New King James Version

Genesis

1 1 In the beginning God created theheavens and the earth.

2 The earth was without form, and void;and darkness was on the face of thedeep. And the Spirit of God was hoveringover the face of the waters.3 Then God said, "Let there be light";and there was light.4And God saw the light, that it wasgood; and God divided the light from thedarkness.5God called the light Day, and thedarkness He called Night. So the eveningand the morning were the first day.6 Then God said, "Let there be afirmament in the midst of the waters,and let it divide the waters from thewaters."

GENESIS 1 27 Thus God made the firmament, anddivided the waters which were under thefirmament from the waters which wereabove the firmament; and it was so.8And God called the firmamentHeaven. So the evening and the morningwere the second day.9 Then God said, "Let the waters underthe heavens be gathered together intoone place, and let the dry land appear";and it was so.10And God called the dry land Earth,and the gathering together of the watersHe called Seas. And God saw that it wasgood.11 Then God said, "Let the earth bringforth grass, the herb that yields seed,and the fruit tree that yields fruitaccording to its kind, whose seed is initself, on the earth"; and it was so.12And the earth brought forth grass,the herb that yields seed according to

GENESIS 1 3its kind, and the tree that yields fruit,whose seed is in itself according to itskind. And God saw that it was good.13 So the evening and the morning werethe third day.14 Then God said, "Let there be lights inthe firmament of the heavens to dividethe day from the night; and let them befor signs and seasons, and for days andyears;15 "and let them be for lights in thefirmament of the heavens to give lighton the earth"; and it was so.16 Then God made two great lights: thegreater light to rule the day, and thelesser light to rule the night. He madethe stars also.17God set them in the firmament of theheavens to give light on the earth,18 and to rule over the day and over thenight, and to divide the light from thedarkness. And God saw that it was good.

GENESIS 1 419 So the evening and the morning werethe fourth day.20 Then God said, "Let the watersabound with an abundance of livingcreatures, and let birds fly above theearth across the face of the firmamentof the heavens."21 So God created great sea creaturesand every living thing that moves, withwhich the waters abounded, accordingto their kind, and every winged birdaccording to its kind. And God saw thatit was good.22And God blessed them, saying, "Befrui ul and mul ply, and fill the watersin the seas, and let birds mul ply on theearth."23 So the evening and the morning werethe fi h day.24 Then God said, "Let the earth bringforth the living creature according to itskind: ca le and creeping thing and beast

GENESIS 1 5of the earth, each according to its kind";and it was so.25And God made the beast of the earthaccording to its kind, ca le according toits kind, and everything that creeps onthe earth according to its kind. And Godsaw that it was good.26 Then God said, "Let Us make man inOur image, according to Our likeness; letthem have dominion over the fish of thesea, over the birds of the air, and overthe ca le, over all the earth and overevery creeping thing that creeps on theearth."27 So God created man in His ownimage; in the image of God He createdhim; male and female He created them.28 Then God blessed them, and Godsaid to them, "Be frui ul andmul ply; fillthe earth and subdue it; have dominionover the fish of the sea, over the birds of

GENESIS 1–2 6the air, and over every living thing thatmoves on the earth."29And God said, "See, I have given youevery herb that yields seed which is onthe face of all the earth, and every treewhose fruit yields seed; to you it shall befor food.30 "Also, to every beast of the earth, toevery bird of the air, and to everythingthat creeps on the earth, in which thereis life, I have given every green herb forfood"; and it was so.31 Then God saw everything that Hehad made, and indeed it was very good.So the evening and the morning werethe sixth day.

2 1 Thus the heavens and the earth,and all the host of them, were

finished.2And on the seventh day God endedHis work which He had done, and He

GENESIS 2 7rested on the seventh day from all Hiswork which He had done.3 Then God blessed the seventh dayand sanc fied it, because in it He restedfrom all His work which God had createdand made.4 This is the history of the heavens andthe earth when they were created, inthe day that the LORD God made theearth and the heavens,5 before any plant of the field was in theearth and before any herb of the fieldhad grown. For the LORD God had notcaused it to rain on the earth, and therewas no man to ll the ground;6 but a mist went up from the earth andwatered the whole face of the ground.7And the LORD God formed man of thedust of the ground, and breathed intohis nostrils the breath of life; and manbecame a living being.

GENESIS 2 88 The LORD God planted a gardeneastward in Eden, and there He put theman whom He had formed.9And out of the ground the LORD Godmade every tree grow that is pleasant tothe sight and good for food. The tree oflife was also in the midst of the garden,and the tree of the knowledge of goodand evil.10Now a river went out of Eden towater the garden, and from there itparted and became four riverheads.11 The name of the first is Pishon; it isthe one which skirts the whole land ofHavilah, where there is gold.12And the gold of that land is good.Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.13 The name of the second river isGihon; it is the one which goes aroundthe whole land of Cush.14 The name of the third river isHiddekel; it is the one which goes toward

GENESIS 2 9the east of Assyria. The fourth river isthe Euphrates.15 Then the LORD God took the manand put him in the garden of Eden totend and keep it.16And the LORD God commanded theman, saying, "Of every tree of the gardenyou may freely eat;17 "but of the tree of the knowledge ofgood and evil you shall not eat, for in theday that you eat of it you shall surelydie."18And the LORD God said, "It is notgood that man should be alone; I willmake him a helper comparable to him."19Out of the ground the LORD Godformed every beast of the field andevery bird of the air, and brought themto Adam to see what he would call them.And whatever Adam called each livingcreature, that was its name.

GENESIS 2–3 1020 So Adam gave names to all ca le, tothe birds of the air, and to every beastof the field. But for Adam there was notfound a helper comparable to him.21And the LORD God caused a deepsleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; andHe took one of his ribs, and closed upthe flesh in its place.22 Then the rib which the LORD God hadtaken from man He made into a woman,and He brought her to the man.23And Adam said: "This is now boneof my bones And flesh of my flesh; Sheshall be called Woman, Because she wastaken out of Man."24 Therefore a man shall leave his fatherand mother and be joined to his wife,and they shall become one flesh.25And they were both naked, the manand his wife, and were not ashamed.

3 1Now the serpent was more cunningthan any beast of the field which the

GENESIS 3 11LORD God had made. And he said to thewoman, "Has God indeed said, ‘You shallnot eat of every tree of the garden’ ?"2And the woman said to the serpent,"We may eat the fruit of the trees of thegarden;3 "but of the fruit of the tree which is inthe midst of the garden, God has said,‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touchit, lest you die.’"4 Then the serpent said to the woman,"You will not surely die.5 "For God knows that in the day youeat of it your eyes will be opened, andyou will be like God, knowing good andevil."6 So when the woman saw that the treewas good for food, that it was pleasantto the eyes, and a tree desirable to makeone wise, she took of its fruit and ate.She also gave to her husband with her,and he ate.

GENESIS 3 127 Then the eyes of both of themwere opened, and they knew thatthey were naked; and they sewed figleaves together and made themselvescoverings.8And they heard the sound of theLORD God walking in the garden in thecool of the day, and Adam and his wifehid themselves from the presence ofthe LORD God among the trees of thegarden.9 Then the LORD God called to Adamand said to him, "Where are you?"10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in thegarden, and I was afraid because I wasnaked; and I hid myself."11And He said, "Who told you that youwere naked? Have you eaten from thetree of which I commanded you that youshould not eat?"

GENESIS 3 1312 Then the man said, "The womanwhom You gave to be with me, she gaveme of the tree, and I ate."13And the LORD God said to thewoman, "What is this you have done?"The woman said, "The serpent deceivedme, and I ate."14 So the LORD God said to the serpent:"Because you have done this, You arecursed more than all ca le, And morethan every beast of the field; On yourbelly you shall go, And you shall eat dustAll the days of your life.15And I will put enmity Between youand the woman, And between your seedand her Seed; He shall bruise your head,And you shall bruise His heel."16 To the woman He said: "I willgreatly mul ply your sorrow and yourconcep on; In pain you shall bring forthchildren; Your desire shall be for yourhusband, And he shall rule over you."

GENESIS 3 1417 Then to Adam He said, "Because youhave heeded the voice of your wife,and have eaten from the tree of which Icommanded you, saying, ‘You shall noteat of it’: "Cursed is the ground for yoursake; In toil you shall eat of it All the daysof your life.18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bringforth for you, And you shall eat the herbof the field.19 In the sweat of your face you shalleat bread Till you return to the ground,For out of it you were taken; For dustyou are, And to dust you shall return."20And Adam called his wife’s name Eve,because she was the mother of all living.21Also for Adam and his wife the LORDGod made tunics of skin, and clothedthem.22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold,the man has become like one of Us, toknow good and evil. And now, lest he put

GENESIS 3–4 15out his hand and take also of the tree oflife, and eat, and live forever" ––23 therefore the LORD God sent him outof the garden of Eden to ll the groundfrom which he was taken.24 So He drove out the man; and Heplaced cherubim at the east of thegarden of Eden, and a flaming swordwhich turned every way, to guard theway to the tree of life.

4 1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, andshe conceived and bore Cain, and

said, "I have acquired a man from theLORD."2 Then she bore again, this me hisbrother Abel. Now Abel was a keeperof sheep, but Cain was a ller of theground.3And in the process of me it came topass that Cain brought an offering of thefruit of the ground to the LORD.

GENESIS 4 164Abel also brought of the firstborn ofhis flock and of their fat. And the LORDrespected Abel and his offering,5 but He did not respect Cain and hisoffering. And Cain was very angry, andhis countenance fell.6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Whyare you angry? And why has yourcountenance fallen?7 "If you do well, will you not beaccepted? And if you do not do well, sinlies at the door. And its desire is for you,but you should rule over it."8Now Cain talked with Abel his brother;and it came to pass, when they were inthe field, that Cain rose up against Abelhis brother and killed him.9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where isAbel your brother?" He said, "I do notknow. Am I my brother’s keeper?"

GENESIS 4 1710And He said, "What have you done?The voice of your brother’s blood criesout to Me from the ground.11 "So now you are cursed from theearth, which has opened its mouth toreceive your brother’s blood from yourhand.12 "When you ll the ground, it shallno longer yield its strength to you. Afugi ve and a vagabond you shall be onthe earth."13And Cain said to the LORD, "Mypunishment is greater than I can bear!14 "Surely You have driven me out thisday from the face of the ground; I shallbe hidden from Your face; I shall be afugi ve and a vagabond on the earth,and it will happen that anyone who findsme will kill me."15And the LORD said to him, "Therefore,whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall betaken on him sevenfold." And the LORD

GENESIS 4 18set a mark on Cain, lest anyone findinghim should kill him.16 Then Cain went out from thepresence of the LORD and dwelt in theland of Nod on the east of Eden.17And Cain knew his wife, and sheconceived and bore Enoch. And he builta city, and called the name of the citya er the name of his son––Enoch.18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Iradbegot Mehujael, and Mehujael begotMethushael, and Methushael begotLamech.19 Then Lamech took for himself twowives: the name of one was Adah, andthe name of the second was Zillah.20And Adah bore Jabal. He was thefather of those who dwell in tents andhave livestock.21His brother’s name was Jubal. He wasthe father of all those who play the harpand flute.

GENESIS 4–5 1922And as for Zillah, she also boreTubal–Cain, an instructor of everycra sman in bronze and iron. And thesister of Tubal–Cain was Naamah.23 Then Lamech said to his wives: "Adahand Zillah, hear my voice; Wives ofLamech, listen to my speech! For I havekilled a man for wounding me, Even ayoung man for hur ng me.24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,Then Lamech seventy–sevenfold."25And Adam knew his wife again, andshe bore a son and named him Seth,"For God has appointed another seed forme instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."26And as for Seth, to him also a son wasborn; and he named him Enosh. Thenmen began to call on the name of theLORD.

5 1 This is the book of the genealogy ofAdam. In the day that God created

GENESIS 5 20man, He made him in the likeness ofGod.2He created them male and female,and blessed them and called themMankind in the day they were created.3And Adam lived one hundred andthirty years, and begot a son in his ownlikeness, a er his image, and named himSeth.4A er he begot Seth, the days of Adamwere eight hundred years; and he hadsons and daughters.5 So all the days that Adam lived werenine hundred and thirty years; and hedied.6 Seth lived one hundred and five years,and begot Enosh.7A er he begot Enosh, Seth lived eighthundred and seven years, and had sonsand daughters.8 So all the days of Seth were ninehundred and twelve years; and he died.

GENESIS 5 219 Enosh lived ninety years, and begotCainan.10A er he begot Cainan, Enosh livedeight hundred and fi een years, and hadsons and daughters.11 So all the days of Enosh were ninehundred and five years; and he died.12 Cainan lived seventy years, and begotMahalalel.13A er he begot Mahalalel, Cainanlived eight hundred and forty years, andhad sons and daughters.14 So all the days of Cainan were ninehundred and ten years; and he died.15Mahalalel lived sixty–five years, andbegot Jared.16A er he begot Jared, Mahalalel livedeight hundred and thirty years, and hadsons and daughters.17 So all the days of Mahalalel wereeight hundred and ninety–five years;and he died.

GENESIS 5 2218 Jared lived one hundred andsixty–two years, and begot Enoch.19A er he begot Enoch, Jared livedeight hundred years, and had sons anddaughters.20 So all the days of Jared were ninehundred and sixty–two years; and hedied.21 Enoch lived sixty–five years, andbegot Methuselah.22A er he begot Methuselah, Enochwalked with God three hundred years,and had sons and daughters.23 So all the days of Enoch were threehundred and sixty–five years.24And Enoch walked with God; and hewas not, for God took him.25Methuselah lived one hundred andeighty–seven years, and begot Lamech.26A er he begot Lamech, Methuselahlived seven hundred and eighty–twoyears, and had sons and daughters.

GENESIS 5–6 2327 So all the days of Methuselah werenine hundred and sixty–nine years; andhe died.28 Lamech lived one hundred andeighty–two years, and had a son.29And he called his name Noah, saying,"This one will comfort us concerningour work and the toil of our hands,because of the ground which the LORDhas cursed."30A er he begot Noah, Lamech livedfive hundred and ninety–five years, andhad sons and daughters.31 So all the days of Lamech were sevenhundred and seventy–seven years; andhe died.32And Noah was five hundred yearsold, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, andJapheth.

6 1Now it came to pass, when menbegan to mul ply on the face of the

earth, and daughters were born to them,

GENESIS 6 242 that the sons of God saw thedaughters of men, that they werebeau ful; and they took wives forthemselves of all whom they chose.3And the LORD said, "My Spirit shallnot strive with man forever, for he isindeed flesh; yet his days shall be onehundred and twenty years."4 There were giants on the earth inthose days, and also a erward, whenthe sons of God came in to the daughtersof men and they bore children to them.Those were the mighty men who wereof old, men of renown.5 Then the LORD saw that thewickedness of man was great in theearth, and that every intent of thethoughts of his heart was only evilcon nually.6And the LORD was sorry that He hadmade man on the earth, and He wasgrieved in His heart.

GENESIS 6 257 So the LORD said, "I will destroy manwhom I have created from the face ofthe earth, both man and beast, creepingthing and birds of the air, for I am sorrythat I have made them."8 But Noah found grace in the eyes ofthe LORD.9 This is the genealogy of Noah.Noah was a just man, perfect in hisgenera ons. Noah walked with God.10And Noah begot three sons: Shem,Ham, and Japheth.11 The earth also was corrupt beforeGod, and the earth was filled withviolence.12 So God looked upon the earth, andindeed it was corrupt; for all flesh hadcorrupted their way on the earth.13And God said to Noah, "The end of allflesh has come before Me, for the earthis filled with violence through them;

GENESIS 6 26and behold, I will destroy them with theearth.14 "Make yourself an ark ofgopherwood; make rooms in theark, and cover it inside and outside withpitch.15 "And this is how you shall make it:The length of the ark shall be threehundred cubits, its width fi y cubits, andits height thirty cubits.16 "You shall make a window for theark, and you shall finish it to a cubit fromabove; and set the door of the ark inits side. You shall make it with lower,second, and third decks.17 "And behold, I Myself am bringingfloodwaters on the earth, to destroyfrom under heaven all flesh in which isthe breath of life; everything that is onthe earth shall die.18 "But I will establish My covenant withyou; and you shall go into the ark––you,

GENESIS 6–7 27your sons, your wife, and your sons’wives with you.19 "And of every living thing of all fleshyou shall bring two of every sort into theark, to keep them alive with you; theyshall be male and female.20 "Of the birds a er their kind, ofanimals a er their kind, and of everycreeping thing of the earth a er its kind,two of every kind will come to you tokeep them alive.21 "And you shall take for yourself of allfood that is eaten, and you shall gatherit to yourself; and it shall be food for youand for them."22 Thus Noah did; according to all thatGod commanded him, so he did.

7 1 Then the LORD said to Noah,"Come into the ark, you and all your

household, because I have seen thatyou are righteous before Me in thisgenera on.

GENESIS 7 282 "You shall take with you seven eachof every clean animal, a male and hisfemale; two each of animals that areunclean, a male and his female;3 "also seven each of birds of the air,male and female, to keep the speciesalive on the face of all the earth.4 "For a er seven more days I will causeit to rain on the earth forty days andforty nights, and I will destroy from theface of the earth all living things that Ihave made."5And Noah did according to all that theLORD commanded him.6Noah was six hundred years old whenthe floodwaters were on the earth.7 So Noah, with his sons, his wife,and his sons’ wives, went into the arkbecause of the waters of the flood.8Of clean animals, of animals that areunclean, of birds, and of everything thatcreeps on the earth,

GENESIS 7 299 two by two they went into the arkto Noah, male and female, as God hadcommanded Noah.10And it came to pass a er seven daysthat the waters of the flood were on theearth.11 In the six hundredth year ofNoah’s life, in the second month, theseventeenth day of the month, on thatday all the fountains of the great deepwere broken up, and the windows ofheaven were opened.12And the rain was on the earth fortydays and forty nights.13On the very same day Noah andNoah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth,and Noah’s wife and the three wives ofhis sons with them, entered the ark––14 they and every beast a er its kind,all ca le a er their kind, every creepingthing that creeps on the earth a er its

GENESIS 7 30kind, and every bird a er its kind, everybird of every sort.15And they went into the ark to Noah,two by two, of all flesh in which is thebreath of life.16 So those that entered, male andfemale of all flesh, went in as God hadcommanded him; and the LORD shuthim in.17Now the flood was on the earth fortydays. The waters increased and li ed upthe ark, and it rose high above the earth.18 The waters prevailed and greatlyincreased on the earth, and the arkmoved about on the surface of thewaters.19And the waters prevailed exceedinglyon the earth, and all the high hills underthe whole heaven were covered.20 The waters prevailed fi een cubitsupward, and the mountains werecovered.

GENESIS 7–8 3121And all flesh died that moved on theearth: birds and ca le and beasts andevery creeping thing that creeps on theearth, and every man.22All in whose nostrils was the breathof the spirit of life, all that was on thedry land, died.23 So He destroyed all living thingswhich were on the face of the ground:both man and ca le, creeping thing andbird of the air. They were destroyed fromthe earth. Only Noah and those whowere with him in the ark remained alive.24And the waters prevailed on theearth one hundred and fi y days.

8 1 Then God remembered Noah, andevery living thing, and all the animals

that were with him in the ark. And Godmade a wind to pass over the earth, andthe waters subsided.

GENESIS 8 322 The fountains of the deep and thewindows of heaven were also stopped,and the rain from heaven was restrained.3And the waters receded con nuallyfrom the earth. At the end of thehundred and fi y days the watersdecreased.4 Then the ark rested in the seventhmonth, the seventeenth day of themonth, on the mountains of Ararat.5And the waters decreased con nuallyun l the tenth month. In the tenthmonth, on the first day of the month,the tops of the mountains were seen.6 So it came to pass, at the end of fortydays, that Noah opened the window ofthe ark which he had made.7 Then he sent out a raven, which keptgoing to and fro un l the waters haddried up from the earth.

GENESIS 8 338He also sent out from himself a dove,to see if the waters had receded fromthe face of the ground.9 But the dove found no res ng placefor the sole of her foot, and she returnedinto the ark to him, for the waters wereon the face of the whole earth. So he putout his hand and took her, and drew herinto the ark to himself.10And he waited yet another sevendays, and again he sent the dove outfrom the ark.11 Then the dove came to him in theevening, and behold, a freshly pluckedolive leaf was in her mouth; and Noahknew that the waters had receded fromthe earth.12 So he waited yet another seven daysand sent out the dove, which did notreturn again to him anymore.13And it came to pass in the six hundredand first year, in the first month, the

GENESIS 8 34first day of the month, that the waterswere dried up from the earth; and Noahremoved the covering of the ark andlooked, and indeed the surface of theground was dry.14And in the second month, on thetwenty–seventh day of the month, theearth was dried.15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying,16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife,and your sons and your sons’ wives withyou.17 "Bring out with you every living thingof all flesh that is with you: birds andca le and every creeping thing thatcreeps on the earth, so that they mayabound on the earth, and be frui ul andmul ply on the earth."18 So Noah went out, and his sons andhis wife and his sons’ wives with him.19 Every animal, every creeping thing,every bird, and whatever creeps on the

GENESIS 8–9 35earth, according to their families, wentout of the ark.20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD,and took of every clean animal andof every clean bird, and offered burntofferings on the altar.21And the LORD smelled a soothingaroma. Then the LORD said in His heart,"I will never again curse the ground forman’s sake, although the imagina on ofman’s heart is evil from his youth; norwill I again destroy every living thing as Ihave done.22 "While the earth remains, Seed meand harvest, Cold and heat, Winter andsummer, And day and night Shall notcease."

9 1 So God blessed Noah and his sons,and said to them: "Be frui ul and

mul ply, and fill the earth.2 "And the fear of you and the dread ofyou shall be on every beast of the earth,

GENESIS 9 36on every bird of the air, on all that moveon the earth, and on all the fish of thesea. They are given into your hand.3 "Every moving thing that lives shall befood for you. I have given you all things,even as the green herbs.4 "But you shall not eat flesh with itslife, that is, its blood.5 "Surely for your lifeblood I willdemand a reckoning; from the hand ofevery beast I will require it, and from thehand of man. From the hand of everyman’s brother I will require the life ofman.6 "Whoever sheds man’s blood, By manhis blood shall be shed; For in the imageof God He made man.7And as for you, be frui ul andmul ply; Bring forth abundantly in theearth And mul ply in it."8 Then God spoke to Noah and to hissons with him, saying:

GENESIS 9 379 "And as for Me, behold, I establishMy covenant with you and with yourdescendants a er you,10 "and with every living creature that iswith you: the birds, the ca le, and everybeast of the earth with you, of all that goout of the ark, every beast of the earth.11 "Thus I establish My covenant withyou: Never again shall all flesh be cut offby the waters of the flood; never againshall there be a flood to destroy theearth."12And God said: "This is the sign of thecovenant which I make between Me andyou, and every living creature that iswith you, for perpetual genera ons:13 "I set My rainbow in the cloud, andit shall be for the sign of the covenantbetween Me and the earth.14 "It shall be, when I bring a cloud overthe earth, that the rainbow shall be seenin the cloud;

GENESIS 9 3815 "and I will remember My covenantwhich is between Me and you and everyliving creature of all flesh; the watersshall never again become a flood todestroy all flesh.16 "The rainbow shall be in the cloud,and I will look on it to remember theeverlas ng covenant between God andevery living creature of all flesh that ison the earth."17And God said to Noah, "This isthe sign of the covenant which I haveestablished between Me and all fleshthat is on the earth."18Now the sons of Noah who wentout of the ark were Shem, Ham, andJapheth. And Ham was the father ofCanaan.19 These three were the sons of Noah,and from these the whole earth waspopulated.

GENESIS 9 3920And Noah began to be a farmer, andhe planted a vineyard.21 Then he drank of the wine and wasdrunk, and became uncovered in histent.22And Ham, the father of Canaan, sawthe nakedness of his father, and told histwo brothers outside.23 But Shem and Japheth took agarment, laid it on both their shoulders,and went backward and covered thenakedness of their father. Their faceswere turned away, and they did not seetheir father’s nakedness.24 So Noah awoke from his wine, andknew what his younger son had done tohim.25 Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan;A servant of servants He shall be to hisbrethren."

GENESIS 9–10 4026And he said: "Blessed be the LORD,The God of Shem, And may Canaan behis servant.27May God enlarge Japheth, And mayhe dwell in the tents of Shem; And mayCanaan be his servant."28And Noah lived a er the flood threehundred and fi y years.29 So all the days of Noah were ninehundred and fi y years; and he died.

10 1Now this is the genealogy of thesons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and

Japheth. And sons were born to thema er the flood.2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer,Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech,and Tiras.3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz,Riphath, and Togarmah.4 The sons of Javan were Elishah,Tarshish, Ki m, and Dodanim.

GENESIS 10 415 From these the coastland peoplesof the Gen les were separated intotheir lands, everyone according to hislanguage, according to their families,into their na ons.6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim,Put, and Canaan.7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah,Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; andthe sons of Raamah were Sheba andDedan.8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be amighty one on the earth.9He was a mighty hunter before theLORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrodthe mighty hunter before the LORD."10And the beginning of his kingdomwas Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, inthe land of Shinar.11 From that land he went to Assyriaand built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,

GENESIS 10 4212 and Resen between Nineveh andCalah (that is the principal city).13Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim,Lehabim, Naphtuhim,14 Pathrusim, and Casluhim (fromwhom came the Philis nes andCaphtorim).15 Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, andHeth;16 the Jebusite, the Amorite, and theGirgashite;17 the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;18 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and theHamathite. A erward the families of theCanaanites were dispersed.19And the border of the Canaaniteswas from Sidon as you go toward Gerar,as far as Gaza; then as you go towardSodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim,as far as Lasha.20 These were the sons of Ham,according to their families, according

GENESIS 10 43to their languages, in their lands and intheir na ons.21And children were born also to Shem,the father of all the children of Eber, thebrother of Japheth the elder.22 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur,Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.23 The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul,Gether, and Mash.24Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salahbegot Eber.25 To Eber were born two sons: thename of one was Peleg, for in his daysthe earth was divided; and his brother’sname was Joktan.26 Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph,Hazarmaveth, Jerah,27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All thesewere the sons of Joktan.

GENESIS 10–11 4430And their dwelling place was fromMesha as you go toward Sephar, themountain of the east.31 These were the sons of Shem,according to their families, according totheir languages, in their lands, accordingto their na ons.32 These were the families of the sonsof Noah, according to their genera ons,in their na ons; and from these thena ons were divided on the earth a erthe flood.

11 1Now the whole earth had onelanguage and one speech.

2And it came to pass, as they journeyedfrom the east, that they found a plain inthe land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.3 Then they said to one another, "Come,let us make bricks and bake themthoroughly." They had brick for stone,and they had asphalt for mortar.

GENESIS 11 454And they said, "Come, let us buildourselves a city, and a tower whose topis in the heavens; let us make a name forourselves, lest we be sca ered abroadover the face of the whole earth."5 But the LORD came down to see thecity and the tower which the sons ofmen had built.6And the LORD said, "Indeed thepeople are one and they all have onelanguage, and this is what they begin todo; now nothing that they propose to dowill be withheld from them.7 "Come, let Us go down and thereconfuse their language, that they maynot understand one another’s speech."8 So the LORD sca ered them abroadfrom there over the face of all the earth,and they ceased building the city.9 Therefore its name is called Babel,because there the LORD confused thelanguage of all the earth; and from there

GENESIS 11 46the LORD sca ered them abroad overthe face of all the earth.10 This is the genealogy of Shem: Shemwas one hundred years old, and begotArphaxad two years a er the flood.11A er he begot Arphaxad, Shem livedfive hundred years, and begot sons anddaughters.12Arphaxad lived thirty–five years, andbegot Salah.13A er he begot Salah, Arphaxad livedfour hundred and three years, and begotsons and daughters.14 Salah lived thirty years, and begotEber.15A er he begot Eber, Salah lived fourhundred and three years, and begot sonsand daughters.16 Eber lived thirty–four years, andbegot Peleg.

GENESIS 11 4717A er he begot Peleg, Eber lived fourhundred and thirty years, and begotsons and daughters.18 Peleg lived thirty years, and begotReu.19A er he begot Reu, Peleg lived twohundred and nine years, and begot sonsand daughters.20 Reu lived thirty–two years, and begotSerug.21A er he begot Serug, Reu lived twohundred and seven years, and begotsons and daughters.22 Serug lived thirty years, and begotNahor.23A er he begot Nahor, Serug livedtwo hundred years, and begot sons anddaughters.24Nahor lived twenty–nine years, andbegot Terah.

GENESIS 11 4825A er he begot Terah, Nahor lived onehundred and nineteen years, and begotsons and daughters.26Now Terah lived seventy years, andbegot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.27 This is the genealogy of Terah: Terahbegot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haranbegot Lot.28And Haran died before his fatherTerah in his na ve land, in Ur of theChaldeans.29 Then Abram and Nahor took wives:the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, andthe name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, thedaughter of Haran the father of Milcahand the father of Iscah.30 But Sarai was barren; she had nochild.31And Terah took his son Abram and hisgrandson Lot, the son of Haran, and hisdaughter–in–law Sarai, his son Abram’swife, and they went out with them from

GENESIS 11–12 49Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land ofCanaan; and they came to Haran anddwelt there.32 So the days of Terah were twohundred and five years, and Terah diedin Haran.

12 1Now the LORD had said toAbram: "Get out of your country,

From your family And from your father’shouse, To a land that I will show you.2 I will make you a great na on; I willbless you And make your name great;And you shall be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you, AndI will curse him who curses you; And inyou all the families of the earth shall beblessed."4 So Abram departed as the LORD hadspoken to him, and Lot went with him.And Abram was seventy–five years oldwhen he departed from Haran.

GENESIS 12 505 Then Abram took Sarai his wife andLot his brother’s son, and all theirpossessions that they had gathered, andthe people whom they had acquired inHaran, and they departed to go to theland of Canaan. So they came to the landof Canaan.6Abram passed through the land to theplace of Shechem, as far as the terebinthtree of Moreh. And the Canaanites werethen in the land.7 Then the LORD appeared to Abramand said, "To your descendants I will givethis land." And there he built an altar tothe LORD, who had appeared to him.8And he moved from there to themountain east of Bethel, and he pitchedhis tent with Bethel on the west and Aion the east; there he built an altar tothe LORD and called on the name of theLORD.

GENESIS 12 519 So Abram journeyed, going on s lltoward the South.10Now there was a famine in the land,and Abram went down to Egypt to dwellthere, for the famine was severe in theland.11And it came to pass, when he wasclose to entering Egypt, that he said toSarai his wife, "Indeed I know that youare a woman of beau ful countenance.12 "Therefore it will happen, when theEgyp ans see you, that they will say,‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me,but they will let you live.13 "Please say you are my sister, that itmay be well with me for your sake, andthat I may live because of you."14 So it was, when Abram came intoEgypt, that the Egyp ans saw thewoman, that she was very beau ful.15 The princes of Pharaoh also sawher and commended her to Pharaoh.

GENESIS 12 52And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’shouse.16He treated Abram well for her sake.He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, maleand female servants, female donkeys,and camels.17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh andhis house with great plagues because ofSarai, Abram’s wife.18And Pharaoh called Abram and said,"What is this you have done to me? Whydid you not tell me that she was yourwife?19 "Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?I might have taken her as my wife. Nowtherefore, here is your wife; take her andgo your way."20 So Pharaoh commanded his menconcerning him; and they sent him away,with his wife and all that he had.

GENESIS 13 53

13 1 Then Abram went up fromEgypt, he and his wife and all that

he had, and Lot with him, to the South.2Abram was very rich in livestock, insilver, and in gold.3And he went on his journey from theSouth as far as Bethel, to the place wherehis tent had been at the beginning,between Bethel and Ai,4 to the place of the altar which he hadmade there at first. And there Abramcalled on the name of the LORD.5 Lot also, who went with Abram, hadflocks and herds and tents.6Now the land was not able to supportthem, that they might dwell together,for their possessions were so great thatthey could not dwell together.7And there was strife between theherdsmen of Abram’s livestock andthe herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The

GENESIS 13 54Canaanites and the Perizzites then dweltin the land.8 So Abram said to Lot, "Please letthere be no strife between you and me,and between my herdsmen and yourherdsmen; for we are brethren.9 "Is not the whole land before you?Please separate from me. If you take thele , then I will go to the right; or, if yougo to the right, then I will go to the le ."10And Lot li ed his eyes and saw all theplain of Jordan, that it was well wateredeverywhere (before the LORD destroyedSodom and Gomorrah) like the gardenof the LORD, like the land of Egypt as yougo toward Zoar.11 Then Lot chose for himself all theplain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east.And they separated from each other.12Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan,and Lot dwelt in the ci es of the plain

GENESIS 13 55and pitched his tent even as far asSodom.13 But the men of Sodom wereexceedingly wicked and sinful againstthe LORD.14And the LORD said to Abram, a erLot had separated from him: "Li youreyes now and look from the placewhere you are––northward, southward,eastward, and westward;15 "for all the land which you see I giveto you and your descendants forever.16 "And I will make your descendants asthe dust of the earth; so that if a mancould number the dust of the earth,then your descendants also could benumbered.17 "Arise, walk in the land through itslength and its width, for I give it to you."18 Then Abram moved his tent, andwent and dwelt by the terebinth trees of

GENESIS 14 56Mamre, which are in Hebron, and builtan altar there to the LORD.

14 1And it came to pass in the daysof Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch

king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king ofElam, and Tidal king of na ons,2 that they made war with Bera kingof Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah,Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber kingof Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is,Zoar).3All these joined together in the Valleyof Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).4 Twelve years they servedChedorlaomer, and in the thirteenthyear they rebelled.5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomerand the kings that were with him cameand a acked the Rephaim in AshterothKarnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim inShaveh Kiriathaim,

GENESIS 14 576 and the Horites in their mountain ofSeir, as far as El Paran, which is by thewilderness.7 Then they turned back and came to EnMishpat (that is, Kadesh), and a ackedall the country of the Amalekites, andalso the Amorites who dwelt in HazezonTamar.8And the king of Sodom, the king ofGomorrah, the king of Admah, the kingof Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is,Zoar) went out and joined together inba le in the Valley of Siddim9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam,Tidal king of na ons, Amraphel king ofShinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar––fourkings against five.10Now the Valley of Siddim was full ofasphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom andGomorrah fled; some fell there, and theremainder fled to the mountains.

GENESIS 14 5811 Then they took all the goods ofSodom and Gomorrah, and all theirprovisions, and went their way.12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’sson who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods,and departed.13 Then one who had escaped cameand told Abram the Hebrew, for hedwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrethe Amorite, brother of Eshcol andbrother of Aner; and they were allieswith Abram.14Now when Abram heard that hisbrother was taken cap ve, he armedhis three hundred and eighteen trainedservants who were born in his ownhouse, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.15He divided his forces against them bynight, and he and his servants a ackedthem and pursued them as far as Hobah,which is north of Damascus.

GENESIS 14 5916 So he brought back all the goods, andalso brought back his brother Lot andhis goods, as well as the women and thepeople.17And the king of Sodom went out tomeet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is,the King’s Valley), a er his return fromthe defeat of Chedorlaomer and thekings who were with him.18 Then Melchizedek king of Salembrought out bread and wine; he was thepriest of God Most High.19And he blessed him and said:"Blessed be Abram of God Most High,Possessor of heaven and earth;20And blessed be God Most High, Whohas delivered your enemies into yourhand." And he gave him a the of all.21Now the king of Sodom said toAbram, "Give me the persons, and takethe goods for yourself."

GENESIS 14–15 6022 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,"I have raised my hand to the LORD, GodMost High, the Possessor of heaven andearth,23 "that I will take nothing, from athread to a sandal strap, and that I willnot take anything that is yours, lest youshould say, ‘I have made Abram rich’ ––24 "except only what the young menhave eaten, and the por on of the menwho went with me: Aner, Eshcol, andMamre; let them take their por on."

15 1A er these things the word ofthe LORD came to Abram in a

vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram.I am your shield, your exceedingly greatreward."2 But Abram said, "Lord GOD, whatwill You give me, seeing I go childless,and the heir of my house is Eliezer ofDamascus?"

GENESIS 15 613 Then Abram said, "Look, You havegiven me no offspring; indeed one bornin my house is my heir!"4And behold, the word of the LORDcame to him, saying, "This one shall notbe your heir, but one who will comefrom your own body shall be your heir."5 Then He brought him outside andsaid, "Look now toward heaven, andcount the stars if you are able to numberthem." And He said to him, "So shallyour descendants be."6And he believed in the LORD, and Heaccounted it to him for righteousness.7 Then He said to him, "I am theLORD, who brought you out of Ur ofthe Chaldeans, to give you this land toinherit it."8And he said, "Lord GOD, how shall Iknow that I will inherit it?"9 So He said to him, "Bring Me athree–year–old heifer, a three–year–old

GENESIS 15 62female goat, a three–year–old ram, aturtledove, and a young pigeon."10 Then he brought all these to Him andcut them in two, down the middle, andplaced each piece opposite the other;but he did not cut the birds in two.11And when the vultures came downon the carcasses, Abram drove themaway.12Nowwhen the sun was going down, adeep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold,horror and great darkness fell upon him.13 Then He said to Abram: "Knowcertainly that your descendants will bestrangers in a land that is not theirs,and will serve them, and they will afflictthem four hundred years.14 "And also the na on whom theyserve I will judge; a erward they shallcome out with great possessions.

GENESIS 15 6315 "Now as for you, you shall go to yourfathers in peace; you shall be buried at agood old age.16 "But in the fourth genera on theyshall return here, for the iniquity of theAmorites is not yet complete."17And it came to pass, when the sunwent down and it was dark, that behold,there appeared a smoking oven anda burning torch that passed betweenthose pieces.18On the same day the LORD made acovenant with Abram, saying: "To yourdescendants I have given this land, fromthe river of Egypt to the great river, theRiver Euphrates––19 "the Kenites, the Kenezzites, theKadmonites,20 "the Hi tes, the Perizzites, theRephaim,21 "the Amorites, the Canaanites, theGirgashites, and the Jebusites."

GENESIS 16 64

16 1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, hadborne him no children. And she

had an Egyp an maidservant whosename was Hagar.2 So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, theLORD has restrained me from bearingchildren. Please, go in to my maid;perhaps I shall obtain children by her."And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagarher maid, the Egyp an, and gave her toher husband Abram to be his wife, a erAbram had dwelt ten years in the land ofCanaan.4 So he went in to Hagar, and sheconceived. And when she saw that shehad conceived, her mistress becamedespised in her eyes.5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrongbe upon you! I gave my maid into yourembrace; and when she saw that shehad conceived, I became despised in her

GENESIS 16 65eyes. The LORD judge between you andme."6 So Abram said to Sarai, "Indeed yourmaid is in your hand; do to her as youplease." And when Sarai dealt harshlywith her, she fled from her presence.7Now the Angel of the LORD found herby a spring of water in the wilderness,by the spring on the way to Shur.8And He said, "Hagar, Sarai’s maid,where have you come from, and whereare you going?" She said, "I am fleeingfrom the presence of my mistress Sarai."9 The Angel of the LORD said to her,"Return to your mistress, and submityourself under her hand."10 Then the Angel of the LORD said toher, "I will mul ply your descendantsexceedingly, so that they shall not becounted for mul tude."11And the Angel of the LORD said toher: "Behold, you are with child, And you

GENESIS 16–17 66shall bear a son. You shall call his nameIshmael, Because the LORD has heardyour afflic on.12He shall be a wild man; His hand shallbe against every man, And every man’shand against him. And he shall dwell inthe presence of all his brethren."13 Then she called the name of theLORD who spoke to her, You–Are–the–God–Who–Sees; for she said, "Have Ialso here seen Him who sees me?"14 Therefore the well was called BeerLahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadeshand Bered.15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; andAbram named his son, whom Hagarbore, Ishmael.16Abram was eighty–six years old whenHagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

17 1When Abram was ninety–nineyears old, the LORD appeared to

GENESIS 17 67Abram and said to him, "I am AlmightyGod; walk before Me and be blameless.2 "And I will make My covenantbetween Me and you, and will mul plyyou exceedingly."3 Then Abram fell on his face, and Godtalked with him, saying:4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant iswith you, and you shall be a father ofmany na ons.5 "No longer shall your name be calledAbram, but your name shall be Abraham;for I have made you a father of manyna ons.6 "I will make you exceedingly frui ul;and I will make na ons of you, and kingsshall come from you.7 "And I will establish My covenantbetween Me and you and yourdescendants a er you in theirgenera ons, for an everlas ng covenant,

GENESIS 17 68to be God to you and your descendantsa er you.8 "Also I give to you and yourdescendants a er you the land in whichyou are a stranger, all the land of Canaan,as an everlas ng possession; and I willbe their God."9And God said to Abraham: "As for you,you shall keep My covenant, you andyour descendants a er you throughouttheir genera ons.10 "This is My covenant which you shallkeep, between Me and you and yourdescendants a er you: Every male childamong you shall be circumcised;11 "and you shall be circumcised in theflesh of your foreskins, and it shall be asign of the covenant between Me andyou.12 "He who is eight days old among youshall be circumcised, every male child inyour genera ons, he who is born in your

GENESIS 17 69house or bought with money from anyforeigner who is not your descendant.13 "He who is born in your house and hewho is bought with your money must becircumcised, and My covenant shall bein your flesh for an everlas ng covenant.14 "And the uncircumcised male child,who is not circumcised in the flesh ofhis foreskin, that person shall be cutoff from his people; he has broken Mycovenant."15 Then God said to Abraham, "As forSarai your wife, you shall not call hername Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.16 "And I will bless her and also give youa son by her; then I will bless her, andshe shall be a mother of na ons; kingsof peoples shall be from her."17 Then Abraham fell on his face andlaughed, and said in his heart, "Shalla child be born to a man who is one

GENESIS 17 70hundred years old? And shall Sarah, whois ninety years old, bear a child?"18And Abraham said to God, "Oh, thatIshmael might live before You!"19 Then God said: "No, Sarah your wifeshall bear you a son, and you shall call hisname Isaac; I will establish My covenantwith him for an everlas ng covenant,and with his descendants a er him.20 "And as for Ishmael, I have heardyou. Behold, I have blessed him, andwill make him frui ul, and will mul plyhim exceedingly. He shall beget twelveprinces, and I will make him a greatna on.21 "But My covenant I will establish withIsaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you atthis set me next year."22 Then He finished talking with him,and God went up from Abraham.23 So Abraham took Ishmael his son,all who were born in his house and all

GENESIS 17–18 71who were bought with his money, everymale among the men of Abraham’shouse, and circumcised the flesh of theirforeskins that very same day, as God hadsaid to him.24Abraham was ninety–nine years oldwhen he was circumcised in the flesh ofhis foreskin.25And Ishmael his son was thirteenyears old when he was circumcised inthe flesh of his foreskin.26 That very same day Abraham wascircumcised, and his son Ishmael;27 and all the men of his house, born inthe house or bought with money from aforeigner, were circumcised with him.

18 1 Then the LORD appeared to himby the terebinth trees of Mamre,

as he was si ng in the tent door in theheat of the day.2 So he li ed his eyes and looked, andbehold, three men were standing by

GENESIS 18 72him; and when he saw them, he ranfrom the tent door to meet them, andbowed himself to the ground,3 and said, "My Lord, if I have nowfound favor in Your sight, do not pass onby Your servant.4 "Please let a li le water be brought,and wash your feet, and rest yourselvesunder the tree.5 "And I will bring a morsel of bread,that you may refresh your hearts. A erthat you may pass by, inasmuch as youhave come to your servant." They said,"Do as you have said."6 So Abraham hurried into the tent toSarah and said, "Quickly, make readythree measures of fine meal; knead itand make cakes."7And Abraham ran to the herd, took atender and good calf, gave it to a youngman, and he hastened to prepare it.

GENESIS 18 738 So he took bu er andmilk and the calfwhich he had prepared, and set it beforethem; and he stood by them under thetree as they ate.9 Then they said to him, "Where isSarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, inthe tent."10And He said, "I will certainly returnto you according to the me of life, andbehold, Sarah your wife shall have ason." (Sarah was listening in the tentdoor which was behind him.)11Now Abraham and Sarah were old,well advanced in age; and Sarah hadpassed the age of childbearing.12 Therefore Sarah laughed withinherself, saying, "A er I have grown old,shall I have pleasure, my lord being oldalso?"13And the LORD said to Abraham, "Whydid Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surelybear a child, since I am old?’

GENESIS 18 7414 "Is anything too hard for the LORD?At the appointed me I will return toyou, according to the me of life, andSarah shall have a son."15 But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did notlaugh," for she was afraid. And He said,"No, but you did laugh!"16 Then the men rose from there andlooked toward Sodom, and Abrahamwent with them to send them on theway.17And the LORD said, "Shall I hide fromAbraham what I am doing,18 "since Abraham shall surely becomea great and mighty na on, and all thena ons of the earth shall be blessed inhim?19 "For I have known him, in order thathe may command his children and hishousehold a er him, that they keep theway of the LORD, to do righteousness

GENESIS 18 75and jus ce, that the LORD may bring toAbraham what He has spoken to him."20And the LORD said, "Because theoutcry against Sodom and Gomorrah isgreat, and because their sin is very grave,21 "I will go down now and see whetherthey have done altogether according tothe outcry against it that has come toMe; and if not, I will know."22 Then the men turned away fromthere and went toward Sodom, butAbraham s ll stood before the LORD.23And Abraham came near and said,"Would You also destroy the righteouswith the wicked?24 "Suppose there were fi y righteouswithin the city; would You also destroythe place and not spare it for the fi yrighteous that were in it?25 "Far be it from You to do such a thingas this, to slay the righteous with thewicked, so that the righteous should be

GENESIS 18 76as the wicked; far be it from You! Shallnot the Judge of all the earth do right?"26 So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodomfi y righteous within the city, then I willspare all the place for their sakes."27 Then Abraham answered and said,"Indeed now, I who am but dust andashes have taken it upon myself to speakto the Lord:28 "Suppose there were five less thanthe fi y righteous; would You destroy allof the city for lack of five?" So He said, "IfI find there forty–five, I will not destroyit."29And he spoke to Him yet again andsaid, "Suppose there should be fortyfound there?" So He said, "I will not do itfor the sake of forty."30 Then he said, "Let not the Lord beangry, and I will speak: Suppose thirtyshould be found there?" So He said, "Iwill not do it if I find thirty there."

GENESIS 18–19 7731And he said, "Indeed now, I havetaken it upon myself to speak to theLord: Suppose twenty should be foundthere?" So He said, "I will not destroy itfor the sake of twenty."32 Then he said, "Let not the Lord beangry, and I will speak but once more:Suppose ten should be found there?"And He said, "I will not destroy it for thesake of ten."33 So the LORD went His way as soon asHe had finished speaking with Abraham;and Abraham returned to his place.

19 1Now the two angels came toSodom in the evening, and Lot

was si ng in the gate of Sodom. WhenLot saw them, he rose to meet them,and he bowed himself with his facetoward the ground.2And he said, "Here now, my lords,please turn in to your servant’s houseand spend the night, and wash your feet;

GENESIS 19 78then you may rise early and go on yourway." And they said, "No, but we willspend the night in the open square."3 But he insisted strongly; so theyturned in to him and entered his house.Then he made them a feast, and bakedunleavened bread, and they ate.4Now before they lay down, the menof the city, the men of Sodom, both oldand young, all the people from everyquarter, surrounded the house.5And they called to Lot and said to him,"Where are the men who came to youtonight? Bring them out to us that wemay know them carnally."6 So Lot went out to them through thedoorway, shut the door behind him,7 and said, "Please, my brethren, do notdo so wickedly!8 "See now, I have two daughters whohave not known a man; please, let mebring them out to you, and you may do

GENESIS 19 79to them as you wish; only do nothingto these men, since this is the reasonthey have come under the shadow of myroof."9And they said, "Stand back!" Thenthey said, "This one came in to stay here,and he keeps ac ng as a judge; nowwe will deal worse with you than withthem." So they pressed hard against theman Lot, and came near to break downthe door.10 But the men reached out their handsand pulled Lot into the house with them,and shut the door.11And they struck the men who wereat the doorway of the house withblindness, both small and great, so thatthey became weary trying to find thedoor.12 Then the men said to Lot, "Have youanyone else here? Son–in–law, yoursons, your daughters, and whomever

GENESIS 19 80you have in the city––take them out ofthis place!13 "For we will destroy this place,because the outcry against them hasgrown great before the face of the LORD,and the LORD has sent us to destroy it."14 So Lot went out and spoke to hissons–in–law, who had married hisdaughters, and said, "Get up, get out ofthis place; for the LORD will destroy thiscity!" But to his sons–in–law he seemedto be joking.15When the morning dawned, theangels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise,take your wife and your two daughterswho are here, lest you be consumed inthe punishment of the city."16And while he lingered, the men tookhold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and thehands of his two daughters, the LORDbeing merciful to him, and they broughthim out and set him outside the city.

GENESIS 19 8117 So it came to pass, when they hadbrought them outside, that he said,"Escape for your life! Do not look behindyou nor stay anywhere in the plain.Escape to the mountains, lest you bedestroyed."18 Then Lot said to them, "Please, no,my lords!19 "Indeed now, your servant hasfound favor in your sight, and you haveincreased your mercy which you haveshown me by saving my life; but I cannotescape to the mountains, lest some evilovertake me and I die.20 "See now, this city is near enough toflee to, and it is a li le one; please let meescape there (is it not a li le one?) andmy soul shall live."21And he said to him, "See, I havefavored you concerning this thing also,in that I will not overthrow this city forwhich you have spoken.

GENESIS 19 8222 "Hurry, escape there. For I cannotdo anything un l you arrive there."Therefore the name of the city wascalled Zoar.23 The sun had risen upon the earthwhen Lot entered Zoar.24 Then the LORD rained brimstone andfire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from theLORD out of the heavens.25 So He overthrew those ci es, all theplain, all the inhabitants of the ci es,and what grew on the ground.26 But his wife looked back behind him,and she became a pillar of salt.27And Abraham went early in themorning to the place where he hadstood before the LORD.28 Then he looked toward Sodom andGomorrah, and toward all the land ofthe plain; and he saw, and behold, thesmoke of the land which went up likethe smoke of a furnace.

GENESIS 19 8329And it came to pass, when Goddestroyed the ci es of the plain, thatGod remembered Abraham, and sentLot out of the midst of the overthrow,when He overthrew the ci es in whichLot had dwelt.30 Then Lot went up out of Zoar anddwelt in the mountains, and his twodaughters were with him; for he wasafraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and histwo daughters dwelt in a cave.31Now the firstborn said to theyounger, "Our father is old, and there isno man on the earth to come in to us asis the custom of all the earth.32 "Come, let us make our father drinkwine, and we will lie with him, that wemay preserve the lineage of our father."33 So they made their father drink winethat night. And the firstborn went in andlay with her father, and he did not knowwhen she lay down or when she arose.

GENESIS 19–20 8434 It happened on the next day that thefirstborn said to the younger, "IndeedI lay with my father last night; let usmake him drink wine tonight also, andyou go in and lie with him, that we maypreserve the lineage of our father."35 Then they made their father drinkwine that night also. And the youngerarose and lay with him, and he did notknow when she lay down or when shearose.36 Thus both the daughters of Lot werewith child by their father.37 The firstborn bore a son and calledhis name Moab; he is the father of theMoabites to this day.38And the younger, she also bore a sonand called his name Ben–Ammi; he isthe father of the people of Ammon tothis day.

20 1And Abraham journeyed fromthere to the South, and dwelt

GENESIS 20 85between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed inGerar.2Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife,"She is my sister." And Abimelech king ofGerar sent and took Sarah.3 But God came to Abimelech in adream by night, and said to him, "Indeedyou are a dead man because of thewoman whom you have taken, for she isa man’s wife."4 But Abimelech had not come nearher; and he said, "Lord, will You slay arighteous na on also?5 "Did he not say to me, ‘She is mysister’? And she, even she herself said,‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of myheart and innocence of my hands I havedone this."6And God said to him in a dream, "Yes,I know that you did this in the integrityof your heart. For I also withheld you

GENESIS 20 86from sinning against Me; therefore I didnot let you touch her.7 "Now therefore, restore the man’swife; for he is a prophet, and he willpray for you and you shall live. But if youdo not restore her, know that you shallsurely die, you and all who are yours."8 So Abimelech rose early in themorning, called all his servants, and toldall these things in their hearing; and themen were very much afraid.9And Abimelech called Abraham andsaid to him, "What have you done to us?How have I offended you, that you havebrought on me and on my kingdom agreat sin? You have done deeds to methat ought not to be done."10 Then Abimelech said to Abraham,"What did you have in view, that youhave done this thing?"11And Abraham said, "Because Ithought, surely the fear of God is not

GENESIS 20 87in this place; and they will kill me onaccount of my wife.12 "But indeed she is truly my sister. Sheis the daughter of my father, but not thedaughter of my mother; and she becamemy wife.13 "And it came to pass, when Godcaused me to wander from my father’shouse, that I said to her, ‘This is yourkindness that you should do for me: inevery place, wherever we go, say of me,"He is my brother."’"14 Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen,and male and female servants, and gavethem to Abraham; and he restored Sarahhis wife to him.15And Abimelech said, "See, my land isbefore you; dwell where it pleases you."16 Then to Sarah he said, "Behold, I havegiven your brother a thousand piecesof silver; indeed this vindicates you

GENESIS 20–21 88before all who are with you and beforeeverybody." Thus she was rebuked.17 So Abraham prayed to God; andGod healed Abimelech, his wife, andhis female servants. Then they borechildren;18 for the LORD had closed up all thewombs of the house of Abimelechbecause of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

21 1And the LORD visited Sarah asHe had said, and the LORD did for

Sarah as He had spoken.2 For Sarah conceived and boreAbraham a son in his old age, at the setme of which God had spoken to him.3And Abraham called the name of hisson who was born to him––whom Sarahbore to him––Isaac.4 Then Abraham circumcised his sonIsaac when he was eight days old, as Godhad commanded him.

GENESIS 21 895Now Abraham was one hundred yearsold when his son Isaac was born to him.6And Sarah said, "God has made melaugh, and all who hear will laugh withme."7 She also said, "Who would have saidto Abraham that Sarah would nursechildren? For I have borne him a son inhis old age."8 So the child grew and was weaned.And Abraham made a great feast on thesame day that Isaac was weaned.9And Sarah saw the son of Hagarthe Egyp an, whom she had borne toAbraham, scoffing.10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "Castout this bondwoman and her son; forthe son of this bondwoman shall not beheir with my son, namely with Isaac."11And the ma er was very displeasingin Abraham’s sight because of his son.

GENESIS 21 9012 But God said to Abraham, "Do not letit be displeasing in your sight because ofthe lad or because of your bondwoman.Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen toher voice; for in Isaac your seed shall becalled.13 "Yet I will also make a na on of theson of the bondwoman, because he isyour seed."14 So Abraham rose early in themorning, and took bread and a skin ofwater; and pu ng it on her shoulder, hegave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent heraway. Then she departed and wanderedin the Wilderness of Beersheba.15And the water in the skin was usedup, and she placed the boy under one ofthe shrubs.16 Then she went and sat down acrossfrom him at a distance of about abowshot; for she said to herself, "Let menot see the death of the boy." So she sat

GENESIS 21 91opposite him, and li ed her voice andwept.17And God heard the voice of the lad.Then the angel of God called to Hagarout of heaven, and said to her, "Whatails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God hasheard the voice of the lad where he is.18 "Arise, li up the lad and hold himwith your hand, for I will make him agreat na on."19 Then God opened her eyes, and shesaw a well of water. And she went andfilled the skin with water, and gave thelad a drink.20 So God was with the lad; and hegrew and dwelt in the wilderness, andbecame an archer.21He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran;and his mother took a wife for him fromthe land of Egypt.22And it came to pass at that me thatAbimelech and Phichol, the commander

GENESIS 21 92of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying,"God is with you in all that you do.23 "Now therefore, swear to me by Godthat you will not deal falsely with me,with my offspring, or with my posterity;but that according to the kindness that Ihave done to you, you will do to me andto the land in which you have dwelt."24And Abraham said, "I will swear."25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelechbecause of a well of water whichAbimelech’s servants had seized.26And Abimelech said, "I do not knowwho has done this thing; you did not tellme, nor had I heard of it un l today."27 So Abraham took sheep and oxenand gave them to Abimelech, and thetwo of them made a covenant.28And Abraham set seven ewe lambsof the flock by themselves.29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham,"What is the meaning of these seven

GENESIS 21–22 93ewe lambs which you have set bythemselves?"30And he said, "You will take theseseven ewe lambs from my hand, thatthey may be my witness that I have dugthis well."31 Therefore he called that placeBeersheba, because the two of themswore an oath there.32 Thus they made a covenant atBeersheba. So Abimelech rose withPhichol, the commander of his army,and they returned to the land of thePhilis nes.33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisktree in Beersheba, and there called onthe name of the LORD, the Everlas ngGod.34And Abraham stayed in the land ofthe Philis nes many days.

22 1Now it came to pass a er thesethings that God tested Abraham,

GENESIS 22 94and said to him, "Abraham!" And hesaid, "Here I am."2 Then He said, "Take now your son,your only son Isaac, whom you love, andgo to the land of Moriah, and offer himthere as a burnt offering on one of themountains of which I shall tell you."3 So Abraham rose early in the morningand saddled his donkey, and took twoof his young men with him, and Isaachis son; and he split the wood for theburnt offering, and arose and went tothe place of which God had told him.4 Then on the third day Abraham li edhis eyes and saw the place afar off.5And Abraham said to his young men,"Stay here with the donkey; the lad and Iwill go yonder and worship, and we willcome back to you."6 So Abraham took the wood of theburnt offering and laid it on Isaac hisson; and he took the fire in his hand,

GENESIS 22 95and a knife, and the two of them wenttogether.7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his fatherand said, "My father!" And he said,"Here I am, my son." Then he said,"Look, the fire and the wood, but whereis the lamb for a burnt offering?"8And Abraham said, "My son, Godwill provide for Himself the lamb for aburnt offering." So the two of them wenttogether.9 Then they came to the place of whichGod had told him. And Abraham builtan altar there and placed the wood inorder; and he bound Isaac his son andlaid him on the altar, upon the wood.10And Abraham stretched out his handand took the knife to slay his son.11 But the Angel of the LORD called tohim from heaven and said, "Abraham,Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."

GENESIS 22 9612And He said, "Do not lay your handon the lad, or do anything to him; fornow I know that you fear God, since youhave not withheld your son, your onlyson, from Me."13 Then Abraham li ed his eyes andlooked, and there behind him was aram caught in a thicket by its horns. SoAbraham went and took the ram, andoffered it up for a burnt offering insteadof his son.14And Abraham called the name of theplace, The–LORD–Will–Provide; as it issaid to this day, "In the Mount of TheLORD it shall be provided."15 Then the Angel of the LORD called toAbraham a second me out of heaven,16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn,says the LORD, because you have donethis thing, and have not withheld yourson, your only son ––

GENESIS 22 9717 "blessing I will bless you, andmul plying I will mul ply yourdescendants as the stars of the heavenand as the sandwhich is on the seashore;and your descendants shall possess thegate of their enemies.18 "In your seed all the na ons of theearth shall be blessed, because you haveobeyed My voice."19 So Abraham returned to his youngmen, and they rose and went togetherto Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt atBeersheba.20Now it came to pass a er thesethings that it was told Abraham, saying,"Indeed Milcah also has borne childrento your brother Nahor:21 "Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother,Kemuel the father of Aram,22 "Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, andBethuel."

GENESIS 22–23 9823And Bethuel begot Rebekah. Theseeight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’sbrother.24His concubine, whose name wasReumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham,Thahash, and Maachah.

23 1 Sarah lived one hundred andtwenty–seven years; these were

the years of the life of Sarah.2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (thatis, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, andAbraham came to mourn for Sarah andto weep for her.3 Then Abraham stood up from beforehis dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth,saying,4 "I am a foreigner and a visitor amongyou. Give me property for a burial placeamong you, that I may bury my dead outof my sight."5And the sons of Heth answeredAbraham, saying to him,

GENESIS 23 996 "Hear us, my lord: You are a mightyprince among us; bury your dead in thechoicest of our burial places. None of uswill withhold from you his burial place,that you may bury your dead."7 Then Abraham stood up and bowedhimself to the people of the land, thesons of Heth.8And he spoke with them, saying, "Ifit is your wish that I bury my dead outof my sight, hear me, and meet withEphron the son of Zohar for me,9 "that he may give me the cave ofMachpelah which he has, which is at theend of his field. Let him give it to me atthe full price, as property for a burialplace among you."10Now Ephron dwelt among the sons ofHeth; and Ephron the Hi te answeredAbraham in the presence of the sons ofHeth, all who entered at the gate of hiscity, saying,

GENESIS 23 10011 "No, my lord, hear me: I give you thefield and the cave that is in it; I give it toyou in the presence of the sons of mypeople. I give it to you. Bury your dead!"12 Then Abraham bowed himself downbefore the people of the land;13 and he spoke to Ephron in thehearing of the people of the land, saying,"If you will give it, please hear me. I willgive you money for the field; take it fromme and I will bury my dead there."14And Ephron answered Abraham,saying to him,15 "My lord, listen to me; the land isworth four hundred shekels of silver.What is that between you and me? Sobury your dead."16And Abraham listened to Ephron;and Abraham weighed out the silverfor Ephron which he had named inthe hearing of the sons of Heth, four

GENESIS 23–24 101hundred shekels of silver, currency ofthe merchants.17 So the field of Ephron which was inMachpelah, which was before Mamre,the field and the cave which was in it,and all the trees that were in the field,which were within all the surroundingborders, were deeded18 to Abraham as a possession in thepresence of the sons of Heth, before allwho went in at the gate of his city.19And a er this, Abraham buriedSarah his wife in the cave of the fieldof Machpelah, before Mamre (that is,Hebron) in the land of Canaan.20 So the field and the cave that is in itwere deeded to Abraham by the sons ofHeth as property for a burial place.

24 1Now Abraham was old, welladvanced in age; and the LORD

had blessed Abraham in all things.

GENESIS 24 1022 So Abraham said to the oldest servantof his house, who ruled over all that hehad, "Please, put your hand under mythigh,3 "and I will make you swear by theLORD, the God of heaven and the God ofthe earth, that you will not take a wifefor my son from the daughters of theCanaanites, among whom I dwell;4 "but you shall go to my country andto my family, and take a wife for my sonIsaac."5And the servant said to him, "Perhapsthe woman will not be willing to followme to this land. Must I take your sonback to the land from which you came?"6 But Abraham said to him, "Bewarethat you do not take my son back there.7 "The LORD God of heaven, who tookme from my father’s house and fromthe land of my family, and who spoke tome and swore to me, saying, ‘To your

GENESIS 24 103descendants I give this land,’ He willsend His angel before you, and you shalltake a wife for my son from there.8 "And if the woman is not willing tofollow you, then you will be releasedfrom this oath; only do not take my sonback there."9 So the servant put his hand under thethigh of Abraham his master, and sworeto him concerning this ma er.10 Then the servant took ten of hismaster’s camels and departed, for all hismaster’s goods were in his hand. And hearose and went to Mesopotamia, to thecity of Nahor.11And he made his camels kneel downoutside the city by a well of water atevening me, the me when women goout to draw water.12 Then he said, "O LORD God of mymaster Abraham, please give me success

GENESIS 24 104this day, and show kindness to mymaster Abraham.13 "Behold, here I stand by the well ofwater, and the daughters of the men ofthe city are coming out to draw water.14 "Now let it be that the young womanto whom I say, ‘Please let down yourpitcher that I may drink,’ and she says,‘Drink, and I will also give your camelsa drink’ ––let her be the one You haveappointed for Your servant Isaac. Andby this I will know that You have shownkindness to my master."15And it happened, before he hadfinished speaking, that behold, Rebekah,who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah,the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,came out with her pitcher on hershoulder.16Now the young woman was verybeau ful to behold, a virgin; no man had

GENESIS 24 105known her. And she went down to thewell, filled her pitcher, and came up.17And the servant ran to meet her andsaid, "Please let me drink a li le waterfrom your pitcher."18 So she said, "Drink, my lord." Thenshe quickly let her pitcher down to herhand, and gave him a drink.19And when she had finished givinghim a drink, she said, "I will draw waterfor your camels also, un l they havefinished drinking."20 Then she quickly emp ed her pitcherinto the trough, ran back to the well todraw water, and drew for all his camels.21And the man, wondering at her,remained silent so as to know whetherthe LORD had made his journeyprosperous or not.22 So it was, when the camels hadfinished drinking, that the man tooka golden nose ring weighing half a

GENESIS 24 106shekel, and two bracelets for her wristsweighing ten shekels of gold,23 and said, "Whose daughter are you?Tell me, please, is there room in yourfather’s house for us to lodge?"24 So she said to him, "I am the daughterof Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she boreto Nahor."25Moreover she said to him, "We haveboth straw and feed enough, and roomto lodge."26 Then the man bowed down his headand worshiped the LORD.27And he said, "Blessed be the LORDGod of my master Abraham, who hasnot forsaken His mercy and His truthtoward my master. As for me, being onthe way, the LORD led me to the houseof my master’s brethren."28 So the young woman ran and toldher mother’s household these things.

GENESIS 24 10729Now Rebekah had a brother whosename was Laban, and Laban ran out tothe man by the well.30 So it came to pass, when he sawthe nose ring, and the bracelets on hissister’s wrists, and when he heard thewords of his sister Rebekah, saying,"Thus the man spoke to me," that hewent to the man. And there he stood bythe camels at the well.31And he said, "Come in, O blessed ofthe LORD! Why do you stand outside?For I have prepared the house, and aplace for the camels."32 Then the man came to the house.And he unloaded the camels, andprovided straw and feed for the camels,and water to wash his feet and the feetof the men who were with him.33 Food was set before him to eat, buthe said, "I will not eat un l I have told

GENESIS 24 108about my errand." And he said, "Speakon."34 So he said, "I am Abraham’s servant.35 "The LORD has blessed my mastergreatly, and he has become great; andHe has given him flocks and herds, silverand gold, male and female servants, andcamels and donkeys.36 "And Sarah my master’s wife bore ason to my master when she was old; andto him he has given all that he has.37 "Now my master made me swear,saying, ‘You shall not take a wife formy son from the daughters of theCanaanites, in whose land I dwell;38 ‘but you shall go to my father’s houseand to my family, and take a wife for myson.’39 "And I said to my master, ‘Perhapsthe woman will not follow me.’40 "But he said tome, ‘The LORD, beforewhom I walk, will send His angel with

GENESIS 24 109you and prosper your way; and you shalltake a wife for my son from my familyand from my father’s house.41 ‘You will be clear from this oath whenyou arrive among my family; for if theywill not give her to you, then you will bereleased from my oath.’42 "And this day I came to the welland said, ‘O LORD God of my masterAbraham, if You will now prosper theway in which I go,43 ‘behold, I stand by the well of water;and it shall come to pass that when thevirgin comes out to draw water, and Isay to her, "Please give me a li le waterfrom your pitcher to drink,"44 ‘and she says to me, "Drink, and Iwill draw for your camels also," ––lether be the woman whom the LORD hasappointed for my master’s son.’45 "But before I had finished speakingin my heart, there was Rebekah, coming

GENESIS 24 110out with her pitcher on her shoulder;and she went down to the well and drewwater. And I said to her, ‘Please let medrink.’46 "And she made haste and let herpitcher down from her shoulder, andsaid, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels adrink also.’ So I drank, and she gave thecamels a drink also.47 "Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whosedaughter are you?’ And she said, ‘Thedaughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whomMilcah bore to him.’ So I put the nosering on her nose and the bracelets onher wrists.48 "And I bowedmyhead andworshipedthe LORD, and blessed the LORD God ofmy master Abraham, who had led me inthe way of truth to take the daughter ofmy master’s brother for his son.49 "Now if you will deal kindly and trulywith my master, tell me. And if not, tell

GENESIS 24 111me, that I may turn to the right hand orto the le ."50 Then Laban and Bethuel answeredand said, "The thing comes from theLORD; we cannot speak to you eitherbad or good.51 "Here is Rebekah before you; takeher and go, and let her be your master’sson’s wife, as the LORD has spoken."52And it came to pass, when Abraham’sservant heard their words, that heworshiped the LORD, bowing himself tothe earth.53 Then the servant brought out jewelryof silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing,and gave them to Rebekah. He also gaveprecious things to her brother and to hermother.54And he and the men who were withhim ate and drank and stayed all night.Then they arose in the morning, and hesaid, "Send me away to my master."

GENESIS 24 11255 But her brother and her mother said,"Let the young woman stay with us a fewdays, at least ten; a er that she may go."56And he said to them, "Do not hinderme, since the LORD has prospered myway; send me away so that I may go tomy master."57 So they said, "We will call the youngwoman and ask her personally."58 Then they called Rebekah and saidto her, "Will you go with this man?" Andshe said, "I will go."59 So they sent away Rebekah theirsister and her nurse, and Abraham’sservant and his men.60And they blessed Rebekah and saidto her: "Our sister, may you become Themother of thousands of ten thousands;And may your descendants possess Thegates of those who hate them."61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose,and they rode on the camels and

GENESIS 24 113followed the man. So the servant tookRebekah and departed.62Now Isaac came from the way ofBeer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.63And Isaac went out to meditate inthe field in the evening; and he li ed hiseyes and looked, and there, the camelswere coming.64 Then Rebekah li ed her eyes, andwhen she saw Isaac she dismountedfrom her camel;65 for she had said to the servant, "Whois this man walking in the field to meetus?" The servant said, "It is my master."So she took a veil and covered herself.66And the servant told Isaac all thethings that he had done.67 Then Isaac brought her into hismother Sarah’s tent; and he tookRebekah and she became his wife, andhe loved her. So Isaac was comforteda er his mother’s death.

GENESIS 25 114

25 1Abraham again took a wife, andher name was Keturah.

2And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan,Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan.And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim,Letushim, and Leummim.4And the sons of Midian were Ephah,Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. Allthese were the children of Keturah.5And Abraham gave all that he had toIsaac.6 But Abraham gave gi s to the sonsof the concubines which Abraham had;and while he was s ll living he sent themeastward, away from Isaac his son, tothe country of the east.7 This is the sum of the years ofAbraham’s life which he lived: onehundred and seventy–five years.8 Then Abraham breathed his last anddied in a good old age, an old man and

GENESIS 25 115full of years, and was gathered to hispeople.9And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buriedhim in the cave of Machpelah, which isbefore Mamre, in the field of Ephron theson of Zohar the Hi te,10 the field which Abraham purchasedfrom the sons of Heth. There Abrahamwas buried, and Sarah his wife.11And it came to pass, a er the deathof Abraham, that God blessed his sonIsaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.12Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael,Abraham’s son, whom Hagar theEgyp an, Sarah’s maidservant, bore toAbraham.13And these were the names ofthe sons of Ishmael, by their names,according to their genera ons: Thefirstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; thenKedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,

GENESIS 25 11615Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, andKedemah.16 These were the sons of Ishmael andthese were their names, by their townsand their se lements, twelve princesaccording to their na ons.17 These were the years of the life ofIshmael: one hundred and thirty–sevenyears; and he breathed his last and died,and was gathered to his people.18 (They dwelt from Havilah as far asShur, which is east of Egypt as you gotoward Assyria.) He died in the presenceof all his brethren.19 This is the genealogy of Isaac,Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac.20 Isaac was forty years old when hetook Rebekah as wife, the daughter ofBethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, thesister of Laban the Syrian.21Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD forhis wife, because she was barren; and

GENESIS 25 117the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekahhis wife conceived.22 But the children struggled togetherwithin her; and she said, "If all is well,why am I like this?" So she went toinquire of the LORD.23And the LORD said to her: "Twona ons are in your womb, Two peoplesshall be separated from your body; Onepeople shall be stronger than the other,And the older shall serve the younger."24 So when her days were fulfilled forher to give birth, indeed there weretwins in her womb.25And the first came out red. He waslike a hairy garment all over; so theycalled his name Esau.26A erward his brother came out, andhis hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so hisname was called Jacob. Isaac was sixtyyears old when she bore them.

GENESIS 25 11827 So the boys grew. And Esau was askillful hunter, a man of the field; butJacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.28And Isaac loved Esau because he ateof his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.29Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esaucame in from the field, and he wasweary.30And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feedme with that same red stew, for I amweary." Therefore his name was calledEdom.31 But Jacob said, "Sell me yourbirthright as of this day."32And Esau said, "Look, I am about todie; so what is this birthright to me?"33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as ofthis day." So he swore to him, and soldhis birthright to Jacob.34And Jacob gave Esau bread and stewof len ls; then he ate and drank, arose,

GENESIS 26 119and went his way. Thus Esau despisedhis birthright.

26 1 There was a famine in the land,besides the first famine that was

in the days of Abraham. And Isaac wentto Abimelech king of the Philis nes, inGerar.2 Then the LORD appeared to him andsaid: "Do not go down to Egypt; live inthe land of which I shall tell you.3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be withyou and bless you; for to you and yourdescendants I give all these lands, and Iwill perform the oath which I swore toAbraham your father.4 "And I will make your descendantsmul ply as the stars of heaven; I will giveto your descendants all these lands; andin your seed all the na ons of the earthshall be blessed;5 "because Abraham obeyed Myvoice and kept My charge, My

GENESIS 26 120commandments, My statutes, and Mylaws."6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.7And the men of the place asked abouthis wife. And he said, "She is my sister";for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife,"because he thought, "lest the men of theplace kill me for Rebekah, because she isbeau ful to behold."8Now it came to pass, when he hadbeen there a long me, that Abimelechking of the Philis nes looked through awindow, and saw, and there was Isaac,showing endearment to Rebekah hiswife.9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said,"Quite obviously she is your wife; so howcould you say, ‘She is my sister’?" AndIsaac said to him, "Because I said, ‘Lest Idie on account of her.’"10And Abimelech said, "What is thisyou have done to us? One of the people

GENESIS 26 121might soon have lain with your wife, andyou would have brought guilt on us."11 So Abimelech charged all his people,saying, "He who touches this man or hiswife shall surely be put to death."12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, andreaped in the same year a hundredfold;and the LORD blessed him.13 The man began to prosper, andcon nued prospering un l he becamevery prosperous;14 for he had possessions of flocks andpossessions of herds and a great numberof servants. So the Philis nes enviedhim.15Now the Philis nes had stopped upall the wells which his father’s servantshad dug in the days of Abraham hisfather, and they had filled them withearth.

GENESIS 26 12216And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Goaway from us, for you are much migh erthan we."17 Then Isaac departed from there andpitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar,and dwelt there.18And Isaac dug again the wells ofwater which they had dug in the days ofAbraham his father, for the Philis neshad stopped them up a er the death ofAbraham. He called them by the nameswhich his father had called them.19Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley,and found a well of running water there.20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreledwith Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, "Thewater is ours." So he called the name ofthe well Esek, because they quarreledwith him.21 Then they dug another well, andthey quarreled over that one also. So hecalled its name Sitnah.

GENESIS 26 12322And he moved from there and duganother well, and they did not quarrelover it. So he called its name Rehoboth,because he said, "For now the LORDhas made room for us, and we shall befrui ul in the land."23 Then he went up from there toBeersheba.24And the LORD appeared to himthe same night and said, "I am theGod of your father Abraham; do notfear, for I am with you. I will bless youand mul ply your descendants for Myservant Abraham’s sake."25 So he built an altar there and calledon the name of the LORD, and he pitchedhis tent there; and there Isaac’s servantsdug a well.26 Then Abimelech came to him fromGerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends,and Phichol the commander of his army.

GENESIS 26 12427And Isaac said to them, "Why haveyou come to me, since you hate me andhave sent me away from you?"28 But they said, "We have certainlyseen that the LORD is with you. So wesaid, ‘Let there now be an oath betweenus, between you and us; and let us makea covenant with you,29 ‘that you will do us no harm, sincewe have not touched you, and since wehave done nothing to you but good andhave sent you away in peace. You arenow the blessed of the LORD.’"30 So he made them a feast, and theyate and drank.31 Then they arose early in the morningand swore an oath with one another;and Isaac sent them away, and theydeparted from him in peace.32 It came to pass the same day thatIsaac’s servants came and told him about

GENESIS 26–27 125the well which they had dug, and said tohim, "We have found water."33 So he called it Shebah. Therefore thename of the city is Beersheba to this day.34When Esau was forty years old, hetook as wives Judith the daughter ofBeeri the Hi te, and Basemath thedaughter of Elon the Hi te.35And they were a grief of mind toIsaac and Rebekah.

27 1Now it came to pass, when Isaacwas old and his eyes were so dim

that he could not see, that he called Esauhis older son and said to him, "My son."And he answered him, "Here I am."2 Then he said, "Behold now, I am old. Ido not know the day of my death.3 "Now therefore, please take yourweapons, your quiver and your bow, andgo out to the field and hunt game forme.

GENESIS 27 1264 "And make me savory food, such as Ilove, and bring it to me that I may eat,that my soul may bless you before I die."5Now Rebekah was listening whenIsaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esauwent to the field to hunt game and tobring it.6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son,saying, "Indeed I heard your father speakto Esau your brother, saying,7 ‘Bring me game and make savory foodfor me, that I may eat it and bless youin the presence of the LORD before mydeath.’8 "Now therefore, my son, obey myvoice according to what I command you.9 "Go now to the flock and bring mefrom there two choice kids of the goats,and I will make savory food from themfor your father, such as he loves.

GENESIS 27 12710 "Then you shall take it to your father,that he may eat it, and that he may blessyou before his death."11And Jacob said to Rebekah hismother, "Look, Esau my brother is ahairy man, and I am a smooth–skinnedman.12 "Perhaps my father will feel me, andI shall seem to be a deceiver to him; andI shall bring a curse on myself and not ablessing."13 But his mother said to him, "Let yourcurse be on me, my son; only obey myvoice, and go, get them for me."14And he went and got them andbrought them to his mother, and hismother made savory food, such as hisfather loved.15 Then Rebekah took the choiceclothes of her elder son Esau, whichwere with her in the house, and putthem on Jacob her younger son.

GENESIS 27 12816And she put the skins of the kidsof the goats on his hands and on thesmooth part of his neck.17 Then she gave the savory food andthe bread, which she had prepared, intothe hand of her son Jacob.18 So he went to his father and said,"My father." And he said, "Here I am.Who are you, my son?"19 Jacob said to his father, "I am Esauyour firstborn; I have done just as youtold me; please arise, sit and eat of mygame, that your soul may bless me."20 But Isaac said to his son, "How is itthat you have found it so quickly, myson?" And he said, "Because the LORDyour God brought it to me."21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Pleasecome near, that I may feel you, my son,whether you are really my son Esau ornot."

GENESIS 27 12922 So Jacob went near to Isaac hisfather, and he felt him and said, "Thevoice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands arethe hands of Esau."23And he did not recognize him,because his hands were hairy like hisbrother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.24 Then he said, "Are you really my sonEsau?" He said, "I am."25He said, "Bring it near to me, and Iwill eat of my son’s game, so that mysoul may bless you." So he brought itnear to him, and he ate; and he broughthim wine, and he drank.26 Then his father Isaac said to him,"Come near now and kiss me, my son."27And he came near and kissed him;and he smelled the smell of his clothing,and blessed him and said: "Surely, thesmell of my son Is like the smell of a fieldWhich the LORD has blessed.

GENESIS 27 13028 Therefore may God give you Of thedew of heaven, Of the fatness of theearth, And plenty of grain and wine.29 Let peoples serve you, And na onsbow down to you. Be master over yourbrethren, And let your mother’s sonsbow down to you. Cursed be everyonewho curses you, And blessed be thosewho bless you!"30Now it happened, as soon as Isaachad finished blessing Jacob, and Jacobhad scarcely gone out from the presenceof Isaac his father, that Esau his brothercame in from his hun ng.31He also had made savory food, andbrought it to his father, and said to hisfather, "Let my father arise and eat ofhis son’s game, that your soul may blessme."32And his father Isaac said to him,"Who are you?" So he said, "I am yourson, your firstborn, Esau."

GENESIS 27 13133 Then Isaac trembled exceedingly,and said, "Who? Where is the one whohunted game and brought it to me? Iate all of it before you came, and I haveblessed him––and indeed he shall beblessed."34When Esau heard the words of hisfather, he cried with an exceedingly greatand bi er cry, and said to his father,"Bless me––me also, O my father!"35 But he said, "Your brother camewith deceit and has taken away yourblessing."36And Esau said, "Is he not rightlynamed Jacob? For he has supplantedme these two mes. He took away mybirthright, and now look, he has takenaway my blessing!" And he said, "Haveyou not reserved a blessing for me?"37 Then Isaac answered and said toEsau, "Indeed I have made him yourmaster, and all his brethren I have given

GENESIS 27 132to him as servants; with grain and wine Ihave sustained him. What shall I do nowfor you, my son?"38And Esau said to his father, "Haveyou only one blessing, my father? Blessme––me also, O my father!" And Esauli ed up his voice and wept.39 Then Isaac his father answered andsaid to him: "Behold, your dwelling shallbe of the fatness of the earth, And of thedew of heaven from above.40 By your sword you shall live, Andyou shall serve your brother; And itshall come to pass, when you becomerestless, That you shall break his yokefrom your neck."41 So Esau hated Jacob because of theblessing with which his father blessedhim, and Esau said in his heart, "Thedays of mourning for my father are athand; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

GENESIS 27 13342And the words of Esau her older sonwere told to Rebekah. So she sent andcalled Jacob her younger son, and said tohim, "Surely your brother Esau comfortshimself concerning you by intending tokill you.43 "Now therefore, my son, obey myvoice: arise, flee to my brother Laban inHaran.44 "And stay with him a few days, un lyour brother’s fury turns away,45 "un l your brother’s anger turnsaway from you, and he forgets what youhave done to him; then I will send andbring you from there. Why should I bebereaved also of you both in one day?"46And Rebekah said to Isaac, "Iam weary of my life because of thedaughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wifeof the daughters of Heth, like these whoare the daughters of the land, what goodwill my life be to me?"

GENESIS 28 134

28 1 Then Isaac called Jacob andblessed him, and charged him,

and said to him: "You shall not take awife from the daughters of Canaan.2 "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to thehouse of Bethuel your mother’s father;and take yourself a wife from there ofthe daughters of Laban your mother’sbrother.3 "May God Almighty bless you, Andmake you frui ul and mul ply you, Thatyou may be an assembly of peoples;4And give you the blessing of Abraham,To you and your descendants with you,That you may inherit the land In whichyou are a stranger, Which God gave toAbraham."5 So Isaac sent Jacob away, and hewent to Padan Aram, to Laban the sonof Bethuel the Syrian, the brother ofRebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

GENESIS 28 1356 Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacoband sent him away to Padan Aram totake himself a wife from there, and thatas he blessed him he gave him a charge,saying, "You shall not take a wife fromthe daughters of Canaan,"7 and that Jacob had obeyed his fatherand his mother and had gone to PadanAram.8Also Esau saw that the daughters ofCanaan did not please his father Isaac.9 So Esau went to Ishmael and tookMahalath the daughter of Ishmael,Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth,to be his wife in addi on to the wives hehad.10Now Jacob went out from Beershebaand went toward Haran.11 So he came to a certain place andstayed there all night, because the sunhad set. And he took one of the stones

GENESIS 28 136of that place and put it at his head, andhe lay down in that place to sleep.12 Then he dreamed, and behold, aladder was set up on the earth, andits top reached to heaven; and therethe angels of God were ascending anddescending on it.13And behold, the LORD stood aboveit and said: "I am the LORD God ofAbraham your father and the God ofIsaac; the land on which you lie I will giveto you and your descendants.14 "Also your descendants shall be asthe dust of the earth; you shall spreadabroad to the west and the east, to thenorth and the south; and in you and inyour seed all the families of the earthshall be blessed.15 "Behold, I am with you and will keepyou wherever you go, and will bring youback to this land; for I will not leave you

GENESIS 28 137un l I have done what I have spoken toyou."16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep andsaid, "Surely the LORD is in this place,and I did not know it."17And he was afraid and said, "Howawesome is this place! This is none otherthan the house of God, and this is thegate of heaven!"18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning,and took the stone that he had put at hishead, set it up as a pillar, and poured oilon top of it.19And he called the name of that placeBethel; but the name of that city hadbeen Luz previously.20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "IfGod will be with me, and keep me in thisway that I am going, and give me breadto eat and clothing to put on,

GENESIS 28–29 13821 "so that I come back to my father’shouse in peace, then the LORD shall bemy God.22 "And this stone which I have set asa pillar shall be God’s house, and of allthat You give me I will surely give a tenthto You."

29 1 So Jacob went on his journeyand came to the land of the

people of the East.2And he looked, and saw a well inthe field; and behold, there were threeflocks of sheep lying by it; for out of thatwell they watered the flocks. A largestone was on the well’s mouth.3Now all the flocks would be gatheredthere; and they would roll the stonefrom the well’s mouth, water the sheep,and put the stone back in its place onthe well’s mouth.

GENESIS 29 1394And Jacob said to them, "My brethren,where are you from?" And they said,"We are from Haran."5 Then he said to them, "Do you knowLaban the son of Nahor?" And they said,"We know him."6 So he said to them, "Is he well?"And they said, "He is well. And look,his daughter Rachel is coming with thesheep."7 Then he said, "Look, it is s ll high day;it is not me for the ca le to be gatheredtogether. Water the sheep, and go andfeed them."8 But they said, "We cannot un l all theflocks are gathered together, and theyhave rolled the stone from the well’smouth; then we water the sheep."9Now while he was s ll speaking withthem, Rachel came with her father’ssheep, for she was a shepherdess.

GENESIS 29 14010And it came to pass, when Jacobsaw Rachel the daughter of Laban hismother’s brother, and the sheep ofLaban his mother’s brother, that Jacobwent near and rolled the stone from thewell’s mouth, and watered the flock ofLaban his mother’s brother.11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and li edup his voice and wept.12And Jacob told Rachel that he washer father’s rela ve and that he wasRebekah’s son. So she ran and told herfather.13 Then it came to pass, when Labanheard the report about Jacob his sister’sson, that he ran to meet him, andembraced him and kissed him, andbrought him to his house. So he toldLaban all these things.14And Laban said to him, "Surely youare my bone and my flesh." And hestayed with him for a month.

GENESIS 29 14115 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Becauseyou aremy rela ve, should you thereforeserve me for nothing? Tell me, whatshould your wages be?"16Now Laban had two daughters: thename of the elder was Leah, and thename of the younger was Rachel.17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachelwas beau ful of form and appearance.18Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said,"I will serve you seven years for Rachelyour younger daughter."19And Laban said, "It is be er that Igive her to you than that I should giveher to another man. Stay with me."20 So Jacob served seven years forRachel, and they seemed only a few daysto him because of the love he had forher.21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give memy wife, for my days are fulfilled, that Imay go in to her."

GENESIS 29 14222And Laban gathered together all themen of the place and made a feast.23Now it came to pass in the evening,that he took Leah his daughter andbrought her to Jacob; and he went in toher.24And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to hisdaughter Leah as a maid.25 So it came to pass in the morning,that behold, it was Leah. And he said toLaban, "What is this you have done tome? Was it not for Rachel that I servedyou? Why then have you deceived me?"26And Laban said, "It must not be doneso in our country, to give the youngerbefore the firstborn.27 "Fulfill her week, and we will give youthis one also for the service which youwill serve with me s ll another sevenyears."

GENESIS 29 14328 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled herweek. So he gave him his daughterRachel as wife also.29And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to hisdaughter Rachel as a maid.30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel,and he also loved Rachel more thanLeah. And he served with Laban s llanother seven years.31When the LORD saw that Leah wasunloved, He opened her womb; butRachel was barren.32 So Leah conceived and bore a son,and she called his name Reuben; for shesaid, "The LORD has surely looked on myafflic on. Now therefore, my husbandwill love me."33 Then she conceived again and borea son, and said, "Because the LORDhas heard that I am unloved, He hastherefore given me this son also." Andshe called his name Simeon.

GENESIS 29–30 14434 She conceived again and bore a son,and said, "Now this me my husbandwill become a ached to me, because Ihave borne him three sons." Thereforehis name was called Levi.35And she conceived again and borea son, and said, "Now I will praise theLORD." Therefore she called his nameJudah. Then she stopped bearing.

30 1Now when Rachel saw that shebore Jacob no children, Rachel

envied her sister, and said to Jacob,"Give me children, or else I die!"2And Jacob’s anger was aroused againstRachel, and he said, "Am I in the placeof God, who has withheld from you thefruit of the womb?"3 So she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah;go in to her, and she will bear a child onmy knees, that I also may have childrenby her."

GENESIS 30 1454 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid aswife, and Jacob went in to her.5And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacoba son.6 Then Rachel said, "God has judged mycase; and He has also heard my voiceand given me a son." Therefore shecalled his name Dan.7And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceivedagain and bore Jacob a second son.8 Then Rachel said, "With greatwrestlings I have wrestled with my sister,and indeed I have prevailed." So shecalled his name Naphtali.9When Leah saw that she had stoppedbearing, she took Zilpah her maid andgave her to Jacob as wife.10And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob ason.11 Then Leah said, "A troop comes!" Soshe called his name Gad.

GENESIS 30 14612And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob asecond son.13 Then Leah said, "I am happy, for thedaughters will call me blessed." So shecalled his name Asher.14Now Reuben went in the days ofwheat harvest and found mandrakesin the field, and brought them to hismother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,"Please give me some of your son’smandrakes."15 But she said to her, "Is it a smallma er that you have taken away myhusband? Would you take away myson’s mandrakes also?" And Rachel said,"Therefore he will lie with you tonightfor your son’s mandrakes."16When Jacob came out of the field inthe evening, Leah went out to meet himand said, "You must come in to me, forI have surely hired you with my son’s

GENESIS 30 147mandrakes." And he lay with her thatnight.17And God listened to Leah, and sheconceived and bore Jacob a fi h son.18 Leah said, "God has given me mywages, because I have given my maidto my husband." So she called his nameIssachar.19 Then Leah conceived again and boreJacob a sixth son.20And Leah said, "God has endowedme with a good endowment; now myhusband will dwell with me, because Ihave borne him six sons." So she calledhis name Zebulun.21A erward she bore a daughter, andcalled her name Dinah.22 Then God remembered Rachel, andGod listened to her and opened herwomb.

GENESIS 30 14823And she conceived and bore a son,and said, "God has taken away myreproach."24 So she called his name Joseph, andsaid, "The LORD shall add to me anotherson."25And it came to pass, when Rachelhad borne Joseph, that Jacob said toLaban, "Send me away, that I may go tomy own place and to my country.26 "Give me my wives and my childrenfor whom I have served you, and let mego; for you knowmy service which I havedone for you."27And Laban said to him, "Please stay,if I have found favor in your eyes, forI have learned by experience that theLORD has blessed me for your sake."28 Then he said, "Name me your wages,and I will give it."

GENESIS 30 14929 So Jacob said to him, "You know howI have served you and how your livestockhas been with me.30 "For what you had before I came wasli le, and it has increased to a greatamount; the LORD has blessed you sincemy coming. And now, when shall I alsoprovide for my own house?"31 So he said, "What shall I give you?"And Jacob said, "You shall not give meanything. If you will do this thing for me,I will again feed and keep your flocks:32 "Let me pass through all your flocktoday, removing from there all thespeckled and spo ed sheep, and all thebrown ones among the lambs, and thespo ed and speckled among the goats;and these shall be my wages.33 "So my righteousness will answer forme in me to come, when the subject ofmy wages comes before you: every onethat is not speckled and spo ed among

GENESIS 30 150the goats, and brown among the lambs,will be considered stolen, if it is withme."34And Laban said, "Oh, that it wereaccording to your word!"35 So he removed that day the malegoats that were speckled and spo ed, allthe female goats that were speckled andspo ed, every one that had some whitein it, and all the brown ones among thelambs, and gave them into the hand ofhis sons.36 Then he put three days’ journeybetween himself and Jacob, and Jacobfed the rest of Laban’s flocks.37Now Jacob took for himself rods ofgreen poplar and of the almond andchestnut trees, peeled white strips inthem, and exposed the white which wasin the rods.38And the rods which he had peeled,he set before the flocks in the gu ers, in

GENESIS 30 151the watering troughs where the flockscame to drink, so that they shouldconceive when they came to drink.39 So the flocks conceived beforethe rods, and the flocks brought forthstreaked, speckled, and spo ed.40 Then Jacob separated the lambs,and made the flocks face toward thestreaked and all the brown in the flockof Laban; but he put his own flocks bythemselves and did not put them withLaban’s flock.41And it came to pass, whenever thestronger livestock conceived, that Jacobplaced the rods before the eyes of thelivestock in the gu ers, that they mightconceive among the rods.42 But when the flocks were feeble, hedid not put them in; so the feebler wereLaban’s and the stronger Jacob’s.43 Thus the man became exceedinglyprosperous, and had large flocks, female

GENESIS 31 152and male servants, and camels anddonkeys.

31 1Now Jacob heard the words ofLaban’s sons, saying, "Jacob has

taken away all that was our father’s,and from what was our father’s he hasacquired all this wealth."2And Jacob saw the countenance ofLaban, and indeed it was not favorabletoward him as before.3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Returnto the land of your fathers and to yourfamily, and I will be with you."4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel andLeah to the field, to his flock,5 and said to them, "I see your father’scountenance, that it is not favorabletoward me as before; but the God of myfather has been with me.6 "And you know that with all my mightI have served your father.

GENESIS 31 1537 "Yet your father has deceived me andchanged my wages ten mes, but Goddid not allow him to hurt me.8 "If he said thus: ‘The speckled shallbe your wages,’ then all the flocks borespeckled. And if he said thus: ‘Thestreaked shall be your wages,’ then allthe flocks bore streaked.9 "So God has taken away the livestockof your father and given them to me.10 "And it happened, at the me whenthe flocks conceived, that I li ed my eyesand saw in a dream, and behold, therams which leaped upon the flocks werestreaked, speckled, and gray–spo ed.11 "Then the Angel of God spoke to mein a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said,‘Here I am.’12 "And He said, ‘Li your eyes nowand see, all the rams which leap onthe flocks are streaked, speckled, and

GENESIS 31 154gray–spo ed; for I have seen all thatLaban is doing to you.13 ‘I am the God of Bethel, where youanointed the pillar and where you madea vow to Me. Now arise, get out of thisland, and return to the land of yourfamily.’"14 Then Rachel and Leah answered andsaid to him, "Is there s ll any por on orinheritance for us in our father’s house?15 "Are we not considered strangersby him? For he has sold us, and alsocompletely consumed our money.16 "For all these riches which God hastaken from our father are really ours andour children’s; now then, whatever Godhas said to you, do it."17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons andhis wives on camels.18And he carried away all his livestockand all his possessions which he hadgained, his acquired livestock which he

GENESIS 31 155had gained in Padan Aram, to go to hisfather Isaac in the land of Canaan.19Now Laban had gone to shearhis sheep, and Rachel had stolen thehousehold idols that were her father’s.20And Jacob stole away, unknown toLaban the Syrian, in that he did not tellhim that he intended to flee.21 So he fled with all that he had. Hearose and crossed the river, and headedtoward the mountains of Gilead.22And Laban was told on the third daythat Jacob had fled.23 Then he took his brethren with himand pursued him for seven days’ journey,and he overtook him in the mountainsof Gilead.24 But God had come to Laban theSyrian in a dream by night, and said tohim, "Be careful that you speak to Jacobneither good nor bad."

GENESIS 31 15625 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacobhad pitched his tent in the mountains,and Laban with his brethren pitched inthe mountains of Gilead.26And Laban said to Jacob: "What haveyou done, that you have stolen awayunknown to me, and carried away mydaughters like cap ves taken with thesword?27 "Why did you flee away secretly, andsteal away from me, and not tell me; forI might have sent you away with joy andsongs, with mbrel and harp?28 "And you did not allow me to kiss mysons and my daughters. Now you havedone foolishly in so doing.29 "It is in my power to do you harm,but the God of your father spoke to melast night, saying, ‘Be careful that youspeak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’30 "And now you have surely gonebecause you greatly long for your

GENESIS 31 157father’s house, but why did you steal mygods?"31 Then Jacob answered and said toLaban, "Because I was afraid, for I said,‘Perhaps you would take your daughtersfrom me by force.’32 "With whomever you find your gods,do not let him live. In the presence ofour brethren, iden fy what I have ofyours and take it with you." For Jacob didnot know that Rachel had stolen them.33And Laban went into Jacob’s tent,into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’tents, but he did not find them. Thenhe went out of Leah’s tent and enteredRachel’s tent.34Now Rachel had taken the householdidols, put them in the camel’s saddle,and sat on them. And Laban searched allabout the tent but did not find them.35And she said to her father, "Let itnot displease my lord that I cannot rise

GENESIS 31 158before you, for the manner of women iswith me." And he searched but did notfind the household idols.36 Then Jacob was angry and rebukedLaban, and Jacob answered and said toLaban: "What is my trespass? What is mysin, that you have so hotly pursued me?37 "Although you have searched all mythings, what part of your householdthings have you found? Set it here beforemy brethren and your brethren, thatthey may judge between us both!38 "These twenty years I have been withyou; your ewes and your female goatshave not miscarried their young, and Ihave not eaten the rams of your flock.39 "That which was torn by beasts I didnot bring to you; I bore the loss of it.You required it from my hand, whetherstolen by day or stolen by night.

GENESIS 31 15940 "There I was! In the day the droughtconsumed me, and the frost by night,and my sleep departed from my eyes.41 "Thus I have been in your housetwenty years; I served you fourteen yearsfor your two daughters, and six years foryour flock, and you have changed mywages ten mes.42 "Unless the God of my father, theGod of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac,had been with me, surely now you wouldhave sent me away empty–handed. Godhas seen my afflic on and the labor ofmy hands, and rebuked you last night."43And Laban answered and saidto Jacob, "These daughters are mydaughters, and these children are mychildren, and this flock is my flock; allthat you see is mine. But what can I dothis day to these my daughters or totheir children whom they have borne?

GENESIS 31 16044 "Now therefore, come, let us makea covenant, you and I, and let it be awitness between you and me."45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up asa pillar.46 Then Jacob said to his brethren,"Gather stones." And they took stonesand made a heap, and they ate there onthe heap.47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, butJacob called it Galeed.48And Laban said, "This heap is awitness between you and me this day."Therefore its name was called Galeed,49 also Mizpah, because he said, "Maythe LORD watch between you and mewhen we are absent one from another.50 "If you afflict my daughters, or if youtake other wives besides my daughters,although no man is with us––see, God iswitness between you and me!"

GENESIS 31–32 16151 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Here isthis heap and here is this pillar, which Ihave placed between you and me.52 "This heap is a witness, and this pillaris a witness, that I will not pass beyondthis heap to you, and you will not passbeyond this heap and this pillar to me,for harm.53 "The God of Abraham, the God ofNahor, and the God of their father judgebetween us." And Jacob swore by theFear of his father Isaac.54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on themountain, and called his brethren to eatbread. And they ate bread and stayed allnight on the mountain.55And early in the morning Labanarose, and kissed his sons and daughtersand blessed them. Then Laban departedand returned to his place.

32 1 So Jacob went on his way, andthe angels of God met him.

GENESIS 32 1622When Jacob saw them, he said, "Thisis God’s camp." And he called the nameof that place Mahanaim.3 Then Jacob sent messengers beforehim to Esau his brother in the land ofSeir, the country of Edom.4And he commanded them, saying,"Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus yourservant Jacob says: "I have dwelt withLaban and stayed there un l now.5 "I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, andmale and female servants; and I havesent to tell my lord, that I may find favorin your sight."’"6 Then the messengers returned toJacob, saying, "We came to your brotherEsau, and he also is coming to meet you,and four hundred men are with him."7 So Jacob was greatly afraid anddistressed; and he divided the peoplethat were with him, and the flocks andherds and camels, into two companies.

GENESIS 32 1638And he said, "If Esau comes to the onecompany and a acks it, then the othercompany which is le will escape."9 Then Jacob said, "O God of my fatherAbraham and God of my father Isaac,the LORD who said to me, ‘Return toyour country and to your family, and Iwill deal well with you’:10 "I am not worthy of the least of allthe mercies and of all the truth whichYou have shown Your servant; for Icrossed over this Jordan with my staff,and now I have become two companies.11 "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand ofmy brother, from the hand of Esau; forI fear him, lest he come and a ack meand the mother with the children.12 "For You said, ‘I will surely treat youwell, and make your descendants asthe sand of the sea, which cannot benumbered for mul tude.’"

GENESIS 32 16413 So he lodged there that same night,and took what came to his hand as apresent for Esau his brother:14 two hundred female goats andtwenty male goats, two hundred ewesand twenty rams,15 thirty milk camels with their colts,forty cows and ten bulls, twenty femaledonkeys and ten foals.16 Then he delivered them to the handof his servants, every drove by itself, andsaid to his servants, "Pass over beforeme, and put some distance betweensuccessive droves."17And he commanded the first one,saying, "When Esau my brother meetsyou and asks you, saying, ‘To whom doyou belong, and where are you going?Whose are these in front of you?’18 "then you shall say, ‘They are yourservant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my

GENESIS 32 165lord Esau; and behold, he also is behindus.’"19 So he commanded the second, thethird, and all who followed the droves,saying, "In this manner you shall speakto Esau when you find him;20 "and also say, ‘Behold, your servantJacob is behind us.’" For he said, "I willappease him with the present that goesbefore me, and a erward I will see hisface; perhaps he will accept me."21 So the present went on over beforehim, but he himself lodged that night inthe camp.22And he arose that night and took histwo wives, his two female servants, andhis eleven sons, and crossed over theford of Jabbok.23He took them, sent them over thebrook, and sent over what he had.

GENESIS 32 16624 Then Jacob was le alone; and a Manwrestled with him un l the breaking ofday.25Now when He saw that He didnot prevail against him, He touchedthe socket of his hip; and the socketof Jacob’s hip was out of joint as Hewrestled with him.26And He said, "Let Me go, for the daybreaks." But he said, "I will not let You gounless You bless me!"27 So He said to him, "What is yourname?" He said, "Jacob."28And He said, "Your name shall nolonger be called Jacob, but Israel; for youhave struggled with God and with men,and have prevailed."29 Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell meYour name, I pray." And He said, "Why isit that you ask about My name?" And Heblessed him there.

GENESIS 32–33 16730And Jacob called the name of theplace Peniel: "For I have seen God faceto face, and my life is preserved."31 Just as he crossed over Penuel thesun rose on him, and he limped on hiship.32 Therefore to this day the children ofIsrael do not eat the muscle that shrank,which is on the hip socket, because Hetouched the socket of Jacob’s hip in themuscle that shrank.

33 1Now Jacob li ed his eyes andlooked, and there, Esau was

coming, and with himwere four hundredmen. So he divided the children amongLeah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.2And he put the maidservants and theirchildren in front, Leah and her childrenbehind, and Rachel and Joseph last.3 Then he crossed over before themand bowed himself to the ground sevenmes, un l he came near to his brother.

GENESIS 33 1684 But Esau ran to meet him, andembraced him, and fell on his neck andkissed him, and they wept.5And he li ed his eyes and saw thewomen and children, and said, "Whoare these with you?" So he said, "Thechildren whom God has graciously givenyour servant."6 Then the maidservants came near,they and their children, and boweddown.7And Leah also came near withher children, and they bowed down.A erward Joseph and Rachel came near,and they bowed down.8 Then Esau said, "What do you meanby all this company which I met?" Andhe said, "These are to find favor in thesight of my lord."9 But Esau said, "I have enough,my brother; keep what you have foryourself."

GENESIS 33 16910And Jacob said, "No, please, if Ihave now found favor in your sight,then receive my present from my hand,inasmuch as I have seen your face asthough I had seen the face of God, andyou were pleased with me.11 "Please, take my blessing that isbrought to you, because God has dealtgraciously with me, and because I haveenough." So he urged him, and he tookit.12 Then Esau said, "Let us take ourjourney; let us go, and I will go beforeyou."13 But Jacob said to him, "My lordknows that the children are weak, andthe flocks and herds which are nursingare with me. And if the men should drivethem hard one day, all the flock will die.14 "Please let my lord go on aheadbefore his servant. I will lead on slowlyat a pace which the livestock that go

GENESIS 33 170before me, and the children, are able toendure, un l I come to my lord in Seir."15And Esau said, "Now let me leavewith you some of the people who arewith me." But he said, "What need isthere? Let me find favor in the sight ofmy lord."16 So Esau returned that day on his wayto Seir.17And Jacob journeyed to Succoth,built himself a house, and made boothsfor his livestock. Therefore the name ofthe place is called Succoth.18 Then Jacob came safely to the city ofShechem, which is in the land of Canaan,when he came from Padan Aram; and hepitched his tent before the city.19And he bought the parcel of land,where he had pitched his tent, from thechildren of Hamor, Shechem’s father, forone hundred pieces of money.

GENESIS 33–34 17120 Then he erected an altar there andcalled it El Elohe Israel.

34 1Now Dinah the daughter ofLeah, whom she had borne to

Jacob, went out to see the daughters ofthe land.2And when Shechem the son of Hamorthe Hivite, prince of the country, sawher, he took her and lay with her, andviolated her.3His soul was strongly a racted toDinah the daughter of Jacob, and heloved the young woman and spokekindly to the young woman.4 So Shechem spoke to his fatherHamor, saying, "Get me this youngwoman as a wife."5And Jacob heard that he had defiledDinah his daughter. Now his sons werewith his livestock in the field; so Jacobheld his peace un l they came.

GENESIS 34 1726 Then Hamor the father of Shechemwent out to Jacob to speak with him.7And the sons of Jacob came in fromthe field when they heard it; and themen were grieved and very angry,because he had done a disgraceful thingin Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, athing which ought not to be done.8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying,"The soul of my son Shechem longs foryour daughter. Please give her to him asa wife.9 "And make marriages with us; giveyour daughters to us, and take ourdaughters to yourselves.10 "So you shall dwell with us, and theland shall be before you. Dwell andtrade in it, and acquire possessions foryourselves in it."11 Then Shechem said to her father andher brothers, "Let me find favor in your

GENESIS 34 173eyes, and whatever you say to me I willgive.12 "Ask me ever so much dowry andgi , and I will give according to whatyou say to me; but give me the youngwoman as a wife."13 But the sons of Jacob answeredShechem and Hamor his father, andspoke decei ully, because he had defiledDinah their sister.14And they said to them, "We cannotdo this thing, to give our sister to onewho is uncircumcised, for that would bea reproach to us.15 "But on this condi on wewill consentto you: If you will become as we are, ifevery male of you is circumcised,16 "then we will give our daughters toyou, and we will take your daughters tous; and we will dwell with you, and wewill become one people.

GENESIS 34 17417 "But if you will not heed us andbe circumcised, then we will take ourdaughter and be gone."18And their words pleased Hamor andShechem, Hamor’s son.19 So the young man did not delayto do the thing, because he delightedin Jacob’s daughter. He was morehonorable than all the household of hisfather.20And Hamor and Shechem his soncame to the gate of their city, and spokewith the men of their city, saying:21 "These men are at peace with us.Therefore let them dwell in the landand trade in it. For indeed the land islarge enough for them. Let us take theirdaughters to us as wives, and let us givethem our daughters.22 "Only on this condi on will themen consent to dwell with us, to be

GENESIS 34 175one people: if every male among us iscircumcised as they are circumcised.23 "Will not their livestock, theirproperty, and every animal of theirs beours? Only let us consent to them, andthey will dwell with us."24And all who went out of the gate ofhis city heeded Hamor and Shechemhis son; every male was circumcised, allwho went out of the gate of his city.25Now it came to pass on the third day,when they were in pain, that two of thesons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’sbrothers, each took his sword and cameboldly upon the city and killed all themales.26And they killed Hamor and Shechemhis son with the edge of the sword, andtook Dinah from Shechem’s house, andwent out.

GENESIS 34–35 17627 The sons of Jacob came upon theslain, and plundered the city, becausetheir sister had been defiled.28 They took their sheep, their oxen,and their donkeys, what was in the cityand what was in the field,29 and all their wealth. All their li leones and their wives they took cap ve;and they plundered even all that was inthe houses.30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi,"You have troubled me by making meobnoxious among the inhabitants ofthe land, among the Canaanites andthe Perizzites; and since I am few innumber, they will gather themselvestogether against me and kill me. I shallbe destroyed, my household and I."31 But they said, "Should he treat oursister like a harlot?"

35 1 Then God said to Jacob, "Arise,go up to Bethel and dwell there;

GENESIS 35 177and make an altar there to God, whoappeared to you when you fled from theface of Esau your brother."2And Jacob said to his household andto all who were with him, "Put away theforeign gods that are among you, purifyyourselves, and change your garments.3 "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel;and I will make an altar there to God,who answered me in the day of mydistress and has been with me in theway which I have gone."4 So they gave Jacob all the foreigngods which were in their hands, and theearrings which were in their ears; andJacob hid them under the terebinth treewhich was by Shechem.5And they journeyed, and the terror ofGod was upon the ci es that were allaround them, and they did not pursuethe sons of Jacob.

GENESIS 35 1786 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel),which is in the land of Canaan, he and allthe people who were with him.7And he built an altar there and calledthe place El Bethel, because there Godappeared to him when he fled from theface of his brother.8Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died,and she was buried below Bethel underthe terebinth tree. So the name of it wascalled Allon Bachuth.9 Then God appeared to Jacob again,when he came from Padan Aram, andblessed him.10And God said to him, "Your nameis Jacob; your name shall not be calledJacob anymore, but Israel shall be yourname." So He called his name Israel.11Also God said to him: "I am GodAlmighty. Be frui ul and mul ply; ana on and a company of na ons shall

GENESIS 35 179proceed from you, and kings shall comefrom your body.12 "The land which I gave Abrahamand Isaac I give to you; and to yourdescendants a er you I give this land."13 Then God went up from him in theplace where He talked with him.14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the placewhere He talked with him, a pillar ofstone; and he poured a drink offering onit, and he poured oil on it.15And Jacob called the name of theplace where God spoke with him, Bethel.16 Then they journeyed from Bethel.And when there was but a li le distanceto go to Ephrath, Rachel labored inchildbirth, and she had hard labor.17Now it came to pass, when she wasin hard labor, that the midwife said toher, "Do not fear; you will have this sonalso."

GENESIS 35 18018And so it was, as her soul wasdepar ng (for she died), that she calledhis name Ben–Oni; but his father calledhim Benjamin.19 So Rachel died and was buried on theway to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).20And Jacob set a pillar on her grave,which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave tothis day.21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched histent beyond the tower of Eder.22And it happened, when Israel dweltin that land, that Reuben went and laywith Bilhah his father’s concubine; andIsrael heard about it. Now the sons ofJacob were twelve:23 the sons of Leah were Reuben,Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi,Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph andBenjamin;

GENESIS 35–36 18125 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’smaidservant, were Dan and Naphtali;26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’smaidservant, were Gad and Asher. Thesewere the sons of Jacob who were bornto him in Padan Aram.27 Then Jacob came to his father Isaac atMamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron),where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.28Now the days of Isaac were onehundred and eighty years.29 So Isaac breathed his last and died,and was gathered to his people, beingold and full of days. And his sons Esauand Jacob buried him.

36 1Now this is the genealogy ofEsau, who is Edom.

2 Esau took his wives from thedaughters of Canaan: Adah the daughterof Elon the Hi te; Aholibamah thedaughter of Anah, the daughter ofZibeon the Hivite;

GENESIS 36 1823 and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter,sister of Nebajoth.4Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, andBasemath bore Reuel.5And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam,and Korah. These were the sons of Esauwho were born to him in the land ofCanaan.6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons,his daughters, and all the persons of hishousehold, his ca le and all his animals,and all his goods which he had gainedin the land of Canaan, and went to acountry away from the presence of hisbrother Jacob.7 For their possessions were too greatfor them to dwell together, and the landwhere they were strangers could notsupport them because of their livestock.8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau isEdom.

GENESIS 36 1839And this is the genealogy of Esau thefather of the Edomites in Mount Seir.10 These were the names of Esau’s sons:Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau,and Reuel the son of Basemath the wifeof Esau.11And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman,Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.12Now Timna was the concubine ofEliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalekto Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah,Esau’s wife.13 These were the sons of Reuel:Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’swife.14 These were the sons of Aholibamah,Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, thedaughter of Zibeon. And she bore toEsau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.15 These were the chiefs of the sons ofEsau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn

GENESIS 36 184son of Esau, were Chief Teman, ChiefOmar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,16 Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and ChiefAmalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphazin the land of Edom. They were the sonsof Adah.17 These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’sson: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, ChiefShammah, and Chief Mizzah. These werethe chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom.These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’swife.18And these were the sons ofAholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush,Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. Thesewere the chiefs who descended fromAholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughterof Anah.19 These were the sons of Esau, who isEdom, and these were their chiefs.

GENESIS 36 18520 These were the sons of Seir theHorite who inhabited the land: Lotan,Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These werethe chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir,in the land of Edom.22And the sons of Lotan were Hori andHemam. Lotan’s sister was Timna.23 These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan,Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.24 These were the sons of Zibeon: bothAjah and Anah. This was the Anah whofound the water in the wilderness ashe pastured the donkeys of his fatherZibeon.25 These were the children of Anah:Dishon and Aholibamah the daughter ofAnah.26 These were the sons of Dishon:Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.27 These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan,Zaavan, and Akan.

GENESIS 36 18628 These were the sons of Dishan: Uzand Aran.29 These were the chiefs of the Horites:Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon,Chief Anah,30 Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and ChiefDishan. These were the chiefs of theHorites, according to their chiefs in theland of Seir.31Now these were the kings whoreigned in the land of Edom before anyking reigned over the children of Israel:32 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom,and the name of his city was Dinhabah.33And when Bela died, Jobab the sonof Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.34When Jobab died, Husham of theland of the Temanites reigned in hisplace.35And when Husham died, Hadad theson of Bedad, who a acked Midian in

GENESIS 36 187the field of Moab, reigned in his place.And the name of his city was Avith.36When Hadad died, Samlah ofMasrekah reigned in his place.37And when Samlah died, Saul ofRehoboth–by–the–River reigned in hisplace.38When Saul died, Baal–Hanan the sonof Achbor reigned in his place.39And when Baal–Hanan the sonof Achbor died, Hadar reigned in hisplace; and the name of his city was Pau.His wife’s name was Mehetabel, thedaughter of Matred, the daughter ofMezahab.40And these were the names of thechiefs of Esau, according to their familiesand their places, by their names: ChiefTimnah, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,41 Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, ChiefPinon,

GENESIS 36–37 18842 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, ChiefMibzar,43 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. Thesewere the chiefs of Edom, according totheir dwelling places in the land of theirpossession. Esau was the father of theEdomites.

37 1Now Jacob dwelt in the landwhere his father was a stranger,

in the land of Canaan.2 This is the history of Jacob. Joseph,being seventeen years old, was feedingthe flock with his brothers. And the ladwas with the sons of Bilhah and the sonsof Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Josephbrought a bad report of them to hisfather.3Now Israel loved Joseph more than allhis children, because he was the son ofhis old age. Also he made him a tunic ofmany colors.

GENESIS 37 1894 But when his brothers saw that theirfather loved him more than all hisbrothers, they hated him and could notspeak peaceably to him.5Now Joseph had a dream, and he toldit to his brothers; and they hated himeven more.6 So he said to them, "Please hear thisdream which I have dreamed:7 "There we were, binding sheaves inthe field. Then behold, my sheaf aroseand also stood upright; and indeed yoursheaves stood all around and boweddown to my sheaf."8And his brothers said to him, "Shallyou indeed reign over us? Or shall youindeed have dominion over us?" So theyhated him even more for his dreams andfor his words.9 Then he dreamed s ll another dreamand told it to his brothers, and said,"Look, I have dreamed another dream.

GENESIS 37 190And this me, the sun, the moon, andthe eleven stars bowed down to me."10 So he told it to his father and hisbrothers; and his father rebuked him andsaid to him, "What is this dream that youhave dreamed? Shall your mother and Iand your brothers indeed come to bowdown to the earth before you?"11And his brothers envied him, but hisfather kept the ma er in mind.12 Then his brothers went to feed theirfather’s flock in Shechem.13And Israel said to Joseph, "Arenot your brothers feeding the flock inShechem? Come, I will send you tothem." So he said to him, "Here I am."14 Then he said to him, "Please go andsee if it is well with your brothers andwell with the flocks, and bring back wordto me." So he sent him out of the Valleyof Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

GENESIS 37 19115Now a certain man found him, andthere he was, wandering in the field.And the man asked him, saying, "Whatare you seeking?"16 So he said, "I am seekingmy brothers.Please tell me where they are feedingtheir flocks."17And the man said, "They havedeparted from here, for I heard themsay, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’" So Josephwent a er his brothers and found themin Dothan.18Now when they saw him afar off,even before he came near them, theyconspired against him to kill him.19 Then they said to one another, "Look,this dreamer is coming!20 "Come therefore, let us now kill himand cast him into some pit; and we shallsay, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’We shall see what will become of hisdreams!"

GENESIS 37 19221 But Reuben heard it, and he deliveredhim out of their hands, and said, "Let usnot kill him."22And Reuben said to them, "Shed noblood, but cast him into this pit which isin the wilderness, and do not lay a handon him" ––that he might deliver him outof their hands, and bring him back to hisfather.23 So it came to pass, when Joseph hadcome to his brothers, that they strippedJoseph of his tunic, the tunic of manycolors that was on him.24 Then they took him and cast him intoa pit. And the pit was empty; there wasno water in it.25And they sat down to eat a meal.Then they li ed their eyes and looked,and there was a company of Ishmaelites,coming from Gilead with their camels,bearing spices, balm, andmyrrh, on theirway to carry them down to Egypt.

GENESIS 37 19326 So Judah said to his brothers, "Whatprofit is there if we kill our brother andconceal his blood?27 "Come and let us sell him to theIshmaelites, and let not our hand beupon him, for he is our brother and ourflesh." And his brothers listened.28 Then Midianite traders passed by; sothe brothers pulled Joseph up and li edhim out of the pit, and sold him to theIshmaelites for twenty shekels of silver.And they took Joseph to Egypt.29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, andindeed Joseph was not in the pit; and hetore his clothes.30And he returned to his brothers andsaid, "The lad is no more; and I, whereshall I go?"31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed akid of the goats, and dipped the tunic inthe blood.

GENESIS 37–38 19432 Then they sent the tunic of manycolors, and they brought it to their fatherand said, "We have found this. Do youknow whether it is your son’s tunic ornot?"33And he recognized it and said, "Itis my son’s tunic. A wild beast hasdevoured him. Without doubt Joseph istorn to pieces."34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, putsackcloth on his waist, and mourned forhis son many days.35And all his sons and all his daughtersarose to comfort him; but he refused tobe comforted, and he said, "For I shallgo down into the grave to my son inmourning." Thus his father wept for him.36Now the Midianites had sold him inEgypt to Po phar, an officer of Pharaohand captain of the guard.

38 1 It came to pass at that me thatJudah departed from his brothers,

GENESIS 38 195and visited a certain Adullamite whosename was Hirah.2And Judah saw there a daughter ofa certain Canaanite whose name wasShua, and he married her and went in toher.3 So she conceived and bore a son, andhe called his name Er.4 She conceived again and bore a son,and she called his name Onan.5And she conceived yet again and borea son, and called his name Shelah. Hewas at Chezib when she bore him.6 Then Judah took a wife for Er hisfirstborn, and her name was Tamar.7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wickedin the sight of the LORD, and the LORDkilled him.8And Judah said to Onan, "Go in toyour brother’s wife and marry her, andraise up an heir to your brother."

GENESIS 38 1969 But Onan knew that the heir wouldnot be his; and it came to pass, whenhe went in to his brother’s wife, that heemi ed on the ground, lest he shouldgive an heir to his brother.10And the thingwhich he did displeasedthe LORD; therefore He killed him also.11 Then Judah said to Tamar hisdaughter–in–law, "Remain a widow inyour father’s house ll my son Shelahis grown." For he said, "Lest he also dielike his brothers." And Tamar went anddwelt in her father’s house.12Now in the process of me thedaughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died;and Judah was comforted, and went upto his sheepshearers at Timnah, he andhis friend Hirah the Adullamite.13And it was told Tamar, saying, "Look,your father–in–law is going up to Timnahto shear his sheep."

GENESIS 38 19714 So she took off herwidow’s garments,covered herself with a veil and wrappedherself, and sat in an open place whichwas on the way to Timnah; for she sawthat Shelah was grown, and she was notgiven to him as a wife.15When Judah saw her, he thought shewas a harlot, because she had coveredher face.16 Then he turned to her by the way,and said, "Please let me come in to you";for he did not know that she was hisdaughter–in–law. So she said, "What willyou give me, that you may come in tome?"17And he said, "I will send a young goatfrom the flock." So she said, "Will yougive me a pledge ll you send it?"18 Then he said, "What pledge shall Igive you?" So she said, "Your signet andcord, and your staff that is in your hand."

GENESIS 38 198Then he gave them to her, and went into her, and she conceived by him.19 So she arose and went away, and laidaside her veil and put on the garmentsof her widowhood.20And Judah sent the young goat bythe hand of his friend the Adullamite,to receive his pledge from the woman’shand, but he did not find her.21 Then he asked the men of that place,saying, "Where is the harlot who wasopenly by the roadside?" And they said,"There was no harlot in this place."22 So he returned to Judah and said,"I cannot find her. Also, the men of theplace said there was no harlot in thisplace."23 Then Judah said, "Let her take themfor herself, lest we be shamed; for I sentthis young goat and you have not foundher."

GENESIS 38 19924And it came to pass, about threemonths a er, that Judah was told,saying, "Tamar your daughter–in–lawhas played the harlot; furthermore sheis with child by harlotry." So Judah said,"Bring her out and let her be burned!"25When she was brought out, she sentto her father–in–law, saying, "By theman to whom these belong, I am withchild." And she said, "Please determinewhose these are ––the signet and cord,and staff."26 So Judah acknowledged them andsaid, "She has been more righteous thanI, because I did not give her to Shelah myson." And he never knew her again.27Now it came to pass, at the me forgiving birth, that behold, twins were inher womb.28And so it was, when she was givingbirth, that the one put out his hand; andthe midwife took a scarlet thread and

GENESIS 38–39 200bound it on his hand, saying, "This onecame out first."29 Then it happened, as he drew backhis hand, that his brother came outunexpectedly; and she said, "How didyou break through? This breach be uponyou!" Therefore his name was calledPerez.30A erward his brother came out whohad the scarlet thread on his hand. Andhis name was called Zerah.

39 1Now Joseph had been takendown to Egypt. And Po phar,

an officer of Pharaoh, captain of theguard, an Egyp an, bought him from theIshmaelites who had taken him downthere.2 The LORD was with Joseph, and hewas a successful man; and he was in thehouse of his master the Egyp an.

GENESIS 39 2013And his master saw that the LORD waswith him and that the LORD made all hedid to prosper in his hand.4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, andserved him. Then he made him overseerof his house, and all that he had he putunder his authority.5 So it was, from the me that he hadmade him overseer of his house and allthat he had, that the LORD blessed theEgyp an’s house for Joseph’s sake; andthe blessing of the LORD was on all thathe had in the house and in the field.6 Thus he le all that he had in Joseph’shand, and he did not know what hehad except for the bread which he ate.Now Joseph was handsome in form andappearance.7And it came to pass a er these thingsthat his master’s wife cast longing eyeson Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me."

GENESIS 39 2028 But he refused and said to his master’swife, "Look, my master does not knowwhat is with me in the house, and he hascommi ed all that he has to my hand.9 "There is no one greater in this housethan I, nor has he kept back anythingfrom me but you, because you arehis wife. How then can I do this greatwickedness, and sin against God?"10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph dayby day, that he did not heed her, to liewith her or to be with her.11 But it happened about this me,when Joseph went into the house to dohis work, and none of the men of thehouse was inside,12 that she caught him by his garment,saying, "Lie with me." But he le hisgarment in her hand, and fled and ranoutside.

GENESIS 39 20313And so it was, when she saw that hehad le his garment in her hand and fledoutside,14 that she called to the men of herhouse and spoke to them, saying, "See,he has brought in to us a Hebrew tomock us. He came in to me to lie withme, and I cried out with a loud voice.15 "And it happened, when he heardthat I li ed my voice and cried out, thathe le his garment with me, and fledand went outside."16 So she kept his garment with herun l his master came home.17 Then she spoke to him with wordslike these, saying, "The Hebrew servantwhom you brought to us came in to meto mock me;18 "so it happened, as I li ed my voiceand cried out, that he le his garmentwith me and fled outside."

GENESIS 39 20419 So it was, when his master heardthe words which his wife spoke to him,saying, "Your servant did to me a er thismanner," that his anger was aroused.20 Then Joseph’s master took him andput him into the prison, a place wherethe king’s prisoners were confined. Andhe was there in the prison.21 But the LORD was with Joseph andshowed him mercy, and He gave himfavor in the sight of the keeper of theprison.22And the keeper of the prisoncommi ed to Joseph’s hand all theprisoners who were in the prison;whatever they did there, it was hisdoing.23 The keeper of the prison did not lookinto anything that was under Joseph’sauthority, because the LORD was withhim; and whatever he did, the LORDmade it prosper.

GENESIS 40 205

40 1 It came to pass a er thesethings that the butler and the

baker of the king of Egypt offended theirlord, the king of Egypt.2And Pharaoh was angry with his twoofficers, the chief butler and the chiefbaker.3 So he put them in custody in thehouse of the captain of the guard, inthe prison, the place where Joseph wasconfined.4And the captain of the guard chargedJoseph with them, and he served them;so they were in custody for a while.5 Then the butler and the baker of theking of Egypt, who were confined inthe prison, had a dream, both of them,each man’s dream in one night and eachman’s dreamwith its own interpreta on.6And Joseph came in to them in themorning and looked at them, and sawthat they were sad.

GENESIS 40 2067 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers whowere with him in the custody of his lord’shouse, saying, "Why do you look so sadtoday?"8And they said to him, "We each havehad a dream, and there is no interpreterof it." So Joseph said to them, "Do notinterpreta ons belong to God? Tell themto me, please."9 Then the chief butler told his dreamto Joseph, and said to him, "Behold, inmy dream a vine was before me,10 "and in the vine were three branches;it was as though it budded, its blossomsshot forth, and its clusters brought forthripe grapes.11 "Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand;and I took the grapes and pressed theminto Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cupin Pharaoh’s hand."

GENESIS 40 20712And Joseph said to him, "This is theinterpreta on of it: The three branchesare three days.13 "Now within three days Pharaoh willli up your head and restore you toyour place, and you will put Pharaoh’scup in his hand according to the formermanner, when you were his butler.14 "But remember me when it is wellwith you, and please show kindness tome; make men on of me to Pharaoh,and get me out of this house.15 "For indeed I was stolen away fromthe land of the Hebrews; and also I havedone nothing here that they should putme into the dungeon."16When the chief baker saw that theinterpreta on was good, he said toJoseph, "I also was in my dream, andthere were three white baskets on myhead.

GENESIS 40 20817 "In the uppermost basket were allkinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, andthe birds ate them out of the basket onmy head."18 So Joseph answered and said, "Thisis the interpreta on of it: The threebaskets are three days.19 "Within three days Pharaoh will lioff your head from you and hang you ona tree; and the birds will eat your fleshfrom you."20Now it came to pass on the third day,which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that hemade a feast for all his servants; and heli ed up the head of the chief butler andof the chief baker among his servants.21 Then he restored the chief butler tohis butlership again, and he placed thecup in Pharaoh’s hand.22 But he hanged the chief baker, asJoseph had interpreted to them.

GENESIS 40–41 20923 Yet the chief butler did not rememberJoseph, but forgot him.

41 1 Then it came to pass, at the endof two full years, that Pharaoh

had a dream; and behold, he stood bythe river.2 Suddenly there came up out of theriver seven cows, fine looking and fat;and they fed in the meadow.3 Then behold, seven other cows cameup a er them out of the river, ugly andgaunt, and stood by the other cows onthe bank of the river.4And the ugly and gaunt cows ate upthe seven fine looking and fat cows. SoPharaoh awoke.5He slept and dreamed a second me;and suddenly seven heads of grain cameup on one stalk, plump and good.6 Then behold, seven thin heads,blighted by the east wind, sprang upa er them.

GENESIS 41 2107And the seven thin heads devouredthe seven plump and full heads. SoPharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was adream.8Now it came to pass in the morningthat his spirit was troubled, and he sentand called for all the magicians of Egyptand all its wise men. And Pharaoh toldthem his dreams, but there was no onewho could interpret them for Pharaoh.9 Then the chief butler spoke toPharaoh, saying: "I remember my faultsthis day.10 "When Pharaoh was angry with hisservants, and put me in custody in thehouse of the captain of the guard, bothme and the chief baker,11 "we each had a dream in one night,he and I. Each of us dreamed accordingto the interpreta on of his own dream.12 "Now there was a young Hebrewman with us there, a servant of the

GENESIS 41 211captain of the guard. And we told him,and he interpreted our dreams for us;to each man he interpreted according tohis own dream.13 "And it came to pass, just as heinterpreted for us, so it happened. Herestored me to my office, and he hangedhim."14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph,and they brought him quickly out of thedungeon; and he shaved, changed hisclothing, and came to Pharaoh.15And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I havehad a dream, and there is no one whocan interpret it. But I have heard it saidof you that you can understand a dream,to interpret it."16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying,"It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh ananswer of peace."

GENESIS 41 21217 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph:"Behold, in my dream I stood on thebank of the river.18 "Suddenly seven cows came up outof the river, fine looking and fat; andthey fed in the meadow.19 "Then behold, seven other cowscame up a er them, poor and very uglyand gaunt, such ugliness as I have neverseen in all the land of Egypt.20 "And the gaunt and ugly cows ate upthe first seven, the fat cows.21 "When they had eaten them up, noone would have known that they hadeaten them, for they were just as ugly asat the beginning. So I awoke.22 "Also I saw in my dream, andsuddenly seven heads came up on onestalk, full and good.23 "Then behold, seven heads,withered, thin, and blighted by the eastwind, sprang up a er them.

GENESIS 41 21324 "And the thin heads devoured theseven good heads. So I told this to themagicians, but there was no one whocould explain it to me."25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Thedreams of Pharaoh are one; God hasshown Pharaoh what He is about to do:26 "The seven good cows are sevenyears, and the seven good heads areseven years; the dreams are one.27 "And the seven thin and ugly cowswhich came up a er them are sevenyears, and the seven empty headsblighted by the east wind are sevenyears of famine.28 "This is the thing which I have spokento Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaohwhat He is about to do.29 "Indeed seven years of great plentywill come throughout all the land ofEgypt;

GENESIS 41 21430 "but a er them seven years offamine will arise, and all the plenty willbe forgo en in the land of Egypt; andthe famine will deplete the land.31 "So the plenty will not be knownin the land because of the faminefollowing, for it will be very severe.32 "And the dream was repeated toPharaoh twice because the thing isestablished by God, and God will shortlybring it to pass.33 "Now therefore, let Pharaoh selecta discerning and wise man, and set himover the land of Egypt.34 "Let Pharaoh do this, and let himappoint officers over the land, to collectone–fi h of the produce of the land ofEgypt in the seven plen ful years.35 "And let them gather all the food ofthose good years that are coming, andstore up grain under the authority of

GENESIS 41 215Pharaoh, and let them keep food in theci es.36 "Then that food shall be as a reservefor the land for the seven years of faminewhich shall be in the land of Egypt,that the land may not perish during thefamine."37 So the advice was good in the eyesof Pharaoh and in the eyes of all hisservants.38And Pharaoh said to his servants,"Can we find such a one as this, a man inwhom is the Spirit of God?"39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,"Inasmuch as God has shown you allthis, there is no one as discerning andwise as you.40 "You shall be over my house, and allmy people shall be ruled according toyour word; only in regard to the thronewill I be greater than you."

GENESIS 41 21641And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, Ihave set you over all the land of Egypt."42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring offhis hand and put it on Joseph’s hand;and he clothed him in garments of finelinen and put a gold chain around hisneck.43And he had him ride in the secondchariot which he had; and they cried outbefore him, "Bow the knee!" So he sethim over all the land of Egypt.44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I amPharaoh, and without your consent noman may li his hand or foot in all theland of Egypt."45And Pharaoh called Joseph’s nameZaphnath–Paaneah. And he gave himas a wife Asenath, the daughter ofPo –Pherah priest of On. So Josephwent out over all the land of Egypt.46 Joseph was thirty years old when hestood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And

GENESIS 41 217Joseph went out from the presence ofPharaoh, and went throughout all theland of Egypt.47Now in the seven plen ful years theground brought forth abundantly.48 So he gathered up all the food of theseven years which were in the land ofEgypt, and laid up the food in the ci es;he laid up in every city the food of thefields which surrounded them.49 Joseph gathered very much grain,as the sand of the sea, un l he stoppedcoun ng, for it was immeasurable.50And to Joseph were born two sonsbefore the years of famine came, whomAsenath, the daughter of Po –Pherahpriest of On, bore to him.51 Joseph called the name of thefirstborn Manasseh: "For God has mademe forget all my toil and all my father’shouse."

GENESIS 41 21852And the name of the second he calledEphraim: "For God has caused me to befrui ul in the land of my afflic on."53 Then the seven years of plenty whichwere in the land of Egypt ended,54 and the seven years of famine beganto come, as Joseph had said. The faminewas in all lands, but in all the land ofEgypt there was bread.55 So when all the land of Egypt wasfamished, the people cried to Pharaohfor bread. Then Pharaoh said to all theEgyp ans, "Go to Joseph; whatever hesays to you, do."56 The famine was over all the face ofthe earth, and Joseph opened all thestorehouses and sold to the Egyp ans.And the famine became severe in theland of Egypt.57 So all countries came to Joseph inEgypt to buy grain, because the faminewas severe in all lands.

GENESIS 42 219

42 1When Jacob saw that there wasgrain in Egypt, Jacob said to his

sons, "Why do you look at one another?"2And he said, "Indeed I have heard thatthere is grain in Egypt; go down to thatplace and buy for us there, that we maylive and not die."3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went downto buy grain in Egypt.4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’sbrother Benjamin with his brothers, forhe said, "Lest some calamity befall him."5And the sons of Israel went to buygrain among those who journeyed, forthe famine was in the land of Canaan.6Now Joseph was governor over theland; and it was he who sold to allthe people of the land. And Joseph’sbrothers came and bowed down beforehim with their faces to the earth.7 Joseph saw his brothers andrecognized them, but he acted as a

GENESIS 42 220stranger to them and spoke roughly tothem. Then he said to them, "Where doyou come from?" And they said, "Fromthe land of Canaan to buy food."8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, butthey did not recognize him.9 Then Joseph remembered the dreamswhich he had dreamed about them, andsaid to them, "You are spies! You havecome to see the nakedness of the land!"10And they said to him, "No, my lord,but your servants have come to buyfood.11 "We are all one man’s sons; weare honest men; your servants are notspies."12 But he said to them, "No, but youhave come to see the nakedness of theland."13And they said, "Your servants aretwelve brothers, the sons of one manin the land of Canaan; and in fact, the

GENESIS 42 221youngest is with our father today, andone is no more."14 But Joseph said to them, "It is as Ispoke to you, saying, ‘You are spies!’15 "In this manner you shall be tested:By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leavethis place unless your youngest brothercomes here.16 "Send one of you, and let him bringyour brother; and you shall be kept inprison, that your words may be tested tosee whether there is any truth in you; orelse, by the life of Pharaoh, surely youare spies!"17 So he put them all together in prisonthree days.18 Then Joseph said to them the thirdday, "Do this and live, for I fear God:19 "If you are honest men, let one ofyour brothers be confined to your prisonhouse; but you, go and carry grain forthe famine of your houses.

GENESIS 42 22220 "And bring your youngest brother tome; so your words will be verified, andyou shall not die." And they did so.21 Then they said to one another, "Weare truly guilty concerning our brother,for we saw the anguish of his soul whenhe pleaded with us, and we would nothear; therefore this distress has comeupon us."22And Reuben answered them, saying,"Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do notsin against the boy’; and you would notlisten? Therefore behold, his blood isnow required of us."23 But they did not know that Josephunderstood them, for he spoke to themthrough an interpreter.24And he turned himself away fromthem and wept. Then he returned tothem again, and talked with them. Andhe took Simeon from them and boundhim before their eyes.

GENESIS 42 22325 Then Joseph gave a command to filltheir sacks with grain, to restore everyman’s money to his sack, and to givethem provisions for the journey. Thus hedid for them.26 So they loaded their donkeys withthe grain and departed from there.27 But as one of them opened hissack to give his donkey feed at theencampment, he saw his money; andthere it was, in the mouth of his sack.28 So he said to his brothers, "Mymoney has been restored, and there itis, in my sack!" Then their hearts failedthem and they were afraid, saying to oneanother, "What is this that God has doneto us?"29 Then they went to Jacob their fatherin the land of Canaan and told him allthat had happened to them, saying:

GENESIS 42 22430 "The man who is lord of the landspoke roughly to us, and took us forspies of the country.31 "But we said to him, ‘We are honestmen; we are not spies.32 ‘We are twelve brothers, sons of ourfather; one is no more, and the youngestis with our father this day in the land ofCanaan.’33 "Then the man, the lord of thecountry, said to us, ‘By this I will knowthat you are honest men: Leave one ofyour brothers here with me, take foodfor the famine of your households, andbe gone.34 ‘And bring your youngest brotherto me; so I shall know that you are notspies, but that you are honest men. I willgrant your brother to you, and you maytrade in the land.’"35 Then it happened as they emp edtheir sacks, that surprisingly each man’s

GENESIS 42–43 225bundle of money was in his sack; andwhen they and their father saw thebundles of money, they were afraid.36And Jacob their father said to them,"You have bereaved me: Joseph is nomore, Simeon is no more, and you wantto take Benjamin. All these things areagainst me."37 Then Reuben spoke to his father,saying, "Kill my two sons if I do not bringhim back to you; put him in my hands,and I will bring him back to you."38 But he said, "My son shall not godown with you, for his brother is dead,and he is le alone. If any calamityshould befall him along the way in whichyou go, then you would bring down mygray hair with sorrow to the grave."

43 1Now the famine was severe inthe land.

2And it came to pass, when they hadeaten up the grain which they had

GENESIS 43 226brought from Egypt, that their fathersaid to them, "Go back, buy us a li lefood."3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, "Theman solemnly warned us, saying, ‘Youshall not see my face unless your brotheris with you.’"4 "If you send our brother with us, wewill go down and buy you food.5 "But if you will not send him, we willnot go down; for the man said to us,‘You shall not see my face unless yourbrother is with you.’"6And Israel said, "Why did you deal sowrongfully with me as to tell the manwhether you had s ll another brother?"7 But they said, "The man asked uspointedly about ourselves and ourfamily, saying, ‘Is your father s ll alive?Have you another brother?’ And we toldhim according to these words. Could we

GENESIS 43 227possibly have known that he would say,‘Bring your brother down’?"8 Then Judah said to Israel his father,"Send the lad with me, and we will ariseand go, that we may live and not die,both we and you and also our li le ones.9 "I myself will be surety for him; frommy hand you shall require him. If I do notbring him back to you and set him beforeyou, then let me bear the blame forever.10 "For if we had not lingered, surelyby now we would have returned thissecond me."11And their father Israel said to them,"If it must be so, then do this: Take someof the best fruits of the land in yourvessels and carry down a present for theman––a li le balm and a li le honey,spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts andalmonds.12 "Take double money in your hand,and take back in your hand the money

GENESIS 43 228that was returned in the mouth of yoursacks; perhaps it was an oversight.13 "Take your brother also, and arise, goback to the man.14 "And may God Almighty giveyou mercy before the man, that hemay release your other brother andBenjamin. If I am bereaved, I ambereaved!"15 So the men took that present andBenjamin, and they took double moneyin their hand, and arose and went downto Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.16When Joseph saw Benjamin withthem, he said to the steward of hishouse, "Take these men to my home,and slaughter an animal and makeready; for these men will dine with meat noon."17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered,and the man brought the men intoJoseph’s house.

GENESIS 43 22918Now the men were afraid becausethey were brought into Joseph’s house;and they said, "It is because of themoney, which was returned in our sacksthe first me, that we are brought in, sothat he may make a case against us andfall upon us, to take us as slaves with ourdonkeys."19When they drew near to the stewardof Joseph’s house, they talked with himat the door of the house,20 and said, "O sir, we indeed camedown the first me to buy food;21 "but it happened, when we came tothe encampment, that we opened oursacks, and there, each man’s money wasin the mouth of his sack, our money infull weight; so we have brought it backin our hand.22 "And we have brought down othermoney in our hands to buy food. We

GENESIS 43 230do not know who put our money in oursacks."23 But he said, "Peace be with you, donot be afraid. Your God and the God ofyour father has given you treasure inyour sacks; I had your money." Then hebrought Simeon out to them.24 So the man brought the men intoJoseph’s house and gave them water,and they washed their feet; and he gavetheir donkeys feed.25 Then they made the present readyfor Joseph’s coming at noon, for theyheard that they would eat bread there.26And when Joseph came home, theybrought him the present which was intheir hand into the house, and boweddown before him to the earth.27 Then he asked them about theirwell–being, and said, "Is your fatherwell, the old man of whom you spoke? Ishe s ll alive?"

GENESIS 43 23128And they answered, "Your servantour father is in good health; he is s llalive." And they bowed their headsdown and prostrated themselves.29 Then he li ed his eyes and saw hisbrother Benjamin, his mother’s son, andsaid, "Is this your younger brother ofwhom you spoke to me?" And he said,"God be gracious to you, my son."30Now his heart yearned for hisbrother; so Joseph made haste andsought somewhere to weep. And hewent into his chamber and wept there.31 Then he washed his face and cameout; and he restrained himself, and said,"Serve the bread."32 So they set him a place by himself,and them by themselves, and theEgyp ans who ate with him bythemselves; because the Egyp ans couldnot eat food with the Hebrews, for thatis an abomina on to the Egyp ans.

GENESIS 43–44 23233And they sat before him, thefirstborn according to his birthright andthe youngest according to his youth; andthe men looked in astonishment at oneanother.34 Then he took servings to them frombefore him, but Benjamin’s serving wasfive mes as much as any of theirs. Sothey drank and were merry with him.

44 1And he commanded the stewardof his house, saying, "Fill the

men’s sacks with food, as much as theycan carry, and put each man’s money inthe mouth of his sack.2 "Also put my cup, the silver cup, in themouth of the sack of the youngest, andhis grain money." So he did according tothe word that Joseph had spoken.3As soon as the morning dawned, themen were sent away, they and theirdonkeys.

GENESIS 44 2334When they had gone out of the city,and were not yet far off, Joseph said tohis steward, "Get up, follow the men;and when you overtake them, say tothem, ‘Why have you repaid evil forgood?5 ‘Is not this the one from which mylord drinks, and with which he indeedprac ces divina on? You have done evilin so doing.’"6 So he overtook them, and he spoke tothem these same words.7And they said to him, "Why does mylord say these words? Far be it fromus that your servants should do such athing.8 "Look, we brought back to you fromthe land of Canaan the money which wefound in the mouth of our sacks. Howthen could we steal silver or gold fromyour lord’s house?

GENESIS 44 2349 "With whomever of your servants it isfound, let him die, and we also will bemy lord’s slaves."10And he said, "Now also let it beaccording to your words; he with whomit is found shall be my slave, and youshall be blameless."11 Then each man speedily let down hissack to the ground, and each opened hissack.12 So he searched. He began with theoldest and le off with the youngest;and the cup was found in Benjamin’ssack.13 Then they tore their clothes, andeach man loaded his donkey andreturned to the city.14 So Judah and his brothers came toJoseph’s house, and he was s ll there;and they fell before him on the ground.15And Joseph said to them, "Whatdeed is this you have done? Did you not

GENESIS 44 235know that such a man as I can certainlyprac ce divina on?"16 Then Judah said, "What shall we sayto my lord? What shall we speak? Orhow shall we clear ourselves? God hasfound out the iniquity of your servants;here we are, my lord’s slaves, both weand he also with whom the cup wasfound."17 But he said, "Far be it from me thatI should do so; the man in whose handthe cup was found, he shall be my slave.And as for you, go up in peace to yourfather."18 Then Judah came near to him andsaid: "O my lord, please let your servantspeak a word in my lord’s hearing, anddo not let your anger burn against yourservant; for you are even like Pharaoh.19 "My lord asked his servants, saying,‘Have you a father or a brother?’

GENESIS 44 23620 "And we said to my lord, ‘We havea father, an old man, and a child of hisold age, who is young; his brother isdead, and he alone is le of his mother’schildren, and his father loves him.’21 "Then you said to your servants,‘Bring him down to me, that I may setmy eyes on him.’22 "And we said to my lord, ‘The ladcannot leave his father, for if he shouldleave his father, his father would die.’23 "But you said to your servants,‘Unless your youngest brother comesdown with you, you shall see my face nomore.’24 "So it was, when we went up to yourservant my father, that we told him thewords of my lord.25 "And our father said, ‘Go back andbuy us a li le food.’26 "But we said, ‘We cannot go down;if our youngest brother is with us, then

GENESIS 44 237we will go down; for we may not see theman’s face unless our youngest brotheris with us.’27 "Then your servant my father said tous, ‘You know that my wife bore me twosons;28 ‘and the one went out from me, andI said, "Surely he is torn to pieces"; and Ihave not seen him since.29 ‘But if you take this one also fromme, and calamity befalls him, you shallbring down my gray hair with sorrow tothe grave.’30 "Now therefore, when I come to yourservant my father, and the lad is not withus, since his life is bound up in the lad’slife,31 "it will happen, when he sees thatthe lad is not with us, that he will die.So your servants will bring down thegray hair of your servant our father withsorrow to the grave.

GENESIS 44–45 23832 "For your servant became surety forthe lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do notbring him back to you, then I shall bearthe blame before my father forever.’33 "Now therefore, please let yourservant remain instead of the lad as aslave to my lord, and let the lad go upwith his brothers.34 "For how shall I go up to my fatherif the lad is not with me, lest perhaps Isee the evil that would come upon myfather?"

45 1 Then Joseph could not restrainhimself before all those who

stood by him, and he cried out, "Makeeveryone go out from me!" So no onestood with him while Joseph madehimself known to his brothers.2And he wept aloud, and the Egyp ansand the house of Pharaoh heard it.3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Iam Joseph; does my father s ll live?" But

GENESIS 45 239his brothers could not answer him, forthey were dismayed in his presence.4And Joseph said to his brothers,"Please come near to me." So they camenear. Then he said: "I am Joseph yourbrother, whom you sold into Egypt.5 "But now, do not therefore be grievedor angry with yourselves because yousold me here; for God sent me beforeyou to preserve life.6 "For these two years the famine hasbeen in the land, and there are s ll fiveyears in which there will be neitherplowing nor harves ng.7 "And God sent me before you topreserve a posterity for you in theearth, and to save your lives by a greatdeliverance.8 "So now it was not you who sent mehere, but God; and He has made mea father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his

GENESIS 45 240house, and a ruler throughout all theland of Egypt.9 "Hurry and go up to my father, and sayto him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: "Godhas made me lord of all Egypt; comedown to me, do not tarry.10 "You shall dwell in the land ofGoshen, and you shall be near to me,you and your children, your children’schildren, your flocks and your herds, andall that you have.11 "There I will provide for you, lest youand your household, and all that youhave, come to poverty; for there are s llfive years of famine."’12 "And behold, your eyes and the eyesof my brother Benjamin see that it is mymouth that speaks to you.13 "So you shall tell my father of all myglory in Egypt, and of all that you haveseen; and you shall hurry and bring myfather down here."

GENESIS 45 24114 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’sneck and wept, and Benjamin wept onhis neck.15Moreover he kissed all his brothersand wept over them, and a er that hisbrothers talked with him.16Now the report of it was heardin Pharaoh’s house, saying, "Joseph’sbrothers have come." So it pleasedPharaoh and his servants well.17And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Sayto your brothers, ‘Do this: Load youranimals and depart; go to the land ofCanaan.18 ‘Bring your father and yourhouseholds and come to me; I will giveyou the best of the land of Egypt, andyou will eat the fat of the land.19 ‘Now you are commanded––do this:Take carts out of the land of Egypt foryour li le ones and your wives; bringyour father and come.

GENESIS 45 24220 ‘Also do not be concerned aboutyour goods, for the best of all the land ofEgypt is yours.’"21 Then the sons of Israel did so; andJoseph gave them carts, according to thecommand of Pharaoh, and he gave themprovisions for the journey.22He gave to all of them, to each man,changes of garments; but to Benjaminhe gave three hundred pieces of silverand five changes of garments.23And he sent to his father thesethings: ten donkeys loaded with thegood things of Egypt, and ten femaledonkeys loaded with grain, bread, andfood for his father for the journey.24 So he sent his brothers away, andthey departed; and he said to them, "Seethat you do not become troubled alongthe way."

GENESIS 45–46 24325 Then they went up out of Egypt, andcame to the land of Canaan to Jacobtheir father.26And they told him, saying, "Joseph iss ll alive, and he is governor over all theland of Egypt." And Jacob’s heart stoods ll, because he did not believe them.27 But when they told him all the wordswhich Joseph had said to them, andwhen he saw the carts which Josephhad sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacobtheir father revived.28 Then Israel said, "It is enough. Josephmy son is s ll alive. I will go and see himbefore I die."

46 1 So Israel took his journey withall that he had, and came to

Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to theGod of his father Isaac.2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visionsof the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!"And he said, "Here I am."

GENESIS 46 2443 So He said, "I am God, the God of yourfather; do not fear to go down to Egypt,for I will make of you a great na onthere.4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, andI will also surely bring you up again; andJoseph will put his hand on your eyes."5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba;and the sons of Israel carried their fatherJacob, their li le ones, and their wives,in the carts which Pharaoh had sent tocarry him.6 So they took their livestock and theirgoods, which they had acquired in theland of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacoband all his descendants with him.7His sons and his sons’ sons, hisdaughters and his sons’ daughters, andall his descendants he brought with himto Egypt.8Now these were the names of thechildren of Israel, Jacob and his sons,

GENESIS 46 245who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’sfirstborn.9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch,Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel,Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul,the son of a Canaanite woman.11 The sons of Levi were Gershon,Kohath, and Merari.12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan,Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er andOnan died in the land of Canaan). Thesons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.13 The sons of Issachar were Tola,Puvah, Job, and Shimron.14 The sons of Zebulun were Sered,Elon, and Jahleel.15 These were the sons of Leah, whomshe bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with hisdaughter Dinah. All the persons, his sonsand his daughters, were thirty–three.

GENESIS 46 24616 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi,Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.17 The sons of Asher were Jimnah,Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, theirsister. And the sons of Beriah were Heberand Malchiel.18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whomLaban gave to Leah his daughter; andthese she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife,were Joseph and Benjamin.20And to Joseph in the land of Egyptwere born Manasseh and Ephraim,whom Asenath, the daughter ofPo –Pherah priest of On, bore to him.21 The sons of Benjamin were Belah,Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi,Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.22 These were the sons of Rachel, whowere born to Jacob: fourteen persons inall.23 The son of Dan was Hushim.

GENESIS 46 24724 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel,Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whomLaban gave to Rachel his daughter, andshe bore these to Jacob: seven personsin all.26All the persons who went withJacob to Egypt, who came from hisbody, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, weresixty–six persons in all.27And the sons of Joseph who wereborn to him in Egypt were two persons.All the persons of the house of Jacobwho went to Egypt were seventy.28 Then he sent Judah before him toJoseph, to point out before him the wayto Goshen. And they came to the land ofGoshen.29 So Josephmade ready his chariot andwent up to Goshen to meet his fatherIsrael; and he presented himself to him,

GENESIS 46 248and fell on his neck and wept on his necka good while.30And Israel said to Joseph, "Now letme die, since I have seen your face,because you are s ll alive."31 Then Joseph said to his brothers andto his father’s household, "I will go upand tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Mybrothers and those of my father’s house,who were in the land of Canaan, havecome to me.32 ‘And the men are shepherds, for theiroccupa on has been to feed livestock;and they have brought their flocks, theirherds, and all that they have.’33 "So it shall be, when Pharaoh callsyou and says, ‘What is your occupa on?’34 "that you shall say, ‘Your servants’occupa on has been with livestock fromour youth even ll now, both we andalso our fathers,’ that you may dwell in

GENESIS 47 249the land of Goshen; for every shepherdis an abomina on to the Egyp ans."

47 1 Then Joseph went and toldPharaoh, and said, "My father

and my brothers, their flocks and theirherds and all that they possess, havecome from the land of Canaan; andindeed they are in the land of Goshen."2And he took five men from amonghis brothers and presented them toPharaoh.3 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers,"What is your occupa on?" And theysaid to Pharaoh, "Your servants areshepherds, both we and also ourfathers."4And they said to Pharaoh, "We havecome to dwell in the land, because yourservants have no pasture for their flocks,for the famine is severe in the land ofCanaan. Now therefore, please let yourservants dwell in the land of Goshen."

GENESIS 47 2505 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying,"Your father and your brothers havecome to you.6 "The land of Egypt is before you.Have your father and brothers dwell inthe best of the land; let them dwell inthe land of Goshen. And if you knowany competent men among them, thenmake them chief herdsmen over mylivestock."7 Then Joseph brought in his fatherJacob and set him before Pharaoh; andJacob blessed Pharaoh.8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How old areyou?"9And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The daysof the years of my pilgrimage are onehundred and thirty years; few and evilhave been the days of the years of mylife, and they have not a ained to thedays of the years of the life of my fathersin the days of their pilgrimage."

GENESIS 47 25110 So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and wentout from before Pharaoh.11And Joseph situated his father andhis brothers, and gave them a possessionin the land of Egypt, in the best of theland, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaohhad commanded.12 Then Joseph provided his father, hisbrothers, and all his father’s householdwith bread, according to the number intheir families.13Now there was no bread in all theland; for the famine was very severe,so that the land of Egypt and the landof Canaan languished because of thefamine.14And Joseph gathered up all themoney that was found in the land ofEgypt and in the land of Canaan, for thegrain which they bought; and Josephbrought the money into Pharaoh’shouse.

GENESIS 47 25215 So when the money failed in the landof Egypt and in the land of Canaan, allthe Egyp ans came to Joseph and said,"Give us bread, for why should we diein your presence? For the money hasfailed."16 Then Joseph said, "Give yourlivestock, and I will give you bread foryour livestock, if the money is gone."17 So they brought their livestock toJoseph, and Joseph gave them bread inexchange for the horses, the flocks, theca le of the herds, and for the donkeys.Thus he fed themwith bread in exchangefor all their livestock that year.18When that year had ended, theycame to him the next year and said tohim, "We will not hide from my lord thatour money is gone; my lord also has ourherds of livestock. There is nothing lein the sight of my lord but our bodiesand our lands.

GENESIS 47 25319 "Why should we die before youreyes, both we and our land? Buy us andour land for bread, and we and our landwill be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed,that we may live and not die, that theland may not be desolate."20 Then Joseph bought all the land ofEgypt for Pharaoh; for every man of theEgyp ans sold his field, because thefamine was severe upon them. So theland became Pharaoh’s.21And as for the people, he movedthem into the ci es, from one end of theborders of Egypt to the other end.22Only the land of the priests he didnot buy; for the priests had ra onsallo ed to them by Pharaoh, and theyate their ra ons which Pharaoh gavethem; therefore they did not sell theirlands.23 Then Joseph said to the people,"Indeed I have bought you and your land

GENESIS 47 254this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seedfor you, and you shall sow the land.24 "And it shall come to pass in theharvest that you shall give one–fi h toPharaoh. Four–fi hs shall be your own,as seed for the field and for your food,for those of your households and as foodfor your li le ones."25 So they said, "You have saved ourlives; let us find favor in the sight of mylord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants."26And Joseph made it a law over theland of Egypt to this day, that Pharaohshould have one–fi h, except for theland of the priests only, which did notbecome Pharaoh’s.27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt,in the country of Goshen; and theyhad possessions there and grew andmul plied exceedingly.28And Jacob lived in the land of Egyptseventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s

GENESIS 47–48 255life was one hundred and forty–sevenyears.29When the me drew near that Israelmust die, he called his son Joseph andsaid to him, "Now if I have found favor inyour sight, please put your hand undermy thigh, and deal kindly and truly withme. Please do not bury me in Egypt,30 "but let me lie with my fathers; youshall carry me out of Egypt and bury mein their burial place." And he said, "I willdo as you have said."31 Then he said, "Swear to me." And heswore to him. So Israel bowed himselfon the head of the bed.

