /

but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

2 For they call themselves of the holy city, /

and stay themselves upon the God of Israel. /

The LORD of hosts is his name.

3 I have declared the former things from the beginning, /

and they went forth from my mouth /

and I proclaimed them. /

I did them suddenly /

and they came to pass.

4 Because I knew that you are obstinate, /

and your neck is an iron sinew and your brow brass,

5 I have even from the beginning declared it to you. /

Before it came to pass I showed it to you, /

lest you should say, 'My idol has done them, /

and my engraved image and my molten image /

has commanded them.'

6 You have heard it. See all of this. /

And will you not declare it? /

I have showed you new things from this time, /

even hidden things, and you did not know them.

7 They are created now, and not from the beginning, /

even before the day when you did not hear them, /

lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.'

8 Indeed, you did not hear. /

Indeed, you did not know. /

Indeed, from that time your ear was not opened. /

For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, /

and were called a transgressor from the womb.

9 For my name’s sake I will defer my anger, /

and for my praise I will refrain for you, /

so that I do not cut you off.

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver. /

I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

11 For my own sake, even for my own sake, I will do it. /

For how should my name be profaned? /

And I will not give my glory to another.

12 Listen to me, O Jacob, /

and Israel my called. /

I am he. I am the first. /

I am also the last.

13 My hand has also laid the foundation of the earth, /

and my right hand has spanned the heavens. /

When I call to them, /

they stand up together.

14 All of you, assemble yourselves and hear. /

Who among them has declared these things? /

The LORD has loved him. /

He will do his pleasure on Babylon, /

and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

15 I, even I, have spoken. /

Indeed, I have called him. /

I have brought him, /

and he shall make his way prosperous.

16 Come near to me, hear this. /

I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. /

From the time that it was, there I am. /

And now the Lord GOD and his Spirit has sent me."

17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, /

the Holy One of Israel: /

"I am the LORD your God, /

who teaches you to profit, /

who leads you by the way that you should go.

18 O that you had listened to my commandments! /

Then your peace would have been as a river /

and your righteousness as the waves of the sea.

19 Your descendants also would have been as the sand /

and the offspring of your body like its grains. /

His name should not have been cut off /

nor destroyed from before me."

20 Go forth from Babylon. /

Flee from the Chaldeans. /

With a voice of singing /

declare, tell this, /

and utter it even to the end of the earth, /

saying, "The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob."

21 And they did not thirst /

when he led them through the deserts. /

He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them. /

He also cleaved the rock and the waters gushed out.

22 "There is no peace," /

says the LORD, "for the wicked."

Chapter 49

Christ, being sent to the Jews, complains of them, 1-4. He is sent to the Gentiles with gracious promises, 5-12. God’s love is perpetual to his church, 13-17. The ample restoration of the church, 18-23. The powerful deliverance out of captivity, 24-26.

1 Listen to me, O islands, /

and listen, you people, from far. /

The LORD has called me from the womb. /

From the body of my mother /

he has made mention of my name.

2 And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword. /

In the shadow of his hand he has hid me, /

and made me a polished shaft. /

In his quiver he has hid me,

3 And said to me, "You are my servant, /

O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."

4 Then I said, "I have labored in vain. /

I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain. /

Yet surely my judgment is with the LORD /

and my work with my God."

5 And now, the LORD says, /

who formed me from the womb to be his servant /

to bring Jacob back to him, /

though Israel is not gathered /

(yet I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, /

and my God shall be my strength),

6 And he said, "It is a light thing /

that you should be my servant /

to raise up the tribes of Jacob /

and to restore the preserved of Israel. /

I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, /

so that you may be my salvation /

to the end of the earth."

7 Thus says the LORD, /

the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, /

to him whom man despises, /

to him whom the nation abhors, /

to a servant of rulers: /

"Kings shall see and arise, /

princes also shall worship, /

because of the LORD who is faithful, /

and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose you."

8 Thus says the LORD: /

"In an acceptable time I have heard you, /

and in a day of salvation I have helped you. /

And I will preserve you, and give you /

for a covenant of the people, /

to establish the earth, /

to cause to inherit the desolate heritages,

9 So that you may say to the prisoners, 'Go forth,' /

to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' /

They shall feed in the ways, /

and their pastures shall be in all high places.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, /

neither shall the heat nor sun smite them, /

for he who has mercy on them shall lead them, /

even by the springs of water he shall guide them.

11 And I will make all my mountains a way, /

and my highways shall be exalted.

12 Behold, these shall come from far. /

And behold, these from the north and from the west, /

and these from the land of Sinim."

13 Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, /

and break forth into singing, O mountains, /

for the LORD has comforted his people /

and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, /

and my Lord has forgotten me."

15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, /

that she should not have compassion /

on the son of her womb? /

Even they may forget, /

yet I will not forget you.

16 Behold, I have engraved you /

upon the palms of my hands. /

Your walls are continually before me.

17 Your children shall make haste. /

Your destroyers and those who made you waste /

shall go forth from you.

18 Lift up your eyes around and behold. /

All these assemble themselves and come to you. /

As I live," says the LORD, /

"you shall surely clothe yourself with them all, /

as with an ornament, /

and bind them on yourself, /

as a bride does.

19 For your waste and your desolate places /

and the land of your destruction /

shall even now be too narrow /

by reason of the inhabitants. /

And those who swallowed you up /

shall be far away.

20 The children which you shall have, /

after you have lost the other, /

shall say again in your ears, /

'The place is too narrow for me. /

Give place to me so that I may dwell.'

21 Then you shall say in your heart, /

'Who has begotten these for me, /

seeing I have lost my children and am desolate, /

a captive, and wandering to and fro? /

And who has brought these up? /

Behold, I was left alone. /

These, where have they been?'"

22 Thus says the Lord GOD: /

"Behold, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles /

and set up my standard to the people. /

And they shall bring your sons in their arms, /

and your daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, /

and their queens your nursing mothers. /

They shall bow to you with their face toward the earth /

and lick up the dust of your feet. /

And you shall know that I am the LORD, /

for they shall not be ashamed who wait for me.

24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, /

or the lawful captive delivered?"

25 But thus says the LORD: /

"Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, /

and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered, /

for I will contend with him who contends with you, /

and I will save your children.

26 And I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, /

and they shall be drunken with their own blood, /

as with sweet wine. /

And all flesh shall know /

that I, the LORD, am your Savior /

and your Redeemer, /

the mighty One of Jacob."

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47. [v.8]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 6:2. [v.10]: Quoted in Revelation 7:16.

Chapter 50

Christ shows that the dereliction of the Jews is not to be imputed to him, by his ability to save, 1-4; by his obedience in that work, 5, 6; and by his confidence in that assistance, 7-9. An exhortation to trust in God and not in ourselves, 10, 11.

1 Thus says the LORD: /

"Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, /

whom I have put away? /

Or which of my creditors is it /

to whom I have sold you? /

Behold, for your iniquities you have sold yourselves, /

and for your transgressions your mother is put away.

2 Why, when I came, was there no man? /

Why, when I called, was there no one to answer? /

Is my hand shortened at all so that it cannot redeem? /

Or have I no power to deliver? /

Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. /

I make the rivers a wilderness. /

Their fish become putrid because there is no water /

and die for thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness /

and I make sackcloth their covering."

4 The Lord GOD has given me /

the tongue of the learned, /

so that I should know how to speak a word /

in season to him who is weary. /

He wakens morning by morning, /

he wakens my ear /

to hear as the learned.

5 The Lord GOD opened my ear, /

and I was not rebellious, /

neither turned away backward.

6 I gave my back to the smiters /

and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. /

I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.

7 For the Lord GOD will help me; /

therefore, I shall not be confounded. /

Therefore, I have set my face like a flint, /

and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

8 He is near who justifies me. /

Who will contend with me? /

Let us stand together. /

Who is my adversary? /

Let him come near to me.

9 Behold the Lord GOD will help me. /

Who is he who shall condemn me? /

Behold, all of them shall wax old as a garment. /

The moth shall eat them up.

10 Who is among you who fears the LORD, /

who obeys the voice of his servant, /

who walks in darkness and has no light? /

Let him trust in the name of the LORD /

and rely upon his God.

11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, /

who encompass yourselves with sparks, /

walk in the light of your fire /

and in the sparks that you have kindled. /

This you shall have of my hand: /

you shall lie down in sorrow.

Chapter 51

An exhortation, after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ, 1, 2, by reason of his comfortable promises, 3, of his righteous salvation, 4-6, and man’s mortality, 7, 8. Christ by his sanctified arm defends his people from the fear of man, 9-16. He bewails the afflictions of Jerusalem, 17-20, and promises deliverance, 21-23.

1 "Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, /

you who seek the LORD. /

Look to the rock from where you are hewn, /

and to the hole of the pit from where you are dug.

2 Look to Abraham your father /

and to Sarah who bore you, /

for I called him alone, /

blessed him, and increased him.

3 For the LORD will comfort Zion. /

He will comfort all her waste places, /

and he will make her wilderness like Eden /

and her desert like the garden of the LORD. /

Joy and gladness shall be found therein, /

thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

4 Listen to me, my people, /

and give ear to me, O my nation. /

For a law shall proceed from me, /

and I will make my judgment to rest /

for a light of the people.

5 My righteousness is near. /

My salvation has gone forth, /

and my arms shall judge the people. /

The coastlands shall wait upon me, /

and in my arm they shall trust.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens /

and look upon the earth beneath, /

for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, /

the earth shall become old like a garment, /

and its inhabitants shall die in a like manner. /

But my salvation shall be forever /

and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

7 Listen to me, you who know righteousness, /

the people in whose heart my law is. /

Do not fear the reproach of men, /

neither be afraid of their revilings.

8 For the moth shall eat them like a garment /

and the worm shall eat them like wool. /

But my righteousness shall be forever /

and my salvation from generation to generation."

9 Awake, awake, put on your strength, /

O arm of the LORD. /

Awake, as in the ancient days, /

in the generations of old. /

Is it not you who cut Rahab /

and wounded the dragon?

10 Is it not you who dried the sea, /

the waters of the great deep, /

who has made the depths of the sea a way /

for the ransomed to pass over?

11 Therefore, the redeemed of the LORD shall return /

and come with singing to Zion, /

and everlasting joy shall be upon their head. /

They shall obtain gladness and joy. /

Sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

12 "I, even I, am he who comforts you. /

Who are you, that you should be afraid /

of a man who shall die, /

and of the son of man /

who shall be made as grass,

13 And forget the LORD your maker, /

who has stretched forth the heavens /

and laid the foundations of the earth, /

and have feared continually every day /

because of the fury of the oppressor, /

as if he were ready to destroy? /

And where is the fury of the oppressor?

14 The captive exile hastens so that he may be released /

and that he should not die in the pit, /

nor that his bread should fail.

15 But I am the LORD your God /

who divided the sea, whose waves roared. /

The LORD of hosts is his name.

16 And I have put my words in your mouth /

and have covered you in the shadow of my hand, /

so that I may plant the heavens /

and lay the foundations of the earth, /

and say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"

17 Awake, awake, /

stand up, O Jerusalem, /

which have drank at the hand of the LORD /

the cup of his fury. /

You have drank the dregs of the cup of trembling /

and wrung them out.

18 There is no one to guide her /

among all the sons whom she has brought forth, /

neither is there any who takes her by the hand /

of all the sons whom she has brought up.

19 There are two things that have come to you /

(who shall be sorry for you?): /

they are desolation and destruction, /

famine and the sword. /

By whom shall I comfort you?

20 Your sons have fainted, /

they lie at the head of all the streets, /

as a wild bull in a net. /

They are full of the fury of the LORD, /

the rebuke of your God.

21 Now therefore, hear this, you afflicted /

and drunken, but not with wine.

22 Thus says your Lord Yahweh, /

and your God who pleads the cause of his people: /

"Behold, I have taken out of your hand /

the cup of trembling, /

even the dregs of the cup of my fury. /

You shall no longer drink it again.

23 But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, /

who have said to your soul, /

'Prostrate yourself so that we may go over.' /

So you have laid your body as the ground /

and as the street to those who went over."

Chapter 52

Christ persuades the church to believe his free redemption, 1-6, to receive the ministers thereof, 7, 8, to joy in the power thereof, 9, 10, and to free themselves from bondage, 11, 12. Christ’s kingdom shall be exalted, 13-15.

1 Awake, awake,   /

put on your strength, O Zion. /

Put on your beautiful garments, /

O Jerusalem, the holy city. /

For from now on the uncircumcised and the unclean /

shall no longer come into you.

2 Shake yourself from the dust.   /

Arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem. /

Release yourself from the bonds of your neck, /

O captive daughter of Zion.

3 For thus says the LORD: "You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money." 4 For thus says the Lord GOD: "My people went down formerly into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 5 Now therefore, what do I have here," says the LORD, "that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them make them to howl," says the LORD, "and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 6 Therefore, my people shall know my name. Therefore, they shall know in that day that I am he who speaks, 'Behold, it is I.'"

7 How beautiful upon the mountains /

are the feet of him who brings good tidings, /

who publishes peace, /

who brings good tidings of good, /

who publishes salvation, /

who says to Zion, /

"Your God reigns!"

8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices.   /

With their voices together they shall sing, /

for they shall see eye to eye, /

when the LORD brings back Zion.

9 Break forth into joy, sing together,   /

you waste places of Jerusalem, /

for the LORD has comforted his people, /

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The LORD has made his holy arm bare   /

in the eyes of all the nations. /

And all the ends of the earth shall see /

the salvation of our God.

11 Depart, depart, go out from there. /

Touch no unclean thing. /

Go out of the midst of her. Be clean, /

you who bear the vessels of the LORD.

12 For you shall not go out with haste,   /

nor go by flight, /

for the LORD will go before you, /

and the God of Israel will be your rear-ward.

13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently.   /

He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

14 As many were astonished at you   /

(his visage was so marred more than any man, /

and his form more than the sons of men),

15 So he shall sprinkle many nations. /

The kings shall shut their mouths at him, /

for that which had not been told to them they shall see, /

and that which they had not heard they shall consider.

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Romans 2:24. [v.7]: Quoted in Romans 10:15. [v.11]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 6:17. [v.15]: Quoted in Romans 15:21.

Chapter 53

The prophet, complaining of incredulity, excuses the scandal of the cross, 1-3, by the benefit of his passion, 4-9, and the good success thereof, 10-12.

1 Who has believed our report? /

And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant /

and as a root out of a dry ground. /

He has no form nor majesty. And when we see him, /

there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected by men, /

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. /

And like one from whom we hide our faces, /

he was despised, and we did not esteem him.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, /

yet we esteemed him stricken, /

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgression. /

He was bruised for our iniquities. /

The chastisement of our peace was upon him, /

and with his stripes we are healed.

6 We have all like sheep gone astray. /

We have each turned to his own way, /

and the LORD has laid on him /

the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and he was afflicted, /

yet he did not open his mouth. /

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, /

and as a sheep before her shearers is mute, /

so he did not open his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment. /

And who shall declare his generation? /

For he was cut off from the land of the living. /

For the transgression of my people he was stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, /

and with the rich in his death, /

because he had done no violence, /

neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him. /

He has put him to grief. /

When you make his soul an offering for sin, /

he shall see his offspring. /

He shall prolong his days, /

and the pleasure of the LORD /

shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul /

and shall be satisfied. /

By his knowledge /

my righteous servant shall justify many, /

for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore, I will divide to him a portion with the great, /

and he shall divide the plunder with the strong, /

because he has poured out his soul to death /

and he was numbered with the transgressors. /

And he bore the sin of many /

and made intercession for the transgressors.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in John 12:38; Romans 10:16. [v.4]: Quoted in Matthew 8:17. [v.5]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:24. [v.7]: Quoted in Acts 8:32. [v.8]: Quoted in Acts 8:33. [v.9]: Quoted in 1st Peter 2:22 [v.12]: Quoted in Mark 15:28; Luke 22:37.

Chapter 54

The prophet, for the comfort of the Gentiles, prophesies the amplitude of their church, 1-3; their safety, 4, 5; their certain deliverance out of affliction, 6-10; their fair edification, 11-14; and their sure preservation, 15-17.

1 "Sing, O barren, you who did not bear. /

Break forth into singing and cry aloud, /

you who did not travail with child. /

For more are the children of the desolate /

than the children of the married wife," /

says the LORD.

2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, /

and let them extend the curtains of your habitations. /

Do not spare, /

lengthen your cords, /

and strengthen your stakes,

3 For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left, /

and your offspring shall inherit the Gentiles /

and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

4 Do not fear, /

for you shall not be ashamed. /

Do not be confounded, /

for you shall not be put to shame. /

For you shall forget the shame of your youth, /

and shall not remember the reproach /

of your widowhood anymore.

5 For your maker is your husband. /

The LORD of hosts is his name. /

And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. /

He shall be called The God of the Whole Earth.

6 For the LORD has called you /

as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, /

even as a wife of youth when she is refused," /

says your God.

7 "For a small moment I have forsaken you, /

but with great mercies I will gather you.

8 In a little wrath /

I hid my face from you for a moment, /

but with everlasting kindness /

I will have mercy on you," /

says the LORD your Redeemer.

9 "For this is as the waters of Noah to me. /

For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah /

shall no longer overflow the earth, /

so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, /

nor rebuke you.

10 For the mountains shall depart /

and the hills be removed, /

but my kindness shall not depart from you, /

neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed," /

says the LORD who has mercy on you.

11 "Oh you afflicted, tossed with tempest, /

and not comforted, /

behold, I will lay your stones with fair colors /

and lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 And I will make your windows of agates, /

your gates of carbuncles, /

and all your borders of pleasant stones.

13 And all your children shall be taught from the LORD, /

and the peace of your children shall be great.

14 In righteousness you shall be established. /

You shall be far from oppression, /

for you shall not fear. /

You shall be far from terror, /

for it shall not come near you.

15 Behold, they shall surely assemble but not by me. /

Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

16 Behold, I have created the smith /

who blows the coals in the fire /

and brings forth an instrument for his work. /

And I have created the waster to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper. /

And every tongue that rises against you in judgment /

you shall condemn. /

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, /

and their righteousness is from me," /

says the LORD.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Galatians 4:27. [v.13]: Quoted in John 6:45.

Chapter 55

The prophet, with the promises of Christ, calls to faith, 1-5, and to repentance, 6, 7. The happy success of those who believe, 8-13.

1 "Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, /

and he who has no money, /

come, buy, and eat. /

Yes, come, buy wine and milk /

without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, /

and your labor for that which does not satisfy? /

Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, /

and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear and come to me. /

Hear, and your soul shall live. /

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, /

even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, /

a leader and commander to the people.

5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, /

and nations that did not know you shall run to you /

because of the LORD your God /

and for the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you."

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, /

call upon him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way /

and the unrighteous man his thoughts. /

And let him return to the LORD, /

and he will have mercy upon him, /

and to our God, /

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, /

neither are your ways my ways," says the LORD.

9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, /

so are my ways higher than your ways /

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain comes down, /

and the snow from heaven, /

and does not return there, /

but waters the earth /

and makes it bring forth and bud /

so that it may give seed to the sower /

and bread to the eater,

11 So my word shall be that proceeds from my mouth. /

It shall not return to me void, /

but it shall accomplish that which I please /

and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out with joy /

and be led forth with peace. /

The mountains and the hills /

shall break forth before you into singing, /

and all the trees of the field /

shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn, /

the fir-tree shall come up, /

and instead of the brier, /

the myrtle-tree shall come up, /

and it shall be to the LORD for a name, /

for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Acts 13:34. [v.10]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 9:10.

Chapter 56

The prophet exhorts to sanctification, 1, 2. He promises it shall be general, without respect of persons, 3-8. He draws up a charge against blind watchmen, 9-12.

1 Thus says the LORD: /

"Keep judgment and do justice, /

for my salvation is near to come /

and my righteousness to be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man who does this, /

and the son of man who lays hold upon it, /

who keeps the sabbath from profaning it, /

and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

3 Do not let the son of the stranger, /

who has joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, /

"The LORD has utterly separated me from his people," /

neither let the eunuch say, /

"Behold, I am a dry tree."

4 For thus says the LORD: /

"To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths /

and choose the things that please me /

and take hold of my covenant,

5 Even to them I will give in my house /

and within my walls a place and a name /

better than of sons and of daughters. /

I will give them an everlasting name /

that shall not be cut off.

6 Also the sons of the stranger, /

who join themselves to the LORD to serve him, /

to love the name of the LORD, /

to be his servants, /

everyone who keeps the sabbath from profaning it, /

and takes hold of my covenant,

7 Even them I will bring to my holy mountain /

and make them joyful in my house of prayer. /

Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices /

shall be accepted upon my altar, /

for my house shall be called /

a house of prayer for all people."

8 The Lord GOD who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, /

"Yet I will gather others to him, /

besides those who are gathered to him."

9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, /

even all you beasts in the forest.

10 His watchmen are blind. /

They are all ignorant. /

They are all mute dogs /

that cannot bark. /

They are sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

11 Indeed, they are greedy dogs /

which can never have enough, /

and they are shepherds /

who cannot understand. /

They all look to their own way, /

each for his gain, from his quarter.

12 "Come," they say, "I will bring wine, /

and we will fill ourselves with strong drink, /

and tomorrow shall be as this day, /

and much more abundant."

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46.

Chapter 57

The blessed death of the righteous, 1, 2. God reproves the Jews for their lewd idolatry, 3-12. He gives promises of mercy to the penitent, 13-21.

1 The righteous perish, /

and no man lays it to heart. /

And merciful men are taken away, /

no one considering /

that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

2 He shall enter into peace. /

They shall rest in their beds, /

each one walking in his uprightness.

3 "But draw near here, /

you sons of the sorceress, /

the offspring of the adulterer and the lewd.

4 Who are you mocking? /

Against whom do you make a wide mouth /

and thrust out the tongue? /

Are you not children of transgression, /

offspring of falsehood,

5 Inflaming yourselves with idols /

under every green tree, /

slaying the children in the valleys /

under the cliffs of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion. /

They, they are your lot. /

Even to them you have poured a drink-offering. /

You have offered a food-offering. /

Should I receive comfort in these?

7 Upon a lofty and high mountain /

you have set your bed. /

Even there you went up /

to offer sacrifice.

8 Behind the doors and also the posts /

you have set up your remembrance, /

for you have uncovered yourself /

to someone other than me /

and have gone up. /

You have enlarged your bed /

and made yourself a covenant with them. /

You loved their bed /

where you saw it.

9 And you went to the king with ointment /

and increased your perfumes, /

and sent your messengers far off, /

and debased yourself even to hell.

10 You are wearied in the greatness of your way, /

yet you did not say, 'There is no hope.' /

You have found the life of your hand; /

therefore, you were not grieved.

11 And of whom have you been afraid or feared, /

that you have lied and have not remembered me, /

nor laid it to your heart? /

Have I not held my peace even of old, /

and you do not fear me?

12 I will declare your righteousness and your works, /

for they shall not profit you.

13 When you cry, let your companies deliver you. /

But the wind shall carry them all away. /

Vanity shall take them. /

But he who puts his trust in me shall possess the land /

and shall inherit my holy mountain."

14 He shall say, /

"Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, /

take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people."

15 For thus says the high and lofty One /

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: /

"I dwell in the high and holy place, /

with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, /

to revive the spirit of the humble /

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 For I will not contend forever, /

neither will I always be angry, /

for the spirit would fail before me, /

and the souls which I have made.

17 For the iniquity of his covetousness /

I was angry and smote him. /

I hid myself and was angry, /

and he went on backsliding /

in the way of his heart.

18 I have seen his ways and will heal him. /

I will lead him also /

and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

19 I create the fruit of the lips. /

Peace, peace to him who is far off /

and to him who is near," /

says the LORD, /

"and I will heal him."

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea /

when it cannot rest, /

whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21 "There is no peace," /

says my God, "for the wicked."

References

[v.19]: Quoted in Ephesians 2:17.

Chapter 58

The prophet, being sent to reprove hypocrisy, shows the difference between a counterfeit fast and a true fast, 1-7. He declares what promises are due to godliness, 8-12, and to the keeping of the sabbath, 13, 14.

1 "Cry aloud, do not spare, /

lift up your voice like a trumpet, /

and show my people their transgression /

and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily /

and delight to know my ways, /

as a nation that did righteousness, /

and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. /

They ask of me the ordinances of justice. /

They take delight in approaching to God.

3 'Why have we fasted, they say, and you do not see? /

Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge?' /

Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure /

and exact all your labors.

4 Behold, you fast for strife and debate, /

and to smite with the fist of wickedness. /

You shall not fast as you do this day, /

to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is this the fast that I have chosen: /

a day for a man to afflict his soul? /

Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush /

and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? /

Will you call this a fast /

and an acceptable day to the LORD?

6 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: /

to release the bonds of wickedness, /

to undo the heavy burdens, /

and to let the oppressed go free, /

and that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, /

and that you should bring the poor who are cast out to your house, /

when you see the naked that you should cover him, /

and that you should not hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then your light shall break forth as the morning, /

and your health shall spring forth speedily. /

And your righteousness shall go before you. /

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear-ward.

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer. /

You shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' /

If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, /

the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity,

10 And if you draw out your soul to the hungry /

and satisfy the afflicted soul, /

then your light shall rise in obscurity /

and your darkness shall be as the noon day.

11 And the LORD will guide you continually, /

and satisfy your soul in drought /

and make your bones fat. /

And you shall be like a watered garden /

and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 And those amidst you shall build the old waste places. /

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations, /

and you shall be called, The Repairer of the Breach, /

The Restorer of Paths to Dwell In.

13 If you turn away your foot from the sabbath, /

from doing your pleasure on my holy day, /

and call the sabbath a delight, /

and the holy [day] of the LORD honorable, /

and honor him, not doing your own ways, /

nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words,

14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD, /

and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth /

and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. /

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken it."

Chapter 59

The calamities of the Jews not owing to lack of saving power in God, but to their own enormous sins, 1-15. Salvation is only of God, 16-19. The covenant of the Redeemer, 20, 21.

1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened   /

so that it cannot save, /

neither his ear heavy /

so that it cannot hear.

2 But your iniquities have come between   /

and separated you and your God, /

and your sins have hid his face from you /

so that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood   /

and your fingers with iniquity. /

Your lips have spoken lies, /

your tongue has uttered perverseness.

4 No one calls for justice,   /

nor any pleads for truth. /

They trust in vanity and speak lies. /

They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.

5 They hatch adders' eggs   /

and weave the spider’s web. /

He who eats of their eggs dies, /

and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.

6 Their webs shall not become garments,   /

neither shall they cover themselves with their works. /

Their works are works of iniquity, /

and the act of violence is in their hands.

7 Their feet run to evil, /

and they make haste to shed innocent blood. /

Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. /

Wasting and destruction are in their paths.

8 The way of peace they do not know, /

and there is no judgment in their goings. /

They have made themselves crooked paths. /

Whoever goes therein shall not know peace.

9 Therefore, judgment is far from us,   /

neither does justice overtake us. /

We wait for light, but behold obscurity, /

for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

10 We grope for the wall like the blind,   /

and we grope as if we had no eyes. /

We stumble at noon day as in the night. /

We are in desolate places as dead men.

11 We all roar like bears   /

and mourn bitterly like doves. /

We look for judgment, but there is none, /

for salvation, but it is far from us.

12 For our transgressions are multiplied before you   /

and our sins testify against us, /

for our transgressions are with us, /

and as for our iniquities, we know them,

13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD,   /

and departing away from our God, /

speaking oppression and revolt, /

conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14 And judgment is turned away backward,   /

and justice stands afar off. /

For truth has fallen in the street, /

and equity cannot enter.

15 Indeed, truth fails.   /

And he who departs from evil makes himself plunder. /

And the LORD saw it, and it displeased him /

that there was no judgment.

16 And he saw that there was no man,   /

and wondered that there was no intercessor; /

therefore, his arm brought salvation to him, /

and his righteousness, it sustained him.

17 For he put on righteousness as a breast-plate, /

and a helmet of salvation upon his head. /

And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, /

and was clad with zeal as a cloak.

18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay:   /

fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies. /

To the coastlands he will repay recompense.

19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,   /

and his glory from the rising of the sun. /

When the enemy comes in like a flood, /

the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

20 "And the Redeemer will come to Zion /

and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," /

says the LORD.

21 "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit who is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your children, nor out of the mouth of your children’s children," says the LORD, "from now on and forever."

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Romans 3:15-16. [v.8]: Quoted in Romans 3:17. [v.17]: Quoted in Ephesians 6:14, 6:17. [v.20]: Quoted in Romans 11:26. [v.21]: Quoted in Romans 11:27.

Chapter 60

The glory of the church in the abundant access of the Gentiles, 1-14, and the great blessings after a short affliction, 15-22.

1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, /

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, /

and gross darkness the people, /

but the LORD will arise upon you, /

and his glory will be seen upon you.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to your light, /

and kings to the brightness of your rising.

4 Lift up your eyes around and see. /

They all assemble themselves. They come to you. /

Your sons shall come from far /

and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

5 Then you shall see and flow together, /

and your heart shall fear and be enlarged, /

because the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you, /

the forces of the Gentiles shall come to you.

6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, /

dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. /

All those from Sheba shall come. /

They shall bring gold and incense /

and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.

7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you. /

The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you. /

They shall come up with acceptance on my altar, /

and I will glorify the house of my glory.

8 Who are these who fly as a cloud, /

and as doves to their windows?

9 Surely the coastlands shall wait for me, /

and the ships of Tarshish first, /

to bring your sons from far, /

their silver and their gold with them, /

to the name of the LORD your God, /

and to the Holy One of Israel, /

because he has glorified you.

10 And the sons of strangers shall build up your walls, /

and their kings shall minister to you, /

for in my wrath I smote you, /

but in my favor I have had mercy on you.

11 Therefore, your gates shall be open continually. /

They shall not be shut day nor night, /

so that men may bring to you the forces of the Gentiles /

and that their kings may be brought.

12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish. /

Indeed, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, /

the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box-tree together, /

to beautify the place of my sanctuary. /

And I will make the place of my feet glorious.

14 The sons of those who afflicted you /

shall also come bending to you. /

And all those who despised you /

shall bow themselves down /

at the soles of your feet. /

And they shall call you, The City of the LORD, /

The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated /

so that no man went through you, /

I will make you an eternal excellence, /

a joy of many generations.

16 You shall also drink the milk of the Gentiles /

and shall nurse from the breast of kings. /

And you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior /

and your Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob.

17 For brass I will bring gold, /

for iron I will bring silver, /

for wood, brass, /

and for stones, iron. /

I will also make your officers peace /

and your exactors righteousness.

18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, /

wasting nor destruction within your borders, /

but you shall call your walls Salvation /

and your gates Praise.

19 The sun shall no longer be your light by day, /

neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you, /

but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, /

and your God your glory.

20 Your sun shall go down no more, /

neither shall your moon withdraw itself, /

for the LORD will be your everlasting light, /

and the days of your mourning shall be ended.

21 Your people shall also be all righteous. /

They shall inherit the land forever, /

the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, /

so that I may be glorified.

22 A little one shall become a thousand /

and a small one a strong nation. /

I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."

Chapter 61

The office of Christ, 1-3. The forwardness, 4-6, and blessings of the faithful, 7-11.

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me /

because the LORD has anointed me /

to publish good tidings to the meek. /

He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, /

to proclaim liberty to the captives /

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD /

and the day of vengeance of our God, /

to comfort all who mourn,

3 To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, /

to give to them beauty for ashes, /

the oil of joy for mourning, /

the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. /

And they will be called trees of righteousness, /

the planting of the LORD, so that he may be glorified.

4 And they shall build the old wastes, /

they shall raise up the former desolations, /

and they shall repair the waste cities, /

the desolations of many generations.

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, /

and the sons of the foreigner /

shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.

6 But you shall be named Priests of the LORD. /

Men shall call you Ministers of Our God. /

You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, /

and in their glory you shall boast yourselves.

7 Instead of your shame you shall have double. /

Instead of disgrace they shall rejoice in their portion. /

Therefore, in their land they shall possess the double. /

Everlasting joy shall be to them.

8 "For I, the LORD, love judgment. /

I hate robbery for burnt-offering. /

I will direct their work in truth /

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 And their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles /

and their offspring among the people. /

All who see them shall acknowledge them, /

that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD. /

My soul shall be joyful in my God. /

He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. /

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, /

as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments /

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth her bud /

and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, /

so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise /

to spring forth before all the nations.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18, 7:22. [v.2]: Quoted in Luke 4:19.

Chapter 62

The fervent desire of the prophet to confirm the church in God’s promises, 1-5. The office of the ministers (to which they are incited) in preaching the Gospel, 6-9, and preparing the people thereto, 10-12.

1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, /

and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, /

until its righteousness goes forth as brightness /

and its salvation as a lamp that burns.

2 And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, /

and all kings your glory. /

And you shall be called by a new name /

which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

3 You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD /

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, /

neither shall your land be termed Desolate anymore, /

but you shall be called Hephzi-bah, /

and your land Beulah, /

for the LORD delights in you, /

and your land shall be married.

5 For as a young man marries a virgin, /

so your sons shall marry you. /

And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, /

so your God will rejoice over you.

6 I have set watchmen /

upon your walls, O Jerusalem, /

which shall never hold their peace /

day nor night. /

You who make mention of the LORD, /

do not keep silent,

7 And give him no rest, /

until he establishes /

and until he makes Jerusalem /

a praise in the earth.

8 The LORD has sworn by his right hand /

and by the arm of his strength, /

"Surely I will no longer give your grain /

to be food for your enemies, /

and the sons of the stranger shall not drink your wine /

for which you have labored,

9 But those who have gathered it shall eat it /

and praise the LORD, /

and those who have collected it shall drink it /

in the courts of my holiness."

10 Go through, go through the gates. /

Prepare the way of the people. /

Cast up, cast up the highway. /

Gather out the stones. /

Lift up a standard for the people.

11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed /

to the end of the world, /

"Say to the daughter of Zion, /

'Behold, your salvation comes. /

Behold, his reward is with him /

and his work before him.'"

12 And they shall call them, The Holy People, /

The Redeemed of the LORD. /

And you shall be called, Sought Out, /

A City not Forsaken.

Chapter 63

Christ shows who he is, 1, his victory over his enemies, 2-6, and his mercy toward his church, 7-9. In his just wrath he remembers his free mercy, 10-14. The church, in her prayer, 15, 16, and complaint, professes her faith, 17-19.

1 Who is this who comes from Edom /

with dyed garments from Bozrah, /

this who is glorious in his apparel, /

traveling in the greatness of his strength? /

"I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."

2 Why are you red in your apparel, /

and your garments like him who treads in the wine-vat.

3 "I have trodden the wine-press alone, /

and of the people there was no one with me. /

For I will tread them in my anger /

and trample them in my fury, /

and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, /

and I will stain all my clothing.

4 For the day of vengeance is in my heart /

and the year of my redeemed has come.

5 And I looked, and there was no one to help. /

And I wondered that there was no one to uphold. /

Therefore, my own arm brought salvation to me. /

And my fury, it upheld me.

6 And I will tread down the people in my anger /

and make them drunk in my fury, /

and I will bring their strength down to the earth."

7 I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the LORD /

and the praises of the LORD, /

according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us /

and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, /

which he has bestowed on them according to his mercies /

and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses.

8 For he said, "Surely they are my people, /

children who will not lie." /

So he was their Savior.

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, /

and the angel of his presence saved them. /

In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. /

And he bore them and carried them all the days of old.

10 But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit; /

therefore, he was turned to be their enemy /

and he fought against them.

11 Then he remembered the days of old, /

Moses and his people, saying, /

"Where is he who brought them out of the sea /

with the shepherd of his flock? /

Where is he who put his Holy Spirit /

within him,

12 Who led them by the right hand of Moses /

with his glorious arm, /

dividing the water before them, /

to make himself an everlasting name,

13 Who led them through the deep, /

as a horse in the wilderness, /

so that they should not stumble?"

14 As a beast goes down in the valley, /

the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest. /

Thus you led your people /

to make yourself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven and behold /

from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. /

Where is your zeal and your strength, /

the sounding of your heart and of your mercy toward me? /

Are they restrained?

16 Doubtless you are our Father, /

though Abraham is ignorant of us, /

and Israel does not acknowledge us. /

You, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer. /

Your name is from everlasting.

17 O LORD, why have you made us to err from your ways /

and hardened our heart from your fear? /

Return for your servants' sake, /

the tribes of your inheritance.

18 The people of your holiness have possessed it but a little while. /

Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.

19 We are yours. You never bore rule over them. /

They were not called by your name.

Chapter 64

The church prays for the illustration of God’s power, 1-3. Celebrating God’s mercy, it makes confession of their natural corruptions, 4-8. It complains of their afflictions, 9-12.

1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, /

so that the mountains might flow down at your presence—

2 As when the fire burns brushwood /

and the fire causes the waters to boil— /

to make your name known to your adversaries /

so that the nations may tremble at your presence!

3 When you did awesome things /

which we did not look for, /

you came down, /

the mountains flowed down at your presence.

4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, /

nor perceived by the ear, /

neither has the eye seen, O God, besides you, /

what he has prepared for him who waits for him.

5 You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, /

those who remember you in your ways. /

Behold, you are angry, for we have sinned. /

We continued in them, and we shall be saved.

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, /

and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. /

And we all fade as a leaf. /

And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

7 And there is no one who calls upon your name, /

who stirs up himself to take hold of you, /

for you have hid your face from us /

and have consumed us because of our iniquities.

8 But now, O LORD, you are our father. /

We are the clay, and you our potter, /

and we are all the work of your hand.

9 Do not be very angry, O LORD, /

neither remember iniquity forever. /

Behold, see, we implore you, we are all your people.

10 Your holy cities are a wilderness. /

Zion is a wilderness, /

Jerusalem a desolation.

11 Our holy and our beautiful house, /

where our fathers praised you, /

is burned with fire, /

and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, O LORD? /

Will you hold your peace and grievously afflict us?

References

[v.4]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 2:9.

Chapter 65

The calling of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy, 1-7. A remnant shall be saved, 8-10. Judgments on the wicked and blessings on the godly, 11-16. The blessed state of the new Jerusalem, 17-25.

1 "I am sought by those who did not ask for me. /

I am found by those who did not seek me. /

I said, 'Behold me, behold me,' /

to a nation that was not called by my name.

2 I have spread out my hands all the day /

to a rebellious people, /

which walks in a way that is not good /

after their own thoughts,

3 A people who provokes me to anger /

continually to my face, /

who sacrifices in gardens /

and burns incense upon altars of brick,

4 Who remain among the graves /

and lodge in the monuments, /

who eat swine’s flesh /

and broth of abominable things is in their vessels,

5 Who say, 'Stand by yourself, /

do not come near me, for I am holier than you.' /

These are a smoke in my nose, /

a fire that burns all the day.

6 Behold, it is written before me. /

I will not keep silence, but will recompense, /

even recompense into their bosom,

7 Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together," /

says the LORD, /

"who have burned incense upon the mountains /

and blasphemed me upon the hills. /

Therefore, I will measure their former work /

into their bosom."

8 Thus says the LORD: /

"As the new wine is found in the cluster, /

and one says, 'Do not destroy it, /

for a blessing is in it,' /

so I will do for my servants' sake /

so that I may not destroy them all.

9 And I will bring forth offspring out of Jacob, /

and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains, /

and my elect shall inherit it /

and my servants shall dwell there.

10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, /

and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, /

for my people who have sought me.

11 But you are those who forsake the LORD, /

who forget my holy mountain, /

who prepare a table for that troop, /

and who furnish the drink-offering to that number.

12 Therefore, I will number you to the sword, /

and you shall all bow down to the slaughter. /

Because when I called, you did not answer. /

When I spoke, you did not hear, /

but did evil before my eyes /

and chose that in which I did not delight."

13 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: /

"Behold, my servants shall eat, /

but you shall be hungry. /

Behold, my servants shall drink, /

but you shall be thirsty. /

Behold, my servants shall rejoice, /

but you shall be ashamed.

14 Behold, my servants shall sing /

for joy of heart, /

but you shall cry for sorrow of heart /

and howl for vexation of spirit.

15 And you shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen, /

and the Lord GOD will slay you /

and call his servants by another name,

16 So that he who blesses himself in the earth /

shall bless himself in the God of truth, /

and he who swears in the earth /

shall swear by the God of truth, /

because the former troubles are forgotten /

and because they are hid from my eyes.

17 For behold, I create new heavens /

and a new earth. /

And the former shall not be remembered, /

nor come into mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever /

in that which I create. /

For behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing /

and her people a joy.

19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem /

and be glad in my people. /

And the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, /

nor the voice of crying.

20 No longer shall there be from there an infant of days, /

nor an old man who has not filled his days. /

For the child shall die at a hundred years old, /

but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.

21 And they shall build houses and inhabit them, /

and they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 They shall not build and another inhabit. /

They shall not plant and another eat. /

For as the days of a tree are the days of my people, /

and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23 They shall not labor in vain, /

nor bring forth for trouble, /

for they are a people blessed by the LORD, /

and their offspring with them.

24 And it shall come to pass, /

that before they call, I will answer, /

and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, /

and the lion shall eat straw like the bull, /

and dust shall be the serpents' food. /

They shall not hurt nor destroy /

in all my holy mountain," /

says the LORD.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Romans 10:20. [v.2]: Quoted in Romans 10:21.

Chapter 66

The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity, 1-4. He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies, 5-6, with the marvelous growth, 7-9, and the gracious benefits of the church, 10-14. God’s severe judgments against the wicked, 15-17. The Gentiles shall have a holy church, 18-23, and see the condemnation of the wicked, 24.

1 Thus says the LORD: /

"The heaven is my throne /

and the earth is my footstool. /

Where is the house that you build for me? /

And where is the place of my rest?

2 For all these things my hand has made, /

and all these things have been," /

says the LORD. /

"But to this man I will look, /

even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit /

and trembles at my word.

3 He who kills an ox is as if he slew a man.   /

He who sacrifices a lamb is as if he cut off a dog’s neck. /

He who offers an oblation is as if he offered swine’s blood. /

He who burns incense is as if he blessed an idol. /

Indeed, they have chosen their own ways /

and their soul delights in their abominations.

4 I will also choose their delusions   /

and will bring their fears upon them. /

Because when I called, no one answered. /

When I spoke, they did not hear. /

And they did evil before my eyes /

and chose that in which I did not delight."

5 Hear the word of the LORD,   /

you who tremble at his word: /

"Your brothers who hated you, /

who cast you out for my name’s sake, said, /

'Let the LORD be glorified, /

but he shall appear to your joy,' /

and they shall be ashamed.

6 A voice of noise from the city,   /

a voice from the temple, /

[it is] the voice of the LORD /

who renders recompense to his enemies.

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth.   /

Before her pain came, /

she had delivered a male child.

8 Who has heard such a thing?   /

Who has seen such things? /

Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? /

Or shall a nation be born at once? /

For as soon as Zion travailed, /

she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the birth   /

and not cause to bring forth?" /

says the LORD. /

"Shall I cause to bring forth /

and shut the womb?" /

says your God.

10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem   /

and be glad with her, all you who love her. /

Rejoice for joy with her, /

all you who mourn for her,

11 So that you may nurse and be satisfied   /

with the breasts of her consolations, /

so that you may draw milk and be delighted /

with the abundance of her glory."

12 For thus says the LORD:   /

"Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, /

and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. /

Then you shall nurse, /

you shall be borne upon her sides /

and be dandled upon her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforts,   /

so I will comfort you, /

and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."

14 And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice   /

and your bones shall flourish like an herb. /

And the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, /

and his indignation toward his enemies.

15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire   /

and with his chariots like a whirlwind /

to render his anger with fury /

and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16 For by fire and by his sword   /

the LORD will plead with all flesh. /

And the slain of the LORD shall be many.

17 "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves   /

in the gardens /

behind one tree in the midst, /

eating swine’s flesh, the abomination, and the mouse, /

shall be consumed together," /

says the LORD.

18 "For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall come, that I will gather all nations and languages, and they shall come and see my glory. 19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations—to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the coastlands afar off—who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20 And they shall bring all your brothers for an offering to the LORD out of all nations upon horses, in chariots, in litters, upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the LORD.

22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth,   /

which I will make, /

shall remain before me," /

says the LORD, /

"so your descendants and your name shall remain.

23 And it shall come to pass,   /

that from one new moon to another /

and from one sabbath to another, /

all flesh shall come to worship before me," /

says the LORD.

24 "And they shall go forth and look /

upon the carcasses of the men /

who have transgressed against me. /

For their worm shall not die, /

neither shall their fire be quenched, /

and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Acts 7:49. [v.2]: Quoted in Acts 7:50. [v.24]: Quoted in Mark 9:44, 9:46, 9:48.

[Tanach reading: go to Jeremiah]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO JEREMIAH

Chapter 1

The time, 1-3; and the calling of Jeremiah, 4-10. His prophetic visions of an almond rod and a boiling pot, 11-14. His heavy message against Judah, 15, 16. God encourages him with his promise of assistance, 17-19.

1 [The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It also came in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.]

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

5 "Before I formed you in embryo I knew you.   /

And before you were born I sanctified you /

and ordained you a prophet to the nations."

6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child." 7 But the LORD said to me,

"Do not say, 'I am a child,'   /

for you shall go to all whom I shall send you, /

and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

8 Do not be afraid of their faces,   /

for I am with you to deliver you," /

says the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,

"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

10 Behold, I have this day set you   /

over the nations and over the kingdoms /

to root out, to pull down, /

to destroy, to throw down, /

to build, and to plant."

11 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond-tree." 12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well. For I will hasten my word to perform it."

13 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, and its face is toward the north." 14 Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north," says the LORD, "and they shall come and shall each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 Therefore, gird up your loins, arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them. 18 For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against her princes, against her priests, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you."

Chapter 2

God, having shown his former kindness, expostulates with the Jews on their causeless and unexampled revolt, 1-13. They are the causes of their own calamities, 14-17. The sins and idolatries of Judah, 18-34. Her confidence is rejected, 35-37.

1 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD:

"I remember you, the kindness of your youth,   /

the love of your espousals, /

when you went after me in the wilderness, /

in a land that was not sown.

3 Israel was holiness to the LORD   /

and the first-fruits of his increase. /

All who devour him shall offend. /

Evil shall come upon them," /

says the LORD.'"

4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the LORD:

"What iniquity have your fathers found in me   /

that they have gone far from me /

and have walked after vanity and have become vain?

6 They did not say,   /

'Where is the LORD who brought us /

out of the land of Egypt, /

who led us through the wilderness, /

through a land of deserts and of pits, /

through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, /

through a land that no man passed through /

and where no man dwelt?'

7 And I brought you into a plentiful country   /

to eat its fruit and its goodness, /

but when you entered, you defiled my land /

and made my heritage an abomination.

8 The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?'   /

And those who handle the law did not know me. /

The pastors also transgressed against me, /

and the prophets prophesied by Baal /

and walked after things that do not profit.

9 Therefore, I will yet plead with you,"   /

says the LORD, /

"and with your children’s children I will plead.

10 For pass over to the coastlands of Chittim and see.   /

And send to Kedar and consider diligently /

and see if there is such a thing.

11 Has a nation changed their gods   /

which are yet no gods? /

But my people have changed their glory /

for that which does not profit.

12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this,   /

and be horribly afraid, be very desolate," /

says the LORD.

13 "For my people have committed two evils:   /

they have forsaken me, /

the fountain of living waters, /

and hewed out for themselves cisterns, /

broken cisterns that can hold no water.

14 Is Israel a servant?   /

Is he a home-born slave? /

Why is he laid waste?

15 The young lions roared upon him   /

and yelled and made his land waste. /

His cities are burned /

without inhabitant.

16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes   /

have broken the crown of your head.

17 Have you not procured this to yourself   /

in that you have forsaken the LORD your God /

when he led you by the way?

18 And now what have you to do in the way of Egypt,   /

to drink the waters of Sihor? /

Or what have you to do in the way of Assyria, /

to drink the waters of the river?

19 Your own wickedness shall correct you,   /

and your backslidings shall reprove you. /

Know therefore, and see that it is an evil and bitter thing /

that you have forsaken the LORD your God /

and that my fear is not in you," /

says the Lord GOD of hosts.

20 "For of old time I have broken your yoke   /

and torn off your bonds, /

and you said, 'I will not transgress,' /

when upon every high hill /

and under every green tree /

you wander, playing the harlot.

21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine,   /

wholly a right seed. /

How then are you turned into the degenerate plant /

of a strange vine to me?

22 For though you shall wash yourself with lye   /

and use much soap, /

yet your iniquity is marked before me," /

says the Lord GOD.

23 "How can you say, 'I am not polluted.   /

I have not gone after Baalim'? /

See your way in the valley. /

Know what you have done. /

You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways.

24 A wild donkey used to the wilderness   /

that snuffs up the wind at her pleasure, /

in her occasion, who can turn her away? /

All those who seek her will not weary themselves. /

In her month they shall find her.

25 Withhold your foot from being unshod   /

and your throat from thirst. /

But you said, 'There is no hope. /

No, for I have loved strangers, /

and after them I will go.'

26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found,   /

so is the house of Israel ashamed— /

they, their kings, their princes, /

their priests, and their prophets—

27 Saying to a stock, 'You are my father,'   /

and to a stone, 'You have brought me forth.' /

For they have turned their back to me and not their face, /

but in the time of their trouble they will say, /

'Arise, and save us.'

28 But where are your gods   /

that you have made for yourself? /

Let them arise if they can save you /

in the time of your trouble. /

For according to the number of your cities /

are your gods, O Judah.

29 Why will you plead with me?   /

You all have transgressed against me," /

says the LORD.

30 "In vain I have smitten your children.   /

They have received no correction. /

Your own sword has devoured your prophets /

like a destroying lion.

31 O generation, see the word of the LORD.   /

Have I been a wilderness to Israel? /

A land of darkness? /

Why do my people say, 'We are lords. /

We will no longer come to you'?

32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments,   /

or a bride her attire? /

Yet my people have forgotten me /

days without number.

33 Why do you trim your way to seek love?   /

Therefore, you have also taught the wicked ones your ways.

34 Also in your skirts is found the blood   /

of the souls of the poor innocents. /

I have not found it by secret search, /

but upon all these.

35 Yet you say, 'Because I am innocent,   /

surely his anger will turn from me.' /

Behold, I will plead with you /

because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

36 Why do you go around so much   /

to change your way? /

You shall also be ashamed of Egypt, /

as you were ashamed of Assyria.

37 You shall even go forth from him,   /

and your hands upon your head, /

for the LORD has rejected your confidences, /

and you shall not prosper in them."

Chapter 3

God’s great mercy in Judah’s vile lewdness, 1-5. Judah is worse than Israel, 6-11. The promises of the gospel to the penitent, 12-19. Israel reproved and called by God, makes a solemn confession of their sins, 20-25.

1 He says, "If a man puts away his wife,   /

and she goes from him /

and becomes another man’s, /

shall he return to her again? /

Shall that land not be greatly polluted? /

But you have played the harlot with many lovers, /

yet return again to me," /

says the LORD.

2 "Lift up your eyes to the high places and see   /

where you have not been lain with. /

In the roads you have sat for them /

as the Arabian in the wilderness, /

and you have polluted the land /

with your acts of lewdness and with your wickedness.

3 Therefore, the showers have been withheld   /

and there has been no latter rain. /

Yet you had a harlot’s forehead /

and you refused to be ashamed.

4 Will you not from this time cry to me,   /

'My father, you are the guide of my youth'?

5 'Will he retain his anger forever?   /

Will he keep it to the end?' /

Behold, you have spoken /

and done evil things as you could."

6 The LORD also said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there has played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, 'Turn to me.' But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw that for all the causes by which backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her lewdness, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to me with her whole heart, but feignedly," says the LORD.

11 And the LORD said to me, "The backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say,

'Return, you backsliding Israel,'   /

says the LORD. /

'And I will not cause my anger to fall upon you, /

for I am merciful,' /

says the LORD, /

'and I will not keep anger forever.

13 Only acknowledge your iniquity,   /

that you have transgressed against the LORD your God, /

scattered your ways to the strangers /

under every green tree, /

and have not obeyed my voice,' /

says the LORD.

14 'Turn, O backsliding children,'   /

says the LORD. /

'For I am married to you. /

And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, /

and I will bring you to Zion.'

15 "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days," says the LORD, "they shall no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD,' neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done anymore. 17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem, The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. They shall not walk anymore after the imagination of their evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together from the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance to your fathers.

19 "But I said,

'How shall I put you among the children   /

and give you a pleasant land, /

a beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?' /

And I said, 'You shall call me, My Father, /

and shall not turn away from me.'

20 Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband,   /

so you have dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel," /

says the LORD.

21 A voice was heard upon the high places,   /

weeping and supplications of the children of Israel, /

for they have perverted their way /

and have forgotten the LORD their God.

22 "Return, you backsliding children,   /

and I will heal your backslidings." /

"Behold, we come to you, /

for you are the LORD our God.

23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills   /

and from the multitude of mountains. /

Truly the salvation of Israel /

is in the LORD our God.

24 "For shame has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our disgrace covers us, for we have sinned against the LORD our God—we and our fathers—from our youth even to this day and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God."

Chapter 4

God calls Israel by his promise, 1, 2. He exhorts Judah to repentance by fearful judgments, 3-18. A grievous lamentation for Judah, 19-31.

1 "If you will return, O Israel,"   /

says the LORD, /

"return to me. /

And if you will put away your abominations out of my sight /

and not wander,

2 Then you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,'   /

in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness. /

And the nations shall bless themselves in him, /

and in him they shall glory."

3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

"Break up your fallow ground   /

and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD   /

and take away the foreskins of your heart, /

men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, /

lest my fury come forth like fire /

and burn so that none can quench it /

because of the evil of your doings."

5 Declare in Judah and publish in Jerusalem,   /

and say, "Blow the trumpet in the land. /

Cry, gather together, and say, /

'Assemble yourselves, /

and let us go into the fortified cities.'

6 Set up the standard toward Zion.   /

Retire, do not stay, /

for I will bring evil from the north, /

and a great destruction.

7 The lion has come up from his thicket,   /

and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way. /

He has gone forth from his place /

to make your land desolate. /

Your cities shall be laid waste /

without an inhabitant.

8 For this gird yourself with sackcloth,   /

lament, and howl, /

for the fierce anger of the LORD /

has not turned back from us."

9 "And it shall come to pass at that day,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that the heart of the king /

and the heart of the princes shall perish, /

and the priests shall be astonished /

and the prophets shall wonder."

10 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, 'You shall have peace,' whereas the sword reaches to the soul."

11 At that time it shall be said to this people and to Jerusalem,   /

"A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness /

toward the daughter of my people, /

not to fan, nor to cleanse,

12 Even a full wind from those places shall come to me.   /

Now I will also give sentence against them.

13 "Behold, he shall come up as clouds,   /

and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind. /

His horses are swifter than eagles. /

Woe to us! For we are laid waste."

14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness   /

so that you may be saved. /

How long shall your vain thoughts /

lodge within you?

15 For a voice declares from Dan   /

and publishes affliction from mount Ephraim.

16 "Make mention to the nations.   /

Behold, publish against Jerusalem, /

'Watchers come from a far country /

and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

17 As keepers of a field   /

they are against her on all sides /

because she has been rebellious against me,' /

says the LORD.

18 Your way and your doings have procured   /

these things to you. /

This is your wickedness because it is bitter, /

because it reaches to your heart."

19 My anguish, my anguish!   /

I am pained at my very heart. /

My heart makes a noise in me. /

I cannot hold my peace /

because you have heard, O my soul, /

the sound of the trumpet, /

the alarm of war.

20 Destruction upon destruction is cried,   /

for the whole land is laid waste. /

Suddenly my tents are ruined /

and my curtains in a moment.

21 How long shall I see the standard   /

and hear the sound of the trumpet?

22 "For my people are foolish,   /

they have not known me. /

They are foolish children, /

and they have no understanding. /

They are wise to do evil, /

but to do good they have no knowledge."

23 I beheld the earth,   /

and behold, it was without form and void, /

and the heavens, and they had no light.

24 I beheld the mountains, and behold, they trembled,   /

and all the hills moved lightly.

25 I beheld, and behold, there was no man,   /

and all the birds of the heavens had fled.

26 I beheld, and behold, the fruitful place was a wilderness,   /

and all its cities were broken down /

at the presence of the LORD /

and by his fierce anger.

27 For thus the LORD has said:   /

"The whole land shall be desolate, /

yet I will not make a full end.

28 For this the earth shall mourn   /

and the heavens above shall be black. /

For I have spoken it and I have purposed it. /

I will not repent, neither will I turn back from it."

29 The whole city shall flee   /

for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen. /

They shall go into thickets /

and climb up upon the rocks. /

Every city shall be forsaken, /

and not a man dwells therein.

30 And when you are laid waste, what will you do?   /

Though you clothe yourself with crimson, /

though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, /

though you rend your face with painting, /

in vain you shall make yourself fair. /

Your lovers will despise you. They will seek your life.

31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail,   /

and the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, /

the voice of the daughter of Zion who bewails herself, /

who spreads her hands, saying, /

"Woe is me now! For my soul is wearied /

because of murderers."

Chapter 5

The judgments of God upon the Jews for their perverseness, 1-6; for their adultery, 7-9; for their impiety, 10-14; for their worship of idols, 15-18; for their contempt of God, 19-24; and for their great corruption in the civil state, 25-29; and ecclesiastical, 30, 31.

1 "Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem   /

and now see, and know, /

and seek in its broad places, /

if you can find a man, /

if there is anyone who executes judgment, /

who seeks the truth. /

Then I will pardon it.

2 And though they say, 'The LORD lives,'   /

surely they swear falsely."

3 O LORD, are your eyes not upon the truth?   /

You have stricken them, /

but they have not grieved. /

You have consumed them, /

but they have refused to receive correction. /

They have made their faces harder than a rock. /

They have refused to return.

4 Therefore, I said, "Surely these are poor.   /

They are foolish, /

for they do not know the way of the LORD, /

nor the judgment of their God.

5 I will go to the great men   /

and speak to them, /

for they have known the way of the LORD /

and the judgment of their God." /

But these have altogether broken the yoke /

and torn off the bonds.

6 Therefore, a lion from the forest shall slay them,   /

a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, /

a leopard shall watch over their cities. /

Everyone who goes out from there /

shall be torn in pieces /

because their transgressions are many /

and their backslidings have increased.

7 "How shall I pardon you for this?   /

Your children have forsaken me /

and sworn by those who are not gods. /

When I had fed them to the full, /

they committed adultery /

and assembled themselves by troops /

in the harlots' houses.

8 They were as fed horses in the morning.   /

Everyone neighed after his neighbor’s wife.

9 Shall I not visit for these things?"   /

says the LORD. /

"And shall my soul not be avenged /

on such a nation as this?

10 Go up upon her walls and destroy,   /

but do not make a full end. /

Take away her branches, /

for they are not the LORD’S.

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah   /

have dealt very treacherously against me," /

says the LORD.

12 They have belied the LORD,   /

and said, "It is not he. /

Evil shall not come upon us, /

neither shall we see sword nor famine.

13 And the prophets shall become wind,   /

and the word is not in them. /

Thus it shall be done to them."

14 Therefore, thus says the LORD God of hosts:   /

"Because you speak this word, /

behold, I will make my words in your mouth fire, /

and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

15 Behold, I will bring a nation upon you from far,   /

O house of Israel," /

says the LORD. /

"It is a mighty nation, /

it is an ancient nation, /

a nation whose language you do not know, /

neither understand what they say.

16 Their quiver is as an open sepulcher.   /

They are all mighty men.

17 And they shall eat up your harvest and your bread,   /

which your sons and your daughters should eat. /

They shall eat up your flocks and your herds. /

They shall eat up your vines and your fig-trees. /

They shall impoverish with the sword your fortified cities, /

in which you have trusted.

18 "Nevertheless, in those days," says the LORD, "I will not make a full end with you. 19 And it shall come to pass, when you shall say, 'Why does the LORD our God do all these things to us?' Then you shall answer them, 'As you have forsaken me and served strange gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.'

20 "Declare this in the house of Jacob   /

and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 'Now hear this, O foolish people and without understanding,   /

who have eyes and do not see, /

who have ears and do not hear.

22 Do you not fear me?'   /

says the LORD. /

'Will you not tremble at my presence, /

who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea /

by a perpetual decree so that it cannot pass it? /

And though its waves toss themselves, /

yet they cannot prevail. /

Even though they roar, /

yet they cannot pass over it.

23 But this people have a revolting and a rebellious heart.   /

They have revolted and gone.

24 They do not say in their heart,   /

"Let us now fear the LORD our God /

who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. /

He reserves to us the appointed weeks of harvest."

25 Your iniquities have turned away these things,   /

and your sins have withheld good things from you.

26 For among my people are found wicked men.   /

They lie in wait, as he who sets snares. /

They set a trap. They catch men.

27 As a cage is full of birds,   /

so are their houses full of deceit. /

Therefore, they have become great and have grown rich.

28 They have become fat. They shine.   /

They even surpass the deeds of the wicked. /

They do not judge the cause, /

the cause of the fatherless, /

yet they prosper. /

And the right of the needy /

they do not judge.

29 Shall I not visit for these things?'   /

says the LORD. /

'Shall my soul not be avenged /

on such a nation as this?'

30 A wonderful and horrible thing   /

is committed in the land:

31 The prophets prophesy falsely,   /

and the priests bear rule by their means, /

and my people love to have it so. /

And what will you do in the end thereof?"

Chapter 6

The enemies sent against Judah, 1-3; encourage themselves, 4, 5. God sets them on work because of their sins, 6-8. The prophet laments the judgments of God because of their sins, 9-17. He proclaims God’s wrath, 18-25. He calls the people to mourn for the judgment on their sins, 26-30.

1 "O children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee /

out of the midst of Jerusalem, /

blow the trumpet in Tekoa, /

and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem, /

for evil appears out of the north, /

and great destruction.

2 I have compared the daughter of Zion /

to a beautiful and delicate woman.

3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her. /

They shall pitch their tents against her on every side. /

They shall each feed in his place.

4 Prepare war against her. /

Arise, and let us go up at noon. /

Woe to us! For the day departs, /

and the shadows of the evening are lengthened.

5 Arise, and let us go by night /

and destroy her palaces."

6 For thus the LORD of hosts has said: /

"Hew down trees /

and cast a siege-mound against Jerusalem. /

This is the city to be visited. /

She is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

7 As a fountain casts out her waters, /

so she casts out her wickedness. /

Violence and devastation is heard in her. /

Continually before me are grief and wounds.

8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem, /

lest my soul depart from you, /

lest I make you desolate, /

a land not inhabited."

9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: /

"They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine. /

Turn back your hand /

as a grape-gatherer into the baskets."

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning /

so that they may hear? /

Behold, their ear is uncircumcised /

and they cannot listen. /

Behold, the word of the LORD is to them a reproach. /

They have no delight in it.

11 Therefore, I am full of the fury of the LORD. /

I am weary with holding in. /

"I will pour it out upon the children abroad /

and upon the assembly of young men together. /

For even the husband with the wife shall be taken, /

the aged with him who is full of days.

12 And their houses shall be turned to others, /

with their fields and wives together, /

for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land," /

says the LORD.

13 "For from their least even to their greatest, /

everyone is given to covetousness. /

And from the prophet even to the priest, /

everyone deals falsely.

14 They have also healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, /

saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace.

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? /

No. They were not at all ashamed, /

neither could they blush. /

Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall. /

At the time that I visit them they shall be cast down," /

says the LORD.

16 Thus says the LORD: /

"Stand in the ways and see, /

and ask for the old paths, /

where the good way is, and walk in it /

and you shall find rest for your souls. /

But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, /

'Listen to the sound of the trumpet.' /

But they said, 'We will not listen.'

18 Therefore, hear, you nations, /

and know, O congregation, what is among them.

19 Hear, O earth. /

Behold, I will bring evil upon this people, /

even the fruit of their thoughts, /

because they have not listened to my words, /

nor to my law, but have rejected it.

20 For what purpose does incense come to me from Sheba /

and the sweet cane from a distant country? /

Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, /

nor your sacrifices sweet to me."

21 Therefore, thus says the LORD: /

"Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people, /

and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them. /

The neighbor and his friend shall perish."

22 Thus says the LORD: /

"Behold, a people comes from the north country, /

and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear. /

They are cruel and have no mercy. /

Their voice roars like the sea. /

And they ride upon horses, /

set in array as men for war /

against you, O daughter of Zion."

24 We have heard its fame. Our hands become feeble. /

Anguish has taken hold of us, /

and pain, as of a woman in travail.

25 Do not go forth into the field, /

nor walk by the way, /

for the sword of the enemy /

and fear is on every side.

26 O daughter of my people, gird yourself with sackcloth /

and wallow yourself in ashes. /

Make for yourself a mourning, as for an only son, /

a most bitter lamentation, /

for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.

27 "I have set you for a tower and a fortress among my people /

so that you may know and try their way."

28 They are all grievous revolters, /

walking slanderously. /

They are brass and iron. /

They are all corrupters.

29 The bellows is burned. /

The lead is consumed by the fire. /

The founder melts in vain, /

for the wicked are not plucked away.

30 Men shall call them reprobate silver /

because the LORD has rejected them.

References

[v.16]: Quoted in Matthew 11:29.

Chapter 7

Jeremiah is sent to call to true repentance, to prevent the Jews' captivity, 1-7. He rejects their vain confidence, 8-11; by the example of Shiloh, 12-16. He threatens them for their idolatry, 17-20. He rejects the sacrifices of the disobedient, 21-28. He exhorts to mourn for their abominations in Tophet, 29-31; and the judgments for the same, 32-34.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim this word there, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.'" 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.' 5 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor, 6 If you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt, 7 Then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

8 "Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10 And come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered,' in order to do all these abominations? 11 Has this house which is called by my name become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it," says the LORD.

12 "But go now to my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, 14 Therefore I will do to this house which is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, even all the offspring of Ephraim.

16 "Therefore, do not pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me, for I will not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings to other gods, so that they may provoke me to anger. 19 Do they provoke me to anger?" says the LORD. "Do they not provoke themselves to the shame of their own faces?" 20 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, my anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field and upon the fruit of the ground, and it shall burn and shall not be quenched."

21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Put your burnt-offerings to your sacrifices and eat flesh. 22 For I did not speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices. 23 But this thing I commanded them, saying, 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you so that it may be well with you.' 24 But they did not listen, nor incline their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came forth from the land of Egypt to this day I have even sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. 26 Yet they did not listen to me, nor incline their ear, but hardened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.

27 "Therefore, you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 But you shall say to them,

'This is a nation that does not obey   /

the voice of the LORD their God, /

nor receives correction. /

Truth has perished /

and is cut off from their mouth.

29 Cut off your hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away,   /

and take up a lamentation on high places, /

for the LORD has rejected and forsaken /

the generation of his wrath.'

30 "For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight," says the LORD. "They have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. 31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command them, neither did it come into my heart.

32 "Therefore, behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that it shall no longer be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter, for they shall bury in Tophet until there is no place. 33 And the carcasses of this people shall be food for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away. 34 Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, for the land shall be desolate."

References

[v.11]: Quoted in Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46.

Chapter 8

The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive, 1-3. He upbraids their foolish and shameless impenitence, 4-12. He shows their grievous judgment, 13-17; and bewails their desperate estate, 18-22.

1 "At that time," says the LORD, "they shall bring the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of the princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem out of their graves, 2 And they shall spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, whom they have served, after whom they have walked, whom they have sought, and whom they have worshiped. They shall not be gathered, nor be buried. They shall be for dung upon the face of the earth. 3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the remnant of those who remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I have driven them," says the LORD of hosts.

4 "Moreover, you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD:

"Shall they fall and not arise?   /

Shall he turn away and not return?

5 Why then has this people of Jerusalem slid back   /

by a perpetual backsliding? /

They hold fast deceit, /

they refuse to return.

6 I listened and heard,   /

but they did not speak aright. /

No man repented of his wickedness, /

saying, 'What have I done?' /

Everyone turned to his course, /

as the horse rushes to the battle.

7 Even the stork in the heaven   /

knows her appointed times. /

And the turtle-dove, the crane, and the swallow /

observe the time of their coming. /

But my people do not know /

the judgment of the LORD.

8 How do you say, 'We are wise,   /

and the law of the LORD is with us'? /

Behold, certainly in vain he has made it. /

The pen of the scribes is in vain.

9 The wise men are ashamed.   /

They are dismayed and taken. /

Behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD. /

And what wisdom is in them?

10 Therefore, I will give their wives to others   /

and their fields to those who inherit them, /

for everyone from the least even to the greatest /

is given to covetousness, /

from the prophet even to the priest /

each deals falsely.

11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly,   /

saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace.

12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?   /

No. They were not at all ashamed, /

neither could they blush. /

Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall. /

In the time of their visitation they shall be cast down," /

says the LORD.

13 "I will surely consume them,"   /

says the LORD. /

"There shall be no grapes on the vine, /

nor figs on the fig-tree, /

and the leaf shall fade. /

And the things that I have given to them /

shall pass away from them."'"

14 Why do we sit still?   /

Assemble yourselves, /

and let us enter into the fortified cities /

and be silent there. /

For the LORD our God has put us to silence /

and given us water of gall to drink /

because we have sinned against the LORD.

15 We looked for peace, but no good came,   /

and for a time of health, and behold, trouble!

16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan.   /

The whole land trembled /

at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones, /

for they have come and have devoured the land /

and all that is in it, /

and also the city /

and those who dwell therein.

17 "For behold, I will send serpents among you,   /

adders which will not be charmed, /

and they shall bite you," /

says the LORD.

18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow,   /

my heart is faint in me.

19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people   /

because of those who dwell in a distant country: /

"Is the LORD not in Zion? /

Is her king not in her?" /

"Why have they provoked me to anger /

with their engraved images /

and with strange vanities?"

20 "The harvest has past, the summer has ended,   /

and we are not saved."

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt.   /

I am black. Astonishment has taken hold upon me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead?   /

Is there no physician there? /

Why then is the health /

of the daughter of my people not recovered?

Chapter 9

Jeremiah laments the Jews for their manifold sins, 1-8; and for their judgment, 9-11. Disobedience is the cause of their bitter calamity, 12-16. He exhorts to mourn for their destruction, 17-22; and to trust not in themselves, but in God, 23, 24. He threatens both Jews and Gentiles, 25, 26.

1 Oh that my head were waters   /

and my eyes a fountain of tears /

so that I might weep day and night /

for the slain of the daughter of my people!

2 Oh that I had in the wilderness   /

a lodging-place of way-faring men /

so that I might leave my people /

and go from them! /

For they are all adulterers, /

an assembly of treacherous men.

3 "And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies,   /

but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth, /

for they proceed from evil to evil /

and they do not know me," /

says the LORD.

4 "Everyone take heed of his neighbor   /

and do not trust in any brother, /

for every brother will utterly supplant /

and every neighbor will walk slanderously.

5 And they will each deceive his neighbor   /

and will not speak the truth. /

They have taught their tongue to speak lies /

and they weary themselves to commit iniquity.

6 Your habitation is in the midst of deceit.   /

Through deceit they refuse to know me," /

says the LORD.

7 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts:   /

"Behold, I will melt them and try them. /

For what else shall I do /

for the daughter of my people?

8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out.   /

It speaks deceit. /

One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, /

but in his heart he lies in wait.

9 Shall I not visit them for these things?"   /

says the LORD. /

"Shall my soul not be avenged /

on such a nation as this?

10 For the mountains I will take up a weeping and wailing,   /

and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, /

because they are burned up /

so that no one can pass through them, /

neither can men hear the voice of the cattle. /

Both the bird of the heavens and the beast have fled. /

They are gone.

11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps   /

and a den of jackals, /

and I will make the cities of Judah desolate /

without an inhabitant."

12 Who is the wise man who may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken so that he may declare it? For why has the land perished and burned up like a wilderness so that no one passes through? 13 And the LORD says, "Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein, 14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them," 15 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. 16 I will also scatter them among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them."

17 Thus says the LORD of hosts:   /

"Consider, and call for the mourning women /

so that they may come, /

and send for skillful women /

so that they may come.

18 And let them make haste and take up a wailing for us,   /

so that our eyes may run down with tears /

and our eyelids gush out with waters.

19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion,   /

'How we are laid waste! /

We are greatly confounded /

because we have forsaken the land, /

because our dwellings have cast us out.'"

20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O women,   /

and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, /

and teach your daughters wailing, /

and each her neighbor lamentation.

21 For death has come up into our windows   /

and has entered into our palaces /

to cut off the children from outside /

and the young men from the streets.

22 Speak, "Thus says the LORD:   /

'Even the carcasses of men shall fall /

as dung upon the open field /

and as the handful after the harvester, /

and no one shall gather them.'"

23 Thus says the LORD: "Do not let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Do not let the rich man glory in his riches. 24 But let him who glories, glory in this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight," says the LORD.

25 "Behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that I will punish all those who are circumcised with the uncircumcised: 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the children of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the utmost corners who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart."

References

[v.24]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 1:31; 2nd Corinthians 10:17.

Chapter 10

The unequal comparison of God and idols, 1-16. The prophet exhorts to flee from the calamity to come, 17, 18. He laments the destruction of the tabernacle by foolish pastors, 19-22. He makes a humble supplication, 23-25.

1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the LORD:

"Do not learn the way of the heathen,   /

and do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, /

for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain.   /

For one cuts a tree out of the forest, /

the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold.   /

They fasten it with nails and with hammers /

so that it may not move.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but do not speak.   /

They must be borne because they cannot go. /

Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, /

neither is it also in them to do good."

6 There is no one like you, O LORD.   /

You are great, and your name is great in might.

7 Who would not fear you, O King of nations? /

For to you it appertains, /

because among all the wise men of the nations /

and in all their kingdoms /

there is no one like you.

8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish.   /

The stock is a doctrine of vanities.

9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish,   /

and gold from Uphaz, /

the work of the workman and of the hands of the founder. /

Their clothing is blue and purple. /

They are all the work of skillful men.

10 But the LORD is the true God.   /

He is the living God and an everlasting king. /

At his wrath the earth shall tremble, /

and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

11 Thus you shall say to them: "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens."

12 He has made the earth by his power,   /

has established the world by his wisdom, /

and has stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

13 When he utters his voice,   /

there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, /

and he causes the vapors to ascend /

from the ends of the earth. /

He makes lightnings with rain /

and brings forth the wind out of his treasures.

14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge.   /

Every founder is confounded by the engraved image, /

for his molten image is falsehood /

and there is no breath in them.

15 They are vanity and the work of errors.   /

In the time of their visitation they shall perish.

16 The portion of Jacob is not like them,   /

for he is the former of all things, /

and Israel is the rod of his inheritance. /

The LORD of hosts is his name.

17 Gather up your wares out of the land,   /

O inhabitant of the fortress.

18 For thus says the LORD:

"Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time   /

and will distress them so that they are found out."

19 Woe is me for my hurt!   /

My wound is grievous, /

but I said, "Truly this is a grief, /

and I must bear it."

20 My tabernacle is laid waste   /

and all my cords are broken. /

My children have gone from me /

and they are no more. /

There is no one to stretch forth my tent anymore /

and to set up my curtains.

21 For the pastors have become brutish   /

and have not sought the LORD; /

therefore, they shall not prosper, /

and all their flocks shall be scattered.

22 Behold, the voice of tidings has come,   /

and a great commotion from the north country, /

to make the cities of Judah desolate /

and a den of jackals.

23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself.   /

It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

24 O LORD, correct me, but with judgment,   /

not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

25 Pour out your fury upon the heathen who do not know you   /

and upon the families who do not call on your name, /

for they have eaten up Jacob. /

They have devoured him and consumed him, /

and have made his habitation desolate.

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Revelation 15:3-4.

Chapter 11

Jeremiah proclaims God’s covenant, 1-7; rebukes the Jews' disobeying thereof, 8-10; prophesies evils to come upon them, 11-17; and upon the men of Anathoth for conspiring to kill him, 18-23.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 3 And say to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant, 4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth from the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Obey my voice, and do according to all which I command you. Then you shall be my people, and I will be your God,' 5 So that I may perform the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day."'" Then I answered, and said, "So be it, O LORD."

6 Then the LORD said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, 'Hear the words of this covenant and do them. 7 For I earnestly testified to your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and testifying, saying, "Obey my voice." 8 Yet they did not obey, nor incline their ear, but each walked in the imagination of his evil heart. Therefore, I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not do them.'"

9 And the LORD said to me, "A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear my words, and they went after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers." 11 Therefore, thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will bring evil upon them which they shall not be able to escape. And though they shall cry to me, I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem shall go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense, but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah, and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.

14 "Therefore, do not pray for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I will not hear them in the time when they cry to me for their trouble.

15 "What has my beloved to do in my house,   /

seeing she has wrought lewdness with many, /

and the holy flesh is passed from you? /

When you do evil, you rejoice."

16 The LORD called your name,   /

"A green olive tree, fair, and with good fruit." /

With the noise of a great tumult /

he has kindled fire upon it, /

and its branches are broken.

17 For the LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense to Baal.

18 And the LORD has given me knowledge of it, and I know it.   /

Then you showed me their doings.

19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter.   /

And I did not know that they had devised devices against me, saying, /

"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, /

and let us cut him off from the land of the living /

so that his name may no longer be remembered."

20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously,   /

who tries the mind and the heart, /

let me see your vengeance on them, /

for to you I have revealed my cause.

21 Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD so that you do not die by our hand." 22 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters shall die by famine. 23 And there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation."

Chapter 12

Jeremiah, complaining of the prosperity of the wicked, by faith sees their ruin, 1-4. God admonishes him of his brothers' treachery against him, 5, 6; and laments his heritage, 7-13. He promises to the penitent return from captivity, 14-17.

1 You are righteous, O LORD,   /

when I plead with you. /

Yet let me speak with you of your judgments. /

Why does the way of the wicked prosper? /

Why are they all happy who deal very treacherously?

2 You have planted them, they have even taken root.   /

They grow, they even bring forth fruit. /

You are near in their mouth /

and far from their heart.

3 But you, O LORD, know me. /

You have seen me and tried my heart toward you. /

Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, /

and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

4 How long shall the land mourn   /

and the herbs of every field wither /

for the wickedness of those who dwell therein? /

The beasts are consumed, and also the birds, /

because they said, "He will not see our last end."

5 "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,   /

then how can you contend with horses? /

And if in the land of peace, in which you have trusted, they wearied you, /

then how will you do in the swelling of the Jordan?

6 For even your brothers and the house of your father,   /

even they have dealt treacherously with you. /

They have even called a multitude after you. /

Do not believe them, though they speak fair words to you."

7 "I have forsaken my house.   /

I have left my heritage. /

I have given the dearly beloved of my soul /

into the hand of her enemies.

8 My heritage is to me   /

as a lion in the forest. /

It cries out against me; /

therefore, I have hated it.

9 My heritage is to me as a speckled bird.   /

The birds around are against her. /

Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, /

come to devour.

10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard.   /

They have trodden my portion under foot. /

They have made my pleasant portion /

a desolate wilderness.

11 They have made it desolate,   /

and being desolate it mourns to me. /

The whole land is made desolate, /

because no man lays it to heart.

12 The destroyers have come upon all high places through the wilderness,   /

for the sword of the LORD shall devour /

from one end of the land even to the other end of the land. /

No flesh shall have peace.

13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns.   /

They have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit. /

And they shall be ashamed of your revenues /

because of the fierce anger of the LORD."

14 Thus says the LORD against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: "Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it shall come to pass, after I have plucked them out I will return and have compassion on them, and will bring them back, every man to his heritage and every man to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'The LORD lives,' as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the LORD.

References

[v.3]: Quoted in James 5:5.

Chapter 13

By the type of a linen girdle, hidden at the Euphrates, God prefigures the destruction of his people, 1-11. Under the parable of the bottles filled with wine he foretells their drunkenness in misery, 12-14. He exhorts to prevent their future judgments, 15-21. He shows their abominations are the cause thereof, 23-27.

1 Thus says the LORD to me: "Go and get for yourself a linen girdle and put it upon your loins, and do not put it in water." 2 So I procured a girdle according to the word of the LORD and put it on my loins. 3 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, 4 "Take the girdle that you have procured, which is upon your loins, and arise, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a hole of the rock." 5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the LORD commanded me. 6 And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphrates and take the girdle from there which I commanded you to hide there." 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, dug, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it, and behold, the girdle was marred. It was profitable for nothing.

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "Thus says the LORD: 'After this manner I will mar the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the imagination of their heart and walk after other gods to serve them and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. 11 For as the girdle cleaves to the loins of a man, so I have caused to cleave to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah,' says the LORD, 'so that they might be to me for a people, for a name, for a praise, and for a glory. But they would not hear.'

12 "Therefore, you shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Every bottle shall be filled with wine."' And they shall say to you, 'Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?' 13 Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit upon David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness. 14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together," says the LORD. "I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them."'"

15 Hear, and give ear. Do not be proud.   /

For the LORD has spoken.

16 Give glory to the LORD your God   /

before he causes darkness /

and before your feet stumble /

upon the dark mountains. /

And while you look for light, /

he shall turn it into the shadow of death /

and make it gross darkness.

17 But if you will not hear it,   /

my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride, /

and my eye shall weep bitterly and run down with tears, /

because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.

18 Say to the king and to the queen,   /

"Humble yourselves, sit down, /

for your principalities shall come down, /

even the crown of your glory."

19 The cities of the south shall be shut up,   /

and no one shall open them. /

Judah shall be carried away captive all of it. /

It shall be wholly carried away captive.

20 "Lift up your eyes, and behold   /

those who come from the north. /

Where is the flock that was given to you, /

your beautiful flock?

21 What will you say when he punishes you?   /

For you have taught them /

to be captains and as chief over you. /

Shall sorrows not take you, /

as a woman in travail?

22 And if you say in your heart,   /

'Why do these things come upon me?' /

it is for the greatness of your iniquity /

that your skirts are uncovered /

and your heels made bare.

23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin,   /

or the leopard his spots? /

Then you also may do good, /

who are accustomed to do evil.

24 Therefore, I will scatter them   /

as the stubble that passes away /

by the wind of the wilderness.

25 This is your lot,   /

the portion of your measures from me," /

says the LORD, /

"because you have forgotten me /

and trusted in falsehood.

26 Therefore, I will uncover your skirts upon your face   /

so that your shame may appear.

27 Your adulteries and your neighings,   /

the enormity of your lewdness /

on the hills in the fields— /

I have seen your abominations. /

Woe to you O Jerusalem! /

Will you not be made clean? /

When shall it yet be?"

Chapter 14

The grievous famine, 1-6; causes Jeremiah to pray, 7-9. The Lord will not be entreated for the people, 10-12. Lying prophets are no excuse for them, 13-16. Jeremiah is moved to complain for them, 17-22.

1 [The word from the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.]

2 "Judah mourns, and her gates languish.   /

They are black to the ground. /

And the cry of Jerusalem has gone up.

3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters.   /

They came to the pits and found no water. /

They returned with their vessels empty. /

They were ashamed and confounded /

and covered their heads.

4 Because the ground is cracked,   /

for there was no rain on the earth, /

the plowmen were ashamed, /

they covered their heads.

5 Even the doe also brought forth in the field and forsook it   /

because there was no grass.

6 And the wild donkeys stood in the high places,   /

they snuffed up the wind like jackals. /

Their eyes failed because there was no grass.

7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us,   /

do it for your name’s sake, /

for our backslidings are many. /

We have sinned against you.

8 O the hope of Israel,   /

his Savior in time of trouble, /

why should you be as a stranger in the land /

and as a way-faring man /

who turns aside to stay for a night?

9 Why should you be as a man astonished,   /

as a mighty man who cannot save? /

Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, /

and we are called by your name. /

Do not leave us."

10 Thus says the LORD to this people:   /

"Thus they have loved to wander, /

they have not restrained their feet; /

therefore, the LORD does not accept them. /

He will now remember their iniquity /

and visit their sins."

11 Then the LORD said to me, "Do not pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry. And when they offer a burnt-offering and an oblation, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence."

13 Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'" 14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I have not sent them, neither have I commanded them, nor spoken to them. They prophesy to you false visions, divinations, predictions, and deceits of their heart. 15 Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I did not send them, yet they say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land': 'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and they shall have no one to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters—for I will pour their wickedness upon them.'

17 "Therefore, you shall say this word to them:   /

'Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, /

and do not let them cease, /

for the virgin daughter of my people is broken /

with a great breach, /

with a very grievous blow.

18 If I go forth into the field,   /

then behold the slain with the sword! /

And if I enter into the city, /

then behold those who are sick with famine! /

Even both the prophet and the priest /

have gone into a land that they do not know.'"

19 Have you utterly rejected Judah?   /

Has your soul loathed Zion? /

Why have you smitten us /

and there is no healing for us? /

We looked for peace, and there is no good, /

and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness   /

and the iniquity of our fathers, /

for we have sinned against you.

21 Do not abhor us for your name’s sake.   /

Do not disgrace the throne of your glory. /

Remember, do not break your covenant with us.

22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles   /

who can cause rain? /

Or can the heavens give showers? /

Are you not he, O LORD our God? /

Therefore, we will wait upon you, /

for you have made all these things.

Chapter 15

The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the Jews, 1-9. Jeremiah, complaining of their spite, receives a promise for himself, 10, 11; and a threatening for them, 12-14. He prays, 15-18; and receives a gracious promise, 19-21.

1 Then the LORD said to me, "Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people. Cast them out of my sight and let them go forth.

2 And it shall come to pass, that they shall say to you, 'Where shall we go forth?' Then you shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD:

"Those who are for death, to death. Those who are for the sword, to the sword. Those who are for the famine, to the famine. And those who are for the captivity, to the captivity."'

3 "And I will appoint over them four kinds," says the LORD. "The sword to slay, the dogs to tear, the birds of the heaven and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4 And I will cause them to be a horror among all kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.

5 "For who shall have pity upon you, O Jerusalem?   /

Or who shall bemoan you? /

Or who shall go aside /

to ask concerning your welfare?

6 You have forsaken me,"   /

says the LORD, /

"you have gone backward; /

therefore, I will stretch out my hand against you /

and destroy you. /

I am weary with repenting.

7 And I will fan them with a fan   /

in the gates of the land. /

I will bereave them of children. /

I will destroy my people, /

since they do not return from their ways.

8 Their widows are multiplied to me   /

above the sand of the seas. /

I have brought upon them /

against the mother of the young men /

a destroyer at noon-day. /

I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, /

and terrors upon the city.

9 She who has borne seven languishes.   /

She has resigned her breath. /

Her sun has gone down while it was yet day. /

She has been ashamed and confounded. /

And their remnant I will deliver to the sword /

before their enemies," /

says the LORD.

10 Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor have men lent to me on usury, yet every one of them curses me. 11 The LORD said, "Truly it shall be well with your remnant. Truly I will cause the enemy to treat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? 13 Your substance and your treasures I will give as plunder without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders. 14 And I will make you to pass with your enemies into a land which you do not know, for a fire is kindled in my anger which shall burn upon you."

15 O LORD, you know.   /

Remember me, visit me, /

and avenge me of my persecutors. /

Do not take me away in your patience. /

Know that for your sake I have suffered rebuke.

16 Your words were found, and I ate them.   /

And your word was to me /

the joy and rejoicing of my heart, /

for I am called by your name, /

O LORD God of hosts.

17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoice.   /

I sat alone because of your hand, /

for you have filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable,   /

which refuses to be healed? /

Will you be altogether to me as a liar /

and as waters that fail?

19 Therefore, thus says the LORD:   /

"If you return, then I will bring you back, /

and you shall stand before me. /

And if you separate the precious from the vile, /

you shall be as my mouth. /

They shall return to you, /

but you shall not return to them.

20 And I will make you to this people a fortified brazen wall.   /

And they shall fight against you, /

but they shall not prevail against you, /

for I am with you to save you and to deliver you," /

says the LORD.

21 "And I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked   /

and redeem you from the hand of the terrible."

Chapter 16

The prophet, under the types of abstaining from marriage, from houses of mourning, and feasting, foretells the utter ruin of the Jews, 1-9; because they were worse than their fathers, 10-13. Their return from captivity shall be stranger than their deliverance out of Egypt, 14, 15. God will doubly recompense their idolatry, 16-21.

1 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, 2 "You shall not take a wife for yourself, neither shall you have sons nor daughters in this place." 3 For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and the daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who bore them and their fathers who begot them in this land: 4 "They shall die by grievous deaths. They shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried, but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth. And they shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, and their carcasses shall be food for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth."

5 For thus says the LORD: "Do not enter into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them, for I have taken away my peace from this people," says the LORD, "even loving-kindness and mercies. 6 Both the great and the small shall die in this land. They shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them; 7 Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother. 8 Also you shall not go into the house of feasting to sit with them to eat and to drink." 9 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes and in your days the voice of mirth, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.

10 "And it shall come to pass, when you tell this people all these words, they shall say to you, 'Why has the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?' 11 Then you shall say to them, 'Because your fathers have forsaken me,' says the LORD, 'and have walked after other gods, served them, and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law, 12 And you have done worse than your fathers, for, behold, you all walk after the imagination of your evil heart so that you may not listen to me. 13 Therefore, I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers, and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favor.'

14 "Therefore, behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that it shall no longer be said, 'The LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' 15 But, 'The LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where he had driven them.' And I will bring them back into their land that I gave to their fathers.

16 "Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the LORD, "and they shall fish them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 17 For my eyes are upon all their ways. They are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from my eyes. 18 And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double because they have defiled my land. They have filled my inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable things."

19 O LORD, my strength and my fortress,   /

and my refuge in the day of affliction, /

the Gentiles shall come to you /

from the ends of the earth, and shall say, /

"Surely our fathers have inherited lies, /

vanity, and things in which there is no profit."

20 Shall a man make gods for himself,   /

and they are not gods?

21 "Therefore, behold, this time I will cause them to know, I will cause them to know my hand and my might. And they shall know that my name is YAHWEH."

Chapter 17

The captivity of Judah for her sin, 1-4. Trust in man is cursed, 5, 6; in God is blessed, 7, 8. The deceitful heart cannot deceive God, 9-11. The salvation of God, 12-14. The prophet complains about the mockers of his prophecy, 15-18. He is sent to renew the covenant in hallowing the sabbath, 19-27.

1 The sin of Judah is written   /

with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond. /

It is engraved upon the tablet of their heart /

and upon the horns of your altars,

2 While their children remember their altars   /

and their groves by the green trees /

upon the high hills.

3 O my mountain in the field,   /

I will give your substance /

and all your treasures as plunder, /

and your high places for sin, /

throughout all your borders.

4 And you, even yourself,   /

shall discontinue from your heritage /

that I gave you, /

and I will cause you to serve your enemies /

in the land which you do not know, /

for you have kindled a fire in my anger /

which shall burn forever.

5 Thus says the LORD:   /

"Cursed is the man who trusts in man /

and makes his arm flesh, /

and whose heart departs from the LORD,

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert.   /

It shall not see when good comes, /

but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, /

in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD   /

and whose hope is the LORD,

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters   /

that spreads out its roots by the river. /

It shall not fear when heat comes, /

but its leaf shall be green. /

It shall not be anxious in the year of drought, /

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things   /

and desperately wicked. Who can know it?

10 I, the LORD, search the heart.   /

I try the mind, /

even to give every man according to his ways /

and according to the fruit of his doings.

11 As the partridge sits on eggs and does not hatch them,   /

so he who gets riches, and not by right, /

shall leave them in the midst of his days, /

and at his end shall be a fool."

12 A glorious high throne from the beginning   /

is the place of our sanctuary.

13 O LORD, the hope of Israel,   /

all who forsake you shall be ashamed, /

and those who depart from me /

shall be written in the earth, /

because they have forsaken the LORD, /

the fountain of living waters.

14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.   /

Save me, and I shall be saved, /

for you are my praise.

15 Behold, they say to me,   /

"Where is the word of the LORD? /

Let it come now."

16 As for me, I have not hastened   /

from being a pastor to follow you, /

neither have I desired the woeful day. /

You know that which was uttered by my lips /

was right before you.

17 Do not be a terror to me.   /

You are my hope in the day of evil.

18 Let them be confounded who persecute me,   /

but do not let me be confounded. /

Let them be dismayed, /

but do not let me be dismayed. /

Bring upon them the day of evil /

and destroy them with double destruction.

19 Thus the LORD said to me: "Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 And say to them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. 21 Thus says the LORD: "Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day; neither do any work, but hallow the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not obey, nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff so that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

24 "And it shall come to pass, if you diligently listen to me," says the LORD, "to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day and do no work therein, 25 Then there shall enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses—they and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—and this city shall remain forever. 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the plain, from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt-offerings, sacrifices, food-offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the LORD. 27 But if you will not listen to me to hallow the sabbath day, and to bear no burdens while entering at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched."'"

Chapter 18

Under the type of a potter is shown God’s absolute power in disposing of nations, 1-10. Judgments threatened to Judah for her strange revolt, 11-17. Jeremiah prays against his conspirators, 18-23.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words." 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter. So he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" says the LORD. "Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so you are in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 If that nation against which I have pronounced turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to build and to plant it, 10 If it does evil in my sight so that it does not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them. 11 Now therefore, come, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I frame evil against you and devise a device against you. Now each of you return from his evil way and make your ways and your doings good."' 12 And they said, 'There is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices and will each do the imagination of his evil heart.'

13 "Therefore, thus says the LORD:   /

'Ask now among the heathen, /

who has heard such things. /

The virgin of Israel /

has done a very horrible thing.

14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon   /

which comes from the rock of the field? /

Or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place /

be forsaken?

15 For my people have forgotten me   /

and they have burned incense to vanity. /

And they have been made to stumble in their ways, /

in the ancient paths, /

to walk in tracks, /

in a way not cast up,

16 To make their land desolate   /

and a perpetual hissing. /

Everyone who passes by it shall be astonished /

and wag his head.

17 I will scatter them as with an east wind   /

before the enemy. /

I will show them the back and not the face /

in the day of their calamity.'"

18 Then they said,

"Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah,   /

for the law shall not perish from the priest, /

nor counsel from the wise, /

nor the word from the prophet. /

Come, and let us smite him with the tongue /

and not give heed to any of his words."

19 Give heed to me, O LORD,   /

and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.

20 Shall evil be recompensed for good?   /

For they have dug a pit for my soul. /

Remember that I stood before you /

to speak good for them /

and to turn away your wrath from them.

21 Therefore, deliver their children to the famine   /

and pour out their blood by the force of the sword, /

let their wives be bereaved of their children and be widows, /

and let their men be put to death /

and their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

22 Let a cry be heard from their houses   /

when you bring a troop suddenly upon them, /

for they have dug a pit to take me /

and hid snares for my feet.

23 Yet, LORD, you know   /

all their counsel against me to slay me. /

Do not forgive their iniquity, /

neither blot out their sin from your sight, /

but let them be overthrown before you. /

Deal thus with them in the time of your anger.

Chapter 19

Under the type of breaking a potter’s vessel is foretold the desolation of the Jews for their sins, 1-15.

1 Thus says the LORD: "Go and get a potter’s earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people and of the ancients of the priests, 2 And go forth to the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell you, 3 And say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which whoever hears, his ears shall tingle, 4 Because they have forsaken me and have estranged this place and have burned incense in it to other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents. 5 They have also built the high places of Baal to burn their sons with fire for burnt-offerings to Baal, which I did not command, nor speak it, neither did it come into my mind. 6 Therefore, behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that this place shall no longer be called Tophet, nor The Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but The Valley of Slaughter. 7 And I will make the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem void in this place. And I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hands of those who seek their lives. And their carcasses I will give to be food for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth. 8 And I will make this city desolate and a hissing. Everyone who passes by it shall be astonished and hiss because of all its plagues. 9 And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall each eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and distress with which their enemies and those who seek their lives shall distress them."'

10 "Then you shall break the bottle in the sight of the men who go with you, 11 And shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel that cannot be made whole again. And they shall bury them in Tophet until there is no place to bury. 12 Thus I will do to this place," says the LORD, "and to its inhabitants, and even make this city as Tophet. 13 And the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense to all the host of heaven and have poured out drink-offerings to other gods."'"

14 Then Jeremiah came from Tophet, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the LORD’S house and said to all the people, 15 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks so that they might not hear my words.'"

Chapter 20

Pashur, smiting Jeremiah, receives a new name and a fearful doom, 1-6. Jeremiah complains about contempt, 7-9; about treachery, 10-13; and about his birth, 14-18.

1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. 2 Then Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD. 3 And it came to pass on the next day, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD has not called your name Pashur, but Magor-missabib. 4 For thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. And they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall behold it. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon and shall slay them with the sword. 5 Moreover, I will deliver all the strength of this city, all its labors, all its precious things, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give into the hand of their enemies, who shall pillage them, take them, and carry them to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashur, and all who dwell in your house shall go into captivity. And you shall come to Babylon, and there you shall die and shall be buried—you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.'"

7 O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived.   /

You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. /

I am in derision daily. /

Everyone mocks me.

8 For as often as I speak, I cry out.   /

I proclaim, "Violence and destruction," /

because the word of the LORD is made to me /

continual reproach and derision.

9 Then I said, "I will not make mention of him,   /

nor speak anymore in his name." /

But his word was in my heart as a burning fire /

shut up in my bones, /

and I was weary with forbearing /

and I could not stay.

10 For I heard the defaming of many,   /

fear on every side. /

"Report," they say, "and we will report it." /

All my familiar friends watched for my fall, saying, /

"Perhaps he will be enticed, /

and we shall prevail against him /

and take our revenge on him."

11 But the LORD is with me as an awesome mighty one;   /

therefore, my persecutors shall stumble /

and shall not prevail. /

They shall be greatly ashamed, /

for they shall not prosper. /

Their everlasting disgrace shall never be forgotten.

12 But, O LORD of hosts, who tries the righteous   /

and sees the mind and the heart, /

let me see your vengeance on them, /

for I have opened my cause to you.

13 Sing to the LORD,   /

praise the LORD, /

for he has delivered the soul of the poor /

from the hand of evil-doers.

14 Cursed is the day   /

in which I was born. /

Do not let the day in which my mother bore me be blessed.

15 Cursed is the man who brought tidings   /

to my father, saying, /

"A male child is born to you," /

making him very glad.

16 And let that man be as the cities   /

which the LORD overthrew, and did not repent. /

And let him hear the cry in the morning /

and the shouting at noon,

17 Because he did not slay me at my birth   /

so that my mother might have been my grave /

and she always be great with child.

18 Why was I brought into the world   /

to see labor and sorrow /

so that my days should be consumed with shame?

Chapter 21

Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to inquire the event of Nebuchadnezzar’s war, 1, 2. Jeremiah foretells a hard siege and miserable captivity, 3-7. He counsels the people to fall to the Chaldeans, 8-10; and upbraids the king’s house, 11-14.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when king Zedekiah sent to him Pashur the son of Melchiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying, 2 "Inquire, I pray you, of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. It may be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works so that he may go up from us."

3 Then Jeremiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to Zedekiah: 4 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, who besiege you outside the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city. 5 And I myself will fight against you with an out-stretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, in fury, and in great wrath. 6 And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die by a great pestilence. 7 And afterward," says the LORD, "I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people who are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. And he shall smite them with the edge of the sword. He shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy."'

8 "And to this people you shall say, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who abides in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes out and falls to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be to him for plunder. 10 For I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good," says the LORD. "It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire."'

11 "And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, 12 O house of David. Thus says the LORD:

"Execute judgment in the morning   /

and deliver him who is made desolate /

out of the hand of the oppressor, /

lest my fury go out like fire /

and burn so that no one can quench it /

because of the evil of your doings.

13 Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley   /

and rock of the plain," /

says the LORD, /

"who say, 'Who shall come down against us? /

Or who shall enter into our habitations?'

14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,"   /

says the LORD. /

"And I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, /

and it shall devour all things around it."'"

Chapter 22

He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats, 1-9. The judgment of Shallum, 10-12; of Jehoiakim, 13-19; and of Coniah, 20-30.

1 Thus says the LORD: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak this word there, 2 And say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits upon the throne of David—you, your servants, and your people who enter by these gates. 3 Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver him who is laid waste out of the hand of the oppressor. And do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you do this thing indeed, then there shall enter by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses—he, his servants, and his people. 5 But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself," says the LORD, "that this house shall become a desolation."'" 6 For thus says the LORD to the king’s house of Judah:

"You are Gilead to me,   /

and the head of Lebanon. /

Yet surely I will make you a wilderness /

and cities which are not inhabited.

7 And I will prepare destroyers against you,   /

each with his weapons, /

and they shall cut down your choice cedars /

and cast them into the fire.

8 "And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall each say to his neighbor, 'Why has the LORD done so to this great city?' 9 Then they shall answer, 'Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and worshiped other gods and served them.'"

10 Do not weep for the dead,   /

neither bemoan him, /

but weep bitterly for him who goes away, /

for he shall no longer return, /

nor see his native country.

11 For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, who went forth from this place: "He shall not return there anymore, 12 But he shall die in the place where they have led him captive and shall no longer see this land.

13 "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness   /

and his chambers by wrong, /

who uses his neighbor’s service without wages /

and does not give him his wages,

14 Who says, 'I will build myself a wide house   /

and large chambers,' /

and cuts out windows for himself, /

and it is ceiled with cedar and painted with vermilion.

15 Shall you reign because you close yourself in cedar?   /

Did your father not eat and drink /

and do judgment and justice? /

Then it was well with him.

16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy.   /

Then it was well with him. /

Was this not to know me?" /

says the LORD.

17 "But your eyes and your heart   /

are only for your covetousness, /

and for shedding innocent blood, /

for oppression, and for violence, to do it."

18 Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:

"They shall not lament for him, saying,   /

'Ah, my brother!' or, 'Ah, sister!' /

They shall not lament for him, saying, /

'Ah, lord!' or, 'Ah, his glory!'

19 He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey,   /

drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

20 Go up to Lebanon, and cry,   /

and lift up your voice in Bashan /

and cry from the passages, /

for all your lovers are destroyed.

21 I spoke to you in your prosperity,   /

but you said, 'I will not hear.' /

This has been your manner from your youth, /

that you have not obeyed my voice.

22 The wind shall eat up all your pastors,   /

and your lovers shall go into captivity. /

Surely then you shall be ashamed and confounded /

for all your wickedness.

23 O inhabitant of Lebanon,   /

who makes your nest in the cedars, /

how gracious you shall be when pangs come upon you, /

the pain as of a woman in travail!

24 "As I live," says the LORD, "though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet I would pluck you from there. 25 And I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life and into the hand of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 And I will cast out you and your mother who bore you into another country where you were not born. And there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, they shall not return there.

28 "Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol?   /

Is he a vessel in which there is no pleasure? /

Why are they cast out—he and his offspring— /

and are cast into a land which they do not know?

29 O earth, earth, earth,   /

hear the word of the LORD.

30 Thus says the LORD:   /

'Write this man childless, /

a man who shall not prosper in his days, /

for no man of his offspring shall prosper, /

sitting upon the throne of David /

and ruling anymore in Judah.'"

Chapter 23

He prophesies a restoration of the scattered flock, 1-4. Christ shall rule and save them, 5-8. Against false prophets, 9-32; and mockers of the true prophets, 33-40.

1 "Woe to the pastors who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" says the LORD. 2 Therefore, thus says the LORD God of Israel against the pastors who feed my people: "You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings," says the LORD. 3 "And I will gather the remnant of my flock from all countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their folds, and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set shepherds over them who shall feed them. And they shall no longer fear, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking," says the LORD.

5 "Behold, the days come,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, /

and a King shall reign and prosper /

and shall execute judgment and justice upon the earth.

6 In his days Judah shall be saved,   /

and Israel shall dwell in safety. /

And this is his name by which he shall be called: /

YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

7 "Therefore, behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that they shall no longer say, 'The LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt,' 8 But, 'The LORD lives, who brought and who led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and from all countries where I have driven them,' and they shall dwell in their own land."

9 My heart within me is broken   /

because of the prophets. /

All my bones shake. /

I am like a drunken man /

and like a man whom wine has overcome /

because of the LORD /

and because of the words of his holiness.

10 For the land is full of adulterers.   /

For because of swearing the land mourns. /

The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, /

and their course is evil /

and their force is not right.

11 "For both prophet and priest are profane.   /

Even in my house I have found their wickedness," /

says the LORD.

12 "Therefore, their way shall be to them   /

as slippery ways in the darkness. /

They shall be driven on and fall therein, /

for I will bring evil upon them, /

even the year of their visitation," /

says the LORD.

13 "And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria.   /

They prophesied in Baal /

and caused my people Israel to err.

14 I have also seen in the prophets of Jerusalem   /

a horrible thing: /

they commit adultery and walk in lies. /

And they strengthen the hands of evil-doers /

so that no one returns from his wickedness. /

All of them are to me as Sodom, /

and the inhabitants of it as Gomorrah."

15 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets:

"Behold, I will feed them with wormwood   /

and make them drink the water of gall, /

for from the prophets of Jerusalem /

hypocrisy has gone forth into all the land."

16 Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"Do not listen to the words of the prophets   /

who prophesy to you. /

They make you vain. /

They speak a vision of their own heart /

and not from the mouth of the LORD.

17 They still say to those who despise me,   /

'The LORD has said, "You shall have peace."' /

And they say to everyone /

who walks after the imagination of his own heart, /

'No evil shall come upon you.'

18 For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD   /

and has perceived and heard his word? /

Who has marked his word and heard it?

19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury,   /

even a grievous whirlwind. /

It shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

20 The anger of the LORD shall not return   /

until he has executed /

and until he has performed the thoughts of his heart. /

In the latter days you shall consider it perfectly.

21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.   /

I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in my counsel   /

and had caused my people to hear my words, /

then they would have turned them from their evil way /

and from the evil of their doings.

23 Am I a God at hand,"   /

says the LORD, /

"and not a God afar off?

24 Can a man hide himself in secret places   /

that I shall not see him?" /

says the LORD. /

"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" /

says the LORD.

25 "I have heard what the prophets said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, 'I have dreamed. I have dreamed.' 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? They are even prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 Who think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they each tell to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream, and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD. 29 "Is my word not like a fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" says the LORD. 30 "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal my words each from his neighbor. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues, and say, 'He says.' 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies and by their lightness, yet I did not send them, nor command them. Therefore, they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD.

33 "And when this people, the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' You shall then say to them, '"You are the burden and I will even forsake you," says the LORD.' 34 And as for the prophet, the priest, and the people who say, 'The burden of the LORD,' I will even punish that man and his house. 35 Thus each of you shall say to his neighbor and each to his brother: 'What has the LORD answered?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?' 36 And you shall no longer mention the burden of the LORD. For every man’s word shall be his burden, for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God. 37 Thus you shall say to the prophet: 'What has the LORD answered you?' and, 'What has the LORD spoken?' 38 But since you say, 'The burden of the LORD,' therefore, thus says the LORD: 'Because you say this word, "The burden of the LORD," and I have sent to you, saying, "You shall not say, 'The burden of the LORD,'"' 39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you and the city that I gave to you and your fathers and cast you out of my presence. 40 And I will bring upon you an everlasting reproach and a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten."

Chapter 24

Under the type of good and bad figs, 1-3, he foretells the restoration of those who were in captivity, 4-7; and the desolation of Zedekiah and the rest, 8-10.

1 The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe, and the other basket had very poor figs, which could not be eaten they were so bad. 3 Then the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "Figs. The good figs, very good, and the bad, very bad, that cannot be eaten they are so bad."

4 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Like these good figs, so I will acknowledge those who are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. 6 For I will set my eyes upon them for good and bring them back to this land. And I will build them and not pull them down. And I will plant them and not pluck them up. 7 And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

8 'And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten they are so bad,' surely thus says the LORD: 'So I will give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, his princes, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 And I will make them a horror among all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I shall drive them. 10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them until they are consumed from off the land that I gave to them and to their fathers.'"

Chapter 25

Jeremiah, reproving the Jews' disobedience to the prophets, 1-7, foretells the seventy years' captivity, 8-11; and after that, the destruction of Babylon, 12-14. Under the type of a cup of wine he foretells the destruction of all nations, 15-33. The howling of the shepherds, 34-38.

1 A word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), 2 Which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 3 "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even to this day, that is the twenty-third year, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened. 4 And the LORD has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 They said, 'Turn back now each from his evil way and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and to your fathers forever and ever, 6 And do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, and I will do you no hurt.' 7 Yet you have not listened to me," says the LORD, "so that you might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

8 "Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Because you have not heard my words, 9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,' says the LORD, 'and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around, and will utterly destroy them and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations. 10 Moreover, I will take from them the voice of mirth, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment. And these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12 'And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,' says the LORD, 'for their iniquity, the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. 13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. 14 For many nations and great kings shall also reduce them to subjection. And I will recompense them according to their deeds and according to the works of their own hands.'"

15 For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: "Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. 16 And they shall drink, and be moved and enraged, because of the sword that I will send among them."

17 Then I took the cup at the LORD’S hand and made all the nations to drink, to whom the LORD had sent me, 18 Namely, Jerusalem, the cities of Judah, her kings, and her princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, and all his people, 20 And all the mingled people; all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Azzah, Ekron, the remnant of Ashdod; 21 Edom, Moab, the children of Ammon; 22 All the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Zidon, the kings of the coastlands which are beyond the sea; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, all who are in the utmost corners; 24 All the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mingled people who dwell in the desert; 25 All the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, all the kings of the Medes; 26 All the kings of the north, far and near, with one another, and all the kingdoms of the world which are upon the face of the earth. And the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27 "Therefore, you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Drink, be drunken, vomit, fall, and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you."' 28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "You shall certainly drink. 29 For behold, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth," says the LORD of hosts.'

30 "Therefore, prophesy against them all these words, and say to them,

'The LORD shall roar from on high   /

and utter his voice from his holy habitation. /

He shall mightily roar upon his habitation. /

He shall give a shout, as those who tread the grapes, /

against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth,   /

for the LORD has a controversy with the nations. /

He will plead with all flesh. /

He will give those who are wicked to the sword,' /

says the LORD."

32 Thus says the LORD of hosts:   /

"Behold, evil shall go forth /

from nation to nation, /

and a great whirlwind shall be raised /

from the borders of the earth.

33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried. They shall be dung upon the ground.

34 Howl, you shepherds, and cry,   /

and wallow yourselves in the ashes, /

you principal of the flock, /

for the days of your slaughter /

and of your dispersions are accomplished, /

and you shall fall like a precious vessel.

35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee,   /

nor the principal of the flock to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds   /

and a howling of the principal of the flock shall be heard, /

for the LORD has laid waste their pasture.

37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down   /

because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

38 He has forsaken his covert, as the lion,   /

for their land is desolate /

because of the fierceness of the oppressor /

and because of his fierce anger."

Chapter 26

Jeremiah by promises and threatenings exhorts to repentance, 1-7. He is therefore apprehended, 8, 9, and arraigned, 10, 11. His apology, 12-15. He is acquitted in judgment, by the example of Micah, 16-19, and of Urijah, 20-23, and by the care of Ahikam, 24.

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, this word from the LORD came, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the court of the LORD’S house and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. 3 It may be that they will listen and each turn from his evil way so that I may repent of the evil which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings.' 4 And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "If you will not listen to me to walk in my law which I have set before you, 5 To listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I have sent to you, both rising early and sending them, but you have not listened, 6 Then I will make this house like Shiloh and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth."'"

7 So the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests, the prophets, and all the people took him, saying, "You shall surely die. 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant'?" And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, "This man is worthy to die, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears."

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will repent of the evil that he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me as it seems good and proper to you. 15 But know for certain, that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its inhabitants. For of a truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

16 Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, "This man is not worthy to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God." 17 Then some of the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 "Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"Zion shall be plowed like a field,   /

Jerusalem shall become heaps, /

and the mountain of the house /

as the high places of the forest."'

19 "Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and implore the LORD, and the LORD repented of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus we might procure great evil against our souls."

20 And there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled and went into Egypt. 22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor and some men with him into Egypt. 23 And they brought forth Urijah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who slew him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

24 Nevertheless, the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

Chapter 27

Under the type of bonds and yokes he prophesies the subduing of the neighbor kings to Nebuchadnezzar, 1-7. He exhorts them to yield and not to believe the false prophets, 8-11. He does similarly to Zedekiah, 12-18. He foretells the remnant of the vessels shall be carried to Babylon and there remain until the day of visitation, 19-22.

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD to me: 'Make for yourself bonds and yokes and put them upon your neck, 3 And send them to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, to the king of the Ammonites, to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Zidon by the hand of the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. 4 And command them to say to their masters, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel—thus you shall say to your masters: 5 'I have made the earth, the man, and the beasts that are upon the ground by my great power and by my out-stretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to me. 6 And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant. And the beasts of the field I have given him also to serve him. 7 And all nations shall serve him, his son, and his son’s son until the very time of his land comes. And then many nations and great kings shall bring him into subjection.

8 'And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and which will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish,' says the LORD, 'with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence until I have consumed them by his hand. 9 Therefore, do not listen to your prophets, to your diviners, to your dreamers, to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers who speak to you, saying, "You shall not serve the king of Babylon." 10 For they prophesy a lie to you to remove you far from your land, and that I should drive you out, and you should perish. 11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, those I will let remain still in their own land,' says the LORD, 'and they shall till it and dwell in it.'"'"

12 I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, "Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and live. 13 Why will you die—you and your people—by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Therefore, do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you. 15 For I have not sent them," says the LORD, "yet they prophesy a lie in my name so that I might drive you out, and that you might perish—you and the prophets who prophesy to you."

16 Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, "Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S house shall now shortly be brought back from Babylon," for they prophesy a lie to you. 17 Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city be laid waste? 18 But if they are prophets and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts so that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem do not go to Babylon. 19 For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the bases, and concerning the rest of the vessels that remain in this city, 20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 Indeed, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and of Jerusalem: 22 "They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them," says the LORD. "Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place."'"

Chapter 28

Hananiah prophesies falsely the return of the vessels and of Jeconiah, 1-4. Jeremiah, wishing it to be true, shows that the event will declare the true prophets, 5-9. Hananiah breaks Jeremiah’s yoke, 10, 11. Jeremiah tells of an iron yoke, 12-14; and foretells Hananiah’s death, 15-17.

1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years I will bring back into this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah with all the captives of Judah who went into Babylon,' says the LORD. 'For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD, 6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen. May the LORD do so. May the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD’S house and all that is carried away captive from Babylon into this place. 7 Nevertheless, now hear this word that I speak in your ears and in the ears of all the people. 8 The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied both against many countries and against great kingdoms, of war, of evil, and of pestilence. 9 The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet shall be known that the LORD has truly sent him."

10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'" And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you shall make for them yokes of iron." 14 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations so that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they shall serve him. And I have given him the beasts of the field also."'" 15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore, thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from off the face of the earth. This year you shall die because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"

17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Chapter 29

Jeremiah sends a letter to the captives in Babylon to be quiet there, 1-7, and not to believe the dreams of their prophets, 8, 9; and that they shall return with grace after seventy years, 10-14. He foretells the destruction of the rest for their disobedience, 15-19. He shows the fearful end of Ahab and Zedekiah, two lying prophets, 20-23. Shemaiah writes a letter against Jeremiah, 24-29. Jeremiah foretells his doom, 30-32.

1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders who were carried away as captives, to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon 2 (After Jeconiah the king, the queen, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the carpenters, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem), 3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), saying, 4 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who are carried away as captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 'Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters, so that you may be increased there and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away as captives, and pray to the LORD for it, for in its peace you shall have peace.' 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in the midst of you deceive you, neither listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed, 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them,' says the LORD.

10 "For thus says the LORD: 'After seventy years is accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the LORD, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then you shall call upon me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found by you,' says the LORD, 'and I will turn away your captivity and gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' says the LORD, 'and I will bring you back into the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.'

15 "Because you have said, 'The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,' 16 Know that thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits upon the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brothers who have not gone forth with you into captivity— 17 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence and will make them like vile figs that cannot be eaten they are so bad. 18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 For they have not listened to my words,' says the LORD, 'which I sent to them by my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you would not hear,' says the LORD. 20 Hear therefore the word of the LORD, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: 'Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes. 22 And concerning them a curse shall be taken up by all the captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, "May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, 23 Because they have committed villainy in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbor’s wives, and have spoken lying words in my name which I have not commanded them. Even I know and am a witness," says the LORD.'"

24 Thus you shall also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 25 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, 'Because you have sent letters in your name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 "The LORD has made you priest in place of Jehoiada the priest, so that you should be officers in the house of the LORD. For every man who is mad and makes himself a prophet, you should put him in prison and in the stocks. 27 Now therefore, why have you not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you? 28 For therefore he sent to us in Babylon, saying, 'This captivity is long. Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.'"'"

29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 31 "Send to all those of the captivity, saying, 'Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: "Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I did not send him, and he caused you to trust in a lie," 32 Therefore, thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his offspring. He shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people," says the LORD, "because he has taught rebellion against the LORD."'"

Chapter 30

God shows Jeremiah the return of the Jews, 1-3. After their trouble they shall have deliverance, 4-9. He comforts Jacob, 10-17. Their return shall be gracious, 18-22. Wrath shall fall on the wicked, 23, 24.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying, 'Write for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,' says the LORD, 'and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'"

4 And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah:

5 "For thus says the LORD:

'We have heard a voice of trembling,   /

of fear, and not of peace.

6 Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child.   /

Why do I see every man /

with his hands on his loins as a woman in travail, /

and all faces are turned into paleness?

7 Alas! For that day is great   /

so that none is like it. /

It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, /

but he shall be saved out of it.

8 'For it shall come to pass in that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off your neck and will tear off your bonds, and strangers shall no longer bring him into subjection, 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.

10 'Therefore, do not fear, O my servant Jacob,'   /

says the LORD, /

'neither be dismayed, O Israel, /

for behold, I will save you from afar /

and your offspring from the land of their captivity, /

and Jacob shall return and be in rest and quiet, /

and no one shall make him afraid.

11 For I am with you,'   /

says the LORD, /

'to save you. /

Though I make a full end of all nations /

where I have scattered you, /

yet I will not make a full end of you. /

But I will correct you in measure /

and will not leave you altogether unpunished.'

12 For thus says the LORD:   /

'Your bruise is incurable /

and your wound is grievous.

13 There is no one to plead your cause,   /

so that you may be bound up. /

You have no healing medicines.

14 All your lovers have forgotten you.   /

They do not seek you, /

for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, /

with the chastisements of a cruel one, /

for the multitude of your iniquity /

because your sins were increased.

15 Why do you cry for your affliction?   /

Your sorrow is incurable /

for the multitude of your iniquity. /

Because your sins were increased, /

I have done these things to you.

16 Therefore, all those who devour you shall be devoured.   /

And all your adversaries, every one of them shall go into captivity. /

And those who plunder you shall be plunder, /

and all who prey upon you I will give for plunder.

17 For I will restore health to you   /

and heal you of your wounds,' /

says the LORD, /

'because they called you Outcast, saying, /

"This is Zion, whom no man seeks after."'

18 Thus says the LORD:   /

'Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents /

and have mercy on his dwelling places, /

and the city shall be built upon her own heap, /

and the palace shall remain after its manner.

19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving   /

and the voice of those who make merry. /

And I will multiply them, and they shall not be few. /

I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.

20 Their children shall also be as in former time,   /

and their congregation shall be established before me, /

and I will punish all who oppress them.

21 And their nobles shall be from themselves   /

and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them. /

And I will cause him to draw near, /

and he shall approach me. /

For who is this who engaged his heart /

to approach me?' /

says the LORD.

22 'And you shall be my people,   /

and I will be your God.'"

23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goes forth with fury,   /

a continuing whirlwind. /

It shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return   /

until he has done it and until he has performed /

the intents of his heart. /

In the latter days you shall consider it.

Chapter 31

The restoration of Israel, 1-9. The publication thereof, 10-14. Rachel mourning is comforted, 15-17. Ephraim repenting is brought home again, 18-21. Christ is promised, 22-26. His care over the church, 27-30. His new covenant, 31-34. The stability, 35-37, and amplitude of the church, 38-40.

1 "At the same time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people."

2 Thus says the LORD:

"The people who were left by the sword   /

found grace in the wilderness, /

even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest."

3 The LORD appeared of old to me, saying,   /

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; /

therefore, with loving-kindness have I drawn you.

4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built,   /

O virgin of Israel. /

You shall again be adorned with your tambourines /

and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.

5 You shall yet plant vines   /

upon the mountains of Samaria. /

The planters shall plant /

and shall eat them as common things.

6 For there shall be a day   /

that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, /

'Arise, and let us go up to Zion /

to the LORD our God.'"

7 For thus says the LORD:

"Sing with gladness for Jacob   /

and shout among the chief of the nations. /

Publish, praise, and say, /

'O LORD, save your people, /

the remnant of Israel.'

8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country   /

and gather them from the borders of the earth, /

and with them the blind and the lame, /

the woman with child /

and her who travails with child together. /

A great company shall return there.

9 They shall come with weeping,   /

and with supplications I will lead them. /

I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters /

in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble, /

for I am a father to Israel, /

and Ephraim is my first-born."

10 Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,   /

and declare it in the coastlands afar off, and say, /

"He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, /

as a shepherd does his flock."

11 For the LORD has redeemed Jacob   /

and ransomed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he is.

12 "Therefore, they shall come and sing in the height of Zion   /

and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD /

for wheat, for wine, for oil, /

and for the young of the flock and of the herd. /

And their soul shall be as a watered garden, /

and they shall not sorrow anymore at all.

13 Then the virgin shall rejoice in the dance,   /

both young men and old together, /

for I will turn their mourning into joy /

and comfort them /

and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness,   /

and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness," /

says the LORD.

15 Thus says the LORD:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,   /

lamentation and bitter weeping. /

Rachel weeping for her children /

refused to be comforted for her children, /

because they were no more."

16 Thus says the LORD:

"Refrain your voice from weeping   /

and your eyes from tears, /

for your work shall be rewarded," /

says the LORD, /

"and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.

17 And there is hope in your end,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that your children shall come back to their own border.

18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, saying,   /

'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, /

as a bull unaccustomed to the yoke. /

Turn me, and I shall be turned, /

for you are the LORD my God.

19 Surely after I was turned, I repented.   /

And after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh. /

I was ashamed and even confounded /

because I bore the reproach of my youth.'

20 Is Ephraim my dear son?   /

Is he a pleasant child? /

For since I spoke against him, /

I earnestly remember him still; /

therefore, my heart yearns for him. /

I will surely have mercy upon him," /

says the LORD.

21 "Set yourself up way-marks.   /

Make yourself high heaps. /

Set your heart toward the highway, /

even the way which you went. /

Turn back, O virgin of Israel, /

turn back to these cities of yours.

22 How long will you wander around,   /

O backsliding daughter? /

For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth: /

a woman shall compass a man."

23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in her cities when I bring back their captivity:

'May the LORD bless you,   /

O habitation of justice, /

mountain of holiness.'

24 "And there shall dwell in Judah itself and in all her cities together farmers and those who go forth with flocks. 25 For I have satiated the weary soul and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." 26 Upon this I awoke and beheld, and my sleep was sweet to me.

27 "Behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," says the LORD. 29 "In those days they shall no longer say,

'The fathers have eaten a sour grape,   /

and the children’s teeth are set on edge.'

30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Every man who eats the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

31 "Behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 But not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," says the LORD. 33 "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says the LORD, "I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall they each teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the LORD. "For I will forgive their iniquity and will no longer remember their sin."

35 Thus says the LORD,   /

who gives the sun for a light by day /

and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, /

who divides the sea when its waves roar, /

the LORD of hosts is his name:

36 "If those ordinances depart from before me,"   /

says the LORD, /

"then the offspring of Israel shall also cease /

from being a nation before me forever."

37 Thus says the LORD:

"If heaven above can be measured   /

and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, /

I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel /

for all that they have done," /

says the LORD.

38 "Behold, the days come," says the LORD, "that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse-gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down anymore forever."

References

[v.15]: Quoted in Matthew 2:18. [v.31]: Quoted in Hebrews 8:8. [v.32]: Quoted in Hebrews 8:9. [v.33]: Quoted in Hebrews 8:10, 10:16. [v.34]: Quoted in Romans 11:27; Hebrews 8:11-12, 10:17.

Chapter 32

Jeremiah, being imprisoned by Zedekiah for his prophecy, 1-5, buys Hanameel’s field, 6-12. Baruch must preserve the evidences as tokens of the people’s return, 13-15. Jeremiah in his prayer complains to God, 16-25. God confirms the captivity for their sins, 26-35; and promises a gracious return, 36-44.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house, 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had confined him, saying, "Why do you prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes. 5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall be until I visit him," says the LORD. "Though you fight with the Chaldeans, you shall not prosper"'?"

6 And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 7 'Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come to you, saying, "Buy for yourself my field that is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it."' 8 So Hanameel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison, according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Buy my field, I pray you, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin, for the right of inheritance is yours and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

9 "And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son that was in Anathoth and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. 10 And I signed the contract and sealed it, took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. 11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom and that which was open, 12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel my uncle’s son and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison. 13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying, 14 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both that which is sealed and this evidence which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel so that they may remain many days." 15 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land."'

16 "Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying, 17 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and out-stretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for you. 18 You show loving-kindness to thousands and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them. The Great, the Mighty God, YAHWEH of Hosts, is his name, 19 Great in counsel and mighty in work. For your eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men to give each according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. 20 You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, and in Israel, and among other men, and have made yourself a name, as at this day. 21 You have brought forth your people Israel from the land of Egypt with signs, with wonders, with a strong hand, with an out-stretched arm, and with great terror. 22 You have given them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey, 23 And they came in and possessed it, but they did not obey your voice, nor walk in your law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do; therefore, you have caused all this evil to come upon them. 24 Behold the siege-mounds, they have come to the city to take it, and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, who fight against it, because of the sword, of the famine, and of the pestilence. And what you have spoken has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 And you have said to me, O Lord GOD, "Buy yourself the field for money and take witnesses," for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.'"

26 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?" 28 Therefore, thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 29 And the Chaldeans, who fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal and poured out drink-offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done evil only before me from their youth, for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands," says the LORD. 31 "For this city has been to me as a provocation of my anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even to this day so that I should remove it from before my face, 32 Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger—they, their kings, their princes, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 And they have turned the back to me and not the face. Though I taught them, rising early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 But they set their abominations in the house which is called by my name to defile it. 35 And they built the high places of Baal which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, neither did it come into my mind, that they should do this abomination to cause Judah to sin.

36 "And now therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, of which you say, 'It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence': 37 'Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in my anger, in my fury, and in great wrath, and I will bring them back to this place and cause them to dwell in safety. 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 And I will give them one heart and one way so that they may fear me forever, for the good of them and of their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts so that they shall not depart from me. 41 Indeed, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.' 42 For thus says the LORD: 'As I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I have promised them. 43 And fields shall be bought in this land, of which you say, "It is desolate without man or beast. It is given into the hand of the Chaldeans." 44 Men shall buy fields for money, sign evidences and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south, for I will cause their captivity to return,' says the LORD."

Chapter 33

God promises to the captivity a gracious return, 1-8; a joyful state, 9-11; a settled government, 12-14; Christ the branch of righteousness, 15, 16; a continuance of kingdom and priesthood, 17, 18; and the stability of a blessed posterity, 19-26.

1 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time while he was yet confined in the court of the prison, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD, the maker of this, the LORD who formed it to establish it, Yahweh is his name: 3 'Call to me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.' 4 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the siege-mounds and by the sword: 5 'They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in my anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. 6 Behold, I will bring it health and healing. I will cure them and will reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return and will build them, as at the first. 8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, by which they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their iniquities, by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against me. 9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them. And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure to it.'

10 "Thus says the LORD: 'Again there shall be heard in this place, which you say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate without man, without inhabitant, and without beast, 11 The voice of joy, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, the voice of the bride, and the voice of those who shall say, "Praise the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good. For his mercy endures forever," and of those who shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return, as at the first,' says the LORD.

12 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all its cities shall be a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the valley, in the cities of the south, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks shall pass again under the hands of him who counts them,' says the LORD.

14 'Behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up to David, and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety. And this is the name by which she shall be called: YAHWEH Our Righteousness.' 17 For thus says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel, 18 Neither shall the priests the Levites lack a man before me to offer burnt-offerings, to kindle food-offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.'"

19 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 "Thus says the LORD: 'If you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night so that there should not be day and night in their season, 21 Then may my covenant also be broken with David my servant so that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne, and also with the Levites the priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me.'"

23 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 "Do you not consider what this people has spoken, saying, 'The two families which the LORD has chosen, he has even cast them off'? Thus they have despised my people so that they should no longer be a nation before them. 25 Thus says the LORD: 'If my covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, 26 Then I will cast away the offspring of Jacob and David my servant so that I will not take any of his offspring to be rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captivity to return and have mercy on them.'"

Chapter 34

Jeremiah prophesies the captivity of Zedekiah and the city, 1-7. The princes and the people, having dismissed their servants, cause them to return contrary to the covenant of God, 8-11. Jeremiah gives them and Zedekiah into the hands of their enemies for their disobedience, 12-22.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, all his army, all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people fought against Jerusalem and against all its cities, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. 3 And you shall not escape from his hand, but shall surely be taken and delivered into his hand. And your eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with you mouth to mouth, and you shall go to Babylon.'"' 4 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah. Thus says the LORD concerning you: 'You shall not die by the sword, 5 But you shall die in peace. And as with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they shall burn odors for you. And they will lament you, saying, "Ah, lord!"' For I have pronounced the word," says the LORD.

6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 7 When the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem, against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah, for these fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah.

8 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them, 9 That every man should liberate his man-servant and every man his woman-servant, being a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, so that no one should retain them in service, namely, a Jew his brother. 10 Now when all the princes and all the people who had entered into the covenant heard that everyone should liberate his man-servant and everyone his woman-servant so that no one should retain them in service anymore, they obeyed and let them go. 11 But afterward, they turned and caused the men-servants and the women-servants whom they had liberated to return, and brought them into subjection as men-servants and as women-servants.

12 Therefore, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 13 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying, 14 "At the end of seven years each of you shall dismiss his brother, a Hebrew, who has been sold to you. And when he has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you." But your fathers did not listen to me, or incline their ear. 15 And you had now turned and had done right in my sight, each in proclaiming liberty to his neighbor, and you had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name. 16 But you turned and profaned my name and each caused his man-servant and each his woman-servant, whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection to be your men-servants and women-servants.'

17 "Therefore, thus says the LORD: 'You have not listened to me in proclaiming liberty, each to his brother and each to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim a liberty for you,' says the LORD, 'to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine, and I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 And I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts, 19 The princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf, 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. And their dead bodies shall be for food to the birds of the heaven and to the beasts of the earth. 21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes I will give into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which have gone up from you. 22 Behold, I will command,' says the LORD, 'and cause them to return to this city, and they shall fight against it, take it, and burn it with fire. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.'"

Chapter 35

By the obedience of the Rechabites, 1-11, Jeremiah condemns the disobedience of the Jews, 12-17. God blesses the Rechabites for their obedience, 18, 19.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink." 3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah the son of Habaziniah, his brothers, all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, 4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, who was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door. 5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine and cups, and I said to them, "Drink wine." 6 But they said, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine—neither you, nor your sons forever— 7 Neither shall you build house, sow seed, plant vineyard, nor have any. But all your days you shall dwell in tents so that you may live many days in the land where you are strangers.' 8 Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he has charged us, to drink no wine all our days—we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters— 9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in, neither do we have vineyard, field, nor seed. 10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, 'Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians.' So we dwell at Jerusalem."

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words?" says the LORD. 14 "The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab that he commanded his sons not to drink wine are performed. For to this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment. But I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you did not listen to me. 15 I have also sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, 'Return each of you now from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers. But you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me. 16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me,'"' 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard, and I have called to them, but they have not answered.'"

18 And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he has commanded you, 19 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me forever."'"

Chapter 36

Jeremiah causes Baruch to write his prophecy, 1-4, and publicly to read it, 5-10. The princes, having intelligence thereof by Michaiah, send Jehudi to fetch the scroll and read it, 11-18. They make Baruch hide himself and Jeremiah, 19. The king Jehoiakim, being certified thereof, hears part of it and burns the scroll, 20-26. Jeremiah denounces his judgment, 27-31. Baruch writes a new copy, 32.

1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 "Take for yourself a scroll of a book and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do to them so that they may each return from his evil way and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin."

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah. And Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD which he had spoken to him upon a scroll of a book. 5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, "I am confined. I cannot go into the house of the LORD. 6 Therefore, go and read the words of the LORD from the scroll which you have written from my mouth in the ears of the people in the LORD’S house upon the day of fasting. And also you shall read them in the ears of all of Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It may be that they will present their supplication before the LORD and will each return from his evil way, for the anger and the fury is great that the LORD has pronounced against this people." 8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD’S house.

9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem and to all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. 10 Then Baruch read in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house, in the ears of all the people.

11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD, 12 He went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber, and behold, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 13 Then Michaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. 14 Therefore, all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, "Take in your hand the scroll in which you have read in the ears of the people and come." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them. 15 And they said to him, "Sit down now and read it in our ears." So Baruch read it in their ears. 16 Now it came to pass when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear to one another and said to Baruch, "We will surely tell the king of all these words." 17 And they asked Baruch, saying, "Tell us now, how did you write all these words from his mouth?" 18 Then Baruch answered them, "He pronounced all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book." 19 Then the princes said to Baruch, "Go, hide yourself—you and Jeremiah—and let no man know where you are."

20 And they went to the king in the court, but they laid up the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe and told all the words in the ears of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king and in the ears of all the princes who stood beside the king. 22 Now the king sat in the winter-house in the ninth month, and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the scribe’s pen-knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments—neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words. 25 Nevertheless, Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll, but he would not hear them. 26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.

27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28 "Take for yourself again another scroll and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah has burned. 29 And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, 'Thus says the LORD: "You have burned this scroll, saying, 'Why have you written therein, saying, "The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land and cause man and beast to cease from there"?'" 30 Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: "He shall have no one to sit upon the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat and in the night to the frost. 31 And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity, and I will bring upon them, upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they did not listen."'"

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And again there were added to them many words like these.

Chapter 37

The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans, king Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to pray for the people, 1-5. Jeremiah prophesies the Chaldeans' certain return and victory, 6-10. He is taken for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison, 11-15. He assures Zedekiah of the captivity, 16, 17. Entreating for his liberty, he obtains some favor, 18-21.

1 And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah. 2 But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.

3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Pray now to the LORD our God for us." 4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people, for they had not put him into prison. 5 Then Pharaoh’s army had come from Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

6 Then the word of the LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 7 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Thus you shall say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me: "Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. 8 And the Chaldeans shall come back, fight against this city, take it, and burn it with fire."' 9 Thus says the LORD: 'Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans will surely depart from us," for they will not depart. 10 For though you had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet they would each rise up in his tent and burn this city with fire.'"

11 And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army, 12 Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin to separate himself from there in the midst of the people. 13 And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "You fall away to the Chaldeans." 14 Then Jeremiah said, "It is false. I do not fall away to the Chaldeans." But he did not listen to him. So Irijah took Jeremiah and brought him to the princes. 15 Therefore, the princes were angry with Jeremiah, and beat him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had made that the prison. 16 So Jeremiah had entered into the dungeon and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days.

17 Then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out. And the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, "Is there any word from the LORD?" And Jeremiah said, "There is." He said, "You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon." 18 Moreover, Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, "In what have I offended against you, against your servants, or against this people that you have put me in prison? 19 Where are your prophets now who prophesied to you, saying, 'The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land'? 20 Now therefore, hear, I pray you, O my lord the king. Let my supplication, I pray you, be accepted before you, that you do not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there." 21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison and that they should give him a piece of bread daily out of the baker’s street until all the bread in the city was consumed. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Chapter 38

Jeremiah, by a false suggestion, is put into the dungeon of Malchiah, 1-6. Ebed-melech, by appeal, gets him some enlargement, 7-13. Upon secret conference, he counsels the king by yielding to save his life, 14-23. By the king’s instructions he conceals the conference from the princes, 24-28.

1 Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD: 'He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live, for he shall have his life for plunder and shall live.' 3 Thus says the LORD: 'This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.'" 4 Therefore, the princes said to the king, "We implore you, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city and the hands of all the people in speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but the hurt." 5 Then Zedekiah the king said, "Behold, he is in your hand, for the king is not he who can do anything against you." 6 Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech that was in the court of the prison. And they let Jeremiah down with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sunk in the mire. 7 Now when Ebed-melech the Cushite, one of the eunuchs who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was sitting in the gate of Benjamin), 8 Ebed-melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying, 9 "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon. And he is likely to die by hunger in the place where he is, for there is no more bread in the city." 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying, "Take from here thirty men with you and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies." 11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, took from there old cast cloths and old decayed rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12 And Ebed-melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Now put these old cast cloths and decayed rags under your armpits under the cords." And Jeremiah did so. 13 So they drew Jeremiah up with cords and took him out of the dungeon. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

14 Then Zedekiah the king sent and took Jeremiah the prophet to him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD. And the king said to Jeremiah, "I will ask you a thing. Hide nothing from me." 15 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I give you counsel, you will not listen to me." 16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, "As the LORD lives, who made us this soul, I will not put you to death, neither will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life."

17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you will assuredly go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you shall live, along with your house. 18 But if you will not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.'" 19 And Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Jews who have fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand and they mock me." 20 But Jeremiah said, "They shall not deliver you. Obey, I implore you, the voice of the LORD, which I speak to you, so it shall be well to you and your soul shall live. 21 But if you refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD has revealed to me: 22 'And behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say,

"Your friends have enticed you   /

and have prevailed against you. /

Your feet are sunk in the mire, /

and they are turned away back."

23 'So they shall bring out all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans. And you shall not escape out of their hand, but shall be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon, and you shall cause this city to be burned with fire.'"

24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Let no man know of these words, and you shall not die. 25 But if the princes hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you and say to you, 'Declare to us now what you have said to the king, do not hide it from us and we will not put you to death, and also what the king said to you,' 26 Then you shall say to them, 'I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house to die there.'" 27 Then all the princes came to Jeremiah and asked him, and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him, for the matter was not perceived. 28 So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken, and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.

Chapter 39

Jerusalem is taken, 1-3. Zedekiah is made blind and sent to Babylon, 4-7. The city laid in ruins, 8, and the people taken captive, 9, 10. Nebuchadnezzar’s charge for the good usage of Jeremiah, 11-14. God’s promise to Ebed-melech, 15-18.

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. 3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, and Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon. 4 And it came to pass, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, by the gate between the two walls, and he went out the way of the plain. 5 But the Chaldeans' army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. 6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes. The king of Babylon also slew all the nobles of Judah. 7 Moreover, he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. 8 And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who fell away, who fell to him, with the rest of the people who remained. 10 But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the people who had nothing in the land of Judah and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, saying, 12 "Take him, look well to him, and do him no harm, but do to him even as he says to you." 13 So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the king of Babylon’s princes, 14 They even sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, so that he should carry him home. So he dwelt among the people.

15 Now the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the prison, saying, 16 "Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil and not for good, and they shall be accomplished in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day," says the LORD, "and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be as plunder to you because you have put your trust in me," says the LORD.'"

Chapter 40

Jeremiah, being set free by Nebuzar-adan, goes to Gedaliah, 1-6. The dispersed Jews go to him, 7-12. Johanan revealing Ishmael’s conspiracy is not believed, 13-16.

1 A word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all who were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon. 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, "The LORD your God has pronounced this evil upon this place. 3 Now the LORD has brought it and done according as he has said. Because you have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come upon you. 4 And now, behold, I release you this day from the chains which were upon your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well to you. But if it seems ill to you to come with me into Babylon, forbear. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right for you to go, go there." 5 Now while he had not yet gone back, he said, "Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people, or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go." So the captain of the guard gave him provisions and a reward and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam at Mizpah and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, children, and those of the poor of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon, 8 They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite—they and their men. 9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, "Do not fear to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans who will come to us. But you, gather wine, summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels and dwell in your cities that you have taken." 11 Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, 12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in abundance.

13 Moreover, Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 14 And said to him, "Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay you?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, "Let me go, I pray you, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it. Why should he slay you so that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered and the remnant of Judah perish?" 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of Ishmael."

Chapter 41

Ishmael, treacherously killing Gedaliah and others, purposes with the remnant to flee to the Ammonites, 1-10. Johanan recovers the captives and is minded to flee into Egypt, 11-18.

1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam at Mizpah. And there they ate bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. 3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews who were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there and the men of war.

4 And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, 5 That there came men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaved and their clothes rent and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. 6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went. And it came to pass, as he met them, he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam." 7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them and cast them into the midst of the pit—he and the men who were with him. 8 But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, "Do not slay us, for we have treasures in the field of wheat, of barley, of oil, and of honey." So he forbore and did not slay them among their brothers.

9 Now the pit into which Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with those who were slain. 10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the remnant of the people who were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 They took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. 13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him, they were glad. 14 So all the people who Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and returned and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpeh, after he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon. 17 And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt, 18 Because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

Chapter 42

Johanan desires Jeremiah to inquire of God, promising obedience to his will, 1-6. Jeremiah assures him of safety in Judea, 7-12; and destruction in Egypt, 13-18. He reproves their hypocrisy, in inquiring of the Lord that which they do not mean to follow, 19-22.

1 Then all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even to the greatest came near, 2 And said to Jeremiah the prophet, "We implore you, let our supplication be accepted before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, even for all this remnant (for we are left but a few of many, as your eyes behold us), 3 So that the LORD your God may show us the way in which we may walk and the thing that we may do." 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the LORD your God according to your words. And it shall come to pass, that whatever thing the LORD answers you, I will declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from you." 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to all things for which the LORD your God sends you to us. 6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send you, so that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."

7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 And said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your supplication before him: 10 'If you will still abide in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up, for I repent of the evil that I have done to you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not be afraid of him,' says the LORD, 'for I am with you to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will show mercies to you, so that he may have mercy upon you and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if you say, "We will not dwell in this land," neither obey the voice of the LORD your God, 14 Saying, "No, but we will go into the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor hunger for bread. And there we will dwell," 15 Then therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "If you wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt and go to sojourn there, 16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt. And there you shall die. 17 Thus it shall be with all the men who set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there. They shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. And none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them."'

18 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'As my anger and my fury has been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my fury shall be poured forth upon you when you enter into Egypt. And you shall be an object of horror, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach, and you shall see this place no more.' 19 The LORD has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go into Egypt.' Know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 20 For you dissembled in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, 'Pray for us to the LORD our God, and according to all that the LORD our God says, declare it to us, and we will do it.' 21 And now I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor anything for which he has sent me to you. 22 Now therefore, know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence in the place where you desire to go and to sojourn."

Chapter 43

Johanan, discrediting Jeremiah’s prophecy, carries him and the rest into Egypt, 1-7. Jeremiah prophesies by a type the conquest of Egypt by the Babylonians, 8-13.

1 And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, "You speak falsely. The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go into Egypt to sojourn there.' 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah entices you against us to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans so that they may put us to death and carry us away as captives into Babylon." 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces, and all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD to dwell in the land of Judah. 5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all nations where they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah— 6 Even men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 So they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. Thus they came even to Tahpanhes.

8 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 "Take great stones in your hand and hide them in the clay in the brick-kiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah, 10 And say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid, and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he comes, he shall smite the land of Egypt and deliver those who are for death to death, and those who are for captivity to captivity, and those who are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captives. And he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his garment, and he shall go forth from there in peace. 13 He shall also break the images of Beth-shemesh, which is in the land of Egypt, and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians he shall burn with fire."'"

Chapter 44

Jeremiah expresses the desolation of Judah for their idolatry, 1-10. He prophesies the destruction of those who commit idolatry in Egypt, 11-14. The obstinacy of the Jews, 15-19; for which Jeremiah threatens them, 20-28; and for a sign prophesies the destruction of Egypt, 29, 30.

1 A word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwell in the land of Egypt, who dwell at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'You have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah, and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwells in them, 3 Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger in that they went to burn incense and to serve other gods, whom they did not know—neither they, you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I sent all my servants the prophets to you, rising early and sending them, saying, "Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate." 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. 6 Therefore, my fury and my anger was poured forth and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day. 7 And now, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: "Why do you commit this great evil against your souls, to cut off from yourselves man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah to leave yourselves no one to remain, 8 In that you provoke me to wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to dwell, so that you may cut yourselves off and that you may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They are not humbled even to this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, which I set before you and before your fathers."'

11 "Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will set my face against you for evil and to cut off all Judah. 12 And I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt. They shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine. They shall die, from the least even to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine. And they shall be an object of horror, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach. 13 For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, 14 So that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there shall escape or remain to return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there. For none shall return but those who escape.'"

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods and all the women who stood by, a great multitude, even all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16 "As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you. 17 But we will certainly do whatever thing proceeds from our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings to her, as we have done—we, our fathers, our kings, and our princes—in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of provisions and were well and saw no evil. 18 But since we ceased to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings to her, we have lacked all things and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink-offerings to her, did we make for her cakes to worship her and pour out drink-offerings to her without our men?"

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men, to the women, and to all the people who had given him that answer, saying, 21 "The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land—did the LORD not remember them, and did it not come into his mind? 22 So the LORD could no longer bear because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore, your land is a desolation, an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies, therefore this evil has happened to you, as at this day."

24 Moreover, Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women, "Hear the word of the LORD, all of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. 25 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, 'You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hand, saying, "We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings to her." You will surely accomplish your vows and surely perform your vows.' 26 Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, all of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: 'Behold, I have sworn by my great name,' says the LORD, 'that my name shall no longer be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "The Lord GOD lives." 27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine until there is an end of them. 28 Yet a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there shall know whose words shall stand—mine, or theirs. 29 And this shall be a sign to you,' says the LORD, 'that I will punish you in this place so that you may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil.' 30 Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and sought his life.'"

Chapter 45

Baruch being dismayed, 1-3, Jeremiah instructs and comforts him, 4, 5.

1 Jeremiah the prophet spoke a word to Baruch the son of Neriah when he had written these words in a book from the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 'You said, "Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing and I find no rest."' 4 Thus you shall say to him: 'The LORD says thus: "Behold, that which I have built I will break down and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land." 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh,' says the LORD, 'but your life I will give to you for plunder in all places where you go.'"

Chapter 46

Jeremiah prophesies the overthrow of Pharaoh’s army at the Euphrates, 1-12, and the conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, 13-26. He comforts Jacob in his chastisement, 27, 28.

1 [The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles.]

2 [Against Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh-necho king of Egypt, who was by the Euphrates River in Carshemish, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.]

3 "Order the buckler and shield   /

and draw near to battle.

4 Harness the horses and mount, you horsemen,   /

and stand forth with your helmets. /

Furbish the spears and put on the coats of mail.

5 Why have I seen them dismayed and turned away back?   /

And their mighty ones are beaten down, /

have fled apace, and do not look back, /

for fear was on all sides," /

says the LORD.

6 Do not let the swift flee away,   /

nor the mighty man escape! /

They shall stumble and fall /

toward the north by the Euphrates River.

7 Who is this who comes up as a flood,   /

whose waters are moved as the rivers?

8 Egypt rises up like a flood,   /

and his waters are moved like the rivers, /

and he says, "I will go up and cover the earth. /

I will destroy the city and its inhabitants."

9 Come up, you horses, and rage, you chariots,   /

and let the mighty men come forth— /

the Cushites and the Libyans who handle the shield, /

and the Lydians who handle and bend the bow.

10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts,   /

a day of vengeance, /

so that he may avenge himself of his adversaries. /

And the sword shall devour and shall be satiated /

and made drunk with their blood, /

for the Lord GOD of hosts has a sacrifice /

in the north country by the Euphrates River.

11 Go up into Gilead and take balm,   /

O virgin, the daughter of Egypt. /

In vain you shall use many medicines, /

for you shall not be cured.

12 The nations have heard of your shame,   /

and your cry has filled the land. /

For the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, /

and they have fallen both together.

13 [The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.]

14 "Declare in Egypt, publish in Migdol,   /

and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes. /

Say, 'Stand fast and prepare, /

for the sword shall devour around you.'

15 Why are your valiant men swept away?   /

They did not stand because the LORD drove them.

16 He made many to fall.   /

Even one fell upon another. /

And they said, 'Arise, and let us go back to our own people /

and to the land of our nativity /

from the oppressing sword.'

17 They cried there, 'Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise.   /

He has passed the time appointed.'

18 As I live," says the King,   /

whose name is the LORD of hosts, /

"surely as Tabor is among the mountains /

and as Carmel by the sea, so he shall come.

19 O daughter dwelling in Egypt,   /

furnish yourself to go into captivity, /

for Noph shall be waste and desolate /

without an inhabitant.

20 Egypt is like a very fair heifer,   /

but destruction comes. It comes out of the north.

21 Also her hired men are in the midst of her   /

like fattened bulls, /

for they also have turned back /

and have fled away together. /

They did not stand /

because the day of their calamity had come upon them, /

and the time of their visitation.

22 The voice thereof shall go like a serpent,   /

for they shall march with an army /

and come against her with axes, /

as hewers of wood.

23 They shall cut down her forest,"   /

says the LORD, /

"though it cannot be searched /

because they are more than the swarming-locusts /

and are innumerable.

24 The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded.   /

She shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north."

25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel says, "Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods and their kings—even Pharaoh and all those who trust in him— 26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants. And afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old," says the LORD.

27 "But do not fear, O my servant Jacob,   /

and do not be dismayed, O Israel, /

for behold, I will save you from afar /

and your offspring from the land of their captivity. /

And Jacob shall return and be in rest and at ease, /

and no one shall make him afraid.

28 Do not fear, O Jacob my servant,"   /

says the LORD, /

"for I am with you. /

I will make a full end of all the nations /

where I have driven you, /

but I will not make a full end of you, /

but correct you in measure. /

Yet I will not leave you wholly unpunished."

Chapter 47

The destruction of the Philistines, 1-7.

1 [The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines before Pharaoh smote Gaza.]

2 Thus says the LORD:

"Behold, waters rise out of the north   /

and shall be an overflowing flood, /

and shall overflow the land and all that is in it— /

the city and those who dwell therein. /

Then the men shall cry, /

and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the hooves of his strong horses,   /

at the rushing of his chariots, /

and at the rumbling of his wheels, /

the fathers shall not look back to their children /

for feebleness of hands,

4 Because of the day that comes   /

to lay waste all the Philistines, /

and to cut off from Tyre and Zidon /

every helper who remains. /

For the LORD will lay waste the Philistines, /

the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

5 Baldness has come upon Gaza.   /

Ashkelon is cut off /

with the remnant of their valley. /

How long will you cut yourself?

6 O sword of the LORD,   /

how long will it be before you are quiet? /

Put yourself up into your scabbard. /

Rest, and be still.

7 How can it be quiet,   /

seeing the LORD has given it a charge /

against Ashkelon and against the sea shore? /

There he has appointed it."

Chapter 48

The judgment of Moab, 1-6, for their pride, 7-10; for their security, 11-13; for their carnal confidence, 14-25; and for their contempt of God and his people, 26-46. The restoration of Moab, 47.

1 [Against Moab.] Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:

"Woe to Nebo! For it is laid waste.   /

Kiriathaim is confounded and taken. /

Misgab is confounded and dismayed.

2 There shall be no more praise of Moab.   /

In Heshbon they have devised evil against it. /

'Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation.' /

Also you shall be cut down, O Madmen. /

The sword shall pursue you.

3 A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim,   /

'Devastation and great destruction.'

4 Moab is destroyed.   /

Her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.

5 For in the ascent of Luhith   /

continual weeping shall go up. /

For in the descent of Horonaim /

the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

6 Flee, save your lives,   /

and be like the heath in the wilderness.

7 For because you have trusted   /

in your works and in your treasures, /

you also shall be taken. /

And Chemosh shall go forth into captivity /

with his priests and his princes together.

8 And the destroyer shall come upon every city,   /

and no city shall escape. /

The valley shall also perish, /

and the plain shall be destroyed, /

as the LORD has spoken.

9 Give wings to Moab   /

so that it may flee and get away, /

for its cities shall be desolate /

without any to dwell in them.

10 Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully,   /

and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.

11 Moab has been at ease from his youth,   /

and he has settled on his dregs /

and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, /

neither has he gone into captivity. /

Therefore, his taste remained in him, /

and his scent is not changed.

12 "Therefore, behold, the days come,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that I will send to him wanderers /

who shall cause him to wander, /

and shall empty his vessels /

and break their bottles.

13 And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh,   /

as the house of Israel was ashamed /

of Beth-el their confidence.

14 "How do you say,   /

'We are mighty and strong men for the war'?

15 Moab is laid waste and gone up out of her cities,   /

and his chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter," /

says the King, /

whose name is the LORD of hosts.

16 "The calamity of Moab is near to come,   /

and his affliction hastens fast.

17 All you who are around him bemoan him,   /

and all you who know his name, /

say, 'How the strong staff is broken, /

and the beautiful rod!'

18 You daughter who inhabits Dibon,   /

come down from your glory and sit in thirst, /

for the destroyer of Moab shall come upon you /

and he shall destroy your strongholds.

19 O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way and watch.   /

Ask him who flees and her who escapes, /

and say, 'What has been done?'

20 Moab is confounded,   /

for it is broken down. /

Howl and cry. /

Tell it in Arnon /

that Moab is laid waste.

21 "And judgment has come upon the plain country: upon Holon, upon Jahazah, upon Mephaath, 22 Upon Dibon, upon Nebo, upon Beth-diblathaim, 23 Upon Kiriathaim, upon Beth-gamul, upon Beth-meon, 24 Upon Kerioth, upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. 25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken," says the LORD. 26 "Make him drunken, for he magnified himself against the LORD. Moab shall also wallow in his vomit and shall also be in derision. 27 For was Israel not a derision to you? Was he found among thieves? For since you have spoken of him, you have leaped for joy.

28 "O you who dwell in Moab,   /

leave the cities, dwell in the rock, /

and be like the dove that makes her nest /

in the sides of the hole’s mouth.

29 We have heard the pride of Moab   /

(he is exceedingly proud), /

his loftiness, his arrogance, his pride, /

and the haughtiness of his heart.

30 I know his wrath,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that it is nothing. /

His boastings have wrought nothing.

31 Therefore, I will howl for Moab,   /

and I will cry out for all Moab. /

My heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.

32 O vine of Sibmah,   /

I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer. /

Your plants have gone over the sea. /

They reach even to the sea of Jazer. /

The destroyer has fallen /

upon your summer fruits and upon your vintage.

33 And joy and gladness is taken   /

from the plentiful field and from the land of Moab, /

and I have caused wine to fail from the wine-presses. /

No one shall tread with shouting. /

Their shouting shall be no shouting.

34 "From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, and even to Jahaz, they have uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, as a heifer of three years old. For the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate. 35 Moreover, I will cause to cease in Moab," says the LORD, "him who offers in the high places and him who burns incense to his gods.

36 "Therefore, my heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and my heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres because the riches that he has gotten have perished. 37 For every head shall be bald and every beard clipped. Upon all the hands shall be cuttings and upon the loins sackcloth. 38 There shall be lamentation generally upon all the house-tops of Moab and in its streets, for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which there is no pleasure," says the LORD. 39 "They shall howl, saying, 'How it is broken down! How Moab has turned the back with shame!' So Moab shall be a derision and a dismaying to all who are around him."

40 For thus says the LORD:   /

"Behold, he shall fly as an eagle /

and shall spread his wings over Moab.

41 Kerioth is taken   /

and the strongholds are surprised, /

and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day /

shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

42 And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people   /

because he has magnified himself against the LORD.

43 Fear, the pit, and the snare   /

shall be upon you, O inhabitant of Moab," /

says the LORD.

44 "He who flees from the fear   /

shall fall into the pit. /

And he who gets out of the pit /

shall be taken in the snare. /

For I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, /

the year of their visitation," /

says the LORD.

45 "Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon   /

because of the force. /

But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, /

and a flame from the midst of Sihon, /

and shall devour the corner of Moab /

and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

46 Woe to you, O Moab!   /

The people of Chemosh perish, /

for your sons are taken as captives /

and your daughters as captives.

47 Yet I will bring back the captivity of Moab   /

in the latter days," /

says the LORD.

[ Thus far is the judgment of Moab. ]

Chapter 49

The judgment of the Ammonites, 1-5. Their restoration, 6. The judgment of Edom, 7-22; of Damascus, 23-27; of Kedar, 28, 29; of Hazor, 30-33; and of Elam, 34-38. The restoration of Elam, 39.

1 [Concerning the Ammonites.] Thus says the LORD:

"Does Israel have no sons?   /

Does he have no heir? /

Why then does their king inherit Gad, /

and his people dwell in his cities?

2 Therefore, behold, the days come,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard /

in Rabbah of the Ammonites, /

and it shall be a desolate heap, /

and her daughters shall be burned with fire. /

Then Israel shall be heir to those who were his heirs," /

says the LORD.

3 "Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste.   /

Cry, you daughters of Rabbah. /

Gird yourselves with sackcloth. /

Lament, and run to and fro by the hedges. /

For their king shall go into captivity, /

and his priests and his princes together.

4 Why do you glory in the valleys,   /

your flowing valley, O backsliding daughter, /

who trusted in her treasures, saying, /

'Who shall come to me?'

5 Behold, I will bring a fear upon you,"   /

says the Lord GOD of hosts, /

"from all those who are around you. /

And you shall each be driven out headlong. /

And no one shall gather up him who wanders.

6 And afterward I will bring back the captivity   /

of the children of Ammon," /

says the LORD.

7 [Concerning Edom.] Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"Is wisdom no longer in Teman?   /

Has counsel perished from the prudent? /

Has their wisdom vanished?

8 Flee, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan,   /

for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, /

the time that I will visit him.

9 If grape-gatherers come to you,   /

would they not leave some gleaning grapes? /

If thieves by night, /

they will destroy until they have enough.

10 But I have made Esau bare,   /

I have uncovered his secret places, /

and he shall not be able to hide himself. /

His offspring is laid waste, /

along with his brothers and his neighbors, /

and he is no more.

11 Leave your fatherless children.   /

I will preserve them alive. /

And let your widows trust in me."

12 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, those whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drank. And are you he who shall altogether go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you shall surely drink of it. 13 For I have sworn by myself," says the LORD, "that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes."

14 I have heard a rumor from the LORD,   /

and an ambassador is sent to the heathen, saying, /

"Assemble, and come against her /

and rise up to the battle,

15 For behold, I will make you small among the heathen   /

and despised among men.

16 Your terribleness has deceived you,   /

and the pride of your heart, /

O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, /

who hold the height of the hill. /

Though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, /

I will bring you down from there," /

says the LORD.

17 "Also Edom shall be a desolation. Everyone who goes by it shall be astonished and shall hiss at all her plagues. 18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities," says the LORD, "no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it. 19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the Jordan against the habitation of the strong, but I will suddenly make him run away from her. And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her? For who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd who will stand before me?"

20 Therefore, hear the counsel of the LORD that he has taken against Edom, and also his purposes that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman. Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out. Surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them. 21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall. At the cry its noise was heard in the Red Sea. 22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle and spread his wings over Bozrah. And at that day the heart of the mighty men of Edom shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

23 [Concerning Damascus.]

"Hamath is confounded, and also Arpad,   /

for they have heard evil tidings. /

They are faint-hearted. /

There is sorrow on the sea. /

It cannot be quiet.

24 Damascus has become feeble and turns herself to flee,   /

and fear has seized upon her. /

Anguish and sorrows have taken her, /

as a woman in travail.

25 How the city of praise is not left,   /

the city of my joy!

26 Therefore, her young men shall fall in her streets,   /

and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day," /

says the LORD of hosts.

27 "And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,   /

and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad."

28 [Concerning Kedar and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon shall smite.] Thus says the LORD:

"Arise, go up to Kedar   /

and lay waste the men of the east.

29 Their tents and their flocks they shall take away.   /

They shall take for themselves their curtains, /

all their vessels, and their camels, /

and they shall cry to them, /

'Fear is on every side.'

30 Flee, get yourselves far off, dwell deep,   /

O inhabitants of Hazor," /

says the LORD, /

"for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon /

has taken counsel against you /

and has conceived a purpose against you.

31 Arise, go up to the wealthy nation   /

that dwells without care," /

says the LORD, /

"which have neither gates nor bars, /

which dwell alone.

32 And their camels shall be loot   /

and the multitude of their cattle for plunder. /

And I will scatter into all winds /

those who are in the utmost corners, /

and I will bring their calamity /

from all sides of it," /

says the LORD.

33 "And Hazor shall be a dwelling for jackals   /

and a desolation forever. /

No man shall abide there, /

nor any son of man dwell in it."

34 [The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah.]

35 Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,   /

the chief of their might.

36 And upon Elam I will bring the four winds   /

from the four quarters of heaven /

and will scatter them toward all those winds. /

And there shall be no nation /

where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.

37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies   /

and before those who seek their life. /

And I will bring evil upon them, /

even my fierce anger," /

says the LORD, /

"and I will send the sword after them /

until I have consumed them.

38 And I will set my throne in Elam   /

and will destroy from there the king and the princes," /

says the LORD.

39 "But it shall come to pass in the latter days,   /

that I will bring back the captivity of Elam," /

says the LORD.

Chapter 50

The judgment of Babylon and the redemption of Israel, 1-46.

1 [The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.]

2 "Declare among the nations and publish,   /

and set up a standard. /

Publish, and do not conceal. /

Say, 'Babylon is taken. /

Bel is confounded. /

Merodach is broken in pieces. /

Her idols are confounded. /

Her images are broken in pieces.'

3 For out of the north there comes a nation against her   /

which shall make her land desolate, /

and no one shall dwell in it. /

They shall flee, they shall depart— /

both man and beast.

4 "In those days and in that time,"   /

says the LORD, /

"the children of Israel shall come— /

they and the children of Judah together— /

going and weeping. /

They shall go and seek the LORD their God.

5 They shall ask the way to Zion   /

with their faces toward it, saying, /

'Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD /

in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.'

6 "My people have been lost sheep.   /

Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. /

They have turned them away on the mountains. /

They have gone from mountain to hill. /

They have forgotten their resting-place.

7 All who found them have devoured them.   /

And their adversaries said, 'We do not offend /

because they have sinned against the LORD, /

the habitation of justice, /

even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.'

8 Flee out of the midst of Babylon   /

and go forth from the land of the Chaldeans, /

and be as the male goats before the flocks.

9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come against Babylon   /

an assembly of great nations from the north country. /

And they shall set themselves in array against her. /

From there she shall be taken. /

Their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man. /

No one shall return in vain.

10 And Chaldea shall be plundered.   /

All who plunder her shall be satisfied," /

says the LORD.

11 "Because you were glad, because you rejoiced,   /

O destroyers of my heritage, /

because you have grown fat as the heifer at grass /

and bellow as bulls,

12 Your mother shall be greatly confounded.   /

She who bore you shall be ashamed. /

Behold, the hindmost of the nations /

shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited,   /

but it shall be wholly desolate. /

Everyone who goes by Babylon /

shall be astonished and hiss at all her plagues.

14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon on every side.   /

All you who bend the bow, /

shoot at her, spare no arrows, /

for she has sinned against the LORD.

15 Shout against her on every side.   /

She has given her hand. /

Her foundations have fallen. /

Her walls are thrown down. /

Since it is the vengeance of the LORD, /

take vengeance upon her. /

As she has done, do to her.

16 Cut off the sower from Babylon   /

and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. /

For fear of the oppressing sword /

they shall each turn to his people /

and shall each flee to his own land.

17 "Israel is a scattered sheep.   /

The lions have driven him away. /

First the king of Assyria has devoured him, /

and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon /

has broken his bones.

18 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:

'Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,   /

as I have punished the king of Assyria.

19 And I will bring Israel back to his habitation,   /

and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, /

and his soul shall be satisfied /

upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.

20 In those days and in that time,'   /

says the LORD, /

'the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, /

and there shall be none, /

and the sins of Judah, /

and they shall not be found, /

for I will pardon those whom I reserve.'

21 "Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it,   /

and against the inhabitants of Pekod. /

Waste and utterly destroy after them," /

says the LORD, /

"and do according to all that I have commanded you.

22 A sound of battle is in the land,   /

and of great destruction.

23 How the hammer of the whole earth   /

is cut apart and broken! /

How Babylon has become /

a desolation among the nations!

24 I have laid a snare for you,   /

and you are also taken, O Babylon, /

and you were not aware. /

You are found and also caught /

because you have striven against the LORD."

25 The LORD has opened his armory   /

and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation, /

for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts /

in the land of the Chaldeans.

26 Come against her from the utmost border.   /

Open her store-houses. /

Cast her up as heaps and destroy her utterly. /

Let nothing of her be left.

27 Slay all her bulls.   /

Let them go down to the slaughter. /

Woe to them! For their day has come, /

the time of their visitation.

28 The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon   /

declares in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, /

the vengeance of his temple.

29 "Call together the archers against Babylon.   /

All you who bend the bow, /

encamp against it on every side. /

Let none thereof escape. /

Recompense her according to her work. /

According to all that she has done, do to her, /

for she has been proud against the LORD, /

against the Holy One of Israel.

30 Therefore, her young men shall fall in the streets   /

and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day," /

says the LORD.

31 "Behold, I am against you, O most proud,"   /

says the Lord GOD of hosts, /

"for your day has come, /

the time that I will visit you.

32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall,   /

and no one shall raise him up. /

And I will kindle a fire in his cities, /

and it shall devour all around him."

33 Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"The children of Israel and the children of Judah   /

were oppressed together. /

And all who took them captives held them fast. /

They refused to let them go.

34 Their Redeemer is strong.   /

The LORD of hosts is his name. /

He will thoroughly plead their cause /

so that he may give rest to the land /

and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans,"   /

says the LORD, /

"and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, /

upon her princes, and upon her wise men.

36 A sword is upon the liars,   /

and they shall be foolish. /

A sword is upon her mighty men, /

and they shall be dismayed.

37 A sword is upon their horses, upon their chariots,   /

and upon all the mingled people /

who are in the midst of her, /

and they shall become as women. /

A sword is upon her treasures, /

and they shall be robbed.

38 A drought is upon her waters,   /

and they shall be dried up. /

For it is the land of engraved images, /

and they are mad upon their idols.

39 Therefore, the wild beasts of the desert and the wolves shall dwell there,   /

and the owls shall dwell therein. /

And it shall be no longer inhabited forever, /

neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah   /

and the neighboring cities," /

says the LORD, /

"so shall no man abide there, /

neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north,   /

and a great nation, and many kings /

shall be raised up from the borders of the earth.

42 They shall hold the bow and the lance.   /

They are cruel and will not show mercy. /

Their voice shall roar like the sea /

and they shall ride upon horses, /

each put in array, like a man to the battle, /

against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 The king of Babylon has heard their report   /

and his hands became feeble. /

Anguish took hold of him, /

and pangs as of a woman in travail.

44 "Behold, he shall come up like a lion   /

from the swelling of the Jordan /

to the habitation of the strong, /

but I will make them suddenly run away from her. /

And who is a chosen man whom I may appoint over her? /

For who is like me? /

And who will appoint me the time? /

And who is that shepherd who will stand before me?"

45 Therefore, hear the counsel of the LORD   /

that he has taken against Babylon, /

and also his purposes that he has purposed /

against the land of the Chaldeans. /

Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out. /

Surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.

46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved,   /

and the cry is heard among the nations.

Chapter 51

The severe judgment of God against Babylon in revenge of Israel, 1-58. Jeremiah delivers the book of this prophecy to Seraiah, to be cast into the Euphrates, in token of the perpetual sinking of Babylon, 59-64.

1 Thus says the LORD:

"Behold, I will raise up a destroying wind against Babylon   /

and against those who dwell in the midst of those who rise against me,

2 And will send fanners to Babylon   /

who shall fan her /

and shall empty her land. /

For in the day of trouble /

they shall be against her on all sides.

3 Against him who bends, let the archer bend his bow,   /

and against him who lifts himself up in his coat of mail. /

And do not spare her young men. /

Utterly destroy all her host.

4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans,   /

and those who are thrust through in her streets."

5 For Israel has not been forsaken,   /

nor Judah by his God, by the LORD of hosts, /

though their land was filled with sin /

against the Holy One of Israel.

6 Flee from the midst of Babylon   /

and deliver every man his soul. /

Do not be cut off in her iniquity, /

for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance. /

He will render to her a recompense.

7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand,   /

who made all the earth drunken. /

The nations have drank of her wine; /

therefore, the nations are mad.

8 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed.   /

Howl for her. /

Take balm for her pain. /

It may be that she may be healed.

9 We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed.   /

Forsake her, and let us each go into his own country, /

for her judgment reaches to heaven /

and is lifted even to the skies.

10 The LORD has brought forth our righteousness.   /

Come, and let us declare in Zion /

the work of the LORD our God.

11 Make the arrows bright.   /

Gather the shields. /

The LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, /

for his purpose is against Babylon to destroy it, /

because it is the vengeance of the LORD, /

the vengeance of his temple.

12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon.   /

Make the watch strong. /

Set up the watchmen. /

Prepare the ambushes. /

For the LORD has both devised and done /

that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.

13 O you who dwell upon many waters,   /

abundant in treasures, /

your end has come, /

and the measure of your covetousness.

14 The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself, saying,

"Surely I will fill you with men,   /

as with licking-locusts, /

and they shall raise a shout against you."

15 He has made the earth by his power,   /

he has established the world by his wisdom /

and has stretched out the heaven by his understanding.

16 When he utters his voice,   /

there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, /

and he causes the vapors to ascend /

from the ends of the earth. /

He makes lightnings with rain /

and brings forth the wind out of his treasures.

17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge.   /

Every founder is confounded by the engraved image, /

for his molten image is falsehood /

and there is no breath in them.

18 They are vanity, the work of errors.   /

In the time of their visitation they shall perish.

19 The portion of Jacob is not like them,   /

for he is the former of all things, /

and Israel is the rod of his inheritance. /

The LORD of hosts is his name.

20 "You are my battle-ax and weapons of war.   /

For with you I will break in pieces the nations, /

with you I will destroy kingdoms,

21 With you I will break in pieces   /

the horse and his rider, /

with you I will break in pieces /

the chariot and its rider,

22 With you I will break in pieces   /

man and woman, /

with you I will break in pieces /

old and young, /

with you I will break in pieces /

the young man and the virgin,

23 With you I will break in pieces   /

the shepherd and his flock, /

with you I will break in pieces /

the farmer and his yoke of oxen, /

and with you I will break in pieces /

captains and rulers.

24 And I will render to Babylon   /

and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea /

all their evil that they have done /

in Zion in your sight," /

says the LORD.

25 "Behold, I am against you,   /

O destroying mountain," /

says the LORD, /

"which destroys all the earth. /

And I will stretch out my hand upon you, /

roll you down from the rocks, /

and make you a burnt mountain.

26 And they shall not take of you a stone for a corner,   /

nor a stone for foundations, /

but you shall be desolate forever," /

says the LORD.

27 Set up a standard in the land.   /

Blow the trumpet among the nations. /

Prepare the nations against her. /

Call together against her /

the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz. /

Appoint a captain against her. /

Cause the horses to come up /

as the rough licking-locusts.

28 Prepare against her the nations with the kings of Media,   /

her captains, and all her rulers, /

and all the land of his dominion.

29 And the land shall tremble and sorrow,   /

for every purpose of the LORD /

shall be performed against Babylon /

to make the land of Babylon /

a desolation without an inhabitant.

30 The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight.   /

They have remained in their holds. /

Their might has failed. /

They became as women. /

They have burned her dwelling-places. /

Her bars are broken.

31 One post shall run to meet another   /

and one messenger to meet another /

to show the king of Babylon /

that his city is taken at one end,

32 And that the passages are stopped,   /

the reeds they have burned with fire, /

and the men of war are terrified.

33 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:

"The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor,   /

it is time to thresh her. /

Yet a little while and the time of her harvest shall come."

34 "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me.   /

He has crushed me. /

He has made me an empty vessel. /

He has swallowed me up like a sea-monster. /

He has filled his belly with my delicacies. /

He has cast me out.

35 May the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon,"   /

the inhabitant of Zion shall say. /

"May my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea," /

Jerusalem shall say.

36 Therefore, thus says the LORD:

"Behold, I will plead your cause   /

and take vengeance for you, /

and I will dry up her sea /

and make her springs dry.

37 And Babylon shall become heaps,   /

a dwelling-place for jackals, /

an astonishment, and a hissing, /

without an inhabitant.

38 They shall roar together like lions.   /

They shall yell as lions' whelps.

39 In their heat I will make their feasts,   /

and I will make them drunken /

so that they may rejoice /

and sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake," /

says the LORD.

40 "I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,   /

like rams with male goats.

41 How Sheshach is taken!   /

And how the praise of the whole earth is surprised! /

How Babylon has become an astonishment among the nations!

42 The sea has come up upon Babylon.   /

She is covered with the multitude of its waves.

43 Her cities are a desolation,   /

a dry land, and a wilderness, /

a land in which no man dwells, /

neither does any son of man pass by it.

44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon,   /

and I will bring forth out of his mouth /

that which he has swallowed. /

And the nations shall not flow together anymore to him. /

Even the wall of Babylon shall fall.

45 My people, depart from the midst of her,   /

and each of you deliver his soul /

from the fierce anger of the LORD.

46 And lest your heart should faint and you should fear   /

for the rumor that shall be heard in the land, /

a rumor shall both come one year, /

and after that in another year a rumor shall come, /

and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.

47 Therefore, behold, the days come   /

that I will do judgment upon the engraved images of Babylon. /

And her whole land shall be confounded, /

and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.

48 Then the heaven and the earth and all that is in them   /

shall sing for Babylon, /

for the destroyers shall come to her /

from the north," /

says the LORD.

49 As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall,   /

so at Babylon the slain of all the earth shall fall.

50 You who have escaped the sword,   /

go away, do not stand still. /

Remember the LORD afar off /

and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

51 We are confounded because we have heard reproach.   /

Shame has covered our faces, /

for strangers have come /

into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.

52 "Therefore, behold, the days come,"   /

says the LORD, /

"that I will do judgment upon her engraved images. /

And through all her land the wounded shall groan.

53 Though Babylon should mount up to heaven,   /

and though she should fortify the height of her strength, /

yet from me destroyers shall come to her," /

says the LORD.

54 A sound of a cry comes from Babylon,   /

and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans,

55 Because the LORD has laid waste Babylon   /

and destroyed out of her the great voice. /

When her waves roar like great waters, /

a noise of their voice is uttered,

56 Because the destroyer has come upon her,   /

even upon Babylon, /

and her mighty men are taken, /

every one of their bows is broken, /

for the LORD God of recompenses shall surely requite.

57 "And I will make drunk her princes, her wise men,   /

her captains, her rulers, and her mighty men. /

And they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake," /

says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

58 Thus says the LORD of hosts:

"The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken,   /

and her high gates shall be burned with fire. /

The people shall labor in vain, /

and the nations for the fire, /

and they shall be weary."

59 This is the word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince. 60 So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you come to Babylon and see, and read all these words, 62 You shall say, 'O LORD, you have spoken against this place to cut it off so that no one shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate forever.' 63 And it shall be, when you have made an end of reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 And you shall say, 'Thus Babylon shall sink and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her, and they shall be weary.'"

[ Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. ]

Chapter 52

Zedekiah rebels, 1-3. Jerusalem is besieged and taken, 4-7. Zedekiah’s sons killed, and his own eyes put out, 8-11. Nebuzar-adan burns and plunders the city, 12-23. He carries away the captives, 24-27. The number of Jews carried captive, 28-30. Evil-merodach advances Jehoiachin, 31-34.

1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came—he and all his army—against Jerusalem, and encamped against it and built forts against it on every side. 5 So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 6 And in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was severe in the city so that there was no bread for the people of the land. 7 Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled and went forth from the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were by the city on all sides), and they went by the way of the plain. 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 9 Then they took the king and carried him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. 10 And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. He also slew all the princes of Judah in Riblah. 11 Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah. And the king of Babylon bound him in chains, carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison until the day of his death.

12 Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came into Jerusalem, 13 And burned the house of the LORD and the king’s house. All the houses of Jerusalem, even all the houses of the great men, he burned with fire. 14 And all of the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls of Jerusalem on every side. 15 Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poor of the people, the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. 16 But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land for vine-dressers and for farmers.

17 Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke and carried all their brass to Babylon. 18 And the cauldrons, the shovels, the snuffers, the bowls, the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, they took away. 19 And the basins, the fire-pans, the bowls, the cauldrons, the candlesticks, the spoons, and the cups, that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, the captain of the guard took away. 20 The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD, the brass of all these vessels was without weight. 21 And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a fillet of twelve cubits encompassed it, and its thickness was four fingers. It was hollow. 22 And a capital of brass was upon it, and the height of one capital was five cubits, with net-work and pomegranates upon the capitals around, all of brass. The second pillar and the pomegranates were like these. 23 And there were ninety-six pomegranates on a side, and all the pomegranates upon the net-work were one hundred on all sides.

24 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door. 25 He also took a eunuch out of the city who had the charge of the men of war, seven men of those who were near the king’s person who were found in the city, the principal scribe of the host who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city. 26 So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 And the king of Babylon smote them and put them to death in Riblah, in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.

28 This is the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand and twenty-three Jews; 29 In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; 30 In the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons. All the persons were four thousand and six hundred.

31 And it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison, 32 And spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon, 33 And changed his prison garments. And he continually ate bread before him all the days of his life. 34 And for his food there was a continual diet given to him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

[Tanach reading: go to Ezekiel]

THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH

Chapter 1

The miseries of Jerusalem and of the Jews pathetically lamented, with confessions of their sins, 1-11. The attention and compassion of beholders demanded to this unprecedented case, 12-17. The justice of God acknowledged and his mercy supplicated, with prayers against insulting foes, 18-22.

[ ALEPH ]

1 How the city sits solitary   /

that was full of people! /

How she has become as a widow! /

She who was great among the nations /

and princess among the provinces, /

how she has become tributary!

[ BET ]

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,   /

and her tears are on her cheeks. /

Among all her lovers /

she has no one to comfort her. /

All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. /

They have become her enemies.

[ GIMEL ]

3 Judah has gone into captivity because of affliction   /

and because of great servitude. /

She dwells among the heathen. /

She finds no rest. /

All her persecutors overtook her /

in the midst of distress.

[ DALET ]

4 The ways of Zion mourn,   /

because no one comes to the solemn feasts. /

All her gates are desolate. /

Her priests sigh. /

Her virgins are afflicted. /

She is in bitterness.

[ HE ]

5 Her adversaries are the chief.   /

Her enemies prosper, /

for the LORD has afflicted her /

for the multitude of her transgressions. /

Her children have gone into captivity /

before the enemy.

[ VAV ]

6 And from the daughter of Zion   /

all her beauty has departed. /

Her princes have become like bucks /

that find no pasture, /

and they have gone without strength /

before the pursuer.

[ ZAYIN ]

7 Jerusalem remembered   /

in the days of her affliction and of her miseries /

all her pleasant things /

that she had in the days of old, /

when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, /

and no one helped her. /

The adversaries saw her /

and mocked at her sabbaths.

[ HET ]

8 Jerusalem has grievously sinned;   /

therefore, she has become unclean. /

All who honored her despise her /

because they have seen her nakedness. /

Indeed, she sighs /

and turns backward.

[ TET ]

9 Her filthiness is in her skirts.   /

She does not remember her last end; /

therefore, she has been wonderfully abased. /

She had no comforter. /

O LORD, behold my affliction, /

for the enemy has magnified himself.

[ YOD ]

10 The adversary has spread out his hand   /

upon all her pleasant things, /

for she has seen that the heathen /

entered into her sanctuary, /

whom you commanded /

that they should not enter into your congregation.

[ KAF ]

11 All her people sigh.   /

They seek bread. /

They have given their pleasant things for food /

to relieve the soul. /

See, O LORD, and consider, /

for I have become vile.

[ LAMED ]

12 Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?   /

Behold, and see /

if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, /

which has fallen upon me, /

with which the LORD has afflicted me /

in the day of his fierce anger.

[ MEM ]

13 From above he has sent fire into my bones,   /

and it prevails against them. /

He has spread a net for my feet. /

He has turned me back. /

He has made me desolate /

and faint all the day.

[ NUN ]

14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand.   /

They are knit together /

and come up upon my neck. /

He has made my strength to fall. /

The Lord has delivered me into their hands, /

from whom I am not able to rise.

[ SAMEKH ]

15 The Lord has trodden under foot   /

all my mighty men in the midst of me. /

He has called an assembly against me /

to crush my young men. /

The Lord has trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, /

as in a wine-press.

[ AYIN ]

16 For these things I weep.   /

My eye, my eye runs down with water /

because the comforter who should relieve my soul /

is far from me. /

My children are desolate /

because the enemy prevailed.

[ PE ]

17 Zion spreads forth her hands,   /

and there is no one to comfort her. /

The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob, /

that his adversaries should be around him. /

Jerusalem is as an unclean thing /

among them.

[ TSADI ]

18 The LORD is righteous,   /

for I have rebelled against his commandment. /

Hear, I pray you, all people, /

and behold my sorrow. /

My virgins and my young men /

have gone into captivity.

[ QOF ]

19 I called for my lovers,   /

but they deceived me. /

My priests and my elders /

resigned their breath in the city /

while they sought their food /

to relieve their souls.

[ RESH ]

20 Behold, O LORD, for I am in distress.   /

My heart is troubled. /

My heart is turned within me, /

for I have grievously rebelled. /

Abroad the sword bereaves, /

at home it is as death.

[ SHIN ]

21 They have heard that I sigh.   /

There is no one to comfort me. /

All my enemies have heard of my trouble. /

They are glad that you have done it. /

You will bring the day that you have called, /

and they shall be like me.

[ TAV ]

22 Let all their wickedness come before you,   /

and do to them /

as you have done to me /

for all my transgressions. /

For my sighs are many /

and my heart is faint.

Chapter 2

Jeremiah laments the misery of Jerusalem, 1-19. He complains thereof to God, 20-22.

[ ALEPH ]

1 How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion   /

with a cloud in his anger, /

and cast down from heaven to the earth /

the beauty of Israel, /

and not remembered his footstool /

in the day of his anger!

[ BET ]

2 The Lord has swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob   /

and has not pitied. /

He has thrown down in his wrath /

the strongholds of the daughter of Judah. /

He has brought them down to the ground. /

He has polluted the kingdom and its princes.

[ GIMEL ]

3 He has cut off in his fierce anger   /

all the horn of Israel. /

He has drawn back his right hand /

from before the enemy, /

and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, /

which devours on every side.

[ DALET ]

4 He has bent his bow like an enemy.   /

He stood with his right hand as an adversary /

and slew all who were pleasant to the eye /

in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion. /

He poured out his fury like fire.

[ HE ]

5 The Lord was as an enemy.   /

He has swallowed up Israel. /

He has swallowed up all her palaces. /

He has destroyed his strongholds /

and has increased in the daughter of Judah /

mourning and lamentation.

[ VAV ]

6 And he has violently taken away his tabernacle   /

as if it were of a garden. /

He has destroyed his places of the assembly. /

The LORD has caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths /

to be forgotten in Zion, /

and in the indignation of his anger has despised /

the king and the priest.

[ ZAYIN ]

7 The Lord has cast off his altar.   /

He has abhorred his sanctuary. /

He has given up into the hand of the enemy /

the walls of her palaces. /

They have made a noise in the house of the LORD /

as in the day of a solemn feast.

[ HET ]

8 The LORD has purposed to destroy   /

the wall of the daughter of Zion. /

He has stretched out a line. /

He has not withdrawn his hand from destroying. /

Therefore, he made the rampart and the wall to lament. /

They languished together.

[ TET ]

9 Her gates are sunk into the ground.   /

He has destroyed and broken her bars. /

Her king and her princes are among the Gentiles. /

The law is no more. /

Her prophets also find /

no vision from the LORD.

[ YOD ]

10 The elders of the daughter of Zion   /

sit upon the ground and keep silence. /

They have cast up dust upon their heads. /

They have girded themselves with sackcloth. /

The virgins of Jerusalem hang down /

their heads to the ground.

[ KAF ]

11 My eyes fail with tears.   /

My heart is troubled. /

My liver is poured upon the earth /

for the destruction of the daughter of my people, /

because the children and the infants swoon /

in the streets of the city.

[ LAMED ]

12 They say to their mothers,   /

"Where is grain and wine?" /

when they swooned as the wounded /

in the streets of the city, /

when their soul was poured out /

into their mothers' bosom.

[ MEM ]

13 What thing shall I take to witness for you?   /

What thing shall I compare to you, /

O daughter of Jerusalem? /

What shall I equal to you so that I may comfort you, /

O virgin daughter of Zion? /

For your breach is great like the sea. /

Who can heal you?

[ NUN ]

14 Your prophets have seen   /

vain and foolish things for you. /

And they have not revealed your iniquity /

to turn away your captivity, /

but have seen for you false burdens /

and causes of banishment.

[ SAMEKH ]

15 All who pass by clap   /

their hands at you. /

They hiss and wag their head /

at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, /

"Is this the city that men call /

The Perfection of Beauty, /

The Joy of the Whole Earth?"

[ AYIN ]

16 All your enemies have opened   /

their mouth against you. /

They hiss and gnash the teeth. /

They say, "We have swallowed her up. /

Certainly this is the day that we looked for. /

We have found it. We have seen it."

[ PE ]

17 The LORD has done that which he had devised.   /

He has fulfilled his word /

that he had commanded in the days of old. /

He has thrown down and has not pitied. /

He has caused your enemy to rejoice over you. /

He has set up the horn of your adversaries.

[ TSADI ]

18 Their heart cried to the Lord,   /

"O wall of the daughter of Zion, /

let tears run down like a river /

day and night. /

Give yourself no rest. /

Do not let the apple of your eye cease.

[ QOF ]

19 Arise, cry out in the night.   /

In the beginning of the watches /

pour out your heart like water /

before the face of the Lord. /

Lift up your hands toward him /

for the life of your young children, /

who faint for hunger /

at the head of every street."

[ RESH ]

20 Behold, O LORD, and consider   /

to whom you have done this. /

Shall the women eat their fruit, /

the children which they nursed? /

Shall the priest and the prophet be slain /

in the sanctuary of the Lord?

[ SHIN ]

21 The young and the old lie   /

on the ground in the streets. /

My virgins and my young men /

have fallen by the sword. /

You have slain them in the day of your anger. /

You have killed and not pitied.

[ TAV ]

22 You have called as in a solemn day   /

my terrors around, /

so that in the day of the LORD’S anger /

no one escaped nor remained. /

Those whom I have swaddled and brought up, /

my enemy has consumed.

Chapter 3

The prophet bewails his own calamities, 1-21. By the mercies of God he nourishes his hope, 22-36. He acknowledges God’s justice, 37-54. He prays for deliverance, 55-63, and vengeance on his enemies, 64-66.

[ ALEPH ]

1 I am the man who has seen affliction   /

by the rod of his wrath.

2 He has led me and brought me into darkness,   /

but not into light.

3 Surely against me he is turned.   /

He turns his hand against me all the day.

[ BET ]

4 My flesh and my skin he has made old.   /

He has broken my bones.

5 He has built against me and compassed me   /

with gall and labor.

6 He has set me in dark places,   /

as those who are dead of old.

[ GIMEL ]

7 He has hedged me in so that I cannot get out.   /

He has made my chain heavy.

8 Also when I cry and shout,   /

he shuts out my prayer.

9 He has enclosed my ways with hewn stone.   /

He has made my paths crooked.

[ DALET ]

10 He was to me as a bear lying in wait   /

and as a lion in secret places.

11 He has turned aside my ways and pulled me in pieces.   /

He has made me desolate.

12 He has bent his bow   /

and set me as a mark for the arrow.

[ HE ]

13 He has caused the arrows of his quiver   /

to enter into my kidneys.

14 I was a derision to all my people   /

and their song all the day.

15 He has filled me with bitterness.   /

He has made me drunken with wormwood.

[ VAV ]

16 He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones.   /

He has covered me with ashes.

17 And you have cast my soul far off from peace.   /

I forgot prosperity.

18 And I said, "My strength   /

and my hope has perished from the LORD."

[ ZAYIN ]

19 Remember my affliction and my misery,   /

the wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul has them still in remembrance   /

and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind;   /

therefore, I have hope.

[ HET ]

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,   /

because his compassions do not fail.

23 They are new every morning.   /

Your faithfulness is great.

24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,   /

"therefore, I will hope in him."

[ TET ]

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him,   /

to the soul who seeks him.

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait   /

for the salvation of the LORD.

27 It is good for a man   /

that he should bear the yoke in his youth.

[ YOD ]

28 He sits alone and keeps silence   /

because he has borne it upon him.

29 He puts his mouth in the dust,   /

if there may be hope.

30 He gives his cheek to him who smites him.   /

He is filled full with reproach.

[ KAF ]

31 For the Lord will not   /

cast off forever.

32 But though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion   /

according to the multitude of his mercies.

33 For he does not afflict willingly   /

nor grieve the children of men.

[ LAMED ]

34 To crush under his feet   /

all the prisoners of the earth,

35 To turn aside the right of a man   /

before the face of the most High,

36 To subvert a man in his cause,   /

the Lord does not approve.

[ MEM ]

37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass   /

when the Lord does not command it?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High,   /

does evil and good not proceed?

39 Why does a living man complain,   /

a man for the punishment of his sins?

[ NUN ]

40 Let us search and try our ways   /

and turn back to the LORD.

41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands   /

to God in the heavens.

42 We have transgressed and have rebelled.   /

You have not pardoned.

[ SAMEKH ]

43 You have covered with anger and persecuted us.   /

You have slain. You have not pitied.

44 You have covered yourself with a cloud   /

so that our prayer should not pass through.

45 You have made us as the offscouring and refuse   /

in the midst of the people.

[ AYIN ]

46 All our enemies have opened their mouths   /

against us.

47 Fear and a snare have come upon us,   /

desolation and destruction.

48 My eye runs down with rivers of water   /

for the destruction of the daughter of my people.

[ PE ]

49 My eye trickles down and does not cease   /

without any intermission,

50 Until the LORD looks down   /

and beholds from heaven.

51 My eye affects my heart   /

because of all the daughters of my city.

[ TSADI ]

52 My enemies chased me fiercely,   /

like a bird without cause.

53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon   /

and cast a stone upon me.

54 Waters flowed over my head.   /

Then I said, "I am cut off."

[ QOF ]

55 I called upon your name, O LORD,   /

out of the low dungeon.

56 You have heard my voice. Do not hide your ear   /

at my breathing, at my cry.

57 You drew near in the day that I called upon you.   /

You said, "Do not fear."

[ RESH ]

58 O Lord, you have pleaded the causes of my soul.   /

You have redeemed my life.

59 O LORD, you have seen my wrong.   /

Judge my cause.

60 You have seen all their vengeance   /

and all their imaginations against me.

[ SHIN ]

61 You have heard their reproach, O LORD,   /

and all their imaginations against me,

62 The lips of those who rose up against me,   /

and their device against me all the day.

63 Behold their sitting down and their rising up.   /

I am their music.

[ TAV ]

64 Render to them a recompense, O LORD,   /

according to the work of their hands.

65 Give them sorrow of heart,   /

your curse to them.

66 Persecute and destroy them in anger   /

from under the heavens of the LORD.

Chapter 4

Zion bewails her pitiful estate, 1-12. She confesses her sins, 13-20. Edom is threatened and Zion comforted, 21, 22.

[ ALEPH ]

1 How the gold has become dim!   /

How the most fine gold has changed! /

The stones of the sanctuary are poured out /

at the head of every street.

[ BET ]

2 The precious sons of Zion,   /

comparable to fine gold, /

how they are esteemed as earthen pitchers, /

the work of the hands of the potter!

[ GIMEL ]

3 Even the jackals draw out the breast   /

to nurse their young ones. /

The daughter of my people has become cruel, /

like the ostriches in the wilderness.

[ DALET ]

4 The tongue of the nursing child cleaves   /

to the roof of his mouth for thirst. /

The young children ask for bread, /

and no man breaks it for them.

[ HE ]

5 Those who fed delicately   /

are desolate in the streets. /

Those who were brought up in scarlet /

embrace dunghills.

[ VAV ]

6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater   /

than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, /

which was overthrown as in a moment, /

and no hands stayed on her.

[ ZAYIN ]

7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow.   /

They were whiter than milk. /

They were more ruddy in body than rubies. /

Their polishing was of sapphire.

[ HET ]

8 Their visage is blacker than a coal.   /

They are not known in the streets. /

Their skin cleaves to their bones. /

It is withered. It has become like a stick.

[ TET ]

9 Those who are slain with the sword are better   /

than those who are slain with hunger, /

for these pine away, stricken through /

for lack of the fruits of the field.

[ YOD ]

10 The hands of the pitiful women   /

have boiled their own children. /

They were their food /

in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

[ KAF ]

11 The LORD has accomplished his fury.   /

He has poured out his fierce anger /

and has kindled a fire in Zion, /

and it has devoured her foundations.

[ LAMED ]

12 The kings of the earth   /

and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed /

that the adversary and the enemy would have entered /

into the gates of Jerusalem.

[ MEM ]

13 It is for the sins of her prophets   /

and the iniquities of her priests, /

who have shed the blood of the just /

in the midst of her.

[ NUN ]

14 They have wandered as blind men in the streets.   /

They have polluted themselves with blood /

so that men could not /

touch their garments.

[ SAMEKH ]

15 They cried to them, "Depart. It is unclean.   /

Depart, depart. Do not touch." /

When they fled away and wandered, /

they said among the heathen, /

"They shall no longer sojourn there."

[ AYIN ]

16 The anger of the LORD has divided them.   /

He will no longer regard them. /

They did not respect the persons of the priests. /

They did not favor the elders.

[ PE ]

17 As for us, our eyes as yet failed   /

for our vain help. /

In our watching we have watched /

for a nation that could not save us.

[ TSADI ]

18 They hunt our steps   /

so that we cannot go in our streets. /

Our end is near. Our days are fulfilled, /

for our end has come.

[ QOF ]

19 Our persecutors are swifter   /

than the eagles of heaven. /

They pursued us upon the mountains. /

They laid wait for us in the wilderness.

[ RESH ]

20 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD,   /

was taken in their pits, /

of whom we said, "Under his shadow /

we shall live among the heathen."

[ SHIN ]

21 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom,   /

who dwells in the land of Uz. /

The cup shall also pass through to you. /

You shall be drunken and shall make yourself naked.

[ TAV ]

22 The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion.   /

He will no longer carry you away into captivity. /

He will visit your iniquity, O daughter of Edom. /

He will disclose your sins.

Chapter 5

A pitiful complaint of Zion in prayer to God, 1-22.

1 Remember, O LORD, what has come upon us. /

Consider and behold our reproach.

2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, /

our houses to foreigners.

3 We are orphans and fatherless. /

Our mothers are as widows.

4 We have drank our water for money. /

Our wood is sold to us.

5 Our necks are under persecution. /

We labor and have no rest.

6 We have given the hand to the Egyptians /

and to the Assyrians to be satisfied with bread.

7 Our fathers have sinned and are no more, /

and we have borne their iniquities.

8 Servants have ruled over us. /

There is no one who delivers us out of their hand.

9 We procured our bread with the peril of our lives, /

because of the sword of the wilderness.

10 Our skin was black like an oven /

because of the terrible famine.

11 They ravished the women in Zion /

and the virgins in the cities of Judah.

12 Princes were hanged by their hand. /

The faces of elders were not honored.

13 They took the young men to grind, /

and the children fell under the wood.

14 The elders have ceased from the gate, /

the young men from their music.

15 The joy of our heart has ceased. /

Our dance is turned into mourning.

16 The crown has fallen from our head. /

Woe to us, that we have sinned!

17 For this our heart is faint, /

for these things our eyes are dim,

18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. /

The foxes walk upon it.

19 You, O LORD, remain forever. /

Your throne is from generation to generation.

20 Why do you forget us forever /

and forsake us for such a long time?

21 Turn us to you, O LORD, and we shall be turned. /

Renew our days as of old.

22 But you have utterly rejected us. /

You are very angry against us.

[Tanach reading: go to Ecclesiastes]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO EZEKIEL

Chapter 1

The time of Ezekiel’s prophecy at Kebar, 1-3. His vision of four cherubim, 4-14; of the four wheels, 15-25; and of the glory of God, 26-28.

1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Kebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3 The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Kebar River, and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

4 And I looked, and behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness was around it, and from the midst of it as the color of amber, from the midst of the fire. 5 Also from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man, 6 And each had four faces and each had four wings. 7 And their feet were straight feet and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. 8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. And the four of them had their faces and their wings. 9 Their wings were joined to one another. They did not turn when they went. They each went straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, the four of them had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side. And the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. The four of them also had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces. Their wings were stretched upward. Two wings of each were joined to one another and two covered their bodies. 12 And they each went straight forward. Where the spirit was to go, they went, and they did not turn when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire and like the appearance of lamps. It went up and down among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like the color of a beryl. And the four of them had one likeness. And their appearance and their work was like a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they went, they went upon their four sides, and they did not return when they went. 18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful, and their rings were full of eyes around the four of them. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them. And when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Wherever the spirit was to go, they went, their spirit going there. And the wheels were lifted up over against them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went. And when those stood, these stood. And when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the gleam of awesome crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. 23 And under the firmament their wings were straight, one toward the other. Each had two which covered on this side, and each had two which covered on that side of their bodies. 24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of a host. When they stood, they let down their wings. 25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads when they stood and had let down their wings.

26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. And upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire around within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw something like the appearance of fire, and it had brightness on all sides. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.

Chapter 2

Ezekiel’s commission, 1-5. His instruction, 6-8. The scroll of his heavy prophecy, 9, 10.

1 And he said to me, "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak to you." 2 And the Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me and set me upon my feet, so that I heard him who spoke to me. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me, even to this very day, 4 For they are impudent children and obstinate in heart. I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' 5 And they, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear (for they are a rebellious house), yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, for they are most rebellious.

8 "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat that which I give you." 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it, 10 And he spread it before me. And it was written inside and outside. And there was written in it lamentations, mourning, and woe.

Chapter 3

Ezekiel eats the scroll, 1-3. God encourages him, 4-14. God shows him the rule of prophecy, 15-21. God shuts and opens the prophet’s mouth, 22-27.

1 Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this scroll that I give you." Then I ate it. And it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

4 And he said to me, "Son of man, depart, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 Nor to many people of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to me, for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not fear them, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." 10 Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears. 11 And depart, go to those who are in captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they will hear or whether they will forbear."

12 Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place." 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and the noise of a great rushing. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to those who were in captivity at Tel-abib, who dwelt by the river of Kebar, and I sat where they sat and remained there astonished among them seven days.

16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore, hear the word from my mouth and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you do not give him warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet if you warn the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die. Because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless, if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous are not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned. You have also delivered your soul."

22 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me, and he said to me, "Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with you." 23 Then I arose and went forth into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Kebar. And I fell on my face. 24 Then the Spirit entered into me, set me upon my feet, and spoke with me, and said to me, "Go, shut yourself within your house. 25 But you, O son of man, behold, they shall put ropes upon you and shall bind you with them, and you shall not go out among them. 26 And I will make your tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and shall not be to them a reprover, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who hears, let him hear, and he who forbears, let him forbear, for they are a rebellious house."

Chapter 4

Under the type of a siege is shown the time from the defection of Jeroboam to the captivity, 1-8. By the provision of the siege is shown the hardness of the famine, 9-17.

1 "You also, son of man, take a tile and lay it before you, and portray the city upon it, even Jerusalem. 2 And lay siege against it, build a fort against it, cast a siege-mound against it, set the camp against it, and set battering rams against it on every side. 3 Moreover, take an iron pan and set it for a wall of iron between you and the city. And set your face against it so that it shall be besieged, and then lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.

4 "Lie upon your left side and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie upon it you shall bear their iniquity. 5 For I have laid upon you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days. Thus you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 And when you have accomplished them, lie again on your right side, and you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have appointed you each day for a year. 7 Therefore, you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. 8 And behold, I will put ropes upon you, and you shall not turn yourself from one side to another until you have ended the days of your siege.

9 "Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, put them in one vessel, and make yourself bread thereof. According to the number of the days that you shall lie upon your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat of it. 10 And your food which you shall eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day. From time to time you shall eat it. 11 You shall also drink water by measure, the sixth part of a hin. From time to time you shall drink. 12 And you shall eat it as barley cakes and bake it with human excrement in their sight." 13 And the LORD said, "Even thus the children of Israel shall eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, where I will drive them." 14 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, my soul has not been polluted. For from my youth even until now I have not eaten of that which dies of itself, or is torn in pieces, neither has abominable flesh come into my mouth." 15 Then he said to me, "Behold, I have given you cow’s dung for man’s dung, and you shall prepare your bread with them." 16 Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem. And they shall eat bread by weight and with care, and they shall drink water by measure and with astonishment, 17 So that they may lack bread and water. And they will be astonished with one another and consume away for their iniquity."

Chapter 5

Under the type of hair, 1-4, is shown the judgment of Jerusalem for their rebellion, 5-11; by famine, sword, and dispersion, 12-17.

1 "And you, son of man, take a sharp knife, take a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon your head and upon your beard. Then take balances to weigh and divide the hair. 2 You shall burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city when the days of the siege are fulfilled. And you shall take a third part and smite around it with a knife. And a third part you shall scatter in the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take from them a few in number and bind them in your skirts. 4 Then take from them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire, from which a fire shall come forth into all the house of Israel.

5 "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'This is Jerusalem. I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are around her. 6 And she has changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are around her, for they have refused my judgments and my statutes. They have not walked in them.' 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you multiplied more than the nations that are around you and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are around you,' 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in the midst of you in the sight of the nations. 9 And I will do in you that which I have not done, and the like to which I will not do anymore, because of all your abominations. 10 Therefore, the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of you and the sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments in you and scatter the whole remnant of you into all the winds. 11 Therefore, as I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you. My eye shall not spare, neither will I have any pity. 12 A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine they shall be consumed in the midst of you. And a third part shall fall by the sword around you. And I will scatter a third part into all the winds and draw out a sword after them.

13 'Thus my anger shall be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted. And they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them. 14 Moreover, I will make you waste and a reproach among the nations that are around you in the sight of all who pass by. 15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, to the nations that are around you when I execute judgments in you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken it. 16 When I send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction and which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and will break your staff of bread. 17 Thus I will send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I, the LORD, have spoken it.'"

Chapter 6

The judgment of Israel for their idolatry, 1-7. A remnant shall be blessed, 8-10. The faithful are exhorted to lament their abominations and calamities, 11-14.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them, 3 And say, 'You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys: "Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken. And I will cast down your slain men before your idols. 5 And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols. And I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6 In all your dwelling-places the cities shall be laid waste and the high places shall be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, your idols may be broken and cease, your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. 7 And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and you shall know that I am the LORD.

8 "Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who shall escape the sword among the nations when you are scattered through the countries. 9 And those who escape of you shall remember me among the nations where they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their apostate heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes which go astray after their idols. And they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. 10 And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them."'

11 "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Smite with your hand and stamp with your foot, and say, "Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. 12 He who is far off shall die by the pestilence. And he who is near shall fall by the sword. And he who remains and is besieged shall die by the famine. Thus I will accomplish my fury upon them. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain men are among their idols all around their altars, upon every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they offered sweet savor to all their idols. 14 Thus I will stretch out my hand upon them and make the land desolate, even more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations. And they shall know that I am the LORD."'"

Chapter 7

The final desolation of Israel, 1-15. The mournful repentance of those who escape, 16-19. The enemies defile the sanctuary because of the Israelites' abominations, 20-22. Under the type of a chain is shown the miserable captivity of all orders of men, 23-27.

1 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Also, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: 'An end, the end has come upon the four corners of the land. 3 Now the end has come upon you, and I will send my anger upon you. I will judge you according to your ways and recompense upon you all your abominations. 4 And my eye shall not spare you, neither will I have pity. But I will recompense your ways upon you, and your abominations shall be in the midst of you. And you shall know that I am the LORD.'

5 "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'An evil, a single evil, behold, has come. 6 An end has come. The end has come. It watches for you. Behold, it has come. 7 The morning has come upon you, O you who dwell in the land. The time has come. The day of trouble is near, and not of joyful shouting upon the mountains. 8 Now I will shortly pour out my fury upon you and accomplish my anger upon you. And I will judge you according to your ways and will recompense you for all your abominations. 9 And my eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity. I will recompense you according to your ways and your abominations that are in the midst of you. And you shall know that I am the LORD who smites.

10 'Behold the day, behold, it has come. The morning has gone forth. The rod has blossomed, pride has budded. 11 Violence has risen into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs, neither shall there be wailing for them. 12 The time has come. The day draws near. Do not let the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. 13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive, for the vision is concerning the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return, neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

14 'They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready, but no one goes to the battle, for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. 15 The sword is outside, and the pestilence and the famine inside. He who is in the field shall die with the sword, and he who is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him. 16 But those who escape of them shall escape and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, each for his iniquity. 17 All hands shall be feeble and all knees shall be weak as water. 18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, horror shall cover them, shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads. 19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing. Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels because it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity.

20 'As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty, but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein; therefore, I have set it far from them. 21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for plunder and to the wicked of the earth for loot, and they shall pollute it. 22 My face I will also turn from them, and they shall pollute my secret place, for the robbers shall enter into it and defile it.

23 'Make a chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence. 24 Therefore, I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses. I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease, and their holy places shall be defiled. 25 Destruction comes. They shall seek peace, but there shall be none. 26 Mischief shall come upon mischief and rumor shall be upon rumor. Then they shall seek a vision of the prophet, but the law shall perish from the priest and counsel from the elders. 27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled. I will do to them after their way, and according to their judgments I will judge them. And they shall know that I am the LORD.'"

Chapter 8

Ezekiel, in a vision of God at Jerusalem, 1-4, is shown the image of jealousy, 5, 6; the chambers of imagery, 7-12; the mourners for Tammuz, 13-15; the worshipers toward the sun, 16. God’s wrath for their idolatry, 17, 18.

1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. 2 Then I beheld, and behold a likeness as the appearance of fire. From the appearance of his loins even downward, fire, and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the color of amber. 3 And he put forth the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head. And the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looks toward the north, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

5 Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north." So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, northward at the gate of the altar, in the entry, was this image of jealousy. 6 He said furthermore to me, "Son of man, do you see what they do, even the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, so that I should withdraw from my sanctuary? But turn yet again, and you shall see greater abominations."

7 And he brought me to the door of the court. And when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, "Son of man, now dig in the wall." And when I had dug in the wall, behold a door. 9 And he said to me, "Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here." 10 So I went in and saw, and behold, every form of creeping animals and abominable beasts and all the idols of the house of Israel were portrayed around upon the wall. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, each with his censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us. The LORD has forsaken the earth.'" 13 He also said to me, "Turn yet again, and you shall see greater abominations that they do."

14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north, and behold, women weeping for Tammuz sat there. 15 Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn yet again, and you shall see greater abominations than these."

16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they worshiped the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence and have returned to provoke me to anger. And behold, they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore, I will also deal in fury. My eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them."

Chapter 9

A vision, whereby is shown the preservation of some, 1-4; and the destruction of the rest, 5-7. God cannot be entreated for them, 8-11.

1 He also cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, "Cause those who have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand." 2 And behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lies toward the north, and each with a slaughter-weapon in his hand. And one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. And they went in and stood beside the brazen altar.

3 And the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which he was to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen who had the writer’s inkhorn by his side, 4 And the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and who cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of it." 5 And to the others he said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city, and smite. Do not let your eye spare, neither have pity. 6 Utterly slay old and young, virgins, little children, and women, but do not come near any man upon whom the mark is. And begin at my sanctuary." Then they began at the elderly men who were before the house. 7 And he said to them, "Defile the house and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth." And they went forth and slew in the city. 8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face and cried, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in your pouring out of your fury upon Jerusalem?"

9 Then he said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood and the city is full of perverseness. For they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the earth, and the LORD does not see.' 10 And therefore, my eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head."

11 And behold, the man clothed with linen who had the inkhorn by his side reported the matter, saying, "I have done as you have commanded me."

Chapter 10

The vision of the coals of fire to be scattered over the city, 1-7. The vision of the cherubim, 8-22.

1 Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them something like a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2 And he spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, "Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city." And he entered in my sight.

3 Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub and stood over the threshold of the house. And the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory. 5 And the sound of the cherubim’s wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaks.

6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, "Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and stood beside the wheels. 7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, took of it, and put it into the hands of him who was clothed with linen, who took it and went out. 8 And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man’s hand under their wings.

9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub and another wheel by another cherub. And the appearance of the wheels was as the color of a beryl stone. 10 And as for their appearances, the four of them had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. 11 When they went, they went upon their four sides. They did not turn as they went. But to the place where the head looked, they followed it. They did not turn as they went. 12 And their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes on every side, even the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, it was cried to them in my hearing, "O wheel." 14 And each had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

15 And the cherubim were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Kebar. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went by them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood, and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also, for the spirit of the living creature was in them.

18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels also were beside them. And each stood at the door of the east-gate of the LORD’S house, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Kebar, and I knew that they were the cherubim. 21 Each had four faces and each four wings, and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Kebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward.

Chapter 11

The presumption of the princes, 1-3. Their sin and judgment, 4-12. Ezekiel complaining, God shows him his purpose in saving a remnant, 13-20; and punishing the wicked, 21. The glory of God leaves the city, 22, 23. Ezekiel is returned to the captivity, 24, 25.

1 Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east-gate of the LORD’S house, which looks eastward. And behold, at the door of the gate twenty-five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise mischief and give wicked counsel in this city, 3 Who say, 'It is not near. Let us build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the flesh.' 4 Therefore, prophesy against them. Prophesy, O son of man."

5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, "Speak, 'Thus says the LORD: "Thus you have said, O house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your mind—every one of them. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain." 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the cauldron, but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it. 8 You have feared the sword, and I will bring a sword upon you," says the Lord GOD. 9 "And I will bring you out of the midst of it, deliver you into the hands of strangers, and execute judgments among you. 10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you in the border of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD. 11 This city shall not be your cauldron, neither shall you be the flesh in the midst of it. But I will judge you in the border of Israel. 12 And you shall know that I am the LORD, for you have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen who are around you."'"

13 And it came to pass when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down upon my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?"

14 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 15 "Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, 'Retire far from the LORD. This land is given to us in possession.' 16 Therefore, say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I will be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come."' 17 Therefore, say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will even gather you from the people and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."' 18 And they shall come there and take away all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 So that they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances, and do them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads," says the Lord GOD.