48 1Now it came to pass a er thesethings that Joseph was told,

"Indeed your father is sick"; and he tookwith him his two sons, Manasseh andEphraim.2And Jacob was told, "Look, your sonJoseph is coming to you"; and Israel

GENESIS 48 256strengthened himself and sat up on thebed.3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: "GodAlmighty appeared to me at Luz in theland of Canaan and blessed me,4 "and said to me, ‘Behold, I will makeyou frui ul and mul ply you, and I willmake of you a mul tude of people, andgive this land to your descendants a eryou as an everlas ng possession.’5 "And now your two sons, Ephraim andManasseh, who were born to you in theland of Egypt before I came to you inEgypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon,they shall be mine.6 "Your offspring whom you beget a erthem shall be yours; they will be calledby the name of their brothers in theirinheritance.7 "But as for me, when I came fromPadan, Rachel died beside me in the landof Canaan on the way, when there was

GENESIS 48 257but a li le distance to go to Ephrath; andI buried her there on the way to Ephrath(that is, Bethlehem)."8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, andsaid, "Who are these?"9And Joseph said to his father, "Theyare my sons, whom God has given me inthis place." And he said, "Please bringthem to me, and I will bless them."10Now the eyes of Israel were dimwith age, so that he could not see. ThenJoseph brought them near him, and hekissed them and embraced them.11And Israel said to Joseph, "I had notthought to see your face; but in fact, Godhas also shown me your offspring!"12 So Joseph brought them from besidehis knees, and he bowed down with hisface to the earth.13And Joseph took them both, Ephraimwith his right hand toward Israel’s lehand, and Manasseh with his le hand

GENESIS 48 258toward Israel’s right hand, and broughtthem near him.14 Then Israel stretched out his righthand and laid it on Ephraim’s head,who was the younger, and his lehand on Manasseh’s head, guiding hishands knowingly, for Manasseh was thefirstborn.15And he blessed Joseph, and said:"God, before whom my fathers Abrahamand Isaac walked, The God who has fedme all my life long to this day,16 The Angel who has redeemed mefrom all evil, Bless the lads; Let my namebe named upon them, And the name ofmy fathers Abraham and Isaac; And letthem grow into a mul tude in the midstof the earth."17Now when Joseph saw that hisfather laid his right hand on the headof Ephraim, it displeased him; so hetook hold of his father’s hand to remove

GENESIS 48 259it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’shead.18And Joseph said to his father, "Not so,my father, for this one is the firstborn;put your right hand on his head."19 But his father refused and said, "Iknow, my son, I know. He also shallbecome a people, and he also shall begreat; but truly his younger brother shallbe greater than he, and his descendantsshall become a mul tude of na ons."20 So he blessed them that day, saying,"By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘MayGod make you as Ephraim and asManasseh!’" And thus he set Ephraimbefore Manasseh.21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold,I am dying, but God will be with youand bring you back to the land of yourfathers.22 "Moreover I have given to you onepor on above your brothers, which I

GENESIS 49 260took from the hand of the Amorite withmy sword and my bow."

49 1And Jacob called his sons andsaid, "Gather together, that I may

tell you what shall befall you in the lastdays:2 "Gather together and hear, you sonsof Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, Mymight and the beginning of my strength,The excellency of dignity and theexcellency of power.4Unstable as water, you shall not excel,Because you went up to your father’sbed; Then you defiled it ––He went up tomy couch.5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers;Instruments of cruelty are in theirdwelling place.6 Let not my soul enter their council;Let not my honor be united to theirassembly; For in their anger they slew

GENESIS 49 261a man, And in their self–will theyhamstrung an ox.7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;And their wrath, for it is cruel! I willdivide them in Jacob And sca er them inIsrael.8 "Judah, you are he whom yourbrothers shall praise; Your hand shallbe on the neck of your enemies; Yourfather’s children shall bow down beforeyou.9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey,my son, you have gone up. He bowsdown, he lies down as a lion; And as alion, who shall rouse him?10 The scepter shall not depart fromJudah, Nor a lawgiver from between hisfeet, Un l Shiloh comes; And to Himshall be the obedience of the people.11 Binding his donkey to the vine, Andhis donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He

GENESIS 49 262washed his garments in wine, And hisclothes in the blood of grapes.12His eyes are darker than wine, Andhis teeth whiter than milk.13 "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven ofthe sea; He shall become a haven forships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon.14 "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lyingdown between two burdens;15He saw that rest was good, And thatthe land was pleasant; He bowed hisshoulder to bear a burden, And becamea band of slaves.16 "Dan shall judge his people As one ofthe tribes of Israel.17Dan shall be a serpent by the way, Aviper by the path, That bites the horse’sheels So that its rider shall fall backward.18 I have waited for your salva on, OLORD!19 "Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him,But he shall triumph at last.

GENESIS 49 26320 "Bread from Asher shall be rich, Andhe shall yield royal dain es.21 "Naphtali is a deer let loose; He usesbeau ful words.22 "Joseph is a frui ul bough, A frui ulbough by a well; His branches run overthe wall.23 The archers have bi erly grievedhim, Shot at him and hated him.24 But his bow remained in strength,And the arms of his hands were madestrong By the hands of the Mighty Godof Jacob (From there is the Shepherd,the Stone of Israel),25 By the God of your father who willhelp you, And by the Almighty whowill bless you With blessings of heavenabove, Blessings of the deep that liesbeneath, Blessings of the breasts and ofthe womb.26 The blessings of your father Haveexcelled the blessings of my ancestors,

GENESIS 49 264Up to the utmost bound of theeverlas ng hills. They shall be on thehead of Joseph, And on the crown of thehead of him who was separate from hisbrothers.27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In themorning he shall devour the prey, And atnight he shall divide the spoil."28All these are the twelve tribes ofIsrael, and this is what their fatherspoke to them. And he blessed them; heblessed each one according to his ownblessing.29 Then he charged them and saidto them: "I am to be gathered to mypeople; bury me with my fathers in thecave that is in the field of Ephron theHi te,30 "in the cave that is in the field ofMachpelah, which is before Mamre inthe land of Canaan, which Abraham

GENESIS 49–50 265bought with the field of Ephron theHi te as a possession for a burial place.31 "There they buried Abraham andSarah his wife, there they buried Isaacand Rebekah his wife, and there I buriedLeah.32 "The field and the cave that is therewere purchased from the sons of Heth."33And when Jacob had finishedcommanding his sons, he drew his feetup into the bed and breathed his last,and was gathered to his people.

50 1 Then Joseph fell on his father’sface, and wept over him, and

kissed him.2And Joseph commanded his servantsthe physicians to embalm his father. Sothe physicians embalmed Israel.3 Forty days were required for him, forsuch are the days required for thosewho are embalmed; and the Egyp ansmourned for him seventy days.

GENESIS 50 2664And when the days of his mourningwere past, Joseph spoke to thehousehold of Pharaoh, saying, "If nowI have found favor in your eyes, pleasespeak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,5 ‘My father made me swear, saying,"Behold, I am dying; in my grave whichI dug for myself in the land of Canaan,there you shall bury me." Now therefore,please let me go up and bury my father,and I will come back.’"6And Pharaoh said, "Go up and buryyour father, as he made you swear."7 So Joseph went up to bury his father;and with him went up all the servants ofPharaoh, the elders of his house, and allthe elders of the land of Egypt,8 as well as all the house of Joseph, hisbrothers, and his father’s house. Onlytheir li le ones, their flocks, and theirherds they le in the land of Goshen.

GENESIS 50 2679And there went up with him bothchariots and horsemen, and it was a verygreat gathering.10 Then they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond theJordan, and they mourned there with agreat and very solemn lamenta on. Heobserved seven days of mourning for hisfather.11And when the inhabitants of theland, the Canaanites, saw the mourningat the threshing floor of Atad, theysaid, "This is a deep mourning of theEgyp ans." Therefore its name wascalled Abel Mizraim, which is beyond theJordan.12 So his sons did for him just as he hadcommanded them.13 For his sons carried him to the landof Canaan, and buried him in the cave ofthe field of Machpelah, before Mamre,which Abraham bought with the field

GENESIS 50 268from Ephron the Hi te as property for aburial place.14And a er he had buried his father,Joseph returned to Egypt, he and hisbrothers and all who went up with himto bury his father.15When Joseph’s brothers saw thattheir father was dead, they said,"Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and mayactually repay us for all the evil which wedid to him."16 So they sent messengers to Joseph,saying, "Before your father died hecommanded, saying,17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: "Ibeg you, please forgive the trespass ofyour brothers and their sin; for they didevil to you."’ Now, please, forgive thetrespass of the servants of the God ofyour father." And Joseph wept whenthey spoke to him.

GENESIS 50 26918 Then his brothers also went and felldown before his face, and they said,"Behold, we are your servants."19 Joseph said to them, "Do not beafraid, for am I in the place of God?20 "But as for you, you meant evilagainst me; but God meant it for good,in order to bring it about as it is this day,to save many people alive.21 "Now therefore, do not be afraid; Iwill provide for you and your li le ones."And he comforted them and spokekindly to them.22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and hisfather’s household. And Joseph livedone hundred and ten years.23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to thethird genera on. The children of Machir,the son of Manasseh, were also broughtup on Joseph’s knees.24And Joseph said to his brethren, "Iam dying; but God will surely visit you,

GENESIS 50 270and bring you out of this land to the landof which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac,and to Jacob."25 Then Joseph took an oath from thechildren of Israel, saying, "God will surelyvisit you, and you shall carry up mybones from here."26 So Joseph died, being one hundredand ten years old; and they embalmedhim, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Exodus

1 1Now these are the names of thechildren of Israel who came to Egypt;

each man and his household came withJacob:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;4Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.5All those who were descendants ofJacob were seventy persons (for Josephwas in Egypt already).6And Joseph died, all his brothers, andall that genera on.7 But the children of Israel were frui uland increased abundantly, mul pliedand grew exceedingly mighty; and theland was filled with them.8Now there arose a new king overEgypt, who did not know Joseph.

EXODUS 1 29And he said to his people, "Look, thepeople of the children of Israel are moreand migh er than we;10 "come, let us deal shrewdly withthem, lest they mul ply, and it happen,in the event of war, that they also joinour enemies and fight against us, and sogo up out of the land."11 Therefore they set taskmasters overthem to afflict them with their burdens.And they built for Pharaoh supply ci es,Pithom and Raamses.12 But the more they afflicted them, themore they mul plied and grew. And theywere in dread of the children of Israel.13 So the Egyp ans made the childrenof Israel serve with rigor.14And they made their lives bi er withhard bondage––in mortar, in brick, andin all manner of service in the field. Alltheir service in which they made themserve was with rigor.

EXODUS 1 315 Then the king of Egypt spoke to theHebrew midwives, of whom the name ofone was Shiphrah and the name of theother Puah;16 and he said, "When you do the du esof a midwife for the Hebrew women,and see them on the birthstools, if it is ason, then you shall kill him; but if it is adaughter, then she shall live."17 But themidwives feared God, and didnot do as the king of Egypt commandedthem, but saved the male children alive.18 So the king of Egypt called for themidwives and said to them, "Why haveyou done this thing, and saved the malechildren alive?"19And the midwives said to Pharaoh,"Because the Hebrew women are notlike the Egyp an women; for they arelively and give birth before the midwivescome to them."

EXODUS 1–2 420 Therefore God dealt well with themidwives, and the people mul plied andgrew very mighty.21And so it was, because the midwivesfeared God, that He provided householdsfor them.22 So Pharaoh commanded all hispeople, saying, "Every son who is bornyou shall cast into the river, and everydaughter you shall save alive."

2 1And a man of the house of Leviwent and took as wife a daughter of

Levi.2 So the woman conceived and borea son. And when she saw that he wasa beau ful child, she hid him threemonths.3 But when she could no longer hidehim, she took an ark of bulrushes forhim, daubed it with asphalt and pitch,put the child in it, and laid it in the reedsby the river’s bank.

EXODUS 2 54And his sister stood afar off, to knowwhat would be done to him.5 Then the daughter of Pharaoh camedown to bathe at the river. And hermaidens walked along the riverside; andwhen she saw the ark among the reeds,she sent her maid to get it.6And when she had opened it, she sawthe child, and behold, the baby wept. Soshe had compassion on him, and said,"This is one of the Hebrews’ children."7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’sdaughter, "Shall I go and call a nurse foryou from the Hebrew women, that shemay nurse the child for you?"8And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,"Go." So the maiden went and called thechild’s mother.9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,"Take this child away and nurse him forme, and I will give you your wages." So

EXODUS 2 6the woman took the child and nursedhim.10And the child grew, and she broughthim to Pharaoh’s daughter, and hebecame her son. So she called his nameMoses, saying, "Because I drew him outof the water."11Now it came to pass in those days,when Moses was grown, that he wentout to his brethren and looked at theirburdens. And he saw an Egyp an bea nga Hebrew, one of his brethren.12 So he looked this way and that way,and when he saw no one, he killed theEgyp an and hid him in the sand.13And when he went out the secondday, behold, two Hebrew men werefigh ng, and he said to the one who didthe wrong, "Why are you striking yourcompanion?"14 Then he said, "Who made you aprince and a judge over us? Do you

EXODUS 2 7intend to kill me as you killed theEgyp an?" So Moses feared and said,"Surely this thing is known!"15When Pharaoh heard of this ma er,he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fledfrom the face of Pharaoh and dwelt inthe land of Midian; and he sat down bya well.16Now the priest of Midian had sevendaughters. And they came and drewwater, and they filled the troughs towater their father’s flock.17 Then the shepherds came and drovethem away; but Moses stood up andhelped them, and watered their flock.18When they came to Reuel theirfather, he said, "How is it that you havecome so soon today?"19And they said, "An Egyp an deliveredus from the hand of the shepherds, andhe also drew enough water for us andwatered the flock."

EXODUS 2 820 So he said to his daughters, "Andwhere is he? Why is it that you havele the man? Call him, that he may eatbread."21 Then Moses was content to livewith the man, and he gave Zipporah hisdaughter to Moses.22And she bore him a son, and hecalled his name Gershom; for he said, "Ihave been a stranger in a foreign land."23Now it happened in the process ofme that the king of Egypt died. Then

the children of Israel groaned becauseof the bondage, and they cried out; andtheir cry came up to God because of thebondage.24 So God heard their groaning, andGod remembered His covenant withAbraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.25And God looked upon the children ofIsrael, and God acknowledged them.

EXODUS 3 9

3 1Now Moses was tending the flockof Jethro his father–in–law, the priest

of Midian. And he led the flock to theback of the desert, and came to Horeb,the mountain of God.2And the Angel of the LORD appearedto him in a flame of fire from the midstof a bush. So he looked, and behold, thebush was burning with fire, but the bushwas not consumed.3 Then Moses said, "I will now turnaside and see this great sight, why thebush does not burn."4 So when the LORD saw that he turnedaside to look, God called to him fromthe midst of the bush and said, "Moses,Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."5 Then He said, "Do not draw near thisplace. Take your sandals off your feet,for the place where you stand is holyground."

EXODUS 3 106Moreover He said, "I am the God ofyour father––the God of Abraham, theGod of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." AndMoses hid his face, for he was afraid tolook upon God.7And the LORD said: "I have surely seenthe oppression of My people who are inEgypt, and have heard their cry becauseof their taskmasters, for I know theirsorrows.8 "So I have come down to deliver themout of the hand of the Egyp ans, andto bring them up from that land to agood and large land, to a land flowingwith milk and honey, to the place ofthe Canaanites and the Hi tes and theAmorites and the Perizzites and theHivites and the Jebusites.9 "Now therefore, behold, the cry ofthe children of Israel has come to Me,and I have also seen the oppression withwhich the Egyp ans oppress them.

EXODUS 3 1110 "Come now, therefore, and I willsend you to Pharaoh that you may bringMy people, the children of Israel, out ofEgypt."11 But Moses said to God, "Who am Ithat I should go to Pharaoh, and that Ishould bring the children of Israel out ofEgypt?"12 So He said, "I will certainly be withyou. And this shall be a sign to you that Ihave sent you: When you have broughtthe people out of Egypt, you shall serveGod on this mountain."13 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed,when I come to the children of Israel andsay to them, ‘The God of your fathershas sent me to you,’ and they say to me,‘What is His name?’ what shall I say tothem?"14And God said to Moses, "I AMWHO IAM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to

EXODUS 3 12the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent meto you.’"15Moreover God said to Moses, "Thusyou shall say to the children of Israel:‘The LORD God of your fathers, theGod of Abraham, the God of Isaac, andthe God of Jacob, has sent me to you.This is My name forever, and this is Mymemorial to all genera ons.’16 "Go and gather the elders of Israeltogether, and say to them, ‘The LORDGod of your fathers, the God of Abraham,of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me,saying, "I have surely visited you andseen what is done to you in Egypt;17 "and I have said I will bring you upout of the afflic on of Egypt to the landof the Canaanites and the Hi tes andthe Amorites and the Perizzites andthe Hivites and the Jebusites, to a landflowing with milk and honey."’

EXODUS 3 1318 "Then they will heed your voice;and you shall come, you and the eldersof Israel, to the king of Egypt; and youshall say to him, ‘The LORD God of theHebrews has met with us; and now,please, let us go three days’ journey intothe wilderness, that we may sacrifice tothe LORD our God.’19 "But I am sure that the king of Egyptwill not let you go, no, not even by amighty hand.20 "So I will stretch out My hand andstrike Egypt with all My wonders which Iwill do in its midst; and a er that he willlet you go.21 "And I will give this people favor inthe sight of the Egyp ans; and it shallbe, when you go, that you shall not goempty–handed.22 "But every woman shall ask of herneighbor, namely, of her who dwellsnear her house, ar cles of silver, ar cles

EXODUS 4 14of gold, and clothing; and you shallput them on your sons and on yourdaughters. So you shall plunder theEgyp ans."

4 1 Then Moses answered and said,"But suppose they will not believe

me or listen to my voice; suppose theysay, ‘The LORD has not appeared toyou.’"2 So the LORD said to him, "What is thatin your hand?" He said, "A rod."3And He said, "Cast it on the ground."So he cast it on the ground, and itbecame a serpent; and Moses fled fromit.4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reachout your hand and take it by the tail"(and he reached out his hand and caughtit, and it became a rod in his hand),5 "that they may believe that theLORD God of their fathers, the God of

EXODUS 4 15Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the Godof Jacob, has appeared to you."6 Furthermore the LORD said to him,"Now put your hand in your bosom."And he put his hand in his bosom, andwhen he took it out, behold, his handwas leprous, like snow.7And He said, "Put your hand in yourbosom again." So he put his hand inhis bosom again, and drew it out of hisbosom, and behold, it was restored likehis other flesh.8 "Then it will be, if they do not believeyou, nor heed the message of the firstsign, that they may believe the messageof the la er sign.9 "And it shall be, if they do not believeeven these two signs, or listen to yourvoice, that you shall take water from theriver and pour it on the dry land. Andthe water which you take from the riverwill become blood on the dry land."

EXODUS 4 1610 Then Moses said to the LORD, "Omy Lord, I am not eloquent, neitherbefore nor since You have spoken to Yourservant; but I am slow of speech andslow of tongue."11 So the LORD said to him, "Who hasmade man’s mouth? Or who makes themute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind?Have not I, the LORD?12 "Now therefore, go, and I will be withyour mouth and teach you what youshall say."13 But he said, "O my Lord, please sendby the hand of whomever else You maysend."14 So the anger of the LORD was kindledagainst Moses, and He said: "Is notAaron the Levite your brother? I knowthat he can speak well. And look, he isalso coming out to meet you. When hesees you, he will be glad in his heart.

EXODUS 4 1715 "Now you shall speak to him and putthe words in his mouth. And I will bewith your mouth and with his mouth,and I will teach you what you shall do.16 "So he shall be your spokesman tothe people. And he himself shall be as amouth for you, and you shall be to himas God.17 "And you shall take this rod in yourhand, with which you shall do the signs."18 So Moses went and returned toJethro his father–in–law, and said tohim, "Please let me go and return tomy brethren who are in Egypt, and seewhether they are s ll alive." And Jethrosaid to Moses, "Go in peace."19And the LORD said to Moses inMidian, "Go, return to Egypt; for all themen who sought your life are dead."20 Then Moses took his wife and hissons and set them on a donkey, and

EXODUS 4 18he returned to the land of Egypt. AndMoses took the rod of God in his hand.21And the LORD said to Moses, "Whenyou go back to Egypt, see that you do allthose wonders before Pharaoh which Ihave put in your hand. But I will hardenhis heart, so that he will not let thepeople go.22 "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thussays the LORD: "Israel is My son, Myfirstborn.23 "So I say to you, let My son go thathe may serve Me. But if you refuse to lethim go, indeed I will kill your son, yourfirstborn."’"24And it came to pass on the way, atthe encampment, that the LORD methim and sought to kill him.25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stoneand cut off the foreskin of her son andcast it at Moses‘ feet, and said, "Surelyyou are a husband of blood to me!"

EXODUS 4 1926 So He let him go. Then she said, "Youare a husband of blood!" ––because ofthe circumcision.27And the LORD said to Aaron, "Go intothe wilderness to meet Moses." So hewent and met him on the mountain ofGod, and kissed him.28 So Moses told Aaron all the words ofthe LORD who had sent him, and all thesigns which He had commanded him.29 Then Moses and Aaron went andgathered together all the elders of thechildren of Israel.30And Aaron spoke all the words whichthe LORD had spoken to Moses. Then hedid the signs in the sight of the people.31 So the people believed; and whenthey heard that the LORD had visited thechildren of Israel and that He had lookedon their afflic on, then they bowed theirheads and worshiped.

EXODUS 5 20

5 1A erward Moses and Aaron wentin and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the

LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go,that they may hold a feast to Me in thewilderness.’"2And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD,that I should obey His voice to let Israelgo? I do not know the LORD, nor will I letIsrael go."3 So they said, "The God of the Hebrewshas met with us. Please, let us gothree days’ journey into the desert andsacrifice to the LORD our God, lest Hefall upon us with pes lence or with thesword."4 Then the king of Egypt said to them,"Moses and Aaron, why do you take thepeople from their work? Get back toyour labor."5And Pharaoh said, "Look, the peopleof the land are many now, and you makethem rest from their labor!"

EXODUS 5 216 So the same day Pharaoh commandedthe taskmasters of the people and theirofficers, saying,7 "You shall no longer give the peoplestraw to make brick as before. Let themgo and gather straw for themselves.8 "And you shall lay on them the quotaof bricks which they made before. Youshall not reduce it. For they are idle;therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us goand sacrifice to our God.’9 "Let more work be laid on the men,that they may labor in it, and let themnot regard false words."10And the taskmasters of the peopleand their officers went out and spoke tothe people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh:‘I will not give you straw.11 ‘Go, get yourselves straw where youcan find it; yet none of your work will bereduced.’"

EXODUS 5 2212 So the people were sca ered abroadthroughout all the land of Egypt togather stubble instead of straw.13And the taskmasters forced them tohurry, saying, "Fulfill your work, yourdaily quota, as when there was straw."14Also the officers of the children ofIsrael, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters hadset over them, were beaten and wereasked, "Why have you not fulfilled yourtask in making brick both yesterday andtoday, as before?"15 Then the officers of the children ofIsrael came and cried out to Pharaoh,saying, "Why are you dealing thus withyour servants?16 "There is no straw given to yourservants, and they say to us, ‘Makebrick!’ And indeed your servants arebeaten, but the fault is in your ownpeople."

EXODUS 5 2317 But he said, "You are idle! Idle!Therefore you say, ‘Let us go andsacrifice to the LORD.’18 "Therefore go now and work; for nostraw shall be given you, yet you shalldeliver the quota of bricks."19And the officers of the children ofIsrael saw that they were in trouble a erit was said, "You shall not reduce anybricks from your daily quota."20 Then, as they came out fromPharaoh, they met Moses and Aaronwho stood there to meet them.21And they said to them, "Let the LORDlook on you and judge, because youhave made us abhorrent in the sight ofPharaoh and in the sight of his servants,to put a sword in their hand to kill us."22 So Moses returned to the LORDand said, "Lord, why have You broughttrouble on this people? Why is it Youhave sent me?

EXODUS 5–6 2423 "For since I came to Pharaoh to speakin Your name, he has done evil to thispeople; neither have You delivered Yourpeople at all."

6 1 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Now you shall see what I will do to

Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he willlet them go, and with a strong hand hewill drive them out of his land."2And God spoke to Moses and said tohim: "I am the LORD.3 "I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, andto Jacob, as God Almighty, but by Myname LORD I was not known to them.4 "I have also established My covenantwith them, to give them the land ofCanaan, the land of their pilgrimage, inwhich they were strangers.5 "And I have also heard the groaningof the children of Israel whom theEgyp ans keep in bondage, and I haveremembered My covenant.

EXODUS 6 256 "Therefore say to the children ofIsrael: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring youout from under the burdens of theEgyp ans, I will rescue you from theirbondage, and I will redeem you withan outstretched arm and with greatjudgments.7 ‘I will take you as My people, and Iwill be your God. Then you shall knowthat I am the LORD your God who bringsyou out from under the burdens of theEgyp ans.8 ‘And I will bring you into the landwhich I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac,and Jacob; and I will give it to you as aheritage: I am the LORD.’"9 So Moses spoke thus to the childrenof Israel; but they did not heed Moses,because of anguish of spirit and cruelbondage.10And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

EXODUS 6 2611 "Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt tolet the children of Israel go out of hisland."12And Moses spoke before the LORD,saying, "The children of Israel have notheeded me. How then shall Pharaohheed me, for I am of uncircumcisedlips?"13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, and gave them a command forthe children of Israel and for Pharaohking of Egypt, to bring the children ofIsrael out of the land of Egypt.14 These are the heads of their fathers’houses: The sons of Reuben, thefirstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu,Hezron, and Carmi. These are thefamilies of Reuben.15And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel,Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaulthe son of a Canaanite woman. Theseare the families of Simeon.

EXODUS 6 2716 These are the names of the sonsof Levi according to their genera ons:Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Andthe years of the life of Levi were onehundred and thirty–seven.17 The sons of Gershon were Libni andShimi according to their families.18And the sons of Kohath were Amram,Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the yearsof the life of Kohath were one hundredand thirty–three.19 The sons of Merari were Mahali andMushi. These are the families of Leviaccording to their genera ons.20Now Amram took for himselfJochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; andshe bore him Aaron and Moses. Andthe years of the life of Amram were onehundred and thirty–seven.21 The sons of Izhar were Korah,Nepheg, and Zichri.

EXODUS 6 2822And the sons of Uzziel were Mishael,Elzaphan, and Zithri.23Aaron took to himself Elisheba,daughter of Amminadab, sister ofNahshon, as wife; and she bore himNadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.24And the sons of Korah were Assir,Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are thefamilies of the Korahites.25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took for himselfone of the daughters of Pu el as wife;and she bore him Phinehas. These arethe heads of the fathers’ houses of theLevites according to their families.26 These are the same Aaron andMosesto whom the LORD said, "Bring out thechildren of Israel from the land of Egyptaccording to their armies."27 These are the ones who spoke toPharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out thechildren of Israel from Egypt. These arethe same Moses and Aaron.

EXODUS 6–7 2928And it came to pass, on the day theLORD spoke to Moses in the land ofEgypt,29 that the LORD spoke to Moses,saying, "I am the LORD. Speak toPharaoh king of Egypt all that I say toyou."30 But Moses said before the LORD,"Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, andhow shall Pharaoh heed me?"

7 1 So the LORD said to Moses: "See, Ihave made you as God to Pharaoh,

and Aaron your brother shall be yourprophet.2 "You shall speak all that I commandyou. And Aaron your brother shall speakto Pharaoh to send the children of Israelout of his land.3 "And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,and mul ply My signs and My wondersin the land of Egypt.

EXODUS 7 304 "But Pharaoh will not heed you, sothat I may lay My hand on Egypt andbring My armies and My people, thechildren of Israel, out of the land ofEgypt by great judgments.5 "And the Egyp ans shall know thatI am the LORD, when I stretch out Myhand on Egypt and bring out the childrenof Israel from among them."6 Then Moses and Aaron did so; just asthe LORD commanded them, so theydid.7And Moses was eighty years old andAaron eighty–three years old when theyspoke to Pharaoh.8 Then the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying,9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying,‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then youshall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod andcast it before Pharaoh, and let it becomea serpent.’"

EXODUS 7 3110 So Moses and Aaron went in toPharaoh, and they did so, just as theLORD commanded. And Aaron castdown his rod before Pharaoh and beforehis servants, and it became a serpent.11 But Pharaoh also called the wise menand the sorcerers; so the magicians ofEgypt, they also did in like manner withtheir enchantments.12 For every man threw down his rod,and they became serpents. But Aaron’srod swallowed up their rods.13And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, andhe did not heed them, as the LORD hadsaid.14 So the LORD said to Moses:"Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses tolet the people go.15 "Go to Pharaoh in the morning,when he goes out to the water, and youshall stand by the river’s bank to meet

EXODUS 7 32him; and the rod which was turned to aserpent you shall take in your hand.16 "And you shall say to him, ‘The LORDGod of the Hebrews has sent me to you,saying, "Let My people go, that they mayserve Me in the wilderness"; but indeed,un l now you would not hear!17 ‘Thus says the LORD: "By this youshall know that I am the LORD. Behold,I will strike the waters which are in theriver with the rod that is in my hand, andthey shall be turned to blood.18 "And the fish that are in the rivershall die, the river shall s nk, and theEgyp ans will loathe to drink the waterof the river."’"19 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Sayto Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch outyour hand over the waters of Egypt, overtheir streams, over their rivers, overtheir ponds, and over all their pools ofwater, that they may become blood. And

EXODUS 7 33there shall be blood throughout all theland of Egypt, both in buckets of woodand pitchers of stone.’"20And Moses and Aaron did so, justas the LORD commanded. So he li edup the rod and struck the waters thatwere in the river, in the sight of Pharaohand in the sight of his servants. And allthe waters that were in the river wereturned to blood.21 The fish that were in the river died,the river stank, and the Egyp ans couldnot drink the water of the river. So therewas blood throughout all the land ofEgypt.22 Then the magicians of Egypt did sowith their enchantments; and Pharaoh’sheart grew hard, and he did not heedthem, as the LORD had said.23And Pharaoh turned and went intohis house. Neither was his heart movedby this.

EXODUS 7–8 3424 So all the Egyp ans dug all aroundthe river for water to drink, because theycould not drink the water of the river.25And seven days passed a er theLORD had struck the river.

8 1And the LORD spoke to Moses, "Goto Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus

says the LORD: "Let My people go, thatthey may serve Me.2 "But if you refuse to let them go,behold, I will smite all your territory withfrogs.3 "So the river shall bring forth frogsabundantly, which shall go up and comeinto your house, into your bedroom,on your bed, into the houses of yourservants, on your people, into yourovens, and into your kneading bowls.4 "And the frogs shall come up onyou, on your people, and on all yourservants."’"

EXODUS 8 355 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Sayto Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand withyour rod over the streams, over therivers, and over the ponds, and causefrogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’"6 So Aaron stretched out his hand overthe waters of Egypt, and the frogs cameup and covered the land of Egypt.7And the magicians did so with theirenchantments, and brought up frogs onthe land of Egypt.8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses andAaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD thatHe may take away the frogs fromme andfrom my people; and I will let the peoplego, that they may sacrifice to the LORD."9And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Acceptthe honor of saying when I shallintercede for you, for your servants, andfor your people, to destroy the frogsfrom you and your houses, that theymay remain in the river only."

EXODUS 8 3610 So he said, "Tomorrow." And he said,"Let it be according to your word, thatyou may know that there is no one likethe LORD our God.11 "And the frogs shall depart from you,from your houses, from your servants,and from your people. They shall remainin the river only."12 Then Moses and Aaron went outfrom Pharaoh. And Moses cried out tothe LORD concerning the frogs which Hehad brought against Pharaoh.13 So the LORD did according to theword of Moses. And the frogs died outof the houses, out of the courtyards, andout of the fields.14 They gathered them together inheaps, and the land stank.15 But when Pharaoh saw that therewas relief, he hardened his heart and didnot heed them, as the LORD had said.

EXODUS 8 3716 So the LORD said to Moses, "Sayto Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, andstrike the dust of the land, so that it maybecome lice throughout all the land ofEgypt.’"17And they did so. For Aaron stretchedout his hand with his rod and struck thedust of the earth, and it became lice onman and beast. All the dust of the landbecame lice throughout all the land ofEgypt.18Now the magicians so worked withtheir enchantments to bring forth lice,but they could not. So there were lice onman and beast.19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh,"This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh’sheart grew hard, and he did not heedthem, just as the LORD had said.20And the LORD said to Moses, "Riseearly in the morning and stand beforePharaoh as he comes out to the water.

EXODUS 8 38Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD:"Let My people go, that they may serveMe.21 "Or else, if you will not let My peoplego, behold, I will send swarms of flies onyou and your servants, on your peopleand into your houses. The houses ofthe Egyp ans shall be full of swarms offlies, and also the ground on which theystand.22 "And in that day I will set apart theland of Goshen, in which My peopledwell, that no swarms of flies shall bethere, in order that you may know that Iam the LORD in the midst of the land.23 "I will make a difference between Mypeople and your people. Tomorrow thissign shall be."’"24And the LORD did so. Thick swarmsof flies came into the house of Pharaoh,into his servants’ houses, and into all the

EXODUS 8 39land of Egypt. The land was corruptedbecause of the swarms of flies.25 Then Pharaoh called for Moses andAaron, and said, "Go, sacrifice to yourGod in the land."26And Moses said, "It is not rightto do so, for we would be sacrificingthe abomina on of the Egyp ans tothe LORD our God. If we sacrifice theabomina on of the Egyp ans beforetheir eyes, then will they not stone us?27 "We will go three days’ journey intothe wilderness and sacrifice to the LORDour God as He will command us."28And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go,that you may sacrifice to the LORD yourGod in the wilderness; only you shall notgo very far away. Intercede for me."29 Then Moses said, "Indeed I am goingout from you, and I will entreat theLORD, that the swarms of flies maydepart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from

EXODUS 8–9 40his servants, and from his people. But letPharaoh not deal decei ully anymore innot le ng the people go to sacrifice tothe LORD."30 So Moses went out from Pharaohand entreated the LORD.31And the LORD did according to theword of Moses; He removed the swarmsof flies from Pharaoh, from his servants,and from his people. Not one remained.32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart atthis me also; neither would he let thepeople go.

9 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Goin to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says

the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let Mypeople go, that they may serve Me.2 "For if you refuse to let them go, ands ll hold them,3 "behold, the hand of the LORD will beon your ca le in the field, on the horses,on the donkeys, on the camels, on the

EXODUS 9 41oxen, and on the sheep––a very severepes lence.4 "And the LORD will make a differencebetween the livestock of Israel and thelivestock of Egypt. So nothing shall dieof all that belongs to the children ofIsrael."’"5 Then the LORD appointed a set me,saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do thisthing in the land."6 So the LORD did this thing on the nextday, and all the livestock of Egypt died;but of the livestock of the children ofIsrael, not one died.7 Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, noteven one of the livestock of the Israeliteswas dead. But the heart of Pharaohbecame hard, and he did not let thepeople go.8 So the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"Take for yourselves handfuls of ashesfrom a furnace, and let Moses sca er

EXODUS 9 42it toward the heavens in the sight ofPharaoh.9 "And it will become fine dust in all theland of Egypt, and it will cause boils thatbreak out in sores on man and beastthroughout all the land of Egypt."10 Then they took ashes from thefurnace and stood before Pharaoh, andMoses sca ered them toward heaven.And they caused boils that break out insores on man and beast.11And the magicians could not standbefore Moses because of the boils, forthe boils were on the magicians and onall the Egyp ans.12 But the LORD hardened the heart ofPharaoh; and he did not heed them, justas the LORD had spoken to Moses.13 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Riseearly in the morning and stand beforePharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says

EXODUS 9 43the LORD God of the Hebrews: "Let Mypeople go, that they may serve Me,14 "for at this me I will send all Myplagues to your very heart, and on yourservants and on your people, that youmay know that there is none like Me inall the earth.15 "Now if I had stretched out My handand struck you and your people withpes lence, then you would have beencut off from the earth.16 "But indeed for this purpose I haveraised you up, that I may show Mypower in you, and that My name may bedeclared in all the earth.17 "As yet you exalt yourself against Mypeople in that you will not let them go.18 "Behold, tomorrow about this me Iwill cause very heavy hail to rain down,such as has not been in Egypt since itsfounding un l now.

EXODUS 9 4419 "Therefore send now and gatheryour livestock and all that you have inthe field, for the hail shall come downon every man and every animal whichis found in the field and is not broughthome; and they shall die."’"20He who feared the word of the LORDamong the servants of Pharaoh madehis servants and his livestock flee to thehouses.21 But he who did not regard the wordof the LORD le his servants and hislivestock in the field.22 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Stretch out your hand toward heaven,that there may be hail in all the land ofEgypt––on man, on beast, and on everyherb of the field, throughout the land ofEgypt."23And Moses stretched out his rodtoward heaven; and the LORD sentthunder and hail, and fire darted to the

EXODUS 9 45ground. And the LORD rained hail on theland of Egypt.24 So there was hail, and fire mingledwith the hail, so very heavy that therewas none like it in all the land of Egyptsince it became a na on.25And the hail struck throughout thewhole land of Egypt, all that was in thefield, both man and beast; and the hailstruck every herb of the field and brokeevery tree of the field.26Only in the land of Goshen, wherethe children of Israel were, there was nohail.27And Pharaoh sent and called forMoses and Aaron, and said to them,"I have sinned this me. The LORD isrighteous, and my people and I arewicked.28 "Entreat the LORD, that there may beno more mighty thundering and hail, for

EXODUS 9 46it is enough. I will let you go, and youshall stay no longer."29 So Moses said to him, "As soon as Ihave gone out of the city, I will spreadout my hands to the LORD; the thunderwill cease, and there will be no morehail, that you may know that the earth isthe LORD’S.30 "But as for you and your servants, Iknow that you will not yet fear the LORDGod."31Now the flax and the barley werestruck, for the barley was in the headand the flax was in bud.32 But the wheat and the spelt were notstruck, for they are late crops.33 So Moses went out of the city fromPharaoh and spread out his hands tothe LORD; then the thunder and the hailceased, and the rain was not poured onthe earth.

EXODUS 9–10 4734And when Pharaoh saw that the rain,the hail, and the thunder had ceased, hesinned yet more; and he hardened hisheart, he and his servants.35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hard;neither would he let the children ofIsrael go, as the LORD had spoken byMoses.

10 1Now the LORD said to Moses,"Go in to Pharaoh; for I have

hardened his heart and the hearts of hisservants, that I may show these signs ofMine before him,2 "and that you may tell in the hearingof your son and your son’s son themighty things I have done in Egypt, andMy signs which I have done amongthem, that you may know that I am theLORD."3 So Moses and Aaron came in toPharaoh and said to him, "Thus saysthe LORD God of the Hebrews: ‘How

EXODUS 10 48long will you refuse to humble yourselfbefore Me? Let My people go, that theymay serve Me.4 ‘Or else, if you refuse to let My peoplego, behold, tomorrow I will bring locustsinto your territory.5 ‘And they shall cover the face of theearth, so that no one will be able to seethe earth; and they shall eat the residueof what is le , which remains to youfrom the hail, and they shall eat everytree which grows up for you out of thefield.6 ‘They shall fill your houses, the housesof all your servants, and the houses ofall the Egyp ans––which neither yourfathers nor your fathers’ fathers haveseen, since the day that they were onthe earth to this day.’" And he turnedand went out from Pharaoh.7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him,"How long shall this man be a snare to

EXODUS 10 49us? Let the men go, that they may servethe LORD their God. Do you not yetknow that Egypt is destroyed?"8 So Moses and Aaron were broughtagain to Pharaoh, and he said to them,"Go, serve the LORD your God. Who arethe ones that are going?"9And Moses said, "We will go with ouryoung and our old; with our sons andour daughters, with our flocks and ourherds we will go, for we must hold afeast to the LORD."10 Then he said to them, "The LORD hadbe er be with you when I let you andyour li le ones go! Beware, for evil isahead of you.11 "Not so! Go now, you who are men,and serve the LORD, for that is what youdesired." And they were driven out fromPharaoh’s presence.12 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Stretch out your hand over the land

EXODUS 10 50of Egypt for the locusts, that they maycome upon the land of Egypt, and eatevery herb of the land––all that the hailhas le ."13 So Moses stretched out his rod overthe land of Egypt, and the LORD broughtan east wind on the land all that day andall that night. When it was morning, theeast wind brought the locusts.14And the locusts went up over allthe land of Egypt and rested on allthe territory of Egypt. They were verysevere; previously there had been nosuch locusts as they, nor shall there besuch a er them.15 For they covered the face of thewhole earth, so that the land wasdarkened; and they ate every herb of theland and all the fruit of the trees whichthe hail had le . So there remainednothing green on the trees or on the

EXODUS 10 51plants of the field throughout all theland of Egypt.16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses andAaron in haste, and said, "I have sinnedagainst the LORD your God and againstyou.17 "Now therefore, please forgive mysin only this once, and entreat the LORDyour God, that He may take away fromme this death only."18 So he went out from Pharaoh andentreated the LORD.19And the LORD turned a very strongwest wind, which took the locusts awayand blew them into the Red Sea. Thereremained not one locust in all theterritory of Egypt.20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’sheart, and he did not let the children ofIsrael go.21 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Stretch out your hand toward heaven,

EXODUS 10 52that there may be darkness over theland of Egypt, darkness which may evenbe felt."22 So Moses stretched out his handtoward heaven, and there was thickdarkness in all the land of Egypt threedays.23 They did not see one another; nordid anyone rise from his place for threedays. But all the children of Israel hadlight in their dwellings.24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses andsaid, "Go, serve the LORD; only let yourflocks and your herds be kept back. Letyour li le ones also go with you."25 But Moses said, "You must also giveus sacrifices and burnt offerings, that wemay sacrifice to the LORD our God.26 "Our livestock also shall go with us;not a hoof shall be le behind. For wemust take some of them to serve theLORD our God, and even we do not know

EXODUS 10–11 53with what we must serve the LORD un lwe arrive there."27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’sheart, and he would not let them go.28 Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get awayfrom me! Take heed to yourself and seemy face no more! For in the day you seemy face you shall die!"29And Moses said, "You have spokenwell. I will never see your face again."

11 1And the LORD said to Moses, "Iwill bring yet one more plague on

Pharaoh and on Egypt. A erward he willlet you go from here. When he lets yougo, he will surely drive you out of herealtogether.2 "Speak now in the hearing of thepeople, and let every man ask from hisneighbor and every woman from herneighbor, ar cles of silver and ar cles ofgold."

EXODUS 11 543And the LORD gave the people favor inthe sight of the Egyp ans. Moreover theman Moses was very great in the land ofEgypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servantsand in the sight of the people.4 Then Moses said, "Thus says theLORD: ‘About midnight I will go out intothe midst of Egypt;5 ‘and all the firstborn in the land ofEgypt shall die, from the firstborn ofPharaoh who sits on his throne, evento the firstborn of the female servantwho is behind the handmill, and all thefirstborn of the animals.6 ‘Then there shall be a great crythroughout all the land of Egypt, such aswas not like it before, nor shall be like itagain.7 ‘But against none of the childrenof Israel shall a dog move its tongue,against man or beast, that youmay know

EXODUS 11–12 55that the LORD does make a differencebetween the Egyp ans and Israel.’8 "And all these your servants shallcome down to me and bow down tome, saying, ‘Get out, and all the peoplewho follow you!’ A er that I will go out."Then he went out from Pharaoh in greatanger.9 But the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaohwill not heed you, so that My wondersmay be mul plied in the land of Egypt."10 So Moses and Aaron did all thesewonders before Pharaoh; and the LORDhardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didnot let the children of Israel go out of hisland.

12 1Now the LORD spoke to Mosesand Aaron in the land of Egypt,

saying,2 "This month shall be your beginningof months; it shall be the first month ofthe year to you.

EXODUS 12 563 "Speak to all the congrega on ofIsrael, saying: ‘On the tenth day of thismonth every man shall take for himselfa lamb, according to the house of hisfather, a lamb for a household.4 ‘And if the household is too smallfor the lamb, let him and his neighbornext to his house take it according tothe number of the persons; according toeach man’s need you shall make yourcount for the lamb.5 ‘Your lamb shall be without blemish,a male of the first year. You may take itfrom the sheep or from the goats.6 ‘Now you shall keep it un l thefourteenth day of the same month. Thenthe whole assembly of the congrega onof Israel shall kill it at twilight.7 ‘And they shall take some of the bloodand put it on the two doorposts and onthe lintel of the houses where they eatit.

EXODUS 12 578 ‘Then they shall eat the flesh on thatnight; roasted in fire, with unleavenedbread and with bi er herbs they shalleat it.9 ‘Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at allwith water, but roasted in fire––its headwith its legs and its entrails.10 ‘You shall let none of it remain un lmorning, and what remains of it un lmorning you shall burn with fire.11 ‘And thus you shall eat it: with a belton your waist, your sandals on your feet,and your staff in your hand. So you shalleat it in haste. It is the LORD’S Passover.12 ‘For I will pass through the land ofEgypt on that night, and will strike all thefirstborn in the land of Egypt, both manand beast; and against all the gods ofEgypt I will execute judgment: I am theLORD.13 ‘Now the blood shall be a sign for youon the houses where you are. And when

EXODUS 12 58I see the blood, I will pass over you; andthe plague shall not be on you to destroyyou when I strike the land of Egypt.14 ‘So this day shall be to you amemorial; and you shall keep it as afeast to the LORD throughout yourgenera ons. You shall keep it as a feastby an everlas ng ordinance.15 ‘Seven days you shall eat unleavenedbread. On the first day you shall removeleaven from your houses. For whoevereats leavened bread from the first dayun l the seventh day, that person shallbe cut off from Israel.16 ‘On the first day there shall be a holyconvoca on, and on the seventh daythere shall be a holy convoca on foryou. No manner of work shall be doneon them; but that which everyone musteat––that only may be prepared by you.17 ‘So you shall observe the Feast ofUnleavened Bread, for on this same

EXODUS 12 59day I will have brought your armiesout of the land of Egypt. Therefore youshall observe this day throughout yourgenera ons as an everlas ng ordinance.18 ‘In the first month, on the fourteenthday of the month at evening, youshall eat unleavened bread, un l thetwenty–first day of the month atevening.19 ‘For seven days no leaven shall befound in your houses, since whoevereats what is leavened, that same personshall be cut off from the congrega onof Israel, whether he is a stranger or ana ve of the land.20 ‘You shall eat nothing leavened; in allyour dwellings you shall eat unleavenedbread.’"21 Then Moses called for all the eldersof Israel and said to them, "Pick out andtake lambs for yourselves according toyour families, and kill the Passover lamb.

EXODUS 12 6022 "And you shall take a bunch ofhyssop, dip it in the blood that is in thebasin, and strike the lintel and the twodoorposts with the blood that is in thebasin. And none of you shall go out ofthe door of his house un l morning.23 "For the LORD will pass through tostrike the Egyp ans; and when He seesthe blood on the lintel and on the twodoorposts, the LORD will pass over thedoor and not allow the destroyer tocome into your houses to strike you.24 "And you shall observe this thingas an ordinance for you and your sonsforever.25 "It will come to pass when you cometo the land which the LORD will give you,just as He promised, that you shall keepthis service.26 "And it shall be, when your childrensay to you, ‘What do you mean by thisservice?’

EXODUS 12 6127 "that you shall say, ‘It is the Passoversacrifice of the LORD, who passed overthe houses of the children of Israel inEgypt when He struck the Egyp ansand delivered our households.’" Sothe people bowed their heads andworshiped.28 Then the children of Israel wentaway and did so; just as the LORD hadcommanded Moses and Aaron, so theydid.29And it came to pass at midnightthat the LORD struck all the firstbornin the land of Egypt, from the firstbornof Pharaoh who sat on his throne tothe firstborn of the cap ve who was inthe dungeon, and all the firstborn oflivestock.30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, allhis servants, and all the Egyp ans; andthere was a great cry in Egypt, for there

EXODUS 12 62was not a house where there was notone dead.31 Then he called for Moses and Aaronby night, and said, "Rise, go out fromamong my people, both you and thechildren of Israel. And go, serve theLORD as you have said.32 "Also take your flocks and your herds,as you have said, and be gone; and blessme also."33And the Egyp ans urged the people,that they might send them out of theland in haste. For they said, "We shall allbe dead."34 So the people took their doughbefore it was leavened, having theirkneading bowls bound up in theirclothes on their shoulders.35Now the children of Israel had doneaccording to the word of Moses, andthey had asked from the Egyp ans

EXODUS 12 63ar cles of silver, ar cles of gold, andclothing.36And the LORD had given the peoplefavor in the sight of the Egyp ans,so that they granted them what theyrequested. Thus they plundered theEgyp ans.37 Then the children of Israel journeyedfrom Rameses to Succoth, about sixhundred thousand men on foot, besideschildren.38A mixed mul tude went up withthem also, and flocks and herds––a greatdeal of livestock.39And they baked unleavened cakes ofthe dough which they had brought out ofEgypt; for it was not leavened, becausethey were driven out of Egypt andcould not wait, nor had they preparedprovisions for themselves.

EXODUS 12 6440Now the sojourn of the childrenof Israel who lived in Egypt was fourhundred and thirty years.41And it came to pass at the end of thefour hundred and thirty years––on thatvery same day––it came to pass that allthe armies of the LORD went out fromthe land of Egypt.42 It is a night of solemn observanceto the LORD for bringing them out ofthe land of Egypt. This is that night ofthe LORD, a solemn observance for allthe children of Israel throughout theirgenera ons.43And the LORD said to Moses andAaron, "This is the ordinance of thePassover: No foreigner shall eat it.44 "But every man’s servant who isbought for money, when you havecircumcised him, then he may eat it.45 "A sojourner and a hired servant shallnot eat it.

EXODUS 12 6546 "In one house it shall be eaten; youshall not carry any of the flesh outsidethe house, nor shall you break one of itsbones.47 "All the congrega on of Israel shallkeep it.48 "Andwhen a stranger dwells with youand wants to keep the Passover to theLORD, let all his males be circumcised,and then let him come near and keep it;and he shall be as a na ve of the land.For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.49 "One law shall be for the na ve–bornand for the stranger who dwells amongyou."50 Thus all the children of Israel did;as the LORD commanded Moses andAaron, so they did.51And it came to pass, on that verysame day, that the LORD brought thechildren of Israel out of the land of Egyptaccording to their armies.

EXODUS 13 66

13 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn,whatever opens the womb among thechildren of Israel, both of man and beast;it is Mine."3And Moses said to the people:"Remember this day in which youwent out of Egypt, out of the house ofbondage; for by strength of hand theLORD brought you out of this place. Noleavened bread shall be eaten.4 "On this day you are going out, in themonth Abib.5 "And it shall be, when the LORD bringsyou into the land of the Canaanitesand the Hi tes and the Amorites andthe Hivites and the Jebusites, which Heswore to your fathers to give you, a landflowing with milk and honey, that youshall keep this service in this month.

EXODUS 13 676 "Seven days you shall eat unleavenedbread, and on the seventh day thereshall be a feast to the LORD.7 "Unleavened bread shall be eatenseven days. And no leavened bread shallbe seen among you, nor shall leaven beseen among you in all your quarters.8 "And you shall tell your son in thatday, saying, ‘This is done because ofwhat the LORD did for me when I cameup from Egypt.’9 "It shall be as a sign to you on yourhand and as a memorial between youreyes, that the LORD’S law may be in yourmouth; for with a strong hand the LORDhas brought you out of Egypt.10 "You shall therefore keep thisordinance in its season from year to year.11 "And it shall be, when the LORDbrings you into the land of theCanaanites, as He swore to you and yourfathers, and gives it to you,

EXODUS 13 6812 "that you shall set apart to the LORDall that open the womb, that is, everyfirstborn that comes from an animalwhich you have; the males shall be theLORD’S.13 "But every firstborn of a donkey youshall redeem with a lamb; and if you willnot redeem it, then you shall break itsneck. And all the firstborn of man amongyour sons you shall redeem.14 "So it shall be, when your son asksyou in me to come, saying, ‘What isthis?’ that you shall say to him, ‘Bystrength of hand the LORD broughtus out of Egypt, out of the house ofbondage.15 ‘And it came to pass, when Pharaohwas stubborn about le ng us go, thatthe LORD killed all the firstborn in theland of Egypt, both the firstborn of manand the firstborn of beast. Therefore Isacrifice to the LORD all males that open

EXODUS 13 69the womb, but all the firstborn of mysons I redeem.’16 "It shall be as a sign on your handand as frontlets between your eyes, forby strength of hand the LORD brought usout of Egypt."17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaohhad let the people go, that God didnot lead them by way of the land ofthe Philis nes, although that was near;for God said, "Lest perhaps the peoplechange their minds when they see war,and return to Egypt."18 So God led the people around by wayof the wilderness of the Red Sea. Andthe children of Israel went up in orderlyranks out of the land of Egypt.19And Moses took the bones of Josephwith him, for he had placed the childrenof Israel under solemn oath, saying,"God will surely visit you, and you shallcarry up my bones from here with you."

EXODUS 13–14 7020 So they took their journey fromSuccoth and camped in Etham at theedge of the wilderness.21And the LORD went before them byday in a pillar of cloud to lead the way,and by night in a pillar of fire to givethem light, so as to go by day and night.22He did not take away the pillar ofcloud by day or the pillar of fire by nightfrom before the people.

14 1Now the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, thatthey turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth,between Migdol and the sea, oppositeBaal Zephon; you shall camp before it bythe sea.3 "For Pharaoh will say of the childrenof Israel, ‘They are bewildered by theland; the wilderness has closed them in.’4 "Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,so that he will pursue them; and I will

EXODUS 14 71gain honor over Pharaoh and over all hisarmy, that the Egyp ans may know thatI am the LORD." And they did so.5Now it was told the king of Egypt thatthe people had fled, and the heart ofPharaoh and his servants was turnedagainst the people; and they said, "Whyhave we done this, that we have letIsrael go from serving us?"6 So he made ready his chariot and tookhis people with him.7Also, he took six hundred choicechariots, and all the chariots of Egyptwith captains over every one of them.8And the LORD hardened the heart ofPharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursuedthe children of Israel; and the children ofIsrael went out with boldness.9 So the Egyp ans pursued them, allthe horses and chariots of Pharaoh, hishorsemen and his army, and overtook

EXODUS 14 72them camping by the sea beside PiHahiroth, before Baal Zephon.10And when Pharaoh drew near, thechildren of Israel li ed their eyes, andbehold, the Egyp ans marched a erthem. So they were very afraid, and thechildren of Israel cried out to the LORD.11 Then they said to Moses, "Becausethere were no graves in Egypt, have youtaken us away to die in the wilderness?Why have you so dealt with us, to bringus up out of Egypt?12 "Is this not the word that we told youin Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that wemay serve the Egyp ans?’ For it wouldhave been be er for us to serve theEgyp ans than that we should die in thewilderness."13And Moses said to the people,"Do not be afraid. Stand s ll, and seethe salva on of the LORD, which Hewill accomplish for you today. For the

EXODUS 14 73Egyp ans whom you see today, you shallsee again no more forever.14 "The LORD will fight for you, and youshall hold your peace."15And the LORD said to Moses, "Whydo you cry to Me? Tell the children ofIsrael to go forward.16 "But li up your rod, and stretch outyour hand over the sea and divide it.And the children of Israel shall go on dryground through the midst of the sea.17 "And I indeed will harden the heartsof the Egyp ans, and they shall followthem. So I will gain honor over Pharaohand over all his army, his chariots, andhis horsemen.18 "Then the Egyp ans shall know that Iam the LORD, when I have gained honorfor Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots,and his horsemen."19And the Angel of God, who wentbefore the camp of Israel, moved and

EXODUS 14 74went behind them; and the pillar ofcloud went from before them and stoodbehind them.20 So it came between the camp of theEgyp ans and the camp of Israel. Thusit was a cloud and darkness to the one,and it gave light by night to the other,so that the one did not come near theother all that night.21 Then Moses stretched out his handover the sea; and the LORD caused thesea to go back by a strong east wind allthat night, and made the sea into dryland, and the waters were divided.22 So the children of Israel went into themidst of the sea on the dry ground, andthe waters were a wall to them on theirright hand and on their le .23And the Egyp ans pursued and wenta er them into the midst of the sea, allPharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and hishorsemen.

EXODUS 14 7524Now it came to pass, in the morningwatch, that the LORD looked down uponthe army of the Egyp ans through thepillar of fire and cloud, and He troubledthe army of the Egyp ans.25And He took off their chariot wheels,so that they drove them with difficulty;and the Egyp ans said, "Let us flee fromthe face of Israel, for the LORD fights forthem against the Egyp ans."26 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Stretch out your hand over the sea, thatthe waters may come back upon theEgyp ans, on their chariots, and on theirhorsemen."27And Moses stretched out his handover the sea; and when the morningappeared, the sea returned to its fulldepth, while the Egyp ans were fleeinginto it. So the LORD overthrew theEgyp ans in the midst of the sea.

EXODUS 14–15 7628 Then the waters returned andcovered the chariots, the horsemen, andall the army of Pharaoh that came intothe sea a er them. Not so much as oneof them remained.29 But the children of Israel had walkedon dry land in the midst of the sea, andthe waters were a wall to them on theirright hand and on their le .30 So the LORD saved Israel that day outof the hand of the Egyp ans, and Israelsaw the Egyp ans dead on the seashore.31 Thus Israel saw the great work whichthe LORD had done in Egypt; so thepeople feared the LORD, and believedthe LORD and His servant Moses.

15 1 Then Moses and the children ofIsrael sang this song to the LORD,

and spoke, saying: "I will sing to theLORD, For He has triumphed gloriously!The horse and its rider He has throwninto the sea!

EXODUS 15 772 The LORD is my strength and song,And He has become my salva on; Heis my God, and I will praise Him; Myfather’s God, and I will exalt Him.3 The LORD is a man of war; The LORDis His name.4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army Hehas cast into the sea; His chosen captainsalso are drowned in the Red Sea.5 The depths have covered them; Theysank to the bo om like a stone.6 "Your right hand, O LORD, has becomeglorious in power; Your right hand, OLORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.7And in the greatness of Yourexcellence You have overthrown thosewho rose against You; You sent forth Yourwrath; It consumed them like stubble.8And with the blast of Your nostrilsThe waters were gathered together; Thefloods stood upright like a heap; Thedepths congealed in the heart of the sea.

EXODUS 15 789 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I willovertake, I will divide the spoil; Mydesire shall be sa sfied on them. I willdraw my sword, My hand shall destroythem.’10 You blew with Your wind, The seacovered them; They sank like lead in themighty waters.11 "Who is like You, O LORD, amongthe gods? Who is like You, gloriousin holiness, Fearful in praises, doingwonders?12 You stretched out Your right hand;The earth swallowed them.13 You in Your mercy have led forth Thepeople whom You have redeemed; Youhave guided them in Your strength ToYour holy habita on.14 "The people will hear and be afraid;Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitantsof Philis a.

EXODUS 15 7915 Then the chiefs of Edom will bedismayed; The mighty men of Moab,Trembling will take hold of them; All theinhabitants of Canaan will melt away.16 Fear and dread will fall on them; Bythe greatness of Your arm They will beas s ll as a stone, Till Your people passover, O LORD, Till the people pass overWhom You have purchased.17 You will bring them in and plant themIn the mountain of Your inheritance, Inthe place, O LORD, which You have madeFor Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, OLord, which Your hands have established.18 "The LORD shall reign forever andever."19 For the horses of Pharaoh went withhis chariots and his horsemen into thesea, and the LORD brought back thewaters of the sea upon them. But thechildren of Israel went on dry land in themidst of the sea.

EXODUS 15 8020 Then Miriam the prophetess, thesister of Aaron, took the mbrel in herhand; and all the women went out a erher with mbrels and with dances.21And Miriam answered them: "Singto the LORD, For He has triumphedgloriously! The horse and its rider He hasthrown into the sea!"22 So Moses brought Israel from theRed Sea; then they went out into theWilderness of Shur. And they went threedays in the wilderness and found nowater.23Now when they came to Marah, theycould not drink the waters of Marah, forthey were bi er. Therefore the name ofit was called Marah.24And the people complained againstMoses, saying, "What shall we drink?"25 So he cried out to the LORD, and theLORD showed him a tree. When he castit into the waters, the waters were made

EXODUS 15–16 81sweet. There He made a statute and anordinance for them. And there He testedthem,26 and said, "If you diligently heed thevoice of the LORD your God and dowhat is right in His sight, give ear toHis commandments and keep all Hisstatutes, I will put none of the diseaseson you which I have brought on theEgyp ans. For I am the LORD who healsyou."27 Then they came to Elim, where therewere twelve wells of water and seventypalm trees; so they camped there by thewaters.

16 1And they journeyed from Elim,and all the congrega on of the

children of Israel came to the Wildernessof Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai,on the fi eenth day of the secondmontha er they departed from the land ofEgypt.

EXODUS 16 822 Then the whole congrega on of thechildren of Israel complained againstMoses and Aaron in the wilderness.3And the children of Israel said tothem, "Oh, that we had died by the handof the LORD in the land of Egypt, whenwe sat by the pots of meat and whenwe ate bread to the full! For you havebrought us out into this wilderness to killthis whole assembly with hunger."4 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Behold, I will rain bread from heavenfor you. And the people shall go out andgather a certain quota every day, that Imay test them, whether they will walk inMy law or not.5 "And it shall be on the sixth day thatthey shall prepare what they bring in,and it shall be twice as much as theygather daily."6 Then Moses and Aaron said to all thechildren of Israel, "At evening you shall

EXODUS 16 83know that the LORD has brought you outof the land of Egypt.7 "And in the morning you shall see theglory of the LORD; for He hears yourcomplaints against the LORD. But whatare we, that you complain against us?"8Also Moses said, "This shall be seenwhen the LORD gives you meat to eat inthe evening, and in the morning breadto the full; for the LORD hears yourcomplaints which you make against Him.And what are we? Your complaints arenot against us but against the LORD."9 Then Moses spoke to Aaron, "Say toall the congrega on of the children ofIsrael, ‘Come near before the LORD, forHe has heard your complaints.’"10Now it came to pass, as Aaronspoke to the whole congrega on ofthe children of Israel, that they lookedtoward the wilderness, and behold, theglory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

EXODUS 16 8411And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,12 "I have heard the complaints of thechildren of Israel. Speak to them, saying,‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in themorning you shall be filled with bread.And you shall know that I am the LORDyour God.’"13 So it was that quails came up atevening and covered the camp, and inthe morning the dew lay all around thecamp.14And when the layer of dew li ed,there, on the surface of the wilderness,was a small round substance, as fine asfrost on the ground.15 So when the children of Israel saw it,they said to one another, "What is it?"For they did not know what it was. AndMoses said to them, "This is the breadwhich the LORD has given you to eat.

EXODUS 16 8516 "This is the thing which the LORDhas commanded: ‘Let every man gatherit according to each one’s need, oneomer for each person, according to thenumber of persons; let every man takefor those who are in his tent.’"17 Then the children of Israel did so andgathered, some more, some less.18 So when they measured it by omers,he who gathered much had nothing leover, and he who gathered li le had nolack. Every man had gathered accordingto each one’s need.19And Moses said, "Let no one leaveany of it ll morning."20Notwithstanding they did not heedMoses. But some of them le part of itun l morning, and it bred worms andstank. And Moses was angry with them.21 So they gathered it every morning,every man according to his need. Andwhen the sun became hot, it melted.

EXODUS 16 8622And so it was, on the sixth day, thatthey gathered twice as much bread, twoomers for each one. And all the rulers ofthe congrega on came and told Moses.23 Then he said to them, "This is whatthe LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is aSabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to theLORD. Bake what you will bake today,and boil what you will boil; and lay up foryourselves all that remains, to be keptun l morning.’"24 So they laid it up ll morning, asMoses commanded; and it did not s nk,nor were there any worms in it.25 Then Moses said, "Eat that today, fortoday is a Sabbath to the LORD; todayyou will not find it in the field.26 "Six days you shall gather it, but onthe seventh day, which is the Sabbath,there will be none."

EXODUS 16 8727Now it happened that some of thepeople went out on the seventh day togather, but they found none.28And the LORD said to Moses,"How long do you refuse to keep Mycommandments and My laws?29 "See! For the LORD has given you theSabbath; therefore He gives you on thesixth day bread for two days. Let everyman remain in his place; let no man goout of his place on the seventh day."30 So the people rested on the seventhday.31And the house of Israel called itsname Manna. And it was like whitecoriander seed, and the taste of it waslike wafers made with honey.32 Then Moses said, "This is the thingwhich the LORD has commanded: ‘Fillan omer with it, to be kept for yourgenera ons, that theymay see the breadwith which I fed you in the wilderness,

EXODUS 16–17 88when I brought you out of the land ofEgypt.’"33And Moses said to Aaron, "Take apot and put an omer of manna in it, andlay it up before the LORD, to be kept foryour genera ons."34As the LORD commanded Moses, soAaron laid it up before the Tes mony, tobe kept.35And the children of Israel ate mannaforty years, un l they came to aninhabited land; they ate manna un lthey came to the border of the land ofCanaan.36Now an omer is one–tenth of anephah.

17 1 Then all the congrega on ofthe children of Israel set out on

their journey from the Wilderness ofSin, according to the commandment ofthe LORD, and camped in Rephidim; but

EXODUS 17 89there was no water for the people todrink.2 Therefore the people contended withMoses, and said, "Give us water, that wemay drink." And Moses said to them,"Why do you contend with me? Why doyou tempt the LORD?"3And the people thirsted there forwater, and the people complainedagainst Moses, and said, "Why is it youhave brought us up out of Egypt, to killus and our children and our livestockwith thirst?"4 So Moses cried out to the LORD,saying, "What shall I do with this people?They are almost ready to stone me!"5And the LORD said to Moses, "Go onbefore the people, and take with yousome of the elders of Israel. Also takein your hand your rod with which youstruck the river, and go.

EXODUS 17 906 "Behold, I will stand before you thereon the rock in Horeb; and you shall strikethe rock, and water will come out of it,that the people may drink." And Mosesdid so in the sight of the elders of Israel.7 So he called the name of the placeMassah and Meribah, because of theconten on of the children of Israel, andbecause they tempted the LORD, saying,"Is the LORD among us or not?"8Now Amalek came and fought withIsrael in Rephidim.9And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose ussomemen and go out, fight with Amalek.Tomorrow I will stand on the top of thehill with the rod of God in my hand."10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him,and fought with Amalek. And Moses,Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of thehill.

EXODUS 17 9111And so it was, when Moses held uphis hand, that Israel prevailed; and whenhe let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.12 But Moses’ hands became heavy;so they took a stone and put it underhim, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hursupported his hands, one on one side,and the other on the other side; and hishands were steady un l the going downof the sun.13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and hispeople with the edge of the sword.14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Writethis for a memorial in the book andrecount it in the hearing of Joshua, that Iwill u erly blot out the remembrance ofAmalek from under heaven."15And Moses built an altar and calledits name, The–LORD–Is–My–Banner;16 for he said, "Because the LORD hassworn: the LORD will have war withAmalek from genera on to genera on."

EXODUS 18 92

18 1And Jethro, the priest of Midian,Moses’ father–in–law, heard of

all that God had done for Moses and forIsrael His people––that the LORD hadbrought Israel out of Egypt.2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father–in–law,took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, a er he hadsent her back,3with her two sons, of whom the nameof one was Gershom (for he said, "I havebeen a stranger in a foreign land")4 and the name of the other was Eliezer(for he said, "The God of my father wasmy help, and delivered me from thesword of Pharaoh");5 and Jethro, Moses’ father–in–law,came with his sons and his wife toMoses in the wilderness, where he wasencamped at the mountain of God.6Now he had said to Moses, "I, yourfather–in–law Jethro, am coming to you

EXODUS 18 93with your wife and her two sons withher."7 So Moses went out to meet hisfather–in–law, bowed down, and kissedhim. And they asked each other abouttheir well–being, and they went into thetent.8And Moses told his father–in–law allthat the LORD had done to Pharaohand to the Egyp ans for Israel’s sake,all the hardship that had come uponthem on the way, and how the LORD haddelivered them.9 Then Jethro rejoiced for all the goodwhich the LORD had done for Israel,whom He had delivered out of the handof the Egyp ans.10And Jethro said, "Blessed be theLORD, who has delivered you out of thehand of the Egyp ans and out of thehand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered

EXODUS 18 94the people from under the hand of theEgyp ans.11 "Now I know that the LORD is greaterthan all the gods; for in the very thingin which they behaved proudly, He wasabove them."12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father–in–law,took a burnt offering and other sacrificesto offer to God. And Aaron came withall the elders of Israel to eat bread withMoses’ father–in–law before God.13And so it was, on the next day, thatMoses sat to judge the people; andthe people stood before Moses frommorning un l evening.14 So when Moses’ father–in–law sawall that he did for the people, he said,"What is this thing that you are doingfor the people? Why do you alone sit,and all the people stand before you frommorning un l evening?"

EXODUS 18 9515And Moses said to his father–in–law,"Because the people come to me toinquire of God.16 "When they have a difficulty, theycome to me, and I judge between oneand another; and I make known thestatutes of God and His laws."17 So Moses’ father–in–law said to him,"The thing that you do is not good.18 "Both you and these people who arewith you will surely wear yourselves out.For this thing is too much for you; youare not able to perform it by yourself.19 "Listen now to my voice; I will giveyou counsel, and God will be with you:Stand before God for the people, so thatyou may bring the difficul es to God.20 "And you shall teach them thestatutes and the laws, and show themthe way in which they must walk and thework they must do.

EXODUS 18 9621 "Moreover you shall select from allthe people able men, such as fear God,men of truth, ha ng covetousness; andplace such over them to be rulers ofthousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers offi ies, and rulers of tens.22 "And let them judge the peopleat all mes. Then it will be that everygreat ma er they shall bring to you, butevery small ma er they themselves shalljudge. So it will be easier for you, forthey will bear the burden with you.23 "If you do this thing, and God socommands you, then you will be able toendure, and all this people will also go totheir place in peace."24 So Moses heeded the voice of hisfather–in–law and did all that he hadsaid.25And Moses chose able men out of allIsrael, and made them heads over thepeople: rulers of thousands, rulers of

EXODUS 18–19 97hundreds, rulers of fi ies, and rulers oftens.26 So they judged the people at allmes; the hard cases they brought to

Moses, but they judged every small casethemselves.27 Then Moses let his father–in–lawdepart, and he went his way to his ownland.

19 1 In the third month a er thechildren of Israel had gone out of

the land of Egypt, on the same day, theycame to the Wilderness of Sinai.2 For they had departed from Rephidim,had come to the Wilderness of Sinai,and camped in the wilderness. So Israelcamped there before the mountain.3And Moses went up to God, and theLORD called to him from the mountain,saying, "Thus you shall say to the houseof Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

EXODUS 19 984 ‘You have seen what I did to theEgyp ans, and how I bore you on eagles’wings and brought you to Myself.5 ‘Now therefore, if you will indeedobey My voice and keep My covenant,then you shall be a special treasure toMe above all people; for all the earth isMine.6 ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdomof priests and a holy na on.’ These arethe words which you shall speak to thechildren of Israel."7 So Moses came and called for theelders of the people, and laid beforethem all these words which the LORDcommanded him.8 Then all the people answered togetherand said, "All that the LORD has spokenwe will do." So Moses brought back thewords of the people to the LORD.9And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold,I come to you in the thick cloud, that the

EXODUS 19 99people may hear when I speak with you,and believe you forever." So Moses toldthe words of the people to the LORD.10 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go tothe people and consecrate them todayand tomorrow, and let them wash theirclothes.11 "And let them be ready for the thirdday. For on the third day the LORD willcome down upon Mount Sinai in thesight of all the people.12 "You shall set bounds for the peopleall around, saying, ‘Take heed toyourselves that you do not go up to themountain or touch its base. Whoevertouches the mountain shall surely be putto death.13 ‘Not a hand shall touch him, but heshall surely be stoned or shot with anarrow; whether man or beast, he shallnot live.’ When the trumpet sounds long,they shall come near the mountain."

EXODUS 19 10014 So Moses went down from themountain to the people and sanc fiedthe people, and they washed theirclothes.15And he said to the people, "Be readyfor the third day; do not come near yourwives."16 Then it came to pass on the thirdday, in the morning, that there werethunderings and lightnings, and a thickcloud on the mountain; and the soundof the trumpet was very loud, so thatall the people who were in the camptrembled.17And Moses brought the people outof the camp to meet with God, and theystood at the foot of the mountain.18Now Mount Sinai was completely insmoke, because the LORD descendedupon it in fire. Its smoke ascended likethe smoke of a furnace, and the wholemountain quaked greatly.

EXODUS 19 10119And when the blast of the trumpetsounded long and became louder andlouder, Moses spoke, and God answeredhim by voice.20 Then the LORD came down uponMount Sinai, on the top of the mountain.And the LORD called Moses to the top ofthe mountain, and Moses went up.21And the LORD said to Moses, "Godown and warn the people, lest theybreak through to gaze at the LORD, andmany of them perish.22 "Also let the priests who come nearthe LORD consecrate themselves, lestthe LORD break out against them."23 But Moses said to the LORD, "Thepeople cannot come up to Mount Sinai;for You warned us, saying, ‘Set boundsaround the mountain and consecrateit.’"24 Then the LORD said to him, "Away!Get down and then come up, you and

EXODUS 19–20 102Aaron with you. But do not let the priestsand the people break through to comeup to the LORD, lest He break out againstthem."25 So Moses went down to the peopleand spoke to them.

20 1And God spoke all these words,saying:

2 "I am the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egypt, outof the house of bondage.3 "You shall have no other gods beforeMe.4 "You shall not make for yourself acarved image, or any likeness of anythingthat is in heaven above, or that is in theearth beneath, or that is in the waterunder the earth;5 you shall not bow down to them norserve them. For I, the LORD your God,am a jealous God, visi ng the iniquity ofthe fathers on the children to the third

EXODUS 20 103and fourth genera ons of those whohate Me,6 but showing mercy to thousands,to those who love Me and keep Mycommandments.7 "You shall not take the name of theLORD your God in vain, for the LORDwill not hold him guiltless who takes Hisname in vain.8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keepit holy.9 Six days you shall labor and do all yourwork,10 but the seventh day is the Sabbathof the LORD your God. In it you shall dono work: you, nor your son, nor yourdaughter, nor your male servant, noryour female servant, nor your ca le, noryour stranger who is within your gates.11 For in six days the LORD made theheavens and the earth, the sea, and allthat is in them, and rested the seventh

EXODUS 20 104day. Therefore the LORD blessed theSabbath day and hallowed it.12 "Honor your father and your mother,that your days may be long upon theland which the LORD your God is givingyou.13 "You shall not murder.14 "You shall not commit adultery.15 "You shall not steal.16 "You shall not bear false witnessagainst your neighbor.17 "You shall not covet your neighbor’shouse; you shall not covet yourneighbor’s wife, nor his male servant,nor his female servant, nor his ox, norhis donkey, nor anything that is yourneighbor’s."18Now all the people witnessed thethunderings, the lightning flashes, thesound of the trumpet, and the mountainsmoking; and when the people saw it,they trembled and stood afar off.

EXODUS 20 10519 Then they said to Moses, "You speakwith us, and we will hear; but let notGod speak with us, lest we die."20And Moses said to the people, "Donot fear; for God has come to test you,and that His fear may be before you, sothat you may not sin."21 So the people stood afar off, butMoses drew near the thick darknesswhere God was.22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thusyou shall say to the children of Israel:‘You have seen that I have talked withyou from heaven.23 ‘You shall not make anything to bewith Me––gods of silver or gods of goldyou shall not make for yourselves.24 ‘An altar of earth you shall make forMe, and you shall sacrifice on it yourburnt offerings and your peace offerings,your sheep and your oxen. In every place

EXODUS 20–21 106where I record My name I will come toyou, and I will bless you.25 ‘And if you make Me an altar ofstone, you shall not build it of hewnstone; for if you use your tool on it, youhave profaned it.26 ‘Nor shall you go up by steps to Myaltar, that your nakedness may not beexposed on it.’

21 1 "Now these are the judgmentswhich you shall set before them:

2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shallserve six years; and in the seventh heshall go out free and pay nothing.3 "If he comes in by himself, he shall goout by himself; if he comes in married,then his wife shall go out with him.4 "If his master has given him awife, andshe has borne him sons or daughters,the wife and her children shall be hermaster’s, and he shall go out by himself.

EXODUS 21 1075 "But if the servant plainly says, ‘I lovemy master, my wife, and my children; Iwill not go out free,’6 "then his master shall bring him tothe judges. He shall also bring him to thedoor, or to the doorpost, and his mastershall pierce his ear with an awl; and heshall serve him forever.7 "And if a man sells his daughter to bea female slave, she shall not go out asthe male slaves do.8 "If she does not please her master,who has betrothed her to himself, thenhe shall let her be redeemed. He shallhave no right to sell her to a foreignpeople, since he has dealt decei ullywith her.9 "And if he has betrothed her to hisson, he shall deal with her according tothe custom of daughters.

EXODUS 21 10810 "If he takes another wife, he shall notdiminish her food, her clothing, and hermarriage rights.11 "And if he does not do these three forher, then she shall go out free, withoutpaying money.12 "He who strikes a man so that he diesshall surely be put to death.13 "However, if he did not lie in wait,but God delivered him into his hand,then I will appoint for you a place wherehe may flee.14 "But if a man acts with premedita onagainst his neighbor, to kill him bytreachery, you shall take him from Myaltar, that he may die.15 "And he who strikes his father or hismother shall surely be put to death.16 "He who kidnaps a man and sellshim, or if he is found in his hand, shallsurely be put to death.

EXODUS 21 10917 "And he who curses his father or hismother shall surely be put to death.18 "If men contend with each other, andone strikes the other with a stone orwith his fist, and he does not die but isconfined to his bed,19 "if he rises again and walks aboutoutside with his staff, then he who struckhim shall be acqui ed. He shall only payfor the loss of his me, and shall providefor him to be thoroughly healed.20 "And if a man beats his male orfemale servant with a rod, so that hedies under his hand, he shall surely bepunished.21 "Notwithstanding, if he remains alivea day or two, he shall not be punished;for he is his property.22 "If men fight, and hurt a woman withchild, so that she gives birth prematurely,yet no harm follows, he shall surely bepunished accordingly as the woman’s

EXODUS 21 110husband imposes on him; and he shallpay as the judges determine.23 "But if any harm follows, then youshall give life for life,24 "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, handfor hand, foot for foot,25 "burn for burn, wound for wound,stripe for stripe.26 "If a man strikes the eye of his maleor female servant, and destroys it, heshall let him go free for the sake of hiseye.27 "And if he knocks out the tooth of hismale or female servant, he shall let himgo free for the sake of his tooth.28 "If an ox gores a man or a woman todeath, then the ox shall surely be stoned,and its flesh shall not be eaten; but theowner of the ox shall be acqui ed.29 "But if the ox tended to thrust withits horn in mes past, and it has beenmade known to his owner, and he has

EXODUS 21 111not kept it confined, so that it has killed aman or a woman, the ox shall be stonedand its owner also shall be put to death.30 "If there is imposed on him a sum ofmoney, then he shall pay to redeem hislife, whatever is imposed on him.31 "Whether it has gored a son or goreda daughter, according to this judgment itshall be done to him.32 "If the ox gores a male or femaleservant, he shall give to their masterthirty shekels of silver, and the ox shallbe stoned.33 "And if a man opens a pit, or if a mandigs a pit and does not cover it, and anox or a donkey falls in it,34 "the owner of the pit shall makeit good; he shall give money to theirowner, but the dead animal shall be his.35 "If one man’s ox hurts another’s, sothat it dies, then they shall sell the live

EXODUS 21–22 112ox and divide the money from it; and thedead ox they shall also divide.36 "Or if it was known that the oxtended to thrust in me past, and itsowner has not kept it confined, he shallsurely pay ox for ox, and the dead animalshall be his own.

22 1 "If a man steals an ox or a sheep,and slaughters it or sells it, he

shall restore five oxen for an ox and foursheep for a sheep.2 "If the thief is found breaking in, andhe is struck so that he dies, there shallbe no guilt for his bloodshed.3 "If the sun has risen on him, thereshall be guilt for his bloodshed. Heshould make full res tu on; if he hasnothing, then he shall be sold for histhe .4 "If the the is certainly found alive inhis hand, whether it is an ox or donkeyor sheep, he shall restore double.

EXODUS 22 1135 "If a man causes a field or vineyardto be grazed, and lets loose his animal,and it feeds in another man’s field, heshall make res tu on from the best ofhis own field and the best of his ownvineyard.6 "If fire breaks out and catches inthorns, so that stacked grain, standinggrain, or the field is consumed, hewho kindled the fire shall surely makeres tu on.7 "If a man delivers to his neighbormoney or ar cles to keep, and it is stolenout of the man’s house, if the thief isfound, he shall pay double.8 "If the thief is not found, then themaster of the house shall be brought tothe judges to see whether he has put hishand into his neighbor’s goods.9 "For any kind of trespass, whetherit concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep,or clothing, or for any kind of lost

EXODUS 22 114thing which another claims to be his,the cause of both par es shall comebefore the judges; and whomever thejudges condemn shall pay double to hisneighbor.10 "If a man delivers to his neighbor adonkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal tokeep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away,no one seeing it,11 "then an oath of the LORD shall bebetween them both, that he has not puthis hand into his neighbor’s goods; andthe owner of it shall accept that, and heshall not make it good.12 "But if, in fact, it is stolen from him,he shall make res tu on to the owner ofit.13 "If it is torn to pieces by a beast, thenhe shall bring it as evidence, and he shallnot make good what was torn.14 "And if a man borrows anything fromhis neighbor, and it becomes injured or

EXODUS 22 115dies, the owner of it not being with it, heshall surely make it good.15 "If its owner was with it, he shall notmake it good; if it was hired, it came forits hire.16 "If a man en ces a virgin who is notbetrothed, and lies with her, he shallsurely pay the bride–price for her to behis wife.17 "If her father u erly refuses to giveher to him, he shall pay money accordingto the bride–price of virgins.18 "You shall not permit a sorceress tolive.19 "Whoever lies with an animal shallsurely be put to death.20 "He who sacrifices to any god, exceptto the LORD only, he shall be u erlydestroyed.21 "You shall neither mistreat a strangernor oppress him, for you were strangersin the land of Egypt.

EXODUS 22 11622 "You shall not afflict any widow orfatherless child.23 "If you afflict them in any way, andthey cry at all to Me, I will surely heartheir cry;24 "and My wrath will become hot,and I will kill you with the sword; yourwives shall be widows, and your childrenfatherless.25 "If you lend money to any of Mypeople who are poor among you, youshall not be like a moneylender to him;you shall not charge him interest.26 "If you ever take your neighbor’sgarment as a pledge, you shall return itto him before the sun goes down.27 "For that is his only covering, it is hisgarment for his skin. What will he sleepin? And it will be that when he cries toMe, I will hear, for I am gracious.28 "You shall not revile God, nor curse aruler of your people.

EXODUS 22–23 11729 "You shall not delay to offer the firstof your ripe produce and your juices.The firstborn of your sons you shall giveto Me.30 "Likewise you shall do with youroxen and your sheep. It shall be with itsmother seven days; on the eighth dayyou shall give it to Me.31 "And you shall be holy men to Me:you shall not eat meat torn by beasts inthe field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

23 1 "You shall not circulate a falsereport. Do not put your hand with

the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.2 "You shall not follow a crowd to doevil; nor shall you tes fy in a dispute soas to turn aside a er many to pervertjus ce.3 "You shall not show par ality to apoor man in his dispute.

EXODUS 23 1184 "If you meet your enemy’s ox or hisdonkey going astray, you shall surelybring it back to him again.5 "If you see the donkey of one whohates you lying under its burden, andyou would refrain from helping it, youshall surely help him with it.6 "You shall not pervert the judgment ofyour poor in his dispute.7 "Keep yourself far from a false ma er;do not kill the innocent and righteous.For I will not jus fy the wicked.8 "And you shall take no bribe, for abribe blinds the discerning and pervertsthe words of the righteous.9 "Also you shall not oppress a stranger,for you know the heart of a stranger,because you were strangers in the landof Egypt.10 "Six years you shall sow your landand gather in its produce,

EXODUS 23 11911 "but the seventh year you shall let itrest and lie fallow, that the poor of yourpeople may eat; and what they leave,the beasts of the field may eat. In likemanner you shall do with your vineyardand your olive grove.12 "Six days you shall do your work, andon the seventh day you shall rest, thatyour ox and your donkey may rest, andthe son of your female servant and thestranger may be refreshed.13 "And in all that I have said to you,be circumspect and make no men onof the name of other gods, nor let it beheard from your mouth.14 "Three mes you shall keep a feast toMe in the year:15 "You shall keep the Feast ofUnleavened Bread (you shall eatunleavened bread seven days, as Icommanded you, at the me appointedin the month of Abib, for in it you came

EXODUS 23 120out of Egypt; none shall appear beforeMe empty);16 "and the Feast of Harvest, thefirs ruits of your labors which youhave sown in the field; and the Feast ofIngathering at the end of the year, whenyou have gathered in the fruit of yourlabors from the field.17 "Three mes in the year all yourmales shall appear before the Lord GOD.18 "You shall not offer the blood ofMy sacrifice with leavened bread; norshall the fat of My sacrifice remain un lmorning.19 "The first of the firs ruits of yourland you shall bring into the house ofthe LORD your God. You shall not boil ayoung goat in its mother’s milk.20 "Behold, I send an Angel before youto keep you in the way and to bring youinto the place which I have prepared.

EXODUS 23 12121 "Beware of Him and obey His voice;do not provoke Him, for He will notpardon your transgressions; for Myname is in Him.22 "But if you indeed obey His voiceand do all that I speak, then I will bean enemy to your enemies and anadversary to your adversaries.23 "For My Angel will go before youand bring you in to the Amorites andthe Hi tes and the Perizzites and theCanaanites and the Hivites and theJebusites; and I will cut them off.24 "You shall not bow down to theirgods, nor serve them, nor do accordingto their works; but you shall u erlyoverthrow them and completely breakdown their sacred pillars.25 "So you shall serve the LORD yourGod, and He will bless your bread andyour water. And I will take sickness awayfrom the midst of you.

EXODUS 23 12226 "No one shall suffer miscarriage orbe barren in your land; I will fulfill thenumber of your days.27 "I will send My fear before you, I willcause confusion among all the people towhom you come, and will make all yourenemies turn their backs to you.28 "And I will send hornets before you,which shall drive out the Hivite, theCanaanite, and the Hi te from beforeyou.29 "I will not drive them out from beforeyou in one year, lest the land becomedesolate and the beast of the fieldbecome too numerous for you.30 "Li le by li le I will drive themout from before you, un l you haveincreased, and you inherit the land.31 "And I will set your bounds fromthe Red Sea to the sea, Philis a, andfrom the desert to the River. For I willdeliver the inhabitants of the land into

EXODUS 23–24 123your hand, and you shall drive them outbefore you.32 "You shall make no covenant withthem, nor with their gods.33 "They shall not dwell in your land,lest they make you sin against Me. For ifyou serve their gods, it will surely be asnare to you."

24 1Now He said to Moses, "Comeup to the LORD, you and Aaron,

Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of theelders of Israel, and worship from afar.2 "AndMoses alone shall come near theLORD, but they shall not come near; norshall the people go up with him."3 So Moses came and told the peopleall the words of the LORD and all thejudgments. And all the people answeredwith one voice and said, "All the wordswhich the LORD has said we will do."4And Moses wrote all the words of theLORD. And he rose early in the morning,

EXODUS 24 124and built an altar at the foot of themountain, and twelve pillars accordingto the twelve tribes of Israel.5 Then he sent young men of thechildren of Israel, who offered burntofferings and sacrificed peace offeringsof oxen to the LORD.6And Moses took half the blood andput it in basins, and half the blood hesprinkled on the altar.7 Then he took the Book of theCovenant and read in the hearing of thepeople. And they said, "All that the LORDhas said we will do, and be obedient."8And Moses took the blood, sprinkledit on the people, and said, "This is theblood of the covenant which the LORDhas made with you according to all thesewords."9 Then Moses went up, also Aaron,Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of theelders of Israel,

EXODUS 24 12510 and they saw the God of Israel. Andthere was under His feet as it were apaved work of sapphire stone, and it waslike the very heavens in its clarity.11 But on the nobles of the children ofIsrael He did not lay His hand. So theysaw God, and they ate and drank.12 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Comeup to Me on the mountain and be there;and I will give you tablets of stone, andthe law and commandments which Ihave wri en, that you may teach them."13 So Moses arose with his assistantJoshua, and Moses went up to themountain of God.14And he said to the elders, "Wait herefor us un l we come back to you. IndeedAaron and Hur are with you. If any manhas a difficulty, let him go to them."15 Then Moses went up into themountain, and a cloud covered themountain.

EXODUS 24–25 12616Now the glory of the LORD rested onMount Sinai, and the cloud covered it sixdays. And on the seventh day He calledto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.17 The sight of the glory of the LORDwas like a consuming fire on the top ofthe mountain in the eyes of the childrenof Israel.18 So Moses went into the midst of thecloud and went up into the mountain.And Moses was on the mountain fortydays and forty nights.

25 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Speak to the children of Israel,that they bring Me an offering. Fromeveryone who gives it willingly with hisheart you shall take My offering.3 "And this is the offering which youshall take from them: gold, silver, andbronze;

EXODUS 25 1274 "blue, purple, and scarlet thread, finelinen, and goats’ hair;5 "ram skins dyed red, badger skins, andacacia wood;6 "oil for the light, and spices for theanoin ng oil and for the sweet incense;7 "onyx stones, and stones to be set inthe ephod and in the breastplate.8 "And let them make Me a sanctuary,that I may dwell among them.9 "According to all that I show you, thatis, the pa ern of the tabernacle and thepa ern of all its furnishings, just so youshall make it.10 "And they shall make an ark of acaciawood; two and a half cubits shall be itslength, a cubit and a half its width, and acubit and a half its height.11 "And you shall overlay it with puregold, inside and out you shall overlay it,and shall make on it a molding of gold allaround.

EXODUS 25 12812 "You shall cast four rings of gold forit, and put them in its four corners; tworings shall be on one side, and two ringson the other side.13 "And you shall make poles of acaciawood, and overlay them with gold.14 "You shall put the poles into the ringson the sides of the ark, that the ark maybe carried by them.15 "The poles shall be in the rings of theark; they shall not be taken from it.16 "And you shall put into the ark theTes mony which I will give you.17 "You shall make a mercy seat of puregold; two and a half cubits shall be itslength and a cubit and a half its width.18 "And you shall make two cherubim ofgold; of hammered work you shall makethem at the two ends of the mercy seat.19 "Make one cherub at one end, andthe other cherub at the other end; you

EXODUS 25 129shall make the cherubim at the two endsof it of one piece with the mercy seat.20 "And the cherubim shall stretch outtheir wings above, covering the mercyseat with their wings, and they shall faceone another; the faces of the cherubimshall be toward the mercy seat.21 "You shall put the mercy seat on topof the ark, and in the ark you shall putthe Tes mony that I will give you.22 "And there I will meet with you,and I will speak with you from abovethe mercy seat, from between the twocherubim which are on the ark of theTes mony, about everything which Iwill give you in commandment to thechildren of Israel.23 "You shall also make a table of acaciawood; two cubits shall be its length, acubit its width, and a cubit and a half itsheight.

EXODUS 25 13024 "And you shall overlay it with puregold, and make a molding of gold allaround.25 "You shall make for it a frame of ahandbreadth all around, and you shallmake a gold molding for the frame allaround.26 "And you shall make for it four ringsof gold, and put the rings on the fourcorners that are at its four legs.27 "The rings shall be close to the frame,as holders for the poles to bear thetable.28 "And you shall make the poles ofacacia wood, and overlay them withgold, that the table may be carried withthem.29 "You shall make its dishes, its pans,its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring.You shall make them of pure gold.30 "And you shall set the showbread onthe table before Me always.

EXODUS 25 13131 "You shall also make a lampstandof pure gold; the lampstand shall be ofhammered work. Its sha , its branches,its bowls, its ornamental knobs, andflowers shall be of one piece.32 "And six branches shall come outof its sides: three branches of thelampstand out of one side, and threebranches of the lampstand out of theother side.33 "Three bowls shall be made likealmond blossoms on one branch, withan ornamental knob and a flower,and three bowls made like almondblossoms on the other branch, with anornamental knob and a flower––and sofor the six branches that come out of thelampstand.34 "On the lampstand itself four bowlsshall be made like almond blossoms,each with its ornamental knob andflower.

EXODUS 25–26 13235 "And there shall be a knob underthe first two branches of the same, aknob under the second two branches ofthe same, and a knob under the thirdtwo branches of the same, according tothe six branches that extend from thelampstand.36 "Their knobs and their branches shallbe of one piece; all of it shall be onehammered piece of pure gold.37 "You shall make seven lamps for it,and they shall arrange its lamps so thatthey give light in front of it.38 "And its wick–trimmers and theirtrays shall be of pure gold.39 "It shall be made of a talent of puregold, with all these utensils.40 "And see to it that you make themaccording to the pa ern which wasshown you on the mountain.

26 1 "Moreover you shall make thetabernacle with ten curtains of

EXODUS 26 133fine woven linen and blue, purple, andscarlet thread; with ar s c designs ofcherubim you shall weave them.2 "The length of each curtain shall betwenty–eight cubits, and the width ofeach curtain four cubits. And every oneof the curtains shall have the samemeasurements.3 "Five curtains shall be coupled to oneanother, and the other five curtains shallbe coupled to one another.4 "And you shall make loops of blueyarn on the edge of the curtain on theselvedge of one set, and likewise youshall do on the outer edge of the othercurtain of the second set.5 "Fi y loops you shall make in the onecurtain, and fi y loops you shall makeon the edge of the curtain that is on theend of the second set, that the loopsmay be clasped to one another.

EXODUS 26 1346 "And you shall make fi y clasps ofgold, and couple the curtains togetherwith the clasps, so that it may be onetabernacle.7 "You shall also make curtains of goats’hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle.You shall make eleven curtains.8 "The length of each curtain shallbe thirty cubits, and the width ofeach curtain four cubits; and theeleven curtains shall all have the samemeasurements.9 "And you shall couple five curtainsby themselves and six curtains bythemselves, and you shall double overthe sixth curtain at the forefront of thetent.10 "You shall make fi y loops on theedge of the curtain that is outermost inone set, and fi y loops on the edge ofthe curtain of the second set.

EXODUS 26 13511 "And you shall make fi y bronzeclasps, put the clasps into the loops, andcouple the tent together, that it may beone.12 "The remnant that remains of thecurtains of the tent, the half curtain thatremains, shall hang over the back of thetabernacle.13 "And a cubit on one side and a cubiton the other side, of what remains of thelength of the curtains of the tent, shallhang over the sides of the tabernacle,on this side and on that side, to cover it.14 "You shall also make a covering ofram skins dyed red for the tent, and acovering of badger skins above that.15 "And for the tabernacle you shallmake the boards of acacia wood,standing upright.16 "Ten cubits shall be the length of aboard, and a cubit and a half shall be thewidth of each board.

EXODUS 26 13617 "Two tenons shall be in each boardfor binding one to another. Thus youshall make for all the boards of thetabernacle.18 "And you shall make the boards forthe tabernacle, twenty boards for thesouth side.19 "You shall make forty sockets of silverunder the twenty boards: two socketsunder each of the boards for its twotenons.20 "And for the second side of thetabernacle, the north side, there shall betwenty boards21 "and their forty sockets of silver: twosockets under each of the boards.22 "For the far side of the tabernacle,westward, you shall make six boards.23 "And you shall also make twoboards for the two back corners of thetabernacle.

EXODUS 26 13724 "They shall be coupled together atthe bo om and they shall be coupledtogether at the top by one ring. Thus itshall be for both of them. They shall befor the two corners.25 "So there shall be eight boardswith their sockets of silver––sixteensockets––two sockets under each board.26 "And you shall make bars of acaciawood: five for the boards on one side ofthe tabernacle,27 "five bars for the boards on the otherside of the tabernacle, and five bars forthe boards of the side of the tabernacle,for the far side westward.28 "The middle bar shall pass throughthe midst of the boards from end to end.29 "You shall overlay the boards withgold, make their rings of gold as holdersfor the bars, and overlay the bars withgold.

EXODUS 26 13830 "And you shall raise up the tabernacleaccording to its pa ern which you wereshown on the mountain.31 "You shall make a veil woven of blue,purple, and scarlet thread, and finewoven linen. It shall be woven with anar s c design of cherubim.32 "You shall hang it upon the fourpillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold.Their hooks shall be gold, upon foursockets of silver.33 "And you shall hang the veil fromthe clasps. Then you shall bring the arkof the Tes mony in there, behind theveil. The veil shall be a divider for youbetween the holy place and the MostHoly.34 "You shall put the mercy seat uponthe ark of the Tes mony in the MostHoly.35 "You shall set the table outside theveil, and the lampstand across from

EXODUS 26–27 139the table on the side of the tabernacletoward the south; and you shall put thetable on the north side.36 "You shall make a screen for the doorof the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple,and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen,made by a weaver.37 "And you shall make for the screenfive pillars of acacia wood, and overlaythem with gold; their hooks shall be ofgold, and you shall cast five sockets ofbronze for them.

27 1 "You shall make an altar ofacacia wood, five cubits long

and five cubits wide––the altar shall besquare––and its height shall be threecubits.2 "You shall make its horns on its fourcorners; its horns shall be of one piecewith it. And you shall overlay it withbronze.

EXODUS 27 1403 "Also you shall make its pans toreceive its ashes, and its shovels and itsbasins and its forks and its firepans; youshall make all its utensils of bronze.4 "You shall make a grate for it, anetwork of bronze; and on the networkyou shall make four bronze rings at itsfour corners.5 "You shall put it under the rim of thealtar beneath, that the network may bemidway up the altar.6 "And you shall make poles for thealtar, poles of acacia wood, and overlaythem with bronze.7 "The poles shall be put in the rings,and the poles shall be on the two sidesof the altar to bear it.8 "You shall make it hollow with boards;as it was shown you on the mountain, soshall they make it.9 "You shall also make the court of thetabernacle. For the south side there shall

EXODUS 27 141be hangings for the court made of finewoven linen, one hundred cubits longfor one side.10 "And its twenty pillars and theirtwenty sockets shall be bronze. Thehooks of the pillars and their bands shallbe silver.11 "Likewise along the length of thenorth side there shall be hangings onehundred cubits long, with its twentypillars and their twenty sockets ofbronze, and the hooks of the pillars andtheir bands of silver.12 "And along the width of the court onthe west side shall be hangings of fi ycubits, with their ten pillars and their tensockets.13 "The width of the court on the eastside shall be fi y cubits.14 "The hangings on one side of the gateshall be fi een cubits, with their threepillars and their three sockets.

EXODUS 27 14215 "And on the other side shall behangings of fi een cubits, with theirthree pillars and their three sockets.16 "For the gate of the court there shallbe a screen twenty cubits long, woven ofblue, purple, and scarlet thread, and finewoven linen, made by a weaver. It shallhave four pillars and four sockets.17 "All the pillars around the court shallhave bands of silver; their hooks shall beof silver and their sockets of bronze.18 "The length of the court shall beone hundred cubits, the width fi ythroughout, and the height five cubits,made of fine woven linen, and its socketsof bronze.19 "All the utensils of the tabernaclefor all its service, all its pegs, and all thepegs of the court, shall be of bronze.20 "And you shall command the childrenof Israel that they bring you pure oil of

EXODUS 27–28 143pressed olives for the light, to cause thelamp to burn con nually.21 "In the tabernacle of mee ng,outside the veil which is before theTes mony, Aaron and his sons shall tendit from evening un l morning beforethe LORD. It shall be a statute foreverto their genera ons on behalf of thechildren of Israel.

28 1 "Now take Aaron your brother,and his sons with him, from

among the children of Israel, that hemay minister to Me as priest, Aaron andAaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, andIthamar.2 "And you shall make holy garmentsfor Aaron your brother, for glory and forbeauty.3 "So you shall speak to all who aregi ed ar sans, whom I have filled withthe spirit of wisdom, that they may make

EXODUS 28 144Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him,that he may minister to Me as priest.4 "And these are the garments whichthey shall make: a breastplate, an ephod,a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban,and a sash. So they shall make holygarments for Aaron your brother andhis sons, that he may minister to Me aspriest.5 "They shall take the gold, blue, purple,and scarlet thread, and fine linen,6 "and they shall make the ephod ofgold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread,and fine woven linen, ar s cally worked.7 "It shall have two shoulder strapsjoined at its two edges, and so it shall bejoined together.8 "And the intricately woven band ofthe ephod, which is on it, shall be ofthe same workmanship, made of gold,blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and finewoven linen.

EXODUS 28 1459 "Then you shall take two onyx stonesand engrave on them the names of thesons of Israel:10 "six of their names on one stone, andsix names on the other stone, in order oftheir birth.11 "With the work of an engraver instone, like the engravings of a signet,you shall engrave the two stones withthe names of the sons of Israel. You shallset them in se ngs of gold.12 "And you shall put the two stones onthe shoulders of the ephod as memorialstones for the sons of Israel. So Aaronshall bear their names before the LORDon his two shoulders as a memorial.13 "You shall also make se ngs of gold,14 "and you shall make two chains ofpure gold like braided cords, and fastenthe braided chains to the se ngs.15 "You shall make the breastplate ofjudgment. Ar s cally woven according

EXODUS 28 146to the workmanship of the ephod youshall make it: of gold, blue, purple, andscarlet thread, and fine woven linen, youshall make it.16 "It shall be doubled into a square: aspan shall be its length, and a span shallbe its width.17 "And you shall put se ngs of stonesin it, four rows of stones: The firstrow shall be a sardius, a topaz, and anemerald; this shall be the first row;18 "the second row shall be a turquoise,a sapphire, and a diamond;19 "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 goldse ngs.21 "And the stones shall have the namesof the sons of Israel, twelve accordingto their names, like the engravings of a

EXODUS 28 147signet, each one with its own name; theyshall be according to the twelve tribes.22 "You shall make chains for thebreastplate at the end, like braided cordsof pure gold.23 "And you shall make two rings ofgold for the breastplate, and put the tworings on the two ends of the breastplate.24 "Then you shall put the two braidedchains of gold in the two rings which areon the ends of the breastplate;25 "and the other two ends of thetwo braided chains you shall fasten tothe two se ngs, and put them on theshoulder straps of the ephod in thefront.26 "You shall make two rings of gold,and put them on the two ends of thebreastplate, on the edge of it, which ison the inner side of the ephod.27 "And two other rings of gold youshall make, and put them on the two

EXODUS 28 148shoulder straps, underneath the ephodtoward its front, right at the seam abovethe intricately woven band of the ephod.28 "They shall bind the breastplate bymeans of its rings to the rings of theephod, using a blue cord, so that it isabove the intricately woven band of theephod, and so that the breastplate doesnot come loose from the ephod.29 "So Aaron shall bear the names ofthe sons of Israel on the breastplate ofjudgment over his heart, when he goesinto the holy place, as a memorial beforethe LORD con nually.30 "And you shall put in the breastplateof judgment the Urim and the Thummim,and they shall be over Aaron’s heartwhen he goes in before the LORD. SoAaron shall bear the judgment of thechildren of Israel over his heart beforethe LORD con nually.

EXODUS 28 14931 "You shall make the robe of theephod all of blue.32 "There shall be an opening for hishead in the middle of it; it shall have awoven binding all around its opening,like the opening in a coat of mail, so thatit does not tear.33 "And upon its hem you shall makepomegranates of blue, purple, andscarlet, all around its hem, and bells ofgold between them all around:34 "a golden bell and a pomegranate,a golden bell and a pomegranate, uponthe hem of the robe all around.35 "And it shall be upon Aaron when heministers, and its sound will be heardwhen he goes into the holy place beforethe LORD and when he comes out, thathe may not die.36 "You shall also make a plate of puregold and engrave on it, like the engravingof a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

EXODUS 28 15037 "And you shall put it on a blue cord,that it may be on the turban; it shall beon the front of the turban.38 "So it shall be on Aaron’s forehead,that Aaron may bear the iniquity of theholy things which the children of Israelhallow in all their holy gi s; and it shallalways be on his forehead, that they maybe accepted before the LORD.39 "You shall skillfully weave the tunicof fine linen thread, you shall make theturban of fine linen, and you shall makethe sash of woven work.40 "For Aaron’s sons you shall maketunics, and you shall make sashes forthem. And you shall make hats for them,for glory and beauty.41 "So you shall put them on Aaron yourbrother and on his sons with him. Youshall anoint them, consecrate them, andsanc fy them, that they may minister toMe as priests.

EXODUS 28–29 15142 "And you shall make for them linentrousers to cover their nakedness; theyshall reach from the waist to the thighs.43 "They shall be on Aaron and onhis sons when they come into thetabernacle of mee ng, or when theycome near the altar to minister in theholy place, that they do not incur iniquityand die. It shall be a statute forever tohim and his descendants a er him.

29 1 "And this is what you shalldo to them to hallow them

for ministering to Me as priests: Takeone young bull and two rams withoutblemish,2 "and unleavened bread, unleavenedcakes mixed with oil, and unleavenedwafers anointed with oil (you shall makethem of wheat flour).3 "You shall put them in one basket andbring them in the basket, with the bulland the two rams.

EXODUS 29 1524 "And Aaron and his sons you shallbring to the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng, and you shall wash them withwater.5 "Then you shall take the garments, putthe tunic on Aaron, and the robe of theephod, the ephod, and the breastplate,and gird him with the intricately wovenband of the ephod.6 "You shall put the turban on his head,and put the holy crown on the turban.7 "And you shall take the anoin ng oil,pour it on his head, and anoint him.8 "Then you shall bring his sons and puttunics on them.9 "And you shall gird them with sashes,Aaron and his sons, and put the hatson them. The priesthood shall be theirsfor a perpetual statute. So you shallconsecrate Aaron and his sons.10 "You shall also have the bull broughtbefore the tabernacle of mee ng, and

EXODUS 29 153Aaron and his sons shall put their handson the head of the bull.11 "Then you shall kill the bull beforethe LORD, by the door of the tabernacleof mee ng.12 "You shall take some of the blood ofthe bull and put it on the horns of thealtar with your finger, and pour all theblood beside the base of the altar.13 "And you shall take all the fatthat covers the entrails, the fa y lobea ached to the liver, and the two kidneysand the fat that is on them, and burnthem on the altar.14 "But the flesh of the bull, with itsskin and its offal, you shall burn with fireoutside the camp. It is a sin offering.15 "You shall also take one ram, andAaron and his sons shall put their handson the head of the ram;

EXODUS 29 15416 "and you shall kill the ram, and youshall take its blood and sprinkle it allaround on the altar.17 "Then you shall cut the ram in pieces,wash its entrails and its legs, and putthem with its pieces and with its head.18 "And you shall burn the whole ramon the altar. It is a burnt offering to theLORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offeringmade by fire to the LORD.19 "You shall also take the other ram,and Aaron and his sons shall put theirhands on the head of the ram.20 "Then you shall kill the ram, and takesome of its blood and put it on the p ofthe right ear of Aaron and on the p ofthe right ear of his sons, on the thumbof their right hand and on the big toe oftheir right foot, and sprinkle the bloodall around on the altar.21 "And you shall take some of theblood that is on the altar, and some

EXODUS 29 155of the anoin ng oil, and sprinkle it onAaron and on his garments, on his sonsand on the garments of his sons withhim; and he and his garments shall behallowed, and his sons and his sons’garments with him.22 "Also you shall take the fat of theram, the fat tail, the fat that covers theentrails, the fa y lobe a ached to theliver, the two kidneys and the fat onthem, the right thigh (for it is a ram ofconsecra on),23 "one loaf of bread, one cake madewith oil, and one wafer from the basketof the unleavened bread that is beforethe LORD;24 "and you shall put all these in thehands of Aaron and in the hands of hissons, and you shall wave them as a waveoffering before the LORD.25 "You shall receive them back fromtheir hands and burn them on the altar

EXODUS 29 156as a burnt offering, as a sweet aromabefore the LORD. It is an offering madeby fire to the LORD.26 "Then you shall take the breast of theram of Aaron’s consecra on and wave itas a wave offering before the LORD; andit shall be your por on.27 "And from the ram of theconsecra on you shall consecratethe breast of the wave offering whichis waved, and the thigh of the heaveoffering which is raised, of that whichis for Aaron and of that which is for hissons.28 "It shall be from the children of Israelfor Aaron and his sons by a statuteforever. For it is a heave offering; it shallbe a heave offering from the children ofIsrael from the sacrifices of their peaceofferings, that is, their heave offering tothe LORD.

EXODUS 29 15729 "And the holy garments of Aaronshall be his sons’ a er him, to beanointed in them and to be consecratedin them.30 "That son who becomes priest inhis place shall put them on for sevendays, when he enters the tabernacle ofmee ng to minister in the holy place.31 "And you shall take the ram of theconsecra on and boil its flesh in the holyplace.32 "Then Aaron and his sons shall eatthe flesh of the ram, and the breadthat is in the basket, by the door of thetabernacle of mee ng.33 "They shall eat those things withwhich the atonement was made, toconsecrate and to sanc fy them; but anoutsider shall not eat them, becausethey are holy.34 "And if any of the flesh of theconsecra on offerings, or of the bread,

EXODUS 29 158remains un l the morning, then youshall burn the remainder with fire. Itshall not be eaten, because it is holy.35 "Thus you shall do to Aaron andhis sons, according to all that I havecommanded you. Seven days you shallconsecrate them.36 "And you shall offer a bull every dayas a sin offering for atonement. Youshall cleanse the altar when you makeatonement for it, and you shall anoint itto sanc fy it.37 "Seven days you shall makeatonement for the altar and sanc fyit. And the altar shall be most holy.Whatever touches the altar must beholy.38 "Now this is what you shall offer onthe altar: two lambs of the first year, dayby day con nually.

EXODUS 29 15939 "One lamb you shall offer in themorning, and the other lamb you shalloffer at twilight.40 "With the one lamb shall be one–tenth of an ephah of flour mixed withone–fourth of a hin of pressed oil, andone–fourth of a hin of wine as a drinkoffering.41 "And the other lamb you shall offerat twilight; and you shall offer with it thegrain offering and the drink offering, asin the morning, for a sweet aroma, anoffering made by fire to the LORD.42 "This shall be a con nual burntoffering throughout your genera ons atthe door of the tabernacle of mee ngbefore the LORD, where I will meet youto speak with you.43 "And there I will meet with thechildren of Israel, and the tabernacleshall be sanc fied by My glory.

EXODUS 29–30 16044 "So I will consecrate the tabernacleof mee ng and the altar. I will alsoconsecrate both Aaron and his sons tominister to Me as priests.45 "I will dwell among the children ofIsrael and will be their God.46 "And they shall know that I am theLORD their God, who brought them upout of the land of Egypt, that I may dwellamong them. I am the LORD their God.

30 1 "You shall make an altar to burnincense on; you shall make it of

acacia wood.2 "A cubit shall be its length and a cubitits width––it shall be square––and twocubits shall be its height. Its horns shallbe of one piece with it.3 "And you shall overlay its top, its sidesall around, and its horns with pure gold;and you shall make for it a molding ofgold all around.

EXODUS 30 1614 "Two gold rings you shall make for it,under the molding on both its sides. Youshall place them on its two sides, andthey will be holders for the poles withwhich to bear it.5 "You shall make the poles of acaciawood, and overlay them with gold.6 "And you shall put it before the veilthat is before the ark of the Tes mony,before the mercy seat that is over theTes mony, where I will meet with you.7 "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incenseevery morning; when he tends thelamps, he shall burn incense on it.8 "And when Aaron lights the lampsat twilight, he shall burn incense on it,a perpetual incense before the LORDthroughout your genera ons.9 "You shall not offer strange incense onit, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering;nor shall you pour a drink offering on it.

EXODUS 30 16210 "And Aaron shall make atonementupon its horns once a year with theblood of the sin offering of atonement;once a year he shall make atonementupon it throughout your genera ons. Itis most holy to the LORD."11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:12 "When you take the census of thechildren of Israel for their number,then every man shall give a ransom forhimself to the LORD, when you numberthem, that there may be no plagueamong them when you number them.13 "This is what everyone among thosewho are numbered shall give: half ashekel according to the shekel of thesanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs).The half–shekel shall be an offering tothe LORD.14 "Everyone included among thosewho are numbered, from twenty years

EXODUS 30 163old and above, shall give an offering tothe LORD.15 "The rich shall not give more andthe poor shall not give less than halfa shekel, when you give an offeringto the LORD, to make atonement foryourselves.16 "And you shall take the atonementmoney of the children of Israel, andshall appoint it for the service of thetabernacle of mee ng, that it may bea memorial for the children of Israelbefore the LORD, to make atonement foryourselves."17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:18 "You shall also make a laver ofbronze, with its base also of bronze, forwashing. You shall put it between thetabernacle of mee ng and the altar. Andyou shall put water in it,

EXODUS 30 16419 "for Aaron and his sons shall washtheir hands and their feet in water fromit.20 "When they go into the tabernacleof mee ng, or when they come nearthe altar to minister, to burn an offeringmade by fire to the LORD, they shallwash with water, lest they die.21 "So they shall wash their hands andtheir feet, lest they die. And it shallbe a statute forever to them––to himand his descendants throughout theirgenera ons."22Moreover the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:23 "Also take for yourself qualityspices––five hundred shekels of liquidmyrrh, half as much sweet–smellingcinnamon (two hundred and fi yshekels), two hundred and fi y shekelsof sweet–smelling cane,

EXODUS 30 16524 "five hundred shekels of cassia,according to the shekel of the sanctuary,and a hin of olive oil.25 "And you shall make from thesea holy anoin ng oil, an ointmentcompounded according to the art of theperfumer. It shall be a holy anoin ng oil.26 "With it you shall anoint thetabernacle of mee ng and the ark of theTes mony;27 "the table and all its utensils, thelampstand and its utensils, and the altarof incense;28 "the altar of burnt offering with all itsutensils, and the laver and its base.29 "You shall consecrate them, that theymay be most holy; whatever touchesthem must be holy.30 "And you shall anoint Aaron and hissons, and consecrate them, that theymay minister to Me as priests.

EXODUS 30 16631 "And you shall speak to the childrenof Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holyanoin ng oil to Me throughout yourgenera ons.32 ‘It shall not be poured on man’sflesh; nor shall you make any other likeit, according to its composi on. It is holy,and it shall be holy to you.33 ‘Whoever compounds any like it, orwhoever puts any of it on an outsider,shall be cut off from his people.’"34And the LORD said to Moses: "Takesweet spices, stacte and onycha andgalbanum, and pure frankincense withthese sweet spices; there shall be equalamounts of each.35 "You shall make of these an incense,a compound according to the art of theperfumer, salted, pure, and holy.36 "And you shall beat some of it veryfine, and put some of it before theTes mony in the tabernacle of mee ng

EXODUS 30–31 167where I will meet with you. It shall bemost holy to you.37 "But as for the incense which youshall make, you shall not make any foryourselves, according to its composi on.It shall be to you holy for the LORD.38 "Whoever makes any like it, to smellit, he shall be cut off from his people."

31 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "See, I have called by name Bezalelthe son of Uri, the son of Hur, of thetribe of Judah.3 "And I have filled him with the Spiritof God, in wisdom, in understanding,in knowledge, and in all manner ofworkmanship,4 "to design ar s c works, to work ingold, in silver, in bronze,5 "in cu ng jewels for se ng, in carvingwood, and to work in all manner ofworkmanship.

EXODUS 31 1686 "And I, indeed I, have appointed withhim Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, ofthe tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdomin the hearts of all who are gi edar sans, that they may make all that Ihave commanded you:7 "the tabernacle of mee ng, the arkof the Tes mony and the mercy seatthat is on it, and all the furniture of thetabernacle––8 "the table and its utensils, the puregold lampstand with all its utensils, thealtar of incense,9 "the altar of burnt offering with all itsutensils, and the laver and its base––10 "the garments of ministry, the holygarments for Aaron the priest and thegarments of his sons, to minister aspriests,11 "and the anoin ng oil and sweetincense for the holy place. According to

EXODUS 31 169all that I have commanded you they shalldo."12And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,13 "Speak also to the children of Israel,saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shallkeep, for it is a sign between Me andyou throughout your genera ons, thatyou may know that I am the LORD whosanc fies you.14 ‘You shall keep the Sabbath,therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyonewho profanes it shall surely be put todeath; for whoever does any work on it,that person shall be cut off from amonghis people.15 ‘Work shall be done for six days, butthe seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holyto the LORD. Whoever does any work onthe Sabbath day, he shall surely be putto death.

EXODUS 31–32 17016 ‘Therefore the children of Israelshall keep the Sabbath, to observe theSabbath throughout their genera ons asa perpetual covenant.17 ‘It is a sign between Me and thechildren of Israel forever; for in six daysthe LORD made the heavens and theearth, and on the seventh day He restedand was refreshed.’"18And when He had made an end ofspeaking with him on Mount Sinai, HegaveMoses two tablets of the Tes mony,tablets of stone, wri en with the fingerof God.

32 1Now when the people saw thatMoses delayed coming down

from the mountain, the people gatheredtogether to Aaron, and said to him,"Come, make us gods that shall gobefore us; for as for this Moses, the manwho brought us up out of the land of

EXODUS 32 171Egypt, we do not knowwhat has becomeof him."2And Aaron said to them, "Break offthe golden earrings which are in theears of your wives, your sons, and yourdaughters, and bring them to me."3 "So all the people broke off the goldenearrings which were in their ears, andbrought them to Aaron.4And he received the gold from theirhand, and he fashioned it with anengraving tool, and made a molded calf.Then they said, "This is your god, OIsrael, that brought you out of the landof Egypt!"5 So when Aaron saw it, he built analtar before it. And Aaron made aproclama on and said, "Tomorrow is afeast to the LORD."6 Then they rose early on the next day,offered burnt offerings, and broughtpeace offerings; and the people sat

EXODUS 32 172down to eat and drink, and rose up toplay.7And the LORD said to Moses, "Go,get down! For your people whom youbrought out of the land of Egypt havecorrupted themselves.8 "They have turned aside quickly outof the way which I commanded them.They have made themselves a moldedcalf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it,and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, thatbrought you out of the land of Egypt!’"9And the LORD said to Moses, "I haveseen this people, and indeed it is as ff–necked people!10 "Now therefore, let Me alone, thatMy wrath may burn hot against themand I may consume them. And I willmake of you a great na on."11 Then Moses pleaded with the LORDhis God, and said: "LORD, why doesYour wrath burn hot against Your people

EXODUS 32 173whom You have brought out of the landof Egypt with great power and with amighty hand?12 "Why should the Egyp ans speak,and say, ‘He brought them out to harmthem, to kill them in the mountains, andto consume them from the face of theearth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, andrelent from this harm to Your people.13 "Remember Abraham, Isaac, andIsrael, Your servants, to whom You sworeby Your own self, and said to them, ‘I willmul ply your descendants as the starsof heaven; and all this land that I havespoken of I give to your descendants,and they shall inherit it forever.’"14 So the LORD relented from the harmwhich He said Hewould do to His people.15And Moses turned and went downfrom the mountain, and the two tabletsof the Tes mony were in his hand. Thetablets were wri en on both sides; on

EXODUS 32 174the one side and on the other they werewri en.16Now the tablets were the work ofGod, and the wri ng was the wri ng ofGod engraved on the tablets.17And when Joshua heard the noise ofthe people as they shouted, he said toMoses, "There is a noise of war in thecamp."18 But he said: "It is not the noise of theshout of victory, Nor the noise of thecry of defeat, But the sound of singing Ihear."19 So it was, as soon as he came nearthe camp, that he saw the calf andthe dancing. So Moses’ anger becamehot, and he cast the tablets out of hishands and broke them at the foot of themountain.20 Then he took the calf which they hadmade, burned it in the fire, and groundit to powder; and he sca ered it on the

EXODUS 32 175water and made the children of Israeldrink it.21And Moses said to Aaron, "Whatdid this people do to you that you havebrought so great a sin upon them?"22 So Aaron said, "Do not let the angerof my lord become hot. You know thepeople, that they are set on evil.23 "For they said to me, ‘Make us godsthat shall go before us; as for this Moses,the man who brought us out of the landof Egypt, we do not know what hasbecome of him.’24 "And I said to them, ‘Whoever hasany gold, let them break it off.’ So theygave it to me, and I cast it into the fire,and this calf came out."25Now when Moses saw that thepeople were unrestrained (for Aaronhad not restrained them, to their shameamong their enemies),

EXODUS 32 17626 then Moses stood in the entranceof the camp, and said, "Whoever is onthe LORD’S side––come to me." And allthe sons of Levi gathered themselvestogether to him.27And he said to them, "Thus says theLORD God of Israel: ‘Let every man puthis sword on his side, and go in and outfrom entrance to entrance throughoutthe camp, and let every man kill hisbrother, every man his companion, andevery man his neighbor.’"28 So the sons of Levi did according tothe word of Moses. And about threethousand men of the people fell thatday.29 Then Moses said, "Consecrateyourselves today to the LORD, that Hemay bestow on you a blessing this day,for every man has opposed his son andhis brother."

EXODUS 32 17730Now it came to pass on the next daythat Moses said to the people, "You havecommi ed a great sin. So now I will goup to the LORD; perhaps I can makeatonement for your sin."31 Then Moses returned to the LORDand said, "Oh, these people havecommi ed a great sin, and have madefor themselves a god of gold!32 "Yet now, if You will forgive theirsin––but if not, I pray, blot me out ofYour book which You have wri en."33And the LORD said to Moses,"Whoever has sinned against Me, I willblot him out of My book.34 "Now therefore, go, lead the peopleto the place of which I have spoken toyou. Behold, My Angel shall go beforeyou. Nevertheless, in the day when I visitfor punishment, I will visit punishmentupon them for their sin."

EXODUS 32–33 17835 So the LORD plagued the peoplebecause of what they did with the calfwhich Aaron made.

33 1 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Depart and go up from here, you

and the people whom you have broughtout of the land of Egypt, to the land ofwhich I swore to Abraham, Isaac, andJacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I willgive it.’2 "And I will send My Angel before you,and I will drive out the Canaanite and theAmorite and the Hi te and the Perizziteand the Hivite and the Jebusite.3 "Go up to a land flowing with milk andhoney; for I will not go up in your midst,lest I consume you on the way, for youare a s ff–necked people."4And when the people heard this badnews, they mourned, and no one put onhis ornaments.

EXODUS 33 1795 For the LORD had said to Moses,"Say to the children of Israel, ‘You area s ff–necked people. I could come upinto your midst in one moment andconsume you. Now therefore, take offyour ornaments, that I may know whatto do to you.’"6 So the children of Israel strippedthemselves of their ornaments byMountHoreb.7Moses took his tent and pitched itoutside the camp, far from the camp,and called it the tabernacle of mee ng.And it came to pass that everyonewho sought the LORD went out to thetabernacle of mee ng which was outsidethe camp.8 So it was, whenever Moses went outto the tabernacle, that all the peoplerose, and each man stood at his tentdoor and watched Moses un l he hadgone into the tabernacle.

EXODUS 33 1809And it came to pass, when Mosesentered the tabernacle, that the pillar ofcloud descended and stood at the doorof the tabernacle, and the LORD talkedwith Moses.10All the people saw the pillar of cloudstanding at the tabernacle door, and allthe people rose and worshiped, eachman in his tent door.11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face toface, as a man speaks to his friend. Andhe would return to the camp, but hisservant Joshua the son of Nun, a youngman, did not depart from the tabernacle.12 Then Moses said to the LORD, "See,You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ ButYou have not let me know whom You willsend with me. Yet You have said, ‘I knowyou by name, and you have also foundgrace in My sight.’13 "Now therefore, I pray, if I have foundgrace in Your sight, show me now Your

EXODUS 33 181way, that I may know You and that I mayfind grace in Your sight. And considerthat this na on is Your people."14And He said, "My Presence will gowith you, and I will give you rest."15 Then he said to Him, "If YourPresence does not go with us, do notbring us up from here.16 "For how then will it be known thatYour people and I have found grace inYour sight, except You go with us? Sowe shall be separate, Your people andI, from all the people who are upon theface of the earth."17 So the LORD said to Moses, "I willalso do this thing that you have spoken;for you have found grace in My sight,and I know you by name."18And he said, "Please, show me Yourglory."19 Then He said, "I will make all Mygoodness pass before you, and I will

EXODUS 33–34 182proclaim the name of the LORD beforeyou. I will be gracious to whom I will begracious, and I will have compassion onwhom I will have compassion."20 But He said, "You cannot seeMy face;for no man shall see Me, and live."21And the LORD said, "Here is a placeby Me, and you shall stand on the rock.22 "So it shall be, while My glory passesby, that I will put you in the cle of therock, and will cover you with My handwhile I pass by.23 "Then I will take away My hand, andyou shall see My back; but My face shallnot be seen."

34 1And the LORD said to Moses,"Cut two tablets of stone like

the first ones, and I will write on thesetablets the words that were on the firsttablets which you broke.2 "So be ready in the morning, andcome up in the morning to Mount Sinai,

EXODUS 34 183and present yourself to Me there on thetop of the mountain.3 "And no man shall come up with you,and let no man be seen throughout allthe mountain; let neither flocks norherds feed before that mountain."4 So he cut two tablets of stone like thefirst ones. Then Moses rose early in themorning and went up Mount Sinai, asthe LORD had commanded him; and hetook in his hand the two tablets of stone.5Now the LORD descended in thecloud and stood with him there, andproclaimed the name of the LORD.6And the LORD passed before him andproclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God,merciful and gracious, longsuffering, andabounding in goodness and truth,7 "keeping mercy for thousands,forgiving iniquity and transgression andsin, by no means clearing the guilty,visi ng the iniquity of the fathers upon

EXODUS 34 184the children and the children’s childrento the third and the fourth genera on."8 So Moses made haste and bowed hishead toward the earth, and worshiped.9 Then he said, "If now I have foundgrace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, Ipray, go among us, even though we area s ff–necked people; and pardon ouriniquity and our sin, and take us as Yourinheritance."10And He said: "Behold, I make acovenant. Before all your people I will domarvels such as have not been done inall the earth, nor in any na on; and allthe people among whom you are shallsee the work of the LORD. For it is anawesome thing that I will do with you.11 "Observe what I command you thisday. Behold, I am driving out from beforeyou the Amorite and the Canaanite andthe Hi te and the Perizzite and theHivite and the Jebusite.

EXODUS 34 18512 "Take heed to yourself, lest you makea covenant with the inhabitants of theland where you are going, lest it be asnare in your midst.13 "But you shall destroy their altars,break their sacred pillars, and cut downtheir wooden images14 ‘(for you shall worship no other god,for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, isa jealous God),15 "lest you make a covenant with theinhabitants of the land, and they playthe harlot with their gods and makesacrifice to their gods, and one of theminvites you and you eat of his sacrifice,16 "and you take of his daughters foryour sons, and his daughters play theharlot with their gods and make yoursons play the harlot with their gods.17 "You shall make no molded gods foryourselves.

EXODUS 34 18618 "The Feast of Unleavened Bread youshall keep. Seven days you shall eatunleavened bread, as I commanded you,in the appointed me of the month ofAbib; for in the month of Abib you cameout from Egypt.19 "All that open the womb are Mine,and every male firstborn among yourlivestock, whether ox or sheep.20 "But the firstborn of a donkey youshall redeem with a lamb. And if you willnot redeem him, then you shall breakhis neck. All the firstborn of your sonsyou shall redeem. And none shall appearbefore Me empty–handed.21 "Six days you shall work, but on theseventh day you shall rest; in plowingme and in harvest you shall rest.22 "And you shall observe the Feastof Weeks, of the firs ruits of wheatharvest, and the Feast of Ingathering atthe year’s end.

EXODUS 34 18723 "Three mes in the year all your menshall appear before the Lord, the LORDGod of Israel.24 "For I will cast out the na ons beforeyou and enlarge your borders; neitherwill any man covet your land when yougo up to appear before the LORD yourGod three mes in the year.25 "You shall not offer the blood ofMy sacrifice with leaven, nor shall thesacrifice of the Feast of the Passover bele un l morning.26 "The first of the firs ruits of yourland you shall bring to the house ofthe LORD your God. You shall not boil ayoung goat in its mother’s milk."27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Writethese words, for according to the tenorof these words I have made a covenantwith you and with Israel."28 So he was there with the LORD fortydays and forty nights; he neither ate

EXODUS 34 188bread nor drank water. And He wrote onthe tablets the words of the covenant,the Ten Commandments.29Now it was so, when Moses camedown from Mount Sinai (and the twotablets of the Tes mony were in Moses’hand when he came down from themountain), that Moses did not knowthat the skin of his face shone while hetalked with Him.30 So when Aaron and all the childrenof Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin ofhis face shone, and they were afraid tocome near him.31 Then Moses called to them,and Aaron and all the rulers of thecongrega on returned to him; andMoses talked with them.32A erward all the children of Israelcame near, and he gave them ascommandments all that the LORD hadspoken with him on Mount Sinai.

EXODUS 34–35 18933And when Moses had finishedspeaking with them, he put a veil on hisface.34 But whenever Moses went in beforethe LORD to speak with Him, he wouldtake the veil off un l he came out; andhe would come out and speak to thechildren of Israel whatever he had beencommanded.35And whenever the children of Israelsaw the face of Moses, that the skin ofMoses’ face shone, then Moses wouldput the veil on his face again, un l hewent in to speak with Him.

35 1 Then Moses gathered all thecongrega on of the children of

Israel together, and said to them, "Theseare the words which the LORD hascommanded you to do:2 "Work shall be done for six days, butthe seventh day shall be a holy day foryou, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD.

EXODUS 35 190Whoever does any work on it shall beput to death.3 "You shall kindle no fire throughoutyour dwellings on the Sabbath day."4And Moses spoke to all thecongrega on of the children of Israel,saying, "This is the thing which the LORDcommanded, saying:5 ‘Take from among you an offering tothe LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart,let him bring it as an offering to theLORD: gold, silver, and bronze;6 ‘blue, purple, and scarlet thread, finelinen, and goats’ hair;7 ‘ram skins dyed red, badger skins, andacacia wood;8 ‘oil for the light, and spices for theanoin ng oil and for the sweet incense;9 ‘onyx stones, and stones to be set inthe ephod and in the breastplate.

EXODUS 35 19110 ‘All who are gi ed ar sans amongyou shall come and make all that theLORD has commanded:11 ‘the tabernacle, its tent, its covering,its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars,and its sockets;12 ‘the ark and its poles, with the mercyseat, and the veil of the covering;13 ‘the table and its poles, all its utensils,and the showbread;14 ‘also the lampstand for the light, itsutensils, its lamps, and the oil for thelight;15 ‘the incense altar, its poles, theanoin ng oil, the sweet incense, and thescreen for the door at the entrance ofthe tabernacle;16 ‘the altar of burnt offering with itsbronze gra ng, its poles, all its utensils,and the laver and its base;

EXODUS 35 19217 ‘the hangings of the court, its pillars,their sockets, and the screen for the gateof the court;18 ‘the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegsof the court, and their cords;19 ‘the garments of ministry, forministering in the holy place ––the holygarments for Aaron the priest and thegarments of his sons, to minister aspriests.’"20And all the congrega on of thechildren of Israel departed from thepresence of Moses.21 Then everyone came whose heartwas s rred, and everyone whose spiritwas willing, and they brought the LORD’Soffering for the work of the tabernacleof mee ng, for all its service, and for theholy garments.22 They came, both men and women,as many as had a willing heart, andbrought earrings and nose rings, rings

EXODUS 35 193and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is,every man who made an offering of goldto the LORD.23And every man, with whom wasfound blue, purple, and scarlet thread,fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins oframs, and badger skins, brought them.24 Everyone who offered an offeringof silver or bronze brought the LORD’Soffering. And everyone with whom wasfound acacia wood for any work of theservice, brought it.25All the women who were gi edar sans spun yarn with their hands, andbrought what they had spun, of blue,purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.26And all the women whose hearts rred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’hair.27 The rulers brought onyx stones, andthe stones to be set in the ephod and inthe breastplate,

EXODUS 35 19428 and spices and oil for the light, for theanoin ng oil, and for the sweet incense.29 The children of Israel brought afreewill offering to the LORD, all the menand women whose hearts were willingto bring material for all kinds of workwhich the LORD, by the hand of Moses,had commanded to be done.30And Moses said to the children ofIsrael, "See, the LORD has called byname Bezalel the son of Uri, the son ofHur, of the tribe of Judah;31 "and He has filled him with the Spiritof God, in wisdom and understanding,in knowledge and all manner ofworkmanship,32 "to design ar s c works, to work ingold and silver and bronze,33 "in cu ng jewels for se ng, incarving wood, and to work in all mannerof ar s c workmanship.

EXODUS 35–36 19534 "And He has put in his heart theability to teach, in him and Aholiab theson of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.35 "He has filled them with skill to doall manner of work of the engraver andthe designer and the tapestry maker, inblue, purple, and scarlet thread, and finelinen, and of the weaver––those who doevery work and those who design ar s cworks.

36 1 "And Bezalel and Aholiab,and every gi ed ar san in

whom the LORD has put wisdom andunderstanding, to know how to do allmanner of work for the service of thesanctuary, shall do according to all thatthe LORD has commanded."2 Then Moses called Bezalel andAholiab, and every gi ed ar san inwhose heart the LORD had put wisdom,everyone whose heart was s rred, tocome and do the work.

EXODUS 36 1963And they received from Moses all theoffering which the children of Israel hadbrought for the work of the service ofmaking the sanctuary. So they con nuedbringing to him freewill offerings everymorning.4 Then all the cra smen who weredoing all the work of the sanctuarycame, each from the work he was doing,5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, "Thepeople bring much more than enoughfor the service of the work which theLORD commanded us to do."6 So Moses gave a commandment,and they caused it to be proclaimedthroughout the camp, saying, "Letneither man nor woman do any morework for the offering of the sanctuary."And the people were restrained frombringing,

EXODUS 36 1977 for the material they had wassufficient for all the work to bedone––indeed too much.8 Then all the gi ed ar sans amongthem who worked on the tabernaclemade ten curtains woven of fine linen,and of blue, purple, and scarlet thread;with ar s c designs of cherubim theymade them.9 The length of each curtain wastwenty–eight cubits, and the width ofeach curtain four cubits; the curtainswere all the same size.10And he coupled five curtains to oneanother, and the other five curtains hecoupled to one another.11He made loops of blue yarn on theedge of the curtain on the selvedge ofone set; likewise he did on the outeredge of the other curtain of the secondset.

EXODUS 36 19812 Fi y loops he made on one curtain,and fi y loops he made on the edge ofthe curtain on the end of the second set;the loops held one curtain to another.13And he made fi y clasps of gold, andcoupled the curtains to one anotherwith the clasps, that it might be onetabernacle.14He made curtains of goats’ hair forthe tent over the tabernacle; he madeeleven curtains.15 The length of each curtain was thirtycubits, and the width of each curtainfour cubits; the eleven curtains were thesame size.16He coupled five curtains bythemselves and six curtains bythemselves.17And he made fi y loops on the edgeof the curtain that is outermost in oneset, and fi y loops he made on the edgeof the curtain of the second set.

EXODUS 36 19918He also made fi y bronze clasps tocouple the tent together, that it mightbe one.19 Then he made a covering for the tentof ram skins dyed red, and a covering ofbadger skins above that.20 For the tabernacle he made boardsof acacia wood, standing upright.21 The length of each board was tencubits, and the width of each board acubit and a half.22 Each board had two tenons forbinding one to another. Thus he madefor all the boards of the tabernacle.23And he made boards for thetabernacle, twenty boards for the southside.24 Forty sockets of silver he made to gounder the twenty boards: two socketsunder each of the boards for its twotenons.

EXODUS 36 20025And for the other side of thetabernacle, the north side, he madetwenty boards26 and their forty sockets of silver: twosockets under each of the boards.27 For the west side of the tabernaclehe made six boards.28He also made two boards for the twoback corners of the tabernacle.29And they were coupled at the bo omand coupled together at the top by onering. Thus he made both of them for thetwo corners.30 So there were eight boards and theirsockets––sixteen sockets of silver––twosockets under each of the boards.31And he made bars of acacia wood:five for the boards on one side of thetabernacle,32 five bars for the boards on the otherside of the tabernacle, and five bars for

EXODUS 36 201the boards of the tabernacle on the farside westward.33And he made the middle bar to passthrough the boards from one end to theother.34He overlaid the boards with gold,made their rings of gold to be holders forthe bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.35And he made a veil of blue, purple,and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen;it was worked with an ar s c design ofcherubim.36He made for it four pillars of acaciawood, and overlaid them with gold, withtheir hooks of gold; and he cast foursockets of silver for them.37He also made a screen for thetabernacle door, of blue, purple, andscarlet thread, and fine woven linen,made by a weaver,38 and its five pillars with their hooks.And he overlaid their capitals and their

EXODUS 37 202rings with gold, but their five socketswere bronze.

37 1 Then Bezalel made the ark ofacacia wood; two and a half

cubits was its length, a cubit and a halfits width, and a cubit and a half itsheight.2He overlaid it with pure gold insideand outside, and made a molding of goldall around it.3And he cast for it four rings of gold tobe set in its four corners: two rings onone side, and two rings on the other sideof it.4He made poles of acacia wood, andoverlaid them with gold.5And he put the poles into the rings atthe sides of the ark, to bear the ark.6He also made the mercy seat of puregold; two and a half cubits was its lengthand a cubit and a half its width.

EXODUS 37 2037He made two cherubim of beatengold; he made them of one piece at thetwo ends of the mercy seat:8 one cherub at one end on this side,and the other cherub at the other endon that side. He made the cherubimat the two ends of one piece with themercy seat.9 The cherubim spread out their wingsabove, and covered the mercy seat withtheir wings. They faced one another; thefaces of the cherubim were toward themercy seat.10He made the table of acacia wood;two cubits was its length, a cubit itswidth, and a cubit and a half its height.11And he overlaid it with pure gold, andmade a molding of gold all around it.12Also he made a frame of ahandbreadth all around it, and made amolding of gold for the frame all aroundit.

EXODUS 37 20413And he cast for it four rings of gold,and put the rings on the four cornersthat were at its four legs.14 The rings were close to the frame, asholders for the poles to bear the table.15And he made the poles of acaciawood to bear the table, and overlaidthem with gold.16He made of pure gold the utensilswhich were on the table: its dishes,its cups, its bowls, and its pitchers forpouring.17He also made the lampstand of puregold; of hammered work he made thelampstand. Its sha , its branches, itsbowls, its ornamental knobs, and itsflowers were of the same piece.18And six branches came out of itssides: three branches of the lampstandout of one side, and three branches ofthe lampstand out of the other side.

EXODUS 37 20519 There were three bowls made likealmond blossoms on one branch, withan ornamental knob and a flower, andthree bowls made like almond blossomson the other branch, with an ornamentalknob and a flower––and so for the sixbranches coming out of the lampstand.20And on the lampstand itself werefour bowls made like almond blossoms,each with its ornamental knob andflower.21 There was a knob under the first twobranches of the same, a knob under thesecond two branches of the same, anda knob under the third two branches ofthe same, according to the six branchesextending from it.22 Their knobs and their branches wereof one piece; all of it was one hammeredpiece of pure gold.

EXODUS 37 20623And he made its seven lamps, itswick–trimmers, and its trays of puregold.24Of a talent of pure gold he made it,with all its utensils.25He made the incense altar of acaciawood. Its length was a cubit and itswidth a cubit––it was square––and twocubits was its height. Its horns were ofone piece with it.26And he overlaid it with pure gold: itstop, its sides all around, and its horns.He also made for it a molding of gold allaround it.27He made two rings of gold for itunder its molding, by its two corners onboth sides, as holders for the poles withwhich to bear it.28And he made the poles of acaciawood, and overlaid them with gold.

EXODUS 37–38 20729He also made the holy anoin ng oiland the pure incense of sweet spices,according to the work of the perfumer.

38 1He made the altar of burntoffering of acacia wood; five

cubits was its length and five cubits itswidth––it was square––and its heightwas three cubits.2He made its horns on its four corners;the horns were of one piece with it. Andhe overlaid it with bronze.3He made all the utensils for the altar:the pans, the shovels, the basins, theforks, and the firepans; all its utensils hemade of bronze.4And he made a grate of bronzenetwork for the altar, under its rim,midway from the bo om.5He cast four rings for the four cornersof the bronze gra ng, as holders for thepoles.

EXODUS 38 2086And he made the poles of acaciawood, and overlaid them with bronze.7 Then he put the poles into the ringson the sides of the altar, with which tobear it. He made the altar hollow withboards.8He made the laver of bronze and itsbase of bronze, from the bronze mirrorsof the serving women who assembled atthe door of the tabernacle of mee ng.9 Then he made the court on the southside; the hangings of the court were offine woven linen, one hundred cubitslong.10 There were twenty pillars for them,with twenty bronze sockets. The hooksof the pillars and their bands were silver.11On the north side the hangings wereone hundred cubits long, with twentypillars and their twenty bronze sockets.The hooks of the pillars and their bandswere silver.

EXODUS 38 20912And on the west side there werehangings of fi y cubits, with ten pillarsand their ten sockets. The hooks of thepillars and their bands were silver.13 For the east side the hangings werefi y cubits.14 The hangings of one side of the gatewere fi een cubits long, with their threepillars and their three sockets,15 and the same for the other side ofthe court gate; on this side and that werehangings of fi een cubits, with theirthree pillars and their three sockets.16All the hangings of the court allaround were of fine woven linen.17 The sockets for the pillars werebronze, the hooks of the pillars andtheir bands were silver, and the overlayof their capitals was silver; and all thepillars of the court had bands of silver.18 The screen for the gate of the courtwas woven of blue, purple, and scarlet

EXODUS 38 210thread, and of fine woven linen. Thelength was twenty cubits, and theheight along its width was five cubits,corresponding to the hangings of thecourt.19And there were four pillars with theirfour sockets of bronze; their hooks weresilver, and the overlay of their capitalsand their bands was silver.20All the pegs of the tabernacle, and ofthe court all around, were bronze.21 This is the inventory of thetabernacle, the tabernacle of theTes mony, which was counted accordingto the commandment of Moses, for theservice of the Levites, by the hand ofIthamar, son of Aaron the priest.22 Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur,of the tribe of Judah, made all that theLORD had commanded Moses.23And with him was Aholiab the sonof Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an

EXODUS 38 211engraver and designer, a weaver of blue,purple, and scarlet thread, and of finelinen.24All the gold that was used in all thework of the holy place, that is, the goldof the offering, was twenty–nine talentsand seven hundred and thirty shekels,according to the shekel of the sanctuary.25And the silver from those who werenumbered of the congrega on wasone hundred talents and one thousandseven hundred and seventy–five shekels,according to the shekel of the sanctuary:26 a bekah for each man (that is, half ashekel, according to the shekel of thesanctuary), for everyone included inthe numbering from twenty years oldand above, for six hundred and threethousand, five hundred and fi y men.27And from the hundred talents ofsilver were cast the sockets of thesanctuary and the bases of the veil:

EXODUS 38–39 212one hundred sockets from the hundredtalents, one talent for each socket.28 Then from the one thousand sevenhundred and seventy–five shekels hemade hooks for the pillars, overlaid theircapitals, and made bands for them.29 The offering of bronze was seventytalents and two thousand four hundredshekels.30And with it he made the sockets forthe door of the tabernacle of mee ng,the bronze altar, the bronze gra ng forit, and all the utensils for the altar,31 the sockets for the court all around,the bases for the court gate, all the pegsfor the tabernacle, and all the pegs forthe court all around.

39 1Of the blue, purple, and scarletthread they made garments of

ministry, for ministering in the holyplace, and made the holy garments for

EXODUS 39 213Aaron, as the LORD had commandedMoses.2He made the ephod of gold, blue,purple, and scarlet thread, and of finewoven linen.3And they beat the gold into thinsheets and cut it into threads, to workit in with the blue, purple, and scarletthread and the fine linen, into ar s cdesigns.4 They made shoulder straps for itto couple it together; it was coupledtogether at its two edges.5And the intricately woven band ofhis ephod that was on it was of thesame workmanship, woven of gold,blue, purple, and scarlet thread, andof fine woven linen, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.6And they set onyx stones, enclosed inse ngs of gold; they were engraved, as

EXODUS 39 214signets are engraved, with the names ofthe sons of Israel.7He put them on the shoulders of theephod as memorial stones for the sonsof Israel, as the LORD had commandedMoses.8And he made the breastplate,ar s cally woven like the workmanshipof the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, andscarlet thread, and of fine woven linen.9 They made the breastplate square bydoubling it; a span was its length and aspan its width when doubled.10And they set in it four rows of stones:a row with a sardius, a topaz, and anemerald was the first row;11 the second row, a turquoise, asapphire, and a diamond;12 the third row, a jacinth, an agate, andan amethyst;

EXODUS 39 21513 the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, anda jasper. They were enclosed in se ngsof gold in their moun ngs.14 There were twelve stones accordingto the names of the sons of Israel:according to their names, engraved likea signet, each one with its own nameaccording to the twelve tribes.15And they made chains for thebreastplate at the ends, like braidedcords of pure gold.16 They also made two se ngs of goldand two gold rings, and put the two ringson the two ends of the breastplate.17And they put the two braided chainsof gold in the two rings on the ends ofthe breastplate.18 The two ends of the two braidedchains they fastened in the two se ngs,and put them on the shoulder straps ofthe ephod in the front.

EXODUS 39 21619And they made two rings of goldand put them on the two ends of thebreastplate, on the edge of it, which wason the inward side of the ephod.20 They made two other gold rings andput them on the two shoulder straps,underneath the ephod toward its front,right at the seam above the intricatelywoven band of the ephod.21And they bound the breastplate bymeans of its rings to the rings of theephod with a blue cord, so that it wouldbe above the intricately woven bandof the ephod, and that the breastplatewould not come loose from the ephod,as the LORD had commanded Moses.22He made the robe of the ephod ofwoven work, all of blue.23And there was an opening in themiddle of the robe, like the opening ina coat of mail, with a woven binding all

EXODUS 39 217around the opening, so that it would nottear.24 They made on the hem of the robepomegranates of blue, purple, andscarlet, and of fine woven linen.25And theymade bells of pure gold, andput the bells between the pomegranateson the hem of the robe all aroundbetween the pomegranates:26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell anda pomegranate, all around the hem ofthe robe to minister in, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.27 They made tunics, ar s cally wovenof fine linen, for Aaron and his sons,28 a turban of fine linen, exquisitehats of fine linen, short trousers of finewoven linen,29 and a sash of fine woven linen withblue, purple, and scarlet thread, made bya weaver, as the LORD had commandedMoses.

EXODUS 39 21830 Then they made the plate of the holycrown of pure gold, and wrote on it aninscrip on like the engraving of a signet:HOLINESS TO THE LORD.31And they ed to it a blue cord, tofasten it above on the turban, as theLORD had commanded Moses.32 Thus all the work of the tabernacleof the tent of mee ng was finished. Andthe children of Israel did according to allthat the LORD had commanded Moses;so they did.33And they brought the tabernacle toMoses, the tent and all its furnishings:its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars,and its sockets;34 the covering of ram skins dyed red,the covering of badger skins, and the veilof the covering;35 the ark of the Tes mony with itspoles, and the mercy seat;

EXODUS 39 21936 the table, all its utensils, and theshowbread;37 the pure gold lampstand with itslamps (the lamps set in order), all itsutensils, and the oil for light;38 the gold altar, the anoin ng oil, andthe sweet incense; the screen for thetabernacle door;39 the bronze altar, its grate of bronze,its poles, and all its utensils; the laverwith its base;40 the hangings of the court, its pillarsand its sockets, the screen for the courtgate, its cords, and its pegs; all theutensils for the service of the tabernacle,for the tent of mee ng;41 and the garments of ministry, tominister in the holy place: the holygarments for Aaron the priest, and hissons’ garments, to minister as priests.

EXODUS 39–40 22042According to all that the LORD hadcommanded Moses, so the children ofIsrael did all the work.43 Then Moses looked over all the work,and indeed they had done it; as theLORD had commanded, just so they haddone it. And Moses blessed them.

40 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "On the first day of the first monthyou shall set up the tabernacle of thetent of mee ng.3 "You shall put in it the ark of theTes mony, and par on off the ark withthe veil.4 "You shall bring in the table andarrange the things that are to be set inorder on it; and you shall bring in thelampstand and light its lamps.5 "You shall also set the altar of goldfor the incense before the ark of the

EXODUS 40 221Tes mony, and put up the screen for thedoor of the tabernacle.6 "Then you shall set the altar of theburnt offering before the door of thetabernacle of the tent of mee ng.7 "And you shall set the laver betweenthe tabernacle of mee ng and the altar,and put water in it.8 "You shall set up the court all around,and hang up the screen at the courtgate.9 "And you shall take the anoin ng oil,and anoint the tabernacle and all that isin it; and you shall hallow it and all itsutensils, and it shall be holy.10 "You shall anoint the altar of theburnt offering and all its utensils, andconsecrate the altar. The altar shall bemost holy.11 "And you shall anoint the laver andits base, and consecrate it.

EXODUS 40 22212 "Then you shall bring Aaron and hissons to the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng and wash them with water.13 "You shall put the holy garments onAaron, and anoint him and consecratehim, that he may minister to Me aspriest.14 "And you shall bring his sons andclothe them with tunics.15 "You shall anoint them, as youanointed their father, that theymay minister to Me as priests; fortheir anoin ng shall surely be aneverlas ng priesthood throughout theirgenera ons."16 Thus Moses did; according to all thatthe LORD had commanded him, so hedid.17And it came to pass in the first monthof the second year, on the first day of themonth, that the tabernacle was raisedup.

EXODUS 40 22318 So Moses raised up the tabernacle,fastened its sockets, set up its boards,put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.19And he spread out the tent overthe tabernacle and put the covering ofthe tent on top of it, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.20He took the Tes mony and put it intothe ark, inserted the poles through therings of the ark, and put the mercy seaton top of the ark.21And he brought the ark into thetabernacle, hung up the veil of thecovering, and par oned off the arkof the Tes mony, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.22He put the table in the tabernacleof mee ng, on the north side of thetabernacle, outside the veil;23 and he set the bread in order uponit before the LORD, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.

EXODUS 40 22424He put the lampstand in thetabernacle of mee ng, across fromthe table, on the south side of thetabernacle;25 and he lit the lamps before the LORD,as the LORD had commanded Moses.26He put the gold altar in the tabernacleof mee ng in front of the veil;27 and he burned sweet incense on it,as the LORD had commanded Moses.28He hung up the screen at the door ofthe tabernacle.29And he put the altar of burnt offeringbefore the door of the tabernacle of thetent of mee ng, and offered upon it theburnt offering and the grain offering, asthe LORD had commanded Moses.30He set the laver between thetabernacle of mee ng and the altar, andput water there for washing;

EXODUS 40 22531 and Moses, Aaron, and his sonswould wash their hands and their feetwith water from it.32Whenever they went into thetabernacle of mee ng, and when theycame near the altar, they washed, as theLORD had commanded Moses.33And he raised up the court all aroundthe tabernacle and the altar, and hungup the screen of the court gate. SoMoses finished the work.34 Then the cloud covered thetabernacle of mee ng, and the glory ofthe LORD filled the tabernacle.35And Moses was not able to enterthe tabernacle of mee ng, because thecloud rested above it, and the glory ofthe LORD filled the tabernacle.36Whenever the cloud was taken upfrom above the tabernacle, the childrenof Israel would go onward in all theirjourneys.

EXODUS 40 22637 But if the cloud was not taken up,then they did not journey ll the daythat it was taken up.38 For the cloud of the LORD was abovethe tabernacle by day, and fire was overit by night, in the sight of all the house ofIsrael, throughout all their journeys.

Levi cus

1 1Now the LORD called to Moses, andspoke to him from the tabernacle of

mee ng, saying,2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When any one of youbrings an offering to the LORD, you shallbring your offering of the livestock––ofthe herd and of the flock.3 ‘If his offering is a burnt sacrifice ofthe herd, let him offer a male withoutblemish; he shall offer it of his own freewill at the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng before the LORD.4 ‘Then he shall put his hand on thehead of the burnt offering, and it willbe accepted on his behalf to makeatonement for him.

LEVITICUS 1 25 ‘He shall kill the bull before the LORD;and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bringthe blood and sprinkle the blood allaround on the altar that is by the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng.6 ‘And he shall skin the burnt offeringand cut it into its pieces.7 ‘The sons of Aaron the priest shall putfire on the altar, and lay the wood inorder on the fire.8 ‘Then the priests, Aaron’s sons, shalllay the parts, the head, and the fat inorder on the wood that is on the fireupon the altar;9 ‘but he shall wash its entrails and itslegs with water. And the priest shall burnall on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, anoffering made by fire, a sweet aroma tothe LORD.10 ‘If his offering is of the flocks––ofthe sheep or of the goats––as a burnt

LEVITICUS 1 3sacrifice, he shall bring a male withoutblemish.11 ‘He shall kill it on the north sideof the altar before the LORD; and thepriests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle itsblood all around on the altar.12 ‘And he shall cut it into its pieces,with its head and its fat; and the priestshall lay them in order on the wood thatis on the fire upon the altar;13 ‘but he shall wash the entrails andthe legs with water. Then the priest shallbring it all and burn it on the altar; it is aburnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire,a sweet aroma to the LORD.14 ‘And if the burnt sacrifice of hisoffering to the LORD is of birds, then heshall bring his offering of turtledoves oryoung pigeons.15 ‘The priest shall bring it to the altar,wring off its head, and burn it on the

LEVITICUS 1–2 4altar; its blood shall be drained out atthe side of the altar.16 ‘And he shall remove its crop with itsfeathers and cast it beside the altar onthe east side, into the place for ashes.17 ‘Then he shall split it at its wings,but shall not divide it completely; andthe priest shall burn it on the altar, onthe wood that is on the fire. It is a burntsacrifice, an offering made by fire, asweet aroma to the LORD.

2 1 ‘When anyone offers a grainoffering to the LORD, his offering

shall be of fine flour. And he shall pouroil on it, and put frankincense on it.2 ‘He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, thepriests, one of whom shall take from ithis handful of fine flour and oil with allthe frankincense. And the priest shallburn it as a memorial on the altar, anoffering made by fire, a sweet aroma tothe LORD.

LEVITICUS 2 53 ‘The rest of the grain offering shall beAaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy ofthe offerings to the LORD made by fire.4 ‘And if you bring as an offering a grainoffering baked in the oven, it shall beunleavened cakes of fine flour mixedwith oil, or unleavened wafers anointedwith oil.5 ‘But if your offering is a grain offeringbaked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour,unleavened, mixed with oil.6 ‘You shall break it in pieces and pouroil on it; it is a grain offering.7 ‘If your offering is a grain offeringbaked in a covered pan, it shall be madeof fine flour with oil.8 ‘You shall bring the grain offering thatis made of these things to the LORD. Andwhen it is presented to the priest, heshall bring it to the altar.9 ‘Then the priest shall take from thegrain offering a memorial por on, and

LEVITICUS 2 6burn it on the altar. It is an offering madeby fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.10 ‘And what is le of the grain offeringshall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is mostholy of the offerings to the LORD madeby fire.11 ‘No grain offering which you bring tothe LORD shall be made with leaven, foryou shall burn no leaven nor any honeyin any offering to the LORD made by fire.12 ‘As for the offering of the firs ruits,you shall offer them to the LORD, butthey shall not be burned on the altar fora sweet aroma.13 ‘And every offering of your grainoffering you shall season with salt; youshall not allow the salt of the covenantof your God to be lacking from your grainoffering. With all your offerings you shalloffer salt.14 ‘If you offer a grain offering of yourfirs ruits to the LORD, you shall offer for

LEVITICUS 2–3 7the grain offering of your firs ruits greenheads of grain roasted on the fire, grainbeaten from full heads.15 ‘And you shall put oil on it, and layfrankincense on it. It is a grain offering.16 ‘Then the priest shall burn thememorial por on: part of its beatengrain and part of its oil, with all thefrankincense, as an offering made by fireto the LORD.

3 1 ‘When his offering is a sacrifice ofa peace offering, if he offers it of

the herd, whether male or female, heshall offer it without blemish before theLORD.2 ‘And he shall lay his hand on the headof his offering, and kill it at the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng; and Aaron’ssons, the priests, shall sprinkle the bloodall around on the altar.3 ‘Then he shall offer from the sacrificeof the peace offering an offering made

LEVITICUS 3 8by fire to the LORD. The fat that coversthe entrails and all the fat that is on theentrails,4 ‘the two kidneys and the fat that is onthem by the flanks, and the fa y lobea ached to the liver above the kidneys,he shall remove;5 ‘and Aaron’s sons shall burn it on thealtar upon the burnt sacrifice, which ison the wood that is on the fire, as anoffering made by fire, a sweet aroma tothe LORD.6 ‘If his offering as a sacrifice of a peaceoffering to the LORD is of the flock,whether male or female, he shall offer itwithout blemish.7 ‘If he offers a lamb as his offering,then he shall offer it before the LORD.8 ‘And he shall lay his hand on the headof his offering, and kill it before thetabernacle of mee ng; and Aaron’s sons

LEVITICUS 3 9shall sprinkle its blood all around on thealtar.9 ‘Then he shall offer from the sacrificeof the peace offering, as an offeringmade by fire to the LORD, its fat andthe whole fat tail which he shall removeclose to the backbone. And the fat thatcovers the entrails and all the fat that ison the entrails,10 ‘the two kidneys and the fat that ison them by the flanks, and the fa y lobea ached to the liver above the kidneys,he shall remove;11 ‘and the priest shall burn them onthe altar as food, an offering made byfire to the LORD.12 ‘And if his offering is a goat, then heshall offer it before the LORD.13 ‘He shall lay his hand on its head andkill it before the tabernacle of mee ng;and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle itsblood all around on the altar.

LEVITICUS 3–4 1014 ‘Then he shall offer from it hisoffering, as an offering made by fire tothe LORD. The fat that covers the entrailsand all the fat that is on the entrails,15 ‘the two kidneys and the fat that ison them by the flanks, and the fa y lobea ached to the liver above the kidneys,he shall remove;16 ‘and the priest shall burn them onthe altar as food, an offering made byfire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is theLORD’S.17 ‘This shall be a perpetual statutethroughout your genera ons in all yourdwellings: you shall eat neither fat norblood.’"