22 Then the cherubim raised their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. 24 Afterward, the Spirit took me up and brought me in vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those who are in captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 Then I spoke to those who are in captivity all the things that the LORD had shown me.

Chapter 12

Under the type of Ezekiel’s exile, 1-7, is shown the captivity of Zedekiah, 8-16. Ezekiel’s trembling shows the Jews' desolation, 17-20. The Jews' presumptuous proverb is reproved, 21-25. The speediness of the vision, 26-28.

1 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see and do not see, who have ears to hear and do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, son of man, prepare stuff for exile, and move by day in their sight. And you shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. 4 Then you shall bring forth your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for exile. And you shall go forth at evening in their sight, as those who go forth into captivity. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight and carry out thereby. 6 In their sight you shall bear it upon your shoulders and carry it forth in the twilight. You shall cover your face so that you may not see the ground, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel."

7 And so I did as I was commanded. I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it forth in the twilight and bore it upon my shoulder in their sight.

8 And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "Son of man, has the house of Israel, the rebellious house, not said to you, 'What are you doing?' 10 Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them."' 11 Say, 'I am your sign. As I have done, so it shall be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.' 12 And the prince who is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight and shall go forth. They shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby. He shall cover his face so that he may not see the ground with his eyes. 13 My net I will also spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there. 14 And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him to help him and all his bands, and I will draw out the sword after them. 15 And they shall know that I am the LORD when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them in the countries. 16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, so that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen where they come. And they shall know that I am the LORD."

17 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, eat your bread with quaking and drink your water with trembling and with solicitude. 19 And say to the people of the land, 'Thus says the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: "They shall eat their bread with solicitude and drink their water with astonishment, so that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein. 20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate. And you shall know that I am the LORD."'"

21 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 22 "Son of man, what is that proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'? 23 Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no longer use it as a proverb in Israel." But say to them, "The days are at hand, as well as the effect of every vision. 24 For there shall no longer be any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass. It shall no longer be prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it," says the Lord GOD.'"

26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 27 "Son of man, behold, those of the house of Israel say, 'The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are distant.' 28 Therefore, say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "None of my words shall be further deferred, but the word which I have spoken shall be done,"'" says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 13

The reproof of lying prophets, 1-9, and their untempered mortar, 10-16. Of prophetesses and their pillows, 17-23.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own hearts, 'Hear the word of the LORD. 3 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. 6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, 'The LORD says,' and the LORD has not sent them, and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. 7 Have you not seen a vain vision, and have you not spoken a lying divination when you say, 'The LORD says it,' even though I have not spoken?"'"

8 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have spoken vanity and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you," says the Lord GOD. 9 "And my hand shall be upon the prophets who see vanity and who divine lies. They shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, 'Peace,' and there was no peace, and one built up a wall, and behold, others daubed it with untempered mortar, 11 Tell those who daub it with untempered mortar that it shall fall. There shall be an overflowing shower, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind shall rend it. 12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, shall it not be said to you, 'Where is the daubing with which you have daubed it?'" 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury, and there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 14 Thus I will break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation shall be made bare. It shall fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. And you shall know that I am the LORD. 15 Thus I will accomplish my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say to you, 'The wall is no more, neither those who daubed it, 16 Namely, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,' says the Lord GOD.

17 "Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own heart, and prophesy against them, 18 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the women who sew cushions to all armpits and make veils upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, but save the souls alive who come to you? 19 You profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread. You slay the souls who should not die and save the souls alive who should not live by your lying to my people who hear your lies."'"

20 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against your cushions with which you hunt the souls there to make them fly. I will tear them from your arms and let the souls go, even the souls whom you hunt to make them fly. 21 Your veils I will also tear and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be in your hand to be hunted. And you shall know that I am the LORD. 22 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked so that he should not return from his wicked way and be saved alive, 23 Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations, for I will deliver my people out of your hand. And you shall know that I am the LORD."

Chapter 14

God answers idolaters according to their own heart, 1-5. They are exhorted to repent, for fear of judgments, by means of seduced prophets, 6-11. God’s irrevocable sentence of famine, 12-14; of noisome beasts, 15, 16; of the sword, 17, 18; and of pestilence, 19-21. A remnant shall be reserved for example of others, 22, 23.

1 Then some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore, speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face and comes to the prophet, I, the LORD, will answer him who comes according to the multitude of his idols, 5 So that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols."'

6 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Repent, turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. 7 For everyone of the house of Israel or of the stranger who sojourns in Israel who separates himself from me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me, I, the LORD, will answer him by myself. 8 And I will set my face against that man, make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people. And you shall know that I am the LORD.

9 "And if the prophet is deceived when he has spoken a thing, I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet. And I will stretch out my hand upon him and destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity. The punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him who seeks him, 11 So that the house of Israel may no longer go astray from me, neither be polluted anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people, and I may be their God,"' says the Lord GOD."

12 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 13 "Son of man, when the land sins against me by trespassing grievously, I will stretch out my hand upon it, break the staff of the bread thereof, send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. 14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver their own souls only by their righteousness," says the Lord GOD. 15 "If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they lay it waste so that it is desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the beasts, 16 Though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters. Only they shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. 17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, 'Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off man and beast from it,' 18 Though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters. But only they shall be delivered themselves. 19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out my fury upon it in blood to cut off man and beast from it, 20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they shall deliver neither son nor daughter. They shall deliver only their own souls by their righteousness."

21 For thus says the Lord GOD: "How much more when I send my four severe judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, the famine, the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off man and beast from it! 22 Yet behold, therein shall be left a remnant who shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters. Behold, they shall come forth to you, and you shall see their way and their doings. And you shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. 23 And they shall comfort you when you see their ways and their doings. And you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 15

By the unfitness of the vine branch for any work, 1-5, is shown the rejection of Jerusalem, 6-8.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3 Shall wood be taken from it to do any work? Or will men take a pin from it to hang any vessel upon it? 4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both its ends, and the midst of it is burned. Is it profitable for any work? 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was fit for no work. How much less then shall it be fit for any work when the fire has devoured it and it is burned? 6 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'As the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them. They shall go out from one fire and another fire shall devour them. And you shall know that I am the LORD when I set my face against them. 8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass,'" says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 16

Under the similitude of a wretched infant is shown the natural state of Jerusalem, 1-5. God’s extraordinary love toward her, 6-14. Her monstrous lewdness, 15-34. Her grievous judgment, 35-43. Her sin, equal to her mother and exceeding her sisters, Sodom and Samaria, calls for judgments, 44-59. Mercy is promised her in the end, 60-63.

1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, 3 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: "Your birth and your nativity is of the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 And as for your nativity, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to supple you. You were not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 No eye pitied you to do any of these to you, to have compassion upon you. But you were cast out in the open field because you were loathed on the day that you were born.

6 "And when I passed by you and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said to you when you were in your blood, 'Live.' I even said to you when you were in your blood, 'Live.' 7 I have caused you to multiply as the bud of the field, and you have increased and become great and have come to excellent ornaments. Your breasts are fashioned and your hair is grown, whereas you were naked and bare.

8 "Now when I passed by you and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love. And I spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I even swore to you and entered into a covenant with you," says the Lord GOD, "and you became mine. 9 Then I washed you with water. I even thoroughly washed away your blood from you and anointed you with oil. 10 I also clothed you with embroidered work, shod you with badgers' skin, girded you with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. 11 I also decked you with ornaments. I put bracelets upon your hands and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a jewel on your forehead, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. 13 Thus you were decked with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful and you prospered into a kingdom. 14 And your renown went forth among the heathen for your beauty, for it was perfect through my splendor, which I had put upon you," says the Lord GOD.

15 "But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your fornications on everyone who passed by—it became his. 16 And you took some of your garments, decked your high places with diverse colors, and played the harlot upon them. Such things shall not come, neither shall it be so. 17 You have also taken your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and have made for yourself images of men and committed lewdness with them. 18 And you have taken your embroidered garments and covered them, and you have set my oil and my incense before them. 19 Also my provisions which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you have even set before them for a sweet savor. And thus it was," says the Lord GOD. 20 "Moreover, you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and these you have sacrificed to them to be devoured. Is this of your lewdness a small matter, 21 That you have slain my children and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them? 22 And in all your abominations and your deeds of lewdness you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare and polluted in your blood.

23 "And it came to pass after all your wickedness ('Woe, woe to you!' says the Lord GOD), 24 That you have also built for yourself an eminent place and have made yourself a high place in every street. 25 You have built your high place at every head of the way, made your beauty to be abhorred, prostituted yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your lewd deeds. 26 You have also committed fornication with the Egyptians your neighbors, great of flesh, and have multiplied your lewd deeds to provoke me to anger. 27 And behold, I have stretched out my hand over you and have diminished your ordinary food and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way. 28 You have played the harlot also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable. Indeed, you have played the harlot with them, and yet could not be satisfied. 29 You have moreover multiplied your fornication in the land of Canaan to Chaldea, and yet with this you were not satisfied."'"

30 "How weak is your heart," says the Lord GOD, "seeing you do all these things, the work of an imperious lewd woman, 31 In that you build your eminent place in the head of every way and make your high place in every street. But you have not been as a harlot, in that you scorn payment. 32 You are a wife who commits adultery, who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33 They give gifts to all lewd women, but you give your gifts to all your lovers and hire them, so that they may come to you on every side for your lewdness. 34 And the contrary is in you from other women in your unlawful commerce, whereas no one follows you to commit lewdness. And in that you give a reward, and no reward is given to you, therefore you are contrary."

35 Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD. 36 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness exposed through your carnal connection with your lovers, with all the idols of your abominations, and by the blood of your children, which you gave to them, 37 Behold therefore, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those whom you have loved, with all those whom you have hated. I will even gather them on every side against you and will uncover your nakedness to them, so that they may see all your nakedness. 38 And I will judge you as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged. And I will give you blood in fury and jealousy. 39 And I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your eminent place and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your fair jewels, and leave you naked and bare. 40 They shall also bring up a company against you, and they shall stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords. 41 And they shall burn your houses with fire and execute judgments upon you in the sight of many women. And I will cause you to cease from playing the harlot, and you shall also give no payment anymore. 42 Thus I will make my fury toward you to rest and my jealousy shall depart from you. I will be quiet and will no longer be angry. 43 Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have provoked me in all these things, behold therefore, I also will recompense your way upon your head," says the Lord GOD, "and you shall not commit this lewdness above all your abominations.

44 "Behold, everyone who uses proverbs shall use this proverb against you, saying, 'As is the mother, so is her daughter.' 45 You are your mother’s daughter, who loathes her husband and her children, and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46 And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters who dwell at your left hand. And your younger sister, who dwells at your right hand, is Sodom with her daughters. 47 Yet you have not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations. But as if that were a very little thing, you were corrupted more than they were in all your ways. 48 As I live," says the Lord GOD, "Sodom your sister has not done—she nor her daughters—as you and your daughters have done. 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before me; therefore, I took them away as I saw good. 51 Samaria has not committed half of your sins, but you have multiplied your abominations more than they have and have justified your sisters in all your abominations which you have done. 52 You also, who have judged your sisters, bear your own shame for your sins that you have committed which are more abominable than theirs. They are more righteous than you. Indeed, be also confounded and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters.

53 "When I bring back their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, I will bring back the captivity of your captives in the midst of them, 54 So that you may bear your own shame and be confounded in all that you have done, in that you are a comfort to them. 55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters shall return to your former state. 56 For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride, 57 Before your wickedness was disclosed, as at the time of your reproach of the daughters of Syria and all who are around her, the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you on every side. 58 You have borne your lewdness and your abominations," says the LORD. 59 For thus says the Lord GOD: "I will even deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant.

60 "Nevertheless, I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then you shall remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, your elder and your younger. And I will give them to you for daughters, but not by your covenant. 62 And I will establish my covenant with you. And you shall know that I am the LORD, 63 So that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I am pacified toward you for all that you have done," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 17

Under the parable of two eagles and a vine, 1-10, is shown God’s judgment upon Jerusalem for revolting from Babylon to Egypt, 11-21. God promises to plant the cedar of the Gospel, 22-24.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, put forth a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel, 3 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "A great eagle with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers, which had diverse colors, came to Lebanon and took the highest branch of the cedar. 4 He cropped off the top of its young twigs and carried it into a land of traders. He set it in a city of merchants. 5 He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a fruitful field. He placed it by great waters and set it as a willow tree. 6 And it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, and brought forth branches and shot forth sprigs.

7 "There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers, and behold, this vine bent her roots toward him and shot forth her branches toward him, so that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation. 8 It was planted in good soil by great waters so that it might bring forth branches, bear fruit, and be an ample vine."' 9 Say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit so that it may wither? It shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by its roots. 10 Indeed, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the furrows where it grew."'"

11 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 "Now say to the rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Tell them, 'Behold, the king of Babylon has come to Jerusalem and has taken its king and its princes and led them with him to Babylon, 13 And has taken someone from the king’s offspring and made a covenant with him, bringing him under an oath. He has also taken the mighty of the land, 14 So that the kingdom might be base and not lift itself up, but keep his covenant so that it might stand. 15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, so that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things? Or shall he break the covenant and be delivered? 16 As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. 17 Pharaoh, with his mighty army and great company, shall not help him in the war when they cast up siege-mounds and build forts to cut off many lives. 18 Seeing that he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when behold, he had given his hand and has done all these things, he shall not escape.'" 19 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "As I live, surely my oath that he has despised and my covenant that he has broken, even that I will recompense upon his own head. 20 And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon and plead with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me. 21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward all winds. And you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it."

22 Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it. I will crop off from the top of its young twigs a tender one and plant it upon a high and eminent mountain. 23 On the mountain of the height of Israel I will plant it. And it shall bring forth boughs, bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. And under it all birds of every wing shall dwell. In the shade of its branches they shall dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it."

References

[v.23]: Quoted in Matthew 13:32; Luke 13:19.

Chapter 18

God defends his justice, 1-30; and exhorts to repentance, 31, 32.

1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 "What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,

'The fathers have eaten sour grapes,   /

and the children’s teeth are set on edge'?

3 As I live," says the Lord GOD, "you shall not have occasion anymore to use this proverb in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine. As the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins, he shall die.

5 "But if a man is just and does that which is lawful and right, 6 Has not eaten upon the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither has come near to a polluted woman, 7 Has not oppressed any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has stripped no one by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, has covered the naked with a garment, 8 Has not given forth upon interest, neither has taken any increase, has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true judgment between man and man, 9 Has walked in my statutes and has kept my judgments to deal truly, he is just and he shall surely live," says the Lord GOD.

10 "If he begets a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, who does the like of any one of these things, 11 Who does not do any of those duties, but even has eaten upon the mountains, defiled his neighbor’s wife, 12 Has oppressed the poor and needy, has stripped by violence, has not restored the pledge, has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination, 13 Has given forth upon interest, and has taken increase, shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood shall be upon him.

14 "Now behold, if he begets a son, who sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and considers, and does not do such things, 15 Who has not eaten upon the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor’s wife, 16 Neither has oppressed any, has not withheld the pledge, neither has stripped by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, has covered the naked with a garment, 17 Who has taken off his hand from the poor, who has not received interest nor increase, has executed my judgments, and has walked in my statutes, he shall not die for the iniquity of his father. He shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, stripped his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, even he shall die in his iniquity.

19 "Yet you say, 'Why? Does the son not bear the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done that which is lawful and right, has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned to him. In his righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die," says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should return from his ways and live?

24 "But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die. 25 Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not equal.' Hear now, O house of Israel. Is my way not equal? Are your ways not unequal? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and dies in them, for his iniquity that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not equal.' O house of Israel, are my ways not equal? Are your ways not unequal?

30 "Therefore, I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so that iniquity is not your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions by which you have transgressed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore, turn, and live."

Chapter 19

A lamentation for the princes of Israel, under the parable of lion’s whelps taken in a pit, 1-9; and for Jerusalem, under the parable of a wasted vine, 10-14.

1 "Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 And say,

'What is your mother? A lioness.   /

She lay down among lions. /

She nourished her whelps /

among young lions.

3 And she brought up one of her whelps.   /

It became a young lion /

and it learned to catch prey. /

It devoured men.

4 The nations also heard of him.   /

He was taken in their pit, /

and they brought him with chains /

to the land of Egypt.

5 Now when she saw that she had waited   /

and her hope was lost, /

she took another of her whelps /

and made him a young lion.

6 And he went up and down among the lions.   /

He became a young lion /

and learned to catch prey. /

He devoured men.

7 And he knew their desolate palaces,   /

and he laid waste their cities. /

And the land and its fullness was desolate /

by the noise of his roaring.

8 Then the nations set against him   /

on every side from the provinces /

and spread their net over him. /

He was taken in their pit.

9 And they put him in a cage with hooks   /

and brought him to the king of Babylon. /

They brought him into holds, /

so that his voice should no longer be heard /

upon the mountains of Israel.

10 Your mother is like a vine in your blood   /

planted by the waters. /

She was fruitful and full of branches /

by reason of many waters.

11 And she had strong branches   /

for the scepters of those who bore rule, /

and her stature was exalted /

among the thick branches, /

and she appeared in her height /

with the multitude of her branches.

12 But she was plucked up in fury,   /

she was cast down to the ground, /

and the east wind dried up her fruit. /

Her strong rods were broken and withered. /

The fire consumed them.

13 And now she is planted in the wilderness   /

in a dry and thirsty ground.

14 And fire has gone out of a rod of her branches.   /

It has devoured her fruit, /

so that she has no strong rod /

to be a scepter to rule.'"

[ This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation. ]

Chapter 20

God refuses to be consulted by the elders of Israel, 1-3. He shows the story of their rebellions in Egypt, 4-9, in the wilderness, 10-26, and in the land, 27-32. He promises to gather them by the Gospel, 33-44. Under the name of a forest he shows the destruction of Jerusalem, 45-49.

1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Have you come to inquire of me? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you."' 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers, 5 And say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "In the day when I chose Israel and lifted up my hand to the offspring of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up my hand to them, saying, 'I am the LORD your God,' 6 In the day that I lifted up my hand to them, to bring them forth from the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 7 I said to them, 'Every one of you cast away the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' 8 But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me. They did not each cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my fury upon them to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I wrought for my name’s sake, so that it should not be profaned before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them forth from the land of Egypt. 10 Therefore, I caused them to go forth from the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them my statutes and showed them my judgments, which if a man does, he shall even live in them. 12 Moreover, I also gave them my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, so that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes and they despised my judgments, which if a man does, he shall even live in them, and they greatly profaned my sabbaths. Then I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness to consume them. 14 But I wrought for my name’s sake, so that it should not be profaned before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. 15 Yet I also lifted up my hand to them in the wilderness, so that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 Because they despised my judgments and did not walk in my statutes, but profaned my sabbaths, for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless, my eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 "But I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my judgments, and do them, 20 And hallow my sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.' 21 But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes, or keep my judgments to do them, which if a man does, he shall even live in them. They profaned my sabbaths. Then I said that I would pour out my fury upon them to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless, I withdrew my hand and wrought for my name’s sake, so that it should not be profaned in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23 I lifted up my hand to them also in the wilderness, so that I would scatter them among the heathen and disperse them through the countries, 24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. 25 Therefore, I also gave them statutes that were not good and judgments by which they should not live. 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all the first-born to pass through the fire, so that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD."'

27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my hand to give it to them, they saw every high hill and all the thick trees, and they offered their sacrifices there and they presented the provocation of their offering there. They also made their sweet savor there and poured out their drink-offerings there. 29 Then I said to them, 'What is the high place to which you go?' And its name is called Bamah to this day."' 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you polluted after the manner of your fathers? And do you commit lewd deeds after their abominations? 31 For when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you. 32 And that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, when you say, 'We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.'

33 "As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely with a mighty hand, with an out-stretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. 34 And I will bring you out from the people and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an out-stretched arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there I will plead with you face to face. 36 As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead with you," says the Lord GOD. 37 "And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who transgress against me. I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD.

39 "As for you, O house of Israel," thus says the Lord GOD: "Go, each of you serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me. But profane my holy name no longer with your gifts and with your idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve me. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you with your sweet savor when I bring you out from the people and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. And I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. 42 And you shall know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers. 43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings in which you have been defiled. And you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed. 44 And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake and not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel," says the Lord GOD.'"

45 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 46 "Son of man, set your face toward the south. Prophesy toward the south and prophesy against the forest of the south field, 47 And say to the forest of the south, 'Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. 48 And all flesh shall see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It shall not be quenched."'" 49 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They say of me, 'Does he not speak parables?'"

Chapter 21

Ezekiel prophesies against Jerusalem with a sign of sighing, 1-7. The sharp and bright sword, 8-17; against Jerusalem, 18-24; against the kingdom, 25-27; and against the Ammonites, 28-32.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem. Prophesy toward the holy places and prophesy against the land of Israel, 3 And say to the land of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am against you, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore my sword shall go forth from its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north, 5 So that all flesh may know that I, the LORD, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It shall not return anymore."' 6 Sigh therefore, son of man, with the breaking of your loins. And with bitterness sigh before their eyes. 7 And it shall be, when they say to you, 'Why do you sigh?' that you shall answer, 'For the tidings, because it comes. And every heart shall melt, all hands shall be feeble, every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water. Behold, it comes and shall be brought to pass,' says the Lord GOD."

8 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "Son of man, prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the LORD:' Say,

'A sword, a sword is sharpened   /

and also furbished.

10 It is sharpened to make a grievous slaughter.   /

It is furbished so that it may glitter.'

Should we then make mirth? It despises the rod of my son, as every tree. 11 And he has given it to be furbished, so that it may be handled. The sword is sharpened and it is furbished to give it into the hand of the slayer. 12 Cry and howl, son of man, for it shall be upon my people. It shall be upon all the princes of Israel. Terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people. Smite therefore upon your thigh. 13 For there is a trial. And what if the sword despises even the rod? It shall be no more," says the Lord GOD.

14 "You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite your hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time—the sword of the slain. It is the sword of the great men who are slain which enters into their private chambers. 15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, so that their hearts may faint and their ruins are multiplied. Ah! It is made bright. It is sharpened for the slaughter. 16 Go one way or another, either on the right hand, or on the left, wherever your face is set. 17 I will also smite my hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest. I, the LORD, have said it."

18 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 19 "Also, son of man, appoint two ways that the sword of the king of Babylon may come. Both ways shall come forth from one land. And choose a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city. 20 Appoint a way that the sword may come to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified. 21 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. 22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a siege-mound, and to build a fort. 23 And it shall be to them as a false divination in their sight, to those who have sworn oaths, but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, so that they may be taken.

24 "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are disclosed, so that in all your doings your sins appear, because, I say, that you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken with the hand. 25 And you, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come when iniquity has an end,' 26 Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Remove the diadem and take off the crown. This shall not be the same. Exalt him who is low and abase him who is high. 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until he comes whose right it is. And I will give it to him.'

28 "And you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach,' even say, 'The sword, the sword is drawn. For the slaughter it is furbished to consume because of the glittering, 29 While they see vanity for you, while they divine a lie for you, to bring you upon the necks of those who are slain, of the wicked, whose day has come when their iniquity has an end. 30 Shall I cause it to return into its sheath? I will judge you in the place where you were created, in the land of your nativity. 31 And I will pour out my indignation upon you. I will blow against you in the fire of my wrath and deliver you into the hand of brutish men who are skillful to destroy. 32 You shall be for fuel to the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall no longer be remembered. For I, the LORD, have spoken it.'"

Chapter 22

A catalog of sins in Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jews in consequence, 1-16. God will burn them as dross in his furnace, 17-22. The general corruption of prophets, priests, princes, and people, 23-31.

1 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Indeed, you shall show her all her abominations. 3 Then say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The city sheds blood in the midst of it, so that her time may come, and makes idols against herself to defile herself. 4 You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, have defiled yourself by your idols which you have made, have caused your days to draw near, and have come even to your years; therefore, I have made you a reproach to the heathen and a mocking to all countries. 5 Those who are near and those who are far from you shall mock you, who are infamous and much troubled.

6 "Behold, the princes of Israel, each used his power to shed blood in you. 7 In you they have set light by father and mother. In the midst of you they have dealt by oppression with the stranger. In you they have oppressed the fatherless and the widow. 8 You have despised my holy things and have profaned my sabbaths. 9 In you are men who carry tales to shed blood. And in you they eat upon the mountains. In the midst of you they commit lewdness. 10 In you they have uncovered their fathers' nakedness. In you they have humbled her who was set apart for pollution. 11 And one has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife, another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law, and another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. 12 In you they have taken gifts to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase and you have greedily gained from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten me," says the Lord GOD.

13 "And behold, I have smitten my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at your blood which has been in the midst of you. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken it and will do it. 15 And I will scatter you among the heathen and disperse you in the countries, and I will consume your filthiness out of you. 16 And you shall be profaned in yourself in the sight of the heathen, and you shall know that I am the LORD."'"

17 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are brass, tin, iron, and lead in the midst of the furnace. They are even the dross of silver. 19 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As they gather silver, brass, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of the furnace to blow the fire upon it, to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. 21 Indeed, I will gather you and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it. And you shall know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury upon you.'"

23 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24 "Son of man, say to her, 'You are the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.' 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst of her, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They have taken the treasure and precious things. They have made her many widows in the midst of her. 26 Her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shown difference between the unclean and the clean. They have hid their eyes from my sabbaths and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst of her are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, exercised robbery, and have oppressed the poor and needy. They have even oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them who should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, so that I should not destroy it, but I found no one. 31 Therefore, I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. Their own way I have recompensed upon their heads," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 23

The lewdness of Aholah and Aholibah, 1-21. Aholibah is to be plagued by her lovers, 22-35. The prophet reproves the adulteries of them both, 36-44; and shows their judgments, 45-49.

1 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother, 3 And they committed lewd deeds in Egypt. They committed lewd deeds in their youth. Their breasts were pressed there, and they were first corrupted there. 4 And their names were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister. And they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. Thus were their names: Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem, Aholibah.

5 "And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine, and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors. 6 They were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. 7 Thus she committed her lewd deeds with them, with all those who were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted. With all their idols she defiled herself. 8 She did not leave her lewd deeds brought from Egypt. For in her youth they lay with her, and they first corrupted her and poured their impurities upon her. 9 Therefore, I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted. 10 These uncovered her nakedness. They took her sons and her daughters and slew her with the sword. And she became famous among women, for they had executed judgment upon her.

11 "And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she was, and in her prostitutions more than her sister in her prostitutions. 12 She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbors, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men. 13 Then I saw that she was defiled, that they both took one way. 14 So she increased her prostitutions, for when she saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion, 15 Girded with girdles upon their loins, with dyed turbans upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity, 16 And as soon as she saw them with her eyes she doted upon them and sent messengers to them into Chaldea. 17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lewdness. And when she was polluted with them, her mind was alienated from them. 18 Thus she disclosed her lewd deeds and exposed her nakedness. Then my mind was alienated from her, as my mind was alienated from her sister. 19 Yet she multiplied her prostitutions, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth in which she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt, 20 For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21 Thus you called to remembrance the lewdness of your youth by being corrupted by the Egyptians in your youth.

22 "Therefore, O Aholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom your mind is alienated, and I will bring them against you on every side: 23 The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses. 24 And they shall come against you with chariots, wagons, wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against you buckler, shield, and helmet on every side. And I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. 25 And I will set my jealousy against you, and they shall deal furiously with you. They shall take away your nose and your ears, and your remnant shall fall by the sword. They shall take your sons and your daughters, and your remnant shall be devoured by the fire. 26 They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your fair jewels. 27 Thus I will make your lewdness to cease from you, and your adultery brought from the land of Egypt, so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt anymore.' 28 For thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will deliver you into the hand of those whom you hate, into the hand of those from whom your mind is alienated. 29 And they shall treat you with hatred, take away all your labor, and leave you naked and bare. And the nakedness of your prostitutions shall be disclosed, both your lewdness and your prostitutions. 30 I will do these things to you, because you have gone astray after the heathen, and because you are polluted with their idols. 31 You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore, I will give her cup into your hand.' 32 "Thus says the Lord GOD:

'You shall drink of your sister’s cup deep and large.   /

You shall be treated with scorn and had in derision. /

It contains much.

33 You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,   /

with the cup of astonishment and desolation, /

with the cup of your sister Samaria.

34 You shall even drink it and empty it to the dregs,   /

and you shall break its pieces /

and pluck off your own breasts. /

For I have spoken it,'

says the Lord GOD. 35 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, therefore also bear your lewdness and your prostitutions.'"

36 The LORD said moreover to me, "Son of man, will you judge Aholah and Aholibah? Even declare to them their abominations, 37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. And with their idols they have committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bore to me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. 38 Moreover, they have done this to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day and have profaned my sabbaths. 39 For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it. Behold, thus they have done in the midst of my house.

40 "And furthermore, you have even sent for men to come from far, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came, for whom you washed yourself, painted your eyes, decked yourself with ornaments, 41 And sat upon a stately bed and a table prepared before it, upon which you have set my incense and my oil. 42 And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her. And with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, who put bracelets upon their hands and beautiful crowns upon their heads.

43 "Then I said to her who was old in adulteries, 'Will they now commit lewd deeds with her, and she with them?' 44 Yet they went in to her, as they go in to a woman who plays the harlot. Thus they went in to Aholah and to Aholibah, the lewd women. 45 And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.

46 "For thus says the Lord GOD: 'I will bring up a company upon them and will give them to trembling and plundering. 47 And the company shall stone them with stones and dispatch them with their swords. They shall slay their sons and their daughters and burn their houses with fire. 48 Thus I will cause lewdness to cease out of the land, so that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness. 49 And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the sins of your idols. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.'"

Chapter 24

Under the parable of a boiling pot, 1-5, is shown the irrevocable destruction of Jerusalem, 6-14. By the sign of Ezekiel not mourning for the death of his wife, 15-18, is shown the calamity of the Jews to be beyond all sorrow, 19-27.

1 Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, write for yourself the name of the day, even of this very day. The king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this very day. 3 And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"Set on a pot, set it on,   /

and also pour water into it.

4 Gather its pieces into it,   /

even every good piece, /

the thigh and the shoulder. /

Fill it with the choice bones.

5 Take the choice of the flock,   /

and also burn the bones under it. /

Make it boil well, /

and let them boil its bones in it."

6 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD:

"Woe to the bloody city,   /

to the pot whose scum is therein, /

and whose scum has not gone out of it! /

Bring it out piece by piece. /

Let no lot fall upon it.

7 For her blood is in the midst of her.   /

She set it upon the top of a rock. /

She did not pour it upon the ground /

to cover it with dust,

8 So that it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance.   /

I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, /

so that it should not be covered."

9 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD:

"Woe to the bloody city!   /

I will even make the pile for fire great.

10 Heap on wood, kindle the fire,   /

consume the flesh, /

spice it well, /

and let the bones be burned.

11 Then set it empty upon its coals,   /

so that its brass may be hot and may burn, /

and that its filthiness may be melted in it, /

so that its scum may be consumed.

12 She has wearied herself with lies,   /

and her great scum did not go forth out of her. /

Her scum shall be in the fire.

13 In your filthiness is lewdness.   /

Because I have purged you, /

and you were not purged, /

you shall not be purged from your filthiness anymore /

until I have caused my fury to rest upon you.

14 "I, the LORD, have spoken it.   /

It shall come to pass and I will do it. /

I will not go back, neither will I spare, /

neither will I repent. /

According to your ways and according to your doings, /

they shall judge you,"

says the Lord GOD.'"

15 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16 "Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke. Yet you shall not mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down. 17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the turban of your head upon you, put your shoes upon your feet, do not cover your lips, and do not eat the bread of men." 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And I did in the morning as I was commanded. 19 And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things are to us that you are doing?" 20 Then I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 21 'Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellence of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities. And your sons and your daughters whom you have left shall fall by the sword. 22 And you shall do as I have done. You shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. 23 And your turbans shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet. You shall not mourn nor weep, but you shall pine away for your iniquities and mourn toward one another. 24 Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you. According to all that he has done you shall do. And when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.'"

25 'Also, son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that on which they set their minds, their sons and their daughters, 26 That he who escapes in that day shall come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears? 27 In that day your mouth shall be opened to him who has escaped, and you shall speak and no longer be mute. And you shall be a sign to them. And they shall know that I am the LORD.'"

Chapter 25

God’s vengeance, for their insolence against the Jews, upon the Ammonites, 1-7; upon Moab and Seir, 8-11; upon Edom, 12-14; and upon the Philistines, 15-17.

1 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them, 3 And say to the Ammonites, 'Hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you said, 'Aha,' against my sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, 4 Therefore behold, I will deliver you to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in you and make their dwellings in you. They shall eat your fruit and they shall drink your milk. 5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and the Ammonites a couching-place for flocks. And you shall know that I am the LORD." 6 For thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have clapped your hands and stamped with the feet and rejoiced in heart with all your contempt against the land of Israel, 7 Therefore behold, I will stretch out my hand upon you and will deliver you as plunder to the heathen. I will cut you off from the people and will cause you to perish out of the countries. I will destroy you. And you shall know that I am the LORD."

8 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because Moab and Seir say, 'Behold, the house of Judah is like all the heathen,' 9 Therefore behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim, 10 To the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, so that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab. And they shall know that I am the LORD."

12 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance and has greatly offended and revenged himself upon them," 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also stretch out my hand upon Edom and will cut off man and beast from it. And I will make it desolate. From Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword. 14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel. And they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my fury, and they shall know my vengeance," says the Lord GOD.

15 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart to destroy it for the old hatred," 16 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes. And they shall know that I am the LORD when I lay my vengeance upon them."'"

Chapter 26

Tyre, for insulting against Jerusalem, is threatened with destruction, 1-6. The power of Nebuchadnezzar against her, 7-14. The mourning and astonishment of the sea at her fall, 15-21.

1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! She who was the gates of the people is broken. She has turned to me. I shall be replenished. Now she is laid waste,' 3 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. 4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers. I will also scrape her dust from her and make her like the top of a rock. 5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea. For I have spoken it,' says the Lord GOD, 'and it shall become plunder to the nations. 6 And her daughters who are in the field shall be slain by the sword. And they shall know that I am the LORD.'"

7 For thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, upon Tyre I will bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north with horses, with chariots, with horsemen, companies, and many people. 8 He shall slay your daughters in the field with the sword. And he shall make a fort against you, cast a siege-mound against you, and lift up the buckler against you. 9 And he shall set battering rams of war against your walls, and with his axes he shall break down your towers. 10 By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover you. Your walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, of the wheels, and of the chariots when he enters into your gates, as men enter into a city in which a breach is made. 11 With the hooves of his horses he shall tread down all your streets. He shall slay your people by the sword, and your strong garrisons shall go down to the ground. 12 And they shall make loot of your riches and make plunder of your merchandise. And they shall break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. And they shall lay your stones and your timber and your dust in the midst of the water. 13 And I will cause the noise of your songs to cease, and the sound of your harps shall no longer be heard. 14 And I will make you like the top of a rock. You shall be a place to spread nets upon. You shall be built no more. For I, the LORD, have spoken it," says the Lord GOD.

15 Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre: "Shall the coastlands not shake at the sound of your fall when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of you? 16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, lay away their robes, and take off their embroidered garments. They shall clothe themselves with trembling. They shall sit upon the ground and shall tremble at every moment and be astonished at you. 17 And they shall take up a lamentation for you, and say to you,

'How you are destroyed,   /

who were inhabited by sea-faring men, /

the renowned city, /

which was strong in the sea— /

she and her inhabitants— /

who cause their terror to be /

on all who dwelt there!

18 Now the coastlands shall tremble   /

in the day of your fall. /

Even the coastlands that are by the sea /

shall be disturbed at your departure.'"

19 For thus says the Lord GOD: "When I make you a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep upon you and great waters shall cover you, 20 When I bring you down with those who descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and set you in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with those who go down to the pit, so that you are not inhabited, but I shall set glory in the land of the living, 21 I will make you a terror, and you shall be no more. Though you shall be sought for, yet you shall never be found again," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 27

The riches and commerce of Tyre, 1-25. The great and irrecoverable fall thereof, 26-36.

1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 "Now, son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre, 3 And say to Tyre, who is situated at the entry of the sea, who is a merchant of the people for many coastlands, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"O Tyre, you have said,   /

'I am of perfect beauty.'

4 Your borders are in the midst of the seas.   /

Your builders have perfected your beauty.

5 They have made all your ship-boards   /

of fir-trees of Senir. /

They have taken cedars from Lebanon /

to make masts for you.

6 Of the oaks of Bashan   /

they have made your oars. /

The company of the Ashurites /

have made your benches of ivory, /

brought out of the coastlands of Chittim.

7 Fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt   /

was that which you spread forth /

to be your sail. /

Blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah /

was that which covered you.

8 The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad   /

were your mariners. /

Your wise men, O Tyre, who were in you, /

were your pilots.

9 The ancients of Gebal and its wise men   /

were in you as your caulkers. /

All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you /

to occupy your merchandise.

10 "They of Persia, of Lud, and of Phut were in your army, your military men. They hung the shield and helmet in you. They set forth your splendor. 11 The men of Arvad with your army were upon your walls on all sides, and the Gammadims were in your towers. They hung their shields upon your walls on every side. They have made your beauty perfect.

12 "Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches. With silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in your fairs. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were your merchants. They traded in the persons of men and vessels of brass in your market. 14 They of the house of Togarmah traded in your fairs with horses, horsemen, and mules. 15 The men of Dedan were your merchants. Many coastlands were the merchandise of your hand. They brought you in exchange horns of ivory and ebony. 16 Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of your making. They occupied in your fairs with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and agate. 17 Judah, and the land of Israel, they were your merchants. They traded in your market in wheat of Minnith, Pannag, honey, oil, and balm. 18 Damascus was your merchant in the multitude of the wares of your making, for the multitude of all riches, in the wine of Helbon and white wool. 19 Dan and also Javan going to and fro occupied in your fairs. Bright iron, cassia, and calamus were in your market. 20 Dedan was your merchant in precious clothes for chariots. 21 Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with you in lambs, rams, and goats. In these they were your merchants. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were your merchants. They occupied in your fairs with chief of all spices, with all precious stones and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad were your merchants. 24 These were your merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, embroidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords and made of cedar, among your merchandise.

25 "The ships of Tarshish sang of you in your market.   /

And you were replenished and made very glorious /

in the midst of the seas.

26 Your rowers have brought you   /

into great waters. /

The east wind has broken you /

in the midst of the seas.

27 Your riches, your fairs, your merchandise,   /

your mariners, your pilots, /

your caulkers, the occupiers of your merchandise, /

and all your military men, who are in you /

and in all your company which is in the midst of you, /

shall fall into the midst of the seas /

in the day of your ruin.

28 The suburbs shall shake   /

at the sound of the cry of your pilots.

29 And all who handle the oar,   /

the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea /

shall come down from their ships. /

They shall stand upon the land,

30 And shall cause their voice to be heard against you   /

and shall cry bitterly, /

and shall cast up dust upon their heads. /

They shall wallow themselves in the ashes.

31 And they shall make themselves utterly bald for you   /

and gird themselves with sackcloth, /

and they shall weep for you /

with bitterness of heart /

and bitter wailing.

32 And in their wailing   /

they shall take up a lamentation for you /

and lament over you, saying, /

'What city is like Tyre, /

like the destroyed one /

in the midst of the sea?

33 When your wares went forth out of the seas,   /

you filled many people. /

You enriched the kings of the earth /

with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.

34 In the time when you are broken by the seas   /

in the depths of the waters, /

your merchandise and all your company /

in the midst of you shall fall.

35 All the inhabitants of the coastlands   /

shall be astonished at you, /

and their kings shall be terribly afraid. /

They shall be troubled in their countenance.

36 The merchants among the people   /

shall hiss at you. /

You shall be a terror, /

and never shall be anymore.'"'"

Chapter 28

God’s judgment upon the prince of Tyre for his sacrilegious pride, 1-10. A lamentation of his great glory corrupted by sin, 11-19. The judgment of Zidon, 20-23. The restoration of Israel, 24-26.

1 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"Because your heart is lifted up,   /

you have said, 'I am a god. /

I sit in the seat of God, /

in the midst of the seas,' /

yet you are a man and not God, /

though you set your heart as the heart of God.

3 Behold, you are wiser than Daniel.   /

There is no secret that they can hide from you.

4 With your wisdom and with your understanding   /

you have gained riches for yourself /

and have gained gold and silver /

into your treasures.

5 By your great wisdom and by your traffic   /

you have increased your riches, /

and your heart is lifted up because of your riches."

6 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD:

"Because you have set your heart   /

as the heart of God,

7 Therefore behold, I will bring strangers upon you,   /

the terrible of the nations. /

And they shall draw their swords /

against the beauty of your wisdom, /

and they shall defile your brightness.

8 They shall bring you down to the pit,   /

and you shall die the deaths of those who are slain /

in the midst of the seas.

9 Will you yet say before him who slays you,   /

'I am God'? /

But you shall be a man and no god /

in the hand of him who slays you.

10 You shall die the deaths of the uncircumcised   /

by the hand of strangers. /

For I have spoken it,"

says the Lord GOD.'"

11 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"You seal up the sum,   /

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You have been in Eden the garden of God.   /

Every precious stone was your covering: /

the sardius, topaz, the diamond, /

the beryl, the onyx, the jasper, /

the sapphire, the emerald, the carbuncle, and gold. /

The workmanship of your tambourines and of your pipes /

was prepared in you in the day that you were created.

14 You are the anointed cherub who covers,   /

and I have set you so. /

You were upon the holy mountain of God. /

You have walked up and down /

in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 You were perfect in your ways   /

from the day that you were created, /

until iniquity was found in you.

16 By the multitude of your merchandise   /

they have filled the midst of you with violence, /

and you have sinned; /

therefore, I will cast you as profane /

out of the mountain of God. /

And I will destroy you, O covering cherub, /

from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty.   /

You have corrupted your wisdom /

by reason of your brightness. /

I will cast you to the ground, /

I will lay you before kings, /

so that they may behold you.

18 You have defiled your sanctuaries   /

by the multitude of your iniquities, /

by the iniquity of your traffic; /

therefore, I will bring forth a fire from the midst of you. /

It shall devour you, /

and I will bring you to ashes upon the earth /

in the sight of all those who behold you.

19 All those who know you among the people   /

shall be astonished at you. /

You shall be a terror /

and never shall you be anymore."'"

20 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 21 "Son of man, set your face against Zidon and prophesy against it, 22 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"Behold, I am against you, O Zidon,   /

and I will be glorified in the midst of you. /

And they shall know that I am the LORD /

when I have executed judgments in her /

and have been sanctified in her.

23 For I will send into her pestilence,   /

and blood into her streets, /

and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her /

by the sword upon her on every side. /

And they shall know that I am the LORD.

24 And there shall no more be a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all who are around them who despised them. And they shall know that I am the Lord GOD."

25 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "When I have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered and have been sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, they shall dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. 26 And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall even dwell with confidence when I have executed judgments upon all those around them who despise them. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God."'"

Chapter 29

The judgment of Pharaoh for his treachery to Israel, 1-7. The desolation of Egypt, 8-12. The restoration thereof after forty years, 13-16. Egypt the reward of Nebuchadnezzar, 17-20. Israel shall be restored, 21.

1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3 Speak, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"Behold, I am against you,   /

Pharaoh king of Egypt, /

the great dragon that lies /

in the midst of his rivers, /

which has said, 'My river is my own, /

and I have made it for myself.'

4 But I will put hooks in your jaws,   /

and I will cause the fish of your rivers /

to stick to your scales. /

And I will bring you out /

of the midst of your rivers, /

and all the fish of your rivers /

shall stick to your scales.

5 And I will leave you thrown into the wilderness—   /

you and all the fish of your rivers. /

You shall fall upon the open fields. /

You shall not be brought together, nor gathered. /

I have given you for food /

to the beasts of the field /

and to the birds of heaven.

6 And all the inhabitants of Egypt   /

shall know that I am the LORD, /

because they have been a staff of reed /

to the house of Israel.

7 When they took hold of you by your hand,   /

you broke and rent all their shoulders. /

And when they leaned upon you, /

you broke and made all their loins to be at a stand."

8 'Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will bring a sword upon you and cut off man and beast out of you. 9 And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste. And they shall know that I am the LORD. Because he has said, 'The river is mine, and I have made it,' 10 Therefore behold, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even to the border of Cush. 11 No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years. 12 And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries."

13 'Yet thus says the Lord GOD: "At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the people where they were scattered. 14 And I will bring back the captivity of Egypt and cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation, and they shall be a base kingdom there. 15 It shall be the basest of the kingdoms. It shall not exalt itself anymore above the nations, for I will diminish them, so that they shall no longer rule over the nations. 16 And it shall no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, which brings their iniquity to remembrance when they look after them. But they shall know that I am the Lord GOD."'"

17 And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald and every shoulder was peeled. Yet neither he, nor his army, got wages from Tyre for the service that he had served against it." 19 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take her multitude, take her loot, and take her plunder, and it shall be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor with which he served against it, because they wrought for me," says the Lord GOD.

21 "In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give you the opening of the mouth in the midst of them. And they shall know that I am the LORD."

Chapter 30

The desolation of Egypt and her helpers, 1-19. The arm of Babylon shall be strengthened to break the arm of Egypt, 20-26.

1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"Howl, 'Alas the day!'

3 For the day is near,   /

even the day of the LORD is near, /

a cloudy day. /

It shall be the time of the heathen.

4 And the sword shall come upon Egypt   /

and great pain shall be in Cush /

when the slain fall in Egypt /

and they take away her multitude /

and her foundations are broken down.

5 Cush, Libya, Lydia,   /

all the mingled people, /

Kub, and the men of the land that is in league /

shall fall with them by the sword."

6 'Thus says the LORD:

"They also who uphold Egypt shall fall,   /

and the pride of her power shall come down. /

From the tower of Syene /

they shall fall in it by the sword,"

says the Lord GOD.

7 "And they shall be desolate   /

in the midst of the countries that are desolate, /

and her cities shall be /

in the midst of the cities that are wasted.

8 And they shall know that I am the LORD   /

when I have set a fire in Egypt /

and when all her helpers are destroyed.

9 In that day messengers shall go forth from me in ships   /

to make the careless Cushites afraid, /

and great pain shall come upon them, /

as in the day of Egypt, /

for behold, it comes."

10 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease   /

by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

11 He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations,   /

shall be brought to destroy the land. /

And they shall draw their swords against Egypt /

and fill the land with the slain.

12 And I will make the rivers dry,   /

and sell the land into the hand of the wicked. /

And I will make the land desolate /

and all that is in it by the hand of strangers. /

I, the LORD, have spoken it."

13 Thus says the Lord GOD:

"I will also destroy the idols,   /

and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph. /

And there shall no longer be /

a prince of the land of Egypt. /

And I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.

14 And I will make Pathros desolate,   /

set fire in Zoan, /

and execute judgments in No.

15 And I will pour my fury upon Sin,   /

the strength of Egypt, /

and I will cut off the multitude of No.

16 And I will set fire in Egypt.   /

Sin shall have great pain, /

No shall be rent apart, /

and Noph shall have distresses daily.

17 The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth   /

shall fall by the sword. /

And these cities shall go into captivity.

18 Also at Tehaphnehes the day shall be darkened   /

when I break the yokes of Egypt there. /

And the pomp of her strength shall cease in her. /

As for her, a cloud shall cover her, /

and her daughters shall go into captivity.

19 Thus I will execute judgments in Egypt.   /

And they shall know that I am the LORD."'"

20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 21 "Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and behold, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a bandage to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword. 22 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken, and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 23 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. 24 And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man. 25 But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down. And they shall know that I am the LORD when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out upon the land of Egypt. 26 And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among the countries. And they shall know that I am the LORD.'"

Chapter 31

A relation to Pharaoh, 1, 2, of the glory of Assyria, 3-9, and the fall thereof for pride, 10-17. The similar destruction of Egypt, 18.

1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude,

'Whom are you like in your greatness?

3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon   /

with fair branches and with a shady cover /

and of a high stature. /

And his top was among the thick boughs.

4 The waters made him great,   /

the deep set him up on high. /

Her rivers ran around his planting-place /

and she sent out her little rivers /

to all the trees of the field.

5 Therefore, his height was exalted   /

above all the trees of the field. /

And his boughs were multiplied /

and his branches became long /

because of the multitude of waters /

when he shot forth.

6 All the birds of heaven made   /

their nests in his boughs, /

and under his branches /

all the beasts of the field /

brought forth their young, /

and under his shade /

all great nations dwelt.

7 Thus he was fair in his greatness,   /

in the length of his branches, /

for his root was by great waters.

8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him.   /

The fir-trees were not like his boughs /

and the plane-trees were not like his branches. /

No tree in the garden of God /

was like him in his beauty.

9 I have made him fair   /

by the multitude of his branches, /

so that all the trees of Eden /

that were in the garden of God envied him.

10 'Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have lifted up yourself in height, and he has shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height, 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen. He shall surely deal with him. I have driven him out for his wickedness. 12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off and have left him. Upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches have fallen and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land. And all the people of the earth have gone down from his shadow and have left him. 13 Upon his ruin all the birds of the heaven shall remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches, 14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters shall exalt themselves for their height, nor shoot up their top among the thick boughs, nor their trees stand up in their height, even all that drink water, for they are all delivered to death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with those who go down to the pit."

15 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning. I covered the deep for him and restrained its floods, and the great waters were stayed. And I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. 16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall when I cast him down to the grave with those who descend into the pit. And all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. 17 They also went down into the grave with him to those who are slain with the sword, and those who were his arm, who dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.

18 "To whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the nether parts of the earth. You shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,"' says the Lord GOD."

Chapter 32

A lamentation for the fearful fall of Egypt, 1-10. The sword of Babylon shall destroy it, 11-16. It shall be brought down to hell, among all the uncircumcised nations, 17-32.

1 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him,

'You are like a young lion of the nations   /

and you are as a dragon in the seas. /

And you came forth with your rivers /

and disturbed the waters with your feet /

and rendered their rivers foul.'"

3 Thus says the Lord GOD:

"I will therefore spread out my net over you   /

with a company of many people, /

and they shall bring you up in my net.

4 Then I will leave you upon the land   /

and will cast you forth upon the open field. /

And I will cause all the birds of the heaven /

to remain upon you /

and will fill the beasts of the whole earth with you.

5 And I will lay your flesh upon the mountains   /

and fill the valleys with your height.

6 I will also water with your blood   /

the land in which you swim, /

even to the mountains. /

And the rivers shall be full of you.

7 And when I extinguish you,   /

I will cover the heaven /

and make the stars thereof dark. /

I will cover the sun with a cloud /

and the moon shall not give her light.

8 All the bright lights of heaven   /

I will make dark over you, /

and set darkness upon your land,"

says the Lord GOD.

9 "I will also vex the hearts of many people when I bring your destruction among the nations into the countries which you have not known. 10 Indeed, I will make many people amazed at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you when I brandish my sword before them. And they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall."

11 For thus says the Lord GOD:

"The sword of the king of Babylon   /

shall come upon you.

12 By the swords of the mighty   /

I will cause your multitude to fall, /

the terrible of the nations, all of them. /

And they shall lay the pomp of Egypt to waste, /

and all its multitude shall be destroyed.

13 I will also destroy all its beasts   /

from beside the great waters, /

neither shall the foot of man disturb them anymore, /

nor the hooves of beasts disturb them.

14 Then I will make their waters deep   /

and cause their rivers to run like oil,"

says the Lord GOD.

15 "When I make the land of Egypt desolate   /

and the country is destitute of that of which it was full, /

when I smite all those who dwell in it, /

they shall know that I am the LORD.

16 "This is the lamentation with which they shall lament her.   /

The daughters of the nations shall lament her. /

They shall lament for her, /

even for Egypt and for all her multitude,"

says the Lord GOD.

17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18 "Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt and cast them down, even her and the daughters of the famous nations, to the nether parts of the earth with those who go down into the pit.

19 'Whom do you pass in beauty?   /

Go down, and be laid with the uncircumcised.'

20 "They shall fall in the midst of those who are slain by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. Draw her and all her multitudes. 21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of the grave with those who help him, 'They have gone down. They lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.'

22 "Asshur is there and all her company. His graves are around him. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword, 23 Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.

24 "There is Elam and all her multitude around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, who caused their terror in the land of the living. Yet they have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit. 25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude. Her graves are around him. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword. Though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet they have borne their shame with those who go down to the pit. He is put in the midst of those who are slain.

26 "There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude. Her graves are around him. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living. 27 And they shall not lie with the mighty who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who have gone down to the grave with their weapons of war. And they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. 28 Indeed, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised and shall lie with those who are slain with the sword.

29 "There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, who with their might are laid by those who were slain by the sword. They shall lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit.

30 "There are the princes of the north—all of them and all the Zidonians—who have gone down with the slain. With their terror they are ashamed of their might, and they lie uncircumcised with those who are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

31 "Pharaoh shall see them and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword," says the Lord GOD. 32 "For I have caused my terror in the land of the living. And he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with those who are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 33

According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people, 1-6, Ezekiel is admonished of his duty, 7-9. God shows the justice of his ways toward the penitent and toward revolters, 10-16. He maintains his justice, 17-20. Upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem he prophesies the desolation of the land, 21-29. God’s judgment upon the mockers of the prophets, 30-33.

1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them, 'When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their borders and set him for their watchman, 3 If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he shall blow the trumpet and warn the people. 4 Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning. His blood shall be upon him. But he who takes warning shall deliver his soul. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword come and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, if the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.'

7 "So you, O son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore, you shall hear the word at my mouth and warn them from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die,' if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul.

10 "Therefore, O son of man, speak to the house of Israel, 'In this manner you speak, saying, "If our transgressions and our sins are upon us and we pine away in them, how should we then live?"' 11 Say to them, 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways. For why will you die, O house of Israel?' 12 Therefore, son of man, say to the children of your people, 'The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it in the day that he turns from his wickedness, neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.' 13 When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, if he trusts to his own righteousness and commits iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered, but for his iniquity that he has committed, he shall die for it. 14 Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' if he turns from his sin and does that which is lawful and right, 15 If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back that which he had robbed, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live and not die. 16 None of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned to him. He has done that which is lawful and right. He shall surely live.

17 "Yet the children of your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not equal.' But as for them, their way is not equal. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, for that he shall even die. 19 But if the wicked turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right, for that he shall live. 20 Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not equal.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you after his ways."

21 And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that someone who had escaped out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city is smitten." 22 Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening before he who had escaped came, and he had opened my mouth before he came to me in the morning. And my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.

23 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 24 "Son of man, those who inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, 'Abraham was one, and he inherited the land, but we are many. The land is given to us for inheritance.' 25 Therefore, say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You eat with the blood, lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. And shall you possess the land? 26 You stand upon your sword, you work abomination, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. And shall you possess the land?"' 27 Say thus to them: 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "As I live, surely those who are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the forts and in the caves shall die by the pestilence. 28 For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, so that no one shall pass through. 29 Then they shall know that I am the LORD when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed."'

30 "Also, son of man, the children of your people are still talking about you by the walls and in the doors of the houses and speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, 'Come, I pray you, and hear what the word is that comes forth from the LORD.' 31 And they come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them. For with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness. 32 And behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument, for they hear your words, but they do not perform them. 33 And when this comes to pass (behold, it will come), they shall know that a prophet has been among them."

Chapter 34

A reproof of the shepherds, 1-6. God’s judgment against them, 7-10. His providence over his flock, 11-19. The kingdom of Christ, 20-31.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should the shepherds not feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill those that are fed, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The diseased you have not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought back that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost, but with force and with cruelty you have ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd. And they became food to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill. My flock was even scattered upon all the face of the earth, and no one searched or sought for them."'"

7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD. 8 "As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because my flock became a prey and my flock became food to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed my flock, 9 Therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD. 10 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand and cause them to cease from feeding the flock. The shepherds shall not feed themselves anymore, for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, so that they may not be food for them."'"

11 For thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I, even I, will both search for my sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so I will seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture and their fold shall be upon the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture they shall feed upon the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed my flock and I will cause them to lie down," says the Lord GOD. 16 "I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which was driven away, and I will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick. But I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will feed them with judgment.

17 "And as for you, O my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between the rams and the male goats. 18 Does it seem a small thing to you to have eaten up the good pasture? Must you tread down with your feet the remnant of your pastures? You have drank of the deep waters. Must you foul the remainder with your feet? 19 And as for my flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.'"

20 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: "Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and between the lean sheep. 21 Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder and pushed all the diseased with your horns until you have scattered them abroad, 22 Therefore I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.

23 "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken it.

25 "And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land. And they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing, and I will cause the shower to come down in its season. There shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD when I have broken the bars of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those who subjected them to service. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them, but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people," says the Lord GOD. 31 "And you my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 35

The judgment of mount Seir for their hatred of Israel, and insulting over their distress, 1-15.

1 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against mount Seir and prophesy against it, 3 And say to it, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:

"Behold, O mount Seir, I am against you,   /

and I will stretch out my hand against you /

and make you most desolate.

4 I will lay your cities waste,   /

and you shall be desolate. /

And you shall know that I am the LORD.

5 "Because you have had a perpetual hatred and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end, 6 Therefore, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you. Since you have not hated blood, even blood shall pursue you. 7 Thus I will make mount Seir most desolate and cut off from it him who passes over and him who returns. 8 And I will fill his mountains with his slain men. In your hills, in your valleys, and in all your rivers, they shall fall who are slain with the sword. 9 I will make you perpetual desolations, and your cities shall not return. And you shall know that I am the LORD.

10 "Because you have said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it,' whereas the LORD was there, 11 Therefore, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will even do according to your anger and according to your envy which you have used out of your hatred against them, and I will make myself known among them when I have judged you. 12 And you shall know that I am the LORD and that I have heard all your blasphemies which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are laid desolate. They are given to us to consume.' 13 Thus with your mouth you have boasted against me and have multiplied your words against me. I have heard them." 14 Thus says the Lord GOD: "When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15 As you rejoiced at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You shall be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it. And they shall know that I am the LORD."'"

Chapter 36

The land of Israel is comforted, both by destruction of the heathen, who spitefully used it, 1-7, and by the blessings of God promised to it, 8-15. Israel was rejected for their sin, 16-20, and God will glorify himself in a promise of pardon, 21-24. The blessings of Christ’s kingdom, 25-38.

1 "Also, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, 'You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the enemy had said against you, 'Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession,' 3 Therefore prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they have made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you might be a possession to the rest of the heathen, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers and are an infamy of the people,"'" 4 Therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the rivers, to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the remnant of the heathen who are around— 5 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely in the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the remnant of the heathen and against all Edom, who have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey."' 6 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because you have borne the shame of the heathen." 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "I have lifted up my hand. Surely the heathen who are around you, they shall bear their shame. 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people of Israel, for they are at hand to come. 9 For behold, I am for you and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it. And the cities shall be inhabited and the wastes shall be built. 11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they shall increase and bring fruit. And I will settle you after your old states and will do better to you than at your beginnings. And you shall know that I am the LORD. 12 I will even cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel. And they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance. And you shall no more from now on bereave them of men."

13 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they say to you, 'You devour men and have bereaved your nations,' 14 Therefore you shall no longer devour men, neither bereave your nations anymore," says the Lord GOD. 15 "I will not cause men to hear in you the shame of the heathen anymore, neither shall you bear the reproach of the people anymore, neither shall you cause your nations to fall anymore," says the Lord GOD.'"

16 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings. Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. 18 Therefore, I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land and for their idols with which they had polluted it. 19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries. According to their way and according to their doings I judged them. 20 And when they entered among the heathen where they went, they profaned my holy name when they said to them, 'These are the people of the LORD and have gone forth out of his land.' 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen where they went.

22 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the heathen where you went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which you have profaned in the midst of them. And the heathen shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I have been sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean. From all your filthiness and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will also give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses. And I will call for the grain and increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field, so that you shall no longer receive reproach of famine among the heathen. 31 Then you shall remember your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. 32 It is not for your sakes that I do this," says the Lord GOD. "May that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel."

33 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "In the day that I have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be built. 34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who passed by. 35 And they shall say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities have become fortified and are inhabited.' 36 Then the heathen who are left around you shall know that I, the LORD, build the ruined places and plant that which was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it."

37 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. I will increase them with men like a flock. 38 As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts, so the waste cities shall be filled with flocks of men. And they shall know that I am the LORD."'"

Chapter 37

By the resurrection of dry bones, 1-10, the dead hope of Israel is revived, 11-14. By the uniting of two sticks, 15-17, is shown the incorporation of Israel into Judah, 18-20. The promises of Christ’s kingdom, 21-28.

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." 4 Again he said to me, "Prophesy upon these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, bring up flesh upon you, cover you with skin, put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the LORD."'"

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I looked, behold, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them and the skin covered them above, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, so that they may live."'" 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood up upon their feet—an exceedingly great army.

11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.' 12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you out of your graves. 14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"

15 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 16 "Moreover, son of man, take one stick and write upon it, 'For Judah and for the children of Israel his companions.' Then take another stick and write upon it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions.' 17 And join them to one another into one stick, and they shall become one in your hand. 18 And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?' 19 Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph—which is in the hand of Ephraim—and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and I will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah. And I will make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand."' 20 And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. 21 And say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen where they have gone and gather them on every side and bring them into their own land. 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all. And they shall no longer be two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms anymore at all, 23 Neither shall they defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions. But I will save them out of all their dwelling-places in which they have sinned and cleanse them. So they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

24 "And David my servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall also walk in my judgments and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers have dwelt, and they shall dwell in it—even they, their children, and their children’s children forever. And my servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them and set my sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. 27 My tabernacle shall also be with them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel when my sanctuary is in the midst of them forever."'"

References

[v.27]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 6:16.

Chapter 38

The army, 1-7, and malice of Gog, 8-13. God’s judgment against him, 14-23.

1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 And I will turn you back and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth with all your army—horses and horsemen all clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords; 5 Persia, Cush, and Phut with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his bands, the house of Togarmah of the north quarters and all his bands, and many people with you.

7 "Be prepared, and prepare yourself—you and all your company who are assembled to you—and be a guard to them. 8 After many days you shall be visited. In the latter years you shall come into the land that is brought back from the sword and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have always been waste. But it is brought forth out of the nations and they shall all dwell in safety. 9 You shall ascend and come like a storm. You shall be like a cloud to cover the land—you and all your bands, and many people with you."

10 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall also come to pass, that at the same time things shall come into your mind, and you shall think an evil thought. 11 And you shall say, 'I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls and having neither bars nor gates,' 12 To take loot and to take plunder, to turn your hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited and upon the people who are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions shall say to you, 'Have you come to take loot? Have you gathered your company to take plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great plunder?'"'

14 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "In that day when my people of Israel dwell safely, shall you not know it? 15 And you shall come from your place out of the north parts—you and many people with you, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 And you shall come against my people of Israel as a cloud to cover the land. It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring you against my land, so that the heathen may know me when I have been sanctified in you, O Gog, before their eyes."

17 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days many years that I would bring you against them? 18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that my fury shall come up in my face. 19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I have said that surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel, 20 So that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heaven, the beasts of the field, all creeping animals that creep upon the earth, and all the men who are upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be overturned, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains," says the Lord GOD. "Every man’s sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood, and I will rain upon him, upon his bands, and upon the many people who are with him, an overflowing rain, with great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus I will magnify myself and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. And they shall know that I am the LORD."'"

Chapter 39

God’s judgment upon Gog, 1-7. Israel’s victory, 8-10. Gog’s burial in Hamon-gog, 11-16. The feast of the birds, 17-20. Israel having been plagued for their sins, 21-24, shall be gathered again with eternal favor, 25-29.

1 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 And I will turn you back and leave but the sixth part of you, and will cause you to come from the north parts and bring you upon the mountains of Israel. 3 And I will strike your bow out of your left hand and cause your arrows to fall from your right hand. 4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel—you and all your bands, and the people who are with you. I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall upon the open field. For I have spoken it," says the Lord GOD. 6 "And I will send a fire on Magog and among those who dwell carelessly in the coastlands. And they shall know that I am the LORD.

7 "Thus I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let them profane my holy name anymore. And the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it comes, and it shall be done," says the Lord GOD. "This is the day of which I have spoken.

9 "And those who dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth and set on fire and burn the weapons: the shields, the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, the hand-staffs, and the spears. And they shall burn them with fire seven years, 10 So that they take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests, for they shall burn the weapons with fire. And they shall lay waste those who wasted them and rob those who robbed them," says the Lord GOD.

11 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give to Gog a place of graves there in Israel: the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea. And it shall stop the noses of the passengers. And there they shall bury Gog and all his multitude. And they shall call it The Valley of Hamon-gog. 12 And seven months the house of Israel shall be burying them, so that they may cleanse the land. 13 Even all the people of the land shall bury them. And it shall be to them a renown in the day that I have been glorified," says the Lord GOD. 14 "And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those who remain upon the face of the earth to cleanse it. After the end of seven months they shall search. 15 And as passengers pass through the land, when any sees a man’s bone, then he shall set up a sign by it until the buriers have buried it in The Valley of Hamon-gog. 16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land."'

17 "And, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: 'Say to every feathered bird and to every beast of the field, "Assemble yourselves, and come. Gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, so that you may eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, of goats, and of bulls, all of them fattened beasts of Bashan. 19 And you shall eat fat until you are full and drink blood until you are drunken at my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. 20 Thus you shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war," says the Lord GOD.

21 "And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed and my hand that I have laid upon them. 22 Thus the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward. 23 And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity. Because they trespassed against me, therefore I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them and hid my face from them."'"

25 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: "Now I will bring back the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 And they shall bear their shame and all their trespasses by which they have trespassed against me, when they dwell safely in their land and no one makes them afraid, 27 When I have brought them back from the people and gathered them out of the lands of their enemies, and am sanctified through them in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God who caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen. But I have gathered them to their own land and have left none of them there anymore. 29 I will not hide my face anymore from them, for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 40

The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple, 1-5. The description of the east gate of the outer court, 6-19; of the north gate, 20-23; of the south gate, 24-26; of the south gate of the inner court, 27-31; of the east gate, 32-34; and of the north gate, 35-38. Eight tables, 39-43. The chambers, 44-47. The porch of the house, 48, 49.

1 In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, on that same day the hand of the LORD was upon me and brought me there. 2 In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3 And he brought me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass with a line of flax in his hand and a measuring reed, and he stood in the gate. 4 And the man said to me, "Son of man, behold with your eyes and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for, to the intent that I might show them to you, you are brought here. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."

5 And behold, there was a wall on the outside of the house around, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and a hand-breadth. So he measured the breadth of the building, one reed, and the height, one reed. 6 Then he came to the gate which looks toward the east and ascended its stairs. And he measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad, and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad. 7 And every little chamber was one reed long and one reed broad. And between the little chambers were five cubits. And the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed. 8 He also measured the porch of the gate within, one reed. 9 Then he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits, and its posts, two cubits, and the porch of the gate was inward. 10 And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side and three on that side. The three of them were of one measure. And the posts had one measure on this side and on that side. 11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits, and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. 12 Also the space before the little chambers was one cubit on this side and the space was one cubit on that side. And the little chambers were six cubits on this side and six cubits on that side. 13 He then measured the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another. The breadth was twenty-five cubits, door against door. 14 He also made posts of sixty cubits, even to the post of the court around the gate. 15 And from the face of the gate of the entrance to the face of the porch of the inner gate was fifty cubits. 16 And there were narrow windows to the little chambers and to their posts within the gate around, and likewise to the arches. And windows were around inward. And upon each post were palm-trees.

17 Then he brought me into the outward court, and behold, there were chambers and a pavement made for the court around. Thirty chambers were upon the pavement. 18 And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the breadth from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner court outside, one hundred cubits eastward and northward.

20 And he measured the length and the breadth of the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north. 21 And its little chambers were three on this side and three on that side. And its posts and its arches were after the measure of the first gate. Its length was fifty cubits and its breadth twenty-five cubits. 22 And their windows, their arches, and their palm-trees were after the measure of the gate that looks toward the east. And they went up to it by seven steps, and its arches were before them. 23 And there was a gate in the inner court over against the gate toward the north, just like the one toward the east. And he measured from gate to gate one hundred cubits.

24 After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south. And he measured its posts and its arches according to these measures. 25 And there were windows in it and in its arches around, like those windows. The length was fifty cubits and the breadth twenty-five cubits. 26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them. And it had palm-trees, one on this side and another on that side, upon its posts. 27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south. And he measured from gate to gate toward the south one hundred cubits.

28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. And he measured the south gate according to these measures, 29 And also its little chambers, its posts, and its arches according to these measures. And there were windows in it and in its arches around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits broad. 30 And the arches around were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits broad. 31 And its arches were toward the outer court. And palm-trees were upon its posts. And the ascent to it had eight steps.

32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east. And he measured the gate according to these measures, 33 And also its little chambers, its posts, and its arches according to these measures. And there were windows in it and in its arches around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits broad. 34 And its arches were toward the outward court. And palm-trees were upon its posts on this side and on that side. And the ascent to it had eight steps.

35 And he brought me to the north gate and measured it according to these measures, 36 And also its little chambers, its posts, its arches, and the windows to it around. The length was fifty cubits and the breadth twenty-five cubits. 37 And its posts were toward the outer court. And palm-trees were upon its posts on this side and on that side. And the ascent to it had eight steps.

38 And the chambers and its entries were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt-offering. 39 And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side and two tables on that side, upon which to slay the burnt-offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering. 40 And at the side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables, and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables. 41 Four tables were on this side and four tables on that side by the side of the gate—eight tables upon which they slew their sacrifices. 42 And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt-offering, of a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high, upon which they also laid the instruments with which they slew the burnt-offering and the sacrifice. 43 And within were hooks, a hand broad, fastened around. And upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44 And outside the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court. One was at the side of the north gate and its prospect was toward the south, the other at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north. 45 And he said to me, "This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house. 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, who come near to the LORD to minister to him." 47 So he measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits broad, square, and also the altar that was before the house.

48 And he brought me to the porch of the house and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side. And the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side. 49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits and the breadth eleven cubits. And he brought me by the steps by which they went up to it. And there were pillars by the posts, one on this side and another on that side.

Chapter 41

The measures, parts, chambers, and ornaments of the temple, 1-26.

1 Afterward, he brought me to the temple and measured the posts, six cubits broad on one side and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle. 2 And the breadth of the door was ten cubits. And the sides of the door were five cubits on one side and five cubits on the other side. And he measured its length, forty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits. 3 Then he went inward and measured the post of the door, two cubits, and the door, six cubits, and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. 4 So he measured its length, twenty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple. And he said to me, "This is the most holy place."

5 Afterward, he measured the wall of the house, six cubits, and the breadth of every side-chamber, four cubits, around the house on every side. 6 And the side-chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order, and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side-chambers around, so that they might be attached, but they were not attached to the wall of the house. 7 And the side-chambers broadened, winding around upward, for the winding around of the house conveyed upward around the house. Therefore, the breadth of the house continued upward, and thus one ascends from the lowest chamber to the highest by the middle. 8 I also saw the height of the house around. The foundations of the side-chambers were a full reed of six great cubits. 9 The thickness of the wall, which was for the side-chamber outside, was five cubits. And that which was left was the place of the side-chambers that were inside. 10 And between the chambers was the width of twenty cubits around the house on every side. 11 And the doors of the side-chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north and another door toward the south. And the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits around.

12 Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad. And the wall of the building was five cubits thick around, and its length ninety cubits.

13 So he measured the house, one hundred cubits long, and the separate place and the building with its walls, one hundred cubits long, 14 Also the breadth of the face of the house and of the separate place toward the east, one hundred cubits.

15 And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it and its galleries on one side and on the other side, one hundred cubits. The inner temple and the porches of the court, 16 The door posts and the narrow windows, and the galleries around on their three stories, over against the door, were ceiled with wood around, and from the ground up to the windows (and the windows were covered), 17 To the space above the door, even to the inner house and on the outside, and by all the wall around inside and outside, by measure. 18 And it was made with cherubim and palm-trees, so that a palm-tree was between a cherub and a cherub. And every cherub had two faces, 19 So that the face of a man was toward the palm-tree on one side and the face of a young lion toward the palm-tree on the other side. It was made through all the house around. 20 From the ground to above the door, cherubim and palm-trees were made, as well as on the wall of the temple.

21 As for the temple, the door-posts were squared. And as for the face of the sanctuary, the appearance thereof was as the appearance of the temple. 22 The altar of wood was three cubits high and its length two cubits, and its corners, its length, and its walls were of wood. And he said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD." 23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors. 24 And the doors had two leaves each, two turning leaves: two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other door. 25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palm-trees, as were made upon the walls. And there were thick planks upon the face of the porch outside. 26 And there were narrow windows and palm-trees on one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, the side-chambers of the house, and the thick planks.

Chapter 42

The chambers for the priests, 1-12. The use thereof, 13, 14. The measures of the outward court, 15-20.

1 Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north. And he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place and which was before the building toward the north. 2 Before the length of one hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits. 3 Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court and over against the pavement which was for the outer court, was gallery against gallery in three stories. 4 And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit, and their doors toward the north. 5 Now the upper chambers were shorter because the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building. 6 For they were in three stories, but did not have pillars as the pillars of the courts; therefore, the building was kept back more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground. 7 And the wall that was outside over against the chambers, toward the outer court on the forepart of the chambers, its length was fifty cubits. 8 For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits. And behold, before the temple were one hundred cubits. 9 And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goes into them from the outer court.

10 The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place and over against the building. 11 And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long and as broad as the others. And all their exits were both according to their fashions and according to their doors. 12 And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one enters into them.

13 Then he said to me, "The north chambers and the south chambers which are before the separate place, they are holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy things. There they shall lay the most holy things, the food-offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering, for the place is holy. 14 When the priests enter therein, they shall not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments in which they minister, for they are holy, and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people."

15 Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east and measured it around. 16 He measured the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds with the measuring reed around. 17 He measured the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed around. 18 He measured the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 19 He turned around to the west side and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed. 20 He measured it by the four sides. It had a wall around, five hundred reeds long and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.

Chapter 43

The returning of the glory of God into the temple, 1-6. The sin of Israel hindered God’s presence, 7-9. The prophet exhorts them to repentance and observation of the law of the house, 10-12. The measures, 13-17, and the ordinances of the altar, 18-27.

1 Afterward, he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east, 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. And his voice was like a noise of many waters. And the earth shined with his glory. 3 And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision that I saw by the Kebar River. And I fell upon my face. 4 And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. 5 So the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner court, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.

6 And I heard him speaking to me out of the house, and the man stood by me. 7 And he said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name—neither they, nor their kings—by their lewd deeds, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places. 8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed; therefore, I have consumed them in my anger. 9 Now let them put away their lewd deeds and the carcasses of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them forever.

10 "Son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. And let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, its fashion, its exits, its entrances, all its forms, all its ordinances, all its forms, and all its laws, and write it in their sight, so that they may keep its whole form and all its ordinances, and do them. 12 This is the law of the house. Upon the top of the mountain, its whole limit around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

13 "And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand-breadth): The bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and its border by its edge around shall be a span. And this shall be the higher place of the altar. 14 And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit, and from the lower ledge even to the upper ledge shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit. 15 Thus the altar shall be four cubits. And from the altar and upward shall be four horns. 16 And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in its four sides. 17 And the ledge shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in its four sides, the border around it shall be half a cubit, and its bottom shall be a cubit all around. And its stairs shall look toward the east."

18 And he said to me, "Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: 'These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they make it, to offer burnt-offerings upon it and to sprinkle blood upon it. 19 And you shall give to the priests the Levites who are of the offspring of Zadok, who approach to me to minister to me,' says the Lord GOD, 'a young bull for a sin-offering. 20 And you shall take some of his blood and put it on its four horns, on the four corners of the ledge, and upon the border around. Thus you shall cleanse and purge it. 21 You shall also take the bull of the sin-offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house outside the sanctuary.

22 'And on the second day you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin-offering. And they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull. 23 When you have made an end of cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without blemish and a ram out of the flock without blemish. 24 And you shall offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them for a burnt-offering to the LORD. 25 Seven days you shall prepare every day a goat for a sin-offering. They shall also prepare a young bull and a ram out of the flock without blemish. 26 Seven days they shall purge the altar and purify it. Thus they shall consecrate themselves. 27 And when these days have expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt-offerings and your peace-offerings upon the altar. Then I will accept you,' says the Lord GOD."

Chapter 44

The east gate assigned only to the prince, 1-3. The priests reproved for polluting the sanctuary, 4-8. Idolaters incapable of the priest’s office, 9-14. The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto, 15, 16. Ordinances for the priests, 17-31.

1 Then he brought me back by the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looks toward the east, and it was shut. 2 Then the LORD said to me, "This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it. Because the LORD the God of Israel has entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. 3 It is for the prince. The prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD. He shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same."

4 Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house. And I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD, and I fell upon my face. 5 And the LORD said to me, "Son of man, mark well and behold with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD and all its laws, and mark well the entrance of the house with every going forth of the sanctuary. 6 And you shall say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "O house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, 7 In that you have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh to be in my sanctuary to pollute it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. 8 And you have not kept the charge of my holy things, but you have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves."

9 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger who is among the children of Israel. 10 And the Levites who have gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they shall even bear their iniquity. 11 Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house and ministering to the house. They shall slay the burnt-offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore I have lifted up my hand against them," says the Lord GOD, "and they shall bear their iniquity. 13 And they shall not come near to me to do the office of a priest to me, nor to come near to any of my holy things in the most holy place, but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. 14 But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all its service and for all that shall be done therein.

15 "But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me, and they shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood," says the Lord GOD. 16 "They shall enter into my sanctuary and they shall come near to my table to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge. 17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments. No wool shall come upon them while they minister in the gates of the inner court and within. 18 They shall have linen caps upon their heads and linen breeches upon their loins. They shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat. 19 And when they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall take off their garments in which they ministered and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments, so that they do not sanctify the people with their garments. 20 They shall not shave their heads, nor allow their locks to grow long. They shall only poll their heads. 21 No priest shall drink wine when they enter into the inner court. 22 They shall not take for their wives a widow, nor her who is put away, but they shall take virgins of the offspring of the house of Israel, or a widow who had a priest before. 23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment and judge it according to my judgments. And they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my assemblies and hallow my sabbaths. 25 And they shall not come near to a dead person to defile themselves. But for father, for mother, for son, for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves. 26 And after he is cleansed, they shall number for him seven days. 27 And on the day that he goes into the sanctuary to the inner court to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin-offering," says the Lord GOD.

28 "And it shall be to them for an inheritance. I am their inheritance. And you shall give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They shall eat the food-offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering. Every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30 And the first of all the first-fruits of all things and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s. You shall also give to the priest the first of your dough, so that he may cause the blessing to rest in your house. 31 The priests shall not eat anything that is dead of itself or torn, whether bird or beast."'"

Chapter 45

The portion of land for the sanctuary, 1-5; for the city, 6; and for the prince, 7, 8. Ordinances for the prince, 9-25.

1 "'"Moreover, when you divide by lot the land for inheritance, you shall offer an oblation to the LORD, a holy portion of the land. The length shall be the length of twenty-five thousand reeds and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all its borders on every side. 2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square around, and fifty cubits around for its suburbs. 3 And of this measure you shall measure the length of twenty-five thousand and the breadth of ten thousand. And in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place. 4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, who shall come near to minister to the LORD. And it shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary. 5 And the twenty-five thousand of length and the ten thousand of breadth, the Levites, the ministers of the house, shall also have for themselves for a possession for twenty chambers.

6 "And you shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad and twenty-five thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion. It shall be for the whole house of Israel.

7 "And a portion shall be for the prince on one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward and from the east side eastward. And the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border to the east border. 8 In the land it shall be to him for a possession in Israel. And my princes shall no longer oppress my people. And the rest of the land they shall give to the house of Israel according to their tribes."

9 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel. Remove violence and plunder, and execute judgment and justice. Take away your exactions from my people," says the Lord GOD.

10 "You shall have just balances, a just ephah and a just bath. 11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, so that the bath may contain the tenth part of a homer and the ephah the tenth part of a homer. Its measure shall be after the homer. 12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.

13 "This is the oblation that you shall offer: the sixth part of an ephah of a homer of wheat, and you shall give the sixth part of an ephah of a homer of barley; 14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, you shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is a homer of ten baths (for ten baths are a homer); 15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel, for a food-offering, for a burnt-offering, and for peace-offerings, to make reconciliation for them," says the Lord GOD. 16 "All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel. 17 And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt-offerings, food-offerings, and drink-offerings in the feasts, in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin-offering, the food-offering, the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings to make reconciliation for the house of Israel."

18 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary. 19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering and put it upon the posts of the house, upon the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 And thus you shall do the seventh day of the month for everyone who errs and for him who is simple. Thus you shall reconcile the house.

21 "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the passover, a feast of seven days. Unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 And upon that day the prince shall prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin-offering. 23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt-offering to the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days and a kid of the goats daily for a sin-offering. 24 And he shall prepare a food-offering of an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil for an ephah. 25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, he shall do the same in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin-offering, according to the burnt-offering, according to the food-offering, and according to the oil."'"

Chapter 46

Ordinance for the prince in his worship, 1-8; and for the people, 9-15. An order for the prince’s inheritance, 16-18. The courts for boiling and baking, 19-24.

1 "'Thus says the Lord GOD: "The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days, but on the sabbath it shall be opened and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. 2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate outside and shall stand by the post of the gate. And the priest shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go forth, but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 Likewise, the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons. 4 And the burnt-offering that the prince shall offer to the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish. 5 And the food-offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the food-offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 6 And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, six lambs, and a ram. They shall be without blemish. 7 And he shall prepare a food-offering, an ephah for a bull and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall be able, along with a hin of oil to an ephah. 8 And when the prince enters, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate and he shall go forth by the way of it. 9 But when the people of the land come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he who enters in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate, and he who enters by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate. He shall not return by the way of the gate by which he came in, but shall go forth over against it. 10 And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, he shall go in, and when they go forth, he shall go forth.

11 "And in the feasts and in the solemnities the food-offering shall be an ephah to a bull and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, along with a hin of oil to an ephah. 12 Now when the prince prepares a voluntary burnt-offering or peace-offerings voluntarily to the LORD, the gate that looks toward the east shall be opened for him, and he shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings, as he did on the sabbath-day. Then he shall go forth, and the gate shall be shut after his going forth.

13 "You shall daily prepare a burnt-offering to the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish. You shall prepare it every morning. 14 And you shall prepare a food-offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah and the third part of a hin of oil to temper with the fine flour, a food-offering continually by a perpetual ordinance to the LORD. 15 Thus they shall prepare the lamb, the food-offering, and the oil every morning for a continual burnt-offering."

16 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons, its inheritance shall be to his sons. It shall be their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he gives a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty. Afterward, it shall return to the prince. But his inheritance shall be to his sons for them. 18 Moreover, the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression to thrust them out of their possession, but he shall give his sons' inheritance out of his own possession, so that my people are not scattered each from his possession."'"

19 Afterward, he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north, and behold, there was a place on the two sides westward. 20 Then he said to me, "This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass-offering and the sin-offering, where they shall bake the food-offering, so that they may not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people."

21 Then he brought me forth into the outer court and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court, and behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. 22 In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad. These four corners were of one measure. 23 And there was a row of building around in them, around the four of them, and it was made with boiling places under the rows around. 24 Then he said to me, "These are the places of those who boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people."

Chapter 47

The vision of the holy waters, 1-5. The virtue of them, 6-12. The borders of the land, 13-21. The division of it by lot, 22, 23.

1 Afterward, he brought me back to the door of the house, and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward, for the front of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out of the way of the gate northward and led me around by the way outside to the outer gate that looks eastward, and behold, waters ran out on the right side.

3 And when the man who had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured one thousand cubits and brought me through the waters. The waters were to the ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters. The waters were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through. The waters were to the loins. 5 Afterward, he measured one thousand and it was a river that I could not pass over, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6 And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, "These waters issue out toward the east country, go down into the desert, and go into the sea. When [the waters] are brought forth into the sea, the waters become fresh. 9 And it shall come to pass, that wherever the rivers come, every living creature that swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come there, for they shall be healed, and everything shall live where the river comes. 10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishermen shall stand upon it from En-gedi even to En-eglaim. They shall be a place to spread forth nets. Their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the Great Sea, very numerous. 11 But its miry places and its marshes shall not be healed. They shall be given to salt. 12 And by the river upon its bank, on this side and on that side, all trees for food shall grow, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall their fruit be consumed. They shall bring forth new fruit according to their months, because their waters issued out of the sanctuary. And their fruit shall be for food and their leaf for medicine."

13 Thus says the Lord GOD: "This shall be the border by which you shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions. 14 And you shall inherit it, one as well as another, for I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers. And this land shall fall to you for inheritance.

15 "And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side: from the Great Sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad; 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazar-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17 And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.

18 "And the east side you shall measure from Hauran, from Damascus, from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by the Jordan, from the border to the east sea. And this is the east side.

19 "And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the Great Sea. And this is the south side southward.

20 "The west side shall also be the Great Sea from the border until one comes over against Hamath. This is the west side.

21 "Thus you shall divide this land to yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And it shall come to pass, that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to yourselves and to the strangers who sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you. And they shall be to you as natives in the country among the children of Israel. They shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourns, there you shall give him his inheritance," says the Lord GOD.

Chapter 48

The portions of the twelve tribes, 1-7, 23-29; of the sanctuary, 8-14; of the city and suburbs, 15-20; and of the prince, 21, 22. The dimensions and gates of the city, 30-35.

1 "Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the border of the way of Hethlon, as one goes to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the limit of Hamath, for these are his sides east and west, a portion for Dan. 2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Asher. 3 And by the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, a portion for Naphtali. 4 And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Manasseh. 5 And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Ephraim. 6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, a portion for Reuben. 7 And by the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, a portion for Judah.

8 "And by the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the offering which you shall offer of twenty-five thousand reeds in breadth and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side to the west side. And the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. 9 The oblation that you shall offer to the LORD shall be of twenty-five thousand in length and of ten thousand in breadth.

10 "And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation: toward the north twenty-five thousand in length, toward the west ten thousand in breadth, toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length. And the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst of it. 11 It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept my charge, who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. 12 And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be to them a thing most holy, by the border of the Levites. 13 And over against the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty-five thousand in length and ten thousand in breadth. All the length shall be twenty-five thousand and the breadth ten thousand. 14 And they shall not sell any of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the first-fruits of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.

15 "And the five thousand, that is left in the breadth over against the twenty-five thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling and for suburbs, and the city shall be in the midst of it. 16 And these shall be its measures: the north side four thousand and five hundred, the south side four thousand and five hundred, on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred. 17 And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, toward the south two hundred and fifty, toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty. 18 And the remainder in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward and ten thousand westward. And it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion, and its increase shall be for food to those who serve the city. 19 And those who serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. 20 All the oblation shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand. You shall offer the holy oblation along with the possession of the city as a square.

21 "And the remainder shall be for the prince, on one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the twenty-five thousand of the oblation toward the east border and westward over against the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince. And it shall be the holy oblation, and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst of it. 22 Moreover, from the possession of the Levites and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.

23 "As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion. 24 And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon shall have a portion. 25 And by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar a portion. 26 And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun a portion. 27 And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad a portion. 28 And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of strife in Kadesh and to the river toward the Great Sea. 29 This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions," says the Lord GOD.

30 "And these are the exits of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures. 31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 32 And at the east side four thousand and five hundred, with three gates: one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures, and three gates: one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 And the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates: one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. 35 The circuit was eighteen thousand measures. And the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD is There.'"

[Tanach reading: go to Hosea]

THE STORY OF DANIEL

Chapter 1

Jehoiakim’s captivity, 1, 2. Ashpenaz takes Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 3-7. Refusing the king’s portion, they prosper with pulse and water, 8-16. Their proficiency in wisdom, 17-21.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. And he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.

3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring some of the children of Israel, and some of the royal family and of the princes, 4 Children in whom there was no blemish, but of good appearance, skillful in all wisdom, intelligent in knowledge, understanding science, and those who had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the writing and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s food and of the wine which he drank, thus nourishing them three years, so that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these were some of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah— 7 To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names. For he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, Shadrach; and to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-nego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your provision and your drink. For why should he see your faces more meager than the children who are of your sort? Then you will make me endanger my head to the king." 11 Then Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Prove your servants, I implore you, ten days. And let them give us pulse to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before you, and the countenances of the children who eat of the portion of the king’s provision. And as you see, deal with your servants."

14 So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children who ate the portion of the king’s provision. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their food and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.

17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them. And among them all there was found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore, they stood before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding wherein the king questioned them, he found them ten times superior to all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 21 And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.

Chapter 2

Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream, requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threatenings, 1-9. They, acknowledging their inability, are judged to die, 10-13. Daniel, obtaining some respite, reveals the dream, 14-18. He blesses God, 19-23. He, staying the decree, is brought to the king, 24-30. The dream, 31-35. The interpretation, 36-45. Daniel’s advancement, 46-49.

1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, with which his spirit was troubled, and his sleep broke from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to declare to the king his dream. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream."

4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Syriac, "O king, live forever. Tell your servants the dream and we will reveal the interpretation." 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The thing has gone from me. If you will not make known to me the dream, with its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if you make known the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore, tell me the dream and its interpretation." 7 They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will reveal its interpretation." 8 The king answered and said, "I know of certainty that you would gain the time, because you see the thing has gone from me. 9 But if you will not make known to me the dream, there is but one decree for you, for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time is changed. Therefore, tell me the dream and I shall know that you can tell me its interpretation." 10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, "There is not a man upon the earth who can disclose the king’s matter, for there is no king, lord, nor ruler who has asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can reveal it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain. And they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, "Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Then Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would give him time so that he might reveal to the king the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said,

"Blessed be the name of God   /

forever and ever, /

for wisdom and might are his.

21 And he changes the times and the seasons.   /

He removes kings, and sets up kings. /

He gives wisdom to the wise, /

and knowledge to those who know understanding.

22 He reveals the deep and secret things.   /

He knows what is in the darkness, /

and the light dwells with him.

23 I thank you, and praise you,   /

O God of my fathers, /

who has given me wisdom and might, /

and has made known to me now what we desired of you, /

for you have now made known to us the king’s matter."

24 Therefore, Daniel went into Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king and I will explain to the king the interpretation."

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him: "I have found a man of the captives of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation." 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?" 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot reveal to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head upon your bed, are these. 29 As for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind upon your bed about what should come to pass hereafter, and he who reveals secrets makes known to you what shall come to pass. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living man, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.

31 "You, O king, saw, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before you, and its form was awesome. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, his chest and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 You were looking until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay and broke them to pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold were broken to pieces together and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors, and the wind carried them away so that no place was found for them. And the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 "This is the dream, and we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37 You, O king, are a king of kings, for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory. 38 And wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the heaven, he has given into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are this head of gold.

39 "And after you another kingdom inferior to you shall arise, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

40 "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things. And as iron that breaks all these, it shall break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided, but there shall be in it some of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with the miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly broken. 43 And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the descendants of men, but they shall not cleave to one another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

44 "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Because you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. And the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."

46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors to him. 47 The king answered to Daniel, and said, "Of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you could reveal this secret." 48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Chapter 3

Nebuchadnezzar dedicates a golden image in Dura, 1-7. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are accused of not worshiping the image, 8-12. They, being threatened, make a good confession, 13-18. They are cast into the furnace, 19-23, from which God delivers them, 24-27. Nebuchadnezzar, seeing the miracle, blesses God and advances them, 28-30.

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to convene the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud, "To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. 6 And whoever shall not fall down and worship shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 7 Therefore, at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

8 Therefore, at that time some Chaldeans came near and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever. 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever shall not fall down and worship, he shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have not regarded you. They do not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up."

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do you not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is that God who shall deliver you out of my hands?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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 burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, may it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up."

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Therefore, he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was accustomed to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their pants, their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, rose up in haste, and spoke, and said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 He answered and said, "Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt. And the form of the fourth is like the son of God." 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, and said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of the most high God, come forth, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth from the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, captains, and the king’s counselors assembled and saw that the fire had no power over the bodies of these men. The hair of their head was not singed, neither were their coats changed, nor had the smell of fire passed upon them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. And they have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies so that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces and their houses shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other god who can deliver after this sort." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon.

Chapter 4

Nebuchadnezzar confesses God’s kingdom, 1-3, makes relation of his dreams, which the magicians could not interpret, 4-7. Daniel hears the dream, 8-18. He interprets it, 19-27. The dream fulfilled, 28-37.

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth: "May peace be multiplied to you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has wrought toward me.

3 "How great his signs are!   /

And how mighty his wonders are! /

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, /

and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4 "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore, I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told the dream before them, but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 'O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen and its interpretation. 10 'Thus were the visions of my head in my bed:

I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth,   /

and its height was great.

11 'The tree grew and was strong,   /

and its height reached to heaven /

and its sight to the end of all the earth.

12 Its leaves were fair and its fruit abundant,   /

and in it was food for all. /

The beasts of the field had shade under it, /

the birds of heaven dwelt among its boughs, /

and all flesh was fed from it.

13 'I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud, and said thus:

"Hew down the tree and cut off its branches,   /

shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. /

Let the beasts escape from under it /

and the birds from its branches.

15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth,   /

even with a band of iron and brass, /

in the tender grass of the field. /

Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, /

and let its portion be with the beasts /

in the grass of the earth.

16 Let his heart be changed from man’s   /

and let a beast’s heart be given to him, /

and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers,   /

and the demand by the word of the holy ones, /

to the intent that the living may know /

that the most High rules in the kingdom of men /

and gives it to whomever he wishes /

and sets up the basest of men over it."

18 'This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation. But you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.'

19 "Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.' Belteshazzar answered, and said, 'My lord, may the dream be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies. 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven and its sight to all the earth, 21 Whose leaves were fair, its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of heaven had their habitation— 22 It is you, O king, who has grown and become strong, for your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, "Hew the tree down and destroy it, yet leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field, until seven times shall pass over him." 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall drive you from men and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall cause you to eat grass as oxen and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven. And seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wishes. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, your kingdom shall be sure to you, after you know that the heavens rule. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility.'

28 "All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, and said, 'Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?' 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, 'O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken, "The kingdom has departed from you. 32 And they shall drive you from men and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall cause you to eat grass as oxen. And seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he wishes."' 33 The same hour, the thing was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

34 "And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven and my understanding returned to me. And I blessed the most High and I praised and honored him who lives forever,

For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,   /

and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing.   /

And he does according to his will in the army of heaven /

and among the inhabitants of the earth. /

And no one can stay his hand, /

or say to him, 'What are you doing?'

36 "At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me. I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth and his ways are judgment. And he is able to abase those who walk in pride."

Chapter 5

Belshazzar’s impious feast, 1-4. A hand-writing unknown to the magicians, troubles the king, 5-9. At the commendation of the queen Daniel is brought, 10-16. He, reproving the king of pride and idolatry, 17-24, reads and interprets the writing, 25-29. The monarchy is translated to the Medes, 30, 31.

1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to one thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king, his princes, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem, and the king, his princes, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine and praised the gods of gold, of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

5 In the same hour fingers of a man’s hand came forth and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. And the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king’s countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him, and the joints of his loins were loosened and his knees smote one against another. 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and shows me its interpretation shall be clothed with scarlet, have a chain of gold around his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 8 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king its interpretation. 9 Then the king Belshazzar was greatly troubled and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonished.

10 Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house. And the queen spoke, and said, "O king, live forever. Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. And in the days of your father, light, understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him, whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, 12 Because an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, the interpreting of dreams, showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will reveal the interpretation."

13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judea? 14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light, understanding, and excellent wisdom is found in you. 15 And now the wise men and the astrologers have been brought in before me so that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not reveal the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with scarlet and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; however, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, majesty, glory, and honor. 19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he wished he slew, whom he wished he kept alive, whom he wished he set up, and whom he wished he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 And he was driven from the sons of men and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the most high God rules in the kingdom of men and that he appoints over it whomever he will. 22 And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 But have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drank wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor know. And the God in whose hand is your breath and all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the part of the hand was sent from him and this writing was written.

25 "And this is the writing that was written: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.' 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: 'MENE': God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 'TEKEL': you are weighed in the balances, and are found lacking; 28 'PERES': your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

29 Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 In that night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain. 31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Chapter 6

Daniel is made chief of the presidents, 1-3. They, conspiring against him, obtain an idolatrous decree, 4-9. Daniel, accused of the breach thereof, is cast into the lions' den, 10-17. Daniel is saved, 18-23; his adversaries devoured, 24; and God magnified by a decree, 25-28.

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty princes who should be over the whole kingdom, 2 And over these three presidents, of whom Daniel was first, so that the princes might give accounts to them, and the king should have no loss. 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

6 Then these presidents and princes assembled to the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, the princes, the counselors, and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which does not alter." 9 Therefore, king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, prayed, and gave thanks before his God as he did before. 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree, "Have you not signed a decree, that every man who asks a petition of any God or man within thirty days, except of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians which does not alter." 13 Then they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not regard you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much displeased with himself and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. And he labored until the setting of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men assembled to the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed."

16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you." 17 And a stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting, neither were instruments of music brought before him. And his sleep went from him.

19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and the king spoke and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?" 21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever. 22 My God has sent his angel and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me, because before him innocence was found in me. And also before you, O king, I have done no hurt." 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad for him and commanded that they should take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives—and the lions had the mastery of them and broke all their bones in pieces before they came to the bottom of the den.

25 Then king Darius wrote to all people, nations, and languages who dwell in all the earth: "May peace be multiplied to you. 26 "I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

For he is the living God,   /

and steadfast forever, /

and his kingdom is one /

which shall not be destroyed, /

and his dominion shall be even to the end.

27 He delivers and rescues,   /

and he works signs and wonders /

in heaven and on earth, /

who has delivered Daniel /

from the power of the lions."

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Chapter 7

Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, 1-8, and of God’s kingdom, 9-14. The interpretation thereof, 15-28.

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. 2 Daniel spoke and said, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. I beheld until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised itself on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth, and they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh.' 6 After this I beheld, and behold another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong, and it had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces and stamped the remainder with its feet. And it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before which there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.

9 "I beheld until the thrones were cast down,   /

and the Ancient of days sat, /

whose garment was white as snow /

and the hair of his head like the pure wool. /

His throne was fiery flames /

and its wheels were burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued   /

and came forth from before him. /

Millions ministered to him, /

and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. /

The judgment was set /

and the books were opened.

11 "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I beheld even until the beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 "I saw in the night visions, /

and behold, one like the son of man /

came with the clouds of heaven, /

and came to the Ancient of days, /

and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given to him dominion,   /

glory, and a kingdom, /

so that all people, nations, and languages /

should serve him. /

His dominion is an everlasting dominion /

which shall not pass away, /

and his kingdom is one /

which shall not be destroyed.

15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made me know the interpretation of the things: 17 'These great beasts, which are four, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'

19 "Then I wished to know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, whose teeth were of iron and his nails of brass, which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the remainder with his feet, 20 And of the ten horns that were on his head, and of the other which came up and before which three fell, even of the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them, 22 Until the Ancient of days came and judgment was given to the saints of the most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings who shall arise. And another shall rise after them, and he shall be diverse from the first and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws. And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end. 27 And the kingdom, the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.'

28 "Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my cogitations greatly troubled me and my countenance changed in me, but I kept the matter in my heart."

References

[v.13]: Quoted in Matthew 24:30, 26:64; Mark 13:26, 14:62; Luke 21:27; Revelation 1:7.

Chapter 8

Daniel’s vision of the ram and goat, 1-12. The two thousand three hundred days of the suspension of the daily sacrifice, 13, 14. Gabriel comforts Daniel, and interprets the vision, 15-27.

1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in a vision, and it came to pass when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in a vision that I was by the Ulai River. 3 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns. And the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4 I saw the ram goring westward, northward, and southward, so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.

5 And as I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and did not touch the ground. And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran to him in the fury of his power. 7 And I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him and smote the ram and broke his two horns. And there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and stamped upon him. And there was no one who could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8 Therefore, the male goat became very great, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken and in its stead four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.

9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which became exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10 And it grew great, even to the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them. 11 It even magnified itself to the prince of the host, and by it the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And a host was given to it against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground and did its pleasure and prospered. 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said to that certain saint who spoke, "How long shall the vision be concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" 14 And he said to me, "Until two thousand and three hundred days. Then the sanctuary shall be cleansed."

15 And it came to pass, when I, even I, Daniel, had seen the vision and sought the meaning, then behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision." 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was afraid and fell upon my face, but he said to me, "Understand, O son of man, the vision shall be for the time of the end."

18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground, but he touched me and set me upright. 19 And he said, "Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the last end of the indignation, for at the time appointed the end shall be.

20 "The ram which you saw having two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.

21 "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia. And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now that which is broken, where four stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom,   /

when the transgressors have come to the full, /

a king of fierce countenance /

and understanding dark sentences /

shall stand up.

24 And his power shall be mighty,   /

but not by his own power. /

He shall destroy wonderfully /

and shall prosper and do his pleasure. /

He shall destroy the mighty /

and the holy people.

25 And through his understanding   /

he shall also cause deceit to prosper in his hand. /

He shall magnify himself in his heart, /

and by peace shall destroy many. /

He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, /

but he shall be broken, though not by human hands.

26 And the vision of the evening and the morning   /

which was told is true. /

Therefore, shut up the vision, /

for it shall be for many days to come."

27 And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick some days. Afterward, I rose and did the king’s business. And I was astonished at the vision, but no one understood it.

Chapter 9

Daniel, considering the time of the captivity, 1, 2, makes confession of sins, 3-15, and prays for the restoration of Jerusalem, 16-19. Gabriel informs him of the seventy weeks, 20-27.

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, concerning which the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the LORD my God and made my confession, and said, "O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love him and to those who keep his commandments, 5 We have sinned, have committed iniquity, have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from your precepts and from your judgments, 6 Neither have we listened to your servants the prophets who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 "O Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us, disgrace, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you. 8 O Lord, to us belongs disgrace, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him, 10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 And all Israel has transgressed your law, even by departing, and they have not obeyed your voice; therefore, the curse is poured upon us, along with the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he has confirmed his words which he spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil. For under the whole heaven it has not been done as it has been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come upon us, yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, so that we might turn from our iniquities and understand your truth. 14 Therefore, the LORD has watched over the evil and brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he does, but we have not obeyed his voice.

15 "And now, O Lord our God, who have brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have obtained yourself renown, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all your righteousness, I implore you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer and supplications of your servant and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and behold our desolations and the city which is called by your name. For we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and do. Do not defer, O my God, for your own sake. For your city and your people are called by your name."

20 And while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 Even while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I have come to show you, for you are greatly beloved. Therefore, understand the matter and consider the vision.

24 "Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Messiah, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again with a plaza and a moat, even in troubled times. 26 And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself. And the people of the prince who come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. And on the wing of abominations, he shall come to make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that which is determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Chapter 10

Daniel, having humbled himself, sees a vision, 1-9. Being troubled with fear, he is comforted by the angel, 10-21.

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar, and the thing was true, but the appointed time was long. And he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither flesh nor wine entered my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz. 6 His body was also like beryl, his face as the appearance of lightning, his eyes as lamps of fire, his arms and his feet like the appearance of polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore, I was left alone and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me, for my vigor was changed into corruption and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the voice of his words. And when I heard the voice of his words, I was in a deep sleep on my face with my face toward the ground.

10 And behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I am now sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling. 12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days. But behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the latter days, for yet the vision is for many days."

15 And when he had spoken such words to me, I set my face toward the ground and I became mute. 16 And behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him who stood before me, "O my lord, by the vision my sorrows have turned upon me and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with my lord? For as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me."

18 Then the one like the appearance of a man came back and touched me and strengthened me, 19 And said, "O man greatly beloved, do not fear. Peace be with you. Be strong. Indeed, be strong." And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." 20 Then he said, "Do you know for what cause I come to you? And now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. And when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Grecia shall come. 21 But I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth. And there is no one who strengthens himself with me against these, except Michael your prince."

Chapter 11

The overthrow of Persia by the king of Grecia, 1-4. Leagues and conflicts between the kings of the south and of the north, 5-29. The invasion and tyranny of the Romans, 30-45.

1 "Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 2 And now I will show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia. And a fourth shall be far richer than all of them, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 3 And a mighty king shall stand up, who shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will. 4 And when he stands up, his kingdom shall be broken and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

5 "And the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes, he shall be strong above him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion. 6 And in the end of years they shall join themselves together, for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the power of the arm, neither shall he nor his arm stand, but she shall be given up, along with those who brought her, he who begot her, and he who strengthened her in these times. 7 But out of a branch of her roots one shall stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, enter into the fortress of the king of the north, deal against them, and prevail. 8 And he shall also carry captive into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold, and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. 9 And the king of the south shall come into his kingdom and shall return into his own land.

10 "But his sons shall be stirred up and shall assemble a multitude of great forces. And one shall certainly come, overflow, and pass through. Then he shall return and be stirred up, even to his fortress. 11 And the king of the south shall be moved with wrath and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north. And he shall set forth a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into his hand. 12 And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up, and he shall cast down many ten thousands, but he shall not be strengthened by it. 13 For the king of the north shall return and set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after some years with a great army and with much riches.

14 "And in those times many shall stand up against the king of the south. The robbers of your people shall also exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall. 15 And the king of the north shall come, cast up a siege-mound, and take the most fortified cities. And the arms of the south shall not withstand, nor his chosen people, nor shall there be any strength to withstand. 16 But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. 17 He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him. He shall do so. And he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her, but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. 18 After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall take many, but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease, and without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. 19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall and not be found.

20 "Then a raiser of taxes shall stand up in his estate in the glory of the kingdom, but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. 21 And in his estate a vile person shall stand up, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom, but he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with the arms of a flood they shall be overflowed from before him and shall be broken, as well as the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall work deceitfully, for he shall come up and shall become strong with a small people. 24 He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province, and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers. He shall scatter among them the plunder, loot, and riches, and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, even for a time. 25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. 26 And those who feed of the portion of his provisions shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow. And many shall fall down slain. 27 And both these kings' hearts shall be set to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table, but it shall not prosper, for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. 28 Then he shall return into his land with great riches, and his heart shall be against the holy covenant. And he shall take action and return to his own land.

29 "At the time appointed he shall return and come toward the south, but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. 30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him; therefore, he shall be grieved, return, and have indignation against the holy covenant. He shall do so. And he shall even return and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. 32 And those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt by flatteries, but the people who know their God shall be strong and take action. 33 And those who understand among the people shall instruct many, yet they shall fall by the sword, by flame, by captivity, and by plunder for many days. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be assisted with a little help, but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, in order to try them, to purge them, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed.

36 "And the king shall do according to his will. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished, for that which is determined shall be done. 37 He shall not regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 But in his estate he shall honor the God of forces. And a god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold, silver, precious stones, and pleasant things. 39 He shall do so in the strongest fortresses with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory. And he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

40 "And at the time of the end the king of the south shall war against him. And the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He shall also enter into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver and over all the precious things of Egypt. The Libyans and the Cushites shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and to utterly sweep many away. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, and no one shall help him."

Chapter 12

Michael shall deliver Israel from their troubles, 1-4. Daniel is informed of the times, 5-13.

1 "And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood another two: one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was upon the waters of the river, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half of a time. And when he has made an end of dispersing the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, "O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?" 9 And he said, "Go your way Daniel. For the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But go your way until the end. For you shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days."

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Matthew 13:43. [v.11]: Quoted in Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14.

[Tanach reading: go to Ezra]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO HOSEA

Chapter 1

Hosea, to show God’s judgment for spiritual lewdness, takes Gomer, 1-3, and has by her Jezreel, 4, 5; Lo-ruhamah, 6, 7; and Lo-ammi, 8, 9. The restoration of Judah and Israel under one head, 10, 11.

1 [The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.]

2 [The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea.] And the LORD said to Hosea, "Go take for yourself a wife addicted to lewdness and children of lewdness, for the land has committed great lewdness, departing from the LORD." 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, who conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the LORD said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for yet a little while and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease. 5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel."

6 And she conceived again and bore a daughter. And God said to him, "Call her name Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. 7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, by sword, by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen."

8 Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. 9 Then God said, "Call his name Lo-ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there it shall be said to them, 'You are the sons of the living God.'

11 Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be assembled and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up from the land, for the day of Jezreel shall be great."

References

[v.10]: Quoted in Romans 9:26.

Chapter 2

The idolatry of the people, 1-5. God’s judgments against them, 6-13. His promises of reconciliation with them, 14-23.

1 "Say to your brothers, 'Ammi,' /

and to your sisters, 'Ruhamah.'

2 Plead with your mother. /

Plead, for she is not my wife, /

neither am I her husband. /

Let her therefore put away her prostitutions out of her sight /

and her adulteries from between her breasts,

3 Lest I strip her naked, /

set her as in the day that she was born, /

make her as a wilderness, /

and set her like a dry land /

and kill her with thirst.

4 And I will not have mercy upon her children, /

for they are the children of lewdness.

5 For their mother has played the harlot. /

She who conceived them has done shamefully. /

For she said, 'I will go after my lovers /

who give me my bread and my water, /

my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.'

6 Therefore, behold, /

I will hedge up your way with thorns /

and make a wall, /

so that she shall not find her paths.

7 And she shall follow after her lovers, /

but she shall not overtake them, /

and she shall seek them, /

but shall not find them. /

Then she shall say, /

'I will go and return to my first husband, /

for then it was better with me than now.'

8 For she did not know that I gave her /

grain, wine, and oil /

and multiplied her silver and gold, /

which they prepared for Baal.

9 Therefore, I will return /

and take away my grain in its time /

and my wine in its season, /

and I will recover my wool and my flax /

given to cover her nakedness.

10 And now I will disclose her lewdness /

in the sight of her lovers, /

and no one shall deliver her out of my hand.

11 I will also cause to cease all her mirth, /

her feast days, her new moons, her sabbaths, /

and all her solemn feasts.

12 And I will destroy her vines and her fig-trees, /

of which she has said, 'These are my rewards /

that my lovers have given me.' /

And I will make them a forest, /

and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

13 And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, /

in which she burned incense to them /

and decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, /

and she went after her lovers /

and forgot me," says the LORD.

14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, /

bring her into the wilderness, /

and speak comfortably to her.

15 And I will give her her vineyards from there, /

and the valley of Achor /

for a door of hope. /

And she shall sing there, /

as in the days of her youth /

and as in the day when she came /

from the land of Egypt.

16 And it shall be at that day," says the LORD, /

"that you shall call me Ishi, /

and shall no longer call me Baali.

17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, /

and they shall no longer be remembered by their name.

18 And in that day I will make a covenant for them /

with the beasts of the field, /

with the birds of heaven, /

and with the creeping animals of the ground. /

And I will break the bow, the sword, /

and the battle out of the earth, /

and will make them to lie down in safety.

19 And I will betroth you to me forever. /

I will even betroth you to me in righteousness, /

in judgment, in loving-kindness, and in mercies.

20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness. /

And you shall know the LORD.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, /

I will hear," says the LORD, /

"I will hear the heavens, /

and they shall hear the earth,

22 And the earth shall hear the grain, /

the wine, and the oil, /

and they shall hear Jezreel.

23 And I will sow her for myself in the earth. /

And I will have mercy upon her who had not obtained mercy, /

and I will say to those who were not my people, 'You are my people.' /

And they shall say, 'You are my God.'"

References

[v.23]: Quoted in Romans 9:25.

Chapter 3

Another type of the spiritual lewdness of Israel, 1-3. The punishment of it, 4. Their reformation, 5.

1 Then the LORD said to me, "Go back, love a woman beloved by her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love flagons of wine." 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and for a homer and a half of barley. 3 And I said to her, "You shall wait for me many days. You shall not play the harlot and you shall not be with another man. I will also be so to you." 4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, without a prince, without a sacrifice, without an image, without an ephod, and without teraphim. 5 Afterward, the children of Israel shall return, and seek the LORD their God and David their king, and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Chapter 4

The prophet shows their numerous sins and the judgments consequent upon them, 1-19.

1 Hear the word of the LORD, children of Israel, /

for the LORD has a controversy /

with the inhabitants of the land, /

because there is no truth, nor mercy, /

nor knowledge of God in the land.

2 "By swearing, lying, killing, stealing, /

and committing adultery, /

they break out, and blood touches blood.

3 Therefore, the land shall mourn, /

and everyone who dwells in it shall languish, /

with the beasts of the field /

and with the birds of heaven. /

Even the fish of the sea shall also be taken away.

4 Yet let no man contend, /

nor reprove another, /

for your people are as those /

who contend with the priest.

5 Therefore, you shall fall in the day, /

and the prophet also shall fall with you in the night, /

and I will destroy your mother.

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. /

Because you have rejected knowledge, /

I will also reject you, /

so that you shall be no priest to me. /

Seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, /

I will also forget your children.

7 As they were increased, /

so they sinned against me; /

therefore, I will change their glory into shame.

8 They eat up the sin of my people /

and they set their heart on their iniquity.

9 And it shall be, as the people, so shall be the priest. /

And I will punish them for their ways /

and reward them for their doings.

10 For they shall eat and not have enough. /

They shall be guilty of lewdness and shall not increase, /

because they have ceased to take heed to the LORD.

11 Lewdness, wine, and new wine /

take away the heart.

12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, /

and their staff declares to them, /

for the spirit of lewdness has caused them to err, /

and they have gone astray from under their God.

13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains /

and burn incense upon the hills, /

under oaks, poplars, and elms, /

because their shade is agreeable. /

Therefore, your daughters shall be guilty of lewdness /

and your spouses shall commit adultery.

14 I will not punish your daughters /

when they are guilty of lewdness, /

nor your spouses /

when they commit adultery, /

for they themselves are separated with prostitutes /

and they sacrifice with harlots. /

Therefore, the people who do not understand shall fall.

15 Though you, Israel, play the harlot, /

yet do not let Judah offend, /

and do not come to Gilgal, /

neither go up to Beth-aven, /

nor swear, 'The LORD lives.'

16 For Israel slides back as a backsliding heifer. /

Now the LORD will feed them /

as a lamb in a large place.

17 Ephraim is joined to idols. /

Leave him alone.

18 Their drink is sour. /

They have been guilty of lewd deeds continually. /

Her rulers have thoroughly loved shame.

19 The wind has bound her up in her wings, /

and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices."

Chapter 5

The scope of this chapter, likewise, is to show the sins of Israel and Judah and to denounce the judgments of God against them, 1-15.

1 "Hear this, O priests, /

and listen, house of Israel, /

and give ear, O house of the king, /

for judgment is toward you /

because you have been a snare on Mizpah /

and a net spread upon Tabor.

2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, /

though I have been a rebuker of them all.

3 I know Ephraim, /

and Israel is not hid from me. /

For now, O Ephraim, you are guilty of lewdness, /

and Israel is defiled.

4 They will not frame their doings /

to turn to their God, /

for the spirit of lewdness is in the midst of them /

and they have not known the LORD.

5 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face; /

therefore, Israel and Ephraim /

shall fall in their iniquity. /

Judah shall also fall with them.

6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds /

to seek the LORD, but they shall not find him. /

He has withdrawn himself from them.

7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD, /

for they have begotten strange children. /

Now a month shall devour them /

with their portions.

8 Blow the horn in Gibeah /

and the trumpet in Ramah. /

Cry aloud at Beth-aven, /

after you, O Benjamin.

9 Ephraim shall be desolate /

in the day of rebuke. /

Among the tribes of Israel /

I have made known that which shall surely be.

10 The princes of Judah /

were like those who move the landmark; /

therefore, I will pour out my wrath /

upon them like water.

11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment /

because he willingly walked after the commandment.

12 Therefore, I will be to Ephraim as a moth /

and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness /

and Judah saw his wound, /

Ephraim went to the Assyrian /

and sent to king Jareb. /

Yet he could not heal you, /

nor cure you of your wound.

14 For I will be to Ephraim as a lion, /

and as a young lion to the house of Judah. /

I, even I, will tear and go away. /

I will take away, and no one shall rescue him.

15 I will go and return to my place /

until they acknowledge their offense and seek my face. /

In their affliction they will seek me early."

Chapter 6

Their resolution to return to God, 1-3. The instability of many of them, 4, 5. God’s covenant with them, and their violation of it, 6-11.

1 "Come, and let us return to the LORD. /

For he has torn and he will heal us. /

He has smitten and he will bind us up.

2 After two days he will revive us. /

On the third day he will raise us up, /

and we shall live in his sight.

3 Then we shall know, if we follow on to know the LORD. /

His going forth is prepared as the morning, /

and he will come to us as the rain, /

as the latter and former rain to the earth."

4 "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? /

O Judah, what shall I do to you? /

For your goodness is as the morning cloud, /

and as the early dew it goes away.

5 Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets. /

I have slain them by the words of my mouth. /

And your judgments are as the light that goes forth.

6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, /

and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

7 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant. /

There they have dealt treacherously against me.

8 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity /

and is polluted with blood.

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, /

so the company of priests /

murder in the way by consent, /

for they commit lewdness.

10 I have seen a horrible thing /

in the house of Israel. /

There is the prostitution of Ephraim, /

Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, he has set a harvest for you, /

when I returned the captivity of my people."

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Matthew 9:13, 12:7.

Chapter 7

A reproof of manifold sins, 1-10. God’s wrath against them for their hypocrisy, 11-16.

1 "When I would have healed Israel, /

then the iniquity of Ephraim /

and the wickedness of Samaria was disclosed, /

for they commit falsehood. /

And the thief comes in, /

and the troop of robbers raids outside.

2 And they do not consider in their hearts /

that I remember all their wickedness. /

Now their own doings have beset them around. /

They are before my face.

3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, /

and the princes with their lies.

4 They are all adulterers, /

as an oven heated by the baker /

who ceases to stir the fire /

from the kneading of the dough /

until it is leavened.

5 In the day of our king /

the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine. /

He stretched out his hand with scorners.

6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven /

while they lie in wait. /

Their baker sleeps all the night. /

In the morning it burns as a flaming fire.

7 They are all hot as an oven /

and have devoured their judges. /

All their kings have fallen. /

There is no one among them who calls to me.

8 Ephraim, he has mixed himself among the people. /

Ephraim is a cake not turned.

9 Strangers have devoured his strength, /

and he does not know it. /

Even gray hairs are here and there upon him, /

yet he does not know.

10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face. /

And they do not return to the LORD their God, /

nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim is also like a silly dove without heart. /

They call to Egypt. They go to Assyria.

12 When they go, I will spread my net upon them. /

I will bring them down as the birds of the heaven. /

I will chastise them, /

as their congregation has heard.

13 Woe to them! For they have fled from me. /

Destruction to them! /

For they have transgressed against me. /

Though I have redeemed them, /

yet they have spoken lies against me.

14 And they have not cried to me with their heart /

when they howled upon their beds. /

They assemble themselves for grain and wine /

and they rebel against me.

15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, /

yet they devise mischief against me.

16 They return, but not to the most High. /

They are like a deceitful bow. /

Their princes shall fall by the sword /

for the rage of their tongue. /

This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt."

Chapter 8

Destruction is threatened both to Israel and Judah for their impiety and idolatry, 1-14.

1 "Set the trumpet to your mouth. /

He shall come as an eagle /

against the house of the LORD, /

because they have transgressed my covenant /

and trespassed against my law.

2 Israel shall cry to me, /

'My God, we know you.'

3 Israel has cast off the thing that is good. /

The enemy shall pursue him.

4 They have set up kings, /

but not by me. /

They have made princes, /

and I did not know it. /

Of their silver and their gold /

they have made for themselves idols, /

so that they may be cut off.

5 Your calf, O Samaria, has cast you off. /

My anger is kindled against them. /

How long will it be before they attain to innocence?

6 For it was also from Israel. /

The workman made it; /

therefore, it is not God. /

But the calf of Samaria /

shall be broken in pieces.

7 For they have sown the wind /

and they shall reap the whirlwind. /

It has no stalk. /

The bud shall yield no meal. /

If it yields, /

the strangers shall swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up. /

Now they shall be among the Gentiles /

as a vessel in which there is no pleasure.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria, /

a wild donkey alone by himself. /

Ephraim has hired lovers.

10 Even though they have hired among the nations, /

now I will gather them, /

and they shall sorrow a little /

for the burden of the king of princes.

11 Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, /

altars shall be for him to sin.

12 I have written to him the great things of my law, /

but they were counted as a strange thing.

13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of my offerings and eat it, /

but the LORD does not accept them. /

Now he will remember their iniquity /

and visit their sins. /

They shall return to Egypt.

14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker /

and builds temples, /

and Judah has multiplied fortified cities. /

But I will send a fire upon his cities, /

and it shall devour the palaces thereof."

Chapter 9

The distress and captivity of Israel for their sins, 1-17.

1 Do not rejoice, O Israel, for joy, as other people, /

for you have apostatized from your God. /

You have loved a reward upon every grain-floor.

2 The floor and the wine-press shall not feed them, /

and the new wine shall fail in her.

3 They shall not dwell in the LORD’S land, /

but Ephraim shall return to Egypt /

and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.

4 They shall not offer wine-offerings to the LORD, /

neither shall they be pleasing to him. /

Their sacrifices shall be to them /

as the bread of mourners. /

All who eat of it shall be polluted, /

for their bread for their soul /

shall not come into the house of the LORD.

5 What will you do in the solemn day /

and in the day of the feast of the LORD?

6 For behold, they have gone away because of destruction. /

Egypt shall gather them up. /

Memphis shall bury them. /

The pleasant places for their silver, /

nettles shall possess them. /

Thorns shall be in their tabernacles.

7 The days of visitation have come. /

The days of recompense have come. /

Israel shall know it. /

The prophet is a fool /

and the spiritual man is mad /

because of the multitude of your iniquity /

and the great hatred.

8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God, /

but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways /

and hatred in the house of his God.

9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, /

as in the days of Gibeah; /

therefore, he will remember their iniquity. /

He will visit their sins.

10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. /

I saw your fathers /

as the first-fruits on the fig-tree in her first season. /

But they went to Baal-peor /

and separated themselves to that shame, /

and their abominations were according as they loved.

11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird /

from the birth, from the womb, and from the conception.

12 Though they bring up their children, /

yet I will bereave them, /

so that there shall not be a man left. /

Indeed, woe also to them /

when I depart from them!

13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyre, /

is planted in a pleasant place. /

But Ephraim shall bring forth his children /

to the murderer.

14 Give them, O LORD—what will you give? /

Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

15 "All their wickedness is in Gilgal, /

for there I hated them. /

For the wickedness of their doings /

I will drive them out of my house. /

I will love them no more. /

All their princes are revolters.

16 Ephraim is smitten. /

Their root is dried up. /

They shall bear no fruit. /

Even though they bring forth, /

yet I will slay even the beloved fruit of their womb."

17 My God will cast them away /

because they did not listen to him. /

And they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Chapter 10

Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry, and exhorted to repentance, 1-15.

1 Israel is an empty vine /

that brings forth fruit to himself. /

According to the multitude of his fruit /

he has multiplied the altars. /

According to the goodness of his land /

they have made ornate images.

2 Their heart is divided. /

Now they shall be found faulty. /

He shall break down their altars. /

He shall destroy their images.

3 For now they shall say, /

"We have no king /

because we did not fear the LORD. /

What then should a king do to us?"

4 They have spoken words, /

swearing falsely in making a covenant. /

Thus judgment springs up as hemlock /

in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear /

because of the calves of Beth-aven. /

For its people shall mourn over it, /

and its priests shall tremble for it, for its glory, /

because it has departed from it.

6 It shall also be carried to Assyria /

for a present to king Jareb. /

Ephraim shall receive shame, /

and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off /

as the foam upon the water.

8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, /

shall be destroyed. /

The thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars, /

and they shall say to the mountains, "Cover us," /

and to the hills, "Fall on us."

9 "O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. /

There they stood. /

The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity /

did not overtake them.

10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them. /

And the people shall be gathered against them /

when they bind themselves in their two furrows.

11 And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught /

and loves to tread out the grain. /

But I passed over upon her fair neck. /

I will make Ephraim to ride. Judah shall plow, /

and Jacob shall break his clods.

12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness. /

Reap in mercy. /

Break up your fallow ground. /

For it is time to seek the LORD /

until he comes and rains righteousness upon you.

13 You have plowed wickedness. /

You have reaped iniquity. /

You have eaten the fruit of lies. /

Because you have trusted in your way, /

in the multitude of your mighty men,

14 Therefore a tumult shall arise among your people, /

and all your fortresses shall be plundered, /

as Shalman plundered Beth-arbel in the day of battle. /

The mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

15 Beth-el shall do so to you /

because of your great wickedness. /

In a morning the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off."

References

[v.8]: Quoted in Luke 23:30. [v.12]: Quoted in 2nd Corinthians 9:10.

Chapter 11

The ingratitude of Israel to God for his benefits, 1-4. His judgment, 5-7. God’s mercy toward them, 8-11. Israel’s falsehood and Judah’s fidelity, 12.

1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, /

and called my son out of Egypt.

2 As they called them, so they went from them. /

They sacrificed to Baalim /

and burned incense to engraved images.

3 I taught Ephraim also to go, /

taking them by their arms, /

but they did not know that I healed them.

4 I drew them with cords of a man, /

with ropes of love. /

And I was to them as those /

who take off the yoke from their jaws, /

and I laid food for them.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, /

but the Assyrian shall be his king /

because they refused to return.

6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, /

and shall consume his branches and devour them /

because of their own counsels.

7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me. /

Though they called to the most High, /

no one at all would exalt him.

8 How shall I give you up, Ephraim? /

How shall I deliver you, Israel? /

How shall I make you as Admah? /

How shall I set you as Zeboim? /

My heart is turned within me. /

My repentings are kindled together.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. /

I will not return to destroy Ephraim, /

for I am God and not man, /

the Holy One in the midst of you, /

and I will not enter into the city.

10 They shall walk after the LORD. /

He shall roar like a lion. /

When he roars, /

the children shall tremble from the west.

11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt /

and as a dove out of the land of Assyria. /

And I will place them in their houses," /

says the LORD.

12 Ephraim encompasses me with lies, /

and the house of Israel with deceit, /

but Judah still rules with God /

and is faithful with the saints.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 2:15.

Chapter 12

A reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob, 1, 2. By former favors he exhorts to repentance, 3-6. Ephraim’s sins provoke God, 7-14.

1 Ephraim feeds on wind /

and follows after the east wind. /

He daily multiplies lies and desolation. /

They make a covenant with the Assyrians, /

and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 The LORD also has a controversy with Judah /

and will punish Jacob according to his ways. /

According to his doings he will recompense him.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, /

and by his strength he had power with God.

4 He even had power over the angel and prevailed. /

He wept and made supplication to him. /

He found [God] in Beth-el, /

and there [God] spoke with us,

5 Even the LORD God of hosts, /

the LORD is his memorial.

6 Therefore, turn to your God. /

Keep mercy and judgment /

and wait on your God continually.

7 He is a merchant. /

The balances of deceit are in his hand. /

He loves to oppress.

8 And Ephraim said, "Yet I have become rich. /

I have found substance for myself. /

In all my labors they shall find /

no iniquity in me that is sin."

9 "And I am the LORD your God /

from the land of Egypt. /

I will yet make you to dwell in tabernacles, /

as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 I have also spoken by the prophets /

and I have multiplied visions. /

I used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets.

11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? /

Surely they are vanity. /

They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal. /

Even their altars are as heaps /

in the furrows of the fields.

12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria. /

And Israel served to get a wife, /

and for a wife he kept sheep.

13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, /

and by a prophet he was preserved.

14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly; /

therefore, he will leave his blood upon him, /

and his Lord will return his reproach to him."

Chapter 13

Ephraim’s glory vanishes, 1-3. God’s anger, 4-8. God’s mercy, 9-14. The judgment of Samaria, 15, 16.

1 "When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. /

He exalted himself in Israel. /

But when he offended in Baal, he died.

2 And now they sin more and more, /

and have made for themselves molten images of their silver /

and idols according to their own understanding, /

all of it the work of craftsmen. /

They say of them, /

'Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves.'

3 Therefore, they shall be as the morning cloud /

and as the early dew that passes away, /

as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind from the floor /

and as the smoke from the smoke-chamber.

4 Yet I am the LORD your God /

from the land of Egypt, /

and you shall know no God but me, /

for there is no savior besides me.

5 I knew you in the wilderness, /

in the land of great drought.

6 According to their pasture, so they were filled. /

They were filled and their heart was exalted; /

therefore, they have forgotten me.

7 Therefore, I will be to them as a lion. /

As a leopard by the way I will observe them.

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps /

and will rend the enclosure of their heart. /

And there I will devour them like a lion. /

The wild beast shall tear them.

9 O Israel, you have destroyed yourself, /

but your help is in me.

10 I will be your king. /

Where is any other who may save you in all your cities, /

and your judges of whom you said, /

'Give me a king and princes'?

11 I gave you a king in my anger /

and took him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up. /

His sin is hid.

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him. /

He is an unwise son, /

for he should not stay long /

in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave. /

I will redeem them from death. /

O death, I will be your plagues. /

O grave, I will be your destruction. /

Repentance shall be hid from my eyes.

15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, /

an east wind shall come, /

the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, /

and his spring shall become dry /

and his fountain shall be dried up. /

He shall pillage the treasure of all precious vessels.

16 Samaria shall become desolate, /

for she has rebelled against her God. /

They shall fall by the sword. /

Their infants shall be dashed in pieces /

and their women with child shall be ripped up."

References

[v.14]: Quoted in 1st Corinthians 15:55.

Chapter 14

An exhortation to repentance, 1-3. A promise of God’s blessing, 4-9.

1 O Israel, return to the LORD your God, /

for you have fallen by your iniquity.

2 Take with you words /

and turn to the LORD. /

Say to him, "Take away all iniquity /

and receive us graciously, /

so that we will render as calves /

the offering of our lips.

3 Ashur shall not save us. /

We will not ride upon horses. /

We will no more say to the work of our hands, /

'You are our gods.' /

For in you the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their backsliding /

and I will love them freely, /

for my anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dew to Israel. /

He shall grow as the lily /

and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread. /

His beauty shall be as the olive-tree /

and his smell as Lebanon.

7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return. /

They shall revive as the grain /

and grow as the vine. /

Its scent shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim shall say, /

'What have I to do anymore with idols?' /

I have heard him and observed him. /

I am like a green fir-tree. /

Your fruit is found from me."

9 Who is wise, that he shall understand these things? /

Who is prudent, that he shall know them? /

For the ways of the LORD are right, /

and the just shall walk in them, /

but the transgressors shall fall in them.

[Tanach reading: go to Joel]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO JOEL

Chapter 1

Joel, declaring various judgments of God, exhorts to observe them, 1-7, and to mourn, 8-13. He prescribes a solemn fast to deprecate those judgments, 14-20.

1 [The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.]

2 Hear this, you old men, /

and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. /

Has this been in your days, /

or even in the days of your fathers?

3 Tell your children of it, /

and let your children tell their children, /

and their children another generation.

4 That which the cutting-locust has left /

the swarming-locust has eaten, /

that which the swarming-locust has left /

the licking-locust has eaten, /

and that which the licking-locust has left /

the ravaging-locust has eaten.

5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep. /

Howl, all you drinkers of wine, /

because of the new wine, /

for it is cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation has come up upon my land, /

strong and without number, /

whose teeth are the teeth of a lion /

and he has the cheek teeth of a great lion.

7 He has laid my vine waste /

and barked my fig-tree. /

He has made it thoroughly bare and cast it away. /

Its branches are made white.

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth /

for the husband of her youth.

9 The food-offering and the drink-offering are cut off /

from the house of the LORD. /

The priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn.

10 The field is wasted /

and the land mourns, /

for the grain is wasted. /

The new wine is dried up. /

The oil languishes.

11 Be ashamed, O farmers. /

Howl, O vine-dressers, /

for the wheat and for the barley, /

because the harvest of the field has perished.

12 The vine is dried up /

and the fig-tree languishes. /

The pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree, and the apple-tree, /

even all the trees of the field are withered, /

because joy has withered away from the sons of men.

13 Gird yourselves and lament, you priests. /

Howl, you ministers of the altar. /

Come, lie all night in sackcloth, /

you ministers of my God, /

for the food-offering and the drink-offering are withheld /

from the house of your God.

14 Sanctify a fast, /

call a solemn assembly, /

gather the elders /

and all the inhabitants of the land /

into the house of the LORD your God, /

and cry to the LORD.

15 Alas for the day! /

For the day of the LORD is at hand, /

and as a destruction from the Almighty it shall come.

16 Is the food not cut off /

before our eyes, /

and joy and gladness /

from the house of our God?

17 The seed has perished under their clods, /

the granaries are laid desolate, /

and the barns are broken down, /

for the grain has withered.

18 How the beasts groan! /

The herds of cattle are perplexed /

because they have no pasture. /

Even the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19 O LORD, I will cry to you, /

for the fire has devoured /

the pastures of the wilderness /

and the flame has burned /

all the trees of the field.

20 The beasts of the field also cry to you, /

for the rivers of waters are dried up /

and the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Chapter 2

He shows to Zion the terribleness of God’s judgment, 1-11. He exhorts to repentance, 12-14; prescribes a fast, 15-17; promises a blessing thereon, 18-20. He comforts Zion with present, 21-27, and future blessings, 28-32.

1 Blow the trumpet in Zion /

and sound an alarm on my holy mountain. /

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, /

for the day of the LORD comes. /

It is near at hand,

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, /

a day of clouds and of thick darkness. /

As the morning spreading upon the mountains, /

so there is a great and strong people. /

There has never been the like, /

neither shall there be any more after it, /

even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devours before them, /

and behind them a flame burns. /

The land is as the garden of Eden before them, /

and behind them a desolate wilderness, /

and nothing shall escape them.

4 Their appearance is as the appearance of horses. /

And as horsemen, so they shall run.

5 Like the noise of chariots /

on the tops of mountains they shall leap, /

like the noise of a flame of fire /

that devours the stubble, /

as a strong people set in battle array.

6 Before their face the people shall be much pained. /

All faces shall gather blackness.

7 They shall run like mighty men. /

They shall climb the wall like men of war. /

They shall each march on his ways /

and shall not break their ranks,

8 Neither shall one thrust another. /

They shall each walk in his path. /

And when they fall upon the sword, /

they shall not be wounded.

9 They shall run to and fro in the city. /

They shall run upon the wall. /

They shall climb upon the houses. /

They shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

10 The earth shall quake before them. /

The heavens shall tremble. /

The sun and the moon shall be dark, /

and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

11 And the LORD will utter his voice before his army, /

for his camp is very great, /

and he is strong who executes his word. /

For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible. /

Who can endure it?

12 "Yet even now," says the LORD, /

"turn to me with all your heart, /

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."

13 And rend your heart and not your garments, /

and turn to the LORD your God, /

for he is gracious and merciful, /

slow to anger, and of great kindness, /

and repents of the evil.

14 Who knows if he will return and repent /

and leave a blessing behind him, /

even a food-offering and a drink-offering /

to the LORD your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion. Sanctify a fast. /

Call a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people. /

Sanctify the congregation. /

Assemble the elders. /

Gather the children /

and those who nurse from the breasts. /

Let the bridegroom go forth from his room /

and the bride out of her chamber.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, /

weep between the porch and the altar, /

and let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD, /

and do not give your heritage to reproach /

so that the heathen should rule over them. /

Why should they say among the people, /

'Where is their God?'"

18 Then the LORD will be jealous for his land /

and pity his people.

19 And the LORD will answer and say to his people, /

"Behold, I will send you grain, wine, and oil, /

and you shall be satisfied with it, /

and I will no longer make you /

a reproach among the heathen.

20 But I will remove far from you the northern army /

and drive him into a land barren and desolate /

with his face toward the east sea /

and his back parts toward the utmost sea, /

and his odious scent shall come up /

and his ill savor shall come up, /

because he has worked proudly."

21 Do not fear, O land. Be glad and rejoice, /

for the LORD will do great things.

22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field, /

for the pastures of the wilderness spring, /

the tree bears its fruit, /

and the fig-tree and the vine yield their strength.

23 Be glad then, children of Zion, /

and rejoice in the LORD your God, /

for he has given you the former rain moderately. /

He will cause to come down for you the rain, /

the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat /

and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 "And I will restore to you the years /

that the swarming-locust, /

the licking-locust, the ravaging-locust, /

and the cutting-locust consumed— /

my great army which I sent among you.

26 And you shall eat in plenty, be satisfied, /

and praise the name of the LORD your God, /

who has dealt wondrously with you. /

And my people shall never be ashamed.

27 And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel /

and that I am the LORD your God, and no one else. /

And my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, /

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, /

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, /

your old men shall dream dreams, /

your young men shall see visions.

29 And also upon the men-servants /

and upon the women-servants /

in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth: /

blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, /

and the moon into blood, /

before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.

32 And it shall come to pass, /

that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be delivered. /

For on mount Zion and in Jerusalem /

there shall be deliverance, /

as the LORD has said, /

and in the remnant whom the LORD calls."

References

[v.28]: Quoted in Acts 2:17. [v.29]: Quoted in Acts 2:18. [v.30]: Quoted in Acts 2:19. [v.31]: Quoted in Acts 2:20. [v.32]: Quoted in Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13.

Chapter 3

God’s judgments against the enemies of his people, 1-8. God will be known in his judgment, 9-17. His blessing upon the church, 18-21.

1 "For behold, in those days and in that time,   /

when I bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will also gather all nations   /

and bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. /

I will plead with them there /

for my people and for my heritage Israel, /

whom they have scattered among the nations, /

and divided my land.

3 And they have cast lots for my people,   /

have given a boy for a harlot, /

and sold a girl for wine so that they might drink.

4 "And what do you even have to do with me, O Tyre, Zidon, and all the regions of Palestine? Will you render me a recompense? And if you recompense me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense upon your own head, 5 Because you have taken my silver and my gold and have carried my finest treasures into your temples. 6 You have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the Grecians, so that you might remove them far from their border. 7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place where you have sold them and will return your recompense upon your own head. 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off. For the LORD has spoken it."

9 Proclaim this among the Gentiles:   /

"Prepare for war. /

Wake up the mighty men. /

Let all the men of war draw near. /

Let them come up.

10 Beat your plow-shares into swords   /

and your pruning-hooks into spears. /

Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'

11 Assemble yourselves and come, all you heathen,   /

and gather yourselves together around." /

Cause your mighty ones to come down there, O LORD.

12 "Let the heathen be awakened and come up   /

to the valley of Jehoshaphat, /

for there I will sit to judge /

all the heathen on every side.

13 Put in the sickle,   /

for the harvest is ripe. /

Come, tread, /

for the press is full. /

The vats overflow, /

for their wickedness is great."

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision,   /

for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened,   /

and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The LORD will also roar out of Zion   /

and utter his voice from Jerusalem, /

and the heavens and the earth shall shake. /

But the LORD will be the hope of his people /

and the strength of the children of Israel.

17 "And you shall know that I am the LORD your God   /

dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. /

Then Jerusalem shall be holy, /

and no strangers shall pass through her anymore.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day,   /

that the mountains shall drop down new wine, /

the hills shall flow with milk, /

and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, /

and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD /

and shall water the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation   /

and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness /

for the violence against the children of Judah, /

because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20 But Judah shall dwell forever,   /

and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed.   /

For the LORD dwells in Zion."

[Tanach reading: go to Amos]

THE WORDS OF AMOS

Chapter 1

The time when Amos prophesied, 1, 2. He shows God’s judgment upon Syria, 3-5, upon the Philistines, 6-8, upon Tyre, 9, 10, upon Edom, 11, 12, upon Ammon, 13-15.

1 [The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.]

2 And he said,

"The LORD will roar from Zion   /

and utter his voice from Jerusalem, /

and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, /

and the top of Carmel shall wither."

3 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,   /

I will not turn away its punishment, /

because they have threshed Gilead /

with threshing instruments of iron.

4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael   /

which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.

5 I will also break the bar of Damascus   /

and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven /

and him who holds the scepter from the house of Eden. /

And the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir,"

says the LORD.

6 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,   /

I will not turn away its punishment, /

because they carried away captive the whole captivity /

to deliver them up to Edom.

7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza   /

which shall devour its palaces.

8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod   /

and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon, /

and I will turn my hand against Ekron. /

And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,"

says the Lord GOD.

9 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four,   /

I will not turn away its punishment, /

because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom /

and did not remember the brotherly covenant.

10 But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre   /

which shall devour its palaces."

11 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Edom, and for four,   /

I will not turn away its punishment, /

because he pursued his brother with the sword /

and cast off all pity, /

and his anger tore perpetually /

and he kept his wrath forever.

12 But I will send a fire upon Teman   /

which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah."

13 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four,   /

I will not turn away their punishment, /

because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead /

so that they might enlarge their border.

14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,   /

and it shall devour its palaces, /

with shouting in the day of battle, /

with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.

15 And their king shall go into captivity—   /

he and his princes together,"

says the LORD.

Chapter 2

God’s judgments upon Moab, 1-3, upon Judah, 4, 5, and upon Israel, 6-8. God accuses them of ingratitude, 9-16.

1 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Moab, and for four,   /

I will not turn away his punishment, /

because he burned the bones /

of the king of Edom into lime.

2 But I will send a fire upon Moab,   /

and it shall devour the palaces of Kirioth. /

And Moab shall die with tumult, /

with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

3 And I will cut off the judge from the midst of it   /

and will slay all its princes with him,"

says the LORD.

4 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Judah, and for four,   /

I will not turn away their punishment, /

because they have despised the law of the LORD /

and have not kept his commandments. /

And their lies caused them to err, /

after which their fathers have walked.

5 But I will send a fire upon Judah,   /

and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."

6 Thus says the LORD:

"For three transgressions of Israel, and for four,   /

I will not turn away their punishment, /

because they sold the righteous for silver /

and the poor for a pair of shoes.

7 They pant after the dust of the earth   /

on the head of the poor /

and turn aside the way of the meek. /

And a man and his father /

will go in to the same woman /

to profane my holy name.

8 And they lay themselves down   /

upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar /

and they drink the wine of the condemned /

in the house of their god.

9 Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them,   /

whose height was like the height of the cedars /

and he was strong as the oaks, /

yet I destroyed his fruit from above /

and his roots from beneath.

10 Also I brought you from the land of Egypt   /

and led you forty years through the wilderness /

to possess the land of the Amorite.

11 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets   /

and some of your young men for Nazarites. /

Is it not even so, O children of Israel?"

says the LORD.

12 "But you gave the Nazarites wine to drink   /

and commanded the prophets, saying, 'Do not prophesy.'

13 Behold, I am pressed under you   /

as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.

14 Therefore, the flight shall perish from the swift   /

and the strong shall not strengthen his force, /

neither shall the mighty deliver himself;

15 Neither shall he stand who handles the bow,   /

and he who is swift of foot shall not deliver himself; /

neither shall he who rides the horse deliver himself.

16 And he who is courageous among the mighty   /

shall flee away naked in that day,"

says the LORD.

Chapter 3

The necessity of God’s judgment against Israel, 1-8. The publication of it, with the causes thereof, 9-15.

1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which he brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

2 "I have only known you of all the families of the earth;   /

therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities."

3 Can two walk together   /

unless they have agreed?

4 Will a lion roar in the forest   /

when he has no prey? /

Will a young lion cry out of his den /

if he has taken nothing?

5 Can a bird fall in a trap upon the earth   /

where no snare is for him? /

Shall one take up a trap from the earth /

and have taken nothing at all?

6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city   /

and the people not be afraid? /

Shall there be evil in a city /

and the LORD has not done it?

7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing   /

unless he reveals his secret /

to his servants the prophets.

8 The lion has roared.   /

Who will not fear? /

The Lord GOD has spoken. /

Who can but prophesy?

9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod   /

and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, /

and say, "Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, /

and behold the great tumults in the midst of it /

and the oppressed in the midst of it."

10 "For they do not know to do right,"

says the LORD,

"who store up violence and robbery   /

in their palaces."

11 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD:

"There shall even be an adversary around the land,   /

and he shall bring down your strength from you, /

and your palaces shall be plundered."

12 Thus says the LORD:

"As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion   /

two legs, or a piece of an ear, /

so the children of Israel shall be rescued /

who dwell in Samaria /

on the corner of a bed /

and in Damascus on a couch.

13 Hear, and testify in the house of Jacob,"

says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

14 "For in the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him,   /

I will also visit the altars of Beth-el. /

And the horns of the altar shall be cut off /

and fall to the ground.

15 And I will smite the winter-house   /

together with the summer-house, /

the houses of ivory shall perish, /

and the great houses shall have an end,"

says the LORD.

Chapter 4

He reproves Israel for oppression, 1-3, for idolatry, 4-5, and for their refusal to be returned and reformed, 6-13.

1 Hear this word, you heifers of Bashan,   /

who are in the mountain of Samaria, /

who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, /

who say to their masters, "Bring, and let us drink."

2 The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness:

"Behold, the days shall come upon you   /

that he will take you away with hooks /

and your posterity with fish-hooks,

3 And you shall go out at the breaches,   /

every cow at that which is before her, /

and you shall cast them into the palace,"

says the LORD.

4 "Come to Beth-el and transgress.   /

At Gilgal multiply transgression. /

Bring your sacrifices every morning /

and your tithes after three years.

5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven   /

and proclaim and publish the voluntary-offerings. /

For this pleases you, O children of Israel,"

says the Lord GOD.

6 "And I also have given you   /

cleanness of teeth in all your cities /

and lack of bread in all your places, /

yet you have not returned to me,"

says the LORD.

7 "And also I have withheld the rain from you   /

when there were yet three months to the harvest. /

And I caused it to rain upon one city /

and did not cause it to rain upon another city. /

One piece was rained upon, /

and the piece on which it did not rain withered.

8 So two or three cities wandered to one city to drink water,   /

but they were not satisfied. /

Yet you have not returned to me,"

says the LORD.

9 "I have smitten you with blight and mildew.   /

When your gardens, your vineyards, /

your fig-trees, and your olive-trees increased, /

the cutting-locust devoured them. /

Yet you have not returned to me,"

says the LORD.

10 "I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt.   /

I have slain your young men with the sword /

and have taken away your horses. /

I have made the ill savor of your camps /

to come up to your nostrils. /

Yet you have not returned to me,"

says the LORD.

11 "I have overthrown some of you,   /

as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, /

and you were as a fire-brand /

plucked out of the burning. /

Yet you have not returned to me,"

says the LORD.

12 "Therefore, thus I will do to you, O Israel.   /

And because I will do this to you, /

prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

13 For behold, he who forms the mountains,   /

creates the wind, /

declares to man what is his thought, /

makes the morning darkness, /

and treads upon the high places of the earth, /

Yahweh, the God of hosts, is his name."

Chapter 5

A lamentation for Israel, 1-3. An exhortation to repentance, 4-20. God rejects their hypocritical service, 21-27.

1 Hear this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.

2 "The virgin of Israel has fallen.   /

She shall no longer rise. /

She is forsaken upon her land. /

There is no one to raise her up."

3 For thus says the Lord GOD:

"The city that went out by a thousand   /

shall leave a hundred, /

and that which went forth by a hundred /

shall leave ten to the house of Israel."

4 For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel:

"Seek me and you shall live.

5 But do not seek Beth-el,   /

nor enter into Gilgal, /

and do not pass to Beer-sheba, /

for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity /

and Beth-el shall come to nothing.

6 Seek the LORD and you shall live,   /

lest he break out like fire /

in the house of Joseph /

and devour it /

and there be no one to quench it in Beth-el.

7 You who turn judgment to wormwood   /

and leave off righteousness on the earth,

8 Seek him who makes the seven stars and Orion,   /

turns the shadow of death into the morning, /

makes the day dark with night, /

who calls for the waters of the sea, /

and pours them out upon the face of the earth. /

YAHWEH is his name.

9 He causes destruction to flash upon the strong,   /

so that the destruction shall come against the fortress.

10 They hate him who rebukes in the gate   /

and they abhor him who speaks uprightly.

11 Because your treading is upon the poor   /

and you take burdens of wheat from him, /

therefore you have built houses of hewn stone, /

but you shall not dwell in them. /

And you have planted pleasant vineyards, /

but you shall not drink their wine.

12 For I know your manifold transgressions   /

and your mighty sins. /

They afflict the just, they take a bribe, /

and they turn aside the poor in the gate.

13 Therefore, the prudent shall keep silence in that time,   /

for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil,   /

so that you may live. /

Then the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, /

as you have spoken.

15 Hate the evil and love the good,   /

and establish judgment in the gate. /

It may be that the LORD God of hosts /

will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

16 Therefore, Yahweh, the God of hosts, the Lord, says thus:

"Wailing shall be in all streets,   /

and they shall say in all the highways, 'Alas! Alas!' /

And they shall call the farmer to mourning /

and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing.

17 And in all vineyards there shall be wailing,   /

for I will pass through you,"

says the LORD.

18 "Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!   /

To what end is it for you? /

The day of the LORD is darkness and not light,

19 As if a man fled from a lion   /

and a bear met him, /

or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall /

and a serpent bit him.

20 Shall the day of the LORD   /

not be darkness rather than light, /

even very dark and no brightness in it?

21 I hate, I despise your feast days   /

and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

22 Though you offer me burnt-offerings   /

and your food-offerings, /

I will not accept them, /

neither will I regard /

the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs,   /

for I will not hear the melody of your harps.

24 But let judgment run down as waters   /

and righteousness as a mighty stream.

25 "Have you offered to me sacrifices and offerings /

in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

26 But you have borne Sikkuth your king /

and Chiun, your images, the star of your god, /

which you made for yourselves.

27 Therefore, I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,"

says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.

References

[v.25]: Quoted in Acts 7:42. [v.26]: Quoted in Acts 7:43. [v.27]: Quoted in Acts 7:43.

Chapter 6

The wantonness of Israel, 1-6, shall be plagued with desolation, 7-11; and their refusal to reform shall end in affliction, 12-14.

1 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion   /

and are secure on the mountain of Samaria, /

who are named chief of the nations, /

to whom the house of Israel came!

2 Pass to Calneh and see,   /

and from there go to Hamath the great. /

Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. /

Are they better than these kingdoms? /

Or is their border greater than your border?

3 You put the evil day far away   /

and cause the seat of violence to come near.

4 You lie upon beds of ivory   /

and stretch yourselves upon their couches, /

and eat lambs from the flock /

and calves from the midst of the stall.

5 You chant to the sound of the harp   /

and invent for yourselves instruments of music, like David.

6 You drink wine in bowls   /

and anoint yourselves with the chief ointments, /

but you are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

7 Therefore, now they shall go captive with the first who go captive,   /

and the revelry of those who stretched themselves out shall end.

8 "The Lord GOD has sworn by himself,"

says the LORD the God of hosts,

"I abhor the excellence of Jacob   /

and hate his palaces; /

therefore, I will deliver up the city /

with all its abundance.

9 "And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, they shall die. 10 And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he who burns him, to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is by the sides of the house, 'Is there yet any with you?' And he shall say, 'No.' Then he shall say, 'Hold your tongue, for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.' 11 For behold, the LORD commands, and he will smite the great house to ruins and the little house to pieces.

12 "Shall horses run upon the rock?   /

Will one plow there with oxen? /

For you have turned judgment into gall /

and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock,

13 You who rejoice in a thing of nothing,   /

who say, 'Have we not taken horns for ourselves /

by our own strength?'

14 But behold, I will raise up against you a nation,   /

O house of Israel,"

says the LORD the God of hosts,

"and they shall afflict you   /

from the entrance of Hamath /

to the river of the wilderness."

Chapter 7

The judgments of the swarm of locusts, 1-3, and of the fire are diverted by the prayer of Amos, 4-6. By the wall of a plumb-line is signified the rejection of Israel, 7-9. Amaziah makes an accusation against Amos, 10-13. Amos shows his calling, 14, 15; and Amaziah’s judgment, 16, 17.

1 Thus the Lord GOD has shown to me, and behold, he formed a swarm of locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. 2 And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said,

"O Lord GOD, forgive, I implore you.   /

By whom shall Jacob arise? /

For he is small."

3 The LORD repented for this. "It shall not be," says the LORD.

4 Thus the Lord GOD has shown to me, and behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep and ate up a part. 5 Then I said,

"O Lord GOD, cease, I implore you.   /

By whom shall Jacob arise? /

For he is small."

6 The LORD repented for this. "This also shall not be," says the Lord GOD.

7 Thus he showed me, and behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb-line with a plumb-line in his hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb-line." Then the Lord said,

"Behold, I will set a plumb-line   /

in the midst of my people Israel. /

I will not again pass by them anymore.

9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate   /

and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. /

And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam /

with the sword."

10 Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos says: 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.'" 12 Also Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go flee away into the land of Judah, eat bread there, and prophesy there. 13 But do not prophesy again anymore at Beth-el, for it is the king’s chapel and it is the king’s court."

14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel and do not drop your word against the house of Isaac.' 17 Therefore, thus says the LORD:

'Your wife shall be a harlot in the city,   /

and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword. /

Your land shall be divided by line, /

and you shall die in a polluted land. /

And Israel shall surely go from his land into captivity.'"

Chapter 8

By a basket of summer fruit is shown the approach of Israel’s end, 1-3. Oppression is reproved, 4-10. A famine of the word of God threatened, 11-14.

1 Thus the Lord GOD has shown to me, and behold, a basket of summer fruit. 2 And he said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me,

"The end has come upon my people of Israel.   /

I will not again pass by them anymore.

3 And the songs of the temple   /

shall be howlings in that day,"

says the Lord GOD.

"There shall be many dead bodies in every place.   /

They shall cast them forth with silence.

4 Hear this, O you who swallow up the needy,   /

even to make the poor of the land to fail,

5 Saying, 'When will the new moon be gone   /

so that we may sell grain, /

and the sabbath /

so that we may set forth wheat, /

making the ephah small /

and the shekel great, /

and falsifying the balances by deceit,

6 So that we may buy the poor for silver   /

and the needy for a pair of shoes, /

and even sell the refuse of the wheat?'"

7 The LORD has sworn by the excellence of Jacob,   /

"Surely I will never forget any of their works.

8 Shall the land not tremble for this,   /

and everyone mourn who dwells in it? /

It shall rise up wholly as a flood, /

and it shall be cast out and drowned /

as by the flood of Egypt.

9 And it shall come to pass in that day,"

says the Lord GOD,

"that I will cause the sun to go down at noon   /

and I will darken the earth in the clear day,

10 I will turn your feasts into mourning   /

and all your songs into lamentation, /

I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins /

and baldness upon every head, /

and I will make it as the mourning of an only son /

and its end as a bitter day.

11 Behold, the days come,"

says the Lord GOD,

"that I will send a famine in the land,   /

not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, /

but of hearing the words of the LORD.

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea   /

and from the north even to the east, /

they shall run to and fro /

to seek the word of the LORD /

and shall not find it.

13 In that day the fair virgins   /

and young men shall faint for thirst.

14 Those who swear by the sin of Samaria,   /

and say, 'Your god, O Dan, lives,' /

and, 'The manner of Beer-sheba lives,' /

even they shall fall and never rise again."

Chapter 9

The certainty of the desolation, 1-10. The restoring of the tabernacle of David, 11-15.

1 I saw the Lord standing upon the altar, and he said,   /

"Smite the lintel of the door, /

so that the posts may shake. /

Cut them in the head, all of them. /

I will slay the last of them with the sword. /

He who flees of them shall not flee away, /

and he who escapes of them shall not be delivered.

2 Though they dig into the place of the dead,   /

from there my hand shall take them. /

Though they climb up to heaven, /

from there I will bring them down.

3 Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,   /

I will search and take them out from there. /

Though they are hid from my sight /

in the bottom of the sea, /

from there I will command the serpent, /

and he shall bite them.

4 Though they go into captivity before their enemies,   /

from there I will command the sword, /

and it shall slay them. /

And I will set my eyes upon them /

for evil and not for good."

5 And the Lord GOD of hosts   /

is he who touches the land, and it shall melt, /

and all who dwell in it shall mourn. /

And it shall rise up wholly like a flood, /

and shall be drowned as by the flood of Egypt.

6 It is he who builds his upper chambers in the heaven   /

and has founded his vault on the earth, /

he who calls for the waters of the sea /

and pours them out upon the face of the earth— /

Yahweh is his name.

7 "Are you not as children of the Cushites to me,   /

O children of Israel?"

says the LORD.

"Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt,   /

the Philistines from Caphtor, /

and the Assyrians from Kir?

8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD   /

are upon the sinful kingdom, /

and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth, /

except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,"

says the LORD.

9 "For behold, I will command,   /

and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations /

as grain is sifted in a sieve, /

yet the least grain shall not fall upon the earth.

10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword,   /

who say, 'The evil shall not overtake nor fall upon us.'

11 In that day I will raise up /

the tabernacle of David that has fallen /

and close up its breaches. /

And I will raise up its ruins /

and build it as in the days of old,

12 So that they may possess the remnant of Edom /

and of all the heathen who are called by my name,"

says the LORD who does this.

13 "Behold, the days come,"

says the LORD,

"that the plowman shall overtake the reaper,   /

and the treader of grapes /

shall overtake him who sows seed. /

And the mountains shall drop sweet wine, /

and all the hills shall melt.

14 And I will bring back the captivity of my people of Israel,   /

and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them. /

And they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. /

They shall also make gardens and eat their fruit.

15 And I will plant them upon their land,   /

and they shall no longer be pulled up /

out of their land which I have given them,"

says the LORD your God.

References

[v.11]: Quoted in Acts 15:16. [v.12]: Quoted in Acts 15:17.

[Tanach reading: go to Obadiah]

THE VISION OF OBADIAH

Chapter 1

The destruction of Edom, 1, 2, for their pride, 3-9, and for their wrong to Jacob, 10-16. The salvation and victory of Jacob, 17-21.

1 [The vision of Obadiah.] Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom—we have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, saying, "Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle"—

2 "Behold, I have made you small among the heathen.   /

You are greatly despised.

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,   /

you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, /

whose habitation is high, /

who says in his heart, /

'Who shall bring me down to the ground?'

4 Though you exalt yourself as the eagle   /

and though you set your nest among the stars, /

from there I will bring you down,"

says the LORD.

5 "If thieves came to you, if robbers by night   /

(O how you are cut off!), /

would they not have stolen until they had enough? /

If the grape-gatherers came to you, /

would they not leave some grapes?

6 How the things of Esau are searched out!   /

How his hidden things are sought!

7 All the men of your confederacy   /

have brought you even to the border. /

The men who were at peace with you /

have deceived you and prevailed against you. /

Those who eat your bread /

have laid a wound under you. /

There is no understanding in him.

8 Shall I not in that day,"

says the LORD,

"even destroy the wise men out of Edom   /

and understanding out of the mountain of Esau?

9 And your mighty men, O Teman,   /

shall be dismayed, /

to the end that everyone of the mountain of Esau /

may be cut off by slaughter.

10 "For your violence against your brother Jacob,   /

shame shall cover you, /

and you shall be cut off forever.

11 In the day that you stood on the other side,   /

in the day that the strangers carried away his forces captive /

and foreigners entered into his gates /

and cast lots upon Jerusalem, /

even you were as one of them.

12 But you should not have looked in the day of your brother,   /

in the day that he became a stranger, /

neither should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah /

in the day of their destruction, /

neither should you have spoken proudly /

in the day of distress.

13 You should not have entered into the gate of my people   /

in the day of their calamity. /

Indeed, you should not have looked upon their affliction /

in the day of their calamity, /

nor have laid hands on their substance /

in the day of their calamity,

14 Neither should you have stood in the cross-way   /

to cut off those of his who escaped, /

neither should you have delivered up those of his who remained /

in the day of distress.

15 "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen.   /

As you have done, it shall be done to you. /

Your reward shall return upon your own head.

16 For as you have drank upon my holy mountain,   /

so all the heathen shall drink continually. /

Indeed, they shall drink and they shall swallow down, /

and they shall be as though they had not been.

17 But upon mount Zion there shall be deliverance   /

and there shall be holiness. /

And the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire,   /

the house of Joseph a flame, /

and the house of Esau for stubble, /

and they shall kindle in them and devour them. /

And there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau."

For the LORD has spoken it.

19 And those of the south shall possess the mountain of Esau,   /

and those of the plain, the Philistines. /

And they shall possess the fields of Ephraim /

and the fields of Samaria. /

And Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel   /

shall possess that of the Canaanites, even to Zarephath. /

And the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, /

shall possess the cities of the south.

21 And saviors shall come upon mount Zion   /

to judge the mountain of Esau, /

and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

[Tanach reading: go to Jonah]

THE STORY OF JONAH

Chapter 1

Jonah, sent to Nineveh, flees to Tarshish, 1-3. He is exposed by a tempest, 4-10; thrown into the sea, 11-16; and swallowed by a fish, 17.

1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD and went down to Joppa, and he found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid its fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was in danger of being broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god and cast the wares that were in the ship into the sea to lighten it of them. But Jonah had gone down into the sides of the ship, and he lay and was fast asleep. 6 So the ship-master came to him and said to him, "What do you mean, O sleeper? Arise, call upon your God. It may be that God will think upon us so that we do not perish."

7 And they each said to his fellow, "Come, and let us cast lots so that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, "Tell us, we pray you, for whose cause this evil is upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" 9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land."

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you so that the sea may be calm for us?" For the sea wrought and was tempestuous. 12 And he said to them, "Take me and cast me into the sea so that the sea shall be calm for you, for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to bring it to the land, but they could not, for the sea wrought and was tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore, they cried to the LORD, and said, "We implore you, O LORD, we implore you, do not let us perish for this man’s life and do not lay upon us innocent blood. For you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you."

15 So they took Jonah and cast him into the sea. And the sea ceased from her raging. 16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

References

[v.17]: Quoted in Matthew 12:40.

Chapter 2

The prayer of Jonah, 1-9. He is delivered out of the belly of the fish, 10.

1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said,

"I cried by reason of my affliction   /

to the LORD, and he heard me. /

Out of the belly of hell I cried, /

and you heard my voice.

3 For you had cast me into the deep,   /

in the midst of the seas, /

and the floods encompassed me. /

All your billows and your waves /

passed over me.

4 Then I said, 'I am cast   /

out of your sight, /

yet I will look again /

toward your holy temple.'

5 The waters encompassed me,   /

even to the soul. /

The depth enclosed me on every side. /

The weeds were wrapped around my head.

6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains.   /

The earth with her bars was around me forever. /

Yet you have brought up my life from corruption, /

O LORD my God.

7 When my soul fainted within me   /

I remembered the LORD. /

And my prayer came to you, /

into your holy temple.

8 Those who observe lying vanities   /

forsake their own mercy.

9 But I will sacrifice to you   /

with the voice of thanksgiving. /

I will pay that which I have vowed. /

Salvation is of the LORD."

10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Chapter 3

Jonah, sent again, preaches to the Ninevites, 1-4. Upon their repentance, 5-9, God repents, 10.

1 And the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the preaching that I bid you." 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city of three days' journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city for a day’s journey and he cried, and said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown."

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest even to the least of them. 6 For word came to the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, took off his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Do not let them feed, nor drink water. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and cry mightily to God. Indeed, let them each turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger so that we do not perish?"

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. And God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Chapter 4

Jonah repining at God’s mercy, 1-3, is reproved by the type of a gourd, 4-11.

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "I pray you, O LORD, was this not my saying when I was yet in my country? Therefore, I fled before to Tarshish. For I knew that you are a gracious God, merciful, slow to anger, of great kindness, and repenting of the evil. 3 Now therefore, O LORD, take, I implore you, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 Then the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?"

5 So Jonah went out of the city, sat on the east side of the city, made himself a booth there, and sat under it in the shade until he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd and made it to come up over Jonah so that it might be a shade over his head to deliver him from his grief. Thus Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the gourd. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd so that it withered. 8 And it came to pass, when the sun rose, that God prepared a vehement east wind. And the sun beat upon the head of Jonah so that he fainted and wished in himself to die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."

9 And God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry because of the gourd?" And he said, "I do well to be angry, even to death." 10 Then the LORD said, "You have had pity on the gourd, for which you have not labored, neither made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand—and also many cattle?"

[Tanach reading: go to Micah]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO MICAH

Chapter 1

The time when Micah prophesied, 1. He shows the wrath of God against Jacob for idolatry, 2-9. He exhorts to mourning, 10-16.

1 [The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.]

2 Hear, all you people. /

Listen, O earth and all who are therein. /

Let the Lord GOD be witness against you, /

the Lord from his holy temple.

3 For behold, the LORD comes forth from his place, /

and will come down and tread /

upon the high places of the earth.

4 And the mountains shall be melted under him, /

and the valleys shall be split, /

as wax before the fire /

and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.

5 "All this is for the transgression of Jacob /

and for the sins of the house of Israel. /

What is the transgression of Jacob? /

Is it not Samaria? /

And what are the high places of Judah? /

Are they not Jerusalem?

6 Therefore, I will make Samaria as a heap of the field /

and as plantings of a vineyard. /

And I will pour down her stones into the valley /

and lay her foundations bare.

7 And all her engraved images shall be beaten to pieces, /

all her wages shall be burned with the fire, /

and all her idols I will lay desolate, /

for she gathered it from the payment of a harlot, /

and they shall return to the payment of a harlot."

8 Therefore, I will wail and howl. /

I will go stripped and naked. /

I will make a wailing like the jackals /

and mourning as the owls.

9 For her wound is incurable, /

and it has come to Judah. /

He has come to the gate of my people, /

even to Jerusalem.

10 Do not declare it at Gath. /

Do not weep at all. /

In the house of Aphrah roll yourself in the dust.

11 Pass on, you inhabitant of Saphir, /

having your shame exposed. /

The inhabitant of Zaanan did not come forth /

in the mourning of Beth-ezel. /

He shall receive from you his standing.

12 For the inhabitant of Maroth /

waited anxiously for good, /

but evil came down from the LORD /

to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 O inhabitant of Lachish, /

bind the chariot to the swift beast. /

She is the beginning of the sin /

to the daughter of Zion, /

for the transgressions of Israel /

were found in you.

14 Therefore, you shall give presents /

to Moresheth-gath. /

The houses of Achzib shall be a lie /

to the kings of Israel.

15 Yet I will bring an heir to you, /

O inhabitant of Mareshah. /

The glory of Israel shall come to Adullam.

16 Make yourself bald and shave yourself /

for the children of your delight. /

Enlarge your baldness as the eagle, /

for they have gone into captivity from you.

Chapter 2

Against oppression, 1-3. A lamentation, 4-6. A reproof of injustice and idolatry, 7-11. A promise of restoring Jacob, 12, 13.

1 Woe to those who devise iniquity /

and work evil upon their beds! /

When the morning is light, they practice it, /

because it is in the power of their hand.

2 And they covet fields and take them by violence, /

and also houses, and take them away. /

Thus they oppress a man and his house, /

even a man and his heritage.

3 Therefore, thus says the LORD: /

"Behold, against this family I devise an evil, /

from which you shall not remove your necks, /

neither shall you go haughtily, for this time is evil.

4 In that day one shall take up a parable against you /

and lament with a grievous lamentation, and say, /

'We are utterly wasted. /

He has changed the portion of my people. /

How he has removed it from me! /

To the rebellious he has divided our fields.'

5 Therefore, you shall have no one /

who shall cast the line by lot /

in the congregation of the LORD.

6 'Do not prophesy,' they say to those who prophesy. /

They shall not prophesy to them. /

Reproaches shall not depart.

7 Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, /

'Is the Spirit of the LORD shortened? /

Are these his doings?' /

Do my words not do good /

to him who walks uprightly?

8 Even of late my people have risen up /

as an enemy. /

You pull off the robe with the garment /

from those who pass by securely /

as men averse to war.

9 The women of my people you have cast out /

from their pleasant houses. /

From their children /

you have taken away my glory forever.

10 Arise, and depart, for this is not your rest. /

Because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, /

even with a grievous destruction.

11 If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies, saying, /

'I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink,' /

he shall even be the prophet of this people.

12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of you. /

I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. /

I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, /

as the flock in the midst of their fold. /

They shall make great noise /

by reason of the multitude of men.

13 The breaker has come up before them. /

They have broken up and have passed through the gate /

and gone out by it. /

And their king shall pass before them, /

and the LORD at their head."

Chapter 3

The cruelty of the princes, 1-4. The falsehood of the prophets, 5-7. The ill-grounded security of them both, 8-12.

1 And I said, /

"Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob /

and you princes of the house of Israel. /

Is it not for you to know judgment?

2 You hate the good and love the evil. /

You pluck off their skin from them /

and their flesh from off their bones.

3 You also eat the flesh of my people /

and flay their skin from off them. /

You break their bones /

and chop them in pieces, /

as that which is for the pot, /

and as flesh within the cauldron.

4 Then you shall cry to the LORD, /

but he will not hear you. /

He will even hide his face from you at that time, /

as you have been ill behaved in your doings."

5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets /

who deceive my people, /

who bite with their teeth, /

and cry, "Peace," /

and he who puts nothing into their mouths, /

they even prepare war against him:

6 "Therefore, night shall be for you /

so that you shall not have a vision. /

And it shall be dark for you /

so that you shall not divine. /

And the sun shall go down over the prophets, /

and the day shall be dark over them.

7 Then the seers shall be ashamed /

and the diviners confounded. /

Indeed, they shall all cover their lips, /

for there is no answer from God."

8 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, /

and of judgment and of might, /

to declare to Jacob his transgression /

and to Israel his sin.

9 Hear this, I pray you, you heads of the house of Jacob /

and princes of the house of Israel, /

who abhor judgment and pervert all equity.

10 They build up Zion with blood /

and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11 Her heads judge for bribes, /

her priests teach for payment, /

and her prophets divine for money. /

Yet they will lean upon the LORD and say, /

"Is the LORD not among us? /

No evil can come upon us."

12 Therefore, Zion for your sake /

shall be plowed as a field, /

Jerusalem shall become heaps, /

and the mountain of the house /

as the high places of the forest.

Chapter 4

The glory, 1, 2, and the peace of Christ’s kingdom, 5. The restoration, 6-10, and victory of the church, 11-13.

1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, /

that the mountain of the house of the LORD /

shall be established on the top of the mountains, /

and it shall be exalted above the hills, /

and people shall flow to it.

2 And many nations shall come and say, /

"Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD /

and to the house of the God of Jacob, /

and he will teach us of his ways, /

and we will walk in his paths." /

For the law shall go forth from Zion /

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people /

and rebuke strong nations afar off. /

And they shall beat their swords into plow-shares /

and their spears into pruning-hooks. /

Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, /

neither shall they learn war anymore.

4 But they shall each sit under his vine /

and under his fig-tree, /

and no one shall make them afraid. /

For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken it.

5 For all people will each walk in the name of his god, /

and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God /

forever and ever.

6 "In that day," says the LORD, /

"I will assemble her who is lame. /

I will gather her who is driven out /

and her whom I have afflicted.

7 I will make her who was lame a remnant /

and her who was cast far off a strong nation. /

And the LORD will reign over them on mount Zion /

from now on, even forever."

8 And you, O tower of the flock, /

the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, /

it shall come to you, /

even the former dominion shall come, /

the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why do you cry aloud? /

Is there no king in you? /

Has your counselor perished? /

For pangs have taken you as a woman in travail.

10 Be in pain and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, /

like a woman in travail. /

For now you shall go forth from the city /

and you shall dwell in the field, /

and you shall go even to Babylon. /

There you shall be delivered. /

There the LORD shall redeem you /

from the hand of your enemies.

11 Now also many nations are gathered against you, /

who say, "Let her be defiled, /

and let our eye look upon Zion."

12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, /

neither do they understand his counsel, /

for he will gather them as sheaves into the floor.

13 "Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, /

for I will make your horn iron /

and I will make your hooves brass. /

And you shall beat many people in pieces. /

And I will consecrate their gain to YAHWEH /

and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth."

Chapter 5

The birth of Christ, 1-3. His kingdom, 4-7. His conquest, 8-15.

1 Now gather yourself in troops, /

O daughter of troops. /

He has laid siege against us. /

They shall smite the judge of Israel /

with a rod upon the cheek.

2 "But you, Beth-lehem Ephratah, /

though you are little among the thousands of Judah, /

yet out of you he shall come forth to me /

who is to be ruler in Israel, /

whose goings forth have been from of old, /

from everlasting."

3 Therefore, he will give them up /

until the time that she who travails has brought forth. /

Then the remnant of his brothers shall return /

to the children of Israel.

4 And he will stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, /

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. /

And they shall abide, for now he will be great /

to the ends of the earth.

5 And this one will be peace. /

When the Assyrian comes into our land /

and treads in our palaces, /

we shall raise against him seven shepherds /

and eight principal men.

6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword /

and the land of Nimrod in its entrances. /

Thus he will deliver us from the Assyrian /

when he comes into our land /

and treads within our borders.

7 And the remnant of Jacob /

shall be in the midst of many people /

as a dew from the LORD, /

as the showers upon the grass, /

which do not wait for man, /

nor delay for the sons of men.

8 And the remnant of Jacob /

shall be among the Gentiles /

in the midst of many people /

as a lion among the beasts of the forest, /

as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, /

who, if he goes through, /

both treads down and tears in pieces, /

and no one can deliver.

9 Your hand shall be lifted up upon your adversaries, /

and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10 "And it shall come to pass in that day," says the LORD, /

"that I will cut off your horses out of the midst of you /

and destroy your chariots.

11 And I will cut off the cities of your land /

and throw down all your strongholds.

12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of your hand, /

and you shall have no more soothsayers.

13 Your engraved images I will also cut off, /

and your standing images out of the midst of you, /

and you shall no longer worship the work of your hands.

14 And I will pluck up your groves out of the midst of you. /

Thus I will destroy your cities.

15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury /

upon the heathen who have not heard."

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Matthew 2:6.

Chapter 6

God’s controversy for ingratitude, 1-5; for ignorance, 6-9, for injustice, 10-15; and for idolatry, 16.

1 Hear now what the LORD says. /

"Arise, contend before the mountains /

and let the hills hear your voice.

2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, /

and you strong foundations of the earth, /

for the LORD has a controversy with his people /

and he will plead with Israel.

3 O my people, what have I done to you? /

And how have I wearied you? /

Testify against me.

4 For I brought you out of the land of Egypt /

and redeemed you from the house of servants, /

and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 O my people, remember now /

what Balak king of Moab consulted, /

and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, /

[and what I did] from Shittim to Gilgal, /

so that you may know the righteousness of the LORD."

6 How shall I come before the LORD /

and bow myself before the high God? /

Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, /

with calves of a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, /

or with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? /

Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, /

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. /

And what does the LORD require of you, /

but to do justly, to love mercy, /

and to walk humbly with your God?

9 The LORD’S voice cries to the city— /

and wisdom shall fear your name, /

"Hear the rod and who has appointed it.

10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness /

in the house of the ungodly, /

and the scant measure that is abominable?

11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances /

and with the bag of deceitful weights?

12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence /

and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, /

and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 Therefore, I have also made you to grieve in smiting you. /

I have made you desolate because of your sins.

14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied, /

and your emptiness shall be in the midst of you. /

And you shall take hold, /

but shall not preserve. /

And that which you preserve /

I will give up to the sword.

15 You shall sow, but you shall not reap. /

You shall tread the olives, /

but you shall not anoint yourself with oil. /

You shall make sweet wine, /

but shall not drink wine.

16 For the statutes of Omri /

and all the works of the house of Ahab are kept, /

and you walk in their counsels. /

Therefore, I will make you a desolation /

and the inhabitants thereof a hissing, /

and you shall bear the reproach of my people."

Chapter 7

The church, complaining of her small number, 1, 2, and the general corruption, 3, 4, puts her confidence not in man, but in God, 5-7. She triumphs over her enemies, 8-13. She prays to God, 14. God comforts her by promises of confusion to her enemies, 15-17, and by his mercies, 18-20.

1 Woe is me! /

For I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, /

as the grape-gleanings of the vintage. /

There is no cluster to eat. /

My soul desired the first ripe fruit.

2 The godly man has perished from the earth /

and there is no one upright among men. /

They all lie in wait for blood. /

They each hunt his brother with a net.

3 Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it thoroughly. /

The prince and also the judge ask for a reward. /

And the great man, he utters the evil desire of his soul. /

Thus they weave it together.

4 The best of them is as a brier. /

The most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge. /

The day of your watchmen and your visitation comes. /

Now shall be their perplexity.

5 Do not trust in a friend. /

Do not put confidence in a guide. /

Keep the doors of your mouth /

from her who lies in your bosom.

6 For the son dishonors the father, /

the daughter rises up against her mother, /

the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. /

A man’s enemies are the men of his own house.

7 Therefore, I will look to the LORD. /

I will wait for the God of my salvation. /

My God will hear me.

8 Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy. /

When I fall, I shall arise. /

When I sit in darkness, /

the LORD will be a light to me.

9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, /

because I have sinned against him, /

until he pleads my cause /

and executes judgment for me. /

He will bring me forth to the light, /

and I shall behold his righteousness.

10 Then she who is my enemy shall see it, /

and shame shall cover her who said to me, /

"Where is the LORD your God?" /

My eyes shall behold her. /

Now she shall be trodden down /

as the mire of the streets.

11 In the day that your walls are to be built, /

in that day the decree shall be far removed.

12 In that day they shall also come even to you /

from Assyria and from the fortified cities /

and from the fortress even to the river, /

from sea to sea /

and from mountain to mountain.

13 But the land shall be desolate /

because of those who dwell in it, /

for the fruit of their doings.

14 Feed your people with your rod, /

the flock of your heritage, /

who dwell solitarily in the forest, /

in the midst of Carmel. /

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, /

as in the days of old.

15 "According to the days of your departure /

from the land of Egypt /

I will show to them marvelous things."

16 The nations shall see and be confounded /

at all their might. /

They shall lay their hand upon their mouth. /

Their ears shall be deaf.

17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent. /

They shall move out of their holes /

like worms of the earth. /

They shall be afraid of the LORD our God /

and shall fear because of you.

18 Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity /

and passes by the transgression /

of the remnant of his heritage? /

He does not retain his anger forever /

because he delights in mercy.

19 He will return. He will have compassion upon us. /

He will tread our iniquities under foot. /

And you will cast all their sins /

into the depths of the sea.

20 You will give the truth to Jacob /

and the mercy to Abraham, /

which you have sworn to our fathers /

from the days of old.

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Matthew 10:35-36.

[Tanach reading: go to Nahum]

THE VISION OF NAHUM

Chapter 1

The majesty of God in goodness to his people and severity against his enemies, 1-15.

1 [The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.]

2 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges. /

The LORD avenges and has indignation. /

The LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries /

and he reserves wrath for his enemies.

3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, /

and will not at all acquit the wicked. /

The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, /

and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, /

and dries up all the rivers. /

Bashan and Carmel languish, /

and the flower of Lebanon languishes.

5 The mountains quake at him /

and the hills melt. /

The earth is upheaved at his presence, /

even the world and all who dwell therein.

6 Who can stand before his indignation? /

And who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? /

His fury is poured out like fire, /

and the rocks are broken apart by him.

7 The LORD is good, /

a stronghold in the day of trouble. /

And he knows those who trust in him.

8 But with an over-running flood /

he will make an utter end of the place thereof, /

and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 What do you devise against the LORD? /

He will make an utter end. /

Affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 For while they are tangled together as thorns /

and while they are drunken as drunkards, /

they shall be devoured as fully dried stubble.

11 There is one gone out of you /

who devises evil against the LORD. /

He is a wicked counselor.

12 Thus says the LORD: /

"Though they are quiet and likewise many, /

yet thus they shall be cut down, /

and he shall pass away. /

Though I have afflicted you, /

I will no longer afflict you.

13 For now I will break his yoke from off you /

and will tear off your bonds."

14 And the LORD has given a commandment concerning you, /

that no more of your name be sown. /

"Out of the house of your gods I will cut off /

the engraved image and the molten image. /

I will make your grave, for you are vile."

15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him /

who brings good tidings, who publishes peace! /

O Judah, keep your solemn feasts /

and perform your vows, /

for the wicked shall no longer pass through you. /

He is utterly cut off.

Chapter 2

The fearful and victorious armies of God against Nineveh, 1-13.

1 He who dashes in pieces /

has come up before your face. /

Guard the fortress, /

watch the way, make your loins strong, /

and fortify your power mightily.

2 For the LORD has turned away the excellence of Jacob, /

as the excellence of Israel. /

For the emptiers have emptied them out /

and marred their vine branches.

3 The shield of his mighty men is made red. /

The valiant men are in scarlet. /

The chariots shall be with flaming torches /

in the day of his preparation, /

and the fir-trees shall be terribly shaken.

4 The chariots shall rage in the streets. /

They shall jostle one against another in the broad ways. /

They shall seem like torches /

and they shall run like the lightnings.

5 He shall recount his nobles. /

They shall stumble in their walk. /

They shall make haste to the wall thereof, /

and the defense shall be prepared.

6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened, /

and the palace shall be dissolved.

7 And she who stood firm shall be led away captive, /

she shall be brought up, /

and her women-servants shall lead her /

as with the voice of doves, /

beating upon their breasts.

8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water. /

Yet they shall flee away. /

"Stand, stand," they shall cry, /

but no one shall look back.

9 Take the plunder of silver and take the plunder of gold. /

There is no end to the supply. /

There is glory from all the desirable vessels.

10 She is empty, void, and waste. /

And the heart melts, the knees smite together, /

much pain is in all loins, /

and all of their faces gather blackness.

11 Where is the dwelling of the lions /

and the feeding-place of the young lions, /

where the lion, the lioness, /

and the lion’s whelp walked /

and no one made them afraid?

12 The lion tore in pieces enough for his whelps /

and strangled for his lionesses. /

And he filled his caves with prey /

and his dens with flesh.

13 "Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts, /

"and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, /

and the sword shall devour your young lions. /

And I will cut off your prey from the earth, /

and the voice of your messengers /

shall be heard no more."

Chapter 3

The miserable ruin of Nineveh, 1-19.

1 Woe to the bloody city! /

It is all full of lies and robberies. /

The prey does not depart.

2 The noise of a whip /

and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, /

of the prancing horses, /

and of the bounding chariots!

3 The horseman mounting, /

the flashing sword, and the glittering spear! /

There is a multitude of slain /

and a great number of carcasses, /

and there is no end of their corpses. /

They stumble upon their corpses,

4 All because of the multitude of the lewd deeds /

of the well-favored harlot, /

the mistress of witchcrafts, /

who sells nations through her lewd deeds /

and families through her witchcrafts.

5 "Behold, I am against you," /

says the LORD of hosts, /

"and I will lift your skirts over your face /

and I will show the nations your nakedness /

and the kingdoms your shame.

6 And I will cast abominable filth upon /

you and make you vile /

and will set you as a spectacle.

7 And it shall come to pass, /

that all those who look upon you /

shall flee from you /

and say, 'Nineveh is laid waste! /

Who will bemoan her?' /

From where shall I seek comforters for you?"

8 Are you better than No-Amon /

that was situated among the rivers, /

that had the waters around it, /

whose rampart was the sea /

and her wall was from the sea?

9 Cush and Egypt were her strength, /

and it was infinite. /

Put and Lubim were your helpers.

10 Yet she was carried away. /

She went into captivity. /

Her young children also were dashed in pieces /

at the head of all the streets. /

And they cast lots for her honorable men, /

and all her great men were bound in chains.

11 You also shall be drunken. /

You shall be hid. /

You also shall seek strength /

because of the enemy.

12 All your strongholds shall be like fig-trees /

with the first ripe figs. /

If they are shaken, /

they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

13 Behold, your people in the midst of you are women. /

The gates of your land /

shall be set wide open to your enemies. /

The fire shall devour your bars.

14 Draw waters for the siege. /

Fortify your strongholds. /

Go into clay and tread the mortar. /

Make the brick-kiln strong.

15 The fire shall devour you there. /

The sword shall cut you off. /

It shall eat you up like the licking-locust. /

Make yourself many as the licking-locust. /

Make yourself many as the swarming-locust.

16 You have multiplied your merchants /

above the stars of heaven. /

The licking-locust strips and flies away.

17 Your crowned ones are as the swarming-locusts, /

and your captains as the swarms of locusts, /

which settle in the hedges on the cold day. /

But when the sun arises they flee away, /

and the place where they are is unknown.

18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria. /

Your nobles shall dwell in the dust. /

Your people are scattered upon the mountains /

and no man gathers them.

19 There is no healing of your breach. /

Your wound is grievous. /

All who hear your fame /

shall clap the hands over you. /

For upon whom has your wickedness /

not passed continually?

[Tanach reading: go to Habakkuk]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO HABAKKUK

Chapter 1

To Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, 1-4, is shown the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans, 5-11. He complains that vengeance should be executed by those who are far worse, 12-17.

1 [The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw.]

2 O LORD, how long shall I cry /

and you will not hear? /

I even cry out to you of violence, /

and you will not save!

3 Why do you show me iniquity /

and cause me to behold grievance? /

For devastation and violence are before me. /

And there is strife, and contention rises up.

4 Therefore, the law is slackened, /

and judgment never goes forth. /

For the wicked encompasses the righteous; /

therefore, perverted justice proceeds.

5 "Behold among the heathen and regard. /

Wonder and be astonished. /

For I will work a work in your days /

which you will not believe though it is told to you.

6 For behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, /

that bitter and hasty nation, /

which shall march through the breadth of the land /

to possess the dwelling-places that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and dreadful. /

Their judgment and their dignity /

shall proceed from themselves.

8 Their horses are also swifter than the leopards /

and are more fierce than the evening wolves. /

And their horsemen shall spread themselves /

and their horsemen shall come from far. /

They shall fly as the eagle that hastens to devour.

9 They shall all come for violence. /

Their faces shall swallow up the east wind, /

and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10 And they shall scoff at the kings, /

and the princes shall be a scorn to them. /

They shall deride every stronghold, /

for they shall heap dust and take it.

11 Then his mind shall change /

and he shall pass over and offend, /

imputing his power to his god."

12 Are you not from everlasting, /

O LORD my God, my Holy One? /

We shall not die. /

O LORD, you have ordained them for judgment. /

And O mighty God, /

you have established them for correction.

13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, /

and cannot look at iniquity. /

Why do you look upon those who deal treacherously, /

and keep silence when the wicked devours /

the man who is more righteous than he is?

14 You make men as the fish of the sea, /

as the creeping animals that have no ruler over them.

15 They take up all of them with the hook, /

they catch them in their net /

and gather them in their dragnet; /

therefore, they rejoice and are glad.

16 Therefore, they sacrifice to their net /

and burn incense to their dragnet, /

because by them their portion is fat /

and their food plenteous.

17 Shall they therefore empty their net /

and not spare continually to slay the nations?

References

[v.5]: Quoted in Acts 13:41.

Chapter 2

To Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, is shown that he must wait by faith, 1-4. The judgment upon the Chaldean for insatiableness, 5-8, for covetousness, 9-11, for cruelty, 12-14, for drunkenness, 15-17, and for idolatry, 18-20.

1 I will stand upon my watch-post /

and seat myself upon the tower, /

and will watch to see what he will say to me, /

and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the LORD answered me and said, /

"Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, /

so that he may run who reads it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, /

but at the end it shall speak, and not lie. /

Though it may linger, wait for it, /

because it will surely come. It will not delay.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, /

but the just shall live by his faith.

5 And also, because he transgresses by wine, /

he is a proud man and does not rest. /

He enlarges his desire as hell, /

and is as death and cannot be satisfied. /

He gathers to himself all nations /

and collects to himself all people.

6 Shall all these not take up a parable against him /

and a taunting proverb against him, /

and say, 'Woe to him who increases that which is not his /

and to him who lades himself with thick clay! How long?'

7 Shall they not rise suddenly who bite you, /

and awake who disturb you, /

and you shall be plunder for them?

8 Because you have laid waste many nations, /

all the remnant of the people shall lay you waste, /

because of men’s blood /

and for the violence done to the land, /

to the city, and to all who dwell therein.

9 Woe to him who covets an evil gain for his house /

to set his nest on high /

to be delivered from the power of evil!

10 You have devised shame to your house /

by cutting off many people /

and have sinned against your soul.

11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, /

and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood /

and establishes a city by iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts /

that the people labor in the fire /

and the people weary themselves for vanity?

14 For the earth shall be filled /

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, /

as the waters cover the sea.

15 Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, /

pouring out your bottle to him, /

and also making him drunk, /

so that you may look at their nakedness!

16 You are filled with shame and not glory. /

You shall also drink /

and let your uncircumcision be uncovered. /

The cup of the LORD’S right hand /

shall be turned to you, /

and shameful vomiting shall be on your glory.

17 For the violence done to Lebanon /

shall overwhelm you, /

and the destruction of the beasts /

shall make you afraid, /

because of men’s blood /

and for the violence done to the land, /

to the city, and to all who dwell therein.

18 What profit is the engraved image /

when its maker has engraved it— /

the molten image and a teacher of lies— /

that the maker trusts in what he has formed, /

making mute idols?

19 Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake,' /

and to a mute stone, 'Arise.' /

It shall teach! /

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver /

and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

20 But the LORD is in his holy temple. /

Let all the earth keep silence before him."

References

[v.3]: Quoted in Hebrews 10:37. [v.4]: Quoted in Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38.

Chapter 3

Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God’s majesty, 1-16. The confidence of his faith, 17-19.

1 [A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.]

2 O LORD, I have heard your speech and was afraid. /

O LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years. /

In the midst of the years make it known. /

In wrath remember mercy.

3 God came from Teman, /

and the Holy One from mount Paran. /

[ Selah. ]

His glory covered the heavens, /

and the earth was full of his praise.

4 And his brightness was as the light. /

He had rays coming out of his hand, /

and there was the hiding of his power.

5 Before him went the pestilence, /

and burning coals went forth at his feet.

6 He stood and measured the earth. /

He beheld and drove apart the nations. /

The everlasting mountains were scattered /

and the perpetual hills bowed. /

His ways are everlasting.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. /

And the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.

8 Was the LORD displeased with the rivers? /

Was your anger against the rivers? /

Was your wrath against the sea /

that you rode upon your horses /

and your chariots of salvation?

9 Your bow was made quite ready, /

according to the oaths of the tribes, even your word. /

[ Selah. ]

You cleaved the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains saw you and they trembled. /

The overflowing of the water passed by. /

The deep uttered his voice /

and lifted up his hands on high.

11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation. /

At the light of your arrows they went, /

and at the shining of your glittering spear.

12 You marched through the land in indignation. /

You threshed the heathen in anger.

13 You went forth for the salvation of your people, /

even for salvation with your anointed. /

You wounded the head of the house of the wicked /

by uncovering the foundation to the neck. /

[ Selah. ]

14 You struck through with his staffs /

the head of his villages. /

They came out as a whirlwind to scatter me. /

Their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.

15 You walked through the sea with your horses, /

through the heap of great waters.

16 When I heard, my belly trembled. /

My lips quivered at the voice. /

Rottenness entered into my bones, /

and I trembled in myself, /

so that I might rest in the day of trouble. /

When he comes up to the people, /

he will invade them with his troops.

17 Though the fig-tree does not blossom /

and no fruit is on the vines, /

though the labor of the olive fails /

and the fields yield no food, /

though the flock is cut off from the fold /

and there is no herd in the stalls,

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD. /

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength, /

and he will make my feet like those of a doe /

and make me to walk upon my high places.

[ To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. ]

[Tanach reading: go to Zephaniah]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO ZEPHANIAH

Chapter 1

The time when Zephaniah prophesied, 1. God’s severe judgments against Judah, 2-18.

1 [The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.]

2 "I will utterly consume all things   /

from off the land,"

says the LORD.

3 "I will consume man and beast.   /

I will consume the birds of the heaven, /

the fish of the sea, /

and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked. /

And I will cut off man from off the land,"

says the LORD.

4 "I will also stretch out my hand upon Judah   /

and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. /

And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, /

and the name of the Chemarims with the priests,

5 And those who worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops,   /

and those who worship and who swear by the LORD, /

and who swear by Malcham,

6 And those who have turned back from the LORD,   /

and those who have not sought the LORD, /

nor inquired for him."

7 Hold your peace at the presence of the Lord GOD,   /

for the day of the LORD is at hand. /

For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice. /

He has consecrated his guests.

8 "And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD’S sacrifice,   /

that I will punish the princes, the king’s children, /

and all those who are clothed with foreign apparel.

9 In the same day I will also punish   /

all those who leap on the threshold, /

who fill their masters' houses /

with violence and deceit.

10 And it shall come to pass in that day,"

says the LORD,

"that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish-gate,   /

a howling from the second quarter, /

and a great crashing from the hills.

11 Howl, you inhabitants of Maktesh,   /

for all the merchant people are cut down. /

All those who bear silver are cut off.

12 And it shall come to pass at that time,   /

that I will search Jerusalem with candles /

and punish the men who are settled on their dregs, /

who say in their heart, /

'The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.'

13 Therefore, their goods shall become plunder   /

and their houses a desolation. /

They shall also build houses, but not inhabit them. /

They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine."

14 The great day of the LORD is near,   /

it is near and hastens greatly, /

even the voice of the day of the LORD. /

The mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

15 That day is a day of wrath,   /

a day of trouble and distress, /

a day of wasting and desolation, /

a day of darkness and gloominess, /

a day of clouds and thick darkness,

16 And a day of the trumpet and alarm   /

against the fortified cities /

and against the high towers.

17 And I will bring distress upon men   /

so that they shall walk like blind men, /

because they have sinned against the LORD. /

And their blood shall be poured out as dust /

and their flesh as the dung.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold   /

shall be able to deliver them /

in the day of the LORD’S wrath. /

But the whole land shall be devoured /

by the fire of his jealousy, /

for he will make even a sudden end /

of all those who dwell in the land.

Chapter 2

An exhortation to repentance, 1-3. The judgment of the Philistines, 4-7, of Moab and Ammon, 8-11, of Ethiopia, 12, and of Assyria, 13-15.

1 Assemble yourselves, yes, assemble,   /

O nation not desired,

2 Before the decree brings forth,   /

before the day passes as the chaff, /

before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, /

before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon you.

3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth,   /

who have performed his judgment. /

Seek righteousness. Seek meekness. /

It may be that you will be hid /

in the day of the LORD’S anger.

4 For Gaza shall be forsaken   /

and Ashkelon a desolation. /

They shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day /

and Ekron shall be rooted up.

5 Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coasts,   /

the nation of the Cherethites! /

The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, /

the land of the Philistines: /

"I will even destroy you /

so that there shall be no inhabitant."

6 And the sea coast shall be pastures,   /

with cottages for shepherds /

and folds for flocks.

7 And the coasts shall be   /

for the remnant of the house of Judah. /

They shall feed upon them. /

In the houses of Ashkelon /

they shall lie down in the evening, /

for the LORD their God will visit them /

and turn away their captivity.

8 "I have heard the reproach of Moab   /

and the revilings of the children of Ammon /

by which they have reproached my people /

and magnified themselves against their border.

9 Therefore, as I live,"

says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,

"surely Moab shall be as Sodom   /

and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, /

even a place possessed by nettles and salt-pits /

and a perpetual desolation. /

The remnant of my people shall lay them waste /

and the remainder of my people shall possess them."

10 They shall have this for their pride,   /

because they have reproached and magnified themselves /

against the people of the LORD of hosts.

11 The LORD will be terrible to them,   /

for he will famish all the gods of the earth. /

And men shall worship him, each from his place, /

even all the coastlands of the heathen.

12 "You Cushites also,   /

you shall be slain by my sword."

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north   /

and destroy Assyria, /

and will make Nineveh a desolation /

and dry like a wilderness.

14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her,   /

all the beasts of the nations. /

Both the cormorant and the bittern /

shall lodge in its upper lintels. /

Their voice shall sing in the windows. /

Desolation shall be in the thresholds, /

for he shall uncover the cedar work.

15 This is the rejoicing city   /

that dwelt in security, /

that said in her heart, /

"I am, and there is no one besides me." /

How she has become a desolation, /

a place for beasts to lie down in! /

Everyone who passes by her /

shall hiss and wag his hand.

Chapter 3

A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins, 1-7. An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel, 8-13, and to rejoice for their salvation by God, 14-20.

1 Woe to her who is filthy and polluted,   /

to the oppressing city!

2 She did not obey the voice.   /

She did not receive correction. /

She did not trust in the LORD. /

She did not draw near to her God.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions.   /

Her judges are evening wolves. /

They do not gnaw the bones until the next day.

4 Her prophets are unstable and treacherous persons.   /

Her priests have polluted what is holy. /

They have done violence to the law.

5 The just LORD is in the midst of her.   /

He will not do iniquity. /

Every morning he brings his judgment to light. /

He does not fail. /

But the unjust knows no shame.

6 "I have cut off the nations.   /

Their towers are desolate. /

I made their streets waste /

so that no one passes by. /

Their cities are destroyed /

so that there is no man, /

so that there is no inhabitant.

7 I said, 'Surely you will fear me and receive instruction.   /

And her dwelling place shall not be destroyed /

on account of everything in which I have visited her.' /

But they rose early and corrupted all their doings.

8 Therefore, wait for me,"

says the LORD,

"until the day that I rise up to the prey.   /

For my determination is to gather the nations, /

so that I may assemble the kingdoms /

to pour upon them my indignation, /

even all my fierce anger, /

for all the earth shall be devoured /

with the fire of my jealousy.

9 For then I will restore to the people   /

a pure language, /

so that they may all call upon the name of the LORD /

to serve him with one consent.

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants,   /

even the daughter of my dispersed, /

shall bring my offering.

11 In that day you shall not be ashamed for all your doings   /

in which you have transgressed against me. /

For then I will take away out of the midst of you /

those who rejoice in your pride, /

and you shall no longer be haughty /

because of my holy mountain.

12 I will also leave in the midst of you   /

an afflicted and poor people, /

and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity,   /

nor speak lies, /

neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, /

for they shall feed and lie down, /

and no one shall make them afraid."

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O Israel.   /

Be glad and rejoice with all the heart, /

O daughter of Jerusalem.

15 The LORD has taken away your judgments.   /

He has cast out your enemy. /

The King of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you. /

You shall not see evil anymore.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem,   /

"Do not fear, O Zion. /

Do not let your hands be slack.

17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty.   /

He will save. /

He will rejoice over you with joy. /

He will rest in his love. /

He will joy over you with singing.

18 I will gather those among you   /

who are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, /

to whom its reproach was a burden.

19 Behold, at that time   /

I will deal with all who afflict you. /

And I will save her who is lame /

and gather her who was driven out. /

And I will get them praise and fame /

in every land where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time I will bring you back,   /

even in the time that I gather you. /

For I will make you a name and a praise /

among all people of the earth /

when I turn back your captivity before your eyes,"

says the LORD.

[Tanach reading: go to Haggai]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO HAGGAI

Chapter 1

The time when Haggai prophesied, 1. He reproves the people for neglecting the building of the house, 2-6. He incites them to the building, 7-11. He encourages them to set about the work, and on their doing so, promises that God will be with them, 12-15.

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built."'" 3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses and this house lie waste?" 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much and bring in little. You eat, but you do not have enough. You drink, but you are not filled with drink. You clothe yourselves, but there is no one warm. And he who earns wages, earns wages to put it into a bag with holes."

7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. Then I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified," says the LORD. 9 "You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew upon it. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of my house that lies waste, and each of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore, for your sake the heavens withhold the dew and the earth withholds her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land, upon the mountains, upon the grain, upon the new wine, upon the oil, upon that which the ground brings forth, upon men, upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands."

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people feared before the LORD. 13 Then Haggai the LORD’S messenger spoke the LORD’S message to the people, saying, "'I am with you,' says the LORD." 14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and performed work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15 On the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Chapter 2

He encourages the people to the work, by promise of greater glory to the second temple than was in the first, 1-9. In the type of holy things and unclean he shows their sins hindered the work, 10-19. God’s promise to Zerubbabel, 20-23.

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 3 'Who is left among you who saw this house in her first glory? And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes as nothing in comparison? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' says the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD. 'Work, for I am with you,' says the LORD of hosts. 5 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.' 6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land, 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come. And I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 9 'The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Ask the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 "If someone bears holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt touches bread, pottage, wine, oil, or any food, shall it be holy?"'" And the priests answered and said, "No." 13 Then Haggai said, "If someone who is unclean by a dead body touches any of these, shall it be unclean?" And the priests answered and said, "It shall be unclean." 14 Then Haggai answered, and said, "'So is this people and so is this nation before me,' says the LORD, 'and so is every work of their hands. And that which they offer there is unclean. 15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day onward, before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD. 16 Since those days were, when someone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When someone came to the press-vat to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty. 17 I smote you with blight, with mildew, and with hail in all the labors of your hands, yet you did not turn to me,' says the LORD. 18 'Consider now from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’S temple was laid, consider it. 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig-tree, the pomegranate, and the olive-tree have not brought forth. From this day I will bless you.'"

20 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, 'I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen. I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them, and the horses and their riders shall come down, each by the sword of his brother. 23 In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'I will take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel,' says the LORD, 'and will make you as a signet, for I have chosen you,' says the LORD of hosts."

References

[v.6]: Paraphrased in Hebrews 12:26-27.

[Tanach reading: go to Zechariah]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO ZECHARIAH

Chapter 1

Zechariah exhorts to repentance, 1-6. The vision of the horses, 7-11. At the prayer of the angel comfortable promises are made to Jerusalem, 12-17. The vision of the four horns and the four craftsmen, 18-21.

1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo, saying, 2 "The LORD has been greatly displeased with your fathers. 3 Therefore, say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Turn to me," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will turn to you," says the LORD of hosts. 4 "Do not be as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Turn now from your evil ways and from your evil doings."' But they did not hear, nor listen to me," says the LORD. 5 "Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But my words and my statutes which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said, 'As the LORD of hosts thought to do to us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so he has dealt with us.'"'"

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo, saying, 8 "I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom, and behind him there were red, speckled, and white horses. 9 Then I said, 'O my lord, what are these?'" And the angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10 And the man who stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said, "These are those whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro through the earth." 11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold, all the earth sits still and is at rest."

12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years?" 13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked with me with good words and comforting words. 14 So the angel who communed with me said to me, "Cry, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 And I am very greatly displeased with the heathen who are at ease. For I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction." 16 Therefore, thus says the LORD: "I have returned to Jerusalem with mercies. My house shall be built in it," says the LORD of hosts, "and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem."' 17 Cry again, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "My cities through prosperity shall again be spread abroad, and the LORD shall again comfort Zion and shall again choose Jerusalem."'"

18 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these?" And he answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." 20 And the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 Then I said, "What are these coming to do?" And he spoke, saying, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifted up his head, but these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the Gentiles which lifted their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it."

Chapter 2

God, in the care of Jerusalem, sends to measure it, 1-5. The redemption of Zion, 6-9. The promise of God’s presence, 10-13.

1 I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what its breadth is and what its length is." 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 And said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle in it. 5 For I,' says the LORD, 'will be to her a wall of fire on every side and will be the glory in the midst of her.'"

6 "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north," says the LORD, "for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven," says the LORD. 7 "Deliver yourself, O Zion, who dwell with the daughter of Babylon." 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: "After the glory he has sent me to the nations which wasted you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of his eye. 9 For behold, I will shake my hand upon them and they shall be plunder to their servants. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion. For behold, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you," says the LORD. 11 "And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day and shall be my people. And I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land and shall choose Jerusalem again.

13 "Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he is raised up out of his holy habitation."

Chapter 3

Under the type of Joshua, the high priest, receiving clean garments, 1-5, and a covenant of promise, 6, 7, Christ the Branch and Corner Stone is promised, 8-10.

1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, rebuke you, O Satan. Even I, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you. Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And he said to him, "Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you and I will clothe you with costly clothing." 5 And I said, "Let them set a fair miter upon his head." So they set a fair miter upon his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

6 And the angel of the LORD testified to Joshua, saying, 7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If you will walk in my ways and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these who stand by.

8 'Hear now, O Joshua the high priest—you and your fellows who sit before you—for they are men wondered at. For behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9 For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua, upon one stone shall be seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an engraving on it,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'each of you shall call his neighbor under the vine and under the fig-tree.'"

Chapter 4

By the golden candlestick is foreshown the good success of Zerubbabel’s foundation, 1-10; by the two olive trees the two anointed ones, 11-14.

1 And the angel who talked with me came back and waked me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep, 2 And said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I have looked, and behold a candlestick, all of gold with a bowl on top of it, its seven lamps, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which were on top of it. 3 And two olive-trees by it: one upon the right side of the bowl and the other upon the left side." 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. 7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forth its head-stone with shoutings, crying, "Grace, grace to it."'"

8 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth."

11 Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon its left side?" 12 And I answered again and said to him, "What are these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes, empty the golden oil out of themselves?" 13 And he answered me and said, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."

Chapter 5

By the flying scroll is shown the curse of thieves and swearers, 1-4; and by a woman pressed in an ephah the final judgment of wickedness, 5-11.

1 Then I turned, lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a flying scroll. 2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" And I answered, "I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its breadth ten cubits." 3 Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth. For everyone who steals shall be cut off as on this side according to it, and everyone who swears shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4 I will bring it forth," says the LORD of hosts, "and it shall enter into the house of the thief and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in the midst of his house and shall consume it with its timber and its stones."

5 Then the angel who talked with me went forth and said to me, "Now lift up your eyes and see what this is that goes forth." 6 And I said, "What is it?" And he said, "This is an ephah that goes forth." He said moreover, "This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7 And behold, there was a talent of lead lifted up. And this is a woman who sits in the midst of the ephah." 8 And he said, "This is wickedness." And he cast it into the midst of the ephah, and he cast the weight of lead upon its mouth. 9 Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings, for they had wings like the wings of a stork. And they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "To where do these bear the ephah?" 11 And he said to me, "To build a house in the land of Shinar for it. And it shall be established and set there upon her own base."

Chapter 6

The vision of the four chariots, 1-8. By the crowns of Joshua are shown the temple and kingdom of Christ the Branch, 9-15.

1 And I turned, lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot there were red horses, in the second chariot black horses, 3 In the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot grizzled and bay horses. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 And the angel answered and said to me, "These are the four spirits of the heavens which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country, the white go forth after them, the grizzled go forth toward the south country." 7 And the bay went forth and sought to go so that they might walk to and fro through the earth. And he said, "Go from here, walk to and fro through the earth." So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8 Then he cried out to me and spoke to me, saying, "Behold, these which go toward the north country have quieted my Spirit in the north country."

9 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 10 "Take from those who are in captivity, even from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon, and come the same day and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah.

11 "And you sall take silver and gold and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest. 12 And speak to him, saying, 'Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH, and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD, and he shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule upon his throne. And he shall be a priest upon his throne. And the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, to Tobijah, to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 15 And those who are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."'"

Chapter 7

The captives inquire concerning the set fasts, 1-3. Zechariah reproves the hypocrisy of their fasting, 4-7. Sin is the cause of their captivity, 8-14.

1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu, 2 When those of Beth-el had sent Sherezer, Regem-melech, and their men to pray before the LORD, 3 And to speak to the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts and to the prophets, saying, "Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?" 4 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 5 "Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast to me, even to me? 6 And when you ate and when you drank, did you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7 Should you not hear the words which the LORD has cried by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, along with her cities around her, and when men inhabited the south and the plain?'"

8 And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, 9 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, 'Execute true judgment and show mercy and compassions each to his brother. 10 And do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.' 11 But they refused to listen and withdrew the shoulder and stopped their ears so that they should not hear. 12 They even made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts has sent in his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore, a great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 13 Therefore, it has come to pass, that as he cried and they would not hear, so they cried and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts. 14 "But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they did not know. Thus the land was desolate after them so that no man passed through nor returned, for they laid the pleasant land desolate."

Chapter 8

The restoration of Jerusalem, 1-8. They are encouraged to build the temple by God’s favor to them, 9-15. Good works are required of them, 16, 17. Joy and enlargement are promised, 18-23.

1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great fury.' 3 Thus says the LORD: 'I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain.' 4 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall yet dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for abundance of age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.' 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?' says the LORD of hosts. 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 And I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.'

9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets who were in the day when the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, so that the temple might be built. 10 For before these days there was no hire for man nor any hire for beast, neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in because of the enemy, for I sent forth all men each against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days,' says the LORD of hosts. 12 'For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give her fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew, and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear. Let your hands be strong.'

14 "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'As I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked me to wrath,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I did not repent, 15 So again I have thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear. 16 These are the things that you shall do: each of you speak the truth to his neighbor, execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, 17 Let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath, for all these are things that I hate,' says the LORD."

18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth shall be joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts to the house of Judah; therefore, love the truth and peace.'

20 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people and the inhabitants of many cities. 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts. I will also go." 22 And many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the LORD.' 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold, shall even take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."'"

References

[v.16]: Quoted in Ephesians 4:25.

Chapter 9

God defends his church, 1-8. Zion is exhorted to rejoice for the coming of Christ and his peaceable kingdom, 9-11. God’s promises of victory and defense, 12-17.

1 [A burden.]

The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach,   /

and Damascus shall be its resting place /

(for the eyes of man and of all the tribes of Israel /

shall be toward the LORD),

2 And also Hamath, which borders by it,   /

and Tyre and Zidon, because they are very wise.

3 And Tyre built herself a stronghold   /

and amassed silver as the dust /

and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

4 Behold, the Lord will dispossess her   /

and he will smite her power in the sea, /

and she shall be devoured with fire.

5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear.   /

Gaza shall also see it and be very sorrowful, /

as will Ekron, for her expectation shall be ashamed. /

And the king shall perish from Gaza, /

and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

6 And a foreigner shall dwell in Ashdod,   /

and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth   /

and his abominations from between his teeth. /

But he who remains, even he, shall be for our God, /

and he shall be as a governor in Judah, /

and Ekron as a Jebusite.

8 And I will encamp around my house because of the army,   /

because of him who passes by, /

and because of him who returns. /

And no oppressor shall pass through them anymore. /

For now I have seen with my eyes.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. /

Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. /

Behold, your King comes to you. /

He is just and having salvation, /

lowly and riding upon a donkey, /

even upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim   /

and the horse from Jerusalem, /

and the battle-bow shall be cut off. /

And he shall speak peace to the heathen. /

And his dominion shall be from sea to sea, /

and from the river to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you also, by the blood of your covenant   /

I have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit /

in which there is no water.