4 1Now the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying:‘If a person sins uninten onally againstany of the commandments of the LORD

LEVITICUS 4 11in anything which ought not to be done,and does any of them,3 ‘if the anointed priest sins, bringingguilt on the people, then let him offer tothe LORD for his sin which he has sinneda young bull without blemish as a sinoffering.4 ‘He shall bring the bull to the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng before theLORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head,and kill the bull before the LORD.5 ‘Then the anointed priest shall takesome of the bull’s blood and bring it tothe tabernacle of mee ng.6 ‘The priest shall dip his finger in theblood and sprinkle some of the bloodseven mes before the LORD, in front ofthe veil of the sanctuary.7 ‘And the priest shall put some of theblood on the horns of the altar of sweetincense before the LORD, which is in thetabernacle of mee ng; and he shall pour

LEVITICUS 4 12the remaining blood of the bull at thebase of the altar of the burnt offering,which is at the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng.8 ‘He shall take from it all the fat ofthe bull as the sin offering. The fat thatcovers the entrails and all the fat whichis on the entrails,9 ‘the two kidneys and the fat that is onthem by the flanks, and the fa y lobea ached to the liver above the kidneys,he shall remove,10 ‘as it was taken from the bull of thesacrifice of the peace offering; and thepriest shall burn them on the altar of theburnt offering.11 ‘But the bull’s hide and all its flesh,with its head and legs, its entrails andoffal––12 ‘the whole bull he shall carry outsidethe camp to a clean place, where theashes are poured out, and burn it on

LEVITICUS 4 13wood with fire; where the ashes arepoured out it shall be burned.13 ‘Now if the whole congrega on ofIsrael sins uninten onally, and the thingis hidden from the eyes of the assembly,and they have done something againstany of the commandments of the LORDin anything which should not be done,and are guilty;14 ‘when the sin which they havecommi ed becomes known, then theassembly shall offer a young bull for thesin, and bring it before the tabernacle ofmee ng.15 ‘And the elders of the congrega onshall lay their hands on the head of thebull before the LORD. Then the bull shallbe killed before the LORD.16 ‘The anointed priest shall bring someof the bull’s blood to the tabernacle ofmee ng.

LEVITICUS 4 1417 ‘Then the priest shall dip his fingerin the blood and sprinkle it seven mesbefore the LORD, in front of the veil.18 ‘And he shall put some of the bloodon the horns of the altar which is beforethe LORD, which is in the tabernacleof mee ng; and he shall pour theremaining blood at the base of the altarof burnt offering, which is at the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng.19 ‘He shall take all the fat from it andburn it on the altar.20 ‘And he shall do with the bull as hedid with the bull as a sin offering; thushe shall do with it. So the priest shallmake atonement for them, and it shallbe forgiven them.21 ‘Then he shall carry the bull outsidethe camp, and burn it as he burnedthe first bull. It is a sin offering for theassembly.

LEVITICUS 4 1522 ‘When a ruler has sinned, and donesomething uninten onally against any ofthe commandments of the LORD his Godin anything which should not be done,and is guilty,23 ‘or if his sin which he has commi edcomes to his knowledge, he shall bringas his offering a kid of the goats, a malewithout blemish.24 ‘And he shall lay his hand on the headof the goat, and kill it at the place wherethey kill the burnt offering before theLORD. It is a sin offering.25 ‘The priest shall take some of theblood of the sin offering with his finger,put it on the horns of the altar of burntoffering, and pour its blood at the baseof the altar of burnt offering.26 ‘And he shall burn all its fat on thealtar, like the fat of the sacrifice of thepeace offering. So the priest shall make

LEVITICUS 4 16atonement for him concerning his sin,and it shall be forgiven him.27 ‘If anyone of the common peoplesins uninten onally by doing somethingagainst any of the commandments ofthe LORD in anything which ought not tobe done, and is guilty,28 ‘or if his sin which he has commi edcomes to his knowledge, then he shallbring as his offering a kid of the goats,a female without blemish, for his sinwhich he has commi ed.29 ‘And he shall lay his hand on thehead of the sin offering, and kill thesin offering at the place of the burntoffering.30 ‘Then the priest shall take some of itsblood with his finger, put it on the hornsof the altar of burnt offering, and pourall the remaining blood at the base ofthe altar.

LEVITICUS 4 1731 ‘He shall remove all its fat, as fat isremoved from the sacrifice of the peaceoffering; and the priest shall burn it onthe altar for a sweet aroma to the LORD.So the priest shall make atonement forhim, and it shall be forgiven him.32 ‘If he brings a lamb as his sin offering,he shall bring a female without blemish.33 ‘Then he shall lay his hand on thehead of the sin offering, and kill it as asin offering at the place where they killthe burnt offering.34 ‘The priest shall take some of theblood of the sin offering with his finger,put it on the horns of the altar of burntoffering, and pour all the remainingblood at the base of the altar.35 ‘He shall remove all its fat, as the fatof the lamb is removed from the sacrificeof the peace offering. Then the priestshall burn it on the altar, according tothe offerings made by fire to the LORD.

LEVITICUS 5 18So the priest shall make atonement forhis sin that he has commi ed, and itshall be forgiven him.

5 1 ‘If a person sins in hearing theu erance of an oath, and is a

witness, whether he has seen or knownof the ma er ––if he does not tell it, hebears guilt.2 ‘Or if a person touches any uncleanthing, whether it is the carcass of anunclean beast, or the carcass of uncleanlivestock, or the carcass of uncleancreeping things, and he is unaware of it,he also shall be unclean and guilty.3 ‘Or if he touches human uncleanness––whatever uncleanness with which aman may be defiled, and he is unawareof it––when he realizes it, then he shallbe guilty.4 ‘Or if a person swears, speakingthoughtlessly with his lips to do evil orto do good, whatever it is that a man

LEVITICUS 5 19may pronounce by an oath, and he isunaware of it––when he realizes it, thenhe shall be guilty in any of these ma ers.5 ‘And it shall be, when he is guiltyin any of these ma ers, that he shallconfess that he has sinned in that thing;6 ‘and he shall bring his trespassoffering to the LORD for his sin whichhe has commi ed, a female from theflock, a lamb or a kid of the goats asa sin offering. So the priest shall makeatonement for him concerning his sin.7 ‘If he is not able to bring a lamb,then he shall bring to the LORD, for histrespass which he has commi ed, twoturtledoves or two young pigeons: oneas a sin offering and the other as a burntoffering.8 ‘And he shall bring them to the priest,who shall offer that which is for thesin offering first, and wring off its head

LEVITICUS 5 20from its neck, but shall not divide itcompletely.9 ‘Then he shall sprinkle some of theblood of the sin offering on the side ofthe altar, and the rest of the blood shallbe drained out at the base of the altar. Itis a sin offering.10 ‘And he shall offer the secondas a burnt offering according to theprescribed manner. So the priest shallmake atonement on his behalf for his sinwhich he has commi ed, and it shall beforgiven him.11 ‘But if he is not able to bring twoturtledoves or two young pigeons, thenhe who sinned shall bring for his offeringone–tenth of an ephah of fine flour as asin offering. He shall put no oil on it, norshall he put frankincense on it, for it is asin offering.12 ‘Then he shall bring it to the priest,and the priest shall take his handful of

LEVITICUS 5 21it as a memorial por on, and burn it onthe altar according to the offerings madeby fire to the LORD. It is a sin offering.13 ‘The priest shall make atonement forhim, for his sin that he has commi edin any of these ma ers; and it shallbe forgiven him. The rest shall be thepriest’s as a grain offering.’"14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:15 "If a person commits a trespass, andsins uninten onally in regard to the holythings of the LORD, then he shall bringto the LORD as his trespass offering aram without blemish from the flocks,with your valua on in shekels of silveraccording to the shekel of the sanctuary,as a trespass offering.16 "And he shall make res tu on forthe harm that he has done in regard tothe holy thing, and shall add one–fi h toit and give it to the priest. So the priest

LEVITICUS 5–6 22shall make atonement for him with theram of the trespass offering, and it shallbe forgiven him.17 "If a person sins, and commits anyof these things which are forbidden tobe done by the commandments of theLORD, though he does not know it, yethe is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.18 "And he shall bring to the priest aramwithout blemish from the flock, withyour valua on, as a trespass offering.So the priest shall make atonement forhim regarding his ignorance in which heerred and did not know it, and it shall beforgiven him.19 "It is a trespass offering; he hascertainly trespassed against the LORD."

6 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "If a person sins and commits atrespass against the LORD by lying to hisneighbor about what was delivered to

LEVITICUS 6 23him for safekeeping, or about a pledge,or about a robbery, or if he has extortedfrom his neighbor,3 "or if he has found what was lost andlies concerning it, and swears falsely––inany one of these things that a man maydo in which he sins:4 "then it shall be, because he hassinned and is guilty, that he shall restorewhat he has stolen, or the thing whichhe has extorted, or what was deliveredto him for safekeeping, or the lost thingwhich he found,5 "or all that about which he has swornfalsely. He shall restore its full value,add one–fi h more to it, and give it towhomever it belongs, on the day of histrespass offering.6 "And he shall bring his trespassoffering to the LORD, a ram withoutblemish from the flock, with your

LEVITICUS 6 24valua on, as a trespass offering, to thepriest.7 "So the priest shall make atonementfor him before the LORD, and he shallbe forgiven for any one of these thingsthat he may have done in which hetrespasses."8 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,9 "Command Aaron and his sons,saying, ‘This is the law of the burntoffering: The burnt offering shall be onthe hearth upon the altar all night un lmorning, and the fire of the altar shallbe kept burning on it.10 ‘And the priest shall put on his linengarment, and his linen trousers he shallput on his body, and take up the ashesof the burnt offering which the fire hasconsumed on the altar, and he shall putthem beside the altar.

LEVITICUS 6 2511 ‘Then he shall take off his garments,put on other garments, and carry theashes outside the camp to a clean place.12 ‘And the fire on the altar shall be keptburning on it; it shall not be put out. Andthe priest shall burn wood on it everymorning, and lay the burnt offering inorder on it; and he shall burn on it thefat of the peace offerings.13 ‘A fire shall always be burning on thealtar; it shall never go out.14 ‘This is the law of the grain offering:The sons of Aaron shall offer it on thealtar before the LORD.15 ‘He shall take from it his handful ofthe fine flour of the grain offering, withits oil, and all the frankincense whichis on the grain offering, and shall burnit on the altar for a sweet aroma, as amemorial to the LORD.16 ‘And the remainder of it Aaron andhis sons shall eat; with unleavened bread

LEVITICUS 6 26it shall be eaten in a holy place; in thecourt of the tabernacle of mee ng theyshall eat it.17 ‘It shall not be baked with leaven.I have given it as their por on of Myofferings made by fire; it is most holy,like the sin offering and the trespassoffering.18 ‘All the males among the children ofAaron may eat it. It shall be a statuteforever in your genera ons concerningthe offerings made by fire to the LORD.Everyone who touches them must beholy.’"19And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,20 "This is the offering of Aaron andhis sons, which they shall offer to theLORD, beginning on the day when he isanointed: one–tenth of an ephah of fineflour as a daily grain offering, half of it inthe morning and half of it at night.

LEVITICUS 6 2721 "It shall be made in a pan with oil.When it is mixed, you shall bring it in.The baked pieces of the grain offeringyou shall offer for a sweet aroma to theLORD.22 "The priest from among his sons,who is anointed in his place, shall offerit. It is a statute forever to the LORD. Itshall be wholly burned.23 "For every grain offering for thepriest shall be wholly burned. It shall notbe eaten."24And 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 offeringis killed, the sin offering shall be killedbefore the LORD. It is most holy.26 ‘The priest who offers it for sin shalleat it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, inthe court of the tabernacle of mee ng.

LEVITICUS 6–7 2827 ‘Everyone who touches its flesh mustbe holy. And when its blood is sprinkledon any garment, you shall wash that onwhich it was sprinkled, in a holy place.28 ‘But the earthen vessel in which it isboiled shall be broken. And if it is boiledin a bronze pot, it shall be both scouredand rinsed in water.29 ‘All the males among the priests mayeat it. It is most holy.30 ‘But no sin offering from which any ofthe blood is brought into the tabernacleof mee ng, to make atonement in theholy place, shall be eaten. It shall beburned in the fire.

7 1 ‘Likewise this is the law of thetrespass offering (it is most holy):

2 ‘In the place where they kill theburnt offering they shall kill the trespassoffering. And its blood he shall sprinkleall around on the altar.

LEVITICUS 7 293 ‘And he shall offer from it all its fat.The fat tail and the fat that covers theentrails,4 ‘the two kidneys and the fat that is onthem by the flanks, and the fa y lobea ached to the liver above the kidneys,he shall remove;5 ‘and the priest shall burn them on thealtar as an offering made by fire to theLORD. It is a trespass offering.6 ‘Every male among the priests mayeat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. Itis most holy.7 ‘The trespass offering is like the sinoffering; there is one law for them both:the priest who makes atonement with itshall have it.8 ‘And the priest who offers anyone’sburnt offering, that priest shall have forhimself the skin of the burnt offeringwhich he has offered.

LEVITICUS 7 309 ‘Also every grain offering that is bakedin the oven and all that is prepared inthe covered pan, or in a pan, shall be thepriest’s who offers it.10 ‘Every grain offering, whether mixedwith oil, or dry, shall belong to all thesons of Aaron, to one as much as theother.11 ‘This is the law of the sacrifice ofpeace offerings which he shall offer tothe LORD:12 ‘If he offers it for a thanksgiving,then he shall offer, with the sacrifice ofthanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixedwith oil, unleavened wafers anointedwith oil, or cakes of blended flour mixedwith oil.13 ‘Besides the cakes, as his offeringhe shall offer leavened bread with thesacrifice of thanksgiving of his peaceoffering.

LEVITICUS 7 3114 ‘And from it he shall offer one cakefrom each offering as a heave offeringto the LORD. It shall belong to the priestwho sprinkles the blood of the peaceoffering.15 ‘The flesh of the sacrifice of his peaceoffering for thanksgiving shall be eatenthe same day it is offered. He shall notleave any of it un l morning.16 ‘But if the sacrifice of his offering isa vow or a voluntary offering, it shallbe eaten the same day that he offershis sacrifice; but on the next day theremainder of it also may be eaten;17 ‘the remainder of the flesh of thesacrifice on the third daymust be burnedwith fire.18 ‘And if any of the flesh of the sacrificeof his peace offering is eaten at all onthe third day, it shall not be accepted,nor shall it be imputed to him; it shall be

LEVITICUS 7 32an abomina on to him who offers it, andthe person who eats of it shall bear guilt.19 ‘The flesh that touches any uncleanthing shall not be eaten. It shall beburned with fire. And as for the cleanflesh, all who are clean may eat of it.20 ‘But the person who eats the fleshof the sacrifice of the peace offeringthat belongs to the LORD, while he isunclean, that person shall be cut offfrom his people.21 ‘Moreover the person who touchesany unclean thing, such as humanuncleanness, an unclean animal, or anyabominable unclean thing, and who eatsthe flesh of the sacrifice of the peaceoffering that belongs to the LORD, thatperson shall be cut off from his people.’"22And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

LEVITICUS 7 3323 "Speak to the children of Israel,saying: ‘You shall not eat any fat, of ox orsheep or goat.24 ‘And the fat of an animal that diesnaturally, and the fat of what is torn bywild beasts, may be used in any otherway; but you shall by no means eat it.25 ‘For whoever eats the fat of theanimal of which men offer an offeringmade by fire to the LORD, the personwho eats it shall be cut off from hispeople.26 ‘Moreover you shall not eat anyblood in any of your dwellings, whetherof bird or beast.27 ‘Whoever eats any blood, that personshall be cut off from his people.’"28 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,29 "Speak to the children of Israel,saying: ‘He who offers the sacrifice of hispeace offering to the LORD shall bring his

LEVITICUS 7 34offering to the LORD from the sacrificeof his peace offering.30 ‘His own hands shall bring theofferings made by fire to the LORD. Thefat with the breast he shall bring, thatthe breast may be waved as a waveoffering before the LORD.31 ‘And the priest shall burn the fat onthe altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’sand his sons’.32 ‘Also the right thigh you shall give tothe priest as a heave offering from thesacrifices of your peace offerings.33 ‘He among the sons of Aaron, whooffers the blood of the peace offeringand the fat, shall have the right thigh forhis part.34 ‘For the breast of the wave offeringand the thigh of the heave offering I havetaken from the children of Israel, fromthe sacrifices of their peace offerings,and I have given them to Aaron the

LEVITICUS 7 35priest and to his sons from the childrenof Israel by a statute forever.’"35 This is the consecrated por on forAaron and his sons, from the offeringsmade by fire to the LORD, on the daywhen Moses presented them to ministerto the LORD as priests.36 The LORD commanded this to begiven to them by the children of Israel,on the day that He anointed them,by a statute forever throughout theirgenera ons.37 This is the law of the burnt offering,the grain offering, the sin offering, thetrespass offering, the consecra ons, andthe sacrifice of the peace offering,38which the LORD commanded Moseson Mount Sinai, on the day when Hecommanded the children of Israel tooffer their offerings to the LORD in theWilderness of Sinai.

LEVITICUS 8 36

8 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Take Aaron and his sons with him,and the garments, the anoin ng oil, abull as the sin offering, two rams, and abasket of unleavened bread;3 "and gather all the congrega ontogether at the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng."4 SoMoses did as the LORD commandedhim. And the congrega on was gatheredtogether at the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng.5And Moses said to the congrega on,"This is what the LORD commanded tobe done."6 Then Moses brought Aaron and hissons and washed them with water.7And he put the tunic on him, girdedhim with the sash, clothed him with therobe, and put the ephod on him; and hegirded him with the intricately woven

LEVITICUS 8 37band of the ephod, and with it ed theephod on him.8 Then he put the breastplate on him,and he put the Urim and the Thummimin the breastplate.9And he put the turban on his head.Also on the turban, on its front, he putthe golden plate, the holy crown, as theLORD had commanded Moses.10Also Moses took the anoin ng oil,and anointed the tabernacle and all thatwas in it, and consecrated them.11He sprinkled some of it on the altarseven mes, anointed the altar and allits utensils, and the laver and its base, toconsecrate them.12And he poured some of the anoin ngoil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, toconsecrate him.13 Then Moses brought Aaron’s sonsand put tunics on them, girded them

LEVITICUS 8 38with sashes, and put hats on them, asthe LORD had commanded Moses.14And he brought the bull for the sinoffering. Then Aaron and his sons laidtheir hands on the head of the bull forthe sin offering,15 and Moses killed it. Then he tookthe blood, and put some on the hornsof the altar all around with his finger,and purified the altar. And he pouredthe blood at the base of the altar, andconsecrated it, to make atonement for it.16 Then he took all the fat that was onthe entrails, the fa y lobe a ached tothe liver, and the two kidneys with theirfat, andMoses burned them on the altar.17 But the bull, its hide, its flesh, andits offal, he burned with fire outside thecamp, as the LORD had commandedMoses.

LEVITICUS 8 3918 Then he brought the ram as theburnt offering. And Aaron and his sonslaid their hands on the head of the ram,19 andMoses killed it. Then he sprinkledthe blood all around on the altar.20And he cut the ram into pieces; andMoses burned the head, the pieces, andthe fat.21 Then he washed the entrails and thelegs in water. And Moses burned thewhole ram on the altar. It was a burntsacrifice for a sweet aroma, an offeringmade by fire to the LORD, as the LORDhad commanded Moses.22And he brought the second ram, theram of consecra on. Then Aaron and hissons laid their hands on the head of theram,23 and Moses killed it. Also he tooksome of its blood and put it on the pof Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his

LEVITICUS 8 40right hand, and on the big toe of his rightfoot.24 Then he brought Aaron’s sons. AndMoses put some of the blood on theps of their right ears, on the thumbs of

their right hands, and on the big toes oftheir right feet. And Moses sprinkled theblood all around on the altar.25 Then he took the fat and the fat tail,all the fat that was on the entrails, thefa y lobe a ached to the liver, the twokidneys and their fat, and the right thigh;26 and from the basket of unleavenedbread that was before the LORD he tookone unleavened cake, a cake of breadanointed with oil, and one wafer, andput them on the fat and on the rightthigh;27 and he put all these in Aaron’s handsand in his sons’ hands, and waved themas a wave offering before the LORD.

LEVITICUS 8 4128 Then Moses took them from theirhands and burned them on the altar,on the burnt offering. They wereconsecra on offerings for a sweetaroma. That was an offering made byfire to the LORD.29And Moses took the breast andwaved it as a wave offering beforethe LORD. It was Moses’ part of theram of consecra on, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.30 Then Moses took some of theanoin ng oil and some of the bloodwhich was on the altar, and sprinkledit on Aaron, on his garments, on hissons, and on the garments of his sonswith him; and he consecrated Aaron, hisgarments, his sons, and the garments ofhis sons with him.31And Moses said to Aaron and hissons, "Boil the flesh at the door of thetabernacle of mee ng, and eat it there

LEVITICUS 8 42with the bread that is in the basket ofconsecra on offerings, as I commanded,saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’32 "What remains of the flesh and ofthe bread you shall burn with fire.33 "And you shall not go outside thedoor of the tabernacle of mee ngfor seven days, un l the days of yourconsecra on are ended. For seven dayshe shall consecrate you.34 "As he has done this day, so theLORD has commanded to do, to makeatonement for you.35 "Therefore you shall stay at thedoor of the tabernacle of mee ng dayand night for seven days, and keep thecharge of the LORD, so that you may notdie; for so I have been commanded."36 So Aaron and his sons did all thethings that the LORD had commandedby the hand of Moses.

LEVITICUS 9 43

9 1 It came to pass on the eighth daythat Moses called Aaron and his sons

and the elders of Israel.2And he said to Aaron, "Take foryourself a young bull as a sin offeringand a ram as a burnt offering, withoutblemish, and offer them before theLORD.3 "And to the children of Israel you shallspeak, saying, ‘Take a kid of the goatsas a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb,both of the first year, without blemish,as a burnt offering,4 ‘also a bull and a ram as peaceofferings, to sacrifice before the LORD,and a grain offering mixed with oil; fortoday the LORD will appear to you.’"5 So they brought what Mosescommanded before the tabernacle ofmee ng. And all the congrega on drewnear and stood before the LORD.

LEVITICUS 9 446 Then Moses said, "This is the thingwhich the LORD commanded you to do,and the glory of the LORD will appear toyou."7And Moses said to Aaron, "Go to thealtar, offer your sin offering and yourburnt offering, and make atonementfor yourself and for the people. Offerthe offering of the people, and makeatonement for them, as the LORDcommanded."8Aaron therefore went to the altar andkilled the calf of the sin offering, whichwas for himself.9 Then the sons of Aaron brought theblood to him. And he dipped his fingerin the blood, put it on the horns of thealtar, and poured the blood at the baseof the altar.10 But the fat, the kidneys, and the fa ylobe from the liver of the sin offering he

LEVITICUS 9 45burned on the altar, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.11 The flesh and the hide he burnedwith fire outside the camp.12And he killed the burnt offering;and Aaron’s sons presented to him theblood, which he sprinkled all around onthe altar.13 Then they presented the burntoffering to him, with its pieces and head,and he burned them on the altar.14And he washed the entrails and thelegs, and burned them with the burntoffering on the altar.15 Then he brought the people’soffering, and took the goat, which wasthe sin offering for the people, and killedit and offered it for sin, like the first one.16And he brought the burnt offeringand offered it according to the prescribedmanner.

LEVITICUS 9 4617 Then he brought the grain offering,took a handful of it, and burned it on thealtar, besides the burnt sacrifice of themorning.18He also killed the bull and the ramas sacrifices of peace offerings, whichwere for the people. And Aaron’s sonspresented to him the blood, which hesprinkled all around on the altar,19 and the fat from the bull and theram––the fa y tail, what covers theentrails and the kidneys, and the fa ylobe a ached to the liver;20 and they put the fat on the breasts.Then he burned the fat on the altar;21 but the breasts and the right thighAaron waved as a wave offering beforethe LORD, as Moses had commanded.22 Then Aaron li ed his hand towardthe people, blessed them, and camedown from offering the sin offering, theburnt offering, and peace offerings.

LEVITICUS 9–10 4723And Moses and Aaron went into thetabernacle of mee ng, and came outand blessed the people. Then the gloryof the LORD appeared to all the people,24 and fire came out from before theLORD and consumed the burnt offeringand the fat on the altar. When all thepeople saw it, they shouted and fell ontheir faces.

10 1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sonsof Aaron, each took his censer

and put fire in it, put incense on it, andoffered profane fire before the LORD,which He had not commanded them.2 So fire went out from the LORD anddevoured them, and they died beforethe LORD.3And Moses said to Aaron, "This iswhat the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By thosewho come near Me I must be regardedas holy; And before all the people I mustbe glorified.’" So Aaron held his peace.

LEVITICUS 10 484And Moses called Mishael andElzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle ofAaron, and said to them, "Come near,carry your brethren from before thesanctuary out of the camp."5 So they went near and carried themby their tunics out of the camp, as Moseshad said.6And Moses said to Aaron, and toEleazar and Ithamar, his sons, "Donot uncover your heads nor tear yourclothes, lest you die, and wrath comeupon all the people. But let yourbrethren, the whole house of Israel,bewail the burning which the LORD haskindled.7 "You shall not go out from the doorof the tabernacle of mee ng, lest youdie, for the anoin ng oil of the LORD isupon you." And they did according tothe word of Moses.8 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying:

LEVITICUS 10 499 "Do not drink wine or intoxica ngdrink, you, nor your sons with you, whenyou go into the tabernacle of mee ng,lest you die. It shall be a statute foreverthroughout your genera ons,10 "that you may dis nguish betweenholy and unholy, and between uncleanand clean,11 "and that you may teach the childrenof Israel all the statutes which the LORDhas spoken to them by the hand ofMoses."12And Moses spoke to Aaron, and toEleazar and Ithamar, his sons who werele : "Take the grain offering that remainsof the offerings made by fire to theLORD, and eat it without leaven besidethe altar; for it is most holy.13 "You shall eat it in a holy place,because it is your due and your sons’due, of the sacrifices made by fire to theLORD; for so I have been commanded.

LEVITICUS 10 5014 "The breast of the wave offering andthe thigh of the heave offering you shalleat in a clean place, you, your sons,and your daughters with you; for theyare your due and your sons’ due, whichare given from the sacrifices of peaceofferings of the children of Israel.15 "The thigh of the heave offering andthe breast of the wave offering they shallbring with the offerings of fat made byfire, to offer as a wave offering beforethe LORD. And it shall be yours and yoursons’ with you, by a statute forever, asthe LORD has commanded."16 Then Moses made careful inquiryabout the goat of the sin offering, andthere it was––burned up. And he wasangry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sonsof Aaron who were le , saying,17 "Why have you not eaten the sinoffering in a holy place, since it is mostholy, and God has given it to you to bear

LEVITICUS 10–11 51the guilt of the congrega on, to makeatonement for them before the LORD?18 "See! Its blood was not broughtinside the holy place; indeed youshould have eaten it in a holy place, as Icommanded."19And Aaron said to Moses, "Look, thisday they have offered their sin offeringand their burnt offering before the LORD,and such things have befallen me! If Ihad eaten the sin offering today, wouldit have been accepted in the sight of theLORD?"20 So when Moses heard that, he wascontent.

11 1Now the LORD spoke to Mosesand Aaron, saying to them,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying,‘These are the animals which you mayeat among all the animals that are onthe earth:

LEVITICUS 11 523 ‘Among the animals, whatever dividesthe hoof, having cloven hooves andchewing the cud––that you may eat.4 ‘Nevertheless these you shall not eatamong those that chew the cud or thosethat have cloven hooves: the camel,because it chews the cud but does nothave cloven hooves, is unclean to you;5 ‘the rock hyrax, because it chews thecud but does not have cloven hooves, isunclean to you;6 ‘the hare, because it chews the cudbut does not have cloven hooves, isunclean to you;7 ‘and the swine, though it divides thehoof, having cloven hooves, yet does notchew the cud, is unclean to you.8 ‘Their flesh you shall not eat, and theircarcasses you shall not touch. They areunclean to you.9 ‘These you may eat of all that are inthe water: whatever in the water has

LEVITICUS 11 53fins and scales, whether in the seas or inthe rivers––that you may eat.10 ‘But all in the seas or in the rivers thatdo not have fins and scales, all that movein the water or any living thing which isin the water, they are an abomina on toyou.11 ‘They shall be an abomina on toyou; you shall not eat their flesh, butyou shall regard their carcasses as anabomina on.12 ‘Whatever in the water does nothave fins or scales––that shall be anabomina on to you.13 ‘And these you shall regard as anabomina on among the birds; they shallnot be eaten, they are an abomina on:the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard,14 ‘the kite, and the falcon a er its kind;15 ‘every raven a er its kind,16 ‘the ostrich, the short–eared owl, thesea gull, and the hawk a er its kind;

LEVITICUS 11 5417 ‘the li le owl, the fisher owl, and thescreech owl;18 ‘the white owl, the jackdaw, and thecarrion vulture;19 ‘the stork, the heron a er its kind,the hoopoe, and the bat.20 ‘All flying insects that creep on allfours shall be an abomina on to you.21 ‘Yet these you may eat of every flyinginsect that creeps on all fours: thosewhich have jointed legs above their feetwith which to leap on the earth.22 ‘These you may eat: the locust a erits kind, the destroying locust a er itskind, the cricket a er its kind, and thegrasshopper a er its kind.23 ‘But all other flying insects whichhave four feet shall be an abomina onto you.24 ‘By these you shall become unclean;whoever touches the carcass of any ofthem shall be unclean un l evening;

LEVITICUS 11 5525 ‘whoever carries part of the carcassof any of them shall wash his clothes andbe unclean un l evening:26 ‘The carcass of any animal whichdivides the foot, but is not cloven–hoofed or does not chew the cud, isunclean to you. Everyone who touches itshall be unclean.27 ‘And whatever goes on its paws,among all kinds of animals that go onall fours, those are unclean to you.Whoever touches any such carcass shallbe unclean un l evening.28 ‘Whoever carries any such carcassshall wash his clothes and be uncleanun l evening. It is unclean to you.29 ‘These also shall be unclean to youamong the creeping things that creep onthe earth: the mole, the mouse, and thelarge lizard a er its kind;

LEVITICUS 11 5630 ‘the gecko, the monitor lizard, thesand rep le, the sand lizard, and thechameleon.31 ‘These are unclean to you amongall that creep. Whoever touches themwhen they are dead shall be uncleanun l evening.32 ‘Anything on which any of them falls,when they are dead shall be unclean,whether it is any item of wood orclothing or skin or sack, whatever item itis, in which any work is done, it must beput in water. And it shall be unclean un levening; then it shall be clean.33 ‘Any earthen vessel into which any ofthem falls you shall break; and whateveris in it shall be unclean:34 ‘in such a vessel, any edible fooduponwhichwater falls becomes unclean,and any drink that may be drunk from itbecomes unclean.

LEVITICUS 11 5735 ‘And everything on which a part ofany such carcass falls shall be unclean;whether it is an oven or cooking stove,it shall be broken down; for they areunclean, and shall be unclean to you.36 ‘Nevertheless a spring or a cistern,in which there is plenty of water, shallbe clean, but whatever touches any suchcarcass becomes unclean.37 ‘And if a part of any such carcassfalls on any plan ng seed which is to besown, it remains clean.38 ‘But if water is put on the seed, andif a part of any such carcass falls on it, itbecomes unclean to you.39 ‘And if any animal which you may eatdies, he who touches its carcass shall beunclean un l evening.40 ‘He who eats of its carcass shall washhis clothes and be unclean un l evening.He also who carries its carcass shall washhis clothes and be unclean un l evening.

LEVITICUS 11 5841 ‘And every creeping thing that creepson the earth shall be an abomina on. Itshall not be eaten.42 ‘Whatever crawls on its belly,whatever goes on all fours, or whateverhas many feet among all creeping thingsthat creep on the earth––these you shallnot eat, for they are an abomina on.43 ‘You shall not make yourselvesabominable with any creeping thing thatcreeps; nor shall you make yourselvesunclean with them, lest you be defiledby them.44 ‘For I am the LORD your God. Youshall therefore consecrate yourselves,and you shall be holy; for I am holy.Neither shall you defile yourselves withany creeping thing that creeps on theearth.45 ‘For I am the LORD who brings you upout of the land of Egypt, to be your God.You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

LEVITICUS 11–12 5946 ‘This is the law of the animals andthe birds and every living creaturethat moves in the waters, and of everycreature that creeps on the earth,47 ‘to dis nguish between the uncleanand the clean, and between the animalthat may be eaten and the animal thatmay not be eaten.’"

12 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel,saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, andborne a male child, then she shall beunclean seven days; as in the days of hercustomary impurity she shall be unclean.3 ‘And on the eighth day the flesh of hisforeskin shall be circumcised.4 ‘She shall then con nue in the bloodof her purifica on thirty–three days. Sheshall not touch any hallowed thing, norcome into the sanctuary un l the days ofher purifica on are fulfilled.

LEVITICUS 12 605 ‘But if she bears a female child, thenshe shall be unclean two weeks, as inher customary impurity, and she shallcon nue in the blood of her purifica onsixty–six days.6 ‘When the days of her purifica on arefulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter,she shall bring to the priest a lamb ofthe first year as a burnt offering, and ayoung pigeon or a turtledove as a sinoffering, to the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng.7 ‘Then he shall offer it before theLORD, and make atonement for her. Andshe shall be clean from the flow of herblood. This is the law for her who hasborne a male or a female.8 ‘And if she is not able to bring a lamb,then she may bring two turtledoves ortwo young pigeons––one as a burntoffering and the other as a sin offering.

LEVITICUS 13 61So the priest shall make atonement forher, and she will be clean.’"

13 1And the LORD spoke to Mosesand Aaron, saying:

2 "When a man has on the skin of hisbody a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot,and it becomes on the skin of his bodylike a leprous sore, then he shall bebrought to Aaron the priest or to one ofhis sons the priests.3 "The priest shall examine the sore onthe skin of the body; and if the hair onthe sore has turned white, and the soreappears to be deeper than the skin of hisbody, it is a leprous sore. Then the priestshall examine him, and pronounce himunclean.4 "But if the bright spot is white on theskin of his body, and does not appear tobe deeper than the skin, and its hair hasnot turned white, then the priest shall

LEVITICUS 13 62isolate the one who has the sore sevendays.5 "And the priest shall examine him onthe seventh day; and indeed if the soreappears to be as it was, and the sore hasnot spread on the skin, then the priestshall isolate him another seven days.6 "Then the priest shall examine himagain on the seventh day; and indeed ifthe sore has faded, and the sore has notspread on the skin, then the priest shallpronounce him clean; it is only a scab,and he shall wash his clothes and beclean.7 "But if the scab should at all spreadover the skin, a er he has been seen bythe priest for his cleansing, he shall beseen by the priest again.8 "And if the priest sees that the scabhas indeed spread on the skin, then thepriest shall pronounce him unclean. It isleprosy.

LEVITICUS 13 639 "When the leprous sore is on a person,then he shall be brought to the priest.10 "And the priest shall examine him;and indeed if the swelling on the skin iswhite, and it has turned the hair white,and there is a spot of raw flesh in theswelling,11 "it is an old leprosy on the skin of hisbody. The priest shall pronounce himunclean, and shall not isolate him, for heis unclean.12 "And if leprosy breaks out all overthe skin, and the leprosy covers all theskin of the one who has the sore, fromhis head to his foot, wherever the priestlooks,13 "then the priest shall consider; andindeed if the leprosy has covered all hisbody, he shall pronounce him clean whohas the sore. It has all turned white. Heis clean.

LEVITICUS 13 6414 "But when raw flesh appears on him,he shall be unclean.15 "And the priest shall examine the rawflesh and pronounce him to be unclean;for the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.16 "Or if the raw flesh changes and turnswhite again, he shall come to the priest.17 "And the priest shall examine him;and indeed if the sore has turned white,then the priest shall pronounce himclean who has the sore. He is clean.18 "If the body develops a boil in theskin, and it is healed,19 "and in the place of the boil therecomes a white swelling or a bright spot,reddish–white, then it shall be shown tothe priest;20 "and if, when the priest sees it, itindeed appears deeper than the skin,and its hair has turned white, the priestshall pronounce him unclean. It is a

LEVITICUS 13 65leprous sore which has broken out of theboil.21 "But if the priest examines it, andindeed there are no white hairs in it, andit is not deeper than the skin, but hasfaded, then the priest shall isolate himseven days;22 "and if it should at all spread over theskin, then the priest shall pronounce himunclean. It is a leprous sore.23 "But if the bright spot stays in oneplace, and has not spread, it is the scar ofthe boil; and the priest shall pronouncehim clean.24 "Or if the body receives a burn on itsskin by fire, and the raw flesh of the burnbecomes a bright spot, reddish–white orwhite,25 "then the priest shall examine it; andindeed if the hair of the bright spot hasturned white, and it appears deeperthan the skin, it is leprosy broken out

LEVITICUS 13 66in the burn. Therefore the priest shallpronounce him unclean. It is a leproussore.26 "But if the priest examines it, andindeed there are no white hairs in thebright spot, and it is not deeper than theskin, but has faded, then the priest shallisolate him seven days.27 "And the priest shall examine him onthe seventh day. If it has at all spreadover the skin, then the priest shallpronounce him unclean. It is a leproussore.28 "But if the bright spot stays in oneplace, and has not spread on the skin,but has faded, it is a swelling from theburn. The priest shall pronounce himclean, for it is the scar from the burn.29 "If a man or woman has a sore on thehead or the beard,30 "then the priest shall examinethe sore; and indeed if it appears

LEVITICUS 13 67deeper than the skin, and there is in itthin yellow hair, then the priest shallpronounce him unclean. It is a scalyleprosy of the head or beard.31 "But if the priest examines the scalysore, and indeed it does not appeardeeper than the skin, and there is noblack hair in it, then the priest shallisolate the one who has the scale sevendays.32 "And on the seventh day the priestshall examine the sore; and indeed ifthe scale has not spread, and there is noyellow hair in it, and the scale does notappear deeper than the skin,33 "he shall shave himself, but thescale he shall not shave. And the priestshall isolate the one who has the scaleanother seven days.34 "On the seventh day the priest shallexamine the scale; and indeed if thescale has not spread over the skin, and

LEVITICUS 13 68does not appear deeper than the skin,then the priest shall pronounce himclean. He shall wash his clothes and beclean.35 "But if the scale should at all spreadover the skin a er his cleansing,36 "then the priest shall examine him;and indeed if the scale has spread overthe skin, the priest need not seek foryellow hair. He is unclean.37 "But if the scale appears to be at astands ll, and there is black hair grownup in it, the scale has healed. He is clean,and the priest shall pronounce himclean.38 "If a man or a woman has brightspots on the skin of the body, specificallywhite bright spots,39 "then the priest shall look; andindeed if the bright spots on the skin ofthe body are dull white, it is a white spotthat grows on the skin. He is clean.

LEVITICUS 13 6940 "As for the man whose hair has fallenfrom his head, he is bald, but he is clean.41 "He whose hair has fallen from hisforehead, he is bald on the forehead, buthe is clean.42 "And if there is on the bald head orbald forehead a reddish–white sore, it isleprosy breaking out on his bald head orhis bald forehead.43 "Then the priest shall examine it;and indeed if the swelling of the sore isreddish–white on his bald head or onhis bald forehead, as the appearance ofleprosy on the skin of the body,44 "he is a leprous man. He is unclean.The priest shall surely pronounce himunclean; his sore is on his head.45 "Now the leper on whom the soreis, his clothes shall be torn and his headbare; and he shall cover his mustache,and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’

LEVITICUS 13 7046 "He shall be unclean. All the days hehas the sore he shall be unclean. He isunclean, and he shall dwell alone; hisdwelling shall be outside the camp.47 "Also, if a garment has a leprousplague in it, whether it is a woolengarment or a linen garment,48 "whether it is in the warp or woof oflinen or wool, whether in leather or inanything made of leather,49 "and if the plague is greenish orreddish in the garment or in the leather,whether in the warp or in the woof, or inanything made of leather, it is a leprousplague and shall be shown to the priest.50 "The priest shall examine the plagueand isolate that which has the plagueseven days.51 "And he shall examine the plague onthe seventh day. If the plague has spreadin the garment, either in the warp or inthe woof, in the leather or in anything

LEVITICUS 13 71made of leather, the plague is an ac veleprosy. It is unclean.52 "He shall therefore burn that garmentin which is the plague, whether warp orwoof, in wool or in linen, or anything ofleather, for it is an ac ve leprosy; thegarment shall be burned in the fire.53 "But if the priest examines it, andindeed the plague has not spread in thegarment, either in the warp or in thewoof, or in anything made of leather,54 "then the priest shall command thatthey wash the thing in which is theplague; and he shall isolate it anotherseven days.55 "Then the priest shall examine theplague a er it has been washed; andindeed if the plague has not changed itscolor, though the plague has not spread,it is unclean, and you shall burn it in thefire; it con nues ea ng away, whetherthe damage is outside or inside.

LEVITICUS 13–14 7256 "If the priest examines it, and indeedthe plague has faded a er washing it,then he shall tear it out of the garment,whether out of the warp or out of thewoof, or out of the leather.57 "But if it appears again in thegarment, either in the warp or in thewoof, or in anything made of leather, it isa spreading plague; you shall burn withfire that in which is the plague.58 "And if you wash the garment, eitherwarp or woof, or whatever is made ofleather, if the plague has disappearedfrom it, then it shall be washed a secondme, and shall be clean.59 "This is the law of the leprous plaguein a garment of wool or linen, either inthe warp or woof, or in anything madeof leather, to pronounce it clean or topronounce it unclean."

14 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

LEVITICUS 14 732 "This shall be the law of the leperfor the day of his cleansing: He shall bebrought to the priest.3 "And the priest shall go out of thecamp, and the priest shall examine him;and indeed, if the leprosy is healed inthe leper,4 "then the priest shall command totake for him who is to be cleansed twoliving and clean birds, cedar wood,scarlet, and hyssop.5 "And the priest shall command thatone of the birds be killed in an earthenvessel over running water.6 "As for the living bird, he shall take it,the cedar wood and the scarlet and thehyssop, and dip them and the living birdin the blood of the bird that was killedover the running water.7 "And he shall sprinkle it seven meson him who is to be cleansed from theleprosy, and shall pronounce him clean,

LEVITICUS 14 74and shall let the living bird loose in theopen field.8 "He who is to be cleansed shall washhis clothes, shave off all his hair, andwash himself in water, that he may beclean. A er that he shall come into thecamp, and shall stay outside his tentseven days.9 "But on the seventh day he shall shaveall the hair off his head and his beardand his eyebrows––all his hair he shallshave off. He shall wash his clothes andwash his body in water, and he shall beclean.10 "And on the eighth day he shalltake two male lambs without blemish,one ewe lamb of the first year withoutblemish, three–tenths of an ephahof fine flour mixed with oil as a grainoffering, and one log of oil.11 "Then the priest who makes himclean shall present the man who is to

LEVITICUS 14 75be made clean, and those things, beforethe LORD, at the door of the tabernacleof mee ng.12 "And the priest shall take one malelamb and offer it as a trespass offering,and the log of oil, and wave them as awave offering before the LORD.13 "Then he shall kill the lamb in theplace where he kills the sin offering andthe burnt offering, in a holy place; for asthe sin offering is the priest’s, so is thetrespass offering. It is most holy.14 "The priest shall take some of theblood of the trespass offering, and thepriest shall put it on the p of the rightear of him who is to be cleansed, on thethumb of his right hand, and on the bigtoe of his right foot.15 "And the priest shall take some ofthe log of oil, and pour it into the palmof his own le hand.

LEVITICUS 14 7616 "Then the priest shall dip his rightfinger in the oil that is in his le hand,and shall sprinkle some of the oil withhis finger seven mes before the LORD.17 "And of the rest of the oil in hishand, the priest shall put some on thep of the right ear of him who is to

be cleansed, on the thumb of his righthand, and on the big toe of his right foot,on the blood of the trespass offering.18 "The rest of the oil that is in thepriest’s hand he shall put on the head ofhim who is to be cleansed. So the priestshall make atonement for him beforethe LORD.19 "Then the priest shall offer thesin offering, and make atonement forhim who is to be cleansed from hisuncleanness. A erward he shall kill theburnt offering.20 "And the priest shall offer the burntoffering and the grain offering on the

LEVITICUS 14 77altar. So the priest shall make atonementfor him, and he shall be clean.21 "But if he is poor and cannot affordit, then he shall take one male lamb as atrespass offering to be waved, to makeatonement for him, one–tenth of anephah of fine flour mixed with oil as agrain offering, a log of oil,22 "and two turtledoves or two youngpigeons, such as he is able to afford: oneshall be a sin offering and the other aburnt offering.23 "He shall bring them to the prieston the eighth day for his cleansing, tothe door of the tabernacle of mee ng,before the LORD.24 "And the priest shall take the lamb ofthe trespass offering and the log of oil,and the priest shall wave them as a waveoffering before the LORD.25 "Then he shall kill the lamb of thetrespass offering, and the priest shall

LEVITICUS 14 78take some of the blood of the trespassoffering and put it on the p of the rightear of him who is to be cleansed, on thethumb of his right hand, and on the bigtoe of his right foot.26 "And the priest shall pour some ofthe oil into the palm of his own le hand.27 "Then the priest shall sprinkle withhis right finger some of the oil that isin his le hand seven mes before theLORD.28 "And the priest shall put some of theoil that is in his hand on the p of theright ear of him who is to be cleansed,on the thumb of the right hand, and onthe big toe of his right foot, on the placeof the blood of the trespass offering.29 "The rest of the oil that is in thepriest’s hand he shall put on the headof him who is to be cleansed, to makeatonement for him before the LORD.

LEVITICUS 14 7930 "And he shall offer one of theturtledoves or young pigeons, such as hecan afford––31 "such as he is able to afford, the oneas a sin offering and the other as a burntoffering, with the grain offering. So thepriest shall make atonement for himwho is to be cleansed before the LORD.32 "This is the law for one who had aleprous sore, who cannot afford theusual cleansing."33And the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying:34 "When you have come into theland of Canaan, which I give you as apossession, and I put the leprous plaguein a house in the land of your possession,35 "and he who owns the house comesand tells the priest, saying, ‘It seemsto me that there is some plague in thehouse,’

LEVITICUS 14 8036 "then the priest shall command thatthey empty the house, before the priestgoes into it to examine the plague, thatall that is in the house may not be madeunclean; and a erward the priest shallgo in to examine the house.37 "And he shall examine the plague;and indeed if the plague is on the wallsof the house with ingrained streaks,greenish or reddish, which appear to bedeep in the wall,38 "then the priest shall go out of thehouse, to the door of the house, andshut up the house seven days.39 "And the priest shall come again onthe seventh day and look; and indeed ifthe plague has spread on the walls ofthe house,40 "then the priest shall command thatthey take away the stones in which is theplague, and they shall cast them into anunclean place outside the city.

LEVITICUS 14 8141 "And he shall cause the house to bescraped inside, all around, and the dustthat they scrape off they shall pour outin an unclean place outside the city.42 "Then they shall take other stonesand put them in the place of thosestones, and he shall take other mortarand plaster the house.43 "Now if the plague comes backand breaks out in the house, a er hehas taken away the stones, a er hehas scraped the house, and a er it isplastered,44 "then the priest shall come and look;and indeed if the plague has spread inthe house, it is an ac ve leprosy in thehouse. It is unclean.45 "And he shall break down the house,its stones, its mber, and all the plasterof the house, and he shall carry themoutside the city to an unclean place.

LEVITICUS 14 8246 "Moreover he who goes into thehouse at all while it is shut up shall beunclean un l evening.47 "And he who lies down in the houseshall wash his clothes, and he who eatsin the house shall wash his clothes.48 "But if the priest comes in andexamines it, and indeed the plague hasnot spread in the house a er the housewas plastered, then the priest shallpronounce the house clean, because theplague is healed.49 "And he shall take, to cleanse thehouse, two birds, cedar wood, scarlet,and hyssop.50 "Then he shall kill one of the birds inan earthen vessel over running water;51 "and he shall take the cedar wood,the hyssop, the scarlet, and the livingbird, and dip them in the blood of theslain bird and in the running water, andsprinkle the house seven mes.

LEVITICUS 14–15 8352 "And he shall cleanse the house withthe blood of the bird and the runningwater and the living bird, with the cedarwood, the hyssop, and the scarlet.53 "Then he shall let the living bird looseoutside the city in the open field, andmake atonement for the house, and itshall be clean.54 "This is the law for any leprous soreand scale,55 "for the leprosy of a garment and ofa house,56 "for a swelling and a scab and abright spot,57 "to teach when it is unclean andwhen it is clean. This is the law ofleprosy."

15 1And the LORD spoke to Mosesand Aaron, saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When any man has a

LEVITICUS 15 84discharge from his body, his discharge isunclean.3 ‘And this shall be his uncleanness inregard to his discharge––whether hisbody runs with his discharge, or his bodyis stopped up by his discharge, it is hisuncleanness.4 ‘Every bed is unclean on which he whohas the discharge lies, and everything onwhich he sits shall be unclean.5 ‘And whoever touches his bed shallwash his clothes and bathe in water, andbe unclean un l evening.6 ‘He who sits on anything on which hewho has the discharge sat shall washhis clothes and bathe in water, and beunclean un l evening.7 ‘And he who touches the body ofhim who has the discharge shall washhis clothes and bathe in water, and beunclean un l evening.

LEVITICUS 15 858 ‘If he who has the discharge spits onhim who is clean, then he shall washhis clothes and bathe in water, and beunclean un l evening.9 ‘Any saddle on which he who has thedischarge rides shall be unclean.10 ‘Whoever touches anything that wasunder him shall be unclean un l evening.He who carries any of those things shallwash his clothes and bathe in water, andbe unclean un l evening.11 ‘And whomever the one who has thedischarge touches, and has not rinsed hishands in water, he shall wash his clothesand bathe in water, and be unclean un levening.12 ‘The vessel of earth that he who hasthe discharge touches shall be broken,and every vessel of wood shall be rinsedin water.13 ‘And when he who has a dischargeis cleansed of his discharge, then he

LEVITICUS 15 86shall count for himself seven days for hiscleansing, wash his clothes, and bathehis body in running water; then he shallbe clean.14 ‘On the eighth day he shall take forhimself two turtledoves or two youngpigeons, and come before the LORD, tothe door of the tabernacle of mee ng,and give them to the priest.15 ‘Then the priest shall offer them, theone as a sin offering and the other as aburnt offering. So the priest shall makeatonement for him before the LORDbecause of his discharge.16 ‘If any man has an emission ofsemen, then he shall wash all his body inwater, and be unclean un l evening.17 ‘And any garment and any leather onwhich there is semen, it shall be washedwith water, and be unclean un l evening.18 ‘Also, when a woman lies with a man,and there is an emission of semen, they

LEVITICUS 15 87shall bathe in water, and be unclean un levening.19 ‘If a woman has a discharge, andthe discharge from her body is blood,she shall be set apart seven days; andwhoever touches her shall be uncleanun l evening.20 ‘Everything that she lies on duringher impurity shall be unclean; alsoeverything that she sits on shall beunclean.21 ‘Whoever touches her bed shall washhis clothes and bathe in water, and beunclean un l evening.22 ‘And whoever touches anything thatshe sat on shall wash his clothes andbathe in water, and be unclean un levening.23 ‘If anything is on her bed or onanything on which she sits, when hetouches it, he shall be unclean un levening.

LEVITICUS 15 8824 ‘And if any man lies with her at all, sothat her impurity is on him, he shall beunclean seven days; and every bed onwhich he lies shall be unclean.25 ‘If a woman has a discharge of bloodfor many days, other than at the meof her customary impurity, or if it runsbeyond her usual me of impurity, all thedays of her unclean discharge shall be asthe days of her customary impurity. Sheshall be unclean.26 ‘Every bed on which she lies all thedays of her discharge shall be to her asthe bed of her impurity; and whatevershe sits on shall be unclean, as theuncleanness of her impurity.27 ‘Whoever touches those things shallbe unclean; he shall wash his clothesand bathe in water, and be unclean un levening.28 ‘But if she is cleansed of herdischarge, then she shall count for

LEVITICUS 15 89herself seven days, and a er that sheshall be clean.29 ‘And on the eighth day she shall takefor herself two turtledoves or two youngpigeons, and bring them to the priest, tothe door of the tabernacle of mee ng.30 ‘Then the priest shall offer the oneas a sin offering and the other as aburnt offering, and the priest shall makeatonement for her before the LORD forthe discharge of her uncleanness.31 ‘Thus you shall separate the childrenof Israel from their uncleanness, lestthey die in their uncleanness when theydefile My tabernacle that is amongthem.32 ‘This is the law for one who has adischarge, and for him who emits semenand is unclean thereby,33 ‘and for her who is indisposedbecause of her customary impurity, andfor one who has a discharge, either man

LEVITICUS 16 90or woman, and for him who lies with herwho is unclean.’"

16 1Now the LORD spoke to Mosesa er the death of the two sons of

Aaron, when they offered profane firebefore the LORD, and died;2 and the LORD said to Moses: "TellAaron your brother not to come at justany me into the Holy Place inside theveil, before the mercy seat which is onthe ark, lest he die; for I will appear inthe cloud above the mercy seat.3 "Thus Aaron shall come into the HolyPlace: with the blood of a young bull asa sin offering, and of a ram as a burntoffering.4 "He shall put the holy linen tunic andthe linen trousers on his body; he shallbe girded with a linen sash, and with thelinen turban he shall be a red. Theseare holy garments. Therefore he shall

LEVITICUS 16 91wash his body in water, and put themon.5 "And he shall take from thecongrega on of the children of Israeltwo kids of the goats as a sin offering,and one ram as a burnt offering.6 "Aaron shall offer the bull as a sinoffering, which is for himself, and makeatonement for himself and for his house.7 "He shall take the two goats andpresent them before the LORD at thedoor of the tabernacle of mee ng.8 "Then Aaron shall cast lots for thetwo goats: one lot for the LORD and theother lot for the scapegoat.9 "And Aaron shall bring the goat onwhich the LORD’S lot fell, and offer it asa sin offering.10 "But the goat on which the lot fell tobe the scapegoat shall be presented alivebefore the LORD, to make atonement

LEVITICUS 16 92upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoatinto the wilderness.11 "And Aaron shall bring the bull of thesin offering, which is for himself, andmake atonement for himself and for hishouse, and shall kill the bull as the sinoffering which is for himself.12 "Then he shall take a censer fullof burning coals of fire from the altarbefore the LORD, with his hands full ofsweet incense beaten fine, and bring itinside the veil.13 "And he shall put the incense on thefire before the LORD, that the cloud ofincense may cover the mercy seat that ison the Tes mony, lest he die.14 "He shall take some of the blood ofthe bull and sprinkle it with his fingeron the mercy seat on the east side; andbefore the mercy seat he shall sprinklesome of the blood with his finger sevenmes.

LEVITICUS 16 9315 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sinoffering, which is for the people, bring itsblood inside the veil, do with that bloodas he did with the blood of the bull, andsprinkle it on the mercy seat and beforethe mercy seat.16 "So he shall make atonement for theHoly Place, because of the uncleannessof the children of Israel, and because oftheir transgressions, for all their sins;and so he shall do for the tabernacle ofmee ng which remains among them inthe midst of their uncleanness.17 "There shall be no man in thetabernacle of mee ng when he goesin to make atonement in the HolyPlace, un l he comes out, that he maymake atonement for himself, for hishousehold, and for all the assembly ofIsrael.18 "And he shall go out to the altar thatis before the LORD, andmake atonement

LEVITICUS 16 94for it, and shall take some of the bloodof the bull and some of the blood of thegoat, and put it on the horns of the altarall around.19 "Then he shall sprinkle some of theblood on it with his finger seven mes,cleanse it, and consecrate it from theuncleanness of the children of Israel.20 "And when he has made an endof atoning for the Holy Place, thetabernacle of mee ng, and the altar, heshall bring the live goat.21 "Aaron shall lay both his hands onthe head of the live goat, confess over itall the iniqui es of the children of Israel,and all their transgressions, concerningall their sins, pu ng them on the headof the goat, and shall send it away intothe wilderness by the hand of a suitableman.

LEVITICUS 16 9522 "The goat shall bear on itself all theiriniqui es to an uninhabited land; and heshall release the goat in the wilderness.23 "Then Aaron shall come into thetabernacle of mee ng, shall take off thelinen garments which he put on when hewent into the Holy Place, and shall leavethem there.24 "And he shall wash his body withwater in a holy place, put on hisgarments, come out and offer his burntoffering and the burnt offering of thepeople, and make atonement for himselfand for the people.25 "The fat of the sin offering he shallburn on the altar.26 "And he who released the goat asthe scapegoat shall wash his clothes andbathe his body in water, and a erwardhe may come into the camp.27 "The bull for the sin offering and thegoat for the sin offering, whose blood

LEVITICUS 16 96was brought in to make atonement inthe Holy Place, shall be carried outsidethe camp. And they shall burn in the firetheir skins, their flesh, and their offal.28 "Then he who burns them shall washhis clothes and bathe his body in water,and a erward he may come into thecamp.29 "This shall be a statute forever foryou: In the seventh month, on the tenthday of the month, you shall afflict yoursouls, and do no work at all, whether ana ve of your own country or a strangerwho dwells among you.30 "For on that day the priest shall makeatonement for you, to cleanse you, thatyou may be clean from all your sinsbefore the LORD.31 "It is a sabbath of solemn rest foryou, and you shall afflict your souls. It isa statute forever.

LEVITICUS 16–17 9732 "And the priest, who is anointed andconsecrated to minister as priest in hisfather’s place, shall make atonement,and put on the linen clothes, the holygarments;33 "then he shall make atonement forthe Holy Sanctuary, and he shall makeatonement for the tabernacle of mee ngand for the altar, and he shall makeatonement for the priests and for all thepeople of the assembly.34 "This shall be an everlas ng statutefor you, to make atonement for thechildren of Israel, for all their sins,once a year." And he did as the LORDcommanded Moses.

17 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to Aaron, to his sons, and to allthe children of Israel, and say to them,‘This is the thing which the LORD hascommanded, saying:

LEVITICUS 17 983 "Whatever man of the house of Israelwho kills an ox or lamb or goat in thecamp, or who kills it outside the camp,4 "and does not bring it to the doorof the tabernacle of mee ng to offeran offering to the LORD before thetabernacle of the LORD, the guilt ofbloodshed shall be imputed to that man.He has shed blood; and that man shallbe cut off from among his people,5 "to the end that the children of Israelmay bring their sacrifices which theyoffer in the open field, that they maybring them to the LORD at the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng, to the priest,and offer them as peace offerings to theLORD.6 "And the priest shall sprinkle theblood on the altar of the LORD at thedoor of the tabernacle of mee ng, andburn the fat for a sweet aroma to theLORD.

LEVITICUS 17 997 "They shall no more offer theirsacrifices to demons, a er whom theyhave played the harlot. This shall bea statute forever for them throughouttheir genera ons."’8 "Also you shall say to them: ‘Whateverman of the house of Israel, or of thestrangers who dwell among you, whooffers a burnt offering or sacrifice,9 ‘and does not bring it to the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng, to offer it tothe LORD, that man shall be cut off fromamong his people.10 ‘And whatever man of the house ofIsrael, or of the strangers who dwellamong you, who eats any blood, I willset My face against that person who eatsblood, and will cut him off from amonghis people.11 ‘For the life of the flesh is in theblood, and I have given it to you uponthe altar to make atonement for your

LEVITICUS 17 100souls; for it is the blood that makesatonement for the soul.’12 "Therefore I said to the children ofIsrael, ‘No one among you shall eatblood, nor shall any stranger who dwellsamong you eat blood.’13 "Whatever man of the children ofIsrael, or of the strangers who dwellamong you, who hunts and catches anyanimal or bird that may be eaten, heshall pour out its blood and cover it withdust;14 "for it is the life of all flesh. Its bloodsustains its life. Therefore I said to thechildren of Israel, ‘You shall not eat theblood of any flesh, for the life of all fleshis its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cutoff.’15 "And every person who eats whatdied naturally or what was torn bybeasts, whether he is a na ve of yourown country or a stranger, he shall both

LEVITICUS 17–18 101wash his clothes and bathe in water, andbe unclean un l evening. Then he shallbe clean.16 "But if he does not wash them orbathe his body, then he shall bear hisguilt."

18 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘I am the LORD your God.3 ‘According to the doings of the landof Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall notdo; and according to the doings of theland of Canaan, where I am bringing you,you shall not do; nor shall you walk intheir ordinances.4 ‘You shall observe My judgments andkeep My ordinances, to walk in them: Iam the LORD your God.5 ‘You shall therefore keep My statutesand My judgments, which if a man does,he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

LEVITICUS 18 1026 ‘None of you shall approach anyonewho is near of kin to him, to uncover hisnakedness: I am the LORD.7 ‘The nakedness of your father or thenakedness of your mother you shall notuncover. She is your mother; you shallnot uncover her nakedness.8 ‘The nakedness of your father’s wifeyou shall not uncover; it is your father’snakedness.9 ‘The nakedness of your sister, thedaughter of your father, or the daughterof your mother, whether born at homeor elsewhere, their nakedness you shallnot uncover.10 ‘The nakedness of your son’sdaughter or your daughter’s daughter,their nakedness you shall not uncover;for theirs is your own nakedness.11 ‘The nakedness of your father’s wife’sdaughter, bego en by your father––she

LEVITICUS 18 103is your sister––you shall not uncover hernakedness.12 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof your father’s sister; she is near of kinto your father.13 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof your mother’s sister, for she is near ofkin to your mother.14 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof your father’s brother. You shall notapproach his wife; she is your aunt.15 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof your daughter–in–law––she is yourson’s wife––you shall not uncover hernakedness.16 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof your brother’s wife; it is your brother’snakedness.17 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof a woman and her daughter, nor shallyou take her son’s daughter or herdaughter’s daughter, to uncover her

LEVITICUS 18 104nakedness. They are near of kin to her. Itis wickedness.18 ‘Nor shall you take a woman as a rivalto her sister, to uncover her nakednesswhile the other is alive.19 ‘Also you shall not approach a womanto uncover her nakedness as long as sheis in her customary impurity.20 ‘Moreover you shall not lie carnallywith your neighbor’s wife, to defileyourself with her.21 ‘And you shall not let any of yourdescendants pass through the fire toMolech, nor shall you profane the nameof your God: I am the LORD.22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as witha woman. It is an abomina on.23 ‘Nor shall you mate with any animal,to defile yourself with it. Nor shall anywoman stand before an animal to matewith it. It is perversion.

LEVITICUS 18 10524 ‘Do not defile yourselves with anyof these things; for by all these thena ons are defiled, which I am cas ngout before you.25 ‘For the land is defiled; thereforeI visit the punishment of its iniquityupon it, and the land vomits out itsinhabitants.26 ‘You shall therefore keep My statutesandMy judgments, and shall not commitany of these abomina ons, either anyof your own na on or any stranger whodwells among you27 ‘(for all these abomina ons the menof the land have done, who were beforeyou, and thus the land is defiled),28 ‘lest the land vomit you out alsowhen you defile it, as it vomited out thena ons that were before you.29 ‘For whoever commits any of theseabomina ons, the persons who commit

LEVITICUS 18–19 106them shall be cut off from among theirpeople.30 ‘Therefore you shall keep Myordinance, so that you do not commitany of these abominable customs whichwere commi ed before you, and thatyou do not defile yourselves by them: Iam the LORD your God.’"

19 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to all the congrega on of thechildren of Israel, and say to them: ‘Youshall be holy, for I the LORD your God amholy.3 ‘Every one of you shall revere hismother and his father, and keep MySabbaths: I am the LORD your God.4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make foryourselves molded gods: I am the LORDyour God.

LEVITICUS 19 1075 ‘And if you offer a sacrifice of a peaceoffering to the LORD, you shall offer it ofyour own free will.6 ‘It shall be eaten the same day youoffer it, and on the next day. And if anyremains un l the third day, it shall beburned in the fire.7 ‘And if it is eaten at all on the thirdday, it is an abomina on. It shall not beaccepted.8 ‘Therefore everyone who eats itshall bear his iniquity, because he hasprofaned the hallowed offering of theLORD; and that person shall be cut offfrom his people.9 ‘When you reap the harvest of yourland, you shall not wholly reap thecorners of your field, nor shall you gatherthe gleanings of your harvest.10 ‘And you shall not glean yourvineyard, nor shall you gather everygrape of your vineyard; you shall leave

LEVITICUS 19 108them for the poor and the stranger: I amthe LORD your God.11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely,nor lie to one another.12 ‘And you shall not swear by My namefalsely, nor shall you profane the nameof your God: I am the LORD.13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor,nor rob him. The wages of him who ishired shall not remain with you all nightun l morning.14 ‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor puta stumbling block before the blind, butshall fear your God: I am the LORD.15 ‘You shall do no injus ce in judgment.You shall not be par al to the poor,nor honor the person of the mighty.In righteousness you shall judge yourneighbor.16 ‘You shall not go about as a talebeareramong your people; nor shall you take a

LEVITICUS 19 109stand against the life of your neighbor: Iam the LORD.17 ‘You shall not hate your brother inyour heart. You shall surely rebuke yourneighbor, and not bear sin because ofhim.18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, norbear any grudge against the childrenof your people, but you shall love yourneighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.19 ‘You shall keep My statutes. You shallnot let your livestock breed with anotherkind. You shall not sow your field withmixed seed. Nor shall a garment ofmixed linen and wool come upon you.20 ‘Whoever lies carnally with awoman who is betrothed to a man as aconcubine, and who has not at all beenredeemed nor given her freedom, forthis there shall be scourging; but theyshall not be put to death, because shewas not free.

LEVITICUS 19 11021 ‘And he shall bring his trespassoffering to the LORD, to the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng, a ram as atrespass offering.22 ‘The priest shall make atonement forhim with the ram of the trespass offeringbefore the LORD for his sin which he hascommi ed. And the sin which he hascommi ed shall be forgiven him.23 ‘When you come into the land,and have planted all kinds of trees forfood, then you shall count their fruit asuncircumcised. Three years it shall beas uncircumcised to you. It shall not beeaten.24 ‘But in the fourth year all its fruitshall be holy, a praise to the LORD.25 ‘And in the fi h year you may eat itsfruit, that it may yield to you its increase:I am the LORD your God.

LEVITICUS 19 11126 ‘You shall not eat anything with theblood, nor shall you prac ce divina onor soothsaying.27 ‘You shall not shave around the sidesof your head, nor shall you disfigure theedges of your beard.28 ‘You shall not make any cu ngs inyour flesh for the dead, nor ta oo anymarks on you: I am the LORD.29 ‘Do not pros tute your daughter, tocause her to be a harlot, lest the land fallinto harlotry, and the land become fullof wickedness.30 ‘You shall keep My Sabbaths andreverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.31 ‘Give no regard to mediums andfamiliar spirits; do not seek a er them,to be defiled by them: I am the LORDyour God.32 ‘You shall rise before the gray headedand honor the presence of an old man,and fear your God: I am the LORD.

LEVITICUS 19–20 11233 ‘And if a stranger dwells with you inyour land, you shall not mistreat him.34 ‘The stranger who dwells among youshall be to you as one born among you,and you shall love him as yourself; foryou were strangers in the land of Egypt: Iam the LORD your God.35 ‘You shall do no injus ce in judgment,in measurement of length, weight, orvolume.36 ‘You shall have honest scales, honestweights, an honest ephah, and an honesthin: I am the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egypt.37 ‘Therefore you shall observe all Mystatutes and all My judgments, andperform them: I am the LORD.’"

20 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Again, you shall say to the children ofIsrael: ‘Whoever of the children of Israel,or of the strangers who dwell in Israel,

LEVITICUS 20 113who gives any of his descendants toMolech, he shall surely be put to death.The people of the land shall stone himwith stones.3 ‘I will set My face against that man,and will cut him off from his people,because he has given some of hisdescendants to Molech, to defile Mysanctuary and profane My holy name.4 ‘And if the people of the land shouldin any way hide their eyes from the man,when he gives some of his descendantsto Molech, and they do not kill him,5 ‘then I will set My face against thatman and against his family; and I willcut him off from his people, and allwho pros tute themselves with him tocommit harlotry with Molech.6 ‘And the personwho turns tomediumsand familiar spirits, to pros tute himselfwith them, I will set My face against thatperson and cut him off from his people.

LEVITICUS 20 1147 ‘Consecrate yourselves therefore, andbe holy, for I am the LORD your God.8 ‘And you shall keep My statutes,and perform them: I am the LORD whosanc fies you.9 ‘For everyone who curses his father orhis mother shall surely be put to death.He has cursed his father or his mother.His blood shall be upon him.10 ‘The man who commits adultery withanother man’s wife, he who commitsadultery with his neighbor’s wife, theadulterer and the adulteress, shall surelybe put to death.11 ‘The man who lies with his father’swife has uncovered his father’snakedness; both of them shall surely beput to death. Their blood shall be uponthem.12 ‘If a man lies with his daughter–in–law, both of them shall surely be put to

LEVITICUS 20 115death. They have commi ed perversion.Their blood shall be upon them.13 ‘If a man lies with a male as helies with a woman, both of them havecommi ed an abomina on. They shallsurely be put to death. Their blood shallbe upon them.14 ‘If a man marries a woman and hermother, it is wickedness. They shall beburned with fire, both he and they, thatthere may be no wickedness among you.15 ‘If a man mates with an animal, heshall surely be put to death, and youshall kill the animal.16 ‘If a woman approaches any animaland mates with it, you shall kill thewoman and the animal. They shall surelybe put to death. Their blood is uponthem.17 ‘If a man takes his sister, his father’sdaughter or his mother’s daughter, andsees her nakedness and she sees his

LEVITICUS 20 116nakedness, it is a wicked thing. Andthey shall be cut off in the sight of theirpeople. He has uncovered his sister’snakedness. He shall bear his guilt.18 ‘If aman lieswith awoman during hersickness and uncovers her nakedness,he has exposed her flow, and she hasuncovered the flow of her blood. Both ofthem shall be cut off from their people.19 ‘You shall not uncover the nakednessof your mother’s sister nor of yourfather’s sister, for that would uncover hisnear of kin. They shall bear their guilt.20 ‘If a man lies with his uncle’s wife,he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness.They shall bear their sin; they shall diechildless.21 ‘If a man takes his brother’s wife, itis an unclean thing. He has uncoveredhis brother’s nakedness. They shall bechildless.

LEVITICUS 20 11722 ‘You shall therefore keep all Mystatutes and all My judgments, andperform them, that the land where I ambringing you to dwell may not vomit youout.23 ‘And you shall not walk in the statutesof the na on which I am cas ng outbefore you; for they commit all thesethings, and therefore I abhor them.24 ‘But I have said to you, "You shallinherit their land, and I will give it to youto possess, a land flowing with milk andhoney." I am the LORD your God, whohas separated you from the peoples.25 ‘You shall therefore dis nguishbetween clean animals and unclean,between unclean birds and clean,and you shall not make yourselvesabominable by beast or by bird, or byany kind of living thing that creeps onthe ground, which I have separated fromyou as unclean.

LEVITICUS 20–21 11826 ‘And you shall be holy to Me, for I theLORD am holy, and have separated youfrom the peoples, that you should beMine.27 ‘A man or a woman who is a medium,or who has familiar spirits, shall surelybe put to death; they shall stone themwith stones. Their blood shall be uponthem.’"

21 1And the LORD said to Moses,"Speak to the priests, the sons

of Aaron, and say to them: ‘None shalldefile himself for the dead among hispeople,2 ‘except for his rela ves who arenearest to him: his mother, his father, hisson, his daughter, and his brother;3 ‘also his virgin sister who is near tohim, who has had no husband, for herhe may defile himself.

LEVITICUS 21 1194 ‘Otherwise he shall not defile himself,being a chief man among his people, toprofane himself.5 ‘They shall not make any bald placeon their heads, nor shall they shavethe edges of their beards nor make anycu ngs in their flesh.6 ‘They shall be holy to their God andnot profane the name of their God, forthey offer the offerings of the LORDmade by fire, and the bread of their God;therefore they shall be holy.7 ‘They shall not take a wife who is aharlot or a defiled woman, nor shallthey take a woman divorced from herhusband; for the priest is holy to his God.8 ‘Therefore you shall consecrate him,for he offers the bread of your God. Heshall be holy to you, for I the LORD, whosanc fy you, am holy.9 ‘The daughter of any priest, if sheprofanes herself by playing the harlot,

LEVITICUS 21 120she profanes her father. She shall beburned with fire.10 ‘He who is the high priest among hisbrethren, on whose head the anoin ngoil was poured and who is consecratedto wear the garments, shall not uncoverhis head nor tear his clothes;11 ‘nor shall he go near any dead body,nor defile himself for his father or hismother;12 ‘nor shall he go out of the sanctuary,nor profane the sanctuary of his God; forthe consecra on of the anoin ng oil ofhis God is upon him: I am the LORD.13 ‘And he shall take a wife in hervirginity.14 ‘A widow or a divorced woman or adefiled woman or a harlot––these heshall not marry; but he shall take a virginof his own people as wife.

LEVITICUS 21 12115 ‘Nor shall he profane his posterityamong his people, for I the LORD sanc fyhim.’"16And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,17 "Speak to Aaron, saying: ‘No manof your descendants in succeedinggenera ons, who has any defect, mayapproach to offer the bread of his God.18 ‘For any man who has a defect shallnot approach: a man blind or lame, whohas a marred face or any limb too long,19 ‘a man who has a broken foot orbroken hand,20 ‘or is a hunchback or a dwarf, or aman who has a defect in his eye, oreczema or scab, or is a eunuch.21 ‘No man of the descendants of Aaronthe priest, who has a defect, shall comenear to offer the offerings made by fireto the LORD. He has a defect; he shall

LEVITICUS 21–22 122not come near to offer the bread of hisGod.22 ‘He may eat the bread of his God,both the most holy and the holy;23 ‘only he shall not go near the veil orapproach the altar, because he has adefect, lest he profane My sanctuaries;for I the LORD sanc fy them.’"24And Moses told it to Aaron and hissons, and to all the children of Israel.

22 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, thatthey separate themselves from the holythings of the children of Israel, and thatthey do not profane My holy name bywhat they dedicate to Me: I am theLORD.3 "Say to them: ‘Whoever of allyour descendants throughout yourgenera ons, who goes near the holythings which the children of Israel

LEVITICUS 22 123dedicate to the LORD, while he hasuncleanness upon him, that person shallbe cut off from My presence: I am theLORD.4 ‘Whatever man of the descendants ofAaron, who is a leper or has a discharge,shall not eat the holy offerings un l heis clean. And whoever touches anythingmade unclean by a corpse, or a man whohas had an emission of semen,5 ‘or whoever touches any creepingthing by which he would be madeunclean, or any person by whom hewould become unclean, whatever hisuncleanness may be––6 ‘the person who has touched any suchthing shall be unclean un l evening, andshall not eat the holy offerings unless hewashes his body with water.7 ‘And when the sun goes down he shallbe clean; and a erward he may eat theholy offerings, because it is his food.

LEVITICUS 22 1248 ‘Whatever dies naturally or is torn bybeasts he shall not eat, to defile himselfwith it: I am the LORD.9 ‘They shall therefore keep Myordinance, lest they bear sin for it anddie thereby, if they profane it: I the LORDsanc fy them.10 ‘No outsider shall eat the holyoffering; one who dwells with the priest,or a hired servant, shall not eat the holything.11 ‘But if the priest buys a person withhis money, he may eat it; and one who isborn in his house may eat his food.12 ‘If the priest’s daughter is married toan outsider, she may not eat of the holyofferings.13 ‘But if the priest’s daughter is awidow or divorced, and has no child, andhas returned to her father’s house as inher youth, she may eat her father’s food;but no outsider shall eat it.

LEVITICUS 22 12514 ‘And if a man eats the holy offeringuninten onally, then he shall restorea holy offering to the priest, and addone–fi h to it.15 ‘They shall not profane the holyofferings of the children of Israel, whichthey offer to the LORD,16 ‘or allow them to bear the guiltof trespass when they eat their holyofferings; for I the LORD sanc fy them.’"17And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,18 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, and toall the children of Israel, and say to them:‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, orof the strangers in Israel, who offers hissacrifice for any of his vows or for any ofhis freewill offerings, which they offer tothe LORD as a burnt offering––19 ‘you shall offer of your own free willa male without blemish from the ca le,from the sheep, or from the goats.

LEVITICUS 22 12620 ‘Whatever has a defect, you shall notoffer, for it shall not be acceptable onyour behalf.21 ‘And whoever offers a sacrifice of apeace offering to the LORD, to fulfill hisvow, or a freewill offering from the ca leor the sheep, it must be perfect to beaccepted; there shall be no defect in it.22 ‘Those that are blind or broken ormaimed, or have an ulcer or eczema orscabs, you shall not offer to the LORD,nor make an offering by fire of them onthe altar to the LORD.23 ‘Either a bull or a lamb that has anylimb too long or too short you may offeras a freewill offering, but for a vow itshall not be accepted.24 ‘You shall not offer to the LORD whatis bruised or crushed, or torn or cut; norshall you make any offering of them inyour land.

LEVITICUS 22 12725 ‘Nor from a foreigner’s hand shallyou offer any of these as the bread ofyour God, because their corrup on isin them, and defects are in them. Theyshall not be accepted on your behalf.’"26And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:27 "When a bull or a sheep or a goatis born, it shall be seven days with itsmother; and from the eighth day andtherea er it shall be accepted as anoffering made by fire to the LORD.28 "Whether it is a cow or ewe, do notkill both her and her young on the sameday.29 "And when you offer a sacrifice ofthanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of yourown free will.30 "On the same day it shall be eaten;you shall leave none of it un l morning: Iam the LORD.

LEVITICUS 22–23 12831 "Therefore you shall keep Mycommandments, and perform them: Iam the LORD.32 "You shall not profane My holyname, but I will be hallowed among thechildren of Israel. I am the LORD whosanc fies you,33 "who brought you out of the land ofEgypt, to be your God: I am the LORD."

23 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD,which you shall proclaim to be holyconvoca ons, these are My feasts.3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but theseventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest,a holy convoca on. You shall do no workon it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in allyour dwellings.

LEVITICUS 23 1294 ‘These are the feasts of the LORD, holyconvoca ons which you shall proclaim attheir appointed mes.5 ‘On the fourteenth day of the firstmonth at twilight is the LORD’S Passover.6 ‘And on the fi eenth day of the samemonth is the Feast of Unleavened Breadto the LORD; seven days you must eatunleavened bread.7 ‘On the first day you shall have a holyconvoca on; you shall do no customarywork on it.8 ‘But you shall offer an offering madeby fire to the LORD for seven days. Theseventh day shall be a holy convoca on;you shall do no customary work on it.’"9And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,10 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you come into theland which I give to you, and reap itsharvest, then you shall bring a sheaf

LEVITICUS 23 130of the firs ruits of your harvest to thepriest.11 ‘He shall wave the sheaf before theLORD, to be accepted on your behalf; onthe day a er the Sabbath the priest shallwave it.12 ‘And you shall offer on that day, whenyou wave the sheaf, a male lamb of thefirst year, without blemish, as a burntoffering to the LORD.13 ‘Its grain offering shall be two–tenthsof an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil,an offering made by fire to the LORD,for a sweet aroma; and its drink offeringshall be of wine, one–fourth of a hin.14 ‘You shall eat neither bread norparched grain nor fresh grain un l thesame day that you have brought anoffering to your God; it shall be a statuteforever throughout your genera ons inall your dwellings.

LEVITICUS 23 13115 ‘And you shall count for yourselvesfrom the day a er the Sabbath, from theday that you brought the sheaf of thewave offering: seven Sabbaths shall becompleted.16 ‘Count fi y days to the day a er theseventh Sabbath; then you shall offer anew grain offering to the LORD.17 ‘You shall bring from your dwellingstwo wave loaves of two–tenths of anephah. They shall be of fine flour; theyshall be baked with leaven. They are thefirs ruits to the LORD.18 ‘And you shall offer with the breadseven lambs of the first year, withoutblemish, one young bull, and two rams.They shall be as a burnt offering to theLORD, with their grain offering and theirdrink offerings, an offering made by firefor a sweet aroma to the LORD.19 ‘Then you shall sacrifice one kid ofthe goats as a sin offering, and two male

LEVITICUS 23 132lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of apeace offering.20 ‘The priest shall wave them with thebread of the firs ruits as a wave offeringbefore the LORD, with the two lambs.They shall be holy to the LORD for thepriest.21 ‘And you shall proclaim on the sameday that it is a holy convoca on to you.You shall do no customary work on it.It shall be a statute forever in all yourdwellings throughout your genera ons.22 ‘When you reap the harvest of yourland, you shall not wholly reap thecorners of your field when you reap, norshall you gather any gleaning from yourharvest. You shall leave them for thepoor and for the stranger: I am the LORDyour God.’"23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

LEVITICUS 23 13324 "Speak to the children of Israel,saying: ‘In the seventh month, on thefirst day of the month, you shall have asabbath–rest , a memorial of blowing oftrumpets, a holy convoca on.25 ‘You shall do no customary work onit; and you shall offer an offering madeby fire to the LORD.’"26And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:27 "Also the tenth day of this seventhmonth shall be the Day of Atonement.It shall be a holy convoca on for you;you shall afflict your souls, and offer anoffering made by fire to the LORD.28 "And you shall do no work on thatsame day, for it is the Day of Atonement,to make atonement for you before theLORD your God.29 "For any person who is not afflictedin soul on that same day shall be cut offfrom his people.

LEVITICUS 23 13430 "And any person who does any workon that same day, that person I willdestroy from among his people.31 "You shall do no manner of work; itshall be a statute forever throughoutyour genera ons in all your dwellings.32 "It shall be to you a sabbath ofsolemn rest, and you shall afflict yoursouls; on the ninth day of the month atevening, from evening to evening, youshall celebrate your sabbath."33 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,34 "Speak to the children of Israel,saying: ‘The fi eenth day of this seventhmonth shall be the Feast of Tabernaclesfor seven days to the LORD.35 ‘On the first day there shall be a holyconvoca on. You shall do no customarywork on it.36 ‘For seven days you shall offer anoffering made by fire to the LORD. On

LEVITICUS 23 135the eighth day you shall have a holyconvoca on, and you shall offer anoffering made by fire to the LORD. It isa sacred assembly, and you shall do nocustomary work on it.37 ‘These are the feasts of the LORDwhich you shall proclaim to be holyconvoca ons, to offer an offering madeby fire to the LORD, a burnt offering anda grain offering, a sacrifice and drinkofferings, everything on its day––38 ‘besides the Sabbaths of the LORD,besides your gi s, besides all your vows,and besides all your freewill offeringswhich you give to the LORD.39 ‘Also on the fi eenth day of theseventh month, when you have gatheredin the fruit of the land, you shall keep thefeast of the LORD for seven days; on thefirst day there shall be a sabbath–rest ,and on the eighth day a sabbath–rest .

LEVITICUS 23–24 13640 ‘And you shall take for yourselves onthe first day the fruit of beau ful trees,branches of palm trees, the boughs ofleafy trees, and willows of the brook;and you shall rejoice before the LORDyour God for seven days.41 ‘You shall keep it as a feast to theLORD for seven days in the year. It shallbe a statute forever in your genera ons.You shall celebrate it in the seventhmonth.42 ‘You shall dwell in booths for sevendays. All who are na ve Israelites shalldwell in booths,43 ‘that your genera ons may knowthat I made the children of Israel dwell inbooths when I brought them out of theland of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’"44 So Moses declared to the children ofIsrael the feasts of the LORD.

24 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

LEVITICUS 24 1372 "Command the children of Israel thatthey bring to you pure oil of pressedolives for the light, to make the lampsburn con nually.3 "Outside the veil of the Tes mony, inthe tabernacle of mee ng, Aaron shallbe in charge of it from evening un lmorning before the LORD con nually;it shall be a statute forever in yourgenera ons.4 "He shall be in charge of the lampson the pure gold lampstand before theLORD con nually.5 "And you shall take fine flour and baketwelve cakes with it. Two–tenths of anephah shall be in each cake.6 "You shall set them in two rows, six ina row, on the pure gold table before theLORD.7 "And you shall put pure frankincenseon each row, that it may be on the bread

LEVITICUS 24 138for a memorial, an offering made by fireto the LORD.8 "Every Sabbath he shall set it in orderbefore the LORD con nually, beingtaken from the children of Israel by aneverlas ng covenant.9 "And it shall be for Aaron and his sons,and they shall eat it in a holy place; forit is most holy to him from the offeringsof the LORD made by fire, by a perpetualstatute."10Now the son of an Israelite woman,whose father was an Egyp an, wentout among the children of Israel; andthis Israelite woman’s son and a man ofIsrael fought each other in the camp.11And the Israelite woman’s sonblasphemed the name of the LORDand cursed; and so they brought himto Moses. (His mother’s name wasShelomith the daughter of Dibri, of thetribe of Dan.)

LEVITICUS 24 13912 Then they put him in custody, thatthe mind of the LORD might be shown tothem.13And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,14 "Take outside the camp him who hascursed; then let all who heard him laytheir hands on his head, and let all thecongrega on stone him.15 "Then you shall speak to the childrenof Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses hisGod shall bear his sin.16 ‘And whoever blasphemes the nameof the LORD shall surely be put to death.All the congrega on shall certainly stonehim, the stranger as well as him who isborn in the land. When he blasphemesthe name of the LORD, he shall be put todeath.17 ‘Whoever kills any man shall surelybe put to death.

LEVITICUS 24–25 14018 ‘Whoever kills an animal shall makeit good, animal for animal.19 ‘If a man causes disfigurement of hisneighbor, as he has done, so shall it bedone to him––20 ‘fracture for fracture, eye for eye,tooth for tooth; as he has causeddisfigurement of a man, so shall it bedone to him.21 ‘And whoever kills an animal shallrestore it; but whoever kills a man shallbe put to death.22 ‘You shall have the same law for thestranger and for one from your owncountry; for I am the LORD your God.’"23 Then Moses spoke to the children ofIsrael; and they took outside the camphim who had cursed, and stoned himwith stones. So the children of Israel didas the LORD commanded Moses.

25 1And the LORD spoke to Moseson Mount Sinai, saying,

LEVITICUS 25 1412 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you come into theland which I give you, then the land shallkeep a sabbath to the LORD.3 ‘Six years you shall sow your field, andsix years you shall prune your vineyard,and gather its fruit;4 ‘but in the seventh year there shall bea sabbath of solemn rest for the land, asabbath to the LORD. You shall neithersow your field nor prune your vineyard.5 ‘What grows of its own accord of yourharvest you shall not reap, nor gatherthe grapes of your untended vine, for itis a year of rest for the land.6 ‘And the sabbath produce of the landshall be food for you: for you, your maleand female servants, your hired man,and the stranger who dwells with you,7 ‘for your livestock and the beasts thatare in your land––all its produce shall befor food.

LEVITICUS 25 1428 ‘And you shall count seven sabbathsof years for yourself, seven messeven years; and the me of the sevensabbaths of years shall be to youforty–nine years.9 ‘Then you shall cause the trumpet ofthe Jubilee to sound on the tenth dayof the seventh month; on the Day ofAtonement you shall make the trumpetto sound throughout all your land.10 ‘And you shall consecrate the fi iethyear, and proclaim liberty throughout allthe land to all its inhabitants. It shall bea Jubilee for you; and each of you shallreturn to his possession, and each of youshall return to his family.11 ‘That fi ieth year shall be a Jubilee toyou; in it you shall neither sow nor reapwhat grows of its own accord, nor gatherthe grapes of your untended vine.

LEVITICUS 25 14312 ‘For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy toyou; you shall eat its produce from thefield.13 ‘In this Year of Jubilee, each of youshall return to his possession.14 ‘And if you sell anything to yourneighbor or buy from your neighbor’shand, you shall not oppress one another.15 ‘According to the number of yearsa er the Jubilee you shall buy from yourneighbor, and according to the numberof years of crops he shall sell to you.16 ‘According to the mul tude ofyears you shall increase its price, andaccording to the fewer number of yearsyou shall diminish its price; for he sellsto you according to the number of theyears of the crops.17 ‘Therefore you shall not oppress oneanother, but you shall fear your God; forI am the LORD your God.

LEVITICUS 25 14418 ‘So you shall observeMy statutes andkeep My judgments, and perform them;and you will dwell in the land in safety.19 ‘Then the land will yield its fruit, andyou will eat your fill, and dwell there insafety.20 ‘And if you say, "What shall we eat inthe seventh year, since we shall not sownor gather in our produce?"21 ‘Then I will command My blessingon you in the sixth year, and it will bringforth produce enough for three years.22 ‘And you shall sow in the eighth year,and eat old produce un l the ninth year;un l its produce comes in, you shall eatof the old harvest.23 ‘The land shall not be soldpermanently, for the land is Mine; foryou are strangers and sojourners withMe.24 ‘And in all the land of your possessionyou shall grant redemp on of the land.

LEVITICUS 25 14525 ‘If one of your brethren becomespoor, and has sold some of hispossession, and if his redeeming rela vecomes to redeem it, then he mayredeem what his brother sold.26 ‘Or if the man has no one to redeemit, but he himself becomes able toredeem it,27 ‘then let him count the years since itssale, and restore the remainder to theman to whom he sold it, that he mayreturn to his possession.28 ‘But if he is not able to have itrestored to himself, then what was soldshall remain in the hand of him whobought it un l the Year of Jubilee; and inthe Jubilee it shall be released, and heshall return to his possession.29 ‘If a man sells a house in a walled city,then he may redeem it within a wholeyear a er it is sold; within a full year hemay redeem it.

LEVITICUS 25 14630 ‘But if it is not redeemed within thespace of a full year, then the house inthe walled city shall belong permanentlyto him who bought it, throughout hisgenera ons. It shall not be released inthe Jubilee.31 ‘However the houses of villageswhich have no wall around them shallbe counted as the fields of the country.They may be redeemed, and they shallbe released in the Jubilee.32 ‘Nevertheless the ci es of theLevites, and the houses in the ci esof their possession, the Levites mayredeem at any me.33 ‘And if a man purchases a housefrom the Levites, then the house thatwas sold in the city of his possessionshall be released in the Jubilee; for thehouses in the ci es of the Levites aretheir possession among the children ofIsrael.

LEVITICUS 25 14734 ‘But the field of the common–land oftheir ci es may not be sold, for it is theirperpetual possession.35 ‘If one of your brethren becomespoor, and falls into poverty among you,then you shall help him, like a strangeror a sojourner, that he may live with you.36 ‘Take no usury or interest from him;but fear your God, that your brother maylive with you.37 ‘You shall not lend him your moneyfor usury, nor lend him your food at aprofit.38 ‘I am the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egypt, togive you the land of Canaan and to beyour God.39 ‘And if one of your brethren whodwells by you becomes poor, and sellshimself to you, you shall not compel himto serve as a slave.

LEVITICUS 25 14840 ‘As a hired servant and a sojournerhe shall be with you, and shall serve youun l the Year of Jubilee.41 ‘And then he shall depart fromyou––he and his children with him––andshall return to his own family. He shallreturn to the possession of his fathers.42 ‘For they are My servants, whom Ibrought out of the land of Egypt; theyshall not be sold as slaves.43 ‘You shall not rule over him withrigor, but you shall fear your God.44 ‘And as for your male and femaleslaves whom you may have––from thena ons that are around you, from themyou may buy male and female slaves.45 ‘Moreover you may buy the childrenof the strangers who dwell among you,and their families who are with you,which they beget in your land; and theyshall become your property.

LEVITICUS 25 14946 ‘And you may take them as aninheritance for your children a er you,to inherit them as a possession; theyshall be your permanent slaves. Butregarding your brethren, the childrenof Israel, you shall not rule over oneanother with rigor.47 ‘Now if a sojourner or stranger closeto you becomes rich, and one of yourbrethren who dwells by him becomespoor, and sells himself to the stranger orsojourner close to you, or to a memberof the stranger’s family,48 ‘a er he is sold he may be redeemedagain. One of his brothers may redeemhim;49 ‘or his uncle or his uncle’s son mayredeem him; or anyone who is near ofkin to him in his family may redeem him;or if he is able he may redeem himself.50 ‘Thus he shall reckon with him whobought him: The price of his release

LEVITICUS 25 150shall be according to the number ofyears, from the year that he was sold tohim un l the Year of Jubilee; it shall beaccording to the me of a hired servantfor him.51 ‘If there are s ll many yearsremaining, according to them he shallrepay the price of his redemp on fromthe money with which he was bought.52 ‘And if there remain but a few yearsun l the Year of Jubilee, then he shallreckon with him, and according to hisyears he shall repay him the price of hisredemp on.53 ‘He shall be with him as a yearly hiredservant, and he shall not rule with rigorover him in your sight.54 ‘And if he is not redeemed in theseyears, then he shall be released in theYear of Jubilee––he and his children withhim.

LEVITICUS 25–26 15155 ‘For the children of Israel are servantsto Me; they are My servants whom Ibrought out of the land of Egypt: I amthe LORD your God.

26 1 ‘You shall not make idols foryourselves; neither a carved

image nor a sacred pillar shall you rearup for yourselves; nor shall you set upan engraved stone in your land, to bowdown to it; for I am the LORD your God.2 You shall keep My Sabbaths andreverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.3 ‘If you walk in My statutes and keepMy commandments, and perform them,4 then I will give you rain in its season,the land shall yield its produce, and thetrees of the field shall yield their fruit.5 Your threshing shall last ll the me ofvintage, and the vintage shall last ll theme of sowing; you shall eat your bread

to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

LEVITICUS 26 1526 I will give peace in the land, and youshall lie down, and none will make youafraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts,and the sword will not go through yourland.7 You will chase your enemies, and theyshall fall by the sword before you.8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, anda hundred of you shall put ten thousandto flight; your enemies shall fall by thesword before you.9 ‘For I will look on you favorably andmake you frui ul, mul ply you andconfirm My covenant with you.10 You shall eat the old harvest, andclear out the old because of the new.11 I will set My tabernacle among you,and My soul shall not abhor you.12 I will walk among you and be yourGod, and you shall be My people.13 I am the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egypt,

LEVITICUS 26 153that you should not be their slaves; Ihave broken the bands of your yoke andmade you walk upright.14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and donot observe all these commandments,15 and if you despise My statutes,or if your soul abhors My judgments,so that you do not perform all Mycommandments, but break Mycovenant,16 I also will do this to you: I will evenappoint terror over you, was ng diseaseand fever which shall consume the eyesand cause sorrow of heart. And you shallsow your seed in vain, for your enemiesshall eat it.17 I will set My face against you, andyou shall be defeated by your enemies.Those who hate you shall reign over you,and you shall flee when no one pursuesyou.

LEVITICUS 26 15418 ‘And a er all this, if you do not obeyMe, then I will punish you seven mesmore for your sins.19 I will break the pride of your power;I will make your heavens like iron andyour earth like bronze.20And your strength shall be spent invain; for your land shall not yield itsproduce, nor shall the trees of the landyield their fruit.21 ‘Then, if you walk contrary to Me,and are not willing to obey Me, I willbring on you seven mes more plagues,according to your sins.22 I will also send wild beasts amongyou, which shall rob you of your children,destroy your livestock, and make youfew in number; and your highways shallbe desolate.23 ‘And if by these things you are notreformed by Me, but walk contrary toMe,

LEVITICUS 26 15524 then I also will walk contrary to you,and I will punish you yet seven mes foryour sins.25And I will bring a sword againstyou that will execute the vengeance ofthe covenant; when you are gatheredtogether within your ci es I will sendpes lence among you; and you shall bedelivered into the hand of the enemy.26When I have cut off your supply ofbread, ten women shall bake your breadin one oven, and they shall bring backyour bread by weight, and you shall eatand not be sa sfied.27 ‘And a er all this, if you do not obeyMe, but walk contrary to Me,28 then I also will walk contrary to youin fury; and I, even I, will chas se youseven mes for your sins.29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons,and you shall eat the flesh of yourdaughters.

LEVITICUS 26 15630 I will destroy your high places, cutdown your incense altars, and cast yourcarcasses on the lifeless forms of youridols; and My soul shall abhor you.31 I will lay your ci es waste and bringyour sanctuaries to desola on, and I willnot smell the fragrance of your sweetaromas.32 I will bring the land to desola on,and your enemies who dwell in it shallbe astonished at it.33 I will sca er you among the na onsand draw out a sword a er you; yourland shall be desolate and your ci eswaste.34 Then the land shall enjoy its sabbathsas long as it lies desolate and you are inyour enemies’ land; then the land shallrest and enjoy its sabbaths.35As long as it lies desolate it shallrest––for the me it did not rest on yoursabbaths when you dwelt in it.

LEVITICUS 26 15736 ‘And as for those of you who are le ,I will send faintness into their hearts inthe lands of their enemies; the sound ofa shaken leaf shall cause them to flee;they shall flee as though fleeing from asword, and they shall fall when no onepursues.37 They shall stumble over one another,as it were before a sword, when no onepursues; and you shall have no power tostand before your enemies.38 You shall perish among the na ons,and the land of your enemies shall eatyou up.39And those of you who are le shallwaste away in their iniquity in yourenemies’ lands; also in their fathers’iniqui es, which are with them, theyshall waste away.40 ‘But if they confess their iniquityand the iniquity of their fathers, withtheir unfaithfulness in which they were

LEVITICUS 26 158unfaithful to Me, and that they also havewalked contrary to Me,41 and that I also have walked contraryto them and have brought them intothe land of their enemies; if theiruncircumcised hearts are humbled, andthey accept their guilt––42 then I will remember My covenantwith Jacob, and My covenant with Isaacand My covenant with Abraham I willremember; I will remember the land.43 The land also shall be le empty bythem, and will enjoy its sabbaths whileit lies desolate without them; they willaccept their guilt, because they despisedMy judgments and because their soulabhorred My statutes.44 Yet for all that, when they are inthe land of their enemies, I will notcast them away, nor shall I abhor them,to u erly destroy them and break My

LEVITICUS 26–27 159covenant with them; for I am the LORDtheir God.45 But for their sake I will rememberthe covenant of their ancestors, whomI brought out of the land of Egypt in thesight of the na ons, that I might be theirGod: I am the LORD.’"46 These are the statutes and judgmentsand laws which the LORD made betweenHimself and the children of Israel onMount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

27 1Now the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When a man consecratesby a vow certain persons to the LORD,according to your valua on,3 ‘if your valua on is of a male fromtwenty years old up to sixty years old,then your valua on shall be fi y shekelsof silver, according to the shekel of thesanctuary.

LEVITICUS 27 1604 ‘If it is a female, then your valua onshall be thirty shekels;5 ‘and if from five years old up to twentyyears old, then your valua on for a maleshall be twenty shekels, and for a femaleten shekels;6 ‘and if from a month old up to fiveyears old, then your valua on for a maleshall be five shekels of silver, and fora female your valua on shall be threeshekels of silver;7 ‘and if from sixty years old and above,if it is a male, then your valua on shallbe fi een shekels, and for a female tenshekels.8 ‘But if he is too poor to pay yourvalua on, then he shall present himselfbefore the priest, and the priest shall seta value for him; according to the abilityof him who vowed, the priest shall valuehim.

LEVITICUS 27 1619 ‘If it is an animal that men may bringas an offering to the LORD, all thatanyone gives to the LORD shall be holy.10 ‘He shall not subs tute it or exchangeit, good for bad or bad for good; and ifhe at all exchanges animal for animal,then both it and the one exchanged forit shall be holy.11 ‘If it is an unclean animal which theydo not offer as a sacrifice to the LORD,then he shall present the animal beforethe priest;12 ‘and the priest shall set a value forit, whether it is good or bad; as you, thepriest, value it, so it shall be.13 ‘But if he wants at all to redeemit, then he must add one–fi h to yourvalua on.14 ‘And when a man dedicates his houseto be holy to the LORD, then the priestshall set a value for it, whether it is good

LEVITICUS 27 162or bad; as the priest values it, so it shallstand.15 ‘If he who dedicated it wants toredeem his house, then he must addone–fi h of the money of your valua onto it, and it shall be his.16 ‘If a man dedicates to the LORD partof a field of his possession, then yourvalua on shall be according to the seedfor it. A homer of barley seed shall bevalued at fi y shekels of silver.17 ‘If he dedicates his field from the Yearof Jubilee, according to your valua on itshall stand.18 ‘But if he dedicates his field a er theJubilee, then the priest shall reckon tohim the money due according to theyears that remain ll the Year of Jubilee,and it shall be deducted from yourvalua on.19 ‘And if he who dedicates the fieldever wishes to redeem it, then he must

LEVITICUS 27 163add one–fi h of the money of yourvalua on to it, and it shall belong to him.20 ‘But if he does not want to redeemthe field, or if he has sold the field toanother man, it shall not be redeemedanymore;21 ‘but the field, when it is released inthe Jubilee, shall be holy to the LORD, asa devoted field; it shall be the possessionof the priest.22 ‘And if a man dedicates to the LORDa field which he has bought, which is notthe field of his possession,23 ‘then the priest shall reckon to himthe worth of your valua on, up to theYear of Jubilee, and he shall give yourvalua on on that day as a holy offeringto the LORD.24 ‘In the Year of Jubilee the field shallreturn to him from whom it was bought,to the one who owned the land as apossession.

LEVITICUS 27 16425 ‘And all your valua ons shall beaccording to the shekel of the sanctuary:twenty gerahs to the shekel.26 ‘But the firstborn of the animals,which should be the LORD’S firstborn,no man shall dedicate; whether it is anox or sheep, it is the LORD’S.27 ‘And if it is an unclean animal, thenhe shall redeem it according to yourvalua on, and shall add one–fi h to it;or if it is not redeemed, then it shall besold according to your valua on.28 ‘Nevertheless no devoted offeringthat a man may devote to the LORD ofall that he has, both man and beast, orthe field of his possession, shall be soldor redeemed; every devoted offering ismost holy to the LORD.29 ‘No person under the ban, who maybecome doomed to destruc on amongmen, shall be redeemed, but shall surelybe put to death.

LEVITICUS 27 16530 ‘And all the the of the land, whetherof the seed of the land or of the fruit ofthe tree, is the LORD’S. It is holy to theLORD.31 ‘If a man wants at all to redeem anyof his thes, he shall add one–fi h to it.32 ‘And concerning the the of the herdor the flock, of whatever passes underthe rod, the tenth one shall be holy tothe LORD.33 ‘He shall not inquire whether it isgood or bad, nor shall he exchange it;and if he exchanges it at all, then bothit and the one exchanged for it shall beholy; it shall not be redeemed.’"34 These are the commandments whichthe LORD commanded Moses for thechildren of Israel on Mount Sinai.

Numbers

1 1Now the LORD spoke to Mosesin the Wilderness of Sinai, in the

tabernacle of mee ng, on the first dayof the second month, in the second yeara er they had come out of the land ofEgypt, saying:2 "Take a census of all the congrega onof the children of Israel, by their families,by their fathers’ houses, accordingto the number of names, every maleindividually,3 "from twenty years old and above––allwho are able to go to war in Israel. Youand Aaron shall number them by theirarmies.4 "And with you there shall be a manfrom every tribe, each one the head ofhis father’s house.

NUMBERS 1 25 "These are the names of the men whoshall stand with you: from Reuben, Elizurthe son of Shedeur;6 "from Simeon, Shelumiel the son ofZurishaddai;7 "from Judah, Nahshon the son ofAmminadab;8 "from Issachar, Nethanel the son ofZuar;9 "from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;10 "from the sons of Joseph: fromEphraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud;from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son ofPedahzur;11 "from Benjamin, Abidan the son ofGideoni;12 "from Dan, Ahiezer the son ofAmmishaddai;13 "from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;14 "from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;15 "from Naphtali, Ahira the son ofEnan."

NUMBERS 1 316 These were chosen from thecongrega on, leaders of their fathers’tribes, heads of the divisions in Israel.17 Then Moses and Aaron took thesemen who had been men oned by name,18 and they assembled all thecongrega on together on the first day ofthe secondmonth; and they recited theirancestry by families, by their fathers’houses, according to the number ofnames, from twenty years old andabove, each one individually.19As the LORD commanded Moses, sohe numbered them in the Wilderness ofSinai.20Now the children of Reuben,Israel’s oldest son, their genealogies bytheir families, by their fathers’ house,according to the number of names,every male individually, from twentyyears old and above, all who were ableto go to war:

NUMBERS 1 421 those who were numbered of thetribe of Reuben were forty–six thousandfive hundred.22 From the children of Simeon, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, of those who werenumbered, according to the number ofnames, every male individually, fromtwenty years old and above, all whowere able to go to war:23 those who were numbered of thetribe of Simeonwere fi y–nine thousandthree hundred.24 From the children of Gad, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:25 those who were numbered of thetribe of Gad were forty–five thousandsix hundred and fi y.

NUMBERS 1 526 From the children of Judah, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:27 those who were numbered ofthe tribe of Judah were seventy–fourthousand six hundred.28 From the children of Issachar, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:29 those who were numbered ofthe tribe of Issachar were fi y–fourthousand four hundred.30 From the children of Zebulun, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:

NUMBERS 1 631 those who were numbered ofthe tribe of Zebulun were fi y–seventhousand four hundred.32 From the sons of Joseph, thechildren of Ephraim, their genealogiesby their families, by their fathers’ house,according to the number of names, fromtwenty years old and above, all whowere able to go to war:33 those who were numbered of thetribe of Ephraim were forty thousandfive hundred.34 From the children of Manasseh, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:35 those who were numbered of thetribe of Manasseh were thirty–twothousand two hundred.36 From the children of Benjamin, theirgenealogies by their families, by their

NUMBERS 1 7fathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:37 those who were numbered of thetribe of Benjamin were thirty–fivethousand four hundred.38 From the children of Dan, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:39 those who were numbered of thetribe of Dan were sixty–two thousandseven hundred.40 From the children of Asher, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:41 those who were numbered of thetribe of Asher were forty–one thousandfive hundred.

NUMBERS 1 842 From the children of Naphtali, theirgenealogies by their families, by theirfathers’ house, according to the numberof names, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war:43 those who were numbered ofthe tribe of Naphtali were fi y–threethousand four hundred.44 These are the ones who werenumbered, whom Moses and Aaronnumbered, with the leaders of Israel,twelve men, each one represen ng hisfather’s house.45 So all who were numbered of thechildren of Israel, by their fathers’houses, from twenty years old andabove, all who were able to go to war inIsrael––46 all who were numbered were sixhundred and three thousand fivehundred and fi y.

NUMBERS 1 947 But the Levites were not numberedamong them by their fathers’ tribe;48 for the LORD had spoken to Moses,saying:49 "Only the tribe of Levi you shall notnumber, nor take a census of themamong the children of Israel;50 "but you shall appoint the Levitesover the tabernacle of the Tes mony,over all its furnishings, and over allthings that belong to it; they shall carrythe tabernacle and all its furnishings;they shall a end to it and camp aroundthe tabernacle.51 "And when the tabernacle is to goforward, the Levites shall take it down;and when the tabernacle is to be set up,the Levites shall set it up. The outsiderwho comes near shall be put to death.52 "The children of Israel shall pitchtheir tents, everyone by his own camp,

NUMBERS 1–2 10everyone by his own standard, accordingto their armies;53 "but the Levites shall camp aroundthe tabernacle of the Tes mony,that there may be no wrath on thecongrega on of the children of Israel;and the Levites shall keep charge of thetabernacle of the Tes mony."54 Thus the children of Israel did;according to all that the LORDcommanded Moses, so they did.

2 1And the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying:

2 "Everyone of the children of Israelshall camp by his own standard, besidethe emblems of his father’s house; theyshall camp some distance from thetabernacle of mee ng.3 "On the east side, toward the risingof the sun, those of the standard of theforces with Judah shall camp accordingto their armies; and Nahshon the son of

NUMBERS 2 11Amminadab shall be the leader of thechildren of Judah."4And his army was numbered atseventy–four thousand six hundred.5 "Those who camp next to him shallbe the tribe of Issachar, and Nethanelthe son of Zuar shall be the leader of thechildren of Issachar."6And his army was numbered atfi y–four thousand four hundred.7 "Then comes the tribe of Zebulun, andEliab the son of Helon shall be the leaderof the children of Zebulun."8And his army was numbered atfi y–seven thousand four hundred.9 "All who were numbered according totheir armies of the forces with Judah,one hundred and eighty–six thousandfour hundred––these shall break campfirst.10 "On the south side shall be thestandard of the forces with Reuben

NUMBERS 2 12according to their armies, and the leaderof the children of Reuben shall be Elizurthe son of Shedeur."11And his army was numbered atforty–six thousand five hundred.12 "Those who camp next to him shallbe the tribe of Simeon, and the leaderof the children of Simeon shall beShelumiel the son of Zurishaddai."13And his army was numbered atfi y–nine thousand three hundred.14 "Then comes the tribe of Gad, andthe leader of the children of Gad shall beEliasaph the son of Reuel."15And his army was numbered atforty–five thousand six hundred andfi y.16 "All who were numbered accordingto their armies of the forces withReuben, one hundred and fi y–onethousand four hundred and fi y––theyshall be the second to break camp.

NUMBERS 2 1317 "And the tabernacle of mee ng shallmove out with the camp of the Levites inthe middle of the camps; as they camp,so they shall move out, everyone in hisplace, by their standards.18 "On the west side shall be thestandard of the forces with Ephraimaccording to their armies, and the leaderof the children of Ephraim shall beElishama the son of Ammihud."19And his army was numbered at fortythousand five hundred.20 "Next to him comes the tribe ofManasseh, and the leader of the childrenof Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the sonof Pedahzur."21And his army was numbered atthirty–two thousand two hundred.22 "Then comes the tribe of Benjamin,and the leader of the children ofBenjamin shall be Abidan the son ofGideoni."

NUMBERS 2 1423And his army was numbered atthirty–five thousand four hundred.24 "All who were numbered accordingto their armies of the forces withEphraim, one hundred and eightthousand one hundred––they shall bethe third to break camp.25 "The standard of the forces with Danshall be on the north side accordingto their armies, and the leader of thechildren of Dan shall be Ahiezer the sonof Ammishaddai."26And his army was numbered atsixty–two thousand seven hundred.27 "Those who camp next to him shallbe the tribe of Asher, and the leader ofthe children of Asher shall be Pagiel theson of Ocran."28And his army was numbered atforty–one thousand five hundred.

NUMBERS 2 1529 "Then comes the tribe of Naphtali,and the leader of the children of Naphtalishall be Ahira the son of Enan."30And his army was numbered atfi y–three thousand four hundred.31 "All who were numbered of theforces with Dan, one hundred and fi y–seven thousand six hundred––they shallbreak camp last, with their standards."32 These are the ones who werenumbered of the children of Israel bytheir fathers’ houses. All who werenumbered according to their armies ofthe forces were six hundred and threethousand five hundred and fi y.33 But the Levites were not numberedamong the children of Israel, just as theLORD commanded Moses.34 Thus the children of Israel didaccording to all that the LORDcommanded Moses; so they camped bytheir standards and so they broke camp,

NUMBERS 3 16each one by his family, according to theirfathers’ houses.

3 1Now these are the records of Aaronand Moses when the LORD spoke

with Moses on Mount Sinai.2And these are the names of the sonsof Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, andAbihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.3 These are the names of the sons ofAaron, the anointed priests, whom heconsecrated to minister as priests.4Nadab and Abihu had died beforethe LORD when they offered profanefire before the LORD in the Wildernessof Sinai; and they had no children.So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered aspriests in the presence of Aaron theirfather.5And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, andpresent them before Aaron the priest,that they may serve him.

NUMBERS 3 177 "And they shall a end to his needsand the needs of the whole congrega onbefore the tabernacle of mee ng, to dothe work of the tabernacle.8 "Also they shall a end to all thefurnishings of the tabernacle of mee ng,and to the needs of the children of Israel,to do the work of the tabernacle.9 "And you shall give the Levites toAaron and his sons; they are givenen rely to him from among the childrenof Israel.10 "So you shall appoint Aaron andhis sons, and they shall a end to theirpriesthood; but the outsider who comesnear shall be put to death."11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:12 "Now behold, I Myself have taken theLevites from among the children of Israelinstead of every firstborn who opens

NUMBERS 3 18the womb among the children of Israel.Therefore the Levites shall be Mine,13 "because all the firstborn are Mine.On the day that I struck all the firstbornin the land of Egypt, I sanc fied toMyself all the firstborn in Israel, bothman and beast. They shall be Mine: I amthe LORD."14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in theWilderness of Sinai, saying:15 "Number the children of Levi by theirfathers’ houses, by their families; youshall number every male from a monthold and above."16 So Moses numbered them accordingto the word of the LORD, as he wascommanded.17 These were the sons of Levi by theirnames: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.18And these are the names of the sonsof Gershon by their families: Libni andShimei.

NUMBERS 3 1919And the sons of Kohath by theirfamilies: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, andUzziel.20And the sons of Merari by theirfamilies: Mahli and Mushi. These are thefamilies of the Levites by their fathers’houses.21 From Gershon came the familyof the Libnites and the family of theShimites; these were the families of theGershonites.22 Those who were numbered,according to the number of all the malesfrom a month old and above––of thosewho were numbered there were seventhousand five hundred.23 The families of the Gershoniteswere to camp behind the tabernaclewestward.24And the leader of the fathers’ houseof the Gershonites was Eliasaph the sonof Lael.

NUMBERS 3 2025 The du es of the children of Gershonin the tabernacle of mee ng includedthe tabernacle, the tent with its covering,the screen for the door of the tabernacleof mee ng,26 the screen for the door of the court,the hangings of the court which arearound the tabernacle and the altar, andtheir cords, according to all the workrela ng to them.27 From Kohath came the family of theAmramites, the family of the Izharites,the family of the Hebronites, and thefamily of the Uzzielites; these were thefamilies of the Kohathites.28According to the number of all themales, from a month old and above,there were eight thousand six hundredkeeping charge of the sanctuary.29 The families of the children of Kohathwere to camp on the south side of thetabernacle.

NUMBERS 3 2130And the leader of the fathers’ houseof the families of the Kohathites wasElizaphan the son of Uzziel.31 Their duty included the ark, thetable, the lampstand, the altars, theutensils of the sanctuary with whichthey ministered, the screen, and all thework rela ng to them.32And Eleazar the son of Aaron thepriest was to be chief over the leaders ofthe Levites, with oversight of those whokept charge of the sanctuary.33 From Merari came the family of theMahlites and the family of the Mushites;these were the families of Merari.34And those who were numbered,according to the number of all the malesfrom a month old and above, were sixthousand two hundred.35 The leader of the fathers’ house ofthe families of Merari was Zuriel the son

NUMBERS 3 22of Abihail. These were to camp on thenorth side of the tabernacle.36And the appointed duty of thechildren of Merari included the boardsof the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, itssockets, its utensils, all the work rela ngto them,37 and the pillars of the court all around,with their sockets, their pegs, and theircords.38Moreover those who were to campbefore the tabernacle on the east, beforethe tabernacle of mee ng, were Moses,Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge ofthe sanctuary, to meet the needs of thechildren of Israel; but the outsider whocame near was to be put to death.39All who were numbered of theLevites, whom Moses and Aaronnumbered at the commandment of theLORD, by their families, all the males

NUMBERS 3 23from a month old and above, weretwenty–two thousand.40 Then the LORD said to Moses:"Number all the firstborn males of thechildren of Israel from a month old andabove, and take the number of theirnames.41 "And you shall take the Levites forMe––I am the LORD––instead of all thefirstborn among the children of Israel,and the livestock of the Levites insteadof all the firstborn among the livestockof the children of Israel."42 So Moses numbered all the firstbornamong the children of Israel, as theLORD commanded him.43And all the firstborn males, accordingto the number of names from a monthold and above, of those who werenumbered of them, were twenty–two thousand two hundred andseventy–three.

NUMBERS 3 2444 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:45 "Take the Levites instead of all thefirstborn among the children of Israel,and the livestock of the Levites insteadof their livestock. The Levites shall beMine: I am the LORD.46 "And for the redemp on of thetwo hundred and seventy–three of thefirstborn of the children of Israel, whoaremore than the number of the Levites,47 "you shall take five shekels for eachone individually; you shall take themin the currency of the shekel of thesanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs.48 "And you shall give the money, withwhich the excess number of them isredeemed, to Aaron and his sons."49 So Moses took the redemp onmoney from those who were over andabove those who were redeemed by theLevites.

NUMBERS 3–4 2550 From the firstborn of the children ofIsrael he took the money, one thousandthree hundred and sixty–five shekels,according to the shekel of the sanctuary.51And Moses gave their redemp onmoney to Aaron and his sons, accordingto the word of the LORD, as the LORDcommanded Moses.

4 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying:

2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohathfrom among the children of Levi, by theirfamilies, by their fathers’ house,3 "from thirty years old and above,even to fi y years old, all who enter theservice to do the work in the tabernacleof mee ng.4 "This is the service of the sons ofKohath in the tabernacle of mee ng,rela ng to the most holy things:5 "When the camp prepares to journey,Aaron and his sons shall come, and they

NUMBERS 4 26shall take down the covering veil andcover the ark of the Tes mony with it.6 "Then they shall put on it a coveringof badger skins, and spread over thata cloth en rely of blue; and they shallinsert its poles.7 "On the table of showbread they shallspread a blue cloth, and put on it thedishes, the pans, the bowls, and thepitchers for pouring; and the showbreadshall be on it.8 "They shall spread over them ascarlet cloth, and cover the same with acovering of badger skins; and they shallinsert its poles.9 "And they shall take a blue cloth andcover the lampstand of the light, with itslamps, its wick–trimmers, its trays, andall its oil vessels, with which they serviceit.

NUMBERS 4 2710 "Then they shall put it with all itsutensils in a covering of badger skins,and put it on a carrying beam.11 "Over the golden altar they shallspread a blue cloth, and cover it with acovering of badger skins; and they shallinsert its poles.12 "Then they shall take all the utensilsof service with which they minister inthe sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth,cover them with a covering of badgerskins, and put them on a carrying beam.13 "Also they shall take away the ashesfrom the altar, and spread a purple clothover it.14 "They shall put on it all its implementswith which they minister there––thefirepans, the forks, the shovels, thebasins, and all the utensils of thealtar––and they shall spread on it acovering of badger skins, and insert itspoles.

NUMBERS 4 2815 "And when Aaron and his sons havefinished covering the sanctuary and allthe furnishings of the sanctuary, whenthe camp is set to go, then the sons ofKohath shall come to carry them; butthey shall not touch any holy thing, lestthey die. These are the things in thetabernacle of mee ng which the sons ofKohath are to carry.16 "The appointed duty of Eleazar theson of Aaron the priest is the oil for thelight, the sweet incense, the daily grainoffering, the anoin ng oil, the oversightof all the tabernacle, of all that is in it,with the sanctuary and its furnishings."17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying:18 "Do not cut off the tribe of thefamilies of the Kohathites from amongthe Levites;19 "but do this in regard to them, thatthey may live and not die when they

NUMBERS 4 29approach the most holy things: Aaronand his sons shall go in and appoint eachof them to his service and his task.20 "But they shall not go in to watchwhile the holy things are being covered,lest they die."21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:22 "Also take a census of the sons ofGershon, by their fathers’ house, bytheir families.23 "From thirty years old and above,even to fi y years old, you shall numberthem, all who enter to perform theservice, to do the work in the tabernacleof mee ng.24 "This is the service of the families ofthe Gershonites, in serving and carrying:25 "They shall carry the curtains ofthe tabernacle and the tabernacle ofmee ng with its covering, the coveringof badger skins that is on it, the screen

NUMBERS 4 30for the door of the tabernacle ofmee ng,26 "the screen for the door of the gateof the court, the hangings of the courtwhich are around the tabernacle andaltar, and their cords, all the furnishingsfor their service and all that is made forthese things: so shall they serve.27 "Aaron and his sons shall assignall the service of the sons of theGershonites, all their tasks and all theirservice. And you shall appoint to themall their tasks as their duty.28 "This is the service of the families ofthe sons of Gershon in the tabernacleof mee ng. And their du es shall beunder the authority of Ithamar the sonof Aaron the priest.29 "As for the sons of Merari, you shallnumber them by their families and bytheir fathers’ house.

NUMBERS 4 3130 "From thirty years old and above,even to fi y years old, you shall numberthem, everyone who enters the serviceto do the work of the tabernacle ofmee ng.31 "And this is what they must carry asall their service for the tabernacle ofmee ng: the boards of the tabernacle,its bars, its pillars, its sockets,32 "and the pillars around the courtwith their sockets, pegs, and cords, withall their furnishings and all their service;and you shall assign to each man byname the items he must carry.33 "This is the service of the families ofthe sons of Merari, as all their servicefor the tabernacle of mee ng, under theauthority of Ithamar the son of Aaronthe priest."34And Moses, Aaron, and the leadersof the congrega on numbered the sons

NUMBERS 4 32of the Kohathites by their families andby their fathers’ house,35 from thirty years old and above, evento fi y years old, everyone who enteredthe service for work in the tabernacle ofmee ng;36 and those who were numbered bytheir families were two thousand sevenhundred and fi y.37 These were the ones who werenumbered of the families of theKohathites, all who might serve in thetabernacle of mee ng, whom Mosesand Aaron numbered according to thecommandment of the LORD by the handof Moses.38And those who were numbered ofthe sons of Gershon, by their familiesand by their fathers’ house,39 from thirty years old and above, evento fi y years old, everyone who entered

NUMBERS 4 33the service for work in the tabernacle ofmee ng––40 those who were numbered by theirfamilies, by their fathers’ house, weretwo thousand six hundred and thirty.41 These are the ones who werenumbered of the families of the sons ofGershon, of all who might serve in thetabernacle of mee ng, whom Mosesand Aaron numbered according to thecommandment of the LORD.42 Those of the families of the sons ofMerari who were numbered, by theirfamilies, by their fathers’ house,43 from thirty years old and above, evento fi y years old, everyone who enteredthe service for work in the tabernacle ofmee ng––44 those who were numbered by theirfamilies were three thousand twohundred.

NUMBERS 4 3445 These are the ones who werenumbered of the families of the sonsof Merari, whom Moses and Aaronnumbered according to the word of theLORD by the hand of Moses.46All who were numbered of theLevites, whom Moses, Aaron, and theleaders of Israel numbered, by theirfamilies and by their fathers’ houses,47 from thirty years old and above, evento fi y years old, everyone who cameto do the work of service and the workof bearing burdens in the tabernacle ofmee ng––48 those who were numbered wereeight thousand five hundred and eighty.49According to the commandment ofthe LORD they were numbered by thehand of Moses, each according to hisservice and according to his task; thuswere they numbered by him, as theLORD commanded Moses.

NUMBERS 5 35

5 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Command the children of Israel thatthey put out of the camp every leper,everyone who has a discharge, andwhoever becomes defiled by a corpse.3 "You shall put out both male andfemale; you shall put them outside thecamp, that they may not defile theircamps in the midst of which I dwell."4And the children of Israel did so, andput them outside the camp; as the LORDspoke to Moses, so the children of Israeldid.5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,6 "Speak to the children of Israel: ‘Whena man or woman commits any sin thatmen commit in unfaithfulness againstthe LORD, and that person is guilty,7 ‘then he shall confess the sin which hehas commi ed. He shall make res tu on

NUMBERS 5 36for his trespass in full, plus one–fi h ofit, and give it to the one he has wronged.8 ‘But if the man has no rela ve towhom res tu on may be made for thewrong, the res tu on for the wrongmust go to the LORD for the priest, inaddi on to the ram of the atonementwith which atonement is made for him.9 ‘Every offering of all the holy things ofthe children of Israel, which they bringto the priest, shall be his.10 ‘And every man’s holy things shall behis; whatever any man gives the priestshall be his.’"11And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,12 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘If any man’s wife goesastray and behaves unfaithfully towardhim,13 ‘and a man lies with her carnally,and it is hidden from the eyes of her

NUMBERS 5 37husband, and it is concealed that she hasdefiled herself, and there was no witnessagainst her, nor was she caught––14 ‘if the spirit of jealousy comes uponhim and he becomes jealous of his wife,who has defiled herself; or if the spiritof jealousy comes upon him and hebecomes jealous of his wife, althoughshe has not defiled herself––15 ‘then the man shall bring his wife tothe priest. He shall bring the offeringrequired for her, one–tenth of an ephahof barley meal; he shall pour no oil on itand put no frankincense on it, because itis a grain offering of jealousy, an offeringfor remembering, for bringing iniquity toremembrance.16 ‘And the priest shall bring her near,and set her before the LORD.17 ‘The priest shall take holy water inan earthen vessel, and take some of the

NUMBERS 5 38dust that is on the floor of the tabernacleand put it into the water.18 ‘Then the priest shall stand thewoman before the LORD, uncover thewoman’s head, and put the offering forremembering in her hands, which is thegrain offering of jealousy. And the priestshall have in his hand the bi er waterthat brings a curse.19 ‘And the priest shall put her underoath, and say to the woman, "If no manhas lain with you, and if you have notgone astray to uncleanness while underyour husband’s authority, be free fromthis bi er water that brings a curse.20 "But if you have gone astray whileunder your husband’s authority, and ifyou have defiled yourself and some manother than your husband has lain withyou" ––21 ‘then the priest shall put the womanunder the oath of the curse, and he shall

NUMBERS 5 39say to the woman––"the LORDmake youa curse and an oath among your people,when the LORD makes your thigh rotand your belly swell;22 "and may this water that causes thecurse go into your stomach, and makeyour belly swell and your thigh rot."Then the woman shall say, "Amen, so beit."23 ‘Then the priest shall write thesecurses in a book, and he shall scrapethem off into the bi er water.24 ‘And he shall make the woman drinkthe bi er water that brings a curse, andthe water that brings the curse shallenter her to become bi er.25 ‘Then the priest shall take the grainoffering of jealousy from the woman’shand, shall wave the offering before theLORD, and bring it to the altar;26 ‘and the priest shall take a handfulof the offering, as its memorial por on,

NUMBERS 5 40burn it on the altar, and a erward makethe woman drink the water.27 ‘When he has made her drink thewater, then it shall be, if she has defiledherself and behaved unfaithfully towardher husband, that the water that bringsa curse will enter her and become bi er,and her belly will swell, her thigh willrot, and the woman will become a curseamong her people.28 ‘But if the woman has not defiledherself, and is clean, then she shall befree and may conceive children.29 ‘This is the law of jealousy, whena wife, while under her husband’sauthority, goes astray and defiles herself,30 ‘or when the spirit of jealousy comesupon a man, and he becomes jealous ofhis wife; then he shall stand the womanbefore the LORD, and the priest shallexecute all this law upon her.

NUMBERS 5–6 4131 ‘Then the man shall be free frominiquity, but that woman shall bear herguilt.’"

6 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When either a man orwoman consecrates an offering to takethe vow of a Nazirite, to separate himselfto the LORD,3 ‘he shall separate himself from wineand similar drink; he shall drink neithervinegar made from wine nor vinegarmade from similar drink; neither shallhe drink any grape juice, nor eat freshgrapes or raisins.4 ‘All the days of his separa on he shalleat nothing that is produced by thegrapevine, from seed to skin.5 ‘All the days of the vow of hissepara on no razor shall come uponhis head; un l the days are fulfilled for

NUMBERS 6 42which he separated himself to the LORD,he shall be holy. Then he shall let thelocks of the hair of his head grow.6 ‘All the days that he separates himselfto the LORD he shall not go near a deadbody.7 ‘He shall not make himself uncleaneven for his father or his mother, forhis brother or his sister, when they die,because his separa on to God is on hishead.8 ‘All the days of his separa on he shallbe holy to the LORD.9 ‘And if anyone dies very suddenlybeside him, and he defiles hisconsecrated head, then he shall shavehis head on the day of his cleansing; onthe seventh day he shall shave it.10 ‘Then on the eighth day he shall bringtwo turtledoves or two young pigeons tothe priest, to the door of the tabernacleof mee ng;

NUMBERS 6 4311 ‘and the priest shall offer one as asin offering and the other as a burntoffering, and make atonement for him,because he sinned in regard to thecorpse; and he shall sanc fy his headthat same day.12 ‘He shall consecrate to the LORDthe days of his separa on, and bring amale lamb in its first year as a trespassoffering; but the former days shall belost, because his separa on was defiled.13 ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite:When the days of his separa on arefulfilled, he shall be brought to the doorof the tabernacle of mee ng.14 ‘And he shall present his offeringto the LORD: one male lamb in its firstyear without blemish as a burnt offering,one ewe lamb in its first year withoutblemish as a sin offering, one ramwithout blemish as a peace offering,

NUMBERS 6 4415 ‘a basket of unleavened bread, cakesof fine flour mixed with oil, unleavenedwafers anointed with oil, and their grainoffering with their drink offerings.16 ‘Then the priest shall bring thembefore the LORD and offer his sin offeringand his burnt offering;17 ‘and he shall offer the ram as asacrifice of peace offering to the LORD,with the basket of unleavened bread; thepriest shall also offer its grain offeringand its drink offering.18 ‘Then the Nazirite shall shave hisconsecrated head at the door of thetabernacle of mee ng, and shall take thehair from his consecrated head and putit on the fire which is under the sacrificeof the peace offering.19 ‘And the priest shall take theboiled shoulder of the ram, oneunleavened cake from the basket, andone unleavened wafer, and put them

NUMBERS 6 45upon the hands of the Nazirite a er hehas shaved his consecrated hair,20 ‘and the priest shall wave them asa wave offering before the LORD; theyare holy for the priest, together withthe breast of the wave offering and thethigh of the heave offering. A er thatthe Nazirite may drink wine.’21 "This is the law of the Naziritewho vows to the LORD the offeringfor his separa on, and besides that,whatever else his hand is able to provide;according to the vow which he takes, sohe must do according to the law of hissepara on."22And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,‘This is the way you shall bless thechildren of Israel. Say to them:24 "The LORD bless you and keep you;

NUMBERS 6–7 4625 The LORD make His face shine uponyou, And be gracious to you;26 The LORD li up His countenanceupon you, And give you peace."’27 "So they shall put My name on thechildren of Israel, and I will bless them."

7 1Now it came to pass, whenMoses had finished se ng up the

tabernacle, that he anointed it andconsecrated it and all its furnishings,and the altar and all its utensils; so heanointed them and consecrated them.2 Then the leaders of Israel, the headsof their fathers’ houses, who were theleaders of the tribes and over those whowere numbered, made an offering.3And they brought their offeringbefore the LORD, six covered carts andtwelve oxen, a cart for every two of theleaders, and for each one an ox; and theypresented them before the tabernacle.

NUMBERS 7 474 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,5 "Accept these from them, that theymay be used in doing the work of thetabernacle of mee ng; and you shallgive them to the Levites, to every manaccording to his service."6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen,and gave them to the Levites.7 Two carts and four oxen he gave tothe sons of Gershon, according to theirservice;8 and four carts and eight oxen he gaveto the sons of Merari, according to theirservice, under the authority of Ithamarthe son of Aaron the priest.9 But to the sons of Kohath he gavenone, because theirs was the service ofthe holy things, which they carried ontheir shoulders.10Now the leaders offered thededica on offering for the altar when

NUMBERS 7 48it was anointed; so the leaders offeredtheir offering before the altar.11 For the LORD said to Moses, "Theyshall offer their offering, one leader eachday, for the dedica on of the altar."12And the one who offered his offeringon the first day was Nahshon the son ofAmminadab, from the tribe of Judah.13His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;14 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;15 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;16 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;17 and for the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five male

NUMBERS 7 49goats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Nahshonthe son of Amminadab.18On the second day Nethanel the sonof Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented anoffering.19 For his offering he offered one silverpla er, the weight of which was onehundred and thirty shekels, and onesilver bowl of seventy shekels, accordingto the shekel of the sanctuary, both ofthem full of fine flour mixed with oil as agrain offering;20 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;21 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;22 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;23 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their first

NUMBERS 7 50year. This was the offering of Nethanelthe son of Zuar.24On the third day Eliab the son ofHelon, leader of the children of Zebulun,presented an offering.25His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;26 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;27 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;28 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;29 and for the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Eliab theson of Helon.

NUMBERS 7 5130On the fourth day Elizur the sonof Shedeur, leader of the children ofReuben, presented an offering.31His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;32 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;33 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;34 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;35 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Elizur theson of Shedeur.

NUMBERS 7 5236On the fi h day Shelumiel the sonof Zurishaddai, leader of the children ofSimeon, presented an offering.37His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;38 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;39 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;40 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;41 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Shelumielthe son of Zurishaddai.

NUMBERS 7 5342On the sixth day Eliasaph the sonof Deuel, leader of the children of Gad,presented an offering.43His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;44 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;45 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;46 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;47 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Eliasaphthe son of Deuel.

NUMBERS 7 5448On the seventh day Elishama the sonof Ammihud, leader of the children ofEphraim, presented an offering.49His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;50 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;51 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;52 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;53 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Elishamathe son of Ammihud.

NUMBERS 7 5554On the eighth day Gamaliel the sonof Pedahzur, leader of the children ofManasseh, presented an offering.55His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;56 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;57 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;58 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;59 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Gamalielthe son of Pedahzur.

NUMBERS 7 5660On the ninth day Abidan the sonof Gideoni, leader of the children ofBenjamin, presented an offering.61His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;62 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;63 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;64 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;65 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Abidan theson of Gideoni.

NUMBERS 7 5766On the tenth day Ahiezer the son ofAmmishaddai, leader of the children ofDan, presented an offering.67His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;68 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;69 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;70 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;71 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Ahiezer theson of Ammishaddai.

NUMBERS 7 5872On the eleventh day Pagiel the son ofOcran, leader of the children of Asher,presented an offering.73His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;74 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;75 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;76 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;77 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Pagiel theson of Ocran.

NUMBERS 7 5978On the twel h day Ahira the son ofEnan, leader of the children of Naphtali,presented an offering.79His offering was one silver pla er,the weight of which was one hundredand thirty shekels, and one silver bowl ofseventy shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary, both of them full of fineflour mixed with oil as a grain offering;80 one gold pan of ten shekels, full ofincense;81 one young bull, one ram, and onemale lamb in its first year, as a burntoffering;82 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;83 and as the sacrifice of peaceofferings: two oxen, five rams, five malegoats, and five male lambs in their firstyear. This was the offering of Ahira theson of Enan.84 This was the dedica on offering forthe altar from the leaders of Israel, when

NUMBERS 7 60it was anointed: twelve silver pla ers,twelve silver bowls, and twelve goldpans.85 Each silver pla er weighed onehundred and thirty shekels and eachbowl seventy shekels. All the silver ofthe vessels weighed two thousand fourhundred shekels, according to the shekelof the sanctuary.86 The twelve gold pans full of incenseweighed ten shekels apiece, according tothe shekel of the sanctuary; all the goldof the pans weighed one hundred andtwenty shekels.87All the oxen for the burnt offeringwere twelve young bulls, the ramstwelve, the male lambs in their first yeartwelve, with their grain offering, and thekids of the goats as a sin offering twelve.88And all the oxen for the sacrifice ofpeace offerings were twenty–four bulls,the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and

NUMBERS 7–8 61the lambs in their first year sixty. Thiswas the dedica on offering for the altara er it was anointed.89Now when Moses went into thetabernacle of mee ng to speak withHim, he heard the voice of One speakingto him from above the mercy seat thatwas on the ark of the Tes mony, frombetween the two cherubim; thus Hespoke to him.

8 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Speak to Aaron, and say to him,‘When you arrange the lamps, the sevenlamps shall give light in front of thelampstand.’"3And Aaron did so; he arranged thelamps to face toward the front of thelampstand, as the LORD commandedMoses.4Now this workmanship of thelampstand was hammered gold; from

NUMBERS 8 62its sha to its flowers it was hammeredwork. According to the pa ern whichthe LORD had shown Moses, so he madethe lampstand.5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:6 "Take the Levites from among thechildren of Israel and cleanse themceremonially.7 "Thus you shall do to them to cleansethem: Sprinkle water of purifica on onthem, and let them shave all their body,and let them wash their clothes, and somake themselves clean.8 "Then let them take a young bull withits grain offering of fine flour mixed withoil, and you shall take another youngbull as a sin offering.9 "And you shall bring the Levites beforethe tabernacle of mee ng, and you shallgather together the whole congrega onof the children of Israel.

NUMBERS 8 6310 "So you shall bring the Levites beforethe LORD, and the children of Israel shalllay their hands on the Levites;11 "and Aaron shall offer the Levitesbefore the LORD, like a wave offeringfrom the children of Israel, that they mayperform the work of the LORD.12 "Then the Levites shall lay their handson the heads of the young bulls, and youshall offer one as a sin offering and theother as a burnt offering to the LORD, tomake atonement for the Levites.13 "And you shall stand the Levitesbefore Aaron and his sons, and thenoffer them like a wave offering to theLORD.14 "Thus you shall separate the Levitesfrom among the children of Israel, andthe Levites shall be Mine.15 "A er that the Levites shall go in toservice the tabernacle of mee ng. So

NUMBERS 8 64you shall cleanse them and offer them,like a wave offering.16 "For they are wholly given to Mefrom among the children of Israel; I havetaken them for Myself instead of all whoopen the womb, the firstborn of all thechildren of Israel.17 "For all the firstborn among thechildren of Israel are Mine, both manand beast; on the day that I struck all thefirstborn in the land of Egypt I sanc fiedthem to Myself.18 "I have taken the Levites instead ofall the firstborn of the children of Israel.19 "And I have given the Levites as agi to Aaron and his sons from amongthe children of Israel, to do the work forthe children of Israel in the tabernacleof mee ng, and to make atonementfor the children of Israel, that there beno plague among the children of Israel

NUMBERS 8 65when the children of Israel come nearthe sanctuary."20 Thus Moses and Aaron and all thecongrega on of the children of Israel didto the Levites; according to all that theLORD commanded Moses concerningthe Levites, so the children of Israel didto them.21And the Levites purified themselvesand washed their clothes; then Aaronpresented them, like a wave offeringbefore the LORD, and Aaron madeatonement for them to cleanse them.22A er that the Levites went in to dotheir work in the tabernacle of mee ngbefore Aaron and his sons; as the LORDcommanded Moses concerning theLevites, so they did to them.23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,24 "This is what pertains to the Levites:From twenty–five years old and above

NUMBERS 8–9 66one may enter to perform service in thework of the tabernacle of mee ng;25 "and at the age of fi y years theymust cease performing this work, andshall work no more.26 "They may minister with theirbrethren in the tabernacle of mee ng,to a end to needs, but they themselvesshall do no work. Thus you shall do tothe Levites regarding their du es."

9 1Now the LORD spoke to Moses inthe Wilderness of Sinai, in the first

month of the second year a er they hadcome out of the land of Egypt, saying:2 "Let the children of Israel keep thePassover at its appointed me.3 "On the fourteenth day of this month,at twilight, you shall keep it at itsappointed me. According to all its ritesand ceremonies you shall keep it."4 So Moses told the children of Israelthat they should keep the Passover.

NUMBERS 9 675And they kept the Passover on thefourteenth day of the first month,at twilight, in the Wilderness ofSinai; according to all that the LORDcommanded Moses, so the children ofIsrael did.6Now there were certain men whowere defiled by a human corpse, so thatthey could not keep the Passover on thatday; and they came before Moses andAaron that day.7And those men said to him, "Webecame defiled by a human corpse. Whyare we kept from presen ng the offeringof the LORD at its appointed me amongthe children of Israel?"8And Moses said to them, "Stand s ll,that I may hear what the LORD willcommand concerning you."9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

NUMBERS 9 6810 "Speak to the children of Israel,saying: ‘If anyone of you or yourposterity is unclean because of a corpse,or is far away on a journey, he may s llkeep the LORD’S Passover.11 ‘On the fourteenth day of the secondmonth, at twilight, they may keep it.They shall eat it with unleavened breadand bi er herbs.12 ‘They shall leave none of it un lmorning, nor break one of its bones.According to all the ordinances of thePassover they shall keep it.13 ‘But the man who is clean and is noton a journey, and ceases to keep thePassover, that same person shall be cutoff from among his people, because hedid not bring the offering of the LORD atits appointed me; that man shall bearhis sin.14 ‘And if a stranger dwells among you,and would keep the LORD’S Passover, he

NUMBERS 9 69must do so according to the rite of thePassover and according to its ceremony;you shall have one ordinance, both forthe stranger and the na ve of the land.’"15Now on the day that the tabernaclewas raised up, the cloud covered thetabernacle, the tent of the Tes mony;from evening un l morning it was abovethe tabernacle like the appearance offire.16 So it was always: the cloud coveredit by day, and the appearance of fire bynight.17Whenever the cloud was taken upfrom above the tabernacle, a er thatthe children of Israel would journey; andin the place where the cloud se led,there the children of Israel would pitchtheir tents.18At the command of the LORD thechildren of Israel would journey, andat the command of the LORD they

NUMBERS 9 70would camp; as long as the cloud stayedabove the tabernacle they remainedencamped.19 Even when the cloud con nued long,many days above the tabernacle, thechildren of Israel kept the charge of theLORD and did not journey.20 So it was, when the cloud was abovethe tabernacle a few days: according tothe command of the LORD they wouldremain encamped, and according tothe command of the LORD they wouldjourney.21 So it was, when the cloud remainedonly from evening un l morning: whenthe cloud was taken up in the morning,then they would journey; whether byday or by night, whenever the cloud wastaken up, they would journey.22Whether it was two days, a month,or a year that the cloud remainedabove the tabernacle, the children of

NUMBERS 9–10 71Israel would remain encamped and notjourney; but when it was taken up, theywould journey.23At the command of the LORDthey remained encamped, and at thecommand of the LORD they journeyed;they kept the charge of the LORD, at thecommand of the LORD by the hand ofMoses.

10 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Make two silver trumpets foryourself; you shall make them ofhammered work; you shall use them forcalling the congrega on and for direc ngthe movement of the camps.3 "When they blow both of them, allthe congrega on shall gather before youat the door of the tabernacle of mee ng.4 "But if they blow only one, then theleaders, the heads of the divisions ofIsrael, shall gather to you.

NUMBERS 10 725 "When you sound the advance, thecamps that lie on the east side shall thenbegin their journey.6 "When you sound the advance thesecond me, then the camps that lie onthe south side shall begin their journey;they shall sound the call for them tobegin their journeys.7 "And when the assembly is to begathered together, you shall blow, butnot sound the advance.8 "The sons of Aaron, the priests, shallblow the trumpets; and these shall be toyou as an ordinance forever throughoutyour genera ons.9 "When you go to war in your landagainst the enemy who oppresses you,then you shall sound an alarm with thetrumpets, and you will be rememberedbefore the LORD your God, and you willbe saved from your enemies.

NUMBERS 10 7310 "Also in the day of your gladness,in your appointed feasts, and at thebeginning of yourmonths, you shall blowthe trumpets over your burnt offeringsand over the sacrifices of your peaceofferings; and they shall be a memorialfor you before your God: I am the LORDyour God."11Now it came to pass on the twen ethday of the second month, in the secondyear, that the cloud was taken up fromabove the tabernacle of the Tes mony.12And the children of Israel set outfrom the Wilderness of Sinai on theirjourneys; then the cloud se led down inthe Wilderness of Paran.13 So they started out for the first meaccording to the command of the LORDby the hand of Moses.14 The standard of the camp of thechildren of Judah set out first according

NUMBERS 10 74to their armies; over their army wasNahshon the son of Amminadab.15Over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Issachar was Nethanel theson of Zuar.16And over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Zebulun was Eliab the son ofHelon.17 Then the tabernacle was taken down;and the sons of Gershon and the sons ofMerari set out, carrying the tabernacle.18And the standard of the camp ofReuben set out according to theirarmies; over their army was Elizur theson of Shedeur.19Over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Simeon was Shelumiel theson of Zurishaddai.20And over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Gad was Eliasaph the son ofDeuel.

NUMBERS 10 7521 Then the Kohathites set out, carryingthe holy things. (The tabernacle wouldbe prepared for their arrival.)22And the standard of the camp of thechildren of Ephraim set out accordingto their armies; over their army wasElishama the son of Ammihud.23Over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Manasseh was Gamaliel theson of Pedahzur.24And over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Benjamin was Abidan the sonof Gideoni.25 Then the standard of the camp of thechildren of Dan (the rear guard of all thecamps) set out according to their armies;over their army was Ahiezer the son ofAmmishaddai.26Over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Asher was Pagiel the son ofOcran.

NUMBERS 10 7627And over the army of the tribe of thechildren of Naphtali was Ahira the son ofEnan.28 Thus was the order of march of thechildren of Israel, according to theirarmies, when they began their journey.29Now Moses said to Hobab theson of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’father–in–law, "We are se ng out forthe place of which the LORD said, ‘I willgive it to you.’ Come with us, and wewill treat you well; for the LORD haspromised good things to Israel."30And he said to him, "I will not go, butI will depart to my own land and to myrela ves."31 So Moses said, "Please do not leave,inasmuch as you know how we are tocamp in the wilderness, and you can beour eyes.32 "And it shall be, if you go withus––indeed it shall be––that whatever

NUMBERS 10–11 77good the LORD will do to us, the samewe will do to you."33 So they departed from the mountainof the LORD on a journey of three days;and the ark of the covenant of the LORDwent before them for the three days’journey, to search out a res ng place forthem.34And the cloud of the LORD was abovethem by day when they went out fromthe camp.35 So it was, whenever the ark set out,that Moses said: "Rise up, O LORD! LetYour enemies be sca ered, And let thosewho hate You flee before You."36And when it rested, he said: "Return,O LORD, To the many thousands ofIsrael."

11 1Now when the peoplecomplained, it displeased the

LORD; for the LORD heard it, and Hisanger was aroused. So the fire of

NUMBERS 11 78the LORD burned among them, andconsumed some in the outskirts of thecamp.2 Then the people cried out to Moses,and when Moses prayed to the LORD,the fire was quenched.3 So he called the name of the placeTaberah, because the fire of the LORDhad burned among them.4Now the mixed mul tude who wereamong them yielded to intense craving;so the children of Israel also wept againand said: "Who will give us meat to eat?5 "We remember the fish which weate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, themelons, the leeks, the onions, and thegarlic;6 "but now our whole being is dried up;there is nothing at all except this mannabefore our eyes!"

NUMBERS 11 797Now the manna was like corianderseed, and its color like the color ofbdellium.8 The people went about and gatheredit, ground it on millstones or beat it inthe mortar, cooked it in pans, and madecakes of it; and its taste was like the tasteof pastry prepared with oil.9And when the dew fell on the camp inthe night, the manna fell on it.10 Then Moses heard the peopleweeping throughout their families,everyone at the door of his tent; and theanger of the LORD was greatly aroused;Moses also was displeased.11 So Moses said to the LORD, "Whyhave You afflicted Your servant? Andwhy have I not found favor in Your sight,that You have laid the burden of all thesepeople on me?12 "Did I conceive all these people? DidI beget them, that You should say to me,

NUMBERS 11 80‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardiancarries a nursing child,’ to the land whichYou swore to their fathers?13 "Where am I to get meat to give toall these people? For they weep all overme, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we mayeat.’14 "I am not able to bear all thesepeople alone, because the burden is tooheavy for me.15 "If You treat me like this, please killme here and now––if I have found favorin Your sight––and do not let me see mywretchedness!"16 So the LORD said to Moses: "Gatherto Me seventy men of the elders ofIsrael, whom you know to be the eldersof the people and officers over them;bring them to the tabernacle of mee ng,that they may stand there with you.17 "Then I will come down and talk withyou there. I will take of the Spirit that is

NUMBERS 11 81upon you and will put the same uponthem; and they shall bear the burden ofthe people with you, that you may notbear it yourself alone.18 "Then you shall say to the people,‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow,and you shall eat meat; for you havewept in the hearing of the LORD, saying,"Who will give us meat to eat? For it waswell with us in Egypt." Therefore theLORD will give you meat, and you shalleat.19 ‘You shall eat, not one day, nor twodays, nor five days, nor ten days, nortwenty days,20 ‘but for a whole month, un l itcomes out of your nostrils and becomesloathsome to you, because you havedespised the LORD who is among you,and have wept before Him, saying, "Whydid we ever come up out of Egypt?"’"

NUMBERS 11 8221And Moses said, "The people whomI am among are six hundred thousandmen on foot; yet You have said, ‘I willgive them meat, that they may eat for awhole month.’22 "Shall flocks and herds be slaughteredfor them, to provide enough for them?Or shall all the fish of the sea be gatheredtogether for them, to provide enoughfor them?"23And the LORD said to Moses, "Hasthe LORD’S arm been shortened? Nowyou shall see whether what I say willhappen to you or not."24 So Moses went out and told thepeople the words of the LORD, and hegathered the seventy men of the eldersof the people and placed them aroundthe tabernacle.25 Then the LORD came down in thecloud, and spoke to him, and took of theSpirit that was upon him, and placed the

NUMBERS 11 83same upon the seventy elders; and ithappened, when the Spirit rested uponthem, that they prophesied, althoughthey never did so again.26 But two men had remained in thecamp: the name of one was Eldad, andthe name of the other Medad. And theSpirit rested upon them. Now they wereamong those listed, but who had notgone out to the tabernacle; yet theyprophesied in the camp.27And a young man ran and toldMoses, and said, "Eldad and Medad areprophesying in the camp."28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’assistant, one of his choice men,answered and said, "Moses my lord,forbid them!"29 Then Moses said to him, "Are youzealous for my sake? Oh, that all theLORD’S people were prophets and that

NUMBERS 11 84the LORD would put His Spirit uponthem!"30And Moses returned to the camp,both he and the elders of Israel.31Now a wind went out from the LORD,and it brought quail from the sea and lethem flu ering near the camp, abouta day’s journey on this side and abouta day’s journey on the other side, allaround the camp, and about two cubitsabove the surface of the ground.32And the people stayed up all thatday, all night, and all the next day, andgathered the quail (he who gatheredleast gathered ten homers); and theyspread them out for themselves allaround the camp.33 But while the meat was s ll betweentheir teeth, before it was chewed, thewrath of the LORD was aroused againstthe people, and the LORD struck thepeople with a very great plague.

NUMBERS 11–12 8534 So he called the name of that placeKibroth Ha aavah, because there theyburied the people who had yielded tocraving.35 From Kibroth Ha aavah the peoplemoved to Hazeroth, and camped atHazeroth.

12 1 Then Miriam and Aaron spokeagainst Moses because of the

Ethiopian womanwhom he hadmarried;for he had married an Ethiopian woman.2 So they said, "Has the LORD indeedspoken only through Moses? Has He notspoken through us also?" And the LORDheard it.3 (Now the man Moses was veryhumble, more than all men who were onthe face of the earth.)4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses,Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, youthree, to the tabernacle of mee ng!" Sothe three came out.

NUMBERS 12 865 Then the LORD came down in thepillar of cloud and stood in the door ofthe tabernacle, and called Aaron andMiriam. And they both went forward.6 Then He said, "Hear now My words:If there is a prophet among you, I, theLORD, make Myself known to him in avision; I speak to him in a dream.7Not so with My servant Moses; He isfaithful in all My house.8 I speak with him face to face, Evenplainly, and not in dark sayings; And hesees the form of the LORD. Why thenwere you not afraid To speak against Myservant Moses?"9 So the anger of the LORD was arousedagainst them, and He departed.10And when the cloud departed fromabove the tabernacle, suddenly Miriambecame leprous, as white as snow. ThenAaron turned toward Miriam, and thereshe was, a leper.

NUMBERS 12–13 8711 So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, mylord! Please do not lay this sin on us,in which we have done foolishly and inwhich we have sinned.12 "Please do not let her be as one dead,whose flesh is half consumed when hecomes out of his mother’s womb!"13 So Moses cried out to the LORD,saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!"14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "If herfather had but spit in her face, wouldshe not be shamed seven days? Let herbe shut out of the camp seven days, anda erward she may be received again."15 So Miriam was shut out of the campseven days, and the people did notjourney ll Miriam was brought in again.16And a erward the people movedfrom Hazeroth and camped in theWilderness of Paran.

13 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

NUMBERS 13 882 "Send men to spy out the land ofCanaan, which I am giving to the childrenof Israel; from each tribe of their fathersyou shall send a man, every one a leaderamong them."3 So Moses sent them from theWilderness of Paran according to thecommand of the LORD, all of them menwho were heads of the children of Israel.4Now these were their names: fromthe tribe of Reuben, Shammua the sonof Zaccur;5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat theson of Hori;6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the sonof Jephunneh;7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the sonof Joseph;8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea theson of Nun;9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Pal theson of Raphu;

NUMBERS 13 8910 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddielthe son of Sodi;11 from the tribe of Joseph, that is, fromthe tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son ofSusi;12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel theson of Gemalli;13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur theson of Michael;14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi theson of Vophsi;15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the sonof Machi.16 These are the names of the menwhom Moses sent to spy out the land.And Moses called Hoshea the son ofNun, Joshua.17 Then Moses sent them to spy out theland of Canaan, and said to them, "Goup this way into the South, and go up tothe mountains,

NUMBERS 13 9018 "and see what the land is like:whether the people who dwell in it arestrong or weak, few or many;19 "whether the land they dwell in isgood or bad; whether the ci es theyinhabit are like camps or strongholds;20 "whether the land is rich or poor;and whether there are forests there ornot. Be of good courage. And bring someof the fruit of the land." Now the mewas the season of the first ripe grapes.21 So they went up and spied out theland from the Wilderness of Zin as far asRehob, near the entrance of Hamath.22And they went up through the Southand came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai,and Talmai, the descendants of Anak,were there. (Now Hebron was builtseven years before Zoan in Egypt.)23 Then they came to the Valley ofEshcol, and there cut down a branchwith one cluster of grapes; they carried

NUMBERS 13 91it between two of them on a pole. Theyalso brought some of the pomegranatesand figs.24 The place was called the Valley ofEshcol, because of the cluster which themen of Israel cut down there.25And they returned from spying outthe land a er forty days.26Now they departed and cameback to Moses and Aaron and all thecongrega on of the children of Israel inthe Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; theybrought back word to them and to allthe congrega on, and showed them thefruit of the land.27 Then they told him, and said: "Wewent to the land where you sent us. Ittruly flows with milk and honey, and thisis its fruit.28 "Nevertheless the people who dwellin the land are strong; the ci es are

NUMBERS 13 92for fied and very large; moreover wesaw the descendants of Anak there.29 "The Amalekites dwell in the land ofthe South; the Hi tes, the Jebusites, andthe Amorites dwell in the mountains;and the Canaanites dwell by the sea andalong the banks of the Jordan."30 Then Caleb quieted the peoplebefore Moses, and said, "Let us go upat once and take possession, for we arewell able to overcome it."31 But the men who had gone up withhim said, "We are not able to go upagainst the people, for they are strongerthan we."32And they gave the children of Israela bad report of the land which they hadspied out, saying, "The land throughwhich we have gone as spies is a landthat devours its inhabitants, and all thepeople whom we saw in it are men ofgreat stature.

NUMBERS 13–14 9333 "There we saw the giants (thedescendants of Anak came from thegiants); and we were like grasshoppersin our own sight, and so we were in theirsight."

14 1 So all the congrega on li ed uptheir voices and cried, and the

people wept that night.2And all the children of Israelcomplained against Moses and Aaron,and the whole congrega on said tothem, "If only we had died in the landof Egypt! Or if only we had died in thiswilderness!3 "Why has the LORD brought us to thisland to fall by the sword, that our wivesand children should become vic ms?Would it not be be er for us to return toEgypt?"4 So they said to one another, "Let usselect a leader and return to Egypt."

NUMBERS 14 945 Then Moses and Aaron fell on theirfaces before all the assembly of thecongrega on of the children of Israel.6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Calebthe son of Jephunneh, who were amongthose who had spied out the land, toretheir clothes;7 and they spoke to all the congrega onof the children of Israel, saying: "Theland we passed through to spy out is anexceedingly good land.8 "If the LORD delights in us, then Hewill bring us into this land and give it tous, ‘a land which flows with milk andhoney.’9 "Only do not rebel against the LORD,nor fear the people of the land, forthey are our bread; their protec on hasdeparted from them, and the LORD iswith us. Do not fear them."10And all the congrega on said tostone them with stones. Now the glory

NUMBERS 14 95of the LORD appeared in the tabernacleof mee ng before all the children ofIsrael.11 Then the LORD said to Moses: "Howlong will these people reject Me? Andhow long will they not believe Me, withall the signs which I have performedamong them?12 "I will strike them with the pes lenceand disinherit them, and I will make ofyou a na on greater and migh er thanthey."13And Moses said to the LORD: "Thenthe Egyp ans will hear it, for by Yourmight You brought these people up fromamong them,14 "and they will tell it to the inhabitantsof this land. They have heard that You,LORD, are among these people; that You,LORD, are seen face to face and Yourcloud stands above them, and You go

NUMBERS 14 96before them in a pillar of cloud by dayand in a pillar of fire by night.15 "Now if You kill these people as oneman, then the na ons which have heardof Your fame will speak, saying,16 ‘Because the LORD was not able tobring this people to the land which Heswore to give them, therefore He killedthem in the wilderness.’17 "And now, I pray, let the power of myLord be great, just as You have spoken,saying,18 ‘The LORD is longsuffering andabundant in mercy, forgiving iniquityand transgression; but He by no meansclears the guilty, visi ng the iniquity ofthe fathers on the children to the thirdand fourth genera on.’19 "Pardon the iniquity of this people, Ipray, according to the greatness of Yourmercy, just as You have forgiven thispeople, from Egypt even un l now."