12 Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope.   /

Even today I declare that I will render double to you,

13 When I have bent Judah for me,   /

filled the bow with Ephraim, /

and raised up your sons, O Zion, /

against your sons, O Greece, /

and made you as the sword of a mighty man.

14 And the LORD shall be seen over them,   /

and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning. /

And the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet /

and will go with whirlwinds of the south.

15 The LORD of hosts will defend them.   /

They shall devour and subdue with sling-stones. /

They shall drink and make a noise as through wine. /

They shall be filled like bowls /

and as the corners of the altar.

16 And the LORD their God will save them in that day   /

as the flock of his people, /

for they shall be as the stones of a crown, /

lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

17 For how great his goodness is   /

and how great his beauty is! /

Grain shall make the young men cheerful, /

and new wine the virgins.

References

[v.9]: Quoted in Matthew 21:5; John 12:15.

Chapter 10

God is to be sought, and not idols, 1, 2. As he visited his flock for sin, so he will save and restore them, 3-12.

1 Ask the LORD for rain   /

in the time of the latter rain. /

The LORD will make bright clouds /

and give them showers of rain, /

and to everyone grass in the field.

2 For the idols have spoken vanity,   /

and the diviners have seen a lie. /

They have told false dreams. /

They comfort in vain. /

Therefore, they went their way as a flock. /

They were troubled because there was no shepherd.

3 "My anger was kindled against the shepherds,   /

and I punished the goats, /

for the LORD of hosts has visited his flock, /

the house of Judah, /

and has made them as his majestic horse in the battle.

4 Out of him came forth the corner,   /

out of him the nail, /

out of him the battle-bow, /

out of him every oppressor together.

5 And they shall be as mighty men   /

who tread down their enemies /

in the mire of the streets in the battle. /

And they shall fight because the LORD is with them. /

And the riders on horses shall be confounded.

6 I will strengthen the house of Judah.   /

I will save the house of Joseph. /

I will bring them back to place them, /

for I have mercy upon them. /

And they shall be as though I had not cast them off, /

for I am the LORD their God and will hear them.

7 And those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man,   /

and their heart shall rejoice as through wine. /

Even their children shall see it and be glad. /

Their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.

8 I will hiss for them and gather them,   /

for I have redeemed them. /

And they shall increase as they have increased.

9 And I will sow them among the people,   /

and they shall remember me in remote countries. /

And they shall live with their children and turn back.

10 I will bring them back also out of the land of Egypt   /

and gather them out of Assyria. /

And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, /

and there shall not be enough space for them.

11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction   /

and shall smite the waves in the sea, /

and all the deeps of the river shall dry up. /

And the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, /

and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.

12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD,   /

and they shall walk up and down in his name,"

says the LORD.

Chapter 11

The destruction of Jerusalem, 1, 2. The elect being cared for, the rest are rejected, 3-9. The staffs of Beauty and Union broken by the rejection of Christ, 10-14. The type and curse of a foolish shepherd, 15-17.

1 Open your doors, O Lebanon,   /

so that the fire may devour your cedars.

2 Howl, fir-tree, for the cedar has fallen,   /

because the mighty are laid waste. /

Howl, O oaks of Bashan, /

for the fortified forest has come down.

3 There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds,   /

for their glory is destroyed. /

A voice of the roaring of young lions, /

for the pride of the Jordan is laid waste.

4 Thus says the LORD my God: "Feed the flock of the slaughter, 5 Whose possessors slay them and do not hold themselves guilty. And those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich.' And their own shepherds do not pity them. 6 For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD, "but behold, I will deliver the men each into his neighbor’s hand and into the hand of his king. And they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them."

7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: one I called Beauty and the other I called Union. And I fed the flock. 8 I also cut off three shepherds in one month. My soul was impatient with them, and their soul also abhorred me. 9 Then I said, "I will not feed you. That which dies, let it die. And that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off. And let the rest eat the flesh of each other." 10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it apart so that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 11 And it was broken in that day. And so the poor of the flock who waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12 And I said to them, "If you think good, give me my price, and if not, forbear." So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said to me, "Cast it to the potter, the substantial price at which I was prized by them." And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 14 Then I cut apart my other staff, even Union, so that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15 And the LORD said to me, "Take for yourself yet again the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16 For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who shall not visit those who are cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which stands still, but he shall eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces.

17 "Woe to the idle shepherd   /

who leaves the flock! /

The sword shall be upon his arm /

and upon his right eye. /

His arm shall be wholly dried up /

and his right eye shall be utterly darkened."

References

[v.12]: Quoted in Matthew 27:9. [v.13]: Quoted in Matthew 27:9.

Chapter 12

Jerusalem a cup of trembling to herself, 1, 2, and a burdensome stone to her adversaries, 3-5. The victorious restoring of Judah, 6-9. The repentance of Jerusalem, 10-14.

1 [The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel.] Thus says the LORD who stretches forth the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:

2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people around, and it shall also be upon Judah in the siege against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people. All who burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth are assembled against it. 4 In that day," says the LORD, "I will smite every horse with astonishment and his rider with madness. And I will open my eyes upon the house of Judah and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.'

6 "In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood and like a torch of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the people around, on the right hand and on the left. And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The LORD will also save the tents of Judah first so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not magnify themselves against Judah. 8 In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he who is feeble among them at that day shall be as David, and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10 "And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications. And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one who is in bitterness for his first-born. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family separately: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 The family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 All the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves."

References

[v.10]: Quoted in John 19:37; Revelation 1:7.

Chapter 13

The fountain of cleansing for Jerusalem, 1, from idolatry and false prophecy, 2-6. The death of Christ, and the trial of a third part, 7-9.

1 "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

2 "And it shall come to pass in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land and they shall no longer be remembered. And I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. 3 And it shall come to pass, that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who begot him shall say to him, 'You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD.' And his father and his mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies. 4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall each be ashamed of his vision when he has prophesied, and they shall not wear a rough garment to deceive, 5 But he shall say, 'I am no prophet. I am a farmer, for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.' 6 And someone shall say to him, 'What are these wounds between your hands?' Then he shall answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'

7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd /

and against the man who is my fellow,"

says the LORD of hosts.

"Smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered.   /

And I will turn my hand upon the little ones.

8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land,"

says the LORD,

"two parts therein shall be cut off and die,   /

but the third shall be left therein.

9 And I will bring the third part through the fire,   /

and I will refine them as silver is refined /

and try them as gold is tried. /

They shall call on my name, /

and I will hear them. /

I will say, 'They are my people,' /

and they shall say, 'The LORD is our God.'"

References

[v.7]: Quoted in Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27.

Chapter 14

The destroyers of Jerusalem destroyed, 1, 2. The coming of Christ and the graces of his kingdom, 3-11. The plague of Jerusalem’s enemies, 12-15. The remnant shall turn to the Lord, 16-19 and there shall be universal holiness among them, 20, 21.

1 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your plunder shall be divided in the midst of you. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken, the houses plundered, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet will stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst of it toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley. Half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. Indeed, you shall flee as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with you.

6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark. 7 But it shall be one day which is known to the LORD, neither day, nor night, but it shall come to pass, that at evening it shall be light.

8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem: half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea. In summer and in winter it shall be.

9 And the LORD will be king over all the earth. In that day there will be one LORD, and his name one.

10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem. And it shall be lifted up and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel to the king’s wine-presses. 11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall no longer be utter destruction. And Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

12 And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will smite all the people who have fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them, and they shall each lay hold upon the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. 14 And Judah shall also fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the heathen around shall be collected: gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance. 15 And so the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, of the donkey, and of all the beasts that will be in these tents, shall be as this plague.

16 And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoever will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there shall be no rain upon them. 18 And if the family of Egypt shall not go up and shall not come, they shall have no rain. There the plague shall be, with which the LORD will smite the heathen who do not come up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all nations that do not come up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

20 In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Even every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. And all those who sacrifice shall come and take some of them and boil in them. And in that day the Canaanite shall no longer be in the house of the LORD of hosts.

[Tanach reading: go to Malachi]

THE WORD OF THE LORD TO MALACHI

Chapter 1

Malachi complains of Israel’s unkindness, 1-5; of their irreligiousness and profaneness, 6-14.

1 [The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.]

2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. Yet you say, "In what have you loved us?" "Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?" says the LORD. "Yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the jackals of the wilderness." 4 Whereas Edom says, "We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places," thus says the LORD of hosts: "They shall build, but I will throw down, and they shall call them, 'The Border of Wickedness,' and, 'The People Against Whom the LORD Has Indignation Forever.'" 5 And your eyes shall see, and you shall say, "The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel."

6 "'A son honors his father and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name." And you say, "In what have we despised your name?" 7 "You offer polluted bread upon my altar." But you say, "In what have we polluted you?" In that you say, "The table of the LORD is contemptible." 8 "And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, 'It is not evil!' And if you offer the lame and sick, 'It is not evil!' Offer it now to your governor. Will he be pleased with you, or accept your person?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "And now, I pray you, implore God that he will be gracious to us. This has been by your means. Will he regard your person?" says the LORD of hosts. 10 "Oh that there were one of you who would shut the doors so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun even to the setting of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered to my name, even a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the heathen," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "But you have profaned it, in that you say, 'The table of the LORD is polluted, and its fruit, even his provision, is contemptible.' 13 You also said, 'Behold, what a weariness it is!' And you have snuffed at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you brought that which was torn, the lame, and the sick. Thus you brought an offering. Should I accept this from your hand?" says the LORD. 14 "But cursed is the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and vows and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing. For I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and my name is dreadful among the heathen."

References

[v.2]: Quoted in Romans 9:13. [v.3]: Quoted in Romans 9:13.

Chapter 2

He sharply reproves the priests for neglecting their covenant, 1-9; and the people for marrying strange wives, 10-12; and for putting away their former ones, 13-16; and for infidelity, 17.

1 "And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name," says the LORD of hosts, "I will even send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. I have even cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts, and you shall be taken away with it. 4 And you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, so that my covenant might be with Levi," says the LORD of hosts. 5 "My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear with which he feared me and was afraid before my name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and equity and turned many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have departed out of the way. You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts. 9 "Therefore, I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law."

10 Have we not all one father? Has one God not created us? Why do we each deal treacherously against his brother by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD whom he loved and has married the daughter of a strange god. 12 The LORD will cut off the man who does this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him who offers an offering to the LORD of hosts.

13 And this you have done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, because he does not regard the offering anymore, or receive it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet you say, "Why?" Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant. 15 And did he not make them one, having in him the remnant of the Spirit? And why one? So that he might seek a godly offspring. Therefore, take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 "For I hate putting away," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and the one who covers violence with his garment," says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore, take heed to your spirit so that you do not deal treacherously."

17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "In what have we wearied him?" When you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them," or, "Where is the God of judgment?"

Chapter 3

Of the messenger, majesty, and grace of Christ, 1-6. Of the rebellion, 7, sacrilege, 8-12, and infidelity of the people, 13-15. The promise of blessing to those who fear God, 16-18.

1 "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in. Behold, he will come," says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who may endure the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap. 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver so that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 "And I will come near to you for judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against false swearers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who turn aside the stranger from his right and do not fear me," says the LORD of hosts. 6 "For I am the LORD and I do not change; therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed.

7 "Even from the days of your fathers you have gone away from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In what shall we return?'

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, 'In what have we robbed you?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me—even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the store-house, so that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open to you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, so that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "And all nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts.

13 "Your words have been stout against me," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken so much against you?' 14 You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. And what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy. Even those who work wickedness are built up. Even those who test God are delivered.'"

16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke often to one another. And the LORD listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the LORD and who esteemed his name. 17 "And they shall be mine," says the LORD of hosts, "even my own peculiar treasure, in the day that I prepare. And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him." 18 Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve him.

References

[v.1]: Quoted in Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:76, 7:27.

Chapter 4

God’s judgment on the wicked, 1; and his blessing on the good, 2, 3. He exhorts to the study of the law, 4; and tells of Elijah’s coming and office, 5, 6.

1 "For behold, the day comes that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud and all who do wickedly shall be stubble. And the day that comes shall burn them up," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear my name, the Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings, and you shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.

4 "Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

References

[v.6]: Quoted in Luke 1:17.

[Tanach reading: go to Psalms]

NEW TESTAMENT

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

Chapter 1

The genealogy of Christ from Abraham to Joseph, 1-17. He is miraculously conceived through the Holy Spirit by the virgin Mary when she was espoused to Joseph, 18. The angel satisfies the doubts of Joseph and declares the names and office of Christ; Jesus is born, 19-25.

1 [The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.]

2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, Jacob begot Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah begot Pharez and Zarah by Tamar, Pharez begot Hezron, Hezron begot Ram, 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, Nahshon begot Salmon, 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 Jesse begot David the king, David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah, 7 Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, Abijah begot Asa, 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, Joram begot Uzziah, 9 Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, Ahaz begot Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, Amon begot Josiah, 11 And Josiah begot Jechoniah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechoniah begot Shealtiel, Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, Eliakim begot Azor, 14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, Achim begot Eliud, 15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, Matthan begot Jacob, 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this manner: When his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, purposed to put her away privately. 20 But while he thought on these things, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take for yourself Mary as your wife. For that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins." 22 Now all this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken from the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, /

and they shall call his name Immanuel,"

which being interpreted is, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took for himself his wife, 25 And did not know her until she had brought forth her first-born son. And he called his name JESUS.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.23]: Isaiah 7:14.LXX

Chapter 2

The wise men from the east inquire about Christ, 1, 2; at which Herod is alarmed, 3-8. They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents, 9-12. Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother, 13-15. Herod slays the children, 16-19; Herod dies, 20-22. Christ is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth, 23.

1 Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, "Where is he who is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 'And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, /

are not the least among the princes of Judah, /

for out of you a Governor shall come, /

who shall rule my people Israel.'"

7 Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, asked them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go, and search diligently for the young child. And when you have found him, bring me word again so that I may come and worship him also." 9 When they had heard the king, they departed. And behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, fell down, and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13 And when they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt. Stay there until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, 15 And was there until the death of Herod, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken from the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent forth and slew all the children who were in Bethlehem and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently asked the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 "In Ramah there was a voice heard, /

lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, /

Rachel weeping for her children, /

and would not be comforted, because they are no more."

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead." 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Micah 5:2. [v.15]: Hosea 11:1. [v.18]: Jeremiah 31:15.

Chapter 3

John preaches; his office, life, and baptism, 1-6. He reproves the Pharisees, 7-12, and baptizes Christ in the Jordan, 13-17.

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying,

"  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, /

'Prepare the way of the Lord. /

Make his paths straight.'"

4 And the same John had his clothing of camel’s hair and a leather girdle around his loins. And his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him, 6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. 9 And do not think to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father.' For I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 And now the ax is also laid to the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

11 "I indeed baptize you with water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I am, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire."

13 Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?" 15 And Jesus answering said to him, "Allow it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. 17 And behold, a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Isaiah 40:3.LXX

Chapter 4

Christ, fasting forty days, is tempted by the devil and ministered to by angels, 1-11. He dwells in Capernaum, 12-16; begins to preach, 17; calls Peter and Andrew, 18-20, James and John, 21, 22; teaches and heals all the diseased, 23-25.

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, "If you are the son of God, command that these stones be made bread." 4 But he answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil takes him up into the holy city and sets him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And says to him, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down, for it is written,

'  He shall give his angels charge concerning you. /

And in their hands they shall uphold you, /

lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.'"

7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not test the Lord your God.'"

8 Again, the devil takes him up upon an exceedingly high mountain and shows him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 And says to him, "All these things I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus says to him, "Be gone, Satan, for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, /

toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, /

Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 The people who sat in darkness /

saw great light. /

And to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, /

light has arisen."

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he says to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 And they immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame spread throughout all Syria. And they brought to him all sick people who were taken with various diseases and torments, those who were possessed with demons, those who were lunatic, and those who were paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 And great multitudes of people followed him from Galilee, from Decapolis, from Jerusalem, from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Deuteronomy 8:3.LXX [v.6]: Psalm 91:11-12.LXX [v.7]: Deuteronomy 6:16.LXX [v.10]: Deuteronomy 6:13.LXX [v.15]: Isaiah 9:1. [v.16]: Isaiah 9:2.

Chapter 5

Christ’s sermon on the mount, 1, 2. Those who are blessed, 3-12; the salt of the earth, 13; the light of the world, 14-16. He came to fulfill the law, 17-20. What it is to kill, 21-26; to commit adultery, 27-32; to swear, 33-37. He exhorts to not be revengeful, 38-42; to love our enemies, 43-47; and to labor after perfection, 48.

1 And seeing the multitudes, he ascended a mountain. And when he was seated, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

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

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when men revile you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in heaven is great. For thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is thereafter good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Men do not light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick. Then it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light thus shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 "Do not think that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, that until heaven and earth pass away, neither one jot nor one tittle shall in any way pass from the law until all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of these least commandments and teaches men to do so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 "You have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not kill,' and whoever kills shall be in danger of the judgment. 22 But I say to you, that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be in danger of the council. And whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be in danger of hell-fire. 23 Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 Leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you shall by no means come out from there until you have paid the uttermost quadrans.

27 "You have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you, that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. For it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. For it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

31 "It has been said, 'Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.' 32 But I say to you, that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of lewdness, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries her who is divorced, commits adultery.

33 "Again, you have heard that it has been said to them of old time, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths.' 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne, 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, neither by Jerusalem, for it is 'the city of the great King,' 36 Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, 'Yes, yes,' or, 'No, no.' For whatever is more than these comes of evil.

38 "You have heard that it has been said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, that you do not resist the evil. But whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 And if any man wants to sue you at the law and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever constrains you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who would borrow from you, do not turn away.

43 "You have heard that it has been said, '"You shall love your neighbor," and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, 45 So that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do the tax collectors not even do the same? 47 And if you salute your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do the tax collectors not even do so? 48 Therefore, be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.21]: Exodus 20:13.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:17. [v.27]: Exodus 20:14.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:18. [v.31]: Deuteronomy 24:1. [v.33]: Numbers 30:2. See also, Deuteronomy 23:21, 23:23. [v.35]: Psalm 48:2. [v.38]: Exodus 21:24.LXX See also, Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21. [v.43]: Leviticus 19:18.LXX

Chapter 6

Christ continues his sermon on the mount, exhorting not to be careful for worldly things, 1-32, but to seek God’s kingdom, 33, 34.

1 "Take heed that you do not practice your righteousness before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 "Therefore, when you do your acts of charity, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do acts of charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, 4 So that your alms may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

5 "And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

7 "But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their excessive speaking. 8 Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him. 9 "Therefore, pray after this manner:

'Our Father who is in heaven, /

may your name be hallowed.

10   May your kingdom come. /

May your will be done /

on earth as it is in heaven.

11   Give us this day our daily bread.

12   And forgive us our debts, /

as we forgive our debtors.

13   And do not lead us into temptation, /

but deliver us from evil. /

For yours is the kingdom, the power, /

and the glory forever. Amen.'

14 "For, if you forgive men for their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men for their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be of a sad countenance like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 So that you may not appear to men to fast, but to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break through and steal. 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

22 "The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!

24 "No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

25 "Therefore, I say to you, do not be anxious for your life—what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body—what you shall put on. Is the life not more than food and the body than clothing? 26 Behold the birds of the air: they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they are? 27 Which of you by anxious care can add one cubit to his stature? 28 And why are you anxious for clothing? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow: they do not toil, neither do they spin, 29 And yet I say to you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Therefore, if God likewise clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'With what shall we be clothed?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek, and your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

34 "Therefore, do not be anxious for the next day, for the next day will be solicitous for the things of itself. Sufficient for each day is its own evil."

Chapter 7

Christ, continuing his sermon on the mount, reproves rash judgment, etc., 1-27. Christ ends his sermon, and the people are astonished, 28, 29.

1 "Do not judge so that you may not be judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. And the measure which you give shall be measured back to you. 3 And why do you behold the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, 'Let me pull the mote out of your eye,' and behold, a beam is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the mote out of your brother’s eye.

6 "Do not give that which is holy to dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you.

7 "Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and the door shall be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives, and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone, 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?

12 "Therefore, in all things whatever you wish that men should do to you, do even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

13 "Enter in at the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 But the gate is narrow and the way is confined which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore, you shall know them by their fruits.

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name done many wonderful works?' 23 And then I will profess to them, 'I never knew you. "Depart from me, you who work iniquity."'

24 "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon a rock. 25 And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them, shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and its fall was great."

28 And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine, 29 For he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.23]: Psalm 6:8.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 8

Christ cleanses the leper, 1-4; heals the centurion’s servant, 5-13, Peter’s mother-in-law, 14, 15, and many other diseased, 16, 17; shows how he is to be followed, 18-22; stills the tempest on the sea, 23-27; drives the demons out of two possessed men, 28-30; and allows them to go into the swine, 31-34.

1 When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3 And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing. Be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus says to him, "See that you tell no man, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony to them."

5 And when Jesus had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, imploring him, 6 And saying, "Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, grievously tormented." 7 And Jesus says to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But speak the word only, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, and have soldiers under me. And I say to this man, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith as this, not even in Israel. 11 And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and the west and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, "Depart, and as you have believed, so it shall be done to you." And his servant was healed in the same hour.

14 And when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying and sick with a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and ministered to them. 16 When the evening had come, they brought to him many who were possessed with demons. And he cast out the spirits with his word and healed all who were sick, 17 So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave commandment to depart to the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said to him, "Master, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 And Jesus says to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." 21 And another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead."

23 And when he had entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea so that the boat was covered with the waves. But he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, "Lord, save us. We perish." 26 And he says to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he arose, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marveled, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

28 And when he had come to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two men possessed with demons met him, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 30 And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine, feeding. 31 So the demons implored him, saying, "If you expel us, allow us to go away into the herd of swine." 32 And he said to them, "Go." And when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished in the waters. 33 And those who kept them fled, went into the city, and told everything, including what had befallen to the men possessed with demons. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they implored him that he would depart out of their borders.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Isaiah 53:4.

Chapter 9

Christ cures someone of paralysis, 1-8; calls Matthew from the receipt of custom, 9; eats with tax collectors and sinners, 10-13; defends his disciples for not fasting, 14-19; cures the bloody issue, 20-22; raises from death Jairus' daughter, 23-26; gives sight to two blind men, 27-31; heals a mute man possessed with a demon, 32-35; and has compassion on the multitude, 36-38.

1 And he entered into a boat, passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralyzed man lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven." 3 And behold, some of the scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemes." 4 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise, and walk'? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins"—then he says to the paralytic—"Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 7 And he arose and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitude saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

9 And as Jesus was passing from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom. And he says to him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him.

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Those who are in health do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I will have mercy and not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken from them, and then they will fast. 16 No man puts a patch of new cloth to an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up, takes from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Men do not put new wine into old bottles, or else the bottles break, the wine runs out, and the bottles perish. But they put new wine into new bottles and both are preserved."

18 While he was speaking these things to them, behold, a certain ruler came and worshiped him, saying, "My daughter is even now dead. But come and lay your hand upon her and she will live." 19 And Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20 (And behold, a woman who was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years came behind him and touched the hem of his garment. 21 For she said within herself, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." 22 But Jesus turned himself around, and when he saw her, he said, "Daughter, be of good comfort. Your faith has made you whole." And the woman was made whole from that hour.)

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said to them, "Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleeps." And they derided him. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the fame of this went abroad into all that land.

27 And when Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us." 28 And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. And Jesus says to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith, it shall be done to you." 30 Then their eyes were opened, and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, "See that no man knows it." 31 But they, when they had departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a mute man possessed with a demon. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, "Nothing has ever been seen like this in Israel." 34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons through the prince of the demons."

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then he says to his disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.13]: Hosea 6:6.

Chapter 10

Christ sends out his twelve apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles, 1-4; giving them their charge, teaches them, 5-15; comforts them against persecutions, 16-39; and promises a blessing to those who receive them, 40-42.

1 And when he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them, saying, "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6 But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, proclaim, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor bag for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor a staff, for the workman is worthy of his food. 11 And into whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy and abide there until you go from there. 12 And when you come into a house, salute it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever does not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart from that house, or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city.

16 "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you to the councils and they will scourge you in their synagogues. 18 And you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious of how or what you shall speak, for it shall be given to you in that same hour what you shall speak. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 "And the brother will deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child. And the children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

23 "But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another. For truly I say to you, you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel until the Son of man has come.

24 "The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he should be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call them of his household?

26 "Do not fear them therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, or hid that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear in the ear, publish it upon the house-tops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are two sparrows not sold for an assarion? And not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But every hair on your head has been numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore. You are of more value than many sparrows.

32 "Whoever therefore confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

34 "Do not think that I have come to send peace on earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to 'set a man at variance against his father, the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' 36 And 'a man’s foes will be those of his own household.'

37 "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 He who finds his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it.

40 "He who receives you, receives me, and he who receives me, receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives a drink to one of these little ones, merely a cup of cold water, in the name of a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.35]: Micah 7:6. [v.36]: Micah 7:6.

Chapter 11

John sends his disciples to Christ, 1-6. Christ’s testimony concerning John, 7-15. The perverse judgment of the people, 16-19. Christ upbraids Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, 20-24; and praising his Father’s wisdom in revealing the Gospel to the simple. 25-27, he calls to him all such as feel the burden of their sins, 28-30.

1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said to him, "Are you he who should come, or do we look for another?" 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John those things which you hear and see: 5 'The blind receive their sight,' 'the lame walk,' the lepers are cleansed, 'the deaf hear,' the dead are raised, and 'the poor have the gospel preached to them.' 6 And blessed is he to whom I shall not be the cause of his falling into sin."

7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 "For this is he concerning whom it is written,

'Behold, I send my messenger before your face /

who shall prepare your way before you.'

11 "Truly, I say to you, among those who are born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you will receive it, this is Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets and calling to their fellows, 17 And saying,

'We have piped to you, /

and you have not danced. /

We have mourned to you, /

and you have not lamented.'

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is justified by her children."

20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be brought down to hell. For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babies. 26 Indeed, Father, for thus it seemed good in your sight. 27 All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no man knows the Son, except the Father, neither does any man know the Father, except the Son and he to whomever the Son will reveal him.

28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, 'and you shall find rest for your souls.' 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Isaiah 35:5-6 (paraphrased), 61:1. See also, Isaiah 29:18-19. [v.10]: Malachi 3:1. [v.29]: Jeremiah 6:16.

Chapter 12

Christ reproves the blindness of the Pharisees concerning the breach of the sabbath, 1, 2, by scripture, 3-8, by reason, 9-12, and by a miracle, 13-21. He heals a possessed man who was blind and mute, 22, 23; disproves the absurd charge of casting out demons by Beelzebub, 25-30; shows that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall never be forgiven, 31, 32. The tree is known by its fruit, 33-35. Account shall be made of idle words, 36, 37. He rebukes the unfaithful who seek after a sign, 38-45, and shows who is his brother, sister, and mother, 46-50.

1 At that time Jesus went through the grain-fields on the sabbath, and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck the heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Behold, your disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath." 3 But he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry, 4 How he entered into the house of God and ate the show-bread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law, that on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath and are blameless? 6 But I say to you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I will have mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath."

9 And when he had departed from there, he went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. 11 And he said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold upon it and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the sabbath days." 13 Then he says to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored to a sound state like the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there. And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. 16 And he charged them that they should not make him known, 17 So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

18 "Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen, /

my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. /

I will put my Spirit upon him, /

and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.

19 He shall not contend, nor cry, /

neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed he shall not break /

and smoking flax he shall not quench /

until he sends forth judgment to victory.

21 And in his name the Gentiles shall trust."

22 Then someone was brought to him possessed with a demon, blind and mute, and he healed him so that the blind and mute both spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, "Is this not the son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man does not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons."

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then shall his kingdom stand? 27 And if I, by Beelzebub, cast out demons, by whom do your children expel them? Therefore, they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or else, how can one enter into a strong man’s house and seize his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.

30 "He who is not with me, is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters abroad.

31 "Therefore, I say to you, for all manner of sin and blasphemy men shall be forgiven, but for the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit men shall not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, brings forth good things, and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you, that for every idle word that men speak, they shall give account on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Master, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as 'Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish,' so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it because she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.

43 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and he finds none. 44 Then he says, 'I will return into my house from where I came out.' And when he has come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. Thus it shall also be to this wicked generation."

46 While he was yet speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside desiring to speak with him. 47 Then someone said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside desiring to speak with you." 48 But he answered and said to him who told him, "Who is my mother? And who are my brothers?" 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, "Behold my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, sister, and mother."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.7]: Hosea 6:6. [v.18]: Isaiah 42:1. [v.19]: Isaiah 42:2. [v.20]: Isaiah 42:3. [v.21]: Isaiah 42:4.LXX [v.40]: Jonah 1:17.LXX (Jonah 2:1)

Chapter 13

The parable of the sower and the seed, 1-17; the exposition of it, 18-23. The parable of the tares, 24-30; of the mustard seed, 31, 32; of the leaven, 33-35; exposition of the parable of the tares, 36-43. The parable of the hidden treasure, 44; of the pearl, 45, 46; of the dragnet cast into the sea, 47-52. Christ is despised by his own countrymen, 53-58.

1 The same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered to him so that he went into a boat and sat down, and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, a sower went forth to sow. 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell upon stony places where they did not have much earth. And immediately they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth. 6 And when the sun had risen, they were scorched, and because they did not have root, they withered. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them. 8 But others fell upon good ground and brought forth fruit, some one hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 And the disciples came, and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance, but whoever does not have, from him even that which he has shall be taken away. 13 Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, neither do they understand. 14 "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says,

'By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand, /

and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive.

15 For this people’s heart has become callous, /

their ears are dull of hearing, /

and their eyes they have closed, /

or else perhaps they should see with their eyes, /

hear with their ears, /

and should understand with their heart /

and should be converted, /

and I should heal them.'

16 "But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which you see and have not seen them, and to hear the things which you hear and have not heard them.

18 "Hear, therefore, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed upon stony places, the same is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it, 21 Yet he does not have root in himself, but endures for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended. 22 He also who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who receives seed into the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who also bears fruit and brings forth, some one hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty."

24 Another parable he proposed to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and departed. 26 But when the blade had sprung up and brought forth fruit, the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you wish then that we go and gather them?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather the tares, you also root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "Gather first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

31 Another parable he proposed to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree so that the 'birds of the air come and lodge on its branches.'"

33 He spoke another parable to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened."

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables, and without a parable he did not speak to them, 35 So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

"  I will open my mouth in parables. /

I will utter things which have been kept secret /

from the foundation of the world."

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man. 38 The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it shall be in the end of this age. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and those who do iniquity, 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then 'the righteous shall shine as the sun' in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, which, when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to the shore, sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast away the bad. 49 That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

51 Jesus says to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They say to him, "Yes, Lord." 52 Then he said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who is instructed to the kingdom of heaven, is like a man who is a householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. 54 And when he had come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, "From where does this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is his mother not called Mary? And his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Then from where does this man get all these things?" 57 And they were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house." 58 And he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.14]: Isaiah 6:9.LXX [v.15]: Isaiah 6:10.LXX [v.32]: Ezekiel 17:23. [v.35]: Psalm 78:2.LXX [v.43]: Daniel 12:3.

Chapter 14

Herod’s opinion of Christ, 1, 2. Why John the Baptist was beheaded, 3-12. Jesus departs into a desolate place, 13, 14, where he feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, 15-21. He walks on the sea to his disciples, 22-33; and landing at Gennesaret, heals the sick by the touch of the hem of his garment, 34-36.

1 At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and therefore, mighty works show themselves forth in him."

3 For Herod had laid hold of John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, 7 Upon which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. 8 And she, being before instructed by her mother, said, "Give me here the head of John the Baptist in a dish." 9 And the king was sorry. Nevertheless, for the sake of the oath and of those who sat with him at the table, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a dish and given to the girl. Then she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, took up the body, buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed from there in a boat, into a desolate place by himself. And when the people had heard of it, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, "This is a desolate place and the time is now past. Send the multitude away so that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." 16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to depart. You give them something to eat." 17 And they say to him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." 18 He said, "Bring them here to me." 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 And those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

22 And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a boat and to go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he ascended a mountain separately to pray. And when the evening had come, he was there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a spirit," and they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer. It is I. Do not be afraid."

28 And Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water." 29 And he said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the boisterous wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me." 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they had come into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "In truth you are the son of God."

34 And when they had gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all the surrounding country and brought to him all who were diseased, 36 And implored him that they might only touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched it were restored to health.

Chapter 15

Christ reproves the scribes and Pharisees for transgressing God’s commandments through their own traditions, 1-9; teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man, 10-20. He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan, 21-28, and other great multitudes, 29-31; and with seven loaves and a few little fish feeds four thousand men, apart from women and children, 32-39.

1 Then scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus, who were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." 3 But he answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and mother,' and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him die the death.' 5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever you might be profited by me is an offering to God," 6 He shall not honor his father or his mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah well prophesied of you, saying,

8 'This people draws near to me with their mouth /

and honors me with their lips, /

but their heart is far from me.

9 But they worship me in vain, /

teaching the commandments of men for doctrines.'"

10 And he called the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand. 11 That which goes into the mouth does not defile a man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."

12 Then his disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying?" 13 But he answered and said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be uprooted. 14 Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into the ditch."

15 Then Peter answered and said to him, "Declare to us this parable." 16 And Jesus said, "Are you also yet without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand, that whatever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly and is cast out into the latrine? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart evil thoughts proceed: murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

21 Then Jesus went from there and departed into the territories of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same territories and cried to him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is grievously afflicted with a demon." 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and implored him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries after us." 24 But he answered and said, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 Then she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 But he answered and said, "It is not proper to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs." 27 And she said, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great. It shall be to you even as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

29 And Jesus departed from there, came near to the sea of Galilee, and ascended a mountain and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came to him, having with them those who were lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them. 31 Therefore, the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him, and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way." 33 And his disciples say to him, "Where should we get so much bread in the wilderness as to satisfy so great a multitude?" 34 And Jesus says to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit on the ground. 36 And he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 And they all ate and were filled. And they took up seven baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 And those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39 And he sent the multitude away, and took a boat and came into the borders of Magdala.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Exodus 20:12,LXX 21:17. See also, Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 5:16. [v.8]: Isaiah 29:13.LXX [v.9]: Isaiah 29:13.LXX

Chapter 16

The Pharisees require a sign, 1-4. Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, 5-12. The people’s opinion of Christ, 13-15, and Peter’s confession of him, 16-20. Jesus foretells his death, 21, 22; reproves Peter for dissuading him from it, 23; and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross, 24-28.

1 The Pharisees and also the Sadducees came, and tempting him, desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and lowering.' O hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky, but can you not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah." And he left them and departed.

5 And when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." 8 When Jesus perceived this, he said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 11 How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, but that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" 12 Then they understood that he did not caution them against the leaven of bread, but against the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the borders of Cesarea Phillippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" 14 And they said, "Some say that you are John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." 15 He says to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon-Barjonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he is Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time forth Jesus began to tell his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord. This shall not be done to you." 23 But he turned, and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan. You are an offense to me, for you do not savor the things that are of God, but those that are of men."

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will 'reward every man according to his works.'

28 "Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.27]: Psalm 62:12. See also, Proverbs 24:12.

Chapter 17

The transfiguration of Christ, 1-13. He heals the lunatic, 14-21, foretells his own passion, 22, 23, and pays tribute, 24-27.

1 And after six days, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them upon a high mountain separately. 2 And he was transfigured before them. His face shone as the sun, and his clothing was white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. 4 Then Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him." 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face and were in great fear. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only.

9 And as they were descending the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man until the Son of man is raised again from the dead." 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Elijah truly will come first and restore all things. 12 But I say to you, that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him, but have done to him whatever they pleased. Likewise, the Son of man will also suffer by them." 13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them concerning John the Baptist.

14 And when they had come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic and grievously distressed. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him." 17 Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and he departed out of him. And the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus separately, and said, "Why could we not cast him out?" 20 And Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to yonder place,' and it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you. 21 However, this kind does not go out, but by prayer and fasting."

22 And while they stayed in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man will be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 And they will kill him. And on the third day he will be raised again." And they were exceedingly grieved.

24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who received tribute-money came to Peter, and said, "Does your Master not pay tribute?" 25 He says, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? From their own children, or from strangers?" 26 Peter says to him, "From strangers." Jesus says to him, "Then the children are free. 27 However, lest we should offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the fish that first comes up. And when you have opened his mouth, you shall find a piece of money. Take that, and give it to them for me and you."

Chapter 18

Christ warns his disciples to be humble and harmless, 1-6, to avoid offenses, 7-9, and not to despise the little ones, 10-14; teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us, 15-20, and how often to forgive them, 21, 22; which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants, 23-31, and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow, 32-35.

1 At the same time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And Jesus called a little child to him and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me. 6 But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 "Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come. But woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 "Therefore, if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut them off and cast them from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be cast into hell-fire.

10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you, that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost.

12 "What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray. 14 Likewise, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

15 "Moreover, if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more so that 'in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he neglects to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector. 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

21 Then Peter came to him, and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?" 22 Jesus says to him, "I do not say to you until seven times, but until seventy times seven.

23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a certain king who wanted to take account of his servants. 24 And when he began to settle accounts, someone was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But because he did not have ability to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me and I will pay you everything.' 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave his debt. 28 But the same servant went out, found one of his fellow-servants who owed him one hundred denarii, laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' 29 And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and implored him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay you everything.' 30 And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told to their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, having called him, said to him, 'O you wicked servant, I forgave you of all that debt because you desired me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?' 34 And his lord was angry and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay everything that was due to him. 35 So my heavenly Father shall do likewise to you, if each of you from your hearts do not forgive his brother for his trespasses."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.16]: Deuteronomy 19:15.

Chapter 19

Christ heals the sick, 1, 2; answers the Pharisees concerning divorce, 3-9; shows when marriage is necessary, 10-12; receives little children, 13-15; instructs the young man how to attain eternal life, 16-19; and how to be perfect, 20-22; tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, 23-26; and promises reward to those who forsake anything to follow him, 27-30.

1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee and came into the borders of Judea, beyond the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.

3 The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause?" 4 And he answered and said to them, "Have you not read, that he who made them from the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 And said, 'For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh'? 6 Therefore, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, do not let man tear apart." 7 They say to him, "Why then did Moses command to 'give a writing of divorcement and to put her away'?" 8 He says to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, that whoever puts away his wife, except for lewdness, and marries another, commits adultery. And whoever marries her who is put away, commits adultery."

10 His disciples say to him, "If that is the case of the man with his wife, it is not good to marry." 11 But he said to them, "All men cannot receive this saying, except those to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs who were thus born from their mother’s womb, there are some eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it."

13 Then little children were brought to him so that he might put his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Allow little children, and do not forbid them to come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them and departed from there.

16 And behold, someone came and said to him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do so that I may have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? There is no one good but one: God. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He says to him, "Which?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20 The young man says to him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I yet lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you have, give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you, that a rich man shall enter into the kingdom of heaven with difficulty. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

27 Then Peter answered, and said to him, "Behold, we have forsaken all and followed you. What therefore shall we have?" 28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man sits on the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has forsaken houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive one hundred-fold and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Genesis 1:27.LXX See also, Genesis 5:2. [v.5]: Genesis 2:24.LXX [v.7]: Deuteronomy 24:1. [v.18]: Exodus 20:13-16.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:17-20. [v.19]: Exodus 20:12;LXX Leviticus 19:18.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:16.

Chapter 20

Christ, by the similitude of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor to no man, 1-16; foretells his passion, 17-19; by answering the mother of Zebedee’s children, teaches his disciples to be lowly, 20-28; and gives two blind men their sight, 29-34.

1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market-place, 4 And said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right, I will give you.' And they departed. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and says to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?' 7 They say to him, 'Because no man has hired us.' He says to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right, that you shall receive.'

8 "So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their hire, beginning from the last to the first.' 9 And when those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more, and they likewise each received a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the master of the house, 12 Saying, 'These last have wrought but one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.' 13 But he answered one of them, and said, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take that which is yours and depart. I will give to this last, even as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own? Is your eye evil because I am good?' 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."

17 And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples separately in the way, and said to them, 18 "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 And will deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, scourge, and crucify him. And on the third day he will rise again."

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s children came to him, with her sons, worshiping him and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said to her, "What do you wish?" She says to him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand and the other on your left in your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They say to him, "We are able." 23 And he says to them, "You shall drink indeed of my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared by my Father."

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him, and said, "You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and those who are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever wishes to be great among you, let him be your minister, 27 And whoever wishes to be chief among you, let him be your servant, 28 Even as the Son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many."

29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, they cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David." 31 And the multitude rebuked them that they should hold their peace, but they cried the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David." 32 And Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you wish that I shall do to you?" 33 They say to him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." 34 So Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight and they followed him.

Chapter 21

Christ rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey, 1-11; drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple, 12-16; curses the fig-tree, 17-22; puts to silence the priests and elders, 17-27, and rebukes them by the similitude of the two sons, 28-32, and the farmers who slew those who were sent to them, 33-46.

1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 Saying to them, "Go into the village over against you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 And if any man says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 All this was done so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, /

'Behold, your King comes to you, /

meek, and sitting upon a donkey, /

even a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

6 And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the donkey and the colt and put their clothes on them, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way. Others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes, who went before and who followed, cried, saying,

"Hosanna to the son of David.   /

'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' /

Hosanna in the highest."

10 And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the multitude said, "This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee."

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves, 13 And said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it 'a den of thieves.'"

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the temple, and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David," they were greatly displeased, 16 And said to him, "Do you hear what these say?" And Jesus says to them, "Yes. Have you never read,

'Out of the mouth of babies and infants /

you have perfected praise'?"

17 And he left them and went out of the city into Bethany and lodged there.

18 Now in the morning as he was returning into the city, he was hungry. 19 And when he saw a fig-tree in the way, he came to it and found nothing on it, but leaves only, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you from now on forever." And immediately the fig-tree withered.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How has the fig-tree withered so soon?" 21 Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig-tree, but also, if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' it shall be done. 22 And all things whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."

23 And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 And Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven, or from men?" And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the people, for all hold John as a prophet." 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, "We cannot tell." And he said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

28 "But what do you think? A certain man had two sons. And he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 He answered and said, 'I will not.' But afterward, he repented and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' and did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They say to him, "The first." Jesus says to them, "Truly I say to you, that the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him. And you, when you had seen it, did not repent afterward to believe him.

33 "Hear another parable. There was a certain householder who planted a vineyard, hedged it around, dug a wine-press in it, built a tower, and lent it out to farmers, then went into a remote country. 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers so that they might receive its fruits. 35 And the farmers took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants more in number than the first, and they did to them in like manner. 37 But last of all he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will reverence my son.' 38 But when the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and let us seize his inheritance.' 39 And they caught him, cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 Therefore, when the Lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?" 41 They say to him, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men and will lease out his vineyard to other farmers, who will render him the fruits in their seasons."

42 Jesus says to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures,

'The stone which the builders rejected, /

the same has become the head of the corner. /

This is the Lord’s doing /

and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

43 "Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth its fruits. 44 And whoever falls on this stone shall be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Zechariah 9:9. [v.9]: Psalm 118:26.LXX [v.13]: Isaiah 56:7;LXX Jeremiah 7:11.LXX [v.16]: Psalm 8:2.LXX [v.42]: Psalm 118:22-23.LXX

Chapter 22

The parable of the marriage of the king’s son, 1-8. The vocation of the Gentiles, 9-11. The punishment of him who wanted the wedding garment, 12-14. Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar, 15-22. Christ disproves the Sadducees for the resurrection, 23-33; answers the lawyer, which is the first and great commandment, 34-40; and puzzles the Pharisees with a question about the Messiah, 41-46.

1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said, 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding, but they would not come. 4 Again, he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and my fattened calves are killed and all things are ready. Come to the marriage."' 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. 6 And the remnant took his servants, treated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard of it, he was angry and he sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he says to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore, go into the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite to the marriage.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and collected all as many as they found, both bad and good. And the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who did not have a wedding-garment, 12 And he says to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here, not having a wedding-garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might trap him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples out to him along with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth, neither do you care for any man, for you do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the tribute-money." And they brought a denarius to him. 20 And he says to them, "Whose image and superscription is this?" 21 They say to him, "Caesar’s." Then he says to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled. Then they left him and departed.

23 The same day the Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, "Master, Moses said, 'If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up children for his brother.' 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first, when he had married a wife, died, and having no children, left his wife to his brother; 26 Likewise, the second also, and the third, to the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman also died. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her."

29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were assembled around him. 35 Then one of them who was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."

41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he?" They say to him, "The son of David." 43 He says to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 'The LORD said to my Lord, /

"Sit on my right hand /

until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet"'?

45 "If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son?" 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither did any man dare from that day forth to ask him any more questions.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.24]: Deuteronomy 25:5. [v.32]: Exodus 3:6.LXX [v.37]: Deuteronomy 6:5. [v.39]: Leviticus 19:18.LXX [v.44]: Psalm 110:1.LXX

Chapter 23

Christ admonishes the people to follow the good doctrine, not the evil examples, of the scribes and Pharisees, 1-4. His disciples must be aware of their ambition, 5-12. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness, 13-33, and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem, 34-39.

1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitude and to his disciples, 2 Saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’s seat. 3 Therefore, all that they bid you to observe, observe and do it, but do not do according to their works, for they say and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the uppermost rooms at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 Greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' 8 But do not be called Rabbi, for One is your Teacher, even Christ, and all of you are brothers. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth, for One is your Father who is in heaven. 10 Do not be called masters, for One is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.

13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. For you neither go in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayer; therefore, you shall receive the greater condemnation.

15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16 "Woe to you, you blind guides who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.' 17 You fools and blind men. For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And you also say, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.' 19 You fools and blind men. For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Whoever therefore swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things upon it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint, anise, and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law: judgment, mercy, and faith. These you ought to have done, and not to leave the others undone. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you make the outside of the cup and of the platter clean, but inside they are full of extortion and excess. 26 You blind Pharisee, first cleanse that which is inside the cup and platter so that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you are like whitened sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Thus you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, 30 And say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' 31 Therefore, you are witnesses to yourselves that you are the children of those who killed the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the condemnation of hell?

34 "Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city, 35 So that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, that you shall not see me from now on until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Old Testament Quotes

[v.39]: Psalm 118:26.LXX

Chapter 24

Christ foretells the destruction of the temple, 1, 2; what and how great calamities shall be before it, 3-28; the signs of his coming to judgment, 29-35. And because that day and hour are unknown, 36-41, we ought to watch like good servants, expecting every moment our Master’s coming, 42-51.

1 And Jesus went out and departed from the temple. And his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down."

3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 "Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise and will deceive many. 12 And because iniquity will abound, the love of many will become cold. 13 But he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a testimony to all nations. And then the end shall come.

15 "Therefore, when you see 'the abomination of desolation' spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the house-top not come down to take anything out of his house, 18 Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse infants in those days! 20 But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, neither on the sabbath. 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time, nor will there ever be. 22 And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man says to you, 'Behold, here is Christ,' or, 'There,' do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders in such a way that, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Therefore, if they say to you, 'Behold, he is in the desert,' do not go forth, or, 'Behold, he is in the secret chambers,' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man also be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be collected.

29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days 'the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, the stars shall fall' from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see 'the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, 'from one end of heaven to the other.'

32 "Now learn a parable of the fig-tree. When its branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So likewise you, when you see all these things know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 "But of that day and hour no man knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of man also be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood—they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 And did not know until the flood came and took them all away—so also will be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then two will be in the field: one shall be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one shall be taken and the other left.

42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord comes. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house knew in what watch the thief would come, he would watch and would not allow his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, you also be ready. For the Son of man comes in such an hour as you do not think.

45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' 49 And begins to beat his fellow-servants and to eat and drink with the drunken, 50 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not look for him and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And will cut him apart and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.15]: Daniel 12:11.LXX [v.29]: Isaiah 13:10. [v.30]: Daniel 7:13. [v.31]: Deuteronomy 30:4,LXX or 4:32.LXX

Chapter 25

The parable of the ten virgins, 1-13, and of the talents, 14-30. Also the description of the last judgment, 31-46.

1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him.' 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Not so, lest there not be enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready went in with him to the marriage. Then the door was shut. 11 Afterward, the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Therefore, watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man comes.

14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he immediately took his journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same and gained another five talents. 17 And likewise, he who had received two, he also gained another two. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.

19 "After a long time, the lord of those servants comes and settles accounts with them. 20 And he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained besides them five more talents.' 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

22 "He also who had received two talents came, and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.' 23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

24 "Then he who had received the one talent came, and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not strewed. 25 I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, there you have what is yours.'

26 "His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not strewed. 27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with interest. 28 Therefore, take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 'For to everyone who has shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, he will sit upon the throne of his glory. 32 And before him all nations shall be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. 36 I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, since you have done it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you have done it to me.'

41 "Then he will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not take me in. I was naked and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they will also answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, since you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."

Chapter 26

Christ foretells his own death, 1, 2. The rulers conspire against him, 3-5. The woman anoints his feet, 6-13. Judas bargains to betray him, 14-16. Christ eats the passover, 17-25; institutes his holy supper, 26-29; foretells the desertion of his disciples and Peter’s denial, 30-35; prays in the garden, 36-46; and being betrayed by a kiss, 47-56, is carried to Caiaphas, 57-68, and denied by Peter, 69-75.

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 "You know that after two days is the passover and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified."

3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. 5 But they said, "Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people."

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7 A woman having an alabaster-box of very precious ointment came to him and poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, "To what purpose is this waste? 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor." 10 When Jesus understood it, he said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has wrought a good work upon me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. 12 For in that she has poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, this, which this woman has done, shall also be told there for a memorial of her."

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 And said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you wish that we prepare for you to eat the passover?" 18 And he said, "Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, 'The Master says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples."'" 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them and they made ready the passover.

20 Now when the evening had come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, "Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me." 22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to him, "Lord, is it I?" 23 And he answered and said, "He who dips his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me. 24 The Son of man goes, as it is written concerning him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." 25 Then Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, "Master, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said."

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body." 27 And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink from now on of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus says to them, "All of you shall be offended because of me this night, for it is written, 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.' 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." 33 Peter answered and said to him, "Though all men shall be offended because of you, yet I will never be offended." 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." 35 Peter said to him, "Though I should die with you, yet I will not deny you." All the disciples also said likewise.

36 Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane and says to the disciples, "Sit here while I go yonder and pray." 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then he says to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with me."

39 And he went a little further, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." 40 And he comes to the disciples and finds them asleep, and says to Peter, "What, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42 He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me unless I drink it, may your will be done." 43 And he came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he comes to his disciples and says to them, "Sleep on now and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand who betrays me."

47 And while he was yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staffs from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him." 49 And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail Master," and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest and smote off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all those who take the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father and he will presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled which say it must be so?"

55 In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a thief with swords and staffs to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and you laid no hold upon me. 56 But all this was done so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.

57 And those who had laid hold upon Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest’s palace, went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests and elders and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, 60 But found none. And though many false witnesses came, yet they found none. At the last, two false witnesses came, 61 And said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" 62 And the high priest arose and said to him, "Do you answer nothing? What is it which these testify against you?" 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said to him, "I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ the Son of God." 64 Jesus says to him, "You have said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and 'coming in the clouds of heaven.'"

65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy. What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. 66 What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is guilty of death."

67 Then they spit in his face and buffeted him. And others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is he who smote you?"

69 Now Peter sat outside in the palace. And a woman-servant came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus of Galilee." 70 But he denied before them all, saying, "I do not know what you say." 71 And when he had gone out into the porch, another woman-servant saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 And again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the man." 73 And after a while those who stood by came to him and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech betrays you." 74 Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who said to him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.31]: Zechariah 13:7. [v.64]: Daniel 7:13.

Chapter 27

Christ is delivered bound to Pilate, 1, 2. Judas hangs himself, 3-18. Pilate, admonished by his wife, 19, and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands and releases Barabbas, 20-26. Christ is mocked and crowned with thorns, 27-32; crucified, 33-38; reviled, 39-49; dies, and is buried, 50-61; his sepulcher is sealed and watched, 62-66.

1 When the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

3 Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself." 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury because it is the price of blood." 7 And they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore, that field has been called, The Field of Blood, to this day. 9 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "'And they took the thirty pieces of silver,' 'the price of him who was valued,' whom they of the children of Israel valued, 10 And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me."

11 And Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "You say." 12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate says to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" 14 And he answered him not a word; therefore, the governor marveled greatly.

15 Now at that feast, the governor was accustomed to release to the people a prisoner whom they wished. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they were assembled, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you wish that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?" 18 (For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.)

19 When he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you wish that I release to you?" They said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate says to them, "What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all say to him, "Let him be crucified." 23 And the governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they cried out the more, saying, "Let him be crucified."

24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person. See to it yourselves." 25 Then all the people answered, and said, "His blood is on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered the whole band of soldiers to him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spit upon him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And after they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, put his own clothing on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They constrained him to bear his cross.

33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha (that is to say, The Place of a Skull), 34 They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall. And when he had tasted it, he would not drink.

35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, "They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture they cast lots." 36 And sitting down, they watched him there. 37 And they set up over his head his accusation written, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

38 Then there were two thieves crucified with him: one on the right hand and another on the left. 39 And those who passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 Likewise, the chief priests also mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 "He saved others. He cannot save himself. If he is King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 'He trusted in God. Let him deliver him now if he will have him,' for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 The thieves who were also crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land to the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" (That is to say, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") 47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This man calls for Elijah." 48 And immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Forbear. Let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, expired. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 And the graves were opened and many bodies of saints who slept, arose, 53 Came out of the graves after his resurrection, went into the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

55 And many women were there (beholding at a distance) who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 Among whom was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

57 When the evening had come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 Laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock, rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulcher.

62 Now on the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, 63 Saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was yet alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 Therefore, command that the sepulcher be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' Thus the last error will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a watch. Go, make it as secure as you can." 66 So they went, and having sealed the stone, made the sepulcher secure with a watch.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.9]: Zechariah 11:12-13. [v.35]: Psalm 22:18.LXX [v.43]: Psalm 22:8. [v.46]: Psalm 22:1.

Chapter 28

Christ’s resurrection is declared by an angel to the women, 1-8. He himself appears to them, 9, 10. The chief priests give the soldiers money to say that he was stolen out of his sepulcher, 11-15. Christ appears to his disciples, 16, 17, and sends them to baptize and teach all nations, 18-20.

1 In the evening of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the keepers trembled and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not fear, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee. There you shall see him.' Behold, I have told you."

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy and ran to bring word to his disciples. 9 And as they were going to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail." And they came, held him by the feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go into Galilee, and there they shall see me."

11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city and showed to the chief priests all the things that had been done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 Saying, "Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and secure you." 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee to a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came, and spoke to them, saying, "All power is given to me in heaven and upon earth. 19 Therefore, go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

Chapter 1

The office of John the Baptist, 1-8. Jesus is baptized, 9-11; tempted, 12, 13; he preaches, 14, 15; calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John, 16-22; heals someone who had an unclean spirit, 23-28; Peter’s mother-in-law, 29-31; many diseased persons, 32-39; and cleanses the leper, 40-45.

1 [The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.]

2 As it is written in the prophets,

"'  Behold, I send my messenger before your face /

who shall prepare your way before you.'

3 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, /

"Prepare the way of the Lord. /

Make his paths straight."'"

4 John was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. 5 And all the land of Judea and those of Jerusalem went out there to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a girdle of a skin around his loins, and he ate locusts and wild honey, 7 And preached, saying, "There comes after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth to Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

12 And immediately the Spirit drives him into the wilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel."

16 Now as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Come after me and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they forsook their nets and followed him. 19 And when he had gone a little farther from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went after him.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the sabbath he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 Saying, "Leave us alone. What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold your peace and come out of him." 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed; therefore, they questioned among themselves, saying, "What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region around Galilee.

29 And immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But the mother of Simon’s wife lay sick with a fever, and immediately they tell him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.

32 And at evening when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were diseased and those who were possessed with demons. 33 And all the city was gathered at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. And he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.

35 And in the morning, rising a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place and prayed there. 36 And Simon and those who were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said to him, "All men seek for you." 38 And he said to them, "Let us go into the next towns so that I may preach there also, for I have come for this purpose." 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out demons.

40 And there came a leper to him, imploring him, and kneeling down to him and saying to him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched him, and says to him, "I am willing. Be clean." 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was cleansed. 43 And he strictly charged him and immediately sent him away, 44 And says to him, "See that you say nothing to any man. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and began to publish it much and to blaze abroad the matter; therefore, Jesus could no longer openly enter into the city, but was outside in desolate places. And they came to him from every quarter.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Malachi 3:1. [v.3]: Isaiah 40:3.LXX

Chapter 2

Christ, followed by multitudes, 1, 2, heals someone of paralysis, 3-12; calls Matthew from the receipt of custom, 13, 14; eats with tax collectors and sinners, 15-17; excuses his disciples for not fasting, 18-22; and for plucking the heads of grain on the sabbath-day, 23-28.

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days, and it was understood that he was in the house. 2 And immediately many were assembled so that there was no room to receive them, not even at the door. And he preached the word to them. 3 And they come to him, bringing someone paralyzed who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near to him by reason of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. And when they had broken it up, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" 8 And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they thus reasoned within themselves, he said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed, and walk'? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins"—he says to the paralytic— 11 "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go into your house." 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all. Therefore, they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw it in this fashion."

13 And he went forth again by the sea-side, and all the multitude resorted to him, and he taught them.

14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said to him, "Follow me." And he arose and followed him.

15 And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at the table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many and they followed him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, "How is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 When Jesus heard it, he says to them, "Those who are in health have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting, and they come, and say to him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast in those days.

21 "No man also sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment, or else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old and the rent is made worse. 22 And no man puts new wine into old bottles, or else the new wine bursts the bottles, and the wine is spilled and the bottles will be marred. But new wine must be put into new bottles."

23 And it came to pass, that he went through the grain-fields on the sabbath, and his disciples began to pluck the heads of grain as they made their way. 24 And the Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why do they do on the sabbath that which is not lawful?" 25 And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he and those who were with him— 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the show-bread, which it is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" 27 And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. 28 Therefore, the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

Chapter 3

Christ heals the withered hand, 1-9, and many other infirmities, 10; rebukes the unclean spirit, 11, 12; chooses his twelve apostles, 13-21; convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub, 22-30; and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother, 31-35.

1 And he entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. 3 And he says to the man who had the withered hand, "Stand forth." 4 And he says to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they held their peace. 5 And when he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he says to the man, "Stretch forth your hand." And he stretched it out and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, 8 From Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and those around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude came to him when they had heard what great things he did. 9 And he told his disciples that a small boat should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10 For he had healed many; therefore, as many as had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him and cried, saying, "You are the Son of God." 12 And he strictly charged them that they should not make him known.

13 And he goes up upon a mountain and calls to him whom he wished, and they came to him. 14 And he ordained twelve so that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 To have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons: 16 Simon he surnamed Peter, 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, Sons of Thunder), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. They went into a house.

20 And the multitude comes together again so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold upon him, for they said, "He is beside himself." 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem, said, "He has Beelzebub, and by the prince of the demons he casts out demons." 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rises up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house and seize his goods unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

28 "Truly I say to you, the sons of men shall be forgiven of all sins and any blasphemies with which they shall blaspheme. 29 But he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal condemnation"— 30 Because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."

31 Then his brothers and his mother came there, and standing outside they sent to him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat around him, and they said to him, "Behold, your mother and your brothers outside seek for you." 33 And he answered them, saying, "Who is my mother, or my brothers?" 34 And he looked around at those who sat around him, and said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, my sister, and mother."

Chapter 4

The parable of the sower, 1-13, and the meaning thereof, 14-20. We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others, 21-25. The parable of the seed growing secretly, 26-29; and of the mustard seed, 30-34. Christ stills the tempest on the sea, 35-41.

1 And he began again to teach by the sea-side. And there was gathered to him a great multitude so that he entered into a boat and sat on the sea, while the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables and said to them in his doctrine, 3 "Listen. Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the wayside and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 And some fell on stony ground where it did not have much earth. And immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun had risen, it was scorched, and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And others fell on good ground and yielded fruit that sprang up, increased, and brought forth, some thirty-, some sixty-, and some one hundred-fold." 9 And he said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 And when he was alone, those who were around him, with the twelve, asked of him the parable. 11 And he said to them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all these things are done in parables, 12 So that

'seeing they may see and not perceive, /

and hearing they may hear and not understand, /

lest at any time they should be converted /

and their sins should be forgiven.'"

13 And he said to them, "Do you not know this parable? And how then will you know all parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are those by the wayside where the word is sown, but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And likewise, these are those who are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness, 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they relapse. 18 And these are those who are sown among thorns: those who hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And these are those who are sown on good ground: those who hear the word, receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-, some sixty-, and some one hundred-fold."

21 And he said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested, neither has anything been kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 And he said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the measure which you give, it shall be measured to you. And to you who hear, more shall be given. 25 For he who has, to him shall be given, and he who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken from him."

26 And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed into the ground. 27 And he sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed springs and grows up, though he does not know how. 28 For the earth brings forth fruit of itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle because the harvest has come."

30 And he said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth. 32 But when it is sown, it grows up, becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches so that the 'birds of the air may lodge under its shade.'"

33 And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable he did not speak to them. And when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

35 And the same day, when the evening had come, he says to them, "Let us pass over to the other side." 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the boat. And there were also with him other small boats. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the back part of the boat asleep on a pillow. And they wake him, and say to him, "Master, do you not care that we perish?" 39 And he arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still," and the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Old Testament Quotes

[v.12]: Isaiah 6:10.LXX [v.32]: Ezekiel 17:23.

Chapter 5

Christ delivering the man possessed with the legion of demons, 1-12, they enter into the swine, 13-21. He is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter, 22-24. He heals the woman of the bloody issue, 25-34, and raises from death Jairus' daughter, 35-43.

1 And they came over to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he had come out of the boat, immediately out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit met him there, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs. And no man could bind him, not even with chains, 4 For he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked apart by him and the fetters broken in pieces. No man could tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was on the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, that you do not torment me." 8 (For he said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.") 9 And he asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 10 And he implored him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was a great herd of swine feeding near the mountains. 12 And all the demons implored him, saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter into them." 13 And immediately Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea.

14 And those who fed the swine fled and told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus and see him who was possessed with the demon and had the legion sitting there clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it befell him who was possessed with the demon, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their borders. 18 And when he had come into the boat, he who had been possessed with the demon prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Yet Jesus did not allow him, but says to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how the Lord has done great things for you and has had compassion on you." 20 And he departed and began to publish in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him. And all men wondered.

21 And when Jesus had passed over again in a boat to the other side, many people gathered to him. And he was near the sea. 22 And behold, there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And implored him greatly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. I pray you, come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed, and she will live." 24 And Jesus went with him, and many people followed him and thronged him.

25 And a certain woman who had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 Had suffered many things from many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not relieved, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, she came in the crowd behind and touched his garment. 28 For she said, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." 29 And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that infirmity. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out of him, turned himself around in the throng, and said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the multitude thronging you and you say, 'Who touched me?'" 32 And he looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him and told him all the truth. 34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace and be healed of your infirmity."

35 While he was yet speaking, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why do you trouble the Master any further?" 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he says to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid, only believe." 37 And he allowed no man to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 And he comes to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and sees the tumult and those who wept and wailed greatly. 39 And when he had come in, he says to them, "Why do you make this tumult and weep? The girl is not dead, but sleeps." 40 And they derided him. But when he had put them all out, he takes the father and the mother of the girl and those who were with him and enters in where the girl was lying. 41 And he took the girl by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cumi," (which is, being interpreted, "Girl, I say to you, arise"). 42 And immediately the girl arose and walked. She was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43 And he charged them strictly that no man should know it, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.

Chapter 6

Christ is despised by his countrymen, 1-6. He gives the twelve power over unclean spirits, 7-13. Various opinions of Christ, 14, 15. John the Baptist is imprisoned, beheaded, and buried, 16-29. The apostles return from preaching, 30-33. The miracle of five loaves and two fish, 34-44. Christ walks on the sea, 45-52; and heals all who touch him, 53-56.

1 And he went out from there and came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 And when the sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many who heard him were astonished, saying, "From where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to him that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? And are his sisters not here with us?" And they were offended at him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, among his own kindred, and in his own house." 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick persons and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went around the villages teaching.

7 And he calls the twelve to him and began to send them forth by two and two and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 And he commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only—no bag, no bread, no money in their purse— 9 But to be shod with sandals and not put on two coats. 10 And he said to them, "In whatever place you enter into a house, abide there until you depart from that place. 11 And whoever does not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city." 12 And they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

14 And king Herod heard of him (for his name was spread abroad), and he said, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and therefore, mighty works show themselves forth in him." 15 Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, or as one of the prophets." 16 But when Herod heard of him, he said, "It is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." 19 Therefore, Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him, but she could not, 20 For Herod feared John and kept him safe, knowing that he was a just and holy man. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed, yet he heard him gladly. 21 And when a convenient day had come, Herod, on his birthday, made a supper for his lords, high captains, and chief men of Galilee. 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those who sat with him. And the king said to the girl, "Ask of me whatever you wish and I will give it to you." 23 And he swore to her, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, to the half of my kingdom." 24 And she went forth and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I wish that you would give me at once the head of John the Baptist in a dish." 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry. Yet for his oath’s sake and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head in a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

30 And the apostles assembled themselves to Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And he said to them, "Come separately into a desolate place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going and they did not even have opportunity to eat. 32 And they departed into a desolate place in a boat privately.

33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him. And they ran there together on foot out of all cities and went ahead of them. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people and was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, and said, "This is a desolate place and now the time is far passed. 36 Send them away so that they may go into the country around and into the villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat." 37 He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they say to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" 38 He says to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they knew, they say, "Five, and two fish." 39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments and of the fish. 44 And those who ate of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45 And immediately he constrained his disciples to get into the boat and to go to the other side ahead of him to Bethsaida while he sent the people away. 46 And when he had dismissed them, he departed to a mountain to pray.

47 And when evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them. And about the fourth watch of the night he comes to them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit and cried out. 50 (For they all saw him and were troubled.) And immediately he talked with them, and says to them, "Be of good cheer. It is I. Do not be afraid." 51 Then he went up to them into the boat, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered. 52 For they did not consider the miracle of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret and drew to the shore. 54 And when they had come out of the boat, immediately they knew him, 55 And ran throughout that whole region and began to carry around in beds those who were sick where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he entered, into villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets and implored him that they might touch at least the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched him were healed.

Chapter 7

The Pharisees find fault with the disciples for eating with unwashed hands, 1-7. They break the commandment of God by the traditions of men, 8-13. Nothing from outside a man can defile him, 14-23. He heals the Syrophenician woman’s daughter of an unclean spirit, 24-30; and someone who was deaf and stammered in his speech, 31-37.

1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who came from Jerusalem came together to him. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled (that is to say with unwashed) hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands often, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, pots, brazen vessels, and tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" 6 He answered and said to them, "Isaiah has prophesied well concerning you hypocrites, as it is written,

'This people honors me with their lips, /

but their heart is far from me.

7 But in vain they worship me, /

teaching the commandments of men for doctrines.'

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups. And you do many other similar things."

9 And he said to them, "You full well reject the commandment of God in order to keep your own tradition, 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death.' 11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever you might be profited by me is Corban," (that is to say, a gift to God) he shall be free.' 12 And you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 13 Making the word of God of no effect through your traditions, which you have delivered. And you do many similar things."

14 And when he had called all the people to him, he said to them, "Listen to me each of you, and understand. 15 There is nothing from outside a man, that entering into him can defile him; however, it is the things which come out of him that defile the man. 16 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."

17 And when he had entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he says to them, "Are you so void of understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatever thing from outside enters into the man, it cannot defile him, 19 Because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the latrine, purging all kinds of food?" 20 And he said, "That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts: adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile the man."

24 And from there he arose, went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, entered into a house, and wished to have no man know it, but he could not be hid. 25 But a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell at his feet 26 (The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation), and she implored him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children first be satisfied, for it is not proper to take the children’s bread and to cast it to the dogs." 28 And she answered and said to him, "Yes, Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this saying, depart. The demon has gone out of your daughter." 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon had gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

31 And again, departing from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. 32 And they bring to him someone who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they implore him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears, and having spit he touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and says to him, "Effatha," (that is, "Be opened"). 35 And immediately his ears were opened, the string of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke plainly. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it, 37 And were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Isaiah 29:13.LXX [v.7]: Isaiah 29:13.LXX [v.10]: Exodus 20:12,LXX 21:17. See also, Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 5:16.

Chapter 8

Christ feeds the people miraculously, 1-9; refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees, 10-13; admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod, 14-21; gives a blind man his sight, 22-26; acknowledges that he is the Christ who should suffer and rise again, 27-33; and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel, 34-38.

1 In those days when the multitude was very great and had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples and says to them, 2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way, for some of them came from a distance." 4 And his disciples answered him, "From where can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?" 5 And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, gave thanks, broke, and gave to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the people. 7 They also had a few small fish. And he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets of the fragments that were left. 9 And those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he dismissed them. 10 And immediately he entered into a boat with his disciples and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11 And the Pharisees came forth and began to question with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and says, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, there shall no sign be given to this generation." 13 And he left them, and entering into the boat again, departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither did they have in the boat with them more than one loaf. 15 And he charged them saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod." 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread." 17 And when Jesus knew it, he says to them, "Why do you discuss that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive, neither understand? Do you have your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, 19 When I divided the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They say to him, "Twelve." 20 "And when I divided the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." 21 And he said to them, "How is it that you do not understand?"

22 And he comes to Bethsaida, and they bring a blind man to him and implored him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up, and said, "I see men as trees walking." 25 After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes and made him look up. Then he was restored and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell it to anyone in the town."

27 And Jesus went out, along with his disciples, into the towns of Cesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?" 28 And they answered, "'John the Baptist.' But some say, 'Elijah,' and others, 'One of the prophets.'" 29 And he says to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answers and says to him, "You are the Christ." 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spoke that saying openly. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned around and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan. For you do not savor the things that are of God, but the things that are of men."

34 And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, "Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whoever therefore is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Chapter 9

Jesus is transfigured, 2-10. He instructs his disciples concerning the coming of Elijah, 11-13; casts out a deaf and mute spirit, 14-29; foretells his death and resurrection, 30-32; exhorts his disciples to humility, 33-37; bidding them not to prohibit those who are not against them, nor to give offense to any of the faithful, 38-50.

1 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, that there are some of those who stand here who shall not taste death until they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."

2 And after six days, Jesus takes with him Peter, James, and John, and leads them up upon a high mountain separately by themselves, and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his clothing became shining, exceedingly white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah, with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were greatly terrified. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Hear him." 8 And suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no man anymore, except Jesus only with themselves.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen until the Son of man was risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning with one another what the rising from the dead should mean. 11 And they asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12 And he answered and told them, "Elijah truly comes first and restores all things. How is it written concerning the Son of man that he must suffer many things and be set at nothing? 13 But I say to you, that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they pleased, as it is written concerning him."

14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude around them and the scribes questioning with them. 15 And immediately, when they beheld him, all the people were greatly amazed and ran to him and saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, "What are you questioning with them?" 17 And someone from the multitude answered and said, "Master, I have brought to you my son who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever he takes him, he convulses him, and he foams and gnashes with his teeth and pines away. And I spoke to your disciples so that they should cast him out, and they could not." 19 He answered him, and says, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought him to him. And when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming. 21 And he asked his father, "How long has it been since this came to him?" And he said, "From a child. 22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." 24 And immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief." 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him and enter into him no more." 26 And the spirit cried, shook him severely, and came out of him. And he was as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast him out?" 29 And he said to them, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

30 And they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and he did not wish that any man should know it. 31 For he taught his disciples and said to them, "The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men and they will kill him, and after he is killed, he will rise on the third day." 32 But they did not understand that saying and were afraid to ask him.

33 And he came to Capernaum. And being in the house, he asked them, "What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?" 34 But they held their peace, for on the way they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve and says to them, "If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 And he took a child and set him in the midst of them, and when he had taken him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of such children in my name receives me, and whoever receives me does not receive me, but him who sent me."

38 And John answered him, saying, "Master, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him. For there is no man who does a miracle in my name who can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our part. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

42 "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall into sin, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, 44 'Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' 45 And if your foot causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter lame into life than with two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, 46 'Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be cast into hell-fire, 48 'Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'

49 "For everyone shall be salted with fire and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.44]: Isaiah 66:24. [v.46]: Isaiah 66:24. [v.48]: Isaiah 66:24.

Chapter 10

Christ disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce, 1-12 blesses the children who are brought to him, 13-16; resolves a rich man how he may inherit eternal life, 17-22; tells his disciples of the danger of riches, 23-27; promises rewards to those who forsake anything for the gospel, 28-31; foretells his death and resurrection, 32-34; bids the two ambitious appealers to think rather of suffering with him, 35-45; and restores to Bartimeus his sight, 46-52.

1 And he arose from there and comes into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And the people resort to him again, and, as he was accustomed, he taught them again.

2 And the Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" 3 And he answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 And they said, "Moses 'allowed a man to write a bill of divorcement and to put her away.'" 5 And Jesus answered and said to them, "For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, 'God made them male and female.' 7 'For this cause a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, 8 And the two of them become one flesh,' so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore, what God has joined together, do not let man separate."

10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11 And he says to them, "Whoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman puts away her husband and is married to another, she commits adultery."

13 And they brought young children to him so that he might touch them, and his disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased and said to them, "Allow the little children to come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter it." 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

17 And when he had gone forth into the way, someone came running, kneeled to him, and asked him, "Good Master, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, but one: God. 19 You know the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not kill,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' and, 'Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he answered and said to him, "Master, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: go and sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come, take up the cross, and follow me." 22 And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked around and says to his disciples, "How hardly those who have riches shall enter into the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answers again, and says to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 26 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 And Jesus looking upon them, says, "With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible."

28 Then Peter began to say to him, "Behold, we have left all and have followed you." 29 Jesus answered and said, "Truly I say to you, there is no man who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for my sake and the gospel’s, 30 Who shall not receive one hundred-fold now in this time—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first shall be last, and the last first."

32 And they were on the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before them. And they were amazed, and as they followed, they were afraid. And again he took the twelve and began to tell them what things should happen to him, 33 Saying, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and will deliver him to the Gentiles, 34 And they will mock him, scourge him, spit upon him, and kill him. But on the third day he will rise again."

35 And James and John the sons of Zebedee come to him, saying, "Master, we wish that you should do for us whatever we desire." 36 And he said to them, "What do you wish that I should do for you?" 37 They said to him, "Grant to us that we may sit, one on your right hand and the other on your left hand in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Can you drink of the cup that I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 39 And they said to him, "We can." And Jesus said to them, "You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized with you shall be baptized. 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give. It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared."

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them, and says to them, "You know that those who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your minister, 44 And whoever of you wishes to be the chief shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life as a ransom for many."

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway-side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me." 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace, but he cried the more a great deal: "Son of David, have mercy on me." 49 And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good comfort. Rise. He calls you." 50 And casting away his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you wish that I should do to you?" The blind man said to him, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has made you whole." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Deuteronomy 24:1. [v.6]: Genesis 1:27.LXX See also, Genesis 5:2. [v.7]: Genesis 2:24.LXX [v.8]: Genesis 2:24.LXX [v.19]: Exodus 20:12,LXX 13-16; Leviticus 19:13. See also, Deuteronomy 5:16-20.

Chapter 11

Christ rides with triumph into Jerusalem, 1-11; curses the fruitless fig-tree, 12-14; purges the temple, 15-19; exhorts his disciples to steadfastness of faith and to forgive their enemies, 20-26; and defends the lawfulness of his actions by the witness of John, who was a man sent by God, 27-33.

1 And when they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sends forth two of his disciples, 2 And says to them, "Go into the village over against you. And as soon as you have entered into it, you shall find a colt tied, on which never a man sat. Untie him and bring him. 3 And if any man says to you, 'Why do you do this?' say that the Lord has need of him, and immediately he will send him here." 4 And they went and found the colt tied by the door outside in a place where two ways met, and they untied him. 5 And some of those who stood there, said to them, "What are you doing untying the colt?" 6 And they said to them even as Jesus had commanded, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and cast their garments on him, and he sat upon him. 8 And many spread their garments in the way, and others cut down branches off trees and strewed them in the way. 9 And those who went before and those who followed cried, saying,

"'  Hosanna! /

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'

10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David   /

that comes in the name of the Lord. /

Hosanna in the highest."

11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem and into the temple. And when he had looked around at all things, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12 And on the next day, when they had come from Bethany, he was hungry, 13 And seeing a fig-tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find anything on it. And when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for the time of figs had not yet come. 14 And Jesus answered and said to it, "Let no man eat fruit from you hereafter forever." And his disciples heard it.

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus went into the temple and began to cast out those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves, 16 And would not allow any man to carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called by all nations the house of prayer'? But you have made it 'a den of thieves.'" 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine.

19 And when evening had come, he went out of the city.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance, says to him, "Master, behold, the fig-tree which you cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus answering, says to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For truly I say to you, that whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that the things which he says shall come to pass, he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them. 25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you of your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

27 And they come again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders, 28 And say to him, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?" 29 And Jesus answered and said to them, "I will also ask of you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me." 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'From men'—" They feared the people, for all men counted John that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said to Jesus, "We cannot tell." And Jesus answering says to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.9]: Psalm 118:25-26.LXX—verse 26 [v.17]: Isaiah 56:7;LXX Jeremiah 7:11.

Chapter 12

In a parable of the vineyard lent out to wicked farmers, Christ foretells the reprobation of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, 1-12. He avoids the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar, 13-17; convicts the Sadducees of error, who denied the resurrection, 18-27; resolves the scribe who questioned of the first commandment, 28-34; refutes the opinion that the scribes held of Christ, 35-37; bidding the people to beware of their ambition and hypocrisy, 38-40; and commends the poor widow above all for her two mites, 41-44.

1 And he began to speak to them by parables. "A certain man planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine-vat, built a tower, lent it out to farmers, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season, he sent to the farmers a servant so that he might receive from the farmers some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again, he sent to them another servant, and at him they cast stones and wounded him in the head and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some and killing some. 6 Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last to them, saying, 'They will reverence my son.' 7 But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 And they took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What therefore will the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and will give the vineyard to others. 10 "And have you not read this Scripture:

'The stone which the builders rejected /

has become the head of the corner.

11 This was the Lord’s doing /

and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

12 And they sought to lay hold upon him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them. And they left him and departed.

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to catch him in his words. 14 And when they had come, they say to him, "Master, we know that you are true and care for no man, for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius so that I may see it." 16 And they brought it, and he says to them, "Whose image and superscription is this?" And they said to him, "Caesar’s." 17 And Jesus answering, said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." And they wondered at him.

18 Then the Sadducees came to him, who say there is no resurrection, and they asked him, saying, 19 "Master, Moses wrote to us, 'If a man’s brother dies and leaves his wife and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise children for his brother.' 20 Now there were seven brothers: the first took a wife, and dying left no children; 21 And the second took her and died, neither did he leave any children; and the third likewise; 22 And the seven had her and left no children. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they rise, whose wife shall she be of them? For the seven had her for a wife." 24 And Jesus answering, said to them, "Do you not therefore err because you do not know the Scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels who are in heaven. 26 And concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You therefore greatly err."

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" 29 And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like it, namely this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 And the scribe said to him, "Right, Master, you have said the truth, for there 'is one God,' 'and there is no other but he.' 33 And to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no man after that dared ask him any question.

35 And while he taught in the temple, Jesus answered and said, "How do the scribes say that Christ is the son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit,

'The LORD said to my Lord, /

"Sit on my right hand /

until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet."'

37 Therefore, David himself calls him Lord, and how is he then his son?" And the common people heard him gladly.

38 And he said to them in his doctrine, "Beware of the scribes who love to go in long clothing, love salutations in the market-places, 39 The chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts, 40 Who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These shall receive greater condemnation."

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. And many who were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 And he called his disciples and says to them, "Truly I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury. 44 For they all cast in of their abundance, but she of her lack cast in all that she had, even all her living."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.10]: Psalm 118:22.LXX [v.11]: Psalm 118:23.LXX [v.19]: Deuteronomy 25:5. [v.26]: Exodus 3:6. [v.29]: Deuteronomy 6:4.LXX [v.30]: Deuteronomy 6:5. [v.31]: Leviticus 19:18.LXX [v.32]: Deuteronomy 6:4,LXX 4:35.LXX (paraphrased) [v.36]: Psalm 110:1.LXX

Chapter 13

Christ foretells the destruction of the temple, 1-8; the persecutions for the gospel, 9; that the gospel must be preached to all nations, 10-13; that great calamities shall happen to the Jews, 14-23; and the manner of his coming to judgment, 24-31; the hour of which being known to no one, every man is to watch and pray so that we are not found unprovided when he comes to each one particularly by death, 32-37.

1 And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples says to him, "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" 2 And Jesus answering said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down."

3 And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things are fulfilled?" 5 And Jesus answering them, began to say, "Take heed lest any man deceive you. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am Christ,' and will deceive many. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled, for such things must come. But the end will not be yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, there will be earthquakes in diverse places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 "But take heed to yourselves. For they will deliver you up to councils, and in the synagogues you will be beaten, and you will be brought before rulers and kings for my sake for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they lead you and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand of what you shall speak, neither premeditate. But whatever is given to you in that hour, speak it, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now the brother will betray the brother to death, and the father the son. And children will rise up against their parents and will cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.

14 "But when you see 'the abomination of desolation' spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not (let him who reads understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 And he who is on the house-top must not go down into the house, neither enter it, to take anything out of his house. 16 And he who is in the field must not turn back again to take up his garment. 17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse infants in those days. 18 And pray that your flight is not in the winter. 19 For in those days there shall be affliction such as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created to this time, neither shall there be. 20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect’s sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days. 21 And then, if any man says to you, 'Behold, here is Christ,' or, 'Behold, he is there,' do not believe him. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will rise and will show signs and wonders to lead astray, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed. Behold, I have foretold you all things.

24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, 'the sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, 25 The stars of heaven shall fall,' and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then they shall see 'the Son of man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send his angels and will assemble his elect from the four winds, 'from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.'

28 "Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: when its branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 Thus you, in a like manner, when you see these things come to pass, know that it is near, even at the doors. 30 Truly I say to you, that this generation shall not pass until all these things are done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour no man knows, not even the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33 "Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is like a man taking a long journey, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, each to his work, and commanded the gatekeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house comes—at evening, at midnight, at the cock-crowing, or in the morning— 36 Lest coming suddenly, he should find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch.'"

Old Testament Quotes

[v.14]: Daniel 12:11.LXX [v.24]: Isaiah 13:10. [v.25]: Isaiah 13:10. [v.26]: Daniel 7:13. [v.27]: Deuteronomy 30:4, or 4:32.^Both LXX^ (paraphrased)

Chapter 14

A conspiracy against Christ, 1, 2. Precious ointment is poured on his head by a woman, 3-9. Judas sells his Master for money, 10, 11. Christ himself foretells how he shall be betrayed by one of his disciples, 12-21; after the passover is prepared and eaten, institutes his last supper, 22-25; declares beforehand the flight of all his disciples and Peter’s denial, 26-42. Judas betrays him with a kiss, 43-45. He is apprehended in the garden, 46-52; falsely accused and impiously condemned by the Jews' council, 53-64; shamefully abused by them, 65; and three times denied by Peter, 66-72.

1 After two days was the feast of the passover and of unleavened bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft and put him to death. 2 But they said, "Not on the feast-day, lest there should be an uproar of the people."

3 And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and she broke the box and poured it on his head. 4 And there were some who had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they murmured against her. 6 And Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has wrought a good work on me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you may do them good. But you do not always have me. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial to her."

10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said to him, "Where do you wish that we go and prepare so that you may eat the passover?" 13 And he sends two of his disciples, and says to them, "Go into the city, and there a man shall meet you bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him. 14 And wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Master says, "Where is the guest-chamber where I may eat the passover with my disciples?"' 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared. Make ready for us there." 16 And his disciples went and came into the city and found as he had said to them. And they made ready the passover.

17 And in the evening he comes with the twelve. 18 And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you who eats with me will betray me." 19 And they began to be sorrowful and to say to him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?" 20 And he answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve who dips with me in the dish. 21 The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written concerning him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."

22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body." 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until the day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus says to them, "All of you will be offended because of me this night, for it is written, 'I will "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."' 28 But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee." 29 But Peter said to him, "Even though all shall be offended, yet I will not." 30 And Jesus says to him, "Truly I say to you, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." 31 But he spoke the more vehemently, "If I should die with you, I will not deny you in any way." They all also said likewise.

32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane. And he says to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 And he takes with him Peter, James, and John and began to be greatly amazed and to be very heavy, 34 And says to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful to death. Remain here and watch." 35 And he went forward a little, fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will." 37 And he comes and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, "Simon, do you sleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." 39 And again he went away, prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again (for their eyes were heavy), neither did they know what to answer him. 41 And he comes the third time, and says to them, "Sleep on now and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us go. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

43 And immediately while he was yet speaking, Judas comes, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staffs from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 And he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, he is the one. Take him and lead him away safely." 45 And as soon as he had come, he goes immediately to him, and says, "Master, master," and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him and took him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew a sword, smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and with staffs to take me? 49 I was with you daily in the temple teaching, and you did not take me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 And they all forsook him and fled.

51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast around his naked body, and the young men laid hold upon him. 52 And he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest. And with him all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. 54 And Peter followed him at a distance, even into the palace of the high priest, and he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. 55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. 56 For many bore false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree together. 57 And some rose up and bore false testimony against him, saying, 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'" 59 But neither in this way did their testimony agree together. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do you answer nothing? What is it which these testify against you?" 61 But he held his peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" 62 And Jesus said, "I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and 'coming in the clouds of heaven.'" 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and says, "What need do we have of any further witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. 65 And some began to spit on him, to cover his face, to buffet him, and to say to him, "Prophesy." And the servants struck him with the palms of their hands.

66 And as Peter was below in the palace, there comes one of the women-servants of the high priest. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "And you were also with Jesus of Nazareth." 68 But he denied, saying, "I do not know, neither do I understand what you say." And he went out into the porch and the cock crowed. 69 And a woman-servant saw him again and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, those who stood by said again to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech agrees thereto." 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." 72 And the second time the cock crowed. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said to him: "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.27]: Zechariah 13:7. [v.62]: Daniel 7:13.

Chapter 15

Jesus brought bound and accused before Pilate, 1-5. Upon the clamor of the common people, the murderer Barabbas is released and Jesus delivered up to be crucified, 6-15. He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked, 16-20; faints in bearing his cross, 21-26; hangs between two thieves, 27, 28; suffers the triumphing reproaches of the Jews, 29-38; but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God, 39-41; and is honorably buried by Joseph, 42-47.

1 And immediately in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders, scribes, and the whole council, and bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he, answering, said to him, "You say it." 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things, but he answered nothing. 4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, "Do you answer nothing? Behold how many things they testify against you." 5 But Jesus still answered nothing; therefore, Pilate marveled.

6 Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner whom they desired. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with those who had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8 And the multitude crying aloud, began to desire him to do as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you wish that I release to you the King of the Jews?" 10 (For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.) 11 But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 And Pilate answered and said again to them, "What do you wish then that I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13 And they cried out again, "Crucify him." 14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil has he done?" And they cried out the more exceedingly, "Crucify him." 15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with purple, platted a crown of thorns, put it around his head, 18 And began to salute him: "Hail, King of the Jews!" 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed, spit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshiped him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took the purple from off of him, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

21 And they constrained someone who was passing by, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), who was coming from the country, to bear his cross.

22 And they bring him to the place Golgotha (which is, being interpreted, The Place of a Skull). 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh, but he did not receive it. 24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25 And it was the third hour and they crucified him. 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written above, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

27 And with him they crucified two thieves: one on his right hand and the other on his left. 28 And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, "And he was numbered with the transgressors." 29 And those who passed by, railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ah, you who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 Save yourself and come down from the cross." 31 Likewise, the chief priests, also mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, "He saved others, but he cannot save himself. 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross so that we may see and believe." And those who were crucified with him reviled him.

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") 35 And some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he calls Elijah." 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait. Let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice and expired. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion who stood over against him saw that he thus cried out and expired, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."

40 There were also women looking on at a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and Joseph), Salome 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him and ministered to him), and many other women who came with him to Jerusalem.

42 And now, when the evening had come, because it was the preparation (that is, the day before the sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate marveled that he was already dead. And calling the centurion, he asked him whether he had already been dead. 45 And when he knew it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, took him down, wrapped him in the linen, laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph beheld where he was laid.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.28]: Isaiah 53:12. [v.34]: Psalm 22:1.

Chapter 16

An angel declares the resurrection of Christ to three women, 1-8. Christ himself appears to Mary Magdalene, 9-11; to two going into the country, 12, 13; then to the apostles, 14; whom he sends forth to preach the gospel, 15-18; and ascends into heaven, 19, 20.

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James), and Salome had bought sweet spices so that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher for us?" 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were frightened. 6 And he says to them, "Do not be frightened. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He goes before you into Galilee. There you shall see him, as he said to you.'" 8 And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulcher, for they trembled and were amazed. They did not say anything to any man, for they were afraid.

9 Now when Jesus had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. 10 And she went and told those who had been with him as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe.

12 After that, he appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking and going into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them.

14 Afterward, he appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned. 17 And these signs shall follow those who believe: in my name they shall cast out demons, they shall speak in new languages, 18 They shall take up serpents, if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, and they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."

19 So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

Chapter 1

The preface of Luke to his whole gospel, 1-4. The conception of John the Baptist, 5-25; and of Christ, 26-38. The prophecy of Elizabeth and of Mary concerning Christ, 39-56. The nativity and circumcision of John, 57-66. The prophecy of Zechariah, both of Christ, 67-75, and of John, 76-80.

1 Because many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them to us, who, from the beginning, were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 So that you may know the certainty of those things in which you have been instructed.

5 There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the course of Abia. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. 7 And they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and they were both far advanced in years.

8 And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard. Your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth, 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel he shall turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to 'turn the hearts of the fathers to the children' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, "By what shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is far advanced in years." 19 And the angel, answering, said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak to you and to show you these glad tidings. 20 And behold, you shall be mute and not able to speak until the day that these things are performed because you do not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their season."

21 And the people waited for Zechariah and marveled that he delayed so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them. And they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and secluded herself five months, saying, 25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days in which he looked at me to take away my reproach among men."

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her, and said, "Hail, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women." 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 33 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also, that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 And Mary said, "Behold the servant of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill-country with haste to a city of Judah, 40 And entered into the house of Zechariah and saluted Elizabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she spoke with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there will be a performance of those things which were told to her from the Lord."

46 And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

48 For he has regarded the low estate of his servant.   /

For behold, from now on all generations /

will call me blessed.

49 For he who is mighty has done to me great things,   /

and his name is holy.

50 'And his mercy is on those who fear him, /

from generation to generation.'

51 He has shown strength with his arm.   /

He has scattered the proud /

in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He has put down the mighty from their seats,   /

and exalted them of low degree.

53 'He has filled the hungry with good things,' /

and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has sustained his servant Israel,   /

in remembrance of his mercy,

55 As he spoke to our fathers,   /

to Abraham and his offspring forever."

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months and returned to her own house.

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came that she should deliver, and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbors and her cousins heard that the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "There is no one of your kindred who is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately and his tongue loosened, and he spoke and praised God. 65 And fear came on all who dwelt around them, and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea. 66 And all those who had heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What manner of child this will be!" And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,   /

for he has visited and redeemed his people.

69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us,   /

in the house of his servant David,

70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets,   /

who have been since the world began,

71 That we should be 'saved from our enemies, /

and from the hand of all who hate us,'

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,   /

and to remember his holy covenant,

73 The oath which he swore to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant to us, that we,   /

being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, /

might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him,   /

all the days of our life.

76 And you, child, shall be called /

the prophet of the Highest, /

for you shall 'go before the face of the Lord /

to prepare his ways,'

77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people,   /

by the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God,   /

by which the day-spring from on high has visited us,

79 To 'give light to those who sit in darkness /

and in the shadow of death,' /

to guide our feet into the way of peace."

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit and was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Malachi 4:6. [v.50]: Psalm 103:17. [v.53]: Psalm 107:9.LXX [v.71]: Psalm 106:10. [v.76]: Malachi 3:1. [v.79]: Isaiah 9:2.

Chapter 2

Augustus taxes all the Roman empire, 1-5. The nativity of Christ, 6, 7 An angel relates it to the shepherds, and many sing praises to God for it, 8-14. The shepherds glorify God, 15-20. Christ is circumcised, 21. Mary purified, 22-24. Simeon and Anna prophesy of Christ, 25-38, who increases in wisdom, 39, 40, questions in the temple with the teachers, 41-50, and is obedient to his parents, 51, 52.

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, each into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should deliver. 7 And she brought forth her first-born son, wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the guest-chamber.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were in great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Do not fear, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people. 11 For there is born to you this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign for you: you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,   /

and on earth peace, good will toward men."

15 And it came to pass, when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go even to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told to them concerning this child. 18 And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, who was thus named by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who is the first-born of his mother shall be called holy to the Lord"), 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord: "A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons."

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 He took him up in his arms and blessed God, and said,

29 "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace,   /

according to your word.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 Which you have prepared   /

before the face of all people,

32 'A light to enlighten the Gentiles,' /

and the glory of your people Israel."

33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken concerning him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against 35 (And a sword shall pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 And she was a widow of about eighty-four years. She did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise to the Lord and spoke of him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon him.

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know of it. 44 But they, supposing him to be in the company, went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you thus dealt with us? Behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?" 50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.23]: Exodus 13:2. [v.24]: Leviticus 12:8. [v.32]: Isaiah 49:6.

Chapter 3

The preaching and baptism of John, 1-14; his testimony of Christ, 15-18; Herod imprisons John, 19, 20; Christ, baptized, receives testimony from heaven, 21, 22. The age and genealogy of Christ from Joseph upwards, 23-38.

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanius the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country around the Jordan preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying,

"  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, /

'Prepare the way of the Lord. /

Make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled, /

every mountain and hill shall be brought low, /

the crooked shall be made straight, /

and the rough ways shall be made smooth,

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

7 Then he said to the multitude who came forth to be baptized by him, "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father.' For I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire."

10 And the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?" 11 He answers and says to them, "He who has two coats, let him impart to him who has none, and he who has provisions, let him do likewise." 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Master, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Exact no more than that which is appointed you." 14 And the soldiers likewise asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages."

15 And as the people were in expectation and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire, 17 Whose winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and will gather the wheat into his granary, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire."

18 And many other things in his exhortation he preached to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he shut John up in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, as Jesus had also been baptized and was praying, that the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."

23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli, 24 Who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph, 25 Who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Nahum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Naggai, 26 Who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semein, who was the son of Josech, who was the son of Joda, 27 Who was the son of Joanan, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zerubbabel, who was the son of Shealtiel, who was the son of Neri, 28 Who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmadam, who was the son of Er, 29 Who was the son of Joshua, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, 30 Who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonam, who was the son of Eliakim, 31 Who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menna, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David, 32 Who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Nahshon, 33 Who was the son of Amminadab, who was the son of Ram, who was the son of Hezron, who was the son of Pharez, who was the son of Judah, 34 Who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nahor, 35 Who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Eber, who was the son of Salah, 36 Who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech, 37 Who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Mahalaleel, who was the son of Cainan, 38 Who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Isaiah 40:3.LXX [v.5]: Isaiah 40:4.LXX [v.6]: Isaiah 40:5.LXX

Chapter 4

The temptation and fasting of Christ, 1-13. He begins to preach, 14, 15. The people of Nazareth admire his gracious words, but being offended, seek to kill him, 16-32. He cures someone possessed with a demon, 33-37, Peter’s mother-in-law, 38, 39, and various other sick persons, 40. The demons acknowledge Christ and are reproved for it, 41. He preaches through the cities of Galilee, 42-44.

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted by the devil. And in those days he ate nothing, and when they had ended, he was afterward hungry. 3 And the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread." 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

5 And the devil taking him up upon a high mountain showed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to him, "All this power I will give you, and the glory of them, for that is delivered to me, and to whomever I wish, I give it. 7 If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind me, Satan, for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"

9 And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 For it is written,

'"  He will give his angels charge over you, /

to keep you."

11 And

"  in their hands they will bear you up, /

lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone."'"

12 And Jesus, answering, said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not test the Lord your God.'"

13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee. And there went out a fame of him through all the surrounding region. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath and stood up to read. 17 And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me /

because he has anointed me /

to preach the gospel to the poor. /

He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, /

to preach deliverance to the captives, /

and recovering of sight to the blind, /

to set at liberty those who are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

20 And he closed the book, gave it back to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "This day this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears." 22 And all bore him testimony and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph’s son?" 23 And he said to them, "You will surely say to me this proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself. Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do here in your country also.'" 24 And he said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you in truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah when the heaven was shut three years and six months when great famine was throughout all the land. 26 But Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian." 28 And all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up, thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built so that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he, passing through the midst of them, went away.

31 And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath-days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was with power. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 Saying, "Leave us alone. What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold your peace and come out of him." And when the demon had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 And they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." 37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the surrounding country.

38 And he arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. And the mother of Simon’s wife was taken with a violent fever, and they implored him for her. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and ministered to them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him. And he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, "You are Christ the Son of God." And rebuking them, he did not allow them to speak, for they knew that he was Christ.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him, came to him, and wanted to keep him so that he would not depart from them. 43 And he said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for that is why I am sent."

44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Deuteronomy 8:3.LXX [v.8]: Deuteronomy 6:13. [v.10]: Psalm 91:11.LXX [v.11]: Psalm 91:12.LXX [v.12]: Deuteronomy 6:16.LXX [v.18]: Isaiah 61:1.LXX (paraphrased) [v.19]: Isaiah 61:2.LXX

Chapter 5

Christ teaches the people out of Peter’s ship, 1-3; in a miraculous taking of fish, shows how he will make him and his partners fishers of men, 4-11; cleanses the leper, 12-15; prays in the wilderness, 16; heals someone of paralysis, 17-26; calls Matthew the tax collector, 27, 28; eats with sinners, as being the physician of souls, 29-32; foretells the fastings and afflictions of the apostles after his ascension, 33-35; and illustrates the matter by the parable of old bottles and worn garments, 36-39.

1 And it came to pass, that as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the boat. 4 Now when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon, answering, said to him, "Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing. Nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fish and their net broke. 7 And they beckoned to their partners who were in the other boat that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, along with all who were with him, at the catch of the fish which they had taken, 10 And so were James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear. From now on you shall catch men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed him.

12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold, a man full of leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, fell on his face and implored him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 13 And he put forth his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing. Be clean." And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14 And he charged him, "Tell no man. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according as Moses commanded for a testimony to them." 15 But so much the more a fame of him went abroad, and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed.

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed. And they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went upon the house-top and let him down through the tiling with his bed into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven." 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he, answering, said to them, "What do you reason in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of man has power upon earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic—"I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go into your house." 25 And immediately he arose before them, took up that on which he lay, and departed to his own house glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

27 And after these things, he went forth and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the receipt of custom. And he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And he left everything, arose, and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house, and there was a great company of tax collectors and of others who sat down with them. 30 But the scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus, answering, said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

33 And they said to him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?" 34 And he said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast in those days." 36 And he also spoke a parable to them: "No man puts a patch of a new garment upon an old, or else the new makes a rent and the piece that was taken out of the new does not agree with the old. 37 And no man puts new wine into old bottles, or else the new wine will burst the bottles and be spilled and the bottles will perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved. 39 No man also having drank old wine immediately desires new, because he says, 'The old is better.'"

Chapter 6

Christ reproves the Pharisees, 1-11; chooses apostles, 12-16; heals the diseased, 17-19; preaches to his disciples before the people, 20-49.

1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through grain-fields, and his disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath-days?" 3 And Jesus, answering them, said, "Have you not read so much as this, what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him, 4 How he went into the house of God, took and ate the show-bread, and also gave to those who were with him, which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?" 5 And he said to them, "The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

6 And it also came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him to see whether he would heal on the sabbath so that they might find an accusation against him. 8 But he knew their thoughts and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise and stand forth in the midst." And he arose and stood forth. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: is it lawful on the sabbath-days to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 And looking around at them all, he said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand." And he did so and his hand was restored whole as the other. 11 And they were filled with madness and communed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out to a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples to him, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named Apostles: 14 Simon (whom he also named Peter) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon called Zelotes, 16 Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot (who also was the traitor).

17 And he came down with them and stood in the plain, with the company of his disciples and a great multitude of people out of all Judea, Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, 18 And also those who were afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him, for power went out of him and healed them all.

20 And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you and when they separate you from their company, reproach you, and cast out your name as evil on account of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers did likewise to the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full! For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! For you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you, when all men speak well of you! For thus their fathers did to the false prophets.

27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you. 29 And to him who smites you on one cheek, offer the other also. And to him who takes away your cloak, do not forbid to take your coat also. 30 Give to every man who asks of you, and of him who takes away your goods, do not ask for them back. 31 And as you wish that men should do to you, do also to them likewise. 32 For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners even do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much in return. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing back, and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest, for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Therefore, be merciful, as your Father is also merciful.

37 "Do not judge, and you shall not be judged. Do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. 38 Give, and it shall be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you give to others, it shall be measured back to you."

39 And he spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect shall be as his master. 41 And why do you behold the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but not perceive the beam that is in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not behold the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother’s eye. 43 For a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit, neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil. For from the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

46 "And why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to me, hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. 48 He is like a man who built a house and dug deep and laid the foundation on a rock, and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake it, for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he who hears and does not do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

Chapter 7

Christ finds a greater faith in the centurion, a Gentile, than in any of the Jews, 1-9; heals his servant, being absent, 10; raises from death the widow’s son at Nain, 11-17; answers John’s messengers with the declaration of his miracles, 18-23; testifies to the people what opinion he held of John, 24-30; gives reproof to the Jews, with neither the manners of John nor of Jesus, of who could be won, 31-35; and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner, he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them of their sins upon their repentance, 36-50.

1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent the elders of the Jews to him imploring him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they implored him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for you to do this, 5 For he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue." 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; 7 Therefore, neither did I think myself worthy to come to you. But say in a word and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority and have under me soldiers. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him and turned himself around and said to the people who followed him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel." 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain, and many of his disciples went with him, along with many people. 12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and many people of the city were with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 And he came and touched the bier. And those who bore him stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 And he who was dead sat up and began to speak, and he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and, "God has visited his people." 17 And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea and throughout all the neighboring region.

18 And the disciples of John informed him of all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are you he who should come? Or do we look for another?" 20 When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you he who should come? Or do we look for another?'" 21 And in that same hour he cured many of infirmities, diseases, and evil spirits, and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus, answering, said to them, "Go, and tell John what things you have seen and heard: 'the blind see,' 'the lame walk,' lepers are cleansed, 'the deaf hear,' the dead are raised, and 'the gospel is preached to the poor.' 23 And blessed is he to whom I shall not be a stumbling block."

24 And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the people concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live delicately are in kings' courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. 27 "This is he concerning whom it is written,

'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, /

who shall prepare your way before you.'

28 "For I say to you, among those who are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 29 And all the people and the tax collectors who heard him justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves by not being baptized by him.

31 And the Lord said, "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another, and saying,

'We have piped to you /

and you have not danced. /

We have mourned to you /

and you have not wept.'

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children."

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the table. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster-box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping and began to wash his feet with tears, then wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is who touches him, for she is a sinner."

40 And Jesus, answering, said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he says, "Master, speak." 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave most." And he said to him, "You have rightly judged." 44 And he turned to the woman, and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 48 And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 And those who sat at the table with him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who forgives sins also?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.22]: Isaiah 35:5-6 (paraphrased), 61:1. See also, Isaiah 29:18-19. [v.27]: Malachi 3:1.

Chapter 8

Women minister to Christ from their substance, 1-3. Christ, after he had preached from place to place, attended by his apostles, propounds the parable of the sower, 4-15, and of the candle, 16-18; declares who are his mother and brothers, 19-21; rebukes the winds, 22-25; casts the legion of demons out of the man into the herd of swine, 26-36; is rejected by the Gadarenes, 37-42; heals the woman of her bloody issue, 43-48; and raises from death Jairus’s daughter, 49-56.

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 Along with some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene (out of whom went seven demons), 3 Joanna (the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward), Susanna, and many others who ministered to him from their possessions.

4 And when many people were collected and had come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable: 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 And others fell on good ground, sprang up, and bore fruit one hundred-fold." And when he had said these things, he cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10 And he said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are those who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But these have no root, who for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But those on the good ground are those, who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 "No man, when he has lit a candle, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a candlestick so that those who enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest, neither anything hid that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him shall be given, and whoever does not have, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have."

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but could not come near to him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told to him by some, who said, "Your mother and your brothers stand outside desiring to see you." 21 And he answered and said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God, and do it."

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him and awoke him, saying, "Master, master, we perish." Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. Then they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they, being afraid, wondered, saying to one another, "What manner of man is this? For he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him."