NUMBERS 14 9720 Then the LORD said: "I havepardoned, according to your word;21 "but truly, as I live, all the earth shallbe filled with the glory of the LORD––22 "because all these men who haveseen My glory and the signs which I didin Egypt and in the wilderness, and haveput Me to the test now these ten mes,and have not heeded My voice,23 "they certainly shall not see the landof which I swore to their fathers, norshall any of those who rejected Me seeit.24 "But My servant Caleb, becausehe has a different spirit in him andhas followed Me fully, I will bringinto the land where he went, and hisdescendants shall inherit it.25 "Now the Amalekites and theCanaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrowturn and move out into the wildernessby the Way of the Red Sea."

NUMBERS 14 9826And the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying,27 "How long shall I bear with this evilcongrega on who complain against Me?I have heard the complaints which thechildren of Israel make against Me.28 "Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says theLORD, ‘just as you have spoken in Myhearing, so I will do to you:29 ‘The carcasses of you who havecomplained against Me shall fall inthis wilderness, all of you who werenumbered, according to your en renumber, from twenty years old andabove.30 ‘Except for Caleb the son ofJephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun,you shall by no means enter the landwhich I swore I would make you dwell in.31 ‘But your li le ones, whom you saidwould be vic ms, I will bring in, and

NUMBERS 14 99they shall know the land which you havedespised.32 ‘But as for you, your carcasses shallfall in this wilderness.33 ‘And your sons shall be shepherdsin the wilderness forty years, andbear the brunt of your infidelity, un lyour carcasses are consumed in thewilderness.34 ‘According to the number of the daysin which you spied out the land, fortydays, for each day you shall bear yourguilt one year, namely forty years, andyou shall know My rejec on.35 ‘I the LORD have spoken this; I willsurely do so to all this evil congrega onwho are gathered together againstMe. In this wilderness they shall beconsumed, and there they shall die.’"36Now the men whom Moses sentto spy out the land, who returned andmade all the congrega on complain

NUMBERS 14 100against him by bringing a bad report ofthe land,37 those very men who brought theevil report about the land, died by theplague before the LORD.38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Calebthe son of Jephunneh remained alive, ofthe men who went to spy out the land.39 Then Moses told these words to allthe children of Israel, and the peoplemourned greatly.40And they rose early in the morningand went up to the top of the mountain,saying, "Here we are, and we will goup to the place which the LORD haspromised, for we have sinned!"41And Moses said, "Now why do youtransgress the command of the LORD?For this will not succeed.42 "Do not go up, lest you be defeatedby your enemies, for the LORD is notamong you.

NUMBERS 14–15 10143 "For the Amalekites and theCanaanites are there before you, andyou shall fall by the sword; because youhave turned away from the LORD, theLORD will not be with you."44 But they presumed to go up to themountaintop; nevertheless, neither theark of the covenant of the LORD norMoses departed from the camp.45 Then the Amalekites and theCanaanites who dwelt in that mountaincame down and a acked them, anddrove them back as far as Hormah.

15 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you have come intothe land you are to inhabit, which I amgiving to you,3 ‘and you make an offering by fire tothe LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice,to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering

NUMBERS 15 102or in your appointed feasts, to make asweet aroma to the LORD, from the herdor the flock,4 ‘then he who presents his offeringto the LORD shall bring a grain offeringof one–tenth of an ephah of fine flourmixed with one–fourth of a hin of oil;5 ‘and one–fourth of a hin of wine as adrink offering you shall prepare with theburnt offering or the sacrifice, for eachlamb.6 ‘Or for a ram you shall prepare as agrain offering two–tenths of an ephah offine flour mixed with one–third of a hinof oil;7 ‘and as a drink offering you shall offerone–third of a hin of wine as a sweetaroma to the LORD.8 ‘And when you prepare a young bullas a burnt offering, or as a sacrifice tofulfill a vow, or as a peace offering to theLORD,

NUMBERS 15 1039 ‘then shall be offered with the youngbull a grain offering of three–tenths ofan ephah of fine flour mixed with half ahin of oil;10 ‘and you shall bring as the drinkoffering half a hin of wine as an offeringmade by fire, a sweet aroma to theLORD.11 ‘Thus it shall be done for each youngbull, for each ram, or for each lamb oryoung goat.12 ‘According to the number that youprepare, so you shall do with everyoneaccording to their number.13 ‘All who are na ve–born shall dothese things in this manner, in presen ngan offering made by fire, a sweet aromato the LORD.14 ‘And if a stranger dwells with you,or whoever is among you throughoutyour genera ons, and would present an

NUMBERS 15 104offering made by fire, a sweet aroma tothe LORD, just as you do, so shall he do.15 ‘One ordinance shall be for you ofthe assembly and for the stranger whodwells with you, an ordinance foreverthroughout your genera ons; as you are,so shall the stranger be before the LORD.16 ‘One law and one custom shall be foryou and for the stranger who dwells withyou.’"17Again the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,18 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you come into theland to which I bring you,19 ‘then it will be, when you eat of thebread of the land, that you shall offer upa heave offering to the LORD.20 ‘You shall offer up a cake of the firstof your ground meal as a heave offering;as a heave offering of the threshing floor,so shall you offer it up.

NUMBERS 15 10521 ‘Of the first of your ground meal youshall give to the LORD a heave offeringthroughout your genera ons.22 ‘If you sin uninten onally, and do notobserve all these commandments whichthe LORD has spoken to Moses––23 ‘all that the LORD has commandedyou by the hand of Moses, from theday the LORD gave commandment andonward throughout your genera ons––24 ‘then it will be, if it is uninten onallycommi ed, without the knowledgeof the congrega on, that the wholecongrega on shall offer one young bullas a burnt offering, as a sweet aromato the LORD, with its grain offeringand its drink offering, according to theordinance, and one kid of the goats as asin offering.25 ‘So the priest shall make atonementfor the whole congrega on of thechildren of Israel, and it shall be forgiven

NUMBERS 15 106them, for it was uninten onal; they shallbring their offering, an offering made byfire to the LORD, and their sin offeringbefore the LORD, for their unintendedsin.26 ‘It shall be forgiven the wholecongrega on of the children of Israeland the stranger who dwells amongthem, because all the people did ituninten onally.27 ‘And if a person sins uninten onally,then he shall bring a female goat in itsfirst year as a sin offering.28 ‘So the priest shall make atonementfor the person who sins uninten onally,when he sins uninten onally before theLORD, to make atonement for him; andit shall be forgiven him.29 ‘You shall have one law for him whosins uninten onally, for him who isna ve–born among the children of Israel

NUMBERS 15 107and for the stranger who dwells amongthem.30 ‘But the person who does anythingpresumptuously, whether he is na ve–born or a stranger, that one bringsreproach on the LORD, and he shall becut off from among his people.31 ‘Because he has despised theword of the LORD, and has broken Hiscommandment, that person shall becompletely cut off; his guilt shall be uponhim.’"32Now while the children of Israel werein the wilderness, they found a mangathering s cks on the Sabbath day.33And those who found him gatherings cks brought him to Moses and Aaron,and to all the congrega on.34 They put him under guard, because ithad not been explained what should bedone to him.

NUMBERS 15 10835 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Theman must surely be put to death; all thecongrega on shall stone him with stonesoutside the camp."36 So, as the LORD commanded Moses,all the congrega on brought him outsidethe camp and stoned him with stones,and he died.37Again the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,38 "Speak to the children of Israel: Tellthem to make tassels on the cornersof their garments throughout theirgenera ons, and to put a blue thread inthe tassels of the corners.39 "And you shall have the tassel, thatyou may look upon it and remember allthe commandments of the LORD and dothem, and that you may not follow theharlotry to which your own heart andyour own eyes are inclined,

NUMBERS 15–16 10940 "and that you may remember and doall My commandments, and be holy foryour God.41 "I am the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egypt, tobe your God: I am the LORD your God."

16 1Now Korah the son of Izhar, theson of Kohath, the son of Levi,

with Dathan and Abiram the sons ofEliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons ofReuben, took men;2 and they rose up before Moseswith some of the children of Israel,two hundred and fi y leaders of thecongrega on, representa ves of thecongrega on, men of renown.3 They gathered together against Mosesand Aaron, and said to them, "You taketoo much upon yourselves, for all thecongrega on is holy, every one of them,and the LORD is among them. Why

NUMBERS 16 110then do you exalt yourselves above theassembly of the LORD?"4 So when Moses heard it, he fell on hisface;5 and he spoke to Korah and all hiscompany, saying, "Tomorrow morningthe LORD will show who is His and whois holy, and will cause him to come nearto Him. That one whom He chooses Hewill cause to come near to Him.6 "Do this: Take censers, Korah and allyour company;7 "put fire in them and put incensein them before the LORD tomorrow,and it shall be that the man whom theLORD chooses is the holy one. You taketoo much upon yourselves, you sons ofLevi!"8 Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now,you sons of Levi:9 "Is it a small thing to you that theGod of Israel has separated you from

NUMBERS 16 111the congrega on of Israel, to bring younear to Himself, to do the work of thetabernacle of the LORD, and to standbefore the congrega on to serve them;10 "and that He has brought you nearto Himself, you and all your brethren,the sons of Levi, with you? And are youseeking the priesthood also?11 "Therefore you and all your companyare gathered together against the LORD.And what is Aaron that you complainagainst him?"12And Moses sent to call Dathan andAbiram the sons of Eliab, but they said,"We will not come up!13 "Is it a small thing that you havebrought us up out of a land flowingwith milk and honey, to kill us in thewilderness, that you should keep ac nglike a prince over us?14 "Moreover you have not brought usinto a land flowing with milk and honey,

NUMBERS 16 112nor given us inheritance of fields andvineyards. Will you put out the eyes ofthese men? We will not come up!"15 Then Moses was very angry, andsaid to the LORD, "Do not respect theiroffering. I have not taken one donkeyfrom them, nor have I hurt one of them."16AndMoses said to Korah, "Tomorrow,you and all your company be presentbefore the LORD––you and they, as wellas Aaron.17 "Let each take his censer and putincense in it, and each of you bring hiscenser before the LORD, two hundredand fi y censers; both you and Aaron,each with his censer."18 So every man took his censer, put firein it, laid incense on it, and stood at thedoor of the tabernacle of mee ng withMoses and Aaron.19And Korah gathered all thecongrega on against them at the door

NUMBERS 16 113of the tabernacle of mee ng. Then theglory of the LORD appeared to all thecongrega on.20And the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, saying,21 "Separate yourselves from amongthis congrega on, that I may consumethem in a moment."22 Then they fell on their faces, andsaid, "O God, the God of the spirits ofall flesh, shall one man sin, and You beangry with all the congrega on?"23 So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,24 "Speak to the congrega on, saying,‘Get away from the tents of Korah,Dathan, and Abiram.’"25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathanand Abiram, and the elders of Israelfollowed him.26And he spoke to the congrega on,saying, "Depart now from the tents ofthese wicked men! Touch nothing of

NUMBERS 16 114theirs, lest you be consumed in all theirsins."27 So they got away from around thetents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram;and Dathan and Abiram came out andstood at the door of their tents, withtheir wives, their sons, and their li lechildren.28And Moses said: "By this you shallknow that the LORD has sent me to doall these works, for I have not done themof my own will.29 "If these men die naturally likeall men, or if they are visited by thecommon fate of all men, then the LORDhas not sent me.30 "But if the LORD creates a new thing,and the earth opens its mouth andswallows them up with all that belongsto them, and they go down alive into thepit, then you will understand that thesemen have rejected the LORD."

NUMBERS 16 11531Now it came to pass, as he finishedspeaking all these words, that theground split apart under them,32 and the earth opened its mouthand swallowed them up, with theirhouseholds and all the men with Korah,with all their goods.33 So they and all those with them wentdown alive into the pit; the earth closedover them, and they perished fromamong the assembly.34 Then all Israel who were aroundthem fled at their cry, for they said, "Lestthe earth swallow us up also!"35And a fire came out from the LORDand consumed the two hundred and fi ymen who were offering incense.36 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:37 "Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron thepriest, to pick up the censers out of the

NUMBERS 16 116blaze, for they are holy, and sca er thefire some distance away.38 "The censers of these men whosinned against their own souls, letthem be made into hammered platesas a covering for the altar. Becausethey presented them before the LORD,therefore they are holy; and they shallbe a sign to the children of Israel."39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronzecensers, which those who were burnedup had presented, and they werehammered out as a covering on the altar,40 to be a memorial to the childrenof Israel that no outsider, who is not adescendant of Aaron, should come nearto offer incense before the LORD, thathe might not become like Korah and hiscompanions, just as the LORD had saidto him through Moses.41On the next day all the congrega onof the children of Israel murmured

NUMBERS 16 117against Moses and Aaron, saying, "Youhave killed the people of the LORD."42Now it happened, when thecongrega on had gathered againstMoses and Aaron, that they turnedtoward the tabernacle of mee ng; andsuddenly the cloud covered it, and theglory of the LORD appeared.43 Then Moses and Aaron came beforethe tabernacle of mee ng.44And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,45 "Get away from among thiscongrega on, that I may consume themin a moment." And they fell on theirfaces.46 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take acenser and put fire in it from the altar,put incense on it, and take it quickly tothe congrega on and make atonementfor them; for wrath has gone out fromthe LORD. The plague has begun."

NUMBERS 16–17 11847 Then Aaron took it as Mosescommanded, and ran into the midst ofthe assembly; and already the plaguehad begun among the people. So he putin the incense and made atonement forthe people.48And he stood between the dead andthe living; so the plague was stopped.49Now those who died in the plaguewere fourteen thousand seven hundred,besides those who died in the Korahincident.50 So Aaron returned to Moses at thedoor of the tabernacle of mee ng, forthe plague had stopped.

17 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Speak to the children of Israel, andget from them a rod from each father’shouse, all their leaders according to theirfathers’ houses––twelve rods. Writeeach man’s name on his rod.

NUMBERS 17 1193 "And you shall write Aaron’s name onthe rod of Levi. For there shall be onerod for the head of each father’s house.4 "Then you shall place them in thetabernacle of mee ng before theTes mony, where I meet with you.5 "And it shall be that the rod of theman whom I choose will blossom; thusI will rid Myself of the complaints ofthe children of Israel, which they makeagainst you."6 So Moses spoke to the children ofIsrael, and each of their leaders gave hima rod apiece, for each leader accordingto their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; andthe rod of Aaron was among their rods.7And Moses placed the rods before theLORD in the tabernacle of witness.8Now it came to pass on the next daythat Moses went into the tabernacle ofwitness, and behold, the rod of Aaron,of the house of Levi, had sprouted and

NUMBERS 17–18 120put forth buds, had produced blossomsand yielded ripe almonds.9 Then Moses brought out all the rodsfrom before the LORD to all the childrenof Israel; and they looked, and each mantook his rod.10And the LORD said to Moses, "BringAaron’s rod back before the Tes mony,to be kept as a sign against the rebels,that you may put their complaints awayfrom Me, lest they die."11 Thus did Moses; just as the LORD hadcommanded him, so he did.12 So the children of Israel spoke toMoses, saying, "Surely we die, we perish,we all perish!13 "Whoever even comes near thetabernacle of the LORD must die. Shallwe all u erly die?"

18 1 Then the LORD said to Aaron:"You and your sons and your

father’s house with you shall bear the

NUMBERS 18 121iniquity related to the sanctuary, and youand your sons with you shall bear theiniquity associated with your priesthood.2 "Also bring with you your brethrenof the tribe of Levi, the tribe of yourfather, that they may be joined with youand serve you while you and your sonsare with you before the tabernacle ofwitness.3 "They shall a end to your needs andall the needs of the tabernacle; butthey shall not come near the ar cles ofthe sanctuary and the altar, lest theydie––they and you also.4 "They shall be joined with you anda end to the needs of the tabernacleof mee ng, for all the work of thetabernacle; but an outsider shall notcome near you.5 "And you shall a end to the du es ofthe sanctuary and the du es of the altar,

NUMBERS 18 122that there may be no more wrath on thechildren of Israel.6 "Behold, I Myself have taken yourbrethren the Levites from among thechildren of Israel; they are a gi to you,given by the LORD, to do the work of thetabernacle of mee ng.7 "Therefore you and your sons withyou shall a end to your priesthood foreverything at the altar and behind theveil; and you shall serve. I give yourpriesthood to you as a gi for service,but the outsider who comes near shallbe put to death."8And the LORD spoke to Aaron: "Here,I Myself have also given you charge ofMy heave offerings, all the holy gi s ofthe children of Israel; I have given themas a por on to you and your sons, as anordinance forever.9 "This shall be yours of the most holythings reserved from the fire: every

NUMBERS 18 123offering of theirs, every grain offeringand every sin offering and every trespassoffering which they render to Me, shallbe most holy for you and your sons.10 "In a most holy place you shall eat it;every male shall eat it. It shall be holy toyou.11 "This also is yours: the heave offeringof their gi , with all the wave offerings ofthe children of Israel; I have given themto you, and your sons and daughters withyou, as an ordinance forever. Everyonewho is clean in your house may eat it.12 "All the best of the oil, all the bestof the new wine and the grain, theirfirs ruits which they offer to the LORD, Ihave given them to you.13 "Whatever first ripe fruit is in theirland, which they bring to the LORD, shallbe yours. Everyone who is clean in yourhouse may eat it.

NUMBERS 18 12414 "Every devoted thing in Israel shallbe yours.15 "Everything that first opens thewomb of all flesh, which they bring tothe LORD, whether man or beast, shallbe yours; nevertheless the firstborn ofman you shall surely redeem, and thefirstborn of unclean animals you shallredeem.16 "And those redeemed of the devotedthings you shall redeem when onemonth old, according to your valua on,for five shekels of silver, according to theshekel of the sanctuary, which is twentygerahs.17 "But the firstborn of a cow, thefirstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of agoat you shall not redeem; they are holy.You shall sprinkle their blood on thealtar, and burn their fat as an offeringmade by fire for a sweet aroma to theLORD.

NUMBERS 18 12518 "And their flesh shall be yours, just asthe wave breast and the right thigh areyours.19 "All the heave offerings of the holythings, which the children of Israel offerto the LORD, I have given to you andyour sons and daughters with you as anordinance forever; it is a covenant of saltforever before the LORD with you andyour descendants with you."20 Then the LORD said to Aaron: "Youshall have no inheritance in their land,nor shall you have any por on amongthem; I am your por on and yourinheritance among the children of Israel.21 "Behold, I have given the childrenof Levi all the thes in Israel as aninheritance in return for the work whichthey perform, the work of the tabernacleof mee ng.

NUMBERS 18 12622 "Herea er the children of Israelshall not come near the tabernacle ofmee ng, lest they bear sin and die.23 "But the Levites shall perform thework of the tabernacle of mee ng, andthey shall bear their iniquity; it shallbe a statute forever, throughout yourgenera ons, that among the children ofIsrael they shall have no inheritance.24 "For the thes of the children ofIsrael, which they offer up as a heaveoffering to the LORD, I have given to theLevites as an inheritance; therefore Ihave said to them, ‘Among the childrenof Israel they shall have no inheritance.’"25 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,26 "Speak thus to the Levites, and say tothem: ‘When you take from the childrenof Israel the thes which I have givenyou from them as your inheritance, then

NUMBERS 18 127you shall offer up a heave offering of itto the LORD, a tenth of the the.27 ‘And your heave offering shall bereckoned to you as though it were thegrain of the threshing floor and as thefullness of the winepress.28 ‘Thus you shall also offer a heaveoffering to the LORD from all your theswhich you receive from the childrenof Israel, and you shall give the LORD’Sheave offering from it to Aaron thepriest.29 ‘Of all your gi s you shall offerup every heave offering due to theLORD, from all the best of them, theconsecrated part of them.’30 "Therefore you shall say to them:‘When you have li ed up the best ofit, then the rest shall be accountedto the Levites as the produce of thethreshing floor and as the produce ofthe winepress.

NUMBERS 18–19 12831 ‘You may eat it in any place, you andyour households, for it is your reward foryour work in the tabernacle of mee ng.32 ‘And you shall bear no sin because ofit, when you have li ed up the best of it.But you shall not profane the holy gi sof the children of Israel, lest you die.’"

19 1Now the LORD spoke to Mosesand Aaron, saying,

2 "This is the ordinance of the law whichthe LORD has commanded, saying:‘Speak to the children of Israel, that theybring you a red heifer without blemish,in which there is no defect and on whicha yoke has never come.3 ‘You shall give it to Eleazar the priest,that he may take it outside the camp,and it shall be slaughtered before him;4 ‘and Eleazar the priest shall take someof its blood with his finger, and sprinklesome of its blood seven mes directly infront of the tabernacle of mee ng.

NUMBERS 19 1295 ‘Then the heifer shall be burned in hissight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and itsoffal shall be burned.6 ‘And the priest shall take cedar woodand hyssop and scarlet, and cast theminto the midst of the fire burning theheifer.7 ‘Then the priest shall wash his clothes,he shall bathe in water, and a erwardhe shall come into the camp; the priestshall be unclean un l evening.8 ‘And the one who burns it shall washhis clothes in water, bathe in water, andshall be unclean un l evening.9 ‘Then a man who is clean shall gatherup the ashes of the heifer, and storethem outside the camp in a cleanplace; and they shall be kept for thecongrega on of the children of Israelfor the water of purifica on; it is forpurifying from sin.

NUMBERS 19 13010 ‘And the one who gathers the ashesof the heifer shall wash his clothes, andbe unclean un l evening. It shall be astatute forever to the children of Israeland to the stranger who dwells amongthem.11 ‘He who touches the dead body ofanyone shall be unclean seven days.12 ‘He shall purify himself with thewater on the third day and on theseventh day; then he will be clean. But ifhe does not purify himself on the thirdday and on the seventh day, he will notbe clean.13 ‘Whoever touches the body ofanyone who has died, and does notpurify himself, defiles the tabernacleof the LORD. That person shall be cutoff from Israel. He shall be unclean,because the water of purifica on wasnot sprinkled on him; his uncleanness iss ll on him.

NUMBERS 19 13114 ‘This is the law when a man dies ina tent: All who come into the tent andall who are in the tent shall be uncleanseven days;15 ‘and every open vessel, which has nocover fastened on it, is unclean.16 ‘Whoever in the open field touchesone who is slain by a sword or who hasdied, or a bone of a man, or a grave,shall be unclean seven days.17 ‘And for an unclean person they shalltake some of the ashes of the heiferburnt for purifica on from sin, andrunning water shall be put on them in avessel.18 ‘A clean person shall take hyssop anddip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent,on all the vessels, on the persons whowere there, or on the one who toucheda bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave.19 ‘The clean person shall sprinkle theunclean on the third day and on the

NUMBERS 19–20 132seventh day; and on the seventh day heshall purify himself, wash his clothes,and bathe in water; and at evening heshall be clean.20 ‘But the man who is unclean anddoes not purify himself, that person shallbe cut off from among the assembly,because he has defiled the sanctuaryof the LORD. The water of purifica onhas not been sprinkled on him; he isunclean.21 ‘It shall be a perpetual statute forthem. He who sprinkles the water ofpurifica on shall wash his clothes; andhe who touches the water of purifica onshall be unclean un l evening.22 ‘Whatever the unclean persontouches shall be unclean; and the personwho touches it shall be unclean un levening.’"

20 1 Then the children of Israel, thewhole congrega on, came into

NUMBERS 20 133the Wilderness of Zin in the first month,and the people stayed in Kadesh; andMiriam died there and was buried there.2Now there was no water for thecongrega on; so they gathered togetheragainst Moses and Aaron.3And the people contended withMoses and spoke, saying: "If only we haddied when our brethren died before theLORD!4 "Why have you brought up theassembly of the LORD into thiswilderness, that we and our animalsshould die here?5 "And why have you made us comeup out of Egypt, to bring us to this evilplace? It is not a place of grain or figs orvines or pomegranates; nor is there anywater to drink."6 So Moses and Aaron went from thepresence of the assembly to the door ofthe tabernacle of mee ng, and they fell

NUMBERS 20 134on their faces. And the glory of the LORDappeared to them.7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,8 "Take the rod; you and your brotherAaron gather the congrega on together.Speak to the rock before their eyes, andit will yield its water; thus you shall bringwater for them out of the rock, andgive drink to the congrega on and theiranimals."9 So Moses took the rod from beforethe LORD as He commanded him.10And Moses and Aaron gathered theassembly together before the rock; andhe said to them, "Hear now, you rebels!Must we bring water for you out of thisrock?"11 Then Moses li ed his hand andstruck the rock twice with his rod; andwater came out abundantly, and thecongrega on and their animals drank.

NUMBERS 20 13512 Then the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron, "Because you did not believe Me,to hallow Me in the eyes of the childrenof Israel, therefore you shall not bringthis assembly into the land which I havegiven them."13 This was the water of Meribah,because the children of Israel contendedwith the LORD, and He was hallowedamong them.14Now Moses sent messengers fromKadesh to the king of Edom. "Thus saysyour brother Israel: ‘You know all thehardship that has befallen us,15 ‘how our fathers went down toEgypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a longme, and the Egyp ans afflicted us and

our fathers.16 ‘When we cried out to the LORD, Heheard our voice and sent the Angel andbrought us up out of Egypt; now here we

NUMBERS 20 136are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of yourborder.17 ‘Please let us pass through yourcountry. We will not pass through fieldsor vineyards, nor will we drink waterfrom wells; we will go along the King’sHighway; we will not turn aside to theright hand or to the le un l we havepassed through your territory.’"18 Then Edom said to him, "You shallnot pass through my land, lest I comeout against you with the sword."19 So the children of Israel said to him,"We will go by the Highway, and if I ormy livestock drink any of your water,then I will pay for it; let me only passthrough on foot, nothing more."20 Then he said, "You shall not passthrough." So Edom came out againstthem with many men and with a stronghand.

NUMBERS 20 13721 Thus Edom refused to give Israelpassage through his territory; so Israelturned away from him.22 Then the children of Israel, the wholecongrega on, journeyed from Kadeshand came to Mount Hor.23And the LORD spoke to Moses andAaron in Mount Hor by the border of theland of Edom, saying:24 "Aaron shall be gathered to hispeople, for he shall not enter the landwhich I have given to the children ofIsrael, because you rebelled against Myword at the water of Meribah.25 "Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, andbring them up to Mount Hor;26 "and strip Aaron of his garments andput them on Eleazar his son; for Aaronshall be gathered to his people and diethere."27 So Moses did just as the LORDcommanded, and they went up to

NUMBERS 20–21 138Mount Hor in the sight of all thecongrega on.28Moses stripped Aaron of hisgarments and put them on Eleazar hisson; and Aaron died there on the top ofthe mountain. Then Moses and Eleazarcame down from the mountain.29Now when all the congrega on sawthat Aaron was dead, all the house ofIsrael mourned for Aaron thirty days.

21 1 The king of Arad, the Canaanite,who dwelt in the South, heard

that Israel was coming on the road toAtharim, then he fought against Israeland took some of them prisoners.2 So Israel made a vow to the LORD,and said, "If You will indeed deliver thispeople into my hand, then I will u erlydestroy their ci es."3And the LORD listened to the voice ofIsrael and delivered up the Canaanites,and they u erly destroyed them and

NUMBERS 21 139their ci es. So the name of that placewas called Hormah.4 Then they journeyed from Mount Horby the Way of the Red Sea, to go aroundthe land of Edom; and the soul of thepeople became very discouraged on theway.5And the people spoke against Godand against Moses: "Why have youbrought us up out of Egypt to die inthe wilderness? For there is no foodand no water, and our soul loathes thisworthless bread."6 So the LORD sent fiery serpentsamong the people, and they bit thepeople; and many of the people of Israeldied.7 Therefore the people came to Moses,and said, "We have sinned, for we havespoken against the LORD and againstyou; pray to the LORD that He take away

NUMBERS 21 140the serpents from us." So Moses prayedfor the people.8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Makea fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; andit shall be that everyone who is bi en,when he looks at it, shall live."9 So Moses made a bronze serpent,and put it on a pole; and so it was, ifa serpent had bi en anyone, when helooked at the bronze serpent, he lived.10Now the children of Israel moved onand camped in Oboth.11And they journeyed from Oboth andcamped at Ije Abarim, in the wildernesswhich is east of Moab, toward thesunrise.12 From there they moved and campedin the Valley of Zered.13 From there they moved and campedon the other side of the Arnon, which isin the wilderness that extends from theborder of the Amorites; for the Arnon is

NUMBERS 21 141the border of Moab, between Moab andthe Amorites.14 Therefore it is said in the Book of theWars of the LORD: "Waheb in Suphah,The brooks of the Arnon,15And the slope of the brooks Thatreaches to the dwelling of Ar, And lies onthe border of Moab."16 From there they went to Beer, whichis the well where the LORD said toMoses, "Gather the people together,and I will give them water."17 Then Israel sang this song: "Springup, O well! All of you sing to it––18 The well the leaders sank, Dug by thena on’s nobles, By the lawgiver, withtheir staves." And from the wildernessthey went to Ma anah,19 from Ma anah to Nahaliel, fromNahaliel to Bamoth,20 and from Bamoth, in the valley thatis in the country of Moab, to the top

NUMBERS 21 142of Pisgah which looks down on thewasteland.21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihonking of the Amorites, saying,22 "Let me pass through your land.We will not turn aside into fields orvineyards; we will not drink water fromwells. We will go by the King’s Highwayun l we have passed through yourterritory."23 But Sihon would not allow Israelto pass through his territory. So Sihongathered all his people together andwent out against Israel in the wilderness,and he came to Jahaz and fought againstIsrael.24 Then Israel defeated him with theedge of the sword, and took possessionof his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok,as far as the people of Ammon; for theborder of the people of Ammon wasfor fied.

NUMBERS 21 14325 So Israel took all these ci es, andIsrael dwelt in all the ci es of theAmorites, in Heshbon and in all itsvillages.26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihonking of the Amorites, who had foughtagainst the former king of Moab, andhad taken all his land from his hand asfar as the Arnon.27 Therefore those who speak inproverbs say: "Come to Heshbon, let itbe built; Let the city of Sihon be repaired.28 "For fire went out from Heshbon, Aflame from the city of Sihon; It consumedAr of Moab, The lords of the heights ofthe Arnon.29Woe to you, Moab! You haveperished, O people of Chemosh! Hehas given his sons as fugi ves, And hisdaughters into cap vity, To Sihon king ofthe Amorites.

NUMBERS 21 14430 "But we have shot at them; Heshbonhas perished as far as Dibon. Then welaid waste as far as Nophah, Whichreaches to Medeba."31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of theAmorites.32 Then Moses sent to spy out Jazer;and they took its villages and drove outthe Amorites who were there.33And they turned and went up by theway to Bashan. So Og king of Bashanwent out against them, he and all hispeople, to ba le at Edrei.34 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Donot fear him, for I have delivered himinto your hand, with all his people andhis land; and you shall do to him as youdid to Sihon king of the Amorites, whodwelt at Heshbon."35 So they defeated him, his sons, andall his people, un l there was no survivor

NUMBERS 22 145le him; and they took possession of hisland.

22 1 Then the children of Israelmoved, and camped in the plains

of Moab on the side of the Jordan acrossfrom Jericho.2Now Balak the son of Zippor saw allthat Israel had done to the Amorites.3And Moab was exceedingly afraid ofthe people because they were many,and Moab was sick with dread becauseof the children of Israel.4 So Moab said to the elders ofMidian, "Now this company will lick upeverything around us, as an ox licks upthe grass of the field." And Balak the sonof Zippor was king of the Moabites atthat me.5 Then he sent messengers to Balaamthe son of Beor at Pethor, which is nearthe River in the land of the sons of hispeople, to call him, saying: "Look, a

NUMBERS 22 146people has come from Egypt. See, theycover the face of the earth, and arese ling next to me!6 "Therefore please come at once, cursethis people for me, for they are toomighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able todefeat them and drive them out of theland, for I know that he whom you blessis blessed, and he whom you curse iscursed."7 So the elders of Moab and the eldersof Midian departed with the diviner’s feein their hand, and they came to Balaamand spoke to him the words of Balak.8And he said to them, "Lodge heretonight, and I will bring back word toyou, as the LORD speaks to me." So theprinces of Moab stayed with Balaam.9 Then God came to Balaam and said,"Who are these men with you?"

NUMBERS 22 14710 So Balaam said to God, "Balak theson of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent tome, saying,11 ‘Look, a people has come out ofEgypt, and they cover the face of theearth. Come now, curse them for me;perhaps I shall be able to overpowerthem and drive them out.’"12And God said to Balaam, "You shallnot go with them; you shall not cursethe people, for they are blessed."13 So Balaam rose in the morning andsaid to the princes of Balak, "Go back toyour land, for the LORD has refused togive me permission to go with you."14And the princes of Moab rose andwent to Balak, and said, "Balaam refusesto come with us."15 Then Balak again sent princes, morenumerous and more honorable thanthey.

NUMBERS 22 14816And they came to Balaam and said tohim, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor:‘Please let nothing hinder you fromcoming to me;17 ‘for I will certainly honor you greatly,and I will do whatever you say to me.Therefore please come, curse this peoplefor me.’"18 Then Balaam answered and said tothe servants of Balak, "Though Balakwere to give me his house full of silverand gold, I could not go beyond the wordof the LORD my God, to do less or more.19 "Now therefore, please, you also stayhere tonight, that I may knowwhat morethe LORD will say to me."20And God came to Balaam at nightand said to him, "If the men come to callyou, rise and go with them; but only theword which I speak to you––that youshall do."

NUMBERS 22 14921 So Balaam rose in the morning,saddled his donkey, and went with theprinces of Moab.22 Then God’s anger was arousedbecause he went, and the Angel of theLORD took His stand in the way as anadversary against him. And he was ridingon his donkey, and his two servants werewith him.23Now the donkey saw the Angel ofthe LORD standing in the way withHis drawn sword in His hand, and thedonkey turned aside out of the way andwent into the field. So Balaam struck thedonkey to turn her back onto the road.24 Then the Angel of the LORD stood ina narrow path between the vineyards,with a wall on this side and a wall onthat side.25And when the donkey saw the Angelof the LORD, she pushed herself against

NUMBERS 22 150the wall and crushed Balaam’s footagainst the wall; so he struck her again.26 Then the Angel of the LORD wentfurther, and stood in a narrow placewhere there was no way to turn eitherto the right hand or to the le .27And when the donkey saw the Angelof the LORD, she lay down under Balaam;so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and hestruck the donkey with his staff.28 Then the LORD opened the mouthof the donkey, and she said to Balaam,"What have I done to you, that you havestruck me these three mes?"29And Balaam said to the donkey,"Because you have abused me. I wishthere were a sword in my hand, for nowI would kill you!"30 So the donkey said to Balaam, "AmI not your donkey on which you haveridden, ever since I became yours, to this

NUMBERS 22 151day? Was I ever disposed to do this toyou?" And he said, "No."31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’seyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORDstanding in the way with His drawnsword in His hand; and he bowed hishead and fell flat on his face.32And the Angel of the LORD said tohim, "Why have you struck your donkeythese three mes? Behold, I have comeout to stand against you, because yourway is perverse before Me.33 "The donkey saw Me and turnedaside from Me these three mes. If shehad not turned aside from Me, surely Iwould also have killed you by now, andlet her live."34And Balaam said to the Angel of theLORD, "I have sinned, for I did not knowYou stood in the way against me. Nowtherefore, if it displeases You, I will turnback."

NUMBERS 22 15235 Then the Angel of the LORD said toBalaam, "Go with the men, but only theword that I speak to you, that you shallspeak." So Balaam went with the princesof Balak.36Now when Balak heard that Balaamwas coming, he went out to meet himat the city of Moab, which is on theborder at the Arnon, the boundary ofthe territory.37 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I notearnestly send to you, calling for you?Why did you not come to me? Am I notable to honor you?"38And Balaam said to Balak, "Look,I have come to you! Now, have I anypower at all to say anything? The wordthat God puts in my mouth, that I mustspeak."39 So Balaam went with Balak, and theycame to Kirjath Huzoth.

NUMBERS 22–23 15340 Then Balak offered oxen and sheep,and he sent some to Balaam and to theprinces who were with him.41 So it was the next day, that Balaktook Balaam and brought him up to thehigh places of Baal, that from there hemight observe the extent of the people.

23 1 Then Balaam said to Balak,"Build seven altars for me here,

and prepare for me here seven bulls andseven rams."2And Balak did just as Balaam hadspoken, and Balak and Balaam offered abull and a ram on each altar.3 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Standby your burnt offering, and I will go;perhaps the LORD will come to meetme, and whatever He shows me I will tellyou." So he went to a desolate height.4And God met Balaam, and he said toHim, "I have prepared the seven altars,

NUMBERS 23 154and I have offered on each altar a bulland a ram."5 Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’smouth, and said, "Return to Balak, andthus you shall speak."6 So he returned to him, and there hewas, standing by his burnt offering, heand all the princes of Moab.7And he took up his oracle and said:"Balak the king of Moab has brought mefrom Aram, From the mountains of theeast. ‘Come, curse Jacob for me, Andcome, denounce Israel!’8 "How shall I curse whom God has notcursed? And how shall I denounce whomthe LORD has not denounced?9 For from the top of the rocks I seehim, And from the hills I behold him;There! A people dwelling alone, Notreckoning itself among the na ons.10 "Who can count the dust of Jacob, Ornumber one–fourth of Israel? Let me die

NUMBERS 23 155the death of the righteous, And let myend be like his!"11 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Whathave you done to me? I took you to cursemy enemies, and look, you have blessedthem boun fully!"12 So he answered and said, "Must I nottake heed to speak what the LORD hasput in my mouth?"13 Then Balak said to him, "Please comewith me to another place from whichyou may see them; you shall see onlythe outer part of them, and shall not seethem all; curse them for me from there."14 So he brought him to the field ofZophim, to the top of Pisgah, and builtseven altars, and offered a bull and aram on each altar.15And he said to Balak, "Stand hereby your burnt offering while I meet theLORD over there."

NUMBERS 23 15616 Then the LORD met Balaam, and puta word in his mouth, and said, "Go backto Balak, and thus you shall speak."17 So he came to him, and there he was,standing by his burnt offering, and theprinces of Moab were with him. AndBalak said to him, "What has the LORDspoken?"18 Then he took up his oracle and said:"Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me,son of Zippor!19 "God is not a man, that He shouldlie, Nor a son of man, that He shouldrepent. Has He said, and will He not do?Or has He spoken, and will He not makeit good?20 Behold, I have received a commandto bless; He has blessed, and I cannotreverse it.21 "He has not observed iniquity inJacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in

NUMBERS 23 157Israel. The LORD his God is with him, Andthe shout of a King is among them.22God brings them out of Egypt; He hasstrength like a wild ox.23 "For there is no sorcery against Jacob,Nor any divina on against Israel. It nowmust be said of Jacob And of Israel, ‘Oh,what God has done!’24 Look, a people rises like a lioness,And li s itself up like a lion; It shall notlie down un l it devours the prey, Anddrinks the blood of the slain."25 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neithercurse them at all, nor bless them at all!"26 So Balaam answered and said toBalak, "Did I not tell you, saying, ‘All thatthe LORD speaks, that I must do’?"27 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Pleasecome, I will take you to another place;perhaps it will please God that you maycurse them for me from there."

NUMBERS 23–24 15828 So Balak took Balaam to the top ofPeor, that overlooks the wasteland.29 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build forme here seven altars, and prepare forme here seven bulls and seven rams."30And Balak did as Balaam had said,and offered a bull and a ram on everyaltar.

24 1Now when Balaam saw that itpleased the LORD to bless Israel,

he did not go as at other mes, to seekto use sorcery, but he set his face towardthe wilderness.2And Balaam raised his eyes, and sawIsrael encamped according to theirtribes; and the Spirit of God came uponhim.3 Then he took up his oracle and said:"The u erance of Balaam the son ofBeor, The u erance of the man whoseeyes are opened,

NUMBERS 24 1594 The u erance of him who hears thewords of God, Who sees the vision ofthe Almighty, Who falls down, with eyeswide open:5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!Your dwellings, O Israel!6 Like valleys that stretch out, Likegardens by the riverside, Like aloesplanted by the LORD, Like cedars besidethe waters.7He shall pour water from his buckets,And his seed shall be in many waters."His king shall be higher than Agag, Andhis kingdom shall be exalted.8 "God brings him out of Egypt; He hasstrength like a wild ox; He shall consumethe na ons, his enemies; He shall breaktheir bones And pierce them with hisarrows.9 ‘He bows down, he lies down as alion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’

NUMBERS 24 160"Blessed is he who blesses you, Andcursed is he who curses you."10 Then Balak’s anger was arousedagainst Balaam, and he struck his handstogether; and Balak said to Balaam, "Icalled you to curse my enemies, andlook, you have boun fully blessed themthese three mes!11 "Now therefore, flee to your place.I said I would greatly honor you, but infact, the LORD has kept you back fromhonor."12 So Balaam said to Balak, "Did I notalso speak to your messengers whomyou sent to me, saying,13 ‘If Balak were to give me his housefull of silver and gold, I could not gobeyond the word of the LORD, to dogood or bad of my own will. What theLORD says, that I must speak’?14 "And now, indeed, I am going to mypeople. Come, I will advise you what

NUMBERS 24 161this people will do to your people in thela er days."15 So he took up his oracle and said:"The u erance of Balaam the son ofBeor, And the u erance of the manwhose eyes are opened;16 The u erance of him who hears thewords of God, And has the knowledge ofthe Most High, Who sees the vision ofthe Almighty, Who falls down, with eyeswide open:17 "I see Him, but not now; I beholdHim, but not near; A Star shall comeout of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out ofIsrael, And ba er the brow of Moab,And destroy all the sons of tumult.18 "And Edom shall be a possession; Seiralso, his enemies, shall be a possession,While Israel does valiantly.19Out of Jacob One shall havedominion, And destroy the remains ofthe city."

NUMBERS 24 16220 Then he looked on Amalek, and hetook up his oracle and said: "Amalek wasfirst among the na ons, But shall be lastun l he perishes."21 Then he looked on the Kenites, andhe took up his oracle and said: "Firm isyour dwelling place, And your nest is setin the rock;22Nevertheless Kain shall be burned.How long un l Asshur carries you awaycap ve?"23 Then he took up his oracle and said:"Alas! Who shall live when God doesthis?24 But ships shall come from the coastsof Cyprus, And they shall afflict Asshurand afflict Eber, And so shall Amalek,un l he perishes."25 So Balaam rose and departed andreturned to his place; Balak also went hisway.

NUMBERS 25 163

25 1Now Israel remained in AcaciaGrove, and the people began to

commit harlotry with the women ofMoab.2 They invited the people to thesacrifices of their gods, and the peopleate and bowed down to their gods.3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor,and the anger of the LORD was arousedagainst Israel.4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Takeall the leaders of the people and hangthe offenders before the LORD, out inthe sun, that the fierce anger of theLORD may turn away from Israel."5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel,"Every one of you kill his men who werejoined to Baal of Peor."6And indeed, one of the childrenof Israel came and presented to hisbrethren a Midianite woman in the sightof Moses and in the sight of all the

NUMBERS 25 164congrega on of the children of Israel,who were weeping at the door of thetabernacle of mee ng.7Now when Phinehas the son ofEleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, sawit, he rose from among the congrega onand took a javelin in his hand;8 and he went a er the man of Israelinto the tent and thrust both of themthrough, the man of Israel, and thewoman through her body. So the plaguewas stopped among the children ofIsrael.9And those who died in the plaguewere twenty–four thousand.10 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:11 "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the sonof Aaron the priest, has turned backMy wrath from the children of Israel,because he was zealous with My zeal

NUMBERS 25 165among them, so that I did not consumethe children of Israel in My zeal.12 "Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to himMy covenant of peace;13 ‘and it shall be to him and hisdescendants a er him a covenant ofan everlas ng priesthood, because hewas zealous for his God, and madeatonement for the children of Israel.’"14Now the name of the Israelite whowas killed, who was killed with theMidianite woman, was Zimri the son ofSalu, a leader of a father’s house amongthe Simeonites.15And the name of the Midianitewoman who was killed was Cozbi thedaughter of Zur; he was head of thepeople of a father’s house in Midian.16 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:17 "Harass the Midianites, and a ackthem;

NUMBERS 25–26 16618 "for they harassed you with theirschemes by which they seduced you inthe ma er of Peor and in the ma erof Cozbi, the daughter of a leader ofMidian, their sister, who was killed in theday of the plague because of Peor."

26 1And it came to pass, a er theplague, that the LORD spoke to

Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron thepriest, saying:2 "Take a census of all the congrega onof the children of Israel from twentyyears old and above, by their fathers’houses, all who are able to go to war inIsrael."3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spokewith them in the plains of Moab by theJordan, across from Jericho, saying:4 "Take a census of the people fromtwenty years old and above, just asthe LORD commanded Moses and the

NUMBERS 26 167children of Israel who came out of theland of Egypt."5 Reuben was the firstborn of Israel.The children of Reuben were: of Hanoch,the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu,the family of the Palluites;6 of Hezron, the family of theHezronites; of Carmi, the family of theCarmites.7 These are the families of theReubenites: those who were numberedof them were forty–three thousandseven hundred and thirty.8And the son of Pallu was Eliab.9 The sons of Eliab were Nemuel,Dathan, and Abiram. These are theDathan and Abiram, representa vesof the congrega on, who contendedagainst Moses and Aaron in the companyof Korah, when they contended againstthe LORD;

NUMBERS 26 16810 and the earth opened its mouth andswallowed them up together with Korahwhen that company died, when the firedevoured two hundred and fi y men;and they became a sign.11Nevertheless the children of Korahdid not die.12 The sons of Simeon according to theirfamilies were: of Nemuel, the family ofthe Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family ofthe Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of theJachinites;13 of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites;of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.14 These are the families of theSimeonites: twenty–two thousand twohundred.15 The sons of Gad according to theirfamilies were: of Zephon, the family ofthe Zephonites; of Haggi, the family ofthe Haggites; of Shuni, the family of theShunites;

NUMBERS 26 16916 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; ofEri, the family of the Erites;17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; ofAreli, the family of the Arelites.18 These are the families of the sonsof Gad according to those who werenumbered of them: forty thousand fivehundred.19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan;and Er and Onan died in the land ofCanaan.20And the sons of Judah according totheir families were: of Shelah, the familyof the Shelanites; of Perez, the family ofthe Parzites; of Zerah, the family of theZarhites.21And the sons of Perez were: ofHezron, the family of the Hezronites; ofHamul, the family of the Hamulites.22 These are the families of Judahaccording to those who were numbered

NUMBERS 26 170of them: seventy–six thousand fivehundred.23 The sons of Issachar according totheir families were: of Tola, the family ofthe Tolaites; of Puah, the family of thePunites;24 of Jashub, the family of theJashubites; of Shimron, the family of theShimronites.25 These are the families of Issacharaccording to those who were numberedof them: sixty–four thousand threehundred.26 The sons of Zebulun according totheir families were: of Sered, the familyof the Sardites; of Elon, the family ofthe Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of theJahleelites.27 These are the families of theZebulunites according to those whowere numbered of them: sixty thousandfive hundred.

NUMBERS 26 17128 The sons of Joseph according to theirfamilies, by Manasseh and Ephraim,were:29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir,the family of the Machirites; and Machirbegot Gilead; of Gilead, the family of theGileadites.30 These are the sons of Gilead: ofJeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; ofHelek, the family of the Helekites;31 of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites;of Shechem, the family of theShechemites;32 of Shemida, the family of theShemidaites; of Hepher, the family ofthe Hepherites.33Now Zelophehad the son of Hepherhad no sons, but daughters; and thenames of the daughters of Zelophehadwere Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, andTirzah.

NUMBERS 26 17234 These are the families of Manasseh;and those who were numbered of themwere fi y–two thousand seven hundred.35 These are the sons of Ephraimaccording to their families: of Shuthelah,the family of the Shuthalhites; of Becher,the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, thefamily of the Tahanites.36And these are the sons of Shuthelah:of Eran, the family of the Eranites.37 These are the families of the sons ofEphraim according to those who werenumbered of them: thirty–two thousandfive hundred. These are the sons ofJoseph according to their families.38 The sons of Benjamin according totheir families were: of Bela, the family ofthe Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of theAshbelites; of Ahiram, the family of theAhiramites;

NUMBERS 26 17339 of Shupham, the family of theShuphamites; of Hupham, the family ofthe Huphamites.40And the sons of Bela were Ardand Naaman: of Ard, the family of theArdites; of Naaman, the family of theNaamites.41 These are the sons of Benjaminaccording to their families; and thosewho were numbered of them wereforty–five thousand six hundred.42 These are the sons of Dan accordingto their families: of Shuham, the familyof the Shuhamites. These are the familiesof Dan according to their families.43All the families of the Shuhamites,according to those who were numberedof them, were sixty–four thousand fourhundred.44 The sons of Asher according to theirfamilies were: of Jimna, the family ofthe Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the

NUMBERS 26 174Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of theBeriites.45Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, thefamily of the Heberites; of Malchiel, thefamily of the Malchielites.46And the name of the daughter ofAsher was Serah.47 These are the families of the sonsof Asher according to those who werenumbered of them: fi y–three thousandfour hundred.48 The sons of Naphtali according totheir families were: of Jahzeel, the familyof the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family ofthe Gunites;49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; ofShillem, the family of the Shillemites.50 These are the families of Naphtaliaccording to their families; and thosewho were numbered of them wereforty–five thousand four hundred.

NUMBERS 26 17551 These are those who were numberedof the children of Israel: six hundred andone thousand seven hundred and thirty.52 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:53 "To these the land shall be divided asan inheritance, according to the numberof names.54 "To a large tribe you shall give alarger inheritance, and to a small tribeyou shall give a smaller inheritance. Eachshall be given its inheritance accordingto those who were numbered of them.55 "But the land shall be divided by lot;they shall inherit according to the namesof the tribes of their fathers.56 "According to the lot their inheritanceshall be divided between the larger andthe smaller."57And these are those who werenumbered of the Levites according totheir families: of Gershon, the family of

NUMBERS 26 176the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family ofthe Kohathites; of Merari, the family ofthe Merarites.58 These are the families of the Levites:the family of the Libnites, the familyof the Hebronites, the family of theMahlites, the family of the Mushites,and the family of the Korathites. AndKohath begot Amram.59 The name of Amram’s wife wasJochebed the daughter of Levi, who wasborn to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram shebore Aaron and Moses and their sisterMiriam.60 To Aaron were born Nadab andAbihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.61And Nadab and Abihu died whenthey offered profane fire before theLORD.62Now those who were numberedof them were twenty–three thousand,every male from a month old and above;

NUMBERS 26–27 177for they were not numbered among theother children of Israel, because therewas no inheritance given to them amongthe children of Israel.63 These are those who were numberedby Moses and Eleazar the priest, whonumbered the children of Israel in theplains of Moab by the Jordan, acrossfrom Jericho.64 But among these there was not aman of those who were numbered byMoses and Aaron the priest when theynumbered the children of Israel in theWilderness of Sinai.65 For the LORD had said of them, "Theyshall surely die in the wilderness." Sothere was not le a man of them, exceptCaleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshuathe son of Nun.

27 1 Then came the daughters ofZelophehad the son of Hepher,

the son of Gilead, the son of Machir,

NUMBERS 27 178the son of Manasseh, from the familiesof Manasseh the son of Joseph; andthese were the names of his daughters:Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, andTirzah.2And they stood before Moses, beforeEleazar the priest, and before the leadersand all the congrega on, by the doorwayof the tabernacle of mee ng, saying:3 "Our father died in the wilderness; buthe was not in the company of those whogathered together against the LORD, incompany with Korah, but he died in hisown sin; and he had no sons.4 "Why should the name of ourfather be removed from among hisfamily because he had no son? Giveus a possession among our father’sbrothers."5 So Moses brought their case beforethe LORD.6And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

NUMBERS 27 1797 "The daughters of Zelophehad speakwhat is right; you shall surely give thema possession of inheritance amongtheir father’s brothers, and cause theinheritance of their father to pass tothem.8 "And you shall speak to the children ofIsrael, saying: ‘If a man dies and has noson, then you shall cause his inheritanceto pass to his daughter.9 ‘If he has no daughter, then you shallgive his inheritance to his brothers.10 ‘If he has no brothers, then youshall give his inheritance to his father’sbrothers.11 ‘And if his father has no brothers,then you shall give his inheritance to therela ve closest him in his family, and heshall possess it.’" And it shall be to thechildren of Israel a statute of judgment,just as the LORD commanded Moses.

NUMBERS 27 18012Now the LORD said to Moses: "Goup into this Mount Abarim, and see theland which I have given to the childrenof Israel.13 "And when you have seen it, youalso shall be gathered to your people, asAaron your brother was gathered.14 "For in the Wilderness of Zin, duringthe strife of the congrega on, yourebelled against My command to hallowMe at the waters before their eyes."(These are the waters of Meribah, atKadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD,saying:16 "Let the LORD, the God of thespirits of all flesh, set a man over thecongrega on,17 "who may go out before them and goin before them, who may lead them outand bring them in, that the congrega on

NUMBERS 27 181of the LORD may not be like sheep whichhave no shepherd."18And the LORD said to Moses: "TakeJoshua the son of Nun with you, a manin whom is the Spirit, and lay your handon him;19 "set him before Eleazar the priestand before all the congrega on, andinaugurate him in their sight.20 "And you shall give some ofyour authority to him, that all thecongrega on of the children of Israelmay be obedient.21 "He shall stand before Eleazar thepriest, who shall inquire before the LORDfor him by the judgment of the Urim.At his word they shall go out, and athis word they shall come in, he and allthe children of Israel with him––all thecongrega on."22 So Moses did as the LORDcommanded him. He took Joshua and

NUMBERS 27–28 182set him before Eleazar the priest andbefore all the congrega on.23And he laid his hands on him andinaugurated him, just as the LORDcommanded by the hand of Moses.

28 1Now the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

2 "Command the children of Israel, andsay to them, ‘My offering, My food forMy offerings made by fire as a sweetaroma to Me, you shall be careful tooffer to Me at their appointed me.’3 "And you shall say to them, ‘This isthe offering made by fire which you shalloffer to the LORD: two male lambs intheir first year without blemish, day byday, as a regular burnt offering.4 ‘The one lamb you shall offer in themorning, the other lamb you shall offerin the evening,

NUMBERS 28 1835 ‘and one–tenth of an ephah of fineflour as a grain offering mixed withone–fourth of a hin of pressed oil.6 ‘It is a regular burnt offering whichwas ordained at Mount Sinai for a sweetaroma, an offering made by fire to theLORD.7 ‘And its drink offering shall beone–fourth of a hin for each lamb; in aholy place you shall pour out the drinkto the LORD as an offering.8 ‘The other lamb you shall offer in theevening; as the morning grain offeringand its drink offering, you shall offer it asan offering made by fire, a sweet aromato the LORD.9 ‘And on the Sabbath day two lambsin their first year, without blemish, andtwo–tenths of an ephah of fine flour asa grain offering, mixed with oil, with itsdrink offering––

NUMBERS 28 18410 ‘this is the burnt offering for everySabbath, besides the regular burntoffering with its drink offering.11 ‘At the beginnings of your monthsyou shall present a burnt offering to theLORD: two young bulls, one ram, andseven lambs in their first year, withoutblemish;12 ‘three–tenths of an ephah of fineflour as a grain offering, mixed with oil,for each bull; two–tenths of an ephah offine flour as a grain offering, mixed withoil, for the one ram;13 ‘and one–tenth of an ephah of fineflour, mixed with oil, as a grain offeringfor each lamb, as a burnt offering ofsweet aroma, an offering made by fire tothe LORD.14 ‘Their drink offering shall be half ahin of wine for a bull, one–third of a hinfor a ram, and one–fourth of a hin for alamb; this is the burnt offering for each

NUMBERS 28 185month throughout the months of theyear.15 ‘Also one kid of the goats as a sinoffering to the LORD shall be offered,besides the regular burnt offering and itsdrink offering.16 ‘On the fourteenth day of the firstmonth is the Passover of the LORD.17 ‘And on the fi eenth day of thismonth is the feast; unleavened breadshall be eaten for seven days.18 ‘On the first day you shall have a holyconvoca on. You shall do no customarywork.19 ‘And you shall present an offeringmade by fire as a burnt offering to theLORD: two young bulls, one ram, andseven lambs in their first year. Be surethey are without blemish.20 ‘Their grain offering shall be of fineflour mixed with oil: three–tenths of

NUMBERS 28 186an ephah you shall offer for a bull, andtwo–tenths for a ram;21 ‘you shall offer one–tenth of anephah for each of the seven lambs;22 ‘also one goat as a sin offering, tomake atonement for you.23 ‘You shall offer these besides theburnt offering of the morning, which isfor a regular burnt offering.24 ‘In this manner you shall offer thefood of the offering made by fire dailyfor seven days, as a sweet aroma tothe LORD; it shall be offered besidesthe regular burnt offering and its drinkoffering.25 ‘And on the seventh day you shallhave a holy convoca on. You shall do nocustomary work.26 ‘Also on the day of the firs ruits,when you bring a new grain offering tothe LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you

NUMBERS 28–29 187shall have a holy convoca on. You shalldo no customary work.27 ‘You shall present a burnt offering asa sweet aroma to the LORD: two youngbulls, one ram, and seven lambs in theirfirst year,28 ‘with their grain offering of fine flourmixed with oil: three–tenths of an ephahfor each bull, two–tenths for the oneram,29 ‘and one–tenth for each of the sevenlambs;30 ‘also one kid of the goats, to makeatonement for you.31 ‘Be sure they are without blemish.You shall present them with their drinkofferings, besides the regular burntoffering with its grain offering.

29 1 ‘And in the seventh month, onthe first day of the month, you

shall have a holy convoca on. You shall

NUMBERS 29 188do no customary work. For you it is a dayof blowing the trumpets.2 ‘You shall offer a burnt offering as asweet aroma to the LORD: one youngbull, one ram, and seven lambs in theirfirst year, without blemish.3 ‘Their grain offering shall be fine flourmixed with oil: three–tenths of an ephahfor the bull, two–tenths for the ram,4 ‘and one–tenth for each of the sevenlambs;5 ‘also one kid of the goats as a sinoffering, to make atonement for you;6 ‘besides the burnt offering with itsgrain offering for the New Moon, theregular burnt offering with its grainoffering, and their drink offerings,according to their ordinance, as a sweetaroma, an offering made by fire to theLORD.7 ‘On the tenth day of this seventhmonth you shall have a holy convoca on.

NUMBERS 29 189You shall afflict your souls; you shall notdo any work.8 ‘You shall present a burnt offeringto the LORD as a sweet aroma: oneyoung bull, one ram, and seven lambs intheir first year. Be sure they are withoutblemish.9 ‘Their grain offering shall be of fineflour mixed with oil: three–tenths of anephah for the bull, two–tenths for theone ram,10 ‘and one–tenth for each of the sevenlambs;11 ‘also one kid of the goats as a sinoffering, besides the sin offering foratonement, the regular burnt offeringwith its grain offering, and their drinkofferings.12 ‘On the fi eenth day of the seventhmonth you shall have a holy convoca on.You shall do no customary work, and

NUMBERS 29 190you shall keep a feast to the LORD sevendays.13 ‘You shall present a burnt offering, anoffering made by fire as a sweet aromato the LORD: thirteen young bulls, tworams, and fourteen lambs in their firstyear. They shall be without blemish.14 ‘Their grain offering shall be of fineflour mixed with oil: three–tenths ofan ephah for each of the thirteen bulls,two–tenths for each of the two rams,15 ‘and one–tenth for each of thefourteen lambs;16 ‘also one kid of the goats as a sinoffering, besides the regular burntoffering, its grain offering, and its drinkoffering.17 ‘On the second day present twelveyoung bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs intheir first year without blemish,18 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bulls, for the rams,

NUMBERS 29 191and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;19 ‘also one kid of the goats as a sinoffering, besides the regular burntoffering with its grain offering, and theirdrink offerings.20 ‘On the third day present elevenbulls, two rams, fourteen lambs in theirfirst year without blemish,21 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bulls, for the rams,and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;22 ‘also one goat as a sin offering,besides the regular burnt offering, itsgrain offering, and its drink offering.23 ‘On the fourth day present ten bulls,two rams, and fourteen lambs in theirfirst year, without blemish,24 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bulls, for the rams,

NUMBERS 29 192and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;25 ‘also one kid of the goats as a sinoffering, besides the regular burntoffering, its grain offering, and its drinkoffering.26 ‘On the fi h day present nine bulls,two rams, and fourteen lambs in theirfirst year without blemish,27 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bulls, for the rams,and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;28 ‘also one goat as a sin offering,besides the regular burnt offering, itsgrain offering, and its drink offering.29 ‘On the sixth day present eight bulls,two rams, and fourteen lambs in theirfirst year without blemish,30 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bulls, for the rams,

NUMBERS 29 193and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;31 ‘also one goat as a sin offering,besides the regular burnt offering, itsgrain offering, and its drink offering.32 ‘On the seventh day present sevenbulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs intheir first year without blemish,33 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bulls, for the rams,and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;34 ‘also one goat as a sin offering,besides the regular burnt offering, itsgrain offering, and its drink offering.35 ‘On the eighth day you shall havea sacred assembly. You shall do nocustomary work.36 ‘You shall present a burnt offering, anoffering made by fire as a sweet aromato the LORD: one bull, one ram, sevenlambs in their first year without blemish,

NUMBERS 29–30 19437 ‘and their grain offering and theirdrink offerings for the bull, for the ram,and for the lambs, by their number,according to the ordinance;38 ‘also one goat as a sin offering,besides the regular burnt offering, itsgrain offering, and its drink offering.39 ‘These you shall present to theLORD at your appointed feasts (besidesyour vowed offerings and your freewillofferings) as your burnt offerings andyour grain offerings, as your drinkofferings and your peace offerings.’"40 So Moses told the children ofIsrael everything, just as the LORDcommanded Moses.

30 1 Then Moses spoke to the headsof the tribes concerning the

children of Israel, saying, "This is thething which the LORD has commanded:2 "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, orswears an oath to bind himself by some

NUMBERS 30 195agreement, he shall not break his word;he shall do according to all that proceedsout of his mouth.3 "Or if a woman makes a vow tothe LORD, and binds herself by someagreement while in her father’s house inher youth,4 "and her father hears her vow andthe agreement by which she has boundherself, and her father holds his peace,then all her vows shall stand, and everyagreement with which she has boundherself shall stand.5 "But if her father overrules her onthe day that he hears, then none of hervows nor her agreements by which shehas bound herself shall stand; and theLORD will release her, because her fatheroverruled her.6 "If indeed she takes a husband, whilebound by her vows or by a rash u erancefrom her lips by which she bound herself,

NUMBERS 30 1967 "and her husband hears it, and makesno response to her on the day that hehears, then her vows shall stand, and heragreements by which she bound herselfshall stand.8 "But if her husband overrules her onthe day that he hears it, he shall makevoid her vow which she took and whatshe u ered with her lips, by which shebound herself, and the LORD will releaseher.9 "Also any vow of a widow or adivorced woman, by which she hasbound herself, shall stand against her.10 "If she vowed in her husband’s house,or bound herself by an agreement withan oath,11 "and her husband heard it, and madeno response to her and did not overruleher, then all her vows shall stand, andevery agreement by which she boundherself shall stand.

NUMBERS 30 19712 "But if her husband truly madethem void on the day he heard them,then whatever proceeded from her lipsconcerning her vows or concerning theagreement binding her, it shall not stand;her husband has made them void, andthe LORD will release her.13 "Every vow and every binding oath toafflict her soul, her husband may confirmit, or her husband may make it void.14 "Now if her husband makes noresponse whatever to her from day today, then he confirms all her vows orall the agreements that bind her; heconfirms them, because he made noresponse to her on the day that he heardthem.15 "But if he does make them void a erhe has heard them, then he shall bearher guilt."16 These are the statutes which theLORD commanded Moses, between a

NUMBERS 31 198man and his wife, and between a fatherand his daughter in her youth in herfather’s house.

31 1And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:

2 "Take vengeance on the Midianitesfor the children of Israel. A erward youshall be gathered to your people."3 So Moses spoke to the people, saying,"Arm some of yourselves for war, and letthem go against the Midianites to takevengeance for the LORD on Midian.4 "A thousand from each tribe of allthe tribes of Israel you shall send to thewar."5 So there were recruited from thedivisions of Israel one thousand fromeach tribe, twelve thousand armed forwar.6 ThenMoses sent them to the war, onethousand from each tribe; he sent themto the war with Phinehas the son of

NUMBERS 31 199Eleazar the priest, with the holy ar clesand the signal trumpets in his hand.7And they warred against theMidianites, just as the LORD commandedMoses, and they killed all the males.8 They killed the kings of Midian withthe rest of those who were killed––Evi,Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kingsof Midian. Balaam the son of Beor theyalso killed with the sword.9And the children of Israel took thewomen of Midian cap ve, with theirli le ones, and took as spoil all theirca le, all their flocks, and all their goods.10 They also burned with fire all theci es where they dwelt, and all theirforts.11And they took all the spoil and all thebooty––of man and beast.12 Then they brought the cap ves, thebooty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazarthe priest, and to the congrega on of

NUMBERS 31 200the children of Israel, to the camp in theplains of Moab by the Jordan, acrossfrom Jericho.13AndMoses, Eleazar the priest, and allthe leaders of the congrega on, went tomeet them outside the camp.14 But Moses was angry with theofficers of the army, with the captainsover thousands and captains overhundreds, who had come from theba le.15And Moses said to them: "Have youkept all the women alive?16 "Look, these women caused thechildren of Israel, through the counselof Balaam, to trespass against the LORDin the incident of Peor, and there was aplague among the congrega on of theLORD.17 "Now therefore, kill every maleamong the li le ones, and kill everywomanwho has known aman in mately.

NUMBERS 31 20118 "But keep alive for yourselves all theyoung girls who have not known a manin mately.19 "And as for you, remain outside thecamp seven days; whoever has killed anyperson, and whoever has touched anyslain, purify yourselves and your cap veson the third day and on the seventh day.20 "Purify every garment, everythingmade of leather, everything woven ofgoats’ hair, and everything made ofwood."21 Then Eleazar the priest said to themen of war who had gone to the ba le,"This is the ordinance of the law whichthe LORD commanded Moses:22Only the gold, the silver, the bronze,the iron, the n, and the lead,23 "everything that can endure fire, youshall put through the fire, and it shall beclean; and it shall be purified with the

NUMBERS 31 202water of purifica on. But all that cannotendure fire you shall put through water.24 "And you shall wash your clotheson the seventh day and be clean, anda erward you may come into the camp."25Now the LORD spoke to Moses,saying:26 "Count up the plunder that wastaken––of man and beast––you andEleazar the priest and the chief fathersof the congrega on;27 "and divide the plunder into twoparts, between those who took part inthe war, who went out to ba le, and allthe congrega on.28 "And levy a tribute for the LORDon the men of war who went out toba le: one of every five hundred of thepersons, the ca le, the donkeys, and thesheep;

NUMBERS 31 20329 "take it from their half, and give it toEleazar the priest as a heave offering tothe LORD.30 "And from the children of Israel’shalf you shall take one of every fi y,drawn from the persons, the ca le, thedonkeys, and the sheep, from all thelivestock, and give them to the Leviteswho keep charge of the tabernacle ofthe LORD."31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest didas the LORD commanded Moses.32 The booty remaining from theplunder, which the men of war hadtaken, was six hundred and seventy–fivethousand sheep,33 seventy–two thousand ca le,34 sixty–one thousand donkeys,35 and thirty–two thousand persons inall, of women who had not known a manin mately.

NUMBERS 31 20436And the half, the por on for thosewho had gone out to war, was innumber three hundred and thirty–seventhousand five hundred sheep;37 and the LORD’S tribute of the sheepwas six hundred and seventy–five.38 The ca le were thirty–six thousand,of which the LORD’S tribute wasseventy–two.39 The donkeys were thirty thousandfive hundred, of which the LORD’Stribute was sixty–one.40 The persons were sixteen thousand,of which the LORD’S tribute wasthirty–two persons.41 So Moses gave the tribute which wasthe LORD’S heave offering to Eleazar thepriest, as the LORD commanded Moses.42And from the children of Israel’s half,which Moses separated from the menwho fought––

NUMBERS 31 20543 now the half belonging to thecongrega on was three hundred andthirty–seven thousand five hundredsheep,44 thirty–six thousand ca le,45 thirty thousand five hundreddonkeys,46 and sixteen thousand persons––47 and from the children of Israel’s halfMoses took one of every fi y, drawnfrom man and beast, and gave themto the Levites, who kept charge of thetabernacle of the LORD, as the LORDcommanded Moses.48 Then the officers who were overthousands of the army, the captains ofthousands and captains of hundreds,came near to Moses;49 and they said to Moses, "Yourservants have taken a count of the menof war who are under our command,and not a man of us is missing.

NUMBERS 31 20650 "Therefore we have brought anoffering for the LORD, what every manfound of ornaments of gold: armlets andbracelets and signet rings and earringsand necklaces, to make atonement forourselves before the LORD."51 So Moses and Eleazar the priestreceived the gold from them, all thefashioned ornaments.52And all the gold of the offering thatthey offered to the LORD, from thecaptains of thousands and captains ofhundreds, was sixteen thousand sevenhundred and fi y shekels.53 (The men of war had taken spoil,every man for himself.)54And Moses and Eleazar the priestreceived the gold from the captains ofthousands and of hundreds, and broughtit into the tabernacle of mee ng asa memorial for the children of Israelbefore the LORD.

NUMBERS 32 207

32 1Now the children of Reuben andthe children of Gad had a very

great mul tude of livestock; and whenthey saw the land of Jazer and the landof Gilead, that indeed the region was aplace for livestock,2 the children of Gad and the childrenof Reuben came and spoke to Moses, toEleazar the priest, and to the leaders ofthe congrega on, saying,3 "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah,Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, andBeon,4 "the country which the LORD defeatedbefore the congrega on of Israel, is aland for livestock, and your servantshave livestock."5 Therefore they said, "If we have foundfavor in your sight, let this land be givento your servants as a possession. Do nottake us over the Jordan."

NUMBERS 32 2086And Moses said to the children of Gadand to the children of Reuben: "Shallyour brethren go to war while you sithere?7 "Now why will you discourage theheart of the children of Israel from goingover into the land which the LORD hasgiven them?8 "Thus your fathers did when I sentthem away from Kadesh Barnea to seethe land.9 "For when they went up to theValley of Eshcol and saw the land, theydiscouraged the heart of the children ofIsrael, so that they did not go into theland which the LORD had given them.10 "So the LORD’S anger was aroused onthat day, and He swore an oath, saying,11 ‘Surely none of the men who cameup from Egypt, from twenty years oldand above, shall see the land of whichI swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

NUMBERS 32 209because they have not wholly followedMe,12 ‘except Caleb the son of Jephunneh,the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun,for they have wholly followed the LORD.’13 "So the LORD’S anger was arousedagainst Israel, and He made themwander in the wilderness forty years,un l all the genera on that had doneevil in the sight of the LORD was gone.14 "And look! You have risen in yourfather’s place, a brood of sinful men, toincrease s ll more the fierce anger ofthe LORD against Israel.15 "For if you turn away from followingHim, He will once again leave them inthe wilderness, and you will destroy allthese people."16 Then they came near to him and said:"We will build sheepfolds here for ourlivestock, and ci es for our li le ones,

NUMBERS 32 21017 "but we ourselves will be armed,ready to go before the children of Israelun l we have brought them to theirplace; and our li le ones will dwell in thefor fied ci es because of the inhabitantsof the land.18 "We will not return to our homesun l every one of the children of Israelhas received his inheritance.19 "For we will not inherit with them onthe other side of the Jordan and beyond,because our inheritance has fallen to uson this eastern side of the Jordan."20 Then Moses said to them: "If you dothis thing, if you arm yourselves beforethe LORD for the war,21 "and all your armed men cross overthe Jordan before the LORD un l He hasdriven out His enemies from before Him,22 "and the land is subdued before theLORD, then a erward you may returnand be blameless before the LORD and

NUMBERS 32 211before Israel; and this land shall be yourpossession before the LORD.23 "But if you do not do so, then takenote, you have sinned against the LORD;and be sure your sin will find you out.24 "Build ci es for your li le ones andfolds for your sheep, and do what hasproceeded out of your mouth."25And the children of Gad and thechildren of Reuben spoke to Moses,saying: "Your servants will do as my lordcommands.26 "Our li le ones, our wives, our flocks,and all our livestock will be there in theci es of Gilead;27 "but your servants will cross over,every man armed for war, before theLORD to ba le, just as my lord says."28 So Moses gave command concerningthem to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua theson of Nun, and to the chief fathers ofthe tribes of the children of Israel.

NUMBERS 32 21229And Moses said to them: "If thechildren of Gad and the children ofReuben cross over the Jordan with you,every man armed for ba le before theLORD, and the land is subdued beforeyou, then you shall give them the land ofGilead as a possession.30 "But if they do not cross over armedwith you, they shall have possessionsamong you in the land of Canaan."31 Then the children of Gad and thechildren of Reuben answered, saying:"As the LORD has said to your servants,so we will do.32 "We will cross over armed beforethe LORD into the land of Canaan,but the possession of our inheritanceshall remain with us on this side of theJordan."33 So Moses gave to the children ofGad, to the children of Reuben, and tohalf the tribe of Manasseh the son of

NUMBERS 32 213Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of theAmorites and the kingdom of Og king ofBashan, the land with its ci es within theborders, the ci es of the surroundingcountry.34And the children of Gad built Dibonand Ataroth and Aroer,35Atroth and Shophan and Jazer andJogbehah,36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran,for fied ci es, and folds for sheep.37And the children of Reuben builtHeshbon and Elealeh and Kirjathaim,38Nebo and Baal Meon (their namesbeing changed) and Shibmah; and theygave other names to the ci es whichthey built.39And the children of Machir the sonof Manasseh went to Gilead and tookit, and dispossessed the Amorites whowere in it.

NUMBERS 32–33 21440 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir theson of Manasseh, and he dwelt in it.41Also Jair the son of Manasseh wentand took its small towns, and calledthem Havoth Jair.42 Then Nobah went and took Kenathand its villages, and he called it Nobah,a er his own name.

33 1 These are the journeys of thechildren of Israel, who went out

of the land of Egypt by their armiesunder the hand of Moses and Aaron.2Now Moses wrote down the star ngpoints of their journeys at the commandof the LORD. And these are their journeysaccording to their star ng points:3 They departed from Rameses in thefirst month, on the fi eenth day ofthe first month; on the day a er thePassover the children of Israel wentout with boldness in the sight of all theEgyp ans.

NUMBERS 33 2154 For the Egyp ans were burying alltheir firstborn, whom the LORD hadkilled among them. Also on their godsthe LORD had executed judgments.5 Then the children of Israel movedfrom Rameses and camped at Succoth.6 They departed from Succoth andcamped at Etham, which is on the edgeof the wilderness.7 They moved from Etham and turnedback to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of BaalZephon; and they camped near Migdol.8 They departed from before Hahirothand passed through the midst of the seainto the wilderness, went three days’journey in the Wilderness of Etham, andcamped at Marah.9 They moved from Marah and cameto Elim. At Elim were twelve springs ofwater and seventy palm trees; so theycamped there.

NUMBERS 33 21610 They moved from Elim and campedby the Red Sea.11 They moved from the Red Sea andcamped in the Wilderness of Sin.12 They journeyed from the Wildernessof Sin and camped at Dophkah.13 They departed from Dophkah andcamped at Alush.14 They moved from Alush and campedat Rephidim, where there was no waterfor the people to drink.15 They departed from Rephidim andcamped in the Wilderness of Sinai.16 They moved from the Wilderness ofSinai and camped at Kibroth Ha aavah.17 They departed from KibrothHa aavah and camped at Hazeroth.18 They departed from Hazeroth andcamped at Rithmah.19 They departed from Rithmah andcamped at Rimmon Perez.

NUMBERS 33 21720 They departed from Rimmon Perezand camped at Libnah.21 Theymoved from Libnah and campedat Rissah.22 They journeyed from Rissah andcamped at Kehelathah.23 They went from Kehelathah andcamped at Mount Shepher.24 They moved from Mount Shepherand camped at Haradah.25 They moved from Haradah andcamped at Makheloth.26 They moved from Makheloth andcamped at Tahath.27 They departed from Tahath andcamped at Terah.28 They moved from Terah and campedat Mithkah.29 They went fromMithkah and campedat Hashmonah.30 They departed from Hashmonah andcamped at Moseroth.

NUMBERS 33 21831 They departed from Moseroth andcamped at Bene Jaakan.32 They moved from Bene Jaakan andcamped at Hor Hagidgad.33 They went from Hor Hagidgad andcamped at Jotbathah.34 They moved from Jotbathah andcamped at Abronah.35 They departed from Abronah andcamped at Ezion Geber.36 They moved from Ezion Geber andcamped in the Wilderness of Zin, whichis Kadesh.37 They moved from Kadesh andcamped at Mount Hor, on the boundaryof the land of Edom.38 Then Aaron the priest went up toMount Hor at the command of the LORD,and died there in the for eth year a erthe children of Israel had come out ofthe land of Egypt, on the first day of thefi h month.

NUMBERS 33 21939Aaron was one hundred and twenty–three years old when he died on MountHor.40Now the king of Arad, the Canaanite,who dwelt in the South in the land ofCanaan, heard of the coming of thechildren of Israel.41 So they departed from Mount Horand camped at Zalmonah.42 They departed from Zalmonah andcamped at Punon.43 They departed from Punon andcamped at Oboth.44 They departed from Oboth andcamped at Ije Abarim, at the border ofMoab.45 They departed from Ijim and campedat Dibon Gad.46 They moved from Dibon Gad andcamped at Almon Diblathaim.

NUMBERS 33 22047 They moved from Almon Diblathaimand camped in the mountains of Abarim,before Nebo.48 They departed from the mountainsof Abarim and camped in the plains ofMoab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.49 They camped by the Jordan, fromBeth Jesimoth as far as the Abel AcaciaGrove in the plains of Moab.50Now the LORD spoke to Moses in theplains of Moab by the Jordan, acrossfrom Jericho, saying,51 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you have crossedthe Jordan into the land of Canaan,52 ‘then you shall drive out all theinhabitants of the land from beforeyou, destroy all their engraved stones,destroy all their molded images, anddemolish all their high places;

NUMBERS 33–34 22153 ‘you shall dispossess the inhabitantsof the land and dwell in it, for I havegiven you the land to possess.54 ‘And you shall divide the land by lotas an inheritance among your families;to the larger you shall give a largerinheritance, and to the smaller youshall give a smaller inheritance; thereeveryone’s inheritance shall be whateverfalls to him by lot. You shall inheritaccording to the tribes of your fathers.55 ‘But if you do not drive out theinhabitants of the land from before you,then it shall be that those whom youlet remain shall be irritants in your eyesand thorns in your sides, and they shallharass you in the land where you dwell.56 ‘Moreover it shall be that I will do toyou as I thought to do to them.’"

34 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,

NUMBERS 34 2222 "Command the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you come into theland of Canaan, this is the land that shallfall to you as an inheritance––the land ofCanaan to its boundaries.3 ‘Your southern border shall be fromthe Wilderness of Zin along the borderof Edom; then your southern bordershall extend eastward to the end of theSalt Sea;4 ‘your border shall turn from thesouthern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim,con nue to Zin, and be on the south ofKadesh Barnea; then it shall go on toHazar Addar, and con nue to Azmon;5 ‘the border shall turn from Azmon tothe Brook of Egypt, and it shall end atthe Sea.6 ‘As for the western border, you shallhave the Great Sea for a border; thisshall be your western border.

NUMBERS 34 2237 ‘And this shall be your northernborder: From the Great Sea you shallmark out your border line to Mount Hor;8 ‘from Mount Hor you shall mark outyour border to the entrance of Hamath;then the direc on of the border shall betoward Zedad;9 ‘the border shall proceed to Ziphron,and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shallbe your northern border.10 ‘You shall mark out your easternborder from Hazar Enan to Shepham;11 ‘the border shall go down fromShepham to Riblah on the east sideof Ain; the border shall go down andreach to the eastern side of the Sea ofChinnereth;12 ‘the border shall go down alongthe Jordan, and it shall end at the SaltSea. This shall be your land with itssurrounding boundaries.’"

NUMBERS 34 22413 Then Moses commanded thechildren of Israel, saying: "This is theland which you shall inherit by lot, whichthe LORD has commanded to give to thenine tribes and to the half–tribe.14 "For the tribe of the children ofReuben according to the house of theirfathers, and the tribe of the childrenof Gad according to the house of theirfathers, have received their inheritance;and the half–tribe of Manasseh hasreceived its inheritance.15 "The two tribes and the half–tribehave received their inheritance on thisside of the Jordan, across from Jerichoeastward, toward the sunrise."16And the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,17 "These are the names of the menwho shall divide the land among you asan inheritance: Eleazar the priest andJoshua the son of Nun.

NUMBERS 34 22518 "And you shall take one leader ofevery tribe to divide the land for theinheritance.19 "These are the names of the men:from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son ofJephunneh;20 "from the tribe of the children ofSimeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud;21 "from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidadthe son of Chislon;22 "a leader from the tribe of thechildren of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli;23 "from the sons of Joseph: a leaderfrom the tribe of the children ofManasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod,24 "and a leader from the tribe of thechildren of Ephraim, Kemuel the son ofShiphtan;25 "a leader from the tribe of thechildren of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son ofParnach;

NUMBERS 34–35 22626 "a leader from the tribe of thechildren of Issachar, Pal el the son ofAzzan;27 "a leader from the tribe of thechildren of Asher, Ahihud the son ofShelomi;28 "and a leader from the tribe of thechildren of Naphtali, Pedahel the son ofAmmihud."29 These are the ones the LORDcommanded to divide the inheritanceamong the children of Israel in the landof Canaan.

35 1And the LORD spoke to Moses inthe plains of Moab by the Jordan

across from Jericho, saying:2 "Command the children of Israel thatthey give the Levites ci es to dwell infrom the inheritance of their possession,and you shall also give the Levitescommon–land around the ci es.

NUMBERS 35 2273 "They shall have the ci es to dwellin; and their common–land shall be fortheir ca le, for their herds, and for alltheir animals.4 "The common–land of the ci es whichyou shall give the Levites shall extendfrom the wall of the city outward athousand cubits all around.5 "And you shall measure outside thecity on the east side two thousandcubits, on the south side two thousandcubits, on the west side two thousandcubits, and on the north side twothousand cubits. The city shall be in themiddle. This shall belong to them ascommon–land for the ci es.6 "Now among the ci es which you willgive to the Levites you shall appoint sixci es of refuge, to which a manslayermay flee. And to these you shall addforty–two ci es.

NUMBERS 35 2287 "So all the ci es you will give to theLevites shall be forty–eight; these youshall give with their common–land.8 "And the ci es which you will giveshall be from the possession of thechildren of Israel; from the larger tribeyou shall give many, from the smalleryou shall give few. Each shall give someof its ci es to the Levites, in propor onto the inheritance that each receives."9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses,saying,10 "Speak to the children of Israel, andsay to them: ‘When you cross the Jordaninto the land of Canaan,11 ‘then you shall appoint ci esto be ci es of refuge for you, thatthe manslayer who kills any personaccidentally may flee there.12 ‘They shall be ci es of refuge for youfrom the avenger, that the manslayer

NUMBERS 35 229may not die un l he stands before thecongrega on in judgment.13 ‘And of the ci es which you give, youshall have six ci es of refuge.14 ‘You shall appoint three ci es onthis side of the Jordan, and three ci esyou shall appoint in the land of Canaan,which will be ci es of refuge.15 ‘These six ci es shall be for refuge forthe children of Israel, for the stranger,and for the sojourner among them, thatanyone who kills a person accidentallymay flee there.16 ‘But if he strikes him with an ironimplement, so that he dies, he is amurderer; the murderer shall surely beput to death.17 ‘And if he strikes him with a stone inthe hand, by which one could die, and hedoes die, he is a murderer; the murderershall surely be put to death.

NUMBERS 35 23018 ‘Or if he strikes him with a woodenhand weapon, by which one could die,and he does die, he is a murderer; themurderer shall surely be put to death.19 ‘The avenger of blood himself shallput the murderer to death; when hemeets him, he shall put him to death.20 ‘If he pushes him out of hatred or,while lying in wait, hurls something athim so that he dies,21 ‘or in enmity he strikes him with hishand so that he dies, the one who struckhim shall surely be put to death. He is amurderer. The avenger of blood shall putthe murderer to death when he meetshim.22 ‘However, if he pushes him suddenlywithout enmity, or throws anything athim without lying in wait,23 ‘or uses a stone, by which a mancould die, throwing it at him without

NUMBERS 35 231seeing him, so that he dies, while he wasnot his enemy or seeking his harm,24 ‘then the congrega on shall judgebetween the manslayer and the avengerof blood according to these judgments.25 ‘So the congrega on shall deliver themanslayer from the hand of the avengerof blood, and the congrega on shallreturn him to the city of refuge wherehe had fled, and he shall remain thereun l the death of the high priest whowas anointed with the holy oil.26 ‘But if the manslayer at any me goesoutside the limits of the city of refugewhere he fled,27 ‘and the avenger of blood findshim outside the limits of his city ofrefuge, and the avenger of blood killsthe manslayer, he shall not be guilty ofblood,28 ‘because he should have remained inhis city of refuge un l the death of the

NUMBERS 35 232high priest. But a er the death of thehigh priest the manslayer may return tothe land of his possession.29 ‘And these things shall be a statuteof judgment to you throughout yourgenera ons in all your dwellings.30 ‘Whoever kills a person, themurderershall be put to death on the tes monyof witnesses; but one witness is notsufficient tes mony against a person forthe death penalty.31 ‘Moreover you shall take no ransomfor the life of a murderer who is guiltyof death, but he shall surely be put todeath.32 ‘And you shall take no ransom for himwho has fled to his city of refuge, that hemay return to dwell in the land beforethe death of the priest.33 ‘So you shall not pollute the landwhere you are; for blood defiles theland, and no atonement can be made for

NUMBERS 35–36 233the land, for the blood that is shed on it,except by the blood of him who shed it.34 ‘Therefore do not defile the landwhich you inhabit, in the midst of whichI dwell; for I the LORD dwell among thechildren of Israel.’"

36 1Now the chief fathers of thefamilies 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 andbefore the leaders, the chief fathers ofthe children of Israel.2And they said: "The LORD commandedmy lord Moses to give the land as aninheritance by lot to the children ofIsrael, and my lord was commanded bythe LORD to give the inheritance of ourbrother Zelophehad to his daughters.3 "Now if they are married to any ofthe sons of the other tribes of thechildren of Israel, then their inheritance

NUMBERS 36 234will be taken from the inheritance ofour fathers, and it will be added to theinheritance of the tribe into which theymarry; so it will be taken from the lot ofour inheritance.4 "And when the Jubilee of the childrenof Israel comes, then their inheritancewill be added to the inheritance of thetribe into which they marry; so theirinheritance will be taken away from theinheritance of the tribe of our fathers."5 Then Moses commanded the childrenof Israel according to the word of theLORD, saying: "What the tribe of thesons of Joseph speaks is right.6 "This is what the LORD commandsconcerning the daughters of Zelophehad,saying, ‘Let themmarry whom they thinkbest, but they may marry only within thefamily of their father’s tribe.’7 "So the inheritance of the children ofIsrael shall not change hands from tribe

NUMBERS 36 235to tribe, for every one of the children ofIsrael shall keep the inheritance of thetribe of his fathers.8 "And every daughter who possessesan inheritance in any tribe of the childrenof Israel shall be the wife of one of thefamily of her father’s tribe, so that thechildren of Israel each may possess theinheritance of his fathers.9 "Thus no inheritance shall changehands from one tribe to another, butevery tribe of the children of Israel shallkeep its own inheritance."10 Just as the LORD commanded Moses,so did the daughters of Zelophehad;11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah,and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad,weremarried to the sons of their father’sbrothers.12 They were married into the familiesof the children of Manasseh the son of

NUMBERS 36 236Joseph, and their inheritance remainedin the tribe of their father’s family.13 These are the commandmentsand the judgments which the LORDcommanded the children of Israel by thehand of Moses in the plains of Moab bythe Jordan, across from Jericho.

Deuteronomy

1 1 These are the words which Mosesspoke to all Israel on this side of the

Jordan in the wilderness, in the plainopposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel,Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.2 It is eleven days’ journey from Horebby way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.3Now it came to pass in the for ethyear, in the eleventh month, on the firstday of the month, that Moses spoketo the children of Israel according toall that the LORD had given him ascommandments to them,4 a er he had killed Sihon king of theAmorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Ogking of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtarothin Edrei.

DEUTERONOMY 1 25On this side of the Jordan in the landof Moab, Moses began to explain thislaw, saying,6 "The LORD our God spoke to us inHoreb, saying: ‘You have dwelt longenough at this mountain.7 ‘Turn and take your journey, and goto the mountains of the Amorites, to allthe neighboring places in the plain, inthe mountains and in the lowland, in theSouth and on the seacoast, to the landof the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as faras the great river, the River Euphrates.8 ‘See, I have set the land before you; goin and possess the land which the LORDswore to your fathers––to Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob––to give to them andtheir descendants a er them.’9 "And I spoke to you at that me,saying: ‘I alone am not able to bear you.

DEUTERONOMY 1 310 ‘The LORD your God has mul pliedyou, and here you are today, as the starsof heaven in mul tude.11 ‘May the LORD God of your fathersmake you a thousand mes morenumerous than you are, and bless you asHe has promised you!12 ‘How can I alone bear your problemsand your burdens and your complaints?13 ‘Choose wise, understanding, andknowledgeable men from among yourtribes, and I will make them heads overyou.’14 "And you answered me and said,‘The thing which you have told us to dois good.’15 "So I took the heads of your tribes,wise and knowledgeable men, andmade them heads over you, leaders ofthousands, leaders of hundreds, leadersof fi ies, leaders of tens, and officers foryour tribes.

DEUTERONOMY 1 416 "Then I commanded your judgesat that me, saying, ‘Hear the casesbetween your brethren, and judgerighteously between a man and hisbrother or the stranger who is with him.17 ‘You shall not show par ality injudgment; you shall hear the small aswell as the great; you shall not be afraidin any man’s presence, for the judgmentis God’s. The case that is too hard foryou, bring to me, and I will hear it.’18 "And I commanded you at that meall the things which you should do.19 "So we departed from Horeb, andwent through all that great and terriblewilderness which you saw on the way tothe mountains of the Amorites, as theLORD our God had commanded us. Thenwe came to Kadesh Barnea.20 "And I said to you, ‘You have come tothe mountains of the Amorites, whichthe LORD our God is giving us.

DEUTERONOMY 1 521 ‘Look, the LORD your God has set theland before you; go up and possess it, asthe LORD God of your fathers has spokento you; do not fear or be discouraged.’22 "And everyone of you came near tome and said, ‘Let us send men before us,and let them search out the land for us,and bring back word to us of the way bywhich we should go up, and of the ci esinto which we shall come.’23 "The plan pleased me well; so I tooktwelve of your men, one man from eachtribe.24 "And they departed and went up intothe mountains, and came to the Valleyof Eshcol, and spied it out.25 "They also took some of the fruit ofthe land in their hands and brought itdown to us; and they brought back wordto us, saying, ‘It is a good land which theLORD our God is giving us.’

DEUTERONOMY 1 626 "Nevertheless you would not go up,but rebelled against the command of theLORD your God;27 "and you complained in your tents,and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us,He has brought us out of the land ofEgypt to deliver us into the hand of theAmorites, to destroy us.28 ‘Where can we go up? Our brethrenhave discouraged our hearts, saying,"The people are greater and taller thanwe; the ci es are great and for fied upto heaven; moreover we have seen thesons of the Anakim there."’29 "Then I said to you, ‘Do not beterrified, or afraid of them.30 ‘The LORD your God, who goesbefore you, He will fight for you,according to all He did for you in Egyptbefore your eyes,31 ‘and in the wilderness where you sawhow the LORD your God carried you, as

DEUTERONOMY 1 7a man carries his son, in all the way thatyou went un l you came to this place.’32 "Yet, for all that, you did not believethe LORD your God,33 "who went in the way before you tosearch out a place for you to pitch yourtents, to show you the way you shouldgo, in the fire by night and in the cloudby day.34 "And the LORD heard the sound ofyour words, and was angry, and took anoath, saying,35 ‘Surely not one of these men of thisevil genera on shall see that good landof which I swore to give to your fathers,36 ‘except Caleb the son of Jephunneh;he shall see it, and to him and hischildren I am giving the land on whichhe walked, because he wholly followedthe LORD.’

DEUTERONOMY 1 837 "The LORD was also angry with mefor your sakes, saying, ‘Even you shallnot go in there;38 ‘Joshua the son of Nun, who standsbefore you, he shall go in there.Encourage him, for he shall cause Israelto inherit it.39 ‘Moreover your li le ones and yourchildren, who you say will be vic ms,who today have no knowledge of goodand evil, they shall go in there; to them Iwill give it, and they shall possess it.40 ‘But as for you, turn and take yourjourney into the wilderness by the Wayof the Red Sea.’41 "Then you answered and said to me,‘We have sinned against the LORD; wewill go up and fight, just as the LORDour God commanded us.’ And wheneveryone of you had girded on hisweapons of war, you were ready to goup into the mountain.

DEUTERONOMY 1–2 942 "And the LORD said to me, ‘Tell them,"Do not go up nor fight, for I am notamong you; lest you be defeated beforeyour enemies."’43 "So I spoke to you; yet you would notlisten, but rebelled against the commandof the LORD, and presumptuously wentup into the mountain.44 "And the Amorites who dwelt in thatmountain came out against you andchased you as bees do, and drove youback from Seir to Hormah.45 "Then you returned and wept beforethe LORD, but the LORD would not listento your voice nor give ear to you.46 "So you remained in Kadesh manydays, according to the days that youspent there.

2 1 "Then we turned and journeyedinto the wilderness of the Way of the

Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, andwe skirted Mount Seir for many days.

DEUTERONOMY 2 102 "And the LORD spoke to me, saying:3 ‘You have skirted this mountain longenough; turn northward.4 ‘And command the people, saying,"You are about to pass throughthe territory of your brethren, thedescendants of Esau, who live in Seir;and they will be afraid of you. Thereforewatch yourselves carefully.5 "Do not meddle with them, for Iwill not give you any of their land, no,not so much as one footstep, becauseI have given Mount Seir to Esau as apossession.6 "You shall buy food from them withmoney, that you may eat; and you shallalso buy water from them with money,that you may drink.7 "For the LORD your God has blessedyou in all the work of your hand. Heknows your trudging through this greatwilderness. These forty years the LORD

DEUTERONOMY 2 11your God has been with you; you havelacked nothing."’8 "And when we passed beyond ourbrethren, the descendants of Esau whodwell in Seir, away from the road of theplain, away from Elath and Ezion Geber,we turned and passed by way of theWilderness of Moab.9 "Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do notharass Moab, nor contend with them inba le, for I will not give you any of theirland as a possession, because I havegiven Ar to the descendants of Lot as apossession.’"10 (The Emim had dwelt there in mespast, a people as great and numerousand tall as the Anakim.11 They were also regarded as giants,like the Anakim, but the Moabites callthem Emim.12 TheHorites formerly dwelt in Seir, butthe descendants of Esau dispossessed

DEUTERONOMY 2 12them and destroyed them from beforethem, and dwelt in their place, just asIsrael did to the land of their possessionwhich the LORD gave them.)13 "‘Now rise and cross over the Valleyof the Zered.’ So we crossed over theValley of the Zered.14 "And the me we took to come fromKadesh Barnea un l we crossed overthe Valley of the Zered was thirty–eightyears, un l all the genera on of the menof war was consumed from the midst ofthe camp, just as the LORD had sworn tothem.15 "For indeed the hand of the LORDwas against them, to destroy them fromthe midst of the camp un l they wereconsumed.16 "So it was, when all the men of warhad finally perished from among thepeople,17 "that the LORD spoke to me, saying:

DEUTERONOMY 2 1318 ‘This day you are to cross over at Ar,the boundary of Moab.19 ‘And when you come near the peopleof Ammon, do not harass them ormeddle with them, for I will not giveyou any of the land of the people ofAmmon as a possession, because I havegiven it to the descendants of Lot as apossession.’"20 (That was also regarded as a land ofgiants; giants formerly dwelt there. Butthe Ammonites call them Zamzummim,21 a people as great and numerousand tall as the Anakim. But the LORDdestroyed them before them, and theydispossessed them and dwelt in theirplace,22 just as He had done for thedescendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir,when He destroyed the Horites frombefore them. They dispossessed themand dwelt in their place, even to this day.

DEUTERONOMY 2 1423And the Avim, who dwelt in villagesas far as Gaza––the Caphtorim, whocame from Caphtor, destroyed them anddwelt in their place.)24 "‘Rise, take your journey, and crossover the River Arnon. Look, I have giveninto your hand Sihon the Amorite, kingof Heshbon, and his land. Begin topossess it, and engage him in ba le.25 ‘This day I will begin to put the dreadand fear of you upon the na ons underthe whole heaven, who shall hear thereport of you, and shall tremble and bein anguish because of you.’26 "And I sent messengers from theWilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king ofHeshbon, with words of peace, saying,27 ‘Let me pass through your land; I willkeep strictly to the road, and I will turnneither to the right nor to the le .28 ‘You shall sell me food for money,that I may eat, and give me water for

DEUTERONOMY 2 15money, that I may drink; only let me passthrough on foot,29 ‘just as the descendants of Esau whodwell in Seir and the Moabites whodwell in Ar did for me, un l I cross theJordan to the land which the LORD ourGod is giving us.’30 "But Sihon king of Heshbon wouldnot let us pass through, for the LORDyour God hardened his spirit and madehis heart obs nate, that Hemight deliverhim into your hand, as it is this day.31 "And the LORD said to me, ‘See, Ihave begun to give Sihon and his landover to you. Begin to possess it, that youmay inherit his land.’32 "Then Sihon and all his people cameout against us to fight at Jahaz.33 "And the LORD our God deliveredhim over to us; so we defeated him, hissons, and all his people.

DEUTERONOMY 2–3 1634 "We took all his ci es at that me,and we u erly destroyed the men,women, and li le ones of every city; wele none remaining.35 "We took only the livestock asplunder for ourselves, with the spoil ofthe ci es which we took.36 "From Aroer, which is on the bank ofthe River Arnon, and from the city that isin the ravine, as far as Gilead, there wasnot one city too strong for us; the LORDour God delivered all to us.37 "Only you did not go near the land ofthe people of Ammon––anywhere alongthe River Jabbok, or to the ci es of themountains, or wherever the LORD ourGod had forbidden us.

3 1 "Then we turned and went upthe road to Bashan; and Og king of

Bashan came out against us, he and allhis people, to ba le at Edrei.

DEUTERONOMY 3 172 "And the LORD said to me, ‘Do notfear him, for I have delivered him andall his people and his land into yourhand; you shall do to him as you did toSihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt atHeshbon.’3 "So the LORD our God also deliveredinto our hands Og king of Bashan, withall his people, and we a acked him un lhe had no survivors remaining.4 "And we took all his ci es at thatme; there was not a city which we did

not take from them: sixty ci es, all theregion of Argob, the kingdom of Og inBashan.5 "All these ci es were for fied withhigh walls, gates, and bars, besides agreat many rural towns.6 "And we u erly destroyed them,as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon,u erly destroying the men, women, andchildren of every city.

DEUTERONOMY 3 187 "But all the livestock and the spoil ofthe ci es we took as booty for ourselves.8 "And at that me we took the landfrom the hand of the two kings of theAmorites who were on this side of theJordan, from the River Arnon to MountHermon9 ‘(the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion,and the Amorites call it Senir),10 "all the ci es of the plain, all Gilead,and all Bashan, as far as Salcah and Edrei,ci es of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.11 "For only Og king of Bashan remainedof the remnant of the giants. Indeed hisbedstead was an iron bedstead. (Is it notin Rabbah of the people of Ammon?)Nine cubits is its length and four cubitsits width, according to the standardcubit.12 "And this land, which we possessedat that me, from Aroer, which is by theRiver Arnon, and half the mountains

DEUTERONOMY 3 19of Gilead and its ci es, I gave to theReubenites and the Gadites.13 "The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan,the kingdom of Og, I gave to half thetribe of Manasseh. (All the region ofArgob, with all Bashan, was called theland of the giants.14 "Jair the son of Manasseh took allthe region of Argob, as far as the borderof the Geshurites and the Maachathites,and called Bashan a er his own name,Havoth Jair, to this day.)15 "Also I gave Gilead to Machir.16 "And to the Reubenites and theGadites I gave from Gilead as far as theRiver Arnon, the middle of the river asthe border, as far as the River Jabbok,the border of the people of Ammon;17 "the plain also, with the Jordan asthe border, from Chinnereth as far as theeast side of the Sea of the Arabah (theSalt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah.

DEUTERONOMY 3 2018 "Then I commanded you at that me,saying: ‘The LORD your God has givenyou this land to possess. All you men ofvalor shall cross over armed before yourbrethren, the children of Israel.19 ‘But your wives, your li le ones, andyour livestock (I know that you havemuch livestock) shall stay in your ci eswhich I have given you,20 ‘un l the LORD has given rest to yourbrethren as to you, and they also possessthe land which the LORD your God isgiving them beyond the Jordan. Theneach of you may return to his possessionwhich I have given you.’21 "And I commanded Joshua at thatme, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all

that the LORD your God has done tothese two kings; so will the LORD doto all the kingdoms through which youpass.

DEUTERONOMY 3 2122 ‘You must not fear them, for theLORD your God Himself fights for you.’23 "Then I pleaded with the LORD atthat me, saying:24 ‘O Lord GOD, You have begun to showYour servant Your greatness and Yourmighty hand, for what god is there inheaven or on earth who can do anythinglike Your works and Your mighty deeds?25 ‘I pray, let me cross over and seethe good land beyond the Jordan, thosepleasant mountains, and Lebanon.’26 "But the LORD was angry with meon your account, and would not listento me. So the LORD said to me: ‘Enoughof that! Speak no more to Me of thisma er.27 ‘Go up to the top of Pisgah, and liyour eyes toward the west, the north,the south, and the east; behold it withyour eyes, for you shall not cross overthis Jordan.

DEUTERONOMY 3–4 2228 ‘But command Joshua, andencourage him and strengthen him; forhe shall go over before this people, andhe shall cause them to inherit the landwhich you will see.’29 "So we stayed in the valley oppositeBeth Peor.

4 1 "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutesand the judgments which I teach you

to observe, that you may live, and go inand possess the land which the LORDGod of your fathers is giving you.2 "You shall not add to the word which Icommand you, nor take from it, that youmay keep the commandments of theLORD your God which I command you.3 "Your eyes have seen what the LORDdid at Baal Peor; for the LORD your Godhas destroyed from among you all themen who followed Baal of Peor.

DEUTERONOMY 4 234 "But you who held fast to the LORDyour God are alive today, every one ofyou.5 "Surely I have taught you statutes andjudgments, just as the LORD my Godcommanded me, that you should actaccording to them in the land which yougo to possess.6 "Therefore be careful to observethem; for this is your wisdom and yourunderstanding in the sight of the peopleswho will hear all these statutes, and say,‘Surely this great na on is a wise andunderstanding people.’7 "For what great na on is there thathas God so near to it, as the LORD ourGod is to us, for whatever reason wemay call upon Him?8 "And what great na on is therethat has such statutes and righteousjudgments as are in all this law which Iset before you this day?

DEUTERONOMY 4 249 "Only take heed to yourself, anddiligently keep yourself, lest you forgetthe things your eyes have seen, and lestthey depart from your heart all the daysof your life. And teach them to yourchildren and your grandchildren,10 "especially concerning the day youstood before the LORD your God inHoreb, when the LORD said to me,‘Gather the people to Me, and I will letthem hear My words, that they maylearn to fear Me all the days they live onthe earth, and that they may teach theirchildren.’11 "Then you came near and stoodat the foot of the mountain, and themountain burned with fire to the midstof heaven, with darkness, cloud, andthick darkness.12 "And the LORD spoke to you outof the midst of the fire. You heard the

DEUTERONOMY 4 25sound of the words, but saw no form;you only heard a voice.13 "So He declared to you His covenantwhich He commanded you to perform,the Ten Commandments; and He wrotethem on two tablets of stone.14 "And the LORD commanded me atthat me to teach you statutes andjudgments, that you might observethem in the land which you cross over topossess.15 "Take careful heed to yourselves, foryou saw no form when the LORD spoketo you at Horeb out of the midst of thefire,16 "lest you act corruptly and make foryourselves a carved image in the formof any figure: the likeness of male orfemale,17 "the likeness of any animal that is onthe earth or the likeness of any wingedbird that flies in the air,

DEUTERONOMY 4 2618 "the likeness of anything that creepson the ground or the likeness of any fishthat is in the water beneath the earth.19 "And take heed, lest you li your eyesto heaven, and when you see the sun,the moon, and the stars, all the host ofheaven, you feel driven to worship themand serve them, which the LORD yourGod has given to all the peoples underthe whole heaven as a heritage.20 "But the LORD has taken you andbrought you out of the iron furnace,out of Egypt, to be His people, aninheritance, as you are this day.21 "Furthermore the LORD was angrywith me for your sakes, and swore thatI would not cross over the Jordan, andthat I would not enter the good landwhich the LORD your God is giving youas an inheritance.

DEUTERONOMY 4 2722 "But I must die in this land, I mustnot cross over the Jordan; but you shallcross over and possess that good land.23 "Take heed to yourselves, lest youforget the covenant of the LORD yourGod which He made with you, and makefor yourselves a carved image in theform of anything which the LORD yourGod has forbidden you.24 "For the LORD your God is aconsuming fire, a jealous God.25 "When you beget children andgrandchildren and have grown old inthe land, and act corruptly and make acarved image in the form of anything,and do evil in the sight of the LORD yourGod to provoke Him to anger,26 "I call heaven and earth to witnessagainst you this day, that you will soonu erly perish from the land which youcross over the Jordan to possess; you

DEUTERONOMY 4 28will not prolong your days in it, but willbe u erly destroyed.27 "And the LORD will sca er youamong the peoples, and you will be lefew in number among the na ons wherethe LORD will drive you.28 "And there you will serve gods, thework of men’s hands, wood and stone,which neither see nor hear nor eat norsmell.29 "But from there you will seek theLORD your God, and you will find Himif you seek Him with all your heart andwith all your soul.30 "When you are in distress, and allthese things come upon you in the la erdays, when you turn to the LORD yourGod and obey His voice31 ‘(for the LORD your God is a mercifulGod), He will not forsake you nor destroyyou, nor forget the covenant of yourfathers which He swore to them.

DEUTERONOMY 4 2932 "For ask now concerning the daysthat are past, which were before you,since the day that God created manon the earth, and ask from one end ofheaven to the other, whether any greatthing like this has happened, or anythinglike it has been heard.33 "Did any people ever hear the voiceof God speaking out of the midst of thefire, as you have heard, and live?34 "Or did God ever try to go and takefor Himself a na on from the midstof another na on, by trials, by signs,by wonders, by war, by a mighty handand an outstretched arm, and by greatterrors, according to all that the LORDyour God did for you in Egypt beforeyour eyes?35 "To you it was shown, that you mightknow that the LORD Himself is God;there is none other besides Him.

DEUTERONOMY 4 3036 "Out of heaven He let you hear Hisvoice, that He might instruct you; onearth He showed you His great fire, andyou heard His words out of the midst ofthe fire.37 "And because He loved your fathers,therefore He chose their descendantsa er them; and He brought you out ofEgypt with His Presence, with His mightypower,38 "driving out from before you na onsgreater and migh er than you, to bringyou in, to give you their land as aninheritance, as it is this day.39 "Therefore know this day, andconsider it in your heart, that the LORDHimself is God in heaven above and onthe earth beneath; there is no other.40 "You shall therefore keep Hisstatutes and His commandments which Icommand you today, that it may go wellwith you and with your children a er

DEUTERONOMY 4 31you, and that you may prolong your daysin the land which the LORD your God isgiving you for all me."41 Then Moses set apart three ci es onthis side of the Jordan, toward the risingof the sun,42 that the manslayer might flee there,who kills his neighbor uninten onally,without having hated him in me past,and that by fleeing to one of these ci eshe might live:43 Bezer in the wilderness on theplateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth inGilead for the Gadites, and Golan inBashan for the Manassites.44Now this is the law which Moses setbefore the children of Israel.45 These are the tes monies, thestatutes, and the judgments whichMoses spoke to the children of Israela er they came out of Egypt,

DEUTERONOMY 4–5 3246 on this side of the Jordan, in thevalley opposite Beth Peor, in the land ofSihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt atHeshbon, whomMoses and the childrenof Israel defeated a er they came out ofEgypt.47And they took possession of his landand the land of Og king of Bashan, twokings of the Amorites, who were on thisside of the Jordan, toward the rising ofthe sun,48 from Aroer, which is on the bank ofthe River Arnon, even to Mount Sion(that is, Hermon),49 and all the plain on the east sideof the Jordan as far as the Sea of theArabah, below the slopes of Pisgah.

5 1AndMoses called all Israel, and saidto them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes

and judgments which I speak in yourhearing today, that you may learn themand be careful to observe them.

DEUTERONOMY 5 332 "The LORD our God made a covenantwith us in Horeb.3 "The LORD did not make this covenantwith our fathers, but with us, those whoare here today, all of us who are alive.4 "The LORD talked with you face toface on the mountain from the midst ofthe fire.5 "I stood between the LORD and you atthat me, to declare to you the word ofthe LORD; for you were afraid becauseof the fire, and you did not go up themountain. He said:6 ‘I am the LORD your God who broughtyou out of the land of Egypt, out of thehouse of bondage.7 ‘You shall have no other gods beforeMe.8 ‘You shall not make for yourself acarved image––any likeness of anythingthat is in heaven above, or that is in the

DEUTERONOMY 5 34earth beneath, or that is in the waterunder the earth;9 you shall not bow down to them norserve them. For I, the LORD your God,am a jealous God, visi ng the iniquityof the fathers upon the children to thethird and fourth genera ons of thosewho hate Me,10 but showing mercy to thousands,to those who love Me and keep Mycommandments.11 ‘You shall not take the name of theLORD your God in vain, for the LORDwill not hold him guiltless who takes Hisname in vain.12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep itholy, as the LORD your God commandedyou.13 Six days you shall labor and do allyour work,14 but the seventh day is the Sabbathof the LORD your God. In it you shall do

DEUTERONOMY 5 35no work: you, nor your son, nor yourdaughter, nor your male servant, noryour female servant, nor your ox, noryour donkey, nor any of your ca le, noryour stranger who is within your gates,that your male servant and your femaleservant may rest as well as you.15And remember that you were a slavein the land of Egypt, and the LORD yourGod brought you out from there by amighty hand and by an outstretchedarm; therefore the LORD your Godcommanded you to keep the Sabbathday.16 ‘Honor your father and your mother,as the LORD your God has commandedyou, that your days may be long, andthat it may be well with you in the landwhich the LORD your God is giving you.17 ‘You shall not murder.18 ‘You shall not commit adultery.19 ‘You shall not steal.

DEUTERONOMY 5 3620 ‘You shall not bear false witnessagainst your neighbor.21 ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’swife; and you shall not desire yourneighbor’s house, his field, his maleservant, his female servant, his ox,his donkey, or anything that is yourneighbor’s.’22 "These words the LORD spoke to allyour assembly, in the mountain fromthe midst of the fire, the cloud, and thethick darkness, with a loud voice; and Headded no more. And He wrote them ontwo tablets of stone and gave them tome.23 "So it was, when you heard the voicefrom the midst of the darkness, whilethe mountain was burning with fire, thatyou came near to me, all the heads ofyour tribes and your elders.24 "And you said: ‘Surely the LORD ourGod has shown us His glory and His

DEUTERONOMY 5 37greatness, and we have heard His voicefrom the midst of the fire. We have seenthis day that God speaks with man; yethe s ll lives.25 ‘Now therefore, why should we die?For this great fire will consume us; ifwe hear the voice of the LORD our Godanymore, then we shall die.26 ‘For who is there of all flesh whohas heard the voice of the living Godspeaking from the midst of the fire, aswe have, and lived?27 ‘You go near and hear all that theLORD our God may say, and tell us allthat the LORD our God says to you, andwe will hear and do it.’28 "Then the LORD heard the voice ofyour words when you spoke to me, andthe LORD said to me: ‘I have heard thevoice of the words of this people whichthey have spoken to you. They are rightin all that they have spoken.

DEUTERONOMY 5 3829 ‘Oh, that they had such a heartin them that they would fear Me andalways keep all My commandments, thatit might be well with them and with theirchildren forever!30 ‘Go and say to them, "Return to yourtents."31 ‘But as for you, stand here byMe, and I will speak to you all thecommandments, the statutes, and thejudgments which you shall teach them,that they may observe them in the landwhich I am giving them to possess.’32 "Therefore you shall be careful to doas the LORD your God has commandedyou; you shall not turn aside to the righthand or to the le .33 "You shall walk in all the ways whichthe LORD your God has commandedyou, that you may live and that it may bewell with you, and that you may prolong

DEUTERONOMY 6 39your days in the land which you shallpossess.

6 1 "Now this is the commandment,and these are the statutes and

judgments which the LORD your God hascommanded to teach you, that you mayobserve them in the land which you arecrossing over to possess,2 "that you may fear the LORD yourGod, to keep all His statutes and Hiscommandments which I command you,you and your son and your grandson, allthe days of your life, and that your daysmay be prolonged.3 "Therefore hear, O Israel, and becareful to observe it, that it may be wellwith you, and that you may mul plygreatly as the LORD God of your fathershas promised you––‘a land flowing withmilk and honey.’4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, theLORD is one!

DEUTERONOMY 6 405 "You shall love the LORD your Godwith all your heart, with all your soul,and with all your strength.6 "And these words which I commandyou today shall be in your heart.7 "You shall teach them diligently toyour children, and shall talk of themwhen you sit in your house, when youwalk by the way, when you lie down, andwhen you rise up.8 "You shall bind them as a sign onyour hand, and they shall be as frontletsbetween your eyes.9 "You shall write them on thedoorposts of your house and on yourgates.10 "So it shall be, when the LORD yourGod brings you into the land of whichHe swore to your fathers, to Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large andbeau ful ci es which you did not build,

DEUTERONOMY 6 4111 "houses full of all good things, whichyou did not fill, hewn–out wells whichyou did not dig, vineyards and olive treeswhich you did not plant––when youhave eaten and are full––12 "then beware, lest you forget theLORD who brought you out of the landof Egypt, from the house of bondage.13 "You shall fear the LORD your Godand serve Him, and shall take oaths inHis name.14 "You shall not go a er other gods,the gods of the peoples who are allaround you15 ‘(for the LORD your God is a jealousGod among you), lest the anger of theLORD your God be aroused against youand destroy you from the face of theearth.16 "You shall not tempt the LORD yourGod as you tempted Him in Massah.

DEUTERONOMY 6 4217 "You shall diligently keep thecommandments of the LORD your God,His tes monies, and His statutes whichHe has commanded you.18 "And you shall do what is right andgood in the sight of the LORD, that it maybe well with you, and that you may go inand possess the good land of which theLORD swore to your fathers,19 "to cast out all your enemies frombefore you, as the LORD has spoken.20 "When your son asks you in me tocome, saying, ‘What is the meaning ofthe tes monies, the statutes, and thejudgments which the LORD our God hascommanded you?’21 "then you shall say to your son: ‘Wewere slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and theLORD brought us out of Egypt with amighty hand;22 ‘and the LORD showed signs andwonders before our eyes, great and

DEUTERONOMY 6–7 43severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and allhis household.23 ‘Then He brought us out from there,that He might bring us in, to give us theland of which He swore to our fathers.24 ‘And the LORD commanded us toobserve all these statutes, to fear theLORD our God, for our good always, thatHe might preserve us alive, as it is thisday.25 ‘Then it will be righteousness for us,if we are careful to observe all thesecommandments before the LORD ourGod, as He has commanded us.’

7 1 "When the LORD your God bringsyou into the land which you go

to possess, and has cast out manyna ons before you, the Hi tes and theGirgashites and the Amorites and theCanaanites and the Perizzites and theHivites and the Jebusites, seven na onsgreater and migh er than you,

DEUTERONOMY 7 442 "and when the LORD your Goddelivers them over to you, you shallconquer them and u erly destroy them.You shall make no covenant with themnor show mercy to them.3 "Nor shall you make marriages withthem. You shall not give your daughterto their son, nor take their daughter foryour son.4 "For they will turn your sons awayfrom following Me, to serve other gods;so the anger of the LORD will be arousedagainst you and destroy you suddenly.5 "But thus you shall deal with them:you shall destroy their altars, and breakdown their sacred pillars, and cut downtheir wooden images, and burn theircarved images with fire.6 "For you are a holy people to theLORD your God; the LORD your God haschosen you to be a people for Himself, a

DEUTERONOMY 7 45special treasure above all the peoples onthe face of the earth.7 "The LORD did not set His love on younor choose you because you were morein number than any other people, foryou were the least of all peoples;8 "but because the LORD loves you, andbecause He would keep the oath whichHe swore to your fathers, the LORD hasbrought you out with a mighty hand,and redeemed you from the house ofbondage, from the hand of Pharaoh kingof Egypt.9 "Therefore know that the LORDyour God, He is God, the faithful Godwho keeps covenant and mercy for athousand genera ons with those wholove Him and keep His commandments;10 "and He repays those who hate Himto their face, to destroy them. He willnot be slack with him who hates Him; Hewill repay him to his face.

DEUTERONOMY 7 4611 "Therefore you shall keep thecommandment, the statutes, and thejudgments which I command you today,to observe them.12 "Then it shall come to pass, becauseyou listen to these judgments, and keepand do them, that the LORD your Godwill keep with you the covenant and themercy which He swore to your fathers.13 "And He will love you and bless youand mul ply you; He will also bless thefruit of your womb and the fruit of yourland, your grain and your new wine andyour oil, the increase of your ca le andthe offspring of your flock, in the land ofwhich He swore to your fathers to giveyou.14 "You shall be blessed above allpeoples; there shall not be a male orfemale barren among you or amongyour livestock.

DEUTERONOMY 7 4715 "And the LORD will take away fromyou all sickness, and will afflict you withnone of the terrible diseases of Egyptwhich you have known, but will lay themon all those who hate you.16 "And you shall destroy all the peopleswhom the LORD your God delivers overto you; your eye shall have no pity onthem; nor shall you serve their gods, forthat will be a snare to you.17 "If you should say in your heart,‘These na ons are greater than I; howcan I dispossess them?’ ––18 "you shall not be afraid of them, butyou shall remember well what the LORDyour God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:19 "the great trials which your eyes saw,the signs and the wonders, the mightyhand and the outstretched arm, bywhich the LORD your God brought youout. So shall the LORD your God do to allthe peoples of whom you are afraid.

DEUTERONOMY 7 4820 "Moreover the LORD your God willsend the hornet among them un l thosewho are le , who hide themselves fromyou, are destroyed.21 "You shall not be terrified of them;for the LORD your God, the great andawesome God, is among you.22 "And the LORD your God will driveout those na ons before you li le byli le; you will be unable to destroythem at once, lest the beasts of the fieldbecome too numerous for you.23 "But the LORD your God will deliverthem over to you, and will inflict defeatupon them un l they are destroyed.24 "And He will deliver their kings intoyour hand, and you will destroy theirname from under heaven; no one shallbe able to stand against you un l youhave destroyed them.25 "You shall burn the carved images oftheir gods with fire; you shall not covet

DEUTERONOMY 7–8 49the silver or gold that is on them, nortake it for yourselves, lest you be snaredby it; for it is an abomina on to theLORD your God.26 "Nor shall you bring an abomina oninto your house, lest you be doomedto destruc on like it. You shall u erlydetest it and u erly abhor it, for it is anaccursed thing.

8 1 "Every commandment which Icommand you today you must be

careful to observe, that you may live andmul ply, and go in and possess the landof which the LORD swore to your fathers.2 "And you shall remember that theLORD your God led you all the way theseforty years in the wilderness, to humbleyou and test you, to know what was inyour heart, whether you would keep Hiscommandments or not.3 "So He humbled you, allowed you tohunger, and fed you with manna which

DEUTERONOMY 8 50you did not know nor did your fathersknow, that Hemight make you know thatman shall not live by bread alone; butman lives by every word that proceedsfrom the mouth of the LORD.4 "Your garments did not wear out onyou, nor did your foot swell these fortyyears.5 "You should know in your heart thatas a man chastens his son, so the LORDyour God chastens you.6 "Therefore you shall keep thecommandments of the LORD your God,to walk in His ways and to fear Him.7 "For the LORD your God is bringingyou into a good land, a land of brooksof water, of fountains and springs, thatflow out of valleys and hills;8 "a land of wheat and barley, of vinesand fig trees and pomegranates, a landof olive oil and honey;

DEUTERONOMY 8 519 "a land in which you will eat breadwithout scarcity, in which you will lacknothing; a land whose stones are ironand out of whose hills you can digcopper.10 "When you have eaten and are full,then you shall bless the LORD your Godfor the good land which He has givenyou.11 "Beware that you do not forgetthe LORD your God by not keeping Hiscommandments, His judgments, and Hisstatutes which I command you today,12 "lest––when you have eaten and arefull, and have built beau ful houses anddwell in them;13 "and when your herds and yourflocks mul ply, and your silver and yourgold are mul plied, and all that you haveis mul plied;14 "when your heart is li ed up, and youforget the LORD your God who brought

DEUTERONOMY 8 52you out of the land of Egypt, from thehouse of bondage;15 "who led you through that great andterrible wilderness, in which were fieryserpents and scorpions and thirsty landwhere there was no water; who broughtwater for you out of the flinty rock;16 "who fed you in the wilderness withmanna, which your fathers did not know,that He might humble you and that Hemight test you, to do you good in theend––17 "then you say in your heart, ‘Mypower and the might of my hand havegained me this wealth.’18 "And you shall remember the LORDyour God, for it is He who gives youpower to get wealth, that He mayestablish His covenant which He sworeto your fathers, as it is this day.19 "Then it shall be, if you by any meansforget the LORD your God, and follow

DEUTERONOMY 8–9 53other gods, and serve them and worshipthem, I tes fy against you this day thatyou shall surely perish.20 "As the na ons which the LORDdestroys before you, so you shall perish,because you would not be obedient tothe voice of the LORD your God.

9 1 "Hear, O Israel: You are to crossover the Jordan today, and go in to

dispossess na ons greater and migh erthan yourself, ci es great and for fiedup to heaven,2 "a people great and tall, thedescendants of the Anakim, whom youknow, and of whom you heard it said,‘Who can stand before the descendantsof Anak?’3 "Therefore understand today that theLORD your God is He who goes overbefore you as a consuming fire. He willdestroy them and bring them downbefore you; so you shall drive them out

DEUTERONOMY 9 54and destroy them quickly, as the LORDhas said to you.4 "Do not think in your heart, a erthe LORD your God has cast them outbefore you, saying, ‘Because of myrighteousness the LORD has brought mein to possess this land’; but it is becauseof the wickedness of these na ons thatthe LORD is driving them out from beforeyou.5 "It is not because of yourrighteousness or the uprightnessof your heart that you go in to possesstheir land, but because of thewickednessof these na ons that the LORD your Goddrives them out from before you, andthat He may fulfill the word which theLORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob.6 "Therefore understand that theLORD your God is not giving you thisgood land to possess because of your

DEUTERONOMY 9 55righteousness, for you are a s ff–neckedpeople.7 "Remember! Do not forget how youprovoked the LORD your God to wrath inthe wilderness. From the day that youdeparted from the land of Egypt un lyou came to this place, you have beenrebellious against the LORD.8 "Also in Horeb you provoked the LORDto wrath, so that the LORD was angryenough with you to have destroyed you.9 "When I went up into the mountain toreceive the tablets of stone, the tabletsof the covenant which the LORD madewith you, then I stayed on the mountainforty days and forty nights. I neither atebread nor drank water.10 "Then the LORD delivered to me twotablets of stone wri en with the fingerof God, and on them were all the wordswhich the LORD had spoken to you on

DEUTERONOMY 9 56the mountain from the midst of the firein the day of the assembly.11 "And it came to pass, at the endof forty days and forty nights, that theLORD gave me the two tablets of stone,the tablets of the covenant.12 "Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, godown quickly from here, for your peoplewhom you brought out of Egypt haveacted corruptly; they have quickly turnedaside from the way which I commandedthem; they have made themselves amolded image.’13 "Furthermore the LORD spoke to me,saying, ‘I have seen this people, andindeed they are a s ff–necked people.14 ‘Let Me alone, that I may destroythem and blot out their name fromunder heaven; and I will make of you ana on migh er and greater than they.’15 "So I turned and came down fromthe mountain, and the mountain burned

DEUTERONOMY 9 57with fire; and the two tablets of thecovenant were in my two hands.16 "And I looked, and behold, you hadsinned against the LORD your God––hadmade for yourselves a molded calf! Youhad turned aside quickly from the waywhich the LORD had commanded you.17 "Then I took the two tablets andthrew them out of my two hands andbroke them before your eyes.18 "And I fell down before the LORD,as at the first, forty days and fortynights; I neither ate bread nor drankwater, because of all your sin which youcommi ed in doing wickedly in the sightof the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.19 "For I was afraid of the anger and hotdispleasure with which the LORD wasangry with you, to destroy you. But theLORD listened to me at that me also.

DEUTERONOMY 9 5820 "And the LORD was very angry withAaron and would have destroyed him; soI prayed for Aaron also at the same me.21 "Then I took your sin, the calf whichyou had made, and burned it with fireand crushed it and ground it very small,un l it was as fine as dust; and I threwits dust into the brook that descendedfrom the mountain.22 "Also at Taberah and Massah andKibroth Ha aavah you provoked theLORD to wrath.23 "Likewise, when the LORD sent youfrom Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up andpossess the land which I have givenyou,’ then you rebelled against thecommandment of the LORD your God,and you did not believe Him nor obeyHis voice.24 "You have been rebellious against theLORD from the day that I knew you.

DEUTERONOMY 9 5925 "Thus I prostrated myself before theLORD; forty days and forty nights I keptprostra ng myself, because the LORDhad said He would destroy you.26 "Therefore I prayed to the LORD, andsaid: ‘O Lord GOD, do not destroy Yourpeople and Your inheritance whom Youhave redeemed through Your greatness,whom You have brought out of Egyptwith a mighty hand.27 ‘Remember Your servants, Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob; do not look on thestubbornness of this people, or on theirwickedness or their sin,28 ‘lest the land fromwhich You broughtus should say, "Because the LORD wasnot able to bring them to the land whichHe promised them, and because Hehated them, He has brought them out tokill them in the wilderness."29 ‘Yet they are Your people and Yourinheritance, whom You brought out

DEUTERONOMY 10 60by Your mighty power and by Youroutstretched arm.’

10 1 "At that me the LORD said tome, ‘Hew for yourself two tablets

of stone like the first, and come up toMe on the mountain and make yourselfan ark of wood.2 ‘And I will write on the tablets thewords that were on the first tablets,which you broke; and you shall put themin the ark.’3 "So I made an ark of acacia wood,hewed two tablets of stone like the first,and went up the mountain, having thetwo tablets in my hand.4 "And He wrote on the tabletsaccording to the first wri ng, the TenCommandments, which the LORD hadspoken to you in the mountain fromthe midst of the fire in the day of theassembly; and the LORD gave them tome.

DEUTERONOMY 10 615 "Then I turned and came down fromthe mountain, and put the tablets in theark which I had made; and there theyare, just as the LORD commanded me."6 (Now the children of Israel journeyedfrom the wells of Bene Jaakan toMoserah, where Aaron died, and wherehe was buried; and Eleazar his sonministered as priest in his stead.7 From there they journeyed toGudgodah, and from Gudgodah toJotbathah, a land of rivers of water.8At that me the LORD separatedthe tribe of Levi to bear the ark of thecovenant of the LORD, to stand beforethe LORD to minister to Him and to blessin His name, to this day.9 Therefore Levi has no por on norinheritance with his brethren; the LORDis his inheritance, just as the LORD yourGod promised him.)

DEUTERONOMY 10 6210 "As at the first me, I stayed in themountain forty days and forty nights;the LORD also heard me at that me,and the LORD chose not to destroy you.11 "Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise,begin your journey before the people,that they may go in and possess the landwhich I swore to their fathers to givethem.’12 "And now, Israel, what does the LORDyour God require of you, but to fear theLORD your God, to walk in all His waysand to love Him, to serve the LORD yourGod with all your heart and with all yoursoul,13 "and to keep the commandmentsof the LORD and His statutes which Icommand you today for your good?14 "Indeed heaven and the highestheavens belong to the LORD your God,also the earth with all that is in it.

DEUTERONOMY 10 6315 "The LORD delighted only in yourfathers, to love them; and He chose theirdescendants a er them, you above allpeoples, as it is this day.16 "Therefore circumcise the foreskinof your heart, and be s ff–necked nolonger.17 "For the LORD your God is God ofgods and Lord of lords, the great God,mighty and awesome, who shows nopar ality nor takes a bribe.18 "He administers jus ce for thefatherless and the widow, and loves thestranger, giving him food and clothing.19 "Therefore love the stranger, for youwere strangers in the land of Egypt.20 "You shall fear the LORD your God;you shall serve Him, and to Him you shallhold fast, and take oaths in His name.21 "He is your praise, and He is yourGod, who has done for you these great

DEUTERONOMY 10–11 64and awesome things which your eyeshave seen.22 "Your fathers went down to Egyptwith seventy persons, and now the LORDyour God has made you as the stars ofheaven in mul tude.

11 1 "Therefore you shall love theLORD your God, and keep His

charge, His statutes, His judgments, andHis commandments always.2 "Know today that I do not speak withyour children, who have not known andwho have not seen the chastening of theLORD your God, His greatness and Hismighty hand and His outstretched arm––3 "His signs and His acts which He did inthe midst of Egypt, to Pharaoh king ofEgypt, and to all his land;4 "what He did to the army of Egypt, totheir horses and their chariots: how Hemade the waters of the Red Sea overflow

DEUTERONOMY 11 65them as they pursued you, and how theLORD has destroyed them to this day;5 "what He did for you in the wildernessun l you came to this place;6 "and what He did to Dathan andAbiram the sons of Eliab, the son ofReuben: how the earth opened itsmouth and swallowed them up, theirhouseholds, their tents, and all thesubstance that was in their possession,in the midst of all Israel––7 "but your eyes have seen every greatact of the LORD which He did.8 "Therefore you shall keep everycommandment which I command youtoday, that you may be strong, and goin and possess the land which you crossover to possess,9 "and that you may prolong your daysin the land which the LORD swore togive your fathers, to them and their

DEUTERONOMY 11 66descendants, ‘a land flowing with milkand honey.’10 "For the land which you go to possessis not like the land of Egypt from whichyou have come, where you sowedyour seed and watered it by foot, as avegetable garden;11 "but the land which you cross overto possess is a land of hills and valleys,which drinks water from the rain ofheaven,12 "a land for which the LORD your Godcares; the eyes of the LORD your God arealways on it, from the beginning of theyear to the very end of the year.13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestlyobey My commandments which Icommand you today, to love the LORDyour God and serve Him with all yourheart and with all your soul,14 ‘then I will give you the rain for yourland in its season, the early rain and the

DEUTERONOMY 11 67la er rain, that you may gather in yourgrain, your new wine, and your oil.15 ‘And I will send grass in your fields foryour livestock, that you may eat and befilled.’16 "Take heed to yourselves, lest yourheart be deceived, and you turn asideand serve other gods and worship them,17 "lest the LORD’S anger be arousedagainst you, and He shut up the heavensso that there be no rain, and the landyield no produce, and you perish quicklyfrom the good land which the LORD isgiving you.18 "Therefore you shall lay up thesewords of mine in your heart and in yoursoul, and bind them as a sign on yourhand, and they shall be as frontletsbetween your eyes.19 "You shall teach them to yourchildren, speaking of them when you sitin your house, when you walk by the

DEUTERONOMY 11 68way, when you lie down, and when yourise up.20 "And you shall write them on thedoorposts of your house and on yourgates,21 "that your days and the days of yourchildren may be mul plied in the land ofwhich the LORD swore to your fathers togive them, like the days of the heavensabove the earth.22 "For if you carefully keep all thesecommandments which I command youto do––to love the LORD your God, towalk in all His ways, and to hold fast toHim––23 "then the LORD will drive out allthese na ons from before you, and youwill dispossess greater and migh erna ons than yourselves.24 "Every place on which the sole ofyour foot treads shall be yours: fromthe wilderness and Lebanon, from the

DEUTERONOMY 11 69river, the River Euphrates, even to theWestern Sea, shall be your territory.25 "No man shall be able to standagainst you; the LORD your God will putthe dread of you and the fear of youupon all the land where you tread, justas He has said to you.26 "Behold, I set before you today ablessing and a curse:27 "the blessing, if you obey thecommandments of the LORD your Godwhich I command you today;28 "and the curse, if you do not obeythe commandments of the LORD yourGod, but turn aside from the way whichI command you today, to go a er othergods which you have not known.29 "Now it shall be, when the LORDyour God has brought you into the landwhich you go to possess, that you shallput the blessing on Mount Gerizim andthe curse on Mount Ebal.

DEUTERONOMY 11–12 7030 "Are they not on the other side ofthe Jordan, toward the se ng sun, inthe land of the Canaanites who dwellin the plain opposite Gilgal, beside theterebinth trees of Moreh?31 "For you will cross over the Jordanand go in to possess the land which theLORD your God is giving you, and youwill possess it and dwell in it.32 "And you shall be careful to observeall the statutes and judgments which Iset before you today.

12 1 "These are the statutes andjudgments which you shall be

careful to observe in the land which theLORD God of your fathers is giving you topossess, all the days that you live on theearth.2 "You shall u erly destroy all theplaces where the na ons which you shalldispossess served their gods, on the high

DEUTERONOMY 12 71mountains and on the hills and underevery green tree.3 "And you shall destroy their altars,break their sacred pillars, and burn theirwooden images with fire; you shall cutdown the carved images of their godsand destroy their names from that place.4 "You shall not worship the LORD yourGod with such things.5 "But you shall seek the place wherethe LORD your God chooses, out of allyour tribes, to put His name for Hisdwelling place; and there you shall go.6 "There you shall take your burntofferings, your sacrifices, your thes,the heave offerings of your hand, yourvowed offerings, your freewill offerings,and the firstborn of your herds andflocks.7 "And there you shall eat before theLORD your God, and you shall rejoice inall to which you have put your hand, you

DEUTERONOMY 12 72and your households, in which the LORDyour God has blessed you.8 "You shall not at all do as we are doinghere today––every man doing whateveris right in his own eyes––9 "for as yet you have not come to therest and the inheritance which the LORDyour God is giving you.10 "But when you cross over the Jordanand dwell in the land which the LORDyour God is giving you to inherit, andHe gives you rest from all your enemiesround about, so that you dwell in safety,11 "then there will be the place wherethe LORD your God chooses to makeHis name abide. There you shall bringall that I command you: your burntofferings, your sacrifices, your thes, theheave offerings of your hand, and allyour choice offerings which you vow tothe LORD.

DEUTERONOMY 12 7312 "And you shall rejoice before theLORD your God, you and your sons andyour daughters, your male and femaleservants, and the Levite who is withinyour gates, since he has no por on norinheritance with you.13 "Take heed to yourself that you donot offer your burnt offerings in everyplace that you see;14 "but in the place which the LORDchooses, in one of your tribes, thereyou shall offer your burnt offerings, andthere you shall do all that I commandyou.15 "However, you may slaughter andeat meat within all your gates, whateveryour heart desires, according to theblessing of the LORD your God which Hehas given you; the unclean and the cleanmay eat of it, of the gazelle and the deeralike.

DEUTERONOMY 12 7416 "Only you shall not eat the blood;you shall pour it on the earth like water.17 "You may not eat within your gatesthe the of your grain or your new wineor your oil, of the firstborn of your herdor your flock, of any of your offeringswhich you vow, of your freewill offerings,or of the heave offering of your hand.18 "But you must eat them beforethe LORD your God in the place whichthe LORD your God chooses, you andyour son and your daughter, your maleservant and your female servant, andthe Levite who is within your gates; andyou shall rejoice before the LORD yourGod in all to which you put your hands.19 "Take heed to yourself that you donot forsake the Levite as long as you livein your land.20 "When the LORD your God enlargesyour border as He has promised you,and you say, ‘Let me eat meat,’ because

DEUTERONOMY 12 75you long to eat meat, you may eat asmuch meat as your heart desires.21 "If the place where the LORD yourGod chooses to put His name is toofar from you, then you may slaughterfrom your herd and from your flockwhich the LORD has given you, just as Ihave commanded you, and you may eatwithin your gates as much as your heartdesires.22 "Just as the gazelle and the deer areeaten, so you may eat them; the uncleanand the clean alike may eat them.23 "Only be sure that you do not eat theblood, for the blood is the life; you maynot eat the life with the meat.24 "You shall not eat it; you shall pour iton the earth like water.25 "You shall not eat it, that it may gowell with you and your children a eryou, when you do what is right in thesight of the LORD.

DEUTERONOMY 12 7626 "Only the holy things which you have,and your vowed offerings, you shall takeand go to the place which the LORDchooses.27 "And you shall offer your burntofferings, the meat and the blood, onthe altar of the LORD your God; and theblood of your sacrifices shall be pouredout on the altar of the LORD your God,and you shall eat the meat.28 "Observe and obey all these wordswhich I command you, that it may gowell with you and your children a er youforever, when you do what is good andright in the sight of the LORD your God.29 "When the LORD your God cuts offfrom before you the na ons which yougo to dispossess, and you displace themand dwell in their land,30 "take heed to yourself that you arenot ensnared to follow them, a er theyare destroyed from before you, and

DEUTERONOMY 12–13 77that you do not inquire a er their gods,saying, ‘How did these na ons servetheir gods? I also will do likewise.’31 "You shall not worship the LORD yourGod in that way; for every abomina onto the LORD which He hates they havedone to their gods; for they burn eventheir sons and daughters in the fire totheir gods.32 "Whatever I command you, becareful to observe it; you shall not addto it nor take away from it.

13 1 "If there arises among you aprophet or a dreamer of dreams,

and he gives you a sign or a wonder,2 "and the sign or the wonder comes topass, of which he spoke to you, saying,‘Let us go a er other gods’ ––whichyou have not known––‘and let us servethem,’3 "you shall not listen to the words ofthat prophet or that dreamer of dreams,

DEUTERONOMY 13 78for the LORD your God is tes ng you toknow whether you love the LORD yourGod with all your heart and with all yoursoul.4 "You shall walk a er the LORDyour God and fear Him, and keep Hiscommandments and obey His voice, andyou shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.5 "But that prophet or that dreamer ofdreams shall be put to death, becausehe has spoken in order to turn youaway from the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egyptand redeemed you from the house ofbondage, to en ce you from the way inwhich the LORD your God commandedyou to walk. So you shall put away theevil from your midst.6 "If your brother, the son of yourmother, your son or your daughter, thewife of your bosom, or your friend whois as your own soul, secretly en ces you,

DEUTERONOMY 13 79saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’which you have not known, neither younor your fathers,7 "of the gods of the people which areall around you, near to you or far offfrom you, from one end of the earth tothe other end of the earth,8 "you shall not consent to him or listento him, nor shall your eye pity him, norshall you spare him or conceal him;9 "but you shall surely kill him; yourhand shall be first against him to put himto death, and a erward the hand of allthe people.10 "And you shall stone him with stonesun l he dies, because he sought toen ce you away from the LORD yourGod, who brought you out of the land ofEgypt, from the house of bondage.11 "So all Israel shall hear and fear, andnot again do such wickedness as thisamong you.

DEUTERONOMY 13 8012 "If you hear someone in one of yourci es, which the LORD your God givesyou to dwell in, saying,13 ‘Corrupt men have gone out fromamong you and en ced the inhabitantsof their city, saying, "Let us go and serveother gods"’ ––which you have notknown––14 "then you shall inquire, search out,and ask diligently. And if it is indeed trueand certain that such an abomina onwas commi ed among you,15 "you shall surely strike theinhabitants of that city with the edge ofthe sword––u erly destroying it, all thatis in it and its livestock, with the edge ofthe sword.16 "And you shall gather all its plunderinto the middle of the street, andcompletely burn with fire the city andall its plunder, for the LORD your God. It

DEUTERONOMY 13–14 81shall be a heap forever; it shall not bebuilt again.17 "So none of the accursed things shallremain in your hand, that the LORD mayturn from the fierceness of His anger andshow you mercy, have compassion onyou and mul ply you, just as He sworeto your fathers,18 "because you have listened to thevoice of the LORD your God, to keep allHis commandments which I commandyou today, to do what is right in the eyesof the LORD your God.

14 1 "You are the children of theLORD your God; you shall not cut

yourselves nor shave the front of yourhead for the dead.2 "For you are a holy people to the LORDyour God, and the LORD has chosenyou to be a people for Himself, a specialtreasure above all the peoples who areon the face of the earth.

DEUTERONOMY 14 823 "You shall not eat any detestablething.4 "These are the animals which you mayeat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,5 "the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer,the wild goat, the mountain goat, theantelope, and the mountain sheep.6 "And you may eat every animal withcloven hooves, having the hoof splitinto two parts, and that chews the cud,among the animals.7 "Nevertheless, of those that chew thecud or have cloven hooves, you shall noteat, such as these: the camel, the hare,and the rock hyrax; for they chew thecud but do not have cloven hooves; theyare unclean for you.8 "Also the swine is unclean for you,because it has cloven hooves, yet doesnot chew the cud; you shall not eat theirflesh or touch their dead carcasses.

DEUTERONOMY 14 839 "These you may eat of all that are inthe waters: you may eat all that have finsand scales.10 "And whatever does not have finsand scales you shall not eat; it is uncleanfor you.11 "All clean birds you may eat.12 "But these you shall not eat: theeagle, the vulture, the buzzard,13 "the red kite, the falcon, and the kitea er their kinds;14 "every raven a er its kind;15 "the ostrich, the short–eared owl,the seagull, and the hawk a er theirkinds;16 "the li le owl, the screech owl, thewhite owl,17 "the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, thefisher owl,18 "the stork, the heron a er its kind,and the hoopoe and the bat.

DEUTERONOMY 14 8419 "Also every creeping thing that flies isunclean for you; they shall not be eaten.20 "You may eat all clean birds.21 "You shall not eat anything that diesof itself; you may give it to the alien whois within your gates, that he may eat it,or you may sell it to a foreigner; for youare a holy people to the LORD your God.You shall not boil a young goat in itsmother’s milk.22 "You shall truly the all the increaseof your grain that the field produces yearby year.23 "And you shall eat before the LORDyour God, in the place where He choosesto make His name abide, the the ofyour grain and your new wine and youroil, of the firstborn of your herds andyour flocks, that you may learn to fearthe LORD your God always.24 "But if the journey is too long foryou, so that you are not able to carry

DEUTERONOMY 14 85the the, or if the place where the LORDyour God chooses to put His name is toofar from you, when the LORD your Godhas blessed you,25 "then you shall exchange it formoney, take the money in your hand,and go to the place which the LORD yourGod chooses.26 "And you shall spend that moneyfor whatever your heart desires: foroxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink,for whatever your heart desires; youshall eat there before the LORD yourGod, and you shall rejoice, you and yourhousehold.27 "You shall not forsake the Levite whois within your gates, for he has no partnor inheritance with you.28 "At the end of every third year youshall bring out the the of your produceof that year and store it up within yourgates.

DEUTERONOMY 14–15 8629 "And the Levite, because he has nopor on nor inheritance with you, andthe stranger and the fatherless and thewidow who are within your gates, maycome and eat and be sa sfied, that theLORD your God may bless you in all thework of your hand which you do.

15 1 "At the end of every seven yearsyou shall grant a release of debts.

2 "And this is the form of the release:Every creditor who has lent anything tohis neighbor shall release it; he shall notrequire it of his neighbor or his brother,because it is called the LORD’S release.3 "Of a foreigner you may require it; butyou shall give up your claim to what isowed by your brother,4 "except when there may be no pooramong you; for the LORD will greatlybless you in the land which the LORDyour God is giving you to possess as aninheritance––

DEUTERONOMY 15 875 "only if you carefully obey the voiceof the LORD your God, to observe withcare all these commandments which Icommand you today.6 "For the LORD your God will blessyou just as He promised you; you shalllend to many na ons, but you shallnot borrow; you shall reign over manyna ons, but they shall not reign overyou.7 "If there is among you a poor man ofyour brethren, within any of the gatesin your land which the LORD your Godis giving you, you shall not harden yourheart nor shut your hand from your poorbrother,8 "but you shall open your hand wide tohim and willingly lend him sufficient forhis need, whatever he needs.9 "Beware lest there be a wickedthought in your heart, saying, ‘Theseventh year, the year of release, is at

DEUTERONOMY 15 88hand,’ and your eye be evil against yourpoor brother and you give him nothing,and he cry out to the LORD against you,and it become sin among you.10 "You shall surely give to him, andyour heart should not be grieved whenyou give to him, because for this thingthe LORD your God will bless you in allyour works and in all to which you putyour hand.11 "For the poor will never cease fromthe land; therefore I command you,saying, ‘You shall open your hand wideto your brother, to your poor and yourneedy, in your land.’12 "If your brother, a Hebrew man, ora Hebrew woman, is sold to you andserves you six years, then in the seventhyear you shall let him go free from you.13 "And when you send him away freefrom you, you shall not let him go awayempty–handed;

DEUTERONOMY 15 8914 "you shall supply him liberally fromyour flock, from your threshing floor,and from your winepress. From what theLORD your God has blessed you with,you shall give to him.15 "You shall remember that you were aslave in the land of Egypt, and the LORDyour God redeemed you; therefore Icommand you this thing today.16 "And if it happens that he says to you,‘I will not go away from you,’ becausehe loves you and your house, since heprospers with you,17 "then you shall take an awl andthrust it through his ear to the door,and he shall be your servant forever.Also to your female servant you shall dolikewise.18 "It shall not seem hard to you whenyou send him away free from you; for hehas been worth a double hired servant

DEUTERONOMY 15–16 90in serving you six years. Then the LORDyour God will bless you in all that you do.19 "All the firstborn males that comefrom your herd and your flock you shallsanc fy to the LORD your God; you shalldo no work with the firstborn of yourherd, nor shear the firstborn of yourflock.20 "You and your household shall eat itbefore the LORD your God year by yearin the place which the LORD chooses.21 "But if there is a defect in it, if it islame or blind or has any serious defect,you shall not sacrifice it to the LORDyour God.22 "You may eat it within your gates; theunclean and the clean person alike mayeat it, as if it were a gazelle or a deer.23 "Only you shall not eat its blood; youshall pour it on the ground like water.

16 1 "Observe the month of Abib,and keep the Passover to the

DEUTERONOMY 16 91LORD your God, for in the month of Abibthe LORD your God brought you out ofEgypt by night.2 "Therefore you shall sacrifice thePassover to the LORD your God, from theflock and the herd, in the place wherethe LORD chooses to put His name.3 "You shall eat no leavened bread withit; seven days you shall eat unleavenedbread with it, that is, the bread ofafflic on (for you came out of the land ofEgypt in haste), that you may rememberthe day in which you came out of theland of Egypt all the days of your life.4 "And no leaven shall be seen amongyou in all your territory for seven days,nor shall any of the meat which yousacrifice the first day at twilight remainovernight un l morning.5 "You may not sacrifice the Passoverwithin any of your gates which the LORDyour God gives you;

DEUTERONOMY 16 926 "but at the place where the LORD yourGod chooses to make His name abide,there you shall sacrifice the Passover attwilight, at the going down of the sun, atthe me you came out of Egypt.7 "And you shall roast and eat it in theplace which the LORD your God chooses,and in the morning you shall turn and goto your tents.8 "Six days you shall eat unleavenedbread, and on the seventh day thereshall be a sacred assembly to the LORDyour God. You shall do no work on it.9 "You shall count seven weeks foryourself; begin to count the seven weeksfrom the me you begin to put the sickleto the grain.10 "Then you shall keep the Feast ofWeeks to the LORD your God with thetribute of a freewill offering from yourhand, which you shall give as the LORDyour God blesses you.

DEUTERONOMY 16 9311 "You shall rejoice before the LORDyour God, you and your son and yourdaughter, your male servant and yourfemale servant, the Levite who iswithin your gates, the stranger andthe fatherless and the widow who areamong you, at the place where the LORDyour God chooses to make His nameabide.12 "And you shall remember that youwere a slave in Egypt, and you shall becareful to observe these statutes.13 "You shall observe the Feast ofTabernacles seven days, when you havegathered from your threshing floor andfrom your winepress.14 "And you shall rejoice in your feast,you and your son and your daughter,your male servant and your femaleservant and the Levite, the stranger andthe fatherless and the widow, who arewithin your gates.

DEUTERONOMY 16 9415 "Seven days you shall keep a sacredfeast to the LORD your God in the placewhich the LORD chooses, because theLORD your God will bless you in all yourproduce and in all the work of yourhands, so that you surely rejoice.16 "Three mes a year all your malesshall appear before the LORD yourGod in the place which He chooses:at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, atthe Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast ofTabernacles; and they shall not appearbefore the LORD empty–handed.17 "Every man shall give as he is able,according to the blessing of the LORDyour God which He has given you.18 "You shall appoint judges and officersin all your gates, which the LORD yourGod gives you, according to your tribes,and they shall judge the people with justjudgment.

DEUTERONOMY 16–17 9519 "You shall not pervert jus ce; youshall not show par ality, nor take abribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes ofthe wise and twists the words of therighteous.20 "You shall follow what is altogetherjust, that you may live and inherit theland which the LORD your God is givingyou.21 "You shall not plant for yourself anytree, as a wooden image, near the altarwhich you build for yourself to the LORDyour God.22 "You shall not set up a sacred pillar,which the LORD your God hates.

17 1 "You shall not sacrifice to theLORD your God a bull or sheep

which has any blemish or defect, for thatis an abomina on to the LORD your God.2 "If there is found among you, withinany of your gates which the LORD yourGod gives you, a man or a woman who

DEUTERONOMY 17 96has been wicked in the sight of the LORDyour God, in transgressing His covenant,3 "who has gone and served other godsand worshiped them, either the sunor moon or any of the host of heaven,which I have not commanded,4 "and it is told you, and you hear of it,then you shall inquire diligently. And ifit is indeed true and certain that suchan abomina on has been commi ed inIsrael,5 "then you shall bring out to your gatesthat man or woman who has commi edthat wicked thing, and shall stone todeath that man or woman with stones.6 "Whoever is deserving of death shallbe put to death on the tes mony of twoor three witnesses; he shall not be put todeath on the tes mony of one witness.7 "The hands of the witnesses shallbe the first against him to put him todeath, and a erward the hands of all the

DEUTERONOMY 17 97people. So you shall put away the evilfrom among you.8 "If a ma er arises which is too hard foryou to judge, between degrees of guiltfor bloodshed, between one judgmentor another, or between one punishmentor another, ma ers of controversy withinyour gates, then you shall arise and goup to the place which the LORD yourGod chooses.9 "And you shall come to the priests,the Levites, and to the judge there inthose days, and inquire of them; theyshall pronounce upon you the sentenceof judgment.10 "You shall do according to thesentence which they pronounce uponyou in that place which the LORDchooses. And you shall be careful to doaccording to all that they order you.11 "According to the sentence of thelaw in which they instruct you, according

DEUTERONOMY 17 98to the judgment which they tell you,you shall do; you shall not turn aside tothe right hand or to the le from thesentence which they pronounce uponyou.12 "Now the man who actspresumptuously and will not heedthe priest who stands to minister therebefore the LORD your God, or the judge,that man shall die. So you shall put awaythe evil from Israel.13 "And all the people shall hear andfear, and no longer act presumptuously.14 "When you come to the land whichthe LORD your God is giving you, andpossess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I willset a king over me like all the na onsthat are around me,’15 "you shall surely set a king over youwhom the LORD your God chooses; onefrom among your brethren you shallset as king over you; you may not set

DEUTERONOMY 17 99a foreigner over you, who is not yourbrother.16 "But he shall not mul ply horses forhimself, nor cause the people to returnto Egypt to mul ply horses, for the LORDhas said to you, ‘You shall not return thatway again.’17 "Neither shall he mul ply wives forhimself, lest his heart turn away; norshall he greatly mul ply silver and goldfor himself.18 "Also it shall be, when he sits onthe throne of his kingdom, that he shallwrite for himself a copy of this law in abook, from the one before the priests,the Levites.19 "And it shall be with him, and he shallread it all the days of his life, that he maylearn to fear the LORD his God and becareful to observe all the words of thislaw and these statutes,

DEUTERONOMY 17–18 10020 "that his heart may not be li edabove his brethren, that he may not turnaside from the commandment to theright hand or to the le , and that he mayprolong his days in his kingdom, he andhis children in the midst of Israel.

18 1 "The priests, the Levites––allthe tribe of Levi––shall have no

part nor inheritance with Israel; theyshall eat the offerings of the LORD madeby fire, and His por on.2 "Therefore they shall have noinheritance among their brethren; theLORD is their inheritance, as He said tothem.3 "And this shall be the priest’s duefrom the people, from those who offera sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep:they shall give to the priest the shoulder,the cheeks, and the stomach.4 "The firs ruits of your grain and yournew wine and your oil, and the first of

DEUTERONOMY 18 101the fleece of your sheep, you shall givehim.5 "For the LORD your God has chosenhim out of all your tribes to stand tominister in the name of the LORD, himand his sons forever.6 "So if a Levite comes from any of yourgates, from where he dwells among allIsrael, and comes with all the desire ofhis mind to the place which the LORDchooses,7 "then he may serve in the name ofthe LORD his God as all his brethren theLevites do, who stand there before theLORD.8 "They shall have equal por ons to eat,besides what comes from the sale of hisinheritance.9 "When you come into the landwhich the LORD your God is givingyou, you shall not learn to follow theabomina ons of those na ons.

DEUTERONOMY 18 10210 "There shall not be found amongyou anyone who makes his son orhis daughter pass through the fire,or one who prac ces witchcra , ora soothsayer, or one who interpretsomens, or a sorcerer,11 "or one who conjures spells, or amedium, or a spiri st, or one who callsup the dead.12 "For all who do these things are anabomina on to the LORD, and becauseof these abomina ons the LORD yourGod drives them out from before you.13 "You shall be blameless before theLORD your God.14 "For these na ons which you willdispossess listened to soothsayers anddiviners; but as for you, the LORD yourGod has not appointed such for you.15 "The LORD your God will raise up foryou a Prophet like me from your midst,from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

DEUTERONOMY 18 10316 "according to all you desired of theLORD your God in Horeb in the day ofthe assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hearagain the voice of the LORD my God, norlet me see this great fire anymore, lest Idie.’17 "And the LORD said to me: ‘Whatthey have spoken is good.18 ‘I will raise up for them a Prophet likeyou from among their brethren, and willput My words in His mouth, and He shallspeak to them all that I command Him.19 ‘And it shall be that whoever will nothear My words, which He speaks in Myname, I will require it of him.20 ‘But the prophet who presumes tospeak a word in My name, which I havenot commanded him to speak, or whospeaks in the name of other gods, thatprophet shall die.’

DEUTERONOMY 18–19 10421 "And if you say in your heart, ‘Howshall we know the word which the LORDhas not spoken?’ ––22 "when a prophet speaks in thename of the LORD, if the thing does nothappen or come to pass, that is the thingwhich the LORD has not spoken; theprophet has spoken it presumptuously;you shall not be afraid of him.

19 1 "When the LORD your God hascut off the na ons whose land

the LORD your God is giving you, andyou dispossess them and dwell in theirci es and in their houses,2 "you shall separate three ci es foryourself in the midst of your land whichthe LORD your God is giving you topossess.3 "You shall prepare roads for yourself,and divide into three parts the territoryof your land which the LORD your God is

DEUTERONOMY 19 105giving you to inherit, that any manslayermay flee there.4 "And this is the case of themanslayer who flees there, that hemay live: Whoever kills his neighboruninten onally, not having hated him inme past––5 "as when a man goes to the woodswith his neighbor to cut mber, and hishand swings a stroke with the ax to cutdown the tree, and the head slips fromthe handle and strikes his neighbor sothat he dies––he shall flee to one ofthese ci es and live;6 "lest the avenger of blood, whilehis anger is hot, pursue the manslayerand overtake him, because the way islong, and kill him, though he was notdeserving of death, since he had nothated the vic m in me past.

DEUTERONOMY 19 1067 "Therefore I command you, saying,‘You shall separate three ci es foryourself.’8 "Now if the LORD your God enlargesyour territory, as He swore to yourfathers, and gives you the land which Hepromised to give to your fathers,9 "and if you keep all thesecommandments and do them,which I command you today, to love theLORD your God and to walk always inHis ways, then you shall add three moreci es for yourself besides these three,10 "lest innocent blood be shed in themidst of your land which the LORD yourGod is giving you as an inheritance, andthus guilt of bloodshed be upon you.11 "But if anyone hates his neighbor,lies in wait for him, rises against him andstrikes him mortally, so that he dies, andhe flees to one of these ci es,

DEUTERONOMY 19 10712 "then the elders of his city shall sendand bring him from there, and deliverhim over to the hand of the avenger ofblood, that he may die.13 "Your eye shall not pity him, butyou shall put away the guilt of innocentblood from Israel, that it may go wellwith you.14 "You shall not remove yourneighbor’s landmark, which the men ofold have set, in your inheritance whichyou will inherit in the land that the LORDyour God is giving you to possess.15 "One witness shall not rise against aman concerning any iniquity or any sinthat he commits; by the mouth of twoor three witnesses the ma er shall beestablished.16 "If a false witness rises againstany man to tes fy against him ofwrongdoing,

DEUTERONOMY 19–20 10817 "then both men in the controversyshall stand before the LORD, before thepriests and the judges who serve inthose days.18 "And the judges shall make carefulinquiry, and indeed, if the witness is afalse witness, who has tes fied falselyagainst his brother,19 "then you shall do to him as hethought to have done to his brother; soyou shall put away the evil from amongyou.20 "And those who remain shall hearand fear, and herea er they shall notagain commit such evil among you.21 "Your eye shall not pity: life shall befor life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, handfor hand, foot for foot.