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man who had demons for a long time and wore no clothes, neither stayed in any house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of God most high? I implore you to not torment me." 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For often it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters, and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.) 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered into him. 31 And they implored him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain. And they implored him that he would allow them to enter into them. And he allowed them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered into the swine. And the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked.

34 When those who fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what was done, and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 Those who saw it also told them by what means he who was possessed by the demons was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes implored him to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear. And he went into the boat and returned. 38 Now the man out of whom the demons had departed implored him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your own house and show what great things God has done to you." And he went away and published throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done to him.

40 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had returned, the people gladly received him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at the feet of Jesus and implored him that he would come into his house. 42 For he had only one daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as he was going, the people thronged him.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed by any, 44 Came behind him and touched the border of his garment, and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, "Who touched me?" When all denied, Peter, and those who were with him, said, "Master, the multitude throngs you and presses you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'" 46 And Jesus said, "Somebody has touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out of me." 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared to him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort. Your faith has made you whole. Go in peace."

49 While he was yet speaking, there comes someone from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Master." 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she shall be healed." 51 And when he came into the house, he allowed no man to go in, except Peter, James, John, and the father and the mother of the girl. 52 And all wept and bewailed her, but he said, "Do not weep. She is not dead, but sleeps." 53 And they derided him, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand and called, saying, "Girl, arise." 55 And her spirit came back and she arose immediately. Then he commanded them to give her food. 56 And her parents were astonished, but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.10]: Isaiah 6:9.

Chapter 9

Christ sends his apostles to work miracles and to preach, 1-6. Herod desires to see Christ, 7-9. The apostles return, 10, 11. Christ feeds five thousand, 12-17; inquires what opinion the world had of him; foretells his passion, 18-22; proposes to all the pattern of his patience, 23-27. The transfiguration, 28-36. He heals the lunatic, 37-42; again forewarns his disciples of his passion, 43-45; commends humility, 46-50; bids them to show mildness toward all without desire of revenge, 51-56. Some would follow him, but upon conditions, 57-62.

1 Then he called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither staffs, nor bag, neither bread, neither money, neither have two coats apiece. 4 And into whatever house you enter, abide there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them." 6 And they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him. And he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 And by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had risen again. 9 And Herod said, "I have beheaded John, but who is this of whom I hear such things?" And he desired to see him.

10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them and went aside privately into a desolate place, belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him. And he received them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and healed those who had need of healing.

12 And when the day began to decline, the twelve came and said to him, "Send the multitude away so that they may go into the towns and country around and lodge and get food, for we are here in a desolate place." 13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy provisions for all this people." 14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down by fifties in a company." 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they ate and were all satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets of fragments that remained.

18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him, and he asked them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 They, answering, said, "'John the Baptist,' but some say, 'Elijah,' and others say, 'One of the ancient prophets has risen again.'" 20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter, answering, said, "Christ of God." 21 And he strictly charged them and commanded them to tell no man that thing, 22 Saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be put to death, and be raised on the third day."

23 And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses himself or is cast away? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his own glory, and in that of his Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you in truth, there are some standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

28 And it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter, John, and James and went up upon a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered and his clothing was white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with him who were Moses and Elijah, 31 Who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said. 34 While he was thus speaking, there came a cloud and overshadowed them, and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Hear him." 36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they had come down from the hill, many people met him. 38 And behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, "Master, I implore you to look upon my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit takes him and he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and bruising him, it hardly departs from him. 40 And I implored your disciples to cast him out, but they could not." 41 And Jesus, answering, said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." 42 And as he was yet coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and delivered him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they were all wondering at all things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 "Let these sayings sink down into your ears. For the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hid from them so that they did not perceive it. And they feared to ask him concerning that saying.

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child and set him by him, 48 And said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all, the same shall be great."

49 And John answered and said, "Master, we saw one casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us." 50 And Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us, is for us."

51 And it came to pass, when the time had come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face. And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him because he was apparently going to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you wish that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of man has not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them." And they went to another village.

57 And it came to pass, that as they were going in the way, a certain man said to him, "Lord, I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 And he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead, but go and preach the kingdom of God." 61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow you, but first let me go bid farewell to those who are at my house." 62 And Jesus said to him, "No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Chapter 10

Christ sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles and to preach, 1-12; pronounces a woe against certain cities, 13-16. The seventy return with joy; he shows them wherein to rejoice, and thanks his Father for his grace, 17-22; magnifies the happy estate of his church, 23, 24; teaches the lawyer how to attain eternal life and to take everyone for his neighbor who needs his mercy, 25-37; reproves Martha and commends Mary her sister, 38-42.

1 After these things, the Lord appointed another seventy also and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place where he himself would come. 2 Therefore, he said to them, "The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. 3 Go. Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor sack, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' 6 And if the son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon it, but if not, it shall turn back to you. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house. 8 And into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick who are therein, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But into whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 'Even the very dust of your city which cleaves on us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless, be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near to you.' 12 But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that city.

13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which have been done in you, they would have a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, shall be thrust down to hell.

16 "He who hears you hears me, and he who despises you despises me, and he who despises me despises him who sent me."

17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us through your name." 18 And he said to them, "I beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit, and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babies. Indeed, Father, for thus it seemed good in your sight. 22 All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no man knows who the Son is, but the Father, and who the Father is, but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him."

23 And he turned himself to his disciples, and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see. 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which you see and have not seen them, and to hear the things which you hear and have not heard them."

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" 27 And answering, he said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 And he said to him, "You have answered rightly. Do this, and you shall live." 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 And Jesus, answering, said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance a certain priest came down that way, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked at him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii and gave them to the host and said to him, 'Take care of him. And whatever more you spend, when I come back I will repay you.' 36 Which now of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy to him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, and do likewise."

38 Now it came to pass, as they were going, he entered into a certain village. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word. 40 But Martha was encumbered with much serving and came to him, and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore to help me." 41 And Jesus answered, and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.27]: Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18.LXX

Chapter 11

Christ teaches to pray, and that instantly, 1-10; assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him, 11-13. He, casting out a mute demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees, 14-26; and shows who are blessed, 27, 28; preaches to the people, 29-36; and reproves the outward show of holiness in the Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers, 37-54.

1 And it came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples." 2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say,

'Our Father who is in heaven, /

may your name be hallowed. /

May your kingdom come. /

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3   Give us day by day our daily bread.

4   And forgive us of our sins, /

for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. /

And do not lead us into temptation, /

but deliver us from evil.'"

5 And he said to them, "Which of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 For a friend of mine in his journey has come to me and I have nothing to set before him,' 7 And he from within answers and says, 'Do not trouble me. The door is now shut and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give to you'? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give to him as many as he needs.

9 "And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives, and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any of you who is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he instead of a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

14 And he was casting out a demon, and it was mute. And it came to pass when the demon had gone out, the mute spoke, and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons through Beelzebub, the chief of the demons." 16 And others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out demons, no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong armed man keeps his palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when someone stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places seeking rest, and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house where I came out.' 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and garnished. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. Then the last state of that man is worse than the first."

27 And it came to pass, as he was speaking these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts which nourished you." 28 But he said, "Yes, but rather blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

29 And when the people were assembled in crowds, he began to say, "This is an evil generation. They seek a sign, and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of man shall be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them. For she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it. For they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.

33 "No man when he has lit a candle puts it in a secret place, neither under a basket, but on a candlestick, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is single, your whole body is also full of light, but when your eye is evil, your body is also full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If your whole body therefore is full of light, having no dark part, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle gives you light."

37 And as he was speaking, a certain Pharisee implored him to dine with him. And he went in and sat down to eat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and the platter clean, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. 40 You fools. Did he who made that which is outside not make that which is inside also? 41 But rather give those things which you have on the inside as alms, and behold, all things are clean to you.

42 "But woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint, rue, and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God. These you ought to have done, and not to leave the others undone. 43 Woe to you, Pharisees! For you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues and greetings in the markets. 44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are as graves which are unseen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them."

45 Then one of the lawyers answered, and said to him, "Master, saying thus, you reproach us also." 46 And he said, "Woe to you also, you lawyers, for you load men with burdens grievous to be borne, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 Woe to you! For you build the sepulchers of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Truly you bear testimony that you allow the deeds of your fathers. For they indeed killed them, and you build their sepulchers. 49 Therefore, the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will slay and persecute, 50 So that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple.' Truly I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you, lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You have not entered in yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering in."

53 And as he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently and to solicit him to speak of many things, 54 Lying in wait for him and seeking to catch something from his mouth so that they might accuse him.

Chapter 12

Christ preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy and fearfulness in publishing his doctrine, 1-12; warns the people to beware of covetousness by the parable of the rich man who set up greater barns, 13-21. We must not be over careful of earthly things, 22-30, but seek the kingdom of God, 31, 32; give alms, 33, 34; be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whenever he comes, 35-40. Christ’s ministers are to see to their charge, 41-48, and look for persecution, 49-53. The people must take this time of grace, 54-56; because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation, 57-59.

1 In the mean time, when there was gathered an innumerable multitude of people so that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known. 3 Therefore, whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light, and that which you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.

4 "And I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear. Fear him, who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell. Indeed, I say to you, fear him. 6 Are five sparrows not sold for two assarions? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But even every hair of your head has been numbered. Do not fear therefore. You are of more value than many sparrows.

8 "Also I say to you, whoever confesses me before men, the Son of man will also confess him before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, he shall be forgiven, but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, he shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you to the synagogues and before magistrates and powers, do not be solicitous how or what thing you shall answer or what you shall say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in the same hour what you ought to say."

13 And someone from the company said to him, "Master, speak to my brother so that he divides the inheritance with me." 14 And he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses." 16 And he spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, for I do not have room to deposit my fruits?' 18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater ones, and there I will deposit all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have abundance of goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry."' 20 But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you. Then whose shall those things be which you have provided?' 21 Thus is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore, I say to you, do not be anxious for your life—what you shall eat; neither for the body—what you shall put on. 23 The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, which neither have store-house, nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you better than the birds? 25 And which of you by solicitude can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If you then are not able to do that thing which is least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil, they do not spin, and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God thus clothes the grass, which is today in the field and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 And do not seek what you shall eat or what you shall drink, neither be of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after. And your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31 But rather seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 "Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves bags which do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

35 "Let your loins be girt and your lights burning, 36 And you yourselves be like men who wait for their lord when he returns from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the lord finds watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will gird himself and make them to sit down to eat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and finds them in this manner, blessed are those servants.

39 "And know this, that if the master of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would watch and not allow his house to be broken through. 40 Therefore, be ready also, for the Son of man comes at an hour when you do not think."

41 Then Peter said to him, "Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or even to all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord makes ruler over his household to give them their portion of provisions in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 44 In truth I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the men-servants and women-servants and to eat, drink, and to be drunken, 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not look for him and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him apart and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his lord’s will and did not prepare himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know and committed things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, much shall be required of him, and to whom men have committed much, they will ask the more from him.

49 "I have come to send fire on the earth, and what do I wish, but that it is already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I have come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. 52 For from now on there will be five in one house divided: three against two and two against three. 53 The father will be divided against the son and the son against the father, the mother against the daughter and the daughter against the mother, the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

54 And he said also to the people, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'There comes a shower,' and it is so. 55 And when you perceive the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be heat,' and it comes to pass. 56 You hypocrites. You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it that you do not discern this time?

57 "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence so that you may be delivered from him, lest he draw you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there until you have paid the very last mite."

Chapter 13

Christ preaches repentance upon the punishment of the Galileans and others, 1-5. The fruitless fig-tree may not stand, 6-9. He heals the crooked woman, 10-17; shows the powerful working of the word in the hearts of his chosen by the parable of the grain of mustard seed and of leaven, 18-21; exhorts to enter in at the strait gate, 22-30; and reproves Herod and Jerusalem, 31-35.

1 There were present at that season some who told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus, answering, said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were sinners above all men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish."

6 He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit on it, and found none. 7 Then he said to the dresser of his vineyard, 'Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree and find none. Cut it down. Why does it encumber the ground?' 8 And he, answering, said to him, 'Lord, leave it alone this year also until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, fine. But if not, then after that you shall cut it down.'"

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years and was bowed together and could in no way raise herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and said to the people, "There are six days in which men ought to work; therefore, come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath." 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, "You hypocrite. Does each one of you on the sabbath not untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound these eighteen years, not be released from this bond on the Sabbath?" 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed. And all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

18 Then he said, "To what is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and cast into his garden, and it grew and became a great tree and the 'birds of the air lodged in its branches.'"

20 And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened."

22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then someone said to him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. For I say to you, many will seek to enter in and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us,' he will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We have eaten and drank in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you are from. "Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity."' 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves excluded. 29 And they will come from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south and will sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last."

31 The same day there came some of the Pharisees, saying to him, "Go out and depart from here, for Herod will kill you." 32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I do cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall be perfected. 33 Nevertheless, I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.' 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to you! How often I would have gathered your children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. And truly I say to you, you shall not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Old Testament Quotes

[v.19]: Ezekiel 17:23. [v.27]: Psalm 6:8. [v.35]: Psalm 118:26.LXX

Chapter 14

Christ heals the dropsy on the sabbath, 1-6; teaches humility, 7-11; to make a feast for the poor, 12-14; under the parable of the great supper, shows how worldly minded men who despise the word of God shall be shut out of heaven, 15-24. Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand, lest with shame they revolt from him afterward, 25-33; and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its savor, 34, 35.

1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath, that they watched him. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before him who had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" 4 And they held their peace. And he took him, healed him, and let him go, 5 And answered them, saying, "Which of you having a donkey or an ox fall into a pit would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath?" 6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

7 And he put forth a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose out the chief places, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by any man to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest place, lest a more honorable man than you is invited by him, 9 And he who invited you and him comes and says to you, 'Give this man place,' and you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you shall have honor in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

12 Then he also said to him who invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, do not call your friends, nor your brothers, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you again and a recompense be made to you. 13 But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, 14 And you shall be blessed, for they cannot recompense you. For you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

15 And when one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God."

16 Then he said to him, "A certain man made a great supper, invited many, 17 And sent his servant at supper-time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground and I must go and see it. I pray you to have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to prove them. I pray you to have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore, I cannot come.' 21 So that servant came and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind.' 22 And the servant said, 'Lord, it is done as you have commanded, and yet there is room.' 23 And the lord said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in so that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you, that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'"

25 And great multitudes went with him. And he turned and said to them, 26 "If any man comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost to see if he has enough to finish it? 29 Or else, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king going to make war against another king does not sit down first and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and desires conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever he is of you who does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple.

34 "Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its savor, with what shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill, but men cast it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Chapter 15

The parable of the lost sheep, 1-7; of the piece of silver, 8-10; of the prodigal son, 11-32.

1 Then all the tax collectors and sinners drew near to him to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

3 And he spoke this parable to them, saying, 4 "What man of you having one hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 I say to you, that likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

8 "Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, does not light a candle, sweep the house, and diligently seek until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.' 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

11 And he said, "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' And he divided his living to them. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered everything together, took his journey into a far country, and wasted his substance there with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in need. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate, and no man gave to him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, 'How many hired servants of my father have bread enough to spare, and I am perishing with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 And am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, had compassion, ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. 24 For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry.

25 "Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him in health.' 28 And he was angry and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and entreated him. 29 And he, answering, said to his father, 'Behold, these many years I have served you and I have never transgressed your commandment, and yet you never gave me a kid so that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours had come, who has devoured your living with harlots, you have killed the fattened calf for him.' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. 32 It was proper that we should make merry and be glad. For this brother of yours was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'"

Chapter 16

The parable of the unjust steward, 1-13. Christ reproves the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees, 14-18. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar, 19-31.

1 And he also said to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was made to him that this man had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him and said to him, 'How is it that I hear this of you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you may no longer be steward.' 3 Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my lord takes from me the stewardship. I cannot dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' 5 So he called each of his lord’s debtors, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe to my lord?' 6 And he said, 'One hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.' 7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'One hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill and write eighty.' 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely. For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say to you, make for yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

10 "He who is faithful in that which is least is also faithful in much, and he who is unjust in the least is also unjust in much. 11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

14 And the Pharisees, who were covetous, also heard all these things, and they derided him. 15 And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than one tittle of the law to fail.

18 "Whoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is put away from her husband commits adultery.

19 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus who was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died and was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off with Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried, and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your life-time you received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, evil things. But now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who would pass from here to you cannot, neither can they pass to us who would come from there.' 27 Then he said, 'I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 For I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29 Abraham says to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 And he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"

Chapter 17

Christ teaches to avoid occasions of offense, 1, 2; and to forgive one another, 3, 4. The power of faith, 5, 6. How we are bound to God and not he to us, 7-10. Christ heals ten lepers, 11-21. Of the kingdom of God and the coming of the Son of man, 22-37.

1 Then he said to the disciples, "It is impossible for the causes of sin to not come. But woe to him by whom they come! 2 It would be better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns back to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, you might say to this sycamine-tree, 'Be plucked up by the root and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

7 "But which of you having a servant plowing, or feeding cattle, will say to him immediately when he has come from the field, 'Go and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say to him, 'Make ready with which I may have supper, gird yourself, and serve me until I have eaten and drank, and afterward, you shall eat and drink'? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded of him? I suppose not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all the things which are commanded of you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do.'"

11 And it came to pass as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him there, who stood at a distance. 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 14 And when he saw them, he said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And it came to pass, that as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus, answering, said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 There was no one found returning to give glory to God, except this stranger." 19 And he said to him, "Arise, depart. Your faith has made you whole."

20 And when he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation, 21 Neither will they say, 'Behold here!' or, 'Behold there!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

22 And he said to his disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you shall not see it. 23 And they will say to you, 'See here,' or, 'See there.' Do not go after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning that lightens from one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so the Son of man shall also be in his day. 25 But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall also be in the days of the Son of man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also, as it was in the days of Lot—they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, and they built, 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 Even thus it shall be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 On that day, he who is upon the house-top, with his goods in the house, must not come down to take them away. And he who is in the field, likewise must not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed: one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they answered and said to him, "Where Lord?" And he said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be collected."

Chapter 18

Of the importunate widow, 1-8. Of the Pharisee and the tax collector, 9-14. Of children brought to Christ, 15-17. A ruler would follow Christ, but is hindered by his riches, 18-27. The reward of those who leave all for his sake, 28-30. He foretells his death, 31-34; and restores to a blind man his sight, 35-43.

1 And he spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint, 2 Saying, "There was a judge in a city who did not fear God, nor regard man. 3 And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while. But afterward, he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God, nor regard man, 5 Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge says. 7 And will God not avenge his own elect, who cry day and night to him, though he bears long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

9 And he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray: one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not as other men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his chest, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

15 And they also brought infants to him so that he might touch them. But when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, and said, "Allow little children to come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no way enter into it."

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: God. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not kill,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" 21 And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "Yet you lack one thing: sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful, for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, "How hardly those who have riches will enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 26 And those who heard it, said, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Then he said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

28 Then Peter said, "Behold, we have left all and followed you." 29 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no man who has left house, parents, brothers, wife, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and life everlasting in the age to come."

31 Then he took the twelve, and said to them, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully treated, and spit upon. 33 And they will scourge him and put him to death, and on the third day he will rise again." 34 But they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, neither did they know the things which were spoken.

35 And it came to pass, that as he had come near to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging. 36 And hearing the multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried, saying, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me." 39 And those who went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried so much the more: "Son of David, have mercy on me." 40 And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he had come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, "What do you wish that I shall do to you?" And he said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you." 43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And when they saw it, all the people gave praise to God.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.20]: Exodus 20:12-16. See also, Deuteronomy 5:16-20.

Chapter 19

Of Zaccheus a tax collector, 1-10. The ten pieces of money, 11-27. Christ rides into Jerusalem with triumph, 28-40; weeps over it, 41-44; drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple, 45, 46; teaching daily in it. The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people, 47, 48.

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, who was the chief among the tax collectors, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was little of stature. 4 And he ran ahead and climbed up upon a sycamore-tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zaccheus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at your house." 6 And he made haste, came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he had gone to be guest with a man who is a sinner. 8 And Zaccheus stood, and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "This day salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants and delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Occupy until I come.' 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a message after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.' 15 And it came to pass, that when he had returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, so that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then the first came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has gained ten minas.' 17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant. Because you have been faithful in a very little, you have authority over ten cities.' 18 And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has gained five minas.' 19 And he said likewise to him, 'You are to be over five cities.' 20 And another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, here is your mina, which I have kept laid up in a handkerchief, 21 For I feared you because you are an austere man. You take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.' 22 And he says to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew me to be an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? And I, having come, might have collected it with interest.' 24 And he said to those who stood by, 'Take from him the mina and give it to him who has ten minas.' 25 And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas.' 26 'For I say to you, that to everyone who has shall be given, and from him who does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 27 But these enemies of mine who did not wish that I should reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went ahead, ascending toward Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass, when he had come near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, "Go into the village over against you, in which at your entering you will find a colt tied, on which no man has ever sat. Untie him and bring him here. 31 And if any man asks you, 'Why do you untie him?' you shall say thus to him: 'Because the Lord has need of him.'" 32 And those who were sent, went and found even as he had said to them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why do you untie the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus, cast their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus upon him. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he had come near, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 Saying,

"'  Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.' /

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest."

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to him, "Master, rebuke your disciples." 40 And he answered and said to them, "I tell you, that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

41 And when he had come near, he beheld the city and wept over it, 42 Saying, "If you, even you, had only known in this day the things which belong to your peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall build a barricade around you, encompass you, keep you in on every side, 44 And shall level you and your children within you to the ground. And they shall not leave in you one stone upon another because you did not know the time of your visitation."

45 And he went into the temple and began to cast out those who sold in it and those who bought, 46 Saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is the house of prayer,' but you have made it 'a den of thieves.'"

47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do, for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.38]: Psalm 118:26 (paraphrased). [v.46]: Isaiah 56:7;LXX Jeremiah 7:11.

Chapter 20

Christ avouches his authority by a question of John’s baptism, 1-8. The parable of the vineyard, 9-18. Of giving tribute to Caesar, 19-26. He convinces the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, 27-40. How Christ is the Son of David, 41-44. He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes, 45-47.

1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him, with the elders, 2 And spoke to him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority do you do these things? Or who is he who gave you this authority?" 3 And he answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing. Answer me. 4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?" 5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." 7 And they answered that they could not tell where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

9 Then he began to speak to the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to farmers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent a servant to the farmers so that they should give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty. 11 And again he sent another servant, and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And again he sent the third, and they wounded him also and cast him out. 13 Then the lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be when they see him they will reverence him.' 14 But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy these farmers and will give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it, they said, "May that never be." 17 And he beheld them, and said, "What is this then that is written:

'The stone which the builders rejected, /

the same has become the head of the corner'?

18 Whoever falls upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."

19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him, and they feared the people, for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. 20 And they watched him and sent forth spies who should feign themselves to be just men so that they might take hold of his words, and that they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governor. 21 And they asked him, saying, "Master, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither do you accept the person of any, but teach the way of God truly. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" 23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, "Why do you test me? 24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar’s." 25 And he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to God the things which are God’s." 26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people. And they marveled at his answer and held their peace.

27 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is any resurrection, came to him and they asked him, 28 Saying, "Master, Moses wrote to us that 'if any man’s brother should die, having a wife, and he should die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up children for his brother.' 29 There were therefore seven brothers: the first took a wife and died without children, 30 the second took her for a wife and he died childless, 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven all died and they left no children. 32 Last of all the woman also died. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of them is she? For seven had her for a wife."

34 And Jesus, answering, said to them, "The children of this world marry and are given in marriage, 35 But those who are accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage, 36 Neither can they die anymore, because they are equal to the angels and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed it at the bush when he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." 39 Then some of the scribes, answering, said, "Master, you have well said." 40 And after that, they dared not ask him any question at all.

41 And he said to them, "How do they say that Christ is David’s son? 42 And David himself says in the book of Psalms,

'The LORD said to my Lord, /

"Sit on my right hand,

43 Until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet."'

44 David therefore calls him Lord. How is he then his son?"

45 Then in the audience of all the people, he said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, love greetings in the markets, the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts, 47 Who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers. The same shall receive greater condemnation."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Psalm 118:22.LXX [v.28]: Deuteronomy 25:5. [v.37]: Exodus 3:6. [v.42]: Psalm 110:1.LXX [v.43]: Psalm 110:1.LXX

Chapter 21

Christ commends the poor widow, 1-4. He foretells the destruction of the temple and of the city of Jerusalem, 5-24; the signs also which shall be before the last day, 25-33. He exhorts them to be watchful, 34-38.

1 And he looked up and saw rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he also saw a certain poor widow casting in there two mites. 3 And he said, "Of a truth I say to you, that this poor widow has cast in more than all of them. 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in to the offerings of God, but she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had."

5 And as some spoke of the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, he said, 6 "As for these things which you behold, the days will come in which there shall not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

7 And they asked him, saying, "Master, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?" 8 And he said, "Take heed that you do not be deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am Christ,' and, 'The time draws near.' Therefore, do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified. For these things must first come to pass, but the end will not come immediately."

10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. 11 Great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences will be in various places. And there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

12 "But before all these, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer. 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And you will be betrayed by parents, brothers, kinsmen, and friends, and some of you they will cause to be put to death. 17 And you will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not a hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience you possess your souls.

20 "And when you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of it depart from it, and do not let those who are in the countries enter into it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance so that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 "And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 Men’s hearts will fail them for fear and for apprehension of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then they shall see 'the Son of man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near."

29 And he spoke to them a parable: "Behold the fig-tree and all the trees. 30 When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near at hand. 31 So likewise, when you see these things come to pass, you know that the kingdom of God is near at hand. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all is fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.

34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts are overcharged with surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come upon you unexpectedly. 35 For as a snare, it shall come on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Therefore, be watchful all the time, praying that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man."

37 In the day-time he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and stayed on the mountain that is called the Mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came to him early in the morning to hear him in the temple.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.27]: Daniel 7:13.

Chapter 22

The Jews conspire against Christ, 1, 2. Satan prepares Judas to betray him, 3-6. The apostles prepare the passover, 7-18. Christ institutes his holy supper, 19, 20; covertly foretells of the traitor, 21-23; dissuades the rest of his apostles from ambition, 24-30; assures Peter his faith should not fail, 31-33; and yet he should deny him three times, 34-38. He prays on the mount and sweats blood, 32-46; is betrayed with a kiss, 47-49; he heals Malchus' ear, 50-53; he is three times denied by Peter, 54-62; shamefully abused, 63-65; and confesses himself to be the Son of God, 66-71.

1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him, for they feared the people.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went and communed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad and covenanted to give him money. 6 And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of the multitude.

7 Then the day of unleavened bread came when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare for us the passover so that we may eat." 9 And they said to him, "Where do you wish that we prepare?" 10 And he said to them, "Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man bearing a pitcher of water shall meet you there. Follow him into the house where he enters. 11 And you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Master says to you, "Where is the guest-chamber where I may eat the passover with my disciples?"' 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished. Make ready there." 13 And they went and found as he had said to them, and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour had come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I say to you, I will not anymore eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 And he took the cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined. But woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" 23 And they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was who should do this thing.

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But you shall not be this way. But he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who is chief, as he who serves. 27 For which is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? But I am among you as he who serves.

28 "You are those who have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint to you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to me, 30 So that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you so that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. When you are converted, strengthen your brothers." 33 And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both into prison and to death." 34 And he said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day before you deny three times that you know me."

35 And he said to them, "When I sent you without purse, sack, and shoes, did you lack anything?" And they said, "Nothing." 36 Then he said to them, "But now he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his sack. And he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you, that this which is written must yet be accomplished in me: 'And he was reckoned among the transgressors.' For the things concerning me have an end." 38 And they said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough."

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said to them, "Pray so that you do not enter into temptation." 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s cast, knelt down, and prayed, 42 Saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done." 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 And when he arose from prayer and had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 And said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

47 And while he was yet speaking, behold a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" 49 When those who were around him saw what would follow, they said to him, "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, "Allow me to do this." And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to him, "Have you come out as against a thief with swords and staffs? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness."

54 Then they took him, led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and had sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain woman-servant beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him, and said, "This man was also with him." 57 And he denied him, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, "You are also one of them." And Peter said, "Man, I am not." 59 And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, "In truth this man was also with him, for he is a Galilean." 60 And Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you say." And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." 62 And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

63 And the men who held Jesus mocked him and smote him. 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, saying, "Prophesy. Who is he who smote you?" 65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against him.

66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes came together and led him into their council, 67 Saying, "Are you the Christ? Tell us." And he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. 69 Hereafter, the Son of man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." 70 Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." 71 And they said, "What need do we have of any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.37]: Isaiah 53:12.

Chapter 23

Jesus is accused before Pilate and sent to Herod, 1-7. Herod mocks him, 8-11. Herod and Pilate are made friends, 12. Barabbas is desired of the people and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified, 13-25. He tells the women who lament him of the destruction of Jerusalem, 26-33; prays for his enemies, 34-38. Two evildoers are crucified with him, 39-45. His death, 46-49. His burial, 50-56.

1 And the whole multitude of them arose and led him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying, that he himself is Christ a king." 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him and said, "You say it." 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, "I find no fault in this man." 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad. For he had been for a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words, but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11 And Herod with his troops set him at nothing, mocked him, arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, 14 Said to them, "You have brought this man to me as one who perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I have found no fault in this man, touching those things of which you accuse him, 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to him. 16 I will therefore chastise him and release him." 17 (For of necessity he must release someone to them at the feast.)

18 And they cried out all at once, saying, "Away with this man. Release Barabbas to us." 19 (He was cast into prison for a certain sedition made in the city and for murder.) 20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, "Crucify, crucify him." 22 And he said to them the third time, "Why? What evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go." 23 And they were urgent with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released to them him who had been cast into prison for sedition and murder, whom they had desired, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one, Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross so that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women who also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts which never nourished infants.' 30 Then 'they shall begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us," and to the hills, "Cover us."' 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what will be done in the dry?"

32 And two others, who were malefactors, were led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they had come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they parted his clothing and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is Christ the chosen of God." 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." 38 And also a superscription was written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

39 And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed on him, saying, "If you are Christ, save yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing amiss." 42 And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, this day you shall be with me in paradise."

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, 'into your hands I commend my spirit.'" And having said this, he expired. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man." 48 And all the people who came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their chests and returned. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who followed him from Galilee stood afar off beholding these things.

50 And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor. And he was a good and just man 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them) from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and petitioned for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, in which no man was ever laid before. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women who came with him from Galilee followed and beheld the sepulcher and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.30]: Hosea 10:8. [v.46]: Psalm 31:5.LXX

Chapter 24

Christ’s resurrection is declared by two angels to the women who come to the sepulcher, 1-8. These report it to others, 9-12. Christ himself appears to the two disciples who went to Emmaus, 13-35; afterward he appears to the apostles and reproves their unbelief, 36-46; gives them a charge, 47, 48; promises the Holy Spirit, 49; and so ascends into heaven, 50-53.

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher bringing the spices which they had prepared, and there were others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed at this, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 And as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, 'The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise again.'" 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulcher and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women who were with them who told these things to the apostles. 11 Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 Then Peter arose and ran to the sepulcher, and stooping down, he beheld the linen cloths laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which had come to pass.

13 And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about sixty furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were held so that they should not know him. 17 And he said to them, "What manner of communications are these that you have to one another as you walk, and are sad?" 18 And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said to him, "Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem and have not known the things which have come to pass there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he who would have redeemed Israel. And besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done. 22 And even some women of our company made us astonished. They were early at the sepulcher, 23 And when they did not find his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 And some of them who were with us went to the sepulcher and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him." 25 Then he said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did Christ not have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he acted as though he would go further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent." And he went in to stay with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at the table with them, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did our heart not burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 And they rose the same hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven assembled and those who were with them, 34 Saying, "The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon." 35 And they told the things that were done in the way and how he was made known to them in breaking of bread.

36 And as they were thus speaking, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and says to them, "Peace be to you." 37 But they were terrified and frightened and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have." 40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet did not believe for joy and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have anything here for food?" 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and a honey-comb. 43 And he took it and ate before them.

44 And he said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written concerning me in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the psalms." 45 Then he opened their understanding so that they might understand the Scriptures, 46 And said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he was blessing them, he had parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, having worshiped him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

Chapter 1

The divinity, humanity, office, and incarnation of Jesus Christ, 1-14. The testimony of John, 15-38. The calling of Andrew, Peter, etc., 39-51.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him, and without him nothing was made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness to bear testimony of the Light so that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear testimony of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lights every man who comes into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in his name, 13 Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. 15 John testified concerning him, and cried, saying, "This was he of whom I spoke, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me.'" 16 And of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

19 And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he says, "I am not." "Are you that prophet?" And he answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? For we must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say of yourself?" 23 He said,

"I am '  the voice of one crying in the wilderness, /

"Make straight the way of the Lord,"'

as the prophet Isaiah said."

24 And those who were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said to him, "Why do you baptize then, if you are not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that prophet?" 26 John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands one among you whom you do not know. 27 It is he, who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes' latchet I am not worthy to unloose." 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and says, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.' 31 And I did not know him. But so that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water." 32 And John bore testimony, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed upon him. 33 And I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, 'Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I saw and bore testimony that this is the Son of God."

35 Again the next day, John stood, along with two of his disciples, 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he says, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37 And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned and saw them following, and says to them, "What do you seek?" They said to him, "Rabbi"—which is to say, being interpreted, Master—"where do you dwell?" 39 He says to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he dwelt and stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first finds his own brother Simon, and says to him, "We have found the Messiah," (which is, being interpreted, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas," (which is, by interpretation, a stone).

43 The day following, Jesus wished to go forth into Galilee and finds Philip, and says to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip finds Nathanael, and says to him, "We have found him described by Moses in the law and by the prophets, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip says to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!" 48 Nathanael says to him, "Where do you know me from?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig-tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered and said to him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel." 50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig-tree,' do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he says to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open 'and the angels of God ascending and descending' upon the Son of man."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.23]: Isaiah 40:3 (paraphrased). [v.23]: Genesis 28:12.

Chapter 2

Christ turns water into wine, 1-11; departs into Capernaum, 12, and to Jerusalem, 13, where he purges the temple of buyers and sellers, 14-17. He foretells his death and resurrection, 18-22. Many believe because of his miracles, but he will not trust himself with them, 23-25.

1 And on the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 And both Jesus and his disciples were called to the marriage. 3 And when they lacked wine, the mother of Jesus says to him, "They have no wine." 4 Jesus says to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with me and you? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother says to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it." 6 And six water-pots of stone were set there, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. 7 Jesus says to them, "Fill the water-pots with water." And they filled them to the brim. 8 And he says to them, "Draw out now and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and did not know where it was from (but the servants who drew the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And says to him, "Every man at the beginning presents good wine, and when men have well drank, then that which is worse. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 This beginning of miracles Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum—he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples—and they continued there not many days.

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overthrew the tables, 16 And said to those who sold doves, "Take these things from here. Do not make my Father’s house a house of merchandise." 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal of your house has eaten me up." 18 Then the Jews answered, and said to him, "What sign do you show to us, seeing that you do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "Forty-six years this temple was in building, and will you rear it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them. And they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, on the feast day, many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he performed. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself to them, for he knew all men, 25 And did not need that any should testify concerning man, for he knew what was in man.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Psalm 69:9.LXX

Chapter 3

Christ teaches Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration, 1-13, of faith in his death, 14, 15, the great love of God toward the world, 16, 17, and the condemnation for unbelief, 18-21. Jesus baptizes in Judea, 22. The baptism, witness, and doctrine of John concerning Christ, 23-36.

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that you do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

4 Nicodemus says to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You [all] must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. Thus is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no man has ascended to heaven, but he who came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 So that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 "For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only-begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him may be saved. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation: that light has come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he who does truth comes to the light so that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

22 After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea, and there he remained with them and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore testimony, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him." 27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me testimony that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 "He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what he has seen and heard, he testifies, and no man receives his testimony. 33 He who has received his testimony, has set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent, speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure to him. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Chapter 4

Christ talks with a woman of Samaria and reveals himself to her, 1-26. His disciples marvel, 27-30. He declares to them his zeal for God’s glory, 31-38. Many Samaritans believe in him, 39-42. He departs into Galilee and heals the ruler’s son who lay sick at Capernaum, 43-54.

1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (Though Jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must go through Samaria. 5 Then he comes to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat down on the well. And it was about the sixth hour.

7 There comes a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus says to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (For his disciples had gone to the city to buy provisions.) 9 Then the woman of Samaria says to him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, being a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans." 10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman says to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. From where then do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well and drank of it himself, with his children and his cattle?" 13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again, 14 But whoever drinks of the water that I give him shall never thirst. The water that I give him shall be a well of water in him springing up into everlasting life."

15 The woman says to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I may not thirst, neither come here to draw." 16 Jesus says to her, "Go, call your husband and come here." 17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have rightly said, 'I have no husband,' 18 For you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband. In that you have spoken truth." 19 The woman says to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21 Jesus says to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour comes when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know. We know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour comes, and is now, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit. And those who worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth." 25 The woman says to him, "I know that Messiah comes, who is called Christ. When he has come, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus says to her, "I, who speak to you, am he."

27 And upon this, his disciples came and marveled that he talked with the woman. Yet no man said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why do you talk with her?" 28 The woman then left her water-pot, went into the city, and says to the men, 29 "Come, see a man who has told me all things that I ever did. Is this not the Christ?" 30 Then they went out of the city and came to him.

31 In the meantime, his disciples asked him, saying, "Master, eat." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know of." 33 Therefore, the disciples said to one another, "Has any man brought him anything to eat?" 34 Jesus says to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'There are yet four months and then comes harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest. 36 And he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit to eternal life, so that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 And herein that saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent you to reap that on which you bestowed no labor. Other men labored, and you have entered into their labors."

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in him for the saying of the woman, who testified, "He told me all that I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans had come to him, they implored him that he would stay with them. And he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word, 42 And said to the woman, "Now we believe, and not because of what you said, for we have heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

43 Now after two days he departed from there and went into Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 Then when he had come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast.

46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and implored him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." 49 The nobleman says to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus says to him, "Go. Your son lives." And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him and departed. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, "Your son lives." 52 Then he asked them the hour when he began to amend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, along with his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus performed when he had come from Judea into Galilee.

Chapter 5

Jesus on the sabbath day cures him who was diseased thirty-eight years, 1-9. The Jews therefore make a trivial objection and persecute Jesus for it, 10-16. He answers for himself and reproves them, showing who he is by the testimony of his Father, 17-30, of John, 31-35, of his works, 36-38, and of the Scriptures, 39-47.

1 After this, there was a feast of the Jews. And Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is a pool in Jerusalem by the sheep market, which is called in the Hebrew language, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and agitated the water. Then whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was cured of whatever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he says to him, "Do you wish to be healed?" 7 The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is agitated. But while I am coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus says to him, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." 9 And immediately the man was healed and he took up his bed and walked. Now on the same day was the sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry your bed." 11 He answered them, "He who healed me, the same said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'" 12 Then they asked him, "What man is this who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 And he who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward, Jesus finds him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are cured. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come to you." 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And therefore, the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father works until now, and I also work."

18 Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill him because he not only had broken the sabbath, but also said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing by himself, but what he sees the Father do. For whatever things he does, these also the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all things that he himself does. And he will show him greater works than these so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and revives them, even so the Son revives whom he wishes. 22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 So that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who has sent him.

24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who hear shall live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has given to the Son to have life in himself, 27 And has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of man. 28 Do not marvel at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.

30 "I can of my own self do nothing. As I hear, I judge. And my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the Father who has sent me.

31 "If I testify concerning myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies concerning me, and I know that the testimony which he bears concerning me is true.

33 "You sent to John and he testified to the truth. 34 But I do not receive testimony from man. But these things I say so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light, and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 "But I have greater testimony than that of John. For the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear testimony concerning me that the Father has sent me.

37 "And the Father himself who has sent me has borne testimony concerning me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent.

39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are those which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another and do not seek the honor that comes from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for he wrote concerning me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe my words?"

Chapter 6

Christ feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, 1-14. Thereupon the people would have made him king, 15; but withdrawing himself, he walks on the sea to his disciples, 16-25; reproves the people flocking after him and all the fleshly hearers of his word, 26-31; declares himself to be the bread of life to believers, 32-65. Many disciples depart from him, 66, 67. Peter confesses him, 68, 69. Judas is a devil, 70, 71.

1 After these things, Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him because they saw his miracles which he performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went upon a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes and saw a great company come to him, he says to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread so that these may eat?" 6 (And he said this to prove him, for he himself knew what he would do.) 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, so that each of them may receive a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, says to him, 9 "There is a boy here who has five barley-loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" 10 And Jesus said, "Make the men sit down." (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down, and likewise of the fish, as much as they wished. 12 When they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments that remain so that nothing may be lost." 13 Therefore, they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves which remained over and above by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus performed, said, "This is truly that prophet who should come into the world."

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a king, he departed again to a mountain by himself alone.

16 And when evening had now come, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 Entered into a boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. It was now dark and Jesus had not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But he says to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid." 21 Then they willingly received him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

22 The day following, when the people who stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one into which his disciples had entered, and that Jesus did not go with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples had gone away alone 23 (Yet there came other boats from Tiberias near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks), 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took boats and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give to you, for God the Father has sealed him." 28 Then they said to him, "What shall we do so that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God: that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 They said therefore to him, "What sign do you show then so that we may see and believe you? What do you work? 31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert. As it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you that bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 Then they said to him, "Lord, always give us this bread."

35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you, that you also have seen me and do not believe. 37 All whom the Father gives me shall come to me, and he who comes to me, I will in no way reject. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will who has sent me: that of all which he has given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day."

41 The Jews then murmured at him because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 And they said, "Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he says, 'I came down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me unless the Father who has sent me draws him. And I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught from God.' Every man therefore who has heard and has learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven so that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

52 The Jews therefore contended among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. And I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father, so he who eats me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate manna and are dead. He who eats of this bread shall live forever."

59 He said these things in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Therefore, when they had heard this, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard saying. Who can hear it?" 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit that revives. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe and who he was who would betray him. 65 And he said, "Therefore, I said to you, that no man can come to me unless it were given to him by my Father."

66 From that time many of his disciples went back and no longer walked with him. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Will you also go away?" 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God." 70 Jesus answered them, "Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon. For it was he who was to betray him, being one of the twelve.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.31]: Psalm 78:24. [v.45]: Isaiah 54:13.

Chapter 7

Jesus reproves the ambition and boldness of his kinsmen, 1-9; goes up from Galilee to the feast of tabernacles, 10-13; teaches in the temple, 14-39. Various opinions of him among the people, 40-44. The Pharisees are angry that their officers did not take him, and they chide with Nicodemus for taking his part, 45-53.

1 After these things, Jesus walked in Galilee, for he would not walk in Judea because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here and go into Judea so that your disciples may also see the works that you do. 4 For there is no man who does anything in secret, and he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5 (For neither did his brothers believe in him.) 6 Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify concerning it, that its works are evil. 8 Go up to this feast. I do not yet go to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." 9 When he had said these words to them, he still stayed in Galilee.

10 But when his brothers had gone up, then he also went to the feast, not openly, but as in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" 12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him. For some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "No, but he deceives the people." 13 Yet, no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never learned?" 16 Jesus answered them, and said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God, or whether I speak from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself, seeks his own glory, but he who seeks his glory who sent him, the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Did Moses not give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who seeks to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered and said to them, "I have done one work and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave to you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you on the sabbath circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath receives circumcision so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry at me because I have restored a man to sound health on the sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

25 Then some of them of Jerusalem said, "Is this not he whom they seek to kill? 26 But behold, he speaks boldly and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? 27 But we know this man, where he is from; whereas when Christ comes, no man knows where he is from." 28 Then Jesus cried in the temple as he taught, saying, "You both know me and you know where I am from. And I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know him because I am from him and he has sent me." 30 Then they sought to take him. But no man laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed in him, and said, "When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?"

32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him. And the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33 Then Jesus said to them, "Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and will not find me. And where I am, there you cannot come." 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where will he go that we shall not find him? Will he go to the dispersed among the Gentiles and teach the Gentiles? 36 What manner of saying is this that he said, 'You will seek me and will not find me,' and, 'Where I am, there you cannot come'?"

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." 39 (But this he spoke of the Spirit, which those who believe in him would receive, for the Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, "In truth this is the Prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has the Scripture not said that Christ comes from the offspring of David and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was?" 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 And some of them would have taken him, but no man laid hands on him.

45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why have you not brought him?" 46 The officers answered, "Never a man spoke like this man." 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But these people who do not know the law are cursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) says to them, 51 "Does our law judge any man before it hears him and knows what he does?" 52 They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and look. For out of Galilee no prophet arises." 53 And every man went to his own house.

Chapter 8

Christ delivers the woman taken in adultery, 1-11. He declares himself the light of the world and justifies his doctrine, 12-30; promises freedom to those who believe, 31, 32; answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham, 33-47; answers their reviling by showing his authority and dignity, 48-58; and conveys himself from their cruelty, 59.

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple. And all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to him taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say to him, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us that such should be stoned, but what do you say?" 6 They said this, testing him, so that they might have reason to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear them. 7 So when they continued asking him, he raised himself and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." 8 And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 And those who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even to the last. And Jesus was left alone with the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised himself and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?" 11 She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more."

12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify concerning yourself. Your testimony is not true." 14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Though I testify concerning myself, yet my testimony is true. For I know where I came from and where I go, but you cannot tell where I come from and where I go. 15 You judge after the flesh. I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one who testifies concerning myself, and the Father who sent me testifies concerning me." 19 Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You neither know me, nor my Father. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also." 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury as he taught in the temple. And no man laid hands on him, for his hour had not yet come.

21 Then Jesus again said to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and will die in your sins. Where I go, you cannot come." 22 Then the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, because he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?" 23 And he said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 Therefore, I said to you, that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 Then they said to him, "Who are you?" And Jesus says to them, "Even the same that I said to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you. But he who sent me is true, and I speak to the world those things which I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that he spoke to them concerning the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself. But as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him." 30 As he spoke these words, many believed in him.

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham’s offspring and were never in bondage to any man. How do you say, 'You shall be made free'?"

34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son abides forever. 36 If the Son therefore makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and you do that which you have seen with your father."

39 They answered and said to him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus says to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I have heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to him, "We are not born of fornication. We have one Father: God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me. For I proceeded forth and came from God, neither did I come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand my speech? It is because you cannot hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words. For this cause you do not hear them, because you are not of God."

48 Then the Jews answered and said to him, "Do we not say rightly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon. But I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 And I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if a man keeps my saying, he shall never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and the prophets also, and you say, 'If a man keeps my saying, he shall never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are also dead. Whom do you make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my Father who honors me, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 Yet you have not known him, but I know him. And if I should say, 'I do not know him,' I should be a liar like you. But I know him and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, 'I AM.'" 59 Then they took up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and thus passed by.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.58]: Exodus 3:14.

Chapter 9

The man who was born blind has his sight restored, 1-7. He is brought to the Pharisees, 8-12. They are offended by it and excommunicate him, 13-34; but he is received by Jesus and confesses him, 35-38. Who they are whom Christ enlightens, 39-41.

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, "Master, who sinned, this man, or his parents, so that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents, but this is so that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night comes when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had thus spoken, he spit on the ground, made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam," (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went therefore and washed and came seeing. 8 Therefore, the neighbors and those who before had seen that he was blind, said, "Is this not he who sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." But he said, "I am he." 10 Therefore, they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered and said, "A man who is called Jesus made clay, anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' And I went and washed and I received sight." 12 Then they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

13 They brought him who before was blind to the Pharisees. 14 And it was the sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay upon my eyes, I washed, and now I see." 16 Therefore, some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God because he does not keep the sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was a division among them. 17 They say to the blind man again, "What do you say of him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But by what means he now sees, we do not know, or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents spoke these words because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man confessed that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore, his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him."

24 Then again they called the man who was blind and said to him, "Give God the praise. We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." 26 Then they said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I have told you already and you did not hear. Why would you hear it again? Will you also be his disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him, and said, "You are his disciple, but we are the disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this man, we do not know where he is from." 30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, herein is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where he is from, and yet he has opened my eyes. 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners. But if any man is a worshiper of God and does his will, he hears him. 32 Since the world began it has not been heard that any man opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered and said to him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out. And when he had found him, he said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is he, Lord, so that I may believe in him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him and it is he who talks with you." 38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. 39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world so that those who do not see may see, and that those who do see may be made blind." 40 And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words and said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, 'We see.' Therefore, your sin remains."

Chapter 10

Christ is the door and the good shepherd, 1-18. Various opinions of him, 19-22. He proves by his works that he is Christ the Son of God, 23-30; escapes the Jews, 31-38; and goes again beyond the Jordan where many believe in him, 39-42.

1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they did not understand what things those were which he spoke to them.

7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If any man enters through me, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come, but to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly.

11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 But he who is a hireling and not the shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 Even as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they shall hear my voice. And there shall be one fold and one shepherd. 17 Therefore, my Father loves me because I lay down my life so that I may take it back. 18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it back. This commandment I have received from my Father."

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you hear him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the words of him who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

22 And it was the feast of the dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews came around him and said to him, "How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you and you did not believe. The works that I did in my Father’s name, they testify concerning me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of my sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. They follow me, 28 And I give eternal life to them. They shall never perish, and no one shall pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one."

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken, 36 Do you say of him whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, 'You blaspheme,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. 38 But if I do, though you do not believe me, believe the works so that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him." 39 Therefore, they sought again to take him, but he escaped from their hand.

40 And he went again beyond the Jordan into the place where John at first baptized and he stayed there. 41 And many resorted to him, and said, "John performed no miracle, but all things that John spoke of this man were true." 42 And many believed in him there.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.34]: Psalm 82:6.LXX

Chapter 11

Christ raises Lazarus, who was buried four days, 1-44. Many Jews believe, 45, 46. The high priests and Pharisees gather a council against Christ, 47, 48. Caiaphas prophesies, 49-53. Jesus hides himself, 54. At the passover they inquire about him and lay wait for him, 55-57.

1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, from Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore, his sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore he had heard that he was sick, he stayed two days still in the same place where he was. 7 Then after that he says to his disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." 8 His disciples say to him, "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone you, and you go there again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the day, he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles because there is no light in him." 11 He said these things, and after that, he says to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go so that I may awake him out of sleep." 12 Then his disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will do well." 13 Now Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him." 16 Then Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us also go so that we may die with him."

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 (Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs distant.) 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary sat in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now, whatever you will ask of God, God will give it to you." 23 Jesus says to her, "Your brother shall rise again." 24 Martha says to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he were dead, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She says to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world."

28 And when she had said this, she went and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, "The Master has come and calls for you." 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to him.

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose hastily and went out, followed her, saying, "She goes to the grave to weep there." 32 Then when Mary had come where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, 34 And said, "Where have you laid him?" They say to him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "Behold how he loved him!" 37 And some of them said, "Could this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, not have kept this man from dying?"

38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, comes to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, says to him, "Lord, by this time his body is offensive, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus says to her, "Did I not say to you, that if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 And I knew that you hear me always. But because of the people who stand by, I said it, so that they may believe that you have sent me." 43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." 44 And he who was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus says to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

45 Then many of the Jews who came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done.

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and said, "What do we do? For this man performs many miracles. 48 If we leave him alone like this, all men will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." 51 And he did not speak this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should assemble in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to a country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.

55 And the Jews' passover was near at hand. And many went out of the country to Jerusalem before the passover to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think—that he will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should report it so that they might take him.

Chapter 12

Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet, 1-8. The people flock to see Lazarus, 9. The chief priests consult to kill him, 10, 11. Christ rides into Jerusalem, 12-19. Greeks desire to see Jesus, 20-22. He foretells his death, 23-36. The Jews are generally blinded, 37-41; yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him, 42, 43; therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith, 44-50.

1 Then Jesus, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper, and Martha served. And Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who was to betray him, says, 5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 He said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money-box he took away what was put in it. 7 Then Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

9 Many people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there. And they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but so that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests consulted that they might also put Lazarus to death, 11 Because by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

12 On the next day, many people who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm-trees and went forth to meet him, and cried,

"'  Hosanna! /

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,' /

even the King of Israel."

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, sat thereon, as it is written,

15 "Do not fear, daughter of Zion. /

Behold, your King comes, /

sitting on a donkey’s colt."

16 These things his disciples did not understand at the first, but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written concerning him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Therefore, the people who were with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead, bore testimony. 18 For this cause the people also met him, for they heard that he had done this miracle. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "Do you perceive how you prevail nothing? Behold, the world has gone after him."

20 And there were some Greeks among them who came to worship at the feast. 21 The same came therefore to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip comes and tells Andrew, and again, Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. 25 He who loves his life shall lose it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. 26 If any man serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there my servant shall also be. If any man serves me, my Father will honor him.

27 "Now 'my soul is troubled,' and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then there came a voice from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." 29 Therefore, the people who stood by and heard it said that it thundered. Others said, "An angel spoke to him." 30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world shall be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me." 33 (He said this signifying what death he should die.) 34 The people answered him, "We have heard out of the law that Christ abides forever. How do you say, 'The Son of man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of man?" 35 Then Jesus said to them, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you. For he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have light, believe in the light so that you may be the children of light." Jesus spoke these things, departed, and concealed himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they did not believe in him, 38 So that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke,

"  Lord, who has believed our report? /

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

39 Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again,

40 "He has blinded their eyes /

and hardened their heart /

so that they should not see with their eyes, /

nor understand with their heart, /

and be converted, and I should heal them."

41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, also among the chief rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

44 Jesus cried, and said, "He who believes in me does not believe in me, but in him who sent me. 45 And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world so that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hears my words and does not believe, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me and does not receive my words has one who judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken from myself. But the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. Whatever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.13]: Psalm 118:25-26.LXX—verse 26 [v.15]: Zechariah 9:9. [v.27]: Psalm 6:3.LXX (paraphrased) [v.38]: Isaiah 53:1.LXX [v.40]: Isaiah 6:10.

Chapter 13

Jesus washes the disciples' feet and exhorts them to humility and charity, 1-17. He foretells and reveals to John by a token that Judas should betray him, 18-30; commands them to love one another, 31-35; and forewarns Peter of his denial, 36-38.

1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him), 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 Rises from supper, laid aside his garments, took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 6 Then he comes to Simon Peter, and Peter says to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not now know, but you shall know hereafter." 8 Peter says to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." 9 Simon Peter says to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." 10 Jesus says to him, "He who is washed has no need except to wash his feet, but is wholly clean. And you are clean, but not all." 11 For he knew who would betray him; therefore, he said, "You are not all clean."

12 So after he had washed their feet, had taken his garments, and had sat down again, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Master and Lord, and you speak rightly, for I am so. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his lord, neither he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I do not speak of you all. I know whom I have chosen, but this is so that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 Now I tell you before it comes, so that when it has come to pass, you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me."

21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit and testified, and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray me." 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, doubting of whom he spoke. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him to ask who it should be of whom he spoke. 25 Then lying on Jesus' chest, he says to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spoke this to him. 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the money-box, that Jesus had told him to buy those things that they had need of for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Then having received the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.

31 Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him immediately. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I go, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where do you go?" Jesus answered him, "Where I go, you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterward." 37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake." 38 Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for my sake? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow until you have denied me three times."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.18]: Psalm 41:9.

Chapter 14

Christ comforts his disciples with the hope of heaven, 1-4; professes himself the way, the truth, and the life, and one with the Father, 5-12; assures their prayers to be effectual, 13, 14; requires obedience, 15; promises the Comforter, 16-26; and leaves his peace with them, 27-31.

1 "Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many places to reside. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to myself, so that where I am, you may be there also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas says to him, "Lord, we do not know where you go, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus says to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. And from now on you know him and have seen him."

8 Philip says to him, "Lord, show us the Father and it will be sufficient for us." 9 Jesus says to him, "Have I been with you such a long time and yet you have not known me Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How then do you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak from myself. But the Father who dwells in me, he does the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he shall do also, and he shall do greater works than these, because I go to my Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

15 "If you love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Comforter so that he may abide with you forever, 17 Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see him or know him. But you know him because he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world no longer sees me, but you see me. Because I live, you shall live also. 20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him." 22 Judas, not Iscariot, says to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my words. And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 He who does not love me does not keep my sayings. And the word which you hear is not mine, but that of the Father who sent me.

25 "These things I have spoken to you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard that I said to you, 'I go away and come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I go to the Father,' for my Father is greater than I am. 29 And now I have told you before it comes to pass, so that when it has come to pass, you may believe. 30 Hereafter, I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world comes and has nothing in me. 31 But so that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here."

Chapter 15

The union of Christ and his members shown under the parable of a vine, 1-17. The hatred of the world, 18-25. The office of the Holy Spirit, 26, 27.

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he cleans it so that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered, and men gather them, cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you may ask what you wish and it shall be done to you. 8 In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so you shall be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Continue in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full.

12 "This is my commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you. 13 No man has greater love than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. 15 From now on I do not call you servants, because the servant does not know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you so that you love one another.

18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'The servant is not greater than his lord.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin. But now they have no cloak for their sin. 23 He who hates me, hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no other man has done, they would not have had sin. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this comes to pass so that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

26 "But when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify concerning me. 27 And you shall also bear testimony because you have been with me from the beginning."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.25]: Psalm 35:19. See also, Psalm 69:4.

Chapter 16

Christ comforts his disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit and his ascension, 1-22; assures their prayers made in his name to be acceptable, 23-32. Peace in Christ, and in the world affliction, 33.

1 "These things I have spoken to you so that you should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the time comes, that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things I have told you so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you.

5 "But now I go to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. 8 And when he has come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you will no longer see me; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

12 "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears, that he will speak. And he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine; therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

16 "A little while, and you shall not see me. And again a little while, and you shall see me because I go to the Father." 17 Then some of his disciples said among themselves, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you shall not see me. And again a little while, and you shall see me,' and, 'Because I go to the Father'?" 18 They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while'? We cannot tell what he says." 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him and said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves of that which I said, 'A little while, and you shall not see me. And again a little while, and you shall see me'? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail has sorrow because her hour has come. But as soon as she delivers the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy that a man is born into the world. 22 Now, therefore, you also have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and no man takes your joy from you.

23 "And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you shall receive so that your joy may be full.

25 "These things I have spoken to you in proverbs, but the time comes when I shall no longer speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly concerning the Father. 26 At that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, 27 For the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."

29 His disciples said to him, "Behold, now you speak plainly and speak no proverb. 30 Now we are sure that you know all things and do not need that any man should ask you. By this we believe that you came from God." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour comes and has even now come, that you shall each be scattered to his own and shall leave me alone. And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."

Chapter 17

Christ prays to his Father, 1-26.

1 Jesus spoke these words and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son also may glorify you, 2 As you have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you gave me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.

6 "I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave to me out of the world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you. 8 For I have given to them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came from you. And they have believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you have given to me, for they are yours. 10 And all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep, through your own name, those whom you have given to me so that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave to me I have kept, and not one of them is lost but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 "And now I come to you, and these things I speak in the world so that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given to them your word. And the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, even so I have also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself so that they also may be sanctified through the truth.

20 "I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe in me through their word, 21 So that they all may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, and that they also may be one in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 "And the glory which you gave to me I have given to them so that they may be one, even as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me so that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. 24 Father, I wish that they also whom you have given to me be with me where I am so that they may behold my glory which you have given to me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 "O righteous Father, the world has not known you. But I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me. 26 And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Chapter 18

Judas betrays Jesus, 1-5. The officers fall to the ground, 6-9. Peter smites off Malchus' ear, 10, 11. Jesus is taken and led to Annas and Caiaphas, 12-14. Peter’s denial, 15-18. Jesus examined before Caiaphas, 19-24. Peter’s second and third denial, 25-27. Jesus arraigned before Pilate, 28-35. His kingdom, 36-39. The Jews prefer Barabbas, 40.

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kedron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. 2 And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus often resorted there with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that were coming upon him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus says to them, "I am he." And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them. 6 Then as soon as he had said to them, "I am he," they went backward and fell to the ground. 7 Then he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go away," 9 So that the saying might be fulfilled which he spoke: "Of those whom you gave to me, I have lost not one." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put up your sword into the sheath. The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?"

12 Then the band, the captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus, bound him, 13 And led him away to Annas first (for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year). 14 Now Caiaphas was he who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then that other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought in Peter. 17 Then the woman-servant who kept the door says to Peter, "Are you not also one of this man’s disciples?" He says, "I am not." 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals (for it was cold), and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus concerning his disciples and concerning his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jews always resort, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I have said to them. Behold, they know what I have said." 22 And when he had said this, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do you answer the high priest like that?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear testimony of the evil. But if rightly, why do you smite me?" 24 (Now Annas had sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.)

25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore to him, "Are you not also one of his disciples?" He denied it, and said, "I am not." 26 One of the servants of the high priest (being the kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off) says, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 27 Peter then denied again, and immediately the cock crowed.

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment. And it was early, and they themselves did not go into the judgment-hall so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" 30 They answered and said to him, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to you." 31 Then Pilate said to them, "Take him and judge him according to your law." The Jews therefore said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death," 32 So that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.

33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment-hall again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered him, "Do you say this thing from yourself, or did others tell it to you concerning me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight so that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate therefore said to him, "Are you a King then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a King. To this end I was born, and for this cause I came into the world, so that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." 38 Pilate says to him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and says to them, "I find in him no fault. 39 But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the passover. Do you therefore wish that I release to you the King of the Jews?" 40 Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas." (Now Barabbas was a robber.)

Chapter 19

Christ is scourged, crowned with thorns, and beaten, 1-3. Pilate is desirous to release him, but being overcome with the outrage of the Jews, he delivers him to be crucified, 4-22. They cast lots for his garments, 23, 24. He commends his mother to John, 25-27. He dies, 28-30. His side is pierced, 31-37. He is buried by Joseph and Nicodemus, 38-42.

1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him, 3 And said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they smote him with their hands. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and says to them, "Behold, I bring him forth to you so that you may know that I find no fault in him." 5 Then Jesus came forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate says to them, "Behold the man!" 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify him. Crucify him." Pilate says to them, "Take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him." 7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God."

8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 And went again into the judgment-hall and says to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate says to him, "Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify you and power to release you?" 11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power against me unless it were given to you from above. Therefore, he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." 12 And from thereafter, Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king, speaks against Caesar."

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth and sat down on the judgment-seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover and about the sixth hour. And he says to the Jews, "Behold your King!" 15 But they cried out, "Away with him. Away with him. Crucify him." Pilate says to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

16 So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away.

17 And he, bearing his cross, went forth into a place called The Place of a Skull (which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and two others with him, one on each side and Jesus in the midst. 19 And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." 20 Many of the Jews then read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am King of the Jews."'" 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 Therefore, they said among themselves, "Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it to decide whose it shall be," so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says,

"  They parted my clothing among them, /

and for my vesture they cast lots."

Therefore the soldiers did these things. 25 Now standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he says to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then he says to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, says, "I thirst." 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar. And they filled a sponge with vinegar, put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and expired.

31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, so that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), implored Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who saw it, testified—and his testimony is true, and he knows that he speaks truth—so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done so that the Scripture should be fulfilled: "A bone of him shall not be broken." 37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look at him whom they pierced."

38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) petitioned Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him leave. He therefore came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus (who at the first came to Jesus by night) also came and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about one hundred pounds in weight. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the manner of the Jews for burial. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulcher in which no man had ever yet laid. 42 Therefore, because of the Jews' preparation-day and because the sepulcher was near at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.24]: Psalm 22:18.LXX [v.36]: Psalm 34:20. [v.37]: Zechariah 12:10.

Chapter 20

Mary comes to the sepulcher, 1, 2; so do Peter and John, ignorant of the resurrection, 3-10. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, 11-18, and to his disciples, 19-23. The incredulity and confession of Thomas, 24-29. These written signs are sufficient to salvation, 30, 31.

1 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene comes to the sepulcher early, when it was yet dark, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher. 2 Then she runs and comes to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and says to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Therefore, Peter and that other disciple went forth and came to the sepulcher. 4 And they both ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and came to the sepulcher first. 5 And he, stooping down, saw the linen cloths lying, yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter comes following him and went into the sepulcher and sees the linen cloths lying, 7 And the cloth that was around his head not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then that other disciple who came first to the sepulcher also went in, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away back to their own home.

11 But Mary stood outside at the sepulcher weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down to look into the sepulcher, 12 And sees two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say to her, "Woman, why do you weep?" She says to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 And when she had said this, she turned herself around and saw Jesus standing, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus says to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek?" She, supposing him to be the gardener, says to him, "Sir, if you have carried him from here, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away." 16 Jesus says to her, "Mary." She turned herself and says to him, "Rabboni," (which is to say, Master). 17 Jesus says to her, "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.'" 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things to her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and says to them, "Peace be to you." 20 And when he had said this, he showed his hands and his side to them. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you. As my Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and says to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven, and if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained."

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."

26 And after eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Then Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you." 27 Then he says to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and behold my hands. And reach here with your hand and thrust it into my side. And do not be faithless, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God." 29 Jesus says to him, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through his name.

Chapter 21

Christ appearing again to his disciples is made known to them by the great multitude of fish caught in the net, 1-11. He dines with them, 12-14; earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep, 15-17; foretells him of his death, 18-21; rebukes his curiosity concerning John, 22, 23. The conclusion, 24, 25.

1 After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and in this manner he showed himself:

2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter says to them, "I am going fishing." They say to him, "We also will go with you." They went forth and entered into a boat immediately. And that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning had already come, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus says to them, "Children, do you have any food?" They answered him, "No." 6 And he said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you shall find some." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved says to Peter, "It is the Lord." Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt on his fisher’s coat (for he was unclad) and cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fish.

9 Then as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there with fish laid upon them and also bread. 10 Jesus says to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fish—one hundred and fifty-three. And even though there were so many, yet the net was not broken.

12 Jesus says to them, "Come and dine." And none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then comes and takes the bread and gives it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus says to Simon Peter, "Simon son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He says to him, "Yes, Lord. You know that I love you." He says to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 He says to him again the second time, "Simon son of Jonah, do you love me?" He says to him, "Yes, Lord. You know that I love you." He says to him, "Feed my sheep." 17 He says to him the third time, "Simon son of Jonah, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." Jesus says to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girt yourself and walked where you wished, but when you are old, you shall stretch forth your hands and another shall gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 He spoke this signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he says to him, "Follow me."

20 Then Peter, turning around, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following (who also leaned on his chest at supper and said, "Lord, who is he who betrays you?"). 21 Peter, seeing him, says to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" 22 Jesus says to him, "If I wish that he remains until I come, what is that to you? Follow me." 23 Then this saying went abroad among the brothers, that this disciple should not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he shall not die, but, "If I wish that he remains until I come, what is that to you?"

24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things. And we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they should all be written, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Chapter 1

Christ, preparing his apostles for the beholding of his ascension, gathers them together to the mount Olivet, commands them to expect in Jerusalem the sending down of the Holy Spirit, promises after a few days to send him, and ascends into heaven in their sight, 1-9. After his ascension they are warned by two angels to depart and to set their minds upon his second coming, 10, 11. They accordingly return, and, giving themselves to prayer, choose Matthias to be apostle in place of Judas, 12-26.

1 The former treatise I have made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up after he had given commandments through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, 3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen by them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, 4 And being assembled with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, he says, "You have heard from me. 5 For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 When they therefore had come together, they asked of him, saying, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And he said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put in his own power. 8 But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth."

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 Who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up to heaven? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven shall come in the same manner as you have seen him go into heaven."

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had come in, they went into the upper room where they were staying, namely, Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 All of these continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said (the number of the names together were about one hundred and twenty), 16 "Men, brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us and had obtained part of this ministry." 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst apart in the midst and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, so that in their proper language that field is called, Aceldama, that is to say, The Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms,

'  Let his habitation be desolate, /

and let no man dwell in it,'

and,

'  Let another take his office.'

21 "Therefore, of these men who accompanied us the whole time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John to that same day that he was taken up from us, one must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 And they appointed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which of these two you have chosen, 25 So that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell in order to go to his own place." 26 And they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.20]: Psalm 69:25, 109:8.LXX

Chapter 2

The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking various languages, are admired by some and derided by others, 1-13; whom Peter disproves, 14-36; he baptizes a great number who were converted, 37-40; who afterward devoutly and charitably converse together; the apostles working many miracles, and God daily increasing his church, 41-47.

1 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were Jews dwelling at Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded because every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, are all these who speak not Galileans? 8 And how do we hear every man in our own language to which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea, Cappadocia, in Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, in Egypt, in the parts of Libya around Cyrene, strangers of Rome, both Jews and Proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians—we hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God." 12 And they were all amazed and in doubt, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Others mocking, said, "These men are full of new wine."

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, may this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God, /

'I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, /

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, /

your young men shall see visions, /

and your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on my men-servants and on my women-servants /

I will, in those days, pour out of my Spirit, /

and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in heaven above /

and signs on the earth beneath: /

blood, fire, and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness /

and the moon into blood /

before that great and notable day of the Lord comes.

21 And it shall come to pass, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know, 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, 24 Whom God has raised up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. 25 "For David speaks concerning him,

'  I saw the Lord always before my face, /

for he is on my right hand so that I should not be moved.

26 Therefore, my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad. /

Moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope.

27 For you will not leave my soul in hell, /

neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life. /

You will make me full of joy with your countenance.'

29 "Men, brothers, let me freely speak to you concerning the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried and his sepulcher is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath that from the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne, 31 He, seeing this before, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. 32 God has raised up this Jesus, of which we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,

'  The LORD said to my Lord, /

"Sit on my right hand,

35 Until I make your foes your footstool for your feet."'

36 "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men, brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, to your children, and to all who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things common, 45 And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added daily to the church those who were being saved.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Joel 2:28. [v.18]: Joel 2:29. [v.19]: Joel 2:30. [v.20]: Joel 2:31. [v.21]: Joel 2:32. [v.25]: Psalm 16:8.LXX [v.26]: Psalm 16:9.LXX [v.27]: Psalm 16:10.LXX [v.28]: Psalm 16:11.LXX [v.34]: Psalm 110:1.LXX [v.35]: Psalm 110:1.LXX

Chapter 3

Peter, preaching to the people who came to see a lame man restored to his feet, 1-11, professes the cure not to have been wrought by his or John’s own power or holiness, but by God and his son Jesus, and through faith in his name, 12. In addition, he reproves them for crucifying Jesus, 13-16; which they did through ignorance, and thereby fulfilled God’s determinate counsel and the Scriptures, 17, 18. He exhorts them by repentance and faith to seek remission of their sins and salvation in the same Jesus, 19-26.

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask for alms from those who entered into the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. 4 And Peter fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, "Look at us." 5 And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "I do not have silver and gold, but what I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up. And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And leaping up, he stood, walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 And they knew that it was he who sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.

11 And as the lame man who was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered to the people, "You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why do you look so earnestly at us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But you denied the Holy and Just One and desired a murderer to be granted to you, 15 And killed the Prince of life whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And through faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Indeed, the faith which is by him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 "And now, brothers, I know that through ignorance you did it, as your rulers also did. 18 But those things which God before had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has thus fulfilled. 19 Therefore, repent and be converted so that your sins may be blotted out, and that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 And that he may send Jesus Christ, who before was preached to you, 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise a Prophet up to you, of your brothers, like me. You shall hear him in all things, whatever he says to you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.' 24 And all the prophets also from Samuel, and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring all the kindreds of the earth shall be blessed.' 26 God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you in turning away each of you from his iniquities."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.22]: Deuteronomy 18:15. [v.23]: Deuteronomy 18:19. [v.25]: Genesis 12:3. See also, Genesis 22:18, 26:4.

Chapter 4

The rulers of the Jews, offended with Peter’s sermon, 1, 2, imprison him and John, 3, 4. After examining Peter for boldly avouching the lame man to be healed by the name of Jesus, and that by the same Jesus only we must be eternally saved, 5-12, they command him and John to preach no more in that name, adding also threatening, 13-22; whereupon the church flees to prayer, 23-30. And God, by moving the place where they were assembled, testifies that he heard their prayer; confirming the church with the gift of the Holy Spirit and with mutual love and charity, 31-37.

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. 4 But many of them who heard the word believed. And the number of the men was about five thousand.

5 And it came to pass on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were assembled at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power, or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the sick man, by what means he is made sound, 10 May it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him this man stands here before you sound. 11 This is 'the stone which was set at nothing by you builders, which has become the head of the corner.' 12 There is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to withdraw from the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, "What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all those who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it may spread no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them that they speak from now on to no man in this name." 18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people, for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old on whom this miracle of healing was performed.

23 And being dismissed, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "'Lord, you are God, who made heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them,' 25 Who, by the mouth of your servant David have said,

'  Why did the heathen rage, /

and the people plot vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, /

and the rulers were assembled /

against the Lord and against his Christ.'

27 "For in truth, against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were assembled, 28 To do whatever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, 30 By stretching forth your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

32 And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul, neither did any of them say that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not anyone among them who was in need. For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the money paid of the things that were sold, 35 And laid it down at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made to every man according as he had need.

36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The Son of Consolation), a Levite and from the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.11]: Psalm 118:22. [v.24]: Psalm 146:6. [v.25]: Psalm 2:1.LXX [v.26]: Psalm 2:2.LXX

Chapter 5

Ananias and Sapphira his wife fell down dead for their hypocrisy at Peter’s rebuke, 1-11. The rest of the apostles wrought many miracles, 12, 13; to the increase of the faith, 14-16. The apostles are again imprisoned, 17, 18; but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all, 19, 20. But after their teaching accordingly in the temple, 21-28, and before the council, 29-32, they are in danger to be killed; but through the advice of Gamaliel, a great counselor among the Jews, they are kept alive and are only beaten, for which they glorify God, 33-41. They did not cease from daily preaching, 42.

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 Kept back part of the price (his wife also being aware of it), and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the value of the land? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God." 5 And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and expired. And great fear came on all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7 And it was about the space of three hours after when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" And she said, "Yes, for so much." 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and shall carry you out." 10 Then she fell down immediately at his feet and expired. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon all the church and upon as many as heard these things.

12 And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were wrought among the people, and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 And of the rest, no man dared join himself to them, but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. 15 They even brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches so that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There also came a multitude out of the cities around to Jerusalem bringing sick persons and those who were afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) were filled with indignation, 18 Laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison-doors and brought them forth, and said, 20 "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 Saying, "We truly found the prison shut with all safety and the keepers standing outside before the doors. But when we had opened, we found no man inside." 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they were doubting concerning them and to what this would come. 25 Then someone came and told them, saying, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, "Did we not strictly command you that you should not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree. 31 God has exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then someone in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, had in reputation among all the people, stood up and commanded to put the apostles forth a little time. 35 And said to them, "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do concerning these men. 36 For before these days, Theudas rose, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of about four hundred men joined themselves. He was slain, and as many as obeyed him were all scattered and brought to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose in the days of the taxing and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and even as many as obeyed him were all dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, refrain from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is from men, it will come to nothing, 39 But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God."

40 And they assented to him. And when they had called the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Chapter 6

The apostles, desirous to have the poor regarded for their bodily sustenance, as also careful themselves to dispense the word of God, the food of the soul, 1, 2, recommend, 3, 4, and with the church’s consent, ordain seven chosen men to the office of deaconship, 5, 6. The word of God prevails, 7. Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, disproving those with whom he disputed, is brought before the council and falsely accused of blasphemy against the law and the temple, 8-15.

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples, and said, "It is not fitting that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, select among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They set these men before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose some of the synagogue, which is called The Synagogue of the Libertines, along with Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they suborned men, who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, caught him, brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy, 1, shows that Abraham worshiped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers, 2-19, before Moses was born and before the tabernacle and temple were built, 20-36; that Moses himself witnessed of Christ, 37-43; and that all outward ceremonies were ordained, according to the heavenly pattern, to last but for a time, 44-50; reproving their rebellion and murdering of Christ, the Just One, whom the prophets foretold should come into the world, 51-53. Upon hearing that, they stone him to death, while he commends his soul to Jesus and humbly prays for them, 54-60.

1 Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

2 And he said, "Men, brothers, and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 3 And said to him, 'Depart from your country and from your kindred and come into the land which I shall show you.' 4 Then he came from the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land in which you now dwell. 5 And he gave him no inheritance in it, not even so much as to set his foot on. Yet he promised that 'he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him,' when as yet he had no child. 6 And God spoke in this way, that 'his offspring should sojourn in a foreign land, and that they should bring them into bondage and treat them ill four hundred years.' 7 'And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage I will judge,' said God. 'And after that they shall come forth "and serve me in this place."' 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. Then Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

9 "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him, 10 And delivered him from all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

11 "Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s kindred was made known to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, seventy-five souls. 15 So Jacob went down into Egypt and died—he and our fathers. 16 They were carried over into Shechem and laid in the sepulcher that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem.

17 "But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Until 'another king arose who did not know Joseph.' 19 The same dealt subtly with our kindred and ill-treated our fathers, making them cast out their young children so that they would not live. 20 At that time, Moses was born and was exceedingly fair and nourished in his father’s house three months. 21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and nourished him as her own son. 22 And Moses was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him who was oppressed and smote the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed his brothers to understand that God by his hand would deliver them, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he showed himself to them as they were contending and would have constrained them to be at peace again, saying, 'Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you do wrong to one another?' 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' 29 Then 'Moses fled at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian,' where he begot two sons.

30 "And when forty years had expired, there 'appeared to him' in the wilderness of mount Sinai, 'an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.' 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 Saying, 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Then Moses trembled and dared not behold. 33 Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and I have heard their groaning. And I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you into Egypt.'

35 "This Moses, whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' the same, God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out after he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years. 37 This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The Lord your God will raise up to you a prophet of your brothers, like me. You will hear him.' 38 This is he who was in the church in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on the mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received the living oracles to give to us, 39 Whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 Saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods to go before us. For as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' 41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets,

'  O house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices /

during forty years in the wilderness?

43 You even took up the tabernacle of Moloch /

and the star of your god Rephan, /

figures which you made to worship them. /

I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'

44 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 45 Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, until the days of David, 46 Who found favor before God and asked to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 Yet, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as says the prophet,

49 'Heaven is my throne, /

and earth is my footstool. /

What house will you build for me?' says the Lord. /

'And what is the place of my rest?

50 Has my hand not made all these things?'

51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have slain those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now been the betrayers and murderers, 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it."

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, ran upon him with one accord, 58 Cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling upon God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Genesis 12:1.LXX [v.5]: Genesis 17:8. See also, Genesis 12:7. [v.6]: Genesis 15:13. [v.7]: Genesis 15:14;LXX Exodus 3:12.LXX (paraphrased) [v.18]: Exodus 1:8.LXX [v.27]: Exodus 2:14.LXX [v.28]: Exodus 2:14.LXX [v.29]: Exodus 2:15. [v.30]: Exodus 3:2. [v.32]: Exodus 3:6. [v.33]: Exodus 3:5.LXX [v.34]: Exodus 3:7-8, 3:10. [v.35]: Exodus 2:14.LXX [v.37]: Deuteronomy 18:15. [v.40]: Exodus 32:1.LXX [v.42]: Amos 5:25.LXX [v.43]: Amos 5:26-27.LXX (paraphrased) [v.49]: Isaiah 66:1.LXX [v.50]: Isaiah 66:2.

Chapter 8

The disciples were dispersed because of a great persecution at Jerusalem, Saul’s persecution of the church, and a church is planted by Philip in Samaria, 1-8. Simon the sorcerer is baptized, along with many others, 9-13. Peter and John are sent there, who prayed for them and laid their hands on them, after which they received the Holy Spirit, 14-17. Simon offers money for the same power, is sharply reproved by Peter for his wickedness and hypocrisy, and admonished to repent, 18-24. The apostles return to Jerusalem, having preached the word, 25. Philip is sent by an angel to convert and baptize an Ethiopian eunuch 26-40.

1 And Saul was consenting to his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hauling off men and women and committing them to prison.

4 Therefore, those who were dispersed went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he performed. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and who were lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great one, 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And to him they had regard, because for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12 But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For as yet he had fallen upon none of them. Only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, "Give me this power also so that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours and pray to God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven. 23 For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." 24 Then Simon answered, and said, "Pray to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me."

25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

26 And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south, to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert." 27 And he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 Was returning and sitting in his chariot, reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and join yourself to this chariot." 30 And Philip ran there to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you read?" 31 And he said, "How can I unless some man should guide me?" And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the Scripture which he read was this:

"  He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, /

and as a lamb before his shearer is mute, /

so he did not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away. /

And who shall declare his generation? /

For his life is taken from the earth."

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, "I pray you, of whom does the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached to him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away so that the eunuch no longer saw him. Then he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.32]: Isaiah 53:7.LXX [v.33]: Isaiah 53:8.LXX

Chapter 9

Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth and led blind to Damascus, 1-9; is called to the apostleship, 10-17; and is baptized by Ananias, 18, 19. He preaches Christ boldly, 20-22. The Jews lay wait to kill him, 23-28; so do the Grecians, but he escapes both, 29, 30. The church having rest, Peter heals Eneas of paralysis, 31-35; and restores Tabitha to life, 36-43.

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 And desired from him letters to the synagogues in Damascus so that if he should find any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined around him a light from heaven, 4 And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 And he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do you wish for me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise, and go into the city and it shall be told to you what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth, but when his eyes were opened, he saw no man. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he prays, 12 And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight." 13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel for me to bear my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name’s sake." 17 And Ananias went and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jesus who appeared to you in the way as you came) has sent me so that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received sight immediately. Then he arose and was baptized. 19 And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul was some days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20 And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and came here for that intent so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

23 And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him. 24 But their lying in wait was known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples, but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the way and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Grecians, but they were seeking to slay him. 30 And when the brothers knew, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 Then the churches had rest throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he also came down to the saints who dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Eneas who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, "Eneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Arise, and make your bed." And he arose immediately. 35 And all who dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (who by interpretation is called Dorcas). This woman was full of good works and acts of charity which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And as Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent to him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, kneeled down, and prayed, and turning to the body, said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And it came to pass, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one, Simon, a tanner.

Chapter 10

Cornelius, a devout man, being commanded by an angel, sends for Peter, 1-10, who by a vision is taught not to despise the Gentiles, 11-16; and is commanded by the Spirit to go with the messenger to Caesarea, 17-24. Cornelius discloses the occasion of his sending for him, 25-33. As he preaches Christ to Cornelius and his company, 34-43, the Holy Spirit falls on them and they are baptized, 44-48.

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called The Italian Band, 2 A devout man and one who feared God with all his house, who gave many alms to the people and always prayed to God. 3 He saw in a vision evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 And when he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and call for one, Simon, whose surname is Peter. 6 He lodges with one, Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side. He will tell you what you ought to do." 7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8 And when he had declared all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the next day, as they were going on their journey and drew near to the city, Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 And he became very hungry and wished to eat, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending to him, like a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth, 12 In which were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, wild beasts, creeping animals, and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter. Kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, do not call unclean." 16 This was done three times, and the vessel was received back into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house and were standing before the gate, 18 And called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you. 20 Arise therefore, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them." 21 Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. What is the cause for which you have come?" 22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man and one who fears God and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for you into his house and to hear words from you." 23 Then he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day, Peter went with them, and some brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the next day, they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand up. I myself am also a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 And he said to them, "You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company or come to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore, I came to you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore for what intent you have sent for me."

30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call here Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodges in the house of one, Simon, a tanner, by the sea-side. When he comes, he will speak to you.' 33 Immediately therefore I sent for you, and you have done well that you have come. Now therefore, we are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded you by God."

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. 35 But in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 You know that word which was published throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached, 38 That God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. 40 God raised him on the third day and showed him openly, 41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets give testimony to him, that through his name, whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins."

44 While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak in languages and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they requested him to stay some days.

Chapter 11

Peter, being accused for going to the Gentiles, 1-4, makes his defense, 5-17; which is accepted, 18. The gospel being spread into Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, Barnabas is sent to confirm them, 19-25. The disciples there are first called Christians, 26. They send relief to the brothers in Judea in time of famine, 27-30.

1 And the apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter had come to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order to them, saying, 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain vessel descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners, and it even came to me, 6 Upon which when I had fastened my eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, wild beasts, creeping animals, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Arise, Peter. Slay and eat.' 8 But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed, do not call common.' 10 And this was done three times. And all were drawn up back into heaven. 11 And behold, immediately there were three men already standing at the house where I was, sent from Caesarea to me. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brothers accompanied me and we entered into the man’s house. 13 And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, 'Send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, 14 Who shall tell you words by which you and all your house shall be saved.' 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave them the same gift as he did to us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I could withstand God?" 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted repentance to life to the Gentiles."

19 Now those who were dispersed upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but to the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord. 24 For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

27 And in these days, prophets from Jerusalem came to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who dwelt in Judea, 30 Which they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter, whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church, 1-19. Herod in his pride, taking to himself the honor due to God, is stricken by an angel and dies miserably, 20-23. After his death, the word of God prospers, 24. Saul and Barnabas return to Antioch, 25.

1 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict some of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Those were the days of unleavened bread. 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after the passover to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church to God for him.

6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison, and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly." And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he says to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." 9 And he went out and followed him, and did not know that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And they went out and passed on through one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know with certainty that the Lord has sent his angel and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." 12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were assembled, praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a woman-servant named Rhoda came to listen. 14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she did not open the gate for gladness, but ran in and reported that Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said to her, "You are insane." But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then they said, "It is his angel." 16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But he beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go, show these things to James and to the brothers." And he departed and went into another place.

18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him and did not find him, he examined the keepers and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

20 And Herod was highly displeased with those of Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him, and having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21 And upon a set day, Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made an oration to them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, "It is the voice of a god and not of a man." 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Chapter 13

Paul and Barnabas are chosen to go to the Gentiles, 1-5. Of Sergius Paulus and Elymas the sorcerer, 6-12. Paul preaches at Antioch that Jesus is Christ, 13-41. The Gentiles believe, 42, 43; but the Jews gainsay and blaspheme, whereupon Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles, of whom many believe, 44-49. The Jews raise a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, who go to Iconium, 50-52.

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me for the work to which I have called them." 3 And when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John for their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Barjesus, 7 Who was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, "O full of all subtlety and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

13 Now when Paul and his company set sail from from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the synagogue on the sabbath and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men, brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak." 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand, said, "Men of Israel and you who fear God, give audience. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm he brought them out of it. 18 And about the time of forty years he put up with their manners in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that, he gave judges to them, about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward, they desired a king, and God gave Saul the son of Kish to them, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up to them David to be their king, to whom also he gave testimony, and said, '"I have found David" the son of Jesse, "a man after my own heart" who shall fulfill all my will.' 23 Of this man’s offspring God has, according to his promise, raised up to Israel a Savior, Jesus. 24 Before his coming, John had first preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, 'Who do you think that I am? I am not he. But behold, there comes one after me whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to untie.'

26 "Men, brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you fears God, to you the word of this salvation is sent. 27 For those who dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know him, nor yet the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet they desired of Pilate that he should be put to death. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a sepulcher. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 And he was seen many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you the glad tidings, that the promise which was made to the fathers, 33 God has fulfilled the same to us their children in that he has raised up Jesus again, as it is also written in the second psalm,

'  You are my Son, this day I have begotten you.'

34 And concerning that he raised him from the dead, now no longer to return to corruption, he said in this way:

'  I will give you the sure mercies of David.'

35 Therefore, he also says in another psalm,

'  You will not allow your Holy One to see corruption.'

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption. 37 But he whom God raised again saw no corruption. 38 May it be known to you therefore, men, brothers, that through this man the forgiveness of sins is preached to you, 39 And by him all who believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken in the prophets,

41 '"Behold, you despisers, wonder and perish, /

for I work a work in your days," /

a work "which you will in no way believe, /

though a man declares it to you."'"

42 And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles implored that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And on the next sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and spoke against those things which were uttered by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas became bold, and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. But seeing you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For thus the Lord has commanded us, saying,

'I have set you"  to be a light of the Gentiles /

so that you should bring salvation to the ends of the earth."'"

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their borders. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.22]: 1st Samuel 13:14; Psalm 89:20.LXX [v.33]: Psalm 2:7.LXX [v.34]: Isaiah 55:3.LXX [v.35]: Psalm 16:10.LXX [v.41]: Habakkuk 1:5.LXX [v.47]: Isaiah 49:6.LXX

Chapter 14

Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium, 1-7. At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods, 8-18. Paul is stoned, 19, 20. They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience, 21-25. Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them, 26-28.

1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil-affected against the brothers. 3 Therefore, they stayed a long time speaking boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided. And part held with the Jews and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews, with their rulers, to use them despitefully and to stone them, 6 Being apprised of it, they fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the region in that vicinity. 7 And they preached the gospel there.

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra lacking strength in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb who had never walked. 9 The same heard Paul speak, who, steadfastly beholding him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men." 12 And they called Barnabas, "Zeus," and Paul, "Hermes," because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus who was before their city brought oxen and garlands to the gates and would have done sacrifice with the people, 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, "Sirs, why do you do these things? We are also men of like passions with you and preach to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, who 'made heaven, earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,' 16 Who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." 18 And with these sayings they scarcely restrained the people from doing sacrifice to them.

19 And some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, who persuaded the people. And having stoned Paul, they drew him out of the city supposing him to be dead. 20 But as the disciples stood around him, he rose and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." 23 And when they had ordained elders for them in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed.

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia. 26 And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they had come and had assembled the church, they rehearsed all that God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And there they stayed a long time with the disciples.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.15]: Exodus 20:11.LXX

Chapter 15

Great dissensions arise concerning circumcision, 1-4. The apostles consult about it, 5-21, and send their determination by letters to the churches, 22-35. Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together, disagree and travel different ways, 36-41.

1 And some men who came down from Judea taught the brothers, and said, "Unless you are circumcised after the manner of Moses you cannot be saved." 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them should go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brothers. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed saying that it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and elders came together to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose and said to them, "Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving the Holy Spirit to them, even as he did to us, 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they are."

12 Then all the multitude kept silence and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought by them among the Gentiles.

13 And after they held their peace, James answered, saying, "Men, brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for his name. 15 And the words of the prophets agree to this, as it is written,

16 '"After this I will return and will again build /

the tabernacle of David which has fallen down. /

And I will again build its ruins and set it up,

17 So that the remnant of men and all the Gentiles /

upon whom my name is called may seek after the Lord," /

says the Lord who does all these things.'

18 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Therefore, my judgment is that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 But that we write to them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, from lewdness, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath."

22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brothers. 23 And they wrote letters by their hand after this manner: "The apostles, elders, and brothers send greeting to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law,' to whom we gave no such commandment, 25 It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 That you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from lewdness—which if you keep yourselves from you will do well. Farewell."

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch. And when they had convened the multitude, they delivered the epistle, 31 Which, when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words and confirmed them. 33 And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles. 34 However, it pleased Silas to remain there still. 35 But Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit our brothers in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they are." 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul did not think it good to take with them him who departed from them in Pamphylia and did not go with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them that they departed, separating one from the other. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. 40 And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.16]: Amos 9:11.LXX [v.17]: Amos 9:12.LXX

Chapter 16

Paul, having circumcised Timothy, 1-6, and being called by the Spirit from one country to another, 7-13, converts Lydia, 14, 15, and casts out a spirit of divination, 16-18; for which cause he and Silas are whipped and imprisoned, 19-24. The prison doors are opened. 25-30. The jailer is converted, 31-34, and they are delivered, 35-40.

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman who was Jewish and believed, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well reported of by the brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wished to have him go forth with him and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those quarters, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep that were ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. 5 And so the churches were established in the faith and increased in number daily.

6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they had come to Mysia, they essayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them. 8 And they, passing by Mysia, came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia stood there and prayed him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 Therefore, setting sail from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis, 12 And from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia and a colony. And we were in that city staying some days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was accustomed to be made, and we sat down and spoke to the women who resorted there.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worshiped God, heard us, whose heart the Lord opened so that she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, along with her household, she implored us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay there." And she constrained us.

16 And it came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain woman-servant possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, who show the way of salvation to us." 18 And she did this many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out the same hour.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the market-place to the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans."

22 And the multitude rose together against them, and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were loosened. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." 29 Then he called for a light, sprang in, and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your house shall be saved." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. Then he was baptized—he and all his household—without delay. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go." 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul: "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore, depart and go in peace." 37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly and uncondemned—we being Romans—and have cast us into prison, and now they thrust us out privately? By no means. But let them come themselves and bring us out." 38 And the sergeants told these words to the magistrates, and they feared when they heard that they were Romans. 39 So they came and implored them. And having brought them out, they desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they comforted them and departed.

Chapter 17

Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe, 1-4, and others persecute him, 5-9. He is sent to Berea and preaches there, 10-12. Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica, 13-15, he comes to Athens, disputing with the Jews and preaching the living God, to them unknown, 16-31; whereby, though some mock, many are converted to Christ, 32-34.

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went to them, and on three sabbaths reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging that it was needful that Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ." 4 And some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the devout Greeks and many of the chief women. 5 But the Jews who did not believe, being moved with envy, took for themselves some vile fellows of the baser sort, and gathering a company, set all the city in an uproar. They assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they did not find them, they drew Jason and some brothers to the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 Whom Jason has received, and they all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and from the others, they let them go.

10 And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea, who, coming there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore, many of them believed, along with a number of honorable women and men who were Greeks. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the people. 14 And then immediately the brothers sent Paul away to go as far as to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there still. 15 And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens, and receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

16 Now, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore, he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with those who met with him. 18 Then some philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics encountered him. And some said, "What will this babbler say?" and others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange gods," because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We therefore wish to know what these things mean"— 21 For all the Athenians and strangers who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars-hill, and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: 'TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore, whom you ignorantly worship, I declare him to you. 24 God who made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, 25 Neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he gives to all life, breath, and all things, 26 And has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and has determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation, 27 That they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 For in him we live, move, and have our being, as some of your own poets have also said, 'For we are also his offspring.' 29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold, silver, or stone engraved by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 Because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained, of which he has given assurance to all men in that he has raised him from the dead."

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others said, "We will hear you again concerning this matter." 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 But some men adhered to him and believed, among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Chapter 18

Paul labors with his hands and preaches at Corinth to the Gentiles, 1-8. The Lord encourages him in a vision, 9-11. He is accused before Gallio the deputy, but is dismissed, 12-17. Afterward, passing from city to city, he strengthens the disciples, 18-23. Apollos, being more perfectly instructed by Aquila and Priscilla, preaches Christ with great efficacy, 24-28.

1 After these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth, 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome), and he came to them. 3 And because he was of the same occupation, he stayed with them and worked (for by their occupation they were tent-makers), 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his clothing and said to them, "May your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 And he departed from there and entered into the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house joined close to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house. And many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized. 9 Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision: "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not hold your peace. 10 For I am with you and no man shall lay hands on you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city." 11 And he continued there one year and six months teaching the word of God among them.

12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul and brought him to the judgment-seat, 13 Saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." 14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong, or heinous crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and of your law, you look to it, for I will be no judge of such matters." 16 And he drove them from the judgment-seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment-seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

18 And Paul, after this, remained there yet a good while and then took his leave of the brothers and sailed from there into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they desired him to stay for a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 But bid them farewell, saying, "I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem. But I will return to you, if God wills." And he sailed from Ephesus.

22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and diligently taught the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him to them and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brothers wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he helped them much who had believed through grace. 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

Chapter 19

Some disciples receive the Holy Spirit after they are baptized in Jesus' name and Paul lays his hands on them, 1-7. The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles, 8-12. The Jewish exorcists, 13-15, are beaten by the devil, 16-18. Conjuring books are burnt, 19, 20. Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul, 21-34; which is appeased by the town-clerk, 35-41.

1 And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper region, came to Ephesus, and finding some disciples, 2 He said to them, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" And they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is any Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John’s baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in him who should come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in languages and prophesied. 7 And they were about twelve men in all.

8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one, Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for the space of two years so that all those who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus—both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 So that handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon themselves to invoke over those who had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 And there were seven sons of one, Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?" 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overcame them, and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus. And fear fell on them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who believed came, confessed, and showed their deeds. 19 Many of those who also practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them before all men. And they counted the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of God mightily grew and prevailed.

21 After these things had ended, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silver-smith who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen, 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover, you see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this craft of ours in danger to be set at nothing, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships."

28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, "Diana of the Ephesians is great." 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion. And having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater. 30 And when Paul wished to go in among the people, the disciples did not allow him. 31 And some of the chief of Asia who were his friends sent to him, desiring him that he would not venture himself into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know why they had come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand and wished to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, "Diana of the Ephesians is great." 35 And when the town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana and of the image which fell down from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies. Let them accuse one another. 39 But if you inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, since there is no cause by which we may give an account of this commotion." 41 And when he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Chapter 20

Paul goes to Macedonia, and from there to Troas, 1-6. He celebrates the Lord’s supper and preaches, 7, 8. Eutychus, having fallen down dead, is raised to life, 9-12. He continues his travels, 13-16; and at Miletus he calls the elders together, tells them what shall happen to him, 17-27, commits God’s flock to them, 28, warns them of false teachers, 29-31, commends them to God, 32-35, prays with them, and departs, 36-38.

1 And after the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to him, embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia. 2 And when he had gone over those parts and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 3 And stayed there three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 4 And these accompanied him into Asia: Sopater from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. 5 These had gone ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them (ready to depart on the next day) and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber where they were assembled. 9 And a certain young man named Eutychus sat in a window, having fallen into a deep sleep. And as Paul was preaching yet longer, he sunk down with sleep, fell from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down and fell on him, and embracing him, said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him." 11 When he had come up again, had broken bread, and eaten, he discoursed a long while, even until break of day, and then departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive and were greatly comforted.

13 And we went before to a ship and sailed to Assos, intending to take in Paul there. For thus he had appointed, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in and came to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed from there and came the next day over against Chios. And the next day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. And the next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus because he would not spend the time in Asia, for he hastened, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have shown you and have taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now behold, I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, 23 Except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 "And now behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore, I call you to witness this day that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure, grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore, watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 And now, brothers, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man’s silver, gold, or apparel. 34 And you yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that in laboring this way you ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

36 And when he had said this, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept bitterly, fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Chapter 21

Paul arrives at the house of Philip, whose daughters prophesy, 1-9. Agabus foretells what should happen to him at Jerusalem, he will not be dissuaded from going there, 10-16. He comes to Jerusalem, 17-26; where he is apprehended and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued, 27-36; and requests and is permitted to speak to the people, 37-40.

1 And it came to pass, that after we were separated from them and had launched, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phenicia, we went aboard and set forth. 3 Now when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed into Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. And through the Spirit they said to Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and proceeded on our way. And they all conducted us with wives and children until we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. 6 And when we had taken our leave of one another, we went on board the ship and they returned home again.

7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, where we saluted the brothers and stayed with them one day. 8 And the next day, we who were of Paul’s company departed and came to Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied. 10 And as we remained there many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And when he had come to us, he took Paul’s girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'Thus the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this girdle and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" 12 And when we heard these things, both we and those of that place implored him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "May the will of the Lord be done."

15 And after those days, we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples of Caesarea also went with us and brought with them Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous of the law. 21 And they are informed concerning you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? It is necessary for the multitude to come together, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore, do what we say to you. We have four men who have a vow on them. 24 Take them, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them so that they may shave their heads. And all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 As concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, except only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from lewdness." 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them and entered into the temple, declaring the accomplishment of the days of purification until an offering should be offered for each of them.

27 And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews who were from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, "Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place. And further, he has also brought Greeks into the temple and has polluted this holy place"— 29 For they had seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, with him before in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. 30 And all the city was moved and the people ran together. And they took Paul and drew him out of the temple. And immediately the doors were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem was in an uproar, 32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the chief captain came near, took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains. Then he inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 And among the multitude some cried one thing, some another. And when he could not know the certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35 And when he came upon the stairs, it was so, that he was borne by the soldiers because of the violence of the people. 36 For the multitude of the people followed, crying, "Away with him."

37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, "May I speak to you?" He said, "Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not that Egyptian, who, before these days, made an uproar and led out into the wilderness four thousand men who were murderers?" 39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city, and I implore you to allow me to speak to the people." 40 And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when entire silence was made, he addressed them, speaking in the Hebrew language.

Chapter 22

Paul declares at large how he was converted to the faith, 1-16, and called to his apostleship, 17-21. At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people cry out against him, 22, 23. He would have been scourged, 24; but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes, 25-30.

1 "Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense which I now make to you"—

2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the more silence. He says,

3 "I am truly a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, being zealous toward God as you all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way even to death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 As also the high priest and all the estate of the elders can bear me testimony. From them I also received letters to the brothers and went to Damascus to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 "And it came to pass, that as I was passing on my journey and had come near to Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 8 And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.' 9 And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me. 10 And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise, go into Damascus, and there it shall be told to you concerning all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 "And one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 Came and stood by me and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And the same hour I looked up at him. 14 And he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you so that you should know his will, see that Just One, and hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For you shall be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

17 "And it came to pass, that when I had come to Jerusalem again, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance, 18 And saw him saying to me, 'Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' 19 And I said, 'Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting to his death and kept the clothing of those who slew him.' 21 And he said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'"

22 And they gave him audience to this word and then lifted up their voices, and said, "Away with such a man from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live." 23 And as they cried out, cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, 24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle and said that he should be examined by scourging so that he might know for what cause they cried like that against him. 25 And as they bound him with straps, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?" 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, "Take heed what you do, for this man is a Roman." 27 Then the chief captain came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes." 28 And the chief captain answered, "With a great sum I obtained this freedom." And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen." 29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him. And the chief captain also was afraid after he knew that he was a Roman and because he had bound him.

30 On the next day, because he would have known the certainty of why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear. Then he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Chapter 23

As Paul pleads his cause, 1, Ananias commands them to smite him, 2-6. Dissension among his accusers, 7-10. God encourages him, 11-13. The Jews' laying wait for Paul, 14-19, is declared to the chief captain, 20-26. He sends him to Felix the governor, 27-35.

1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, "Men, brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God shall smite you, you whited wall. For do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?" 4 And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God’s high priest?" 5 Then Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he is the high priest. For it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'"

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." 7 And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry. And the scribes who were of the Pharisees' part arose and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God." 10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing, lest Paul would have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the castle.

11 And the following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so you must bear testimony also at Rome."

12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than forty who had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore, you and the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down to you tomorrow as though you would inquire something more perfectly concerning him. And we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him."

16 And when the son of Paul’s sister heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain, for he has a certain thing to tell him." 18 So he took him and brought him to the chief captain, and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring to you this young man who has something to say to you." 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand and went with him aside privately, and asked him, "What is it that you have to tell me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to desire of you that you would bring Paul down tomorrow into the council as though they would inquire somewhat more perfectly concerning him. 21 But do not yield to them, for there are of those who lie in wait for him more than forty men who have bound themselves with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. And now they are ready, looking for a promise from you." 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, "See that you tell no man that you have revealed these things to me."

23 And he called two centurions to him, saying, "Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 And provide for them beasts that they may set Paul on and bring him safe to Felix the governor." 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26 "Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, sends greeting. 27 This man was taken by the Jews and would have been killed by them. But I came with a body of soldiers and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause for which they accused him, I brought him forth into their council, 29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death, or of bonds. 30 And when it was told to me that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent immediately to you and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they had against him. Farewell."

31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the next day, they left the horsemen to go with him and returned to the castle. 33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, they also presented Paul before him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia, 35 He said, "I will hear you when your accusers have also come." And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment-hall.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Exodus 22:28.LXX

Chapter 24

Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator, 1-9, answers for his life and doctrine, 10-23. He preaches Christ to the governor and his wife, 24, 25. The governor hopes for a bribe, but in vain, 26. At last, going out of his office, he leaves Paul in prison, 27.

1 And after five days, Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy great quietness and that very worthy deeds are done to this nation by your providence, 3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But so that I may not be further tedious to you, I pray you, that you, of your clemency, would hear us briefly, 5 For we have found this a pestilent man, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6 Who also tried to profane the temple, whom we took and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 Commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him, you yourself may take knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him." 9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

10 Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, "Because I know that you have been for many years a judge to this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, 11 So that you may understand that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man; neither exciting the people to sedition, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city; 13 Neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you: that after the way which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets, 15 And having hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And in this I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men. 17 Now after many years, I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 Upon which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult, 19 Who ought to have been here before you and object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else, let these same here say if they have found any evil-doing in me while I stood before the council, 21 Unless it is for this one voice that I cried standing among them: 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.'"

22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, "When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will know the uttermost of your matter." 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintances to minister or come to him.

24 And after some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, "Depart for this time. When I have a convenient season, I will call for you." 26 He hoped also that money would have been given to him by Paul so that he might release him. Therefore, he sent for him more often and communed with him. 27 But after two years, Porcius Festus came as successor to Felix. And Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Chapter 25

The Jews accuse Paul before Festus, 1-7. He answers for himself, 8-10, and appeals to Caesar, 11-13. Afterward Festus opens his matter to King Agrippa, 14-22; and he is brought forth, 23, 24. Festus clears him of having done anything worthy of death, 25-27.

1 Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews brought charges to him against Paul, and implored him, 3 And desired favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, lying in wait in the way to kill him. 4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart there shortly. 5 "Therefore," he said, "let those who among you are able go down with me and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him."