20 1 "When you go out to ba leagainst your enemies, and see

horses and chariots and people morenumerous than you, do not be afraid

DEUTERONOMY 20 109of them; for the LORD your God is withyou, who brought you up from the landof Egypt.2 "So it shall be, when you are on theverge of ba le, that the priest shallapproach and speak to the people.3 "And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, OIsrael: Today you are on the verge ofba le with your enemies. Do not letyour heart faint, do not be afraid, and donot tremble or be terrified because ofthem;4 ‘for the LORD your God is He whogoes with you, to fight for you againstyour enemies, to save you.’5 "Then the officers shall speak to thepeople, saying: ‘What man is therewho has built a new house and has notdedicated it? Let him go and return tohis house, lest he die in the ba le andanother man dedicate it.

DEUTERONOMY 20 1106 ‘Also what man is there who hasplanted a vineyard and has not eaten ofit? Let him go and return to his house,lest he die in the ba le and another maneat of it.7 ‘And what man is there who isbetrothed to a woman and has notmarried her? Let him go and return tohis house, lest he die in the ba le andanother man marry her.’8 "The officers shall speak further to thepeople, and say, ‘What man is there whois fearful and fainthearted? Let him goand return to his house, lest the heart ofhis brethren faint like his heart.’9 "And so it shall be, when the officershave finished speaking to the people,that they shall make captains of thearmies to lead the people.10 "When you go near a city to fightagainst it, then proclaim an offer ofpeace to it.

DEUTERONOMY 20 11111 "And it shall be that if they acceptyour offer of peace, and open to you,then all the people who are found in itshall be placed under tribute to you, andserve you.12 "Now if the city will not make peacewith you, but makes war against you,then you shall besiege it.13 "And when the LORD your Goddelivers it into your hands, you shallstrike every male in it with the edge ofthe sword.14 "But the women, the li le ones, thelivestock, and all that is in the city, allits spoil, you shall plunder for yourself;and you shall eat the enemies’ plunderwhich the LORD your God gives you.15 "Thus you shall do to all the ci eswhich are very far from you, which arenot of the ci es of these na ons.16 "But of the ci es of these peopleswhich the LORD your God gives you as

DEUTERONOMY 20 112an inheritance, you shall let nothing thatbreathes remain alive,17 "but you shall u erly destroy them:the Hi te and the Amorite and theCanaanite and the Perizzite and theHivite and the Jebusite, just as the LORDyour God has commanded you,18 "lest they teach you to do accordingto all their abomina ons which theyhave done for their gods, and you sinagainst the LORD your God.19 "When you besiege a city for a longme, while making war against it to

take it, you shall not destroy its trees bywielding an ax against them; if you caneat of them, do not cut them down touse in the siege, for the tree of the fieldis man’s food.20 "Only the trees which you know arenot trees for food you may destroy andcut down, to build siegeworks against

DEUTERONOMY 21 113the city that makes war with you, un l itis subdued.

21 1 "If anyone is found slain, lyingin the field in the land which the

LORD your God is giving you to possess,and it is not known who killed him,2 "then your elders and your judgesshall go out and measure the distancefrom the slain man to the surroundingci es.3 "And it shall be that the elders of thecity nearest to the slain man will take aheifer which has not been worked andwhich has not pulled with a yoke.4 "The elders of that city shall bringthe heifer down to a valley with flowingwater, which is neither plowed nor sown,and they shall break the heifer’s neckthere in the valley.5 "Then the priests, the sons of Levi,shall come near, for the LORD your Godhas chosen them to minister to Him and

DEUTERONOMY 21 114to bless in the name of the LORD; bytheir word every controversy and everyassault shall be se led.6 "And all the elders of that city nearestto the slain man shall wash their handsover the heifer whose neck was brokenin the valley.7 "Then they shall answer and say, ‘Ourhands have not shed this blood, norhave our eyes seen it.8 ‘Provide atonement, O LORD, forYour people Israel, whom You haveredeemed, and do not lay innocentblood to the charge of Your peopleIsrael.’ And atonement shall be providedon their behalf for the blood.9 "So you shall put away the guilt ofinnocent blood from among you whenyou do what is right in the sight of theLORD.10 "When you go out to war againstyour enemies, and the LORD your God

DEUTERONOMY 21 115delivers them into your hand, and youtake them cap ve,11 "and you see among the cap ves abeau ful woman, and desire her andwould take her for your wife,12 "then you shall bring her home toyour house, and she shall shave her headand trim her nails.13 "She shall put off the clothes of hercap vity, remain in your house, andmourn her father and her mother a fullmonth; a er that you may go in to herand be her husband, and she shall beyour wife.14 "And it shall be, if you have nodelight in her, then you shall set her free,but you certainly shall not sell her formoney; you shall not treat her brutally,because you have humbled her.15 "If a man has two wives, one lovedand the other unloved, and they haveborne him children, both the loved and

DEUTERONOMY 21 116the unloved, and if the firstborn son is ofher who is unloved,16 "then it shall be, on the day hebequeaths his possessions to his sons,that he must not bestow firstbornstatus on the son of the loved wife inpreference to the son of the unloved,the true firstborn.17 "But he shall acknowledge the sonof the unloved wife as the firstborn bygiving him a double por on of all thathe has, for he is the beginning of hisstrength; the right of the firstborn is his.18 "If a man has a stubborn andrebellious son who will not obey thevoice of his father or the voice of hismother, and who, when they havechastened him, will not heed them,19 "then his father and his mother shalltake hold of him and bring him out to theelders of his city, to the gate of his city.

DEUTERONOMY 21–22 11720 "And they shall say to the elders ofhis city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn andrebellious; he will not obey our voice; heis a glu on and a drunkard.’21 "Then all the men of his city shallstone him to death with stones; so youshall put away the evil from among you,and all Israel shall hear and fear.22 "If a man has commi ed a sindeserving of death, and he is put todeath, and you hang him on a tree,23 "his body shall not remain overnighton the tree, but you shall surely buryhim that day, so that you do not defilethe land which the LORD your God isgiving you as an inheritance; for he whois hanged is accursed of God.

22 1 "You shall not see your brother’sox or his sheep going astray,

and hide yourself from them; youshall certainly bring them back to yourbrother.

DEUTERONOMY 22 1182 "And if your brother is not near you,or if you do not know him, then you shallbring it to your own house, and it shallremain with you un l your brother seeksit; then you shall restore it to him.3 "You shall do the same with hisdonkey, and so shall you do with hisgarment; with any lost thing of yourbrother’s, which he has lost and youhave found, you shall do likewise; youmust not hide yourself.4 "You shall not see your brother’sdonkey or his ox fall down along theroad, and hide yourself from them; youshall surely help him li them up again.5 "A woman shall not wear anythingthat pertains to a man, nor shall a manput on a woman’s garment, for all whodo so are an abomina on to the LORDyour God.6 "If a bird’s nest happens to be beforeyou along the way, in any tree or on the

DEUTERONOMY 22 119ground, with young ones or eggs, withthe mother si ng on the young or onthe eggs, you shall not take the motherwith the young;7 "you shall surely let the mother go,and take the young for yourself, that itmay be well with you and that you mayprolong your days.8 "When you build a new house, thenyou shall make a parapet for yourroof, that you may not bring guilt ofbloodshed on your household if anyonefalls from it.9 "You shall not sow your vineyard withdifferent kinds of seed, lest the yield ofthe seed which you have sown and thefruit of your vineyard be defiled.10 "You shall not plow with an ox and adonkey together.11 "You shall not wear a garment ofdifferent sorts, such as wool and linenmixed together.

DEUTERONOMY 22 12012 "You shall make tassels on the fourcorners of the clothing with which youcover yourself.13 "If any man takes a wife, and goes into her, and detests her,14 "and charges her with shamefulconduct, and brings a bad name on her,and says, ‘I took this woman, and when Icame to her I found she was not a virgin,’15 "then the father and mother of theyoung woman shall take and bring outthe evidence of the young woman’svirginity to the elders of the city at thegate.16 "And the young woman’s father shallsay to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter tothis man as wife, and he detests her.17 ‘Now he has charged her withshameful conduct, saying, "I found yourdaughter was not a virgin," and yet theseare the evidences of my daughter’s

DEUTERONOMY 22 121virginity.’ And they shall spread the clothbefore the elders of the city.18 "Then the elders of that city shalltake that man and punish him;19 "and they shall fine him one hundredshekels of silver and give them to thefather of the young woman, becausehe has brought a bad name on a virginof Israel. And she shall be his wife; hecannot divorce her all his days.20 "But if the thing is true, andevidences of virginity are not found forthe young woman,21 "then they shall bring out the youngwoman to the door of her father’s house,and the men of her city shall stone herto death with stones, because she hasdone a disgraceful thing in Israel, to playthe harlot in her father’s house. So youshall put away the evil from among you.22 "If a man is found lying with a womanmarried to a husband, then both of them

DEUTERONOMY 22 122shall die––the man that lay with thewoman, and the woman; so you shallput away the evil from Israel.23 "If a young woman who is a virgin isbetrothed to a husband, and a man findsher in the city and lies with her,24 "then you shall bring them both outto the gate of that city, and you shallstone them to death with stones, theyoung woman because she did not cryout in the city, and the man becausehe humbled his neighbor’s wife; so youshall put away the evil from among you.25 "But if a man finds a betrothed youngwoman in the countryside, and the manforces her and lies with her, then onlythe man who lay with her shall die.26 "But you shall do nothing to theyoung woman; there is in the youngwoman no sin deserving of death, forjust as when a man rises against his

DEUTERONOMY 22–23 123neighbor and kills him, even so is thisma er.27 "For he found her in the countryside,and the betrothed young woman criedout, but there was no one to save her.28 "If a man finds a young woman whois a virgin, who is not betrothed, and heseizes her and lies with her, and they arefound out,29 "then the man who lay with her shallgive to the young woman’s father fi yshekels of silver, and she shall be his wifebecause he has humbled her; he shallnot be permi ed to divorce her all hisdays.30 "A man shall not take his father’swife, nor uncover his father’s bed.

23 1 "He who is emasculated bycrushing or mu la on shall not

enter the assembly of the LORD.2 "One of illegi mate birth shall notenter the assembly of the LORD; even

DEUTERONOMY 23 124to the tenth genera on none of hisdescendants shall enter the assembly ofthe LORD.3 "An Ammonite or Moabite shall notenter the assembly of the LORD; evento the tenth genera on none of hisdescendants shall enter the assembly ofthe LORD forever,4 "because they did not meet you withbread and water on the road when youcame out of Egypt, and because theyhired against you Balaam the son of Beorfrom Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curseyou.5 "Nevertheless the LORD your Godwould not listen to Balaam, but theLORD your God turned the curse into ablessing for you, because the LORD yourGod loves you.6 "You shall not seek their peace northeir prosperity all your days forever.

DEUTERONOMY 23 1257 "You shall not abhor an Edomite, forhe is your brother. You shall not abhoran Egyp an, because you were an alienin his land.8 "The children of the third genera onborn to them may enter the assembly ofthe LORD.9 "When the army goes out against yourenemies, then keep yourself from everywicked thing.10 "If there is any man among you whobecomes unclean by some occurrencein the night, then he shall go outsidethe camp; he shall not come inside thecamp.11 "But it shall be, when evening comes,that he shall wash with water; and whenthe sun sets, he may come into thecamp.12 "Also you shall have a place outsidethe camp, where you may go out;

DEUTERONOMY 23 12613 "and you shall have an implementamong your equipment, and when yousit down outside, you shall dig with itand turn and cover your refuse.14 "For the LORD your God walks in themidst of your camp, to deliver you andgive your enemies over to you; thereforeyour camp shall be holy, that He may seeno unclean thing among you, and turnaway from you.15 "You shall not give back to his masterthe slave who has escaped from hismaster to you.16 "He may dwell with you in yourmidst, in the place which he chooseswithin one of your gates, where it seemsbest to him; you shall not oppress him.17 "There shall be no ritual harlot of thedaughters of Israel, or a perverted oneof the sons of Israel.18 "You shall not bring the wages ofa harlot or the price of a dog to the

DEUTERONOMY 23 127house of the LORD your God for anyvowed offering, for both of these are anabomina on to the LORD your God.19 "You shall not charge interest to yourbrother––interest on money or food oranything that is lent out at interest.20 "To a foreigner you may chargeinterest, but to your brother you shallnot charge interest, that the LORD yourGod may bless you in all to which youset your hand in the land which you areentering to possess.21 "When you make a vow to the LORDyour God, you shall not delay to pay it;for the LORD your God will surely requireit of you, and it would be sin to you.22 "But if you abstain from vowing, itshall not be sin to you.23 "That which has gone from your lipsyou shall keep and perform, for youvoluntarily vowed to the LORD your

DEUTERONOMY 23–24 128God what you have promised with yourmouth.24 "When you come into your neighbor’svineyard, you may eat your fill of grapesat your pleasure, but you shall not putany in your container.25 "When you come into your neighbor’sstanding grain, you may pluck the headswith your hand, but you shall not use asickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

24 1 "When a man takes a wife andmarries her, and it happens that

she finds no favor in his eyes becausehe has found some uncleanness in her,and he writes her a cer ficate of divorce,puts it in her hand, and sends her out ofhis house,2 "when she has departed from hishouse, and goes and becomes anotherman’s wife,3 "if the la er husband detests her andwrites her a cer ficate of divorce, puts

DEUTERONOMY 24 129it in her hand, and sends her out of hishouse, or if the la er husband dies whotook her as his wife,4 "then her former husband whodivorced her must not take her back tobe his wife a er she has been defiled;for that is an abomina on before theLORD, and you shall not bring sin on theland which the LORD your God is givingyou as an inheritance.5 "When a man has taken a new wife,he shall not go out to war or be chargedwith any business; he shall be free athome one year, and bring happiness tohis wife whom he has taken.6 "No man shall take the lower or theupper millstone in pledge, for he takesone’s living in pledge.7 "If a man is found kidnapping any ofhis brethren of the children of Israel,and mistreats him or sells him, then that

DEUTERONOMY 24 130kidnapper shall die; and you shall putaway the evil from among you.8 "Take heed in an outbreak of leprosy,that you carefully observe and doaccording to all that the priests, theLevites, shall teach you; just as Icommanded them, so you shall becareful to do.9 "Remember what the LORD your Goddid to Miriam on the way when youcame out of Egypt.10 "When you lend your brotheranything, you shall not go into his houseto get his pledge.11 "You shall stand outside, and theman to whom you lend shall bring thepledge out to you.12 "And if the man is poor, you shall notkeep his pledge overnight.13 "You shall in any case return thepledge to him again when the sun goesdown, that he may sleep in his own

DEUTERONOMY 24 131garment and bless you; and it shall berighteousness to you before the LORDyour God.14 "You shall not oppress a hired servantwho is poor and needy, whether one ofyour brethren or one of the aliens whois in your land within your gates.15 "Each day you shall give him hiswages, and not let the sun go down onit, for he is poor and has set his hearton it; lest he cry out against you to theLORD, and it be sin to you.16 "Fathers shall not be put to death fortheir children, nor shall the children beput to death for their fathers; a personshall be put to death for his own sin.17 "You shall not pervert jus ce due thestranger or the fatherless, nor take awidow’s garment as a pledge.18 "But you shall remember that youwere a slave in Egypt, and the LORDyour God redeemed you from there;

DEUTERONOMY 24–25 132therefore I command you to do thisthing.19 "When you reap your harvest in yourfield, and forget a sheaf in the field, youshall not go back to get it; it shall befor the stranger, the fatherless, and thewidow, that the LORD your God maybless you in all the work of your hands.20 "When you beat your olive trees, youshall not go over the boughs again; itshall be for the stranger, the fatherless,and the widow.21 "When you gather the grapes ofyour vineyard, you shall not glean ita erward; it shall be for the stranger,the fatherless, and the widow.22 "And you shall remember thatyou were a slave in the land of Egypt;therefore I command you to do thisthing.

25 1 "If there is a dispute betweenmen, and they come to court,

DEUTERONOMY 25 133that the judges may judge them, andthey jus fy the righteous and condemnthe wicked,2 "then it shall be, if the wicked mandeserves to be beaten, that the judgewill cause him to lie down and be beatenin his presence, according to his guilt,with a certain number of blows.3 "Forty blows he may give him and nomore, lest he should exceed this andbeat him with many blows above these,and your brother be humiliated in yoursight.4 "You shall not muzzle an ox while ittreads out the grain.5 "If brothers dwell together, and oneof them dies and has no son, the widowof the dead man shall not be marriedto a stranger outside the family; herhusband’s brother shall go in to her, takeher as his wife, and perform the duty ofa husband’s brother to her.

DEUTERONOMY 25 1346 "And it shall be that the firstbornson which she bears will succeed to thename of his dead brother, that his namemay not be blo ed out of Israel.7 "But if the man does not want to takehis brother’s wife, then let his brother’swife go up to the gate to the elders,and say, ‘My husband’s brother refusesto raise up a name to his brother inIsrael; he will not perform the duty ofmy husband’s brother.’8 "Then the elders of his city shall callhim and speak to him. But if he standsfirm and says, ‘I do not want to take her,’9 "then his brother’s wife shall cometo him in the presence of the elders,remove his sandal from his foot, spit inhis face, and answer and say, ‘So shall itbe done to the man who will not buildup his brother’s house.’

DEUTERONOMY 25 13510 "And his name shall be called inIsrael, ‘The house of him who had hissandal removed.’11 "If two men fight together, and thewife of one draws near to rescue herhusband from the hand of the onea acking him, and puts out her handand seizes him by the genitals,12 "then you shall cut off her hand; youreye shall not pity her.13 "You shall not have in your bagdiffering weights, a heavy and a light.14 "You shall not have in your housediffering measures, a large and a small.15 "You shall have a perfect and justweight, a perfect and just measure, thatyour days may be lengthened in the landwhich the LORD your God is giving you.16 "For all who do such things, allwho behave unrighteously, are anabomina on to the LORD your God.

DEUTERONOMY 25–26 13617 "Remember what Amalek did to youon the way as you were coming out ofEgypt,18 "how he met you on the wayand a acked your rear ranks, all thestragglers at your rear, when you werered and weary; and he did not fear

God.19 "Therefore it shall be, when theLORD your God has given you rest fromyour enemies all around, in the landwhich the LORD your God is giving you topossess as an inheritance, that you willblot out the remembrance of Amalekfrom under heaven. You shall not forget.

26 1 "And it shall be, when you comeinto the land which the LORD

your God is giving you as an inheritance,and you possess it and dwell in it,2 "that you shall take some of the firstof all the produce of the ground, whichyou shall bring from your land that the

DEUTERONOMY 26 137LORD your God is giving you, and put itin a basket and go to the place wherethe LORD your God chooses to make Hisname abide.3 "And you shall go to the one who ispriest in those days, and say to him, ‘Ideclare today to the LORD your God thatI have come to the country which theLORD swore to our fathers to give us.’4 "Then the priest shall take the basketout of your hand and set it down beforethe altar of the LORD your God.5 "And you shall answer and say beforethe LORD your God: ‘My father was aSyrian, about to perish, and he wentdown to Egypt and dwelt there, few innumber; and there he became a na on,great, mighty, and populous.6 ‘But the Egyp ans mistreated us,afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us.7 ‘Then we cried out to the LORD Godof our fathers, and the LORD heard our

DEUTERONOMY 26 138voice and looked on our afflic on andour labor and our oppression.8 ‘So the LORD brought us out ofEgypt with a mighty hand and with anoutstretched arm, with great terror andwith signs and wonders.9 ‘He has brought us to this place andhas given us this land, "a land flowingwith milk and honey";10 ‘and now, behold, I have brought thefirs ruits of the land which you, O LORD,have given me.’ Then you shall set itbefore the LORD your God, and worshipbefore the LORD your God.11 "So you shall rejoice in every goodthing which the LORD your God hasgiven to you and your house, you and theLevite and the stranger who is amongyou.12 "When you have finished laying asideall the the of your increase in the thirdyear––the year of thing––and have

DEUTERONOMY 26 139given it to the Levite, the stranger, thefatherless, and the widow, so that theymay eat within your gates and be filled,13 "then you shall say before the LORDyour God: ‘I have removed the holy thefrom my house, and also have giventhem to the Levite, the stranger, thefatherless, and the widow, accordingto all Your commandments whichYou have commanded me; I have nottransgressed Your commandments, norhave I forgo en them.14 ‘I have not eaten any of it when inmourning, nor have I removed any of itfor an unclean use, nor given any of it forthe dead. I have obeyed the voice of theLORD my God, and have done accordingto all that You have commanded me.15 ‘Look down from Your holyhabita on, from heaven, and bless Yourpeople Israel and the land which Youhave given us, just as You swore to our

DEUTERONOMY 26 140fathers, "a land flowing with milk andhoney."’16 "This day the LORD your Godcommands you to observe thesestatutes and judgments; therefore youshall be careful to observe them with allyour heart and with all your soul.17 "Today you have proclaimed theLORD to be your God, and that you willwalk in His ways and keep His statutes,His commandments, and His judgments,and that you will obey His voice.18 "Also today the LORD has proclaimedyou to be His special people, just as Hepromised you, that you should keep allHis commandments,19 "and that He will set you high aboveall na ons which He has made, in praise,in name, and in honor, and that you maybe a holy people to the LORD your God,just as He has spoken."

DEUTERONOMY 27 141

27 1Now Moses, with the elders ofIsrael, commanded the people,

saying: "Keep all the commandmentswhich I command you today.2 "And it shall be, on the day whenyou cross over the Jordan to the landwhich the LORD your God is giving you,that you shall set up for yourselves largestones, and whitewash them with lime.3 "You shall write on them all the wordsof this law, when you have crossed over,that you may enter the land which theLORD your God is giving you, ‘a landflowing with milk and honey,’ just as theLORD God of your fathers promised you.4 "Therefore it shall be, when you havecrossed over the Jordan, that on MountEbal you shall set up these stones, whichI command you today, and you shallwhitewash them with lime.

DEUTERONOMY 27 1425 "And there you shall build an altar tothe LORD your God, an altar of stones;you shall not use an iron tool on them.6 "You shall build with whole stones thealtar of the LORD your God, and offerburnt offerings on it to the LORD yourGod.7 "You shall offer peace offerings, andshall eat there, and rejoice before theLORD your God.8 "And you shall write very plainly onthe stones all the words of this law."9 Then Moses and the priests, theLevites, spoke to all Israel, saying, "Takeheed and listen, O Israel: This day youhave become the people of the LORDyour God.10 "Therefore you shall obey the voiceof the LORD your God, and observe Hiscommandments and His statutes which Icommand you today."

DEUTERONOMY 27 14311And Moses commanded the peopleon the same day, saying,12 "These shall stand on Mount Gerizimto bless the people, when you havecrossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi,Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin;13 "and these shall stand on Mount Ebalto curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun,Dan, and Naphtali.14 "And the Levites shall speak witha loud voice and say to all the men ofIsrael:15 ‘Cursed is the one who makes acarved ormolded image, an abomina onto the LORD, the work of the hands ofthe cra sman, and sets it up in secret.’And all the people shall answer and say,‘Amen!’16 ‘Cursed is the one who treats hisfather or his mother with contempt.’And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

DEUTERONOMY 27 14417 ‘Cursed is the one who moves hisneighbor’s landmark.’ And all the peopleshall say, ‘Amen!’18 ‘Cursed is the one who makes theblind to wander off the road.’ And all thepeople shall say, ‘Amen!’19 ‘Cursed is the one who perverts thejus ce due the stranger, the fatherless,and widow.’ And all the people shall say,‘Amen!’20 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with hisfather’s wife, because he has uncoveredhis father’s bed.’ And all the people shallsay, ‘Amen!’21 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with anykind of animal.’ And all the people shallsay, ‘Amen!’22 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with hissister, the daughter of his father or thedaughter of his mother.’ And all thepeople shall say, ‘Amen!’

DEUTERONOMY 27–28 14523 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with hismother–in–law.’ And all the people shallsay, ‘Amen!’24 ‘Cursed is the one who a acks hisneighbor secretly.’ And all the peopleshall say, ‘Amen!’25 ‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribeto slay an innocent person.’ And all thepeople shall say, ‘Amen!’26 ‘Cursed is the one who does notconfirm all the words of this law byobserving them.’ And all the people shallsay, ‘Amen!’

28 1 "Now it shall come to pass, ifyou diligently obey the voice of

the LORD your God, to observe carefullyall His commandments which I commandyou today, that the LORD your God willset you high above all na ons of theearth.

DEUTERONOMY 28 1462 "And all these blessings shall comeupon you and overtake you, because youobey the voice of the LORD your God:3 "Blessed shall you be in the city, andblessed shall you be in the country.4 "Blessed shall be the fruit of yourbody, the produce of your ground andthe increase of your herds, the increaseof your ca le and the offspring of yourflocks.5 "Blessed shall be your basket and yourkneading bowl.6 "Blessed shall you be when you comein, and blessed shall you be when you goout.7 "The LORD will cause your enemieswho rise against you to be defeatedbefore your face; they shall come outagainst you one way and flee before youseven ways.8 "The LORD will command the blessingon you in your storehouses and in all to

DEUTERONOMY 28 147which you set your hand, and He willbless you in the land which the LORDyour God is giving you.9 "The LORD will establish you as a holypeople to Himself, just as He has swornto you, if you keep the commandmentsof the LORD your God and walk in Hisways.10 "Then all peoples of the earth shallsee that you are called by the name ofthe LORD, and they shall be afraid ofyou.11 "And the LORD will grant you plentyof goods, in the fruit of your body, inthe increase of your livestock, and in theproduce of your ground, in the land ofwhich the LORD swore to your fathers togive you.12 "The LORD will open to you His goodtreasure, the heavens, to give the rain toyour land in its season, and to bless all

DEUTERONOMY 28 148the work of your hand. You shall lend tomany na ons, but you shall not borrow.13 "And the LORD will make you thehead and not the tail; you shall be aboveonly, and not be beneath, if you heedthe commandments of the LORD yourGod, which I command you today, andare careful to observe them.14 "So you shall not turn aside from anyof the words which I command you thisday, to the right or the le , to go a erother gods to serve them.15 "But it shall come to pass, if youdo not obey the voice of the LORDyour God, to observe carefully all Hiscommandments and His statutes whichI command you today, that all thesecurses will come upon you and overtakeyou:16 "Cursed shall you be in the city, andcursed shall you be in the country.

DEUTERONOMY 28 14917 "Cursed shall be your basket andyour kneading bowl.18 "Cursed shall be the fruit of yourbody and the produce of your land, theincrease of your ca le and the offspringof your flocks.19 "Cursed shall you be when you comein, and cursed shall you be when you goout.20 "The LORD will send on you cursing,confusion, and rebuke in all that you setyour hand to do, un l you are destroyedand un l you perish quickly, because ofthe wickedness of your doings in whichyou have forsaken Me.21 "The LORD will make the plague clingto you un l He has consumed you fromthe land which you are going to possess.22 "The LORD will strike you withconsump on, with fever, withinflamma on, with severe burning fever,with the sword, with scorching, and with

DEUTERONOMY 28 150mildew; they shall pursue you un l youperish.23 "And your heavens which are overyour head shall be bronze, and the earthwhich is under you shall be iron.24 "The LORD will change the rain ofyour land to powder and dust; from theheaven it shall come down on you un lyou are destroyed.25 "The LORD will cause you to bedefeated before your enemies; you shallgo out one way against them and fleeseven ways before them; and you shallbecome troublesome to all the kingdomsof the earth.26 "Your carcasses shall be food for allthe birds of the air and the beasts of theearth, and no one shall frighten themaway.27 "The LORD will strike you with theboils of Egypt, with tumors, with the

DEUTERONOMY 28 151scab, and with the itch, from which youcannot be healed.28 "The LORD will strike you withmadness and blindness and confusion ofheart.29 "And you shall grope at noonday,as a blind man gropes in darkness; youshall not prosper in your ways; youshall be only oppressed and plunderedcon nually, and no one shall save you.30 "You shall betroth a wife, but anotherman shall lie with her; you shall builda house, but you shall not dwell in it;you shall plant a vineyard, but shall notgather its grapes.31 "Your ox shall be slaughtered beforeyour eyes, but you shall not eat of it;your donkey shall be violently takenaway from before you, and shall not berestored to you; your sheep shall begiven to your enemies, and you shallhave no one to rescue them.

DEUTERONOMY 28 15232 "Your sons and your daughters shallbe given to another people, and youreyes shall look and fail with longing forthem all day long; and there shall be nostrength in your hand.33 "A na on whom you have not knownshall eat the fruit of your land and theproduce of your labor, and you shall beonly oppressed and crushed con nually.34 "So you shall be driven mad becauseof the sight which your eyes see.35 "The LORDwill strike you in the kneesand on the legs with severe boils whichcannot be healed, and from the sole ofyour foot to the top of your head.36 "The LORD will bring you and theking whom you set over you to a na onwhich neither you nor your fathers haveknown, and there you shall serve othergods––wood and stone.37 "And you shall become anastonishment, a proverb, and a byword

DEUTERONOMY 28 153among all na ons where the LORD willdrive you.38 "You shall carry much seed out to thefield but gather li le in, for the locustshall consume it.39 "You shall plant vineyards and tendthem, but you shall neither drink ofthe wine nor gather the grapes; for theworms shall eat them.40 "You shall have olive trees throughoutall your territory, but you shall not anointyourself with the oil; for your olives shalldrop off.41 "You shall beget sons and daughters,but they shall not be yours; for they shallgo into cap vity.42 "Locusts shall consume all your treesand the produce of your land.43 "The alien who is among you shallrise higher and higher above you, andyou shall come down lower and lower.

DEUTERONOMY 28 15444 "He shall lend to you, but you shallnot lend to him; he shall be the head,and you shall be the tail.45 "Moreover all these curses shallcome upon you and pursue and overtakeyou, un l you are destroyed, becauseyou did not obey the voice of the LORDyour God, to keep His commandmentsand His statutes which He commandedyou.46 "And they shall be upon you for a signand a wonder, and on your descendantsforever.47 "Because you did not serve the LORDyour God with joy and gladness of heart,for the abundance of everything,48 "therefore you shall serve yourenemies, whom the LORD will sendagainst you, in hunger, in thirst, innakedness, and in need of everything;and He will put a yoke of iron on yourneck un l He has destroyed you.

DEUTERONOMY 28 15549 "The LORD will bring a na on againstyou from afar, from the end of the earth,as swi as the eagle flies, a na on whoselanguage you will not understand,50 "a na on of fierce countenance,which does not respect the elderly norshow favor to the young.51 "And they shall eat the increase ofyour livestock and the produce of yourland, un l you are destroyed; they shallnot leave you grain or new wine or oil,or the increase of your ca le or theoffspring of your flocks, un l they havedestroyed you.52 "They shall besiege you at all yourgates un l your high and for fiedwalls, in which you trust, come downthroughout all your land; and they shallbesiege you at all your gates throughoutall your land which the LORD your Godhas given you.

DEUTERONOMY 28 15653 "You shall eat the fruit of your ownbody, the flesh of your sons and yourdaughters whom the LORD your God hasgiven you, in the siege and desperatestraits in which your enemy shall distressyou.54 "The sensi ve and very refined manamong you will be hos le toward hisbrother, toward the wife of his bosom,and toward the rest of his childrenwhom he leaves behind,55 "so that he will not give any of themthe flesh of his children whom he willeat, because he has nothing le in thesiege and desperate straits in whichyour enemy shall distress you at all yourgates.56 "The tender and delicate womanamong you, who would not ventureto set the sole of her foot on theground because of her delicateness andsensi vity, will refuse to the husband

DEUTERONOMY 28 157of her bosom, and to her son and herdaughter,57 "her placenta which comes out frombetween her feet and her children whomshe bears; for she will eat them secretlyfor lack of everything in the siege anddesperate straits in which your enemyshall distress you at all your gates.58 "If you do not carefully observe allthe words of this law that are wri en inthis book, that you may fear this gloriousand awesome name, THE LORD YOURGOD,59 "then the LORD will bring upon youand your descendants extraordinaryplagues––great and prolonged plagues––and serious and prolonged sicknesses.60 "Moreover He will bring back on youall the diseases of Egypt, of which youwere afraid, and they shall cling to you.61 "Also every sickness and everyplague, which is not wri en in this Book

DEUTERONOMY 28 158of the Law, will the LORD bring upon youun l you are destroyed.62 "You shall be le few in number,whereas you were as the stars of heavenin mul tude, because you would notobey the voice of the LORD your God.63 "And it shall be, that just as the LORDrejoiced over you to do you good andmul ply you, so the LORD will rejoiceover you to destroy you and bring you tonothing; and you shall be plucked fromoff the land which you go to possess.64 "Then the LORD will sca er youamong all peoples, from one end of theearth to the other, and there you shallserve other gods, which neither you noryour fathers have known––wood andstone.65 "And among those na ons you shallfind no rest, nor shall the sole of yourfoot have a res ng place; but there the

DEUTERONOMY 28–29 159LORD will give you a trembling heart,failing eyes, and anguish of soul.66 "Your life shall hang in doubt beforeyou; you shall fear day and night, andhave no assurance of life.67 "In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh,that it were evening!’ And at eveningyou shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’because of the fear which terrifies yourheart, and because of the sight whichyour eyes see.68 "And the LORD will take you backto Egypt in ships, by the way of which Isaid to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’And there you shall be offered for sale toyour enemies as male and female slaves,but no one will buy you."

29 1 These are the words of thecovenant which the LORD

commanded Moses to make with thechildren of Israel in the land of Moab,

DEUTERONOMY 29 160besides the covenant which He madewith them in Horeb.2NowMoses called all Israel and said tothem: "You have seen all that the LORDdid before your eyes in the land of Egypt,to Pharaoh and to all his servants and toall his land––3 "the great trials which your eyeshave seen, the signs, and those greatwonders.4 "Yet the LORD has not given you aheart to perceive and eyes to see andears to hear, to this very day.5 "And I have led you forty years in thewilderness. Your clothes have not wornout on you, and your sandals have notworn out on your feet.6 "You have not eaten bread, nor haveyou drunk wine or similar drink, that youmay know that I am the LORD your God.7 "And when you came to this place,Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of

DEUTERONOMY 29 161Bashan came out against us to ba le,and we conquered them.8 "We took their land and gave it asan inheritance to the Reubenites, tothe Gadites, and to half the tribe ofManasseh.9 "Therefore keep the words of thiscovenant, and do them, that you mayprosper in all that you do.10 "All of you stand today before theLORD your God: your leaders and yourtribes and your elders and your officers,all the men of Israel,11 "your li le ones and your wives––also the stranger who is in your camp,from the one who cuts your wood to theone who draws your water––12 "that you may enter into covenantwith the LORD your God, and into Hisoath, which the LORD your God makeswith you today,

DEUTERONOMY 29 16213 "that He may establish you today asa people for Himself, and that He maybe God to you, just as He has spoken toyou, and just as He has sworn to yourfathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.14 "I make this covenant and this oath,not with you alone,15 "but with him who stands here withus today before the LORD our God, aswell as with him who is not here with ustoday16 (for you know that we dwelt in theland of Egypt and that we came throughthe na ons which you passed by,17 and you saw their abomina onsand their idols which were amongthem––wood and stone and silver andgold);18 "so that there may not be amongyou man or woman or family or tribe,whose heart turns away today from theLORD our God, to go and serve the gods

DEUTERONOMY 29 163of these na ons, and that there may notbe among you a root bearing bi ernessor wormwood;19 "and so it may not happen, when hehears the words of this curse, that heblesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘Ishall have peace, even though I followthe dictates of my heart’ ––as thoughthe drunkard could be included with thesober.20 "The LORD would not spare him;for then the anger of the LORD and Hisjealousy would burn against that man,and every curse that is wri en in thisbook would se le on him, and the LORDwould blot out his name from underheaven.21 "And the LORD would separatehim from all the tribes of Israel foradversity, according to all the curses ofthe covenant that are wri en in thisBook of the Law,

DEUTERONOMY 29 16422 "so that the coming genera on ofyour children who rise up a er you, andthe foreigner who comes from a far land,would say, when they see the plagues ofthat land and the sicknesses which theLORD has laid on it:23 ‘The whole land is brimstone, salt,and burning; it is not sown, nor does itbear, nor does any grass grow there, likethe overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah,Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORDoverthrew in His anger and His wrath.’24 "All na ons would say, ‘Why has theLORD done so to this land? What doesthe heat of this great anger mean?’25 "Then people would say: ‘Becausethey have forsaken the covenant of theLORD God of their fathers, which Hemade with them when He brought themout of the land of Egypt;26 ‘for they went and served other godsand worshiped them, gods that they did

DEUTERONOMY 29–30 165not know and that He had not given tothem.27 ‘Then the anger of the LORD wasaroused against this land, to bring on itevery curse that is wri en in this book.28 ‘And the LORD uprooted them fromtheir land in anger, in wrath, and in greatindigna on, and cast them into anotherland, as it is this day.’29 "The secret things belong to theLORD our God, but those things whichare revealed belong to us and to ourchildren forever, that we may do all thewords of this law.

30 1 "Now it shall come to pass,when all these things come upon

you, the blessing and the curse which Ihave set before you, and you call themto mind among all the na ons where theLORD your God drives you,2 "and you return to the LORD yourGod and obey His voice, according to all

DEUTERONOMY 30 166that I command you today, you and yourchildren, with all your heart and with allyour soul,3 "that the LORD your God will bringyou back from cap vity, and havecompassion on you, and gather youagain from all the na ons where theLORD your God has sca ered you.4 "If any of you are driven out to thefarthest parts under heaven, from therethe LORD your God will gather you, andfrom there He will bring you.5 "Then the LORD your God will bringyou to the land which your fatherspossessed, and you shall possess it. Hewill prosper you and mul ply you morethan your fathers.6 "And the LORD your God willcircumcise your heart and the heart ofyour descendants, to love the LORD yourGod with all your heart and with all yoursoul, that you may live.

DEUTERONOMY 30 1677 "Also the LORD your God will put allthese curses on your enemies and onthose who hate you, who persecutedyou.8 "And you will again obey the voice ofthe LORD and do all His commandmentswhich I command you today.9 "The LORD your God will make youabound in all the work of your hand, inthe fruit of your body, in the increaseof your livestock, and in the produce ofyour land for good. For the LORD willagain rejoice over you for good as Herejoiced over your fathers,10 "if you obey the voice of the LORDyour God, to keep His commandmentsand His statutes which are wri en in thisBook of the Law, and if you turn to theLORD your God with all your heart andwith all your soul.

DEUTERONOMY 30 16811 "For this commandment whichI command you today is not toomysterious for you, nor is it far off.12 "It is not in heaven, that you shouldsay, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for usand bring it to us, that we may hear itand do it?’13 "Nor is it beyond the sea, that youshould say, ‘Who will go over the sea forus and bring it to us, that we may hear itand do it?’14 "But the word is very near you, inyour mouth and in your heart, that youmay do it.15 "See, I have set before you today lifeand good, death and evil,16 "in that I command you today to lovethe LORD your God, to walk in His ways,and to keep His commandments, Hisstatutes, and His judgments, that youmay live and mul ply; and the LORD

DEUTERONOMY 30 169your God will bless you in the land whichyou go to possess.17 "But if your heart turns away so thatyou do not hear, and are drawn away,and worship other gods and serve them,18 "I announce to you today that youshall surely perish; you shall not prolongyour days in the land which you crossover the Jordan to go in and possess.19 "I call heaven and earth as witnessestoday against you, that I have set beforeyou life and death, blessing and cursing;therefore choose life, that both you andyour descendants may live;20 "that you may love the LORD yourGod, that you may obey His voice, andthat you may cling to Him, for He is yourlife and the length of your days; and thatyou may dwell in the land which theLORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

DEUTERONOMY 31 170

31 1 Then Moses went and spokethese words to all Israel.

2And he said to them: "I am onehundred and twenty years old today. Ican no longer go out and come in. Alsothe LORD has said to me, ‘You shall notcross over this Jordan.’3 "The LORD your God Himself crossesover before you; He will destroy thesena ons from before you, and you shalldispossess them. Joshua himself crossesover before you, just as the LORD hassaid.4 "And the LORD will do to them asHe did to Sihon and Og, the kings ofthe Amorites and their land, when Hedestroyed them.5 "The LORD will give them over toyou, that you may do to them accordingto every commandment which I havecommanded you.

DEUTERONOMY 31 1716 "Be strong and of good courage, donot fear nor be afraid of them; for theLORD your God, He is the One who goeswith you. He will not leave you norforsake you."7 Then Moses called Joshua and said tohim in the sight of all Israel, "Be strongand of good courage, for you mustgo with this people to the land whichthe LORD has sworn to their fathers togive them, and you shall cause them toinherit it.8 "And the LORD, He is the one whogoes before you. He will be with you, Hewill not leave you nor forsake you; donot fear nor be dismayed."9 SoMoses wrote this law and deliveredit to the priests, the sons of Levi, whobore the ark of the covenant of theLORD, and to all the elders of Israel.10And Moses commanded them,saying: "At the end of every seven years,

DEUTERONOMY 31 172at the appointed me in the year ofrelease, at the Feast of Tabernacles,11 "when all Israel comes to appearbefore the LORD your God in the placewhich He chooses, you shall read thislaw before all Israel in their hearing.12 "Gather the people together, menand women and li le ones, and thestranger who is within your gates, thatthey may hear and that they may learnto fear the LORD your God and carefullyobserve all the words of this law,13 "and that their children, who havenot known it, may hear and learn to fearthe LORD your God as long as you live inthe land which you cross the Jordan topossess."14 Then the LORD said to Moses,"Behold, the days approach when youmust die; call Joshua, and presentyourselves in the tabernacle of mee ng,that I may inaugurate him." So Moses

DEUTERONOMY 31 173and Joshua went and presentedthemselves in the tabernacle of mee ng.15Now the LORD appeared at thetabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and thepillar of cloud stood above the door ofthe tabernacle.16And the LORD said to Moses:"Behold, you will rest with your fathers;and this people will rise and play theharlot with the gods of the foreignersof the land, where they go to be amongthem, and they will forsake Me andbreak My covenant which I have madewith them.17 "Then My anger shall be arousedagainst them in that day, and I willforsake them, and I will hide My facefrom them, and they shall be devoured.And many evils and troubles shall befallthem, so that they will say in that day,‘Have not these evils come upon usbecause our God is not among us?’

DEUTERONOMY 31 17418 "And I will surely hide My face in thatday because of all the evil which theyhave done, in that they have turned toother gods.19 "Now therefore, write down thissong for yourselves, and teach it to thechildren of Israel; put it in their mouths,that this song may be a witness for Meagainst the children of Israel.20 "When I have brought them to theland flowing with milk and honey, ofwhich I swore to their fathers, and theyhave eaten and filled themselves andgrown fat, then they will turn to othergods and serve them; and they willprovoke Me and break My covenant.21 "Then it shall be, when many evilsand troubles have come upon them, thatthis song will tes fy against them as awitness; for it will not be forgo en in themouths of their descendants, for I knowthe inclina on of their behavior today,

DEUTERONOMY 31 175even before I have brought them to theland of which I swore to give them."22 Therefore Moses wrote this song thesame day, and taught it to the childrenof Israel.23 Then He inaugurated Joshua the sonof Nun, and said, "Be strong and of goodcourage; for you shall bring the childrenof Israel into the land of which I swore tothem, and I will be with you."24 So it was, when Moses hadcompleted wri ng the words of this lawin a book, when they were finished,25 that Moses commanded the Levites,who bore the ark of the covenant of theLORD, saying:26 "Take this Book of the Law, and putit beside the ark of the covenant of theLORD your God, that it may be there as awitness against you;27 "for I know your rebellion and yours ff neck. If today, while I am yet alive

DEUTERONOMY 31–32 176with you, you have been rebelliousagainst the LORD, then how much morea er my death?28 "Gather to me all the elders of yourtribes, and your officers, that I mayspeak these words in their hearing andcall heaven and earth to witness againstthem.29 "For I know that a er my deathyou will become u erly corrupt, andturn aside from the way which I havecommanded you; and evil will befall youin the la er days, because you will doevil in the sight of the LORD, to provokeHim to anger through the work of yourhands."30 Then Moses spoke in the hearing ofall the assembly of Israel the words ofthis song un l they were ended:

32 1 "Give ear, O heavens, and I willspeak; And hear, O earth, the

words of my mouth.

DEUTERONOMY 32 1772 Let my teaching drop as the rain, Myspeech dis ll as the dew, As raindropson the tender herb, And as showers onthe grass.3 For I proclaim the name of the LORD:Ascribe greatness to our God.4He is the Rock, His work is perfect; Forall His ways are jus ce, A God of truthand without injus ce; Righteous andupright is He.5 "They have corrupted themselves;They are not His children, Because oftheir blemish: A perverse and crookedgenera on.6Do you thus deal with the LORD, Ofoolish and unwise people? Is He notyour Father, who bought you? Has Henot made you and established you?7 "Remember the days of old, Considerthe years of many genera ons. Ask yourfather, and he will show you; Your elders,and they will tell you:

DEUTERONOMY 32 1788When the Most High divided theirinheritance to the na ons, When Heseparated the sons of Adam, He set theboundaries of the peoples According tothe number of the children of Israel.9 For the LORD’S por on is His people;Jacob is the place of His inheritance.10 "He found him in a desert land Andin the wasteland, a howling wilderness;He encircled him, He instructed him, Hekept him as the apple of His eye.11As an eagle s rs up its nest, Hoversover its young, Spreading out its wings,taking them up, Carrying them on itswings,12 So the LORD alone led him, And therewas no foreign god with him.13 "He made him ride in the heights ofthe earth, That he might eat the produceof the fields; He made him draw honeyfrom the rock, And oil from the flintyrock;

DEUTERONOMY 32 17914 Curds from the ca le, and milk of theflock, With fat of lambs; And rams of thebreed of Bashan, and goats, With thechoicest wheat; And you drank wine, theblood of the grapes.15 "But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked;You grew fat, you grew thick, You areobese! Then he forsook God who madehim, And scornfully esteemed the Rockof his salva on.16 They provoked Him to jealousy withforeign gods; With abomina ons theyprovoked Him to anger.17 They sacrificed to demons, not toGod, To gods they did not know, To newgods, new arrivals That your fathers didnot fear.18Of the Rock who begot you, you areunmindful, And have forgo en the Godwho fathered you.19 "And when the LORD saw it,He spurned them, Because of the

DEUTERONOMY 32 180provoca on of His sons and Hisdaughters.20And He said: ‘I will hide My facefrom them, I will see what their end willbe, For they are a perverse genera on,Children in whom is no faith.21 They have provoked Me to jealousyby what is not God; They have movedMe to anger by their foolish idols. But Iwill provoke them to jealousy by thosewho are not a na on; I will move themto anger by a foolish na on.22 For a fire is kindled by my anger, Andshall burn to the lowest hell; It shallconsume the earth with her increase,And set on fire the founda ons of themountains.23 ‘I will heap disasters on them; I willspend My arrows on them.24 They shall be wasted with hunger,Devoured by pes lence and bi erdestruc on; I will also send against them

DEUTERONOMY 32 181the teeth of beasts, With the poison ofserpents of the dust.25 The sword shall destroy outside;There shall be terror within For theyoung man and virgin, The nursing childwith the man of gray hairs.26 I would have said, "I will dash them inpieces, I will make the memory of themto cease from among men,"27Had I not feared the wrath of theenemy, Lest their adversaries shouldmisunderstand, Lest they should say,"Our hand is high; And it is not the LORDwho has done all this."’28 "For they are a na on void of counsel,Nor is there any understanding in them.29Oh, that they were wise, that theyunderstood this, That they wouldconsider their la er end!30How could one chase a thousand,And two put ten thousand to flight,

DEUTERONOMY 32 182Unless their Rock had sold them, Andthe LORD had surrendered them?31 For their rock is not like our Rock,Even our enemies themselves beingjudges.32 For their vine is of the vine of SodomAnd of the fields of Gomorrah; Theirgrapes are grapes of gall, Their clustersare bi er.33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,And the cruel venom of cobras.34 ‘Is this not laid up in store with Me,Sealed up among My treasures?35Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;Their foot shall slip in due me; For theday of their calamity is at hand, And thethings to come hasten upon them.’36 "For the LORD will judge His peopleAnd have compassion on His servants,When He sees that their power is gone,And there is no one remaining, bond orfree.

DEUTERONOMY 32 18337He will say: ‘Where are their gods,The rock in which they sought refuge?38Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,And drank the wine of their drinkoffering? Let them rise and help you,And be your refuge.39 ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, Andthere is no God besides Me; I kill andI make alive; I wound and I heal; Noris there any who can deliver from Myhand.40 For I raise My hand to heaven, Andsay, "As I live forever,41 If I whet My gli ering sword, AndMy hand takes hold on judgment, I willrender vengeance to My enemies, Andrepay those who hate Me.42 I will make My arrows drunk withblood, And My sword shall devour flesh,With the blood of the slain and thecap ves, From the heads of the leadersof the enemy."’

DEUTERONOMY 32 18443 "Rejoice, O Gen les, with His people;For He will avenge the blood of Hisservants, And render vengeance to Hisadversaries; He will provide atonementfor His land and His people."44 So Moses came with Joshua the sonof Nun and spoke all the words of thissong in the hearing of the people.45Moses finished speaking all thesewords to all Israel,46 and He said to them: "Set yourhearts on all the words which I tes fyamong you today, which you shallcommand your children to be careful toobserve––all the words of this law.47 "For it is not a fu le thing for you,because it is your life, and by this wordyou shall prolong your days in the landwhich you cross over the Jordan topossess."48 Then the LORD spoke to Moses thatvery same day, saying:

DEUTERONOMY 32–33 18549 "Go up this mountain of the Abarim,Mount Nebo, which is in the land ofMoab, across from Jericho; view the landof Canaan, which I give to the children ofIsrael as a possession;50 "and die on the mountain whichyou ascend, and be gathered to yourpeople, just as Aaron your brother diedon Mount Hor and was gathered to hispeople;51 "because you trespassed againstMe among the children of Israel atthe waters of Meribah Kadesh, in theWilderness of Zin, because you did nothallow Me in the midst of the children ofIsrael.52 "Yet you shall see the land beforeyou, though you shall not go there, intothe land which I am giving to the childrenof Israel."

33 1Now this is the blessing withwhich Moses the man of God

DEUTERONOMY 33 186blessed the children of Israel before hisdeath.2And he said: "The LORD came fromSinai, And dawned on them from Seir;He shone forth from Mount Paran, AndHe came with ten thousands of saints;From His right hand Came a fiery law forthem.3 Yes, He loves the people; All His saintsare in Your hand; They sit down at Yourfeet; Everyone receives Your words.4Moses commanded a law for us, Aheritage of the congrega on of Jacob.5And He was King in Jeshurun, Whenthe leaders of the people were gathered,All the tribes of Israel together.6 "Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor lethis men be few."7And this he said of Judah: "Hear,LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring himto his people; Let his hands be sufficient

DEUTERONOMY 33 187for him, And may You be a help againsthis enemies."8And of Levi he said: "Let YourThummim and Your Urim be with Yourholy one, Whom You tested at Massah,And with whom You contended at thewaters of Meribah,9Who says of his father and mother,‘I have not seen them’; Nor did heacknowledge his brothers, Or know hisown children; For they have observedYour word And kept Your covenant.10 They shall teach Jacob Yourjudgments, And Israel Your law. Theyshall put incense before You, And awhole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.11 Bless his substance, LORD, Andaccept the work of his hands; Strike theloins of those who rise against him, Andof those who hate him, that they rise notagain."

DEUTERONOMY 33 18812Of Benjamin he said: "The beloved ofthe LORD shall dwell in safety by Him,Who shelters him all the day long; Andhe shall dwell between His shoulders."13And of Joseph he said: "Blessed ofthe LORD is his land, With the preciousthings of heaven, with the dew, And thedeep lying beneath,14With the precious fruits of thesun, With the precious produce of themonths,15With the best things of the ancientmountains, With the precious things ofthe everlas ng hills,16With the precious things of the earthand its fullness, And the favor of Himwho dwelt in the bush. Let the blessingcome ‘on the head of Joseph, And onthe crown of the head of him who wasseparate from his brothers.’17His glory is like a firstborn bull, Andhis horns like the horns of the wild ox;

DEUTERONOMY 33 189Together with them He shall push thepeoples To the ends of the earth; Theyare the ten thousands of Ephraim, Andthey are the thousands of Manasseh."18And of Zebulun he said: "Rejoice,Zebulun, in your going out, And Issacharin your tents!19 They shall call the peoples tothe mountain; There they shall offersacrifices of righteousness; For they shallpartake of the abundance of the seasAnd of treasures hidden in the sand."20And of Gad he said: "Blessed is hewho enlarges Gad; He dwells as a lion,And tears the arm and the crown of hishead.21He provided the first part for himself,Because a lawgiver’s por on wasreserved there. He came with the headsof the people; He administered thejus ce of the LORD, And His judgmentswith Israel."

DEUTERONOMY 33 19022And of Dan he said: "Dan is a lion’swhelp; He shall leap from Bashan."23And of Naphtali he said: "O Naphtali,sa sfied with favor, And full of theblessing of the LORD, Possess the westand the south."24And of Asher he said: "Asher is mostblessed of sons; Let him be favored byhis brothers, And let him dip his foot inoil.25 Your sandals shall be iron and bronze;As your days, so shall your strength be.26 "There is no one like the God ofJeshurun, Who rides the heavens to helpyou, And in His excellency on the clouds.27 The eternal God is your refuge, Andunderneath are the everlas ng arms; Hewill thrust out the enemy from beforeyou, And will say, ‘Destroy!’28 Then Israel shall dwell in safety, Thefountain of Jacob alone, In a land of

DEUTERONOMY 33–34 191grain and new wine; His heavens shallalso drop dew.29Happy are you, O Israel! Who is likeyou, a people saved by the LORD, Theshield of your help And the sword ofyour majesty! Your enemies shall submitto you, And you shall tread down theirhigh places."

34 1 Then Moses went up from theplains of Moab to Mount Nebo,

to the top of Pisgah, which is across fromJericho. And the LORD showed him allthe land of Gilead as far as Dan,2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraimand Manasseh, all the land of Judah asfar as the Western Sea,3 the South, and the plain of the Valleyof Jericho, the city of palm trees, as faras Zoar.4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is theland of which I swore to give Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to

DEUTERONOMY 34 192your descendants.’ I have caused you tosee it with your eyes, but you shall notcross over there."5 SoMoses the servant of the LORD diedthere in the land of Moab, according tothe word of the LORD.6And He buried him in a valley in theland of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; butno one knows his grave to this day.7Moses was one hundred and twentyyears old when he died. His eyes werenot dim nor his natural vigor diminished.8And the children of Israel wept forMoses in the plains of Moab thirty days.So the days of weeping and mourningfor Moses ended.9Now Joshua the son of Nun was fullof the spirit of wisdom, for Moses hadlaid his hands on him; so the children ofIsrael heeded him, and did as the LORDhad commanded Moses.

DEUTERONOMY 34 19310 But since then there has not arisen inIsrael a prophet like Moses, whom theLORD knew face to face,11 in all the signs and wonders whichthe LORD sent him to do in the landof Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all hisservants, and in all his land,12 and by all that mighty power and allthe great terror which Moses performedin the sight of all Israel.

Joshua

1 1A er the death of Moses theservant of the LORD, it came to pass

that the LORD spoke to Joshua the sonof Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:2 "Moses My servant is dead. Nowtherefore, arise, go over this Jordan, youand all this people, to the land whichI am giving to them––the children ofIsrael.3 "Every place that the sole of your footwill tread upon I have given you, as I saidto Moses.4 "From the wilderness and thisLebanon as far as the great river, theRiver Euphrates, all the land of theHi tes, and to the Great Sea towardthe going down of the sun, shall be yourterritory.

JOSHUA 1 25 "No man shall be able to stand beforeyou all the days of your life; as I was withMoses, so I will be with you. I will notleave you nor forsake you.6 "Be strong and of good courage, forto this people you shall divide as aninheritance the land which I swore totheir fathers to give them.7 "Only be strong and very courageous,that you may observe to do accordingto all the law which Moses My servantcommanded you; do not turn from it tothe right hand or to the le , that youmay prosper wherever you go.8 "This Book of the Law shall not departfrom your mouth, but you shall meditatein it day and night, that you may observeto do according to all that is wri enin it. For then you will make your wayprosperous, and then you will have goodsuccess.

JOSHUA 1 39 "Have I not commanded you? Bestrong and of good courage; do not beafraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORDyour God is with you wherever you go."10 Then Joshua commanded the officersof the people, saying,11 "Pass through the camp andcommand the people, saying, ‘Prepareprovisions for yourselves, for withinthree days you will cross over thisJordan, to go in to possess the landwhich the LORD your God is giving youto possess.’"12And to the Reubenites, the Gadites,and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshuaspoke, saying,13 "Remember the word which Mosesthe servant of the LORD commandedyou, saying, ‘The LORD your God is givingyou rest and is giving you this land.’14 "Your wives, your li le ones, andyour livestock shall remain in the land

JOSHUA 1 4which Moses gave you on this side of theJordan. But you shall pass before yourbrethren armed, all your mighty men ofvalor, and help them,15 "un l the LORD has given yourbrethren rest, as He gave you, and theyalso have taken possession of the landwhich the LORD your God is giving them.Then you shall return to the land of yourpossession and enjoy it, which Mosesthe LORD’S servant gave you on this sideof the Jordan toward the sunrise."16 So they answered Joshua, saying, "Allthat you command us we will do, andwherever you send us we will go.17 "Just as we heeded Moses in allthings, so we will heed you. Only theLORD your God be with you, as He waswith Moses.18 "Whoever rebels against yourcommand and does not heed yourwords, in all that you command him,

JOSHUA 2 5shall be put to death. Only be strong andof good courage."

2 1Now Joshua the son of Nun sentout two men from Acacia Grove to

spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land,especially Jericho." So they went, andcame to the house of a harlot namedRahab, and lodged there.2And it was told the king of Jericho,saying, "Behold, men have come heretonight from the children of Israel tosearch out the country."3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab,saying, "Bring out the men who havecome to you, who have entered yourhouse, for they have come to search outall the country."4 Then the woman took the two menand hid them. So she said, "Yes, the mencame to me, but I did not know wherethey were from.

JOSHUA 2 65 "And it happened as the gate wasbeing shut, when it was dark, that themen went out. Where the men went I donot know; pursue them quickly, for youmay overtake them."6 (But she had brought them up to theroof and hidden them with the stalks offlax, which she had laid in order on theroof.)7 Then the men pursued them by theroad to the Jordan, to the fords. And assoon as those who pursued them hadgone out, they shut the gate.8Now before they lay down, she cameup to them on the roof,9 and said to the men: "I know thatthe LORD has given you the land, thatthe terror of you has fallen on us, andthat all the inhabitants of the land arefainthearted because of you.10 "For we have heard how the LORDdried up the water of the Red Sea for

JOSHUA 2 7you when you came out of Egypt, andwhat you did to the two kings of theAmorites who were on the other sideof the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom youu erly destroyed.11 "And as soon as we heard thesethings, our hearts melted; neither didthere remain any more courage inanyone because of you, for the LORDyour God, He is God in heaven aboveand on earth beneath.12 "Now therefore, I beg you, swearto me by the LORD, since I have shownyou kindness, that you also will showkindness to my father’s house, and giveme a true token,13 "and spare my father, my mother, mybrothers, my sisters, and all that theyhave, and deliver our lives from death."14 So the men answered her, "Our livesfor yours, if none of you tell this businessof ours. And it shall be, when the LORD

JOSHUA 2 8has given us the land, that we will dealkindly and truly with you."15 Then she let them down by a ropethrough the window, for her house wason the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.16And she said to them, "Get to themountain, lest the pursuers meet you.Hide there three days, un l the pursuershave returned. A erward you may goyour way."17 So the men said to her: "We will beblameless of this oath of yours whichyou have made us swear,18 "unless, when we come into theland, you bind this line of scarlet cord inthe window through which you let usdown, and unless you bring your father,your mother, your brothers, and all yourfather’s household to your own home.19 "So it shall be that whoever goesoutside the doors of your house intothe street, his blood shall be on his

JOSHUA 2 9own head, and we will be guiltless. Andwhoever is with you in the house, hisblood shall be on our head if a hand islaid on him.20 "And if you tell this business of ours,then we will be free from your oathwhich you made us swear."21 Then she said, "According to yourwords, so be it." And she sent themaway, and they departed. And she boundthe scarlet cord in the window.22 They departed and went to themountain, and stayed there threedays un l the pursuers returned. Thepursuers sought them all along the way,but did not find them.23 So the two men returned, descendedfrom the mountain, and crossed over;and they came to Joshua the son of Nun,and told him all that had befallen them.24And they said to Joshua, "Truly theLORD has delivered all the land into our

JOSHUA 3 10hands, for indeed all the inhabitants ofthe country are fainthearted because ofus."

3 1 Then Joshua rose early in themorning; and they set out from

Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, heand all the children of Israel, and lodgedthere before they crossed over.2 So it was, a er three days, that theofficers went through the camp;3 and they commanded the people,saying, "When you see the ark of thecovenant of the LORD your God, and thepriests, the Levites, bearing it, then youshall set out from your place and go a erit.4 "Yet there shall be a space betweenyou and it, about two thousand cubitsby measure. Do not come near it, thatyou may know the way by which youmust go, for you have not passed thisway before."

JOSHUA 3 115And Joshua said to the people,"Sanc fy yourselves, for tomorrow theLORD will do wonders among you."6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests,saying, "Take up the ark of the covenantand cross over before the people." Sothey took up the ark of the covenant andwent before the people.7And the LORD said to Joshua, "Thisday I will begin to exalt you in the sightof all Israel, that they may know that, asI was with Moses, so I will be with you.8 "You shall command the priests whobear the ark of the covenant, saying,‘When you have come to the edge of thewater of the Jordan, you shall stand inthe Jordan.’"9 So Joshua said to the children of Israel,"Come here, and hear the words of theLORD your God."10And Joshua said, "By this you shallknow that the living God is among you,

JOSHUA 3 12and that He will without fail drive outfrom before you the Canaanites and theHi tes and the Hivites and the Perizzitesand the Girgashites and the Amoritesand the Jebusites:11 "Behold, the ark of the covenant ofthe Lord of all the earth is crossing overbefore you into the Jordan.12 "Now therefore, take for yourselvestwelve men from the tribes of Israel, oneman from every tribe.13 "And it shall come to pass, as soon asthe soles of the feet of the priests whobear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of allthe earth, shall rest in the waters of theJordan, that the waters of the Jordanshall be cut off, the waters that comedown from upstream, and they shallstand as a heap."14 So it was, when the people set outfrom their camp to cross over the Jordan,

JOSHUA 3 13with the priests bearing the ark of thecovenant before the people,15 and as those who bore the ark cameto the Jordan, and the feet of the priestswho bore the ark dipped in the edge ofthe water (for the Jordan overflows all itsbanks during the whole me of harvest),16 that the waters which came downfrom upstream stood s ll, and rose ina heap very far away at Adam, the citythat is beside Zaretan. So the waters thatwent down into the Sea of the Arabah,the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off;and the people crossed over oppositeJericho.17 Then the priests who bore the arkof the covenant of the LORD stoodfirm on dry ground in the midst of theJordan; and all Israel crossed over on dryground, un l all the people had crossedcompletely over the Jordan.

JOSHUA 4 14

4 1And it came to pass, when all thepeople had completely crossed over

the Jordan, that the LORD spoke toJoshua, saying:2 "Take for yourselves twelve men fromthe people, one man from every tribe,3 "and command them, saying, ‘Takefor yourselves twelve stones from here,out of the midst of the Jordan, from theplace where the priests’ feet stood firm.You shall carry them over with you andleave them in the lodging place whereyou lodge tonight.’"4 Then Joshua called the twelve menwhom he had appointed from thechildren of Israel, one man from everytribe;5 and Joshua said to them: "Cross overbefore the ark of the LORD your God intothe midst of the Jordan, and each oneof you take up a stone on his shoulder,

JOSHUA 4 15according to the number of the tribes ofthe children of Israel,6 "that this may be a sign among youwhen your children ask in me to come,saying, ‘What do these stones mean toyou?’7 "Then you shall answer them that thewaters of the Jordan were cut off beforethe ark of the covenant of the LORD;when it crossed over the Jordan, thewaters of the Jordan were cut off. Andthese stones shall be for a memorial tothe children of Israel forever."8And the children of Israel did so,just as Joshua commanded, and tookup twelve stones from the midst ofthe Jordan, as the LORD had spokento Joshua, according to the number ofthe tribes of the children of Israel, andcarried them over with them to theplace where they lodged, and laid themdown there.

JOSHUA 4 169 Then Joshua set up twelve stones inthe midst of the Jordan, in the placewhere the feet of the priests who borethe ark of the covenant stood; and theyare there to this day.10 So the priests who bore the arkstood in the midst of the Jordan un leverything was finished that the LORDhad commanded Joshua to speak to thepeople, according to all that Moses hadcommanded Joshua; and the peoplehurried and crossed over.11 Then it came to pass, when all thepeople had completely crossed over,that the ark of the LORD and the priestscrossed over in the presence of thepeople.12And the men of Reuben, the menof Gad, and half the tribe of Manassehcrossed over armed before the childrenof Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.

JOSHUA 4 1713About forty thousand prepared forwar crossed over before the LORD forba le, to the plains of Jericho.14On that day the LORD exalted Joshuain the sight of all Israel; and they fearedhim, as they had feared Moses, all thedays of his life.15 Then the LORD spoke to Joshua,saying,16 "Command the priests who bear theark of the Tes mony to come up fromthe Jordan."17 Joshua therefore commanded thepriests, saying, "Come up from theJordan."18And it came to pass, when the priestswho bore the ark of the covenant of theLORD had come from the midst of theJordan, and the soles of the priests’ feettouched the dry land, that the waters ofthe Jordan returned to their place andoverflowed all its banks as before.

JOSHUA 4 1819Now the people came up from theJordan on the tenth day of the firstmonth, and they camped in Gilgal on theeast border of Jericho.20And those twelve stones which theytook out of the Jordan, Joshua set up inGilgal.21 Then he spoke to the children ofIsrael, saying: "When your children asktheir fathers in me to come, saying,‘What are these stones?’22 "then you shall let your childrenknow, saying, ‘Israel crossed over thisJordan on dry land’;23 "for the LORD your God dried up thewaters of the Jordan before you un lyou had crossed over, as the LORD yourGod did to the Red Sea, which He driedup before us un l we had crossed over,24 "that all the peoples of the earth mayknow the hand of the LORD, that it is

JOSHUA 5 19mighty, that you may fear the LORD yourGod forever."

5 1 So it was, when all the kings of theAmorites who were on the west side

of the Jordan, and all the kings of theCanaanites who were by the sea, heardthat the LORD had dried up the watersof the Jordan from before the childrenof Israel un l we had crossed over, thattheir heart melted; and there was nospirit in them any longer because of thechildren of Israel.2At that me the LORD said to Joshua,"Make flint knives for yourself, andcircumcise the sons of Israel again thesecond me."3 So Joshua made flint knives forhimself, and circumcised the sons ofIsrael at the hill of the foreskins.4And this is the reason why Joshuacircumcised them: All the people whocame out of Egypt who were males,

JOSHUA 5 20all the men of war, had died in thewilderness on the way, a er they hadcome out of Egypt.5 For all the people who came out hadbeen circumcised, but all the peopleborn in the wilderness, on the way asthey came out of Egypt, had not beencircumcised.6 For the children of Israel walked fortyyears in the wilderness, ll all the peoplewho were men of war, who came outof Egypt, were consumed, because theydid not obey the voice of the LORD––towhom the LORD swore that He wouldnot show them the land which the LORDhad sworn to their fathers that He wouldgive us, "a land flowing with milk andhoney."7 Then Joshua circumcised their sonswhom He raised up in their place; forthey were uncircumcised, because theyhad not been circumcised on the way.

JOSHUA 5 218 So it was, when they had finishedcircumcising all the people, that theystayed in their places in the camp llthey were healed.9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Thisday I have rolled away the reproach ofEgypt from you." Therefore the name ofthe place is called Gilgal to this day.10Now the children of Israel campedin Gilgal, and kept the Passover on thefourteenth day of the month at twilighton the plains of Jericho.11And they ate of the produce of theland on the day a er the Passover,unleavened bread and parched grain, onthe very same day.12 Then the manna ceased on the daya er they had eaten the produce of theland; and the children of Israel no longerhad manna, but they ate the food of theland of Canaan that year.

JOSHUA 5–6 2213And it came to pass, when Joshuawas by Jericho, that he li ed his eyesand looked, and behold, a Man stoodopposite him with His sword drawn inHis hand. And Joshua went to Him andsaid to Him, "Are You for us or for ouradversaries?"14 So He said, "No, but as Commanderof the army of the LORD I have nowcome." And Joshua fell on his face to theearth and worshiped, and said to Him,"What does my Lord say to His servant?"15 Then the Commander of the LORD’Sarmy said to Joshua, "Take your sandaloff your foot, for the place where youstand is holy." And Joshua did so.

6 1Now Jericho was securely shut upbecause of the children of Israel;

none went out, and none came in.2And the LORD said to Joshua: "See!I have given Jericho into your hand, itsking, and the mighty men of valor.

JOSHUA 6 233 "You shall march around the city, allyou men of war; you shall go all aroundthe city once. This you shall do six days.4 "And seven priests shall bear seventrumpets of rams’ horns before the ark.But the seventh day you shall marcharound the city seven mes, and thepriests shall blow the trumpets.5 "It shall come to pass, when theymake a long blast with the ram’s horn,and when you hear the sound of thetrumpet, that all the people shall shoutwith a great shout; then the wall of thecity will fall down flat. And the peopleshall go up every man straight beforehim."6 Then Joshua the son of Nun calledthe priests and said to them, "Take upthe ark of the covenant, and let sevenpriests bear seven trumpets of rams’horns before the ark of the LORD."

JOSHUA 6 247And he said to the people, "Proceed,and march around the city, and let himwho is armed advance before the ark ofthe LORD."8 So it was, when Joshua had spokento the people, that the seven priestsbearing the seven trumpets of rams’horns before the LORD advanced andblew the trumpets, and the ark of thecovenant of the LORD followed them.9 The armed men went before thepriests who blew the trumpets, and therear guard came a er the ark, while thepriests con nued blowing the trumpets.10Now Joshua had commanded thepeople, saying, "You shall not shout ormake any noise with your voice, norshall a word proceed out of your mouth,un l the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Thenyou shall shout."11 So he had the ark of the LORD circlethe city, going around it once. Then they

JOSHUA 6 25came into the camp and lodged in thecamp.12And Joshua rose early in themorning,and the priests took up the ark of theLORD.13 Then seven priests bearing seventrumpets of rams’ horns before the arkof the LORD went on con nually andblew with the trumpets. And the armedmen went before them. But the rearguard came a er the ark of the LORD,while the priests con nued blowing thetrumpets.14And the second day they marchedaround the city once and returned to thecamp. So they did six days.15 But it came to pass on the seventhday that they rose early, about thedawning of the day, andmarched aroundthe city seven mes in the same manner.On that day only they marched aroundthe city seven mes.

JOSHUA 6 2616And the seventh me it happened,when the priests blew the trumpets,that Joshua said to the people: "Shout,for the LORD has given you the city!17 "Now the city shall be doomed by theLORD to destruc on, it and all who arein it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, sheand all who are with her in the house,because she hid the messengers that wesent.18 "And you, by all means abstain fromthe accursed things, lest you becomeaccursed when you take of the accursedthings, and make the camp of Israel acurse, and trouble it.19 "But all the silver and gold, andvessels of bronze and iron, areconsecrated to the LORD; they shallcome into the treasury of the LORD."20 So the people shouted when thepriests blew the trumpets. And ithappened when the people heard the

JOSHUA 6 27sound of the trumpet, and the peopleshouted with a great shout, that the wallfell down flat. Then the people went upinto the city, every man straight beforehim, and they took the city.21And they u erly destroyed all thatwas in the city, both man and woman,young and old, ox and sheep and donkey,with the edge of the sword.22 But Joshua had said to the two menwho had spied out the country, "Go intothe harlot’s house, and from there bringout the woman and all that she has, asyou swore to her."23And the young men who had beenspies went in and brought out Rahab,her father, her mother, her brothers, andall that she had. So they brought out allher rela ves and le them outside thecamp of Israel.24 But they burned the city and all thatwas in it with fire. Only the silver and

JOSHUA 6–7 28gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron,they put into the treasury of the houseof the LORD.25And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot,her father’s household, and all that shehad. So she dwells in Israel to this day,because she hid the messengers whomJoshua sent to spy out Jericho.26 Then Joshua charged them at thatme, saying, "Cursed be the man before

the LORD who rises up and builds thiscity Jericho; he shall lay its founda onwith his firstborn, and with his youngesthe shall set up its gates."27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and hisfame spread throughout all the country.

7 1 But the children of Israel commi eda trespass regarding the accursed

things, for Achan the son of Carmi, theson of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of thetribe of Judah, took of the accursed

JOSHUA 7 29things; so the anger of the LORD burnedagainst the children of Israel.2Now Joshua sent men from Jerichoto Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on theeast side of Bethel, and spoke to them,saying, "Go up and spy out the country."So the men went up and spied out Ai.3And they returned to Joshua and saidto him, "Do not let all the people go up,but let about two or three thousandmen go up and a ack Ai. Do not wearyall the people there, for the people of Aiare few."4 So about three thousand men wentup there from the people, but they fledbefore the men of Ai.5And the men of Ai struck down aboutthirty–six men, for they chased themfrom before the gate as far as Shebarim,and struck them down on the descent;therefore the hearts of the peoplemelted and became like water.

JOSHUA 7 306 Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fellto the earth on his face before the arkof the LORD un l evening, he and theelders of Israel; and they put dust ontheir heads.7And Joshua said, "Alas, Lord GOD, whyhave You brought this people over theJordan at all––to deliver us into the handof the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, thatwe had been content, and dwelt on theother side of the Jordan!8 "O Lord, what shall I say when Israelturns its back before its enemies?9 "For the Canaanites and all theinhabitants of the land will hear it, andsurround us, and cut off our name fromthe earth. Then what will You do for Yourgreat name?"10 So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up!Why do you lie thus on your face?11 "Israel has sinned, and they havealso transgressed My covenant which I

JOSHUA 7 31commanded them. For they have eventaken some of the accursed things, andhave both stolen and deceived; and theyhave also put it among their own stuff.12 "Therefore the children of Israelcould not stand before their enemies,but turned their backs before theirenemies, because they have becomedoomed to destruc on. Neither will I bewith you anymore, unless you destroythe accursed from among you.13 "Get up, sanc fy the people, andsay, ‘Sanc fy yourselves for tomorrow,because thus says the LORD God ofIsrael: "There is an accursed thing inyour midst, O Israel; you cannot standbefore your enemies un l you take awaythe accursed thing from among you."14 ‘In the morning therefore you shallbe brought according to your tribes.And it shall be that the tribe which theLORD takes shall come according to

JOSHUA 7 32families; and the family which the LORDtakes shall come by households; and thehousehold which the LORD takes shallcome man by man.15 ‘Then it shall be that he who is takenwith the accursed thing shall be burnedwith fire, he and all that he has, becausehe has transgressed the covenant ofthe LORD, and because he has done adisgraceful thing in Israel.’"16 So Joshua rose early in the morningand brought Israel by their tribes, andthe tribe of Judah was taken.17He brought the clan of Judah, and hetook the family of the Zarhites; and hebrought the family of the Zarhites manby man, and Zabdi was taken.18 Then he brought his household manby man, and Achan the son of Carmi, theson of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of thetribe of Judah, was taken.

JOSHUA 7 3319Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, Ibeg you, give glory to the LORD God ofIsrael, and make confession to Him, andtell me now what you have done; do nothide it from me."20And Achan answered Joshua andsaid, "Indeed I have sinned against theLORD God of Israel, and this is what Ihave done:21 "When I saw among the spoils abeau ful Babylonian garment, twohundred shekels of silver, and a wedgeof gold weighing fi y shekels, I covetedthem and took them. And there theyare, hidden in the earth in the midst ofmy tent, with the silver under it."22 So Joshua sent messengers, and theyran to the tent; and there it was, hiddenin his tent, with the silver under it.23And they took them from the midstof the tent, brought them to Joshua and

JOSHUA 7–8 34to all the children of Israel, and laid themout before the LORD.24 Then 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 ofAchor.25And Joshua said, "Why have youtroubled us? The LORD will trouble youthis day." So all Israel stoned him withstones; and they burned them with firea er they had stoned them with stones.26 Then they raised over him a greatheap of stones, s ll there to this day. Sothe LORD turned from the fierceness ofHis anger. Therefore the name of thatplace has been called the Valley of Achorto this day.

8 1Now the LORD said to Joshua: "Donot be afraid, nor be dismayed; take

JOSHUA 8 35all the people of war with you, and arise,go up to Ai. See, I have given into yourhand the king of Ai, his people, his city,and his land.2 "And you shall do to Ai and its kingas you did to Jericho and its king. Onlyits spoil and its ca le you shall take asbooty for yourselves. Lay an ambush forthe city behind it."3 So Joshua arose, and all the peopleof war, to go up against Ai; and Joshuachose thirty thousand mighty men ofvalor and sent them away by night.4And he commanded them, saying:"Behold, you shall lie in ambush againstthe city, behind the city. Do not go veryfar from the city, but all of you be ready.5 "Then I and all the people who arewith me will approach the city; and itwill come about, when they come outagainst us as at the first, that we shallflee before them.

JOSHUA 8 366 "For they will come out a er us ll wehave drawn them from the city, for theywill say, ‘They are fleeing before us as atthe first.’ Therefore we will flee beforethem.7 "Then you shall rise from the ambushand seize the city, for the LORD your Godwill deliver it into your hand.8 "And it will be, when you have takenthe city, that you shall set the city onfire. According to the commandmentof the LORD you shall do. See, I havecommanded you."9 Joshua therefore sent them out; andthey went to lie in ambush, and stayedbetween Bethel and Ai, on the westside of Ai; but Joshua lodged that nightamong the people.10 Then Joshua rose up early in themorning and mustered the people, andwent up, he and the elders of Israel,before the people to Ai.

JOSHUA 8 3711And all the people of war who werewith him went up and drew near; andthey came before the city and campedon the north side of Ai. Now a valley laybetween them and Ai.12 So he took about five thousand menand set them in ambush between Betheland Ai, on the west side of the city.13And when they had set the people,all the army that was on the north of thecity, and its rear guard on the west ofthe city, Joshua went that night into themidst of the valley.14Now it happened, when the king ofAi saw it, that the men of the city hurriedand rose early and went out againstIsrael to ba le, he and all his people,at an appointed place before the plain.But he did not know that there was anambush against him behind the city.

JOSHUA 8 3815And Joshua and all Israel made as ifthey were beaten before them, and fledby the way of the wilderness.16 So all the people who were in Ai werecalled together to pursue them. Andthey pursued Joshua and were drawnaway from the city.17 There was not a man le in Ai orBethel who did not go out a er Israel.So they le the city open and pursuedIsrael.18 Then the LORD said to Joshua,"Stretch out the spear that is in yourhand toward Ai, for I will give it into yourhand." And Joshua stretched out thespear that was in his hand toward thecity.19 So those in ambush arose quickly outof their place; they ran as soon as he hadstretched out his hand, and they enteredthe city and took it, and hurried to setthe city on fire.

JOSHUA 8 3920And when the men of Ai lookedbehind them, they saw, and behold, thesmoke of the city ascended to heaven.So they had no power to flee this way orthat way, and the people who had fledto the wilderness turned back on thepursuers.21Now when Joshua and all Israel sawthat the ambush had taken the city andthat the smoke of the city ascended,they turned back and struck down themen of Ai.22 Then the others came out of the cityagainst them; so they were caught in themidst of Israel, some on this side andsome on that side. And they struck themdown, so that they let none of themremain or escape.23 But the king of Ai they took alive, andbrought him to Joshua.24And it came to pass when Israelhad made an end of slaying all the

JOSHUA 8 40inhabitants of Ai in the field, in thewilderness where they pursued them,and when they all had fallen by the edgeof the sword un l they were consumed,that all the Israelites returned to Ai andstruck it with the edge of the sword.25 So it was that all who fell that day,both men and women, were twelvethousand––all the people of Ai.26 For Joshua did not draw back hishand, with which he stretched out thespear, un l he had u erly destroyed allthe inhabitants of Ai.27Only the livestock and the spoilof that city Israel took as booty forthemselves, according to the word of theLORD which He had commanded Joshua.28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it aheap forever, a desola on to this day.29And the king of Ai he hanged on atree un l evening. And as soon as thesun was down, Joshua commanded that

JOSHUA 8 41they should take his corpse down fromthe tree, cast it at the entrance of thegate of the city, and raise over it a greatheap of stones that remains to this day.30Now Joshua built an altar to theLORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal,31 as Moses the servant of the LORDhad commanded the children of Israel,as it is wri en in the Book of the Law ofMoses: "an altar of whole stones overwhich no man has wielded an iron tool."And they offered on it burnt offerings tothe LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.32And there, in the presence of thechildren of Israel, he wrote on the stonesa copy of the law of Moses, which hehad wri en.33 Then all Israel, with their elders andofficers and judges, stood on either sideof the ark before the priests, the Levites,who bore the ark of the covenant of theLORD, the stranger as well as he who was

JOSHUA 8–9 42born among them. Half of them were infront of Mount Gerizim and half of themin front of Mount Ebal, as Moses theservant of the LORD had commandedbefore, that they should bless the peopleof Israel.34And a erward he read all the wordsof the law, the blessings and the cursings,according to all that is wri en in theBook of the Law.35 There was not a word of all thatMoses had commanded which Joshuadid not read before all the assemblyof Israel, with the women, the li leones, and the strangers who were livingamong them.

9 1And it came to pass when allthe kings who were on this side

of the Jordan, in the hills and in thelowland and in all the coasts of the GreatSea toward Lebanon––the Hi te, theAmorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite,

JOSHUA 9 43the Hivite, and the Jebusite––heardabout it,2 that they gathered together to fightwith Joshua and Israel with one accord.3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeonheard what Joshua had done to Jerichoand Ai,4 they worked cra ily, and went andpretended to be ambassadors. And theytook old sacks on their donkeys, oldwineskins torn and mended,5 old and patched sandals on their feet,and old garments on themselves; and allthe bread of their provision was dry andmoldy.6And they went to Joshua, to the campat Gilgal, and said to him and to themen of Israel, "We have come froma far country; now therefore, make acovenant with us."

JOSHUA 9 447 Then the men of Israel said to theHivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; sohow can we make a covenant with you?"8 But they said to Joshua, "We are yourservants." And Joshua said to them,"Who are you, and where do you comefrom?"9 So they said to him: "From a veryfar country your servants have come,because of the name of the LORD yourGod; for we have heard of His fame, andall that He did in Egypt,10 "and all that He did to the two kingsof the Amorites who were beyond theJordan––to Sihon king of Heshbon,and Og king of Bashan, who was atAshtaroth.11 "Therefore our elders and all theinhabitants of our country spoke to us,saying, ‘Take provisions with you for thejourney, and go to meet them, and say

JOSHUA 9 45to them, "We are your servants; nowtherefore, make a covenant with us."’12 "This bread of ours we took hot forour provision from our houses on theday we departed to come to you. Butnow look, it is dry and moldy.13 "And these wineskins which we filledwere new, and see, they are torn; andthese our garments and our sandalshave become old because of the verylong journey."14 Then the men of Israel took someof their provisions; but they did not askcounsel of the LORD.15 So Joshua made peace with them,and made a covenant with them tolet them live; and the rulers of thecongrega on swore to them.16And it happened at the end of threedays, a er they had made a covenantwith them, that they heard that they

JOSHUA 9 46were their neighbors who dwelt nearthem.17 Then the children of Israel journeyedand came to their ci es on the thirdday. Now their ci es were Gibeon,Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.18 But the children of Israel did nota ack them, because the rulers of thecongrega on had sworn to them bythe LORD God of Israel. And all thecongrega on complained against therulers.19 Then all the rulers said to all thecongrega on, "We have sworn tothem by the LORD God of Israel; nowtherefore, we may not touch them.20 "This we will do to them: We will letthem live, lest wrath be upon us becauseof the oath which we swore to them."21And the rulers said to them,"Let them live, but let them bewoodcu ers and water carriers for all

JOSHUA 9 47the congrega on, as the rulers hadpromised them."22 Then Joshua called for them, and hespoke to them, saying, "Why have youdeceived us, saying, ‘We are very farfrom you,’ when you dwell near us?23 "Now therefore, you are cursed, andnone of you shall be freed from beingslaves––woodcu ers and water carriersfor the house of my God."24 So they answered Joshua and said,"Because your servants were clearly toldthat the LORD your God commanded Hisservant Moses to give you all the land,and to destroy all the inhabitants of theland from before you; therefore we werevery much afraid for our lives because ofyou, and have done this thing.25 "And now, here we are, in yourhands; do with us as it seems good andright to do to us."

JOSHUA 9–10 4826 So he did to them, and deliveredthem out of the hand of the children ofIsrael, so that they did not kill them.27And that day Joshua made themwoodcu ers and water carriers for thecongrega on and for the altar of theLORD, in the place which He wouldchoose, even to this day.

10 1Now it came to pass whenAdoni–Zedek king of Jerusalem

heard how Joshua had taken Ai and hadu erly destroyed it––as he had done toJericho and its king, so he had done to Aiand its king––and how the inhabitants ofGibeon had made peace with Israel andwere among them,2 that they feared greatly, becauseGibeon was a great city, like one of theroyal ci es, and because it was greaterthan Ai, and all its men were mighty.3 Therefore Adoni–Zedek king ofJerusalem sent to Hoham king of

JOSHUA 10 49Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhiaking of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon,saying,4 "Come up to me and help me, thatwe may a ack Gibeon, for it has madepeace with Joshua and with the childrenof Israel."5 Therefore the five kings of theAmorites, the king of Jerusalem, theking of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, theking of Lachish, and the king of Eglon,gathered together and went up, theyand all their armies, and camped beforeGibeon and made war against it.6And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshuaat the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do notforsake your servants; come up to usquickly, save us and help us, for all thekings of the Amorites who dwell inthe mountains have gathered togetheragainst us."

JOSHUA 10 507 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, heand all the people of war with him, andall the mighty men of valor.8And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do notfear them, for I have delivered theminto your hand; not a man of them shallstand before you."9 Joshua therefore came upon themsuddenly, having marched all night fromGilgal.10 So the LORD routed them beforeIsrael, killed them with a great slaughterat Gibeon, chased them along theroad that goes to Beth Horon, andstruck them down as far as Azekah andMakkedah.11And it happened, as they fled beforeIsrael and were on the descent of BethHoron, that the LORD cast down largehailstones from heaven on them as far asAzekah, and they died. There were more

JOSHUA 10 51who died from the hailstones than thechildren of Israel killed with the sword.12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD inthe day when the LORD delivered up theAmorites before the children of Israel,and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun,stand s ll over Gibeon; And Moon, inthe Valley of Aijalon."13 So the sun stood s ll, And the moonstopped, Till the people had revengeUpon their enemies. Is this not wri enin the Book of Jasher? So the sun stoods ll in the midst of heaven, and did nothasten to go down for about a wholeday.14And there has been no day likethat, before it or a er it, that the LORDheeded the voice of a man; for the LORDfought for Israel.15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israelwith him, to the camp at Gilgal.

JOSHUA 10 5216 But these five kings had fledand hidden themselves in a cave atMakkedah.17And it was told Joshua, saying, "Thefive kings have been found hidden in thecave at Makkedah."18 So Joshua said, "Roll large stonesagainst the mouth of the cave, and setmen by it to guard them.19 "And do not stay there yourselves,but pursue your enemies, and a acktheir rear guard. Do not allow them toenter their ci es, for the LORD your Godhas delivered them into your hand."20 Then it happened, while Joshua andthe children of Israel made an end ofslaying them with a very great slaughter,ll they had finished, that those who

escaped entered for fied ci es.21And all the people returned to thecamp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace.

JOSHUA 10 53No one moved his tongue against any ofthe children of Israel.22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouthof the cave, and bring out those fivekings to me from the cave."23And they did so, and brought outthose five kings to him from the cave: theking of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron,the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish,and the king of Eglon.24 So it was, when they brought outthose kings to Joshua, that Joshua calledfor all the men of Israel, and said to thecaptains of the men of war who wentwith him, "Come near, put your feet onthe necks of these kings." And they drewnear and put their feet on their necks.25 Then Joshua said to them, "Do notbe afraid, nor be dismayed; be strongand of good courage, for thus the LORDwill do to all your enemies against whomyou fight."

JOSHUA 10 5426And a erward Joshua struck themand killed them, and hanged them onfive trees; and they were hanging on thetrees un l evening.27 So it was at the me of thegoing down of the sun that Joshuacommanded, and they took them downfrom the trees, cast them into the cavewhere they had been hidden, and laidlarge stones against the cave’s mouth,which remain un l this very day.28On that day Joshua took Makkedah,and struck it and its king with the edgeof the sword. He u erly destroyedthem––all the people who were in it. Helet none remain. He also did to the kingof Makkedah as he had done to the kingof Jericho.29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah,and all Israel with him, to Libnah; andthey fought against Libnah.

JOSHUA 10 5530And the LORD also delivered it andits king into the hand of Israel; he struckit and all the people who were in itwith the edge of the sword. He let noneremain in it, but did to its king as he haddone to the king of Jericho.31 Then Joshua passed from Libnah, andall Israel with him, to Lachish; and theyencamped against it and fought againstit.32And the LORD delivered Lachish intothe hand of Israel, who took it on thesecond day, and struck it and all thepeople who were in it with the edge ofthe sword, according to all that he haddone to Libnah.33 Then Horam king of Gezer came upto help Lachish; and Joshua struck himand his people, un l he le him noneremaining.34 From Lachish Joshua passed toEglon, and all Israel with him; and they

JOSHUA 10 56encamped against it and fought againstit.35 They took it on that day and struckit with the edge of the sword; allthe people who were in it he u erlydestroyed that day, according to all thathe had done to Lachish.36 So Joshua went up from Eglon, andall Israel with him, to Hebron; and theyfought against it.37And they took it and struck it withthe edge of the sword––its king, all itsci es, and all the people who were in it;he le none remaining, according to allthat he had done to Eglon, but u erlydestroyed it and all the people who werein it.38 Then Joshua returned, and all Israelwith him, to Debir; and they foughtagainst it.39And he took it and its king and all itsci es; they struck them with the edge

JOSHUA 10 57of the sword and u erly destroyed allthe people who were in it. He le noneremaining; as he had done to Hebron, sohe did to Debir and its king, as he haddone also to Libnah and its king.40 So Joshua conquered all the land:the mountain country and the Southand the lowland and the wildernessslopes, and all their kings; he le noneremaining, but u erly destroyed all thatbreathed, as the LORD God of Israel hadcommanded.41And Joshua conquered them fromKadesh Barnea as far as Gaza, and allthe country of Goshen, even as far asGibeon.42All these kings and their land Joshuatook at one me, because the LORD Godof Israel fought for Israel.43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israelwith him, to the camp at Gilgal.

JOSHUA 11 58

11 1And it came to pass, when Jabinking of Hazor heard these things,

that he sent to Jobab king of Madon,to the king of Shimron, to the king ofAchshaph,2 and to the kings who were from thenorth, in the mountains, in the plainsouth of Chinneroth, in the lowland, andin the heights of Dor on the west,3 to the Canaanites in the east and inthe west, the Amorite, the Hi te, thePerizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains,and the Hivite below Hermon in the landof Mizpah.4 So they went out, they and all theirarmies with them, as many people asthe sand that is on the seashore inmul tude, with very many horses andchariots.5And when all these kings had mettogether, they came and camped

JOSHUA 11 59together at the waters of Merom to fightagainst Israel.6 But the LORD said to Joshua, "Do notbe afraid because of them, for tomorrowabout this me I will deliver all of themslain before Israel. You shall hamstringtheir horses and burn their chariots withfire."7 So Joshua and all the people of warwith him came against them suddenly bythe waters of Merom, and they a ackedthem.8And the LORD delivered them into thehand of Israel, who defeated them andchased them to Greater Sidon, to theBrook Misrephoth, and to the Valley ofMizpah eastward; they a acked themun l they le none of them remaining.9 So Joshua did to them as the LORDhad told him: he hamstrung their horsesand burned their chariots with fire.

JOSHUA 11 6010 Joshua turned back at that me andtook Hazor, and struck its king with thesword; for Hazor was formerly the headof all those kingdoms.11And they struck all the people whowere in it with the edge of the sword,u erly destroying them. There was nonele breathing. Then he burned Hazorwith fire.12 So all the ci es of those kings, andall their kings, Joshua took and struckwith the edge of the sword. He u erlydestroyed them, as Moses the servant ofthe LORD had commanded.13 But as for the ci es that stood ontheir mounds, Israel burned none ofthem, except Hazor only, which Joshuaburned.14And all the spoil of these ci es andthe livestock, the children of Israel tookas booty for themselves; but they struckevery man with the edge of the sword

JOSHUA 11 61un l they had destroyed them, and theyle none breathing.15As the LORD had commanded Moseshis servant, so Moses commandedJoshua, and so Joshua did. He lenothing undone of all that the LORD hadcommanded Moses.16 Thus Joshua took all this land: themountain country, all the South, all theland of Goshen, the lowland, and theJordan plain––the mountains of Israeland its lowlands,17 from Mount Halak and the ascent toSeir, even as far as Baal Gad in the Valleyof Lebanon below Mount Hermon. Hecaptured all their kings, and struck themdown and killed them.18 Joshua made war a long me with allthose kings.19 There was not a city that made peacewith the children of Israel, except the

JOSHUA 11 62Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. Allthe others they took in ba le.20 For it was of the LORD to hardentheir hearts, that they should comeagainst Israel in ba le, that He mightu erly destroy them, and that theymight receive no mercy, but that Hemight destroy them, as the LORD hadcommanded Moses.21And at that me Joshua came andcut off the Anakim from the mountains:from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab,from all the mountains of Judah, andfrom all the mountains of Israel; Joshuau erly destroyed them with their ci es.22None of the Anakim were le inthe land of the children of Israel; theyremained only in Gaza, in Gath, and inAshdod.23 So Joshua took the whole land,according to all that the LORD had saidto Moses; and Joshua gave it as an

JOSHUA 12 63inheritance to Israel according to theirdivisions by their tribes. Then the landrested from war.

12 1 These are the kings of theland whom the children of

Israel defeated, and whose land theypossessed on the other side of theJordan toward the rising of the sun, fromthe River Arnon to Mount Hermon, andall the eastern Jordan plain:2One king was Sihon king of theAmorites, who dwelt in Heshbon andruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which ison the bank of the River Arnon, from themiddle of that river, even as far as theRiver Jabbok, which is the border of theAmmonites,3 and the eastern Jordan plain from theSea of Chinneroth as far as the Sea ofthe Arabah (the Salt Sea), the road toBeth Jeshimoth, and southward belowthe slopes of Pisgah.

JOSHUA 12 644 The other king was Og king of Bashanand his territory, who was of theremnant of the giants, who dwelt atAshtaroth and at Edrei,5 and reigned over Mount Hermon,over Salcah, over all Bashan, as far asthe border of the Geshurites and theMaachathites, and over half of Gilead tothe border of Sihon king of Heshbon.6 These Moses the servant of theLORD and the children of Israel hadconquered; and Moses the servant ofthe LORD had given it as a possessionto the Reubenites, the Gadites, and halfthe tribe of Manasseh.7And these are the kings of the countrywhich Joshua and the children of Israelconquered on this side of the Jordan, onthe west, from Baal Gad in the Valley ofLebanon as far as Mount Halak and theascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the

JOSHUA 12 65tribes of Israel as a possession accordingto their divisions,8 in the mountain country, in thelowlands, in the Jordan plain, in theslopes, in the wilderness, and in theSouth––the Hi tes, the Amorites, theCanaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites,and the Jebusites:9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai,which is beside Bethel, one;10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the kingof Hebron, one;11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king ofLachish, one;12 the king of Eglon, one; the king ofGezer, one;13 the king of Debir, one; the king ofGeder, one;14 the king of Hormah, one; the king ofArad, one;15 the king of Libnah, one; the king ofAdullam, one;

JOSHUA 12–13 6616 the king of Makkedah, one; the kingof Bethel, one;17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king ofHepher, one;18 the king of Aphek, one; the king ofLasharon, one;19 the king of Madon, one; the king ofHazor, one;20 the king of Shimron Meron, one; theking of Achshaph, one;21 the king of Taanach, one; the king ofMegiddo, one;22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king ofJokneam in Carmel, one;23 the king of Dor in the heights of Dor,one; the king of the people of Gilgal,one;24 the king of Tirzah, one––all the kings,thirty–one.

13 1Now Joshua was old, advancedin years. And the LORD said to

him: "You are old, advanced in years,

JOSHUA 13 67and there remains very much land yet tobe possessed.2 "This is the land that yet remains: allthe territory of the Philis nes and allthat of the Geshurites,3 "from Sihor, which is east of Egypt, asfar as the border of Ekron northward(which is counted as Canaanite); the fivelords of the Philis nes––the Gazites,the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, theGi tes, and the Ekronites; also theAvites;4 "from the south, all the land of theCanaanites, and Mearah that belongsto the Sidonians as far as Aphek, to theborder of the Amorites;5 "the land of the Gebalites, and allLebanon, toward the sunrise, from BaalGad below Mount Hermon as far as theentrance to Hamath;6 "all the inhabitants of the mountainsfrom Lebanon as far as the Brook

JOSHUA 13 68Misrephoth, and all the Sidonians––them I will drive out from before thechildren of Israel; only divide it by lotto Israel as an inheritance, as I havecommanded you.7 "Now therefore, divide this land as aninheritance to the nine tribes and halfthe tribe of Manasseh."8With the other half tribe theReubenites and the Gadites receivedtheir inheritance, whichMoses had giventhem, beyond the Jordan eastward, asMoses the servant of the LORD hadgiven them:9 from Aroer which is on the bank ofthe River Arnon, and the town that is inthe midst of the ravine, and all the plainof Medeba as far as Dibon;10 all the ci es of Sihon king of theAmorites, who reigned in Heshbon,as far as the border of the children ofAmmon;

JOSHUA 13 6911Gilead, and the border of theGeshurites and Maachathites, all MountHermon, and all Bashan as far as Salcah;12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, whoreigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei, whoremained of the remnant of the giants;for Moses had defeated and cast outthese.13Nevertheless the children of Israeldid not drive out the Geshurites or theMaachathites, but the Geshurites andthe Maachathites dwell among theIsraelites un l this day.14Only to the tribe of Levi he had givenno inheritance; the sacrifices of theLORD God of Israel made by fire are theirinheritance, as He said to them.15And Moses had given to the tribe ofthe children of Reuben an inheritanceaccording to their families.16 Their territory was from Aroer, whichis on the bank of the River Arnon, and

JOSHUA 13 70the city that is in the midst of the ravine,and all the plain by Medeba;17Heshbon and all its ci es that are inthe plain: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth BaalMeon,18 Jahaza, Kedemoth, Mephaath,19 Kirjathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar onthe mountain of the valley,20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, andBeth Jeshimoth––21 all the ci es of the plain and all thekingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites,who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moseshad struck with the princes of Midian:Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, whowere princes of Sihon dwelling in thecountry.22 The children of Israel also killed withthe sword Balaam the son of Beor, thesoothsayer, among those who werekilled by them.

JOSHUA 13 7123And the border of the children ofReuben was the bank of the Jordan. Thiswas the inheritance of the children ofReuben according to their families, theci es and their villages.24Moses also had given an inheritanceto the tribe of Gad, to the children ofGad according to their families.25 Their territory was Jazer, and all theci es of Gilead, and half the land of theAmmonites as far as Aroer, which isbefore Rabbah,26 and from Heshbon to RamathMizpahand Betonim, and from Mahanaim tothe border of Debir,27 and in the valley Beth Haram, BethNimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest ofthe kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon,with the Jordan as its border, as far asthe edge of the Sea of Chinnereth, onthe other side of the Jordan eastward.

JOSHUA 13 7228 This is the inheritance of the childrenof Gad according to their families, theci es and their villages.29Moses also had given an inheritanceto half the tribe of Manasseh; it wasfor half the tribe of the children ofManasseh according to their families:30 Their territory was from Mahanaim,all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king ofBashan, and all the towns of Jair whichare in Bashan, sixty ci es;31 half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth andEdrei, ci es of the kingdom of Og inBashan, were for the children of Machirthe son of Manasseh, for half of thechildren of Machir according to theirfamilies.32 These are the areas which Moseshad distributed as an inheritance in theplains of Moab on the other side of theJordan, by Jericho eastward.

JOSHUA 13–14 7333 But to the tribe of Levi Moses hadgiven no inheritance; the LORD God ofIsrael was their inheritance, as He hadsaid to them.

14 1 These are the areas which thechildren of Israel inherited in the

land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest,Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads ofthe fathers of the tribes of the childrenof Israel distributed as an inheritance tothem.2 Their inheritance was by lot, as theLORD had commanded by the handof Moses, for the nine tribes and thehalf–tribe.3 For Moses had given the inheritanceof the two tribes and the half–tribe onthe other side of the Jordan; but tothe Levites he had given no inheritanceamong them.4 For the children of Joseph were twotribes: Manasseh and Ephraim. And

JOSHUA 14 74they gave no part to the Levites in theland, except ci es to dwell in, with theircommon–lands for their livestock andtheir property.5As the LORD had commanded Moses,so the children of Israel did; and theydivided the land.6 Then the children of Judah came toJoshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son ofJephunneh the Kenizzite said to him:"You know the word which the LORD saidto Moses the man of God concerningyou and me in Kadesh Barnea.7 "I was forty years old when Mosesthe servant of the LORD sent me fromKadesh Barnea to spy out the land, andI brought back word to him as it was inmy heart.8 "Nevertheless my brethren who wentup with me made the heart of thepeople melt, but I wholly followed theLORD my God.

JOSHUA 14 759 "So Moses swore on that day, saying,‘Surely the land where your foot hastrodden shall be your inheritance andyour children’s forever, because youhave wholly followed the LORD my God.’10 "And now, behold, the LORD has keptme alive, as He said, these forty–fiveyears, ever since the LORD spoke thisword to Moses while Israel wandered inthe wilderness; and now, here I am thisday, eighty–five years old.11 "As yet I am as strong this day ason the day that Moses sent me; justas my strength was then, so now is mystrength for war, both for going out andfor coming in.12 "Now therefore, give me thismountain of which the LORD spoke inthat day; for you heard in that day howthe Anakim were there, and that theci es were great and for fied. It maybe that the LORD will be with me, and

JOSHUA 14–15 76I shall be able to drive them out as theLORD said."13And Joshua blessed him, and gaveHebron to Caleb the son of Jephunnehas an inheritance.14Hebron therefore became theinheritance of Caleb the son ofJephunneh the Kenizzite to this day,because he wholly followed the LORDGod of Israel.15And the name of Hebron formerlywas Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatestman among the Anakim). Then the landhad rest from war.

15 1 So this was the lot of the tribeof the children of Judah according

to their families: The border of Edom atthe Wilderness of Zin southward was theextreme southern boundary.2And their southern border began atthe shore of the Salt Sea, from the baythat faces southward.

JOSHUA 15 773 Then it went out to the southern sideof the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed alongto Zin, ascended on the south side ofKadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron,went up to Adar, and went around toKarkaa.4 From there it passed toward Azmonand went out to the Brook of Egypt; andthe border ended at the sea. This shallbe your southern border.5 The east border was the Salt Sea asfar as the mouth of the Jordan. And theborder on the northern quarter began atthe bay of the sea at the mouth of theJordan.6 The border went up to Beth Hoglahand passed north of Beth Arabah; andthe border went up to the stone ofBohan the son of Reuben.7 Then the border went up towardDebir from the Valley of Achor, and itturned northward toward Gilgal, which

JOSHUA 15 78is before the Ascent of Adummim, whichis on the south side of the valley. Theborder con nued toward the waters ofEn Shemesh and ended at En Rogel.8And the border went up by the Valleyof the Son of Hinnom to the southernslope of the Jebusite city (which isJerusalem). The border went up to thetop of the mountain that lies beforethe Valley of Hinnom westward, whichis at the end of the Valley of Rephaimnorthward.9 Then the border went around fromthe top of the hill to the fountain of thewater of Nephtoah, and extended to theci es of Mount Ephron. And the borderwent around to Baalah (which is KirjathJearim).10 Then the border turned westwardfrom Baalah to Mount Seir, passed alongto the side of Mount Jearim on the north

JOSHUA 15 79(which is Chesalon), went down to BethShemesh, and passed on to Timnah.11And the border went out to the sideof Ekron northward. Then the borderwent around to Shicron, passed along toMount Baalah, and extended to Jabneel;and the border ended at the sea.12 The west border was the coastlineof the Great Sea. This is the boundaryof the children of Judah all aroundaccording to their families.13Now to Caleb the son of Jephunnehhe gave a share among the children ofJudah, according to the commandmentof the LORD to Joshua, namely, KirjathArba, which is Hebron (Arba was thefather of Anak).14 Caleb drove out the three sons ofAnak from there: Sheshai, Ahiman, andTalmai, the children of Anak.

JOSHUA 15 8015 Then he went up from there to theinhabitants of Debir (formerly the nameof Debir was Kirjath Sepher).16And Caleb said, "He who a acksKirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I willgive Achsah my daughter as wife."17 So Othniel the son of Kenaz, thebrother of Caleb, took it; and he gavehim Achsah his daughter as wife.18Now it was so, when she came tohim, that she persuaded him to ask herfather for a field. So she dismountedfrom her donkey, and Caleb said to her,"What do you wish?"19 She answered, "Give me a blessing;since you have given me land in theSouth, give me also springs of water." Sohe gave her the upper springs and thelower springs.20 This was the inheritance of the tribeof the children of Judah according totheir families:

JOSHUA 15 8121 The ci es at the limits of the tribe ofthe children of Judah, toward the borderof Edom in the South, were Kabzeel,Eder, Jagur,22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,25Hazor, Hada ah, Kerioth, Hezron(which is Hazor),26Amam, Shema, Moladah,27Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,28Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Bizjothjah,29 Baalah, Ijim, Ezem,30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon:all the ci es are twenty–nine, with theirvillages.33 In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah,Ashnah,34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

JOSHUA 15 8236 Sharaim, Adithaim, Gederah, andGederothaim: fourteen ci es with theirvillages;37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,38Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,40 Cabbon, Lahmas, Kithlish,41Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah,and Makkedah: sixteen ci es with theirvillages;42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan,43 Jiphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nineci es with their villages;45 Ekron, with its towns and villages;46 from Ekron to the sea, all that laynear Ashdod, with their villages;47Ashdod with its towns and villages,Gaza with its towns and villages––as faras the Brook of Egypt and the Great Seawith its coastline.

JOSHUA 15 8348And in the mountain country: Shamir,Ja r, Sochoh,49Dannah, Kirjath Sannah (which isDebir),50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,51Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: elevenci es with their villages;52Arab, Dumah, Eshean,53 Janum, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,54Humtah, Kirjath Arba (which isHebron), and Zior: nine ci es with theirvillages;55Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Ju ah,56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten ci eswith their villages;58Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,59Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon:six ci es with their villages;60 Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim)and Rabbah: two ci es with theirvillages.

JOSHUA 15–16 8461 In the wilderness: Beth Arabah,Middin, Secacah,62Nibshan, the City of Salt, and EnGedi: six ci es with their villages.63As for the Jebusites, the inhabitantsof Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldnot drive them out; but the Jebusitesdwell with the children of Judah atJerusalem to this day.

16 1 The lot fell to the childrenof Joseph from the Jordan, by

Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on theeast, to the wilderness that goes upfrom Jericho through the mountains toBethel,2 then went out from Bethel to Luz,passed along to the border of theArchites at Ataroth,3 and went down westward to theboundary of the Japhle tes, as far as theboundary of Lower Beth Horon to Gezer;and it ended at the sea.

JOSHUA 16 854 So the children of Joseph, Manassehand Ephraim, took their inheritance.5 The border of the children of Ephraim,according to their families, was thus: Theborder of their inheritance on the eastside was Ataroth Addar as far as UpperBeth Horon.6And the border went out toward thesea on the north side of Michmethath;then the border went around eastwardto Taanath Shiloh, and passed by it onthe east of Janohah.7 Then it went down from Janohah toAtaroth and Naarah, reached to Jericho,and came out at the Jordan.8 The border went out from Tappuahwestward to the Brook Kanah, andit ended at the sea. This was theinheritance of the tribe of the childrenof Ephraim according to their families.9 The separate ci es for the children ofEphraim were among the inheritance of

JOSHUA 16–17 86the children of Manasseh, all the ci eswith their villages.10And they did not drive out theCanaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but theCanaanites dwell among the Ephraimitesto this day and have become forcedlaborers.

17 1 There was also a lot for thetribe of Manasseh, for he was the

firstborn of Joseph: namely for Machirthe firstborn of Manasseh, the fatherof Gilead, because he was a man ofwar; therefore he was given Gilead andBashan.2And there was a lot for the rest ofthe children of Manasseh according totheir families: for the children of Abiezer,the children of Helek, the children ofAsriel, the children of Shechem, thechildren of Hepher, and the children ofShemida; these were the male children

JOSHUA 17 87ofManasseh the son of Joseph accordingto their families.3 But Zelophehad the son of Hepher,the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, theson of Manasseh, had no sons, but onlydaughters. And these are the names ofhis daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah,Milcah, and Tirzah.4And they came near before Eleazarthe priest, before Joshua the son ofNun, and before the rulers, saying,"The LORD commanded Moses togive us an inheritance among ourbrothers." Therefore, according tothe commandment of the LORD, hegave them an inheritance among theirfather’s brothers.5 Ten shares fell to Manasseh, besidesthe land of Gilead and Bashan, whichwere on the other side of the Jordan,6 because the daughters of Manassehreceived an inheritance among his sons;

JOSHUA 17 88and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had theland of Gilead.7And the territory of Manasseh wasfrom Asher to Michmethath, that lieseast of Shechem; and the border wentalong south to the inhabitants of EnTappuah.8Manasseh had the land of Tappuah,but Tappuah on the border of Manassehbelonged to the children of Ephraim.9And the border descended to theBrook Kanah, southward to the brook.These ci es of Ephraim are amongthe ci es of Manasseh. The border ofManasseh was on the north side of thebrook; and it ended at the sea.10 Southward it was Ephraim’s,northward it was Manasseh’s, and thesea was its border. Manasseh’s territorywas adjoining Asher on the north andIssachar on the east.

JOSHUA 17 8911And in Issachar and in Asher,Manasseh had Beth Shean and itstowns, Ibleam and its towns, theinhabitants of Dor and its towns, theinhabitants of En Dor and its towns, theinhabitants of Taanach and its towns,and the inhabitants of Megiddo and itstowns––three hilly regions.12 Yet the children of Manassehcould not drive out the inhabitants ofthose ci es, but the Canaanites weredetermined to dwell in that land.13And it happened, when the childrenof Israel grew strong, that they put theCanaanites to forced labor, but did notu erly drive them out.14 Then the children of Joseph spoke toJoshua, saying, "Why have you given usonly one lot and one share to inherit,since we are a great people, inasmuch asthe LORD has blessed us un l now?"

JOSHUA 17 9015 So Joshua answered them, "If you area great people, then go up to the forestcountry and clear a place for yourselfthere in the land of the Perizzites and thegiants, since the mountains of Ephraimare too confined for you."16 But the children of Joseph said, "Themountain country is not enough for us;and all the Canaanites who dwell in theland of the valley have chariots of iron,both those who are of Beth Shean andits towns and those who are of the Valleyof Jezreel."17And Joshua spoke to the house ofJoseph––to Ephraim and Manasseh––saying, "You are a great people and havegreat power; you shall not have only onelot,18 "but the mountain country shallbe yours. Although it is wooded, youshall cut it down, and its farthest extentshall be yours; for you shall drive out

JOSHUA 18 91the Canaanites, though they have ironchariots and are strong."

18 1Now the whole congrega on ofthe children of Israel assembled

together at Shiloh, and set up thetabernacle of mee ng there. And theland was subdued before them.2 But there remained among thechildren of Israel seven tribes which hadnot yet received their inheritance.3 Then Joshua said to the children ofIsrael: "How long will you neglect to goand possess the land which the LORDGod of your fathers has given you?4 "Pick out from among you three menfor each tribe, and I will send them;they shall rise and go through the land,survey it according to their inheritance,and come back to me.5 "And they shall divide it into sevenparts. Judah shall remain in theirterritory on the south, and the house of

JOSHUA 18 92Joseph shall remain in their territory onthe north.6 "You shall therefore survey the land inseven parts and bring the survey hereto me, that I may cast lots for you herebefore the LORD our God.7 "But the Levites have no part amongyou, for the priesthood of the LORD istheir inheritance. And Gad, Reuben, andhalf the tribe of Manasseh have receivedtheir inheritance beyond the Jordan onthe east, which Moses the servant of theLORD gave them."8 Then the men arose to go away;and Joshua charged those who wentto survey the land, saying, "Go, walkthrough the land, survey it, and comeback to me, that I may cast lots for youhere before the LORD in Shiloh."9 So the men went, passed through theland, and wrote the survey in a book in

JOSHUA 18 93seven parts by ci es; and they came toJoshua at the camp in Shiloh.10 Then Joshua cast lots for them inShiloh before the LORD, and thereJoshua divided the land to the childrenof Israel according to their divisions.11Now the lot of the tribe of thechildren of Benjamin came up accordingto their families, and the territory oftheir lot came out between the childrenof Judah and the children of Joseph.12 Their border on the north side beganat the Jordan, and the border wentup to the side of Jericho on the north,and went up through the mountainswestward; it ended at the Wilderness ofBeth Aven.13 The border went over from theretoward Luz, to the side of Luz (whichis Bethel) southward; and the borderdescended to Ataroth Addar, near the

JOSHUA 18 94hill that lies on the south side of LowerBeth Horon.14 Then the border extended aroundthe west side to the south, from the hillthat lies before Beth Horon southward;and it ended at Kirjath Baal (which isKirjath Jearim), a city of the children ofJudah. This was the west side.15 The south side began at the end ofKirjath Jearim, and the border extendedon the west and went out to the springof the waters of Nephtoah.16 Then the border came down to theend of the mountain that lies before theValley of the Son of Hinnom, which is inthe Valley of the Rephaim on the north,descended to the Valley of Hinnom, tothe side of the Jebusite city on the south,and descended to En Rogel.17And it went around from the north,went out to En Shemesh, and extendedtoward Geliloth, which is before the

JOSHUA 18 95Ascent of Adummim, and descended tothe stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.18 Then it passed along toward thenorth side of Arabah, and went down toArabah.19And the border passed along to thenorth side of Beth Hoglah; then theborder ended at the north bay at theSalt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan.This was the southern boundary.20 The Jordan was its border on theeast side. This was the inheritance of thechildren of Benjamin, according to itsboundaries all around, according to theirfamilies.21Now the ci es of the tribe of thechildren of Benjamin, according to theirfamilies, were Jericho, Beth Hoglah,Emek Keziz,22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,23Avim, Parah, Ophrah,

JOSHUA 18–19 9624 Chephar Haammoni, Ophni, andGaba: twelve ci es with their villages;25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,26Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah,27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,28 Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which isJerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath:fourteen ci es with their villages. Thiswas the inheritance of the children ofBenjamin according to their families.

19 1 The second lot came out forSimeon, for the tribe of the

children of Simeon according to theirfamilies. And their inheritance waswithin the inheritance of the children ofJudah.2 They had in their inheritanceBeersheba (Sheba), Moladah,3Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,

JOSHUA 19 976 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteenci es and their villages;7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan: fourci es and their villages;8 and all the villages that were allaround these ci es as far as BaalathBeer, Ramah of the South. This was theinheritance of the tribe of the childrenof Simeon according to their families.9 The inheritance of the children ofSimeon was included in the share ofthe children of Judah, for the share ofthe children of Judah was too muchfor them. Therefore the children ofSimeon had their inheritance within theinheritance of that people.10 The third lot came out for thechildren of Zebulun according totheir families, and the border of theirinheritance was as far as Sarid.11 Their border went toward the westand to Maralah, went to Dabbasheth,

JOSHUA 19 98and extended along the brook that iseast of Jokneam.12 Then from Sarid it went eastwardtoward the sunrise along the border ofChisloth Tabor, and went out towardDaberath, bypassing Japhia.13And from there it passed along onthe east of Gath Hepher, toward EthKazin, and extended to Rimmon, whichborders on Neah.14 Then the border went around it onthe north side of Hannathon, and itended in the Valley of Jiphthah El.15 Included were Ka ath, Nahallal,Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelveci es with their villages.16 This was the inheritance of thechildren of Zebulun according to theirfamilies, these ci es with their villages.17 The fourth lot came out to Issachar,for the children of Issachar according totheir families.

JOSHUA 19 9918And their territory went to Jezreel,and included Chesulloth, Shunem,19Haphraim, Shion, Anaharath,20 Rabbith, Kishion, Abez,21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, andBeth Pazzez.22And the border reached to Tabor,Shahazimah, and Beth Shemesh; theirborder ended at the Jordan: sixteenci es with their villages.23 This was the inheritance of the tribeof the children of Issachar accordingto their families, the ci es and theirvillages.24 The fi h lot came out for the tribe ofthe children of Asher according to theirfamilies.25And their territory included Helkath,Hali, Beten, Achshaph,26Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal; itreached to Mount Carmel westward,along the Brook Shihor Libnath.

JOSHUA 19 10027 It turned toward the sunrise to BethDagon; and it reached to Zebulun and tothe Valley of Jiphthah El, then northwardbeyond Beth Emek and Neiel, bypassingCabul which was on the le ,28 including Ebron, Rehob, Hammon,and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.29And the border turned to Ramahand to the for fied city of Tyre; then theborder turned to Hosah, and ended atthe sea by the region of Achzib.30Also Ummah, Aphek, and Rehobwere included: twenty–two ci es withtheir villages.31 This was the inheritance of the tribeof the children of Asher according totheir families, these ci es with theirvillages.32 The sixth lot came out to the childrenof Naphtali, for the children of Naphtaliaccording to their families.

JOSHUA 19 10133And their border began at Heleph,enclosing the territory from theterebinth tree in Zaanannim, AdamiNekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; itended at the Jordan.34 From Heleph the border extendedwestward to Aznoth Tabor, and went outfrom there toward Hukkok; it adjoinedZebulun on the south side and Asher onthe west side, and ended at Judah by theJordan toward the sunrise.35And the for fied ci es are Ziddim,Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,37 Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,38 Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath,and Beth Shemesh: nineteen ci es withtheir villages.39 This was the inheritance of the tribeof the children of Naphtali accordingto their families, the ci es and theirvillages.

JOSHUA 19 10240 The seventh lot came out for thetribe of the children of Dan according totheir families.41And the territory of their inheritancewas Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh,42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Jethlah,43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,45 Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,46Me Jarkon, and Rakkon, with theregion near Joppa.47And the border of the children ofDan went beyond these, because thechildren of Dan went up to fight againstLeshem and took it; and they struckit with the edge of the sword, tookpossession of it, and dwelt in it. Theycalled Leshem, Dan, a er the name ofDan their father.48 This is the inheritance of the tribe ofthe children of Dan according to theirfamilies, these ci es with their villages.

JOSHUA 19–20 10349When they had made an end ofdividing the land as an inheritanceaccording to their borders, the childrenof Israel gave an inheritance amongthem to Joshua the son of Nun.50According to the word of the LORDthey gave him the city which he askedfor, Timnath Serah in the mountains ofEphraim; and he built the city and dweltin it.51 These were the inheritances whichEleazar the priest, Joshua the son ofNun, and the heads of the fathers of thetribes of the children of Israel dividedas an inheritance by lot in Shiloh beforethe LORD, at the door of the tabernacleof mee ng. So they made an end ofdividing the country.

20 1 The LORD also spoke to Joshua,saying,

JOSHUA 20 1042 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying:‘Appoint for yourselves ci es of refuge,of which I spoke to you through Moses,3 ‘that the slayer who kills a personaccidentally or uninten onally may fleethere; and they shall be your refuge fromthe avenger of blood.4 ‘And when he flees to one of thoseci es, and stands at the entrance of thegate of the city, and declares his casein the hearing of the elders of that city,they shall take him into the city as one ofthem, and give him a place, that he maydwell among them.5 ‘Then if the avenger of blood pursueshim, they shall not deliver the slayer intohis hand, because he struck his neighboruninten onally, but did not hate himbeforehand.6 ‘And he shall dwell in that city un lhe stands before the congrega on forjudgment, and un l the death of the one

JOSHUA 20 105who is high priest in those days. Thenthe slayer may return and come to hisown city and his own house, to the cityfrom which he fled.’"7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee,in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechemin the mountains of Ephraim, and KirjathArba (which is Hebron) in the mountainsof Judah.8And on the other side of the Jordan,by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezerin the wilderness on the plain, from thetribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, fromthe tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan,from the tribe of Manasseh.9 These were the ci es appointed for allthe children of Israel and for the strangerwho dwelt among them, that whoeverkilled a person accidentally might fleethere, and not die by the hand of theavenger of blood un l he stood beforethe congrega on.

JOSHUA 21 106

21 1 Then the heads of the fathers’houses of the Levites came near

to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the sonof Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’houses of the tribes of the children ofIsrael.2And they spoke to them at Shilohin the land of Canaan, saying, "TheLORD commanded through Moses togive us ci es to dwell in, with theircommon–lands for our livestock."3 So the children of Israel gave to theLevites from their inheritance, at thecommandment of the LORD, these ci esand their common–lands:4Now the lot came out for the familiesof the Kohathites. And the childrenof Aaron the priest, who were of theLevites, had thirteen ci es by lot fromthe tribe of Judah, from the tribe ofSimeon, and from the tribe of Benjamin.

JOSHUA 21 1075 The rest of the children of Kohath hadten ci es by lot from the families of thetribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan,and from the half–tribe of Manasseh.6And the children of Gershon hadthirteen ci es by lot from the familiesof the tribe of Issachar, from the tribeof Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali,and from the half–tribe of Manasseh inBashan.7 The children of Merari according totheir families had twelve ci es from thetribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad,and from the tribe of Zebulun.8And the children of Israel gave theseci es with their common–lands bylot to the Levites, as the LORD hadcommanded by the hand of Moses.9 So they gave from the tribe of thechildren of Judah and from the tribe ofthe children of Simeon these ci es whichare designated by name,

JOSHUA 21 10810which were for the children of Aaron,one of the families of the Kohathites,who were of the children of Levi; for thelot was theirs first.11And they gave them Kirjath Arba(Arba was the father of Anak), which isHebron, in the mountains of Judah, withthe common–land surrounding it.12 But the fields of the city and itsvillages they gave to Caleb the son ofJephunneh as his possession.13 Thus to the children of Aaronthe priest they gave Hebron with itscommon–land (a city of refuge for theslayer), Libnah with its common–land,14 Ja r with its common–land,Eshtemoa with its common–land,15Holon with its common–land, Debirwith its common–land,16Ain with its common–land, Ju ahwith its common–land, and Beth

JOSHUA 21 109Shemesh with its common–land: nineci es from those two tribes;17 and from the tribe of Benjamin,Gibeon with its common–land, Gebawith its common–land,18Anathoth with its common–land,and Almon with its common–land: fourci es.19All the ci es of the children of Aaron,the priests, were thirteen ci es withtheir common–lands.20And the families of the childrenof Kohath, the Levites, the rest of thechildren of Kohath, even they had theci es of their lot from the tribe ofEphraim.21 For they gave them Shechem withits common–land in the mountains ofEphraim (a city of refuge for the slayer),Gezer with its common–land,

JOSHUA 21 11022 Kibzaim with its common–land, andBeth Horon with its common–land: fourci es;23 and from the tribe of Dan, Eltekehwith its common–land, Gibbethon withits common–land,24Aijalon with its common–land, andGath Rimmon with its common–land:four ci es;25 and from the half–tribe of Manasseh,Tanach with its common–land and GathRimmon with its common–land: twoci es.26All the ten ci es with their common–lands were for the rest of the families ofthe children of Kohath.27Also to the children of Gershon, ofthe families of the Levites, from theother half–tribe of Manasseh, they gaveGolan in Bashan with its common–land(a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be

JOSHUA 21 111Eshterah with its common–land: twoci es;28 and from the tribe of Issachar,Kishion with its common–land, Daberathwith its common–land,29 Jarmuth with its common–land, andEn Gannim with its common–land: fourci es;30 and from the tribe of Asher, Mishalwith its common–land, Abdon with itscommon–land,31Helkath with its common–land, andRehobwith its common–land: four ci es;32 and from the tribe of Naphtali,Kedesh in Galilee with its common–land(a city of refuge for the slayer), HammothDor with its common–land, and Kartanwith its common–land: three ci es.33All the ci es of the Gershonitesaccording to their families were thirteenci es with their common–lands.

JOSHUA 21 11234And to the families of the childrenof Merari, the rest of the Levites,from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneamwith its common–land, Kartah with itscommon–land,35Dimnah with its common–land, andNahalal with its common–land: fourci es;36 and from the tribe of Reuben, Bezerwith its common–land, Jahaz with itscommon–land,37 Kedemoth with its common–land,and Mephaath with its common–land:four ci es;38 and from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth inGilead with its common–land (a city ofrefuge for the slayer), Mahanaim with itscommon–land,39Heshbon with its common–land, andJazer with its common–land: four ci esin all.

JOSHUA 21 11340 So all the ci es for the children ofMerari according to their families, therest of the families of the Levites, wereby their lot twelve ci es.41All the ci es of the Levites withinthe possession of the children ofIsrael were forty–eight ci es with theircommon–lands.42 Every one of these ci es had itscommon–land surrounding it; thus wereall these ci es.43 So the LORD gave to Israel all theland of which He had sworn to give totheir fathers, and they took possessionof it and dwelt in it.44 The LORD gave them rest all around,according to all that He had sworn totheir fathers. And not a man of all theirenemies stood against them; the LORDdelivered all their enemies into theirhand.

JOSHUA 21–22 11445Not a word failed of any good thingwhich the LORD had spoken to the houseof Israel. All came to pass.

22 1 Then Joshua called theReubenites, the Gadites, and half

the tribe of Manasseh,2 and said to them: "You have kept allthat Moses the servant of the LORDcommanded you, and have obeyed myvoice in all that I commanded you.3 "You have not le your brethren thesemany days, up to this day, but have keptthe charge of the commandment of theLORD your God.4 "And now the LORD your God hasgiven rest to your brethren, as Hepromised them; now therefore, returnand go to your tents and to the landof your possession, which Moses theservant of the LORD gave you on theother side of the Jordan.

JOSHUA 22 1155 "But take careful heed to do thecommandment and the law whichMoses the servant of the LORDcommanded you, to love the LORD yourGod, to walk in all His ways, to keep Hiscommandments, to hold fast to Him,and to serve Him with all your heart andwith all your soul."6 So Joshua blessed them and sentthem away, and they went to their tents.7Now to half the tribe of ManassehMoses had given a possession in Bashan,but to the other half of it Joshua gavea possession among their brethren onthis side of the Jordan, westward. Andindeed, when Joshua sent them away totheir tents, he blessed them,8 and spoke to them, saying, "Returnwith much riches to your tents, with verymuch livestock, with silver, with gold,with bronze, with iron, and with very

JOSHUA 22 116much clothing. Divide the spoil of yourenemies with your brethren."9 So the children of Reuben, thechildren of Gad, and half the tribe ofManasseh returned, and departed fromthe children of Israel at Shiloh, whichis in the land of Canaan, to go to thecountry of Gilead, to the land of theirpossession, which they had obtainedaccording to the word of the LORD bythe hand of Moses.10And when they came to the regionof the Jordan which is in the land ofCanaan, the children of Reuben, thechildren of Gad, and half the tribe ofManasseh built an altar there by theJordan––a great, impressive altar.11Now the children of Israel heardsomeone say, "Behold, the children ofReuben, the children of Gad, and halfthe tribe of Manasseh have built an altaron the fron er of the land of Canaan,

JOSHUA 22 117in the region of the Jordan––on thechildren of Israel’s side."12And when the children of Israel heardof it, the whole congrega on of thechildren of Israel gathered together atShiloh to go to war against them.13 Then the children of Israel sentPhinehas the son of Eleazar the priest tothe children of Reuben, to the children ofGad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh,into the land of Gilead,14 and with him ten rulers, one rulereach from the chief house of every tribeof Israel; and each one was the headof the house of his father among thedivisions of Israel.15 Then they came to the children ofReuben, to the children of Gad, and tohalf the tribe of Manasseh, to the landof Gilead, and they spoke with them,saying,

JOSHUA 22 11816 "Thus says the whole congrega on ofthe LORD: ‘What treachery is this thatyou have commi ed against the Godof Israel, to turn away this day fromfollowing the LORD, in that you havebuilt for yourselves an altar, that youmight rebel this day against the LORD?17 ‘Is the iniquity of Peor not enough forus, from which we are not cleansed un lthis day, although there was a plague inthe congrega on of the LORD,18 ‘but that you must turn away this dayfrom following the LORD? And it shallbe, if you rebel today against the LORD,that tomorrow He will be angry with thewhole congrega on of Israel.19 ‘Nevertheless, if the land of yourpossession is unclean, then cross over tothe land of the possession of the LORD,where the LORD’S tabernacle stands,and take possession among us; but donot rebel against the LORD, nor rebel

JOSHUA 22 119against us, by building yourselves analtar besides the altar of the LORD ourGod.20 ‘Did not Achan the son of Zerahcommit a trespass in the accursed thing,and wrath fell on all the congrega onof Israel? And that man did not perishalone in his iniquity.’"21 Then the children of Reuben, thechildren of Gad, and half the tribe ofManasseh answered and said to theheads of the divisions of Israel:22 "The LORD God of gods, the LORDGod of gods, He knows, and let Israelitself know––if it is in rebellion, or if intreachery against the LORD, do not saveus this day.23 "If we have built ourselves an altarto turn from following the LORD, or ifto offer on it burnt offerings or grainofferings, or if to offer peace offerings

JOSHUA 22 120on it, let the LORD Himself require anaccount.24 "But in fact we have done it for fear,for a reason, saying, ‘In me to comeyour descendants may speak to ourdescendants, saying, "What have you todo with the LORD God of Israel?25 "For the LORD has made the Jordana border between you and us, youchildren of Reuben and children ofGad. You have no part in the LORD."So your descendants would make ourdescendants cease fearing the LORD.’26 "Therefore we said, ‘Let us nowprepare to build ourselves an altar, notfor burnt offering nor for sacrifice,27 ‘but that it may be a witness betweenyou and us and our genera ons a erus, that we may perform the serviceof the LORD before Him with ourburnt offerings, with our sacrifices,and with our peace offerings; that

JOSHUA 22 121your descendants may not say to ourdescendants in me to come, "You haveno part in the LORD."’28 "Therefore we said that it will be,when they say this to us or to ourgenera ons in me to come, that wemay say, ‘Here is the replica of the altarof the LORD which our fathers made,though not for burnt offerings nor forsacrifices; but it is a witness betweenyou and us.’29 "Far be it from us that we shouldrebel against the LORD, and turn fromfollowing the LORD this day, to buildan altar for burnt offerings, for grainofferings, or for sacrifices, besides thealtar of the LORD our God which isbefore His tabernacle."30Now when Phinehas the priest andthe rulers of the congrega on, the headsof the divisions of Israel who were withhim, heard the words that the children

JOSHUA 22 122of Reuben, the children of Gad, and thechildren of Manasseh spoke, it pleasedthem.31 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar thepriest said to the children of Reuben,the children of Gad, and the children ofManasseh, "This day we perceive thatthe LORD is among us, because you havenot commi ed this treachery againstthe LORD. Now you have delivered thechildren of Israel out of the hand of theLORD."32And Phinehas the son of Eleazar thepriest, and the rulers, returned from thechildren of Reuben and the children ofGad, from the land of Gilead to the landof Canaan, to the children of Israel, andbrought back word to them.33 So the thing pleased the children ofIsrael, and the children of Israel blessedGod; they spoke no more of goingagainst them in ba le, to destroy the

JOSHUA 22–23 123land where the children of Reuben andGad dwelt.34 The children of Reuben and thechildren of Gad called the altar, Witness,"For it is a witness between us that theLORD is God."

23 1Now it came to pass, a long mea er the LORD had given rest

to Israel from all their enemies roundabout, that Joshua was old, advanced inage.2And Joshua called for all Israel, fortheir elders, for their heads, for theirjudges, and for their officers, and said tothem: "I am old, advanced in age.3 "You have seen all that the LORDyour God has done to all these na onsbecause of you, for the LORD your Godis He who has fought for you.4 "See, I have divided to you by lot thesena ons that remain, to be an inheritancefor your tribes, from the Jordan, with all

JOSHUA 23 124the na ons that I have cut off, as far asthe Great Sea westward.5 "And the LORD your God will expelthem from before you and drive themout of your sight. So you shall possesstheir land, as the LORD your Godpromised you.6 "Therefore be very courageous tokeep and to do all that is wri en in theBook of the Law of Moses, lest you turnaside from it to the right hand or to thele ,7 "and lest you go among these na ons,these who remain among you. You shallnot make men on of the name of theirgods, nor cause anyone to swear bythem; you shall not serve them nor bowdown to them,8 "but you shall hold fast to the LORDyour God, as you have done to this day.9 "For the LORD has driven out frombefore you great and strong na ons; but

JOSHUA 23 125as for you, no one has been able to standagainst you to this day.10 "One man of you shall chase athousand, for the LORD your God is Hewho fights for you, as He promised you.11 "Therefore take careful heed toyourselves, that you love the LORD yourGod.12 "Or else, if indeed you do go back,and cling to the remnant of thesena ons––these that remain amongyou––and make marriages with them,and go in to them and they to you,13 "know for certain that the LORDyour God will no longer drive out thesena ons from before you. But they shallbe snares and traps to you, and scourgeson your sides and thorns in your eyes,un l you perish from this good landwhich the LORD your God has given you.14 "Behold, this day I am going the wayof all the earth. And you know in all

JOSHUA 23–24 126your hearts and in all your souls thatnot one thing has failed of all the goodthings which the LORD your God spokeconcerning you. All have come to passfor you; not one word of them has failed.15 "Therefore it shall come to pass, thatas all the good things have come uponyou which the LORD your God promisedyou, so the LORD will bring upon you allharmful things, un l He has destroyedyou from this good land which the LORDyour God has given you.16 "When you have transgressed thecovenant of the LORD your God, whichHe commanded you, and have gone andserved other gods, and bowed down tothem, then the anger of the LORD willburn against you, and you shall perishquickly from the good land which He hasgiven you."

24 1 Then Joshua gathered all thetribes of Israel to Shechem and

JOSHUA 24 127called for the elders of Israel, for theirheads, for their judges, and for theirofficers; and they presented themselvesbefore God.2And Joshua said to all the people,"Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Yourfathers, including Terah, the father ofAbraham and the father of Nahor, dwelton the other side of the River in oldmes; and they served other gods.3 ‘Then I took your father Abrahamfrom the other side of the River, led himthroughout all the land of Canaan, andmul plied his descendants and gave himIsaac.4 ‘To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. ToEsau I gave the mountains of Seir topossess, but Jacob and his children wentdown to Egypt.5 ‘Also I sent Moses and Aaron, and Iplagued Egypt, according to what I did

JOSHUA 24 128among them. A erward I brought youout.6 ‘Then I brought your fathers out ofEgypt, and you came to the sea; andthe Egyp ans pursued your fathers withchariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.7 ‘So they cried out to the LORD; andHe put darkness between you and theEgyp ans, brought the sea upon them,and covered them. And your eyes sawwhat I did in Egypt. Then you dwelt inthe wilderness a long me.8 ‘And I brought you into the land of theAmorites, who dwelt on the other sideof the Jordan, and they fought with you.But I gave them into your hand, that youmight possess their land, and I destroyedthem from before you.9 ‘Then Balak the son of Zippor, king ofMoab, arose to make war against Israel,and sent and called Balaam the son ofBeor to curse you.

JOSHUA 24 12910 ‘But I would not listen to Balaam;therefore he con nued to bless you. So Idelivered you out of his hand.11 ‘Then you went over the Jordanand came to Jericho. And the men ofJericho fought against you––also theAmorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites,the Hi tes, the Girgashites, the Hivites,and the Jebusites. But I delivered theminto your hand.12 ‘I sent the hornet before you whichdrove them out from before you, alsothe two kings of the Amorites, but notwith your sword or with your bow.13 ‘I have given you a land for which youdid not labor, and ci es which you didnot build, and you dwell in them; you eatof the vineyards and olive groves whichyou did not plant.’14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serveHim in sincerity and in truth, and putaway the gods which your fathers served

JOSHUA 24 130on the other side of the River and inEgypt. Serve the LORD!15 "And if it seems evil to you to servethe LORD, choose for yourselves this daywhom you will serve, whether the godswhich your fathers served that were onthe other side of the River, or the gods ofthe Amorites, in whose land you dwell.But as for me and my house, we willserve the LORD."16 So the people answered and said:"Far be it from us that we should forsakethe LORD to serve other gods;17 "for the LORD our God is He whobrought us and our fathers up out ofthe land of Egypt, from the house ofbondage, who did those great signs inour sight, and preserved us in all the waythat we went and among all the peoplethrough whom we passed.18 "And the LORD drove out from beforeus all the people, including the Amorites

JOSHUA 24 131who dwelt in the land. We also will servethe LORD, for He is our God."19 But Joshua said to the people, "Youcannot serve the LORD, for He is a holyGod. He is a jealous God; He will notforgive your transgressions nor your sins.20 "If you forsake the LORD and serveforeign gods, then He will turn and doyou harm and consume you, a er He hasdone you good."21And the people said to Joshua, "No,but we will serve the LORD!"22 So Joshua said to the people, "You arewitnesses against yourselves that youhave chosen the LORD for yourselves,to serve Him." And they said, "We arewitnesses!"23 "Now therefore," he said, "put awaythe foreign gods which are among you,and incline your heart to the LORD Godof Israel."

JOSHUA 24 13224And the people said to Joshua, "TheLORD our God we will serve, and Hisvoice we will obey!"25 So Joshua made a covenant with thepeople that day, and made for them astatute and an ordinance in Shechem.26 Then Joshua wrote these words inthe Book of the Law of God. And he tooka large stone, and set it up there underthe oak that was by the sanctuary of theLORD.27And Joshua said to all the people,"Behold, this stone shall be a witnessto us, for it has heard all the words ofthe LORD which He spoke to us. It shalltherefore be a witness to you, lest youdeny your God."28 So Joshua let the people depart, eachto his own inheritance.29Now it came to pass a er thesethings that Joshua the son of Nun, the

JOSHUA 24 133servant of the LORD, died, being onehundred and ten years old.30And they buried him within theborder of his inheritance at TimnathSerah, which is in the mountains ofEphraim, on the north side of MountGaash.31 Israel served the LORD all the daysof Joshua, and all the days of the elderswho outlived Joshua, who had knownall the works of the LORD which He haddone for Israel.32 The bones of Joseph, which thechildren of Israel had brought up outof Egypt, they buried at Shechem, inthe plot of ground which Jacob hadbought from the sons of Hamor thefather of Shechem for one hundredpieces of silver, and which had becomean inheritance of the children of Joseph.33And Eleazar the son of Aaron died.They buried him in a hill belonging to

JOSHUA 24 134Phinehas his son, which was given tohim in the mountains of Ephraim.

Judges

1 1Now a er the death of Joshua itcame to pass that the children of

Israel asked the LORD, saying, "Whoshall be first to go up for us against theCanaanites to fight against them?"2And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up.Indeed I have delivered the land into hishand."3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother,"Come up with me to my allo edterritory, that we may fight against theCanaanites; and I will likewise go withyou to your allo ed territory." AndSimeon went with him.4 Then Judah went up, and the LORDdelivered the Canaanites and thePerizzites into their hand; and they killedten thousand men at Bezek.

JUDGES 1 25And they found Adoni–Bezek inBezek, and fought against him; andthey defeated the Canaanites and thePerizzites.6 Then Adoni–Bezek fled, and theypursued him and caught him and cut offhis thumbs and big toes.7And Adoni–Bezek said, "Seventy kingswith their thumbs and big toes cut offused to gather scraps under my table;as I have done, so God has repaid me."Then they brought him to Jerusalem,and there he died.8Now the children of Judah foughtagainst Jerusalem and took it; theystruck it with the edge of the sword andset the city on fire.9And a erward the children ofJudah went down to fight against theCanaanites who dwelt in the mountains,in the South, and in the lowland.

JUDGES 1 310 Then Judah went against theCanaanites who dwelt in Hebron. (Nowthe name of Hebron was formerly KirjathArba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman,and Talmai.11 From there they went against theinhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debirwas formerly Kirjath Sepher.)12 Then Caleb said, "Whoever a acksKirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I willgive my daughter Achsah as wife."13And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’syounger brother, took it; so he gave himhis daughter Achsah as wife.14Now it happened, when she came tohim, that she urged him to ask her fatherfor a field. And she dismounted from herdonkey, and Caleb said to her, "What doyou wish?"15 So she said to him, "Give me ablessing; since you have given me landin the South, give me also springs of

JUDGES 1 4water." And Caleb gave her the uppersprings and the lower springs.16Now the children of the Kenite,Moses’ father–in–law, went up from theCity of Palms with the children of Judahinto the Wilderness of Judah, which liesin the South near Arad; and they wentand dwelt among the people.17And Judah went with his brotherSimeon, and they a acked theCanaanites who inhabited Zephath, andu erly destroyed it. So the name of thecity was called Hormah.18Also Judah took Gaza with itsterritory, Ashkelon with its territory, andEkron with its territory.19 So the LORD was with Judah. Andthey drove out the mountaineers, butthey could not drive out the inhabitantsof the lowland, because they hadchariots of iron.

JUDGES 1 520And they gave Hebron to Caleb, asMoses had said. Then he expelled fromthere the three sons of Anak.21 But the children of Benjamin did notdrive out the Jebusites who inhabitedJerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell withthe children of Benjamin in Jerusalem tothis day.22And the house of Joseph also wentup against Bethel, and the LORD waswith them.23 So the house of Joseph sent men tospy out Bethel. (The name of the citywas formerly Luz.)24And when the spies saw a mancoming out of the city, they said to him,"Please show us the entrance to the city,and we will show you mercy."25 So he showed them the entrance tothe city, and they struck the city with theedge of the sword; but they let the manand all his family go.

JUDGES 1 626And the man went to the land of theHi tes, built a city, and called its nameLuz, which is its name to this day.27However, Manasseh did not drive outthe inhabitants of Beth Shean and itsvillages, or Taanach and its villages, orthe inhabitants of Dor and its villages,or the inhabitants of Ibleam and itsvillages, or the inhabitants of Megiddoand its villages; for the Canaanites weredetermined to dwell in that land.28And it came to pass, when Israel wasstrong, that they put the Canaanitesunder tribute, but did not completelydrive them out.29Nor did Ephraim drive out theCanaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so theCanaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.30Nor did Zebulun drive out theinhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitantsof Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt

JUDGES 1 7among them, and were put undertribute.31Nor did Asher drive out theinhabitants of Acco or the inhabitantsof Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah,Aphik, or Rehob.32 So the Asherites dwelt among theCanaanites, the inhabitants of the land;for they did not drive them out.33Nor did Naphtali drive out theinhabitants of Beth Shemesh or theinhabitants of Beth Anath; but theydwelt among the Canaanites, theinhabitants of the land. Nevertheless theinhabitants of Beth Shemesh and BethAnath were put under tribute to them.34And the Amorites forced the childrenof Dan into the mountains, for theywould not allow them to come down tothe valley;35 and the Amorites were determinedto dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and

JUDGES 1–2 8in Shaalbim; yet when the strength ofthe house of Joseph became greater,they were put under tribute.36Now the boundary of the Amoriteswas from the Ascent of Akrabbim, fromSela, and upward.

2 1 Then the Angel of the LORD cameup from Gilgal to Bochim, and said:

"I led you up from Egypt and broughtyou to the land of which I swore to yourfathers; and I said, ‘I will never break Mycovenant with you.2 ‘And you shall make no covenant withthe inhabitants of this land; you shalltear down their altars.’ But you have notobeyed My voice. Why have you donethis?3 "Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drivethem out before you; but they shall bethorns in your side, and their gods shallbe a snare to you.’"

JUDGES 2 94 So it was, when the Angel of the LORDspoke these words to all the childrenof Israel, that the people li ed up theirvoices and wept.5 Then they called the name of thatplace Bochim; and they sacrificed thereto the LORD.6And when Joshua had dismissed thepeople, the children of Israel went eachto his own inheritance to possess theland.7 So the people served the LORD all thedays of Joshua, and all the days of theelders who outlived Joshua, who hadseen all the great works of the LORDwhich He had done for Israel.8Now Joshua the son of Nun, theservant of the LORD, died when he wasone hundred and ten years old.9And they buried himwithin the borderof his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in

JUDGES 2 10the mountains of Ephraim, on the northside of Mount Gaash.10When all that genera on had beengathered to their fathers, anothergenera on arose a er them who did notknow the LORD nor the work which Hehad done for Israel.11 Then the children of Israel did evil inthe sight of the LORD, and served theBaals;12 and they forsook the LORD God oftheir fathers, who had brought them outof the land of Egypt; and they followedother gods from among the gods of thepeople who were all around them, andthey bowed down to them; and theyprovoked the LORD to anger.13 They forsook the LORD and servedBaal and the Ashtoreths.14And the anger of the LORD was hotagainst Israel. So He delivered them intothe hands of plunderers who despoiled

JUDGES 2 11them; and He sold them into the handsof their enemies all around, so thatthey could no longer stand before theirenemies.15Wherever they went out, the hand ofthe LORD was against them for calamity,as the LORD had said, and as the LORDhad sworn to them. And they weregreatly distressed.16Nevertheless, the LORD raised upjudges who delivered them out of thehand of those who plundered them.17 Yet they would not listen to theirjudges, but they played the harlot withother gods, and bowed down to them.They turned quickly from the way inwhich their fathers walked, in obeyingthe commandments of the LORD; theydid not do so.18And when the LORD raised up judgesfor them, the LORD was with the judgeand delivered them out of the hand of

JUDGES 2 12their enemies all the days of the judge;for the LORD was moved to pity bytheir groaning because of those whooppressed them and harassed them.19And it came to pass, when thejudge was dead, that they revertedand behaved more corruptly than theirfathers, by following other gods, to servethem and bow down to them. They didnot cease from their own doings norfrom their stubborn way.20 Then the anger of the LORD was hotagainst Israel; and He said, "Because thisna on has transgressed My covenantwhich I commanded their fathers, andhas not heeded My voice,21 "I also will no longer drive out beforethem any of the na ons which Joshuale when he died,22 "so that through them I may testIsrael, whether they will keep the ways

JUDGES 2–3 13of the LORD, to walk in them as theirfathers kept them, or not."23 Therefore the LORD le thosena ons, without driving them outimmediately; nor did He deliver theminto the hand of Joshua.

3 1Now these are the na ons whichthe LORD le , that He might test

Israel by them, that is, all who had notknown any of the wars in Canaan2 (this was only so that the genera onsof the children of Israel might be taughtto know war, at least those who had notformerly known it),3 namely, five lords of the Philis nes,all the Canaanites, the Sidonians,and the Hivites who dwelt in MountLebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon tothe entrance of Hamath.4And they were le , that He might testIsrael by them, to know whether theywould obey the commandments of the

JUDGES 3 14LORD, which He had commanded theirfathers by the hand of Moses.5 Thus the children of Israel dweltamong the Canaanites, the Hi tes, theAmorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, andthe Jebusites.6And they took their daughters to betheir wives, and gave their daughters totheir sons; and they served their gods.7 So the children of Israel did evil in thesight of the LORD. They forgot the LORDtheir God, and served the Baals andAsherahs.8 Therefore the anger of the LORD washot against Israel, and He sold them intothe hand of Cushan–Rishathaim king ofMesopotamia; and the children of Israelserved Cushan–Rishathaim eight years.9When the children of Israel criedout to the LORD, the LORD raised upa deliverer for the children of Israel,

JUDGES 3 15who delivered them: Othniel the son ofKenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.10 The Spirit of the LORD came uponhim, and he judged Israel. He went outto war, and the LORD delivered Cushan–Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia intohis hand; and his hand prevailed overCushan–Rishathaim.11 So the land had rest for forty years.Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.12And the children of Israel again didevil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORDstrengthened Eglon king of Moab againstIsrael, because they had done evil in thesight of the LORD.13 Then he gathered to himself thepeople of Ammon and Amalek, wentand defeated Israel, and took possessionof the City of Palms.14 So the children of Israel served Eglonking of Moab eighteen years.

JUDGES 3 1615 But when the children of Israel criedout to the LORD, the LORD raised up adeliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera,the Benjamite, a le –handed man. Byhim the children of Israel sent tribute toEglon king of Moab.16Now Ehud made himself a dagger (itwas double–edged and a cubit in length)and fastened it under his clothes on hisright thigh.17 So he brought the tribute to Eglonking of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fatman.)18And when he had finished presen ngthe tribute, he sent away the peoplewho had carried the tribute.19 But he himself turned back from thestone images that were at Gilgal, andsaid, "I have a secret message for you,O king." He said, "Keep silence!" And allwho a ended him went out from him.

JUDGES 3 1720And Ehud came to him (now hewas si ng upstairs in his cool privatechamber). Then Ehud said, "I have amessage from God for you." So he arosefrom his seat.21 Then Ehud reached with his lehand, took the dagger from his rightthigh, and thrust it into his belly.22 Even the hilt went in a er the blade,and the fat closed over the blade, for hedid not draw the dagger out of his belly;and his entrails came out.23 Then Ehud went out through theporch and shut the doors of the upperroom behind him and locked them.24When he had gone out, Eglon’sservants came to look, and to theirsurprise, the doors of the upper roomwere locked. So they said, "He isprobably a ending to his needs in thecool chamber."

JUDGES 3 1825 So they waited ll they wereembarrassed, and s ll he had notopened the doors of the upper room.Therefore they took the key and openedthem. And there was their master, fallendead on the floor.26 But Ehud had escaped while theydelayed, and passed beyond the stoneimages and escaped to Seirah.27And it happened, when he arrived,that he blew the trumpet in themountains of Ephraim, and the childrenof Israel went down with him from themountains; and he led them.28 Then he said to them, "Follow me,for the LORD has delivered your enemiesthe Moabites into your hand." So theywent down a er him, seized the fords ofthe Jordan leading to Moab, and did notallow anyone to cross over.

JUDGES 3–4 1929And at that me they killed about tenthousand men of Moab, all stout men ofvalor; not a man escaped.30 So Moab was subdued that dayunder the hand of Israel. And the landhad rest for eighty years.31A er him was Shamgar the son ofAnath, who killed six hundred men ofthe Philis nes with an ox goad; and healso delivered Israel.

4 1When Ehud was dead, the childrenof Israel again did evil in the sight of

the LORD.2 So the LORD sold them into the handof Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned inHazor. The commander of his army wasSisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim.3And the children of Israel cried out tothe LORD; for Jabin had nine hundredchariots of iron, and for twenty years heharshly oppressed the children of Israel.

JUDGES 4 204Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wifeof Lapidoth, was judging Israel at thatme.5And she would sit under the palmtree of Deborah between Ramah andBethel in the mountains of Ephraim. Andthe children of Israel came up to her forjudgment.6 Then she sent and called for Barakthe son of Abinoam from Kedesh inNaphtali, and said to him, "Has not theLORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go anddeploy troops at Mount Tabor; take withyou ten thousand men of the sons ofNaphtali and of the sons of Zebulun;7 ‘and against you I will deploy Sisera,the commander of Jabin’s army, with hischariots and his mul tude at the RiverKishon; and I will deliver him into yourhand’?"

JUDGES 4 218And Barak said to her, "If you will gowith me, then I will go; but if you will notgo with me, I will not go!"9 So she said, "I will surely go with you;nevertheless there will be no glory foryou in the journey you are taking, for theLORD will sell Sisera into the hand of awoman." Then Deborah arose and wentwith Barak to Kedesh.10And Barak called Zebulun andNaphtali to Kedesh; he went up with tenthousand men under his command, andDeborah went up with him.11NowHeber the Kenite, of the childrenof Hobab the father–in–law of Moses,had separated himself from the Kenitesand pitched his tent near the terebinthtree at Zaanaim, which is beside Kedesh.12And they reported to Sisera thatBarak the son of Abinoam had gone upto Mount Tabor.

JUDGES 4 2213 So Sisera gathered together all hischariots, nine hundred chariots of iron,and all the people who were with him,from Harosheth Hagoyim to the RiverKishon.14 Then Deborah said to Barak, "Up!For this is the day in which the LORDhas delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasnot the LORD gone out before you?" SoBarak went down from Mount Taborwith ten thousand men following him.15And the LORD routed Sisera and allhis chariots and all his army with theedge of the sword before Barak; andSisera alighted from his chariot and fledaway on foot.16 But Barak pursued the chariots andthe army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim,and all the army of Sisera fell by the edgeof the sword; not a man was le .17However, Sisera had fled away onfoot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber

JUDGES 4 23the Kenite; for there was peace betweenJabin king of Hazor and the house ofHeber the Kenite.18And Jael went out to meet Sisera,and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord,turn aside to me; do not fear." And whenhe had turned aside with her into thetent, she covered him with a blanket.19 Then he said to her, "Please give mea li le water to drink, for I am thirsty."So she opened a jug of milk, gave him adrink, and covered him.20And he said to her, "Stand at the doorof the tent, and if any man comes andinquires of you, and says, ‘Is there anyman here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’"21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tentpeg and took a hammer in her hand, andwent so ly to him and drove the peginto his temple, and it went down intothe ground; for he was fast asleep andweary. So he died.

JUDGES 4–5 2422And then, as Barak pursued Sisera,Jael came out to meet him, and said tohim, "Come, I will show you the manwhom you seek." And when he wentinto her tent, there lay Sisera, dead withthe peg in his temple.23 So on that day God subdued Jabinking of Canaan in the presence of thechildren of Israel.24And the hand of the children of Israelgrew stronger and stronger against Jabinking of Canaan, un l they had destroyedJabin king of Canaan.

5 1 Then Deborah and Barak the son ofAbinoam sang on that day, saying:

2 "When leaders lead in Israel, Whenthe people willingly offer themselves,Bless the LORD!3 "Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I,even I, will sing to the LORD; I will singpraise to the LORD God of Israel.

JUDGES 5 254 "LORD, when You went out fromSeir, When You marched from the fieldof Edom, The earth trembled and theheavens poured, The clouds also pouredwater;5 The mountains gushed before theLORD, This Sinai, before the LORD God ofIsrael.6 "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,In the days of Jael, The highways weredeserted, And the travelers walked alongthe byways.7Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel,Un l I, Deborah, arose, Arose a motherin Israel.8 They chose new gods; Then there waswar in the gates; Not a shield or spearwas seen among forty thousand in Israel.9My heart is with the rulers of IsraelWho offered themselves willingly withthe people. Bless the LORD!

JUDGES 5 2610 "Speak, you who ride on whitedonkeys, Who sit in judges’ a re, Andwho walk along the road.11 Far from the noise of the archers,among the watering places, There theyshall recount the righteous acts of theLORD, The righteous acts for His villagersin Israel; Then the people of the LORDshall go down to the gates.12 "Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake,awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, andlead your cap ves away, O son ofAbinoam!13 "Then the survivors came down, thepeople against the nobles; The LORDcame down for me against the mighty.14 From Ephraim were those whoseroots were in Amalek. A er you,Benjamin, with your peoples, FromMachir rulers came down, And fromZebulun those who bear the recruiter’sstaff.

JUDGES 5 2715And the princes of Issachar werewith Deborah; As Issachar, so was BarakSent into the valley under his command;Among the divisions of Reuben Therewere great resolves of heart.16Why did you sit among thesheepfolds, To hear the pipings for theflocks? The divisions of Reuben havegreat searchings of heart.17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan,And why did Dan remain on ships? Ashercon nued at the seashore, And stayedby his inlets.18 Zebulun is a people who jeopardizedtheir lives to the point of death, Naphtalialso, on the heights of the ba lefield.19 "The kings came and fought, Thenthe kings of Canaan fought In Taanach,by the waters of Megiddo; They took nospoils of silver.

JUDGES 5 2820 They fought from the heavens; Thestars from their courses fought againstSisera.21 The torrent of Kishon swept themaway, That ancient torrent, the torrent ofKishon. O my soul, march on in strength!22 Then the horses’ hooves pounded,The galloping, galloping of his steeds.23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of theLORD, ‘Curse its inhabitants bi erly,Because they did not come to the helpof the LORD, To the help of the LORDagainst the mighty.’24 "Most blessed among women is Jael,The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed isshe among women in tents.25He asked for water, she gave milk;She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.26 She stretched her hand to the tentpeg, Her right hand to the workmen’shammer; She pounded Sisera, she

JUDGES 5 29pierced his head, She split and struckthrough his temple.27At her feet he sank, he fell, he lays ll; At her feet he sank, he fell; Wherehe sank, there he fell dead.28 "Themother of Sisera looked throughthe window, And cried out through thela ce, ‘Why is his chariot so long incoming? Why tarries the cla er of hischariots?’29Her wisest ladies answered her, Yes,she answered herself,30 ‘Are they not finding and dividingthe spoil: To every man a girl or two;For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments,Plunder of garments embroidered anddyed, Two pieces of dyed embroidery forthe neck of the looter?’31 "Thus let all Your enemies perish, OLORD! But let those who love Him belike the sun When it comes out in full

JUDGES 6 30strength." So the land had rest for fortyyears.

6 1 Then the children of Israel did evilin the sight of the LORD. So the LORD

delivered them into the hand of Midianfor seven years,2 and the hand of Midian prevailedagainst Israel. Because of the Midianites,the children of Israel made forthemselves the dens, the caves, and thestrongholds which are in the mountains.3 So it was, whenever Israel hadsown, Midianites would come up; alsoAmalekites and the people of the Eastwould come up against them.4 Then they would encamp againstthem and destroy the produce of theearth as far as Gaza, and leave nosustenance for Israel, neither sheep norox nor donkey.5 For they would come up with theirlivestock and their tents, coming in as

JUDGES 6 31numerous as locusts; both they and theircamels were without number; and theywould enter the land to destroy it.6 So Israel was greatly impoverishedbecause of the Midianites, and thechildren of Israel cried out to the LORD.7And it came to pass, when the childrenof Israel cried out to the LORD becauseof the Midianites,8 that the LORD sent a prophet to thechildren of Israel, who said to them,"Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Ibrought you up from Egypt and broughtyou out of the house of bondage;9 ‘and I delivered you out of the hand ofthe Egyp ans and out of the hand of allwho oppressed you, and drove them outbefore you and gave you their land.10 ‘Also I said to you, "I am the LORDyour God; do not fear the gods of theAmorites, in whose land you dwell." Butyou have not obeyed My voice.’"

JUDGES 6 3211Now the Angel of the LORD came andsat under the terebinth tree which wasin Ophrah, which belonged to Joash theAbiezrite, while his son Gideon threshedwheat in the winepress, in order to hideit from the Midianites.12And the Angel of the LORD appearedto him, and said to him, "The LORD iswith you, you mighty man of valor!"13Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, ifthe LORD is with us, why then has allthis happened to us? And where are allHis miracles which our fathers told usabout, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bringus up from Egypt?’ But now the LORDhas forsaken us and delivered us into thehands of the Midianites."14 Then the LORD turned to him andsaid, "Go in this might of yours, and youshall save Israel from the hand of theMidianites. Have I not sent you?"

JUDGES 6 3315 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, howcan I save Israel? Indeed my clan is theweakest in Manasseh, and I am the leastin my father’s house."16And the LORD said to him, "Surely Iwill be with you, and you shall defeat theMidianites as one man."17 Then he said to Him, "If now I havefound favor in Your sight, then show mea sign that it is You who talk with me.18 "Do not depart from here, I pray,un l I come to You and bring out myoffering and set it before You." And Hesaid, "I will wait un l you come back."19 So Gideon went in and prepared ayoung goat, and unleavened bread froman ephah of flour. The meat he put in abasket, and he put the broth in a pot;and he brought them out to Him underthe terebinth tree and presented them.20 The Angel of God said to him, "Takethe meat and the unleavened bread and

JUDGES 6 34lay them on this rock, and pour out thebroth." And he did so.21 Then the Angel of the LORD putout the end of the staff that was in Hishand, and touched the meat and theunleavened bread; and fire rose out ofthe rock and consumed the meat andthe unleavened bread. And the Angel ofthe LORD departed out of his sight.22Now Gideon perceived that He wasthe Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said,"Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen theAngel of the LORD face to face."23 Then the LORD said to him, "Peacebe with you; do not fear, you shall notdie."24 So Gideon built an altar there to theLORD, and called it The–LORD–Is–Peace.To this day it is s ll in Ophrah of theAbiezrites.25Now it came to pass the same nightthat the LORD said to him, "Take your

JUDGES 6 35father’s young bull, the second bull ofseven years old, and tear down the altarof Baal that your father has, and cutdown the wooden image that is besideit;26 "and build an altar to the LORD yourGod on top of this rock in the properarrangement, and take the second bulland offer a burnt sacrifice with the woodof the image which you shall cut down."27 So Gideon took ten men from amonghis servants and did as the LORD hadsaid to him. But because he feared hisfather’s household and the men of thecity too much to do it by day, he did it bynight.28And when the men of the city aroseearly in the morning, there was the altarof Baal, torn down; and the woodenimage that was beside it was cut down,and the second bull was being offeredon the altar which had been built.

JUDGES 6 3629 So they said to one another, "Whohas done this thing?" And when they hadinquired and asked, they said, "Gideonthe son of Joash has done this thing."30 Then the men of the city said toJoash, "Bring out your son, that he maydie, because he has torn down the altarof Baal, and because he has cut downthe wooden image that was beside it."31 But Joash said to all who stoodagainst him, "Would you plead for Baal?Would you save him? Let the one whowould plead for him be put to death bymorning! If he is a god, let him plead forhimself, because his altar has been torndown!"32 Therefore on that day he called himJerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal plead againsthim, because he has torn down his altar."33 Then all the Midianites andAmalekites, the people of the East,gathered together; and they crossed

JUDGES 6 37over and encamped in the Valley ofJezreel.34 But the Spirit of the LORD came uponGideon; then he blew the trumpet, andthe Abiezrites gathered behind him.35And he sent messengers throughoutall Manasseh, who also gathered behindhim. He also sent messengers to Asher,Zebulun, and Naphtali; and they cameup to meet them.36 So Gideon said to God, "If You willsave Israel by my hand as You havesaid––37 "look, I shall put a fleece of woolon the threshing floor; if there is dewon the fleece only, and it is dry on allthe ground, then I shall know that Youwill save Israel by my hand, as You havesaid."38And it was so. When he rose early thenext morning and squeezed the fleece

JUDGES 6–7 38together, he wrung the dew out of thefleece, a bowlful of water.39 Then Gideon said to God, "Do notbe angry with me, but let me speak justonce more: Let me test, I pray, just oncemore with the fleece; let it now be dryonly on the fleece, but on all the groundlet there be dew."40And God did so that night. It was dryon the fleece only, but there was dew onall the ground.

7 1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon)and all the people who were with

him rose early and encamped besidethe well of Harod, so that the camp ofthe Midianites was on the north side ofthem by the hill of Moreh in the valley.2And the LORD said to Gideon, "Thepeople who are with you are too manyfor Me to give the Midianites into theirhands, lest Israel claim glory for itself

JUDGES 7 39against Me, saying, ‘My own hand hassaved me.’3 "Now therefore, proclaim in thehearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoeveris fearful and afraid, let him turn anddepart at once from Mount Gilead.’"And twenty–two thousand of the peoplereturned, and ten thousand remained.4 But the LORD said to Gideon, "Thepeople are s ll too many; bring themdown to the water, and I will test themfor you there. Then it will be, that ofwhom I say to you, ‘This one shall gowith you,’ the same shall go with you;and of whomever I say to you, ‘This oneshall not go with you,’ the same shall notgo."5 So he brought the people down tothe water. And the LORD said to Gideon,"Everyone who laps from the water withhis tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set

JUDGES 7 40apart by himself; likewise everyone whogets down on his knees to drink."6And the number of those who lapped,pu ng their hand to their mouth, wasthree hundred men; but all the rest ofthe people got down on their knees todrink water.7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By thethree hundred men who lapped I willsave you, and deliver the Midianites intoyour hand. Let all the other people go,every man to his place."8 So the people took provisions andtheir trumpets in their hands. And hesent away all the rest of Israel, everyman to his tent, and retained thosethree hundred men. Now the camp ofMidian was below him in the valley.9 It happened on the same night thatthe LORD said to him, "Arise, go downagainst the camp, for I have delivered itinto your hand.

JUDGES 7 4110 "But if you are afraid to go down,go down to the camp with Purah yourservant,11 "and you shall hear what they say;and a erward your hands shall bestrengthened to go down against thecamp." Then he went down with Purahhis servant to the outpost of the armedmen who were in the camp.12Now the Midianites and Amalekites,all the people of the East, were lying inthe valley as numerous as locusts; andtheir camels were without number, asthe sand by the seashore in mul tude.13And when Gideon had come, therewas a man telling a dream to hiscompanion. He said, "I have had adream: To my surprise, a loaf of barleybread tumbled into the camp of Midian;it came to a tent and struck it so thatit fell and overturned, and the tentcollapsed."

JUDGES 7 4214 Then his companion answered andsaid, "This is nothing else but the swordof Gideon the son of Joash, a man ofIsrael! Into his hand God has deliveredMidian and the whole camp."15And so it was, when Gideonheard the telling of the dream and itsinterpreta on, that he worshiped. Hereturned to the camp of Israel, and said,"Arise, for the LORD has delivered thecamp of Midian into your hand."16 Then he divided the three hundredmen into three companies, and he puta trumpet into every man’s hand, withempty pitchers, and torches inside thepitchers.17And he said to them, "Look at meand do likewise; watch, and when I cometo the edge of the camp you shall do as Ido:18 "When I blow the trumpet, I and allwho are with me, then you also blow

JUDGES 7 43the trumpets on every side of the wholecamp, and say, ‘The sword of the LORDand of Gideon!’"19 So Gideon and the hundred menwho were with him came to the outpostof the camp at the beginning of themiddle watch, just as they had postedthe watch; and they blew the trumpetsand broke the pitchers that were in theirhands.20 Then the three companies blew thetrumpets and broke the pitchers––theyheld the torches in their le hands andthe trumpets in their right hands forblowing––and they cried, "The sword ofthe LORD and of Gideon!"21And every man stood in his place allaround the camp; and the whole armyran and cried out and fled.22When the three hundred blew thetrumpets, the LORD set every man’ssword against his companion throughout

JUDGES 7 44the whole camp; and the army fled toBeth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far asthe border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.23And the men of Israel gatheredtogether from Naphtali, Asher, and allManasseh, and pursued the Midianites.24 Then Gideon sent messengersthroughout all the mountains ofEphraim, saying, "Come down againstthe Midianites, and seize from them thewatering places as far as Beth Barahand the Jordan." Then all the men ofEphraim gathered together and seizedthe watering places as far as Beth Barahand the Jordan.25And they captured two princes of theMidianites, Oreb and Zeeb. They killedOreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb theykilled at the winepress of Zeeb. Theypursued Midian and brought the headsof Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the otherside of the Jordan.

JUDGES 8 45

8 1Now the men of Ephraim said tohim, "Why have you done this to

us by not calling us when you went tofight with the Midianites?" And theyreprimanded him sharply.2 So he said to them, "What have I donenow in comparison with you? Is not thegleaning of the grapes of Ephraim be erthan the vintage of Abiezer?3 "God has delivered into your handsthe princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb.And what was I able to do in comparisonwith you?" Then their anger toward himsubsided when he said that.4When Gideon came to the Jordan, heand the three hundred men who werewith him crossed over, exhausted buts ll in pursuit.5 Then he said to the men of Succoth,"Please give loaves of bread to thepeople who follow me, for they are

JUDGES 8 46exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah andZalmunna, kings of Midian."6And the leaders of Succoth said, "Arethe hands of Zebah and Zalmunna nowin your hand, that we should give breadto your army?"7 So Gideon said, "For this cause,when the LORD has delivered Zebahand Zalmunna into my hand, then I willtear your flesh with the thorns of thewilderness and with briers!"8 Then he went up from there to Penueland spoke to them in the same way. Andthe men of Penuel answered him as themen of Succoth had answered.9 So he also spoke to the men of Penuel,saying, "When I come back in peace, Iwill tear down this tower!"10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were atKarkor, and their armies with them,about fi een thousand, all who were leof all the army of the people of the East;

JUDGES 8 47for one hundred and twenty thousandmen who drew the sword had fallen.11 Then Gideon went up by the road ofthose who dwell in tents on the east ofNobah and Jogbehah; and he a ackedthe army while the camp felt secure.12When Zebah and Zalmunna fled,he pursued them; and he took the twokings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna,and routed the whole army.13 Then Gideon the son of Joashreturned from ba le, from the Ascent ofHeres.14And he caught a young man of themen of Succoth and interrogated him;and he wrote down for him the leadersof Succoth and its elders, seventy–sevenmen.15 Then he came to the men of Succothand said, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna,about whom you ridiculed me, saying,‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna

JUDGES 8 48now in your hand, that we should givebread to your weary men?’"16And he took the elders of the city,and thorns of the wilderness and briers,and with them he taught the men ofSuccoth.17 Then he tore down the tower ofPenuel and killed the men of the city.18And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna,"What kind of men were they whomyou killed at Tabor?" So they answered,"As you are, so were they; each oneresembled the son of a king."19 Then he said, "They were mybrothers, the sons of my mother. As theLORD lives, if you had let them live, Iwould not kill you."20And he said to Jether his firstborn,"Rise, kill them!" But the youth wouldnot draw his sword; for he was afraid,because he was s ll a youth.

JUDGES 8 4921 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Riseyourself, and kill us; for as a man is, sois his strength." So Gideon arose andkilled Zebah and Zalmunna, and took thecrescent ornaments that were on theircamels’ necks.22 Then the men of Israel said toGideon, "Rule over us, both you andyour son, and your grandson also; foryou have delivered us from the hand ofMidian."23 But Gideon said to them, "I will notrule over you, nor shall my son rule overyou; the LORD shall rule over you."24 Then Gideon said to them, "I wouldlike to make a request of you, that eachof you would give me the earrings fromhis plunder." For they had gold earrings,because they were Ishmaelites.25 So they answered, "We will gladlygive them." And they spread out a

JUDGES 8 50garment, and each man threw into it theearrings from his plunder.26Now the weight of the gold earringsthat he requested was one thousandseven hundred shekels of gold, besidesthe crescent ornaments, pendants, andpurple robes which were on the kingsof Midian, and besides the chains thatwere around their camels’ necks.27 Then Gideon made it into an ephodand set it up in his city, Ophrah. And allIsrael played the harlot with it there. Itbecame a snare to Gideon and to hishouse.28 Thus Midian was subdued beforethe children of Israel, so that they li edtheir heads no more. And the countrywas quiet for forty years in the days ofGideon.29 Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash wentand dwelt in his own house.

JUDGES 8 5130Gideon had seventy sons who werehis own offspring, for he had manywives.31And his concubine who was inShechem also bore him a son, whosename he called Abimelech.32Now Gideon the son of Joash died ata good old age, and was buried in thetomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah ofthe Abiezrites.33 So it was, as soon as Gideon wasdead, that the children of Israel againplayed the harlot with the Baals, andmade Baal–Berith their god.34 Thus the children of Israel did notremember the LORD their God, who haddelivered them from the hands of alltheir enemies on every side;35 nor did they show kindness tothe house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) inaccordance with the good he had donefor Israel.

JUDGES 9 52

9 1 Then Abimelech the son ofJerubbaal went to Shechem, to his

mother’s brothers, and spoke with themand with all the family of the house ofhis mother’s father, saying,2 "Please speak in the hearing of allthe men of Shechem: ‘Which is be erfor you, that all seventy of the sons ofJerubbaal reign over you, or that onereign over you?’ Remember that I amyour own flesh and bone."3And his mother’s brothers spokeall these words concerning him in thehearing of all the men of Shechem;and their heart was inclined to followAbimelech, for they said, "He is ourbrother."4 So they gave him seventy shekels ofsilver from the temple of Baal–Berith,with which Abimelech hired worthlessand reckless men; and they followedhim.

JUDGES 9 535 Then he went to his father’s houseat Ophrah and killed his brothers, theseventy sons of Jerubbaal, on onestone. But Jotham the youngest sonof Jerubbaal was le , because he hidhimself.6And all the men of Shechem gatheredtogether, all of Beth Millo, and they wentand made Abimelech king beside theterebinth tree at the pillar that was inShechem.7Now when they told Jotham, he wentand stood on top of Mount Gerizim, andli ed his voice and cried out. And hesaid to them: "Listen to me, you men ofShechem, That God may listen to you!8 "The trees once went forth to anointa king over them. And they said to theolive tree, ‘Reign over us!’9 But the olive tree said to them,‘Should I cease giving my oil, With which

JUDGES 9 54they honor God and men, And go tosway over trees?’10 "Then the trees said to the fig tree,‘You come and reign over us!’11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘ShouldI cease my sweetness and my good fruit,And go to sway over trees?’12 "Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Youcome and reign over us!’13 But the vine said to them, ‘ShouldI cease my new wine, Which cheersboth God and men, And go to sway overtrees?’14 "Then all the trees said to thebramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’15And the bramble said to the trees,‘If in truth you anoint me as king overyou, Then come and take shelter in myshade; But if not, let fire come out ofthe bramble And devour the cedars ofLebanon!’

JUDGES 9 5516 "Now therefore, if you have acted intruth and sincerity in making Abimelechking, and if you have dealt well withJerubbaal and his house, and have doneto him as he deserves––17 "for my father fought for you, riskedhis life, and delivered you out of thehand of Midian;18 "but you have risen up against myfather’s house this day, and killed hisseventy sons on one stone, and madeAbimelech, the son of his female servant,king over the men of Shechem, becausehe is your brother––19 "if then you have acted in truthand sincerity with Jerubbaal and withhis house this day, then rejoice inAbimelech, and let him also rejoice inyou.20 "But if not, let fire come fromAbimelech and devour the men ofShechem and Beth Millo; and let fire

JUDGES 9 56come from the men of Shechem andfrom Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!"21And Jotham ran away and fled; andhe went to Beer and dwelt there, for fearof Abimelech his brother.22A er Abimelech had reigned overIsrael three years,23God sent a spirit of ill will betweenAbimelech and themen of Shechem; andthe men of Shechem dealt treacherouslywith Abimelech,24 that the crime done to the seventysons of Jerubbaal might be se led andtheir blood be laid on Abimelech theirbrother, who killed them, and on themen of Shechem, who aided him in thekilling of his brothers.25And the men of Shechem set menin ambush against him on the tops ofthe mountains, and they robbed all whopassed by them along that way; and itwas told Abimelech.

JUDGES 9 5726Now Gaal the son of Ebed came withhis brothers and went over to Shechem;and the men of Shechem put theirconfidence in him.27 So they went out into the fields, andgathered grapes from their vineyardsand trod them, and made merry. Andthey went into the house of theirgod, and ate and drank, and cursedAbimelech.28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Whois Abimelech, and who is Shechem, thatwe should serve him? Is he not the sonof Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer?Serve the men of Hamor the father ofShechem; but why should we serve him?29 "If only this people were undermy authority! Then I would removeAbimelech." So he said to Abimelech,"Increase your army and come out!"

JUDGES 9 5830When Zebul, the ruler of the city,heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed,his anger was aroused.31And he sent messengers toAbimelech secretly, saying, "Take note!Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothershave come to Shechem; and here theyare, for fying the city against you.32 "Now therefore, get up by night, youand the people who are with you, andlie in wait in the field.33 "And it shall be, as soon as the sunis up in the morning, that you shall riseearly and rush upon the city; and whenhe and the people who are with himcome out against you, you may then doto them as you find opportunity."34 So Abimelech and all the people whowere with him rose by night, and lay inwait against Shechem in four companies.35When Gaal the son of Ebed went outand stood in the entrance to the city

JUDGES 9 59gate, Abimelech and the people whowere with him rose from lying in wait.36And when Gaal saw the people, hesaid to Zebul, "Look, people are comingdown from the tops of the mountains!"But Zebul said to him, "You see theshadows of the mountains as if theywere men."37 So Gaal spoke again and said, "See,people are coming down from the centerof the land, and another company iscoming from the Diviners’ TerebinthTree."38 Then Zebul said to him, "Whereindeed is your mouth now, with whichyou said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that weshould serve him?’ Are not these thepeople whom you despised? Go out, ifyou will, and fight with them now."39 So Gaal went out, leading the men ofShechem, and fought with Abimelech.

JUDGES 9 6040And Abimelech chased him, and hefled from him; and many fell wounded,to the very entrance of the gate.41 Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah,and Zebul drove out Gaal and hisbrothers, so that they would not dwell inShechem.42And it came about on the next daythat the people went out into the field,and they told Abimelech.43 So he took his people, divided theminto three companies, and lay in wait inthe field. And he looked, and there werethe people, coming out of the city; andhe rose against them and a acked them.44 Then Abimelech and the companythat was with him rushed forward andstood at the entrance of the gate ofthe city; and the other two companiesrushed upon all who were in the fieldsand killed them.

JUDGES 9 6145 So Abimelech fought against thecity all that day; he took the city andkilled the people who were in it; and hedemolished the city and sowed it withsalt.46Now when all the men of the towerof Shechem had heard that, they enteredthe stronghold of the temple of the godBerith.47And it was told Abimelech that allthe men of the tower of Shechem weregathered together.48 Then Abimelech went up to MountZalmon, he and all the people who werewith him. And Abimelech took an ax inhis hand and cut down a bough fromthe trees, and took it and laid it on hisshoulder; then he said to the peoplewho were with him, "What you haveseen me do, make haste and do as I havedone."

JUDGES 9 6249 So each of the people likewise cutdown his own bough and followedAbimelech, put them against thestronghold, and set the stronghold onfire above them, so that all the peopleof the tower of Shechem died, about athousand men and women.50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, andhe encamped against Thebez and tookit.51 But there was a strong tower in thecity, and all the men and women––allthe people of the city––fled there andshut themselves in; then they went upto the top of the tower.52 So Abimelech came as far as thetower and fought against it; and he drewnear the door of the tower to burn itwith fire.53 But a certain woman dropped anupper millstone on Abimelech’s headand crushed his skull.

JUDGES 9–10 6354 Then he called quickly to the youngman, his armorbearer, and said to him,"Draw your sword and kill me, lest mensay of me, ‘A woman killed him.’" So hisyoung man thrust him through, and hedied.55And when the men of Israel saw thatAbimelech was dead, they departed,every man to his place.56 Thus God repaid the wickedness ofAbimelech, which he had done to hisfather by killing his seventy brothers.57And all the evil of the men ofShechem God returned on their ownheads, and on them came the curse ofJotham the son of Jerubbaal.

10 1A er Abimelech there arose tosave Israel Tola the son of Puah,

the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; andhe dwelt in Shamir in the mountains ofEphraim.

JUDGES 10 642He judged Israel twenty–three years;and he died and was buried in Shamir.3A er him arose Jair, a Gileadite; andhe judged Israel twenty–two years.4Now he had thirty sons who rodeon thirty donkeys; they also had thirtytowns, which are called "Havoth Jair" tothis day, which are in the land of Gilead.5And Jair died and was buried inCamon.6 Then the children of Israel again didevil in the sight of the LORD, and servedthe Baals and the Ashtoreths, the godsof Syria, the gods of Sidon, the godsof Moab, the gods of the people ofAmmon, and the gods of the Philis nes;and they forsook the LORD and did notserve Him.7 So the anger of the LORD was hotagainst Israel; and He sold them intothe hands of the Philis nes and into thehands of the people of Ammon.

JUDGES 10 658 From that year they harassed andoppressed the children of Israel foreighteen years––all the children ofIsrael who were on the other side of theJordan in the land of the Amorites, inGilead.9Moreover the people of Ammoncrossed over the Jordan to fight againstJudah also, against Benjamin, andagainst the house of Ephraim, so thatIsrael was severely distressed.10And the children of Israel cried outto the LORD, saying, "We have sinnedagainst You, because we have bothforsaken our God and served the Baals!"11 So the LORD said to the children ofIsrael, "Did I not deliver you from theEgyp ans and from the Amorites andfrom the people of Ammon and from thePhilis nes?12 "Also the Sidonians and Amalekitesand Maonites oppressed you; and you

JUDGES 10 66cried out toMe, and I delivered you fromtheir hand.13 "Yet you have forsaken Me andserved other gods. Therefore I willdeliver you no more.14 "Go and cry out to the gods whichyou have chosen; let them deliver you inyour me of distress."15And the children of Israel said tothe LORD, "We have sinned! Do to uswhatever seems best to You; only deliverus this day, we pray."16 So they put away the foreign godsfrom among them and served the LORD.And His soul could no longer endure themisery of Israel.17 Then the people of Ammon gatheredtogether and encamped in Gilead. Andthe children of Israel assembled togetherand encamped in Mizpah.18And the people, the leaders ofGilead, said to one another, "Who is the

JUDGES 11 67man who will begin the fight against thepeople of Ammon? He shall be headover all the inhabitants of Gilead."

11 1Now Jephthah the Gileadite wasa mighty man of valor, but he was

the son of a harlot; and Gilead begotJephthah.2Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when hiswife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthahout, and said to him, "You shall have noinheritance in our father’s house, for youare the son of another woman."3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothersand dwelt in the land of Tob; andworthless men banded together withJephthah and went out raiding with him.4 It came to pass a er a me that thepeople of Ammon made war againstIsrael.5And so it was, when the people ofAmmon made war against Israel, that

JUDGES 11 68the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthahfrom the land of Tob.6 Then they said to Jephthah, "Comeand be our commander, that we mayfight against the people of Ammon."7 So Jephthah said to the elders ofGilead, "Did you not hate me, and expelme from my father’s house? Why haveyou come to me now when you are indistress?"8And the elders of Gilead said toJephthah, "That is why we have turnedagain to you now, that you may gowith us and fight against the people ofAmmon, and be our head over all theinhabitants of Gilead."9 So Jephthah said to the elders ofGilead, "If you take me back home tofight against the people of Ammon, andthe LORD delivers them to me, shall I beyour head?"

JUDGES 11 6910And the elders of Gilead said toJephthah, "The LORD will be a witnessbetween us, if we do not do according toyour words."11 Then Jephthah went with the eldersof Gilead, and the people made himhead and commander over them; andJephthah spoke all his words before theLORD in Mizpah.12Now Jephthah sent messengers tothe king of the people of Ammon, saying,"What do you have against me, that youhave come to fight against me in myland?"13And the king of the people of Ammonanswered the messengers of Jephthah,"Because Israel took away my land whenthey came up out of Egypt, from theArnon as far as the Jabbok, and to theJordan. Now therefore, restore thoselands peaceably."

JUDGES 11 7014 So Jephthah again sent messengersto the king of the people of Ammon,15 and said to him, "Thus says Jephthah:‘Israel did not take away the land ofMoab, nor the land of the people ofAmmon;16 ‘for when Israel came up from Egypt,they walked through the wilderness asfar as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.17 ‘Then Israel sent messengers to theking of Edom, saying, "Please let me passthrough your land." But the king of Edomwould not heed. And in like mannerthey sent to the king of Moab, but hewould not consent. So Israel remained inKadesh.18 ‘And they went along through thewilderness and bypassed the land ofEdom and the land of Moab, came tothe east side of the land of Moab, andencamped on the other side of theArnon. But they did not enter the border

JUDGES 11 71of Moab, for the Arnon was the borderof Moab.19 ‘Then Israel sent messengers to Sihonking of the Amorites, king of Heshbon;and Israel said to him, "Please let us passthrough your land into our place."20 ‘But Sihon did not trust Israel to passthrough his territory. So Sihon gatheredall his people together, encamped inJahaz, and fought against Israel.21 ‘And the LORD God of Israel deliveredSihon and all his people into the handof Israel, and they defeated them. ThusIsrael gained possession of all the landof the Amorites, who inhabited thatcountry.22 ‘They took possession of all theterritory of the Amorites, from the Arnonto the Jabbok and from the wildernessto the Jordan.23 ‘And now the LORD God of Israelhas dispossessed the Amorites from

JUDGES 11 72before His people Israel; should you thenpossess it?24 ‘Will you not possess whateverChemosh your god gives you to possess?So whatever the LORD our God takespossession of before us, we will possess.25 ‘And now, are you any be er thanBalak the son of Zippor, king of Moab?Did he ever strive against Israel? Did heever fight against them?26 ‘While Israel dwelt in Heshbon andits villages, in Aroer and its villages, andin all the ci es along the banks of theArnon, for three hundred years, why didyou not recover them within that me?27 ‘Therefore I have not sinned againstyou, but you wronged me by figh ngagainst me. May the LORD, the Judge,render judgment this day between thechildren of Israel and the people ofAmmon.’"

JUDGES 11 7328However, the king of the people ofAmmon did not heed the words whichJephthah sent him.29 Then the Spirit of the LORD cameupon Jephthah, and he passed throughGilead and Manasseh, and passedthrough Mizpah of Gilead; and fromMizpah of Gilead he advanced towardthe people of Ammon.30And Jephthah made a vow to theLORD, and said, "If You will indeeddeliver the people of Ammon into myhands,31 "then it will be that whatever comesout of the doors of my house to meetme, when I return in peace from thepeople of Ammon, shall surely be theLORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burntoffering."32 So Jephthah advanced toward thepeople of Ammon to fight against them,

JUDGES 11 74and the LORD delivered them into hishands.33And he defeated them from Aroeras far as Minnith––twenty ci es––andto Abel Keramim, with a very greatslaughter. Thus the people of Ammonwere subdued before the children ofIsrael.34When Jephthah came to his houseat Mizpah, there was his daughter,coming out to meet him with mbrelsand dancing; and she was his only child.Besides her he had neither son nordaughter.35And it came to pass, when he sawher, that he tore his clothes, and said,"Alas, my daughter! You have broughtme very low! You are among those whotrouble me! For I have given my word tothe LORD, and I cannot go back on it."36 So she said to him, "My father, ifyou have given your word to the LORD,

JUDGES 11 75do to me according to what has goneout of your mouth, because the LORDhas avenged you of your enemies, thepeople of Ammon."37 Then she said to her father, "Letthis thing be done for me: let me alonefor two months, that I may go andwander on the mountains and bewail myvirginity, my friends and I."38 So he said, "Go." And he sent heraway for two months; and she went withher friends, and bewailed her virginityon the mountains.39And it was so at the end of twomonths that she returned to her father,and he carried out his vow with herwhich he had vowed. She knew no man.And it became a custom in Israel40 that the daughters of Israel went fourdays each year to lament the daughterof Jephthah the Gileadite.

JUDGES 12 76

12 1 Then the men of Ephraimgathered together, crossed over

toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah,"Why did you cross over to fight againstthe people of Ammon, and did not callus to go with you? We will burn yourhouse down on you with fire!"2And Jephthah said to them, "Mypeople and I were in a great strugglewith the people of Ammon; and when Icalled you, you did not deliver me out oftheir hands.3 "So when I saw that you would notdeliver me, I took my life in my handsand crossed over against the people ofAmmon; and the LORD delivered theminto my hand. Why then have you comeup to me this day to fight against me?"4Now Jephthah gathered togetherall the men of Gilead and foughtagainst Ephraim. And the men of Gileaddefeated Ephraim, because they said,

JUDGES 12 77"You Gileadites are fugi ves of Ephraimamong the Ephraimites and among theManassites."5 The Gileadites seized the fords of theJordan before the Ephraimites arrived.And when any Ephraimite who escapedsaid, "Let me cross over," the men ofGilead would say to him, "Are you anEphraimite?" If he said, "No,"6 then they would say to him, "Thensay, ‘Shibboleth’!" And he would say,"Sibboleth," for he could not pronounceit right. Then they would take him andkill him at the fords of the Jordan. Therefell at that me forty–two thousandEphraimites.7And Jephthah judged Israel six years.Then Jephthah the Gileadite died andwas buried in among the ci es of Gilead.8A er him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judgedIsrael.

JUDGES 12 789He had thirty sons. And he gaveaway thirty daughters in marriage,and brought in thirty daughters fromelsewhere for his sons. He judged Israelseven years.10 Then Ibzan died and was buried atBethlehem.11A er him, Elon the Zebulunite judgedIsrael. He judged Israel ten years.12And Elon the Zebulunite died andwas buried at Aijalon in the country ofZebulun.13A er him, Abdon the son of Hillel thePirathonite judged Israel.14He had forty sons and thirtygrandsons, who rode on seventy youngdonkeys. He judged Israel eight years.15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel thePirathonite died and was buried inPirathon in the land of Ephraim, in themountains of the Amalekites.

JUDGES 13 79

13 1Again the children of Israel didevil in the sight of the LORD, and

the LORD delivered them into the handof the Philis nes for forty years.2Now there was a certain man fromZorah, of the family of the Danites,whose name was Manoah; and his wifewas barren and had no children.3And the Angel of the LORD appearedto the woman and said to her, "Indeednow, you are barren and have borne nochildren, but you shall conceive and beara son.4 "Now therefore, please be careful notto drink wine or similar drink, and not toeat anything unclean.5 "For behold, you shall conceive andbear a son. And no razor shall comeupon his head, for the child shall be aNazirite to God from the womb; and heshall begin to deliver Israel out of thehand of the Philis nes."

JUDGES 13 806 So the woman came and told herhusband, saying, "A Man of God cameto me, and His countenance was like thecountenance of the Angel of God, veryawesome; but I did not ask Him whereHe was from, and He did not tell me Hisname.7 "And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shallconceive and bear a son. Now drink nowine or similar drink, nor eat anythingunclean, for the child shall be a Naziriteto God from the womb to the day of hisdeath.’"8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD,and said, "O my Lord, please let the Manof God whom You sent come to us againand teach us what we shall do for thechild who will be born."9And God listened to the voice ofManoah, and the Angel of God came tothe woman again as she was si ng in

JUDGES 13 81the field; but Manoah her husband wasnot with her.10 Then the woman ran in haste andtold her husband, and said to him, "Look,the Man who came to me the other dayhas just now appeared to me!"11 So Manoah arose and followed hiswife. When he came to the Man, he saidto Him, "Are You the Man who spoke tothis woman?" And He said, "I am."12Manoah said, "Now let Your wordscome to pass! What will be the boy’srule of life, and his work?"13 So the Angel of the LORD said toManoah, "Of all that I said to the womanlet her be careful.14 "She may not eat anything thatcomes from the vine, nor may she drinkwine or similar drink, nor eat anythingunclean. All that I commanded her lether observe."

JUDGES 13 8215 Then Manoah said to the Angel ofthe LORD, "Please let us detain You, andwe will prepare a young goat for You."16And the Angel of the LORD said toManoah, "Though you detain Me, I willnot eat your food. But if you offer aburnt offering, you must offer it to theLORD." (For Manoah did not know Hewas the Angel of the LORD.)17 Then Manoah said to the Angel ofthe LORD, "What is Your name, thatwhen Your words come to pass we mayhonor You?"18And the Angel of the LORD said tohim, "Why do you ask My name, seeingit is wonderful?"19 So Manoah took the young goatwith the grain offering, and offered itupon the rock to the LORD. And He dida wondrous thing while Manoah and hiswife looked on––

JUDGES 13 8320 it happened as the flame went uptoward heaven from the altar––theAngel of the LORD ascended in the flameof the altar! When Manoah and his wifesaw this, they fell on their faces to theground.21When the Angel of the LORDappeared no more to Manoah and hiswife, then Manoah knew that He wasthe Angel of the LORD.22And Manoah said to his wife, "Weshall surely die, because we have seenGod!"23 But his wife said to him, "If the LORDhad desired to kill us, He would nothave accepted a burnt offering and agrain offering from our hands, nor wouldHe have shown us all these things, norwould He have told us such things asthese at this me."

JUDGES 13–14 8424 So the woman bore a son and calledhis name Samson; and the child grew,and the LORD blessed him.25And the Spirit of the LORD beganto move upon him at Mahaneh Danbetween Zorah and Eshtaol.

14 1Now Samson went down toTimnah, and saw a woman

in Timnah of the daughters of thePhilis nes.2 So he went up and told his fatherand mother, saying, "I have seen awoman in Timnah of the daughters ofthe Philis nes; now therefore, get herfor me as a wife."3 Then his father and mother said tohim, "Is there no woman among thedaughters of your brethren, or amongall my people, that you must go andget a wife from the uncircumcisedPhilis nes?" And Samson said to his

JUDGES 14 85father, "Get her for me, for she pleasesme well."4 But his father and mother did notknow that it was of the LORD––thatHe was seeking an occasion to moveagainst the Philis nes. For at that methe Philis nes had dominion over Israel.5 So Samson went down to Timnahwith his father and mother, and cameto the vineyards of Timnah. Now tohis surprise, a young lion came roaringagainst him.6And the Spirit of the LORD camemigh ly upon him, and he tore the lionapart as one would have torn apart ayoung goat, though he had nothing inhis hand. But he did not tell his father orhis mother what he had done.7 Then he went down and talked withthe woman; and she pleased Samsonwell.

JUDGES 14 868A er some me, when he returnedto get her, he turned aside to see thecarcass of the lion. And behold, a swarmof bees and honey were in the carcass ofthe lion.9He took some of it in his hands andwent along, ea ng. When he came tohis father and mother, he gave some tothem, and they also ate. But he did nottell them that he had taken the honeyout of the carcass of the lion.10 So his father went down to thewoman. And Samson gave a feast there,for young men used to do so.11And it happened, when they saw him,that they brought thirty companions tobe with him.12 Then Samson said to them, "Let mepose a riddle to you. If you can correctlysolve and explain it to me within theseven days of the feast, then I will give

JUDGES 14 87you thirty linen garments and thirtychanges of clothing.13 "But if you cannot explain it tome, then you shall give me thirtylinen garments and thirty changes ofclothing." And they said to him, "Poseyour riddle, that we may hear it."14 So he said to them: "Out of the eatercame something to eat, And out of thestrong came something sweet." Now forthree days they could not explain theriddle.15 But it came to pass on the seventhday that they said to Samson’s wife,"En ce your husband, that he mayexplain the riddle to us, or else we willburn you and your father’s house withfire. Have you invited us in order to takewhat is ours? Is that not so?"16 Then Samson’s wife wept on him,and said, "You only hate me! You donot love me! You have posed a riddle

JUDGES 14 88to the sons of my people, but you havenot explained it to me." And he said toher, "Look, I have not explained it to myfather or my mother; so should I explainit to you?"17Now she had wept on him the sevendays while their feast lasted. And ithappened on the seventh day that hetold her, because she pressed him somuch. Then she explained the riddle tothe sons of her people.18 So the men of the city said to himon the seventh day before the sun wentdown: "What is sweeter than honey?And what is stronger than a lion?" Andhe said to them: "If you had not plowedwith my heifer, You would not havesolved my riddle!"19 Then the Spirit of the LORD cameupon him migh ly, and he went down toAshkelon and killed thirty of their men,took their apparel, and gave the changes

JUDGES 14–15 89of clothing to those who had explainedthe riddle. So his anger was aroused, andhe went back up to his father’s house.20And Samson’s wife was given to hiscompanion, who had been his best man.

15 1A er a while, in the me ofwheat harvest, it happened that

Samson visited his wife with a younggoat. And he said, "Let me go in to mywife, into her room." But her fatherwould not permit him to go in.2Her father said, "I really thought thatyou thoroughly hated her; therefore Igave her to your companion. Is not heryounger sister be er than she? Please,take her instead."3And Samson said to them, "Thisme I shall be blameless regarding the

Philis nes if I harm them!"4 Then Samson went and caught threehundred foxes; and he took torches,

JUDGES 15 90turned the foxes tail to tail, and put atorch between each pair of tails.5When he had set the torches on fire,he let the foxes go into the standinggrain of the Philis nes, and burned upboth the shocks and the standing grain,as well as the vineyards and olive groves.6 Then the Philis nes said, "Whohas done this?" And they answered,"Samson, the son–in–law of the Timnite,because he has taken his wife and givenher to his companion." So the Philis nescame up and burned her and her fatherwith fire.7 Samson said to them, "Since youwould do a thing like this, I will surelytake revenge on you, and a er that I willcease."8 So he a acked them hip and thighwith a great slaughter; then he wentdown and dwelt in the cle of the rockof Etam.

JUDGES 15 919Now the Philis nes went up,encamped in Judah, and deployedthemselves against Lehi.10And the men of Judah said, "Whyhave you come up against us?" So theyanswered, "We have come up to arrestSamson, to do to him as he has done tous."11 Then three thousand men of Judahwent down to the cle of the rock ofEtam, and said to Samson, "Do you notknow that the Philis nes rule over us?What is this you have done to us?" Andhe said to them, "As they did to me, so Ihave done to them."12 But they said to him, "We have comedown to arrest you, that we may deliveryou into the hand of the Philis nes."Then Samson said to them, "Swear tome that you will not kill me yourselves."13 So they spoke to him, saying, "No,but we will e you securely and deliver

JUDGES 15 92you into their hand; but we will surelynot kill you." And they bound him withtwo new ropes and brought him up fromthe rock.14When he came to Lehi, the Philis nescame shou ng against him. Then theSpirit of the LORD came migh ly uponhim; and the ropes that were on hisarms became like flax that is burned withfire, and his bonds broke loose from hishands.15He found a fresh jawbone of adonkey, reached out his hand and tookit, and killed a thousand men with it.16 Then Samson said: "With thejawbone of a donkey, Heaps upon heaps,With the jawbone of a donkey I haveslain a thousand men!"17And so it was, when he had finishedspeaking, that he threw the jawbonefrom his hand, and called that placeRamath Lehi.

JUDGES 15–16 9318 Then he became very thirsty; so hecried out to the LORD and said, "Youhave given this great deliverance by thehand of Your servant; and now shall Idie of thirst and fall into the hand of theuncircumcised?"19 So God split the hollow place thatis in Lehi, and water came out, and hedrank; and his spirit returned, and herevived. Therefore he called its name EnHakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.20And he judged Israel twenty years inthe days of the Philis nes.

16 1Now Samson went to Gaza andsaw a harlot there, and went in to

her.2When the Gazites were told, "Samsonhas come here!" they surrounded theplace and lay in wait for him all night atthe gate of the city. They were quiet allnight, saying, "In the morning, when it isdaylight, we will kill him."

JUDGES 16 943And Samson lay low ll midnight; thenhe arose at midnight, took hold of thedoors of the gate of the city and the twogateposts, pulled them up, bar and all,put them on his shoulders, and carriedthem to the top of the hill that facesHebron.4A erward it happened that he loveda woman in the Valley of Sorek, whosename was Delilah.5And the lords of the Philis nes cameup to her and said to her, "En ce him,and find out where his great strengthlies, and by what means we mayoverpower him, that we may bind him toafflict him; and every one of us will giveyou eleven hundred pieces of silver."6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tellme where your great strength lies, andwith what you may be bound to afflictyou."

JUDGES 16 957And Samson said to her, "If they bindme with seven fresh bowstrings, not yetdried, then I shall become weak, and belike any other man."8 So the lords of the Philis nes broughtup to her seven fresh bowstrings, not yetdried, and she bound him with them.9Now men were lying in wait, stayingwith her in the room. And she saidto him, "The Philis nes are upon you,Samson!" But he broke the bowstrings asa strand of yarn breaks when it touchesfire. So the secret of his strength was notknown.10 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Look,you have mocked me and told me lies.Now, please tell me what you may bebound with."11 So he said to her, "If they bind mesecurely with new ropes that have neverbeen used, then I shall become weak,and be like any other man."

JUDGES 16 9612 Therefore Delilah took new ropesand bound him with them, and saidto him, "The Philis nes are upon you,Samson!" And men were lying in wait,staying in the room. But he broke themoff his arms like a thread.13Delilah said to Samson, "Un l nowyou have mocked me and told me lies.Tell me what you may be bound with."And he said to her, "If you weave theseven locks of my head into the web ofthe loom" ––14 So she wove it ghtly with the ba enof the loom, and said to him, "ThePhilis nes are upon you, Samson!" Buthe awoke from his sleep, and pulled outthe ba en and the web from the loom.15 Then she said to him, "How can yousay, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is notwith me? You have mocked me thesethree mes, and have not told me whereyour great strength lies."

JUDGES 16 9716And it came to pass, when shepestered him daily with her words andpressed him, so that his soul was vexedto death,17 that he told her all his heart, and saidto her, "No razor has ever come uponmy head, for I have been a Nazirite toGod from my mother’s womb. If I amshaven, then my strength will leave me,and I shall become weak, and be like anyother man."18When Delilah saw that he had toldher all his heart, she sent and calledfor the lords of the Philis nes, saying,"Come up once more, for he has toldme all his heart." So the lords of thePhilis nes came up to her and broughtthe money in their hand.19 Then she lulled him to sleep on herknees, and called for a man and had himshave off the seven locks of his head.

JUDGES 16 98Then she began to torment him, and hisstrength le him.20And she said, "The Philis nes areupon you, Samson!" So he awoke fromhis sleep, and said, "I will go out asbefore, at other mes, and shake myselffree!" But he did not know that the LORDhad departed from him.21 Then the Philis nes took him andput out his eyes, and brought him downto Gaza. They bound him with bronzefe ers, and he became a grinder in theprison.22However, the hair of his head beganto grow again a er it had been shaven.23Now the lords of the Philis nesgathered together to offer a greatsacrifice to Dagon their god, and torejoice. And they said: "Our god hasdelivered into our hands Samson ourenemy!"

JUDGES 16 9924When the people saw him, theypraised their god; for they said: "Our godhas delivered into our hands our enemy,The destroyer of our land, And the onewho mul plied our dead."25 So it happened, when their heartswere merry, that they said, "Call forSamson, that he may perform for us." Sothey called for Samson from the prison,and he performed for them. And theysta oned him between the pillars.26 Then Samson said to the lad whoheld him by the hand, "Let me feel thepillars which support the temple, so thatI can lean on them."27Now the temple was full of men andwomen. All the lords of the Philis neswere there––about three thousand menand women on the roof watching whileSamson performed.28 Then Samson called to the LORD,saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I

JUDGES 16 100pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just thisonce, O God, that I may with one blowtake vengeance on the Philis nes for mytwo eyes!"29And Samson took hold of the twomiddle pillars which supported thetemple, and he braced himself againstthem, one on his right and the other onhis le .30 Then Samson said, "Let me die withthe Philis nes!" And he pushed with allhis might, and the temple fell on thelords and all the people who were in it.So the dead that he killed at his deathwere more than he had killed in his life.31And his brothers and all his father’shousehold came down and took him,and brought him up and buried himbetween Zorah and Eshtaol in the tombof his father Manoah. He had judgedIsrael twenty years.

JUDGES 17 101

17 1Now there was a man from themountains of Ephraim, whose

name was Micah.2And he said to his mother, "The elevenhundred shekels of silver that weretaken from you, and on which you put acurse, even saying it in my ears––hereis the silver with me; I took it." And hismother said, "May you be blessed by theLORD, my son!"3 So when he had returned the elevenhundred shekels of silver to his mother,his mother said, "I had wholly dedicatedthe silver from my hand to the LORD formy son, to make a carved image anda molded image; now therefore, I willreturn it to you."4 Thus he returned the silver to hismother. Then his mother took twohundred shekels of silver and gave themto the silversmith, and he made it into a

JUDGES 17 102carved image and a molded image; andthey were in the house of Micah.5 The man Micah had a shrine, andmade an ephod and household idols;and he consecrated one of his sons, whobecame his priest.6 In those days there was no king inIsrael; everyone did what was right in hisown eyes.7Now there was a young man fromBethlehem in Judah, of the family ofJudah; he was a Levite, and was stayingthere.8 The man departed from the city ofBethlehem in Judah to stay wherever hecould find a place. Then he came to themountains of Ephraim, to the house ofMicah, as he journeyed.9AndMicah said to him, "Where do youcome from?" So he said to him, "I am aLevite from Bethlehem in Judah, and Iam on my way to find a place to stay."

JUDGES 17–18 10310Micah said to him, "Dwell with me,and be a father and a priest to me,and I will give you ten shekels of silverper year, a suit of clothes, and yoursustenance." So the Levite went in.11 Then the Levite was content todwell with the man; and the young manbecame like one of his sons to him.12 So Micah consecrated the Levite, andthe young man became his priest, andlived in the house of Micah.13 Then Micah said, "Now I know thatthe LORD will be good to me, since Ihave a Levite as priest!"

18 1 In those days there was no kingin Israel. And in those days the

tribe of the Danites was seeking aninheritance for itself to dwell in; for un lthat day their inheritance among thetribes of Israel had not fallen to them.2 So the children of Dan sent five menof their family from their territory, men

JUDGES 18 104of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spyout the land and search it. They said tothem, "Go, search the land." So theywent to the mountains of Ephraim, tothe house of Micah, and lodged there.3While they were at the house ofMicah, they recognized the voice of theyoung Levite. They turned aside and saidto him, "Who brought you here? Whatare you doing in this place? What do youhave here?"4He said to them, "Thus and so Micahdid for me. He has hired me, and I havebecome his priest."5 So they said to him, "Please inquireof God, that we may know whetherthe journey on which we go will beprosperous."6And the priest said to them, "Go inpeace. The presence of the LORD bewith you on your way."

JUDGES 18 1057 So the five men departed and wentto Laish. They saw the people whowere there, how they dwelt safely, inthe manner of the Sidonians, quiet andsecure. There were no rulers in theland who might put them to shamefor anything. They were far from theSidonians, and they had no es withanyone.8 Then the spies came back to theirbrethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and theirbrethren said to them, "What is yourreport?"9 So they said, "Arise, let us go upagainst them. For we have seen the land,and indeed it is very good. Would youdo nothing? Do not hesitate to go, andenter to possess the land.10 "When you go, you will come to asecure people and a large land. For Godhas given it into your hands, a place

JUDGES 18 106where there is no lack of anything that ison the earth."11And six hundred men of the familyof the Danites went from there, fromZorah and Eshtaol, armed with weaponsof war.12 Then they went up and encamped inKirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore theycall that place Mahaneh Dan to this day.There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.)13And they passed from there to themountains of Ephraim, and came to thehouse of Micah.14 Then the five men who had gone tospy out the country of Laish answeredand said to their brethren, "Do you knowthat there are in these houses an ephod,household idols, a carved image, and amolded image? Now therefore, considerwhat you should do."15 So they turned aside there, andcame to the house of the young Levite

JUDGES 18 107man––to the house of Micah––andgreeted him.16 The six hundred men armed withtheir weapons of war, who were of thechildren of Dan, stood by the entranceof the gate.17 Then the five men who had gone tospy out the land went up. Entering there,they took the carved image, the ephod,the household idols, and the moldedimage. The priest stood at the entranceof the gate with the six hundred menwho were armed with weapons of war.18When these went into Micah’s houseand took the carved image, the ephod,the household idols, and the moldedimage, the priest said to them, "Whatare you doing?"19And they said to him, "Be quiet, putyour hand over your mouth, and comewith us; be a father and a priest to us.Is it be er for you to be a priest to the

JUDGES 18 108household of one man, or that you be apriest to a tribe and a family in Israel?"20 So the priest’s heart was glad; andhe took the ephod, the household idols,and the carved image, and took his placeamong the people.21 Then they turned and departed, andput the li le ones, the livestock, and thegoods in front of them.22When they were a good way from thehouse of Micah, the men who were inthe houses near Micah’s house gatheredtogether and overtook the children ofDan.23And they called out to the childrenof Dan. So they turned around and saidto Micah, "What ails you, that you havegathered such a company?"24 So he said, "You have taken away mygods which I made, and the priest, andyou have gone away. Now what more do

JUDGES 18 109I have? How can you say to me, ‘Whatails you?’"25And the children of Dan said to him,"Do not let your voice be heard amongus, lest angry men fall upon you, andyou lose your life, with the lives of yourhousehold!"26 Then the children of Dan went theirway. And when Micah saw that theywere too strong for him, he turned andwent back to his house.27 So they took the things Micah hadmade, and the priest who had belongedto him, and went to Laish, to a peoplequiet and secure; and they struck themwith the edge of the sword and burnedthe city with fire.28 There was no deliverer, because itwas far from Sidon, and they had no eswith anyone. It was in the valley thatbelongs to Beth Rehob. So they rebuiltthe city and dwelt there.

JUDGES 18–19 11029And they called the name of the cityDan, a er the name of Dan their father,who was born to Israel. However, thename of the city formerly was Laish.30 Then the children of Dan set upfor themselves the carved image; andJonathan the son of Gershom, the sonof Manasseh, and his sons were prieststo the tribe of Dan un l the day of thecap vity of the land.31 So they set up for themselves Micah’scarved image which he made, all theme that the house of God was in Shiloh.

19 1And it came to pass in thosedays, when there was no king in

Israel, that there was a certain Levitestaying in the remote mountains ofEphraim. He took for himself a concubinefrom Bethlehem in Judah.2 But his concubine played the harlotagainst him, and went away from himto her father’s house at Bethlehem

JUDGES 19 111in Judah, and was there four wholemonths.3 Then her husband arose and wenta er her, to speak kindly to her andbring her back, having his servant anda couple of donkeys with him. So shebrought him into her father’s house; andwhen the father of the young womansaw him, he was glad to meet him.4Now his father–in–law, the youngwoman’s father, detained him; and hestayed with him three days. So they ateand drank and lodged there.5 Then it came to pass on the fourthday that they arose early in the morning,and he stood to depart; but the youngwoman’s father said to his son–in–law,"Refresh your heart with a morsel ofbread, and a erward go your way."6 So they sat down, and the two ofthem ate and drank together. Then theyoung woman’s father said to the man,

JUDGES 19 112"Please be content to stay all night, andlet your heart be merry."7And when the man stood to depart,his father–in–law urged him; so helodged there again.8 Then he arose early in the morning onthe fi h day to depart, but the youngwoman’s father said, "Please refreshyour heart." So they delayed un la ernoon; and both of them ate.9And when the man stood todepart––he and his concubine and hisservant––his father–in–law, the youngwoman’s father, said to him, "Look, theday is now drawing toward evening;please spend the night. See, the day iscoming to an end; lodge here, that yourheart may be merry. Tomorrow go yourway early, so that you may get home."10However, the man was not willingto spend that night; so he rose anddeparted, and came to opposite Jebus

JUDGES 19 113(that is, Jerusalem). With him were thetwo saddled donkeys; his concubine wasalso with him.11 They were near Jebus, and the daywas far spent; and the servant said to hismaster, "Come, please, and let us turnaside into this city of the Jebusites andlodge in it."12 But his master said to him, "Wewill not turn aside here into a city offoreigners, who are not of the childrenof Israel; we will go on to Gibeah."13 So he said to his servant, "Come, letus draw near to one of these places, andspend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah."14And they passed by and went theirway; and the sun went down on themnear Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.15 They turned aside there to go in tolodge in Gibeah. And when he went in,he sat down in the open square of the

JUDGES 19 114city, for no one would take them into hishouse to spend the night.16 Just then an old man came in fromhis work in the field at evening, who alsowas from the mountains of Ephraim; hewas staying in Gibeah, whereas the menof the place were Benjamites.17And when he raised his eyes, hesaw the traveler in the open square ofthe city; and the old man said, "Whereare you going, and where do you comefrom?"18 So he said to him, "We are passingfrom Bethlehem in Judah toward theremote mountains of Ephraim; I am fromthere. I went to Bethlehem in Judah;now I am going to the house of theLORD. But there is no one who will takeme into his house,19 "although we have both straw andfodder for our donkeys, and bread andwine for myself, for your female servant,

JUDGES 19 115and for the young man who is with yourservant; there is no lack of anything."20And the old man said, "Peace be withyou! However, let all your needs be myresponsibility; only do not spend thenight in the open square."21 So he brought him into his house,and gave fodder to the donkeys. Andthey washed their feet, and ate anddrank.22As they were enjoying themselves,suddenly certain men of the city,perverted men, surrounded the houseand beat on the door. They spoke tothe master of the house, the old man,saying, "Bring out the man who cameto your house, that we may know himcarnally!"23 But the man, the master of thehouse, went out to them and said tothem, "No, my brethren! I beg you, donot act so wickedly! Seeing this man has

JUDGES 19 116come into my house, do not commit thisoutrage.24 "Look, here is my virgin daughter andthe man’s concubine; let me bring themout now. Humble them, and do withthem as you please; but to this man donot do such a vile thing!"25 But the men would not heed him. Sothe man took his concubine and broughther out to them. And they knew her andabused her all night un l morning; andwhen the day began to break, they lether go.26 Then the woman came as the daywas dawning, and fell down at the doorof the man’s house where her masterwas, ll it was light.27When her master arose in themorning, and opened the doors of thehouse and went out to go his way, therewas his concubine, fallen at the door

JUDGES 19–20 117of the house with her hands on thethreshold.28And he said to her, "Get up and let usbe going." But there was no answer. Sothe man li ed her onto the donkey; andthe man got up and went to his place.29When he entered his house he tooka knife, laid hold of his concubine, anddivided her into twelve pieces, limb bylimb, and sent her throughout all theterritory of Israel.30And so it was that all who saw it said,"No such deed has been done or seenfrom the day that the children of Israelcame up from the land of Egypt un l thisday. Consider it, confer, and speak up!"

20 1 So all the children of Israel cameout, from Dan to Beersheba, as

well as from the land of Gilead, and thecongrega on gathered together as oneman before the LORD at Mizpah.

JUDGES 20 1182And the leaders of all the people,all the tribes of Israel, presentedthemselves in the assembly of thepeople of God, four hundred thousandfoot soldiers who drew the sword.3 (Now the children of Benjamin heardthat the children of Israel had gone upto Mizpah.) Then the children of Israelsaid, "Tell us, how did this wicked deedhappen?"4 So the Levite, the husband of thewoman who was murdered, answeredand said, "My concubine and I went intoGibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, tospend the night.5 "And the men of Gibeah rose againstme, and surrounded the house at nightbecause of me. They intended to kill me,but instead they ravished my concubineso that she died.6 "So I took hold of my concubine, cuther in pieces, and sent her throughout all

JUDGES 20 119the territory of the inheritance of Israel,because they commi ed lewdness andoutrage in Israel.7 "Look! All of you are children of Israel;give your advice and counsel here andnow!"8 So all the people arose as one man,saying, "None of us will go to his tent,nor will any turn back to his house;9 "but now this is the thing which wewill do to Gibeah: We will go up againstit by lot.10 "We will take ten men out of everyhundred throughout all the tribes ofIsrael, a hundred out of every thousand,and a thousand out of every tenthousand, to make provisions for thepeople, that when they come to Gibeahin Benjamin, they may repay all thevileness that they have done in Israel."

JUDGES 20 12011 So all themen of Israel were gatheredagainst the city, united together as oneman.12 Then the tribes of Israel sent menthrough all the tribe of Benjamin, saying,"What is this wickedness that hasoccurred among you?13 "Now therefore, deliver up the men,the perverted men who are in Gibeah,that we may put them to death andremove the evil from Israel!" But thechildren of Benjamin would not listen tothe voice of their brethren, the childrenof Israel.14 Instead, the children of Benjamingathered together from their ci esto Gibeah, to go to ba le against thechildren of Israel.15And from their ci es at that methe children of Benjamin numberedtwenty–six thousand men who drewthe sword, besides the inhabitants of

JUDGES 20 121Gibeah, who numbered seven hundredselect men.16Among all this people were sevenhundred select men who were le –handed; every one could sling a stone ata hair’s breadth and not miss.17Now besides Benjamin, the men ofIsrael numbered four hundred thousandmen who drew the sword; all of thesewere men of war.18 Then the children of Israel arose andwent up to the house of God to inquireof God. They said, "Which of us shall goup first to ba le against the children ofBenjamin?" The LORD said, "Judah first!"19 So the children of Israel rose in themorning and encamped against Gibeah.20And the men of Israel went out toba le against Benjamin, and the men ofIsrael put themselves in ba le array tofight against them at Gibeah.

JUDGES 20 12221 Then the children of Benjamin cameout of Gibeah, and on that day cut downto the ground twenty–two thousandmen of the Israelites.22And the people, that is, the men ofIsrael, encouraged themselves and againformed the ba le line at the place wherethey had put themselves in array on thefirst day.23 Then the children of Israel went upand wept before the LORD un l evening,and asked counsel of the LORD, saying,"Shall I again draw near for ba le againstthe children of my brother Benjamin?"And the LORD said, "Go up against him."24 So the children of Israel approachedthe children of Benjamin on the secondday.25And Benjamin went out against themfrom Gibeah on the second day, and cutdown to the ground eighteen thousand

JUDGES 20 123more of the children of Israel; all thesedrew the sword.26 Then all the children of Israel, thatis, all the people, went up and came tothe house of God and wept. They satthere before the LORD and fasted thatday un l evening; and they offered burntofferings and peace offerings before theLORD.27 So the children of Israel inquired ofthe LORD (the ark of the covenant ofGod was there in those days,28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, theson of Aaron, stood before it in thosedays), saying, "Shall I yet again go out toba le against the children of my brotherBenjamin, or shall I cease?" And theLORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I willdeliver them into your hand."29 Then Israel set men in ambush allaround Gibeah.

JUDGES 20 12430And the children of Israel went upagainst the children of Benjamin on thethird day, and put themselves in ba learray against Gibeah as at the othermes.31 So the children of Benjamin wentout against the people, and were drawnaway from the city. They began to strikedown and kill some of the people, as atthe other mes, in the highways (one ofwhich goes up to Bethel and the otherto Gibeah) and in the field, about thirtymen of Israel.32And the children of Benjamin said,"They are defeated before us, as at first."But the children of Israel said, "Let usflee and draw them away from the cityto the highways."33 So all the men of Israel rose fromtheir place and put themselves in ba learray at Baal Tamar. Then Israel’s men in

JUDGES 20 125ambush burst forth from their posi onin the plain of Geba.34And ten thousand select men fromall Israel came against Gibeah, and theba le was fierce. But the Benjamites didnot know that disaster was upon them.35 The LORD defeated Benjaminbefore Israel. And the children ofIsrael destroyed that day twenty–fivethousand one hundred Benjamites; allthese drew the sword.36 So the children of Benjamin saw thatthey were defeated. The men of Israelhad given ground to the Benjamites,because they relied on the men inambush whom they had set againstGibeah.37And the men in ambush quicklyrushed upon Gibeah; the men in ambushspread out and struck the whole citywith the edge of the sword.

JUDGES 20 12638Now the appointed signal betweenthe men of Israel and the men in ambushwas that they would make a great cloudof smoke rise up from the city,39whereupon the men of Israel wouldturn in ba le. Now Benjamin had begunto strike and kill about thirty of the menof Israel. For they said, "Surely they aredefeated before us, as in the first ba le."40 But when the cloud began to risefrom the city in a column of smoke, theBenjamites looked behind them, andthere was the whole city going up insmoke to heaven.41And when the men of Israel turnedback, the men of Benjamin panicked, forthey saw that disaster had come uponthem.42 Therefore they turned their backsbefore the men of Israel in the direc onof the wilderness; but the ba leovertook them, and whoever came out

JUDGES 20 127of the ci es they destroyed in theirmidst.43 They surrounded the Benjamites,chased them, and easily trampled themdown as far as the front of Gibeahtoward the east.44And eighteen thousand men ofBenjamin fell; all these were men ofvalor.45 Then they turned and fled toward thewilderness to the rock of Rimmon; andthey cut down five thousand of them onthe highways. Then they pursued themrelentlessly up to Gidom, and killed twothousand of them.46 So all who fell of Benjamin that daywere twenty–five thousand men whodrew the sword; all these were men ofvalor.47 But six hundred men turned and fledtoward the wilderness to the rock of

JUDGES 20–21 128Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock ofRimmon for four months.48And the men of Israel turned backagainst the children of Benjamin, andstruck them down with the edge of thesword––from every city, men and beasts,all who were found. They also set fire toall the ci es they came to.

21 1Now the men of Israel hadsworn an oath at Mizpah, saying,

"None of us shall give his daughter toBenjamin as a wife."2 Then the people came to the house ofGod, and remained there before God llevening. They li ed up their voices andwept bi erly,3 and said, "O LORD God of Israel, whyhas this come to pass in Israel, thattoday there should be one tribe missingin Israel?"4 So it was, on the next morning, thatthe people rose early and built an altar

JUDGES 21 129there, and offered burnt offerings andpeace offerings.5 The children of Israel said, "Who isthere among all the tribes of Israel whodid not come up with the assembly tothe LORD?" For they had made a greatoath concerning anyone who had notcome up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying,"He shall surely be put to death."6And the children of Israel grieved forBenjamin their brother, and said, "Onetribe is cut off from Israel today.7 "What shall we do for wives for thosewho remain, seeing we have sworn bythe LORD that we will not give them ourdaughters as wives?"8And they said, "What one is therefrom the tribes of Israel who did notcome up to Mizpah to the LORD?" And,in fact, no one had come to the campfrom Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.

JUDGES 21 1309 For when the people were counted,indeed, not one of the inhabitants ofJabesh Gilead was there.10 So the congrega on sent out theretwelve thousand of their most valiantmen, and commanded them, saying,"Go and strike the inhabitants of JabeshGilead with the edge of the sword,including the women and children.11 "And this is the thing that you shalldo: You shall u erly destroy every male,and every woman who has known a manin mately."12 So they found among the inhabitantsof Jabesh Gilead four hundred youngvirgins who had not known a manin mately; and they brought them tothe camp at Shiloh, which is in the landof Canaan.13 Then the whole congrega on sentword to the children of Benjamin

JUDGES 21 131who were at the rock of Rimmon, andannounced peace to them.14 So Benjamin came back at that me,and they gave them the women whomthey had saved alive of the women ofJabesh Gilead; and yet they had notfound enough for them.15And the people grieved for Benjamin,because the LORD had made a void inthe tribes of Israel.16 Then the elders of the congrega onsaid, "What shall we do for wives forthose who remain, since the women ofBenjamin have been destroyed?"17And they said, "There must bean inheritance for the survivors ofBenjamin, that a tribe may not bedestroyed from Israel.18 "However, we cannot give themwives from our daughters, for thechildren of Israel have sworn an oath,

JUDGES 21 132saying, ‘Cursed be the one who gives awife to Benjamin.’"19 Then they said, "In fact, there is ayearly feast of the LORD in Shiloh, whichis north of Bethel, on the east side ofthe highway that goes up from Bethel toShechem, and south of Lebonah."20 Therefore they instructed thechildren of Benjamin, saying, "Go, lie inwait in the vineyards,21 "and watch; and just when thedaughters of Shiloh come out to performtheir dances, then come out from thevineyards, and every man catch a wifefor himself from the daughters of Shiloh;then go to the land of Benjamin.22 "Then it shall be, when their fathersor their brothers come to us to complain,that we will say to them, ‘Be kind tothem for our sakes, because we did nottake a wife for any of them in the war;for it is not as though you have given

JUDGES 21 133the women to them at this me, makingyourselves guilty of your oath.’"23And the children of Benjamin did so;they took enough wives for their numberfrom those who danced, whom theycaught. Then they went and returned totheir inheritance, and they rebuilt theci es and dwelt in them.24 So the children of Israel departedfrom there at that me, every man tohis tribe and family; they went out fromthere, every man to his inheritance.25 In those days there was no king inIsrael; everyone did what was right in hisown eyes.

Ruth

1 1Now it came to pass, in the dayswhen the judges ruled, that there

was a famine in the land. And a certainman of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwellin the country of Moab, he and his wifeand his two sons.2 The name of the man was Elimelech,the name of his wife was Naomi, andthe names of his two sons were Mahlonand Chilion––Ephrathites of Bethlehem,Judah. And they went to the country ofMoab and remained there.3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband,died; and she was le , and her two sons.4Now they took wives of the women ofMoab: the name of the one was Orpah,and the name of the other Ruth. Andthey dwelt there about ten years.

RUTH 1 25 Then both Mahlon and Chilion alsodied; so the woman survived her twosons and her husband.6 Then she arose with her daughters–in–law that she might return from thecountry of Moab, for she had heard inthe country of Moab that the LORD hadvisited His people by giving them bread.7 Therefore she went out from theplace where she was, and her twodaughters–in–law with her; and theywent on the way to return to the land ofJudah.8And Naomi said to her two daughters–in–law, "Go, return each to her mother’shouse. The LORD deal kindly with you, asyou have dealt with the dead and withme.9 "The LORD grant that you may findrest, each in the house of her husband."Then she kissed them, and they li ed uptheir voices and wept.

RUTH 1 310And they said to her, "Surely we willreturn with you to your people."11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, mydaughters; why will you go with me? Arethere s ll sons in my womb, that theymay be your husbands?12 "Turn back, my daughters, go––forI am too old to have a husband. If Ishould say I have hope, if I should havea husband tonight and should also bearsons,13 "would you wait for them ll theywere grown? Would you restrainyourselves from having husbands? No,my daughters; for it grieves me verymuch for your sakes that the hand of theLORD has gone out against me!"14 Then they li ed up their voicesand wept again; and Orpah kissed hermother–in–law, but Ruth clung to her.15And she said, "Look, your sister–in–law has gone back to her people

RUTH 1 4and to her gods; return a er yoursister–in–law."16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not toleave you, Or to turn back from followinga er you; For wherever you go, I will go;And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;Your people shall be my people, Andyour God, my God.17Where you die, I will die, And therewill I be buried. The LORD do so to me,and more also, If anything but deathparts you and me."18When she saw that she wasdetermined to go with her, she stoppedspeaking to her.19Now the two of them went un l theycame to Bethlehem. And it happened,when they had come to Bethlehem, thatall the city was excited because of them;and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"

RUTH 1–2 520 But she said to them, "Do not call meNaomi; call me Mara, for the Almightyhas dealt very bi erly with me.21 "I went out full, and the LORD hasbrought me home again empty. Why doyou call me Naomi, since the LORD hastes fied against me, and the Almightyhas afflicted me?"22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth theMoabitess her daughter–in–law withher, who returned from the country ofMoab. Now they came to Bethlehem atthe beginning of barley harvest.

2 1 There was a rela ve of Naomi’shusband, a man of great wealth, of

the family of Elimelech. His name wasBoaz.2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi,"Please let me go to the field, and gleanheads of grain a er him in whose sight Imay find favor." And she said to her, "Go,my daughter."

RUTH 2 63 Then she le , and went and gleanedin the field a er the reapers. And shehappened to come to the part of thefield belonging to Boaz, who was of thefamily of Elimelech.4Now behold, Boaz came fromBethlehem, and said to the reapers, "TheLORD be with you!" And they answeredhim, "The LORD bless you!"5 Then Boaz said to his servant who wasin charge of the reapers, "Whose youngwoman is this?"6 So the servant who was in charge ofthe reapers answered and said, "It is theyoung Moabite woman who came backwith Naomi from the country of Moab.7 "And she said, ‘Please let me gleanand gather a er the reapers among thesheaves.’ So she came and has con nuedfrom morning un l now, though sherested a li le in the house."

RUTH 2 78 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You willlisten, my daughter, will you not? Donot go to glean in another field, nor gofrom here, but stay close by my youngwomen.9 "Let your eyes be on the field whichthey reap, and go a er them. Have Inot commanded the young men not totouch you? And when you are thirsty, goto the vessels and drink from what theyoung men have drawn."10 So she fell on her face, bowed downto the ground, and said to him, "Whyhave I found favor in your eyes, that youshould take no ce of me, since I am aforeigner?"11And Boaz answered and said to her,"It has been fully reported to me, all thatyou have done for your mother–in–lawsince the death of your husband, andhow you have le your father and yourmother and the land of your birth, and

RUTH 2 8have come to a people whom you didnot know before.12 "The LORD repay your work, and afull reward be given you by the LORDGod of Israel, under whose wings youhave come for refuge."13 Then she said, "Let me find favorin your sight, my lord; for you havecomforted me, and have spoken kindlyto your maidservant, though I am notlike one of your maidservants."14Now Boaz said to her at meal me,"Come here, and eat of the bread, anddip your piece of bread in the vinegar."So she sat beside the reapers, and hepassed parched grain to her; and she ateand was sa sfied, and kept some back.15And when she rose up to glean, Boazcommanded his young men, saying, "Lether glean even among the sheaves, anddo not reproach her.

RUTH 2 916 "Also let grain from the bundles fallpurposely for her; leave it that she mayglean, and do not rebuke her."17 So she gleaned in the field un levening, and beat out what she hadgleaned, and it was about an ephah ofbarley.18 Then she took it up and went into thecity, and her mother–in–law saw whatshe had gleaned. So she brought out andgave to her what she had kept back a ershe had been sa sfied.19And her mother–in–law said to her,"Where have you gleaned today? Andwhere did you work? Blessed be the onewho took no ce of you." So she toldher mother–in–law with whom she hadworked, and said, "The man’s name withwhom I worked today is Boaz."20 Then Naomi said to her daughter–in–law, "Blessed be he of the LORD, whohas not forsaken His kindness to the

RUTH 2–3 10living and the dead!" And Naomi said toher, "This man is a rela on of ours, oneof our close rela ves."21 Ruth the Moabitess said, "He alsosaid to me, ‘You shall stay close by myyoung men un l they have finished allmy harvest.’"22And Naomi said to Ruth herdaughter–in–law, "It is good, mydaughter, that you go out with his youngwomen, and that people do not meetyou in any other field."23 So she stayed close by the youngwomen of Boaz, to glean un l the end ofbarley harvest and wheat harvest; andshe dwelt with her mother–in–law.

3 1 Then Naomi her mother–in–lawsaid to her, "My daughter, shall I not

seek security for you, that it may be wellwith you?2 "Now Boaz, whose young women youwere with, is he not our rela ve? In fact,

RUTH 3 11he is winnowing barley tonight at thethreshing floor.3 "Therefore wash yourself and anointyourself, put on your best garment andgo down to the threshing floor; but donot make yourself known to the manun l he has finished ea ng and drinking.4 "Then it shall be, when he lies down,that you shall no ce the place where helies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet,and lie down; and he will tell you whatyou should do."5And she said to her, "All that you sayto me I will do."6 So she went down to the threshingfloor and did according to all that hermother–in–law instructed her.7And a er Boaz had eaten and drunk,and his heart was cheerful, he went tolie down at the end of the heap of grain;and she came so ly, uncovered his feet,and lay down.

RUTH 3 128Now it happened at midnight that theman was startled, and turned himself;and there, a woman was lying at his feet.9And he said, "Who are you?" So sheanswered, "I am Ruth, your maidservant.Take your maidservant under your wing,for you are a close rela ve."10 Then he said, "Blessed are you of theLORD, my daughter! For you have shownmore kindness at the end than at thebeginning, in that you did not go a eryoung men, whether poor or rich.11 "And now, my daughter, do not fear.I will do for you all that you request, forall the people of my town know that youare a virtuous woman.12 "Now it is true that I am a closerela ve; however, there is a rela vecloser than I.13 "Stay this night, and in the morning itshall be that if he will perform the dutyof a close rela ve for you––good; let him

RUTH 3 13do it. But if he does not want to performthe duty for you, then I will perform theduty for you, as the LORD lives! Lie downun l morning."14 So she lay at his feet un l morning,and she arose before one couldrecognize another. Then he said, "Do notlet it be known that the woman came tothe threshing floor."15Also he said, "Bring the shawl that ison you and hold it." And when she heldit, he measured six ephahs of barley, andlaid it on her. Then she went into the city.16 So when she came to her mother–in–law, she said, "Is that you, my daughter?"Then she told her all that the man haddone for her.17And she said, "These six ephahsof barley he gave me; for he said tome, ‘Do not go empty–handed to yourmother–in–law.’"

RUTH 3–4 1418 Then she said, "Sit s ll, my daughter,un l you know how the ma er will turnout; for the man will not rest un l he hasconcluded the ma er this day."

4 1Now Boaz went up to the gate andsat down there; and behold, the

close rela ve of whom Boaz had spokencame by. So Boaz said, "Come aside,friend, sit down here." So he came asideand sat down.2And he took ten men of the elders ofthe city, and said, "Sit down here." Sothey sat down.3 Then he said to the close rela ve,"Naomi, who has come back from thecountry of Moab, sold the piece ofland which belonged to our brotherElimelech.4 "And I thought to inform you, saying,‘Buy it back in the presence of theinhabitants and the elders of my people.If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if

RUTH 4 15you will not redeem it, then tell me, thatI may know; for there is no one but youto redeem it, and I am next a er you.’"And he said, "I will redeem it."5 Then Boaz said, "On the day youbuy the field from the hand of Naomi,you must also buy it from Ruth theMoabitess, the wife of the dead, toperpetuate the name of the deadthrough his inheritance."6And the close rela ve said, "I cannotredeem it for myself, lest I ruin my owninheritance. You redeem my right ofredemp on for yourself, for I cannotredeem it."7Now this was the custom in formermes in Israel concerning redeeming

and exchanging, to confirm anything:one man took off his sandal and gave itto the other, and this was a confirma onin Israel.

RUTH 4 168 Therefore the close rela ve said toBoaz, "Buy it for yourself." So he took offhis sandal.9And Boaz said to the elders and all thepeople, "You are witnesses this day thatI 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, thewidow of Mahlon, I have acquired asmy wife, to perpetuate the name of thedead through his inheritance, that thename of the dead may not be cut offfrom among his brethren and from hisposi on at the gate. You are witnessesthis day."11And all the people who were atthe gate, and the elders, said, "We arewitnesses. The LORD make the womanwho is coming to your house like Racheland Leah, the two who built the house of

RUTH 4 17Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathahand be famous in Bethlehem.12 "May your house be like the houseof Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah,because of the offspring which the LORDwill give you from this young woman."13 So Boaz took Ruth and she becamehis wife; and when he went in to her, theLORD gave her concep on, and she borea son.14 Then the women said to Naomi,"Blessed be the LORD, who has not leyou this day without a close rela ve; andmay his name be famous in Israel!15 "And may he be to you a restorer oflife and a nourisher of your old age; foryour daughter–in–law, who loves you,who is be er to you than seven sons,has borne him."16 Then Naomi took the child and laidhim on her bosom, and became a nurseto him.

RUTH 4 1817Also the neighbor women gave hima name, saying, "There is a son born toNaomi." And they called his name Obed.He is the father of Jesse, the father ofDavid.18Now this is the genealogy of Perez:Perez begot Hezron;19Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begotAmminadab;20Amminadab begot Nahshon, andNahshon begot Salmon;21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begotObed;22Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begotDavid.

1 Samuel

1 1Now there was a certain manof Ramathaim Zophim, of the

mountains of Ephraim, and his namewas Elkanah the son of Jeroham, theson of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son ofZuph, an Ephraimite.2And he had two wives: the name ofone was Hannah, and the name of theother Peninnah. Peninnah had children,but Hannah had no children.3 This man went up from his city yearlyto worship and sacrifice to the LORD ofhosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli,Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of theLORD, were there.4And whenever the me came forElkanah to make an offering, he would

1 SAMUEL 1 2give por ons to Peninnah his wife and toall her sons and daughters.5 But to Hannah he would give a doublepor on, for he loved Hannah, althoughthe LORD had closed her womb.6And her rival also provoked herseverely, to make her miserable, becausethe LORD had closed her womb.7 So it was, year by year, when she wentup to the house of the LORD, that sheprovoked her; therefore she wept anddid not eat.8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her,"Hannah, why do you weep?Why do younot eat? And why is your heart grieved?Am I not be er to you than ten sons?"9 So Hannah arose a er they hadfinished ea ng and drinking in Shiloh.Now Eli the priest was si ng on the seatby the doorpost of the tabernacle of theLORD.

1 SAMUEL 1 310And she was in bi erness of soul, andprayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.11 Then she made a vow and said, "OLORD of hosts, if You will indeed lookon the afflic on of Your maidservantand remember me, and not forgetYour maidservant, but will give Yourmaidservant a male child, then I will givehim to the LORD all the days of his life,and no razor shall come upon his head."12And it happened, as she con nuedpraying before the LORD, that Eliwatched her mouth.13Now Hannah spoke in her heart; onlyher lips moved, but her voice was notheard. Therefore Eli thought she wasdrunk.14 So Eli said to her, "How long will yoube drunk? Put your wine away fromyou!"15And Hannah answered and said, "No,my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful

1 SAMUEL 1 4spirit. I have drunk neither wine norintoxica ng drink, but have poured outmy soul before the LORD.16 "Do not consider your maidservant awicked woman, for out of the abundanceof my complaint and grief I have spokenun l now."17 Then Eli answered and said, "Go inpeace, and the God of Israel grant yourpe on which you have asked of Him."18And she said, "Let your maidservantfind favor in your sight." So the womanwent her way and ate, and her face wasno longer sad.19 Then they rose early in the morningand worshiped before the LORD, andreturned and came to their house atRamah. And Elkanah knew Hannah hiswife, and the LORD remembered her.20 So it came to pass in the process ofme that Hannah conceived and bore a

son, and called his name Samuel, saying,

1 SAMUEL 1 5"Because I have asked for him from theLORD."21Now the man Elkanah and all hishouse went up to offer to the LORD theyearly sacrifice and his vow.22 But Hannah did not go up, for shesaid to her husband, "Not un l the childis weaned; then I will take him, that hemay appear before the LORD and remainthere forever."23And Elkanah her husband said toher, "Do what seems best to you; waitun l you have weaned him. Only let theLORD establish His word." So the womanstayed and nursed her son un l she hadweaned him.24Now when she had weaned him, shetook him up with her, with three bulls,one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine,and brought him to the house of theLORD in Shiloh. And the child was young.

1 SAMUEL 1–2 625 Then they slaughtered a bull, andbrought the child to Eli.26And she said, "O my lord! As yoursoul lives, my lord, I am the woman whostood by you here, praying to the LORD.27 "For this child I prayed, and the LORDhas granted me my pe on which Iasked of Him.28 "Therefore I also have lent him to theLORD; as long as he lives he shall be lentto the LORD." So they worshiped theLORD there.

2 1And Hannah prayed and said:"My heart rejoices in the LORD; My

horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile atmy enemies, Because I rejoice in Yoursalva on.2 "No one is holy like the LORD, Forthere is none besides You, Nor is thereany rock like our God.3 "Talk no more so very proudly; Let noarrogance come from your mouth, For

1 SAMUEL 2 7the LORD is the God of knowledge; Andby Him ac ons are weighed.4 "The bows of the mighty men arebroken, And those who stumbled aregirded with strength.5 Those who were full have hiredthemselves out for bread, And thehungry have ceased to hunger. Even thebarren has borne seven, And she whohas many children has become feeble.6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; Hebrings down to the grave and brings up.7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;He brings low and li s up.8He raises the poor from the dust Andli s the beggar from the ash heap, Toset them among princes And make theminherit the throne of glory. "For thepillars of the earth are the LORD’S, AndHe has set the world upon them.

1 SAMUEL 2 89He will guard the feet of His saints, Butthe wicked shall be silent in darkness."For by strength no man shall prevail.10 The adversaries of the LORD shall bebroken in pieces; From heaven He willthunder against them. The LORD willjudge the ends of the earth. "He will givestrength to His king, And exalt the hornof His anointed."11 Then Elkanah went to his house atRamah. But the child ministered to theLORD before Eli the priest.12Now the sons of Eli were corrupt;they did not know the LORD.13And the priests’ custom with thepeople was that when any man offereda sacrifice, the priest’s servant wouldcome with a three–pronged fleshhook inhis hand while the meat was boiling.14 Then he would thrust it into the pan,or ke le, or caldron, or pot; and thepriest would take for himself all that

1 SAMUEL 2 9the fleshhook brought up. So they didin Shiloh to all the Israelites who camethere.15Also, before they burned the fat, thepriest’s servant would come and say tothe man who sacrificed, "Give meat forroas ng to the priest, for he will not takeboiled meat from you, but raw."16And if the man said to him, "Theyshould really burn the fat first; then youmay take as much as your heart desires,"he would then answer him, "No, but youmust give it now; and if not, I will take itby force."17 Therefore the sin of the young menwas very great before the LORD, for menabhorred the offering of the LORD.18 But Samuel ministered before theLORD, even as a child, wearing a linenephod.19Moreover his mother used to makehim a li le robe, and bring it to him year

1 SAMUEL 2 10by year when she came up with herhusband to offer the yearly sacrifice.20And Eli would bless Elkanah andhis wife, and say, "The LORD give youdescendants from this woman for theloan that was given to the LORD." Thenthey would go to their own home.21And the LORD visited Hannah, sothat she conceived and bore three sonsand two daughters. Meanwhile the childSamuel grew before the LORD.22Now Eli was very old; and he heardeverything his sons did to all Israel,and how they lay with the women whoassembled at the door of the tabernacleof mee ng.23 So he said to them, "Why do youdo such things? For I hear of your evildealings from all the people.24 "No, my sons! For it is not a goodreport that I hear. You make the LORD’Speople transgress.

1 SAMUEL 2 1125 "If one man sins against another, Godwill judge him. But if a man sins againstthe LORD, who will intercede for him?"Nevertheless they did not heed thevoice of their father, because the LORDdesired to kill them.26And the child Samuel grew in stature,and in favor both with the LORD andmen.27 Then a man of God came to Eli andsaid to him, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Did Inot clearly reveal Myself to the house ofyour father when they were in Egypt inPharaoh’s house?28 ‘Did I not choose him out of all thetribes of Israel to be My priest, to offerupon My altar, to burn incense, and towear an ephod before Me? And did I notgive to the house of your father all theofferings of the children of Israel madeby fire?

1 SAMUEL 2 1229 ‘Why do you kick at My sacrifice andMy offering which I have commanded inMy dwelling place, and honor your sonsmore than Me, to make yourselves fatwith the best of all the offerings of IsraelMy people?’30 "Therefore the LORD God of Israelsays: ‘I said indeed that your house andthe house of your father would walkbefore Me forever.’ But now the LORDsays: ‘Far be it from Me; for those whohonor Me I will honor, and those whodespise Me shall be lightly esteemed.31 ‘Behold, the days are coming that Iwill cut off your arm and the arm of yourfather’s house, so that there will not bean old man in your house.32 ‘And you will see an enemy in Mydwelling place, despite all the goodwhich God does for Israel. And thereshall not be an old man in your houseforever.

1 SAMUEL 2 1333 ‘But any of your men whom I do notcut off fromMy altar shall consume youreyes and grieve your heart. And all thedescendants of your house shall die inthe flower of their age.34 ‘Now this shall be a sign to youthat will come upon your two sons, onHophni and Phinehas: in one day theyshall die, both of them.35 ‘Then I will raise up for Myself afaithful priest who shall do according towhat is in My heart and in My mind. Iwill build him a sure house, and he shallwalk before My anointed forever.36 ‘And it shall come to pass thateveryone who is le in your house willcome and bow down to him for a pieceof silver and a morsel of bread, and say,"Please, put me in one of the priestlyposi ons, that I may eat a piece ofbread."’"

1 SAMUEL 3 14

3 1 Then the boy Samuel ministered tothe LORD before Eli. And the word of

the LORD was rare in those days; therewas no widespread revela on.2And it came to pass at that me, whileEli was lying down in his place, and whenhis eyes had begun to grow so dim thathe could not see,3 and before the lamp of God went outin the tabernacle of the LORD where theark of God was, and while Samuel waslying down,4 that the LORD called Samuel. And heanswered, "Here I am!"5 So he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am,for you called me." And he said, "I didnot call; lie down again." And he wentand lay down.6 Then the LORD called yet again,"Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went toEli, and said, "Here I am, for you called

1 SAMUEL 3 15me." He answered, "I did not call, myson; lie down again."7 (Now Samuel did not yet know theLORD, nor was the word of the LORD yetrevealed to him.)8And the LORD called Samuel again thethird me. Then he arose and went toEli, and said, "Here I am, for you did callme." Then Eli perceived that the LORDhad called the boy.9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, liedown; and it shall be, if He calls you,that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Yourservant hears.’" So Samuel went and laydown in his place.10Now the LORD came and stoodand called as at other mes, "Samuel!Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak,for Your servant hears."11 Then the LORD said to Samuel:"Behold, I will do something in Israel at

1 SAMUEL 3 16which both ears of everyone who hearsit will ngle.12 "In that day I will perform againstEli all that I have spoken concerning hishouse, from beginning to end.13 "For I have told him that I will judgehis house forever for the iniquity whichhe knows, because his sons madethemselves vile, and he did not restrainthem.14 "And therefore I have sworn to thehouse of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’shouse shall not be atoned for by sacrificeor offering forever."15 So Samuel lay down un l morning,and opened the doors of the house ofthe LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tellEli the vision.16 Then Eli called Samuel and said,"Samuel, my son!" And he answered,"Here I am."

1 SAMUEL 3–4 1717And he said, "What is the word thatthe LORD spoke to you? Please do nothide it from me. God do so to you, andmore also, if you hide anything from meof all the things that He said to you."18 Then Samuel told him everything,and hid nothing from him. And he said,"It is the LORD. Let Him do what seemsgood to Him."19 So Samuel grew, and the LORD waswith him and let none of his words fall tothe ground.20And all Israel from Dan to Beershebaknew that Samuel had been establishedas a prophet of the LORD.21 Then the LORD appeared again inShiloh. For the LORD revealed Himselfto Samuel in Shiloh by the word of theLORD.

4 1And the word of Samuel came to allIsrael. Now Israel went out to ba le

against the Philis nes, and encamped

1 SAMUEL 4 18beside Ebenezer; and the Philis nesencamped in Aphek.2 Then the Philis nes put themselvesin ba le array against Israel. And whenthey joined ba le, Israel was defeatedby the Philis nes, who killed about fourthousand men of the army in the field.3And when the people had come intothe camp, the elders of Israel said, "Whyhas the LORD defeated us today beforethe Philis nes? Let us bring the ark ofthe covenant of the LORD from Shiloh tous, that when it comes among us it maysave us from the hand of our enemies."4 So the people sent to Shiloh, thatthey might bring from there the ark ofthe covenant of the LORD of hosts, whodwells between the cherubim. And thetwo sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,were there with the ark of the covenantof God.

1 SAMUEL 4 195And when the ark of the covenant ofthe LORD came into the camp, all Israelshouted so loudly that the earth shook.6Now when the Philis nes heard thenoise of the shout, they said, "Whatdoes the sound of this great shout in thecamp of the Hebrews mean?" Then theyunderstood that the ark of the LORD hadcome into the camp.7 So the Philis nes were afraid, for theysaid, "God has come into the camp!"And they said, "Woe to us! For such athing has never happened before.8 "Woe to us! Who will deliver us fromthe hand of these mighty gods? Theseare the gods who struck the Egyp answith all the plagues in the wilderness.9 "Be strong and conduct yourselveslike men, you Philis nes, that you donot become servants of the Hebrews,as they have been to you. Conductyourselves like men, and fight!"

1 SAMUEL 4 2010 So the Philis nes fought, and Israelwas defeated, and every man fled to histent. There was a very great slaughter,and there fell of Israel thirty thousandfoot soldiers.11Also the ark of God was captured;and the two sons of Eli, Hophni andPhinehas, died.12 Then a man of Benjamin ran from theba le line the same day, and came toShiloh with his clothes torn and dirt onhis head.13Now when he came, there wasEli, si ng on a seat by the waysidewatching, for his heart trembled for theark of God. And when the man came intothe city and told it, all the city cried out.14When Eli heard the noise of theoutcry, he said, "What does the sound ofthis tumult mean?" And the man camequickly and told Eli.

1 SAMUEL 4 2115 Eli was ninety–eight years old, andhis eyes were so dim that he could notsee.16 Then the man said to Eli, "I am hewho came from the ba le. And I fledtoday from the ba le line." And he said,"What happened, my son?"17 So the messenger answered and said,"Israel has fled before the Philis nes,and there has been a great slaughteramong the people. Also your two sons,Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and theark of God has been captured."18 Then it happened, when he mademen on of the ark of God, that Eli felloff the seat backward by the side of thegate; and his neck was broken and hedied, for the man was old and heavy.And he had judged Israel forty years.19Now his daughter–in–law, Phinehas’wife, was with child, due to be delivered;and when she heard the news that the

1 SAMUEL 4–5 22ark of God was captured, and that herfather–in–law and her husband weredead, she bowed herself and gave birth,for her labor pains came upon her.20And about the me of her deaththe women who stood by her said toher, "Do not fear, for you have borne ason." But she did not answer, nor did sheregard it.21 Then she named the child Ichabod,saying, "The glory has departed fromIsrael!" because the ark of God hadbeen captured and because of herfather–in–law and her husband.22And she said, "The glory has departedfrom Israel, for the ark of God has beencaptured."

5 1 Then the Philis nes took the ark ofGod and brought it from Ebenezer to

Ashdod.

1 SAMUEL 5 232When the Philis nes took the ark ofGod, they brought it into the temple ofDagon and set it by Dagon.3And when the people of Ashdod aroseearly in the morning, there was Dagon,fallen on its face to the earth before theark of the LORD. So they took Dagon andset it in its place again.4And when they arose early the nextmorning, there was Dagon, fallen on itsface to the ground before the ark of theLORD. The head of Dagon and both thepalms of its hands were broken off onthe threshold; only Dagon’s torso wasle of it.5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagonnor any who come into Dagon’s housetread on the threshold of Dagon inAshdod to this day.6 But the hand of the LORD was heavyon the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged

1 SAMUEL 5 24them and struck them with tumors, bothAshdod and its territory.7And when the men of Ashdod sawhow it was, they said, "The ark of theGod of Israel must not remain with us,for His hand is harsh toward us andDagon our god."8 Therefore they sent and gatheredto themselves all the lords of thePhilis nes, and said, "What shall we dowith the ark of the God of Israel?" Andthey answered, "Let the ark of the Godof Israel be carried away to Gath." Sothey carried the ark of the God of Israelaway.9 So it was, a er they had carriedit away, that the hand of the LORDwas against the city with a very greatdestruc on; and He struck the menof the city, both small and great, andtumors broke out on them.

1 SAMUEL 5–6 2510 Therefore they sent the ark of God toEkron. So it was, as the ark of God cameto Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out,saying, "They have brought the ark ofthe God of Israel to us, to kill us and ourpeople!"11 So they sent and gathered togetherall the lords of the Philis nes, and said,"Send away the ark of the God of Israel,and let it go back to its own place, sothat it does not kill us and our people."For there was a deadly destruc onthroughout all the city; the hand of Godwas very heavy there.12And the men who did not die werestricken with the tumors, and the cry ofthe city went up to heaven.

6 1Now the ark of the LORD was inthe country of the Philis nes seven

months.2And the Philis nes called for thepriests and the diviners, saying, "What

1 SAMUEL 6 26shall we do with the ark of the LORD?Tell us how we should send it to itsplace."3 So they said, "If you send away theark of the God of Israel, do not send itempty; but by all means return it to Himwith a trespass offering. Then you will behealed, and it will be known to you whyHis hand is not removed from you."4 Then they said, "What is the trespassoffering which we shall return to Him?"They answered, "Five golden tumorsand five golden rats, according to thenumber of the lords of the Philis nes.For the same plague was on all of youand on your lords.5 "Therefore you shall make images ofyour tumors and images of your ratsthat ravage the land, and you shall giveglory to the God of Israel; perhaps Hewill lighten His hand from you, from yourgods, and from your land.

1 SAMUEL 6 276 "Why then do you harden your heartsas the Egyp ans and Pharaoh hardenedtheir hearts? When He did mighty thingsamong them, did they not let the peoplego, that they might depart?7 "Now therefore, make a new cart,take two milk cows which have neverbeen yoked, and hitch the cows to thecart; and take their calves home, awayfrom them.8 "Then take the ark of the LORD andset it on the cart; and put the ar cles ofgold which you are returning to Him asa trespass offering in a chest by its side.Then send it away, and let it go.9 "And watch: if it goes up the road toits own territory, to Beth Shemesh, thenHe has done us this great evil. But if not,then we shall know that it is not Hishand that struck us––it happened to usby chance."

1 SAMUEL 6 2810 Then the men did so; they took twomilk cows and hitched them to the cart,and shut up their calves at home.11And they set the ark of the LORD onthe cart, and the chest with the gold ratsand the images of their tumors.12 Then the cows headed straight forthe road to Beth Shemesh, and wentalong the highway, lowing as they went,and did not turn aside to the righthand or the le . And the lords of thePhilis nes went a er them to the borderof Beth Shemesh.13Now the people of Beth Shemeshwere reaping their wheat harvest in thevalley; and they li ed their eyes and sawthe ark, and rejoiced to see it.14 Then the cart came into the fieldof Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stoodthere; a large stone was there. So theysplit the wood of the cart and offeredthe cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.

1 SAMUEL 6 2915 The Levites took down the ark of theLORD and the chest that was with it, inwhich were the ar cles of gold, and putthem on the large stone. Then the menof Beth Shemesh offered burnt offeringsand made sacrifices the same day to theLORD.16 So when the five lords of thePhilis nes had seen it, they returned toEkron the same day.17 These are the golden tumors whichthe Philis nes returned as a trespassoffering to the LORD: one for Ashdod,one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one forGath, one for Ekron;18 and the golden rats, according to thenumber of all the ci es of the Philis nesbelonging to the five lords, both for fiedci es and country villages, even as faras the large stone of Abel on which theyset the ark of the LORD, which stone

1 SAMUEL 6–7 30remains to this day in the field of Joshuaof Beth Shemesh.19 Then He struck the men of BethShemesh, because they had lookedinto the ark of the LORD. He struckfi y thousand and seventy men ofthe people, and the people lamentedbecause the LORD had struck the peoplewith a great slaughter.20And the men of Beth Shemesh said,"Who is able to stand before this holyLORD God? And to whom shall it go upfrom us?"21 So they sent messengers to theinhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying,"The Philis nes have brought back theark of the LORD; come down and take itup with you."

7 1 Then the men of Kirjath Jearimcame and took the ark of the

LORD, and brought it into the house ofAbinadab on the hill, and consecrated

1 SAMUEL 7 31Eleazar his son to keep the ark of theLORD.2 So it was that the ark remained inKirjath Jearim a long me; it was theretwenty years. And all the house of Israellamented a er the LORD.3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house ofIsrael, saying, "If you return to the LORDwith all your hearts, then put away theforeign gods and the Ashtoreths fromamong you, and prepare your hearts forthe LORD, and serve Him only; and Hewill deliver you from the hand of thePhilis nes."4 So the children of Israel put away theBaals and the Ashtoreths, and servedthe LORD only.5And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel toMizpah, and I will pray to the LORD foryou."6 So they gathered together at Mizpah,drew water, and poured it out before

1 SAMUEL 7 32the LORD. And they fasted that day, andsaid there, "We have sinned against theLORD." And Samuel judged the childrenof Israel at Mizpah.7Now when the Philis nes heard thatthe children of Israel had gatheredtogether at Mizpah, the lords of thePhilis nes went up against Israel. Andwhen the children of Israel heard of it,they were afraid of the Philis nes.8 So the children of Israel said toSamuel, "Do not cease to cry out to theLORD our God for us, that He may saveus from the hand of the Philis nes."9And Samuel took a suckling lamb andoffered it as a whole burnt offering tothe LORD. Then Samuel cried out to theLORD for Israel, and the LORD answeredhim.10Now as Samuel was offering up theburnt offering, the Philis nes drew nearto ba le against Israel. But the LORD

1 SAMUEL 7 33thundered with a loud thunder uponthe Philis nes that day, and so confusedthem that they were overcome beforeIsrael.11And the men of Israel went out ofMizpah and pursued the Philis nes, anddrove them back as far as below BethCar.12 Then Samuel took a stone and setit up between Mizpah and Shen, andcalled its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thusfar the LORD has helped us."13 So the Philis nes were subdued, andthey did not come anymore into theterritory of Israel. And the hand of theLORD was against the Philis nes all thedays of Samuel.14 Then the ci es which the Philis neshad taken from Israel were restored toIsrael, from Ekron to Gath; and Israelrecovered its territory from the hands

1 SAMUEL 7–8 34of the Philis nes. Also there was peacebetween Israel and the Amorites.15And Samuel judged Israel all the daysof his life.16He went from year to year on acircuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, andjudged Israel in all those places.17 But he always returned to Ramah,for his home was there. There he judgedIsrael, and there he built an altar to theLORD.

8 1Now it came to pass when Samuelwas old that he made his sons judges

over Israel.2 The name of his firstborn was Joel,and the name of his second, Abijah; theywere judges in Beersheba.3 But his sons did not walk in his ways;they turned aside a er dishonest gain,took bribes, and perverted jus ce.4 Then all the elders of Israel gatheredtogether and came to Samuel at Ramah,

1 SAMUEL 8 355 and said to him, "Look, you are old,and your sons do not walk in your ways.Now make us a king to judge us like allthe na ons."6 But the thing displeased Samuel whenthey said, "Give us a king to judge us."So Samuel prayed to the LORD.7And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heedthe voice of the people in all that theysay to you; for they have not rejectedyou, but they have rejected Me, that Ishould not reign over them.8 "According to all the works whichthey have done since the day that Ibrought them up out of Egypt, even tothis day––with which they have forsakenMe and served other gods––so they aredoing to you also.9 "Now therefore, heed their voice.However, you shall solemnly forewarnthem, and show them the behavior ofthe king who will reign over them."

1 SAMUEL 8 3610 So Samuel told all the words of theLORD to the people who asked him for aking.11And he said, "This will be thebehavior of the king who will reign overyou: He will take your sons and appointthem for his own chariots and to be hishorsemen, and some will run before hischariots.12 "He will appoint captains over histhousands and captains over his fi ies,will set some to plow his ground andreap his harvest, and some to make hisweapons of war and equipment for hischariots.13 "He will take your daughters to beperfumers, cooks, and bakers.14 "And he will take the best of yourfields, your vineyards, and your olivegroves, and give them to his servants.

1 SAMUEL 8 3715 "He will take a tenth of your grain andyour vintage, and give it to his officersand servants.16 "And he will take your male servants,your female servants, your finest youngmen, and your donkeys, and put them tohis work.17 "He will take a tenth of your sheep.And you will be his servants.18 "And you will cry out in that daybecause of your king whom you havechosen for yourselves, and the LORD willnot hear you in that day."19Nevertheless the people refused toobey the voice of Samuel; and they said,"No, but we will have a king over us,20 that we also may be like all thena ons, and that our king may judgeus and go out before us and fight ourba les."

1 SAMUEL 8–9 3821And Samuel heard all the words ofthe people, and he repeated them in thehearing of the LORD.22 So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heedtheir voice, and make them a king." AndSamuel said to the men of Israel, "Everyman go to his city."

9 1 There was a man of Benjaminwhose name was Kish the son

of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the sonof Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, aBenjamite, a mighty man of power.2And he had a choice and handsomeson whose name was Saul. There wasnot a more handsome person than heamong the children of Israel. From hisshoulders upward he was taller than anyof the people.3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father,were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul,"Please, take one of the servants with

1 SAMUEL 9 39you, and arise, go and look for thedonkeys."4 So he passed through the mountainsof Ephraim and through the land ofShalisha, but they did not find them.Then they passed through the landof Shaalim, and they were not there.Then he passed through the land of theBenjamites, but they did not find them.5When they had come to the land ofZuph, Saul said to his servant who waswith him, "Come, let us return, lest myfather cease caring about the donkeysand become worried about us."6And he said to him, "Look now, thereis in this city a man of God, and heis an honorable man; all that he sayssurely comes to pass. So let us go there;perhaps he can show us the way that weshould go."7 Then Saul said to his servant, "Butlook, if we go, what shall we bring the

1 SAMUEL 9 40man? For the bread in our vessels is allgone, and there is no present to bring tothe man of God. What do we have?"8And the servant answered Saul againand said, "Look, I have here at hand onefourth of a shekel of silver. I will give thatto the man of God, to tell us our way."9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man wentto inquire of God, he spoke thus: "Come,let us go to the seer"; for he who is nowcalled a prophet was formerly called aseer.)10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Wellsaid; come, let us go." So they went tothe city where the man of God was.11As they went up the hill to the city,they met some young women going outto draw water, and said to them, "Is theseer here?"12And they answered them and said,"Yes, there he is, just ahead of you.Hurry now; for today he came to this

1 SAMUEL 9 41city, because there is a sacrifice of thepeople today on the high place.13 "As soon as you come into the city,you will surely find him before he goesup to the high place to eat. For thepeople will not eat un l he comes,because he must bless the sacrifice;a erward those who are invited will eat.Now therefore, go up, for about thisme you will find him."14 So they went up to the city. As theywere coming into the city, there wasSamuel, coming out toward them on hisway up to the high place.15Now the LORD had told Samuel in hisear the day before Saul came, saying,16 "Tomorrow about this me I will sendyou a man from the land of Benjamin,and you shall anoint him commanderover My people Israel, that he maysave My people from the hand of thePhilis nes; for I have looked upon My

1 SAMUEL 9 42people, because their cry has come tome."17And when Samuel saw Saul, theLORD said to him, "There he is, the manof whom I spoke to you. This one shallreign over My people."18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in thegate, and said, "Please tell me, where isthe seer’s house?"19And Samuel answered Saul and said,"I am the seer. Go up before me to thehigh place, for you shall eat with metoday; and tomorrow I will let you goand will tell you all that is in your heart.20 "But as for your donkeys that werelost three days ago, do not be anxiousabout them, for they have been found.And on whom is all the desire of Israel?Is it not on you and on all your father’shouse?"21And Saul answered and said, "Am Inot a Benjamite, of the smallest of the

1 SAMUEL 9 43tribes of Israel, andmy family the least ofall the families of the tribe of Benjamin?Why then do you speak like this to me?"22Now Samuel took Saul and hisservant and brought them into the hall,and had them sit in the place of honoramong those who were invited; therewere about thirty persons.23And Samuel said to the cook, "Bringthe por on which I gave you, of which Isaid to you, ‘Set it apart.’"24 So the cook took up the thigh with itsupper part and set it before Saul. AndSamuel said, "Here it is, what was keptback. It was set apart for you. Eat; forun l this me it has been kept for you,since I said I invited the people." So Saulate with Samuel that day.25When they had come down from thehigh place into the city, Samuel spokewith Saul on the top of the house.

1 SAMUEL 9–10 4426 They arose early; and it was aboutthe dawning of the day that Samuelcalled to Saul on the top of the house,saying, "Get up, that I may send you onyour way." And Saul arose, and both ofthem went outside, he and Samuel.27As they were going down to theoutskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul,"Tell the servant to go on ahead of us."And he went on. "But you stand hereawhile, that I may announce to you theword of God."

10 1 Then Samuel took a flask of oiland poured it on his head, and

kissed him and said: "Is it not becausethe LORD has anointed you commanderover His inheritance?2 "When you have departed from metoday, you will find two men by Rachel’stomb in the territory of Benjamin atZelzah; and they will say to you, ‘Thedonkeys which you went to look for have

1 SAMUEL 10 45been found. And now your father hasceased caring about the donkeys and isworrying about you, saying, "What shallI do about my son?"’3 "Then you shall go on forward fromthere and come to the terebinth tree ofTabor. There three men going up to Godat Bethel will meet you, one carryingthree young goats, another carryingthree loaves of bread, and anothercarrying a skin of wine.4 "And they will greet you and give youtwo loaves of bread, which you shallreceive from their hands.5 "A er that you shall come to the hillof God where the Philis ne garrisonis. And it will happen, when you havecome there to the city, that you willmeet a group of prophets coming downfrom the high place with a stringedinstrument, a tambourine, a flute, and

1 SAMUEL 10 46a harp before them; and they will beprophesying.6 "Then the Spirit of the LORD will comeupon you, and you will prophesy withthem and be turned into another man.7 "And let it be, when these signs cometo you, that you do as the occasiondemands; for God is with you.8 "You shall go down before me toGilgal; and surely I will come down toyou to offer burnt offerings and makesacrifices of peace offerings. Seven daysyou shall wait, ll I come to you andshow you what you should do."9 So it was, when he had turned hisback to go from Samuel, that God gavehim another heart; and all those signscame to pass that day.10When they came there to the hill,there was a group of prophets to meethim; then the Spirit of God came uponhim, and he prophesied among them.

1 SAMUEL 10 4711And it happened, when all whoknew him formerly saw that he indeedprophesied among the prophets, thatthe people said to one another, "What isthis that has come upon the son of Kish?Is Saul also among the prophets?"12 Then a man from there answeredand said, "But who is their father?"Therefore it became a proverb: "Is Saulalso among the prophets?"13And when he had finishedprophesying, he went to the high place.14 Then Saul’s uncle said to him and hisservant, "Where did you go?" So he said,"To look for the donkeys. When we sawthat they were nowhere to be found, wewent to Samuel."15And Saul’s uncle said, "Tell me,please, what Samuel said to you."16 So Saul said to his uncle, "He toldus plainly that the donkeys had beenfound." But about the ma er of the

1 SAMUEL 10 48kingdom, he did not tell him whatSamuel had said.17 Then Samuel called the peopletogether to the LORD at Mizpah,18 and said to the children of Israel,"Thus says the LORD God of Israel:‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt,and delivered you from the hand ofthe Egyp ans and from the hand ofall kingdoms and from those whooppressed you.’19 "But you have today rejected yourGod, who Himself saved you from allyour adversi es and your tribula ons;and you have said to Him, ‘No, set aking over us!’ Now therefore, presentyourselves before the LORD by yourtribes and by your clans."20And when Samuel had caused all thetribes of Israel to come near, the tribe ofBenjamin was chosen.

1 SAMUEL 10 4921When he had caused the tribe ofBenjamin to come near by their families,the family of Matri was chosen. And Saulthe son of Kish was chosen. But whenthey sought him, he could not be found.22 Therefore they inquired of the LORDfurther, "Has the man come here yet?"And the LORD answered, "There he is,hidden among the equipment."23 So they ran and brought him fromthere; and when he stood among thepeople, he was taller than any of thepeople from his shoulders upward.24And Samuel said to all the people,"Do you see him whom the LORD haschosen, that there is no one like himamong all the people?" So all the peopleshouted and said, "Long live the king!"25 Then Samuel explained to the peoplethe behavior of royalty, and wrote it in abook and laid it up before the LORD. And

1 SAMUEL 10–11 50Samuel sent all the people away, everyman to his house.26And Saul also went home to Gibeah;and valiant men went with him, whosehearts God had touched.27 But some rebels said, "How can thisman save us?" So they despised him,and brought him no presents. But heheld his peace.

11 1 Then Nahash the Ammonitecame up and encamped against

Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabeshsaid to Nahash, "Make a covenant withus, and we will serve you."2And Nahash the Ammonite answeredthem, "On this condi on I will make acovenant with you, that I may put out allyour right eyes, and bring reproach onall Israel."3 Then the elders of Jabesh said to him,"Hold off for seven days, that we maysend messengers to all the territory of

1 SAMUEL 11 51Israel. And then, if there is no one tosave us, we will come out to you."4 So the messengers came to Gibeah ofSaul and told the news in the hearing ofthe people. And all the people li ed uptheir voices and wept.5Now there was Saul, coming behindthe herd from the field; and Saul said,"What troubles the people, that theyweep?" And they told him the words ofthe men of Jabesh.6 Then the Spirit of God came upon Saulwhen he heard this news, and his angerwas greatly aroused.7 So he took a yoke of oxen andcut them in pieces, and sent themthroughout all the territory of Israelby the hands of messengers, saying,"Whoever does not go out with Saul andSamuel to ba le, so it shall be done tohis oxen." And the fear of the LORD fell

1 SAMUEL 11 52on the people, and they came out withone consent.8When he numbered them in Bezek,the children of Israel were three hundredthousand, and the men of Judah thirtythousand.9And they said to the messengers whocame, "Thus you shall say to the men ofJabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the methe sun is hot, you shall have help.’"Then the messengers came and reportedit to the men of Jabesh, and they wereglad.10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said,"Tomorrow we will come out to you,and you may do with us whatever seemsgood to you."11 So it was, on the next day, that Saulput the people in three companies;and they came into the midst of thecamp in the morning watch, and killedAmmonites un l the heat of the day. And

1 SAMUEL 11–12 53it happened that those who survivedwere sca ered, so that no two of themwere le together.12 Then the people said to Samuel,"Who is he who said, ‘Shall Saul reignover us?’ Bring the men, that we mayput them to death."13 But Saul said, "Not a man shall be putto death this day, for today the LORD hasaccomplished salva on in Israel."14 Then Samuel said to the people,"Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew thekingdom there."15 So all the people went to Gilgal,and there they made Saul king beforethe LORD in Gilgal. There they madesacrifices of peace offerings before theLORD, and there Saul and all the men ofIsrael rejoiced greatly.

12 1Now Samuel said to all Israel:"Indeed I have heeded your voice

1 SAMUEL 12 54in all that you said to me, and have madea king over you.2 "And now here is the king, walkingbefore you; and I amold and grayheaded,and look, my sons are with you. I havewalked before you from my childhood tothis day.3 "Here I am. Witness against me beforethe LORD and before His anointed:Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkeyhave I taken, or whom have I cheated?Whom have I oppressed, or from whosehand have I received any bribe withwhich to blind my eyes? I will restore itto you."4And they said, "You have not cheatedus or oppressed us, nor have you takenanything from any man’s hand."5 Then he said to them, "The LORD iswitness against you, and His anointedis witness this day, that you have not

1 SAMUEL 12 55found anything in my hand." And theyanswered, "He is witness."6 Then Samuel said to the people, "Itis the LORD who raised up Moses andAaron, and who brought your fathers upfrom the land of Egypt.7 "Now therefore, stand s ll, that Imay reason with you before the LORDconcerning all the righteous acts of theLORD which He did to you and yourfathers:8 "When Jacob had gone into Egypt,and your fathers cried out to the LORD,then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron,who brought your fathers out of Egyptand made them dwell in this place.9 "And when they forgot the LORD theirGod, He sold them into the hand ofSisera, commander of the army of Hazor,into the hand of the Philis nes, and intothe hand of the king of Moab; and theyfought against them.

1 SAMUEL 12 5610 "Then they cried out to the LORD,and said, ‘We have sinned, because wehave forsaken the LORD and served theBaals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver usfrom the hand of our enemies, and wewill serve You.’11 "And the LORD sent Jerubbaal,Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, anddelivered you out of the hand of yourenemies on every side; and you dwelt insafety.12 "And when you saw that Nahash kingof the Ammonites came against you, yousaid to me, ‘No, but a king shall reignover us,’ when the LORD your God wasyour king.13 "Now therefore, here is the kingwhom you have chosen and whom youhave desired. And take note, the LORDhas set a king over you.14 "If you fear the LORD and serve Himand obey His voice, and do not rebel

1 SAMUEL 12 57against the commandment of the LORD,then both you and the king who reignsover you will con nue following theLORD your God.15 "However, if you do not obey thevoice of the LORD, but rebel against thecommandment of the LORD, then thehand of the LORD will be against you, asit was against your fathers.16 "Now therefore, stand and see thisgreat thing which the LORD will dobefore your eyes:17 "Is today not the wheat harvest? Iwill call to the LORD, and He will sendthunder and rain, that you may perceiveand see that your wickedness is great,which you have done in the sight of theLORD, in asking a king for yourselves."18 So Samuel called to the LORD, andthe LORD sent thunder and rain thatday; and all the people greatly fearedthe LORD and Samuel.

1 SAMUEL 12 5819And all the people said to Samuel,"Pray for your servants to the LORD yourGod, that we may not die; for we haveadded to all our sins the evil of asking aking for ourselves."20 Then Samuel said to the people,"Do not fear. You have done all thiswickedness; yet do not turn aside fromfollowing the LORD, but serve the LORDwith all your heart.21 "And do not turn aside; for thenyou would go a er empty things whichcannot profit or deliver, for they arenothing.22 "For the LORD will not forsake Hispeople, for His great name’s sake,because it has pleased the LORD to makeyou His people.23 "Moreover, as for me, far be it fromme that I should sin against the LORD inceasing to pray for you; but I will teachyou the good and the right way.

1 SAMUEL 12–13 5924 "Only fear the LORD, and serve Himin truth with all your heart; for considerwhat great things He has done for you.25 "But if you s ll do wickedly, you shallbe swept away, both you and your king."

13 1 Saul reigned one year; and whenhe had reigned two years over

Israel,2 Saul chose for himself three thousandmen of Israel. Two thousand were withSaul in Michmash and in the mountainsof Bethel, and a thousand were withJonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. Therest of the people he sent away, everyman to his tent.3And Jonathan a acked the garrison ofthe Philis nes that was in Geba, and thePhilis nes heard of it. Then Saul blewthe trumpet throughout all the land,saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"4Now all Israel heard it said that Saulhad a acked a garrison of the Philis nes,

1 SAMUEL 13 60and that Israel had also become anabomina on to the Philis nes. And thepeople were called together to Saul atGilgal.5 Then the Philis nes gathered togetherto fight with Israel, thirty thousandchariots and six thousand horsemen,and people as the sand which is on theseashore in mul tude. And they cameup and encamped in Michmash, to theeast of Beth Aven.6When the men of Israel saw that theywere in danger (for the people weredistressed), then the people hid in caves,in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.7And some of the Hebrews crossedover the Jordan to the land of Gadand Gilead. As for Saul, he was s ll inGilgal, and all the people followed himtrembling.8 Then he waited seven days, accordingto the me set by Samuel. But Samuel

1 SAMUEL 13 61did not come to Gilgal; and the peoplewere sca ered from him.9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offeringand peace offerings here to me." And heoffered the burnt offering.10Now it happened, as soon as he hadfinished presen ng the burnt offering,that Samuel came; and Saul went out tomeet him, that he might greet him.11And Samuel said, "What have youdone?" And Saul said, "When I saw thatthe people were sca ered from me,and that you did not come within thedays appointed, and that the Philis nesgathered together at Michmash,12 "then I said, ‘The Philis nes will nowcome down on me at Gilgal, and I havenot made supplica on to the LORD.’Therefore I felt compelled, and offered aburnt offering."13And Samuel said to Saul, "You havedone foolishly. You have not kept the

1 SAMUEL 13 62commandment of the LORD your God,which He commanded you. For nowthe LORD would have established yourkingdom over Israel forever.14 "But now your kingdom shall notcon nue. The LORD has sought forHimself a man a er His own heart, andthe LORD has commanded him to becommander over His people, becauseyou have not kept what the LORDcommanded you."15 Then Samuel arose and went up fromGilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saulnumbered the people present with him,about six hundred men.16 Saul, Jonathan his son, and thepeople present with them remained inGibeah of Benjamin. But the Philis nesencamped in Michmash.17 Then raiders came out of the camp ofthe Philis nes in three companies. One

1 SAMUEL 13 63company turned to the road to Ophrah,to the land of Shual,18 another company turned to the roadto Beth Horon, and another companyturned to the road of the border thatoverlooks the Valley of Zeboim towardthe wilderness.19Now there was no blacksmith tobe found throughout all the land ofIsrael, for the Philis nes said, "Lest theHebrews make swords or spears."20 But all the Israelites would go downto the Philis nes to sharpen each man’splowshare, his ma ock, his ax, and hissickle;21 and the charge for a sharpening wasa pim for the plowshares, the ma ocks,the forks, and the axes, and to set thepoints of the goads.22 So it came about, on the day ofba le, that there was neither swordnor spear found in the hand of any of

1 SAMUEL 13–14 64the people who were with Saul andJonathan. But they were found with Sauland Jonathan his son.23And the garrison of the Philis neswent out to the pass of Michmash.

14 1Now it happened one day thatJonathan the son of Saul said

to the young man who bore his armor,"Come, let us go over to the Philis nes’garrison that is on the other side." Buthe did not tell his father.2And Saul was si ng in the outskirts ofGibeah under a pomegranate tree whichis in Migron. The people who were withhim were about six hundred men.3Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’sbrother, the son of Phinehas, the sonof Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, waswearing an ephod. But the people didnot know that Jonathan had gone.4 Between the passes, by whichJonathan sought to go over to the

1 SAMUEL 14 65Philis nes’ garrison, there was a sharprock on one side and a sharp rock on theother side. And the name of one wasBozez, and the name of the other Seneh.5 The front of one faced northwardopposite Michmash, and the othersouthward opposite Gibeah.6 Then Jonathan said to the youngman who bore his armor, "Come, letus go over to the garrison of theseuncircumcised; it may be that the LORDwill work for us. For nothing restrains theLORD from saving by many or by few."7 So his armorbearer said to him, "Doall that is in your heart. Go then; here Iam with you, according to your heart."8 Then Jonathan said, "Very well, letus cross over to these men, and we willshow ourselves to them.9 "If they say thus to us, ‘Wait un l wecome to you,’ then we will stand s ll inour place and not go up to them.

1 SAMUEL 14 6610 "But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’then we will go up. For the LORD hasdelivered them into our hand, and thiswill be a sign to us."11 So both of them showed themselvesto the garrison of the Philis nes. Andthe Philis nes said, "Look, the Hebrewsare coming out of the holes where theyhave hidden."12 Then the men of the garrison calledto Jonathan and his armorbearer, andsaid, "Come up to us, and we will showyou something." Jonathan said to hisarmorbearer, "Come up a er me, for theLORD has delivered them into the handof Israel."13And Jonathan climbed up on hishands and knees with his armorbearera er him; and they fell beforeJonathan. And as he came a er him, hisarmorbearer killed them.

1 SAMUEL 14 6714 That first slaughter which Jonathanand his armorbearer made was abouttwenty men within about half an acre ofland.15And there was trembling in thecamp, in the field, and among all thepeople. The garrison and the raiders alsotrembled; and the earth quaked, so thatit was a very great trembling.16Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeahof Benjamin looked, and there was themul tude, mel ng away; and they wenthere and there.17 Then Saul said to the people whowere with him, "Now call the roll and seewho has gone from us." And when theyhad called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathanand his armorbearer were not there.18And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring theark of God here" (for at that me the arkof God was with the children of Israel).

1 SAMUEL 14 6819Now it happened, while Saul talkedto the priest, that the noise which wasin the camp of the Philis nes con nuedto increase; so Saul said to the priest,"Withdraw your hand."20 Then Saul and all the people whowere with him assembled, and theywent to the ba le; and indeed everyman’s sword was against his neighbor,and there was very great confusion.21Moreover the Hebrews who werewith the Philis nes before that me,who went up with them into the campfrom the surrounding country, they alsojoined the Israelites who were with Sauland Jonathan.22 Likewise all the men of Israel whohad hidden in the mountains of Ephraim,when they heard that the Philis nesfled, they also followed hard a er themin the ba le.

1 SAMUEL 14 6923 So the LORD saved Israel that day,and the ba le shi ed to Beth Aven.24And themen of Israel were distressedthat day, for Saul had placed the peopleunder oath, saying, "Cursed is the manwho eats any food un l evening, before Ihave taken vengeance on my enemies."So none of the people tasted food.25Now all the people of the land cameto a forest; and there was honey on theground.26And when the people had comeinto the woods, there was the honey,dripping; but no one put his hand to hismouth, for the people feared the oath.27 But Jonathan had not heard hisfather charge the people with the oath;therefore he stretched out the end of therod that was in his hand and dipped itin a honeycomb, and put his hand to hismouth; and his countenance brightened.

1 SAMUEL 14 7028 Then one of the people said, "Yourfather strictly charged the people withan oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man whoeats food this day.’" And the people werefaint.29 But Jonathan said, "My father hastroubled the land. Look now, how mycountenance has brightened because Itasted a li le of this honey.30 "How much be er if the peoplehad eaten freely today of the spoilof their enemies which they found!For now would there not have beena much greater slaughter among thePhilis nes?"31Now they had driven back thePhilis nes that day from Michmash toAijalon. So the people were very faint.32And the people rushed on the spoil,and took sheep, oxen, and calves, andslaughtered them on the ground; andthe people ate them with the blood.

1 SAMUEL 14 7133 Then they told Saul, saying, "Look,the people are sinning against the LORDby ea ng with the blood!" So he said,"You have dealt treacherously; roll alarge stone to me this day."34And Saul said, "Disperse yourselvesamong the people, and say to them,‘Bring me here every man’s ox and everyman’s sheep, slaughter them here, andeat; and do not sin against the LORD byea ng with the blood.’" So every one ofthe people brought his ox with him thatnight, and slaughtered it there.35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD.This was the first altar that he built tothe LORD.36Now Saul said, "Let us go down a erthe Philis nes by night, and plunderthem un l the morning light; and let usnot leave a man of them." And they said,"Do whatever seems good to you." Then

1 SAMUEL 14 72the priest said, "Let us draw near to Godhere."37 So Saul asked counsel of God, "ShallI go down a er the Philis nes? Will Youdeliver them into the hand of Israel?"But He did not answer him that day.38And Saul said, "Come over here, allyou chiefs of the people, and know andsee what this sin was today.39 "For as the LORD lives, who savesIsrael, though it be in Jonathan myson, he shall surely die." But not a manamong all the people answered him.40 Then he said to all Israel, "You be onone side, and my son Jonathan and I willbe on the other side." And the peoplesaid to Saul, "Do what seems good toyou."41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD Godof Israel, "Give a perfect lot." So Saul andJonathan were taken, but the peopleescaped.

1 SAMUEL 14 7342And Saul said, "Cast lots between myson Jonathan and me." So Jonathan wastaken.43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell mewhat you have done." And Jonathantold him, and said, "I only tasted a li lehoney with the end of the rod that wasin my hand. So now I must die!"44And Saul answered, "God do soand more also; for you shall surely die,Jonathan."45 But the people said to Saul, "ShallJonathan die, who has accomplishedthis great deliverance in Israel? Certainlynot! As the LORD lives, not one hair ofhis head shall fall to the ground, for hehas worked with God this day." So thepeople rescued Jonathan, and he did notdie.46 Then Saul returned from pursuingthe Philis nes, and the Philis nes wentto their own place.

1 SAMUEL 14 7447 So Saul established his sovereigntyover Israel, and fought against all hisenemies on every side, against Moab,against the people of Ammon, againstEdom, against the kings of Zobah, andagainst the Philis nes. Wherever heturned, he harassed them.48And he gathered an army anda acked the Amalekites, and deliveredIsrael from the hands of those whoplundered them.49 The sons of Saul were Jonathan,Jishui and Malchishua. And the names ofhis two daughters were these: the nameof the firstborn Merab, and the name ofthe younger Michal.50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoamthe daughter of Ahimaaz. And the nameof the commander of his army wasAbner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Nerthe father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

1 SAMUEL 14–15 7552Now there was fierce war with thePhilis nes all the days of Saul. And whenSaul saw any strong man or any valiantman, he took him for himself.

15 1 Samuel also said to Saul, "TheLORD sent me to anoint you

king over His people, over Israel. Nowtherefore, heed the voice of the wordsof the LORD.2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I willpunish Amalek for what he did to Israel,how he ambushed him on the way whenhe came up from Egypt.3 ‘Now go and a ack Amalek, andu erly destroy all that they have, and donot spare them. But kill both man andwoman, infant and nursing child, ox andsheep, camel and donkey.’"4 So Saul gathered the people togetherand numbered them in Telaim, twohundred thousand foot soldiers and tenthousand men of Judah.

1 SAMUEL 15 765And Saul came to a city of Amalek,and lay in wait in the valley.6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go,depart, get down from among theAmalekites, lest I destroy you with them.For you showed kindness to all thechildren of Israel when they came up outof Egypt." So the Kenites departed fromamong the Amalekites.7And Saul a acked the Amalekites,from Havilah all the way to Shur, whichis east of Egypt.8He also took Agag king of theAmalekites alive, and u erly destroyedall the people with the edge of thesword.9 But Saul and the people sparedAgag and the best of the sheep, theoxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and allthat was good, and were unwilling tou erly destroy them. But everything

1 SAMUEL 15 77despised and worthless, that they u erlydestroyed.10Now the word of the LORD came toSamuel, saying,11 "I greatly regret that I have set upSaul as king, for he has turned back fromfollowing Me, and has not performedMy commandments." And it grievedSamuel, and he cried out to the LORD allnight.12 So when Samuel rose early in themorning to meet Saul, it was toldSamuel, saying, "Saul went to Carmel,and indeed, he set up a monument forhimself; and he has gone on around,passed by, and gone down to Gilgal."13 Then Samuel went to Saul, andSaul said to him, "Blessed are youof the LORD! I have performed thecommandment of the LORD."

1 SAMUEL 15 7814 But Samuel said, "What then is thisblea ng of the sheep in my ears, and thelowing of the oxen which I hear?"15And Saul said, "They have broughtthem from the Amalekites; for thepeople spared the best of the sheepand the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORDyour God; and the rest we have u erlydestroyed."16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet!And I will tell you what the LORD saidto me last night." And he said to him,"Speak on."17 So Samuel said, "When you wereli le in your own eyes, were you nothead of the tribes of Israel? And did notthe LORD anoint you king over Israel?18 "Now the LORD sent you on amission, and said, ‘Go, and u erlydestroy the sinners, the Amalekites,and fight against them un l they areconsumed.’

1 SAMUEL 15 7919 "Why then did you not obey thevoice of the LORD? Why did you swoopdown on the spoil, and do evil in thesight of the LORD?"20And Saul said to Samuel, "But I haveobeyed the voice of the LORD, andgone on the mission on which the LORDsent me, and brought back Agag kingof Amalek; I have u erly destroyed theAmalekites.21 "But the people took of the plunder,sheep and oxen, the best of thethings which should have been u erlydestroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD yourGod in Gilgal."22 Then Samuel said: "Has the LORDas great delight in burnt offerings andsacrifices, As in obeying the voice of theLORD? Behold, to obey is be er thansacrifice, And to heed than the fat oframs.

1 SAMUEL 15 8023 For rebellion is as the sin ofwitchcra , And stubbornness is asiniquity and idolatry. Because you haverejected the word of the LORD, He alsohas rejected you from being king."24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I havesinned, for I have transgressed thecommandment of the LORD and yourwords, because I feared the people andobeyed their voice.25 "Now therefore, please pardon mysin, and return with me, that I mayworship the LORD."26 But Samuel said to Saul, "I will notreturn with you, for you have rejectedthe word of the LORD, and the LORDhas rejected you from being king overIsrael."27And as Samuel turned around to goaway, Saul seized the edge of his robe,and it tore.

1 SAMUEL 15 8128 So Samuel said to him, "The LORDhas torn the kingdom of Israel from youtoday, and has given it to a neighbor ofyours, who is be er than you.29 "And also the Strength of Israel willnot lie nor relent. For He is not a man,that He should relent."30 Then he said, "I have sinned; yethonor me now, please, before the eldersof my people and before Israel, andreturn with me, that I may worship theLORD your God."31 So Samuel turned back a er Saul,and Saul worshiped the LORD.32 Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag kingof the Amalekites here to me." So Agagcame to him cau ously. And Agag said,"Surely the bi erness of death is past."33 But Samuel said, "As your sword hasmade women childless, so shall yourmother be childless among women."

1 SAMUEL 15–16 82And Samuel hacked Agag in piecesbefore the LORD in Gilgal.34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, andSaul went up to his house at Gibeah ofSaul.35And Samuel went nomore to see Saulun l the day of his death. NeverthelessSamuel mourned for Saul, and the LORDregre ed that He had made Saul kingover Israel.

16 1Now the LORD said to Samuel,"How long will you mourn for

Saul, seeing I have rejected him fromreigning over Israel? Fill your horn withoil, and go; I am sending you to Jessethe Bethlehemite. For I have providedMyself a king among his sons."2And Samuel said, "How can I go? IfSaul hears it, he will kill me." And theLORD said, "Take a heifer with you, andsay, ‘I have come to sacrifice to theLORD.’

1 SAMUEL 16 833 "Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, andI will show you what you shall do; youshall anoint for Me the one I name toyou."4 So Samuel did what the LORD said,and went to Bethlehem. And the eldersof the town trembled at his coming, andsaid, "Do you come peaceably?"5And he said, "Peaceably; I havecome to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanc fyyourselves, and come with me to thesacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesseand his sons, and invited them to thesacrifice.6 So it was, when they came, that helooked at Eliab and said, "Surely theLORD’S anointed is before Him."7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do notlook at his appearance or at the heightof his stature, because I have refusedhim. For the LORD does not see as mansees; for man looks at the outward

1 SAMUEL 16 84appearance, but the LORD looks at theheart."8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and madehim pass before Samuel. And he said,"Neither has the LORD chosen this one."9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by.And he said, "Neither has the LORDchosen this one."10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sonspass before Samuel. And Samuel said toJesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."11And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all theyoung men here?" Then he said, "Thereremains yet the youngest, and there heis, keeping the sheep." And Samuel saidto Jesse, "Send and bring him. For wewill not sit down ll he comes here."12 So he sent and brought him in.Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes,and good–looking. And the LORD said,"Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"

1 SAMUEL 16 8513 Then Samuel took the horn of oiland anointed him in the midst of hisbrothers; and the Spirit of the LORDcame upon David from that day forward.So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.14 But the Spirit of the LORD departedfrom Saul, and a distressing spirit fromthe LORD troubled him.15And Saul’s servants said to him,"Surely, a distressing spirit from God istroubling you.16 "Let our master now command yourservants, who are before you, to seekout a man who is a skillful player on theharp; and it shall be that he will play itwith his hand when the distressing spiritfrom God is upon you, and you shall bewell."17 So Saul said to his servants, "Provideme now a man who can play well, andbring him to me."

1 SAMUEL 16 8618 Then one of the servants answeredand said, "Look, I have seen a son ofJesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful inplaying, a mighty man of valor, a man ofwar, prudent in speech, and a handsomeperson; and the LORD is with him."19 Therefore Saul sent messengers toJesse, and said, "Send me your sonDavid, who is with the sheep."20And Jesse took a donkey loaded withbread, a skin of wine, and a young goat,and sent them by his son David to Saul.21 So David came to Saul and stoodbefore him. And he loved him greatly,and he became his armorbearer.22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying,"Please let David stand before me, for hehas found favor in my sight."23And so it was, whenever the spiritfrom God was upon Saul, that Davidwould take a harp and play it withhis hand. Then Saul would become

1 SAMUEL 17 87refreshed and well, and the distressingspirit would depart from him.

17 1Now the Philis nes gatheredtheir armies together to ba le,

and were gathered together at Sochoh,which belongs to Judah; they encampedbetween Sochoh and Azekah, in EphesDammim.2And Saul and the men of Israel weregathered together, and they encampedin the Valley of Elah, and drew up inba le array against the Philis nes.3 The Philis nes stood on a mountainon one side, and Israel stood on amountain on the other side, with a valleybetween them.4And a champion went out from thecamp of the Philis nes, named Goliath,from Gath, whose height was six cubitsand a span.5He had a bronze helmet on his head,and he was armed with a coat of mail,

1 SAMUEL 17 88and the weight of the coat was fivethousand shekels of bronze.6And he had bronze armor on hislegs and a bronze javelin between hisshoulders.7Now the staff of his spear was like aweaver’s beam, and his iron spearheadweighed six hundred shekels; and ashield–bearer went before him.8 Then he stood and cried out to thearmies of Israel, and said to them,"Why have you come out to line up forba le? Am I not a Philis ne, and youthe servants of Saul? Choose a man foryourselves, and let him come down tome.9 "If he is able to fight with me and killme, then we will be your servants. But ifI prevail against him and kill him, thenyou shall be our servants and serve us."

1 SAMUEL 17 8910And the Philis ne said, "I defy thearmies of Israel this day; give me a man,that we may fight together."11When Saul and all Israel heardthese words of the Philis ne, they weredismayed and greatly afraid.12Now David was the son of thatEphrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whosename was Jesse, and who had eightsons. And the man was old, advanced inyears, in the days of Saul.13 The three oldest sons of Jesse hadgone to follow Saul to the ba le. Thenames of his three sons who went to theba le were Eliab the firstborn, next tohim Abinadab, and the third Shammah.14David was the youngest. And thethree oldest followed Saul.15 But David occasionally went andreturned from Saul to feed his father’ssheep at Bethlehem.

1 SAMUEL 17 9016And the Philis ne drew near andpresented himself forty days, morningand evening.17 Then Jesse said to his son David,"Take now for your brothers an ephahof this dried grain and these ten loaves,and run to your brothers at the camp.18 "And carry these ten cheeses to thecaptain of their thousand, and see howyour brothers fare, and bring back newsof them."19Now Saul and they and all the men ofIsrael were in the Valley of Elah, figh ngwith the Philis nes.20 So David rose early in the morning,le the sheep with a keeper, and tookthe things and went as Jesse hadcommanded him. And he came to thecamp as the army was going out to thefight and shou ng for the ba le.

1 SAMUEL 17 9121 For Israel and the Philis nes haddrawn up in ba le array, army againstarmy.22And David le his supplies in thehand of the supply keeper, ran tothe army, and came and greeted hisbrothers.23 Then as he talked with them, therewas the champion, the Philis ne of Gath,Goliath by name, coming up from thearmies of the Philis nes; and he spokeaccording to the same words. So Davidheard them.24And all the men of Israel, when theysaw the man, fled from him and weredreadfully afraid.25 So the men of Israel said, "Have youseen this man who has come up? Surelyhe has come up to defy Israel; and it shallbe that the man who kills him the kingwill enrich with great riches, will give

1 SAMUEL 17 92him his daughter, and give his father’shouse exemp on from taxes in Israel."26 Then David spoke to the men whostood by him, saying, "What shall bedone for the man who kills this Philis neand takes away the reproach from Israel?For who is this uncircumcised Philis ne,that he should defy the armies of theliving God?"27And the people answered him in thismanner, saying, "So shall it be done forthe man who kills him."28Now Eliab his oldest brother heardwhen he spoke to the men; and Eliab’sanger was aroused against David, and hesaid, "Why did you come down here?And with whom have you le those fewsheep in the wilderness? I know yourpride and the insolence of your heart, foryou have come down to see the ba le."29And David said, "What have I donenow? Is there not a cause?"

1 SAMUEL 17 9330 Then he turned from him towardanother and said the same thing; andthese people answered him as the firstones did.31Now when the words which Davidspoke were heard, they reported themto Saul; and he sent for him.32 Then David said to Saul, "Let noman’sheart fail because of him; your servantwill go and fight with this Philis ne."33And Saul said to David, "You are notable to go against this Philis ne to fightwith him; for you are a youth, and he aman of war from his youth."34 But David said to Saul, "Your servantused to keep his father’s sheep, andwhen a lion or a bear came and took alamb out of the flock,35 I went out a er it and struck it, anddelivered the lamb from its mouth; andwhen it arose against me, I caught it byits beard, and struck and killed it.

1 SAMUEL 17 9436 "Your servant has killed both lion andbear; and this uncircumcised Philis newill be like one of them, seeing he hasdefied the armies of the living God."37Moreover David said, "The LORD,who delivered me from the paw of thelion and from the paw of the bear, Hewill deliver me from the hand of thisPhilis ne." And Saul said to David, "Go,and the LORD be with you!"38 So Saul clothed David with his armor,and he put a bronze helmet on his head;he also clothed him with a coat of mail.39David fastened his sword to his armorand tried to walk, for he had not testedthem. And David said to Saul, "I cannotwalk with these, for I have not testedthem." So David took them off.40 Then he took his staff in his hand;and he chose for himself five smoothstones from the brook, and put them ina shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he

1 SAMUEL 17 95had, and his sling was in his hand. Andhe drew near to the Philis ne.41 So the Philis ne came, and begandrawing near to David, and the man whobore the shield went before him.42And when the Philis ne lookedabout and saw David, he disdained him;for he was only a youth, ruddy andgood–looking.43 So the Philis ne said to David, "Am Ia dog, that you come to me with s cks?"And the Philis ne cursed David by hisgods.44And the Philis ne said to David,"Come to me, and I will give your fleshto the birds of the air and the beasts ofthe field!"45 Then David said to the Philis ne,"You come to me with a sword, with aspear, and with a javelin. But I come toyou in the name of the LORD of hosts,

1 SAMUEL 17 96the God of the armies of Israel, whomyou have defied.46 "This day the LORD will deliver youinto my hand, and I will strike you andtake your head from you. And this dayI will give the carcasses of the camp ofthe Philis nes to the birds of the air andthe wild beasts of the earth, that all theearth may know that there is a God inIsrael.47 "Then all this assembly shall knowthat the LORD does not save with swordand spear; for the ba le is the LORD’S,and He will give you into our hands."48 So it was, when the Philis ne aroseand came and drew near to meet David,that David hastened and ran toward thearmy to meet the Philis ne.49 Then David put his hand in his bagand took out a stone; and he slung itand struck the Philis ne in his forehead,

1 SAMUEL 17 97so that the stone sank into his forehead,and he fell on his face to the earth.50 So David prevailed over the Philis newith a sling and a stone, and struck thePhilis ne and killed him. But there wasno sword in the hand of David.51 Therefore David ran and stood overthe Philis ne, took his sword and drewit out of its sheath and killed him, andcut off his head with it. And when thePhilis nes saw that their champion wasdead, they fled.52Now the men of Israel and Judaharose and shouted, and pursued thePhilis nes as far as the entrance of thevalley and to the gates of Ekron. And thewounded of the Philis nes fell along theroad to Shaaraim, even as far as Gathand Ekron.53 Then the children of Israel returnedfrom chasing the Philis nes, and theyplundered their tents.

1 SAMUEL 17–18 9854And David took the head of thePhilis ne and brought it to Jerusalem,but he put his armor in his tent.55When Saul saw David going outagainst the Philis ne, he said to Abner,the commander of the army, "Abner,whose son is this youth?" And Abnersaid, "As your soul lives, O king, I do notknow."56 So the king said, "Inquire whose sonthis young man is."57 Then, as David returned from theslaughter of the Philis ne, Abner tookhim and brought him before Saul withthe head of the Philis ne in his hand.58And Saul said to him, "Whose son areyou, young man?" So David answered,"I am the son of your servant Jesse theBethlehemite."

18 1Now when he had finishedspeaking to Saul, the soul of

1 SAMUEL 18 99Jonathan was knit to the soul of David,and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.2 Saul took him that day, and would notlet him go home to his father’s houseanymore.3 Then Jonathan and David made acovenant, because he loved him as hisown soul.4And Jonathan took off the robe thatwas on him and gave it to David, with hisarmor, even to his sword and his bowand his belt.5 So David went out wherever Saul senthim, and behaved wisely. And Saul sethim over the men of war, and he wasaccepted in the sight of all the peopleand also in the sight of Saul’s servants.6Now it had happened as they werecoming home, when David was returningfrom the slaughter of the Philis ne, thatthe women had come out of all the ci esof Israel, singing and dancing, to meet

1 SAMUEL 18 100King Saul, with tambourines, with joy,and with musical instruments.7 So the women sang as they danced,and said: "Saul has slain his thousands,And David his ten thousands."8 Then Saul was very angry, and thesaying displeased him; and he said,"They have ascribed to David tenthousands, and to me they have ascribedonly thousands. Now what more can hehave but the kingdom?"9 So Saul eyed David from that dayforward.10And it happened on the next day thatthe distressing spirit from God cameupon Saul, and he prophesied inside thehouse. So David played music with hishand, as at other mes; but there was aspear in Saul’s hand.11And Saul cast the spear, for he said,"I will pin David to the wall!" But Davidescaped his presence twice.

1 SAMUEL 18 10112Now Saul was afraid of David,because the LORD was with him, but haddeparted from Saul.13 Therefore Saul removed him fromhis presence, and made him his captainover a thousand; and he went out andcame in before the people.14And David behaved wisely in all hisways, and the LORD was with him.15 Therefore, when Saul saw that hebehaved very wisely, he was afraid ofhim.16 But all Israel and Judah loved David,because he went out and came in beforethem.17 Then Saul said to David, "Here is myolder daughter Merab; I will give her toyou as a wife. Only be valiant for me,and fight the LORD’S ba les." For Saulthought, "Let my hand not be againsthim, but let the hand of the Philis nesbe against him."

1 SAMUEL 18 10218 So David said to Saul, "Who am I, andwhat is my life or my father’s family inIsrael, that I should be son–in–law to theking?"19 But it happened at the me whenMerab, Saul’s daughter, should havebeen given to David, that she was givento Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.20Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, lovedDavid. And they told Saul, and the thingpleased him.21 So Saul said, "I will give her to him,that she may be a snare to him, andthat the hand of the Philis nes maybe against him." Therefore Saul said toDavid a second me, "You shall be myson–in–law today."22And Saul commanded his servants,"Communicate with David secretly,and say, ‘Look, the king has delightin you, and all his servants love you.

1 SAMUEL 18 103Now therefore, become the king’sson–in–law.’"23 So Saul’s servants spoke those wordsin the hearing of David. And David said,"Does it seem to you a light thing to bea king’s son–in–law, seeing I am a poorand lightly esteemed man?"24And the servants of Saul told him,saying, "In this manner David spoke."25 Then Saul said, "Thus you shall sayto David: ‘The king does not desire anydowry but one hundred foreskins ofthe Philis nes, to take vengeance onthe king’s enemies.’" But Saul thoughtto make David fall by the hand of thePhilis nes.26 So when his servants told David thesewords, it pleased David well to becomethe king’s son–in–law. Now the days hadnot expired;27 therefore David arose and went, heand his men, and killed two hundred

1 SAMUEL 18–19 104men of the Philis nes. And Davidbrought their foreskins, and they gavethem in full count to the king, that hemight become the king’s son–in–law.Then Saul gave him Michal his daughteras a wife.28 Thus Saul saw and knew that theLORD was with David, and that Michal,Saul’s daughter, loved him;29 and Saul was s ll more afraid ofDavid. So Saul became David’s enemycon nually.30 Then the princes of the Philis neswent out to war. And so it was, wheneverthey went out, that David behaved morewisely than all the servants of Saul, sothat his name became highly esteemed.

19 1Now Saul spoke to Jonathan hisson and to all his servants, that

they should kill David;2 but Jonathan, Saul’s son, delightedgreatly in David. (19:2) So Jonathan told

1 SAMUEL 19 105David, saying, "My father Saul seeks tokill you. Therefore please be on yourguard un l morning, and stay in a secretplace and hide.3 "And I will go out and stand beside myfather in the field where you are, andI will speak with my father about you.Then what I observe, I will tell you."4 Thus Jonathan spoke well of David toSaul his father, and said to him, "Let notthe king sin against his servant, againstDavid, because he has not sinned againstyou, and because his works have beenvery good toward you.5 "For he took his life in his handsand killed the Philis ne, and the LORDbrought about a great deliverance for allIsrael. You saw it and rejoiced. Why thenwill you sin against innocent blood, tokill David without a cause?"

1 SAMUEL 19 1066 So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan,and Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, heshall not be killed."7 Then Jonathan called David, andJonathan told him all these things. SoJonathan brought David to Saul, and hewas in his presence as in mes past.8And there was war again; and Davidwent out and fought with the Philis nes,and struck them with a mighty blow, andthey fled from him.9Now the distressing spirit from theLORD came upon Saul as he sat in hishouse with his spear in his hand. AndDavid was playing music with his hand.10 Then Saul sought to pin David to thewall with the spear, but he slipped awayfrom Saul’s presence; and he drove thespear into the wall. So David fled andescaped that night.11 Saul also sent messengers to David’shouse to watch him and to kill him in the

1 SAMUEL 19 107morning. And Michal, David’s wife, toldhim, saying, "If you do not save your lifetonight, tomorrow you will be killed."12 So Michal let David down througha window. And he went and fled andescaped.13And Michal took an image and laid itin the bed, put a cover of goats’ hair forhis head, and covered it with clothes.14 So when Saul sent messengers totake David, she said, "He is sick."15 Then Saul sent the messengers backto see David, saying, "Bring him up tome in the bed, that I may kill him."16And when the messengers had comein, there was the image in the bed, witha cover of goats’ hair for his head.17 Then Saul said to Michal, "Why haveyou deceived me like this, and sent myenemy away, so that he has escaped?"And Michal answered Saul, "He said tome, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’"

1 SAMUEL 19 10818 So David fled and escaped, and wentto Samuel at Ramah, and told him allthat Saul had done to him. And he andSamuel went and stayed in Naioth.19Now it was told Saul, saying, "Takenote, David is at Naioth in Ramah!"20 Then Saul sent messengers to takeDavid. And when they saw the groupof prophets prophesying, and Samuelstanding as leader over them, the Spiritof God came upon the messengers ofSaul, and they also prophesied.21And when Saul was told, he sentother messengers, and they prophesiedlikewise. Then Saul sent messengersagain the third me, and they prophesiedalso.22 Then he also went to Ramah, andcame to the great well that is at Sechu.So he asked, and said, "Where areSamuel and David?" And someone said,"Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah."

1 SAMUEL 19–20 10923 So he went there to Naioth in Ramah.Then the Spirit of God was upon himalso, and he went on and prophesiedun l he came to Naioth in Ramah.24And he also stripped off his clothesand prophesied before Samuel in likemanner, and lay down naked all that dayand all that night. Therefore they say, "IsSaul also among the prophets?"

20 1 Then David fled from Naiothin Ramah, and went and said to

Jonathan, "What have I done? What ismy iniquity, and what is my sin beforeyour father, that he seeks my life?"2 So Jonathan said to him, "By nomeans! You shall not die! Indeed, myfather will do nothing either great orsmall without first telling me. And whyshould my father hide this thing fromme? It is not so!"3 Then David took an oath again, andsaid, "Your father certainly knows that

1 SAMUEL 20 110I have found favor in your eyes, and hehas said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this,lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the LORDlives and as your soul lives, there is but astep between me and death."4 So Jonathan said to David, "Whateveryou yourself desire, I will do it for you."5And David said to Jonathan, "Indeedtomorrow is the NewMoon, and I shouldnot fail to sit with the king to eat. But letme go, that I may hide in the field un lthe third day at evening.6 "If your father misses me at all, thensay, ‘David earnestly asked permission ofme that he might run over to Bethlehem,his city, for there is a yearly sacrificethere for all the family.’7 "If he says thus: ‘It is well,’ your servantwill be safe. But if he is very angry, thenbe sure that evil is determined by him.8 "Therefore you shall deal kindly withyour servant, for you have brought your

1 SAMUEL 20 111servant into a covenant of the LORD withyou. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity inme, kill me yourself, for why should youbring me to your father?"9 But Jonathan said, "Far be it fromyou! For if I knew certainly that evil wasdetermined by my father to come uponyou, then would I not tell you?"10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Whowill tell me, or what if your fatheranswers you roughly?"11And Jonathan said to David, "Come,and let us go out into the field." So bothof them went out into the field.12 Then Jonathan said to David: "TheLORD God of Israel is witness! When Ihave sounded out my father some metomorrow, or the third day, and indeedthere is good toward David, and I do notsend to you and tell you,13 "may the LORD do so and much moreto Jonathan. But if it pleases my father

1 SAMUEL 20 112to do you evil, then I will report it to youand send you away, that you may go insafety. And the LORD be with you as Hehas been with my father.14 "And you shall not only show me thekindness of the LORD while I s ll live,that I may not die;15 "but you shall not cut off yourkindness from my house forever, no, notwhen the LORD has cut off every one ofthe enemies of David from the face ofthe earth."16 So Jonathan made a covenant withthe house of David, saying, "Let theLORD require it at the hand of David’senemies."17Now Jonathan again caused David tovow, because he loved him; for he lovedhim as he loved his own soul.18 Then Jonathan said to David,"Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you

1 SAMUEL 20 113will be missed, because your seat will beempty.19 "And when you have stayed threedays, go down quickly and come to theplace where you hid on the day of thedeed; and remain by the stone Ezel.20 "Then I will shoot three arrows to theside, as though I shot at a target;21 "and there I will send a lad, saying,‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say tohim, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side ofyou; get them and come’ ––then, as theLORD lives, there is safety for you and noharm.22 "But if I say thus to the young man,‘Look, the arrows are beyond you’ ––goyour way, for the LORD has sent youaway.23 "And as for the ma er which you andI have spoken of, indeed the LORD bebetween you and me forever."

1 SAMUEL 20 11424 Then David hid in the field. And whenthe New Moon had come, the king satdown to eat the feast.25Now the king sat on his seat, as atother mes, on a seat by the wall. AndJonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’sside, but David’s place was empty.26Nevertheless Saul did not sayanything that day, for he thought,"Something has happened to him; he isunclean, surely he is unclean."27And it happened the next day, thesecond day of the month, that David’splace was empty. And Saul said toJonathan his son, "Why has the son ofJesse not come to eat, either yesterdayor today?"28 So Jonathan answered Saul, "Davidearnestly asked permission of me to goto Bethlehem.29 "And he said, ‘Please let me go, forour family has a sacrifice in the city, and

1 SAMUEL 20 115my brother has commanded me to bethere. And now, if I have found favor inyour eyes, please let me get away andsee my brothers.’ Therefore he has notcome to the king’s table."30 Then Saul’s anger was arousedagainst Jonathan, and he said to him,"You son of a perverse, rebelliouswoman! Do I not know that you havechosen the son of Jesse to your ownshame and to the shame of yourmother’s nakedness?31 "For as long as the son of Jesselives on the earth, you shall not beestablished, nor your kingdom. Nowtherefore, send and bring him to me, forhe shall surely die."32And Jonathan answered Saul hisfather, and said to him, "Why should hebe killed? What has he done?"

1 SAMUEL 20 11633 Then Saul cast a spear at him to killhim, by which Jonathan knew that it wasdetermined by his father to kill David.34 So Jonathan arose from the table infierce anger, and ate no food the secondday of the month, for he was grieved forDavid, because his father had treatedhim shamefully.35And so it was, in the morning, thatJonathan went out into the field at theme appointed with David, and a li le

lad was with him.36 Then he said to his lad, "Now run,find the arrows which I shoot." As thelad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.37When the lad had come to the placewhere the arrow was which Jonathanhad shot, Jonathan cried out a er thelad and said, "Is not the arrow beyondyou?"38And Jonathan cried out a er the lad,"Make haste, hurry, do not delay!" So

1 SAMUEL 20 117Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrowsand came back to his master.39 But the lad did not know anything.Only Jonathan and David knew of thema er.40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons tohis lad, and said to him, "Go, carry themto the city."41As soon as the lad had gone, Davidarose from a place toward the south, fellon his face to the ground, and boweddown three mes. And they kissed oneanother; and they wept together, butDavid more so.42 Then Jonathan said to David, "Goin peace, since we have both sworn inthe name of the LORD, saying, ‘Maythe LORD be between you and me, andbetween your descendants and mydescendants, forever.’" So he arose anddeparted, and Jonathan went into thecity.

1 SAMUEL 21 118

21 1Now David came to Nob,to Ahimelech the priest. And

Ahimelech was afraid when he metDavid, and said to him, "Why are youalone, and no one is with you?"2 So David said to Ahimelech thepriest, "The king has ordered me onsome business, and said to me, ‘Do notlet anyone know anything about thebusiness on which I send you, or whatI have commanded you.’ And I havedirected my young men to such and sucha place.3 "Now therefore, what have you onhand? Give me five loaves of bread in myhand, or whatever can be found."4And the priest answered David andsaid, "There is no common bread onhand; but there is holy bread, if theyoungmen have at least kept themselvesfrom women."

1 SAMUEL 21 1195 Then David answered the priest, andsaid to him, "Truly, women have beenkept from us about three days since Icame out. And the vessels of the youngmen are holy, and the bread is in effectcommon, even though it was sanc fiedin the vessel this day."6 So the priest gave him holy bread;for there was no bread there but theshowbread which had been taken frombefore the LORD, in order to put hotbread in its place on the day when it wastaken away.7Now a certain man of the servants ofSaul was there that day, detained beforethe LORD. And his name was Doeg, anEdomite, the chief of the herdsmen whobelonged to Saul.8And David said to Ahimelech, "Is therenot here on hand a spear or a sword?For I have brought neither my sword nor

1 SAMUEL 21 120my weapons with me, because the king’sbusiness required haste."9 So the priest said, "The sword ofGoliath the Philis ne, whom you killed inthe Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped ina cloth behind the ephod. If you will takethat, take it. For there is no other exceptthat one here." And David said, "There isnone like it; give it to me."10 Then David arose and fled that dayfrom before Saul, and went to Achish theking of Gath.11And the servants of Achish said tohim, "Is this not David the king of theland? Did they not sing of him to oneanother in dances, saying: ‘Saul hasslain his thousands, And David his tenthousands’?"12Now David took these words toheart, and was very much afraid ofAchish the king of Gath.

1 SAMUEL 21–22 12113 So he changed his behavior beforethem, feigned madness in their hands,scratched on the doors of the gate, andlet his saliva fall down on his beard.14 Then Achish said to his servants,"Look, you see the man is insane. Whyhave you brought him to me?15 "Have I need of madmen, that youhave brought this fellow to play themadman in my presence? Shall thisfellow come into my house?"

22 1David therefore departed fromthere and escaped to the cave of

Adullam. And when his brothers and allhis father’s house heard it, they wentdown there to him.2And everyone who was in distress,everyone who was in debt, and everyonewho was discontented gathered to him.So he became captain over them. Andthere were about four hundred menwith him.

1 SAMUEL 22 1223 Then David went from there toMizpah of Moab; and he said to theking of Moab, "Please let my father andmother come here with you, ll I knowwhat God will do for me."4 So he brought them before the king ofMoab, and they dwelt with him all theme that David was in the stronghold.5Now the prophet Gad said to David,"Do not stay in the stronghold; depart,and go to the land of Judah." So Daviddeparted and went into the forest ofHereth.6When Saul heard that David andthe men who were with him had beendiscovered––now Saul was staying inGibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah,with his spear in his hand, and all hisservants standing about him––7 then Saul said to his servants whostood about him, "Hear now, youBenjamites! Will the son of Jesse give

1 SAMUEL 22 123every one of you fields and vineyards,and make you all captains of thousandsand captains of hundreds?8 "All of you have conspired against me,and there is no one who reveals to methat my son has made a covenant withthe son of Jesse; and there is not one ofyou who is sorry for me or reveals to methat my son has s rred up my servantagainst me, to lie in wait, as it is thisday."9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite,who was set over the servants of Saul,and said, "I saw the son of Jesse going toNob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.10 "And he inquired of the LORD forhim, gave him provisions, and gave himthe sword of Goliath the Philis ne."11 So the king sent to call Ahimelechthe priest, the son of Ahitub, and all hisfather’s house, the priests who were inNob. And they all came to the king.