6 And when he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat on the judgment-seat and commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood around and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, 8 While he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar have I committed any offense." 9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, "Will you go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these things before me?" 10 Then Paul said, "I stand at Caesar’s tribunal where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is none of these things of which these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "Have you appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go."

13 And after some days, king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix, 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges to me, desiring to have judgment against him, 16 To whom I answered, 'It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die before he who is accused has met the accusers face to face and has license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.' 17 Therefore, when they had come here, I made no delay. And on the next day, I sat on the judgment-seat and commanded the man to be brought forth, 18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed, 19 But had some questions against him of their own superstition and of one, Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar." 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also wish to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."

23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and had entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city. And at the command of Festus, Paul was brought forth. 24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him, 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him forth before you, and specially before you, O king Agrippa, so that after examination has been made, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not also to signify the crimes laid against him."

Chapter 26

Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declares his life from his childhood, 1-11; and how miraculously he was converted and called to his apostleship, 12-23. Festus charges him with being mad, to which he answers modestly, 24-27. Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian, 28-30. The whole company pronounces him innocent, 31, 32.

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself.

2 "I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore, I implore you to hear me patiently.

4 "My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know, 5 Who knew me from the beginning (if they would testify), that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 To which promise our twelve tribes, assiduously serving God day and night, hope to come, for which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?

9 "I truly thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem. And many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

12 "Upon which, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things in which I will appear to you, 17 Delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you, 18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith that is in me.'

19 "Upon which, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 But declared first to those of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do works worthy of repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue to this day, testifying both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles."

24 And as he was thus speaking for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself. Excessive learning makes you insane." 25 But he said, "I am not insane, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knows of these things, before whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to be a Christian." 29 And Paul said, "I wish to God that not only you, but also all who hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds."

30 And when he had said this, the king rose, along with the governor, Bernice, and those who sat with them. 31 And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, "This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds." 32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Chapter 27

Paul sailing toward Rome, 1-9, foretells of the danger of the voyage, 10, but is not believed, 11-13. They are tossed to and fro by the tempest, 14-40; and suffer shipwreck, 41-43; yet all come safe to land 44.

1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. 3 And the next day, we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously treated Paul and gave him liberty to go to his friends to refresh himself. 4 And when we had launched from there, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Mira, a city of Lycia. 6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy and he put us therein. 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days and with difficulty had come over against Cnidus, the wind not allowing us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone, 8 And hardly passing it, came to a place which is called The Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea.

9 Now when much time was spent and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said to them, "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." 11 Nevertheless, the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship more than the things which were spoken by Paul. 12 And because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the greater part advised to depart from there also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice and winter there, which is a haven of Crete looking toward the southwest and northwest.

13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they raised the anchor and sailed close by Crete.

14 But not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under the sheltered side of a small island which is called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat. 17 And when they hoisted it up, they used ropes to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would fall into the quicksands, they struck sail and were thus driven. 18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 And on the third day, we cast out the tackling of the ship with our own hands. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21 But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me and not set sail from Crete and gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, 24 Saying, 'Do not fear, Paul. You must be brought before Caesar. And behold, God has given you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God that it will be even as it was told to me. 26 But we must be cast upon a certain island."

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they drew near to some country. 28 They sounded and found it twenty fathoms. And when they had gone a little further, they sounded again and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing, lest we should fall upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for the day. 30 And as the sailors were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea under color as though they would cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "This day is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore, I pray you to take some food, for this is for your health. For there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you." 35 And when he had said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in presence of them all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then they were all of good cheer and they also took food. 37 In all, we were two hundred and seventy-six souls on the ship. 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and cast the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they did not know the land. But they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into which they purposed, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, loosened the rudder ropes, hoisted the mainsail to the wind, and made toward the shore. 41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground. And the forepart stuck firmly and remained immovable, but the back part was broken with the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out and escape. 43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose and commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves first into the sea and get to land, 44 And the rest, some on boards and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safely to land.

Chapter 28

Paul, after his shipwreck, is kindly entertained by the barbarians, 1-2. The viper on his hand does not hurt him, 3-6. He heals many diseases on the island, 7-10. They depart toward Rome, 11-16. He declares to the Jews the cause of his coming, 17-23. After his preaching, some were persuaded and some did not believe, 24-29. He preaches there two years, 30, 31.

1 And when they had escaped, they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and received each of us, because of the present rain and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the animal hang on his hand, they said among themselves, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance does not allow to live." 5 And he shook off the animal into the fire and felt no harm. 6 Yet they looked when he would have swelled or fallen down dead suddenly. But after they had looked a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 In the neighborhood of that place were lands of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and lodged us three days courteously. 8 And it came to pass that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery, to whom Paul entered in, prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also who had diseases on the island came and were healed, 10 They also honored us with many honors, and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered on the island, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we stayed there three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and came to Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and were entreated to stay with them seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And from there when the brothers heard of us, they came to meet us as far as The Forum of Appii, and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself, with a soldier who kept him.

17 And it came to pass, that after three days, Paul called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were assembled, he said to them, "Men, brothers, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore I have called for you to see you and to speak with you. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain." 21 And they said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, neither have any of the brothers who came shown or spoken any harm of you. 22 But we desire to hear from you, what you think. For as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against."

23 And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him into his lodging. He expounded to them from morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken and some did not believe. 25 And when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke well by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 Saying,

'  Go to this people, and say, /

"Hearing you shall hear and shall not understand, /

and seeing you shall see and not perceive.

27 For the heart of this people has become callous, /

their ears are dull of hearing, /

and their eyes they have closed, /

lest they should see with their eyes, /

hear with their ears, /

understand with their heart, /

and be converted, /

and I should heal them."'

28 "May it be known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it." 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.

30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all who came to him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.26]: Isaiah 6:9.LXX [v.27]: Isaiah 6:10.LXX

PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Chapter 1

Paul commends his calling to the Romans, 1-8; and his desire to come to them, 9-15. What his gospel is, 16, 17. God is angry with sin, 18-20. What were the sins of the Gentiles, 21-32.

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, 2 Which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name, 6 Among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ.

7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 Making request (if by any means now at length I may have a prosperous journey by the will of God) to come to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established, 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that I have often purposed to come to you (but have been until now hindered) so that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in this the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. 21 For when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful, but they became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts, and creeping animals.

24 Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies among themselves, 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this cause, God gave them up to vile affections. For even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. 27 And likewise also, the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was proper.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not fitting, 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; 32 Who, knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Habakkuk 2:4.

Chapter 2

No excuse for sin, 1-5. No escape from judgment, 6-13. Gentiles cannot, 14-16; nor Jews, 17-29.

1 Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge. For wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who commit such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, who judges those who do such things and does the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your hardness and impenitent heart, you treasure up for yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 Who "will render to every man according to his deeds." 7 To those who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life, 8 But to those who are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, he will give indignation and wrath. 9 There will be tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile, 10 But glory, honor, and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law— 13 For the hearers of the law are not just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; 14 For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these not having the law are a law to themselves, 15 In that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing testimony and their thoughts between one another accusing, or else excusing one another— 16 On the day when God judges the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

17 But if you are named a Jew and rest in the law and make your boast in God, 18 And know his will and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babies, who have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law— 21 You therefore who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege? 23 You who make your boast in the law, through breaking the law, do you dishonor God? 24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

25 For circumcision truly profits if you keep the law, but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the law, shall his uncircumcision not be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, not judge you who by the letter and circumcision transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not from men, but from God.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Psalm 62:12.LXX See also, Proverbs 24:12. [v.24]: Isaiah 52:5.LXX

Chapter 3

The Jews' prerogative, 1, 2; which they have not lost, 3-8; however the law convinces them also of sin, 9-19; therefore no flesh is justified by the law, 20-27; but all, without difference, are justified by faith only, 28-30; and yet the law is not abolished, 31.

1 What advantage then does the Jew have? Or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. Chiefly, because to them the oracles of God were committed. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 By no means. Truly let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written,

"  That you may be justified in your sayings /

and may overcome when you are judged."

5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.) 6 By no means. For then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has more abounded through my lie to his glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 Why not rather say (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil so that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.

9 What then? Are we better than they are? No, in no way. For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin, 10 As it is written,

"  There is no one righteous, not even one.

11 There is no one who understands. /

There is no one who seeks God.

12 They have all gone out of the way. /

They have together become unprofitable. /

There is no one who does good, not even one."

13 "Their throat is an open sepulcher. /

With their tongues they have used deceit." /

"The poison of asps is under their lips,"

14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."

15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.

17 And the way of peace they have not known."

18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it says to those who are under the law so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified in his sight, for by the law comes the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being testified by the law and the prophets, 22 Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ to all and upon all those who believe, for there is no difference. 23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, 25 Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God, 26 To declare at this time his righteousness, so that he may be just and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 Seeing that it is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make the law void through faith? By no means. But we establish the law.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.4]: Psalm 51:4.LXX [v.10]: Psalm 53:1. See also, Psalm 14:1. [v.11]: Psalm 53:2.(paraphrased) [v.12]: Psalm 53:3. [v.13]: Psalm 5:9,LXX 140:3.LXX [v.14]: Psalm 10:7.LXX [v.15]: Isaiah 59:7.LXX [v.16]: Isaiah 59:7.LXX [v.17]: Isaiah 59:8.LXX (paraphrased) [v.18]: Psalm 36:1.LXX [v.10-18]: Most likely Psalm 14(13):1-3 from LXX.

Chapter 4

Abraham’s faith was imputed to him for righteousness, 1-9; before he was circumcised, 10-12. By faith only he and his offspring received the promise, 13-15. Abraham is the father of all who believe, 16-23. Our faith also shall be imputed to us for righteousness, 24, 25.

1 What shall we then say that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to glory about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness without works, 7 Saying,

"  Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven /

and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was "reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." 10 How then was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had while still uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, so that righteousness might be imputed to them also; 12 And the father of circumcision to those who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had while still uncircumcised.

13 For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his offspring through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 Because the law works wrath, for where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, it is of faith so that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (As it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations"), before him whom he believed, even God, who revives the dead and calls those things which are not as though they were, 18 Who, against hope, believed with hope that he should become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: "Thus shall your offspring be." 19 And not having been weak in faith, he did not consider his own body now dead when he was about one hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 And being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was also able to perform. 22 And therefore, it was "imputed to him for righteousness." 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 But for us also, to whom it will be imputed, if we believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 Who was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Genesis 15:6.LXX [v.7]: Psalm 32:1.LXX [v.8]: Psalm 32:2.LXX [v.9]: Genesis 15:6.LXX (paraphrased) [v.17]: Genesis 17:5.LXX [v.18]: Genesis 15:5.LXX [v.22]: Genesis 15:6.LXX

Chapter 5

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, 1; and joy in our hope, 2-7; that since we were reconciled by his blood when we were enemies, 8, 9; we shall much more be saved, being reconciled, 10, 11. As sin and death came by Adam, 12-16; so much more righteousness and life by Jesus Christ, 17-19. Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 20, 21.

1 Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation works patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope. 5 And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world by one man, and death by sin, so also death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world. But sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if through the offense of one many are dead, much more have the grace of God and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not as through one who sinned. For the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification. 17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, so also by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one many shall be made righteous. 20 Moreover, the law entered so that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 So that as sin has reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chapter 6

We may not live in sin, 1; for we are dead to it, 2; as appears by our baptism, 3-11. Do not let sin reign anymore, 12-17; because we have yielded ourselves to the service of righteousness, 18-22; and for that, death is the wages of sin, 23.

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? 2 By no means. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Do you not know, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection, 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him so that the body of sin may be destroyed, so that from now on we should not serve sin. 7 For he who is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, 9 Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died to sin once, but in that he lives, he lives to God. 11 Likewise, reckon yourselves also to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Do not let sin therefore reign in your mortal body so that you obey it in its lusts. 13 Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? By no means. 16 Do you not know, that to the one you yield yourselves as slaves in obedience, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that though you were the slaves of sin, you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine into which you were delivered. 18 Being then made free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members slaves to uncleanness and to iniquity to [work] iniquity, even so now yield your members slaves to righteousness, which leads to holiness.

20 For when you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit that leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chapter 7

No law has power over a man longer than he lives, 1-3. But we are dead to the law, 4-6. Yet the law is not sin, 7-11; but holy, just, and good, 12-15; as Paul acknowledges, who is grieved because he cannot keep it, 16-25.

1 Do you not know, brothers (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives. But if the husband is dead, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then, if while her husband lives she is married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress. But if her husband is dead, she is free from that law so that she is not an adulteress if she is married to another man.

4 Therefore, my brothers, you have also become dead to the law by the body of Christ so that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, so that we should bring forth fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, having died to that by which we were held, so that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? By no means. No, I had not known sin, but by the law. For I would not have known lust if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once. But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment which was ordained to life I found to be to death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me and by it slew me. 12 Therefore, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, just, and good.

13 Then was that which is good made death to me? By no means. But sin, so that it might be shown to be sin, wrought death in me by that which is good, so that sin, by the commandment, might become exceedingly sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do, I do not allow. For what I wish to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. 16 If then I do that which I do not wish to do, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) no good thing dwells. For desire is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I do not find. 19 For the good that I wish to do, I do not do. But the evil which I do not wish to do, I do. 20 Now if I do that which I do not wish to do, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that when I wish to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.7]: Exodus 20:17.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:21.

Chapter 8

Those who are in Christ are free from condemnation, 1-4. What harm comes of the flesh, 5-12; and what good of the Spirit, 13-18. The glorious deliverance all things long for, 19-28, was beforehand decreed from God, 29-37. Nothing can sever us from his love, 38, 39.

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, 4 So that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also revive your mortal bodies by his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die, but if you, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God, 17 And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ—if we suffer with him, so that we may be glorified together.

18 For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption, namely, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, then with patience we wait for it.

26 Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son so that he might be the first-born among many brothers. 30 Moreover, those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who will lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, or rather who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,

"  For your sake we are killed all the day long. /

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

37 But in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, 39 Height, depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.36]: Psalm 44:22.LXX

Chapter 9

Paul is sorry for the Jews, 1-5. The promise to Abraham did not include all his descendants, 6-13. God’s sovereignty, 14-24. The calling of the Gentiles and rejecting of the Jews foretold, 25-31. The cause of the Jews' stumbling, 32, 33.

1 I say the truth in Christ. I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me testimony in the Holy Spirit, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises, 5 Whose are the fathers, and from whom according to the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

6 It is not as though the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are descendants from Israel, 7 Neither because they are the offspring of Abraham are they all children, but, "In Isaac your offspring shall be called." 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." 10 And not only this, but when Rebekah also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac 11 (For the children not yet being born, neither having done any good or evil, so that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls), 12 It was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? By no means. 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." 16 So then, it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose I have raised you up so that I might show my power in you and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth." 18 Therefore, he has mercy on whom he wills to have mercy, and whom he wills he hardens.

19 You will say then to me, "Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?" 20 But rather, O man, who are you who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me this way?" 21 Does the potter not have power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor? 22 What if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, 23 So that he might make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared for glory, 24 Even us whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he also says in Hosea,

"  I will call them, 'My people,' who were not my people, /

and her, 'Beloved,' who was not beloved."

26 "And it shall come to pass, /

that in the place where it was said to them, /

'You are not my people,' /

there they shall be called, /

'The children of the living God.'"

27 Isaiah also cries concerning Israel:

"  Though the number of the children of Israel is as the sand of the sea, /

a remnant shall be saved.

28 For he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, /

because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth."

29 And as Isaiah said before,

"  Unless the Lord of Sabaoth /

had left us offspring, /

we would have become like Sodom, /

and we would have been made like Gomorrah."

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith, 31 But Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as if it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone, 33 As it is written,

"  Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone and rock of offense, /

and whoever believes in him shall not be ashamed."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.7]: Genesis 21:12.LXX [v.9]: Genesis 18:10. [v.12]: Genesis 25:23.LXX [v.13]: Malachi 1:2-3.LXX [v.15]: Exodus 33:19.LXX [v.17]: Exodus 9:16. [v.25]: Hosea 2:23. [v.26]: Hosea 1:10.LXX [v.27]: Isaiah 10:22.LXX [v.28]: Isaiah 10:23.LXX [v.29]: Isaiah 1:9.LXX [v.33]: Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16.

Chapter 10

The Scripture shows the difference between the righteousness of the law and that of faith, 1-10; and that all who believe, both Jew and Gentile, shall not be confounded, 11-17; and that the Gentiles shall receive the word and believe, 18. Israel was not ignorant of these things, 19-21.

1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them testimony that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses describes the righteousness which is by the law: "The man who does these things shall live by them." 6 But the righteousness which is by faith speaks in this way: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who shall ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 Or, 'Who shall descend into the deep?' (that is, to bring Christ back from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes to righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him shall not be ashamed." 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. For the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon him, 13 For "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!"

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, "Have they not heard?" Yes truly,

"  their sound went into all the earth /

and their words to the ends of the world."

19 But I say, "Did Israel not know?" First, Moses says,

"  I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are no people, /

and by a foolish nation I will anger you."

20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says,

"  I was found by those who did not seek me. /

I was made manifest to those who did not ask for me."

21 But to Israel he says,

"  All day long I have stretched forth my hands /

to a disobedient and gainsaying people."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Leviticus 18:5.LXX [v.6]: Deuteronomy 30:12.LXX [v.7]: Deuteronomy 30:13 (paraphrased). [v.8]: Deuteronomy 30:14.LXX [v.11]: Isaiah 28:16. [v.13]: Joel 2:32.LXX [v.15]: Isaiah 52:7. [v.16]: Isaiah 53:1.LXX [v.18]: Psalm 19:4.LXX [v.19]: Deuteronomy 32:21.LXX (paraphrased) [v.20]: Isaiah 65:1.LXX [v.21]: Isaiah 65:2.LXX

Chapter 11

God has not cast off all Israel, 1-6. Some were elected, though the rest were hardened, 7-15. There is hope of their conversion, 16, 17. The Gentiles may not boast over them, 18-25; for there is a promise of their salvation, 26-32. God’s judgments are unsearchable, 33-36.

1 I say then, has God cast away his people? By no means. For I also am an Israelite, of the offspring of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 "God has not cast away his people" which he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he makes intercession to God against Israel? 3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets and dug down your altars. I am left alone. And they seek my life." 4 But what is the answer from God to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if it is by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise, work is no longer work.

7 What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for, but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 According as it is written,

"  God has given them the spirit of slumber," /

"eyes so that they should not see /

and ears so that they should not hear to this day."

9 And David says,

"  Let their table be made a snare, a trap, /

a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them.

10 Let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, /

and bow down their back always."

11 I say then, have they stumbled so that they should fall? By no means. But rather through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if their fall is the riches of the world and their diminishing is the riches of the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness be? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles. Since I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office, 14 If by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciling of the world, what shall their receiving be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches are broken off, and you, being a wild olive-tree, are implanted among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive-tree, 18 Do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, [remember]: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you. 19 You will say then, "The branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 Right. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, take heed lest he also not spare you. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity, but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness. Otherwise, you also shall be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not still abide in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature and were grafted in contrary to nature into a good olive-tree, how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

25 For I do not wish, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (lest you should be wise in your own conceits), that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written,

"  The Deliverer will come out of Zion, /

and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

27 And this is my covenant to them," /

"when I take away their sins."

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but as concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as you in times past have not believed God, but have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, 31 Even so these have also now not believed so that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has enclosed them all in unbelief so that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments are and his ways past finding out!

34 For "who has known the mind of the Lord? /

Or who has been his counselor?"

35 Or "who has first given to him, /

and it shall be recompensed to him again?"

36 For from him, by him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Psalm 94:14.LXX [v.3]: 1st Kings 19:10. [v.4]: 1st Kings 19:18. [v.8]: Quoting Deuteronomy 29:4 and Isaiah 29:10. See also, Isaiah 6:9. [v.9]: Psalm 69:22.LXX (paraphrased) [v.10]: Psalm 69:23.LXX [v.26]: Isaiah 59:20.LXX (paraphrased) [v.27]: Isaiah 59:21;LXX Jeremiah 31:34. [v.34]: Isaiah 40:13.LXX [v.35]: Job 41:11.

Chapter 12

God’s mercies must move us to please God, 1, 2. No man must think too well of himself, 3-5; but everyone attend on that calling wherein he is placed, 6-8. Love and many other duties are required of us, 9-18. Revenge is especially forbidden, 19-21.

1 I implore you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

3 For through the grace given to me, I say to every man who is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same office, 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and each members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he who teaches, on teaching; 8 Or he who exhorts, on exhortation; he who gives, let him do it with simplicity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil. Cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another. 11 Do not be slothful in diligence. Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, continue steadfastly in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and pursue hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless, and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not mind high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Do not be wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine and I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore, "if your enemy hungers, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him drink, for in doing so you shall heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.19]: Deuteronomy 32:35. [v.20]: Proverbs 25:21-22.LXX

Chapter 13

Subjection and many other duties we owe to the magistrates, 1-7. Love is the fulfilling of the law, 8-10. Gluttony and drunkenness, and the works of darkness, are out of season in the time of the Gospel, 11-14.

1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for there is no power but from God. The powers that exist are ordained by God. 2 Whoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist shall receive for themselves condemnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good and you shall have praise from the same, 4 For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him who does evil. 5 Therefore, it is necessary for you to be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay tribute, for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not kill," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love works no ill to one’s neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 And this, knowing the time, that it is already time to awaken from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, and not in strife and envying. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not make provision for the lusts of flesh.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.9]: Exodus 20:13-17;LXX Leviticus 19:18.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:17-21.

Chapter 14

Men may not despise nor condemn one another for things indifferent, 1-12; but take heed that they give no offense in them, 13, 14; which the apostle proves unlawful by many reasons, 15-23.

1 Receive him who is weak in the faith, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believes that he may eat all things, but another who is weak eats herbs. 3 Do not let him who eats despise him who does not eat, and do not let him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has received him. 4 Who are you who judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he shall be held up, for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteems one day above another, but another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He who regards the day, regards it to the Lord, and he who does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For not one of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ both died, rose, and revived, so that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living.

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. 11 For it is written,

"'As I live,' says the Lord, '  every knee shall bow to me /

and every tongue shall confess to God.'"

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

13 Let us therefore not judge one another anymore. But rather judge this: that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. 14 I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean by itself. But to him who esteems anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if your brother is grieved with your food, now you do not walk charitably. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore, do not let your good be evil spoken of, 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things with which one may edify another. 20 For the sake of food, do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. 21 It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in that thing which he allows. 23 And he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat from faith, for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.11]: Isaiah 45:23.LXX (paraphrased—Isaiah 45:24)

Chapter 15

The strong must bear with the weak, 1. We may not please ourselves, 2; for Christ did not do so, 3-6; but receive one another, as Christ did us all, 7; both Jews and Gentiles, 8-14; Paul excuses his writing, 15-27; and promises to see them, 28, 29; and requests their prayers, 30-33.

1 We then who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." 4 For whatever things were written formerly were written for our learning so that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 So that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Therefore, receive one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written,

"  For this cause I will confess to you among the Gentiles /

and sing to your name."

10 And again he says,

"  Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."

11 And again,

"  Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. /

Praise him, all you people."

12 And again Isaiah says,

"  There shall be a root of Jesse, /

and he who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles. /

In him the Gentiles shall trust."

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 And I myself also am persuaded concerning you, my brothers, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brothers, I have written the more boldly to you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me from God, 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore, I have cause for glorying through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and around to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation, 21 But as it is written,

"  They to whom he was not spoken of shall see, /

and those who have not heard shall understand."

22 For which cause I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more place in these parts and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 Whenever I take my journey into Spain I will come to you. For I trust to see you on my journey and to be brought on my way there by you, if first I may in some measure enjoy your company. 25 But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27 It has pleased them truly, and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30 Now I implore you, brothers, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 So that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 So that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed with you. 33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Psalm 69:9.LXX [v.9]: Psalm 18:49.LXX See also, 2nd Samuel 22:50. [v.10]: Deuteronomy 32:43.LXX [v.11]: Psalm 117:1.LXX [v.12]: Isaiah 11:10.LXX [v.21]: Isaiah 52:15.LXX

Chapter 16

Paul desires the brothers to greet many, 1-16; and advises them to take heed of those who cause dissension and offenses, 17-20; and after various salutations ends with praise and thanks to God, 21-27.

1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, 2 That you receive her in the Lord, as it is worthy for saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus, 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise, greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. 7 Salute Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Salute Apelles, approved in Christ. Salute those who are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

17 Now I implore you, brothers, mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has come abroad to all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf. But I wish you to be wise as to what is good, but innocent concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will soon bruise Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

21 Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen salute you.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, my host and also of the whole church, salutes you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and also Quartus, a brother. 24 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith— 27 To the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

Chapter 1

After his salutation and thanksgiving, 1-9, Paul exhorts them to unity, 10, 11, and reproves their dissensions, 12-17. God destroys the wisdom of the wise, 18-20, by the foolishness of preaching, 21-25; and does not call the wise, mighty, and noble, 26, 27, but the foolish, weak, and men of no account, 28-31.

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both theirs and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ, 5 That in everything you are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all knowledge, 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 So that you are not lacking in any gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 Who will also confirm you to the end so that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I implore you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," "I of Apollos," "I of Cephas," and, "I of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 And I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides them, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ has not sent me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish. But to us who are saved, it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

"  I will destroy the wisdom of the wise /

and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has God not made the wisdom of this world foolish? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, 28 And God has chosen the base things of the world, the things which are despised, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 So that no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who, from God, is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 So that, according as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.19]: Isaiah 29:14.LXX [v.31]: Jeremiah 9:24 (paraphrased).

Chapter 2

Paul declares that his preaching, though it is not with excellency of speech, or of human wisdom, yet consists in the power of God, 1-5; and so far excels the wisdom of this world and human sense that the natural man cannot understand it, 6-16.

1 And when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to not know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 So that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 However, we do speak wisdom among those who are mature, but not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, which are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages to our glory, 8 Which none of the princes of this age knew. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written,

"'  Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,' /

neither have entered into the heart of man, /

'the things which God has prepared for those who love him.'"

10 But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the things of God no man knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God, 13 Which things we also speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no man. 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord so that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.9]: Isaiah 64:4 (paraphrased). [v.16]: Isaiah 40:13.LXX

Chapter 3

Milk is fit for children, 1, 2. Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind, 3-6. He who plants and he who waters are nothing, 7, 8. The ministers are God’s fellow workers, 9, 10. Christ is the only foundation, 11-15. Men are the temples of God, which must be kept holy, 16-18. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, 19-23.

1 And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babies in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk and not with solid food. For until now you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able, 3 Because you are yet carnal. For whereas there is among you envying, strife, and divisions, are you not carnal and walk as men? 4 For while one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but God has given the increase. 7 So then, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God. You are God’s farming. You are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given to me, I have laid the foundation like a wise master-builder, and another builds upon it. But let every man take heed how he builds upon it. 11 For no man can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds upon this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, 13 Every man’s work will be made manifest. For the day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will try every man’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abides which he has built upon it, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, but in the manner as by fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness," 20 And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." 21 Therefore, let no man glory in men. For all things are yours, 22 Whether Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things present, or things to come. All are yours, 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.19]: Job 5:13. [v.20]: Psalm 94:11.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 4

Judgments, human and Divine, respecting ministers, 1-5. Contrast between the inflated self sufficiency of the Corinthians and the earthly humiliation of the apostles, 6-13. The practical steps which Paul intends to take with reference to these party divisions, 14-21.

1 Let a man account of us in this way: as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Indeed, I do not judge my own self. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not hereby justified. But he who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then every man shall have praise from God.

6 And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes so that you may learn in us not to think of men above that which is written. This is so that none of you on account of one may be puffed up against another. 7 For who makes you to differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you received it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?

8 Now you are full. Now you are rich. You have reigned as kings without us. And I wish you reigned so that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God has set forth us, the apostles, last, like men appointed to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. 11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place, 12 And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we suffer it. 13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though you have ten thousand school-masters in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore, I implore you, be followers of me. 17 For this cause I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who will bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and will know, not the speech of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in the spirit of meekness?

Chapter 5

The incestuous person, 1-5, is cause rather of shame to them than of rejoicing, 6. The old leaven is to be purged out, 7-9. Heinous offenders are to be shamed and avoided, 10-13.

1 It is reported commonly that there is lewdness among you, and such lewdness as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And you are puffed up and have not rather mourned so that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I truly, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged concerning him who has thus done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are assembled with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore, cleanse out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I have written to you in this epistle not to associate with persons guilty of lewdness— 10 Yet not altogether with lewd persons of this world, or with the covetous, extortioners, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man who is called a brother is a lewd person, covetous, an idolater, a railer, a drunkard, or an extortioner. Do not even eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do to judge those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. "Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.13]: Deuteronomy 17:7.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 13:5.

Chapter 6

The Corinthians must not vex their brothers in going to law with them, 1-5; especially under unbelievers, 6-8. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 9-14. Our bodies are the members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit; therefore, they must not be defiled, 15-20.

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? Not even one who will be able to judge between his brothers? 6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers.

7 Now therefore, there is utterly a fault among you because you go to law with one another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather allow yourselves to be defrauded? 8 But you do wrong and defraud, and that to your brothers.

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

12 "All things are lawful to me," but all things are not expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 "Foods for the belly and the belly for foods," but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for lewdness, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God has both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his own power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? By no means. 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? For he says, "The two shall be one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee lewdness. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits lewdness sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.16]: Genesis 2:24.LXX

Chapter 7

Paul discusses marriage, 1-3; showing it to be a remedy against fornication, 4-9, and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved, 10-19. Every man must be content with his vocation, 20-24. Virginity therefore to be embraced, 25-34; and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying, 35-40.

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid lewdness, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4 The wife does not have power of her own body, but the husband does, and likewise also, the husband does not have power of his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except with consent for a time, so that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. And come together again so that Satan may not tempt you for your incontinence. 6 But I speak this by permission and not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were as I myself. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner and another after that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I am. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 And to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, do not let the wife depart from her husband. 11 But if she departs, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and do not let the husband put away his wife.

12 But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, if any brother has a wife who does not believe and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And if a woman has a husband who does not believe and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O man, whether you shall save your wife?

17 But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And thus I ordain in all churches. 18 Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? Let him not become circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God, [that is something]. 20 Let every man continue in the same calling in which he was called.

21 Are you called being a servant? Do not care for it, but if you may be made free, use it rather. 22 For he who is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s free-man. Likewise also, he who is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 You are bought with a price. Do not be the servants of men. 24 Brothers, let every man in the state in which he is called continue in it with God.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. Yet I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man to be so. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, such will have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you. 29 But I say this, brothers, the time is short, so that from now on, those who have wives may be as though they had none, 30 And those who weep as though they did not weep, and those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, and those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 And those who use this world as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passes away.

32 But I wish to have you without anxious care. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married is anxious for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is anxious for the things of the Lord so that she may be holy, both in body and in spirit. But she who is married is anxious for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is proper and so that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks that he behaves himself improperly toward his virgin, if she has passed the flower of her age, and need so requires, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37 Nevertheless, he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will and has thus decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives. But if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains so, according to my judgment—and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Chapter 8

To abstain from foods offered to idols, 1-7. We must not abuse our Christian liberty to the offense of our brothers, 8-10; but must bridle our knowledge with charity, 11-13.

1 Now as concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. 2 And if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man loves God, the same is known by him.

4 Therefore, as concerning the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no other God but one. 5 For though there are things that are called gods, whether in heaven or upon earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 Yet to us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 But that knowledge is not in every man. For some, with consciousness of the idol to this hour, eat it as a thing offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God. For neither are we the better if we eat, neither are we the worse if we do not eat. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours should become a stumbling-block to those who are weak. 10 For if any man sees you, who have knowledge, eating in the idol’s temple, will the conscience of him who is weak not be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? 11 And through your knowledge, shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother to fall into sin, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to fall into sin.

Chapter 9

Paul shows his liberty, 1-6; and that the minister ought to live by the Gospel, 7-14; yet that he has of his own accord abstained, 15-17, to be either chargeable to them, 18-21, or offensive to any, in matters indifferent, 22, 23. Our life is compared to a race, 24-27.

1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My answer to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we not have power to eat and to drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, do we not have the right to forbear working? 7 Who goes to warfare at any time at his own charges? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as a man? Or does the law not say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the grain." Is it for the oxen that God cares, 10 Or does he say this altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt this is written, so that he who plows should plow in hope, and that he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things? 12 If others are partakers of this power over you, are we not rather? Nevertheless, we have not used this power, but bear all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister about holy things live from the things of the temple, and those who wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Likewise also, the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things, neither have I written these things, so that it should be thus done to me. For it would be better for me to die than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me. And woe is to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward, but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me. 18 What is my reward then? Truly that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my power in the gospel.

19 For though I am free from all men, yet I have made myself servant to all so that I might gain the more. 20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew so that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, so that I might gain those who are under the law; 21 To those who are without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but under the law to Christ), so that I might gain those who are without law; 22 To the weak I became as weak so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men so that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake so that I may be partaker of it with you.

24 Do you not know, that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Likewise run so that you may obtain. 25 And every man who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore run in that way, not as uncertainly. I fight in that way, not as one who beats the air. 27 But I buffet my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.9]: Deuteronomy 25:4.LXX

Chapter 10

The sacraments of the Jews are types of ours, 1-6; and their punishments, 7-10, examples for us, 11-13. We must flee from idolatry, 14-20. We must not make the Lord’s table the table of devils, 21-23; and in things indifferent we must have regard for our brothers, 24-33.

1 Moreover, brothers, I do not wish that you should be ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2 And were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 And all ate the same spiritual food, 4 And all drank the same spiritual drink (for they drank of that spiritual Rock which followed them, and that Rock was Christ). 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased, "for they were overthrown in the wilderness."

6 Now these things were our examples so that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted, 7 Neither be idolaters as some of them were, as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." 8 Neither let us commit lewdness as some of them committed, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them also tested and were destroyed by serpents. 10 Let us not murmur as some of them also murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them for examples. And they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall. 13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape so that you may be able to bear it.

14 Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are those who eat of the sacrifices not partakers of the altar? 19 What then do I say? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, "they sacrifice to demons and not to God," and I do not wish that you should have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is?

23 "All things are lawful for me," but all things are not expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but all things do not edify. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. 25 Whatever is sold in the provision market, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake. 26 For "the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness." 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to a feast and you are disposed to go, whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question on account of conscience. 28 But if any man says to you, "This is offered in sacrifice to idols," do not eat for his sake who showed it and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord’s, and its fullness." 29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 For if I by grace am a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, neither to the Jews, to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God, 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they may be saved.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Numbers 14:16.LXX [v.7]: Exodus 32:6.LXX [v.20]: Deuteronomy 32:17.LXX [v.26]: Psalm 24:1.LXX [v.28]: Psalm 24:1.LXX

Chapter 11

Paul reproves them, because in holy assemblies, 1-3, their men prayed with their heads covered, 4, 5, and women with their heads uncovered, 6-16; and because generally their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse, 17-20; as, namely, in profaning with their own feasts the Lord’s supper, 21-24. Lastly, he calls them to the first institution thereof, 25-34.

1 Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you. 3 But I wish to have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is even one and the same as if she were shaved. 6 For if the woman is not covered, let her also be shorn, but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not from the woman, but the woman from the man, 9 Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause, the woman ought to have power on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is from the man, even so is the man also by the woman, but all things from God. 13 Judge for yourselves. Is it proper that a woman should pray to God uncovered? 14 Does even nature itself not teach you, that if a man has long hair, it is a shame to him? 15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

17 Now in this that I declare to you I do not praise you, that you do not come together for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. 19 For there must also be sects among you so that those who are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When therefore you come together in one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes before another his own supper. And one is hungry and another is drunken. 22 What? Do you not have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who do not have? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

23 For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. 24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 After the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and in this manner let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord so that we should not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 And if any man hungers, let him eat at home so that you do not come together to condemnation. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Chapter 12

Spiritual gifts, 1-3, are diverse, 4-6, yet given to every man for profit, 7. And to that end are diversely bestowed, 8-11; so that by similar proportion, as the members of a natural body tend all to the mutual decency, 12-21, service, 22-25, and support of the same body, 26; we should also do for one another, to make up the body of Christ, 27-31.

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I wish to not have you ignorant. 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these mute idols, even as you were led. 3 Therefore, I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for profit. 8 For by the Spirit the word of wisdom is given to one; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, diverse kinds of languages; to another, the interpretation of languages. 11 But the one and the same Spirit works all these, dividing to every man separately as he wills.

12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set each of the members in the body as it has pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 Contrarily, much rather those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary, 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty, 24 But our presentable parts have no need. But God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked, 25 So that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And thus if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or, if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular. 28 And God has set some in the church: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities of languages. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have the gifts of healing? Do all speak in languages? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly covet the best gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.

Chapter 13

All gifts, 1, 2, however excellent, are worth nothing without charity, 3. The praises thereof, 4-12, and preferment before hope and faith, 13.

1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but do not have charity, I have become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but do not have charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have charity, it profits me nothing.

4 Charity is patient and is kind. Charity does not envy. Charity does not vaunt itself, is not puffed up, 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, 6 Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Charity never fails. But if there are prophecies, they shall fail. If there are languages, they shall cease. If there is knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, and I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know even as I am also known. 13 But now faith, hope, and charity endure—these three. But the greatest of these is charity.

Chapter 14

Prophecy is commended, 1, and preferred before speaking with languages, 2-5, by a comparison drawn from musical instruments, 6-11. Both must be referred to edification, 12-21, as to their true and proper end, 22-25. The gifts of both languages and prophecy are directed in their use, 26-33. Women are forbidden to speak in the church, 34-40.

1 Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but so much the more that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in an unknown language does not speak to men, but to God, for no man understands him. Yet in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation, and comfort. 4 He who speaks in an unknown language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish that you all spoke in languages, but more so that you prophesied. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in languages, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in languages, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even lifeless things giving sound, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you will speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and not one of them is without signification. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him who speaks a barbarian, and he who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12 Even so you, because you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek so that you may excel to the edifying of the church.

13 Therefore, let him who speaks in an unknown language pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Or else, when you bless with the spirit, how shall he who occupies the room of the unlearned say, "Amen," at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say? 17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God that I speak in languages more than you all. 19 Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, so that by my voice I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

20 Brothers, do not be children in understanding. Yet in malice be children, but in understanding be mature. 21 In the law it is written, "With men of other languages and other lips I will speak to this people, and yet for all that they will not hear me," says the Lord. 22 Therefore, languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who do not believe; however, prophesying does not serve for those who do not believe, but for those who believe. 23 If therefore the whole church is assembled in one place and all speak in languages, and there come in those who are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are insane? 24 But if all prophesy, and one who does not believe, or one unlearned comes in, he is convinced by all and he is judged by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is in you in truth.

26 What is it then, brothers? When you are assembled, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a language, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If any man speaks in an unknown language, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the church and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For you may all prophesy one by one so that all may learn and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34 Let your women be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law. 35 And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36 What? Did the word of God come out from you? Or did it come to you only?

37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Therefore, brothers, covet to prophesy and do not forbid to speak in languages. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.21]: Isaiah 28:11-12.

Chapter 15

By Christ’s resurrection, 1-11, Paul proves the necessity of our resurrection against all those who deny the resurrection of the body, 12-20. The fruit, 21-34, and the manner thereof, 35-50; and of the changing of those who shall be found alive at the last day, 51-58.

1 Moreover, brothers, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received and in which you stand, 2 By which you are also saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 And that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 And last of all, he was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain. But I labored more abundantly than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, that is what we preach and that is what you believed.

12 Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. 15 And indeed we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified concerning God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise, if in truth the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain. You are yet in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead and has become the first-fruits of those who slept. 21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward, those who are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then the end comes when he has delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he has put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For "he has put all things under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put under him," it is manifest that he is excepted who put all things under him. 28 And when all things are subdued to him, then the Son himself shall also be subject to him who put all things under him so that God may be all in all.

29 Or else, what will those do who are baptized for the dead if the dead do not rise at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the rejoicing in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33 Do not be deceived. "Evil communications corrupt good manners." 34 Awake to righteousness and do not sin, for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

35 But some man will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what body do they come?" 36 You fool, that which you sow is not vivified unless it dies. 37 And that which you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but bare grain—it may be of wheat, or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as it has pleased him, and to every seed its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for one star differs from another star in glory.

42 Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man, Adam, was made a living soul." The last Adam was made a vivifying spirit. 46 However, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward, that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are those also who are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such are those also who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, the saying that is written shall be brought to pass:

"  Death is swallowed up in victory."

55 "O death, where is your sting? /

O grave, where is your victory?"

56 The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.27]: Psalm 8:6. [v.32]: Isaiah 22:13.LXX [v.45]: Genesis 2:7.LXX (paraphrased) [v.54]: Isaiah 25:8. [v.55]: Hosea 13:14.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 16

Paul exhorts them to relieve the lack of the brothers at Jerusalem, 1-9. Commends Timothy, 10-12; and after friendly admonitions, 13-15, concludes his epistle with various salutations, 16-24.

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, you are to do likewise. 2 Upon the first day of the week, let each of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him so that there are no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send them to bring your liberality to Jerusalem. 4 And if it is proper that I should also go, they shall go with me.

5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia, for I am to pass through Macedonia. 6 And it may be that I shall abide and even winter with you so that you may bring me on my journey wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you merely in passing, but I trust to remain a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I shall remain at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 For a great and effectual door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear, for he works the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Let no man therefore despise him. But conduct him forth in peace so that he may come to me, for I expect him with the brothers.

12 As concerning our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come to you with the brothers, but his will was not at all to come at this time. But he will come when he has convenient time.

13 Watch, stand firm in the faith, acquit yourselves like men, and be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity.

15 I implore you, brothers—you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints— 16 That you submit yourselves to such as these and to everyone who helps with us and labors. 17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for that which was lacking on your part, they have supplied, 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, acknowledge those who are such.

19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, along with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand. 22 If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maran-atha. 23 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 May my love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

Chapter 1

Paul salutes the Corinthians, 1, 2; he encourages them against troubles by the comforts and deliverances which God had given him, as in all his afflictions, 3-7, so particularly in his late danger in Asia, 8-11. And calling both his own conscience and theirs to witness of his sincere manner of preaching the immutable truth of the gospel, 12-14, he excuses his not coming to them as proceeding not of lightness, but of his kindness toward them, 15-24.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

2 May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ. 6 And whether we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer, or whether we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so you shall also be of the consolation.

8 For we do not wish, brothers, to have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 10 Who delivered us from so great a death and will deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us, 11 You also helping together by prayer for us, so that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

12 For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our manner of life in the world, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we write no other things to you than what you read or acknowledge. And I trust you will acknowledge even to the end, 14 As also you have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I purposed to come to you before so that you might have a second benefit, 16 And to pass by you into Macedonia and to come back from Macedonia to you, and by you to be brought on my way toward Judea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use levity? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh so that with me there should be, "Yes, yes," and, "No, no"? 18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not "yes" and "no." 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "yes" and "no," but in him was "yes." 20 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes;" therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God by us. 21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 Who has also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

23 Moreover, I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I have not as yet come to Corinth. 24 It is not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy, for by faith you stand.

Chapter 2

Having shown the reason why he did not come to them, 1-5, Paul requires them to forgive and to comfort that excommunicated person, 6-9, even as he also upon his true repentance had forgiven him, 10, 11; declaring in addition why he departed from Troas to Macedonia, 12, 13, and the happy success which God gave to his preaching in all places, 14-17.

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come back to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then who makes me glad but the same who is made sorry by me? 3 And I wrote this same to you, lest coming I should have sorrow from those by whom I ought to rejoice, having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.

5 But if any has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part, so that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment which was inflicted by many, 7 So that on the other hand you ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow. 8 Therefore, I implore you that you would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 To whom you forgive anything, I forgive also. For what I have forgiven, if I forgave anything, I forgave it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother. But taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ and manifests the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ among those who are saved and among those who perish. 16 To one we are the savor of death to death and to the other the savor of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as the many, peddling the word of God. But as from sincerity, as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Chapter 3

Lest their false teachers should charge him with vain glory, Paul shows the faith and graces of the Corinthians to be a sufficient commendation of his ministry, 1-5. Whereupon entering a comparison between the ministers of the law and of the gospel, 6-11, he proves that his ministry is so far the more excellent, as the gospel of life and liberty is more glorious than the law of condemnation, 12-18.

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you. 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3 Because you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on fleshly tablets of the heart.

4 And such trust we have through Christ toward God, 5 Not that we are sufficient by ourselves to think anything as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 But if the ministration of death written and engraved on stones came with glory so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance—which glory was to be done away— 8 How shall the ministration of the Spirit not be even more glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation was glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect because of the glory that excels it. 11 For if that which was done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, 13 And not as Moses who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. 14 But their minds were blinded, for until this day, the same veil remains untaken away in the reading of the old testament—which veil is done away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless, when it turns to the Lord, "the veil shall be taken away." 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.16]: Exodus 34:34.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 4

Paul declares how he has used all sincerity and faithful diligence in preaching the gospel, 1-6, and how the troubles and persecutions which he daily endured for the same led to the praise of God’s power, 7-11, to the benefit of the church, 12-15, and to the apostle’s own eternal glory, 16-18.

1 Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint, 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost, 4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not from us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always carrying around in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death works in us, but life in you.

13 But having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, "I believed, and therefore, I have spoken," we also believe, and therefore speak, 14 Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also by Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes so that the abundant grace, through the thanksgiving of many, may abound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we do not faint, but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.13]: Psalm 116:10.LXX

Chapter 5

That in his assured hope of immortal glory, 1-8, and in expectation of it, and of the general judgment, Paul labors to keep a good conscience, 9-11; not that he may herein boast of himself, 12, 13, but as one who, having received life from Christ, endeavors to live as a new creature to Christ only, 14-17, and by his ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile others also in Christ to God, 18-21.

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our house which is from heaven, 3 Because, being clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened, not because we wish to be unclothed, but clothed, so that mortality might be swallowed up in life. 5 Now he who has wrought us for this same thing is God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 Therefore, we are always confident knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be accepted by him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ so that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, so that you may have something to answer those who glory in appearance and not in heart. 13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God, or whether we are sober, it is for your cause. 14 For the love of Christ constrains us because we thus judge: that if one died for all, then all were dead, 15 And that he died for all so that those who live should not from now on live to themselves, but to him who died for them and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on we know no man according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now from now on we no longer know him this way. 17 Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 18 And all things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God implored you by us. We pray you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. 21 For he has made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Chapter 6

Paul has approved himself a faithful minister of Christ by his exhortations, 1, 2, and by integrity of life, 3, and by patient enduring all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the gospel, 4-10. Of which he speaks the more boldly among them because his heart is open to them, 11-12, and he expects a similar affection from them again, 13; exhorting them to flee the society and pollutions of idolaters, as being themselves temples of the living God, 14-18.

1 And working together [with him], we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he says,

"  I have heard you in a time accepted, /

and in the day of salvation I have helped you."

Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 We give no offense in anything so that the ministry is not blamed, 4 But in all things approve ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers and true; 9 As unknown and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and possessing all things.

11 O Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own inward affections. 13 Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as to my children), you also be enlarged.

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an infidel? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "'I will dwell in them' and walk in them. 'And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'" 17 Therefore,

"  Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. /

"'Do not touch the unclean thing,' /

and I will receive you.

18 And I will be a Father to you,   /

and you shall be my sons and daughters," /

says the Lord Almighty.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Isaiah 49:8.LXX [v.16]: Ezekiel 37:27.LXX (paraphrased) [v.17]: Isaiah 52:11.LXX

Chapter 7

Paul proceeds in exhorting them to purity of life, 1; and to bear him similar affection as he does to them, 2. Whereof lest he might seem to doubt, he declares what comfort he took in his afflictions by the report which Titus gave of their godly sorrow, which his former epistle had wrought in them, 3-12; and of their loving-kindness and obedience toward Titus, answerable to his former boastings of them, 13-16.

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Receive us. We have wronged no man. We have corrupted no man. We have defrauded no man. 3 I do not speak this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die and live with you. 4 My boldness of speech is great toward you. My glorying is great concerning you. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

5 For, when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: outside were fightings, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless, God, who comforts those who are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation with which he was comforted in you when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, and your fervent mind toward me, so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent. For I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry, though it was but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance. For you were made sorry after a godly manner so that you might suffer loss in nothing by us. 10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world works death. 11 For behold this very thing, that you sorrowed after a godly manner, what carefulness it wrought in you: what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, and what avenging! In all things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, though I wrote to you, I did not do it for his cause who had done the wrong, nor for his cause who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. 13 Therefore, we were comforted in your comfort. And exceedingly the more we rejoiced for the joy of Titus because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted anything to him concerning you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his tender affection is more abundant toward you while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Chapter 8

Paul stirs them up to a liberal contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem by the example of the Macedonians, 1-6; by commendation of their former forwardness, 7, 8; by the example of Christ, 9-13; and by the spiritual profit that shall come back upon themselves thereby, 14, 15; commending to them the integrity and willingness of Titus, along with those other brothers, who upon his request, exhortation, and commendation, purposely came to them for this business, 16-24.

1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, 2 That in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear testimony to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they were willing of themselves, 4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And they did this, not as we hoped, but they first gave their own selves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we exhorted Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 Therefore, as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8 I do not speak by commandment, but by means of the forwardness of others, proving the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so that you, through his poverty, might be rich. 10 And in this I give my advice. For this is expedient for you, who have begun before a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 11 Now therefore, finish the doing also, so that as there was a readiness to will, so may there be a performance also out of that which you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that other men should be eased and you burdened, 14 But that there may be equality. Your abundance at this time may be a supply for their need so that their abundance may also be a supply for your need. This is so that there may be equality, 15 As it is written, "He who had gathered much had nothing over, and he who had gathered little had no lack."

16 But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more forward, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 And not that only, but he was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord and to show our readiness. 20 We are avoiding this: that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us. 21 For we are providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23 If any ask about Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker concerning you, or about our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore, show the proof of your love to them and before the churches and of our boasting on your behalf.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.15]: Exodus 16:18.LXX

Chapter 9

Paul yields the reason why, though he knew their forwardness, he sent Titus and his brothers beforehand, 1-5. And he proceeds in stirring them up to a bountiful alms, as being but a kind of sowing of seed, 6-9, which shall return a great increase to them, 10-12, and occasion a great sacrifice of thanksgivings to God, 13-15.

1 For as concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you. 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to those of Macedonia that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has incited very many. 3 Yet I have sent the brothers, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this matter, so that, as I said, you may be ready, 4 Lest perhaps if those of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, we (to not speak of you) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised blessing, so that the same might be ready as a matter of blessing and not of extortion.

6 But I say this, that he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. 7 Let every man give according as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or by constraint, for "God loves a cheerful giver." 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you so that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work, 9 As it is written,

"  He has dispersed. He has given to the poor. /

His righteousness remains forever."

10 Now may he who supplies "seed to the sower and bread for food," supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase "the fruits of your righteousness," 11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but is also abundant by many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ and for your liberal contribution to them and to all men, 14 And by their prayer for you, who long after you, for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.7]: Proverbs 22:8.LXX (paraphrased) [v.9]: Psalm 112:9.LXX [v.10]: Isaiah 55:10;LXX Hosea 10:12.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 10

Against the false apostles, who disgraced the weakness of his person and bodily presence, Paul shows the spiritual might and authority with which he was armed against all adverse powers, 1-6; assuring them that at his coming he will be found as mighty in word as he is now in writing, being absent, 7-11; and refuses to justify himself, or to act by such rules as the false teachers did, but according to the better rules he had fixed for himself, 12-18.

1 Now I, Paul, myself implore you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I implore you that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, 5 Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, 6 And having readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7 Do you look at things after the outward appearance? If any man trusts to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed, 9 So that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10 "For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible." 11 Let such a one think this: that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you. 14 For we do not stretch ourselves beyond our measure, as though we did not reach to you. For we have come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ, 15 Not boasting of things beyond our measure, that is, of other men’s labors, but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you, according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things already prepared. 17 But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 18 For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Jeremiah 9:24 (paraphrased).

Chapter 11

Out of his jealousy over the Corinthians, who seemed to make more account of the false apostles than of him, Paul enters into a forced commendation of himself, 1-4, of his equality with the chief apostles, 5, 6, of his preaching the gospel to them freely, and without any charge to them, 7-12; showing that he was not inferior to those deceitful workers in any legal prerogative, 13-22; and in the service of Christ, and in all kinds of sufferings for his ministry, far superior, 23-33.

1 I earnestly wish you could bear with me a little in my folly. Indeed, bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one husband so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit which you have not received, or another gospel which you have not accepted, you do well to put up with him. 5 For I suppose I was not at all inferior to the very greatest apostles. 6 Although I am rude in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. Indeed, we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

7 Have I committed an offense in abasing myself so that you might be exalted because I have preached to you the gospel of God without reward? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to do you service. 9 And when I was present with you and was in need, I was chargeable to no man. For that which was lacking to me the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied. And in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows.

12 But what I do, that I will do so that I may cut off occasion from those who desire occasion, so that in what they glory, they may be found even as we are. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers are also transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.

16 I say again, let no man think me a fool. If otherwise, yet as a fool receive me so that I may boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I do not speak it according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For you bear with fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise. 20 For you bear with it, if a man brings you into bondage, if a man devours you, if a man takes from you, if a man exalts himself, if a man smites you on the face. 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. But in whatever respect any is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more, with labors more abundant, with stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, and near death more often. 24 Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides those things that are outside, there is that which comes upon me daily: the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall into sin, and I do not burn?

30 If I must glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forevermore, knows that I do not lie. 32 In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes, desiring to apprehend me. 33 And through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall and escaped his hands.

Chapter 12

For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations, 1-8, yet Paul rather chooses to glory in his infirmities, 9, 10; blaming them for forcing him to this vain boasting, 11-13. He promises to come to them again; but yet altogether in the affection of a father, 14-19; although he fears he shall to his grief find many offenders and public disorders there, 20, 21.

1 It is doubtless not expedient for me to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell—God knows), such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell—God knows), 4 That he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will glory, yet of myself I will not glory, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say the truth. But now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or what he hears from me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I implored the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, most gladly I will so much the more glory in my infirmities so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 I have become a fool in glorying. You have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for in no way am I inferior to the very greatest apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is that in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burdensome to you, for I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I desired Titus and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. And we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish, lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults, 21 And lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you, and I shall bewail many who have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness, lewdness, and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Chapter 13

Paul threatens severity and the power of his apostleship against obstinate sinners, 1-4. And, advising them to a trial of their faith, 5, 6, and to a reformation of their sins before his coming, 7-10, he concludes his epistle with a general exhortation and a prayer, 11-14.

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." 2 I have told you before and tell you again, as when I was present the second time. So now being absent, I write to those who before have sinned and to all the rest, that, if I come again I will not spare, 3 Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but is mighty in you. 4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we are also weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

5 Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith. Prove your own selves. Do you not know as to your own selves that Jesus Christ is in you unless you are reprobates? 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not reprobates. 7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we should be as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we wish: even your perfection. 10 Therefore, I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me to edification and not to destruction.

11 Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints salute you.

14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.1]: Deuteronomy 19:15.LXX

PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS

Chapter 1

Paul wonders that they have so soon left him and the gospel, 1-7; and accurses those who preach any other gospel than he did, 8-10. He learned the gospel not from men, but from God, 11-13; and shows what he was before his calling, 14-16; and what he did immediately after it, 17-24.

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead), 2 And all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins so that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, 5 To whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

6 I marvel that you are so soon removed from him who called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel, 7 Which is not another. But there are some who trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so I say now again: if any man preaches any other gospel to you than that which you have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11 But I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it, 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood, 17 Neither did I go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw no other of the apostles, except James the Lord’s brother. 20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I do not lie. 21 Afterward, I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 And was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they had only heard: "He who persecuted us in times past now preaches the faith which he once destroyed." 24 And they glorified God in me.

Chapter 2

Paul shows when he went up again to Jerusalem and for what purpose, 1, 2; and that Titus was not circumcised, 3-10; and that he resisted Peter and told him the reason, 11-13; why he and others, being Jews, do believe in Christ to be justified by faith and not by works, 14-19; and that they do not live in sin who are so justified, 20, 21.

1 Then fourteen years after, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus with me also. 2 And I went by revelation and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 That was because of false brothers unexpectedly brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus so that they might bring us into bondage, 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, not even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of these, who seemed to be something (whatever they were, it makes no matter to me—God accepts no man’s person), for those who seemed to be something, in conference added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to me as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter 8 (For he who wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles), 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hands of fellowship so that we should go to the heathen and they to the circumcision. 10 Only they asked that we should remember the poor, the same which I was also eager to do.

11 But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed. 12 For before some came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they had come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him so that Barnabas was also carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

15 "We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ so that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? By no means. 18 For if I again build the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I, through the law, am dead to the law so that I may live to God. 20 I am crucified with Christ, yet it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God. For if righteousness is attainable by the law, then Christ has died in vain."

Chapter 3

Paul asks what moved them to leave the faith and hang upon the law, 1-5. Those who believe are justified, 6-8, and blessed with Abraham, 9. And this he shows by many reasons, 10-29.

1 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 I only wish to learn this from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if it is yet in vain? 5 He therefore who ministers to you the Spirit and works miracles among you, does he do this by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 Even so "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 7 Know therefore, that those who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all nations shall be blessed." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, "Accursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." 11 Now it is evident that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, for, "The just shall live by faith." 12 And the law is not of faith, but, "The man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, "Accursed is everyone who hangs on a tree," 14 So that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brothers, I speak after the manner of men. Though it is but a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man makes it void or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and his offspring. He does not say, "And to offsprings," as of many, but as of one, "And to your offspring," which is Christ. 17 And I say this: that the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot invalidate so that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise was made. And it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? By no means. For if there had been a law given which could give life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has enclosed all under sin so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore, the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a school-master. 26 For you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to the promise.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Genesis 15:6.LXX [v.8]: Genesis 12:3.LXX (paraphrased) See also, Genesis 22:18. [v.10]: Deuteronomy 27:26.LXX (paraphrased) [v.11]: Habakkuk 2:4.LXX [v.12]: Leviticus 18:5.LXX [v.13]: Deuteronomy 21:23. [v.16]: Genesis 17:7-8.LXX

Chapter 4

We were under the law until Christ came, as the heir is under the guardian until he is of age, 1-4. But Christ freed us from the law, 5, 6; therefore we are servants no longer to it, 7-13. Paul remembers their good will to him and his to them, 14-21; and shows that we are the sons of Abraham by the free-woman, 22-31.

1 Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he is lord of all, 2 But is under guardians and governors until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 To redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father." 7 Therefore, you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 However then, when you did not know God, you did service to them which by nature are not gods. 9 But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how do you turn back to the weak and beggarly elements to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days, months, times, and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

12 Brothers, I implore you, be as I am, for I am as you are. You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that in infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And that which was a trial to you in my flesh you did not despise, nor reject, but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What then was the blessedness you spoke of? For I bear you testimony, that if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not in a good way, but they wish to exclude you so that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now and to change my voice, for I stand in doubt of you.

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a woman-servant, the other by a free-woman. 23 But he who was of the woman-servant was born according to the flesh, but he of the free-woman was by promise. 24 These things are an allegory, for these are the two covenants. One is from the mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, and she is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written,

"  Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. /

Break forth and cry, you who do not travail. /

For the desolate has many more children /

than she who has a husband."

28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the woman-servant and her son. For the son of the woman-servant shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman."

31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the woman-servant, but of the free.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.27]: Isaiah 54:1.LXX [v.30]: Genesis 21:10.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 5

Paul desires them to stand in their liberty, 1, 2, and not to observe circumcision, 3-12; but rather love, which is the sum of the law, 13-18. He reckons up the works of the flesh, 19-21, and the fruits of the Spirit, 22-24, and exhorts to walk in the Spirit, 25, 26.

1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not be held again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if you are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man who is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ has become of no effect to you, you who would be justified by the law. You have fallen from grace. 5 For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love.

7 You were running well. Who hindered you that you should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord that you will not be otherwise minded. But he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be. 11 And I, brothers, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I wish those who trouble you were even cut off.

13 For, brothers, you have been called to liberty. Only do not use liberty for an occasion for the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit is against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another so that you cannot do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousy, wrath, strife, dissensions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like these, of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and temperance. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.14]: Leviticus 19:18.LXX

Chapter 6

Paul moves them to deal mildly with a brother that has slipped, 1, and to bear one another’s burden, 2-5; to be liberal to their teachers, 6-8, and not weary of well-doing, 9-11. He shows what they intend who preach circumcision, 12, 13. He glories in nothing, except in the cross of Christ, 14-18.

1 Brothers, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him who is taught in the word communicate to him who teaches in all good things. 7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh shall reap corruption from the flesh, but he who sows to the Spirit shall reap life everlasting from the Spirit. 9 And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint. 10 As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

11 You see how large a letter I have written to you with my own hand. 12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised—only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised so that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But may it never be that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, may peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brothers, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

Chapter 1

After the salutation, 1, 2, and thanksgiving for the Ephesians, 3, Paul discusses our election, 4, 5, and adoption by grace, 6-10; which is the true and proper fountain of man’s salvation, 11, 12. And because the height of this mystery cannot easily be attained to, 13-15, he prays that they may come to the full knowledge and possession thereof in Christ, 16-23.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, 4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, 5 Having predestined us to the adoption of children to himself by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace in which he has made us accepted in the beloved, 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, 8 In which he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 Having made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself, 10 So that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might collect in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him; 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will, 12 So that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ; 13 In whom you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

15 Therefore, I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints, 16 Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17 So that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 Having the eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Chapter 2

By comparing what we were by nature with what we are by grace, 1-9, Paul declares that we are made for good works and, being brought near by Christ, should not live as Gentiles and foreigners as in time past, but as citizens with the saints and the family of God, 10-22.

1 And he has revived you, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 In which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience, 3 Among whom also we all had our manner of life in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), 6 And has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 So that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. 9 It is not by works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Therefore, remember, that you, being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands, 12 At that time you were without Christ, being foreigners from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, to make in himself one new man of the two, so making peace, 16 And that he might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having by it slain the enmity, 17 And came and preached "peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near." 18 For through him we both have an access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, 21 In whom all the building properly framed together grows to a holy temple in the Lord, 22 In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Isaiah 57:19.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 3

The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation, 1-7; and to him that grace was given so that he should preach it, 8-12. He desires that they not faint for his tribulation, 13; and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them, 14-21.

1 For this cause, I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me on your account, 3 That by revelation he made the mystery known to me, as I wrote before in few words, 4 By which when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, 5 Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel, 7 Of which I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given so that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, 10 To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Therefore, I desire that you do not faint at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, 17 So that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth, and height, 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do the more abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Chapter 4

Paul exhorts to unity, 1-6; and declares that God therefore gives various gifts to men, 7-10; so that his church might be edified, 11-15, and grow up in Christ, 16, 17. He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles, 18-23; to put on the new man, 24; to cast off lying, 25-28; and corrupt communication, 29-32.

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you that you walk worthy of the vocation by which you are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling, 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all.

7 But to each of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Therefore, he says,

"  When he ascended on high, /

he led captivity captive, /

and gave gifts to men."

9 Now that "he ascended," what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same also who ascended far above all heavens so that he might fill all things. 11 And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers, 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 Until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 That we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried around by every wind of doctrine and by the trickery of men and cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, 15 But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ, 16 From whom the whole body properly joined together and united by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you from now on do not walk as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart, 19 Who, being callous, have given themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not learned Christ in this way, 21 If indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. 22 Concerning the former manner of life, [you were taught] to put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Therefore, putting away lying, "each of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin." Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath, 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole no longer steal, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, so that he may have [something] to give to him who needs. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying so that it may minister grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil-speaking be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.8]: Psalm 68:18.LXX (paraphrased) [v.25]: Zechariah 8:16.LXX [v.26]: Psalm 4:4.LXX

Chapter 5

After general exhortations to love, 1, 2; to flee fornication, 3; and all uncleanness, 4-6; not to converse with the wicked, 7-14; to walk carefully, 15-17; and to be filled with the Spirit, 18-21; Paul descends to the particular duties, how wives ought to obey their husbands, 22-24; and husbands ought to love their wives, 25-31, even as Christ does his church, 32, 33.

1 Be therefore followers of God, as dear children, 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

3 But lewdness and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as is proper for saints, 4 Neither filthiness, foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no lewd person, unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore, do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 Proving what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever is made manifest is light. 14 Therefore, he says,

"Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead,   /

and Christ will give you light."

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 Submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, 26 So that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 And that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Likewise, men also ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife, loves himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church. 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 "For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, let each of you in particular thus love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverences her husband.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.31]: Genesis 2:24.LXX

Chapter 6

The duty of children toward their parents, 1-4; of servants toward their masters, 5-9. Our life is a warfare, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual enemies, 10-12. The complete armor of a Christian, 13-17; and how it ought to be used, 18-20. Tychicus is commended, 21-24.

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with promise— 3 "So that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

4 And fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.

5 Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ, 6 Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 Knowing that whatever good thing any man does, the same he will receive from the Lord, whether he is bond or free.

9 And masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatening, knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.

10 Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your "loins girded in truth," and having on the "breast-plate of righteousness," 15 And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the "helmet of salvation," and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching for this purpose with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. 19 And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me so that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds, so that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 But so that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things, 22 Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, so that you may know our affairs and that he may comfort your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 May grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Exodus 20:12.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:16. [v.3]: Exodus 20:12.LXX See also, Deuteronomy 5:16. [v.14]: Isaiah 11:5 (paraphrased), 59:17. [v.17]: Isaiah 59:17.

PAUL’S LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

Chapter 1

Paul testifies his thankfulness to God and his love toward the Philippians for the fruits of their faith and fellowship in his sufferings, 1-8; daily praying to him for their increase in grace, 9-11; he shows what good the faith of Christ had received by his troubles at Rome, 12-20; and how ready he is to glorify Christ either by his life or death, 21-26; exhorting them to unity, 27; and to fortitude in persecution, 28-30.

1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, 7 Even as it is proper for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart, for both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long after you all in the tender affection of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment, 10 That you may approve things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 But I wish you to understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest, 14 And that many of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will. 16 The former preach Christ from contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds, 17 But the latter from love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and I therein rejoice. Indeed, I will rejoice. 19 For I know that "this will turn to my salvation" through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor. Yet what I shall choose I do not know. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith, 26 So that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries—which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it is given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake, 30 Having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear to be in me.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.19]: Job 13:16.LXX

Chapter 2

Paul exhorts them to unity and to all humbleness of mind by the example of Christ’s humility and exaltation, 1-11; to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to the wicked world, 12-15, and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God, 16-18. He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also, 19-30.

1 If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any inner affections and mercies, 2 Fulfill my joy, that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. But in lowliness of mind, let each esteem the other better than themselves— 4 Each of you not looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 Who, being in the form of God, did not deem equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore, God also has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, 10 So that at the name of Jesus "every knee should bow," of things in heaven, things on earth, and things under the earth, 11 And that "every tongue should confess" that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings, 15 So that you may be blameless and innocent, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 Holding forth the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. 17 And if I am even offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to you so that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state. 20 For I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know the proof of him, that as a son with the father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him presently, as soon as I see how it will go with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. 25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he who ministered to my needs. 26 For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I sent him therefore the more speedily, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in reputation, 30 Because for the work of Christ he was near to death, not regarding his life, to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.10]: Isaiah 45:23.LXX [v.11]: Isaiah 45:23.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 3

Paul warns them to beware of the false teachers of the circumcision, 1-3; showing that he has greater cause than they do to trust in the righteousness of the law, 4-6; but he renounces it all to gain Christ and his righteousness, 7-11; therein acknowledging his own imperfection, 12-14. He exhorts them to be thus minded, 15, 16; and to imitate him, 17, and to decline the ways of carnal Christians, 18-21.

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs. Beware of evil-workers. Beware of the mutilation. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has reason to trust in the flesh, I yet more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; with respect to the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; with respect to the righteousness which is by the law, found blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted as loss for Christ. 8 Indeed, I even count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have suffered the loss of all things and count them to be dung so that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, 10 So that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, 11 If by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.

12 It is not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I pursue, if that I may obtain that for which Christ Jesus also obtained me. 13 Brothers, I do not count myself to have obtained, but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to what we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brothers, be followers together of me and mark those who thus walk, as you have us for an example. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 Who will change our vile body so that it may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself.

Chapter 4

From particular admonitions, 1-3, Paul proceeds to general exhortations, 4-9, showing how he rejoiced at their liberality toward him lying in prison, not so much for the supply of his own lack as for the grace of God in them, 10-18. And so he concludes with prayer and salutations, 19-23.

1 Therefore, my brothers dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, likewise stand firm in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

2 I exhort Euodias and exhort Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I entreat you also, true companion, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my other fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. 9 Do those things which you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your concern for me has flourished again. You were indeed concerned for me, but you lacked opportunity. 11 It is not that I speak from being in need. For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content with that. 12 I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14 But you have done well that you shared in my affliction.

15 Now, Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me concerning giving and receiving, but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again for my needs. 17 It is not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. 19 But my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints salute you, chiefly those who are of Caesar’s household.

23 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

Chapter 1

After salutation, Paul thanks God for their faith, 1-6; confirms the doctrine of Epaphras, 7, 8; prays further for their increase in grace, 9-13; describes the true Christ, 14-20; encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry, 21-29.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you have heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 Which has come to you, as it is in all the world, and brings forth fruit, as it also does in you, since the day you heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth, 7 As you also learned from Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, 8 Who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease praying for you and making request that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 So that you may walk worthy of the Lord, pleasing him in every way, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, to all endurance and patience with joyfulness, 12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature. 16 For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are upon earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that in all things he may have the pre-eminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell in him, 20 And through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross, whether they are things on earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now he has reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy, blameless, and unreprovable in his sight, 23 If you continue in the faith grounded and settled and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you have heard and which has been preached to every creature which is under heaven, of which I, Paul, am made a minister.

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church, 25 Of which I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfill the word of God, 26 Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints, 27 To whom God chose to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We preach Him, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 For this I also labor, striving according to his working which works in me mightily.

Chapter 2

Paul still exhorts them to be constant in Christ, 1-7; to beware of philosophy and vain traditions, 8-17; worshiping of angels, 18, 19; and legal ceremonies, which are ended in Christ, 20-23.

1 For I wish that you knew what great conflict I have for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 That their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. 10 And you are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you are also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 Buried with him in baptism, in which you are also raised with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven you of all trespasses, 14 Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. 15 And having disarmed the principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in food, in drink, in respect of a holy-day, of the new-moon, or of the sabbaths, 17 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the head, from which all the body, being supplied and knit together by joints and ligaments, increases with the increase of God.

20 Therefore, if you are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances 21 ("Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 Which are all to perish with use), according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, humility, and neglecting of the body, but not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Chapter 3

Paul shows where we should seek Christ, 1-4. He exhorts to mortification, 5-9; to put off the old man and to put on Christ, 10, 11; exhorting to charity, humility, and other various duties, 12-25.

1 If you then are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, appears, you will also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: lewdness, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience, 7 In which you also walked formerly when you lived in them. 8 But now you also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him who created him, 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, hearts of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience, 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any. Just as Christ forgave you, so also should you. 14 And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you are also called in one body, and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will receive for the wrong which he has done. And there is no respect of persons.

Chapter 4

Paul exhorts them to be fervent in prayer, 1-4; to walk wisely toward those who have not yet come to the true knowledge of Christ, 5-9. He salutes them and wishes them all prosperity, 10-18.

1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving, 3 At the same time also praying for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, 4 So that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

7 All my state Tychicus shall declare to you, who is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, 8 Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose so that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts, 9 And with him, Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are done here.

10 Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, salutes you, along with Marcus, nephew of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments—if he should come to you, receive him), 11 And Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow-workers to the kingdom of God, who have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him testimony, that he has a great zeal for you and those who are in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Salute the brothers who are in Laodicea and also Nymphas and the church that is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, see to it that it also be read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."

18 The salutation by the hand of me, Paul. Remember my bonds. May grace be with you. Amen.

PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

Chapter 1

The Thessalonians are given to understand both how mindful of them Paul was at all times in thanksgiving and prayer, 1-4; and also how well he was persuaded of the truth and sincerity of their faith and conversion to God, 5-10.

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father, 4 Knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy from the Holy Spirit, 7 So that you were examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread abroad so that we do not need to speak anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had to you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come.

Chapter 2

In what manner the gospel was brought and preached to the Thessalonians and in what sort also they received it, 1-17. A reason is rendered both why Paul was so long absent from them and also why he was so desirous to see them, 18-20.

1 For you yourselves, brothers, know our entering in to you, that it was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were shamefully treated at Phillippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not from deceit, nor from impurity, nor in guile, 4 But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6 Nor from men did we seek glory, neither from you, nor yet from others, when we might have asserted authority as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nursing mother cherishes her children. 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil, how, laboring night and day so that we would not be chargeable to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, justly, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe, 11 As you know how we exhorted, comforted, and charged each of you, as a father does his children, 12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you did not receive it as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually works also in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. For you also have suffered similar things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews, 15 Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us. And they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they may be saved—so as to always fill up the measure of their sins. But the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore, we would have come to you, even I, Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Chapter 3

Paul testifies his great love to the Thessalonians, partly by sending Timothy to them to strengthen and comfort them; partly by rejoicing in their well doing, 1-9; and partly by praying for them and desiring a safe coming to them, 10-13.

1 Therefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone, 2 And sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God and our fellow-laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith, 3 So that no man should be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to it. 4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and you know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter may have tempted you and our labor be in vain.

6 But now when Timothy came from you to us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you, 7 Therefore, brothers, by your faith we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we do toward you, 13 To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Chapter 4

Paul exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness, 1-5; to live in holiness and justly, 6-8; to love one another, 9, 10; and quietly to follow their own business, 11, 12; and last of all, to sorrow moderately for the dead, 13-16. And to this last exhortation is annexed a brief description of the resurrection and second coming of Christ to judgment, 17, 18.

1 Furthermore then, we implore you, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification: that you should abstain from lewdness; 4 That each of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 And that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. 8 He therefore who despises, does not despise man, but God, who has also given to us his holy Spirit.

9 But concerning brotherly love, you do not need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 And indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we implore you, brothers, that you increase more and more, 11 And that you make it your ambition to be quiet, to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 So that you may walk honestly toward those who are outside and that you may have need of nothing.

13 But I do not wish to have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you do not sorrow, even as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who sleep in Jesus, God will bring with him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

Chapter 5

Paul proceeds in the former description of Christ’s coming to judgment, 1-15; and gives various precepts, 16-22; and then concludes the epistle, 23-28.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes even as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that the day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunken, are drunken in the night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, so that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Therefore, comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as you also do.

12 And we implore you, brothers, to regard those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brothers, warn those who are disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, and be patient toward all men. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to any man, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophesyings. 21 Prove all things. Hold firmly to that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And may the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he who calls you, who also will do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brothers.

28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

Chapter 1

Paul certifies them of the good opinion which he had of their faith, love, and patience, 1-10; and in addition uses various reasons for the comforting of them in persecution, of which the chief is taken from the righteous judgment of God, 11, 12.

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brothers, as it is proper, because your faith grows exceedingly and the charity of each one of you all toward one another abounds, 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure. 5 This is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer, 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to those who trouble you, 7 And rest to you who are troubled, and also to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 They shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, 10 When he comes to be glorified in his saints and to be admired by all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 Therefore, we also pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 So that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.9]: Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21.All LXX

Chapter 2

Paul urges them to continue steadfast in the truth received, 1, 2; shows that there shall be a departure from the faith, 3-8, and a revealing of Antichrist before the day of the Lord comes, 9-14; and thereupon repeats his former exhortation and prays for them, 15-17.

1 Now we implore you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering to him, 2 That you not be soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, by word, nor by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means. For that day shall not come unless the falling away comes first and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was yet with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know that which restrains, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. 7 For the mystery of iniquity already works. Only he who now restrains will restrain until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then that Wicked One is revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the spirit of his mouth and will destroy with the brightness of his coming, 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceitfulness of unrighteousness in those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth so that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God will send them strong delusion so that they should believe a lie, 12 So that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, 14 To which he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, who has loved us and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Chapter 3

Paul craves their prayers for himself, 1, 2; testifies what confidence he has in them, 3, 4; makes request to God on their behalf, 5; gives them various precepts, especially to shun idleness and ill company, 6-15; and then concludes with prayer and salutation, 16-18.

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you, 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all men do not have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ.

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly and not after the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us. For we did not behave ourselves disorderly among you, 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nothing, but wrought with labor and toil night and day so that we might not be chargeable to any of you, 9 Not because we do not have power, but to make ourselves a pattern to you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, not working at all, but are busy-bodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But you, brothers, do not be weary in well-doing.

14 And if any man does not obey our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. May the Lord be with you all.

17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is the token in every epistle. Thus I write. 18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO TIMOTHY

Chapter 1

Timothy is put in mind of the charge which was given to him by Paul at his going to Macedonia, 1-4. Of the right use and end of the law, 5-10. Of Paul’s calling to be an apostle, 11-19; and Hymeneus and Alexander, 20.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope,

2 To Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 As I implored you when I went into Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you might charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith. 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned, 6 From which some, having swerved, have turned aside to vain jangling, 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor concerning what they affirm.

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully, 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man-slayers, 10 For lewd persons, for those who defile themselves with mankind, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. 13 I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, so that in me as chief, Jesus Christ might show forth all his patience for an example to those who should hereafter believe in him to eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, God the only wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before to you, so that by them you may war a good warfare, 19 Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away, have made shipwreck concerning faith, 20 Of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Chapter 2

Paul gives direction to pray and give thanks for all men, and the reason why, 1-7. The duties of men and women respectively concerning public prayer, 8-10. Women are not permitted to teach, 11-14. And a promise given for their encouragement in child-bearing, 15.

1 I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 For kings, and for all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 Who wishes all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all—the testimony in its own due times, 7 For which I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, and do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

8 I wish therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

9 In like manner also, [I wish] that women adorn themselves in decent apparel with modesty and sobriety, not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or costly array, 10 But (which is proper for women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression. 15 But she will be saved in child-bearing, if they continue in faith, charity, and holiness, with sobriety.

Chapter 3

How overseers and deacons should be qualified, 1-13; and to what end Paul wrote to Timothy of these things, 14. Of the church, and the blessed truth therein taught and professed, 15, 16.

1 This is a true saying: if a man desires the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. 2 An overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, 3 Not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, 4 One who rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all gravity 5 (For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?), 6 Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good report of those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise, the deacons must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved. Then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly. 15 But if I delay, [I write] so that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great.

God was manifest in the flesh,   /

justified in the Spirit, /

seen by angels, /

preached to the Gentiles, /

believed in by the world, /

and received up into glory.

Chapter 4

Paul foretells that in the latter times there shall be a departure from the faith, 1-5. And to the end that Timothy might not fail in doing his duty, he furnishes him with various precepts belonging thereto, 6-16.

1 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if received with thanksgiving, 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you put the brothers in remembrance of these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which you have attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables and exercise yourself rather to godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise your youth, but be an example of the believers in word, in deportment, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things. Give yourself wholly to them so that your profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine. Continue in them. For in doing this you will both save yourself and those who hear you.

Chapter 5

Rules to be observed in reproving, 1, 2. Of widows, 3-16. Of elders, 17-22. A precept for Timothy’s health, 23. Some men’s sins go before to judgment and some men’s sins follow after, 24, 25.

1 Do not rebuke an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brothers, 2 The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity.

3 Honor widows who are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things give in charge, so that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.

9 Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But refuse the younger widows, for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they will marry, 12 Having condemnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And at the same time, they learn to be idle, wandering around from house to house, and not only idle, but tattlers also, and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I wish therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, and give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be charged, so that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.

17 Let the elders who lead well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except before two or three witnesses. 20 Rebuke those who sin in the sight of all so that others may also fear. 21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. 22 Do not hastily lay hands on any man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

24 Some men’s sins are evident, going before them to judgment, and for some men, they follow after. 25 Likewise also, the good works of some are evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.18]: Deuteronomy 25:4.LXX

Chapter 6

Of the duty of servants, 1, 2. Not to have fellowship with newfangled teachers, 3-5. Godliness is great gain, 6-9; and love of money the root of all evil, 10. From what Timothy is to flee and what he is to follow, 11-16; and of what he is to admonish the rich, 17-19. He is to keep the purity of true doctrine and to avoid profane babblings, 20, 21.

1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor so that the name of God and his doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. Teach and exhort these things.

3 If any man teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, from which comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness. Withdraw yourself from such. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these let us be content. 9 But those who wish to be rich fall into temptation, a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil, which, while some have coveted, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give you charge in the sight of God, who makes all things alive, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified a good confession, 14 That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Which in his times he will show who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, 16 Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach, whom no man has seen, nor can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

17 Charge those who are rich in this world, that they not be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Charge them to do good and that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, so that they may take hold of eternal life.

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 Which some, professing, have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY

Chapter 1

Paul’s love to Timothy, and the unfeigned faith which was in Timothy himself, his mother, and grandmother, 1-5. He is exhorted to stir up the gift of God which was in him, 6, 7; to be steadfast and patient in persecution, 8-12; and to persist in the form and truth of that doctrine which he had learned from him, 13, 14. Phygellus and Hermogenes and such as those are noted, and Onesiphorus is highly commended, 15-18.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day, 4 Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that is in you also. 6 For this cause I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God which is in you by the imposition of my hands. 7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Do not be therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this, I am appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this cause, I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him for that day. 13 Hold firm to the form of sound words, which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 Keep that good thing which was committed to you by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.

15 This you know, that all those who are in Asia are turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my bonds. 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. 18 May the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day. And in all that he ministered to me at Ephesus, you know very well.

Chapter 2

Timothy is exhorted again to constancy and perseverance, and to do the duty of a faithful servant of the Lord in dividing the word rightly and avoiding profane and vain babblings, 1-16. Of Hymeneus and Philetus, 17, 18. The foundation of the Lord is sure, 19-21. He is taught of what to beware, what to follow after, and in what manner the servant of the Lord ought to behave himself, 22-26.

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Therefore, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man who wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life so that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strives for masteries, yet he is not crowned unless he strives lawfully. 6 The farmer who labors must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the offspring of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel. 9 For this I suffer trouble as an evil-doer, even to bonds, but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect so that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This is a faithful saying:

"For if we are dead with him, we shall also live with him.

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.   /

If we deny him, he will also deny us.

13 If we do not believe, yet he abides faithful.   /

He cannot deny himself."

14 Put others in remembrance of these things, charging them before the Lord that they do not contend about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Give diligence to show yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their word will spread like gangrene, of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus, 18 Who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is past already, and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth. Some are for honor and some for dishonor. 21 If a man therefore will cleanse himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and profitable for the master’s use, and prepared to every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they engender contentions. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not contend, but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, if God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.19]: Numbers 16:5.LXX

Chapter 3

Paul notifies Timothy of the times to come, 1-5; describes the enemies of the truth, 6-9; propounds to him his own example, 10-15; and commends the holy Scriptures, 16, 17.

1 Know this also, that in the last days perilous times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, lacking self-control, fierce, despisers of those who are good, 4 Traitors, headstrong, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Turn away from such. 6 For of this sort are those who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, 7 Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth—men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further, for their folly will be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.

10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, patience, charity, endurance, 11 Persecutions, and afflictions which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. I endured such persecutions, and out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 And indeed all who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers will become worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 And that from a child you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 So that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished to all good works.

Chapter 4

Paul exhorts Timothy to do his duty with all care and diligence, 1-5; certifies him of the nearness of his death, 6-8; desires him to come speedily to him and to bring Mark with him and certain things which he wrote for, 9-13; warns him to beware of Alexander the smith, 14, 15; informs him what had happened to him at his first answering, 16-18; and soon after he concludes the letter, 19-22.

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, 2 Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts they will multiply for themselves teachers, having itching ears, 4 And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to fables. 5 But watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full proof of your ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. 8 From now on, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me at that day, and not to me only, but to all those also who love his appearing.

9 Do your diligence to come to me shortly. 10 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring it with you, and also the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil—may the Lord reward him according to his works— 15 Of whom you also must be aware, for he has greatly withstood our words.

16 At my first defense no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. I pray to God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me so that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, but Trophimus I have left sick at Miletum. 21 Do your diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

22 May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

PAUL’S LETTER TO TITUS

Chapter 1

For what end Titus was left in Crete, 1-5. How those who are to be chosen ministers ought to be qualified, 6-10. The mouths of evil teachers to be stopped, 11; and what manner of men they are, 12-16.

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior,

4 To Titus, my own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

5 For this cause I left you in Crete: that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I had appointed you, 6 If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or disorderly. 7 For an overseer must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not given to filthy lucre, 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, 9 Holding firm to the faithful word as he has been taught, so that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convict the gainsayers.

10 For there are many disorderly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision. 11 Their mouths must be stopped, seeing that they subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of their own, even a prophet of their own, said, "The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons." 13 This testimony is true; therefore, rebuke them sharply so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and worthless for every good work.

Chapter 2

Directions given to Titus both for his doctrine and life, 1-8. Of the duty of servants and in general of all Christians, 9-15.

1 But speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 The aged men are to be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise are to be in behavior as is appropriate for holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, 4 So that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers of the home, good, obedient to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded. 7 In all things show yourself a pattern of good works. In your doctrine show integrity, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say concerning you.

9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters and to please them well in all things, not talking back, 10 Not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, so that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and piously in this present age, 13 Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, 14 Who gave himself for us so that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 Speak these things, and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.

Chapter 3

Titus is yet further directed by Paul, both concerning the things he should teach and not teach, 1-9. He is to reject obstinate heretics, 10, 11. He appoints him time and place wherein he should come to him, 12-15.

1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to not be brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward man appeared— 5 Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy—he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 So that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I wish that you affirm constantly so that those who have believed in God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 Reject a man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition, 11 Knowing that he who is such is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently so that nothing may be lacking for them. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses so that they may not be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me salute you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

PAUL’S LETTER TO PHILEMON

Chapter 1

Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus and lovingly to receive him again, 1-25.

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved and fellow-laborer, 2 To our beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 Hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints, 6 That the fellowship of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love because the hearts of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to enjoin you to that which is appropriate, 9 Yet for love’s sake I rather implore you, being such a one as Paul the aged and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I implore you for my son Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds, 11 Who in time past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me, 12 Whom I have sent back. Therefore, receive him (that is, my own heart), 13 Whom I wished to have retained with me, so that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel. 14 But without your consent I would do nothing so that your benefit should not be as of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he was therefore parted from you for a season so that you should receive him forever, 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If you account me therefore a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, have written it with my own hand, I will repay it—although I do not say to you that you owe to me even your own self as well. 20 Indeed, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.

22 But at the same time prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you, 24 As do Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lucas, my fellow-laborers.

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS

Chapter 1

Christ in these last times coming to us from the Father, 1-3, is preferred above the angels, both in person and office, 4-14.

1 God, who at many times and in diverse manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the universe. 3 He is the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they have.

5 For to which of the angels did he at any time say,

"  You are my Son. /

This day I have begotten you,"

and again,

"  I will be a Father to him, /

and he shall be a Son to me"?

6 And again, when he brings the first-begotten into the world, he says,

"  And let all the angels of God worship him."

7 And of the angels he says,

"  He makes his angels spirits, /

and his ministers a flame of fire."

8 But to the Son, he says,

"  Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. /

A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; /

therefore, God, even your God, has anointed you /

with the oil of gladness above your fellows."

10 And,

"  You, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth, /

and the heavens are the works of your hands.

11 They shall perish, but you remain. /

And they all shall become old as a garment does.

12 And as a vesture you will fold them up, /

and they shall be changed. /

But you are the same, /

and your years shall not fail."

13 But to which of the angels did he at any time say,

"  Sit on my right hand /

until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet"?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall inherit salvation?

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Psalm 2:7;LXX 2nd Samuel 7:14.LXX See also, 1st Chronicles 17:13. [v.6]: Either Deuteronomy 32:43,LXX or Psalm 97:7.LXX (paraphrased) [v.7]: Psalm 104:4.LXX [v.8]: Psalm 45:6.LXX [v.9]: Psalm 45:7.LXX [v.10]: Psalm 102:25.LXX [v.11]: Psalm 102:26.LXX [v.12]: Psalm 102:26-27.LXX [v.13]: Psalm 110:1.LXX

Chapter 2

We ought to be obedient to Christ Jesus, 1-4; and that because he condescended to take our nature upon him, 5-13; as it was necessary, 14-18.

1 Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, 3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was spoken at the first by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 God also bearing them testimony, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.

5 For to the angels he has not put in subjection the world to come, concerning which we speak. 6 But someone in a certain place testified, saying,

"  What is man that you are mindful of him, /

or the son of man that you visit him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels. /

You crowned him with glory and honor /

and set him over the works of your hands.

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not made subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, so that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man.

10 For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 Saying,

"  I will declare your name to my brothers. /

In the midst of the church I will sing praise to you."

13 And again,

"  I will put my trust in him."

And again,

"  Behold, I and the children which God has given me."

14 Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same so that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 And deliver those who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage. 16 For truly he does not give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like his brothers so that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Psalm 8:4.LXX [v.7]: Psalm 8:5-6.LXX [v.8]: Psalm 8:6.LXX [v.12]: Psalm 22:22.LXX (paraphrased) [v.13]: Isaiah 8:17-18.LXX

Chapter 3

Christ is more worthy than Moses, 1-6; therefore if we do not believe in him, we shall be more worthy of punishment than hard-hearted Israel, 7-19.

1 Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, 2 Who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also Moses was "faithful in all his house". 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, just as he who has built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by some man, but he who built all things is God. 5 And Moses truly was "faithful in all his house" as a servant for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken. 6 But Christ is a son over his own house. We are his house, if we hold firmly to the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope steadfast to the end.

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

"  Today if you will hear his voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the provocation, /

as in the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 When your fathers tested me, proved me, /

and saw my works forty years.

10 Therefore, I was grieved with that generation, /

and said, 'They always err in their heart, /

and they have not known my ways.'

11 So I swore in my wrath, /

'They shall not enter into my rest.'"

12 Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 While it is said,

"  Today if you will hear his voice, /

do not harden your hearts as in the provocation._"

16 For who, when they had heard, provoked? Was it not all who came out of Egypt by Moses? 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who did not believe? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Numbers 12:7.LXX (paraphrased) [v.5]: Numbers 12:7.LXX (paraphrased) [v.7]: Psalm 95:7.LXX (Psalm 95:8) [v.8]: Psalm 95:8.LXX [v.9]: Psalm 95:9.LXX [v.10]: Psalm 95:10.LXX [v.11]: Psalm 95:11.LXX [v.15]: Psalm 95:7-8.LXX (Psalm 95:8)

Chapter 4

The Christian rest is attained by faith, 1-11. The power of God’s word, 12, 13. By our high priest Jesus, the Son of God, 14, 15, we may and must go boldly to the throne of grace, 16.

1 Let us therefore fear while a promise of entering into his rest remains, lest any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For the gospel was preached to us as well as to them. But the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed enter into rest, as he said,

"  As I have sworn in my wrath /

that they shall not enter into my rest,"

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested the seventh day from all his works." 5 And in this place again,

"  They shall not enter into my rest."

6 Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter into it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of unbelief, 7 Again he limits a certain day, saying through David, "Today," after so long a time, as it is said,

"  Today, if you will hear his voice, /

do not harden your hearts."

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 There is no creature that is not manifest in his sight. But all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our profession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but who was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Psalm 95:11.LXX [v.4]: Genesis 2:2.LXX (paraphrased) [v.5]: Psalm 95:11.LXX [v.7]: Psalm 95:7-8.LXX

Chapter 5

The honor of our Savior’s priesthood, 1-10. Negligence in the knowledge thereof is reproved, 11-14.

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on the ignorant and on those who are out of the way, for he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3 And by reason of this he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he is called by God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ did not glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him,

"  You are my Son. /

Today I have begotten you,"

6 As he also says in another place,

"  You are a priest forever /

after the order of Melchizedek."

7 He, in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, was heard because of his reverence. 8 Though he was a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, 10 Called by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning him, we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing you have become dull of hearing. 12 For when by the time you ought to be teachers, you have need of someone to teach you again what are the first principles of the oracles of God, and have become those who have need of milk and not of strong food. 13 For everyone who partakes of milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. 14 But strong food belongs to those who are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Psalm 2:7.LXX [v.6]: Psalm 110:4.LXX

Chapter 6

The author exhorts not to fall back from the faith, 1-10; but to be steadfast, 11, diligent, and patient to wait upon God, 12; because God is most sure in his promise, 13-20.

1 Therefore, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who have been once enlightened, have tasted the heavenly gift, have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 And have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God again and put him to an open shame. 7 For the ground which drinks in the rain that comes often upon it and brings forth herbs fit for them by whom it is dressed receives a blessing from God. 8 But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected and is near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints and still minister. 11 And we desire each of you to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end, 12 So that you do not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, 14 Saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men truly swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all contradiction. 17 In this, God, more abundantly willing to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 So that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil, 20 Where the forerunner has for us entered, even Jesus, made a high "priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.14]: Genesis 22:17.LXX [v.20]: Psalm 110:4.LXX

Chapter 7

Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, 1-10, and so far more excellent than the priests of Aaron’s order, 11-28.

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace, 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, abides a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the plunder. 5 And truly those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, though they come from the loins of Abraham. 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed by the better. 8 And here men who die receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 And as I may say, Levi also, who receives tithes, payed tithes through Abraham. 10 For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change of the law also. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if after the similitude of Melchizedek there arises another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifies,

"  You are a priest forever /

after the order of Melchizedek."

18 For there is truly a setting aside of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope did, by which we draw near to God. 20 And since he was not made priest without an oath 21 (For those priests were made without an oath, but this with an oath by him who said to him,

"  The Lord swore and will not repent, /

'You are a priest forever /

after the order of Melchizedek'"),

22 By so much Jesus has become surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests because they were not allowed to continue by reason of death. 24 But this man, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood; 25 Therefore, he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by him, seeing he always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For such a high priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, 27 Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins and then for the people’s. For this he did once when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men as high priests who have infirmity, but the word of the oath which was after the law appoints the Son who has been perfected forevermore.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.17]: Psalm 110:4.LXX [v.21]: Psalm 110:4.LXX

Chapter 8

By the eternal priesthood of Christ the Levitical priesthood of Aaron is abolished, 1-6; and the temporal covenant with the fathers is abolished by the eternal covenant of the Gospel, 7-13.

1 Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: we have such a high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it is of necessity that this man should have something also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, seeing there are priests who offer gifts according to the law, 5 Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he says, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain." 6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, he says,

"  'Behold, the days come,' says the Lord, /

'when I will make a new covenant /

with the house of Israel /

and with the house of Judah,

9 Not according to the covenant /

that I made with their fathers /

in the day when I took them by the hand /

to lead them out of the land of Egypt, /

for they did not continue in my covenant, /

and I did not regard them,' says the Lord.

10 'For this is the covenant /

that I will make with the house of Israel /

after those days,' says the Lord. /

'I will put my laws into their mind /

and write them in their hearts. /

And I will be to them a God, /

and they shall be to me a people.

11 And they shall not each teach his neighbor /

and each his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," /

for all shall know me, /

from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, /

and their sins and their iniquities /

I will no longer remember.'"

13 In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to vanish away.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Exodus 25:40.LXX (paraphrased) [v.8]: Jeremiah 31:31.LXX (paraphrased) [v.9]: Jeremiah 31:32.LXX (paraphrased) [v.10]: Jeremiah 31:33.LXX [v.11]: Jeremiah 31:34.LXX [v.12]: Jeremiah 31:34.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 9

The description of the rites and bloody sacrifices of the law, 1-10; which are far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the blood and sacrifice of Christ, 11-28.

1 Then truly the first covenant also had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made. In the first part was the candlestick, the table, and the show-bread, which is called the holy place. 3 And after the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the most holy place, 4 Which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid around with gold, in which was the golden pot that had manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant, 5 And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat, of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests always went into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this: that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him who did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience, 10 Which stood only in foods and drinks, diverse washings, and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ, having come as a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, so that, by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore, even the first testament was not dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, 20 Saying, "This is the blood of the testament which God has commanded you." 21 And likewise, he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with blood. 22 And almost all things are by the law cleansed with blood. And without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others. 26 For then he would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the age he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed to men once to die and after this the judgment, 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and to those who look for him, he will appear the second time without sin for salvation.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.20]: Exodus 24:8.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 10

The weakness of the law sacrifices, 1-9. The sacrifice of Christ’s body once offered, 10-13, forever has taken away sins, 14-18. An exhortation to hold firmly to the faith with patience and thanksgiving, 19-39.

1 For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually, make perfect those who draw near. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5 Therefore, when he comes into the world, he says,

"  Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, /

but you have prepared me a body.

6 In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure.

7 Then I said, 'Behold, I come /

(in the volume of the book it is written concerning me) /

to do your will, O God.'"

8 Above, when he said, "'Sacrifice and offering' and 'burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, neither had pleasure in them'"—which are offered by the law— 9 Then he said, "Behold, I come to do your will, O God." He takes away the first so that he may establish the second, 10 By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily ministering and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, "sat down on the right hand" of God, 13 From now on waiting "until his enemies are made his footstool for his feet." 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 Of this the Holy Spirit is also a witness to us. For after that, he said,

16 "'This is the covenant /

that I will make with them /

after those days,' says the Lord, /

'I will put my laws into their hearts, /

and in their minds I will write them,

17 'And their sins and iniquities /

I will no longer remember.'"

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no longer any offering for sin.

19 Therefore, brothers, having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way which he has dedicated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21 And having a high priest over the house of God, 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold firmly to the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful who promised. 24 And let us consider one another to excite to love and to good works, 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful apprehension of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He who despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severe a punishment do you suppose he shall be thought worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, has counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has done an indignity to the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who has said, "Vengeance belongs to me. I will recompense," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions, 33 Partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly while you became companions of those who were thus used. 34 For you had compassion on me in my bonds and joyfully took the seizing of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. 36 For you have need of patience so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

37 "For yet a little while, /

"and he who is coming will come and will not delay.

38 Now the just shall live by faith. /

But if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Psalm 40:6.LXX [v.6]: Psalm 40:6.LXX (paraphrased) [v.7]: Psalm 40:7-8.LXX [v.8]: Psalm 40:6.LXX (paraphrased) [v.9]: Psalm 40:7-8.LXX [v.12] Psalm 110:1. [v.13] Psalm 110:1.LXX (paraphrased) [v.16]: Jeremiah 31:33.LXX (paraphrased) [v.17]: Jeremiah 31:34.LXX (paraphrased) [v.30]: Deuteronomy 32:35-36.LXX [v.37]: Habakkuk 2:3.LXX (paraphrased) [v.38]: Habakkuk 2:4.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 11

What faith is, 1-5. Without faith we cannot please God, 6. The worthy fruits thereof in the fathers of old time, 7-40.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the universe was framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which appeared. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. And by faith he, being dead, yet speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was translated so that he should not see death, "and was not found, because God had translated him." For before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not seen as yet and moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive offspring, and delivered a child when she was past age, since she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore, there sprang even from one—and him as good as dead—so many as the stars of the sky in multitude and as the sand which is by the sea-shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from where they came, they might have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, "In Isaac your offspring shall be called." 19 He accounted that God was able to raise him even from the dead, from where also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph "and worshiped while leaning upon the top of his staff." 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents because they saw he was an exceedingly fair child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, and he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the first-born should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if by dry land, which the Egyptians essaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, as she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, of Jephthah, of David, Samuel, and of the prophets, 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the foreigners. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings and also of bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They wandered around in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all of these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise— 40 God having provided something better for us—so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Genesis 5:24.LXX [v.18]: Genesis 21:12.LXX [v.21]: Genesis 47:31.LXX

Chapter 12

An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness, 1-21. A commendation of the new testament above the old, 22-29.

1 Therefore, seeing we also are encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children:

"  My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, /

nor faint when you are rebuked by him.

6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, /

and scourges every son whom he receives."

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are illegitimate sons and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he for our profit, so that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.

12 Therefore, "lift up the weakened hands and the feeble knees," 13 And make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame may not be turned out of the way, but rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and also holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. 15 Look diligently, lest any man falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and by it many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who sold his birth-right for one morsel of food. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wished to have inherited the blessing, he was rejected. For he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

18 For you have not come to the mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, to darkness, to tempest, 19 To the sound of a trumpet, or the voice of words, which those who heard the voice entreated that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 For they could not endure that which was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, 'it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart.'" 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and tremble." 22 But you have come to mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the first-born who are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if those did not escape who refused him who spoke on earth, much more we shall not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven. 26 His voice then shook the earth, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I do not shake the earth only, but also heaven." 27 And this word, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, 29 For "our God is a consuming fire."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Proverbs 3:11.LXX [v.6]: Proverbs 3:12.LXX (paraphrased) [v.12]: Isaiah 35:3.LXX (paraphrased) [v.20]: Exodus 19:13.LXX [v.26]: Haggai 2:6.LXX (paraphrased) [v.29]: Deuteronomy 4:24.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 13

Various admonitions as to charity, 1-3; to honest life, 4; to avoid covetousness, 5, 6; to regard God’s preachers, 7, 8; to take heed of strange doctrines, 9; to confess Christ, 10-15; to give alms, 16; to obey governors, 17; to pray for the apostles, 18, 19. The conclusion, 20-25.

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not be forgetful to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels unintentionally. 3 Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled, but God will judge lewd persons and adulterers. 5 Let your manner of life be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you," 6 So that we may boldly say,

"  The Lord is my helper, /

and I will not fear /

what man shall do to me."

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke to you the word of God. Follow their faith, considering the end of their manner of life. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried away with diverse and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart is established with grace, not with foods, which have not profited those who have been occupied in them. 10 We have an altar, of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore, Jesus also, so that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 Therefore, by him, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey your leaders and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as those who must give account, so that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience, desiring to live honestly in all things. 19 But I implore you the rather to do this so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 And I implore you, brothers, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written a letter to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all of your leaders and all the saints. Those of Italy salute you.

25 May grace be with you all. Amen.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Joshua 1:5. [v.6]: Psalm 118:6.LXX

THE LETTER FROM JAMES

Chapter 1

We are to rejoice under the cross, 1-4; to ask patience of God, 5-12; and in our trials not to impute our weakness or sins to him, 13-18, but rather to listen to the word, meditate on it, and be doers of it, 19-25. Otherwise men may seem, but never be, truly religious, 26, 27.

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, 3 Knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without reproach, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he shall receive anything from the Lord. 8 A man unsettled in his opinions is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 And the rich in that he is made low because he shall pass away as a flower of the grass. 11 For the sun arose with its burning heat and withered the grass. Its flower fell and the grace of its fashion perished. Likewise also, the rich man shall fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation. For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt any man. 14 But every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will he has begotten us with the word of truth so that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.

19 Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, 20 For the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, lay apart all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he beholds himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Chapter 2

It is not agreeable to Christian profession to regard the rich and despise the poor brothers, 1-12; rather we are to be loving and merciful, 13; and not to boast of faith where no deeds are, 14-16; which is but a dead faith, 17, 18; the faith of devils, 19, 20; not of Abraham, 21-24; nor Rahab, 25, 26.

1 My brothers, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring, in fine apparel, and also a poor man in vile clothing comes in, 3 And you have respect to him who wears the fine clothing and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there," or, "Sit here under my footstool," 4 Are you not then partial in yourselves and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Do rich men not oppress you and draw you before the judgment-seats? 7 Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. 9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet offends in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 Speak in such a manner and do in such a manner as those who are judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy who has shown no mercy. And mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, if a man says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," and you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what does it profit? 17 Likewise faith, if it does not have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Also a man may say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. The demons also believe, and tremble. 20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was Abraham our father not justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Do you see how faith wrought with his works, and faith was made perfect by works? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness," and he was called the Friend of God. 24 You see then that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also, was Rahab the harlot not justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.8]: Leviticus 19:18.LXX [v.11]: Exodus 20:13-14. See also, Deuteronomy 5:17-18. [v.23]: Genesis 15:6.LXX

Chapter 3

We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others, 1-4; but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member, but a powerful instrument of much good and great harm, 5-12. Those who are truly wise are mild and peaceable without envying and strife, 13-18.

1 My brothers, do not become many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we all offend. If any man does not offend in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they may obey us, and we direct their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships: though they are so great and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are directed with a very small helm, wherever the helmsman wills. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue, that world of iniquity, is a fire. The tongue is set in our members as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire from hell. 7 For every kind, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of animals in the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With this we bless God, even the Father, and with this we curse men, who are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet and bitter water? 12 Can the fig-tree, my brothers, bear olive-berries, or a vine, figs? In the same manner no fountain can yield both salt and fresh water.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show by a good deportment his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, do not glory and do not lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demoniacal. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Chapter 4

We are to strive against covetousness, 1-3; intemperance, 4; pride, 5-10; and slander and rash judgment of others, 11, 12. We are not to be confident in the good success of worldly business, but rather always be mindful of the uncertainty of this life, and to commit ourselves and all our affairs to God’s providence, 13-17.