1 SAMUEL 22 12412And Saul said, "Hear now, son ofAhitub!" And he answered, "Here I am,my lord."13 Then Saul said to him, "Why haveyou conspired against me, you and theson of Jesse, in that you have given himbread and a sword, and have inquired ofGod for him, that he should rise againstme, to lie in wait, as it is this day?"14 So Ahimelech answered the king andsaid, "And who among all your servantsis as faithful as David, who is the king’sson–in–law, who goes at your bidding,and is honorable in your house?15 "Did I then begin to inquire of Godfor him? Far be it from me! Let not theking impute anything to his servant, orto any in the house of my father. Foryour servant knew nothing of all this,li le or much."

1 SAMUEL 22 12516And the king said, "You shall surelydie, Ahimelech, you and all your father’shouse!"17 Then the king said to the guardswho stood about him, "Turn and kill thepriests of the LORD, because their handalso is with David, and because theyknew when he fled and did not tell it tome." But the servants of the king wouldnot li their hands to strike the priestsof the LORD.18And the king said to Doeg, "Youturn and kill the priests!" So Doeg theEdomite turned and struck the priests,and killed on that day eighty–five menwho wore a linen ephod.19Also Nob, the city of the priests,he struck with the edge of the sword,both men and women, children andnursing infants, oxen and donkeys andsheep––with the edge of the sword.

1 SAMUEL 22–23 12620Now one of the sons of Ahimelechthe son of Ahitub, named Abiathar,escaped and fled a er David.21And Abiathar told David that Saulhad killed the LORD’S priests.22 So David said to Abiathar, "I knewthat day, when Doeg the Edomite wasthere, that he would surely tell Saul. Ihave caused the death of all the personsof your father’s house.23 "Stay with me; do not fear. For hewho seeks my life seeks your life, butwith me you shall be safe."

23 1 Then they told David, saying,"Look, the Philis nes are figh ng

against Keilah, and they are robbing thethreshing floors."2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD,saying, "Shall I go and a ack thesePhilis nes?" And the LORD said to David,"Go and a ack the Philis nes, and saveKeilah."

1 SAMUEL 23 1273 But David’s men said to him, "Look,we are afraid here in Judah. How muchmore then if we go to Keilah against thearmies of the Philis nes?"4 Then David inquired of the LORD onceagain. And the LORD answered him andsaid, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I willdeliver the Philis nes into your hand."5And David and his men went to Keilahand fought with the Philis nes, struckthem with a mighty blow, and tookaway their livestock. So David saved theinhabitants of Keilah.6Now it happened, when Abiathar theson of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah,that he went down with an ephod in hishand.7And Saul was told that David hadgone to Keilah. So Saul said, "God hasdelivered him into my hand, for he hasshut himself in by entering a town thathas gates and bars."

1 SAMUEL 23 1288 Then Saul called all the peopletogether for war, to go down to Keilah tobesiege David and his men.9When David knew that Saul plo edevil against him, he said to Abiathar thepriest, "Bring the ephod here."10 Then David said, "O LORD God ofIsrael, Your servant has certainly heardthat Saul seeks to come to Keilah todestroy the city for my sake.11 "Will the men of Keilah deliver meinto his hand? Will Saul come down, asYour servant has heard? O LORD God ofIsrael, I pray, tell Your servant." And theLORD said, "He will come down."12 Then David said, "Will the men ofKeilah deliver me and my men into thehand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "Theywill deliver you."13 So David and his men, about sixhundred, arose and departed fromKeilah and went wherever they could

1 SAMUEL 23 129go. Then it was told Saul that David hadescaped from Keilah; so he halted theexpedi on.14And David stayed in strongholds inthe wilderness, and remained in themountains in the Wilderness of Ziph.Saul sought him every day, but God didnot deliver him into his hand.15 So David saw that Saul had come outto seek his life. And David was in theWilderness of Ziph in a forest.16 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, aroseand went to David in the woods andstrengthened his hand in God.17And he said to him, "Do not fear, forthe hand of Saul my father shall not findyou. You shall be king over Israel, and Ishall be next to you. Even my father Saulknows that."18 So the two of them made a covenantbefore the LORD. And David stayed in

1 SAMUEL 23 130the woods, and Jonathan went to hisown house.19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul atGibeah, saying, "Is David not hiding withus in strongholds in the woods, in thehill of Hachilah, which is on the south ofJeshimon?20 "Now therefore, O king, come downaccording to all the desire of your soulto come down; and our part shall be todeliver him into the king’s hand."21And Saul said, "Blessed are you of theLORD, for you have compassion on me.22 "Please go and find out for sure, andsee the place where his hideout is, andwho has seen him there. For I am told heis very cra y.23 "See therefore, and take knowledgeof all the lurking places where he hides;and come back to me with certainty, andI will go with you. And it shall be, if he

1 SAMUEL 23 131is in the land, that I will search for himthroughout all the clans of Judah."24 So they arose and went to Ziphbefore Saul. But David and his men werein the Wilderness of Maon, in the plainon the south of Jeshimon.25When Saul and his men went toseek him, they told David. Thereforehe went down to the rock, and stayedin the Wilderness of Maon. And whenSaul heard that, he pursued David in theWilderness of Maon.26 Then Saul went on one side of themountain, and David and his men onthe other side of the mountain. So Davidmade haste to get away from Saul, forSaul and his men were encircling Davidand his men to take them.27 But a messenger came to Saul,saying, "Hasten and come, for thePhilis nes have invaded the land!"

1 SAMUEL 23–24 13228 Therefore Saul returned frompursuing David, and went against thePhilis nes; so they called that place theRock of Escape.29 Then David went up from there anddwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

24 1Now it happened, when Saulhad returned from following the

Philis nes, that it was told him, saying,"Take note! David is in the Wilderness ofEn Gedi."2 Then Saul took three thousand chosenmen from all Israel, and went to seekDavid and his men on the Rocks of theWild Goats.3 So he came to the sheepfolds by theroad, where there was a cave; and Saulwent in to a end to his needs. (Davidand his men were staying in the recessesof the cave.)4 Then the men of David said to him,"This is the day of which the LORD said

1 SAMUEL 24 133to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemyinto your hand, that you may do to himas it seems good to you.’" And Davidarose and secretly cut off a corner ofSaul’s robe.5Now it happened a erward thatDavid’s heart troubled him because hehad cut Saul’s robe.6And he said to his men, "The LORDforbid that I should do this thing to mymaster, the LORD’S anointed, to stretchout my hand against him, seeing he isthe anointed of the LORD."7 So David restrained his servants withthese words, and did not allow them torise against Saul. And Saul got up fromthe cave and went on his way.8David also arose a erward, wentout of the cave, and called out to Saul,saying, "My lord the king!" And whenSaul looked behind him, David stooped

1 SAMUEL 24 134with his face to the earth, and boweddown.9And David said to Saul: "Why do youlisten to the words of men who say,‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?10 "Look, this day your eyes have seenthat the LORD delivered you today intomy hand in the cave, and someone urgedme to kill you. But my eye spared you,and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my handagainst my lord, for he is the LORD’Sanointed.’11 "Moreover, my father, see! Yes, seethe corner of your robe in my hand! Forin that I cut off the corner of your robe,and did not kill you, know and see thatthere is neither evil nor rebellion in myhand, and I have not sinned against you.Yet you hunt my life to take it.12 "Let the LORD judge between youand me, and let the LORD avenge me on

1 SAMUEL 24 135you. But my hand shall not be againstyou.13 "As the proverb of the ancients says,‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’But my hand shall not be against you.14 "A er whom has the king of Israelcome out? Whom do you pursue? Adead dog? A flea?15 "Therefore let the LORD be judge,and judge between you and me, and seeand plead my case, and deliver me outof your hand."16 So it was, when David had finishedspeaking these words to Saul, that Saulsaid, "Is this your voice, my son David?"And Saul li ed up his voice and wept.17 Then he said to David: "You are morerighteous than I; for you have rewardedme with good, whereas I have rewardedyou with evil.18 "And you have shown this day howyou have dealt well with me; for when

1 SAMUEL 24–25 136the LORD delivered me into your hand,you did not kill me.19 "For if a man finds his enemy, will helet him get away safely? Therefore maythe LORD reward you with good for whatyou have done to me this day.20 "And now I know indeed thatyou shall surely be king, and that thekingdom of Israel shall be established inyour hand.21 "Therefore swear now to me bythe LORD that you will not cut off mydescendants a er me, and that you willnot destroy my name from my father’shouse."22 So David swore to Saul. And Saulwent home, but David and his men wentup to the stronghold.

25 1 Then Samuel died; and theIsraelites gathered together and

lamented for him, and buried him at his

1 SAMUEL 25 137home in Ramah. And David arose andwent down to the Wilderness of Paran.2Now there was a man in Maon whosebusiness was in Carmel, and the manwas very rich. He had three thousandsheep and a thousand goats. And he wasshearing his sheep in Carmel.3 The name of the man was Nabal, andthe name of his wife Abigail. And shewas a woman of good understandingand beau ful appearance; but the manwas harsh and evil in his doings. And hewas of the house of Caleb.4When David heard in the wildernessthat Nabal was shearing his sheep,5David sent ten young men; and Davidsaid to the youngmen, "Go up to Carmel,go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.6 "And thus you shall say to him wholives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you,peace to your house, and peace to allthat you have!

1 SAMUEL 25 1387 ‘Now I have heard that you haveshearers. Your shepherds were with us,and we did not hurt them, nor was thereanything missing from them all the whilethey were in Carmel.8 ‘Ask your young men, and they willtell you. Therefore let my young menfind favor in your eyes, for we come on afeast day. Please give whatever comes toyour hand to your servants and to yourson David.’"9 So when David’s young men came,they spoke to Nabal according to allthese words in the name of David, andwaited.10 Then Nabal answered David’sservants, and said, "Who is David, andwho is the son of Jesse? There are manyservants nowadays who break awayeach one from his master.11 "Shall I then take my bread and mywater and my meat that I have killed for

1 SAMUEL 25 139my shearers, and give it to men when Ido not know where they are from?"12 So David’s young men turned on theirheels and went back; and they came andtold him all these words.13 Then David said to his men, "Everyman gird on his sword." So every mangirded on his sword, and David alsogirded on his sword. And about fourhundred men went with David, and twohundred stayed with the supplies.14Now one of the young men toldAbigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, "Look, Davidsent messengers from the wilderness togreet our master; and he reviled them.15 "But the men were very good to us,and we were not hurt, nor did we missanything as long as we accompaniedthem, when we were in the fields.16 "They were a wall to us both by nightand day, all the me we were with themkeeping the sheep.

1 SAMUEL 25 14017 "Now therefore, know and considerwhat you will do, for harm is determinedagainst our master and against all hishousehold. For he is such a scoundrelthat one cannot speak to him."18 Then Abigail made haste and tooktwo hundred loaves of bread, two skinsof wine, five sheep already dressed, fiveseahs of roasted grain, one hundredclusters of raisins, and two hundredcakes of figs, and loaded them ondonkeys.19And she said to her servants, "Go onbefore me; see, I am coming a er you."But she did not tell her husband Nabal.20 So it was, as she rode on the donkey,that she went down under cover of thehill; and there were David and his men,coming down toward her, and she metthem.21Now David had said, "Surely in vainI have protected all that this fellow has

1 SAMUEL 25 141in the wilderness, so that nothing wasmissed of all that belongs to him. And hehas repaid me evil for good.22 "May God do so, and more also, tothe enemies of David, if I leave one maleof all who belong to him by morninglight."23Now when Abigail saw David, shehastened to dismount from the donkey,fell on her face before David, and boweddown to the ground.24 So she fell at his feet and said: "Onme, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!And please let your maidservant speakin your ears, and hear the words of yourmaidservant.25 "Please, let not my lord regard thisscoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so ishe: Nabal is his name, and folly is withhim. But I, your maidservant, did not seethe young men of my lord whom yousent.

1 SAMUEL 25 14226 "Now therefore, my lord, as the LORDlives and as your soul lives, since theLORD has held you back from coming tobloodshed and from avenging yourselfwith your own hand, now then, let yourenemies and those who seek harm formy lord be as Nabal.27 "And now this present which yourmaidservant has brought to my lord, letit be given to the young men who followmy lord.28 "Please forgive the trespass of yourmaidservant. For the LORD will certainlymake for my lord an enduring house,because my lord fights the ba les ofthe LORD, and evil is not found in youthroughout your days.29 "Yet a man has risen to pursue youand seek your life, but the life of my lordshall be bound in the bundle of the livingwith the LORD your God; and the lives of

1 SAMUEL 25 143your enemies He shall sling out, as fromthe pocket of a sling.30 "And it shall come to pass, when theLORD has done for my lord accordingto all the good that He has spokenconcerning you, and has appointed youruler over Israel,31 "that this will be no grief to you, noroffense of heart to my lord, either thatyou have shed blood without cause, orthat my lord has avenged himself. Butwhen the LORD has dealt well with mylord, then remember your maidservant."32 Then David said to Abigail: "Blessedis the LORD God of Israel, who sent youthis day to meet me!33 "And blessed is your advice andblessed are you, because you have keptme this day from coming to bloodshedand from avenging myself with my ownhand.

1 SAMUEL 25 14434 "For indeed, as the LORD God ofIsrael lives, who has kept me back fromhur ng you, unless you had hastenedand come tomeet me, surely by morninglight no males would have been le toNabal!"35 So David received from her handwhat she had brought him, and said toher, "Go up in peace to your house. See,I have heeded your voice and respectedyour person."36Now Abigail went to Nabal, and therehe was, holding a feast in his house, likethe feast of a king. And Nabal’s heartwas merry within him, for he was verydrunk; therefore she told him nothing,li le or much, un l morning light.37 So it was, in the morning, when thewine had gone from Nabal, and his wifehad told him these things, that his heartdied within him, and he became like astone.

1 SAMUEL 25 14538 Then it came about, a er about tendays, that the LORD struck Nabal, and hedied.39 So when David heard that Nabalwas dead, he said, "Blessed be theLORD, who has pleaded the cause of myreproach from the hand of Nabal, andhas kept His servant from evil! For theLORD has returned the wickedness ofNabal on his own head." And David sentand proposed to Abigail, to take her ashis wife.40When the servants of David hadcome to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke toher saying, "David sent us to you, to askyou to become his wife."41 Then she arose, bowed her faceto the earth, and said, "Here is yourmaidservant, a servant to wash the feetof the servants of my lord."42 So Abigail rose in haste and rode on adonkey, a ended by five of her maidens;

1 SAMUEL 25–26 146and she followed the messengers ofDavid, and became his wife.43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel,and so both of them were his wives.44 But Saul had given Michal hisdaughter, David’s wife, to Pal the son ofLaish, who was from Gallim.

26 1Now the Ziphites came to Saulat Gibeah, saying, "Is David not

hiding in the hill of Hachilah, oppositeJeshimon?"2 Then Saul arose and went down tothe Wilderness of Ziph, having threethousand chosen men of Israel with him,to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.3And Saul encamped in the hill ofHachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon,by the road. But David stayed in thewilderness, and he saw that Saul camea er him into the wilderness.4David therefore sent out spies, andunderstood that Saul had indeed come.

1 SAMUEL 26 1475 So David arose and came to the placewhere Saul had encamped. And Davidsaw the place where Saul lay, and Abnerthe son of Ner, the commander of hisarmy. Now Saul lay within the camp,with the people encamped all aroundhim.6 Then David answered, and said toAhimelech the Hi te and to Abishai theson of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying,"Who will go down with me to Saul inthe camp?" And Abishai said, "I will godown with you."7 So David and Abishai came to thepeople by night; and there Saul laysleeping within the camp, with his spearstuck in the ground by his head. AndAbner and the people lay all around him.8 Then Abishai said to David, "God hasdelivered your enemy into your handthis day. Now therefore, please, let mestrike him at once with the spear, right

1 SAMUEL 26 148to the earth; and I will not have to strikehim a second me!"9And David said to Abishai, "Do notdestroy him; for who can stretch out hishand against the LORD’S anointed, andbe guiltless?"10David said furthermore, "As theLORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, orhis day shall come to die, or he shall goout to ba le and perish.11 "The LORD forbid that I shouldstretch out my hand against the LORD’Sanointed. But please, take now the spearand the jug of water that are by his head,and let us go."12 So David took the spear and the jugof water by Saul’s head, and they gotaway; and no man saw it or knew it orawoke. For they were all asleep, becausea deep sleep from the LORD had fallenon them.

1 SAMUEL 26 14913Now David went over to the otherside, and stood on the top of a hill afaroff, a great distance being betweenthem.14And David called out to the peopleand to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Doyou not answer, Abner?" Then Abneranswered and said, "Who are you, callingout to the king?"15 So David said to Abner, "Are you nota man? And who is like you in Israel?Why then have you not guarded yourlord the king? For one of the peoplecame in to destroy your lord the king.16 "This thing that you have done is notgood. As the LORD lives, you deserve todie, because you have not guarded yourmaster, the LORD’S anointed. And nowsee where the king’s spear is, and thejug of water that was by his head."17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, andsaid, "Is that your voice, my son David?"

1 SAMUEL 26 150And David said, "It is my voice, my lord,O king."18And he said, "Why does my lord thuspursue his servant? For what have Idone, or what evil is in my hand?19 "Now therefore, please, let my lordthe king hear the words of his servant:If the LORD has s rred you up againstme, let Him accept an offering. But ifit is the children of men, may they becursed before the LORD, for they havedriven me out this day from sharing inthe inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go,serve other gods.’20 "So now, do not let my blood fallto the earth before the face of theLORD. For the king of Israel has comeout to seek a flea, as when one hunts apartridge in the mountains."21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned.Return, my son David. For I will harm youno more, because my life was precious in

1 SAMUEL 26–27 151your eyes this day. Indeed I have playedthe fool and erred exceedingly."22And David answered and said, "Hereis the king’s spear. Let one of the youngmen come over and get it.23 "May the LORD repay every man forhis righteousness and his faithfulness;for the LORD delivered you into my handtoday, but I would not stretch out myhand against the LORD’S anointed.24 "And indeed, as your life was valuedmuch this day in my eyes, so let mylife be valued much in the eyes of theLORD, and let Him deliver me out of alltribula on."25 Then Saul said to David, "May you beblessed, my son David! You shall bothdo great things and also s ll prevail." SoDavid went on his way, and Saul returnedto his place.

27 1And David said in his heart,"Now I shall perish someday by

1 SAMUEL 27 152the hand of Saul. There is nothing be erfor me than that I should speedily escapeto the land of the Philis nes; and Saulwill despair of me, to seek me anymorein any part of Israel. So I shall escape outof his hand."2 Then David arose and went over withthe six hundred men who were withhim to Achish the son of Maoch, king ofGath.3 So David dwelt with Achish at Gath,he and his men, each man with hishousehold, and David with his twowives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, andAbigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.4And it was told Saul that David hadfled to Gath; so he sought him no more.5 Then David said to Achish, "If I havenow found favor in your eyes, let themgive me a place in some town in thecountry, that I may dwell there. For why

1 SAMUEL 27 153should your servant dwell in the royalcity with you?"6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day.Therefore Ziklag has belonged to thekings of Judah to this day.7Now the me that David dwelt in thecountry of the Philis nes was one fullyear and four months.8And David and his men went up andraided the Geshurites, the Girzites, andthe Amalekites. For those na ons werethe inhabitants of the land from of old,as you go to Shur, even as far as the landof Egypt.9Whenever David a acked the land,he le neither man nor woman alive,but took away the sheep, the oxen, thedonkeys, the camels, and the apparel,and returned and came to Achish.10 Then Achish would say, "Where haveyou made a raid today?" And Davidwould say, "Against the southern area

1 SAMUEL 27–28 154of Judah, or against the southern areaof the Jerahmeelites, or against thesouthern area of the Kenites."11David would save neither man norwoman alive, to bring news to Gath,saying, "Lest they should inform on us,saying, ‘Thus David did.’" And thus washis behavior all the me he dwelt in thecountry of the Philis nes.12 So Achish believed David, saying, "Hehas made his people Israel u erly abhorhim; therefore he will be my servantforever."

28 1Now it happened in those daysthat the Philis nes gathered their

armies together for war, to fight withIsrael. And Achish said to David, "Youassuredly know that you will go out withme to ba le, you and your men."2And David said to Achish, "Surely youknow what your servant can do." AndAchish said to David, "Therefore I will

1 SAMUEL 28 155make you one of my chief guardiansforever."3Now Samuel had died, and all Israelhad lamented for him and buried him inRamah, in his own city. And Saul had putthe mediums and the spiri sts out of theland.4 Then the Philis nes gathered together,and came and encamped at Shunem.So Saul gathered all Israel together, andthey encamped at Gilboa.5When Saul saw the army of thePhilis nes, he was afraid, and his hearttrembled greatly.6And when Saul inquired of the LORD,the LORD did not answer him, either bydreams or by Urim or by the prophets.7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Findme a woman who is a medium, that Imay go to her and inquire of her." Andhis servants said to him, "In fact, there isa woman who is a medium at En Dor."

1 SAMUEL 28 1568 So Saul disguised himself and put onother clothes, and he went, and twomen with him; and they came to thewoman by night. And he said, "Pleaseconduct a seance for me, and bring upfor me the one I shall name to you."9 Then the woman said to him, "Look,you know what Saul has done, howhe has cut off the mediums and thespiri sts from the land. Why then do youlay a snare for my life, to cause me todie?"10And Saul swore to her by theLORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, nopunishment shall come upon you for thisthing."11 Then the woman said, "Whom shallI bring up for you?" And he said, "Bringup Samuel for me."12When the woman saw Samuel, shecried out with a loud voice. And the

1 SAMUEL 28 157woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why haveyou deceived me? For you are Saul!"13And the king said to her, "Do notbe afraid. What did you see?" Andthe woman said to Saul, "I saw a spiritascending out of the earth."14 So he said to her, "What is his form?"And she said, "An old man is coming up,and he is covered with a mantle." AndSaul perceived that it was Samuel, andhe stooped with his face to the groundand bowed down.15Now Samuel said to Saul, "Whyhave you disturbed me by bringing meup?" And Saul answered, "I am deeplydistressed; for the Philis nes make waragainst me, and God has departed fromme and does not answer me anymore,neither by prophets nor by dreams.Therefore I have called you, that youmay reveal to me what I should do."

1 SAMUEL 28 15816 Then Samuel said: "Why then do youask me, seeing the LORD has departedfrom you and has become your enemy?17 "And the LORD has done for Himselfas He spoke by me. For the LORD hastorn the kingdom out of your hand andgiven it to your neighbor, David.18 "Because you did not obey the voiceof the LORD nor execute His fierce wrathupon Amalek, therefore the LORD hasdone this thing to you this day.19 "Moreover the LORD will also deliverIsrael with you into the hand of thePhilis nes. And tomorrow you and yoursons will be with me. The LORD will alsodeliver the army of Israel into the handof the Philis nes."20 Then immediately Saul fell full lengthon the ground, and was dreadfully afraidbecause of the words of Samuel. Andthere was no strength in him, for he hadeaten no food all day or all night.

1 SAMUEL 28 15921And the woman came to Saul andsaw that he was severely troubled, andsaid to him, "Look, your maidservant hasobeyed your voice, and I have put mylife in my hands and heeded the wordswhich you spoke to me.22 "Now therefore, please, heed alsothe voice of your maidservant, and letme set a piece of bread before you; andeat, that you may have strength whenyou go on your way."23 But he refused and said, "I will noteat." So his servants, together with thewoman, urged him; and he heeded theirvoice. Then he arose from the groundand sat on the bed.24Now the woman had a fa ed calf inthe house, and she hastened to kill it.And she took flour and kneaded it, andbaked unleavened bread from it.

1 SAMUEL 28–29 16025 So she brought it before Saul and hisservants, and they ate. Then they roseand went away that night.

29 1 Then the Philis nes gatheredtogether all their armies at

Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by afountain which is in Jezreel.2And the lords of the Philis nes passedin review by hundreds and by thousands,but David and his men passed in reviewat the rear with Achish.3 Then the princes of the Philis nessaid, "What are these Hebrews doinghere?" And Achish said to the princesof the Philis nes, "Is this not David,the servant of Saul king of Israel, whohas been with me these days, or theseyears? And to this day I have found nofault in him since he defected to me."4 But the princes of the Philis neswere angry with him; so the princes ofthe Philis nes said to him, "Make this

1 SAMUEL 29 161fellow return, that he may go back tothe place which you have appointed forhim, and do not let him go down withus to ba le, lest in the ba le he becomeour adversary. For with what could hereconcile himself to his master, if notwith the heads of these men?5 "Is this not David, of whom they sangto one another in dances, saying: ‘Saulhas slain his thousands, And David histen thousands’?"6 Then Achish called David and said tohim, "Surely, as the LORD lives, you havebeen upright, and your going out andyour coming in with me in the army isgood in my sight. For to this day I havenot found evil in you since the day ofyour coming to me. Nevertheless thelords do not favor you.7 "Therefore return now, and go inpeace, that you may not displease thelords of the Philis nes."

1 SAMUEL 29–30 1628 So David said to Achish, "But whathave I done? And to this day what haveyou found in your servant as long as Ihave been with you, that I may not goand fight against the enemies of my lordthe king?"9 Then Achish answered and said toDavid, "I know that you are as good inmysight as an angel of God; neverthelessthe princes of the Philis nes have said,‘He shall not go up with us to the ba le.’10 "Now therefore, rise early in themorning with your master’s servantswho have come with you. And as soonas you are up early in the morning andhave light, depart."11 So David and his men rose early todepart in the morning, to return to theland of the Philis nes. And the Philis neswent up to Jezreel.

30 1Now it happened, when Davidand his men came to Ziklag, on

1 SAMUEL 30 163the third day, that the Amalekites hadinvaded the South and Ziklag, a ackedZiklag and burned it with fire,2 and had taken cap ve the womenand those who were there, from smallto great; they did not kill anyone, butcarried them away and went their way.3 So David and his men came to thecity, and there it was, burned with fire;and their wives, their sons, and theirdaughters had been taken cap ve.4 Then David and the people who werewith him li ed up their voices and wept,un l they had no more power to weep.5And David’s two wives, Ahinoam theJezreelitess, and Abigail the widow ofNabal the Carmelite, had been takencap ve.6Now David was greatly distressed,for the people spoke of stoning him,because the soul of all the people wasgrieved, every man for his sons and

1 SAMUEL 30 164his daughters. But David strengthenedhimself in the LORD his God.7 Then David said to Abiathar thepriest, Ahimelech’s son, "Please bringthe ephod here to me." And Abiatharbrought the ephod to David.8 So David inquired of the LORD,saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall Iovertake them?" And He answered him,"Pursue, for you shall surely overtakethem and without fail recover all."9 So David went, he and the six hundredmen who were with him, and came tothe Brook Besor, where those stayedwho were le behind.10 But David pursued, he and fourhundred men; for two hundred stayedbehind, who were so weary that theycould not cross the Brook Besor.11 Then they found an Egyp an in thefield, and brought him to David; and they

1 SAMUEL 30 165gave him bread and he ate, and they lethim drink water.12And they gave him a piece of a cakeof figs and two clusters of raisins. Sowhen he had eaten, his strength cameback to him; for he had eaten no breadnor drunk water for three days and threenights.13 Then David said to him, "To whom doyou belong, and where are you from?"And he said, "I am a young man fromEgypt, servant of an Amalekite; and mymaster le me behind, because threedays ago I fell sick.14 "We made an invasion of thesouthern area of the Cherethites, in theterritory which belongs to Judah, andof the southern area of Caleb; and weburned Ziklag with fire."15And David said to him, "Can youtake me down to this troop?" So hesaid, "Swear to me by God that you will

1 SAMUEL 30 166neither kill me nor deliver me into thehands of my master, and I will take youdown to this troop."16And when he had brought him down,there they were, spread out over all theland, ea ng and drinking and dancing,because of all the great spoil which theyhad taken from the land of the Philis nesand from the land of Judah.17 Then David a acked them fromtwilight un l the evening of the nextday. Not a man of them escaped, exceptfour hundred young men who rode oncamels and fled.18 So David recovered all that theAmalekites had carried away, and Davidrescued his two wives.19And nothing of theirs was lacking,either small or great, sons or daughters,spoil or anything which they had takenfrom them; David recovered all.

1 SAMUEL 30 16720 Then David took all the flocks andherds they had driven before thoseother livestock, and said, "This is David’sspoil."21Now David came to the two hundredmen who had been so weary that theycould not follow David, whom they alsohad made to stay at the Brook Besor.So they went out to meet David and tomeet the people who were with him.And when David came near the people,he greeted them.22 Then all the wicked and worthlessmen of those who went with Davidanswered and said, "Because they didnot go with us, we will not give themany of the spoil that we have recovered,except for every man’s wife and children,that they may lead them away anddepart."23 But David said, "My brethren, youshall not do so with what the LORD has

1 SAMUEL 30 168given us, who has preserved us anddelivered into our hand the troop thatcame against us.24 "For who will heed you in thisma er? But as his part is who goes downto the ba le, so shall his part be whostays by the supplies; they shall sharealike."25 So it was, from that day forward; hemade it a statute and an ordinance forIsrael to this day.26Now when David came to Ziklag, hesent some of the spoil to the elders ofJudah, to his friends, saying, "Here is apresent for you from the spoil of theenemies of the LORD" ––27 to those who were in Bethel, thosewho were in Ramoth of the South, thosewho were in Ja r,28 those who were in Aroer, those whowere in Siphmoth, those who were inEshtemoa,

1 SAMUEL 30–31 16929 those who were in Rachal, those whowere in the ci es of the Jerahmeelites,those who were in the ci es of theKenites,30 those who were in Hormah, thosewho were in Chorashan, those who werein Athach,31 those who were in Hebron, and to allthe places where David himself and hismen were accustomed to rove.

31 1Now the Philis nes foughtagainst Israel; and the men of

Israel fled from before the Philis nes,and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.2 Then the Philis nes followed harda er Saul and his sons. And thePhilis nes killed Jonathan, Abinadab,and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.3 The ba le became fierce against Saul.The archers hit him, and he was severelywounded by the archers.

1 SAMUEL 31 1704 Then Saul said to his armorbearer,"Draw your sword, and thrust methrough with it, lest these uncircumcisedmen come and thrust me through andabuse me." But his armorbearer wouldnot, for he was greatly afraid. ThereforeSaul took a sword and fell on it.5And when his armorbearer saw thatSaul was dead, he also fell on his sword,and died with him.6 So Saul, his three sons, hisarmorbearer, and all his men diedtogether that same day.7And when the men of Israel whowere on the other side of the valley, andthose who were on the other side ofthe Jordan, saw that the men of Israelhad fled and that Saul and his sons weredead, they forsook the ci es and fled;and the Philis nes came and dwelt inthem.

1 SAMUEL 31 1718 So it happened the next day, when thePhilis nes came to strip the slain, thatthey found Saul and his three sons fallenon Mount Gilboa.9And they cut off his head and strippedoff his armor, and sent word throughoutthe land of the Philis nes, to proclaim itin the temple of their idols and amongthe people.10 Then they put his armor in thetemple of the Ashtoreths, and theyfastened his body to the wall of BethShan.11Now when the inhabitants of JabeshGilead heard what the Philis nes haddone to Saul,12 all the valiant men arose and traveledall night, and took the body of Saul andthe bodies of his sons from the wall ofBeth Shan; and they came to Jabesh andburned them there.

1 SAMUEL 31 17213 Then they took their bones andburied them under the tamarisk tree atJabesh, and fasted seven days.

2 Samuel

1 1Now it came to pass a er the deathof Saul, when David had returned

from the slaughter of the Amalekites,and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,2 on the third day, behold, it happenedthat a man came from Saul’s camp withhis clothes torn and dust on his head. Soit was, when he came to David, that hefell to the ground and prostrated himself.3And David said to him, "Where haveyou come from?" So he said to him, "Ihave escaped from the camp of Israel."4 Then David said to him, "How didthe ma er go? Please tell me." And heanswered, "The people have fled fromthe ba le, many of the people are fallenand dead, and Saul and Jonathan his sonare dead also."

2 SAMUEL 1 25 So David said to the young man whotold him, "How do you know that Sauland Jonathan his son are dead?"6 Then the young man who told himsaid, "As I happened by chance to be onMount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaningon his spear; and indeed the chariotsand horsemen followed hard a er him.7 "Now when he looked behind him,he saw me and called to me. And Ianswered, ‘Here I am.’8 "And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ SoI answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’9 "He said to me again, ‘Please standover me and kill me, for anguish hascome upon me, but my life s ll remainsin me.’10 "So I stood over him and killed him,because I was sure that he could not livea er he had fallen. And I took the crownthat was on his head and the bracelet

2 SAMUEL 1 3that was on his arm, and have broughtthem here to my lord."11 Therefore David took hold of his ownclothes and tore them, and so did all themen who were with him.12And they mourned and wept andfasted un l evening for Saul and forJonathan his son, for the people ofthe LORD and for the house of Israel,because they had fallen by the sword.13 Then David said to the young manwho told him, "Where are you from?"And he answered, "I am the son of analien, an Amalekite."14 So David said to him, "How was it youwere not afraid to put forth your hand todestroy the LORD’S anointed?"15 Then David called one of the youngmen and said, "Go near, and executehim!" And he struck him so that he died.16 So David said to him, "Your blood ison your own head, for your own mouth

2 SAMUEL 1 4has tes fied against you, saying, ‘I havekilled the LORD’S anointed.’"17 Then David lamented with thislamenta on over Saul and over Jonathanhis son,18 and he told them to teach thechildren of Judah the Song of the Bow;indeed it is wri en in the Book of Jasher:19 "The beauty of Israel is slain on yourhigh places! How the mighty have fallen!20 Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it notin the streets of Ashkelon––Lest thedaughters of the Philis nes rejoice, Lestthe daughters of the uncircumcisedtriumph.21 "O mountains of Gilboa, Let there beno dew nor rain upon you, Nor fields ofofferings. For the shield of the mighty iscast away there! The shield of Saul, notanointed with oil.22 From the blood of the slain, From thefat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan

2 SAMUEL 1–2 5did not turn back, And the sword of Sauldid not return empty.23 "Saul and Jonathan were belovedand pleasant in their lives, And in theirdeath they were not divided; They wereswi er than eagles, They were strongerthan lions.24 "O daughters of Israel, weep overSaul, Who clothed you in scarlet, withluxury; Who put ornaments of gold onyour apparel.25 "How the mighty have fallen in themidst of the ba le! Jonathan was slainin your high places.26 I am distressed for you, my brotherJonathan; You have been very pleasantto me; Your love to me was wonderful,Surpassing the love of women.27 "How the mighty have fallen, And theweapons of war perished!"

2 1 It happened a er this that Davidinquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I

2 SAMUEL 2 6go up to any of the ci es of Judah?" Andthe LORD said to him, "Go up." Davidsaid, "Where shall I go up?" And He said,"To Hebron."2 So David went up there, and his twowives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,and Abigail the widow of Nabal theCarmelite.3And David brought up the men whowere with him, every man with hishousehold. So they dwelt in the ci es ofHebron.4 Then the men of Judah came, andthere they anointed David king over thehouse of Judah. And they told David,saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead werethe ones who buried Saul."5 So David sent messengers to the menof Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "Youare blessed of the LORD, for you haveshown this kindness to your lord, to Saul,and have buried him.

2 SAMUEL 2 76 "And now may the LORD showkindness and truth to you. I also willrepay you this kindness, because youhave done this thing.7 "Now therefore, let your hands bestrengthened, and be valiant; for yourmaster Saul is dead, and also the houseof Judah has anointed me king overthem."8 But Abner the son of Ner, commanderof Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth theson of Saul and brought him over toMahanaim;9 and he made him king over Gilead,over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, overEphraim, over Benjamin, and over allIsrael.10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was fortyyears old when he began to reign overIsrael, and he reigned two years. Onlythe house of Judah followed David.

2 SAMUEL 2 811And the me that David was king inHebron over the house of Judah wasseven years and six months.12Now Abner the son of Ner, and theservants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul,went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.13And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and theservants of David, went out and metthem by the pool of Gibeon. So they satdown, one on one side of the pool andthe other on the other side of the pool.14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Let theyoung men now arise and competebefore us." And Joab said, "Let themarise."15 So they arose and went overby number, twelve from Benjamin,followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul,and twelve from the servants of David.16And each one grasped his opponentby the head and thrust his sword inhis opponent’s side; so they fell down

2 SAMUEL 2 9together. Therefore that place was calledthe Field of Sharp Swords, which is inGibeon.17 So there was a very fierce ba le thatday, and Abner and the men of Israelwere beaten before the servants ofDavid.18Now the three sons of Zeruiah werethere: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. AndAsahel was as fleet of foot as a wildgazelle.19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and ingoing he did not turn to the right handor to the le from following Abner.20 Then Abner looked behind him andsaid, "Are you Asahel?" He answered, "Iam."21And Abner said to him, "Turn aside toyour right hand or to your le , and layhold on one of the young men and takehis armor for yourself." But Asahel wouldnot turn aside from following him.

2 SAMUEL 2 1022 So Abner said again to Asahel, "Turnaside from following me. Why shouldI strike you to the ground? How thencould I face your brother Joab?"23However, he refused to turn aside.Therefore Abner struck him in thestomach with the blunt end of the spear,so that the spear came out of his back;and he fell down there and died on thespot. So it was that as many as came tothe place where Asahel fell down anddied, stood s ll.24 Joab and Abishai also pursuedAbner. And the sun was going downwhen they came to the hill of Ammah,which is before Giah by the road to theWilderness of Gibeon.25Now the children of Benjamingathered together behind Abner andbecame a unit, and took their stand ontop of a hill.

2 SAMUEL 2 1126 Then Abner called to Joab and said,"Shall the sword devour forever? Doyou not know that it will be bi er inthe la er end? How long will it be thenun l you tell the people to return frompursuing their brethren?"27And Joab said, "As God lives, unlessyou had spoken, surely then by morningall the people would have given uppursuing their brethren."28 So Joab blew a trumpet; and all thepeople stood s ll and did not pursueIsrael anymore, nor did they fightanymore.29 Then Abner and his men went on allthat night through the plain, crossedover the Jordan, and went through allBithron; and they came to Mahanaim.30 So Joab returned from pursuingAbner. And when he had gathered allthe people together, there were missing

2 SAMUEL 2–3 12of David’s servants nineteen men andAsahel.31 But the servants of David had struckdown, of Benjamin and Abner’s men,three hundred and sixty men who died.32 Then they took up Asahel and buriedhim in his father’s tomb, which was inBethlehem. And Joab and his men wentall night, and they came to Hebron atdaybreak.

3 1Now there was a long war betweenthe house of Saul and the house

of David. But David grew stronger andstronger, and the house of Saul grewweaker and weaker.2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoamthe Jezreelitess;3 his second, Chileab, by Abigail thewidow of Nabal the Carmelite; thethird, Absalom the son of Maacah, thedaughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

2 SAMUEL 3 134 the fourth, Adonijah the son ofHaggith; the fi h, Shepha ah the son ofAbital;5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’swife Eglah. These were born to David inHebron.6Now it was so, while there waswar between the house of Saul andthe house of David, that Abner wasstrengthening his hold on the house ofSaul.7And Saul had a concubine, whosename was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah.So Ishbosheth said to Abner, "Why haveyou gone in to my father’s concubine?"8 Then Abner became very angry at thewords of Ishbosheth, and said, "Am I adog’s head that belongs to Judah? TodayI show loyalty to the house of Saul yourfather, to his brothers, and to his friends,and have not delivered you into the

2 SAMUEL 3 14hand of David; and you charge me todaywith a fault concerning this woman?9 "May God do so to Abner, and morealso, if I do not do for David as the LORDhas sworn to him––10 "to transfer the kingdom from thehouse of Saul, and set up the throne ofDavid over Israel and over Judah, fromDan to Beersheba."11And he could not answer Abneranother word, because he feared him.12 Then Abner sent messengers on hisbehalf to David, saying, "Whose is theland?" saying also, "Make your covenantwith me, and indeed my hand shall bewith you to bring all Israel to you."13And David said, "Good, I will makea covenant with you. But one thing Irequire of you: you shall not see myface unless you first bring Michal, Saul’sdaughter, when you come to see myface."

2 SAMUEL 3 1514 So David sent messengers toIshbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, "Give memy wife Michal, whom I betrothed tomyself for a hundred foreskins of thePhilis nes."15And Ishbosheth sent and took herfrom her husband, from Pal el the sonof Laish.16 Then her husband went along withher to Bahurim, weeping behind her. SoAbner said to him, "Go, return!" And hereturned.17Now Abner had communicated withthe elders of Israel, saying, "In me pastyou were seeking for David to be kingover you.18 "Now then, do it! For the LORD hasspoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand ofMy servant David, I will save My peopleIsrael from the hand of the Philis nesand the hand of all their enemies.’"

2 SAMUEL 3 1619And Abner also spoke in the hearingof Benjamin. Then Abner also went tospeak in the hearing of David in Hebronall that seemed good to Israel and thewhole house of Benjamin.20 So Abner and twenty men with himcame to David at Hebron. And Davidmade a feast for Abner and the men whowere with him.21 Then Abner said to David, "I will ariseand go, and gather all Israel to my lordthe king, that they may make a covenantwith you, and that you may reign over allthat your heart desires." So David sentAbner away, and he went in peace.22At that moment the servants of Davidand Joab came from a raid and broughtmuch spoil with them. But Abner wasnot with David in Hebron, for he had senthim away, and he had gone in peace.23When Joab and all the troops thatwere with him had come, they told Joab,

2 SAMUEL 3 17saying, "Abner the son of Ner came tothe king, and he sent him away, and hehas gone in peace."24 Then Joab came to the king and said,"What have you done? Look, Abnercame to you; why is it that you sent himaway, and he has already gone?25 "Surely you realize that Abner theson of Ner came to deceive you, to knowyour going out and your coming in, andto know all that you are doing."26And when Joab had gone fromDavid’s presence, he sent messengersa er Abner, who brought him back fromthe well of Sirah. But David did not knowit.27Now when Abner had returned toHebron, Joab took him aside in the gateto speak with him privately, and therestabbed him in the stomach, so that hedied for the blood of Asahel his brother.

2 SAMUEL 3 1828A erward, when David heard it, hesaid, "My kingdom and I are guiltlessbefore the LORD forever of the blood ofAbner the son of Ner.29 "Let it rest on the head of Joab andon all his father’s house; and let therenever fail to be in the house of Joab onewho has a discharge or is a leper, wholeans on a staff or falls by the sword, orwho lacks bread."30 So Joab and Abishai his brotherkilled Abner, because he had killed theirbrother Asahel at Gibeon in the ba le.31 Then David said to Joab and to all thepeople who were with him, "Tear yourclothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth,and mourn for Abner." And King Davidfollowed the coffin.32 So they buried Abner in Hebron; andthe king li ed up his voice and wept atthe grave of Abner, and all the peoplewept.

2 SAMUEL 3 1933And the king sang a lament overAbner and said: "Should Abner die as afool dies?34 Your hands were not bound Noryour feet put into fe ers; As a man fallsbefore wicked men, so you fell." Then allthe people wept over him again.35And when all the people came topersuade David to eat food while it wass ll day, David took an oath, saying,"God do so to me, and more also, if Itaste bread or anything else ll the sungoes down!"36Now all the people took note of it,and it pleased them, since whatever theking did pleased all the people.37 For all the people and all Israelunderstood that day that it had not beenthe king’s intent to kill Abner the son ofNer.

2 SAMUEL 3–4 2038 Then the king said to his servants,"Do you not know that a prince and agreat man has fallen this day in Israel?39 "And I am weak today, thoughanointed king; and these men, the sonsof Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. TheLORD shall repay the evildoer accordingto his wickedness."

4 1When Saul’s son heard that Abnerhad died in Hebron, he lost heart,

and all Israel was troubled.2Now Saul’s son had two men whowere captains of troops. The name ofone was Baanah and the name of theother Rechab, the sons of Rimmon theBeerothite, of the children of Benjamin.(For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin,3 because the Beerothites fled toGi aim and have been sojourners thereun l this day.)4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son whowas lame in his feet. He was five years

2 SAMUEL 4 21old when the news about Saul andJonathan came from Jezreel; and hisnurse took him up and fled. And ithappened, as she made haste to flee,that he fell and became lame. His namewas Mephibosheth.5 Then the sons of Rimmon theBeerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set outand came at about the heat of the day tothe house of Ishbosheth, who was lyingon his bed at noon.6And they came there, all the way intothe house, as though to get wheat, andthey stabbed him in the stomach. ThenRechab and Baanah his brother escaped.7 For when they came into the house,he was lying on his bed in his bedroom;then they struck him and killed him,beheaded him and took his head, andwere all night escaping through theplain.

2 SAMUEL 4 228And they brought the head ofIshbosheth to David at Hebron, andsaid to the king, "Here is the head ofIshbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy,who sought your life; and the LORD hasavenged my lord the king this day of Sauland his descendants."9 But David answered Rechab andBaanah his brother, the sons of Rimmonthe Beerothite, and said to them, "Asthe LORD lives, who has redeemed mylife from all adversity,10 "when someone told me, saying,‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to havebrought good news, I arrested him andhad him executed in Ziklag––the onewho thought I would give him a rewardfor his news.11 "How much more, when wicked menhave killed a righteous person in his ownhouse on his bed? Therefore, shall I not

2 SAMUEL 4–5 23now require his blood at your hand andremove you from the earth?"12 So David commanded his young men,and they executed them, cut off theirhands and feet, and hanged them by thepool in Hebron. But they took the headof Ishbosheth and buried it in the tombof Abner in Hebron.

5 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came toDavid at Hebron and spoke, saying,

"Indeed we are your bone and yourflesh.2 "Also, in me past, when Saul wasking over us, you were the one who ledIsrael out and brought them in; and theLORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherdMy people Israel, and be ruler overIsrael.’"3 Therefore all the elders of Israel cameto the king at Hebron, and King Davidmade a covenant with them at Hebron

2 SAMUEL 5 24before the LORD. And they anointedDavid king over Israel.4David was thirty years old when hebegan to reign, and he reigned fortyyears.5 In Hebron he reigned over Judahseven years and six months, and inJerusalem he reigned thirty–three yearsover all Israel and Judah.6And the king and his men went toJerusalem against the Jebusites, theinhabitants of the land, who spoke toDavid, saying, "You shall not come inhere; but the blind and the lame willrepel you," thinking, "David cannot comein here."7Nevertheless David took thestronghold of Zion (that is, the City ofDavid).8Now David said on that day, "Whoeverclimbs up by way of the water sha anddefeats the Jebusites (the lame and the

2 SAMUEL 5 25blind, who are hated by David’s soul), heshall be chief and captain." Thereforethey say, "The blind and the lame shallnot come into the house."9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold,and called it the City of David. AndDavid built all around from the Millo andinward.10 So David went on and became great,and the LORD God of hosts was withhim.11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sentmessengers to David, and cedar trees,and carpenters and masons. And theybuilt David a house.12 So David knew that the LORD hadestablished him as king over Israel, andthat He had exalted His kingdom for thesake of His people Israel.13And David took more concubinesand wives from Jerusalem, a er he had

2 SAMUEL 5 26come from Hebron. Also more sons anddaughters were born to David.14Now these are the names of thosewho were born to him in Jerusalem:Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.17Now when the Philis nes heard thatthey had anointed David king over Israel,all the Philis nes went up to search forDavid. And David heard of it and wentdown to the stronghold.18 The Philis nes also went anddeployed themselves in the Valley ofRephaim.19 So David inquired of the LORD,saying, "Shall I go up against thePhilis nes? Will You deliver them intomy hand?" And the LORD said to David,"Go up, for I will doubtless deliver thePhilis nes into your hand."

2 SAMUEL 5 2720 So David went to Baal Perazim, andDavid defeated them there; and hesaid, "The LORD has broken through myenemies before me, like a breakthroughof water." Therefore he called the nameof that place Baal Perazim.21And they le their images there, andDavid and his men carried them away.22 Then the Philis nes went up onceagain and deployed themselves in theValley of Rephaim.23 Therefore David inquired of theLORD, and He said, "You shall not go up;circle around behind them, and comeupon them in front of the mulberrytrees.24 "And it shall be, when you hear thesound of marching in the tops of themulberry trees, then you shall advancequickly. For then the LORD will go outbefore you to strike the camp of thePhilis nes."

2 SAMUEL 5–6 2825And David did so, as the LORDcommanded him; and he drove back thePhilis nes from Geba as far as Gezer.

6 1Again David gathered all the choicemen of Israel, thirty thousand.

2And David arose and went with all thepeople who were with him from BaaleJudah to bring up from there the ark ofGod, whose name is called by the Name,the LORD of Hosts, who dwells betweenthe cherubim.3 So they set the ark of God on a newcart, and brought it out of the house ofAbinadab, which was on the hill; andUzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab,drove the new cart.4And they brought it out of the houseof Abinadab, which was on the hill,accompanying the ark of God; and Ahiowent before the ark.5 Then David and all the house ofIsrael played music before the LORD

2 SAMUEL 6 29on all kinds of instruments of fir wood,on harps, on stringed instruments,on tambourines, on sistrums, and oncymbals.6And when they came to Nachon’sthreshing floor, Uzzah put out his handto the ark of God and took hold of it, forthe oxen stumbled.7 Then the anger of the LORD wasaroused against Uzzah, and God struckhim there for his error; and he died thereby the ark of God.8And David became angry because ofthe LORD’S outbreak against Uzzah; andhe called the name of the place PerezUzzah to this day.9David was afraid of the LORD that day;and he said, "How can the ark of theLORD come to me?"10 So David would not move the ark ofthe LORD with him into the City of David;

2 SAMUEL 6 30but David took it aside into the house ofObed–Edom the Gi te.11 The ark of the LORD remained inthe house of Obed–Edom the Gi tethree months. And the LORD blessedObed–Edom and all his household.12Now it was told King David, saying,"The LORD has blessed the house ofObed–Edom and all that belongs to him,because of the ark of God." So Davidwent and brought up the ark of Godfrom the house of Obed–Edom to theCity of David with gladness.13And so it was, when those bearingthe ark of the LORD had gone six paces,that he sacrificed oxen and fa ed sheep.14 Then David danced before the LORDwith all his might; and David was wearinga linen ephod.15 So David and all the house of Israelbrought up the ark of the LORD with

2 SAMUEL 6 31shou ng and with the sound of thetrumpet.16Now as the ark of the LORD cameinto the City of David, Michal, Saul’sdaughter, looked through a window andsaw King David leaping and whirlingbefore the LORD; and she despised himin her heart.17 So they brought the ark of the LORD,and set it in its place in the midst of thetabernacle that David had erected for it.Then David offered burnt offerings andpeace offerings before the LORD.18And when David had finished offeringburnt offerings and peace offerings, heblessed the people in the name of theLORD of hosts.19 Then he distributed among all thepeople, among the whole mul tude ofIsrael, both the women and the men,to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of

2 SAMUEL 6 32meat, and a cake of raisins. So all thepeople departed, everyone to his house.20 Then David returned to bless hishousehold. And Michal the daughter ofSaul came out to meet David, and said,"How glorious was the king of Israeltoday, uncovering himself today in theeyes of the maids of his servants, as oneof the base fellows shamelessly uncovershimself!"21 So David said to Michal, "It wasbefore the LORD, who chose me insteadof your father and all his house, toappoint me ruler over the people of theLORD, over Israel. Therefore I will playmusic before the LORD.22 "And I will be even more undignifiedthan this, and will be humble in my ownsight. But as for the maidservants ofwhom you have spoken, by them I willbe held in honor."

2 SAMUEL 6–7 3323 Therefore Michal the daughter ofSaul had no children to the day of herdeath.

7 1Now it came to pass when the kingwas dwelling in his house, and the

LORD had given him rest from all hisenemies all around,2 that the king said to Nathan theprophet, "See now, I dwell in a house ofcedar, but the ark of God dwells insidetent curtains."3 Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, doall that is in your heart, for the LORD iswith you."4 But it happened that night that theword of the LORD came to Nathan,saying,5 "Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thussays the LORD: "Would you build a housefor Me to dwell in?6 "For I have not dwelt in a house sincethe me that I brought the children of

2 SAMUEL 7 34Israel up from Egypt, even to this day,but have moved about in a tent and in atabernacle.7 "Wherever I have moved about withall the children of Israel, have I everspoken a word to anyone from thetribes of Israel, whom I commandedto shepherd My people Israel, saying,‘Why have you not built Me a house ofcedar?’"’8 "Now therefore, thus shall you say toMy servant David, ‘Thus says the LORDof hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold,from following the sheep, to be rulerover My people, over Israel.9 "And I have been with you whereveryou have gone, and have cut off all yourenemies from before you, and havemade you a great name, like the nameof the great men who are on the earth.10 "Moreover I will appoint a placefor My people Israel, and will plant

2 SAMUEL 7 35them, that they may dwell in a place oftheir own and move no more; nor shallthe sons of wickedness oppress themanymore, as previously,11 "since the me that I commandedjudges to be over My people Israel, andhave caused you to rest from all yourenemies. Also the LORD tells you that Hewill make you a house.12 "When your days are fulfilled and yourest with your fathers, I will set up yourseed a er you, who will come from yourbody, and I will establish his kingdom.13 "He shall build a house for My name,and I will establish the throne of hiskingdom forever.14 "I will be his Father, and he shall beMy son. If he commits iniquity, I willchasten him with the rod of men andwith the blows of the sons of men.

2 SAMUEL 7 3615 "But My mercy shall not departfrom him, as I took it from Saul, whom Iremoved from before you.16 "And your house and your kingdomshall be established forever beforeyou. Your throne shall be establishedforever."’"17According to all these words andaccording to all this vision, so Nathanspoke to David.18 Then King David went in and satbefore the LORD; and he said: "Who amI, O Lord GOD? And what is my house,that You have brought me this far?19 "And yet this was a small thing inYour sight, O Lord GOD; and You havealso spoken of Your servant’s house for agreat while to come. Is this the mannerof man, O Lord GOD?20 "Now what more can David say toYou? For You, Lord GOD, know Yourservant.

2 SAMUEL 7 3721 "For Your word’s sake, and accordingto Your own heart, You have done allthese great things, to make Your servantknow them.22 "Therefore You are great, O LORDGOD. For there is none like You, nor isthere any God besides You, according toall that we have heard with our ears.23 "And who is like Your people, likeIsrael, the one na on on the earthwhom God went to redeem for Himselfas a people, to make for Himself aname––and to do for Yourself great andawesome deeds for Your land––beforeYour people whom You redeemed forYourself from Egypt, the na ons, andtheir gods?24 "For You have made Your peopleIsrael Your very own people forever; andYou, LORD, have become their God.25 "Now, O LORD God, the word whichYou have spoken concerning Your servant

2 SAMUEL 7 38and concerning his house, establish itforever and do as You have said.26 "So let Your name be magnifiedforever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is theGod over Israel.’ And let the house ofYour servant David be established beforeYou.27 "For You, O LORD of hosts, Godof Israel, have revealed this to Yourservant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’Therefore Your servant has found it inhis heart to pray this prayer to You.28 "And now, O Lord GOD, You are God,and Your words are true, and You havepromised this goodness to Your servant.29 "Now therefore, let it please You tobless the house of Your servant, thatit may con nue forever before You; forYou, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, andwith Your blessing let the house of Yourservant be blessed forever."

2 SAMUEL 8 39

8 1A er this it came to pass that Davida acked the Philis nes and subdued

them. And David took Metheg Ammahfrom the hand of the Philis nes.2 Then he defeated Moab. Forcingthem down to the ground, he measuredthem off with a line. With two lines hemeasured off those to be put to death,and with one full line those to be keptalive. So the Moabites became David’sservants, and brought tribute.3David also defeated Hadadezer theson of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he wentto recover his territory at the RiverEuphrates.4David took from him one thousandchariots, seven hundred horsemen, andtwenty thousand foot soldiers. AlsoDavid hamstrung all the chariot horses,except that he spared enough of themfor one hundred chariots.

2 SAMUEL 8 405When the Syrians of Damascus cameto help Hadadezer king of Zobah, Davidkilled twenty–two thousand of theSyrians.6 Then David put garrisons in Syriaof Damascus; and the Syrians becameDavid’s servants, and brought tribute.The LORD preserved David wherever hewent.7And David took the shields of goldthat had belonged to the servantsof Hadadezer, and brought them toJerusalem.8Also from Betah and from Berothai,ci es of Hadadezer, King David took alarge amount of bronze.9When Toi king of Hamath heard thatDavid had defeated all the army ofHadadezer,10 then Toi sent Joram his son toKing David, to greet him and blesshim, because he had fought against

2 SAMUEL 8 41Hadadezer and defeated him (forHadadezer had been at war with Toi);and Joram brought with him ar cles ofsilver, ar cles of gold, and ar cles ofbronze.11 King David also dedicated these tothe LORD, along with the silver andgold that he had dedicated from all thena ons which he had subdued––12 from Syria, from Moab, from thepeople of Ammon, from the Philis nes,from Amalek, and from the spoil ofHadadezer the son of Rehob, king ofZobah.13And David made himself a namewhen he returned from killing eighteenthousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt.14He also put garrisons in Edom;throughout all Edom he put garrisons,and all the Edomites became David’sservants. And the LORD preserved Davidwherever he went.

2 SAMUEL 8–9 4215 So David reigned over all Israel; andDavid administered judgment and jus ceto all his people.16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over thearmy; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahiludwas recorder;17 Zadok the son of Ahitub andAhimelech the son of Abiathar were thepriests; Seraiah was the scribe;18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was overboth the Cherethites and the Pelethites;and David’s sons were chief ministers.

9 1Now David said, "Is there s llanyone who is le of the house of

Saul, that I may show him kindness forJonathan’s sake?"2And there was a servant of the houseof Saul whose name was Ziba. So whenthey had called him to David, the kingsaid to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said,"At your service!"

2 SAMUEL 9 433 Then the king said, "Is there not s llsomeone of the house of Saul, to whomI may show the kindness of God?" AndZiba said to the king, "There is s ll a sonof Jonathan who is lame in his feet."4 So the king said to him, "Where ishe?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeedhe is in the house of Machir the son ofAmmiel, in Lo Debar."5 Then King David sent and brought himout of the house of Machir the son ofAmmiel, from Lo Debar.6Now when Mephibosheth the sonof Jonathan, the son of Saul, hadcome to David, he fell on his face andprostrated himself. Then David said,"Mephibosheth?" And he answered,"Here is your servant!"7 So David said to him, "Do not fear,for I will surely show you kindness forJonathan your father’s sake, and willrestore to you all the land of Saul your

2 SAMUEL 9 44grandfather; and you shall eat bread atmy table con nually."8 Then he bowed himself, and said,"What is your servant, that you shouldlook upon such a dead dog as I?"9And the king called to Ziba, Saul’sservant, and said to him, "I have given toyour master’s son all that belonged toSaul and to all his house.10 "You therefore, and your sons andyour servants, shall work the land forhim, and you shall bring in the harvest,that your master’s son may have foodto eat. But Mephibosheth your master’sson shall eat bread at my table always."Now Ziba had fi een sons and twentyservants.11 Then Ziba said to the king, "Accordingto all that my lord the king hascommanded his servant, so will yourservant do." "As for Mephibosheth,"

2 SAMUEL 9–10 45said the king, "he shall eat at my tablelike one of the king’s sons."12Mephibosheth had a young sonwhose name was Micha. And all whodwelt in the house of Ziba were servantsof Mephibosheth.13 SoMephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem,for he ate con nually at the king’s table.And he was lame in both his feet.

10 1 It happened a er this that theking of the people of Ammon

died, and Hanun his son reigned in hisplace.2 Then David said, "I will show kindnessto Hanun the son of Nahash, as hisfather showed kindness to me." SoDavid sent by the hand of his servants tocomfort him concerning his father. AndDavid’s servants came into the land ofthe people of Ammon.3And the princes of the people ofAmmon said to Hanun their lord, "Do

2 SAMUEL 10 46you think that David really honors yourfather because he has sent comfortersto you? Has David not rather sent hisservants to you to search the city, to spyit out, and to overthrow it?"4 Therefore Hanun took David’sservants, shaved off half of their beards,cut off their garments in the middle, attheir bu ocks, and sent them away.5When they told David, he sent to meetthem, because the men were greatlyashamed. And the king said, "Wait atJericho un l your beards have grown,and then return."6When the people of Ammon saw thatthey had made themselves repulsive toDavid, the people of Ammon sent andhired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and theSyrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footsoldiers; and from the king of Maacahone thousand men, and from Ish–Tobtwelve thousand men.

2 SAMUEL 10 477Now when David heard of it, he sentJoab and all the army of the mighty men.8 Then the people of Ammon came outand put themselves in ba le array at theentrance of the gate. And the Syrians ofZoba, Beth Rehob, Ish–Tob, and Maacahwere by themselves in the field.9When Joab saw that the ba le linewas against him before and behind, hechose some of Israel’s best and put themin ba le array against the Syrians.10And the rest of the people he putunder the command of Abishai hisbrother, that he might set them in ba learray against the people of Ammon.11 Then he said, "If the Syrians are toostrong for me, then you shall help me;but if the people of Ammon are toostrong for you, then I will come and helpyou.12 "Be of good courage, and let us bestrong for our people and for the ci es

2 SAMUEL 10 48of our God. And may the LORD do whatis good in His sight."13 So Joab and the people who werewith him drew near for the ba le againstthe Syrians, and they fled before him.14When the people of Ammon sawthat the Syrians were fleeing, they alsofled before Abishai, and entered the city.So Joab returned from the people ofAmmon and went to Jerusalem.15When the Syrians saw that they hadbeen defeated by Israel, they gatheredtogether.16 Then Hadadezer sent and broughtout the Syrians who were beyond theRiver, and they came to Helam. AndShobach the commander of Hadadezer’sarmy went before them.17When it was told David, he gatheredall Israel, crossed over the Jordan, andcame to Helam. And the Syrians set

2 SAMUEL 10–11 49themselves in ba le array against Davidand fought with him.18 Then the Syrians fled beforeIsrael; and David killed seven hundredcharioteers and forty thousandhorsemen of the Syrians, and struckShobach the commander of their army,who died there.19And when all the kings who wereservants to Hadadezer saw that theywere defeated by Israel, they madepeace with Israel and served them.So the Syrians were afraid to help thepeople of Ammon anymore.

11 1 It happened in the spring ofthe year, at the me when kings

go out to ba le, that David sent Joaband his servants with him, and allIsrael; and they destroyed the people ofAmmon and besieged Rabbah. But Davidremained at Jerusalem.

2 SAMUEL 11 502 Then it happened one evening thatDavid arose from his bed and walked onthe roof of the king’s house. And fromthe roof he saw a woman bathing, andthe woman was very beau ful to behold.3 So David sent and inquired about thewoman. And someone said, "Is this notBathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, thewife of Uriah the Hi te?"4 Then David sent messengers, and tookher; and she came to him, and he laywith her, for she was cleansed from herimpurity; and she returned to her house.5And the woman conceived; so shesent and told David, and said, "I am withchild."6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, "Sendme Uriah the Hi te." And Joab sentUriah to David.7When Uriah had come to him, Davidasked how Joab was doing, and how the

2 SAMUEL 11 51people were doing, and how the warprospered.8And David said to Uriah, "Go downto your house and wash your feet." SoUriah departed from the king’s house,and a gi of food from the king followedhim.9 But Uriah slept at the door of theking’s house with all the servants of hislord, and did not go down to his house.10 So when they told David, saying,"Uriah did not go down to his house,"David said to Uriah, "Did you not comefrom a journey? Why did you not godown to your house?"11And Uriah said to David, "The ark andIsrael and Judah are dwelling in tents,and my lord Joab and the servants of mylord are encamped in the open fields.Shall I then go to my house to eat anddrink, and to lie with my wife? As you

2 SAMUEL 11 52live, and as your soul lives, I will not dothis thing."12 Then David said to Uriah, "Wait heretoday also, and tomorrow I will let youdepart." So Uriah remained in Jerusalemthat day and the next.13Now when David called him, he ateand drank before him; and he made himdrunk. And at evening he went out to lieon his bed with the servants of his lord,but he did not go down to his house.14 In the morning it happened thatDavid wrote a le er to Joab and sent itby the hand of Uriah.15And he wrote in the le er, saying,"Set Uriah in the forefront of the ho estba le, and retreat from him, that hemay be struck down and die."16 So it was, while Joab besieged thecity, that he assigned Uriah to a placewhere he knew there were valiant men.

2 SAMUEL 11 5317 Then the men of the city came outand fought with Joab. And some of thepeople of the servants of David fell; andUriah the Hi te died also.18 Then Joab sent and told David all thethings concerning the war,19 and charged the messenger, saying,"When you have finished telling thema ers of the war to the king,20 if it happens that the king’s wrathrises, and he says to you: ‘Why did youapproach so near to the city when youfought? Did you not know that theywould shoot from the wall?21 ‘Who struck Abimelech the son ofJerubbesheth? Was it not a woman whocast a piece of a millstone on him fromthe wall, so that he died in Thebez? Whydid you go near the wall?’ ––then youshall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hi teis dead also.’"

2 SAMUEL 11 5422 So the messenger went, and cameand told David all that Joab had sent byhim.23And the messenger said to David,"Surely the men prevailed against usand came out to us in the field; then wedrove them back as far as the entranceof the gate.24 "The archers shot from the wall atyour servants; and some of the king’sservants are dead, and your servantUriah the Hi te is dead also."25 Then David said to the messenger,"Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do notlet this thing displease you, for thesword devours one as well as another.Strengthen your a ack against the city,and overthrow it.’ So encourage him."26When the wife of Uriah heard thatUriah her husband was dead, shemourned for her husband.

2 SAMUEL 11–12 5527And when her mourning was over,David sent and brought her to his house,and she became his wife and bore him ason. But the thing that David had donedispleased the LORD.

12 1 Then the LORD sent Nathan toDavid. And he came to him, and

said to him: "There were two men in onecity, one rich and the other poor.2 "The rich man had exceedingly manyflocks and herds.3 "But the poor man had nothing,except one li le ewe lamb which he hadbought and nourished; and it grew uptogether with him and with his children.It ate of his own food and drank from hisown cup and lay in his bosom; and it waslike a daughter to him.4 "And a traveler came to the rich man,who refused to take from his own flockand from his own herd to prepare onefor the wayfaring man who had come to

2 SAMUEL 12 56him; but he took the poor man’s lamband prepared it for the man who hadcome to him."5 So David’s anger was greatly arousedagainst the man, and he said to Nathan,"As the LORD lives, the man who hasdone this shall surely die!6 "And he shall restore fourfold for thelamb, because he did this thing andbecause he had no pity."7 Then Nathan said to David, "You arethe man! Thus says the LORD God ofIsrael: ‘I anointed you king over Israel,and I delivered you from the hand ofSaul.8 ‘I gave you your master’s house andyour master’s wives into your keeping,and gave you the house of Israel andJudah. And if that had been too li le, Ialso would have given you much more!9 ‘Why have you despised thecommandment of the LORD, to do evil

2 SAMUEL 12 57in His sight? You have killed Uriah theHi te with the sword; you have takenhis wife to be your wife, and have killedhim with the sword of the people ofAmmon.10 ‘Now therefore, the sword shallnever depart from your house, becauseyou have despised Me, and have takenthe wife of Uriah the Hi te to be yourwife.’11 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I willraise up adversity against you from yourown house; and I will take your wivesbefore your eyes and give them to yourneighbor, and he shall lie with your wivesin the sight of this sun.12 ‘For you did it secretly, but I will dothis thing before all Israel, before thesun.’"13 So David said to Nathan, "I havesinned against the LORD." And Nathan

2 SAMUEL 12 58said to David, "The LORD also has putaway your sin; you shall not die.14 "However, because by this deedyou have given great occasion to theenemies of the LORD to blaspheme, thechild also who is born to you shall surelydie."15 Then Nathan departed to his house.And the LORD struck the child thatUriah’s wife bore to David, and it becameill.16David therefore pleaded with God forthe child, and David fasted and went inand lay all night on the ground.17 So the elders of his house arose andwent to him, to raise him up from theground. But he would not, nor did he eatfood with them.18 Then on the seventh day it cameto pass that the child died. And theservants of David were afraid to tell himthat the child was dead. For they said,

2 SAMUEL 12 59"Indeed, while the child was alive, wespoke to him, and he would not heedour voice. How can we tell him that thechild is dead? He may do some harm!"19When David saw that his servantswere whispering, David perceived thatthe child was dead. Therefore David saidto his servants, "Is the child dead?" Andthey said, "He is dead."20 So David arose from the ground,washed and anointed himself, andchanged his clothes; and he went intothe house of the LORD and worshiped.Then he went to his own house; andwhen he requested, they set food beforehim, and he ate.21 Then his servants said to him, "Whatis this that you have done? You fastedand wept for the child while he wasalive, but when the child died, you aroseand ate food."

2 SAMUEL 12 6022And he said, "While the child wasalive, I fasted and wept; for I said,‘Who can tell whether the LORD will begracious to me, that the child may live?’23 "But now he is dead; why should Ifast? Can I bring him back again? I shallgo to him, but he shall not return to me."24 Then David comforted Bathsheba hiswife, and went in to her and lay withher. So she bore a son, and he called hisname Solomon. Now the LORD lovedhim,25 and He sent word by the hand ofNathan the prophet: So he called hisname Jedidiah, because of the LORD.26Now Joab fought against Rabbah ofthe people of Ammon, and took theroyal city.27And Joab sent messengers to David,and said, "I have fought against Rabbah,and I have taken the city’s water supply.

2 SAMUEL 12–13 6128 "Now therefore, gather the rest ofthe people together and encamp againstthe city and take it, lest I take the cityand it be called a er my name."29 So David gathered all the peopletogether and went to Rabbah, foughtagainst it, and took it.30 Then he took their king’s crown fromhis head. Its weight was a talent of gold,with precious stones. And it was set onDavid’s head. Also he brought out thespoil of the city in great abundance.31And he brought out the peoplewho were in it, and put them to workwith saws and iron picks and iron axes,and made them cross over to the brickworks. So he did to all the ci es of thepeople of Ammon. Then David and allthe people returned to Jerusalem.

13 1A er this Absalom the son ofDavid had a lovely sister, whose

2 SAMUEL 13 62name was Tamar; and Amnon the son ofDavid loved her.2Amnon was so distressed over hissister Tamar that he became sick; for shewas a virgin. And it was improper forAmnon to do anything to her.3 But Amnon had a friend whose namewas Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’sbrother. Now Jonadab was a very cra yman.4And he said to him, "Why are you,the king’s son, becoming thinner daya er day? Will you not tell me?" Amnonsaid to him, "I love Tamar, my brotherAbsalom’s sister."5 So Jonadab said to him, "Lie downon your bed and pretend to be ill. Andwhen your father comes to see you, sayto him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar comeand give me food, and prepare the foodin my sight, that I may see it and eat itfrom her hand.’"

2 SAMUEL 13 636 Then Amnon lay down and pretendedto be ill; and when the king came to seehim, Amnon said to the king, "Pleaselet Tamar my sister come and make acouple of cakes for me in my sight, that Imay eat from her hand."7And David sent home to Tamar, saying,"Now go to your brother Amnon’s house,and prepare food for him."8 So Tamarwent to her brother Amnon’shouse; and he was lying down. Then shetook flour and kneaded it, made cakes inhis sight, and baked the cakes.9And she took the pan and placedthem out before him, but he refused toeat. Then Amnon said, "Have everyonego out from me." And they all went outfrom him.10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bringthe food into the bedroom, that I mayeat from your hand." And Tamar tookthe cakes which she had made, and

2 SAMUEL 13 64brought them to Amnon her brother inthe bedroom.11Now when she had brought them tohim to eat, he took hold of her and saidto her, "Come, lie with me, my sister."12And she answered him, "No, mybrother, do not force me, for no suchthing should be done in Israel. Do not dothis disgraceful thing!13 "And I, where could I take my shame?And as for you, you would be like oneof the fools in Israel. Now therefore,please speak to the king; for he will notwithhold me from you."14However, he would not heed hervoice; and being stronger than she, heforced her and lay with her.15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly,so that the hatred with which he hatedher was greater than the love with whichhe had loved her. And Amnon said toher, "Arise, be gone!"

2 SAMUEL 13 6516 So she said to him, "No, indeed! Thisevil of sending me away is worse thanthe other that you did to me." But hewould not listen to her.17 Then he called his servant whoa ended him, and said, "Here! Put thiswoman out, away from me, and bolt thedoor behind her."18Now she had on a robe of manycolors, for the king’s virgin daughterswore such apparel. And his servant puther out and bolted the door behind her.19 Then Tamar put ashes on her head,and tore her robe of many colors thatwas on her, and laid her hand on herhead and went away crying bi erly.20And Absalom her brother said to her,"Has Amnon your brother been withyou? But now hold your peace, my sister.He is your brother; do not take this thingto heart." So Tamar remained desolatein her brother Absalom’s house.

2 SAMUEL 13 6621 But when King David heard of allthese things, he was very angry.22And Absalom spoke to his brotherAmnon neither good nor bad. ForAbsalom hated Amnon, because he hadforced his sister Tamar.23And it came to pass, a er two fullyears, that Absalom had sheepshearersin Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; soAbsalom invited all the king’s sons.24 Then Absalom came to the king andsaid, "Kindly note, your servant hassheepshearers; please, let the king andhis servants go with your servant."25 But the king said to Absalom, "No,my son, let us not all go now, lest we be aburden to you." Then he urged him, buthe would not go; and he blessed him.26 Then Absalom said, "If not, please letmy brother Amnon go with us." And theking said to him, "Why should he go withyou?"

2 SAMUEL 13 6727 But Absalom urged him; so he letAmnon and all the king’s sons go withhim.28Now Absalom had commanded hisservants, saying, "Watch now, whenAmnon’s heart is merry with wine, andwhen I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ thenkill him. Do not be afraid. Have I notcommanded you? Be courageous andvaliant."29 So the servants of Absalom did toAmnon as Absalom had commanded.Then all the king’s sons arose, and eachone got on his mule and fled.30And it came to pass, while they wereon the way, that news came to David,saying, "Absalom has killed all the king’ssons, and not one of them is le !"31 So the king arose and tore hisgarments and lay on the ground, and allhis servants stood by with their clothestorn.

2 SAMUEL 13 6832 Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah,David’s brother, answered and said, "Letnot my lord suppose they have killed allthe young men, the king’s sons, for onlyAmnon is dead. For by the command ofAbsalom this has been determined fromthe day that he forced his sister Tamar.33 "Now therefore, let not my lord theking take the thing to his heart, to thinkthat all the king’s sons are dead. For onlyAmnon is dead."34 Then Absalom fled. And the youngman who was keeping watch li edhis eyes and looked, and there, manypeople were coming from the road onthe hillside behind him.35And Jonadab said to the king, "Look,the king’s sons are coming; as yourservant said, so it is."36 So it was, as soon as he had finishedspeaking, that the king’s sons indeedcame, and they li ed up their voice and

2 SAMUEL 13–14 69wept. Also the king and all his servantswept very bi erly.37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmaithe son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. AndDavid mourned for his son every day.38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur,and was there three years.39And King David longed to go toAbsalom. For he had been comfortedconcerning Amnon, because he wasdead.

14 1 So Joab the son of Zeruiahperceived that the king’s heart

was concerned about Absalom.2And Joab sent to Tekoa and broughtfrom there a wise woman, and said toher, "Please pretend to be a mourner,and put on mourning apparel; do notanoint yourself with oil, but act like awoman who has been mourning a longme for the dead.

2 SAMUEL 14 703 "Go to the king and speak to him inthis manner." So Joab put the words inher mouth.4And when the woman of Tekoa spoketo the king, she fell on her face to theground and prostrated herself, and said,"Help, O king!"5 Then the king said to her, "Whattroubles you?" And she answered,"Indeed I am a widow, my husband isdead.6 "Now your maidservant had two sons;and the two fought with each other inthe field, and there was no one to partthem, but the one struck the other andkilled him.7 "And now the whole family has risenup against your maidservant, and theysaid, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother,that we may execute him for the life ofhis brother whom he killed; and we willdestroy the heir also.’ So they would

2 SAMUEL 14 71ex nguish my ember that is le , andleave to my husband neither name norremnant on the earth."8 Then the king said to the woman,"Go to your house, and I will give ordersconcerning you."9And the woman of Tekoa said to theking, "My lord, O king, let the iniquity beon me and on my father’s house, andthe king and his throne be guiltless."10 So the king said, "Whoever saysanything to you, bring him to me, and heshall not touch you anymore."11 Then she said, "Please let the kingremember the LORD your God, anddo not permit the avenger of blood todestroy anymore, lest they destroy myson." And he said, "As the LORD lives,not one hair of your son shall fall to theground."12 Therefore the woman said, "Please,let your maidservant speak another

2 SAMUEL 14 72word to my lord the king." And he said,"Say on."13 So the woman said: "Why then haveyou schemed such a thing against thepeople of God? For the king speaks thisthing as one who is guilty, in that theking does not bring his banished onehome again.14 "For we will surely die and becomelike water spilled on the ground, whichcannot be gathered up again. Yet Goddoes not take away a life; but He devisesmeans, so that His banished ones arenot expelled from Him.15 "Now therefore, I have come to speakof this thing to my lord the king becausethe people have made me afraid. Andyour maidservant said, ‘I will now speakto the king; it may be that the king willperform the request of his maidservant.16 ‘For the king will hear and deliverhis maidservant from the hand of the

2 SAMUEL 14 73man who would destroy me and my sontogether from the inheritance of God.’17 "Your maidservant said, ‘The word ofmy lord the king will now be comfor ng;for as the angel of God, so is my lordthe king in discerning good and evil. Andmay the LORD your God be with you.’"18 Then the king answered and said tothe woman, "Please do not hide fromme anything that I ask you." And thewoman said, "Please, let my lord theking speak."19 So the king said, "Is the hand of Joabwith you in all this?" And the womananswered and said, "As you live, my lordthe king, no one can turn to the righthand or to the le from anything thatmy lord the king has spoken. For yourservant Joab commanded me, and heput all these words in the mouth of yourmaidservant.

2 SAMUEL 14 7420 "To bring about this change of affairsyour servant Joab has done this thing;but my lord is wise, according to thewisdom of the angel of God, to knoweverything that is in the earth."21And the king said to Joab, "All right,I have granted this thing. Go therefore,bring back the young man Absalom."22 Then Joab fell to the ground on hisface and bowed himself, and thankedthe king. And Joab said, "Today yourservant knows that I have found favorin your sight, my lord, O king, in thatthe king has fulfilled the request of hisservant."23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur,and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.24And the king said, "Let him return tohis own house, but do not let him see myface." So Absalom returned to his ownhouse, but did not see the king’s face.

2 SAMUEL 14 7525Now in all Israel there was no onewho was praised as much as Absalomfor his good looks. From the sole of hisfoot to the crown of his head there wasno blemish in him.26And when he cut the hair of hishead––at the end of every year he cut itbecause it was heavy on him––when hecut it, he weighed the hair of his headat two hundred shekels according to theking’s standard.27 To Absalom were born three sons,and one daughter whose name wasTamar. She was a woman of beau fulappearance.28And Absalom dwelt two full yearsin Jerusalem, but did not see the king’sface.29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, tosend him to the king, but he would notcome to him. And when he sent againthe second me, he would not come.

2 SAMUEL 14–15 7630 So he said to his servants, "See,Joab’s field is near mine, and he hasbarley there; go and set it on fire." AndAbsalom’s servants set the field on fire.31 Then Joab arose and came toAbsalom’s house, and said to him, "Whyhave your servants set my field on fire?"32And Absalom answered Joab, "Look,I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so thatI may send you to the king, to say, "Whyhave I come from Geshur? It would bebe er for me to be there s ll."’ Nowtherefore, let me see the king’s face; butif there is iniquity in me, let him executeme."33 So Joabwent to the king and told him.And when he had called for Absalom, hecame to the king and bowed himself onhis face to the ground before the king.Then the king kissed Absalom.

15 1A er this it happened thatAbsalom provided himself with

2 SAMUEL 15 77chariots and horses, and fi y men to runbefore him.2Now Absalom would rise early andstand beside the way to the gate. Soit was, whenever anyone who had alawsuit came to the king for a decision,that Absalom would call to him and say,"What city are you from?" And he wouldsay, "Your servant is from such and sucha tribe of Israel."3 Then Absalom would say to him,"Look, your case is good and right; butthere is no deputy of the king to hearyou."4Moreover Absalom would say, "Oh,that I were made judge in the land, andeveryone who has any suit or causewould come to me; then I would givehim jus ce."5And so it was, whenever anyone camenear to bow down to him, that he would

2 SAMUEL 15 78put out his hand and take him and kisshim.6 In this manner Absalom acted towardall Israel who came to the king forjudgment. So Absalom stole the heartsof the men of Israel.7Now it came to pass a er forty yearsthat Absalom said to the king, "Please,let me go to Hebron and pay the vowwhich I made to the LORD.8 "For your servant took a vow whileI dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘Ifthe LORD indeed brings me back toJerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’"9And the king said to him, "Go inpeace." So he arose and went to Hebron.10 Then Absalom sent spies throughoutall the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soonas you hear the sound of the trumpet,then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns inHebron!’"

2 SAMUEL 15 7911And with Absalom went two hundredmen invited from Jerusalem, and theywent along innocently and did not knowanything.12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophelthe Gilonite, David’s counselor, fromhis city––from Giloh––while he offeredsacrifices. And the conspiracy grewstrong, for the people with Absalomcon nually increased in number.13Now a messenger came to David,saying, "The hearts of the men of Israelare with Absalom."14 So David said to all his servants whowere with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, andlet us flee; or we shall not escape fromAbsalom. Make haste to depart, lest heovertake us suddenly and bring disasterupon us, and strike the city with theedge of the sword."

2 SAMUEL 15 8015And the king’s servants said to theking, "We are your servants, ready to dowhatever my lord the king commands."16 Then the king went out with all hishousehold a er him. But the king leten women, concubines, to keep thehouse.17And the king went out with all thepeople a er him, and stopped at theoutskirts.18 Then all his servants passed beforehim; and all the Cherethites, all thePelethites, and all the Gi tes, sixhundred men who had followed himfrom Gath, passed before the king.19 Then the king said to I ai the Gi te,"Why are you also going with us? Returnand remain with the king. For you area foreigner and also an exile from yourown place.20 "In fact, you came only yesterday.Should I make you wander up and down

2 SAMUEL 15 81with us today, since I go I know notwhere? Return, and take your brethrenback. Mercy and truth be with you."21And I ai answered the king and said,"As the LORD lives, and as my lord theking lives, surely in whatever place mylord the king shall be, whether in deathor life, even there also your servant willbe."22 So David said to I ai, "Go, and crossover." Then I ai the Gi te and all hismen and all the li le ones who werewith him crossed over.23And all the country wept with a loudvoice, and all the people crossed over.The king himself also crossed over theBrook Kidron, and all the people crossedover toward the way of the wilderness.24 There was Zadok also, and all theLevites with him, bearing the ark of thecovenant of God. And they set down theark of God, and Abiathar went up un l

2 SAMUEL 15 82all the people had finished crossing overfrom the city.25 Then the king said to Zadok, "Carrythe ark of God back into the city. If I findfavor in the eyes of the LORD, He willbring me back and show me both it andHis dwelling place.26 "But if He says thus: ‘I have no delightin you,’ here I am, let Him do to me asseems good to Him."27 The king also said to Zadok the priest,"Are you not a seer? Return to the cityin peace, and your two sons with you,Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the sonof Abiathar.28 "See, I will wait in the plains of thewilderness un l word comes from you toinform me."29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carriedthe ark of God back to Jerusalem. Andthey remained there.

2 SAMUEL 15 8330 So David went up by the Ascent ofthe Mount of Olives, and wept as hewent up; and he had his head coveredand went barefoot. And all the peoplewho were with him covered their headsand went up, weeping as they went up.31 Then someone told David, saying,"Ahithophel is among the conspiratorswith Absalom." And David said, "O LORD,I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophelinto foolishness!"32Now it happened when David hadcome to the top of the mountain, wherehe worshiped God––there was Hushaithe Archite coming to meet him with hisrobe torn and dust on his head.33David said to him, "If you go on withme, then you will become a burden tome.34 "But if you return to the city, andsay to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant,O king; as I was your father’s servant

2 SAMUEL 15–16 84previously, so I will now also be yourservant,’ then you may defeat thecounsel of Ahithophel for me.35 "And do you not have Zadok andAbiathar the priests with you there?Therefore it will be that whatever youhear from the king’s house, you shall tellto Zadok and Abiathar the priests.36 "Indeed they have there with themtheir two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son,and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and bythem you shall send me everything youhear."37 So Hushai, David’s friend, wentinto the city. And Absalom came intoJerusalem.

16 1When David was a li le pastthe top of the mountain, there

was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth,who met him with a couple of saddleddonkeys, and on them two hundredloaves of bread, one hundred clusters of

2 SAMUEL 16 85raisins, one hundred summer fruits, anda skin of wine.2And the king said to Ziba, "What doyou mean to do with these?" So Zibasaid, "The donkeys are for the king’shousehold to ride on, the bread andsummer fruit for the young men to eat,and the wine for those who are faint inthe wilderness to drink."3 Then the king said, "And where isyour master’s son?" And Ziba said to theking, "Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem,for he said, ‘Today the house of Israelwill restore the kingdom of my father tome.’"4 So the king said to Ziba, "Here, all thatbelongs to Mephibosheth is yours." AndZiba said, "I humbly bow before you,that I may find favor in your sight, mylord, O king!"5Now when King David came toBahurim, there was a man from the

2 SAMUEL 16 86family of the house of Saul, whose namewas Shimei the son of Gera, coming fromthere. He came out, cursing con nuouslyas he came.6And he threw stones at David and atall the servants of King David. And all thepeople and all the mighty men were onhis right hand and on his le .7Also Shimei said thus when he cursed:"Come out! Come out! You bloodthirstyman, you rogue!8 "The LORD has brought upon you allthe blood of the house of Saul, in whoseplace you have reigned; and the LORDhas delivered the kingdom into the handof Absalom your son. So now you arecaught in your own evil, because you area bloodthirsty man!"9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah saidto the king, "Why should this dead dogcurse my lord the king? Please, let me goover and take off his head!"

2 SAMUEL 16 8710 But the king said, "What have I to dowith you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let himcurse, because the LORD has said to him,‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Whyhave you done so?’"11And David said to Abishai and all hisservants, "See how my son who camefrom my own body seeks my life. Howmuch more nowmay this Benjamite? Lethim alone, and let him curse; for so theLORD has ordered him.12 "It may be that the LORD will lookon my afflic on, and that the LORD willrepay me with good for his cursing thisday."13And as David and his men went alongthe road, Shimei went along the hillsideopposite him and cursed as he went,threw stones at him and kicked up dust.14Now the king and all the people whowere with him became weary; so theyrefreshed themselves there.

2 SAMUEL 16 8815Meanwhile Absalom and all thepeople, the men of Israel, came toJerusalem; and Ahithophel was withhim.16And so it was, when Hushai theArchite, David’s friend, came to Absalom,that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long livethe king! Long live the king!"17 So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is thisyour loyalty to your friend? Why did younot go with your friend?"18And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, butwhom the LORD and this people and allthe men of Israel choose, his I will be,and with him I will remain.19 Furthermore, whom should I serve?Should I not serve in the presence of hisson? As I have served in your father’spresence, so will I be in your presence."20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel,"Give counsel as to what we should do."

2 SAMUEL 16–17 8921And Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Goin to your father’s concubines, whom hehas le to keep the house; and all Israelwill hear that you are abhorred by yourfather. Then the hands of all who arewith you will be strong."22 So they pitched a tent for Absalomon the top of the house, and Absalomwent in to his father’s concubines in thesight of all Israel.23Now the advice of Ahithophel, whichhe gave in those days, was as if one hadinquired at the oracle of God. So wasall the advice of Ahithophel both withDavid and with Absalom.

17 1Moreover Ahithophel said toAbsalom, "Now let me choose

twelve thousand men, and I will ariseand pursue David tonight.2 "I will come upon him while he isweary and weak, and make him afraid.

2 SAMUEL 17 90And all the people who are with him willflee, and I will strike only the king.3 "Then I will bring back all the peopleto you. When all return except the manwhom you seek, all the people will be atpeace."4And the saying pleased Absalom andall the elders of Israel.5 Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushaithe Archite also, and let us hear what hesays too."6And when Hushai came to Absalom,Absalom spoke to him, saying,"Ahithophel has spoken in this manner.Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up."7 So Hushai said to Absalom: "Theadvice that Ahithophel has given is notgood at this me.8 "For," said Hushai, "you know yourfather and his men, that they are mightymen, and they are enraged in theirminds, like a bear robbed of her cubs

2 SAMUEL 17 91in the field; and your father is a man ofwar, and will not camp with the people.9 "Surely by now he is hidden in somepit, or in some other place. And it willbe, when some of them are overthrownat the first, that whoever hears it will say,‘There is a slaughter among the peoplewho follow Absalom.’10 "And even he who is valiant, whoseheart is like the heart of a lion, will meltcompletely. For all Israel knows that yourfather is a mighty man, and those whoare with him are valiant men.11 "Therefore I advise that all Israelbe fully gathered to you, from Dan toBeersheba, like the sand that is by thesea for mul tude, and that you go toba le in person.12 "So we will come upon him in someplace where he may be found, and wewill fall on him as the dew falls on theground. And of him and all the men who

2 SAMUEL 17 92are with him there shall not be le somuch as one.13 "Moreover, if he has withdrawn intoa city, then all Israel shall bring ropes tothat city; and we will pull it into the river,un l there is not one small stone foundthere."14 So Absalom and all the men of Israelsaid, "The advice of Hushai the Archite isbe er than the advice of Ahithophel."For the LORD had purposed to defeatthe good advice of Ahithophel, to theintent that the LORDmight bring disasteron Absalom.15 Then Hushai said to Zadok andAbiathar the priests, "Thus and soAhithophel advised Absalom and theelders of Israel, and thus and so I haveadvised.16 "Now therefore, send quickly andtell David, saying, ‘Do not spend thisnight in the plains of the wilderness,

2 SAMUEL 17 93but speedily cross over, lest the kingand all the people who are with him beswallowed up.’"17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayedat En Rogel, for they dared not be seencoming into the city; so a female servantwould come and tell them, and theywould go and tell King David.18Nevertheless a lad saw them, andtold Absalom. But both of them wentaway quickly and came to a man’s housein Bahurim, who had a well in his court;and they went down into it.19 Then the woman took and spreada covering over the well’s mouth, andspread ground grain on it; and the thingwas not known.20And when Absalom’s servants cameto the woman at the house, they said,"Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" Sothe woman said to them, "They havegone over the water brook." And when

2 SAMUEL 17 94they had searched and could not findthem, they returned to Jerusalem.21Now it came to pass, a er they haddeparted, that they came up out of thewell and went and told King David, andsaid to David, "Arise and cross over thewater quickly. For thus has Ahithopheladvised against you."22 So David and all the people whowere with him arose and crossed overthe Jordan. By morning light not one ofthem was le who had not gone overthe Jordan.23Now when Ahithophel saw that hisadvice was not followed, he saddled adonkey, and arose and went home tohis house, to his city. Then he put hishousehold in order, and hanged himself,and died; and he was buried in hisfather’s tomb.

2 SAMUEL 17 9524 Then David went to Mahanaim. AndAbsalom crossed over the Jordan, heand all the men of Israel with him.25And Absalom made Amasa captainof the army instead of Joab. This Amasawas the son of a man whose name wasJithra, an Israelite, who had gone in toAbigail the daughter of Nahash, sister ofZeruiah, Joab’s mother.26 So Israel and Absalom encamped inthe land of Gilead.27Now it happened, when David hadcome to Mahanaim, that Shobi the sonof Nahash from Rabbah of the people ofAmmon, Machir the son of Ammiel fromLo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite fromRogelim,28 brought beds and basins, earthenvessels and wheat, barley and flour,parched grain and beans, len ls andparched seeds,

2 SAMUEL 17–18 9629 honey and curds, sheep and cheeseof the herd, for David and the peoplewho were with him to eat. For they said,"The people are hungry and weary andthirsty in the wilderness."

18 1And David numbered the peoplewho were with him, and set

captains of thousands and captains ofhundreds over them.2 Then David sent out one third of thepeople under the hand of Joab, onethird under the hand of Abishai the sonof Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one thirdunder the hand of I ai the Gi te. Andthe king said to the people, "I also willsurely go out with you myself."3 But the people answered, "You shallnot go out! For if we flee away, theywill not care about us; nor if half of usdie, will they care about us. But you areworth ten thousand of us now. For youare now more help to us in the city."

2 SAMUEL 18 974 Then the king said to them, "Whateverseems best to you I will do." So the kingstood beside the gate, and all the peoplewent out by hundreds and by thousands.5Now the king had commanded Joab,Abishai, and I ai, saying, "Deal gently formy sake with the young man Absalom."And all the people heard when the kinggave all the captains orders concerningAbsalom.6 So the people went out into the fieldof ba le against Israel. And the ba lewas in the woods of Ephraim.7 The people of Israel were overthrownthere before the servants of David, and agreat slaughter of twenty thousand tookplace there that day.8 For the ba le there was sca eredover the face of the whole countryside,and the woods devoured more peoplethat day than the sword devoured.

2 SAMUEL 18 989 Then Absalom met the servants ofDavid. Absalom rode on a mule. Themule went under the thick boughs of agreat terebinth tree, and his head caughtin the terebinth; so he was le hangingbetween heaven and earth. And themule which was under him went on.10Now a certain man saw it and toldJoab, and said, "I just saw Absalomhanging in a terebinth tree!"11 So Joab said to the man who toldhim, "You just saw him! And why didyou not strike him there to the ground?I would have given you ten shekels ofsilver and a belt."12 But the man said to Joab, "Though Iwere to receive a thousand shekels ofsilver in my hand, I would not raise myhand against the king’s son. For in ourhearing the king commanded you andAbishai and I ai, saying, ‘Beware lestanyone touch the young man Absalom!’

2 SAMUEL 18 9913 "Otherwise I would have dealt falselyagainst my own life. For there is nothinghidden from the king, and you yourselfwould have set yourself against me."14 Then Joab said, "I cannot lingerwith you." And he took three spearsin his hand and thrust them throughAbsalom’s heart, while he was s ll alivein the midst of the terebinth tree.15And ten young men who bore Joab’sarmor surrounded Absalom, and struckand killed him.16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and thepeople returned from pursuing Israel.For Joab held back the people.17And they took Absalom and cast himinto a large pit in the woods, and laid avery large heap of stones over him. Thenall Israel fled, everyone to his tent.18Now Absalom in his life me hadtaken and set up a pillar for himself,which is in the King’s Valley. For he said,

2 SAMUEL 18 100"I have no son to keep my name inremembrance." He called the pillar a erhis own name. And to this day it is calledAbsalom’s Monument.19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said,"Let me run now and take the news tothe king, how the LORD has avenged himof his enemies."20And Joab said to him, "You shall nottake the news this day, for you shall takethe news another day. But today youshall take no news, because the king’sson is dead."21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go,tell the king what you have seen." So theCushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.22And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok saidagain to Joab, "But whatever happens,please let me also run a er the Cushite."So Joab said, "Why will you run, my son,since you have no news ready?"

2 SAMUEL 18 10123 "But whatever happens," he said,"let me run." So he said to him, "Run."Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain,and outran the Cushite.24Now David was si ng between thetwo gates. And the watchman went upto the roof over the gate, to the wall,li ed his eyes and looked, and there wasa man, running alone.25 Then the watchman cried out andtold the king. And the king said, "If he isalone, there is news in his mouth." Andhe came rapidly and drew near.26 Then the watchman saw anotherman running, and the watchman calledto the gatekeeper and said, "There isanother man, running alone!" And theking said, "He also brings news."27 So the watchman said, "I think therunning of the first is like the running ofAhimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king

2 SAMUEL 18 102said, "He is a good man, and comes withgood news."28And Ahimaaz called out and said tothe king, "All is well!" Then he boweddown with his face to the earth beforethe king, and said, "Blessed be the LORDyour God, who has delivered up the menwho raised their hand against my lordthe king!"29 The king said, "Is the young manAbsalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered,"When Joab sent the king’s servant andme your servant, I saw a great tumult,but I did not know what it was about."30And the king said, "Turn aside andstand here." So he turned aside andstood s ll.31 Just then the Cushite came, and theCushite said, "There is good news, mylord the king! For the LORD has avengedyou this day of all those who rose againstyou."

2 SAMUEL 18–19 10332And the king said to the Cushite, "Isthe young man Absalom safe?" So theCushite answered, "May the enemies ofmy lord the king, and all who rise againstyou to do harm, be like that young man!"33 Then the king was deeply moved,and went up to the chamber over thegate, and wept. And as he went, he saidthus: "O my son Absalom––my son, myson Absalom––if only I had died in yourplace! O Absalom my son, my son!"

19 1And Joab was told, "Behold, theking is weeping and mourning for

Absalom."2 So the victory that day was turnedinto mourning for all the people. For thepeople heard it said that day, "The kingis grieved for his son."3And the people stole back into the citythat day, as people who are ashamedsteal away when they flee in ba le.

2 SAMUEL 19 1044 But the king covered his face, and theking cried out with a loud voice, "O myson Absalom! O Absalom, my son, myson!"5 Then Joab came into the house tothe king, and said, "Today you havedisgraced all your servants who todayhave saved your life, the lives of yoursons and daughters, the lives of yourwives and the lives of your concubines,6 "in that you love your enemies andhate your friends. For you have declaredtoday that you regard neither princesnor servants; for today I perceive that ifAbsalom had lived and all of us had diedtoday, then it would have pleased youwell.7 "Now therefore, arise, go out andspeak comfort to your servants. For Iswear by the LORD, if you do not go out,not one will stay with you this night.And that will be worse for you than all

2 SAMUEL 19 105the evil that has befallen you from youryouth un l now."8 Then the king arose and sat in thegate. And they told all the people, saying,"There is the king, si ng in the gate." Soall the people came before the king. Foreveryone of Israel had fled to his tent.9Now all the people were in a disputethroughout all the tribes of Israel, saying,"The king saved us from the hand of ourenemies, he delivered us from the handof the Philis nes, and now he has fledfrom the land because of Absalom.10 "But Absalom, whom we anointedover us, has died in ba le. Nowtherefore, why do you say nothing aboutbringing back the king?"11 So King David sent to Zadok andAbiathar the priests, saying, "Speak tothe elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why areyou the last to bring the king back to his

2 SAMUEL 19 106house, since the words of all Israel havecome to the king, to his very house?12 ‘You are my brethren, you are mybone and my flesh. Why then are youthe last to bring back the king?’13 "And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not mybone andmy flesh? God do so tome, andmore also, if you are not commander ofthe army before me con nually in placeof Joab.’"14 So he swayed the hearts of all themen of Judah, just as the heart of oneman, so that they sent this word to theking: "Return, you and all your servants!"15 Then the king returned and came tothe Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, togo to meet the king, to escort the kingacross the Jordan.16And Shimei the son of Gera, aBenjamite, who was from Bahurim,hastened and came down with the menof Judah to meet King David.

2 SAMUEL 19 10717 There were a thousand men ofBenjamin with him, and Ziba the servantof the house of Saul, and his fi een sonsand his twenty servants with him; andthey went over the Jordan before theking.18 Then a ferryboat went across to carryover the king’s household, and to dowhat he thought good. Now Shimei theson of Gera fell down before the kingwhen he had crossed the Jordan.19 Then he said to the king, "Do notlet my lord impute iniquity to me, orremember what wrong your servant didon the day that my lord the king leJerusalem, that the king should take it toheart.20 "For I, your servant, know that I havesinned. Therefore here I am, the first tocome today of all the house of Joseph togo down to meet my lord the king."

2 SAMUEL 19 10821 But Abishai the son of Zeruiahanswered and said, "Shall not Shimei beput to death for this, because he cursedthe LORD’S anointed?"22And David said, "What have I to dowith you, you sons of Zeruiah, that youshould be adversaries to me today? Shallany man be put to death today in Israel?For do I not know that today I am kingover Israel?"23 Therefore the king said to Shimei,"You shall not die." And the king sworeto him.24Now Mephibosheth the son of Saulcame down to meet the king. And hehad not cared for his feet, nor trimmedhis mustache, nor washed his clothes,from the day the king departed un l theday he returned in peace.25 So it was, when he had come toJerusalem to meet the king, that the king

2 SAMUEL 19 109said to him, "Why did you not go withme, Mephibosheth?"26And he answered, "My lord, O king,my servant deceived me. For yourservant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey formyself, that I may ride on it and go to theking,’ because your servant is lame.27 "And he has slandered your servantto my lord the king, but my lord the kingis like the angel of God. Therefore dowhat is good in your eyes.28 "For all my father’s house were butdead men before my lord the king. Yetyou set your servant among those whoeat at your own table. Therefore whatright have I s ll to cry out anymore tothe king?"29 So the king said to him, "Why do youspeak anymore of your ma ers? I havesaid, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’"30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king,"Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as

2 SAMUEL 19 110my lord the king has come back in peaceto his own house."31And Barzillai the Gileadite camedown from Rogelim and went acrossthe Jordan with the king, to escort himacross the Jordan.32Now Barzillai was a very aged man,eighty years old. And he had providedthe king with supplies while he stayed atMahanaim, for he was a very rich man.33And the king said to Barzillai, "Comeacross with me, and I will provide for youwhile you are with me in Jerusalem."34 But Barzillai said to the king, "Howlong have I to live, that I should go upwith the king to Jerusalem?35 "I am today eighty years old. Can Idiscern between the good and bad? Canyour servant taste what I eat or what Idrink? Can I hear any longer the voice ofsinging men and singing women? Why

2 SAMUEL 19 111then should your servant be a furtherburden to my lord the king?36 "Your servant will go a li le wayacross the Jordan with the king. And whyshould the king repay me with such areward?37 "Please let your servant turn backagain, that I may die in my own city, nearthe grave of my father and mother. Buthere is your servant Chimham; let himcross over with my lord the king, and dofor him what seems good to you."38And the king answered, "Chimhamshall cross over with me, and I will dofor him what seems good to you. Nowwhatever you request of me, I will do foryou."39 Then all the people went over theJordan. And when the king had crossedover, the king kissed Barzillai and blessedhim, and he returned to his own place.

2 SAMUEL 19 11240Now the king went on to Gilgal, andChimham went on with him. And all thepeople of Judah escorted the king, andalso half the people of Israel.41 Just then all the men of Israel cameto the king, and said to the king, "Whyhave our brethren, the men of Judah,stolen you away and brought the king,his household, and all David’s men withhim across the Jordan?"42 So all the men of Judah answeredthe men of Israel, "Because the king is aclose rela ve of ours. Why then are youangry over this ma er? Have we evereaten at the king’s expense? Or has hegiven us any gi ?"43And the men of Israel answered themen of Judah, and said, "We have tenshares in the king; therefore we alsohave more right to David than you. Whythen do you despise us––were we notthe first to advise bringing back our

2 SAMUEL 20 113king?" Yet the words of the men of Judahwere fiercer than the words of the menof Israel.

20 1And there happened to bethere a rebel, whose name was

Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite.And he blew a trumpet, and said: "Wehave no share in David, Nor do we haveinheritance in the son of Jesse; Everyman to his tents, O Israel!"2 So every man of Israel deserted David,and followed Sheba the son of Bichri.But the men of Judah, from the Jordanas far as Jerusalem, remained loyal totheir king.3Now David came to his house atJerusalem. And the king took the tenwomen, his concubines whom he hadle to keep the house, and put them inseclusion and supported them, but didnot go in to them. So they were shut

2 SAMUEL 20 114up to the day of their death, living inwidowhood.4And the king said to Amasa, "Assemblethe men of Judah for me within threedays, and be present here yourself."5 So Amasa went to assemble the menof Judah. But he delayed longer than theset me which David had appointed him.6And David said to Abishai, "NowSheba the son of Bichri will do us moreharm than Absalom. Take your lord’sservants and pursue him, lest he find forhimself for fied ci es, and escape us."7 So Joab’s men, with the Cherethites,the Pelethites, and all the mighty men,went out a er him. And they went outof Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son ofBichri.8When they were at the large stonewhich is in Gibeon, Amasa came beforethem. Now Joab was dressed in ba learmor; on it was a belt with a sword

2 SAMUEL 20 115fastened in its sheath at his hips; and ashe was going forward, it fell out.9 Then Joab said to Amasa, "Are youin health, my brother?" And Joab tookAmasa by the beard with his right handto kiss him.10 But Amasa did not no ce the swordthat was in Joab’s hand. And he struckhim with it in the stomach, and hisentrails poured out on the ground; andhe did not strike him again. Thus hedied. Then Joab and Abishai his brotherpursued Sheba the son of Bichri.11Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stoodnear Amasa, and said, "Whoever favorsJoab and whoever is for David––followJoab!"12 But Amasa wallowed in his blood inthe middle of the highway. And whenthe man saw that all the people stoods ll, he moved Amasa from the highwayto the field and threw a garment over

2 SAMUEL 20 116him, when he saw that everyone whocame upon him halted.13When he was removed from thehighway, all the people went on a erJoab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.14And he went through all the tribesof Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah andall the Berites. So they were gatheredtogether and also went a er Sheba.15 Then they came and besieged himin Abel of Beth Maachah; and they castup a siege mound against the city, and itstood by the rampart. And all the peoplewho were with Joab ba ered the wall tothrow it down.16 Then a wise woman cried out fromthe city, "Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab,‘Come nearby, that I may speak withyou.’"17When he had come near to her,the woman said, "Are you Joab?" Heanswered, "I am." Then she said to him,

2 SAMUEL 20 117"Hear the words of your maidservant."And he answered, "I am listening."18 So she spoke, saying, "They used totalk in former mes, saying, ‘They shallsurely seek guidance at Abel,’ and sothey would end disputes.19 "I am among the peaceable andfaithful in Israel. You seek to destroy acity and a mother in Israel. Why wouldyou swallow up the inheritance of theLORD?"20And Joab answered and said, "Farbe it, far be it from me, that I shouldswallow up or destroy!21 "That is not so. But a man from themountains of Ephraim, Sheba the sonof Bichri by name, has raised his handagainst the king, against David. Deliverhim only, and I will depart from the city."So the woman said to Joab, "Watch, hishead will be thrown to you over thewall."

2 SAMUEL 20–21 11822 Then the woman in her wisdom wentto all the people. And they cut off thehead of Sheba the son of Bichri, andthrew it out to Joab. Then he blew atrumpet, and they withdrew from thecity, every man to his tent. So Joabreturned to the king at Jerusalem.23And Joab was over all the army ofIsrael; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada wasover the Cherethites and the Pelethites;24Adoram was in charge of revenue;Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud wasrecorder;25 Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiatharwere the priests;26 and Ira the Jairite was a chief ministerunder David.

21 1Now there was a famine in thedays of David for three years,

year a er year; and David inquired ofthe LORD. And the LORD answered, "It

2 SAMUEL 21 119is because of Saul and his bloodthirstyhouse, because he killed theGibeonites."2 So the king called the Gibeonites andspoke to them. Now the Gibeonites werenot of the children of Israel, but of theremnant of the Amorites; the children ofIsrael had sworn protec on to them, butSaul had sought to kill them in his zealfor the children of Israel and Judah.3 Therefore David said to theGibeonites, "What shall I do for you?And with what shall I make atonement,that you may bless the inheritance ofthe LORD?"4And the Gibeonites said to him, "Wewill have no silver or gold from Saul orfrom his house, nor shall you kill anymanin Israel for us." So he said, "Whateveryou say, I will do for you."5 Then they answered the king, "As forthe man who consumed us and plo edagainst us, that we should be destroyed

2 SAMUEL 21 120from remaining in any of the territoriesof Israel,6 "let seven men of his descendantsbe delivered to us, and we will hangthem before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul,whom the LORD chose." And the kingsaid, "I will give them."7 But the king spared Mephibosheththe son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,because of the LORD’S oath that wasbetween them, between David andJonathan the son of Saul.8 So the king took Armoni andMephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpahthe daughter of Aiah, whom she boreto Saul; and the five sons of Michal thedaughter of Saul, whom she broughtup for Adriel the son of Barzillai theMeholathite;9 and he delivered them into the handsof the Gibeonites, and they hanged themon the hill before the LORD. So they

2 SAMUEL 21 121fell, all seven together, and were put todeath in the days of harvest, in the firstdays, in the beginning of barley harvest.10Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiahtook sackcloth and spread it for herselfon the rock, from the beginning ofharvest un l the late rains poured onthem from heaven. And she did notallow the birds of the air to rest on themby day nor the beasts of the field bynight.11And David was told what Rizpah thedaughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul,had done.12 Then David went and took the bonesof Saul, and the bones of Jonathan hisson, from the men of Jabesh Gilead whohad stolen them from the street of BethShan, where the Philis nes had hungthem up, a er the Philis nes had struckdown Saul in Gilboa.

2 SAMUEL 21 12213 So he brought up the bones of Sauland the bones of Jonathan his son fromthere; and they gathered the bones ofthose who had been hanged.14 They buried the bones of Saul andJonathan his son in the country ofBenjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kishhis father. So they performed all that theking commanded. And a er that Godheeded the prayer for the land.15When the Philis nes were at waragain with Israel, David and his servantswith him went down and fought againstthe Philis nes; and David grew faint.16 Then Ishbi–Benob, who was oneof the sons of the giant, the weight ofwhose bronze spear was three hundredshekels, who was bearing a new sword,thought he could kill David.17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah cameto his aid, and struck the Philis ne andkilled him. Then the men of David swore

2 SAMUEL 21 123to him, saying, "You shall go out no morewith us to ba le, lest you quench thelamp of Israel."18Now it happened a erward thatthere was again a ba le with thePhilis nes at Gob. Then Sibbechai theHushathite killed Saph, who was one ofthe sons of the giant.19Again there was war at Gob with thePhilis nes, where Elhanan the son ofJaare–Oregim the Bethlehemite killedthe brother of Goliath the Gi te, thesha of whose spear was like a weaver’sbeam.20 Yet again there was war at Gath,where there was a man of great stature,who had six fingers on each hand andsix toes on each foot, twenty–four innumber; and he also was born to thegiant.

2 SAMUEL 21–22 12421 So when he defied Israel, Jonathanthe son of Shimea, David’s brother, killedhim.22 These four were born to the giant inGath, and fell by the hand of David andby the hand of his servants.

22 1 Then David spoke to the LORDthe words of this song, on the day

when the LORD had delivered him fromthe hand of all his enemies, and fromthe hand of Saul.2And he said: "The LORD is my rock andmy fortress and my deliverer;3 The God of my strength, in whom Iwill trust; My shield and the horn of mysalva on, My stronghold and my refuge;My Savior, You save me from violence.4 I will call upon the LORD, who isworthy to be praised; So shall I be savedfrom my enemies.

2 SAMUEL 22 1255 ‘When the waves of death surroundedme, The floods of ungodliness made meafraid.6 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;The snares of death confronted me.7 In my distress I called upon the LORD,And cried out to my God; He heardmy voice from His temple, And my cryentered His ears.8 "Then the earth shook and trembled;The founda ons of heaven quaked andwere shaken, Because He was angry.9 Smoke went up from His nostrils, Anddevouring fire from His mouth; Coalswere kindled by it.10He bowed the heavens also, andcame down With darkness under Hisfeet.11He rode upon a cherub, and flew;And He was seen upon the wings of thewind.

2 SAMUEL 22 12612He made darkness canopies aroundHim, Dark waters and thick clouds of theskies.13 From the brightness before HimCoals of fire were kindled.14 "The LORD thundered from heaven,And the Most High u ered His voice.15He sent out arrows and sca eredthem; Lightning bolts, and Hevanquished them.16 Then the channels of the sea wereseen, The founda ons of the world wereuncovered, At the rebuke of the LORD,At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.17 "He sent from above, He took me, Hedrew me out of many waters.18He delivered me from my strongenemy, From those who hated me; Forthey were too strong for me.19 They confronted me in the day of mycalamity, But the LORD was my support.

2 SAMUEL 22 12720He also brought me out into a broadplace; He delivered me because Hedelighted in me.21 "The LORD rewarded me accordingto my righteousness; According tothe cleanness of my hands He hasrecompensed me.22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,And have not wickedly departed frommy God.23 For all His judgments were beforeme; And as for His statutes, I did notdepart from them.24 I was also blameless before Him, AndI kept myself from my iniquity.25 Therefore the LORD hasrecompensed me according to myrighteousness, According to mycleanness in His eyes.26 "With the merciful You will showYourself merciful; With a blameless manYou will show Yourself blameless;

2 SAMUEL 22 12827With the pure You will show Yourselfpure; And with the devious You will showYourself shrewd.28 You will save the humble people; ButYour eyes are on the haughty, that Youmay bring them down.29 "For You are my lamp, O LORD; TheLORD shall enlighten my darkness.30 For by You I can run against a troop;By my God I can leap over a wall.31As for God, His way is perfect; Theword of the LORD is proven; He is ashield to all who trust in Him.32 "For who is God, except the LORD?And who is a rock, except our God?33God is my strength and power, AndHe makes my way perfect.34He makes my feet like the feet ofdeer, And sets me on my high places.35He teaches my hands to make war, Sothat my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

2 SAMUEL 22 12936 "You have also given me the shieldof Your salva on; Your gentleness hasmade me great.37 You enlarged my path under me; Somy feet did not slip.38 "I have pursued my enemies anddestroyed them; Neither did I turn backagain ll they were destroyed.39And I have destroyed them andwounded them, So that they could notrise; They have fallen under my feet.40 For You have armed me with strengthfor the ba le; You have subdued underme those who rose against me.41 You have also given me the necks ofmy enemies, So that I destroyed thosewho hated me.42 They looked, but there was none tosave; Even to the LORD, but He did notanswer them.

2 SAMUEL 22 13043 Then I beat them as fine as the dustof the earth; I trod them like dirt in thestreets, And I spread them out.44 "You have also delivered me from thestrivings of my people; You have kept meas the head of the na ons. A people Ihave not known shall serve me.45 The foreigners submit to me; As soonas they hear, they obey me.46 The foreigners fade away, And comefrightened from their hideouts.47 "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock!Let God be exalted, The Rock of mysalva on!48 It is God who avenges me, Andsubdues the peoples under me;49He delivers me from my enemies.You also li me up above those who riseagainst me; You have delivered me fromthe violent man.

2 SAMUEL 22–23 13150 Therefore I will give thanks to You,O LORD, among the Gen les, And singpraises to Your name.51He is the tower of salva on toHis king, And shows mercy to Hisanointed, To David and his descendantsforevermore."

23 1Now these are the last words ofDavid. Thus says David the son of

Jesse; Thus says the man raised up onhigh, The anointed of the God of Jacob,And the sweet psalmist of Israel:2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me,And His word was on my tongue.3 The God of Israel said, The Rock ofIsrael spoke to me: ‘He who rules overmen must be just, Ruling in the fear ofGod.4And he shall be like the light of themorning when the sun rises, A morningwithout clouds, Like the tender grass

2 SAMUEL 23 132springing out of the earth, By clearshining a er rain.’5 "Although my house is not so withGod, Yet He has made with me aneverlas ng covenant, Ordered in allthings and secure. For this is all mysalva on and all my desire; Will He notmake it increase?6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be asthorns thrust away, Because they cannotbe taken with hands.7 But the man who touches them Mustbe armed with iron and the sha of aspear, And they shall be u erly burnedwith fire in their place."8 These are the names of the mightymen whom David had: Josheb–Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chiefamong the captains. He was called Adinothe Eznite, because he had killed eighthundred men at one me.

2 SAMUEL 23 1339And a er him was Eleazar the sonof Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the threemighty men with David when theydefied the Philis nes who were gatheredthere for ba le, and the men of Israelhad retreated.10He arose and a acked the Philis nesun l his hand was weary, and his handstuck to the sword. The LORD broughtabout a great victory that day; andthe people returned a er him only toplunder.11And a er him was Shammah theson of Agee the Hararite. The Philis neshad gathered together into a troopwhere there was a piece of ground fullof len ls. Then the people fled from thePhilis nes.12 But he sta oned himself in themiddle of the field, defended it, andkilled the Philis nes. And the LORDbrought about a great victory.

2 SAMUEL 23 13413 Then three of the thirty chief menwent down at harvest me and cameto David at the cave of Adullam. Andthe troop of Philis nes encamped in theValley of Rephaim.14David was then in the stronghold,and the garrison of the Philis nes wasthen in Bethlehem.15And David said with longing, "Oh,that someone would give me a drink ofthe water from the well of Bethlehem,which is by the gate!"16 So the three mighty men brokethrough the camp of the Philis nes,drew water from the well of Bethlehemthat was by the gate, and took it andbrought it to David. Nevertheless hewould not drink it, but poured it out tothe LORD.17And he said, "Far be it from me,O LORD, that I should do this! Is thisnot the blood of the men who went in

2 SAMUEL 23 135jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore hewould not drink it. These things weredone by the three mighty men.18Now Abishai the brother of Joab,the son of Zeruiah, was chief of anotherthree. He li ed his spear against threehundred men, killed them, and won aname among these three.19Was he not the most honored ofthree? Therefore he became theircaptain. However, he did not a ain tothe first three.20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, theson of a valiant man from Kabzeel, whohad done many deeds. He had killed twolion–like heroes of Moab. He also hadgone down and killed a lion in the midstof a pit on a snowy day.21And he killed an Egyp an, aspectacular man. The Egyp an had aspear in his hand; so he went down tohim with a staff, wrested the spear out

2 SAMUEL 23 136of the Egyp an’s hand, and killed himwith his own spear.22 These things Benaiah the son ofJehoiada did, and won a name amongthree mighty men.23Hewasmore honored than the thirty,but he did not a ain to the first three.And David appointed him over his guard.24Asahel the brother of Joab was oneof the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo ofBethlehem,25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika theHarodite,26Helez the Pal te, Ira the son of Ikkeshthe Tekoite,27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnaithe Hushathite,28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai theNetophathite,29Heleb the son of Baanah (theNetophathite), I ai the son of Ribai fromGibeah of the children of Benjamin,

2 SAMUEL 23 13730 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai fromthe brooks of Gaash,31Abi–Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveththe Barhumite,32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sonsof Jashen), Jonathan,33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam theson of Sharar the Hararite,34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the sonof the Maachathite, Eliam the son ofAhithophel the Gilonite,35Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai theArbite,36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Banithe Gadite,37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai theBeerothite (armorbearer of Joab the sonof Zeruiah),38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,39 and Uriah the Hi te: thirty–seven inall.

2 SAMUEL 24 138

24 1Again the anger of the LORDwas aroused against Israel, and

He moved David against them to say,"Go, number Israel and Judah."2 So the king said to Joab thecommander of the army who was withhim, "Now go throughout all the tribesof Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, andcount the people, that I may know thenumber of the people."3And Joab said to the king, "Now maythe LORD your God add to the peoplea hundred mes more than there are,and may the eyes of my lord the king seeit. But why does my lord the king desirethis thing?"4Nevertheless the king’s word prevailedagainst Joab and against the captainsof the army. Therefore Joab and thecaptains of the army went out from thepresence of the king to count the peopleof Israel.

2 SAMUEL 24 1395And they crossed over the Jordan andcamped in Aroer, on the right side of thetown which is in the midst of the ravineof Gad, and toward Jazer.6 Then they came to Gilead and to theland of Tah m Hodshi; they came to DanJaan and around to Sidon;7 and they came to the stronghold ofTyre and to all the ci es of the Hivitesand the Canaanites. Then they went outto South Judah as far as Beersheba.8 So when they had gone through allthe land, they came to Jerusalem at theend of nine months and twenty days.9 Then Joab gave the sum of the numberof the people to the king. And therewere in Israel eight hundred thousandvaliant men who drew the sword, andthe men of Judah were five hundredthousand men.10And David’s heart condemned hima er he had numbered the people. So

2 SAMUEL 24 140David said to the LORD, "I have sinnedgreatly in what I have done; but now,I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquityof Your servant, for I have done veryfoolishly."11Now when David arose in themorning, the word of the LORD came tothe prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,12 "Go and tell David, ‘Thus says theLORD: "I offer you three things; chooseone of them for yourself, that I may do itto you."’"13 So Gad came to David and told him;and he said to him, "Shall seven yearsof famine come to you in your land?Or shall you flee three months beforeyour enemies, while they pursue you?Or shall there be three days’ plague inyour land? Now consider and see whatanswer I should take back to Him whosent me."

2 SAMUEL 24 14114And David said to Gad, "I am in greatdistress. Please let us fall into the handof the LORD, for His mercies are great;but do not let me fall into the hand ofman."15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israelfrom the morning ll the appointedme. From Dan to Beersheba seventy

thousand men of the people died.16And when the angel stretched out Hishand over Jerusalem to destroy it, theLORD relented from the destruc on, andsaid to the angel who was destroying thepeople, "It is enough; now restrain yourhand." And the angel of the LORD wasby the threshing floor of Araunah theJebusite.17 Then David spoke to the LORD whenhe saw the angel who was striking thepeople, and said, "Surely I have sinned,and I have done wickedly; but thesesheep, what have they done? Let Your

2 SAMUEL 24 142hand, I pray, be against me and againstmy father’s house."18And Gad came that day to David andsaid to him, "Go up, erect an altar to theLORD on the threshing floor of Araunahthe Jebusite."19 So David, according to the word ofGad, went up as the LORD commanded.20Now Araunah looked, and saw theking and his servants coming towardhim. So Araunah went out and bowedbefore the king with his face to theground.21 Then Araunah said, "Why has mylord the king come to his servant?" AndDavid said, "To buy the threshing floorfrom you, to build an altar to the LORD,that the plague may be withdrawn fromthe people."22Now Araunah said to David, "Let mylord the king take and offer up whateverseems good to him. Look, here are

2 SAMUEL 24 143oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshingimplements and the yokes of the oxenfor wood.23 "All these, O king, Araunah has givento the king." And Araunah said to theking, "May the LORD your God acceptyou."24 Then the king said to Araunah, "No,but I will surely buy it from you for aprice; nor will I offer burnt offeringsto the LORD my God with that whichcosts me nothing." So David bought thethreshing floor and the oxen for fi yshekels of silver.25And David built there an altar to theLORD, and offered burnt offerings andpeace offerings. So the LORD heeded theprayers for the land, and the plague waswithdrawn from Israel.

1 Kings

1 1Now King David was old, advancedin years; and they put covers on him,

but he could not get warm.2 Therefore his servants said to him,"Let a young woman, a virgin, be soughtfor our lord the king, and let her standbefore the king, and let her care for him;and let her lie in your bosom, that ourlord the king may be warm."3 So they sought for a lovely youngwoman throughout all the territoryof Israel, and found Abishag theShunammite, and brought her to theking.4 The young woman was very lovely;and she cared for the king, and servedhim; but the king did not know her.

1 KINGS 1 25 Then Adonijah the son of Haggithexalted himself, saying, "I will be king";and he prepared for himself chariots andhorsemen, and fi y men to run beforehim.6 (And his father had not rebuked him atany me by saying, "Why have you doneso?" He was also very good–looking. Hismother had borne him a er Absalom.)7 Then he conferred with Joab the sonof Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest,and they followed and helped Adonijah.8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the sonof Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei,Rei, and the mighty men who belongedto David were not with Adonijah.9And Adonijah sacrificed sheep andoxen and fa ened ca le by the stone ofZoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he alsoinvited all his brothers, the king’s sons,and all the men of Judah, the king’sservants.

1 KINGS 1 310 But he did not invite Nathan theprophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, orSolomon his brother.11 So Nathan spoke to Bathsheba themother of Solomon, saying, "Have younot heard that Adonijah the son ofHaggith has become king, and David ourlord does not know it?12 "Come, please, let me now give youadvice, that you may save your own lifeand the life of your son Solomon.13 "Go immediately to King David andsay to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, Oking, swear to your maidservant, saying,"Assuredly your son Solomon shall reigna er me, and he shall sit on my throne"?Why then has Adonijah become king?’14 "Then, while you are s ll talkingthere with the king, I also will come ina er you and confirm your words."15 So Bathsheba went into the chamberto the king. (Now the king was very

1 KINGS 1 4old, and Abishag the Shunammite wasserving the king.)16And Bathsheba bowed and didhomage to the king. Then the king said,"What is your wish?"17 Then she said to him, "My lord, youswore by the LORD your God to yourmaidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomonyour son shall reign a er me, and heshall sit on my throne.’18 "So now, look! Adonijah has becomeking; and now, my lord the king, you donot know about it.19 "He has sacrificed oxen and fa enedca le and sheep in abundance, and hasinvited all the sons of the king, Abiatharthe priest, and Joab the commander ofthe army; but Solomon your servant hehas not invited.20 "And as for you, my lord, O king,the eyes of all Israel are on you, that

1 KINGS 1 5you should tell them who will sit on thethrone of my lord the king a er him.21 "Otherwise it will happen, when mylord the king rests with his fathers, that Iand my son Solomon will be counted asoffenders."22And just then, while she was s lltalking with the king, Nathan theprophet also came in.23 So they told the king, saying, "Hereis Nathan the prophet." And when hecame in before the king, he bowed downbefore the king with his face to theground.24And Nathan said, "My lord, O king,have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign a erme, and he shall sit on my throne’?25 "For he has gone down today, andhas sacrificed oxen and fa ened ca leand sheep in abundance, and has invitedall the king’s sons, and the commandersof the army, and Abiathar the priest;

1 KINGS 1 6and look! They are ea ng and drinkingbefore him; and they say, ‘Long live KingAdonijah!’26 "But he has not invited me––meyour servant––nor Zadok the priest, norBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor yourservant Solomon.27 "Has this thing been done by my lordthe king, and you have not told yourservant who should sit on the throne ofmy lord the king a er him?"28 Then King David answered and said,"Call Bathsheba tome." So she came intothe king’s presence and stood before theking.29And the king took an oath and said,"As the LORD lives, who has redeemedmy life from every distress,30 "just as I swore to you by the LORDGod of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomonyour son shall be king a er me, and he

1 KINGS 1 7shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so Icertainly will do this day."31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her faceto the earth, and paid homage to theking, and said, "Let my lord King Davidlive forever!"32And King David said, "Call to meZadok the priest, Nathan the prophet,and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." Sothey came before the king.33 The king also said to them, "Takewith you the servants of your lord, andhave Solomon my son ride on my ownmule, and take him down to Gihon.34 "There let Zadok the priest andNathan the prophet anoint him king overIsrael; and blow the horn, and say, ‘Longlive King Solomon!’35 "Then you shall come up a er him,and he shall come and sit on my throne,and he shall be king in my place. For

1 KINGS 1 8I have appointed him to be ruler overIsrael and Judah."36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiadaanswered the king and said, "Amen!May the LORD God of my lord the kingsay so too.37 "As the LORD has been with mylord the king, even so may He be withSolomon, and make his throne greaterthan the throne of my lord King David."38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan theprophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,the Cherethites, and the Pelethites wentdown and had Solomon ride on KingDavid’s mule, and took him to Gihon.39 Then Zadok the priest took a hornof oil from the tabernacle and anointedSolomon. And they blew the horn,and all the people said, "Long live KingSolomon!"40And all the people went up a er him;and the people played the flutes and

1 KINGS 1 9rejoiced with great joy, so that the earthseemed to split with their sound.41Now Adonijah and all the guests whowere with him heard it as they finishedea ng. And when Joab heard the soundof the horn, he said, "Why is the city insuch a noisy uproar?"42While he was s ll speaking, therecame Jonathan, the son of Abiathar thepriest. And Adonijah said to him, "Comein, for you are a prominent man, andbring good news."43 Then Jonathan answered and said toAdonijah, "No! Our lord King David hasmade Solomon king.44 "The king has sent with him Zadokthe priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiahthe son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites,and the Pelethites; and they have madehim ride on the king’s mule.45 "So Zadok the priest and Nathanthe prophet have anointed him king

1 KINGS 1 10at Gihon; and they have gone up fromthere rejoicing, so that the city is in anuproar. This is the noise that you haveheard.46 "Also Solomon sits on the throne ofthe kingdom.47 "And moreover the king’s servantshave gone to bless our lord King David,saying, ‘May God make the name ofSolomon be er than your name, andmay He make his throne greater thanyour throne.’ Then the king bowedhimself on the bed.48 "Also the king said thus, ‘Blessed bethe LORD God of Israel, who has givenone to sit on my throne this day, whilemy eyes see it!’"49 So all the guests who were withAdonijah were afraid, and arose, andeach one went his way.

1 KINGS 1–2 1150Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon;so he arose, and went and took hold ofthe horns of the altar.51And it was told Solomon, saying,"Indeed Adonijah is afraid of KingSolomon; for look, he has taken hold ofthe horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let KingSolomon swear to me today that he willnot put his servant to death with thesword.’"52 Then Solomon said, "If he proveshimself a worthy man, not one hairof him shall fall to the earth; but ifwickedness is found in him, he shall die."53 So King Solomon sent them to bringhim down from the altar. And he cameand fell down before King Solomon;and Solomon said to him, "Go to yourhouse."

2 1Now the days of David drew nearthat he should die, and he charged

Solomon his son, saying:

1 KINGS 2 122 "I go the way of all the earth; bestrong, therefore, and prove yourself aman.3 "And keep the charge of the LORDyour God: to walk in His ways, to keepHis statutes, His commandments, Hisjudgments, and His tes monies, as itis wri en in the Law of Moses, thatyou may prosper in all that you do andwherever you turn;4 "that the LORD may fulfill His wordwhich He spoke concerning me, saying,‘If your sons take heed to their way, towalk before Me in truth with all theirheart and with all their soul,’ He said,‘you shall not lack a man on the throneof Israel.’5 "Moreover you know also what Joabthe son of Zeruiah did to me, and whathe did to the two commanders of thearmies of Israel, to Abner the son of Nerand Amasa the son of Jether, whom he

1 KINGS 2 13killed. And he shed the blood of war inpeace me, and put the blood of war onhis belt that was around his waist, andon his sandals that were on his feet.6 "Therefore do according to yourwisdom, and do not let his gray hair godown to the grave in peace.7 "But show kindness to the sons ofBarzillai the Gileadite, and let them beamong those who eat at your table, forso they came to me when I fled fromAbsalom your brother.8 "And see, you have with you Shimeithe son of Gera, a Benjamite fromBahurim, who cursed me with amalicious curse in the day when I wentto Mahanaim. But he came down tomeet me at the Jordan, and I swore tohim by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not putyou to death with the sword.’9 "Now therefore, do not hold himguiltless, for you are a wise man and

1 KINGS 2 14know what you ought to do to him; butbring his gray hair down to the gravewith blood."10 So David rested with his fathers, andwas buried in the City of David.11 The period that David reigned overIsrael was forty years; seven years hereigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem hereigned thirty–three years.12 Then Solomon sat on the throne ofhis father David; and his kingdom wasfirmly established.13Now Adonijah the son of Haggithcame to Bathsheba the mother ofSolomon. So she said, "Do you comepeaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably."14Moreover he said, "I have somethingto say to you." And she said, "Say it."15 Then he said, "You know that thekingdom was mine, and all Israel hadset their expecta ons on me, that Ishould reign. However, the kingdom has

1 KINGS 2 15been turned over, and has become mybrother’s; for it was his from the LORD.16 "Now I ask one pe on of you; donot deny me." And she said to him, "Sayit."17 Then he said, "Please speak toKing Solomon, for he will not refuseyou, that he may give me Abishag theShunammite as wife."18 So Bathsheba said, "Very well, I willspeak for you to the king."19 Bathsheba therefore went to KingSolomon, to speak to him for Adonijah.And the king rose up to meet her andbowed down to her, and sat down onhis throne and had a throne set for theking’s mother; so she sat at his righthand.20 Then she said, "I desire one smallpe on of you; do not refuse me." Andthe king said to her, "Ask it, my mother,for I will not refuse you."

1 KINGS 2 1621 So she said, "Let Abishag theShunammite be given to Adonijah yourbrother as wife."22And King Solomon answered andsaid to his mother, "Now why do you askAbishag the Shunammite for Adonijah?Ask for him the kingdom also––for heis my older brother––for him, and forAbiathar the priest, and for Joab the sonof Zeruiah."23 Then King Solomon swore by theLORD, saying, "May God do so to me,and more also, if Adonijah has notspoken this word against his own life!24 "Now therefore, as the LORD lives,who has confirmed me and set me onthe throne of David my father, and whohas established a house for me, as Hepromised, Adonijah shall be put to deathtoday!"

1 KINGS 2 1725 So King Solomon sent by the handof Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and hestruck him down, and he died.26And to Abiathar the priest the kingsaid, "Go to Anathoth, to your ownfields, for you are deserving of death;but I will not put you to death at thisme, because you carried the ark of the

Lord GOD before my father David, andbecause you were afflicted every memy father was afflicted."27 So Solomon removed Abiathar frombeing priest to the LORD, that he mightfulfill the word of the LORD which Hespoke concerning the house of Eli atShiloh.28 Then news came to Joab, for Joabhad defected to Adonijah, though hehad not defected to Absalom. So Joabfled to the tabernacle of the LORD, andtook hold of the horns of the altar.

1 KINGS 2 1829And King Solomon was told, "Joabhas fled to the tabernacle of the LORD;there he is, by the altar." Then Solomonsent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying,"Go, strike him down."30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacleof the LORD, and said to him, "Thus saysthe king, ‘Come out!’" And he said, "No,but I will die here." And Benaiah broughtback word to the king, saying, "Thus saidJoab, and thus he answered me."31 Then the king said to him, "Do as hehas said, and strike him down and buryhim, that you may take away from meand from the house of my father theinnocent blood which Joab shed.32 "So the LORD will return his blood onhis head, because he struck down twomen more righteous and be er than he,and killed them with the sword––Abnerthe son of Ner, the commander of thearmy of Israel, and Amasa the son of

1 KINGS 2 19Jether, the commander of the army ofJudah––though my father David did notknow it.33 "Their blood shall therefore returnupon the head of Joab and upon thehead of his descendants forever. Butupon David and his descendants, uponhis house and his throne, there shall bepeace forever from the LORD."34 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiadawent up and struck and killed him; andhe was buried in his own house in thewilderness.35 The king put Benaiah the son ofJehoiada in his place over the army, andthe king put Zadok the priest in the placeof Abiathar.36 Then the king sent and called forShimei, and said to him, "Build yourself ahouse in Jerusalem and dwell there, anddo not go out from there anywhere.

1 KINGS 2 2037 "For it shall be, on the day you go outand cross the Brook Kidron, know forcertain you shall surely die; your bloodshall be on your own head."38And Shimei said to the king, "Thesaying is good. As my lord the king hassaid, so your servant will do." So Shimeidwelt in Jerusalem many days.39Now it happened at the end of threeyears, that two slaves of Shimei ranaway to Achish the son of Maachah, kingof Gath. And they told Shimei, saying,"Look, your slaves are in Gath!"40 So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey,and went to Achish at Gath to seek hisslaves. And Shimei went and brought hisslaves from Gath.41And Solomon was told that Shimeihad gone from Jerusalem to Gath andhad come back.42 Then the king sent and called forShimei, and said to him, "Did I not make

1 KINGS 2 21you swear by the LORD, and warn you,saying, ‘Know for certain that on the dayyou go out and travel anywhere, youshall surely die’? And you said to me,‘The word I have heard is good.’43 "Why then have you not kept theoath of the LORD and the commandmentthat I gave you?"44 The king said moreover to Shimei,"You know, as your heart acknowledges,all the wickedness that you did to myfather David; therefore the LORD willreturn your wickedness on your ownhead.45 "But King Solomon shall be blessed,and the throne of David shall beestablished before the LORD forever."46 So the king commanded Benaiah theson of Jehoiada; and he went out andstruck him down, and he died. Thus thekingdom was established in the hand ofSolomon.

1 KINGS 3 22

3 1Now Solomon made a treaty withPharaoh king of Egypt, and married

Pharaoh’s daughter; then he brought herto the City of David un l he had finishedbuilding his own house, and the houseof the LORD, and the wall all aroundJerusalem.2Meanwhile the people sacrificed atthe high places, because there was nohouse built for the name of the LORDun l those days.3And Solomon loved the LORD, walkingin the statutes of his father David, exceptthat he sacrificed and burned incense atthe high places.4Now the king went to Gibeon tosacrifice there, for that was the greathigh place: Solomon offered a thousandburnt offerings on that altar.5At Gibeon the LORD appeared toSolomon in a dream by night; and Godsaid, "Ask! What shall I give you?"

1 KINGS 3 236And Solomon said: "You have showngreat mercy to Your servant Davidmy father, because he walked beforeYou in truth, in righteousness, and inuprightness of heart with You; You havecon nued this great kindness for him,and You have given him a son to sit onhis throne, as it is this day.7 "Now, O LORD my God, You havemade Your servant king instead of myfather David, but I am a li le child; I donot know how to go out or come in.8 "And Your servant is in the midst ofYour people whom You have chosen,a great people, too numerous to benumbered or counted.9 "Therefore give to Your servant anunderstanding heart to judge Yourpeople, that I may discern between goodand evil. For who is able to judge thisgreat people of Yours?"

1 KINGS 3 2410 The speech pleased the Lord, thatSolomon had asked this thing.11 Then God said to him: "Because youhave asked this thing, and have notasked long life for yourself, nor haveasked riches for yourself, nor have askedthe life of your enemies, but have askedfor yourself understanding to discernjus ce,12 "behold, I have done according toyour words; see, I have given you a wiseand understanding heart, so that therehas not been anyone like you before you,nor shall any like you arise a er you.13 "And I have also given you what youhave not asked: both riches and honor,so that there shall not be anyone likeyou among the kings all your days.14 "So if you walk in My ways, to keepMy statutes and My commandments,as your father David walked, then I willlengthen your days."

1 KINGS 3 2515 Then Solomon awoke; and indeedit had been a dream. And he came toJerusalem and stood before the ark ofthe covenant of the LORD, offered upburnt offerings, offered peace offerings,and made a feast for all his servants.16Now two women who were harlotscame to the king, and stood before him.17And one woman said, "O my lord,this woman and I dwell in the samehouse; and I gave birth while she was inthe house.18 "Then it happened, the third daya er I had given birth, that this womanalso gave birth. And we were together;no one was with us in the house, exceptthe two of us in the house.19 "And this woman’s son died in thenight, because she lay on him.20 "So she arose in the middle of thenight and took my son from my side,while your maidservant slept, and laid

1 KINGS 3 26him in her bosom, and laid her deadchild in my bosom.21 "And when I rose in the morningto nurse my son, there he was, dead.But when I had examined him in themorning, indeed, he was not my sonwhom I had borne."22 Then the other woman said, "No! Butthe living one is my son, and the deadone is your son." And the first womansaid, "No! But the dead one is your son,and the living one is my son." Thus theyspoke before the king.23And the king said, "The one says,‘This is my son, who lives, and your sonis the dead one’; and the other says,‘No! But your son is the dead one, andmy son is the living one.’"24 Then the king said, "Bring me asword." So they brought a sword beforethe king.

1 KINGS 3–4 2725And the king said, "Divide the livingchild in two, and give half to one, andhalf to the other."26 Then the woman whose son wasliving spoke to the king, for she yearnedwith compassion for her son; and shesaid, "O my lord, give her the living child,and by no means kill him!" But the othersaid, "Let him be neither mine nor yours,but divide him."27 So the king answered and said, "Givethe first woman the living child, and byno means kill him; she is his mother."28And all Israel heard of the judgmentwhich the king had rendered; and theyfeared the king, for they saw that thewisdom of God was in him to administerjus ce.

4 1 So King Solomon was king over allIsrael.

2And these were his officials: Azariahthe son of Zadok, the priest;

1 KINGS 4 283 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons ofShisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son ofAhilud, the recorder;4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over thearmy; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests;5Azariah the son of Nathan, over theofficers; Zabud the son of Nathan, apriest and the king’s friend;6Ahishar, over the household; andAdoniram the son of Abda, over thelabor force.7And Solomon had twelve governorsover all Israel, who provided food for theking and his household; each one madeprovision for one month of the year.8 These are their names: Ben–Hur, inthe mountains of Ephraim;9 Ben–Deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, BethShemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;10 Ben–Hesed, in Arubboth; to himbelonged Sochoh and all the land ofHepher;

1 KINGS 4 2911 Ben–Abinadab, in all the regions ofDor; he had Taphath the daughter ofSolomon as wife;12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach,Megiddo, and all Beth Shean, which isbeside Zaretan below Jezreel, from BethShean to Abel Meholah, as far as theother side of Jokneam;13 Ben–Geber, in Ramoth Gilead; tohim belonged the towns of Jair theson of Manasseh, in Gilead; to himalso belonged the region of Argob inBashan––sixty large ci es with walls andbronze gate–bars;14Ahinadab the son of Iddo, inMahanaim;15Ahimaaz, in Naphtali; he also tookBasemath the daughter of Solomon aswife;16 Baanah the son of Hushai, in Asherand Aloth;

1 KINGS 4 3017 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, inIssachar;18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin;19Geber the son of Uri, in the land ofGilead, in the country of Sihon king ofthe Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan.He was the only governor who was inthe land.20 Judah and Israel were as numerousas the sand by the sea in mul tude,ea ng and drinking and rejoicing.21 So Solomon reigned over allkingdoms from the River to the land ofthe Philis nes, as far as the border ofEgypt. They brought tribute and servedSolomon all the days of his life.22Now Solomon’s provision for one daywas thirty kors of fine flour, sixty kors ofmeal,23 ten fa ed oxen, twenty oxen fromthe pastures, and one hundred sheep,

1 KINGS 4 31besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, andfa ed fowl.24 For he had dominion over all theregion on this side of the River fromTiphsah even to Gaza, namely over allthe kings on this side of the River; and hehad peace on every side all around him.25And Judah and Israel dwelt safely,each man under his vine and his fig tree,from Dan as far as Beersheba, all thedays of Solomon.26 Solomon had forty thousand stallsof horses for his chariots, and twelvethousand horsemen.27And these governors, each man in hismonth, provided food for King Solomonand for all who came to King Solomon’stable. There was no lack in their supply.28 They also brought barley and strawto the proper place, for the horsesand steeds, each man according to hischarge.

1 KINGS 4 3229And God gave Solomon wisdom andexceedingly great understanding, andlargeness of heart like the sand on theseashore.30 Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled thewisdom of all the men of the East and allthe wisdom of Egypt.31 For he was wiser than all men––thanEthan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol,and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and hisfame was in all the surrounding na ons.32He spoke three thousand proverbs,and his songs were one thousand andfive.33Also he spoke of trees, from thecedar tree of Lebanon even to thehyssop that springs out of the wall;he spoke also of animals, of birds, ofcreeping things, and of fish.34And men of all na ons, from all thekings of the earth who had heard of his

1 KINGS 5 33wisdom, came to hear the wisdom ofSolomon.

5 1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent hisservants to Solomon, because he

heard that they had anointed him king inplace of his father, for Hiram had alwaysloved David.2 Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:3 You know how my father David couldnot build a house for the name of theLORD his God because of the wars whichwere fought against him on every side,un l the LORD put his foes under thesoles of his feet.4 But now the LORD my God has givenme rest on every side; there is neitheradversary nor evil occurrence.5And behold, I propose to build ahouse for the name of the LORDmy God,as the LORD spoke to my father David,saying, "Your son, whom I will set on

1 KINGS 5 34your throne in your place, he shall buildthe house for My name."6Now therefore, command that theycut down cedars for me from Lebanon;and my servants will be with yourservants, and I will pay you wages foryour servants according to whatever yousay. For you know there is none amongus who has skill to cut mber like theSidonians.7 So it was, when Hiram heard thewords of Solomon, that he rejoicedgreatly and said, Blessed be the LORDthis day, for He has given David a wiseson over this great people!8 Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying:I have considered the message whichyou sent me, and I will do all you desireconcerning the cedar and cypress logs.9My servants shall bring them downfrom Lebanon to the sea; I will float themin ra s by sea to the place you indicate

1 KINGS 5 35to me, and will have them broken apartthere; then you can take them away. Andyou shall fulfill my desire by giving foodfor my household.10 Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar andcypress logs according to all his desire.11And Solomon gave Hiram twentythousand kors of wheat as food for hishousehold, and twenty kors of pressedoil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year byyear.12 So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom,as He had promised him; and there waspeace between Hiram and Solomon, andthe two of them made a treaty together.13 Then King Solomon raised up a laborforce out of all Israel; and the labor forcewas thirty thousand men.14And he sent them to Lebanon, tenthousand a month in shi s: they wereone month in Lebanon and two months

1 KINGS 5–6 36at home; Adoniram was in charge of thelabor force.15 Solomon had seventy thousand whocarried burdens, and eighty thousandwho quarried stone in the mountains,16 besides three thousand threehundred from the chiefs of Solomon’sdepu es, who supervised the peoplewho labored in the work.17And the king commanded them toquarry large stones, costly stones, andhewn stones, to lay the founda on ofthe temple.18 So Solomon’s builders, Hiram’sbuilders, and the Gebalites quarriedthem; and they prepared mber andstones to build the temple.

6 1And it came to pass in the fourhundred and eigh eth year a er

the children of Israel had come out ofthe land of Egypt, in the fourth year ofSolomon’s reign over Israel, in the month

1 KINGS 6 37of Ziv, which is the second month, thathe began to build the house of the LORD.2Now the house which King Solomonbuilt for the LORD, its length was sixtycubits, its width twenty, and its heightthirty cubits.3 The ves bule in front of the sanctuaryof the house was twenty cubits longacross the width of the house, and thewidth of the ves ble extended ten cubitsfrom the front of the house.4And he made for the house windowswith beveled frames.5Against the wall of the temple he builtchambers all around, against the walls ofthe temple, all around the sanctuary andthe inner sanctuary. Thus he made sidechambers all around it.6 The lowest chamber was five cubitswide, the middle was six cubits wide,and the third was seven cubits wide;for he made narrow ledges around

1 KINGS 6 38the outside of the temple, so that thesupport beams would not be fastenedinto the walls of the temple.7And the temple, when it was beingbuilt, was built with stone finished at thequarry, so that no hammer or chisel orany iron tool was heard in the templewhile it was being built.8 The doorway for the middle story wason the right side of the temple. Theywent up by stairs to the middle story,and from the middle to the third.9 So he built the temple and finished it,and he paneled the temple with beamsand boards of cedar.10And he built side chambers againstthe en re temple, each five cubits high;they were a ached to the temple withcedar beams.11 Then the word of the LORD came toSolomon, saying:

1 KINGS 6 3912 "Concerning this temple which youare building, if you walk in My statutes,execute My judgments, keep all Mycommandments, and walk in them, thenI will perform My word with you, which Ispoke to your father David.13 "And I will dwell among the childrenof Israel, and will not forsake My peopleIsrael."14 So Solomon built the temple andfinished it.15And he built the inside walls of thetemple with cedar boards; from the floorof the temple to the ceiling he paneledthe inside with wood; and he coveredthe floor of the temple with planks ofcypress.16 Then he built the twenty–cubit roomat the rear of the temple, from floorto ceiling, with cedar boards; he builtit inside as the inner sanctuary, as theMost Holy Place.

1 KINGS 6 4017And in front of it the templesanctuary was forty cubits long.18 The inside of the temple was cedar,carved with ornamental buds and openflowers. All was cedar; there was nostone to be seen.19And he prepared the inner sanctuaryinside the temple, to set the ark of thecovenant of the LORD there.20 The inner sanctuary was twentycubits long, twenty cubits wide, andtwenty cubits high. He overlaid it withpure gold, and overlaid the altar ofcedar.21 So Solomon overlaid the inside ofthe temple with pure gold. He stretchedgold chains across the front of the innersanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.22 The whole temple he overlaid withgold, un l he had finished all the temple;also he overlaid with gold the en realtar that was by the inner sanctuary.

1 KINGS 6 4123 Inside the inner sanctuary he madetwo cherubim of olive wood, each tencubits high.24One wing of the cherub was fivecubits, and the other wing of the cherubfive cubits: ten cubits from the p of onewing to the p of the other.25And the other cherub was ten cubits;both cherubim were of the same sizeand shape.26 The height of one cherub was tencubits, and so was the other cherub.27 Then he set the cherubim inside theinner room; and they stretched out thewings of the cherubim so that the wingof the one touched one wall, and thewing of the other cherub touched theother wall. And their wings touchedeach other in the middle of the room.28Also he overlaid the cherubim withgold.

1 KINGS 6 4229 Then he carved all the walls of thetemple all around, both the inner andouter sanctuaries, with carved figures ofcherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.30And the floor of the temple heoverlaid with gold, both the inner andouter sanctuaries.31 For the entrance of the innersanctuary he made doors of olive wood;the lintel and doorposts were one–fi hof the wall.32 The two doors were of olive wood;and he carved on them figures ofcherubim, palm trees, and open flowers,and overlaid them with gold; and hespread gold on the cherubim and on thepalm trees.33 So for the door of the sanctuary healso made doorposts of olive wood,one–fourth of the wall.34And the two doors were of cypresswood; two panels comprised one folding

1 KINGS 6–7 43door, and two panels comprised theother folding door.35 Then he carved cherubim, palmtrees, and open flowers on them, andoverlaid them with gold applied evenlyon the carved work.36And he built the inner court withthree rows of hewn stone and a row ofcedar beams.37 In the fourth year the founda on ofthe house of the LORD was laid, in themonth of Ziv.38And in the eleventh year, in themonth of Bul, which is the eighth month,the house was finished in all its detailsand according to all its plans. So he wasseven years in building it.

7 1 But Solomon took thirteen years tobuild his own house; so he finished

all his house.2He also built the House of the Forestof Lebanon; its length was one hundred

1 KINGS 7 44cubits, its width fi y cubits, and itsheight thirty cubits, with four rows ofcedar pillars, and cedar beams on thepillars.3And it was paneled with cedar abovethe beams that were on forty–fivepillars, fi een to a row.4 There were windows with beveledframes in three rows, and window wasopposite window in three ers.5And all the doorways and doorpostshad rectangular frames; and windowwas opposite window in three ers.6He also made the Hall of Pillars: itslength was fi y cubits, and its widththirty cubits; and in front of them was apor co with pillars, and a canopy was infront of them.7 Then he made a hall for the throne,the Hall of Judgment, where he mightjudge; and it was paneled with cedarfrom floor to ceiling.

1 KINGS 7 458And the house where he dwelt hadanother court inside the hall, of likeworkmanship. Solomon also madea house like this hall for Pharaoh’sdaughter, whom he had taken as wife.9All these were of costly stones cut tosize, trimmed with saws, inside and out,from the founda on to the eaves, andalso on the outside to the great court.10 The founda on was of costly stones,large stones, some ten cubits and someeight cubits.11And above were costly stones, hewnto size, and cedar wood.12 The great court was enclosed withthree rows of hewn stones and a row ofcedar beams. So were the inner court ofthe house of the LORD and the ves buleof the temple.13Now King Solomon sent and broughtHuram from Tyre.

1 KINGS 7 4614He was the son of a widow from thetribe of Naphtali, and his father was aman of Tyre, a bronze worker; he wasfilled with wisdom and understandingand skill in working with all kindsof bronze work. So he came to KingSolomon and did all his work.15And he cast two pillars of bronze,each one eighteen cubits high, anda line of twelve cubits measured thecircumference of each.16 Then he made two capitals of castbronze, to set on the tops of the pillars.The height of one capital was five cubits,and the height of the other capital wasfive cubits.17He made a la ce network, withwreaths of chainwork, for the capitalswhich were on top of the pillars: sevenchains for one capital and seven for theother capital.

1 KINGS 7 4718 So he made the pillars, and two rowsof pomegranates above the network allaround to cover the capitals that wereon top; and thus he did for the othercapital.19 The capitals which were on top ofthe pillars in the hall were in the shapeof lilies, four cubits.20 The capitals on the two pillars alsohad pomegranates above, by the convexsurface which was next to the network;and there were two hundred suchpomegranates in rows on each of thecapitals all around.21 Then he set up the pillars by theves bule of the temple; he set up thepillar on the right and called its nameJachin, and he set up the pillar on thele and called its name Boaz.22 The tops of the pillars were in theshape of lilies. So the work of the pillarswas finished.

1 KINGS 7 4823And he made the Sea of cast bronze,ten cubits from one brim to the other;it was completely round. Its height wasfive cubits, and a line of thirty cubitsmeasured its circumference.24 Below its brim were ornamental budsencircling it all around, ten to a cubit, allthe way around the Sea. The ornamentalbuds were cast in two rows when it wascast.25 It stood on twelve oxen: threelooking toward the north, three lookingtoward the west, three looking towardthe south, and three looking toward theeast; the Sea was set upon them, and alltheir back parts pointed inward.26 It was a handbreadth thick; and itsbrim was shaped like the brim of a cup,like a lily blossom. It contained twothousand baths.27He also made ten carts of bronze;four cubits was the length of each cart,

1 KINGS 7 49four cubits its width, and three cubits itsheight.28And this was the design of the carts:They had panels, and the panels werebetween frames;29 on the panels that were between theframes were lions, oxen, and cherubim.And on the frames was a pedestal ontop. Below the lions and oxen werewreaths of plaited work.30 Every cart had four bronze wheelsand axles of bronze, and its four feet hadsupports. Under the laver were supportsof cast bronze beside each wreath.31 Its opening inside the crown at thetop was one cubit in diameter; andthe opening was round, shaped like apedestal, one and a half cubits in outsidediameter; and also on the opening wereengravings, but the panels were square,not round.

1 KINGS 7 5032Under the panels were the fourwheels, and the axles of the wheels werejoined to the cart. The height of a wheelwas one and a half cubits.33 The workmanship of the wheels waslike the workmanship of a chariot wheel;their axle pins, their rims, their spokes,and their hubs were all of cast bronze.34And there were four supports at thefour corners of each cart; its supportswere part of the cart itself.35On the top of the cart, at the heightof half a cubit, it was perfectly round.And on the top of the cart, its flangesand its panels were of the same cas ng.36On the plates of its flanges and on itspanels he engraved cherubim, lions, andpalm trees, wherever there was a clearspace on each, with wreaths all around.37 Thus he made the ten carts. Allof them were of the same mold, onemeasure, and one shape.

1 KINGS 7 5138 Then he made ten lavers of bronze;each laver contained forty baths, andeach laver was four cubits. On each ofthe ten carts was a laver.39And he put five carts on the right sideof the house, and five on the le side ofthe house. He set the Sea on the rightside of the house, toward the southeast.40Huram made the lavers and theshovels and the bowls. So Huramfinished doing all the work that he wasto do for King Solomon for the house ofthe LORD:41 the two pillars, the two bowl–shapedcapitals that were on top of the twopillars; the two networks covering thetwo bowl–shaped capitals which wereon top of the pillars;42 four hundred pomegranatesfor the two networks (two rows ofpomegranates for each network, to

1 KINGS 7 52cover the two bowl–shaped capitals thatwere on top of the pillars);43 the ten carts, and ten lavers on thecarts;44 one Sea, and twelve oxen under theSea;45 the pots, the shovels, and the bowls.All these ar cles which Huram made forKing Solomon for the house of the LORDwere of burnished bronze.46 In the plain of Jordan the kinghad them cast in clay molds, betweenSuccoth and Zaretan.47And Solomon did not weigh allthe ar cles, because there were somany; the weight of the bronze was notdetermined.48 Thus Solomon had all the furnishingsmade for the house of the LORD: thealtar of gold, and the table of gold onwhich was the showbread;

1 KINGS 7–8 5349 the lampstands of pure gold, five onthe right side and five on the le in frontof the inner sanctuary, with the flowersand the lamps and the wick–trimmers ofgold;50 the basins, the trimmers, the bowls,the ladles, and the censers of pure gold;and the hinges of gold, both for thedoors of the inner room (the Most HolyPlace) and for the doors of the main hallof the temple.51 So all the work that King Solomonhad done for the house of the LORDwas finished; and Solomon brought inthe things which his father David haddedicated: the silver and the gold andthe furnishings. He put them in thetreasuries of the house of the LORD.

8 1Now Solomon assembled the eldersof Israel and all the heads of the

tribes, the chief fathers of the childrenof Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem,

1 KINGS 8 54that they might bring up the ark of thecovenant of the LORD from the City ofDavid, which is Zion.2 Therefore all the men of Israelassembled with King Solomon at thefeast in the month of Ethanim, which isthe seventh month.3 So all the elders of Israel came, andthe priests took up the ark.4 Then they brought up the ark of theLORD, the tabernacle of mee ng, andall the holy furnishings that were in thetabernacle. The priests and the Levitesbrought them up.5Also King Solomon, and all thecongrega on of Israel who wereassembled with him, were with himbefore the ark, sacrificing sheep andoxen that could not be counted ornumbered for mul tude.6 Then the priests brought in the ark ofthe covenant of the LORD to its place,

1 KINGS 8 55into the inner sanctuary of the temple,to the Most Holy Place, under the wingsof the cherubim.7 For the cherubim spread their twowings over the place of the ark, and thecherubim overshadowed the ark and itspoles.8 The poles extended so that the endsof the poles could be seen from the holyplace, in front of the inner sanctuary;but they could not be seen from outside.And they are there to this day.9Nothing was in the ark except thetwo tablets of stone which Moses putthere at Horeb, when the LORD madea covenant with the children of Israel,when they came out of the land of Egypt.10And it came to pass, when the priestscame out of the holy place, that thecloud filled the house of the LORD,11 so that the priests could not con nueministering because of the cloud; for the

1 KINGS 8 56glory of the LORD filled the house of theLORD.12 Then Solomon spoke: "The LORD saidHe would dwell in the dark cloud.13 I have surely built You an exaltedhouse, And a place for You to dwell inforever."14 Then the king turned around andblessed the whole assembly of Israel,while all the assembly of Israel wasstanding.15And he said: "Blessed be the LORDGod of Israel, who spoke with His mouthto my father David, and with His handhas fulfilled it, saying,16 ‘Since the day that I brought Mypeople Israel out of Egypt, I have chosenno city from any tribe of Israel in whichto build a house, that My name might bethere; but I chose David to be over Mypeople Israel.’