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Do they not come from here, even from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You kill and desire to have and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive because you ask with bad intent, so that you may spend it in your pleasures. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The spirit which dwells in us earnestly desires to envy"? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore, he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be afflicted, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brothers. He who speaks evil of his brother and judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into this city and spend a year there, and trade and make gain." 14 You do not know what will be on the next day. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead of that, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Proverbs 3:34.

Chapter 5

Wicked rich men are to fear God’s vengeance, 1-6. We ought to be patient in afflictions after the example of the prophets and Job, 7-11; to forbear swearing, 12; to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity, 13; to acknowledge mutually our many sins, to pray for one another, 14-18; and to restore a straying brother to the truth, 19, 20.

1 Come now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered, and their rust shall be a testimony against you and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have amassed treasure for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped your fields, which is by you kept back by fraud, cries. And the cries of those who have reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously and in pleasure on the earth. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed the just, and he does not resist you.

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, to the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until it receives the early and the latter rain. 8 Be also patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draws near. 9 Do not grudge against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned. Behold, the judge stands before the door. 10 My brothers, take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience. 11 Behold, we count those happy who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the outcome from the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and full of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man subject to similar passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any one of you should err from the truth, and someone should convert him, 20 Let him know, that he who converts a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will hide a multitude of sins.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Jeremiah 12:3.

THE FIRST LETTER FROM PETER

Chapter 1

Peter blesses God for his manifold spiritual graces, 1-9; showing that salvation in Christ is an object of deepest interest to the prophets and to angels, 10-12; and exhorts them accordingly to a godly conversation, since they are now born anew by the word of God, 13-25.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if need be) you are in heaviness through manifold temptations, 7 So that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though tried with fire, might be found to praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him, in whom, though now you do not see him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you, 11 Searching for what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. 12 To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they ministered the things which are now reported to you by those who have preached the gospel to you through the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven—which things the angels desire to look into.

13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. 15 But as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in all manner of deportment, 16 Because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

17 And if you call on the Father, who, without respect of persons, judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear, 18 For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain course of life received by tradition from your fathers, 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He truly was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you, 21 Who, by him, believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently, 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever. 24 For,

"  all flesh is as grass, /

and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. /

The grass withers and its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever."

This is the word which was the gospel preached to you.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.16]: Leviticus 11:44.LXX See also, Leviticus 11:45. [v.24]: Isaiah 40:6.LXX [v.25]: Isaiah 40:8.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 2

Peter dissuades them from the breach of charity, 1-3; showing that Christ is the foundation upon which they are built, 4-10. He implores them also to abstain from fleshly lusts, 11, 12; to be obedient to magistrates, 13-17; and teaches servants how to obey their masters, 18, 19; patiently suffering for well doing after the example of Christ, 20-25.

1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil-speakings, 2 As new-born babies, desire the pure milk of the word so that you may grow thereby, 3 If indeed you have "tasted that the Lord is gracious."

4 And coming to him as to a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, 5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore, it is also contained in the Scripture,

"  Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, /

elect, precious. /

And he who believes in him shall not be confounded."

7 To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but to those who are disobedient,

"  The stone which the builders disallowed, /

the same is made the head of the corner,"

8 And

"  a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,"

even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which they were also appointed.

9 But you are "a chosen generation," "a royal priesthood, a holy nation," "a peculiar people, so that you should show forth the praises" of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, 10 Who, in time past, were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I implore you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 Having your manner of life honest among the Gentiles, so that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God "on the day of visitation."

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 Or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well. 15 For thus is the will of God: that with well-doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 16 Even as free men, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unfair. 19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it if, when you are buffeted for your sins, you bear it patiently? But if you do good and suffer for it and you bear it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21 For even to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that you should follow his steps. 22 He committed no sin, "neither was guile found in his mouth." 23 He, when he was reviled, did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. 24 He himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree so that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness. "By his stripes you were healed." 25 For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Psalm 34:8.LXX (paraphrased) [v.6]: Isaiah 28:16. [v.7]: Psalm 118:22.LXX [v.8]: Isaiah 8:14. [v.9]: Isaiah 43:20;LXX Exodus 19:6;LXX Isaiah 43:21.LXX (paraphrased) [v.12]: Isaiah 10:3.LXX [v.22]: Isaiah 53:9.LXX (paraphrased) [v.24]: Isaiah 53:5.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 3

Peter teaches the duty of wives and husbands to each other, 1-7; exhorting all men to unity and love, 8-13; and to suffer persecution, 14-18. He declares also the benefits of Christ toward the old world, 19-22.

1 Likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands so that if any do not obey the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the deportment of the wives, 2 While they behold your chaste manner of life coupled with fear. 3 Do not let your adorning be that which is outward—of braiding the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting on apparel— 4 But let it be the hidden person of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in former times the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, 6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her daughters as long as you do well and are "not afraid of sudden fear."

7 Likewise, husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life, so that your prayers are not hindered.

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, compassionate, loving as brothers, tender-hearted, and courteous, 9 Not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you are called to this, so that you should inherit a blessing. 10 For,

"  He who will love life /

and see good days, /

let him restrain his tongue from evil, /

and his lips that they speak no guile.

11 Let him shun evil and do good. /

Let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, /

and his ears are open to their prayers. /

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

13 And who is he who will harm you if you are followers of that which is good? 14 But if you suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are you. "And do not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled," 15 But "sanctify the Lord" God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, but with meekness and fear. 16 Have a good conscience so that, whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good deportment in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. 18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit, 19 By which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 Who formerly were disobedient when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, in which few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, also now saves you (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 Who has gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers being made subject to him.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Proverbs 3:25.LXX (paraphrased) [v.10]: Psalm 34:12-13.LXX (paraphrased) [v.11]: Psalm 34:14.LXX [v.12]: Psalm 34:15-16.LXX [v.14]: Isaiah 8:12.LXX [v.15]: Isaiah 8:13.LXX

Chapter 4

Peter exhorts them to cease from sin by the example of Christ and the consideration of the general end that now approaches, 1-11; and comforts them against persecution, 12-19.

1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 So that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the past time is sufficient to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, having walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries, 4 In which they think it strange that you do not run with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. 5 They shall give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this cause the gospel was also preached to those who are dead so that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be sober and watch for the purpose of prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity will cover a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grudging. 10 As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If any man ministers, let him do it as of the ability which God gives so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. 13 But rejoice, seeing you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, so that when his glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, as a thief, as an evildoer, or as a busy-body in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first begins at us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 "And if the righteous is scarcely saved, /

where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

19 Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.18]: Proverbs 11:31.LXX

Chapter 5

Peter exhorts the elders to feed their flocks, 1-4; the younger to obey, 5-7; and all to be sober, watchful, and constant in the faith, 8; and to resist the cruel adversary the devil, 9-14.

1 I exhort the elders who are among you as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of it—not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but from a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you shall receive a crown of glory that does not fade away. 5 Likewise, you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elder. Indeed, all of you be subject to one another and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble."

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that he may exalt you in due time, 7 "Casting all your care upon him," for he cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothers who are in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 By Silvanus our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you, and so does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Proverbs 3:34.LXX (paraphrased) [v.7]: Psalm 55:22.LXX (paraphrased)

THE SECOND LETTER FROM PETER

Chapter 1

Confirming them in hope of the increase of God’s graces, 1-4, Peter exhorts them by faith and good works to make their calling sure, 5-11; of which he is careful to remind them, knowing that his death is at hand, 12-15; and warns them to be constant in the faith of Christ, who is the true Son of God, by the eyewitness of the apostles beholding his majesty and by the testimony of the Father and the prophets, 16-21.

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained an equally precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue, 4 Through which exceedingly great and precious promises are given to us, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; 6 To knowledge, temperance; to temperance, patience; to patience, godliness; 7 To godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. 8 For if these things are in you and abound, they make you to neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he who lacks these things is blind and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purified from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, give more diligence to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you shall never fall. 11 For thus an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth. 13 Indeed, I think it proper, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle of mine, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. 15 Moreover, I will endeavor that you may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy, to which you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the day-star arises in your hearts, 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For prophecy did not come in old time by the will of man. But holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 2

Peter foretells them of false teachers, showing the impiety and punishment both of them and their followers, 1-6; from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom, 7-9; and more fully describes the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers, whereby they may be the better known and avoided, 10-22.

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you who will privately bring in condemnable heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And through covetousness they will with feigned words exploit you, whose judgment from long ago does not linger and their condemnation does not slumber.

4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved to judgment, 5 And did not spare the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing the flood upon the world of the ungodly, 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to those who afterward should live ungodly lives, 7 And delivered just Lot, grieved with the habitual lewdness of the wicked 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, grieved his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds), 9 Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust for the day of judgment to be punished, 10 But chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government. They are presumptuous and self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of glorious [ones], 11 Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they do not understand. They shall utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to riot in the day-time. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 Having eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart exercised with covetous practices. They are cursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity—the mute donkey speaking with man’s voice hindered the madness of the prophet.

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those who had quite escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, by the same he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog has turned to his own vomit again," and, "The sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.22]: Proverbs 26:11.

Chapter 3

Peter assures them of the certainty of Christ’s coming to judgment against those scorners who dispute against it, 1-7; warning the godly, for the long patience of God, to hasten their repentance, 8, 9. He describes also the manner how the world shall be destroyed, 10; exhorting them, from the expectation thereof, to all holiness of life, 11-15; and again to think the patience of God to tend to their salvation, as Paul wrote to them in his epistles, 16-18.

1 This, beloved, is the second epistle I now write to you, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance, 2 So that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

3 Know this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of: that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth formed out of the water and through the water, 6 By which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 7 But the present heavens and the earth are kept in store by the same word, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing: one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein will be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy deportment and godliness, 12 Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the patience of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they also do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

THE FIRST LETTER FROM JOHN

Chapter 1

John describes the person of Christ, in whom we have eternal life by a communion with God, 1-4; to which we must add holiness of life to testify the truth of our communion and profession of faith and also to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins by Christ’s death, 5-10.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and we testify and show to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us), 3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you so that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not speak the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Chapter 2

John comforts them against the sins of infirmity, 1, 2. Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments, 3-8; to love our brothers, 9-14; and not to love the world, 15-17. We must beware of seducers, 18, 19; from whose deceits the godly are safe, preserved by perseverance in faith and holiness of life, 20-29.

1 My little children, these things I write to you so that you do not sin. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 4 He who says, "I know him," and does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. 6 He who says he abides in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

7 Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is past and the true light now shines. 9 He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness even until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness, walks in darkness, and does not know where he goes because darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

15 Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world and its lust passes away, but he who does the will of God abides forever.

18 Little children, it is the last time. And as you have heard that the antichrist comes, even now there are many antichrists, by which we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out so that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But you have an unction from the Holy One and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son, the same does not have the Father. But he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you also shall continue in the Son and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who seduce you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from him abides in you, and you do not need that any man should teach you. But as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is truth and no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does righteousness is born of him.

Chapter 3

John declares the singular love of God toward us in making us his sons, 1, 2; who therefore ought obediently to keep his commandments, 3-10; as also to love one another as brothers, 11-24.

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world does not know us because it did not know him. 2 Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

4 Whoever commits sin also transgresses the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in him does not sin. Whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested so that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, for his seed remains in him. And he cannot sin because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither he who does not love his brother.

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 In this we know love: because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But he who has this world’s goods and sees his brother have need and shuts up his heart of compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment: to believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he who keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he abides in us: by the Spirit which he has given us.

Chapter 4

John warns them not to believe all who boast of the Spirit, 1-6; and exhorts to brotherly love, 7-21.

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God. And this is that spirit of antichrist, of which you have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world; therefore, they speak from the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us. He who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. And everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us: that God sent his only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God loved us in this manner, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we dwell in him and he in us: because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love. And he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. 17 In this our love is made perfect so that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from him: he who loves God must also love his brother.

Chapter 5

He who loves God loves his children and keeps his commandments, 1, 2; which to the faithful are not grievous, 3-8. Jesus is the Son of God, 9-13; and is able to hear our prayers, 14-21.

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone who loves him who begot loves him also who is begotten by him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith.

5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ—not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears testimony, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three who bear testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit—and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear testimony on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God which he has testified of his Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar because he has not believed the testimony that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life, and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired from him.

16 If any man sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin. But he who is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one does not touch him. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

THE SECOND LETTER FROM JOHN

Chapter 1

John exhorts a certain honorable matron and her children to persevere in Christian love and belief, 1-7, lest they lose the reward of their former profession, 8, 9; and to have nothing to do with those seducers who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ Jesus, 10-13.

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 For the truth’s sake which dwells in us and shall be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace shall be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found some of your children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I implore you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

7 For many deceivers have entered into the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves so that we do not lose those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither wish him happiness. 11 For he who wishes him happiness is partaker of his evil deeds.

12 Having many things to write to you, I do not wish to write with paper and ink. But I trust to come to you and speak face to face so that our joy may be full.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

THE THIRD LETTER FROM JOHN

Chapter 1

John commends Gaius for his piety, 1-4, and hospitality, 5, 6, to true preachers, 7, 8; complaining of the unkind dealing of ambitious Diotrephes on the contrary side, 9, 10; whose evil example is not to be followed, 11; and gives special testimony to the good report of Demetrius, 12-14.

1 The elder to the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you do to the brothers and to strangers, 6 Who have borne testimony of your charity before the church, whom you will do well to bring forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, 7 Because for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such so that we may be fellow-helpers for the truth.

9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brothers and forbids those who would and casts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, do not follow that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has good report by all men and by the truth itself. And we also bear testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with ink and pen.

14 But I trust I shall see you shortly and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to you. Our friends salute you. Greet the friends by name.

THE LETTER FROM JUDE

Chapter 1

Jude exhorts them to be constant in the profession of the faith, 1-3. False teachers have crept in to seduce them, for whose evil doctrine and manners horrible punishment is prepared, 4-19; whereas the godly, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit and prayers to God, may persevere, grow in grace, keep themselves, and recover others out of the snares of those deceivers, 20-25.

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered to the saints. 4 For some men have crept in unexpectedly, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their first state, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day, 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in like manner, giving themselves over to impurity and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also, these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of glorious [ones]. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil and disputing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring against him a railing accusation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you." 10 But these speak evil of those things which they do not know. But what they know naturally as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and have perished in the gainsaying of Korah. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear. They are clouds without water carried along by winds. They are withered autumn trees, without fruit, twice dead, plucked out by the roots. 13 They are raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame. They are wandering stars to whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with tens of thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all and to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have impiously committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their own lusts, and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 That they told you, "There would be mockers in the last time who would walk after their own ungodly lusts." 19 These are those who separate themselves. They are sensual, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying by the Holy Spirit, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a difference, 23 And others, save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God the only wise, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

THE REVELATION OF THE APOSTLE JOHN

Chapter 1

The preface, 1-3. John’s salutation to the seven churches of Asia, 4-6. The coming of Christ, 7. His glorious power and majesty, 8-20.

1 This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John, 2 Who bore testimony of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.

4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne, 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And has made us kings and priests to God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he "comes with the clouds," and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him. And all kindreds of the earth "shall wail because of him." Even so, Amen.

8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," says the Lord, "who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

9 I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos because of the word of God and because of the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a great voice like a trumpet, 11 Saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks someone like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot and girded around the chest with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hair was white like wool, as white as snow, his eyes were as a flame of fire, 15 His feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars. And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. And his countenance was as the sun shining in its strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, "Do not fear. I am the first and the last, 18 And the living one. And I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write, therefore, the things which you have seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden candlesticks is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.7]: Daniel 7:13;LXX Zechariah 12:10;LXX

Chapter 2

What is commanded to be written to the angels, that is, the ministers of the churches of Ephesus, 1-7, Smyrna, 8-11, Pergamos, 12-17, Thyatira, 18-29; and what is commended or found lacking in them.

1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus, write: 'He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, says these things:

2 "'"I know your works, your labor, and your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tried those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars. 3 You have patience and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 Nevertheless, I have this against you: that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and will remove your candlestick out of its place unless you repent. 6 But this you have: that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."'

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write: 'The first and the last, who was dead and is alive, says these things:

9 "'"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich), and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which you shall suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison so that you may be tried. And you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you a crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos, write: 'He who has the sharp sword with two edges, says these things:

13 "'"I know your works and where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is. And you hold firmly to my name and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit lewdness. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no man knows, except he who receives it."'

18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira, write: 'The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire and his feet are like fine brass, says these things:

19 "'"I know your works, charity, service, faith, your patience, and your works—and the last works to be more than the first. 20 But, I have a few things against you, because you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit lewdness and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her lewdness and she did not repent. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak, I will put upon you no other burden. 25 But that which you already have, hold firmly until I come. 26 And he who overcomes and keeps my works to the end, 'to him I will give power over the nations, 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and as the vessels of a potter they shall be broken to pieces,' even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning-star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

Old Testament Quotes

[v.26]: Psalm 2:8. [v.27]: Psalm 2:9.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 3

The angel of the church of Sardis is reproved, 1, 2; exhorted to repent, and threatened if he does not repent, 3-6. The angel of the church of Philadelphia, 7-9, is approved for his diligence and patience, 10-13; the angel of Laodicea rebuked for being neither hot nor cold, 14-18, and admonished to be more zealous, 19. Christ stands at the door and knocks, 20-22.

1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis, write: 'He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says these things: "I know your works. You have a reputation of being alive, and yet you are dead. 2 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found your works fulfilled before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white clothing. And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write: 'He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, and he who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens, says these things:

8 "'"I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door and no man can shut it. For you have a little strength and have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie, behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try those who dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly. Hold firmly to that which you have so that no man takes your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write: 'The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, says these things:

15 "'"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are luke-warm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing,' and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not appear, and anoint your eyes with eye-salve so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

Chapter 4

John sees the throne of God in heaven, 1-3. The twenty-four elders, 4, 5. The four living beings full of eyes in front and behind, 6-9. The elders lay down their crowns and worship him who sat on the throne, 10, 11.

1 After this, I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet talking with me, which said, "Come up here and I will show you things which must be hereafter." 2 And immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne was set in heaven and one sat on the throne. 3 And he who sat was in appearance like a jasper and a sardius stone. And there was a rainbow around the throne in sight like an emerald. 4 And around the throne were twenty-four seats, and upon the seats I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white clothing, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living beings full of eyes in front and behind. 7 And the first living being was like a lion, the second living being like a calf, the third living being had a face as a man, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living beings, each of them had six wings around him and they were full of eyes within. And they do not rest day or night, saying, "'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come." 9 And when those living beings give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sat on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. And they cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, honor, and power, for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they exist and were created."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.8]: Isaiah 6:3.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 5

The book sealed with seven seals, 1-8, which only the Lamb who was slain is worthy to open, 9-11. Therefore the elders praise him and confess that he redeemed them with his blood, 12-14.

1 And I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" 3 And no man in heaven nor on earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, nor to look upon it. 4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, nor to look upon it. 5 And one of the elders says to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to break its seven seals."

6 And I beheld, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living beings and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him who sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each of them having harps and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for you were slain and have redeemed us for God by your blood out of every kindred, language, people, and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God. And we shall reign on the earth."

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living beings, and the elders. And their number was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing." 13 And every creature which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, and those which are in the sea, and all which are in them, I heard saying, "Blessing, honor, glory, and power be to him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever." 14 And the four living beings said, "Amen." And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped him who lives forever and ever.

Chapter 6

The opening of the first six of the seven seals in order, and what followed afterward, 1-17.

1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, like the noise of thunder, one of the four living beings saying, "Come and see." 2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given to him. And he went forth conquering and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living being say, "Come and see." 4 And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given to him who sat upon him to take peace from the earth so that they should kill one another. And there was given to him a great sword.

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come and see." And I beheld, and behold, a black horse. And he who sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living beings say, "A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius, and see that you do not hurt the oil and the wine."

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being say, "Come and see." 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And his name who sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 And white robes were given to every one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow-servants and also their brothers, who should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig-tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the chief captains, the mighty men, every slave, and every free-man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of his wrath has come, and who will be able to stand?"

Chapter 7

An angel seals the servants of God in their foreheads, 3. The number of those who were sealed: of the tribes of Israel a certain number, 4-8. Of all other nations an innumerable multitude, which stand before the throne, clad in white robes and palms in their hands, 9-13. Their robes were washed in the blood of the Lamb, 14-17.

1 And after these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth so that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, "Do not hurt the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. And there were sealed one hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand were sealed. 6 Of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand were sealed. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand were sealed. 8 Of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand were sealed. Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

9 After this, I beheld, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number of all nations, kindreds, people, and languages, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb." 11 And all the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God, 12 Saying, "Amen. Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these who are arrayed in white robes? And where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are those who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 'They shall no longer hunger, neither thirst anymore, neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat.' 17 For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them and will lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.16]: Isaiah 49:10.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 8

At the opening of the seventh seal, 1, seven angels have seven trumpets given to them, 2-5. Four of them sound their trumpets, and great plagues follow, 6-8. Another angel puts incense to the prayers of the saints on the golden altar, 9-13.

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

3 And another angel having a golden censer came and stood at the altar. And much incense was given to him so that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth. And there were voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth. And the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. And the third part of the sea became blood. 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died. And the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning like a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters. 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died by the waters because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, along with the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened. And the day did not shine for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound!"

Chapter 9

At the sounding of the fifth angel, a star falls from heaven, to whom is given the key of the bottomless pit, 1. He opens the pit, and there come forth locusts like scorpions, 2-11. The first woe past, 12. The sixth trumpet sounds, 13. Four angels who were bound are let loose. 14-21.

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth. And the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was said to them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months. And their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he strikes a man. 6 And in those days men shall seek death and shall not find it. And they shall desire to die, but death shall flee from them.

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle. And on their heads were something like crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breast-plates, like breast-plates of iron. And the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. And their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, who is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew language is Abaddon, but in the Greek language he has his name: Apollyon.

12 One woe is past, and behold, there are still two more woes coming hereafter.

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound in the great Euphrates River." 15 And the four angels were released who were prepared for that hour, day, month, and year to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million. And I heard their number. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them, having breast-plates of fire, of jacinth, and brimstone. And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions, and out of their mouths issued fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three the third part of men was killed: by the fire, by the smoke, and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

20 And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and of wood, which neither can see, hear, nor walk, 21 Neither did they repent of their murders, of their sorceries, of their lewdness, nor of their thefts.

Chapter 10

A mighty strong angel appears with a book open in his hand, 1-5. He swears by him who lives forever that there shall be no more time, 6-8. John is commanded to take and eat the book, 9-11.

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head. His face was like the sun and his feet as pillars of fire. 2 And he had in his hand a little book opened. And he set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot on the earth, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and do not write them." 5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And swore by him who lives forever and ever, who "created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things which are in it," that there should be time no longer. 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, "Go, and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth." 9 And I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take it and eat it. It shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey." 10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it. And it was in my mouth sweet as honey, but as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy again before many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.6]: Exodus 20:11.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 11

The two witnesses prophesy, 1-5. They have power to shut heaven so that it may not rain, 6. The beast shall fight against them and kill them, 7. They lie unburied, 8-10; and after three and a half days rise again, 11-13. The second woe is past, 14. The seventh trumpet sounds, 15-19.

1 And there was given to me a reed like a rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise, and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it is given to the Gentiles. And they shall tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive-trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven so that it may not rain in the days of their prophecy, and they have power over waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And those of the people, kindreds, languages, and nations shall see their dead bodies three and a half days and shall not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And those who dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and make merry and shall send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented those who dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three and a half days, the Spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell. And seven thousand men were killed in the earthquake. And the remnant were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past, and behold, the third woe comes quickly.

15 And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshiped God, 17 Saying, "We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is, was, and is to come, because you have taken your great power and have reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, but your wrath has come. And the time has come that the dead should be judged and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament. And there were lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Chapter 12

A woman clothed with the sun travails, 1-3. The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child, 4, 5; when she has delivered she flees into the wilderness, 6. Michael and his angels fight with the dragon and prevail, 7-12. The dragon, being cast down to the earth, persecutes the woman, 13-17.

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 And she was with child and she cried out, travailing in birth and in pain to deliver.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to deliver to devour her child as soon as it was born.

5 And she brought forth a male child, who was to "rule all nations with a rod of iron." And her child was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God so that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought, 8 And did not prevail, neither was their place found anymore in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world. He was cast out upon the earth and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, strength, the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ have come. For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives even to death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea! For the devil has come down to you having great wrath because he knows that he has but a short time."

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the male child. 14 And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman so that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman so that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was angry with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.5]: Psalm 2:9.LXX (paraphrased)

Chapter 13

A beast rises out of the sea with seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns, 1. His description, power, blasphemy, cruelty, etc., 2-10. Another beast comes out of the earth with two horns, deceiving the world by his false miracles and causing everyone to receive his mark, 11-18.

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power, his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon which gave power to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" 5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given to him to continue forty-two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name, his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And power was given to him over all kindreds, languages, and nations. 8 And all who dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity. He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceives those who dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast which was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 And he had power to give life to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 So that no man might buy or sell, except him who had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. And his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Chapter 14

The Lamb standing on mount Zion with his company, 1-5. An angel preaches the gospel, 6, 7. The fall of Babylon, 8-14. The harvest of the world, 15-19. The wine-press of the wrath of God, 20.

1 And I looked, and behold, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters and like the voice of a great thunder. And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne, before the four beasts, and the elders. And no man could learn that song but the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth and to every nation, kindred, language, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to him, because the hour of his judgment has come. And worship him who made heaven, earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters."

8 And there followed another angel, saying, "'Fallen, fallen is Babylon' that great city, who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness."

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any man worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night who worship the beast and his image and whoever receives the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Truly," says the Spirit, "in that they shall rest from their labors, for their works follow with them."

14 And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and someone like the Son of man sat upon the cloud having a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in your sickle and reap, for the time has come for you to reap, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 And he who sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe." 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine-press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the wine-press, even to the horses' bridles, by the space of one thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.8]: Isaiah 21:9.LXX

Chapter 15

The seven angels with the seven last plagues, 1, 2. The song of those who overcome the beast, 3-6. The seven vials full of the wrath of God, 7, 8.

1 And I saw another great and marvelous sign in heaven: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for the wrath of God is filled up in them.

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. And those who had gained the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, 'King of nations.'

4 'Who shall not fear you,' O Lord, 'and glorify your name'? For you only are holy. For 'all nations shall come and worship before you,' because your judgments are made manifest."

5 And after that, I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their chests girded with golden girdles. 7 And one of the four living beings gave to the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.3]: Jeremiah 10:7. [v.4]: Jeremiah 10:7; Psalm 86:9.LXX

Chapter 16

The angels pour out their vials full of wrath, 1-5. The plagues that follow, 6-14. Christ comes as a thief. Blessed are those who watch, 15-21.

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."

2 And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth. And there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and upon those who worshiped his image.

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and it became as the blood of a dead man. And every living soul died in the sea.

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, "You are righteous, O Lord, who is, was, and will be, because you have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink, for they are worthy." 7 And I heard another from the altar say, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments."

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and power was given to it to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat and they blasphemed the name of God, who has power over these plagues. And they did not repent to give him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darkness. And they gnawed their tongues because of the pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. And they did not repent of their deeds.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great Euphrates River, and its water was dried up so that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." 16 And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew language, Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air. And there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne, saying, "It is done." 18 And there were voices, thunders, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake such as has not been since men were upon the earth—so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was exceedingly great.

Chapter 17

A woman arrayed in purple and scarlet with a golden cup in her hand sits upon the beast, 1-4; which is great Babylon, the mother of all abominations, 5-8. The interpretation of the seven heads, 9-11; and the ten horns, 12, 13. The victory of the Lamb, 14, 15. The punishment of the harlot, 16-18.

1 And one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come here. I will show to you the judgment of the great harlot who sits upon many waters, 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed lewd deeds and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her lewdness." 3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored beast that was full of names of blasphemy and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet-color and decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her lewdness. 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great wonder.

7 And the angel said to me, "Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw, it was and is no more. And it shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, is no more, and yet is. 9 And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come—but when he comes, he must remain a short time. 11 And the beast that was and is no more, he is also an eighth, and is of the seven and goes into perdition. 12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power as kings for one hour with the beast. 13 These have one mind and shall give their power and strength to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those who are with him are the called, chosen, and faithful."

15 And he says to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. 16 And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to come to one mind and give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

Chapter 18

Babylon has fallen, 1-3. The people of God commanded to depart out of her, 4-8. The kings of the earth, with the merchants and mariners, lament over her, 9-19. The saints rejoice for the judgments of God upon her, 20-24.

1 And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, "'Fallen, fallen is Babylon' the great, and she has become the habitation of demons, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drank of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness, the kings of the earth have committed lewd deeds with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her delicacies."

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you are not partakers of her sins and that you do not receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double to her double according to her works. In the cup which she has filled, fill to her double. 7 However much she has glorified herself and lived deliciously, in such amount give her torment and sorrow, for she says in her heart, '"I sit as a queen," "I am not a widow, and never shall I see sorrow."' 8 Therefore, her plagues shall come in one day: death, mourning, and famine. And she shall be utterly burned with fire, for the Lord God who judges her is strong.

9 "And the kings of the earth who have committed lewdness and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'

11 "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her because no man buys their merchandise anymore: 12 The merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, of pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all thyine wood, all vessels of ivory, all vessels of most precious wood, of brass, iron, marble, 13 Cinnamon, odors, ointments, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, beasts, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and souls of men. 14 And the fruits that your soul lusted after have departed from you, and all things which were dainty and splendid have departed from you, and you shall no longer find them at all. 15 The merchants of these things who were made rich by her shall stand afar off because of the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great wealth has come to nothing.' And every ship-master and all the company in ships, along with sailors and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like this great city?' 19 And they cast dust on their heads and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city in which all who had ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her opulence!' For in one hour she is made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her."

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence that great city Babylon shall be thrown down and shall no longer be found. 22 And the voice of harpers, musicians, of pipers, and trumpeters shall no longer be heard in you. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore. The sound of a millstone shall no longer be heard in you. 23 The light of a candle shall no longer shine in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall no longer be heard in you. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, because by your sorceries all nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, of saints, and of all who were slain upon the earth."

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Isaiah 21:9.LXX [v.7]: Isaiah 47:7-8.

Chapter 19

God is praised in heaven for judging the great harlot and avenging the blood of his saints, 1-6. The marriage of the Lamb, 7-9. The angel will not be worshiped, 10-16. The birds called to the great slaughter, 17-21.

1 And after these things, I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, saying, "Alleluia. Salvation, glory, honor, and power to the Lord our God. 2 For 'true and righteous are his judgments.' For he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her lewdness and has 'avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.'" 3 And again they said, "Alleluia. And 'her smoke rose up forever and ever.'" 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen. Alleluia." 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all his servants, and those who fear him, both small and great." 6 And I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia. For the Lord God, omnipotent, reigns.

7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. 8 And it was granted to her that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white"—for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he says to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he says to me, "These are the true sayings of God." 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Behold, do not do that. I am your fellow-servant and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name written that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. And his name is called, The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it he should smite the nations. And he "shall rule them with a rod of iron." And he treads the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come, and assemble yourselves to the supper of the great God, 18 So that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great."

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies assembled to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These were both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him who sat upon the horse, which sword proceeds out of his mouth. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Old Testament Quotes

[v.2]: Psalm 19:9; 2nd Kings 9:7.LXX (paraphrased) [v.3]: Isaiah 34:10. [v.15]: Psalm 2:9.LXX

Chapter 20

Satan bound for a thousand years, 1-5. The first resurrection; those who have part therein are blessed, 6. Satan let loose again, 7. Gog and Magog, 8, 9. The devils cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 10, 11. The last and general resurrection, 12-15.

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold upon the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, bound him a thousand years, 3 Cast him into the bottomless pit, shut him up, and set a seal upon him so that he should no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years should be fulfilled. And after that, he must be released a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. On such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years have expired, Satan shall be released from his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them to battle—the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth and encompassed the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was no place found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were each judged according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Chapter 21

A new heaven and a new earth, 1-9. The heavenly Jerusalem, with a full description thereof, 10-22. She needs no sun, the glory of God being her light, 23. The kings of the earth bring their riches to her, 24-27.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away."

5 And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And he said to me, "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to him who is thirsty from the fountain of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things. And I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, lewd men, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death."

9 And there came to me one of the seven angels who had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues and talked with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife."

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God. And her light was like a stone most precious, even like a jasper-stone, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great and high wall and had twelve gates with names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and at the gates twelve angels. 13 On the east were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And he who talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 And the city lies square, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, its breadth, and its height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, which is also of an angel. 18 And the building of its wall was of jasper. And the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprase; the eleventh, a jacinth; and the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Every single gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city had no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God enlightened it, and the Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light. And the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 And its gates shall not be shut by day, for there shall be no night there. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatever works abomination or makes a lie, but those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Chapter 22

The river of the water of life, 1. The tree of life, 2-4. The light of the city of God is himself, 5-8. The angel will not be worshiped, 9-17. Nothing may be added to the word of God, nor taken from it, 18-21.

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 In the midst of its street. And on each side of the river was the tree of life, which bore twelve kinds of fruits and yielded her fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse. But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him. 4 And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there. They need no candle, neither light of the sun, because the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

6 And he said to me, "These sayings are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show to his servants the things which must shortly be done."

7 "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

8 And I, John, saw these things and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he says to me, "Behold, do not do that, for I am a fellow-servant of yours, of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the sayings of this book. Worship God."

10 And he says to me, "Do not seal the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him be righteous still. He who is holy, let him be holy still."

12 "And behold, I come quickly. And my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14 "Blessed are those who do his commandments so that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For outside are dogs, sorcerers, lewd men, murderers, idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright and morning-star."

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." And let him who is thirsty come. And whoever wishes, let him take the water of life freely.

18 For I testify to every man who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if any man takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the tree of life, out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

20 He who testifies these things says, "Surely I come quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

A

Abba

"Father," also used as the term of tender endearment by a beloved child — i.e. in an affectionate, dependent relationship with their father; "daddy," "papa."

Acre

A piece of land, containing 160 square rods, or 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet.

Aijeleth

a doe — hind. "Some think they find Christ in the title of this psalm, upon Aijeleth Shahar—The hind of the morning… But others think it denotes only the tune to which the psalm was set." (Matthew Henry).

Alamoth

Girls, i.e. the soprano or female voice, perhaps falsetto.

Alas

An exclamation expressive of sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil; sometimes followed by day or while; alas the day, like alack a day; or alas the while, expressing an unhappy time.

Al-taschith

Thou must not destroy; probably the opening words to a popular song. "Some make it to be only some known tune to which this psalm was set; others apply it to the occasion and matter of the psalm" (Matthew Henry).

Amen

1. Firm, i.e. (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it) — amen, verily.

2. As a verb, it signifies to confirm, establish, verify; to trust, or give confidence; as a noun, truth, firmness, trust, confidence; as an adjective, firm, stable.

Amerce

To inflict a penalty at mercy; to punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed by law, but left to the discretion or mercy of the court; as, the court amerced the criminal in the sum of one hundred dollars.

Anathema

A (religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated (thing or person) — accused, anathema, curse, great.

Apace

With a quick pace; quick; fast; speedily; with haste; hastily.

Apostasy

An abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one’s faith or religion.

Apostate

One who has forsaken the church, sect, or profession to which he before adhered; one who has abandoned his religion.

Assarion

A Roman bronze coin valued at 1/10 of a denarius.

Assiduous, or assiduously

Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive; unremitting.

Assuage

To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease or lessen, as pain or grief; to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult.

Atone

1. To stand as an equivalent; to make reparation, amends or satisfaction for an offense or a crime, by which reconciliation is procured between the offended and offending parties.

2. To expiate; to answer or make satisfaction for.

Atonement

1. Expiation; satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing or suffering that which is received in satisfaction for an offense or injury.

2. In theology, the expiation of sin made by the obedience and personal sufferings of Christ.

Avouch

To declare or assert positively and as matter of fact; to affirm openly. To acknowledge deliberately; to admit; to confess; to sanction.

Awl

An iron instrument for piercing small holes in leather, for sewing and stitching; used by shoemakers, saddlers, etc. The blade is either straight, or a little bent and flattened.

B

Bath

A Hebrew measure containing the tenth of a homer, or seven gallons and four pints, as a measure for liquids; and three pecks and three pints, as a dry measure.

Beget

1. To procreate, as a father or sire; to generate; as, to beget a son.

2. To produce, as an effect; to cause to exist; to generate; as, luxury begets vice.

Bestir

To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and vigor.

Blasphemy

Blasphemy is an injury offered to God, by denying that which is due and belonging to him, or attributing to him that which is not agreeable to his nature.

Bolster

A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; — generally laid under the pillows.

Booth

A house or shed built of boards, boughs of trees, or other slight materials, for a temporary residence.

Brazen

Pertaining to brass; proceeding from brass; as a brazen din.

Buckler

A kind of shield, of various shapes and sizes, worn on one of the arms (usually the left) for protecting the front of the body.

Bulwarks

A rampart; a fortification; a bastion or outwork. That which secures against an enemy, or defends from attack; any means of defense or protection.

C

Cake

1. A small mass of baked dough; especially, a thin loaf from unleavened dough.

2. A lump of pressed figs (e.g., a cake of figs). 1st Samuel 25:18, 30:12.

Capital

The uppermost part of a column, pillar or pilaster, serving as the head or crowning, and placed immediately over the shaft, and under the entablature.

Ceil, or Ceiled

To overlay or cover the inner roof of a building; or to cover the top or roof of a room.

Charity

In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.

Cherub, or Cherubim

A figure composed of various creatures, as a man, an ox, an eagle or lion. The first mention of cherubs is in Genesis 3:24, where the figure is not described, but their office was, with a flaming sword, to keep or guard the way of the tree of life. The two cherubs which Moses was commanded to make at the ends of the Mercy seat, were to be of beaten work of gold; and their wings were to extend over the Mercy seat, their faces toward each other, and between them was the residence of the Deity. Exodus 15. The cherubs, in Ezekiel’s vision, had each four heads or faces, the hands of a man and wings. The four faces were, the face of a bull, that of a man, that of a lion, and that of an eagle. They had the likeness of a man. Ezekiel 4, and 10. In 2nd Samuel 22:11, and Psalm 18, Yahweh is represented as riding on a cherub, and flying on the wings of the wind. In the celestial hierarchy, cherubs are represented as spirits next in order to seraphs. The hieroglyphical and emblematical figures embroidered on the veils of the tabernacle are called cherubs of curious or skillful work. Exodus 26.

Churlish

Rude; surly; austere; sullen; rough in temper; unfeeling; uncivil. Selfish; narrow-minded; avaricious.

Clamor

To utter loud sounds or outcries; to vociferate; to complain; to make importunate demands.

Colter

The fore iron of a plow, with a sharp edge, that cuts the earth or sod.

Concupiscence

Lust; unlawful or irregular desire of sexual pleasure. In a more general sense, the coveting of carnal things, or an irregular appetite for worldly good; inclination for unlawful enjoyments.

Condemn

1. To pronounce to be utterly wrong; to utter a sentence of disapprobation against; to censure; to blame. But the word often expresses more than censure or blame, and seems to include the idea of utter rejection; as, to condemn heretical opinions; to condemn one’s conduct.

2. To pronounce to be guilty; to sentence to punishment; to utter sentence against judicially; to doom; opposed to acquit or absolve; with to before the penalty.

Convocation

1. The act of calling or assembling by summons.

2. An assembly.

Coping

The top or cover of a wall, made sloping to carry off the water.

Cor

A Hebrew measure of capacity; a homer. Ezekiel 45.

Countenance

1. Literally, the contents of a body; the outline and extent which constitutes the whole figure or external appearance. Appropriately, the human face; the whole form of the face, or system of features; visage.

2. Air; look; aspect; appearance of the face; as in the phrase, to change or alter the countenance.

3. Favor; good will; kindness.

Covenant

1. In theology, the covenant of works, is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that mans perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live; that do, and die. The covenant of redemption, is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ. The covenant of grace, is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.

2. In church affairs, a solemn agreement between the members of a church, that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection.

3. A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation. A covenant is created by deed in writing, sealed and executed; or it may be implied in the contract.

Covert

A covering, or covering place; a place which covers and shelters; a shelter; a defense.

Cracknel

A crisp biscuit.

Cruse

A bottle for holding water, oil, honey, etc.

Cubit

In mensuration, the length of a mans arm from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger. The cubit among the ancients was of a different length among different nations. Dr. Arbuthnot states the Roman cubit at seventeen inches and four tenths; the cubit of the scriptures at a little less than 22 inches; and the English cubit at 18 inches.

D

Degrees

Elevation, i.e. the act; specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms) — things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.

Denarius, or Denarii

A Roman silver coin of the value of about fourteen cents; the penny of the New Testament; — so called from being worth originally ten of the pieces called as.

Depose

To remove from a throne or other high station; to dethrone; to divest or deprive of office.

Deputed, or Depute

To appoint as a substitute or agent to act for another; to appoint and send with a special commission or authority to transact business in another’s name. The sheriff deputes a man to serve a writ. 2nd Samuel 15.

Dereliction

The act of leaving with an intention not to reclaim; an utter forsaking; abandonment.

Diffidence

More generally, distrust of ones self; want of confidence in our own power, competency, correctness or wisdom; a doubt respecting some personal qualification. We speak or write with diffidence, when we doubt our ability to speak or write correctly or to the satisfaction of others. The effect of diffidence is some degree of reserve, modesty, timidity or bashfulness.

Dispensation

That which is dispensed, dealt out, or appointed; that which is enjoined or bestowed; especially (Theol.), a system of principles, promises, and rules ordained and administered; scheme; economy; as, the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations.

Disposed

Set in order; arranged; placed; adjusted; applied; bestowed; inclined.

Dispossess

To put out of possession, by any means; to deprive of the actual occupancy of a thing, particularly of land or real estate; to deseize.

Dissension

Disagreement in opinion, usually a disagreement which is violent, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; strife; discord; quarrel; breach of friendship and union.

Dissimulation

The act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance; a feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy. Dissimulation may be simply concealment of the opinions, sentiments or purpose; but it includes also the assuming of a false or counterfeit appearance which conceals the real opinions or purpose. Romans 12:9.

Distaff

The staff of a spinning-wheel, to which a bunch of flax or tow is tied, and from which the thread is drawn. Proverbs 31.

Divine (verb)

1. To foresee or foreknow; to detect; to anticipate; to conjecture.

2. To foretell; to predict; to presage.

Doctrine

In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles. The doctrines of Plato are the principles which he taught. Hence a doctrine may be true or false; it may be a mere tenet or opinion.

Dowry

The gift of a husband for a wife. Endowment; gift.

Dram

A daric or Persian coin. (A daric is a gold coin of ancient Persia, weighing usually a little more than 128 grains, and bearing on one side the figure of an archer.)

Dregs

1. The sediment of liquors; lees; grounds; feculence; any foreign matter of liquors that subsides to the bottom of a vessel.

2. Waste or worthless matter; dross; sweepings; refuse. Hence, the most vile and despicable part of men; as the dregs of society.

Dromedary

A species of camel, called also the Arabian camel, with one bunch or protuberance on the back, in distinction from the Bactrian camel, which has two bunches. It has four callous protuberances on the fore legs, and two on the hind ones. It is a common beast of burden in Egypt, Syria, and the neighboring countries.

Dross

1. The recrement or despumation of metals; the scum or extraneous matter of metals, thrown off in the process of melting.

2. Waste matter; refuse; any worthless matter separated from the better part; impure matter.

Duke

A chief; a prince; as the dukes of Edom. Genesis 36.

E

Ecclesiastes

A preacher.

Ecclesiastical

Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization or government of the church.

Edify

To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally,and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness. 1st Thessalonians 5.

Elect

1. Verb: In theology, to designate, choose or select as an object of mercy or favor.

2. Adjective: In theology, chosen as the object of mercy; chosen, selected or designated to eternal life; predestined in the divine counsels.

3. Noun:

1. One chosen or set apart; applied to Christ.

2. Chosen or designated by God to salvation; predestined to glory as the end, and to sanctification as the means; usually with a plural signification, the elect.

Emerods

Hemorrhoids; piles; a dilatation of the veins about the rectum, with a discharge of blood.

Ephah

Of Egyptian derivation; an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general — ephah, (diverse) measure(-s).

Ephod

A part of the sacerdotal habit among Jews, being a covering for the back and breast, held together on the shoulders by two clasps or brooches of onyx stones set in gold, and fastened by a girdle of the same stuff as the ephod. The ephod for the priests was of plain linen; that for the high priest was richly embroidered in colors. The breastplate of the high priest was worn upon the ephod in front. Exodus 28:6-12.

Epistle

A writing sent to one or more persons; a written communication; a letter.

Essay

To try; to attempt; to endeavor; to exert one’s power or faculties, or to make an effort to perform anything.

Exhort

To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.

Expostulate

To reason earnestly with a person, on some impropriety of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to desist, or to make redress; followed by with.

F

Faith

Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God’s character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God’s testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.

Fathom

A measure of length containing six feet, the space to which a man may extend his arms; used chiefly at sea for measuring cables, cordage, and the depth of the sea is sounding by a line and lead.

Feign

To make a show of; to pretend; to assume a false appearance; to counterfeit.

Firmament

The region of the air; the sky or heavens. In scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; for such is the signification of the Hebrew word, coinciding with regio, region, and reach. The original therefore does not convey the sense of solidity, but of stretching, extension; the great arch or expanse over our heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be placed, and are really seen.

Flagon

A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.

Fold

1. A pen or enclosure for sheep; a place where a flock of sheep is kept, whether in the field or under shelter.

2. A flock of sheep. Hence in a scriptural sense, the Church, the flock of the Shepherd of Israel. I have other sheep which are not of this fold (John 10:16).

Founder

One who founds; one who casts metals in various forms; a caster; as, a founder of cannon, bells, hardware, or types.

Fret

1. To rub; to wear away a substance by friction; as, to fret cloth; to fret a piece of gold or other metal.

2. To corrode; to gnaw; to ear away; as, a worm frets the planks of a ship.

3. To tease; to irritate; to vex; to make angry.

G

Gallant

Well dressed; showy; splendid; magnificent.

Galley

A low flat-built vessel, with one deck, and navigated with sails and oars; used in the Mediterranean. The largest sort of galleys, employed by the Venetians, are 162 feet in length, or 133 feet keel. They have three masts and thirty two banks of oars; each bank containing two oars, and each oar managed by six or seven slaves. In the fore-part they carry three small batteries of cannon.

Gentile

In the scriptures, a pagan; a worshiper of false gods; any person not a Jew or a Christian; a heathen. The Hebrews included in the term goim or nations, all the tribes of men who had not received the true faith,and were not circumcised. The Christians translated goim by the L. gentes, and imitated the Jews in giving the name gentiles to all nations who were not Jews nor Christians. In civil affairs, the denomination was given to all nations who were not Romans.

Gerah

A small coin and weight; 1/20 of a shekel.

Gird

1. To bind by surrounding with any flexible substance, as with a twig, a cord, bandage or cloth; as, to gird the loins with sackcloth.

2. To make fast by binding; to put on; usually with on; as, to gird on a harness; to gird on a sword.

3. To invest; to surround.

4. To clothe; to dress; to habit.

5. To furnish; to equip.

6. To surround; to encircle; to enclose; to encompass.

Gittith

A Gittite harp.

Goad

A pointed instrument used to stimulate a beast to move faster.

Goodly

Being of a handsome form; beautiful; graceful; as a goodly person; goodly raiment; goodly houses.

Gospel

1. A good or joyful message.

2. The history of the birth, life, actions, death, resurrection, ascension and doctrines of Jesus Christ; or a revelation of the grace of God to fallen man through a mediator, including the character, actions, and doctrines of Christ, with the whole scheme of salvation, as revealed by Christ and his apostles. This gospel is said to have been preached to Abraham, by the promise, "in thee shall all nations be blessed." Galatians 3. Go to http://gospel.rcv.xyz to see a Gospel message.

Grace

1. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. Romans 11.

2. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin. 2nd Corinthians 12.

3. The application of Christ’s righteousness to the sinner. Romans 5.

4. A state of reconciliation to God. Romans 5.

5. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, etc., proceeding from divine influence.

6. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Ephesians 4.

7. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Ephesians 3.

8. Eternal life; final salvation. 1st Peter 1.

Gravity

Probity: Primarily, tried virtue or integrity, or approved actions; but in general, strict honesty; sincerity; veracity; integrity in principle, or strict conformity of actions to the laws of justice.

Greaves

Armor for the legs; a sort of boots.

Grove

In gardening, a small wood or cluster of trees with a shaded avenue, or a wood impervious to the rays of the sun. A grove is either open or close; open, when consisting of large trees whose branches shade the ground below; close, when consisting of trees and underwood, which defend the avenues from the rays of the sun and from violent winds. Furthermore, a grove can be a place deemed holy or designed for worship. In the Scriptures, groves are often viewed as places the people deemed holy, even though God did not declare the place holy. For this reason, certain groves were to be destroyed, as they were places for idol worship. Deuteronomy 16:21-22; Judges 6:25; 2nd Kings 17:16.

H

Habergeon

A coat of mail or armor to defend the neck and breast. It was formed of little iron rings united, and descended from the neck to the middle of the body.

Hallow

1. To make holy; to consecrate; to set apart for holy or religious use. Exodus 28, 29; 1st Kings 8.

2. To devote to holy or religious exercises; to treat as sacred.

3. To reverence; to honor as sacred. Hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9.

Haunt

A place to which one frequently resorts.

Heath

A plant of the genus Erica, of many species. It is a shrub. Its leaves are small and continue green all the year. Other Bible translations use either the word, bush, or shrub, instead of heath.

Heresy

Religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine or truth; heterodoxy.

Higgaion

A murmuring sound, by implication, a machination — device, Higgaion, meditation, solemn sound.

Hin

A Hebrew measure of capacity containing the sixth part of an ephah, or about five quarts English measure.

Hold

A place of security; a fortified place; a fort; a castle; — often called a stronghold.

Homer

A Hebrew measure containing, as a liquid measure, ten baths, equivalent to fifty-five gallons, two quarts, one pint; and, as a dry measure, ten ephahs, equivalent to six bushels, two pecks, four quarts.

I

Ignominy

Public disgrace; shame; reproach; dishonor; infamy.

Impiously

(by implication) wickedness — ungodly(-liness).

Importune, or importunity

To request with urgency; to press with solicitation; to urge with frequent or unceasing application.

Impute

To adjudge as one’s own (the sin or righteousness) of another; as, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. To charge; to attribute; to set to the account of; generally ill, sometimes good.

Incite, or incited

1. To move the mind to action by persuasion or motives presented; to stir up; to rouse; to spur on.

2. To move to action by impulse or influence.

3. To animate; to encourage.

Incredulity

The quality of not believing; indisposition to believe; a withholding or refusal of belief.

J

Jew

Originally, one belonging to the tribe or kingdom of Judah; after the return from the Babylonish captivity, any member of the new state; a Hebrew; an Israelite.

Jot

An iota; a point; a tittle; the least quantity assignable.

Justify

In theology, to pardon and clear form guilt; to absolve or acquit from guilt and merited punishment, and to accept as righteous on account of the merits of the Savior, or by the application of Christ’s atonement to the offender.

K

Kab

A hollow vessel used as a (dry) measure; a measure of capacity.

Kid

A young goat.

L

Lamentation

Expression of sorrow; cries of grief; the act of bewailing.

Lasciviousness

Looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; wantonness; lustfulness. Tendency to excite lust, and promote irregular indulgences.

Leannoth

To depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications).

Leaven

1. A mass of sour dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in it and renders it light. During the seven days of the passover, no leaven was permitted to be in the houses of the Jews. Exodus 12.

2. Anything which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed. Matthew 16.

3. To taint; to imbue. 1st Corinthians 5.

Leviathan

An aquatic animal, described in Job 41, and mentioned in other passages of Scripture. In Isaiah, it is called the crooked serpent. It is not agreed what animal is intended by the writers, whether the crocodile (most likely), the whale, or a species of serpent.

Levy

1. To raise; to collect. To levy troops, is to enlist or to order men into public service. To levy an army, is to collect troops and form an army by enrollment, conscription or other means.

2. To raise; to collect by assessment; as, to levy taxes, toll tribute, or contributions.

Lewdness

1. The unlawful indulgence of lust; fornication, or adultery.

2. In Scripture, it generally denotes idolatry.

Log

A Hebrew measure of liquids, containing, according to some authors, three quarters of a pint; according to others, five sixths of a pint. According to Arbuthnot, it was the seventy second part of the bath or ephah, and the twelfth part of a hin.

Loins

The loins are the space on each side of the vertebrae, between the lowest of the false ribs and the upper portion of the os ilium or haunch bone, or the lateral portions of the lumbar region; called also the reins.

Low

To bellow, as an ox or cow. To make the calling sound of cows and other bovine animals; to moo. 1st Samuel 6:12, "…the cows… lowing as they went…"

Lucre

Gain in money or goods; profit; riches; — often in an ill sense.

M

Mahalath

Sickness; Machalath, probably the title (initial word) of a popular song.

Mail

A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.

Mammon

Riches; wealth; or the god of riches.

Maneh

A Hebrew weight for gold or silver, being one hundred shekels of gold and sixty shekels of silver. Ezekiel 45.

Maran-atha

An exclamation of the approaching divine judgment.

Maschil

Instructive, i.e. a didactic poem.

Mattock

A tool to grub up weeds or roots; a grubbing hoe.

Michtam

An engraving, i.e. (techn.) a poem.

Midwife

A woman that assists other women in childbirth.

Mina

A weight or denomination of money. The mina of the Old Testament was valued at sixty shekels.

Miter

A sacerdotal ornament worn on the head by bishops and certain abbots, on solemn occasions.

Muthlabben

To die for the son, probably the title of a popular song — death.

N

Neginoth, or Neginah

Instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem set to music; specifically, an epigram.

Nehiloth

A flute. From Matthew Henry’s Commentary: "It is conjectured (and it is but a conjecture) that is signifies wind-instruments, with which this psalm was sung, as Neginoth was supposed to signify the stringed-instruments."

Nethinim

Servants of the priests and Levites in the menial services about the tabernacle and temple.

O

Obeisance

A bow or courtesy; an act of reverence made by an inclination of the body or the knee. Genesis 37.

Oblation

Anything offered or presented in worship or sacred service; an offering; a sacrifice.

Obstinate

1. Stubborn; pertinaciously adhering to an opinion or purpose; fixed firmly in resolution; not yielding to reason, arguments or other means.

2. Not yielding or not easily subdued or removed; as an obstinate fever; obstinate obstructions; an obstinate cough.

Omer

A Hebrew measure, the tenth of an ephah. See Exodus 16:36.

Oracle

1. Among Christians, oracles, in the plural, denotes the communications, revelations or messages delivered by God to prophets. In this sense it is rarely used in the singular; but we say, the oracles of God, divine oracles, meaning the Scriptures.

2. The sanctuary or most holy place in the temple, in which was deposited the ark of the covenant. 1st Kings 6.

Over against

Across from; in contrast with; opposite.

P

Paramour

A lover, of either gender; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; — used of a man or a woman.

Pare

To cut off, as the superficial substance or extremities of a thing; to shave off with a sharp instrument; as, to pare an apple or an orange; to pare the nails; to pare a horse’s hoof; to pare land in agriculture.

Parlor

A second-story room (or even one on the roof); an upper chamber; a loft. It can also be described as the room in a house which the family usually occupies when they have no company.

Penury

Want of property; indigence; extreme poverty.

Perdition

The utter loss of the soul or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death. The impenitent sinner is condemned to final perdition.

Perseverance

In theology, continuance in a state of grace to a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance. All who are saved by the grace of God will persevere to the end. John 10:27-29.

Pestilent, or pestilence

1. Producing the plague, or other malignant, contagious disease; noxious to health and life.

2. Troublesome; mischievous; making disturbance; corrupt. Acts 24:5.

Phylactery

Among the Jews, a slip of parchment on which was written some text of Scripture, particularly of the decalogue, worn by devout persons on the forehead, breast or neck as a mark of their religion.

Piety

Piety in principle, is a compound of veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being and love of his character, or veneration accompanied with love; and piety in practice, is the exercise of these affections in obedience to his will and devotion to his service.

Pipe

Pipe refers to a piped, or wind, instrument.

Plat

1. A small piece or plot of ground laid out with some design, or for a special use; usually, a portion of flat, even ground. 2nd Kings 9.

2. To weave; to form by texture. Matthew 27.

Plummet

Either a weight or a measuring line.

Poll

1. A register of heads, that is, of persons.

2. To clip; to cut off the ends; to cut off hair or wool; to shear.

Posterity

Descendants; children, children’s children, etc. indefinitely; the race that proceeds from a progenitor. The whole human race are the posterity of Adam.

Predestine

1. To decree, decide, or appoint beforehand; to foreordain; to predetermine; to limit in advance.

2. "While in ξελέξατο ('chosen'—Ephesians 1:4) the idea of selection out from among others is prominent, in προορίσας ('predestined'—Ephesians 1:5) the special phase of thought is that of the time, πρό, 'before' - before the foundation of the world. Both denote the exercise of Divine sovereignty." (Pulpit Commentary).

Presbytery

A body of elders in the Christian church. 1st Timothy 4:14.

Progenitor

An ancestor in the direct line; a forefather.

Prognosticator

A foreknower or foreteller of a future event by present signs.

Promulgate, or promulgation

To publish; to make known by open declaration; as, to promulgate the secrets of a council. It is particularly applied to the publication of laws and the gospel. The moral law was promulgated at mount Sinai. The apostles promulgated the gospel.

Prophesy

1. To foretell future events; to predict.

2. To utter predictions; to make declaration of events to come.

3. In Scripture, to preach; to instruct in religious doctrines; to interpret or explain Scripture or religious subjects; to exhort.

Propitiation

1. The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.

2. In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. Romans 3; 1st John 2.

Proselyte

A new convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system or party. Thus a Gentile converted to Judaism is a proselyte; a pagan converted to Christianity is a proselyte. The word primarily refers to converts to some religious creed.

Provender

Dry food for beasts, usually meal, or a mixture of meal and cut straw or hay. In a more general sense, it may signify dry food of any kind.

Providence

In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures.

Psalteries

The word, psaltery, is used in translating the Hebrew word, nevel or nebel (neh'-bel). It is a musical instrument used by the Hebrews. Its form is not now known, but it is very likely a type of harp.

Pulse

Leguminous plants or their seeds; the plants whose pericarp is a legume or pod, as beans, peas, etc.

Q

Quadrans

A Roman bronze coin of very small value. During the times of the writing of the New Testament, it was valued at a quarter of an assarion, or 1/40 of a denarius.

Quaternion

A file of four soldiers.

R

Rail

To use insolent and reproachful language; to utter reproaches; to scoff.

Ransom

1. In Scripture, the price paid for a forfeited life, or for delivery or release from capital punishment.

2. The price paid for procuring the pardon of sins and the redemption of the sinner from punishment.

Rear-ward

Definition of ward: The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection. The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody.

Redemption

In theology, the purchase of God’s favor by the death and sufferings of Christ; the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated law by the atonement of Christ.

Religion

1. Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man’s obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man’s accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion.

2. Religion, as distinct from theology, is godliness or real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command, or from love to God and his law. James 1.

3. Religion, as distinct from virtue, or morality, consists in the performance of the duties we owe directly to God, from a principle of obedience to his will. Hence we often speak of religion and virtue, as different branches of one system, or the duties of the first and second tables of the law.

Remission

Forgiveness; pardon; that is, the giving up of the punishment due to a crime; as the remission of sins. Matthew 26, Hebrews 9.

Repent

1. To feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken;

2. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct;

3. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God’s holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence;

4. This fourth definition comes from John Calvin’s Commentary on Amos 7:3: "Now as to the word repent, as applied to God, let us know… that God does not change his purpose so as to retract what he has once determined… but he accommodates himself to the measure of men’s understanding, when he mentions such changes."

Repentance

1. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude toward a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

2. A change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God (2nd Corinthians 7:9).

3. The relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.

Reprobate

1. Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected. Jeremiah 6.

2. Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace. Titus 1.

3. Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2nd Timothy 3.

Reprove

1. To blame; to censure. Psalm 50.

2. To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend. Luke 3.

3. To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest. John 16.

Requite

1. To repay either good or evil; in a good sense, to recompense; to return an equivalent in good; to reward.

2. To do or give in return.

Respite

A putting off of that which was appointed; a postponement or delay. Temporary intermission of labor, or of any process or operation; interval of rest; pause; delay.

Revelation

1. The act of disclosing or discovering to others what was before unknown to them; appropriately, the disclosure or communication of truth to men by God himself, or by his authorized agents, the prophets and apostles. Ephesians 3; 2nd Corinthians 12.

2. That which is revealed; appropriately, the sacred truths which God has communicated to man for his instruction and direction. The revelations of God are contained in the Old and New Testament.

Revile

To reproach; to treat with opprobrious and contemptuous language.

S

Sabaoth

This is a Hebrew transliterated word which is the plural form of army or host. It is found in Romans 9:29 and James 5:4 where it is used as "Lord of Sabaoth." The passage in Romans 9 is a quote from Isaiah 1:9, where the English is translated as, "Lord of Hosts." Paul quoted Isaiah from the Septuagint for that passage, which also used the word, "Sabaoth."

Sacrilege

This term is used in Romans 2:22 to refer to those who commit sacrilege. In this case, to commit sacrilege is to rob a temple, or to be a temple-robber.

Saint

Any person who is sanctified by the grace of God, that is, sanctified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Any member of the body of Christ, or the Church, is considered a saint.

Salvation

1. The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.

2. Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation. Go to http://gospel.rcv.xyz to see a salvation message.

3. Deliverance from enemies; victory. Exodus 14.

4. Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19.

Schism

In a general sense, division or separation; but appropriately, a division or separation in a church or denomination of Christians, occasioned by diversity of opinions; breach of unity among people of the same religious faith. In Scripture, the word seems to denote a breach of charity, rather than a difference of doctrine.

School-master

This word is used in 1st Corinthians 4:15 and Galatians 3:24-25. A school-master is a male teacher at a school. This translation comes from the Greek word, paidagogos (pahee-dag-o-gos'), which literally means, boy leader. These were slaves whose job was to lead boys to school.

Scrabble

To scrape, paw, or scratch with the hands; to proceed by clawing with the hands and feet; to make marks, as if scribbling something.

Sea

A large basin, cistern or laver which Solomon made in the temple, so large as to contain more than six thousand gallons. This was called the brazen sea, and used to hold water for the priests to wash themselves. 1st Kings 7; 2nd Chronicles 4.

Sedition

The raising of commotion in a state, not amounting to insurrection; conduct tending to treason, but without an overt act; excitement of discontent against the government, or of resistance to lawful authority.

Selah

Suspension (of music), i.e. pause. From Matthew Henry’s commentary: "Some refer it to the music with which, in David’s time, the psalms were sung; others to the sense, and that it is a note commanding a solemn pause. Selah—Mark that, or, 'Stop there, and consider a little.'"

Selvage

The edge of a cloth, where it is closed by complication the threads; a woven border, or border of the close works.

Sepulcher

A grave; a tomb; the place in which a dead body of a human being is interred, or a place destined for that purpose. Among the Jews sepulchers were often excavations in rocks.

Shahar

Dawn (literal, figurative or adverbial) — day or dayspring, early, light, morning, whence rises.

Share

The part (usually an iron or steel plate) of a plow which cuts the ground at the bottom of a furrow; a plowshare.

Shekel

An ancient weight and coin used by the Jews and by other nations of the same stock. It is difficult to determine the worth of a shekel of ancient Israel, since it’s based on the value of gold and silver, which constantly changes. Some Bible translations make an attempt to give a current estimate; however, those estimates will not always be accurate.

Sheminith

Probably an eight-stringed lyre.

Shiggaion, or Shigionoth

aberration, i.e. (technically) a dithyramb or rambling poem — Shiggaion, Shigionoth. From Matthew Henry’s commentary: "Shiggaion is a song or psalm (the word is used so only in Psalm 7:1 and Habakkuk 3:1)—a wandering song (so some), the matter and composition of the several parts being different, but artificially put together—a charming song (so others), very delightful."

Shoshannim

A lily (from its whiteness), as a flower of arch. ornament; also a (straight) trumpet (from the tubular shape).

Shushan-Eduth

Lily (or trumpet) of assemblage; Shushan-Eduth or Shoshannim-Eduth, the title of a popular song — Shoshannim-Eduth, Shushan-eduth.

Sin

1. Sin is a transgression of God’s law. 1st John 3:4.

2. The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God’s commands or law.

Sluice

An artificial passage for water, fitted with a valve or gate, as in a mill stream, for stopping or regulating the flow; also, a water gate of flood gate.

Smith

One who forges with the hammer; one who works in metals; as, a blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, and the like.

Stay (noun)

Prop; support.

Surfeit

To feed with meat or drink, so as to oppress the stomach and derange the functions of the system; to over feed and produce sickness or uneasiness.

Supplication

1. Entreaty; humble and earnest prayer in worship. In all our supplications to the Father of mercies, let us remember a world lying in ignorance and wickedness.

2. Petition; earnest request.

Synagogue

A congregation or assembly of Jews, met for the purpose of worship or the performance of religious rites.

T

Tabernacle

1. A tent. Numbers 24; Matthew 17.

2. A temporary habitation.

3. Among the Jews, a movable building, so contrived as to be taken to pieces with ease and reconstructed, for the convenience of being carried during the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness. It was of a rectangular figure, thirty cubits long, ten broad, and ten high. The interior was divided into two rooms by a veil or curtain, and it was covered with four different spreads or carpets. It is also applied to the temple. Psalm 15.

4. A place of worship; a sacred place.

5. Our natural body. 2nd Corinthians 5. 2nd Peter 1.

6. God’s gracious presence, or the tokens of it. Revelation 21.

Talent

1. Among the ancients, a weight, and a coin. The true value of the talent cannot well be ascertained, but it is known that it was different among different nations.

2. Talent, among the Hebrews, was also a gold coin, the same with a shekel of gold; called also stater, and weighing only four drachmas. But the Hebrew talent of silver, called cicar, was equivalent to three thousand shekels, or one hundred and thirteen pounds, ten ounces and a fraction, troy weight.

3. Faculty; natural gift or endowment; a metaphorical application of the word, said to be borrowed from the Scriptural parable of the talents. Matthew 25.

Tenon

In building and cabinet work, the end of a piece of timber, which is fitted to a mortise for insertion, or inserted, for fastening two pieces of timber together. The form of a tenon is various, as square, dovetailed, etc.

Teraphim

Images connected with the magical rites used by those Israelites who added corrupt practices to the patriarchal religion. Teraphim were consulted by the Israelites for oracular answers.

Terebinth

The turpentine tree.

Thummim

A Hebrew word denoting perfections. The Urim and Thummim were worn in the breastplate of the high priest, but what they were, has never been satisfactorily ascertained.

Tirshatha

The title of a Persian deputy or governor. Nehemiah 8:9.

Tithe

The tenth part of anything; but appropriately, the tenth part of the increase annually arising from the profits of land and stock, allotted to the clergy for their support. Tithes are personal, predial, or mixed; personal, when accruing from labor, art, trade and navigation; predial, when issuing from the earth, as hay, wood and fruit; and mixed, when accruing from beasts, which are fed from the ground. Deuteronomy 14; Malachi 3.

Tittle

A small particle; a minute part; a jot; an iota.

Tow

The coarse and broken part of flax or hemp, separated from the finer part by the hatchel or swingle.

Travail

1. To labor with pain; to toil.

2. To suffer the pangs of childbirth; to be in labor.

Tribulation

Severe affliction; distresses of life; vexations. In Scripture, it often denotes the troubles and distresses which proceed from persecution.

Tumult

The commotion, disturbance or agitation of a multitude, usually accompanied with great noise, uproar and confusion of voices.

U

Urim

The Urim and Thummim, among the Israelites, signify lights and perfections. These were a kind of ornament belonging to the habit of the high priest, in virtue of which he gave oracular answers to the people; but what they were has not been satisfactorily ascertained.

Usury

1. Formerly, interest; or a premium paid or stipulated to be paid for the use of money.

2. In present usage, illegal interest; a premium or compensation paid or stipulated to be paid for the use of money borrowed or retained, beyond the rate of interest established by law.

3. The practice of taking interest.

V

Variance

Difference that produces dispute or controversy; disagreement; dissension; discord.

Vermilion

1. Red sulphuret of mercury; a bright, beautiful red color of two sorts, natural and artificial. The natural is found in silver mines, in the form of a ruddy sand, which is to be prepared by purification or washing, and then levigated with water on a stone. The factitious or common vermilion is made of artificial cinnabar, ground with white wine, and afterward with the white of an egg.

2. Any beautiful red color.

Vesture

1. A garment; a robe.

2. Clothing; covering.

W

Warp

In manufactures, the threads, which are extended lengthwise in the loom, and crossed by the woof.

Wen

An encysted swelling or tumor; also, a fleshy excrescence growing on animals, sometimes to a large size.

Woof

The threads that cross the warp in weaving; the weft.

X

No words beginning with X.

Y

Yoke

1. A piece of timber, hollowed or made curving near each end, and fitted with bows for receiving the necks of oxen; by which means two are connected for drawing. From a ring or hook in the bow, a chain extends to the thing to be drawn, or to the yoke of another pair of oxen behind.

2. A mark of servitude; slavery; bondage.

3. A chain; a link; a bond of connection; as the yoke of marriage.

4. A couple; a pair; as a yoke of oxen.

5. Service. Matthew 11.

Z

Zeal

Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything. In general, zeal is an eagerness of desire to accomplish or obtain some object, and it may be manifested either in favor of any person or thing, or in opposition to it, and in a good or bad cause.

Zealous

Warmly engaged or ardent in the pursuit of an object.

APPENDIX

A GOSPEL MESSAGE: HOW CAN I BE BORN AGAIN?

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

~ John 3:3

This scripture comes from a conversation between a Pharisee named Nicodemus, and Jesus. In saying this, Jesus is giving the deciding factor of a soul entering into Heaven. Jesus tells Nicodemus that a man must be born again. He does not speak concerning a rebirthing of the flesh, but that of the Spirit.

The truth is, no one may enter into Heaven unless he is born again. So, how can a person born of the flesh be reborn? In his commentary on the Bible, Matthew Henry says, "First, we must live a new life. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again is to begin anew… We must not think to patch up the old building, but begin from the foundation. Secondly, we must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims… By our first birth we are corrupt, shaped in sin and iniquity; we must therefore undergo a second birth; our souls must be fashioned and enlivened anew."

When God causes a person to be born again, He does something rather miraculous. Detailed by the prophet Ezekiel, God said, "A new heart I will also give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This is a regeneration, or a recreation (rebirthing) of the person into an improved state. With this new heart and new spirit, the person will have repentance for his or her sins.

The question now is this: Are you born again?

If you were to die today, what would be God’s words to you as you stand before Him in judgment? Would it be, "Well done you good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21, 23), or would it be, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23)?

To find out, you need to see yourself in the reflection of God’s holy law. Let’s examine some (how about six?) of the Ten Commandments. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value? Have you ever committed adultery? Better yet, have you ever looked at another person through eyes of lust? That is the same as adultery, as Jesus said, "whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever murdered another person? Most of you out there have not killed anyone, but did you know that Jesus, in comparison to murder, said, "whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:22). Have you ever used the Lord’s name in vain, or as a curse? That is called blasphemy. Have you ever dishonored your father or your mother?

If you answered, "Yes," to any of the above questions, then you have broken God’s law. James 2:10 says, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet offends in one point, he is guilty of all." Breaking even one commandment means you are guilty of breaking all of God’s laws. That is because, "whatever things the law says, it says to those who are under the law so that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19). "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). So, are you guilty? With God’s law as the standard, do you think you will go to Heaven? After all, "the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (1st Corinthians 6:9-10). With a guilty verdict upon you, what do you think that God’s judgment should be for you? Do you think that you will have your part in the lake which burns with fire (Revelation 21:8), which is the place also known as Hell?

Did you know, that even though such a punishment is just and fitting for the guilty, your debt has been paid if you are born again? You see, "the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). "For [God] has made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2nd Corinthians 5:21). "He himself bore our sins in his own body on the [cross] so that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness" (1st Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13). Confess your sins to God, for, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1st John 1:9). The weight of our sins, coupled with knowing that, because of our unbelief, the wrath of God abides upon us (John 3:36), should drive us to the feet of Christ, "for godly sorrow works repentance to salvation" (2nd Corinthians 7:10). "The LORD is near to those who are of a broken heart and saves those who are of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18). Repent of your sins and turn yourself to Christ, wholly trusting in Him as your Savior. "'And the Redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,' says the LORD" (Isaiah 59:20).

If you see your need to call upon the Savior, for "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be delivered" (Joel 2:32), and repent of your sins, you are born again. "Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, and you shall be saved" (Romans 10:9, paraphrased). Pursue baptism "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Engage in a relationship with God through prayer and the daily reading and studying of his word in the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 8:3). Fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42). Tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15), preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47). Amen.

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Introduction

This is a daily Bible reading plan designed to take the reader once through the Old Testament and twice through the New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and Job.

Key

This table is a key of abbreviations used for the books of the Bible. The books of the Bible have been abbreviated to three letters each.

Old Testament

New Testament

Gen

Genesis

Mth

Matthew

Exo

Exodus

Mrk

Mark

Lev

Leviticus

Luk

Luke

Num

Numbers

Jhn

John

Deu

Deuteronomy

Act

Acts

Jsh

Joshua

Rom

Romans

Jdg

Judges

1Co

1  st Corinthians

Rth

Ruth

2Co

2  nd Corinthians

1Sa

1  st Samuel

Gal

Galatians

2Sa

2  nd Samuel

Eph

Ephesians

1Ki

1  st Kings

Phl

Philippians

2Ki

2  nd Kings

Col

Colossians

1Ch

1  st Chronicles

1Th

1  st Thessalonians

2Ch

2  nd Chronicles

2Th

2  nd Thessalonians

Ezr

Ezra

1Ti

1  st Timothy

Neh

Nehemiah

2Ti

2  nd Timothy

Est

Esther

Tit

Titus

Job

Job

Phm

Philemon

Psa

Psalms

Heb

Hebrews

Pro

Proverbs

Jms

James

Ecc

Ecclesiastes

1Pe

1  st Peter

SOS

Song of Solomon

2Pe

2  nd Peter

Isa

Isaiah

1Jn

1  st John

Jer

Jeremiah

2Jn

2  nd John

Lam

Lamentations

3Jn

3  rd John

Ezk

Ezekiel

Jde

Jude

Dan

Daniel

Rev

Revelation

Hos

Hosea

Joe

Joel

Amo

Amos

Oba

Obadiah

Jna

Jonah

Mic

Micah

Nah

Nahum

Hab

Habakkuk

Zph

Zephaniah

Hag

Haggai

Zch

Zechariah

Mal

Malachi

January

1

Gen 1-2

Job 1

Mth 1-2

2

Gen 3-4

Job 2

Mth 3-4

3

Gen 5-6

Job 3

Mth 5

4

Gen 7-8

Job 4

Mth 6

5

Gen 9-10

Job 5

Mth 7

6

Gen 11-12

Job 6

Mth 8

7

Gen 13-14

Job 7

Mth 9

8

Gen 15-16

Job 8

Mth 10

9

Gen 17-18

Job 9

Mth 11

10

Gen 19

Job 10

Mth 12

11

Gen 20-21

Job 11

Mth 13

12

Gen 22-23

Job 12

Mth 14

13

Gen 24

Job 13

Mth 15

14

Gen 25-26

Job 14

Mth 16

15

Gen 27-28

Job 15

Mth 17

16

Gen 29-30

Job 16

Mth 18

17

Gen 31

Job 17

Mth 19

18

Gen 32-33

Job 18

Mth 20

19

Gen 34-35

Job 19

Mth 21

20

Gen 36

Job 20

Mth 22

21

Gen 37-38

Job 21

Mth 23

22

Gen 39-40

Job 22

Mth 24

23

Gen 41

Job 23

Mth 25

24

Gen 42-43

Job 24

Mth 26

25

Gen 44-45

Job 25

Mth 27-28

26

Gen 46-47

Job 26

Mrk 1

27

Gen 48-49

Job 27

Mrk 2

28

Gen 50, Exo 1

Job 28

Mrk 3

29

Exo 2-3

Job 29

Mrk 4

30

Exo 4-5

Job 30

Mrk 5

31

Exo 6-7

Job 31

Mrk 6

February

1

Exo 8-9

Job 32

Mrk 7

2

Exo 10-11

Job 33

Mrk 8

3

Exo 12

Job 34

Mrk 9

4

Exo 13-14

Job 35

Mrk 10

5

Exo 15-16

Job 36

Mrk 11

6

Exo 17-18

Job 37

Mrk 12

7

Exo 19-20

Job 38

Mrk 13

8

Exo 21-22

Job 39

Mrk 14

9

Exo 23-24

Job 40

Mrk 15-16

10

Exo 25-26

Job 41

Luk 1

11

Exo 27-28

Job 42

Luk 2

12

Exo 29

Psa 1-3

Luk 3

13

Exo 30

Psa 4-6

Luk 4

14

Exo 31-32

Psa 7-8

Luk 5

15

Exo 33-34

Psa 9

Luk 6

16

Exo 35-36

Psa 10

Luk 7

17

Exo 37-38

Psa 11-13

Luk 8

18

Exo 39-40

Psa 14-16

Luk 9

19

Lev 1-2

Psa 17

Luk 10

20

Lev 3-4

Psa 18

Luk 11

21

Lev 5-6

Psa 19-20

Luk 12

22

Lev 7-8

Psa 21

Luk 13

23

Lev 9-10

Psa 22

Luk 14

24

Lev 11-12

Psa 23-24

Luk 15

25

Lev 13

Psa 25

Luk 16

26

Lev 14

Psa 26-27

Luk 17

27

Lev 15-16

Psa 28-30

Luk 18

28

Lev 17-18

Psa 31

Luk 19

March

1

Lev 19-20

Psa 32

Luk 20

2

Lev 21-22

Psa 33

Luk 21

3

Lev 23-24

Psa 34

Luk 22

4

Lev 25

Psa 35

Luk 23

5

Lev 26-27

Psa 36

Luk 24

6

Num 1

Psa 37

Jhn 1

7

Num 2

Psa 38

Jhn 2

8

Num 3

Psa 39

Jhn 3

9

Num 4

Psa 40

Jhn 4

10

Num 5-6

Psa 41

Jhn 5

11

Num 7

Psa 42-43

Jhn 6

12

Num 8-9

Psa 44

Jhn 7

13

Num 10-11

Psa 45

Jhn 8

14

Num 12-13

Psa 46-47

Jhn 9

15

Num 14-15

Psa 48

Jhn 10

16

Num 16

Psa 49

Jhn 11

17

Num 17-18

Psa 50

Jhn 12

18

Num 19-20

Psa 51

Jhn 13

19

Num 21-22

Psa 52-54

Jhn 14

20

Num 23-25

Psa 55

Jhn 15

21

Num 26

Psa 56

Jhn 16

22

Num 27-28

Psa 57

Jhn 17

23

Num 29-30

Psa 58

Jhn 18

24

Num 31

Psa 59

Jhn 19

25

Num 32

Psa 60

Jhn 20-21

26

Num 33

Psa 61

Act 1

27

Num 34-35

Psa 62

Act 2

28

Num 36, Deu 1

Psa 63

Act 3

29

Deu 2-3

Psa 64-65

Act 4

30

Deu 4

Psa 66-67

Act 5-6

31

Deu 5-6

Psa 68

Act 7

April

1

Deu 7-8

Psa 69

Act 8

2

Deu 9-10

Psa 70-71

Act 9

3

Deu 11-12

Psa 72

Act 10

4

Deu 13-14

Psa 73

Act 11

5

Deu 15-16

Psa 74

Act 12

6

Deu 17-18

Psa 75-76

Act 13

7

Deu 19-20

Psa 77

Act 14

8

Deu 21-22

Psa 78

Act 15

9

Deu 23-24

Psa 79

Act 16

10

Deu 25-26

Psa 80

Act 17

11

Deu 27

Psa 81-82

Act 18

12

Deu 28

Psa 83-84

Act 19

13

Deu 29-30

Psa 85

Act 20

14

Deu 31

Psa 86-87

Act 21

15

Deu 32

Psa 88

Act 22

16

Deu 33-34

Psa 89

Act 23

17

Jsh 1-2

Psa 90

Act 24

18

Jsh 3-4

Psa 91

Act 25

19

Jsh 5-6

Psa 92-93

Act 26

20

Jsh 7-8

Psa 94

Act 27

21

Jsh 9

Psa 95-96

Act 28

22

Jsh 10

Psa 97

Rom 1

23

Jsh 11-12

Psa 98-99

Rom 2

24

Jsh 13-14

Psa 100-101

Rom 3-4

25

Jsh 15

Psa 102

Rom 5-6

26

Jsh 16-17

Psa 103

Rom 7

27

Jsh 18

Psa 104

Rom 8

28

Jsh 19

Psa 105

Rom 9

29

Jsh 20-21

Psa 106

Rom 10

30

Jsh 22

Psa 107

Rom 11-12

May

1

Jsh 23-24

Psa 108

Rom 13-14

2

Jdg 1-2

Psa 109

Rom 15-16

3

Jdg 3-4

Psa 110-111

1Co 1

4

Jdg 5

Psa 112-113

1Co 2-3

5

Jdg 6

Psa 114-115

1Co 4

6

Jdg 7-8

Psa 116-117

1Co 5-6

7

Jdg 9

Psa 118

1Co 7

8

Psa 119

1Co 8-9

9

Jdg 10-11

Psa 120-121

1Co 10-11

10

Jdg 12-13

Psa 122-123

1Co 12-13

11

Jdg 14-15

Psa 124-125

1Co 14

12

Jdg 16-17

Psa 126-127

1Co 15

13

Jdg 18-19

Psa 128-129

1Co 16

14

Jdg 20-21

Psa 130-131

2Co 1-3

15

Rth 1-2

Psa 132

2Co 4-6

16

Rth 3-4

Psa 133-134

2Co 7-9

17

1Sa 1-2

Psa 135

2Co 10-11

18

1Sa 3-4

Psa 136

2Co 12-13

19

1Sa 5-6

Psa 137

Gal 1-2

20

1Sa 7-8

Psa 138

Gal 3-4

21

1Sa 9-10

Psa 139

Gal 5-6

22

1Sa 11-12

Psa 140

Eph 1-2

23

1Sa 13-14

Psa 141

Eph 3-4

24

1Sa 15-16

Psa 142

Eph 5-6

25

1Sa 17

Psa 143

Phl 1-2

26

1Sa 18-19

Psa 144

Phl 3-4

27

1Sa 20-21

Psa 145

Col 1-2

28

1Sa 22-23

Psa 146

Col 3-4

29

1Sa 24-25

Psa 147

1Th 1-3

30

1Sa 26-27

Psa 148

1Th 4-5

31

1Sa 28-29

Psa 149

2Th 1-3

June

1

1Sa 30-31

Psa 150

1Ti 1-2

2

2Sa 1-2

Pro 1

1Ti 3-4

3

2Sa 3-4

Pro 2

1Ti 5-6

4

2Sa 5-6

Pro 3

2Ti 1-2

5

2Sa 7-8

Pro 4

2Ti 3-4

6

2Sa 9-10

Pro 5

Tit 1-2

7

2Sa 11-12

Pro 6

Tit 3, Phm 1

8

2Sa 13-14

Pro 7

Heb 1-3

9

2Sa 15-16

Pro 8

Heb 4-6

10

2Sa 17-18

Pro 9

Heb 7-8

11

2Sa 19-20

Pro 10

Heb 9-10

12

2Sa 21

Pro 11

Heb 11

13

2Sa 22

Pro 12

Heb 12-13

14

2Sa 23-24

Pro 13

Jms 1-2

15

1Ki 1

Pro 14

Jms 3-5

16

1Ki 2

Pro 15

1Pe 1-2

17

1Ki 3-4

Pro 16

1Pe 3-5

18

1Ki 5-6

Pro 17

2Pe 1-3

19

1Ki 7

Pro 18

1Jn 1-2

20

1Ki 8

Pro 19

1Jn 3-4

21

1Ki 9-10

Pro 20

1Jn 5, 2Jn 1

22

1Ki 11-12

Pro 21

3Jn 1, Jde 1

23

1Ki 13-14

Pro 22

Rev 1-2

24

1Ki 15-16

Pro 23

Rev 3-4

25

1Ki 17-18

Pro 24

Rev 5-6

26

1Ki 19-20

Pro 25

Rev 7-8

27

1Ki 21-22

Pro 26

Rev 9-11

28

2Ki 1-2

Pro 27

Rev 12-13

29

2Ki 3-4

Pro 28

Rev 14-16

30

2Ki 5-6

Pro 29

Rev 17-18

July

1

2Ki 7-8

Pro 30

Rev 19-20

2

2Ki 9-10

Pro 31

Rev 21-22

3

2Ki 11-12

Job 1

Mth 1-2

4

2Ki 13-14

Job 2

Mth 3-4

5

2Ki 15-16

Job 3

Mth 5

6

2Ki 17-18

Job 4

Mth 6

7

2Ki 19-20

Job 5

Mth 7

8

2Ki 21-22

Job 6

Mth 8

9

2Ki 23-24

Job 7

Mth 9

10

2Ki 25, 1Ch 1

Job 8

Mth 10

11

1Ch 2-3

Job 9

Mth 11

12

1Ch 4-5

Job 10

Mth 12

13

1Ch 6-7

Job 11

Mth 13

14

1Ch 8-9

Job 12

Mth 14

15

1Ch 10-11

Job 13

Mth 15

16

1Ch 12-14

Job 14

Mth 16

17

1Ch 15-16

Job 15

Mth 17

18

1Ch 17-20

Job 16

Mth 18

19

1Ch 21-22

Job 17

Mth 19

20

1Ch 23-25

Job 18

Mth 20

21

1Ch 26-27

Job 19

Mth 21

22

1Ch 28-29

Job 20

Mth 22

23

2Ch 1-3

Job 21

Mth 23

24

2Ch 4-5

Job 22

Mth 24

25

2Ch 6-7

Job 23

Mth 25

26

2Ch 8-9

Job 24

Mth 26

27

2Ch 10-11

Job 25

Mth 27-28

28

2Ch 12-13

Job 26

Mrk 1

29

2Ch 14-16

Job 27

Mrk 2

30

2Ch 17-19

Job 28

Mrk 3

31

2Ch 20-21

Job 29

Mrk 4

August

1

2Ch 22-23

Job 30

Mrk 5

2

2Ch 24-25

Job 31

Mrk 6

3

2Ch 26-28

Job 32

Mrk 7

4

2Ch 29-30

Job 33

Mrk 8

5

2Ch 31-32

Job 34

Mrk 9

6

2Ch 33-34

Job 35

Mrk 10

7

2Ch 35-36

Job 36

Mrk 11

8

Ezr 1-2

Job 37

Mrk 12

9

Ezr 3-5

Job 38

Mrk 13

10

Ezr 6-7

Job 39

Mrk 14

11

Ezr 8-9

Job 40

Mrk 15-16

12

Ezr 10, Neh 1-2

Job 41

Luk 1

13

Neh 3-4

Job 42

Luk 2

14

Neh 5-6

Psa 1-3

Luk 3

15

Neh 7

Psa 4-6

Luk 4

16

Neh 8-9

Psa 7-8

Luk 5

17

Neh 10-11

Psa 9

Luk 6

18

Neh 12-13

Psa 10

Luk 7

19

Est 1-2

Psa 11-13

Luk 8

20

Est 3-5

Psa 14-16

Luk 9

21

Est 6-8

Psa 17

Luk 10

22

Est 9-10

Psa 18

Luk 11

23

Ecc 1-3

Psa 19-20

Luk 12

24

Ecc 4-6

Psa 21

Luk 13

25

Ecc 7-9

Psa 22

Luk 14

26

Ecc 10-12

Psa 23-24

Luk 15

27

SOS 1-4

Psa 25

Luk 16

28

SOS 5-8

Psa 26-27

Luk 17

29

Isa 1-2

Psa 28-30

Luk 18

30

Isa 3-4

Psa 31

Luk 19

31

Isa 5-6

Psa 32

Luk 20

September

1

Isa 7-8

Psa 33

Luk 21

2

Isa 9-10

Psa 34

Luk 22

3

Isa 11-12

Psa 35

Luk 23

4

Isa 13-14

Psa 36

Luk 24

5

Isa 15-16

Psa 37

Jhn 1

6

Isa 17-18

Psa 38

Jhn 2

7

Isa 19-20

Psa 39

Jhn 3

8

Isa 21-22

Psa 40

Jhn 4

9

Isa 23-24

Psa 41

Jhn 5

10

Isa 25-26

Psa 42-43

Jhn 6

11

Isa 27-28

Psa 44

Jhn 7

12

Isa 29-30

Psa 45

Jhn 8

13

Isa 31-32

Psa 46-47

Jhn 9

14

Isa 33-34

Psa 48

Jhn 10

15

Isa 35-36

Psa 49

Jhn 11

16

Isa 37-38

Psa 50

Jhn 12

17

Isa 39-40

Psa 51

Jhn 13

18

Isa 41-42

Psa 52-54

Jhn 14

19

Isa 43-44

Psa 55

Jhn 15

20

Isa 45-46

Psa 56

Jhn 16

21

Isa 47-48

Psa 57

Jhn 17

22

Isa 49-50

Psa 58

Jhn 18

23

Isa 51-52

Psa 59

Jhn 19

24

Isa 53-54

Psa 60

Jhn 20-21

25

Isa 55-56

Psa 61

Act 1

26

Isa 57-58

Psa 62

Act 2

27

Isa 59-60

Psa 63

Act 3

28

Isa 61-62

Psa 64-65

Act 4

29

Isa 63-64

Psa 66-67

Act 5-6

30

Isa 65-66

Psa 68

Act 7

October

1

Jer 1-2

Psa 69

Act 8

2

Jer 3-4

Psa 70-71

Act 9

3

Jer 5-6

Psa 72

Act 10

4

Jer 7-8

Psa 73

Act 11

5

Jer 9-10

Psa 74

Act 12

6

Jer 11-12

Psa 75-76

Act 13

7

Jer 13-14

Psa 77

Act 14

8

Jer 15-16

Psa 78

Act 15

9

Jer 17-18

Psa 79

Act 16

10

Jer 19-20

Psa 80

Act 17

11

Jer 21-22

Psa 81-82

Act 18

12

Jer 23-24

Psa 83-84

Act 19

13

Jer 25-26

Psa 85

Act 20

14

Jer 27-28

Psa 86-87

Act 21

15

Jer 29-30

Psa 88

Act 22

16

Jer 31-32

Psa 89

Act 23

17

Jer 33-34

Psa 90

Act 24

18

Jer 35-36

Psa 91

Act 25

19

Jer 37-38

Psa 92-93

Act 26

20

Jer 39-40

Psa 94

Act 27

21

Jer 41-42

Psa 95-96

Act 28

22

Jer 43-44

Psa 97

Rom 1

23

Jer 45-46

Psa 98-99

Rom 2

24

Jer 47-48

Psa 100-101

Rom 3-4

25

Jer 49

Psa 102

Rom 5-6

26

Jer 50

Psa 103

Rom 7

27

Jer 51

Psa 104

Rom 8

28

Jer 52

Psa 105

Rom 9

29

Lam 1-2

Psa 106

Rom 10

30

Lam 3

Psa 107

Rom 11-12

31

Lam 4-5

Psa 108

Rom 13-14

November

1

Ezk 1-3

Psa 109

Rom 15-16

2

Ezk 4-6

Psa 110-111

1co 1

3

Ezk 7-8

Psa 112-113

1co 2-3

4

Ezk 9-11

Psa 114-115

1Co 4

5

Ezk 12-13

Psa 116-117

1Co 5-6

6

Ezk 14-15

Psa 118

1Co 7

7

Psa 119

1Co 8-9

8

Ezk 16

Psa 120-121

1Co 10-11

9

Ezk 17-18

Psa 122-123

1Co 12-13

10

Ezk 19-20

Psa 124-125

1Co 14

11

Ezk 21-22

Psa 126-127

1Co 15

12

Ezk 23-24

Psa 128-129

1Co 16

13

Ezk 25-26

Psa 130-131

2Co 1-3

14

Ezk 27-28

Psa 132

2Co 4-6

15

Ezk 29-30

Psa 133-134

2Co 7-9

16

Ezk 31-32

Psa 135

2Co 10-11

17

Ezk 33-34

Psa 136

2Co 12-13

18

Ezk 35-36

Psa 137

Gal 1-2

19

Ezk 37-38

Psa 138

Gal 3-4

20

Ezk 39-40

Psa 139

Gal 5-6

21

Ezk 41-42

Psa 140

Eph 1-2

22

Ezk 43-44

Psa 141

Eph 3-4

23

Ezk 45-46

Psa 142

Eph 5-6

24

Ezk 47-48

Psa 143

Phl 1-2

25

Dan 1-2

Psa 144

Phl 3-4

26

Dan 3-4

Psa 145

Col 1-2

27

Dan 5-6

Psa 146

Col 3-4

28

Dan 7-8

Psa 147

1Th 1-3

29

Dan 9-10

Psa 148

1Th 4-5

30

Dan 11-12

Psa 149-150

2Th 1-3

December

1

Hos 1-3

Pro 1

1Ti 1-2

2

Hos 4-5

Pro 2

1Ti 3-4

3

Hos 6-7

Pro 3

1Ti 5-6

4

Hos 8-9

Pro 4

2Ti 1-2

5

Hos 10-11

Pro 5

2Ti 3-4

6

Hos 12-14

Pro 6

Tit 1-2

7

Joe 1

Pro 7

Tit 3, Phm 1

8

Joe 2-3

Pro 8

Heb 1-3

9

Amo 1-2

Pro 9

Heb 4-6

10

Amo 3-4

Pro 10

Heb 7-8

11

Amo 5-6

Pro 11

Heb 9-10

12

Amo 7-8

Pro 12

Heb 11

13

Amo 9, Oba 1

Pro 13

Heb 12-13

14

Jna 1-2

Pro 14

Jms 1-2

15

Jna 3-4

Pro 15

Jms 3-5

16

Mic 1-3

Pro 16

1Pe 1-2

17

Mic 4-5

Pro 17

1Pe 3-5

18

Mic 6-7

Pro 18

2Pe 1-3

19

Nah 1-3

Pro 19

1Jn 1-2

20

Hab 1-3

Pro 20

1Jn 3-4

21

Zph 1-3

Pro 21

1Jn 5, 2Jn 1

22

Hag 1-2

Pro 22

3Jn 1, Jde 1

23

Zch 1-2

Pro 23

Rev 1-2

24

Zch 3-4

Pro 24

Rev 3-4

25

Zch 5-6

Pro 25

Rev 5-6

26

Zch 7-8

Pro 26

Rev 7-8

27

Zch 9-10

Pro 27

Rev 9-11

28

Zch 11-12

Pro 28

Rev 12-13

29

Zch 13-14

Pro 29

Rev 14-16

30

Mal 1-2

Pro 30

Rev 17-19

31

Mal 3-4

Pro 31

Rev 20-22

LICENSE

Eclipse Public License - v 2.0

THE ACCOMPANYING PROGRAM IS PROVIDED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS ECLIPSE PUBLIC LICENSE ("AGREEMENT"). ANY USE, REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROGRAM CONSTITUTES RECIPIENT’S ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT.

1. DEFINITIONS

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2. in the case of each subsequent Contributor:

1. changes to the Program, and

2. additions to the Program;

where such changes and/or additions to the Program originate from and are Distributed by that particular Contributor. A Contribution "originates" from a Contributor if it was added to the Program by such Contributor itself or anyone acting on such Contributor’s behalf. Contributions do not include changes or additions to the Program that are not Modified Works.

"Contributor" means any person or entity that Distributes the Program.

"Licensed Patents" mean patent claims licensable by a Contributor which are necessarily infringed by the use or sale of its Contribution alone or when combined with the Program.

"Program" means the Contributions Distributed in accordance with this Agreement.

"Recipient" means anyone who receives the Program under this Agreement or any Secondary License (as applicable), including Contributors.

"Derivative Works" shall mean any work, whether in Source Code or other form, that is based on (or derived from) the Program and for which the editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications represent, as a whole, an original work of authorship.

"Modified Works" shall mean any work in Source Code or other form that results from an addition to, deletion from, or modification of the contents of the Program, including, for purposes of clarity any new file in Source Code form that contains any contents of the Program. Modified Works shall not include works that contain only declarations, interfaces, types, classes, structures, or files of the Program solely in each case in order to link to, bind by name, or subclass the Program or Modified Works thereof.

"Distribute" means the acts of a) distributing or b) making available in any manner that enables the transfer of a copy.

"Source Code" means the form of a Program preferred for making modifications, including but not limited to software source code, documentation source, and configuration files.

"Secondary License" means either the GNU General Public License, Version 2.0, or any later versions of that license, including any exceptions or additional permissions as identified by the initial Contributor.

2. GRANT OF RIGHTS

1. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Contributor hereby grants Recipient a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free copyright license to reproduce, prepare Derivative Works of, publicly display, publicly perform, Distribute and sublicense the Contribution of such Contributor, if any, and such Derivative Works.

2. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, each Contributor hereby grants Recipient a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free patent license under Licensed Patents to make, use, sell, offer to sell, import and otherwise transfer the Contribution of such Contributor, if any, in Source Code or other form. This patent license shall apply to the combination of the Contribution and the Program if, at the time the Contribution is added by the Contributor, such addition of the Contribution causes such combination to be covered by the Licensed Patents. The patent license shall not apply to any other combinations which include the Contribution. No hardware per se is licensed hereunder.

3. Recipient understands that although each Contributor grants the licenses to its Contributions set forth herein, no assurances are provided by any Contributor that the Program does not infringe the patent or other intellectual property rights of any other entity. Each Contributor disclaims any liability to Recipient for claims brought by any other entity based on infringement of intellectual property rights or otherwise. As a condition to exercising the rights and licenses granted hereunder, each Recipient hereby assumes sole responsibility to secure any other intellectual property rights needed, if any. For example, if a third party patent license is required to allow Recipient to Distribute the Program, it is Recipient’s responsibility to acquire that license before distributing the Program.

4. Each Contributor represents that to its knowledge it has sufficient copyright rights in its Contribution, if any, to grant the copyright license set forth in this Agreement.

5. Notwithstanding the terms of any Secondary License, no Contributor makes additional grants to any Recipient (other than those set forth in this Agreement) as a result of such Recipient’s receipt of the Program under the terms of a Secondary License (if permitted under the terms of Section 3).

3. REQUIREMENTS

3.1 If a Contributor Distributes the Program in any form, then:

1. the Program must also be made available as Source Code, in accordance with section 3.2, and the Contributor must accompany the Program with a statement that the Source Code for the Program is available under this Agreement, and informs Recipients how to obtain it in a reasonable manner on or through a medium customarily used for software exchange; and

2. the Contributor may Distribute the Program under a license different than this Agreement, provided that such license:

1. effectively disclaims on behalf of all other Contributors all warranties and conditions, express and implied, including warranties or conditions of title and non-infringement, and implied warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose;

2. effectively excludes on behalf of all other Contributors all liability for damages, including direct, indirect, special, incidental and consequential damages, such as lost profits;

3. does not attempt to limit or alter the recipients' rights in the Source Code under section 3.2; and

4. requires any subsequent distribution of the Program by any party to be under a license that satisfies the requirements of this section 3.

3.2 When the Program is Distributed as Source Code:

1. it must be made available under this Agreement, or if the Program (i) is combined with other material in a separate file or files made available under a Secondary License, and (ii) the initial Contributor attached to the Source Code the notice described in Exhibit A of this Agreement, then the Program may be made available under the terms of such Secondary Licenses, and

2. a copy of this Agreement must be included with each copy of the Program.

3.3 Contributors may not remove or alter any copyright, patent, trademark, attribution notices, disclaimers of warranty, or limitations of liability ('notices') contained within the Program from any copy of the Program which they Distribute, provided that Contributors may add their own appropriate notices.

4. COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION

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For example, a Contributor might include the Program in a commercial product offering, Product X. That Contributor is then a Commercial Contributor. If that Commercial Contributor then makes performance claims, or offers warranties related to Product X, those performance claims and warranties are such Commercial Contributor’s responsibility alone. Under this section, the Commercial Contributor would have to defend claims against the other Contributors related to those performance claims and warranties, and if a court requires any other Contributor to pay any damages as a result, the Commercial Contributor must pay those damages.

5. NO WARRANTY

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Simply including a copy of this Agreement, including this Exhibit A is not sufficient to license the Source Code under Secondary Licenses.

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You may add additional accurate notices of copyright ownership.

Table of Contents

Copyright

License

About

Sources

Features

Old Testament

The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

The Second Book of Moses, Called Exodus

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

The Third Book of Moses, Called Leviticus

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

The Fourth Book of Moses, Called Numbers

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

The Fifth Book of Moses, Called Deuteronomy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

The Book of Joshua

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

The Book of Judges

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

The Story of Ruth

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

The First Book of Samuel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

The Second Book of Samuel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

The First Book of the Kings

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

The Second Book of the Kings

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

The First Book of the Chronicles

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

The Second Book of the Chronicles

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

The Story of Ezra

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

The Words of Nehemiah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

The Story of Esther

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

The Trial of Job

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

The Psalms

BOOK I

Psalm 1

Psalm 2

Psalm 3

Psalm 4

Psalm 5

Psalm 6

Psalm 7

Psalm 8

Psalm 9

Psalm 10

Psalm 11

Psalm 12

Psalm 13

Psalm 14

Psalm 15

Psalm 16

Psalm 17

Psalm 18

Psalm 19

Psalm 20

Psalm 21

Psalm 22

Psalm 23

Psalm 24

Psalm 25

Psalm 26

Psalm 27

Psalm 28

Psalm 29

Psalm 30

Psalm 31

Psalm 32

Psalm 33

Psalm 34

Psalm 35

Psalm 36

Psalm 37

Psalm 38

Psalm 39

Psalm 40

Psalm 41

BOOK II

Psalm 42

Psalm 43

Psalm 44

Psalm 45

Psalm 46

Psalm 47

Psalm 48

Psalm 49

Psalm 50

Psalm 51

Psalm 52

Psalm 53

Psalm 54

Psalm 55

Psalm 56

Psalm 57

Psalm 58

Psalm 59

Psalm 60

Psalm 61

Psalm 62

Psalm 63

Psalm 64

Psalm 65

Psalm 66

Psalm 67

Psalm 68

Psalm 69

Psalm 70

Psalm 71

Psalm 72

BOOK III

Psalm 73

Psalm 74

Psalm 75

Psalm 76

Psalm 77

Psalm 78

Psalm 79

Psalm 80

Psalm 81

Psalm 82

Psalm 83

Psalm 84

Psalm 85

Psalm 86

Psalm 87

Psalm 88

Psalm 89

BOOK IV

Psalm 90

Psalm 91

Psalm 92

Psalm 93

Psalm 94

Psalm 95

Psalm 96

Psalm 97

Psalm 98

Psalm 99

Psalm 100

Psalm 101

Psalm 102

Psalm 103

Psalm 104

Psalm 105

Psalm 106

BOOK V

Psalm 107

Psalm 108

Psalm 109

Psalm 110

Psalm 111

Psalm 112

Psalm 113

Psalm 114

Psalm 115

Psalm 116

Psalm 117

Psalm 118

Psalm 119

Psalm 120

Psalm 121

Psalm 122

Psalm 123

Psalm 124

Psalm 125

Psalm 126

Psalm 127

Psalm 128

Psalm 129

Psalm 130

Psalm 131

Psalm 132

Psalm 133

Psalm 134

Psalm 135

Psalm 136

Psalm 137

Psalm 138

Psalm 139

Psalm 140

Psalm 141

Psalm 142

Psalm 143

Psalm 144

Psalm 145

Psalm 146

Psalm 147

Psalm 148

Psalm 149

Psalm 150

The Proverbs

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

The Words of Ecclesiastes

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Song of Solomon

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

The Vision of Isaiah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

The Word of the Lord to Jeremiah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

The Lamentations of Jeremiah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

The Word of the Lord to Ezekiel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

The Story of Daniel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

The Word of the Lord to Hosea

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

The Word of the Lord to Joel

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The Words of Amos

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

The Vision of Obadiah

Chapter 1

The Story of Jonah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

The Word of the Lord to Micah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

The Vision of Nahum

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The Word of the Lord to Habakkuk

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The Word of the Lord to Zephaniah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The Word of the Lord to Haggai

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

The Word of the Lord to Zechariah

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

The Word of the Lord to Malachi

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

New Testament

The Gospel According to Matthew

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

The Gospel According to Luke

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

The Gospel According to John

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

The Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Paul’s Letter to the Colossians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Paul’s First Letter to Timothy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Paul’s Letter to Titus

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Paul’s Letter to Philemon

Chapter 1

The Letter to the Hebrews

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

The Letter from James

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

The First Letter from Peter

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

The Second Letter from Peter

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The First Letter from John

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

The Second Letter from John

Chapter 1

The Third Letter from John

Chapter 1

The Letter from Jude

Chapter 1

The Revelation of the Apostle John

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Glossary of Terms

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Appendix

A Gospel Message: How can I be Born Again?

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Introduction

Key

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

License

Eclipse Public License - v 2.0