1 KINGS 8 5717 "Now it was in the heart of my fatherDavid to build a temple for the name ofthe LORD God of Israel.18 "But the LORD said to my fatherDavid, ‘Whereas it was in your heart tobuild a temple for My name, you did wellthat it was in your heart.19 ‘Nevertheless you shall not build thetemple, but your son whowill come fromyour body, he shall build the temple forMy name.’20 "So the LORD has fulfilled His wordwhich He spoke; and I have filled theposi on of my father David, and siton the throne of Israel, as the LORDpromised; and I have built a temple forthe name of the LORD God of Israel.21 "And there I have made a place forthe ark, in which is the covenant of theLORD which He made with our fathers,when He brought them out of the landof Egypt."

1 KINGS 8 5822 Then Solomon stood before the altarof the LORD in the presence of all theassembly of Israel, and spread out hishands toward heaven;23 and he said: "LORD God of Israel,there is no God in heaven above or onearth below like You, who keep Yourcovenant and mercy with Your servantswho walk before You with all theirhearts.24 "You have kept what You promisedYour servant David my father; You haveboth spoken with Your mouth andfulfilled it with Your hand, as it is thisday.25 "Therefore, LORD God of Israel, nowkeep what You promised Your servantDavid my father, saying, ‘You shall notfail to have a man sit before Me on thethrone of Israel, only if your sons takeheed to their way, that they walk beforeMe as you have walked before Me.’

1 KINGS 8 5926 "And now I pray, O God of Israel, letYour word come true, which You havespoken to Your servant David my father.27 "But will God indeed dwell on theearth? Behold, heaven and the heavenof heavens cannot contain You. Howmuch less this temple which I have built!28 "Yet regard the prayer of Your servantand his supplica on, O LORD my God,and listen to the cry and the prayerwhich Your servant is praying before Youtoday:29 "that Your eyes may be open towardthis temple night and day, toward theplace of which You said, ‘My name shallbe there,’ that You may hear the prayerwhich Your servant makes toward thisplace.30 "And may You hear the supplica onof Your servant and of Your people Israel,when they pray toward this place. Hear

1 KINGS 8 60in heaven Your dwelling place; and whenYou hear, forgive.31 "When anyone sins against hisneighbor, and is forced to take an oath,and comes and takes an oath beforeYour altar in this temple,32 "then hear in heaven, and act, andjudge Your servants, condemning thewicked, bringing his way on his head,and jus fying the righteous by givinghim according to his righteousness.33 "When Your people Israel aredefeated before an enemy because theyhave sinned against You, and when theyturn back to You and confess Your name,and pray and make supplica on to Youin this temple,34 "then hear in heaven, and forgive thesin of Your people Israel, and bring themback to the land which You gave to theirfathers.

1 KINGS 8 6135 "When the heavens are shut up andthere is no rain because they have sinnedagainst You, when they pray toward thisplace and confess Your name, and turnfrom their sin because You afflict them,36 "then hear in heaven, and forgive thesin of Your servants, Your people Israel,that You may teach them the good wayin which they should walk; and send rainon Your land which You have given toYour people as an inheritance.37 "When there is famine in the land,pes lence or blight or mildew, locustsor grasshoppers; when their enemybesieges them in the land of their ci es;whatever plague or whatever sicknessthere is;38 "whatever prayer, whateversupplica on is made by anyone, or byall Your people Israel, when each oneknows the plague of his own heart,

1 KINGS 8 62and spreads out his hands toward thistemple:39 "then hear in heaven Your dwellingplace, and forgive, and act, and giveto everyone according to all his ways,whose heart You know (for You aloneknow the hearts of all the sons of men),40 "that they may fear You all the daysthat they live in the land which You gaveto our fathers.41 "Moreover, concerning a foreigner,who is not of Your people Israel, but hascome from a far country for Your name’ssake42 ‘(for they will hear of Your greatname and Your strong hand and Youroutstretched arm), when he comes andprays toward this temple,43 "hear in heaven Your dwelling place,and do according to all for which theforeigner calls to You, that all peoples ofthe earth may know Your name and fear

1 KINGS 8 63You, as do Your people Israel, and thatthey may know that this temple which Ihave built is called by Your name.44 "When Your people go out to ba leagainst their enemy, wherever You sendthem, and when they pray to the LORDtoward the city which You have chosenand the temple which I have built forYour name,45 "then hear in heaven their prayer andtheir supplica on, and maintain theircause.46 "When they sin against You (for thereis no one who does not sin), and Youbecome angry with them and deliverthem to the enemy, and they take themcap ve to the land of the enemy, far ornear;47 "yet when they come to themselvesin the land where they were carriedcap ve, and repent, and makesupplica on to You in the land of those

1 KINGS 8 64who took them cap ve, saying, ‘Wehave sinned and done wrong, we havecommi ed wickedness’;48 "and when they return to You withall their heart and with all their soulin the land of their enemies who ledthem away cap ve, and pray to Youtoward their land which You gave to theirfathers, the city which You have chosenand the temple which I have built forYour name:49 "then hear in heaven Your dwellingplace their prayer and their supplica on,and maintain their cause,50 "and forgive Your people whohave sinned against You, and alltheir transgressions which they havetransgressed against You; and grantthem compassion before those whotook them cap ve, that they may havecompassion on them

1 KINGS 8 6551 "(for they are Your people and Yourinheritance, whom You brought out ofEgypt, out of the iron furnace),52 "that Your eyes may be open to thesupplica on of Your servant and thesupplica on of Your people Israel, tolisten to them whenever they call to You.53 "For You separated them fromamong all the peoples of the earth to beYour inheritance, as You spoke by Yourservant Moses, when You brought ourfathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD."54And so it was, when Solomon hadfinished praying all this prayer andsupplica on to the LORD, that he arosefrom before the altar of the LORD, fromkneeling on his knees with his handsspread up to heaven.55 Then he stood and blessed all theassembly of Israel with a loud voice,saying:

1 KINGS 8 6656 "Blessed be the LORD, who has givenrest to His people Israel, according to allthat He promised. There has not failedone word of all His good promise, whichHe promised through His servant Moses.57 "May the LORD our God be with us,as He was with our fathers. May He notleave us nor forsake us,58 "that He may incline our hearts toHimself, to walk in all His ways, andto keep His commandments and Hisstatutes and His judgments, which Hecommanded our fathers.59 "And may these words of mine, withwhich I have made supplica on beforethe LORD, be near the LORD our Godday and night, that He may maintain thecause of His servant and the cause of Hispeople Israel, as each day may require,60 "that all the peoples of the earth mayknow that the LORD is God; there is noother.

1 KINGS 8 6761 "Let your heart therefore be loyal tothe LORD our God, to walk in His statutesand keep His commandments, as at thisday."62 Then the king and all Israel with himoffered sacrifices before the LORD.63And Solomon offered a sacrifice ofpeace offerings, which he offered tothe LORD, twenty–two thousand bullsand one hundred and twenty thousandsheep. So the king and all the children ofIsrael dedicated the house of the LORD.64On the sameday the king consecratedthe middle of the court that was in frontof the house of the LORD; for there heoffered burnt offerings, grain offerings,and the fat of the peace offerings,because the bronze altar that was beforethe LORD was too small to receive theburnt offerings, the grain offerings, andthe fat of the peace offerings.

1 KINGS 8–9 6865At that me Solomon held a feast,and all Israel with him, a great assemblyfrom the entrance of Hamath to theBrook of Egypt, before the LORD ourGod, seven days and seven moredays––fourteen days.66On the eighth day he sent the peopleaway; and they blessed the king, andwent to their tents joyful and glad ofheart for all the good that the LORD haddone for His servant David, and for IsraelHis people.

9 1And it came to pass, when Solomonhad finished building the house of

the LORD and the king’s house, and allSolomon’s desire which he wanted to do,2 that the LORD appeared to Solomonthe second me, as He had appeared tohim at Gibeon.3And the LORD said to him: "I haveheard your prayer and your supplica onthat you have made before Me; I have

1 KINGS 9 69consecrated this house which you havebuilt to put My name there forever, andMy eyes and My heart will be thereperpetually.4 "Now if you walk before Me as yourfather David walked, in integrity of heartand in uprightness, to do according to allthat I have commanded you, and if youkeep My statutes and My judgments,5 "then I will establish the throne ofyour kingdom over Israel forever, as Ipromised David your father, saying, ‘Youshall not fail to have a man on the throneof Israel.’6 "But if you or your sons at all turnfrom following Me, and do not keep Mycommandments and My statutes whichI have set before you, but go and serveother gods and worship them,7 "then I will cut off Israel from the landwhich I have given them; and this housewhich I have consecrated for My name

1 KINGS 9 70I will cast out of My sight. Israel willbe a proverb and a byword among allpeoples.8 "And as for this house, which isexalted, everyone who passes by it willbe astonished and will hiss, and say,‘Why has the LORD done thus to thisland and to this house?’9 "Then they will answer, ‘Becausethey forsook the LORD their God, whobrought their fathers out of the land ofEgypt, and have embraced other gods,and worshiped them and served them;therefore the LORD has brought all thiscalamity on them.’"10Now it happened at the end oftwenty years, when Solomon had builtthe two houses, the house of the LORDand the king’s house11 (Hiram the king of Tyre had suppliedSolomon with cedar and cypress andgold, as much as he desired), that King

1 KINGS 9 71Solomon then gave Hiram twenty ci esin the land of Galilee.12 Then Hiram went from Tyre to seethe ci es which Solomon had given him,but they did not please him.13 So he said, "What kind of ci es arethese which you have given me, mybrother?" And he called them the landof Cabul, as they are to this day.14 Then Hiram sent the king onehundred and twenty talents of gold.15And this is the reason for the laborforce which King Solomon raised: tobuild the house of the LORD, his ownhouse, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem,Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.16 (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone upand taken Gezer and burned it with fire,had killed the Canaanites who dwelt inthe city, and had given it as a dowry tohis daughter, Solomon’s wife.)

1 KINGS 9 7217And Solomon built Gezer, Lower BethHoron,18 Baalath, and Tadmor in thewilderness, in the land of Judah,19 all the storage ci es that Solomonhad, ci es for his chariots and ci esfor his cavalry, and whatever Solomondesired to build in Jerusalem, inLebanon, and in all the land of hisdominion.20All the people who were le of theAmorites, Hi tes, Perizzites, Hivites, andJebusites, who were not of the childrenof Israel––21 that is, their descendants who werele in the land a er them, whom thechildren of Israel had not been ableto destroy completely––from theseSolomon raised forced labor, as it is tothis day.22 But of the children of Israel Solomonmade no forced laborers, because they

1 KINGS 9 73were men of war and his servants: hisofficers, his captains, commanders of hischariots, and his cavalry.23Others were chiefs of the officialswho were over Solomon’s work: fivehundred and fi y, who ruled over thepeople who did the work.24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came upfrom the City of David to her housewhich Solomon had built for her. Thenhe built the Millo.25Now three mes a year Solomonoffered burnt offerings and peaceofferings on the altar which he had builtfor the LORD, and he burned incensewith them on the altar that was beforethe LORD. So he finished the temple.26 King Solomon also built a fleet ofships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elathon the shore of the Red Sea, in the landof Edom.

1 KINGS 9–10 7427 Then Hiram sent his servants withthe fleet, seamen who knew the sea, towork with the servants of Solomon.28And they went to Ophir, and acquiredfour hundred and twenty talents ofgold from there, and brought it to KingSolomon.

10 1Now when the queen of Shebaheard of the fame of Solomon

concerning the name of the LORD, shecame to test him with hard ques ons.2 She came to Jerusalem with a verygreat re nue, with camels that borespices, very much gold, and preciousstones; and when she came to Solomon,she spoke with him about all that was inher heart.3 So Solomon answered all herques ons; there was nothing so difficultfor the king that he could not explain itto her.

1 KINGS 10 754And when the queen of Sheba hadseen all the wisdom of Solomon, thehouse that he had built,5 the food on his table, the sea ng ofhis servants, the service of his waitersand their apparel, his cupbearers, andhis entryway by which he went up to thehouse of the LORD, there was no morespirit in her.6 Then she said to the king: "It was atrue report which I heard in my own landabout your words and your wisdom.7 "However I did not believe the wordsun l I came and saw with my own eyes;and indeed the half was not told me.Your wisdom and prosperity exceed thefame of which I heard.8 "Happy are your men and happyare these your servants, who standcon nually before you and hear yourwisdom!

1 KINGS 10 769 "Blessed be the LORD your God, whodelighted in you, se ng you on thethrone of Israel! Because the LORDhas loved Israel forever, thereforeHe made you king, to do jus ce andrighteousness."10 Then she gave the king one hundredand twenty talents of gold, spices ingreat quan ty, and precious stones.There never again came such abundanceof spices as the queen of Sheba gave toKing Solomon.11Also, the ships of Hiram, whichbrought gold from Ophir, brought greatquan es of almug wood and preciousstones from Ophir.12And the king made steps of thealmug wood for the house of the LORDand for the king’s house, also harps andstringed instruments for singers. Therenever again came such almug wood, norhas the like been seen to this day.

1 KINGS 10 7713Now King Solomon gave the queenof Sheba all she desired, whatever sheasked, besides what Solomon had givenher according to the royal generosity. Soshe turned and went to her own country,she and her servants.14 The weight of gold that came toSolomon yearly was six hundred andsixty–six talents of gold,15 besides that from the travelingmerchants, from the income of traders,from all the kings of Arabia, and fromthe governors of the country.16And King Solomon made twohundred large shields of hammeredgold; six hundred shekels of gold wentinto each shield.17He also made three hundred shieldsof hammered gold; three minas of goldwent into each shield. The king put themin the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

1 KINGS 10 7818Moreover the king made a greatthrone of ivory, and overlaid it with puregold.19 The throne had six steps, and the topof the throne was round at the back;there were armrests on either side of theplace of the seat, and two lions stoodbeside the armrests.20 Twelve lions stood there, one on eachside of the six steps; nothing like this hadbeen made for any other kingdom.21All King Solomon’s drinking vesselswere gold, and all the vessels of theHouse of the Forest of Lebanon werepure gold. Not one was silver, for thiswas accounted as nothing in the days ofSolomon.22 For the king had merchant ships atsea with the fleet of Hiram. Once everythree years the merchant ships camebringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, andmonkeys.

1 KINGS 10 7923 So King Solomon surpassed all thekings of the earth in riches and wisdom.24Now all the earth sought thepresence of Solomon to hear hiswisdom, which God had put in his heart.25 Each man brought his present:ar cles of silver and gold, garments,armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a setrate year by year.26And Solomon gathered chariots andhorsemen; he had one thousand fourhundred chariots and twelve thousandhorsemen, whom he sta oned in thechariot ci es and with the king inJerusalem.27 The king made silver as common inJerusalem as stones, and he made cedartrees as abundant as the sycamoreswhich are in the lowland.28Also Solomon had horses importedfrom Egypt and Keveh; the king’s

1 KINGS 10–11 80merchants bought them in Keveh at thecurrent price.29Now a chariot that was importedfrom Egypt cost six hundred shekels ofsilver, and a horse one hundred and fi y;and thus, through their agents, theyexported them to all the kings of theHi tes and the kings of Syria.

11 1 But King Solomon loved manyforeign women, as well as the

daughter of Pharaoh: women of theMoabites, Ammonites, Edomites,Sidonians, and Hi tes––2 from the na ons of whom the LORDhad said to the children of Israel, "Youshall not intermarry with them, nor theywith you. Surely they will turn away yourhearts a er their gods." Solomon clungto these in love.3And he had seven hundred wives,princesses, and three hundred

1 KINGS 11 81concubines; and his wives turned awayhis heart.4 For it was so, when Solomon was old,that his wives turned his heart a erother gods; and his heart was not loyalto the LORD his God, as was the heart ofhis father David.5 For Solomon went a er Ashtoreththe goddess of the Sidonians, anda er Milcom the abomina on of theAmmonites.6 Solomon did evil in the sight of theLORD, and did not fully follow the LORD,as did his father David.7 Then Solomon built a high place forChemosh the abomina on of Moab, onthe hill that is east of Jerusalem, and forMolech the abomina on of the peopleof Ammon.8And he did likewise for all hisforeign wives, who burned incense andsacrificed to their gods.

1 KINGS 11 829 So the LORD became angry withSolomon, because his heart had turnedfrom the LORD God of Israel, who hadappeared to him twice,10 and had commanded him concerningthis thing, that he should not go a erother gods; but he did not keep whatthe LORD had commanded.11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon,"Because you have done this, and havenot kept My covenant and My statutes,which I have commanded you, I willsurely tear the kingdom away from youand give it to your servant.12 "Nevertheless I will not do it in yourdays, for the sake of your father David; Iwill tear it out of the hand of your son.13 "However I will not tear away thewhole kingdom; I will give one tribe toyour son for the sake of My servantDavid, and for the sake of Jerusalemwhich I have chosen."

1 KINGS 11 8314Now the LORD raised up an adversaryagainst Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; hewas a descendant of the king in Edom.15 For it happened, when David was inEdom, and Joab the commander of thearmy had gone up to bury the slain, a erhe had killed every male in Edom16 (because for six months Joabremained there with all Israel, un l hehad cut down every male in Edom),17 that Hadad fled to go to Egypt, heand certain Edomites of his father’sservants with him. Hadad was s ll a li lechild.18 Then they arose from Midian andcame to Paran; and they took men withthem from Paran and came to Egypt, toPharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him ahouse, appor oned food for him, andgave him land.19And Hadad found great favor in thesight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as

1 KINGS 11 84wife the sister of his own wife, that is,the sister of Queen Tahpenes.20 Then the sister of Tahpenes borehim Genubath his son, whom Tahpenesweaned in Pharaoh’s house. AndGenubath was in Pharaoh’s householdamong the sons of Pharaoh.21 So when Hadad heard in Egypt thatDavid rested with his fathers, and thatJoab the commander of the army wasdead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Letme depart, that I may go to my owncountry."22 Then Pharaoh said to him, "But whathave you lacked with me, that suddenlyyou seek to go to your own country?" Sohe answered, "Nothing, but do let me goanyway."23And God raised up another adversaryagainst him, Rezon the son of Eliadah,who had fled from his lord, Hadadezerking of Zobah.

1 KINGS 11 8524 So he gathered men to him andbecame captain over a band of raiders,when David killed those of Zobah. Andthey went to Damascus and dwelt there,and reigned in Damascus.25He was an adversary of Israel all thedays of Solomon (besides the troublethat Hadad caused); and he abhorredIsrael, and reigned over Syria.26 Then Solomon’s servant, Jeroboamthe son of Nebat, an Ephraimite fromZereda, whose mother’s name wasZeruah, a widow, also rebelled againstthe king.27And this is what caused him to rebelagainst the king: Solomon had built theMillo and repaired the damages to theCity of David his father.28 The man Jeroboam was a mightyman of valor; and Solomon, seeing thatthe young man was industrious, made

1 KINGS 11 86him the officer over all the labor force ofthe house of Joseph.29Now it happened at that me, whenJeroboam went out of Jerusalem, thatthe prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met himon the way; and he had clothed himselfwith a new garment, and the two werealone in the field.30 Then Ahijah took hold of the newgarment that was on him, and tore itinto twelve pieces.31And he said to Jeroboam, "Take foryourself ten pieces, for thus says theLORD, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I willtear the kingdom out of the hand ofSolomon and will give ten tribes to you32 ‘(but he shall have one tribe for thesake of My servant David, and for thesake of Jerusalem, the city which I havechosen out of all the tribes of Israel),33 ‘because they have forsaken Me,and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess

1 KINGS 11 87of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god ofthe Moabites, and Milcom the god ofthe people of Ammon, and have notwalked in My ways to do what is right inMy eyes and keep My statutes and Myjudgments, as did his father David.34 ‘However I will not take the wholekingdom out of his hand, because Ihave made him ruler all the days of hislife for the sake of My servant David,whom I chose because he kept Mycommandments and My statutes.35 ‘But I will take the kingdom out of hisson’s hand and give it to you––ten tribes.36 ‘And to his son I will give one tribe,that My servant David may always havea lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the citywhich I have chosen for Myself, to putMy name there.37 ‘So I will take you, and you shall reignover all your heart desires, and you shallbe king over Israel.

1 KINGS 11 8838 ‘Then it shall be, if you heed all thatI command you, walk in My ways, anddo what is right in My sight, to keep Mystatutes and My commandments, as Myservant David did, then I will be with youand build for you an enduring house, asI built for David, and will give Israel toyou.39 ‘And I will afflict the descendants ofDavid because of this, but not forever.’"40 Solomon therefore sought to killJeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fledto Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, andwas in Egypt un l the death of Solomon.41Now the rest of the acts of Solomon,all that he did, and his wisdom, are theynot wri en in the book of the acts ofSolomon?42And the period that Solomon reignedin Jerusalem over all Israel was fortyyears.

1 KINGS 11–12 8943 Then Solomon rested with hisfathers, and was buried in the City ofDavid his father. And Rehoboam his sonreigned in his place.

12 1And Rehoboam went toShechem, for all Israel had gone

to Shechem to make him king.2 So it happened, when Jeroboam theson of Nebat heard it (he was s ll inEgypt, for he had fled from the presenceof King Solomon and had been dwellingin Egypt),3 that they sent and called him. ThenJeroboam and the whole assembly ofIsrael came and spoke to Rehoboam,saying,4 "Your father made our yoke heavy;now therefore, lighten the burdensomeservice of your father, and his heavyyoke which he put on us, and we willserve you."

1 KINGS 12 905 So he said to them, "Depart for threedays, then come back to me." And thepeople departed.6 Then King Rehoboam consulted theelders who stood before his fatherSolomon while he s ll lived, and he said,"How do you advise me to answer thesepeople?"7And they spoke to him, saying, "If youwill be a servant to these people today,and serve them, and answer them, andspeak good words to them, then theywill be your servants forever."8 But he rejected the advice which theelders had given him, and consulted theyoung men who had grown up with him,who stood before him.9And he said to them, "What advice doyou give? How should we answer thispeople who have spoken to me, saying,‘Lighten the yoke which your father puton us’?"

1 KINGS 12 9110 Then the young men who had grownup with him spoke to him, saying, "Thusyou should speak to this people whohave spoken to you, saying, ‘Your fathermade our yoke heavy, but you make itlighter on us’ ––thus you shall say tothem: ‘My li le finger shall be thickerthan my father’s waist!11 ‘And now, whereas my father put aheavy yoke on you, I will add to youryoke; my father chas sed you withwhips, but I will chas se you withscourges!’"12 So Jeroboam and all the people cameto Rehoboam the third day, as the kinghad directed, saying, "Come back to methe third day."13 Then the king answered the peopleroughly, and rejected the advice whichthe elders had given him;14 and he spoke to them according tothe advice of the young men, saying,

1 KINGS 12 92"My father made your yoke heavy,but I will add to your yoke; my fatherchas sed you with whips, but I willchas se you with scourges!"15 So the king did not listen to thepeople; for the turn of events was fromthe LORD, that He might fulfill His word,which the LORD had spoken by Ahijahthe Shilonite to Jeroboam the son ofNebat.16Now when all Israel saw that theking did not listen to them, the peopleanswered the king, saying: "Whatshare have we in David? We have noinheritance in the son of Jesse. To yourtents, O Israel! Now, see to your ownhouse, O David!" So Israel departed totheir tents.17 But Rehoboam reigned over thechildren of Israel who dwelt in the ci esof Judah.

1 KINGS 12 9318 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram,who was in charge of the revenue;but all Israel stoned him with stones,and he died. Therefore King Rehoboammounted his chariot in haste to flee toJerusalem.19 So Israel has been in rebellion againstthe house of David to this day.20Now it came to pass when all Israelheard that Jeroboam had come back,they sent for him and called him to thecongrega on, and made him king overall Israel. There was none who followedthe house of David, but the tribe ofJudah only.21And when Rehoboam came toJerusalem, he assembled all the houseof Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, onehundred and eighty thousand chosenmen who were warriors, to fight againstthe house of Israel, that he might restore

1 KINGS 12 94the kingdom to Rehoboam the son ofSolomon.22 But the word of God came toShemaiah the man of God, saying,23 "Speak to Rehoboam the son ofSolomon, king of Judah, to all the houseof Judah and Benjamin, and to the restof the people, saying,24 ‘Thus says the LORD: "You shall notgo up nor fight against your brethren thechildren of Israel. Let every man returnto his house, for this thing is from Me."’"Therefore they obeyed the word of theLORD, and turned back, according to theword of the LORD.25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in themountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there.Also he went out from there and builtPenuel.26And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Nowthe kingdom may return to the house ofDavid:

1 KINGS 12 9527 "If these people go up to offersacrifices in the house of the LORD atJerusalem, then the heart of this peoplewill turn back to their lord, Rehoboamking of Judah, and they will kill me andgo back to Rehoboam king of Judah."28 Therefore the king asked advice,made two calves of gold, and said tothe people, "It is too much for you to goup to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, OIsrael, which brought you up from theland of Egypt!"29And he set up one in Bethel, and theother he put in Dan.30Now this thing became a sin, for thepeople went to worship before the oneas far as Dan.31He made shrines on the high places,and made priests from every class ofpeople, who were not of the sons ofLevi.

1 KINGS 12–13 9632 Jeroboam ordained a feast on thefi eenth day of the eighth month, likethe feast that was in Judah, and offeredsacrifices on the altar. So he did atBethel, sacrificing to the calves that hehad made. And at Bethel he installed thepriests of the high places which he hadmade.33 So he made offerings on the altarwhich he had made at Bethel on thefi eenth day of the eighth month, in themonth which he had devised in his ownheart. And he ordained a feast for thechildren of Israel, and offered sacrificeson the altar and burned incense.

13 1And behold, a man of God wentfrom Judah to Bethel by the word

of the LORD, and Jeroboam stood by thealtar to burn incense.2 Then he cried out against the altarby the word of the LORD, and said, "Oaltar, altar! Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold,

1 KINGS 13 97a child, Josiah by name, shall be born tothe house of David; and on you he shallsacrifice the priests of the high placeswho burn incense on you, and men’sbones shall be burned on you.’"3And he gave a sign the same day,saying, "This is the sign which the LORDhas spoken: Surely the altar shall splitapart, and the ashes on it shall bepoured out."4 So it came to pass when KingJeroboam heard the saying of the manof God, who cried out against the altarin Bethel, that he stretched out his handfrom the altar, saying, "Arrest him!"Then his hand, which he stretched outtoward him, withered, so that he couldnot pull it back to himself.5 The altar also was split apart, andthe ashes poured out from the altar,according to the sign which the man ofGod had given by the word of the LORD.

1 KINGS 13 986 Then the king answered and said tothe man of God, "Please entreat thefavor of the LORD your God, and pray forme, that my hand may be restored tome." So the man of God entreated theLORD, and the king’s hand was restoredto him, and became as before.7 Then the king said to the man ofGod, "Come home with me and refreshyourself, and I will give you a reward."8 But the man of God said to the king,"If you were to give me half your house,I would not go in with you; nor would Ieat bread nor drink water in this place.9 "For so it was commanded me by theword of the LORD, saying, ‘You shall noteat bread, nor drink water, nor return bythe same way you came.’"10 So he went another way and did notreturn by the way he came to Bethel.11Now an old prophet dwelt in Bethel,and his sons came and told him all the

1 KINGS 13 99works that the man of God had donethat day in Bethel; they also told theirfather the words which he had spokento the king.12And their father said to them, "Whichway did he go?" For his sons had seenwhich way the man of God went whocame from Judah.13 Then he said to his sons, "Saddle thedonkey for me." So they saddled thedonkey for him; and he rode on it,14 and went a er the man of God, andfound him si ng under an oak. Then hesaid to him, "Are you the man of Godwho came from Judah?" And he said, "Iam."15 Then he said to him, "Come homewith me and eat bread."16And he said, "I cannot return withyou nor go in with you; neither can I eatbread nor drink water with you in thisplace.

1 KINGS 13 10017 "For I have been told by the word ofthe LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nordrink water there, nor return by goingthe way you came.’"18He said to him, "I too am a prophetas you are, and an angel spoke to meby the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bringhim back with you to your house, thathe may eat bread and drink water.’" (Hewas lying to him.)19 So he went back with him, and atebread in his house, and drank water.20Now it happened, as they sat at thetable, that the word of the LORD came tothe prophet who had brought him back;21 and he cried out to the man of Godwho came from Judah, saying, "Thus saysthe LORD: ‘Because you have disobeyedthe word of the LORD, and have not keptthe commandment which the LORD yourGod commanded you,

1 KINGS 13 10122 ‘but you came back, ate bread, anddrank water in the place of which theLORD said to you, "Eat no bread anddrink no water," your corpse shall notcome to the tomb of your fathers.’"23 So it was, a er he had eaten breadand a er he had drunk, that he saddledthe donkey for him, the prophet whomhe had brought back.24When he was gone, a lion met him onthe road and killed him. And his corpsewas thrown on the road, and the donkeystood by it. The lion also stood by thecorpse.25And there, men passed by and sawthe corpse thrown on the road, and thelion standing by the corpse. Then theywent and told it in the city where the oldprophet dwelt.26Now when the prophet who hadbrought him back from the way heard it,he said, "It is the man of God who was

1 KINGS 13 102disobedient to the word of the LORD.Therefore the LORD has delivered him tothe lion, which has torn him and killedhim, according to the word of the LORDwhich He spoke to him."27And he spoke to his sons, saying,"Saddle the donkey for me." So theysaddled it.28 Then he went and found his corpsethrown on the road, and the donkey andthe lion standing by the corpse. The lionhad not eaten the corpse nor torn thedonkey.29And the prophet took up the corpseof the man of God, laid it on the donkey,and brought it back. So the old prophetcame to the city to mourn, and to buryhim.30 Then he laid the corpse in his owntomb; and they mourned over him,saying, "Alas, my brother!"

1 KINGS 13–14 10331 So it was, a er he had buried him,that he spoke to his sons, saying, "WhenI am dead, then bury me in the tombwhere the man of God is buried; lay mybones beside his bones.32 "For the saying which he cried out bythe word of the LORD against the altarin Bethel, and against all the shrines onthe high places which are in the ci es ofSamaria, will surely come to pass."33A er this event Jeroboam did notturn from his evil way, but again hemade priests from every class of peoplefor the high places; whoever wished, heconsecrated him, and he became one ofthe priests of the high places.34And this thing was the sin of thehouse of Jeroboam, so as to exterminateand destroy it from the face of the earth.

14 1At that me Abijah the son ofJeroboam became sick.

1 KINGS 14 1042And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Pleasearise, and disguise yourself, that theymay not recognize you as the wife ofJeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Indeed,Ahijah the prophet is there, who told methat I would be king over this people.3 "Also take with you ten loaves, somecakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him;he will tell you what will become of thechild."4And Jeroboam’s wife did so; she aroseand went to Shiloh, and came to thehouse of Ahijah. But Ahijah could notsee, for his eyes were glazed by reasonof his age.5Now the LORD had said to Ahijah,"Here is the wife of Jeroboam, comingto ask you something about her son, forhe is sick. Thus and thus you shall sayto her; for it will be, when she comesin, that she will pretend to be anotherwoman."

1 KINGS 14 1056And so it was, when Ahijah heardthe sound of her footsteps as she camethrough the door, he said, "Come in, wifeof Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to beanother person? For I have been sent toyou with bad news.7 "Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says theLORD God of Israel: "Because I exaltedyou from among the people, and madeyou ruler over My people Israel,8 "and tore the kingdom away from thehouse of David, and gave it to you; andyet you have not been as My servantDavid, who kept My commandmentsand who followed Me with all his heart,to do only what was right in My eyes;9 "but you have done more evil than allwho were before you, for you have goneand made for yourself other gods andmolded images to provoke Me to anger,and have cast Me behind your back––

1 KINGS 14 10610 "therefore behold! I will bringdisaster on the house of Jeroboam, andwill cut off from Jeroboam every male inIsrael, bond and free; I will take away theremnant of the house of Jeroboam, asone takes away refuse un l it is all gone.11 "The dogs shall eat whoever belongsto Jeroboam and dies in the city, and thebirds of the air shall eat whoever dies inthe field; for the LORD has spoken!"’12 "Arise therefore, go to your ownhouse. When your feet enter the city,the child shall die.13 "And all Israel shall mourn for himand bury him, for he is the only one ofJeroboam who shall come to the grave,because in him there is found somethinggood toward the LORD God of Israel inthe house of Jeroboam.14 "Moreover the LORD will raise up forHimself a king over Israel who shall cut

1 KINGS 14 107off the house of Jeroboam; this is theday. What? Even now!15 "For the LORD will strike Israel,as a reed is shaken in the water. Hewill uproot Israel from this good landwhich He gave to their fathers, and willsca er them beyond the River, becausethey have made their wooden images,provoking the LORD to anger.16 "And He will give Israel up because ofthe sins of Jeroboam, who sinned andwho made Israel sin."17 Then Jeroboam’s wife arose anddeparted, and came to Tirzah. When shecame to the threshold of the house, thechild died.18And they buried him; and all Israelmourned for him, according to the wordof the LORD which He spoke through Hisservant Ahijah the prophet.19Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam,how he made war and how he reigned,

1 KINGS 14 108indeed they are wri en in the book ofthe chronicles of the kings of Israel.20 The period that Jeroboam reignedwas twenty–two years. So he rested withhis fathers. Then Nadab his son reignedin his place.21And Rehoboam the son of Solomonreigned in Judah. Rehoboam wasforty–one years old when he becameking. He reigned seventeen years inJerusalem, the city which the LORD hadchosen out of all the tribes of Israel, toput His name there. His mother’s namewas Naamah, an Ammonitess.22Now Judah did evil in the sight ofthe LORD, and they provoked Him tojealousy with their sins which theycommi ed, more than all that theirfathers had done.23 For they also built for themselveshigh places, sacred pillars, and wooden

1 KINGS 14 109images on every high hill and underevery green tree.24And there were also pervertedpersons in the land. They did accordingto all the abomina ons of the na onswhich the LORD had cast out before thechildren of Israel.25 It happened in the fi h year of KingRehoboam that Shishak king of Egyptcame up against Jerusalem.26And he took away the treasures ofthe house of the LORD and the treasuresof the king’s house; he took awayeverything. He also took away all thegold shields which Solomon had made.27 Then King Rehoboam made bronzeshields in their place, and commi edthem to the hands of the captains of theguard, who guarded the doorway of theking’s house.28And whenever the king entered thehouse of the LORD, the guards carried

1 KINGS 14–15 110them, then brought them back into theguardroom.29Now the rest of the acts ofRehoboam, and all that he did, are theynot wri en in the book of the chroniclesof the kings of Judah?30And there was war betweenRehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.31 So Rehoboam rested with his fathers,and was buried with his fathers in theCity of David. His mother’s name wasNaamah, an Ammonitess. Then Abijamhis son reigned in his place.

15 1 In the eighteenth year of KingJeroboam the son of Nebat,

Abijam became king over Judah.2He reigned three years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Maachah thegranddaughter of Abishalom.3And he walked in all the sins of hisfather, which he had done before him;

1 KINGS 15 111his heart was not loyal to the LORD hisGod, as was the heart of his father David.4Nevertheless for David’s sake theLORD his God gave him a lamp inJerusalem, by se ng up his son a erhim and by establishing Jerusalem;5 because David did what was rightin the eyes of the LORD, and had notturned aside from anything that Hecommanded him all the days of his life,except in the ma er of Uriah the Hi te.6And there was war betweenRehoboam and Jeroboam all the days ofhis life.7Now the rest of the acts of Abijam,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah? And there was war betweenAbijam and Jeroboam.8 So Abijam rested with his fathers, andthey buried him in the City of David.Then Asa his son reigned in his place.

1 KINGS 15 1129 In the twen eth year of Jeroboamking of Israel, Asa became king overJudah.10And he reigned forty–one years inJerusalem. His grandmother’s namewas Maachah the granddaughter ofAbishalom.11Asa did what was right in the eyes ofthe LORD, as did his father David.12And he banished the pervertedpersons from the land, and removed allthe idols that his fathers had made.13Also he removed Maachah hisgrandmother from being queen mother,because she had made an obsceneimage of Asherah. And Asa cut downher obscene image and burned it by theBrook Kidron.14 But the high places were notremoved. Nevertheless Asa’s heart wasloyal to the LORD all his days.

1 KINGS 15 11315He also brought into the house ofthe LORD the things which his fatherhad dedicated, and the things which hehimself had dedicated: silver and goldand utensils.16Now there was war between Asa andBaasha king of Israel all their days.17And Baasha king of Israel came upagainst Judah, and built Ramah, that hemight let none go out or come in to Asaking of Judah.18 Then Asa took all the silver and goldthat was le in the treasuries of thehouse of the LORD and the treasuriesof the king’s house, and delivered theminto the hand of his servants. And KingAsa sent them to Ben–Hadad the son ofTabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king ofSyria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying,19 "Let there be a treaty between youand me, as there was between my fatherand your father. See, I have sent you a

1 KINGS 15 114present of silver and gold. Come andbreak your treaty with Baasha king ofIsrael, so that he will withdraw fromme."20 So Ben–Hadad heeded King Asa, andsent the captains of his armies againstthe ci es of Israel. He a acked Ijon, Dan,Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth,with all the land of Naphtali.21Now it happened, when Baashaheard it, that he stopped buildingRamah, and remained in Tirzah.22 Then King Asa made a proclama onthroughout all Judah; none wasexempted. And they took away thestones and mber of Ramah, whichBaasha had used for building; and withthem King Asa built Geba of Benjamin,and Mizpah.23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, allhis might, all that he did, and the ci eswhich he built, are they not wri en in

1 KINGS 15 115the book of the chronicles of the kings ofJudah? But in the me of his old age hewas diseased in his feet.24 So Asa rested with his fathers, andwas buried with his fathers in the City ofDavid his father. Then Jehoshaphat hisson reigned in his place.25Now Nadab the son of Jeroboambecame king over Israel in the secondyear of Asa king of Judah, and he reignedover Israel two years.26And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, and walked in the way of hisfather, and in his sin by which he hadmade Israel sin.27 Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of thehouse of Issachar, conspired against him.And Baasha killed him at Gibbethon,which belonged to the Philis nes,while Nadab and all Israel laid siege toGibbethon.

1 KINGS 15 11628 Baasha killed him in the third yearof Asa king of Judah, and reigned in hisplace.29And it was so, when he became king,that he killed all the house of Jeroboam.He did not leave to Jeroboam anyonethat breathed, un l he had destroyedhim, according to the word of the LORDwhich He had spoken by His servantAhijah the Shilonite,30 because of the sins of Jeroboam,which he had sinned and by which hehad made Israel sin, because of hisprovoca on with which he had provokedthe LORD God of Israel to anger.31Now the rest of the acts of Nadab,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Israel?32And there was war between Asa andBaasha king of Israel all their days.

1 KINGS 15–16 11733 In the third year of Asa king of Judah,Baasha the son of Ahijah became kingover all Israel in Tirzah, and reignedtwenty–four years.34He did evil in the sight of the LORD,and walked in the way of Jeroboam, andin his sin by which he had made Israelsin.

16 1 Then the word of the LORDcame to Jehu the son of Hanani,

against Baasha, saying:2 "Inasmuch as I li ed you out of thedust and made you ruler over My peopleIsrael, and you have walked in the wayof Jeroboam, and have made My peopleIsrael sin, to provoke Me to anger withtheir sins,3 "surely I will take away the posterityof Baasha and the posterity of his house,and I will make your house like the houseof Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

1 KINGS 16 1184 "The dogs shall eat whoever belongsto Baasha and dies in the city, and thebirds of the air shall eat whoever dies inthe fields."5Now the rest of the acts of Baasha,what he did, and his might, are they notwri en in the book of the chronicles ofthe kings of Israel?6 So Baasha rested with his fathers andwas buried in Tirzah. Then Elah his sonreigned in his place.7And also the word of the LORD cameby the prophet Jehu the son of Hananiagainst Baasha and his house, becauseof all the evil that he did in the sightof the LORD in provoking Him to angerwith the work of his hands, in being likethe house of Jeroboam, and because hekilled them.8 In the twenty–sixth year of Asa king ofJudah, Elah the son of Baasha became

1 KINGS 16 119king over Israel, and reigned two years inTirzah.9Now his servant Zimri, commanderof half his chariots, conspired againsthim as he was in Tirzah drinking himselfdrunk in the house of Arza, steward ofhis house in Tirzah.10And Zimri went in and struck him andkilled him in the twenty–seventh yearof Asa king of Judah, and reigned in hisplace.11 Then it came to pass, when he beganto reign, as soon as he was seated on histhrone, that he killed all the householdof Baasha; he did not leave him onemale, neither of his rela ves nor of hisfriends.12 Thus Zimri destroyed all thehousehold of Baasha, according to theword of the LORD, which He spokeagainst Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

1 KINGS 16 12013 for all the sins of Baasha and the sinsof Elah his son, by which they had sinnedand by which they had made Israel sin,in provoking the LORD God of Israel toanger with their idols.14Now the rest of the acts of Elah, andall that he did, are they not wri en inthe book of the chronicles of the kings ofIsrael?15 In the twenty–seventh year of Asaking of Judah, Zimri had reigned inTirzah seven days. And the people wereencamped against Gibbethon, whichbelonged to the Philis nes.16Now the people who were encampedheard it said, "Zimri has conspired andalso has killed the king." So all Israelmade Omri, the commander of the army,king over Israel that day in the camp.17 Then Omri and all Israel with himwent up from Gibbethon, and theybesieged Tirzah.

1 KINGS 16 12118And it happened, when Zimri sawthat the city was taken, that he wentinto the citadel of the king’s house andburned the king’s house down uponhimself with fire, and died,19 because of the sins which he hadcommi ed in doing evil in the sightof the LORD, in walking in the way ofJeroboam, and in his sin which he hadcommi ed to make Israel sin.20Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, andthe treason he commi ed, are they notwri en in the book of the chronicles ofthe kings of Israel?21 Then the people of Israel weredivided into two parts: half of the peoplefollowed Tibni the son of Ginath, tomake him king, and half followed Omri.22 But the people who followed Omriprevailed over the people who followedTibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni diedand Omri reigned.

1 KINGS 16 12223 In the thirty–first year of Asa king ofJudah, Omri became king over Israel,and reigned twelve years. Six years hereigned in Tirzah.24And he bought the hill of Samariafrom Shemer for two talents of silver;then he built on the hill, and called thename of the city which he built, Samaria,a er the name of Shemer, owner of thehill.25Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD,and did worse than all who were beforehim.26 For he walked in all the ways ofJeroboam the son of Nebat, and in hissin by which he had made Israel sin,provoking the LORD God of Israel toanger with their idols.27Now the rest of the acts of Omriwhich he did, and the might that heshowed, are they not wri en in the bookof the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

1 KINGS 16 12328 So Omri rested with his fathers andwas buried in Samaria. Then Ahab hisson reigned in his place.29 In the thirty–eighth year of Asa kingof Judah, Ahab the son of Omri becameking over Israel; and Ahab the son ofOmri reigned over Israel in Samariatwenty–two years.30Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil inthe sight of the LORD, more than all whowere before him.31And it came to pass, as though it hadbeen a trivial thing for him to walk in thesins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, thathe took as wife Jezebel the daughter ofEthbaal, king of the Sidonians; and hewent and served Baal and worshipedhim.32 Then he set up an altar for Baal inthe temple of Baal, which he had built inSamaria.

1 KINGS 16–17 12433And Ahab made a wooden image.Ahab did more to provoke the LORD Godof Israel to anger than all the kings ofIsrael who were before him.34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho.He laid its founda on with Abiram hisfirstborn, and with his youngest sonSegub he set up its gates, according tothe word of the LORD, which He hadspoken through Joshua the son of Nun.

17 1And Elijah the Tishbite, of theinhabitants of Gilead, said to

Ahab, "As the LORD God of Israel lives,before whom I stand, there shall not bedew nor rain these years, except at myword."2 Then the word of the LORD came tohim, saying,3 "Get away from here and turneastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith,which flows into the Jordan.

1 KINGS 17 1254 "And it will be that you shall drinkfrom the brook, and I have commandedthe ravens to feed you there."5 So he went and did according to theword of the LORD, for he went andstayed by the Brook Cherith, which flowsinto the Jordan.6 The ravens brought him bread andmeat in the morning, and bread andmeat in the evening; and he drank fromthe brook.7And it happened a er a while that thebrook dried up, because there had beenno rain in the land.8 Then the word of the LORD came tohim, saying,9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongsto Sidon, and dwell there. See, I havecommanded a widow there to providefor you."10 So he arose and went to Zarephath.And when he came to the gate of the

1 KINGS 17 126city, indeed a widow was there gatherings cks. And he called to her and said,"Please bring me a li le water in a cup,that I may drink."11And as she was going to get it, hecalled to her and said, "Please bring mea morsel of bread in your hand."12 So she said, "As the LORD your Godlives, I do not have bread, only a handfulof flour in a bin, and a li le oil in a jar;and see, I am gathering a couple of s cksthat I may go in and prepare it for myselfand my son, that we may eat it, and die."13And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear;go and do as you have said, but makeme a small cake from it first, and bringit to me; and a erward make some foryourself and your son.14 "For thus says the LORD God of Israel:‘The bin of flour shall not be used up,nor shall the jar of oil run dry, un l theday the LORD sends rain on the earth.’"

1 KINGS 17 12715 So she went away and did accordingto the word of Elijah; and she and he andher household ate for many days.16 The bin of flour was not used up, nordid the jar of oil run dry, according tothe word of the LORD which He spoke byElijah.17Now it happened a er these thingsthat the son of the woman who ownedthe house became sick. And his sicknesswas so serious that there was no breathle in him.18 So she said to Elijah, "What have Ito do with you, O man of God? Haveyou come to me to bring my sin toremembrance, and to kill my son?"19And he said to her, "Give me yourson." So he took him out of her arms andcarried him to the upper room wherehe was staying, and laid him on his ownbed.

1 KINGS 17–18 12820 Then he cried out to the LORD andsaid, "O LORD my God, have You alsobrought tragedy on the widow withwhom I lodge, by killing her son?"21And he stretched himself out on thechild three mes, and cried out to theLORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray,let this child’s soul come back to him."22 Then the LORD heard the voice ofElijah; and the soul of the child cameback to him, and he revived.23And Elijah took the child and broughthim down from the upper room into thehouse, and gave him to his mother. AndElijah said, "See, your son lives!"24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Nowby this I know that you are a man of God,and that the word of the LORD in yourmouth is the truth."

18 1And it came to pass a er manydays that the word of the LORD

came to Elijah, in the third year, saying,

1 KINGS 18 129"Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I willsend rain on the earth."2 So Elijah went to present himself toAhab; and there was a severe famine inSamaria.3And Ahab had called Obadiah, whowas in charge of his house. (NowObadiah feared the LORD greatly.4 For so it was, while Jezebel massacredthe prophets of the LORD, that Obadiahhad taken one hundred prophets andhidden them, fi y to a cave, and had fedthem with bread and water.)5And Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Gointo the land to all the springs of waterand to all the brooks; perhaps we mayfind grass to keep the horses and mulesalive, so that we will not have to kill anylivestock.6 So they divided the land betweenthem to explore it; Ahab went one way

1 KINGS 18 130by himself, and Obadiah went anotherway by himself.7Now as Obadiah was on his way,suddenly Elijah met him; and herecognized him, and fell on his face, andsaid, "Is that you, my lord Elijah?"8And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tellyour master, ‘Elijah is here.’"9 So he said, "How have I sinned, thatyou are delivering your servant into thehand of Ahab, to kill me?10 "As the LORD your God lives, there isno na on or kingdom where my masterhas not sent someone to hunt for you;and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ hetook an oath from the kingdom or na onthat they could not find you.11 "And now you say, ‘Go, tell yourmaster, "Elijah is here"’!12 "And it shall come to pass, as soon asI am gone from you, that the Spirit of theLORD will carry you to a place I do not

1 KINGS 18 131know; so when I go and tell Ahab, andhe cannot find you, he will kill me. But Iyour servant have feared the LORD frommy youth.13 "Was it not reported to my lord whatI did when Jezebel killed the prophets ofthe LORD, how I hid one hundred men ofthe LORD’S prophets, fi y to a cave, andfed them with bread and water?14 "And now you say, ‘Go, tell yourmaster, "Elijah is here."’ He will kill me!"15 Then Elijah said, "As the LORD ofhosts lives, before whom I stand, I willsurely present myself to him today."16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, andtold him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.17 Then it happened, when Ahab sawElijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is thatyou, O troubler of Israel?"18And he answered, "I have nottroubled Israel, but you and your father’shouse have, in that you have forsaken

1 KINGS 18 132the commandments of the LORD andhave followed the Baals.19 "Now therefore, send and gather allIsrael to me on Mount Carmel, the fourhundred and fi y prophets of Baal, andthe four hundred prophets of Asherah,who eat at Jezebel’s table."20 So Ahab sent for all the childrenof Israel, and gathered the prophetstogether on Mount Carmel.21And Elijah came to all the people, andsaid, "How long will you falter betweentwo opinions? If the LORD is God, followHim; but if Baal, follow him." But thepeople answered him not a word.22 Then Elijah said to the people, "Ialone am le a prophet of the LORD; butBaal’s prophets are four hundred andfi y men.23 "Therefore let them give us twobulls; and let them choose one bull forthemselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on

1 KINGS 18 133the wood, but put no fire under it; and Iwill prepare the other bull, and lay it onthe wood, but put no fire under it.24 "Then you call on the name of yourgods, and I will call on the name of theLORD; and the God who answers by fire,He is God." So all the people answeredand said, "It is well spoken."25Now Elijah said to the prophets ofBaal, "Choose one bull for yourselvesand prepare it first, for you are many;and call on the name of your god, butput no fire under it."26 So they took the bull which was giventhem, and they prepared it, and calledon the name of Baal from morning evenll noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But

there was no voice; no one answered.Then they leaped about the altar whichthey had made.27And so it was, at noon, that Elijahmocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for

1 KINGS 18 134he is a god; either he is medita ng, or heis busy, or he is on a journey, or perhapshe is sleeping and must be awakened."28 So they cried aloud, and cutthemselves, as was their custom, withknives and lances, un l the blood gushedout on them.29And when midday was past, theyprophesied un l the me of the offeringof the evening sacrifice. But there wasno voice; no one answered, no one paida en on.30 Then Elijah said to all the people,"Come near to me." So all the peoplecame near to him. And he repaired thealtar of the LORD that was broken down.31And Elijah took twelve stones,according to the number of the tribes ofthe sons of Jacob, to whom the word ofthe LORD had come, saying, "Israel shallbe your name."

1 KINGS 18 13532 Then with the stones he built an altarin the name of the LORD; and he made atrench around the altar large enough tohold two seahs of seed.33And he put the wood in order, cut thebull in pieces, and laid it on the wood,and said, "Fill four waterpots with water,and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and onthe wood."34 Then he said, "Do it a second me,"and they did it a second me; and hesaid, "Do it a third me," and they did ita third me.35 So the water ran all around the altar;and he also filled the trench with water.36And it came to pass, at the me ofthe offering of the evening sacrifice,that Elijah the prophet came near andsaid, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, andIsrael, let it be known this day that Youare God in Israel and I am Your servant,

1 KINGS 18 136and that I have done all these things atYour word.37 "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that thispeople may know that You are the LORDGod, and that You have turned theirhearts back to You again."38 Then the fire of the LORD fell andconsumed the burnt sacrifice, and thewood and the stones and the dust, andit licked up the water that was in thetrench.39Now when all the people saw it, theyfell on their faces; and they said, "TheLORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"40And Elijah said to them, "Seize theprophets of Baal! Do not let one of themescape!" So they seized them; and Elijahbrought them down to the Brook Kishonand executed them there.41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up,eat and drink; for there is the sound ofabundance of rain."

1 KINGS 18 13742 So Ahab went up to eat and drink.And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;then he bowed down on the ground,and put his face between his knees,43 and said to his servant, "Go up now,look toward the sea." So he went up andlooked, and said, "There is nothing." Andseven mes he said, "Go again."44 Then it came to pass the seventhme, that he said, "There is a cloud, as

small as a man’s hand, rising out of thesea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab,‘Prepare your chariot, and go downbefore the rain stops you.’"45Now it happened in the mean methat the sky became black with cloudsand wind, and there was a heavy rain. SoAhab rode away and went to Jezreel.46 Then the hand of the LORD cameupon Elijah; and he girded up his loinsand ran ahead of Ahab to the entranceof Jezreel.

1 KINGS 19 138

19 1And Ahab told Jezebel all thatElijah had done, also how he

had executed all the prophets with thesword.2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger toElijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me,and more also, if I do not make your lifeas the life of one of them by tomorrowabout this me."3And when he saw that, he arose andran for his life, and went to Beersheba,which belongs to Judah, and le hisservant there.4 But he himself went a day’s journeyinto the wilderness, and came andsat down under a broom tree. And heprayed that he might die, and said, "It isenough! Now, LORD, take my life, for Iam no be er than my fathers!"5 Then as he lay and slept under abroom tree, suddenly an angel touchedhim, and said to him, "Arise and eat."

1 KINGS 19 1396 Then he looked, and there by his headwas a cake baked on coals, and a jar ofwater. So he ate and drank, and lay downagain.7And the angel of the LORD came backthe second me, and touched him, andsaid, "Arise and eat, because the journeyis too great for you."8 So he arose, and ate and drank; andhe went in the strength of that food fortydays and forty nights as far as Horeb, themountain of God.9And there he went into a cave, andspent the night in that place; and behold,the word of the LORD came to him, andHe said to him, "What are you doinghere, Elijah?"10 So he said, "I have been very zealousfor the LORD God of hosts; for thechildren of Israel have forsaken Yourcovenant, torn down Your altars, andkilled Your prophets with the sword. I

1 KINGS 19 140alone am le ; and they seek to take mylife."11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand onthe mountain before the LORD." Andbehold, the LORD passed by, and a greatand strong wind tore into the mountainsand broke the rocks in pieces before theLORD, but the LORD was not in the wind;and a er the wind an earthquake, butthe LORD was not in the earthquake;12 and a er the earthquake a fire, butthe LORD was not in the fire; and a erthe fire a s ll small voice.13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, thathe wrapped his face in his mantle andwent out and stood in the entrance ofthe cave. Suddenly a voice came to him,and said, "What are you doing here,Elijah?"14And he said, "I have been veryzealous for the LORD God of hosts;because the children of Israel have

1 KINGS 19 141forsaken Your covenant, torn down Youraltars, and killed Your prophets with thesword. I alone am le ; and they seek totake my life."15 Then the LORD said to him: "Go,return on your way to the Wilderness ofDamascus; and when you arrive, anointHazael as king over Syria.16 "Also you shall anoint Jehu the sonof Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elishathe son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah youshall anoint as prophet in your place.17 "It shall be that whoever escapesthe sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; andwhoever escapes the sword of Jehu,Elisha will kill.18 "Yet I have reserved seven thousandin Israel, all whose knees have notbowed to Baal, and every mouth thathas not kissed him."19 So he departed from there, andfound Elisha the son of Shaphat, who

1 KINGS 19–20 142was plowing with twelve yoke of oxenbefore him, and he was with the twel h.Then Elijah passed by him and threw hismantle on him.20And he le the oxen and ran a erElijah, and said, "Please let me kiss myfather and my mother, and then I willfollow you." And he said to him, "Goback again, for what have I done toyou?"21 So Elisha turned back from him, andtook a yoke of oxen and slaughteredthem and boiled their flesh, using theoxen’s equipment, and gave it to thepeople, and they ate. Then he arose andfollowed Elijah, and became his servant.

20 1Now Ben–Hadad the king ofSyria gathered all his forces

together; thirty–two kings were withhim, with horses and chariots. And hewent up and besieged Samaria, andmade war against it.

1 KINGS 20 1432 Then he sent messengers into the cityto Ahab king of Israel, and said to him,"Thus says Ben–Hadad:3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine;your loveliest wives and children aremine.’"4And the king of Israel answered andsaid, "My lord, O king, just as you say, Iand all that I have are yours."5 Then the messengers came back andsaid, "Thus speaks Ben–Hadad, saying,‘Indeed I have sent to you, saying, "Youshall deliver to me your silver and yourgold, your wives and your children";6 ‘but I will send my servants to youtomorrow about this me, and theyshall search your house and the housesof your servants. And it shall be, thatwhatever is pleasant in your eyes, theywill put it in their hands and take it.’"7 So the king of Israel called all theelders of the land, and said, "No ce,

1 KINGS 20 144please, and see how this man seekstrouble, for he sent to me for my wives,my children, my silver, and my gold; andI did not deny him."8And all the elders and all the peoplesaid to him, "Do not listen or consent."9 Therefore he said to the messengersof Ben–Hadad, "Tell my lord the king,‘All that you sent for to your servant thefirst me I will do, but this thing I cannotdo.’" And the messengers departed andbrought back word to him.10 Then Ben–Hadad sent to him andsaid, "The gods do so to me, and morealso, if enough dust is le of Samaria fora handful for each of the people whofollow me."11 So the king of Israel answered andsaid, "Tell him, ‘Let not the one who putson his armor boast like the one whotakes it off.’"

1 KINGS 20 14512And it happened when Ben–Hadadheard this message, as he and the kingswere drinking at the command post, thathe said to his servants, "Get ready." Andthey got ready to a ack the city.13 Suddenly a prophet approachedAhab king of Israel, saying, "Thus saysthe LORD: ‘Have you seen all this greatmul tude? Behold, I will deliver it intoyour hand today, and you shall knowthat I am the LORD.’"14 So Ahab said, "By whom?" And hesaid, "Thus says the LORD: ‘By the youngleaders of the provinces.’" Then he said,"Who will set the ba le in order?" Andhe answered, "You."15 Then he mustered the young leadersof the provinces, and there were twohundred and thirty–two; and a er themhe mustered all the people, all thechildren of Israel––seven thousand.

1 KINGS 20 14616 So they went out at noon. MeanwhileBen–Hadad and the thirty–two kingshelping him were ge ng drunk at thecommand post.17 The young leaders of the provinceswent out first. And Ben–Hadad sent outa patrol, and they told him, saying, "Menare coming out of Samaria!"18 So he said, "If they have come out forpeace, take them alive; and if they havecome out for war, take them alive."19 Then these young leaders of theprovinces went out of the city with thearmy which followed them.20And each one killed his man; sothe Syrians fled, and Israel pursuedthem; and Ben–Hadad the king of Syriaescaped on a horse with the cavalry.21 Then the king of Israel went out anda acked the horses and chariots, andkilled the Syrians with a great slaughter.

1 KINGS 20 14722And the prophet came to the king ofIsrael and said to him, "Go, strengthenyourself; take note, and see what youshould do, for in the spring of the yearthe king of Syria will come up againstyou."23 Then the servants of the king of Syriasaid to him, "Their gods are gods of thehills. Therefore they were stronger thanwe; but if we fight against them in theplain, surely we will be stronger thanthey.24 "So do this thing: Dismiss the kings,each from his posi on, and put captainsin their places;25 "and you shall muster an army likethe army that you have lost, horse forhorse and chariot for chariot. Then wewill fight against them in the plain; surelywe will be stronger than they." And helistened to their voice and did so.

1 KINGS 20 14826 So it was, in the spring of the year,that Ben–Hadad mustered the Syriansand went up to Aphek to fight againstIsrael.27And the children of Israel weremustered and given provisions, and theywent against them. Now the children ofIsrael encamped before them like twoli le flocks of goats, while the Syriansfilled the countryside.28 Then a man of God came and spoketo the king of Israel, and said, "Thus saysthe LORD: ‘Because the Syrians havesaid, "The LORD is God of the hills, butHe is not God of the valleys," therefore Iwill deliver all this great mul tude intoyour hand, and you shall know that I amthe LORD.’"29And they encamped opposite eachother for seven days. So it was that onthe seventh day the ba le was joined;and the children of Israel killed one

1 KINGS 20 149hundred thousand foot soldiers of theSyrians in one day.30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into thecity; then a wall fell on twenty–seventhousand of the men who were le . AndBen–Hadad fled and went into the city,into an inner chamber.31 Then his servants said to him, "Looknow, we have heard that the kings ofthe house of Israel are merciful kings.Please, let us put sackcloth around ourwaists and ropes around our heads, andgo out to the king of Israel; perhaps hewill spare your life."32 So they wore sackcloth around theirwaists and put ropes around their heads,and came to the king of Israel and said,"Your servant Ben–Hadad says, ‘Pleaselet me live.’" And he said, "Is he s llalive? He is my brother."33Now the men were watching closelyto see whether any sign of mercy

1 KINGS 20 150would come from him; and they quicklygrasped at this word and said, "Yourbrother Ben–Hadad." So he said, "Go,bring him." Then Ben–Hadad came outto him; and he had him come up into thechariot.34 So Ben–Hadad said to him, "Theci es which my father took from yourfather I will restore; and you may set upmarketplaces for yourself in Damascus,as my father did in Samaria." Then Ahabsaid, "I will send you away with thistreaty." So he made a treaty with himand sent him away.35Now a certain man of the sons ofthe prophets said to his neighbor by theword of the LORD, "Strike me, please."And the man refused to strike him.36 Then he said to him, "Because youhave not obeyed the voice of the LORD,surely, as soon as you depart from me, a

1 KINGS 20 151lion shall kill you." And as soon as he lehim, a lion found him and killed him.37And he found another man, and said,"Strike me, please." So the man struckhim, inflic ng a wound.38 Then the prophet departed andwaited for the king by the road, anddisguised himself with a bandage overhis eyes.39Now as the king passed by, he criedout to the king and said, "Your servantwent out into the midst of the ba le;and there, a man came over and broughta man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man;if by any means he is missing, your lifeshall be for his life, or else you shall paya talent of silver.’40 "While your servant was busy hereand there, he was gone." Then the kingof Israel said to him, "So shall yourjudgment be; you yourself have decidedit."

1 KINGS 20–21 15241And he hastened to take the bandageaway from his eyes; and the king of Israelrecognized him as one of the prophets.42 Then he said to him, "Thus says theLORD: ‘Because you have let slip outof your hand a man whom I appointedto u er destruc on, therefore your lifeshall go for his life, and your people forhis people.’"43 So the king of Israel went to hishouse sullen and displeased, and cameto Samaria.

21 1And it came to pass a er thesethings that Naboth the Jezreelite

had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, nextto the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying,"Give me your vineyard, that I may haveit for a vegetable garden, because it isnear, next to my house; and for it I willgive you a vineyard be er than it. Or, if

1 KINGS 21 153it seems good to you, I will give you itsworth in money."3 But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORDforbid that I should give the inheritanceof my fathers to you!"4 So Ahab went into his house sullenand displeased because of the wordwhich Naboth the Jezreelite had spokento him; for he had said, "I will not giveyou the inheritance of my fathers." Andhe lay down on his bed, and turned awayhis face, and would eat no food.5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, andsaid to him, "Why is your spirit so sullenthat you eat no food?"6He said to her, "Because I spoketo Naboth the Jezreelite, and saidto him, ‘Give me your vineyard formoney; or else, if it pleases you, I willgive you another vineyard for it.’ Andhe answered, ‘I will not give you myvineyard.’"

1 KINGS 21 1547 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, "Younow exercise authority over Israel! Arise,eat food, and let your heart be cheerful;I will give you the vineyard of Naboththe Jezreelite."8And she wrote le ers in Ahab’s name,sealed them with his seal, and sent thele ers to the elders and the nobles whowere dwelling in the city with Naboth.9 She wrote in the le ers, saying,Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth withhigh honor among the people;10 and seat twomen, scoundrels, beforehim to bear witness against him, saying,"You have blasphemed God and theking." Then take him out, and stone him,that he may die.11 So the men of his city, the elders andnobles who were inhabitants of his city,did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it waswri en in the le ers which she had sentto them.

1 KINGS 21 15512 They proclaimed a fast, and seatedNaboth with high honor among thepeople.13And two men, scoundrels, came inand sat before him; and the scoundrelswitnessed against him, against Naboth,in the presence of the people, saying,"Naboth has blasphemed God and theking!" Then they took him outside thecity and stoned him with stones, so thathe died.14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying,"Naboth has been stoned and is dead."15And it came to pass, when Jezebelheard that Naboth had been stoned andwas dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab,"Arise, take possession of the vineyard ofNaboth the Jezreelite, which he refusedto give you for money; for Naboth is notalive, but dead."16 So it was, when Ahab heard thatNaboth was dead, that Ahab got up and

1 KINGS 21 156went down to take possession of thevineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.17 Then the word of the LORD came toElijah the Tishbite, saying,18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king ofIsrael, who lives in Samaria. There he is,in the vineyard of Naboth, where he hasgone down to take possession of it.19 "You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thussays the LORD: "Have you murderedand also taken possession?"’ And youshall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says theLORD: "In the place where dogs lickedthe blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick yourblood, even yours."’"20 So Ahab said to Elijah, "Have youfound me, O my enemy?" And heanswered, "I have found you, becauseyou have sold yourself to do evil in thesight of the LORD:21 ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you.I will take away your posterity, and will

1 KINGS 21 157cut off from Ahab every male in Israel,both bond and free.22 ‘I will make your house like the houseof Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and likethe house of Baasha the son of Ahijah,because of the provoca on with whichyou have provoked Me to anger, andmade Israel sin.’23 "And concerning Jezebel the LORDalso spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eatJezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’24 "The dogs shall eat whoever belongsto Ahab and dies in the city, and thebirds of the air shall eat whoever dies inthe field."25 But there was no one like Ahab whosold himself to do wickedness in thesight of the LORD, because Jezebel hiswife s rred him up.26And he behaved very abominably infollowing idols, according to all that the

1 KINGS 21–22 158Amorites had done, whom the LORD hadcast out before the children of Israel.27 So it was, when Ahab heard thosewords, that he tore his clothes and putsackcloth on his body, and fasted and layin sackcloth, and went about mourning.28And the word of the LORD came toElijah the Tishbite, saying,29 "See how Ahab has humbled himselfbefore Me? Because he has humbledhimself before Me, I will not bring thecalamity in his days. In the days of his sonI will bring the calamity on his house."

22 1Now three years passed withoutwar between Syria and Israel.

2 Then it came to pass, in the third year,that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah wentdown to visit the king of Israel.3And the king of Israel said to hisservants, "Do you know that Ramoth inGilead is ours, but we hesitate to take itout of the hand of the king of Syria?"

1 KINGS 22 1594 So he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will yougo with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?"Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel,"I am as you are, my people as yourpeople, my horses as your horses."5Also Jehoshaphat said to the king ofIsrael, "Please inquire for the word ofthe LORD today."6 Then the king of Israel gathered theprophets together, about four hundredmen, and said to them, "Shall I goagainst Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shallI refrain?" So they said, "Go up, for theLord will deliver it into the hand of theking."7And Jehoshaphat said, "Is there nots ll a prophet of the LORD here, that wemay inquire of Him?"8 So the king of Israel said toJehoshaphat, "There is s ll one man,Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom wemay inquire of the LORD; but I hate

1 KINGS 22 160him, because he does not prophesygood concerning me, but evil." AndJehoshaphat said, "Let not the king saysuch things!"9 Then the king of Israel called an officerand said, "Bring Micaiah the son of Imlahquickly!"10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphatthe king of Judah, having put on theirrobes, sat each on his throne, at athreshing floor at the entrance of thegate of Samaria; and all the prophetsprophesied before them.11Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanahhad made horns of iron for himself; andhe said, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Withthese you shall gore the Syrians un lthey are destroyed.’"12And all the prophets prophesied so,saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead andprosper, for the LORD will deliver it intothe king’s hand."

1 KINGS 22 16113 Then themessenger who had gone tocall Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Nowlisten, the words of the prophets withone accord encourage the king. Please,let your word be like the word of one ofthem, and speak encouragement."14And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives,whatever the LORD says to me, that I willspeak."15 Then he came to the king; and theking said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go towar against Ramoth Gilead, or shall werefrain?" And he answered him, "Go andprosper, for the LORD will deliver it intothe hand of the king!"16 So the king said to him, "How manymes shall I make you swear that you tell

me nothing but the truth in the name ofthe LORD?"17 Then he said, "I saw all Israelsca ered on the mountains, as sheepthat have no shepherd. And the LORD

1 KINGS 22 162said, ‘These have no master. Let eachreturn to his house in peace.’"18And the king of Israel said toJehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he wouldnot prophesy good concerning me, butevil?"19 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hearthe word of the LORD: I saw the LORDsi ng on His throne, and all the host ofheaven standing by, on His right handand on His le .20 "And the LORD said, ‘Who willpersuade Ahab to go up, that he mayfall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke inthis manner, and another spoke in thatmanner.21 "Then a spirit came forward andstood before the LORD, and said, ‘I willpersuade him.’22 "The LORD said to him, ‘In whatway?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and bea lying spirit in the mouth of all his

1 KINGS 22 163prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shallpersuade him, and also prevail. Go outand do so.’23 "Therefore look! The LORD has puta lying spirit in the mouth of all theseprophets of yours, and the LORD hasdeclared disaster against you."24Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanahwent near and struck Micaiah on thecheek, and said, "Which way did thespirit from the LORD go from me tospeak to you?"25And Micaiah said, "Indeed, you shallsee on that day when you go into aninner chamber to hide!"26 So the king of Israel said, "TakeMicaiah, and return him to Amon thegovernor of the city and to Joash theking’s son;27 "and say, ‘Thus says the king: "Putthis fellow in prison, and feed him with

1 KINGS 22 164bread of afflic on and water of afflic on,un l I come in peace."’"28 But Micaiah said, "If you ever returnin peace, the LORD has not spoken byme." And he said, "Take heed, all youpeople!"29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphatthe king of Judah went up to RamothGilead.30And the king of Israel said toJehoshaphat, "I will disguise myselfand go into ba le; but you put on yourrobes." So the king of Israel disguisedhimself and went into ba le.31Now the king of Syria hadcommanded the thirty–two captains ofhis chariots, saying, "Fight with no onesmall or great, but only with the king ofIsrael."32 So it was, when the captains of thechariots saw Jehoshaphat, that theysaid, "Surely it is the king of Israel!"

1 KINGS 22 165Therefore they turned aside to fightagainst him, and Jehoshaphat cried out.33And it happened, when the captainsof the chariots saw that it was not theking of Israel, that they turned back frompursuing him.34Now a certain man drew a bow atrandom, and struck the king of Israelbetween the joints of his armor. So hesaid to the driver of his chariot, "Turnaround and take me out of the ba le, forI am wounded."35 The ba le increased that day; andthe king was propped up in his chariot,facing the Syrians, and died at evening.The blood ran out from the wound ontothe floor of the chariot.36 Then, as the sun was going down, ashout went throughout the army, saying,"Every man to his city, and every man tohis own country!"

1 KINGS 22 16637 So the king died, and was broughtto Samaria. And they buried the king inSamaria.38 Then someone washed the chariot ata pool in Samaria, and the dogs lickedup his blood while the harlots bathed,according to the word of the LORD whichHe had spoken.39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, andall that he did, the ivory house whichhe built and all the ci es that he built,are they not wri en in the book of thechronicles of the kings of Israel?40 So Ahab rested with his fathers. ThenAhaziah his son reigned in his place.41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa hadbecome king over Judah in the fourthyear of Ahab king of Israel.42 Jehoshaphat was thirty–five yearsold when he became king, and hereigned twenty–five years in Jerusalem.

1 KINGS 22 167His mother’s name was Azubah thedaughter of Shilhi.43And he walked in all the ways of hisfather Asa. He did not turn aside fromthem, doing what was right in the eyes ofthe LORD. Nevertheless the high placeswere not taken away, for the peopleoffered sacrifices and burned incense onthe high places.44Also Jehoshaphat made peace withthe king of Israel.45Now the rest of the acts ofJehoshaphat, the might that he showed,and how he made war, are they notwri en in the book of the chronicles ofthe kings of Judah?46And the rest of the pervertedpersons, who remained in the days of hisfather Asa, he banished from the land.47 There was then no king in Edom, onlya deputy of the king.

1 KINGS 22 16848 Jehoshaphat made merchant shipsto go to Ophir for gold; but they neversailed, for the ships were wrecked atEzion Geber.49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab saidto Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants gowith your servants in the ships." ButJehoshaphat would not.50And Jehoshaphat rested with hisfathers, and was buried with his fathersin the City of David his father. ThenJehoram his son reigned in his place.51Ahaziah the son of Ahab became kingover Israel in Samaria in the seventeenthyear of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, andreigned two years over Israel.52He did evil in the sight of the LORD,and walked in the way of his father andin the way of his mother and in the wayof Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who hadmade Israel sin;

1 KINGS 22 16953 for he served Baal and worshipedhim, and provoked the LORD God ofIsrael to anger, according to all that hisfather had done.

2 Kings

1 1Moab rebelled against Israel a erthe death of Ahab.

2Now Ahaziah fell through the la ceof his upper room in Samaria, and wasinjured; so he sent messengers and saidto them, "Go, inquire of Baal–Zebub, thegod of Ekron, whether I shall recoverfrom this injury."3 But the angel of the LORD said toElijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meetthe messengers of the king of Samaria,and say to them, ‘Is it because thereis no God in Israel that you are goingto inquire of Baal–Zebub, the god ofEkron?’4 "Now therefore, thus says the LORD:‘You shall not come down from the bed

2 KINGS 1 2to which you have gone up, but you shallsurely die.’" So Elijah departed.5And when the messengers returnedto him, he said to them, "Why have youcome back?"6 So they said to him, "A man came upto meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return tothe king who sent you, and say to him,"Thus says the LORD: ‘Is it because thereis no God in Israel that you are sendingto inquire of Baal–Zebub, the god ofEkron? Therefore you shall not comedown from the bed to which you havegone up, but you shall surely die.’"’"7 Then he said to them, "What kind ofman was it who came up to meet youand told you these words?"8 So they answered him, "A hairy manwearing a leather belt around his waist."And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."9 Then the king sent to him a captain offi y with his fi y men. So he went up to

2 KINGS 1 3him; and there he was, si ng on the topof a hill. And he spoke to him: "Man ofGod, the king has said, ‘Come down!’"10 So Elijah answered and said to thecaptain of fi y, "If I am a man of God,then let fire come down from heavenand consume you and your fi y men."And fire came down from heaven andconsumed him and his fi y.11 Then he sent to him another captainof fi y with his fi y men. And heanswered and said to him: "Man of God,thus has the king said, ‘Come downquickly!’"12 So Elijah answered and said to them,"If I am aman of God, let fire come downfrom heaven and consume you and yourfi y men." And the fire of God camedown from heaven and consumed himand his fi y.13Again, he sent a third captain of fi ywith his fi y men. And the third captain

2 KINGS 1 4of fi y went up, and came and fell onhis knees before Elijah, and pleadedwith him, and said to him: "Man of God,please let my life and the life of thesefi y servants of yours be precious inyour sight.14 "Look, fire has come down fromheaven and burned up the first twocaptains of fi ies with their fi ies. Butlet my life now be precious in your sight."15And the angel of the LORD said toElijah, "Go down with him; do not beafraid of him." So he arose and wentdown with him to the king.16 Then he said to him, "Thus saysthe LORD: ‘Because you have sentmessengers to inquire of Baal–Zebub,the god of Ekron, is it because there isno God in Israel to inquire of His word?Therefore you shall not come down fromthe bed to which you have gone up, butyou shall surely die.’"

2 KINGS 1–2 517 So Ahaziah died according to theword of the LORD which Elijah hadspoken. Because he had no son, Jehorambecame king in his place, in the secondyear of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat,king of Judah.18Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziahwhich he did, are they not wri en in thebook of the chronicles of the kings ofIsrael?

2 1And it came to pass, when theLORD was about to take up Elijah

into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijahwent with Elisha from Gilgal.2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here,please, for the LORD has sent me onto Bethel." But Elisha said, "As theLORD lives, and as your soul lives, I willnot leave you!" So they went down toBethel.3Now the sons of the prophets whowere at Bethel came out to Elisha, and

2 KINGS 2 6said to him, "Do you know that the LORDwill take away your master from overyou today?" And he said, "Yes, I know;keep silent!"4 Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stayhere, please, for the LORD has sent meon to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORDlives, and as your soul lives, I will notleave you!" So they came to Jericho.5Now the sons of the prophets whowere at Jericho came to Elisha and saidto him, "Do you know that the LORD willtake away your master from over youtoday?" So he answered, "Yes, I know;keep silent!"6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here,please, for the LORD has sent me on tothe Jordan." But he said, "As the LORDlives, and as your soul lives, I will notleave you!" So the two of them went on.7And fi y men of the sons of theprophets went and stood facing them at

2 KINGS 2 7a distance, while the two of them stoodby the Jordan.8Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled itup, and struck the water; and it wasdivided this way and that, so that thetwo of them crossed over on dry ground.9And so it was, when they had crossedover, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask!What may I do for you, before I am takenaway from you?" Elisha said, "Please leta double por on of your spirit be uponme."10 So he said, "You have asked a hardthing. Nevertheless, if you see me whenI am taken from you, it shall be so foryou; but if not, it shall not be so."11 Then it happened, as they con nuedon and talked, that suddenly a chariotof fire appeared with horses of fire, andseparated the two of them; and Elijahwent up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2 KINGS 2 812And Elisha saw it, and he cried out,"My father, my father, the chariot ofIsrael and its horsemen!" So he saw himno more. And he took hold of his ownclothes and tore them into two pieces.13He also took up the mantle of Elijahthat had fallen from him, and went backand stood by the bank of the Jordan.14 Then he took the mantle of Elijahthat had fallen from him, and struck thewater, and said, "Where is the LORD Godof Elijah?" And when he also had struckthe water, it was divided this way andthat; and Elisha crossed over.15Now when the sons of the prophetswho were from Jericho saw him, theysaid, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha."And they came to meet him, and bowedto the ground before him.16 Then they said to him, "Look now,there are fi y strong men with yourservants. Please let them go and search

2 KINGS 2 9for your master, lest perhaps the Spiritof the LORD has taken him up and casthim upon some mountain or into somevalley." And he said, "You shall not sendanyone."17 But when they urged him ll hewas ashamed, he said, "Send them!"Therefore they sent fi y men, and theysearched for three days but did not findhim.18And when they came back to him,for he had stayed in Jericho, he said tothem, "Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?"19 Then the men of the city said toElisha, "Please no ce, the situa on ofthis city is pleasant, as my lord sees;but the water is bad, and the groundbarren."20And he said, "Bring me a new bowl,and put salt in it." So they brought it tohim.

2 KINGS 2 1021 Then he went out to the source ofthe water, and cast in the salt there,and said, "Thus says the LORD: ‘I havehealed this water; from it there shall beno more death or barrenness.’"22 So the water remains healed to thisday, according to the word of Elishawhich he spoke.23 Then he went up from there toBethel; and as he was going up the road,some youths came from the city andmocked him, and said to him, "Go up,you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!"24 So he turned around and lookedat them, and pronounced a curse onthem in the name of the LORD. And twofemale bears came out of the woods andmauled forty–two of the youths.25 Then he went from there to MountCarmel, and from there he returned toSamaria.

2 KINGS 3 11

3 1Now Jehoram the son of Ahabbecame king over Israel at Samaria

in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphatking of Judah, and reigned twelve years.2And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, but not like his father and mother;for he put away the sacred pillar of Baalthat his father had made.3Nevertheless he persisted in the sinsof Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who hadmade Israel sin; he did not depart fromthem.4Now Mesha king of Moab was asheepbreeder, and he regularly paid theking of Israel one hundred thousandlambs and the wool of one hundredthousand rams.5 But it happened, when Ahab died,that the king of Moab rebelled againstthe king of Israel.6 So King Jehoram went out of Samariaat that me and mustered all Israel.

2 KINGS 3 127 Then he went and sent to Jehoshaphatking of Judah, saying, "The king of Moabhas rebelled against me. Will you gowith me to fight against Moab?" Andhe said, "I will go up; I am as you are,my people as your people, my horses asyour horses."8 Then he said, "Which way shall we goup?" And he answered, "By way of theWilderness of Edom."9 So the king of Israel went with theking of Judah and the king of Edom, andthey marched on that roundabout routeseven days; and there was no waterfor the army, nor for the animals thatfollowed them.10And the king of Israel said, "Alas! Forthe LORD has called these three kingstogether to deliver them into the handof Moab."11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there noprophet of the LORD here, that we may

2 KINGS 3 13inquire of the LORD by him?" So oneof the servants of the king of Israelanswered and said, "Elisha the son ofShaphat is here, who poured water onthe hands of Elijah."12And Jehoshaphat said, "The word ofthe LORD is with him." So the king ofIsrael and Jehoshaphat and the king ofEdom went down to him.13 Then Elisha said to the king of Israel,"What have I to do with you? Go tothe prophets of your father and theprophets of your mother." But the kingof Israel said to him, "No, for the LORDhas called these three kings together todeliver them into the hand of Moab."14And Elisha said, "As the LORD ofhosts lives, before whom I stand, surelywere it not that I regard the presence ofJehoshaphat king of Judah, I would notlook at you, nor see you.

2 KINGS 3 1415 "But now bring me a musician." Thenit happened, when the musician played,that the hand of the LORD came uponhim.16And he said, "Thus says the LORD:‘Make this valley full of ditches.’17 "For thus says the LORD: ‘You shallnot see wind, nor shall you see rain; yetthat valley shall be filled with water, sothat you, your ca le, and your animalsmay drink.’18 "And this is a simple ma er in thesight of the LORD; He will also deliverthe Moabites into your hand.19 "Also you shall a ack every for fiedcity and every choice city, and shall cutdown every good tree, and stop up everyspring of water, and ruin every goodpiece of land with stones."20Now it happened in the morning,when the grain offering was offered, that

2 KINGS 3 15suddenly water came by way of Edom,and the land was filled with water.21And when all the Moabites heardthat the kings had come up to fightagainst them, all who were able to beararms and older were gathered; and theystood at the border.22 Then they rose up early in themorning, and the sun was shining on thewater; and the Moabites saw the wateron the other side as red as blood.23And they said, "This is blood; thekings have surely struck swords andhave killed one another; now therefore,Moab, to the spoil!"24 So when they came to the camp ofIsrael, Israel rose up and a acked theMoabites, so that they fled before them;and they entered their land, killing theMoabites.25 Then they destroyed the ci es, andeach man threw a stone on every good

2 KINGS 3–4 16piece of land and filled it; and theystopped up all the springs of water andcut down all the good trees. But theyle the stones of Kir Haraseth intact.However the slingers surrounded anda acked it.26And when the king of Moab saw thatthe ba le was too fierce for him, he tookwith him seven hundred men who drewswords, to break through to the king ofEdom, but they could not.27 Then he took his eldest son whowould have reigned in his place, andoffered him as a burnt offering upon thewall; and there was great indigna onagainst Israel. So they departed fromhim and returned to their own land.

4 1A certain woman of the wives ofthe sons of the prophets cried out to

Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husbandis dead, and you know that your servantfeared the LORD. And the creditor is

2 KINGS 4 17coming to take my two sons to be hisslaves."2 So Elisha said to her, "What shall I dofor you? Tell me, what do you have in thehouse?" And she said, "Your maidservanthas nothing in the house but a jar of oil."3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vesselsfrom everywhere, from all yourneighbors––empty vessels; do notgather just a few.4 "And when you have come in, youshall shut the door behind you and yoursons; then pour it into all those vessels,and set aside the full ones."5 So she went from him and shut thedoor behind her and her sons, whobrought the vessels to her; and shepoured it out.6Now it came to pass, when the vesselswere full, that she said to her son, "Bringme another vessel." And he said to her,

2 KINGS 4 18"There is not another vessel." So the oilceased.7 Then she came and told the man ofGod. And he said, "Go, sell the oil andpay your debt; and you and your sonslive on the rest."8Now it happened one day that Elishawent to Shunem, where there was anotable woman, and she persuaded himto eat some food. So it was, as o en ashe passed by, he would turn in there toeat some food.9And she said to her husband, "Looknow, I know that this is a holy man ofGod, who passes by us regularly.10 "Please, let us make a small upperroom on the wall; and let us put a bedfor him there, and a table and a chairand a lampstand; so it will be, wheneverhe comes to us, he can turn in there."

2 KINGS 4 1911And it happened one day that hecame there, and he turned in to theupper room and lay down there.12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant,"Call this Shunammite woman." Whenhe had called her, she stood before him.13And he said to him, "Say now to her,‘Look, you have been concerned for uswith all this care. What can I do for you?Do you want me to speak on your behalfto the king or to the commander of thearmy?’" She answered, "I dwell amongmy own people."14 So he said, "What then is to bedone for her?" And Gehazi answered,"Actually, she has no son, and herhusband is old."15 So he said, "Call her." When he hadcalled her, she stood in the doorway.16 Then he said, "About this me nextyear you shall embrace a son." And she

2 KINGS 4 20said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do notlie to your maidservant!"17 But the woman conceived, and borea son when the appointed me hadcome, of which Elisha had told her.18And the child grew. Now it happenedone day that he went out to his father,to the reapers.19And he said to his father, "My head,my head!" So he said to a servant, "Carryhim to his mother."20When he had taken him and broughthim to his mother, he sat on her kneesll noon, and then died.21And she went up and laid him on thebed of the man of God, shut the doorupon him, and went out.22 Then she called to her husband, andsaid, "Please send me one of the youngmen and one of the donkeys, that I mayrun to the man of God and come back."

2 KINGS 4 2123 So he said, "Why are you going tohim today? It is neither the New Moonnor the Sabbath." And she said, "It iswell."24 Then she saddled a donkey, and saidto her servant, "Drive, and go forward;do not slacken the pace for me unless Itell you."25And so she departed, and went tothe man of God at Mount Carmel. So itwas, when the man of God saw her afaroff, that he said to his servant Gehazi,"Look, the Shunammite woman!.26 "Please run now to meet her, and sayto her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well withyour husband? Is it well with the child?’"And she answered, "It is well."27Now when she came to the man ofGod at the hill, she caught him by thefeet, but Gehazi came near to push heraway. But the man of God said, "Let heralone; for her soul is in deep distress,

2 KINGS 4 22and the LORD has hidden it from me,and has not told me."28 So she said, "Did I ask a son of mylord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?"29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Get yourselfready, and take my staff in your hand,and be on your way. If you meet anyone,do not greet him; and if anyone greetsyou, do not answer him; but lay my staffon the face of the child."30And the mother of the child said, "Asthe LORD lives, and as your soul lives,I will not leave you." So he arose andfollowed her.31Now Gehazi went on ahead of them,and laid the staff on 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 notawakened."

2 KINGS 4 2332When Elisha came into the house,there was the child, lying dead on hisbed.33He went in therefore, shut the doorbehind the two of them, and prayed tothe LORD.34And he went up and lay on the child,and put his mouth on his mouth, hiseyes on his eyes, and his hands on hishands; and he stretched himself outon the child, and the flesh of the childbecame warm.35He returned and walked back andforth in the house, and again went upand stretched himself out on him; thenthe child sneezed seven mes, and thechild opened his eyes.36And he called Gehazi and said, "Callthis Shunammite woman." So he calledher. And when she came in to him, hesaid, "Pick up your son."

2 KINGS 4 2437 So she went in, fell at his feet, andbowed to the ground; then she pickedup her son and went out.38And Elisha returned to Gilgal, andthere was a famine in the land. Now thesons of the prophets were si ng beforehim; and he said to his servant, "Put onthe large pot, and boil stew for the sonsof the prophets."39 So one went out into the field togather herbs, and found a wild vine, andgathered from it a lapful of wild gourds,and came and sliced them into the potof stew, though they did not know whatthey were.40 Then they served it to the men toeat. Now it happened, as they wereea ng the stew, that they cried out andsaid, "Man of God, there is death in thepot!" And they could not eat it.41 So he said, "Then bring some flour."And he put it into the pot, and said,

2 KINGS 4–5 25"Serve it to the people, that they mayeat." And there was nothing harmful inthe pot.42 Then a man came from Baal Shalisha,and brought the man of God bread ofthe firs ruits, twenty loaves of barleybread, and newly ripened grain in hisknapsack. And he said, "Give it to thepeople, that they may eat."43 But his servant said, "What? Shall Iset this before one hundred men?" Hesaid again, "Give it to the people, thatthey may eat; for thus says the LORD:‘They shall eat and have some le over.’"44 So he set it before them; and theyate and had some le over, according tothe word of the LORD.

5 1Now Naaman, commander of thearmy of the king of Syria, was a great

and honorable man in the eyes of hismaster, because by him the LORD had

2 KINGS 5 26given victory to Syria. He was also amighty man of valor, but a leper.2And the Syrians had gone out on raids,and had brought back cap ve a younggirl from the land of Israel. She waitedon Naaman’s wife.3 Then she said to her mistress, "If onlymy master were with the prophet who isin Samaria! For he would heal him of hisleprosy."4And Naaman went in and told hismaster, saying, "Thus and thus said thegirl who is from the land of Israel."5 Then the king of Syria said, "Go now,and I will send a le er to the king ofIsrael." So he departed and took withhim ten talents of silver, six thousandshekels of gold, and ten changes ofclothing.6 Then he brought the le er to the kingof Israel, which said, Now be advised,when this le er comes to you, that I

2 KINGS 5 27have sent Naaman my servant to you,that you may heal him of his leprosy.7And it happened, when the king ofIsrael read the le er, that he tore hisclothes and said, "Am I God, to kill andmake alive, that this man sends a man tome to heal him of his leprosy? Thereforeplease consider, and see how he seeks aquarrel with me."8 So it was, when Elisha the man of Godheard that the king of Israel had torn hisclothes, that he sent to the king, saying,"Why have you torn your clothes? Pleaselet him come to me, and he shall knowthat there is a prophet in Israel."9 Then Naaman went with his horsesand chariot, and he stood at the door ofElisha’s house.10And Elisha sent a messenger to him,saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan sevenmes, and your flesh shall be restored to

you, and you shall be clean."

2 KINGS 5 2811 But Naaman became furious, andwent away and said, "Indeed, I said tomyself, ‘He will surely come out to me,and stand and call on the name of theLORD his God, and wave his hand overthe place, and heal the leprosy.’12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar,the rivers of Damascus, be er than allthe waters of Israel? Could I not wash inthem and be clean?" So he turned andwent away in a rage.13And his servants came near andspoke to him, and said, "My father, if theprophet had told you to do somethinggreat, would you not have done it? Howmuch more then, when he says to you,‘Wash, and be clean’?"14 So he went down and dipped sevenmes in the Jordan, according to the

saying of the man of God; and his fleshwas restored like the flesh of a li lechild, and he was clean.

2 KINGS 5 2915And he returned to the man of God,he and all his aides, and came and stoodbefore him; and he said, "Indeed, nowI know that there is no God in all theearth, except in Israel; now therefore,please take a gi from your servant."16 But he said, "As the LORD lives,before whom I stand, I will receivenothing." And he urged him to take it,but he refused.17 So Naaman said, "Then, if not, pleaselet your servant be given twomule–loadsof earth; for your servant will no longeroffer either burnt offering or sacrifice toother gods, but to the LORD.18 "Yet in this thing may the LORDpardon your servant: when my mastergoes into the temple of Rimmon toworship there, and he leans on myhand, and I bow down in the templeof Rimmon––when I bow down in the

2 KINGS 5 30temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pleasepardon your servant in this thing."19 Then he said to him, "Go in peace."So he departed from him a shortdistance.20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha theman of God, said, "Look, my masterhas spared Naaman this Syrian, whilenot receiving from his hands what hebrought; but as the LORD lives, I will runa er him and take something from him."21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. WhenNaaman saw him running a er him, hegot down from the chariot to meet him,and said, "Is all well?"22And he said, "All is well. My masterhas sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just nowtwo young men of the sons of theprophets have come to me from themountains of Ephraim. Please give thema talent of silver and two changes ofgarments.’"

2 KINGS 5 3123 So Naaman said, "Please, take twotalents." And he urged him, and boundtwo talents of silver in two bags, withtwo changes of garments, and handedthem to two of his servants; and theycarried them on ahead of him.24When he came to the citadel, he tookthem from their hand, and stored themaway in the house; then he let the mengo, and they departed.25Now he went in and stood beforehis master. Elisha said to him, "Wheredid you go, Gehazi?" And he said, "Yourservant did not go anywhere."26 Then he said to him, "Did not myheart go with you when the man turnedback from his chariot to meet you? Is itme to receive money and to receive

clothing, olive groves and vineyards,sheep and oxen, male and femaleservants?

2 KINGS 5–6 3227 "Therefore the leprosy of Naamanshall cling to you and your descendantsforever." And he went out from hispresence leprous, as white as snow.

6 1And the sons of the prophets saidto Elisha, "See now, the place where

we dwell with you is too small for us.2 "Please, let us go to the Jordan, andlet every man take a beam from there,and let us make there a place where wemay dwell." So he answered, "Go."3 Then one said, "Please consent to gowith your servants." And he answered,"I will go."4 So he went with them. And when theycame to the Jordan, they cut down trees.5 But as one was cu ng down a tree,the iron ax head fell into the water; andhe cried out and said, "Alas, master! Forit was borrowed."6 So the man of God said, "Where did itfall?" And he showed him the place. So

2 KINGS 6 33he cut off a s ck, and threw it in there;and he made the iron float.7 Therefore he said, "Pick it up foryourself." So he reached out his handand took it.8Now the king of Syria was making waragainst Israel; and he consulted with hisservants, saying, "My camp will be insuch and such a place."9And the man of God sent to the kingof Israel, saying, "Beware that you donot pass this place, for the Syrians arecoming down there."10 Then the king of Israel sent someoneto the place of which the man of Godhad told him. Thus he warned him, andhe was watchful there, not just once ortwice.11 Therefore the heart of the king ofSyria was greatly troubled by this thing;and he called his servants and said to

2 KINGS 6 34them, "Will you not show me which ofus is for the king of Israel?"12And one of his servants said, "None,my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophetwho is in Israel, tells the king of Israel thewords that you speak in your bedroom."13 So he said, "Go and see where heis, that I may send and get him." Andit was told him, saying, "Surely he is inDothan."14 Therefore he sent horses and chariotsand a great army there, and they cameby night and surrounded the city.15And when the servant of the manof God arose early and went out, therewas an army, surrounding the city withhorses and chariots. And his servant saidto him, "Alas, my master! What shall wedo?"16 So he answered, "Do not fear, forthose who are with us are more thanthose who are with them."

2 KINGS 6 3517And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD,I pray, open his eyes that he may see."Then the LORD opened the eyes of theyoung man, and he saw. And behold, themountain was full of horses and chariotsof fire all around Elisha.18 So when the Syrians came down tohim, Elisha prayed to the LORD, andsaid, "Strike this people, I pray, withblindness." And He struck them withblindness according to the word ofElisha.19Now Elisha said to them, "This is notthe way, nor is this the city. Follow me,and I will bring you to the man whomyou seek." But he led them to Samaria.20 So it was, when they had come toSamaria, that Elisha said, "LORD, openthe eyes of these men, that they maysee." And the LORD opened their eyes,and they saw; and there they were,inside Samaria!

2 KINGS 6 3621Now when the king of Israel sawthem, he said to Elisha, "My father, shallI kill them? Shall I kill them?"22 But he answered, "You shall not killthem. Would you kill those whom youhave taken cap ve with your sword andyour bow? Set food and water beforethem, that they may eat and drink andgo to their master."23 Then he prepared a great feast forthem; and a er they ate and drank, hesent them away and they went to theirmaster. So the bands of Syrian raiderscame no more into the land of Israel.24And it happened a er this thatBen–Hadad king of Syria gathered allhis army, and went up and besiegedSamaria.25And there was a great famine inSamaria; and indeed they besieged itun l a donkey’s head was sold for eightyshekels of silver, and one–fourth of a

2 KINGS 6 37kab of dove droppings for five shekels ofsilver.26 Then, as the king of Israel was passingby on the wall, a woman cried out tohim, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!"27And he said, "If the LORD does nothelp you, where can I find help for you?From the threshing floor or from thewinepress?"28 Then the king said to her, "What istroubling you?" And she answered, "Thiswoman said to me, ‘Give your son, thatwe may eat him today, and we will eatmy son tomorrow.’29 "So we boiled my son, and ate him.And I said to her on the next day, ‘Giveyour son, that we may eat him’; but shehas hidden her son."30Now it happened, when the kingheard the words of the woman, thathe tore his clothes; and as he passedby on the wall, the people looked, and

2 KINGS 6 38there underneath he had sackcloth onhis body.31 Then he said, "God do so to me andmore also, if the head of Elisha the sonof Shaphat remains on him today."32 But Elisha was si ng in his house,and the elders were si ng with him.And the king sent a man ahead of him,but before the messenger came to him,he said to the elders, "Do you see howthis son of a murderer has sent someoneto take away my head? Look, when themessenger comes, shut the door, andhold him fast at the door. Is not thesound of his master’s feet behind him?"33And while he was s ll talking withthem, there was the messenger, comingdown to him; and then the king said,"Surely this calamity is from the LORD;why should I wait for the LORD anylonger?"

2 KINGS 7 39

7 1 Then Elisha said, "Hear the wordof the LORD. Thus says the LORD:

‘Tomorrow about this me a seah of fineflour shall be sold for a shekel, and twoseahs of barley for a shekel, at the gateof Samaria.’"2 So an officer on whose hand the kingleaned answered the man of God andsaid, "Look, if the LORD would makewindows in heaven, could this thing be?"And he said, "In fact, you shall see it withyour eyes, but you shall not eat of it."3Now there were four leprous men atthe entrance of the gate; and they saidto one another, "Why are we si ng hereun l we die?4 "If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ thefamine is in the city, and we shall diethere. And if we sit here, we die also.Now therefore, come, let us surrenderto the army of the Syrians. If they keep

2 KINGS 7 40us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us,we shall only die."5And they rose at twilight to go to thecamp of the Syrians; and when they hadcome to the outskirts of the Syrian camp,to their surprise no one was there.6 For the Lord had caused the army ofthe Syrians to hear the noise of chariotsand the noise of horses––the noise of agreat army; so they said to one another,"Look, the king of Israel has hired againstus the kings of the Hi tes and the kingsof the Egyp ans to a ack us!"7 Therefore they arose and fled attwilight, and le the camp intact––their tents, their horses, and theirdonkeys––and they fled for their lives.8And when these lepers came to theoutskirts of the camp, they went intoone tent and ate and drank, and carriedfrom it silver and gold and clothing, andwent and hid them; then they came back

2 KINGS 7 41and entered another tent, and carriedsome from there also, and went and hidit.9 Then they said to one another, "Weare not doing right. This day is a dayof good news, and we remain silent.If we wait un l morning light, somepunishment will come upon us. Nowtherefore, come, let us go and tell theking’s household."10 So they went and called to thegatekeepers of the city, and told them,saying, "We went to the Syrian camp,and surprisingly no one was there, not ahuman sound––only horses and donkeysed, and the tents intact."11And the gatekeepers called out, andthey told it to the king’s householdinside.12 So the king arose in the night andsaid to his servants, "Let me now tell youwhat the Syrians have done to us. They

2 KINGS 7 42know that we are hungry; thereforethey have gone out of the camp to hidethemselves in the field, saying, ‘Whenthey come out of the city, we shall catchthem alive, and get into the city.’"13And one of his servants answeredand said, "Please, let several men takefive of the remaining horses which arele in the city. Look, they may eitherbecome like all the mul tude of Israelthat are le in it; or indeed, I say, theymay become like all the mul tude ofIsrael le from those who are consumed;so let us send them and see."14 Therefore they took two chariotswith horses; and the king sent them inthe direc on of the Syrian army, saying,"Go and see."15And they went a er them to theJordan; and indeed all the road was fullof garments and weapons which theSyrians had thrown away in their haste.

2 KINGS 7 43So the messengers returned and told theking.16 Then the people went out andplundered the tents of the Syrians. So aseah of fine flour was sold for a shekel,and two seahs of barley for a shekel,according to the word of the LORD.17Now the king had appointed theofficer on whose hand he leaned tohave charge of the gate. But the peopletrampled him in the gate, and he died,just as the man of God had said, whospoke when the king came down to him.18 So it happened just as the man ofGod had spoken to the king, saying,"Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and aseah of fine flour for a shekel, shall besold tomorrow about this me in thegate of Samaria."19 Then that officer had answered theman of God, and said, "Now look, if theLORD would make windows in heaven,

2 KINGS 7–8 44could such a thing be?" And he had said,"In fact, you shall see it with your eyes,but you shall not eat of it."20And so it happened to him, for thepeople trampled him in the gate, and hedied.

8 1 Then Elisha spoke to the womanwhose son he had restored to life,

saying, "Arise and go, you and yourhousehold, and stay wherever you can;for the LORD has called for a famine, andfurthermore, it will come upon the landfor seven years."2 So the woman arose and did accordingto the saying of the man of God, and shewent with her household and dwelt inthe land of the Philis nes seven years.3 It came to pass, at the end of sevenyears, that the woman returned fromthe land of the Philis nes; and she wentto make an appeal to the king for herhouse and for her land.

2 KINGS 8 454 Then the king talked with Gehazi, theservant of the man of God, saying, "Tellme, please, all the great things Elisha hasdone."5Now it happened, as he was tellingthe king how he had restored the deadto life, that there was the woman whoseson he had restored to life, appealing tothe king for her house and for her land.And Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this isthe woman, and this is her son whomElisha restored to life."6And when the king asked the woman,she told him. So the king appointed acertain officer for her, saying, "Restoreall that was hers, and all the proceeds ofthe field from the day that she le theland un l now."7 Then Elisha went to Damascus, andBen–Hadad king of Syria was sick; and itwas told him, saying, "The man of Godhas come here."

2 KINGS 8 468And the king said to Hazael, "Take apresent in your hand, and go to meetthe man of God, and inquire of the LORDby him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from thisdisease?’"9 So Hazael went to meet him and tooka present with him, of every good thingof Damascus, forty camel–loads; and hecame and stood before him, and said,"Your son Ben–Hadad king of Syria hassent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recoverfrom this disease?’"10And Elisha said to him, "Go, sayto him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’However the LORD has shown me thathe will really die."11 Then he set his countenance in astare un l he was ashamed; and theman of God wept.12And Hazael said, "Why is my lordweeping?" He answered, "Because Iknow the evil that you will do to the

2 KINGS 8 47children of Israel: Their strongholds youwill set on fire, and their young men youwill kill with the sword; and you will dashtheir children, and rip open their womenwith child."13 So Hazael said, "But what is yourservant––a dog, that he should do thisgross thing?" And Elisha answered,"The LORD has shown me that you willbecome king over Syria."14 Then he departed from Elisha, andcame to his master, who said to him,"What did Elisha say to you?" And heanswered, "He told me you would surelyrecover."15 But it happened on the next day thathe took a thick cloth and dipped it inwater, and spread it over his face so thathe died; and Hazael reigned in his place.16Now in the fi h year of Joram theson of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoshaphathaving been king of Judah, Jehoram the

2 KINGS 8 48son of Jehoshaphat began to reign asking of Judah.17He was thirty–two years old when hebecame king, and he reigned eight yearsin Jerusalem.18And he walked in the way of the kingsof Israel, just as the house of Ahab haddone, for the daughter of Ahab was hiswife; and he did evil in the sight of theLORD.19 Yet the LORD would not destroyJudah, for the sake of his servant David,as He promised him to give a lamp tohim and his sons forever.20 In his days Edom revolted againstJudah’s authority, and made a king overthemselves.21 So Joram went to Zair, and all hischariots with him. Then he rose by nightand a acked the Edomites who hadsurrounded him and the captains of the

2 KINGS 8 49chariots; and the troops fled to theirtents.22 Thus Edom has been in revolt againstJudah’s authority to this day. And Libnahrevolted at that me.23Now the rest of the acts of Joram,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah?24 So Joram rested with his fathers, andwas buried with his fathers in the City ofDavid. Then Ahaziah his son reigned inhis place.25 In the twel h year of Joram the sonof Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the sonof Jehoram, king of Judah, began toreign.26Ahaziah was twenty–two years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedone year in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Athaliah the granddaughterof Omri, king of Israel.

2 KINGS 8–9 5027And he walked in the way of thehouse of Ahab, and did evil in the sightof the LORD, like the house of Ahab, forhe was the son–in–law of the house ofAhab.28Now he went with Joram the sonof Ahab to war against Hazael king ofSyria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrianswounded Joram.29 Then King Joram went back to Jezreelto recover from the wounds which theSyrians had inflicted on him at Ramah,when he fought against Hazael king ofSyria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram,king of Judah, went down to see Joramthe son of Ahab in Jezreel, because hewas sick.

9 1And Elisha the prophet called oneof the sons of the prophets, and

said to him, "Get yourself ready, takethis flask of oil in your hand, and go toRamoth Gilead.

2 KINGS 9 512 "Now when you arrive at thatplace, look there for Jehu the son ofJehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and goin and make him rise up from amonghis associates, and take him to an innerroom.3 "Then take the flask of oil, and pourit on his head, and say, ‘Thus says theLORD: "I have anointed you king overIsrael."’ Then open the door and flee,and do not delay."4 So the young man, the servant of theprophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.5And when he arrived, there were thecaptains of the army si ng; and he said,"I have a message for you, Commander."Jehu said, "For which one of us?" And hesaid, "For you, Commander."6 Then he arose and went into thehouse. And he poured the oil on hishead, and said to him, "Thus says theLORD God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you

2 KINGS 9 52king over the people of the LORD, overIsrael.7 ‘You shall strike down the house ofAhab your master, that I may avenge theblood of My servants the prophets, andthe blood of all the servants of the LORD,at the hand of Jezebel.8 ‘For the whole house of Ahab shallperish; and I will cut off from Ahab allthe males in Israel, both bond and free.9 ‘So I will make the house of Ahab likethe house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,and like the house of Baasha the son ofAhijah.10 ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel on theplot of ground at Jezreel, and there shallbe none to bury her.’" And he openedthe door and fled.11 Then Jehu came out to the servantsof his master, and one said to him, "Isall well? Why did this madman come to

2 KINGS 9 53you?" And he said to them, "You knowthe man and his babble."12And they said, "A lie! Tell us now."So he said, "Thus and thus he spoke tome, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: "I haveanointed you king over Israel."’"13 Then each man hastened to take hisgarment and put it under him on the topof the steps; and they blew trumpets,saying, "Jehu is king!"14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, theson of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.(Now Joram had been defending RamothGilead, he and all Israel, against Hazaelking of Syria.15 But King Joram had returned toJezreel to recover from the woundswhich the Syrians had inflicted on himwhen he fought with Hazael king ofSyria.) And Jehu said, "If you are sominded, let no one leave or escape fromthe city to go and tell it in Jezreel."

2 KINGS 9 5416 So Jehu rode in a chariot and went toJezreel, for Joram was laid up there; andAhaziah king of Judah had come down tosee Joram.17Now a watchman stood on the towerin Jezreel, and he saw the companyof Jehu as he came, and said, "I see acompany of men." And Joram said, "Geta horseman and send him to meet them,and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’"18 So the horseman went to meethim, and said, "Thus says the king: ‘Isit peace?’" And Jehu said, "What haveyou to do with peace? Turn around andfollow me." So the watchman reported,saying, "The messenger went to them,but is not coming back."19 Then he sent out a second horsemanwho came to them, and said, "Thussays the king: ‘Is it peace?’" And Jehuanswered, "What have you to do withpeace? Turn around and follow me."

2 KINGS 9 5520 So the watchman reported, saying,"He went up to them and is not comingback; and the driving is like the drivingof Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drivesfuriously!"21 Then Joram said, "Make ready." Andhis chariot was made ready. Then Joramking of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judahwent out, each in his chariot; and theywent out to meet Jehu, and met him onthe property of Naboth the Jezreelite.22Now it happened, when Joram sawJehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?"So he answered, "What peace, as longas the harlotries of your mother Jezebeland her witchcra are so many?"23 Then Joram turned around andfled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery,Ahaziah!"24Now Jehu drew his bow with fullstrength and shot Jehoram between his

2 KINGS 9 56arms; and the arrow came out at hisheart, and he sank down in his chariot.25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain,"Pick him up, and throw him into thetract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite;for remember, when you and I wereriding together behind Ahab his father,that the LORD laid this burden upon him:26 ‘Surely I saw yesterday the blood ofNaboth and the blood of his sons,’ saysthe LORD, ‘and I will repay you in thisplot,’ says the LORD. Now therefore, takeand throw him on the plot of ground,according to the word of the LORD."27 But when Ahaziah king of Judah sawthis, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan.So Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoothim also in the chariot." And they shothim at the Ascent of Gur, which is byIbleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, anddied there.

2 KINGS 9 5728And his servants carried him in thechariot to Jerusalem, and buried him inhis tomb with his fathers in the City ofDavid.29 In the eleventh year of Joram the sonof Ahab, Ahaziah had become king overJudah.30Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel,Jezebel heard of it; and she put painton her eyes and adorned her head, andlooked through a window.31 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate,she said, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer ofyour master?"32And he looked up at the window, andsaid, "Who is on my side? Who?" So twoor three eunuchs looked out at him.33 Then he said, "Throw her down." Sothey threw her down, and some of herblood spa ered on the wall and on thehorses; and he trampled her underfoot.

2 KINGS 9–10 5834And when he had gone in, he ate anddrank. Then he said, "Go now, see to thisaccursed woman, and bury her, for shewas a king’s daughter."35 So they went to bury her, but theyfound no more of her than the skull andthe feet and the palms of her hands.36 Therefore they came back and toldhim. And he said, "This is the word ofthe LORD, which He spoke by His servantElijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plotof ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat theflesh of Jezebel;37 ‘and the corpse of Jezebel shall be asrefuse on the surface of the field, in theplot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say,"Here lies Jezebel."’"

10 1Now Ahab had seventy sonsin Samaria. And Jehu wrote and

sent le ers to Samaria, to the rulers ofJezreel, to the elders, and to those whoreared Ahab’s sons, saying:

2 KINGS 10 592Now as soon as this le er comes toyou, since your master’s sons are withyou, and you have chariots and horses, afor fied city also, and weapons,3 choose the best qualified of yourmaster’s sons, set him on his father’sthrone, and fight for your master’shouse.4 But they were exceedingly afraid, andsaid, "Look, two kings could not stand upto him; how then can we stand?"5And he who was in charge of thehouse, and he who was in charge ofthe city, the elders also, and those whoreared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying,"We are your servants, we will do allyou tell us; but we will not make anyoneking. Do what is good in your sight."6 Then he wrote a second le er tothem, saying: If you are for me and willobey my voice, take the heads of themen, your master’s sons, and come to

2 KINGS 10 60me at Jezreel by this me tomorrow.Now the king’s sons, seventy persons,were with the great men of the city, whowere rearing them.7 So it was, when the le er came tothem, that they took the king’s sons andslaughtered seventy persons, put theirheads in baskets and sent them to himat Jezreel.8 Then a messenger came and told him,saying, "They have brought the heads ofthe king’s sons." And he said, "Lay themin two heaps at the entrance of the gateun l morning."9 So it was, in the morning, that he wentout and stood, and said to all the people,"You are righteous. Indeed I conspiredagainst my master and killed him; butwho killed all these?10 "Know now that nothing shall fall tothe earth of the word of the LORD whichthe LORD spoke concerning the house of

2 KINGS 10 61Ahab; for the LORD has done what Hespoke by His servant Elijah."11 So Jehu killed all who remained ofthe house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all hisgreat men and his close acquaintancesand his priests, un l he le him noneremaining.12And he arose and departed and wentto Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked ofthe Shepherds,13 Jehu met with the brothers ofAhaziah king of Judah, and said, "Whoare you?" So they answered, "We arethe brothers of Ahaziah; we have comedown to greet the sons of the king andthe sons of the queen mother."14And he said, "Take them alive!" Sothey took them alive, and killed them atthe well of Beth Eked, forty–two men;and he le none of them.15Now when he departed from there,he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab,

2 KINGS 10 62coming to meet him; and he greetedhim and said to him, "Is your heart right,as my heart is toward your heart?" AndJehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said,"If it is, give me your hand." So he gavehim his hand, and he took him up to himinto the chariot.16 Then he said, "Come with me, andsee my zeal for the LORD." So they hadhim ride in his chariot.17And when he came to Samaria,he killed all who remained to Ahab inSamaria, ll he had destroyed them,according to the word of the LORD whichHe spoke to Elijah.18 Then Jehu gathered all the peopletogether, and said to them, "Ahab servedBaal a li le, Jehu will serve him much.19 "Now therefore, call to me all theprophets of Baal, all his servants, and allhis priests. Let no one be missing, for Ihave a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever

2 KINGS 10 63is missing shall not live." But Jehu acteddecep vely, with the intent of destroyingthe worshipers of Baal.20And Jehu said, "Proclaim a solemnassembly for Baal." So they proclaimedit.21 Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel;and all the worshipers of Baal came, sothat there was not a man le who didnot come. So they came into the templeof Baal, and the temple of Baal was fullfrom one end to the other.22And he said to the one in charge ofthe wardrobe, "Bring out vestmentsfor all the worshipers of Baal." So hebrought out vestments for them.23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab the sonof Rechab went into the temple of Baal,and said to the worshipers of Baal,"Search and see that no servants of theLORD are here with you, but only theworshipers of Baal."

2 KINGS 10 6424 So they went in to offer sacrifices andburnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointedfor himself eighty men on the outside,and had said, "If any of the men whomI have brought into your hands escapes,whoever lets him escape, it shall be hislife for the life of the other."25Now it happened, as soon as hehad made an end of offering the burntoffering, that Jehu said to the guard andto the captains, "Go in and kill them;let no one come out!" And they killedthem with the edge of the sword; thenthe guards and the officers threw themout, and went into the inner room of thetemple of Baal.26And they brought the sacred pillarsout of the temple of Baal and burnedthem.27 Then they broke down the sacredpillar of Baal, and tore down the temple

2 KINGS 10 65of Baal and made it a refuse dump tothis day.28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.29However Jehu did not turn awayfrom the sins of Jeroboam the son ofNebat, who had made Israel sin, thatis, from the golden calves that were atBethel and Dan.30And the LORD said to Jehu, "Becauseyou have done well in doing what is rightin My sight, and have done to the houseof Ahab all that was in My heart, yoursons shall sit on the throne of Israel tothe fourth genera on."31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in thelaw of the LORD God of Israel with all hisheart; for he did not depart from the sinsof Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.32 In those days the LORD began to cutoff parts of Israel; and Hazael conqueredthem in all the territory of Israel

2 KINGS 10–11 6633 from the Jordan eastward: all theland of Gilead––Gad, Reuben, andManasseh––from Aroer, which is bythe River Arnon, including Gilead andBashan.34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, allthat he did, and all his might, are theynot wri en in the book of the chroniclesof the kings of Israel?35 So Jehu rested with his fathers,and they buried him in Samaria. ThenJehoahaz his son reigned in his place.36And the period that Jehu reignedover Israel in Samaria was twenty–eightyears.

11 1When Athaliah the mother ofAhaziah saw that her son was

dead, she arose and destroyed all theroyal heirs.2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of KingJoram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash theson of Ahaziah, and stole him away from

2 KINGS 11 67among the king’s sons who were beingmurdered; and they hid him and hisnurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, sothat he was not killed.3 So he was hidden with her in thehouse of the LORD for six years, whileAthaliah reigned over the land.4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent andbrought the captains of hundreds––ofthe bodyguards and the escorts––andbrought them into the house of theLORD to him. And he made a covenantwith them and took an oath from themin the house of the LORD, and showedthem the king’s son.5 Then he commanded them, saying,"This is what you shall do: One–third ofyou who come on duty on the Sabbathshall be keeping watch over the king’shouse,6 "one–third shall be at the gate of Sur,and one–third at the gate behind the

2 KINGS 11 68escorts. You shall keep the watch of thehouse, lest it be broken down.7 "The two con ngents of you who gooff duty on the Sabbath shall keep thewatch of the house of the LORD for theking.8 "But you shall surround the king on allsides, every man with his weapons in hishand; and whoever comes within range,let him be put to death. You are to bewith the king as he goes out and as hecomes in."9 So the captains of the hundreds didaccording to all that Jehoiada the priestcommanded. Each of them took his menwho were to be on duty on the Sabbath,with those who were going off duty onthe Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada thepriest.10And the priest gave the captains ofhundreds the spears and shields which

2 KINGS 11 69had belonged to King David, that were inthe temple of the LORD.11 Then the escorts stood, every manwith his weapons in his hand, all aroundthe king, from the right side of thetemple to the le side of the temple, bythe altar and the house.12And he brought out the king’s son,put the crown on him, and gave himthe Tes mony; they made him king andanointed him, and they clapped theirhands and said, "Long live the king!"13Now when Athaliah heard the noiseof the escorts and the people, she cameto the people in the temple of the LORD.14When she looked, there was the kingstanding by a pillar according to custom;and the leaders and the trumpeters wereby the king. All the people of the landwere rejoicing and blowing trumpets. SoAthaliah tore her clothes and cried out,"Treason! Treason!"

2 KINGS 11 7015And Jehoiada the priest commandedthe captains of the hundreds, the officersof the army, and said to them, "Takeher outside under guard, and slay withthe sword whoever follows her." For thepriest had said, "Do not let her be killedin the house of the LORD."16 So they seized her; and she wentby way of the horses’ entrance into theking’s house, and there she was killed.17 Then Jehoiada made a covenantbetween the LORD, the king, and thepeople, that they should be the LORD’Speople, and also between the king andthe people.18And all the people of the land wentto the temple of Baal, and tore it down.They thoroughly broke in pieces its altarsand images, and killed Ma an the priestof Baal before the altars. And the priestappointed officers over the house of theLORD.

2 KINGS 11–12 7119 Then he took the captains ofhundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts,and all the people of the land; and theybrought the king down from the houseof the LORD, and went by way of thegate of the escorts to the king’s house.Then he sat on the throne of the kings.20 So all the people of the land rejoiced;and the city was quiet, for they had slainAthaliah with the sword in the king’shouse.21 Jehoash was seven years old whenhe became king.

12 1 In the seventh year of Jehu,Jehoash became king, and he

reigned forty years in Jerusalem. Hismother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.2 Jehoash did what was right in thesight of the LORD all the days in whichJehoiada the priest instructed him.

2 KINGS 12 723 But the high places were not takenaway; the people s ll sacrificed andburned incense on the high places.4And Jehoash said to the priests,"All the money of the dedicated gi sthat are brought into the house of theLORD––each man’s census money, eachman’s assessment money––and all themoney that a man purposes in his heartto bring into the house of the LORD,5 "let the priests take it themselves,each from his cons tuency; and letthem repair the damages of the temple,wherever any dilapida on is found."6Now it was so, by the twenty–thirdyear of King Jehoash, that the priestshad not repaired the damages of thetemple.7 So King Jehoash called Jehoiada thepriest and the other priests, and said tothem, "Why have you not repaired thedamages of the temple? Now therefore,

2 KINGS 12 73do not take more money from yourcons tuency, but deliver it for repairingthe damages of the temple."8And the priests agreed that theywould neither receive more money fromthe people, nor repair the damages ofthe temple.9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest,bored a hole in its lid, and set it besidethe altar, on the right side as one comesinto the house of the LORD; and thepriests who kept the door put there allthe money brought into the house of theLORD.10 So it was, whenever they saw thatthere was much money in the chest,that the king’s scribe and the high priestcame up and put it in bags, and countedthe money that was found in the houseof the LORD.11 Then they gave the money, whichhad been appor oned, into the hands

2 KINGS 12 74of those who did the work, who had theoversight of the house of the LORD; andthey paid it out to the carpenters andbuilders who worked on the house ofthe LORD,12 and to masons and stonecu ers, andfor buying mber and hewn stone, torepair the damage of the house of theLORD, and for all that was paid out torepair the temple.13However there were not made forthe house of the LORD basins of silver,trimmers, sprinkling–bowls, trumpets,any ar cles of gold or ar cles of silver,from the money brought into the houseof the LORD.14 But they gave that to the workmen,and they repaired the house of the LORDwith it.15Moreover they did not require anaccount from the men into whose hand

2 KINGS 12 75they delivered the money to be paid toworkmen, for they dealt faithfully.16 The money from the trespassofferings and the money from the sinofferings was not brought into the houseof the LORD. It belonged to the priests.17Hazael king of Syria went up andfought against Gath, and took it; thenHazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.18And Jehoash king of Judah tookall the sacred things that his fathers,Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah,kings of Judah, had dedicated, and hisown sacred things, and all the gold foundin the treasuries of the house of theLORD and in the king’s house, and sentthem to Hazael king of Syria. Then hewent away from Jerusalem.19Now the rest of the acts of Joash,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah?

2 KINGS 12–13 7620And his servants arose and formed aconspiracy, and killed Joash in the houseof the Millo, which goes down to Silla.21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeathand Jehozabad the son of Shomer, hisservants, struck him. So he died, andthey buried him with his fathers in theCity of David. Then Amaziah his sonreigned in his place.

13 1 In the twenty–third year ofJoash the son of Ahaziah, king of

Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu becameking over Israel in Samaria, and reignedseventeen years.2And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboamthe son of Nebat, who had made Israelsin. He did not depart from them.3 Then the anger of the LORD wasaroused against Israel, and He deliveredthem into the hand of Hazael king of

2 KINGS 13 77Syria, and into the hand of Ben–Hadadthe son of Hazael, all their days.4 So Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD,and the LORD listened to him; for Hesaw the oppression of Israel, becausethe king of Syria oppressed them.5 Then the LORD gave Israel a deliverer,so that they escaped from under thehand of the Syrians; and the children ofIsrael dwelt in their tents as before.6Nevertheless they did not depart fromthe sins of the house of Jeroboam, whohad made Israel sin, but walked in them;and the wooden image also remained inSamaria.7 For He le of the army of Jehoahazonly fi y horsemen, ten chariots, andten thousand foot soldiers; for the kingof Syria had destroyed them and madethem like the dust at threshing.8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz,all that he did, and his might, are they

2 KINGS 13 78not wri en in the book of the chroniclesof the kings of Israel?9 So Jehoahaz rested with his fathers,and they buried him in Samaria. ThenJoash his son reigned in his place.10 In the thirty–seventh year of Joashking of Judah, Jehoash the son ofJehoahaz became king over Israel inSamaria, and reigned sixteen years.11And he did evil in the sight of theLORD. He did not depart from all thesins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, whomade Israel sin, but walked in them.12Now the rest of the acts of Joash, allthat he did, and his might with which hefought against Amaziah king of Judah,are they not wri en in the book of thechronicles of the kings of Israel?13 So Joash rested with his fathers. ThenJeroboam sat on his throne. And Joashwas buried in Samaria with the kings ofIsrael.

2 KINGS 13 7914 Elisha had become sick with theillness of which he would die. Then Joashthe king of Israel came down to him,and wept over his face, and said, "O myfather, my father, the chariots of Israeland their horsemen!"15And Elisha said to him, "Take a bowand some arrows." So he took himself abow and some arrows.16 Then he said to the king of Israel,"Put your hand on the bow." So he puthis hand on it, and Elisha put his handson the king’s hands.17And he said, "Open the eastwindow"; and he opened it. Then Elishasaid, "Shoot"; and he shot. And he said,"The arrow of the LORD’S deliveranceand the arrow of deliverance from Syria;for you must strike the Syrians at Aphekll you have destroyed them."18 Then he said, "Take the arrows"; sohe took them. And he said to the king of

2 KINGS 13 80Israel, "Strike the ground"; so he struckthree mes, and stopped.19And the man of God was angry withhim, and said, "You should have struckfive or six mes; then you would havestruck Syria ll you had destroyed it!But now you will strike Syria only threemes."20 Then Elisha died, and they buriedhim. And the raiding bands from Moabinvaded the land in the spring of theyear.21 So it was, as they were burying aman, that suddenly they spied a bandof raiders; and they put the man in thetomb of Elisha; and when the man waslet down and touched the bones ofElisha, he revived and stood on his feet.22And Hazael king of Syria oppressedIsrael all the days of Jehoahaz.23 But the LORD was gracious to them,had compassion on them, and regarded

2 KINGS 13–14 81them, because of His covenant withAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and wouldnot yet destroy them or cast them fromHis presence.24Now Hazael king of Syria died. ThenBen–Hadad his son reigned in his place.25And Jehoash the son of Jehoahazrecaptured from the hand of Ben–Hadad,the son of Hazael, the ci es which hehad taken out of the hand of Jehoahazhis father by war. Three mes Joashdefeated him and recaptured the ci esof Israel.

14 1 In the second year of Joash theson of Jehoahaz, king of Israel,

Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah,became king.2He was twenty–five years old whenhe became king, and he reigned twenty–nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

2 KINGS 14 823And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, yet not like his father David;he did everything as his father Joash haddone.4However the high places werenot taken away, and the people s llsacrificed and burned incense on thehigh places.5Now it happened, as soon as thekingdom was established in his hand,that he executed his servants who hadmurdered his father the king.6 But the children of the murderers hedid not execute, according to what iswri en in the Book of the Law of Moses,in which the LORD commanded, saying,"Fathers shall not be put to death fortheir children, nor shall children be putto death for their fathers; but a personshall be put to death for his own sin."

2 KINGS 14 837He killed ten thousand Edomites inthe Valley of Salt, and took Sela by war,and called its name Joktheel to this day.8 Then Amaziah sent messengers toJehoash the son of Jehoahaz, the son ofJehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let usface one another in ba le."9And Jehoash king of Israel sent toAmaziah king of Judah, saying, "Thethistle that was in Lebanon sent to thecedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Giveyour daughter to my son as wife’; and awild beast that was in Lebanon passedby and trampled the thistle.10 "You have indeed defeated Edom,and your heart has li ed you up. Glory inthat, and stay at home; for why shouldyou meddle with trouble so that youfall––you and Judah with you?"11 But Amaziah would not heed.Therefore Jehoash king of Israel wentout; so he and Amaziah king of Judah

2 KINGS 14 84faced one another at Beth Shemesh,which belongs to Judah.12And Judah was defeated by Israel,and every man fled to his tent.13 Then Jehoash king of Israel capturedAmaziah king of Judah, the son ofJehoash, the son of Ahaziah, at BethShemesh; and he went to Jerusalem,and broke down the wall of Jerusalemfrom the Gate of Ephraim to the CornerGate––four hundred cubits.14And he took all the gold and silver,all the ar cles that were found in thehouse of the LORD and in the treasuriesof the king’s house, and hostages, andreturned to Samaria.15Now the rest of the acts of Jehoashwhich he did––his might, and how hefought with Amaziah king of Judah––arethey not wri en in the book of thechronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 KINGS 14 8516 So Jehoash rested with his fathers,and was buried in Samaria with the kingsof Israel. Then Jeroboam his son reignedin his place.17Amaziah the son of Joash, king ofJudah, lived fi een years a er the deathof Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, king ofIsrael.18Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah,are they not wri en in the book of thechronicles of the kings of Judah?19And they formed a conspiracy againsthim in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish;but they sent a er him to Lachish andkilled him there.20 Then they brought him on horses,and he was buried at Jerusalem with hisfathers in the City of David.21And all the people of Judah tookAzariah, who was sixteen years old, andmade him king instead of his fatherAmaziah.

2 KINGS 14 8622He built Elath and restored it toJudah, a er the king rested with hisfathers.23 In the fi eenth year of Amaziah theson of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboamthe son of Joash, king of Israel, becameking in Samaria, and reigned forty–oneyears.24And he did evil in the sight of theLORD; he did not depart from all the sinsof Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who hadmade Israel sin.25He restored the territory of Israelfrom the entrance of Hamath to the Seaof the Arabah, according to the word ofthe LORD God of Israel, which He hadspoken through His servant Jonah theson of Ami ai, the prophet who wasfrom Gath Hepher.26 For the LORD saw that the afflic onof Israel was very bi er; and whether

2 KINGS 14–15 87bond or free, there was no helper forIsrael.27And the LORD did not say that Hewould blot out the name of Israel fromunder heaven; but He saved them by thehand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam,and all that he did––his might, how hemade war, and how he recaptured forIsrael, from Damascus and Hamath,what had belonged to Judah––are theynot wri en in the book of the chroniclesof the kings of Israel?29 So Jeroboam rested with his fathers,the kings of Israel. Then Zechariah hisson reigned in his place.

15 1 In the twenty–seventh year ofJeroboam king of Israel, Azariah

the son of Amaziah, king of Judah,became king.2He was sixteen years old when hebecame king, and he reigned fi y–two

2 KINGS 15 88years in Jerusalem. His mother’s namewas Jecholiah of Jerusalem.3And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, according to all that hisfather Amaziah had done,4 except that the high places were notremoved; the people s ll sacrificed andburned incense on the high places.5 Then the LORD struck the king, so thathe was a leper un l the day of his death;so he dwelt in an isolated house. AndJotham the king’s son was over the royalhouse, judging the people of the land.6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah?7 So Azariah rested with his fathers,and they buried him with his fathers inthe City of David. Then Jotham his sonreigned in his place.

2 KINGS 15 898 In the thirty–eighth year of Azariahking of Judah, Zechariah the son ofJeroboam reigned over Israel in Samariasix months.9And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, as his fathers had done; he did notdepart from the sins of Jeroboam theson of Nebat, who had made Israel sin.10 Then Shallum the son of Jabeshconspired against him, and struck andkilled him in front of the people; and hereigned in his place.11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah,indeed they are wri en in the book ofthe chronicles of the kings of Israel.12 This was the word of the LORD whichHe spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sonsshall sit on the throne of Israel to thefourth genera on." And so it was.13 Shallum the son of Jabesh becameking in the thirty–ninth year of Uzziah

2 KINGS 15 90king of Judah; and he reigned a fullmonth in Samaria.14 For Menahem the son of Gadi wentup from Tirzah, came to Samaria, andstruck Shallum the son of Jabesh inSamaria and killed him; and he reignedin his place.15Now the rest of the acts of Shallum,and the conspiracy which he led, indeedthey are wri en in the book of thechronicles of the kings of Israel.16 Then from Tirzah, Menahem a ackedTiphsah, all who were there, and itsterritory. Because they did not surrender,therefore he a acked it. All the womenthere who were with child he rippedopen.17 In the thirty–ninth year of Azariahking of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadibecame king over Israel, and reigned tenyears in Samaria.

2 KINGS 15 9118And he did evil in the sight of theLORD; he did not depart all his days fromthe sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,who had made Israel sin.19 Pul king of Assyria came against theland; and Menahem gave Pul a thousandtalents of silver, that his hand might bewith him to strengthen the kingdomunder his control.20And Menahem exacted the moneyfrom Israel, from all the very wealthy,from each man fi y shekels of silver, togive to the king of Assyria. So the kingof Assyria turned back, and did not staythere in the land.21Now the rest of the acts ofMenahem,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Israel?22 So Menahem rested with his fathers.Then Pekahiah his son reigned in hisplace.

2 KINGS 15 9223 In the fi ieth year of Azariah king ofJudah, Pekahiah the son of Menahembecame king over Israel in Samaria, andreigned two years.24And he did evil in the sight of theLORD; he did not depart from the sinsof Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who hadmade Israel sin.25 Then Pekah the son of Remaliah, anofficer of his, conspired against him andkilled him in Samaria, in the citadel ofthe king’s house, along with Argob andArieh; and with him were fi y men ofGilead. He killed him and reigned in hisplace.26Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah,and all that he did, indeed they arewri en in the book of the chronicles ofthe kings of Israel.27 In the fi y–second year of Azariahking of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah

2 KINGS 15 93became king over Israel in Samaria, andreigned twenty years.28And he did evil in the sight of theLORD; he did not depart from the sinsof Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who hadmade Israel sin.29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel,Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria came andtook Ijon, Abel Beth Maachah, Janoah,Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, allthe land of Naphtali; and he carriedthem cap ve to Assyria.30 Then Hoshea the son of Elah leda conspiracy against Pekah the son ofRemaliah, and struck and killed him; sohe reigned in his place in the twen ethyear of Jotham the son of Uzziah.31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah,and all that he did, indeed they arewri en in the book of the chronicles ofthe kings of Israel.

2 KINGS 15 9432 In the second year of Pekah the sonof Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham theson of Uzziah, king of Judah, began toreign.33He was twenty–five years old whenhe became king, and he reigned sixteenyears in Jerusalem. His mother’s namewas Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.34And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD; he did according to all thathis father Uzziah had done.35However the high places were notremoved; the people s ll sacrificed andburned incense on the high places. Hebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of theLORD.36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah?

2 KINGS 15–16 9537 In those days the LORD began to sendRezin king of Syria and Pekah the son ofRemaliah against Judah.38 So Jotham rested with his fathers,and was buried with his fathers in theCity of David his father. Then Ahaz hisson reigned in his place.

16 1 In the seventeenth year ofPekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz

the son of Jotham, king of Judah, beganto reign.2Ahaz was twenty years old when hebecame king, and he reigned sixteenyears in Jerusalem; and he did not dowhat was right in the sight of the LORDhis God, as his father David had done.3 But he walked in the way of thekings of Israel; indeed he made his sonpass through the fire, according to theabomina ons of the na ons whom theLORD had cast out from before thechildren of Israel.

2 KINGS 16 964And he sacrificed and burned incenseon the high places, on the hills, andunder every green tree.5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekahthe son of Remaliah, king of Israel, cameup to Jerusalem to make war; and theybesieged Ahaz but could not overcomehim.6At that me Rezin king of Syriacaptured Elath for Syria, and drove themen of Judah from Elath. Then theEdomites went to Elath, and dwell thereto this day.7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am yourservant and your son. Come up and saveme from the hand of the king of Syriaand from the hand of the king of Israel,who rise up against me."8And Ahaz took the silver and gold thatwas found in the house of the LORD, and

2 KINGS 16 97in the treasuries of the king’s house, andsent it as a present to the king of Assyria.9 So the king of Assyria heeded him;for the king of Assyria went up againstDamascus and took it, carried its peoplecap ve to Kir, and killed Rezin.10Now King Ahaz went to Damascusto meet Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria,and saw an altar that was at Damascus;and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priestthe design of the altar and its pa ern,according to all its workmanship.11 Then Urijah the priest built an altaraccording to all that King Ahaz had sentfrom Damascus. So Urijah the priestmade it before King Ahaz came backfrom Damascus.12And when the king came back fromDamascus, the king saw the altar; andthe king approached the altar and madeofferings on it.

2 KINGS 16 9813 So he burned his burnt offering andhis grain offering; and he poured hisdrink offering and sprinkled the blood ofhis peace offerings on the altar.14He also brought the bronze altarwhich was before the LORD, from thefront of the temple––from betweenthe new altar and the house of theLORD––and put it on the north side ofthe new altar.15 Then King Ahaz commanded Urijahthe priest, saying, "On the great newaltar burn the morning burnt offering,the evening grain offering, the king’sburnt sacrifice, and his grain offering,with the burnt offering of all the peopleof the land, their grain offering, and theirdrink offerings; and sprinkle on it all theblood of the burnt offering and all theblood of the sacrifice. And the bronzealtar shall be for me to inquire by."

2 KINGS 16–17 9916 Thus did Urijah the priest, accordingto all that King Ahaz commanded.17And King Ahaz cut off the panels ofthe carts, and removed the lavers fromthem; and he took down the Sea fromthe bronze oxen that were under it, andput it on a pavement of stones.18Also he removed the Sabbathpavilion which they had built in thetemple, and he removed the king’s outerentrance from the house of the LORD,on account of the king of Assyria.19Now the rest of the acts of Ahazwhich he did, are they not wri en in thebook of the chronicles of the kings ofJudah?20 So Ahaz rested with his fathers, andwas buried with his fathers in the City ofDavid. Then Hezekiah his son reigned inhis place.

17 1 In the twel h year of Ahaz kingof Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah

2 KINGS 17 100became king of Israel in Samaria, and hereigned nine years.2And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, but not as the kings of Israel whowere before him.3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came upagainst him; and Hoshea became hisvassal, and paid him tribute money.4And the king of Assyria uncovered aconspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sentmessengers to So, king of Egypt, andbrought no tribute to the king of Assyria,as he had done year by year. Thereforethe king of Assyria shut him up, andbound him in prison.5Now the king of Assyria wentthroughout all the land, and went up toSamaria and besieged it for three years.6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the kingof Assyria took Samaria and carriedIsrael away to Assyria, and placed them

2 KINGS 17 101in Halah and by the Habor, the River ofGozan, and in the ci es of the Medes.7 For so it was that the children of Israelhad sinned against the LORD their God,who had brought them up out of theland of Egypt, from under the hand ofPharaoh king of Egypt; and they hadfeared other gods,8 and had walked in the statutes of thena ons whom the LORD had cast outfrom before the children of Israel, and ofthe kings of Israel, which they had made.9Also the children of Israel secretlydid against the LORD their God thingsthat were not right, and they built forthemselves high places in all their ci es,from watchtower to for fied city.10 They set up for themselves sacredpillars and wooden images on every highhill and under every green tree.11 There they burned incense on all thehigh places, like the na ons whom the

2 KINGS 17 102LORD had carried away before them;and they did wicked things to provokethe LORD to anger,12 for they served idols, of which theLORD had said to them, "You shall not dothis thing."13 Yet the LORD tes fied against Israeland against Judah, by all of His prophets,every seer, saying, "Turn from your evilways, and keep My commandments andMy statutes, according to all the lawwhich I commanded your fathers, andwhich I sent to you by My servants theprophets."14Nevertheless they would not hear,but s ffened their necks, like the necksof their fathers, who did not believe inthe LORD their God.15And they rejected His statutes andHis covenant that He had made withtheir fathers, and His tes monies whichHe had tes fied against them; they

2 KINGS 17 103followed idols, became idolaters, andwent a er the na ons who were allaround them, concerning whom theLORD had charged them that they shouldnot do like them.16 So they le all the commandmentsof the LORD their God, made forthemselves a molded image and twocalves, made a wooden image andworshiped all the host of heaven, andserved Baal.17And they caused their sons anddaughters to pass through the fire,prac ced witchcra and soothsaying,and sold themselves to do evil in thesight of the LORD, to provoke Him toanger.18 Therefore the LORD was very angrywith Israel, and removed them from Hissight; there was none le but the tribeof Judah alone.

2 KINGS 17 10419Also Judah did not keep thecommandments of the LORD their God,but walked in the statutes of Israel whichthey made.20And the LORD rejected all thedescendants of Israel, afflicted them,and delivered them into the hand ofplunderers, un l He had cast them fromHis sight.21 For He tore Israel from the houseof David, and they made Jeroboam theson of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam droveIsrael from following the LORD, andmade them commit a great sin.22 For the children of Israel walked in allthe sins of Jeroboam which he did; theydid not depart from them,23 un l the LORD removed Israel outof His sight, as He had said by all Hisservants the prophets. So Israel wascarried away from their own land toAssyria, as it is to this day.

2 KINGS 17 10524 Then the king of Assyria broughtpeople from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava,Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, andplaced them in the ci es of Samariainstead of the children of Israel; and theytook possession of Samaria and dwelt inits ci es.25And it was so, at the beginning oftheir dwelling there, that they did notfear the LORD; therefore the LORD sentlions among them, which killed some ofthem.26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria,saying, "The na ons whom you haveremoved and placed in the ci es ofSamaria do not know the rituals of theGod of the land; therefore He has sentlions among them, and indeed, they arekilling them because they do not knowthe rituals of the God of the land."27 Then the king of Assyria commanded,saying, "Send there one of the priests

2 KINGS 17 106whom you brought from there; let himgo and dwell there, and let him teachthem the rituals of the God of the land."28 Then one of the priests whom theyhad carried away from Samaria cameand dwelt in Bethel, and taught themhow they should fear the LORD.29However every na on con nued tomake gods of its own, and put them inthe shrines on the high places which theSamaritans had made, every na on inthe ci es where they dwelt.30 The men of Babylon made SuccothBenoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal,the men of Hamath made Ashima,31 and the Avites made Nibhaz andTartak; and the Sepharvites burned theirchildren in fire to Adrammelech andAnammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.32 So they feared the LORD, andfrom every class they appointed forthemselves priests of the high places,

2 KINGS 17 107who sacrificed for them in the shrines ofthe high places.33 They feared the LORD, yet servedtheir own gods––according to the ritualsof the na ons from among whom theywere carried away.34 To this day they con nue prac cingthe former rituals; they do not fearthe LORD, nor do they follow theirstatutes or their ordinances, or the lawand commandment which the LORDhad commanded the children of Jacob,whom He named Israel,35with whom the LORD had made acovenant and charged them, saying:"You shall not fear other gods, norbow down to them nor serve them norsacrifice to them;36 "but the LORD, who brought you upfrom the land of Egypt with great powerand an outstretched arm, Him you shall

2 KINGS 17–18 108fear, Him you shall worship, and to Himyou shall offer sacrifice.37 "And the statutes, the ordinances,the law, and the commandment whichHe wrote for you, you shall be careful toobserve forever; you shall not fear othergods.38 "And the covenant that I have madewith you, you shall not forget, nor shallyou fear other gods.39 "But the LORD your God you shallfear; and He will deliver you from thehand of all your enemies."40However they did not obey, but theyfollowed their former rituals.41 So these na ons feared the LORD, yetserved their carved images; also theirchildren and their children’s childrenhave con nued doing as their fathersdid, even to this day.

18 1Now it came to pass in the thirdyear of Hoshea the son of Elah,

2 KINGS 18 109king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son ofAhaz, king of Judah, began to reign.2He was twenty–five years old whenhe became king, and he reigned twenty–nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.3And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, according to all that hisfather David had done.4He removed the high places and brokethe sacred pillars, cut down the woodenimage and broke in pieces the bronzeserpent that Moses had made; for un lthose days the children of Israel burnedincense to it, and called it Nehushtan.5He trusted in the LORD God of Israel,so that a er him was none like himamong all the kings of Judah, nor whowere before him.6 For he held fast to the LORD; he didnot depart from following Him, but kept

2 KINGS 18 110His commandments, which the LORDhad commanded Moses.7 The LORD was with him; he prosperedwherever he went. And he rebelledagainst the king of Assyria and did notserve him.8He subdued the Philis nes, as far asGaza and its territory, from watchtowerto for fied city.9Now it came to pass in the fourth yearof King Hezekiah, which was the seventhyear of Hoshea the son of Elah, king ofIsrael, that Shalmaneser king of Assyriacame up against Samaria and besiegedit.10And at the end of three years theytook it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah,that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king ofIsrael, Samaria was taken.11 Then the king of Assyria carried Israelaway cap ve to Assyria, and put them

2 KINGS 18 111in Halah and by the Habor, the River ofGozan, and in the ci es of the Medes,12 because they did not obey the voiceof the LORD their God, but transgressedHis covenant and all that Moses theservant of the LORD had commanded;and they would neither hear nor dothem.13And in the fourteenth year of KingHezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyriacame up against all the for fied ci es ofJudah and took them.14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent tothe king of Assyria at Lachish, saying,"I have done wrong; turn away fromme; whatever you impose on me I willpay." And the king of Assyria assessedHezekiah king of Judah three hundredtalents of silver and thirty talents of gold.15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silverthat was found in the house of the LORDand in the treasuries of the king’s house.

2 KINGS 18 11216At that me Hezekiah stripped thegold from the doors of the temple ofthe LORD, and from the pillars whichHezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, andgave it to the king of Assyria.17 Then the king of Assyria sent theTartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakehfrom Lachish, with a great army againstJerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And theywent up and came to Jerusalem. Whenthey had come up, they went and stoodby the aqueduct from the upper pool,which was on the highway to the Fuller’sField.18And when they had called to theking, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who wasover the household, Shebna the scribe,and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder,came out to them.19 Then the Rabshakeh said to them,"Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the

2 KINGS 18 113great king, the king of Assyria: "Whatconfidence is this in which you trust?20 "You speak of having plans andpower for war; but they are mere words.And in whom do you trust, that yourebel against me?21 "Now look! You are trus ng in thestaff of this broken reed, Egypt, on whichif a man leans, it will go into his handand pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egyptto all who trust in him.22 "But if you say to me, ‘We trust inthe LORD our God,’ is it not He whosehigh places and whose altars Hezekiahhas taken away, and said to Judah andJerusalem, ‘You shall worship before thisaltar in Jerusalem’?"’23 "Now therefore, I urge you, givea pledge to my master the king ofAssyria, and I will give you two thousandhorses––if you are able on your part toput riders on them!

2 KINGS 18 11424 "How then will you repel one captainof the least of my master’s servants, andput your trust in Egypt for chariots andhorsemen?25 "Have I now come up without theLORD against this place to destroy it?The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against thisland, and destroy it.’"26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh,"Please speak to your servants inAramaic, for we understand it; and donot speak to us in Hebrew in the hearingof the people who are on the wall."27 But the Rabshakeh said to them,"Has my master sent me to your masterand to you to speak these words, andnot to the men who sit on the wall, whowill eat and drink their own waste withyou?"28 Then the Rabshakeh stood and calledout with a loud voice in Hebrew, and

2 KINGS 18 115spoke, saying, "Hear the word of thegreat king, the king of Assyria!29 "Thus says the king: ‘Do not letHezekiah deceive you, for he shall not beable to deliver you from his hand;30 ‘nor let Hezekiah make you trust inthe LORD, saying, "The LORD will surelydeliver us; this city shall not be giveninto the hand of the king of Assyria."’31 "Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thussays the king of Assyria: ‘Make peacewith me by a present and come out tome; and every one of you eat from hisown vine and every one from his ownfig tree, and every one of you drink thewaters of his own cistern;32 ‘un l I come and take you away toa land like your own land, a land ofgrain and new wine, a land of bread andvineyards, a land of olive groves andhoney, that you may live and not die.But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he

2 KINGS 18 116persuade you, saying, "The LORD willdeliver us."33 ‘Has any of the gods of the na onsat all delivered its land from the hand ofthe king of Assyria?34 ‘Where are the gods of Hamathand Arpad? Where are the gods ofSepharvaim and Hena and Ivah? Indeed,have they delivered Samaria from myhand?35 ‘Who among all the gods of the landshave delivered their countries frommy hand, that the LORD should deliverJerusalem from my hand?’"36 But the people held their peace andanswered him not a word; for the king’scommandment was, "Do not answerhim."37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, whowas over the household, Shebna thescribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, therecorder, came to Hezekiah with their

2 KINGS 19 117clothes torn, and told him the words ofthe Rabshakeh.

19 1And so it was, when KingHezekiah heard it, that he tore his

clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,and went into the house of the LORD.2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was overthe household, Shebna the scribe, andthe elders of the priests, covered withsackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the sonof Amoz.3And they said to him, "Thus saysHezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble,and rebuke, and blasphemy; for thechildren have come to birth, but there isno strength to bring them forth.4 ‘It may be that the LORD your Godwill hear all the words of the Rabshakeh,whom his master the king of Assyria hassent to reproach the living God, and willrebuke the words which the LORD your

2 KINGS 19 118God has heard. Therefore li up yourprayer for the remnant that is le .’"5 So the servants of King Hezekiah cameto Isaiah.6And Isaiah said to them, "Thus youshall say to your master, ‘Thus says theLORD: "Do not be afraid of the wordswhich you have heard, with which theservants of the king of Assyria haveblasphemed Me.7 "Surely I will send a spirit upon him,and he shall hear a rumor and return tohis own land; and I will cause him to fallby the sword in his own land."’"8 Then the Rabshakeh returned andfound the king of Assyria warringagainst Libnah, for he heard that he haddeparted from Lachish.9And the king heard concerningTirhakah king of Ethiopia, "Look, he hascome out to make war with you." So

2 KINGS 19 119he again sent messengers to Hezekiah,saying,10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiahking of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let yourGod in whom you trust deceive you,saying, "Jerusalem shall not be giveninto the hand of the king of Assyria."11 ‘Look! You have heard what the kingsof Assyria have done to all lands byu erly destroying them; and shall yoube delivered?12 ‘Have the gods of the na onsdelivered those whom my fathers havedestroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph,and the people of Eden who were inTelassar?13 ‘Where is the king of Hamath, theking of Arpad, and the king of the city ofSepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?’"14And Hezekiah received the le erfrom the hand of the messengers, andread it; and Hezekiah went up to the

2 KINGS 19 120house of the LORD, and spread it beforethe LORD.15 Then Hezekiah prayed before theLORD, and said: "O LORD God of Israel,the One who dwells between thecherubim, You are God, You alone, ofall the kingdoms of the earth. You havemade heaven and earth.16 "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear;open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; andhear the words of Sennacherib, whichhe has sent to reproach the living God.17 "Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyriahave laid waste the na ons and theirlands,18 "and have cast their gods into thefire; for they were not gods, but thework of men’s hands––wood and stone.Therefore they destroyed them.19 "Now therefore, O LORD our God, Ipray, save us from his hand, that all the

2 KINGS 19 121kingdoms of the earth may know thatYou are the LORD God, You alone."20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sentto Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says theLORD God of Israel: ‘Because you haveprayed to Me against Sennacherib kingof Assyria, I have heard.’21 "This is the word which the LORDhas spoken concerning him: ‘The virgin,the daughter of Zion, Has despised you,laughed you to scorn; The daughter ofJerusalem Has shaken her head behindyour back!22 ‘Whom have you reproached andblasphemed? Against whom have youraised your voice, And li ed up your eyeson high? Against the Holy One of Israel.23 By your messengers you havereproached the Lord, And said: "By themul tude of my chariots I have come upto the height of the mountains, To thelimits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall

2 KINGS 19 122cedars And its choice cypress trees; I willenter the extremity of its borders, To itsfrui ul forest.24 I have dug and drunk strange water,And with the soles of my feet I havedried up All the brooks of defense."25 ‘Did you not hear long ago HowI made it, From ancient mes that Iformed it? Now I have brought it to pass,That you should be For crushing for fiedci es into heaps of ruins.26 Therefore their inhabitants hadli le power; They were dismayed andconfounded; They were as the grassof the field And the green herb, Asthe grass on the housetops And grainblighted before it is grown.27 ‘But I know your dwelling place, Yourgoing out and your coming in, And yourrage against Me.28 Because your rage against Me andyour tumult Have come up to My ears,

2 KINGS 19 123Therefore I will put My hook in your noseAnd My bridle in your lips, And I will turnyou back By the way which you came.29 ‘This shall be a sign to you: You shalleat this year such as grows of itself, Andin the second year what springs fromthe same; Also in the third year sow andreap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit ofthem.30And the remnant who have escapedof the house of Judah Shall again takeroot downward, And bear fruit upward.31 For out of Jerusalem shall go aremnant, And those who escape fromMount Zion. The zeal of the LORD ofhosts will do this.’32 "Therefore thus says the LORDconcerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shallnot come into this city, Nor shoot anarrow there, Nor come before it withshield, Nor build a siege mound againstit.

2 KINGS 19 12433 By the way that he came, By thesame shall he return; And he shall notcome into this city,’ Says the LORD.34 ‘For I will defend this city, to save itFor My own sake and for My servantDavid’s sake.’"35And it came to pass on a certain nightthat the angel of the LORD went out, andkilled in the camp of the Assyrians onehundred and eighty–five thousand; andwhen people arose early in the morning,there were the corpses––all dead.36 So Sennacherib king of Assyriadeparted and went away, returnedhome, and remained at Nineveh.37Now it came to pass, as he wasworshiping in the temple of Nisrochhis god, that his sons Adrammelechand Sharezer struck him down with thesword; and they escaped into the land ofArarat. Then Esarhaddon his son reignedin his place.

2 KINGS 20 125

20 1 In those days Hezekiah was sickand near death. And Isaiah the

prophet, the son of Amoz, went to himand said to him, "Thus says the LORD:‘Set your house in order, for you shalldie, and not live.’"2 Then he turned his face toward thewall, and prayed to the LORD, saying,3 "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, howI have walked before You in truth andwith a loyal heart, and have done whatwas good in Your sight." And Hezekiahwept bi erly.4And it happened, before Isaiah hadgone out into the middle court, that theword of the LORD came to him, saying,5 "Return and tell Hezekiah the leaderof My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, theGod of David your father: "I have heardyour prayer, I have seen your tears;surely I will heal you. On the third dayyou shall go up to the house of the LORD.

2 KINGS 20 1266 "And I will add to your days fi eenyears. I will deliver you and this city fromthe hand of the king of Assyria; and I willdefend this city for My own sake, and forthe sake of My servant David."’"7 Then Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs."So they took and laid it on the boil, andhe recovered.8And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Whatis the sign that the LORD will heal me,and that I shall go up to the house of theLORD the third day?"9 Then Isaiah said, "This is the sign toyou from the LORD, that the LORD willdo the thing which He has spoken: shallthe shadow go forward ten degrees orgo backward ten degrees?"10And Hezekiah answered, "It is aneasy thing for the shadow to go downten degrees; no, but let the shadow gobackward ten degrees."

2 KINGS 20 12711 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to theLORD, and He brought the shadow tendegrees backward, by which it had gonedown on the sundial of Ahaz.12At that me Berodach–Baladan theson of Baladan, king of Babylon, sentle ers and a present to Hezekiah, for heheard that Hezekiah had been sick.13And Hezekiah was a en ve to them,and showed them all the house of histreasures––the silver and gold, thespices and precious ointment, and allhis armory––all that was found amonghis treasures. There was nothing inhis house or in all his dominion thatHezekiah did not show them.14 Then Isaiah the prophet went to KingHezekiah, and said to him, "What didthese men say, and from where did theycome to you?" So Hezekiah said, "Theycame from a far country, from Babylon."

2 KINGS 20 12815And he said, "What have they seenin your house?" So Hezekiah answered,"They have seen all that is in my house;there is nothing among my treasuresthat I have not shown them."16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hearthe word of the LORD:17 ‘Behold, the days are coming whenall that is in your house, and what yourfathers have accumulated un l this day,shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shallbe le ,’ says the LORD.18 ‘And they shall take away some ofyour sons who will descend from you,whom you will beget; and they shallbe eunuchs in the palace of the king ofBabylon.’"19 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The wordof the LORD which you have spoken isgood!" For he said, "Will there not bepeace and truth at least in my days?"

2 KINGS 20–21 12920Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah––all his might, and how he made a pooland a tunnel and brought water into thecity––are they not wri en in the book ofthe chronicles of the kings of Judah?21 So Hezekiah rested with his fathers.Then Manasseh his son reigned in hisplace.

21 1Manasseh was twelve years oldwhen he became king, and he

reigned fi y–five years in Jerusalem. Hismother’s name was Hephzibah.2And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to the abomina ons ofthe na ons whom the LORD had cast outbefore the children of Israel.3 For he rebuilt the high places whichHezekiah his father had destroyed; heraised up altars for Baal, and made awooden image, as Ahab king of Israelhad done; and he worshiped all the hostof heaven and served them.

2 KINGS 21 1304He also built altars in the house of theLORD, of which the LORD had said, "InJerusalem I will put My name."5And he built altars for all the host ofheaven in the two courts of the house ofthe LORD.6Also he made his son pass throughthe fire, prac ced soothsaying, usedwitchcra , and consulted spiri sts andmediums. He did much evil in the sightof the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.7He even set a carved image of Asherahthat he had made, in the house of whichthe LORD had said to David and toSolomon his son, "In this house and inJerusalem, which I have chosen out ofall the tribes of Israel, I will put My nameforever;8 "and I will not make the feet of Israelwander anymore from the land whichI gave their fathers––only if they arecareful to do according to all that I

2 KINGS 21 131have commanded them, and accordingto all the law that My servant Mosescommanded them."9 But they paid no a en on, andManasseh seduced them to do more evilthan the na ons whom the LORD haddestroyed before the children of Israel.10And the LORD spoke by His servantsthe prophets, saying,11 "BecauseManasseh king of Judah hasdone these abomina ons (he has actedmore wickedly than all the Amorites whowere before him, and has also madeJudah sin with his idols),12 "therefore thus says the LORD Godof Israel: ‘Behold, I am bringing suchcalamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, thatwhoever hears of it, both his ears willngle.13 ‘And I will stretch over Jerusalemthe measuring line of Samaria and theplummet of the house of Ahab; I will

2 KINGS 21 132wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish,wiping it and turning it upside down.14 ‘So I will forsake the remnant of Myinheritance and deliver them into thehand of their enemies; and they shallbecome vic ms of plunder to all theirenemies,15 ‘because they have done evil in Mysight, and have provoked Me to angersince the day their fathers came out ofEgypt, even to this day.’"16Moreover Manasseh shed verymuch innocent blood, ll he had filledJerusalem from one end to another,besides his sin by which he made Judahsin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.17Now the rest of the acts ofManasseh––all that he did, and thesin that he commi ed––are they notwri en in the book of the chronicles ofthe kings of Judah?

2 KINGS 21 13318 So Manasseh rested with his fathers,and was buried in the garden of his ownhouse, in the garden of Uzza. Then hisson Amon reigned in his place.19Amon was twenty–two years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedtwo years in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Meshullemeth the daughterof Haruz of Jotbah.20And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, as his father Manasseh had done.21 So he walked in all the ways that hisfather had walked; and he served theidols that his father had served, andworshiped them.22He forsook the LORD God of hisfathers, and did not walk in the way ofthe LORD.23 Then the servants of Amon conspiredagainst him, and killed the king in hisown house.

2 KINGS 21–22 13424 But the people of the land executedall those who had conspired againstKing Amon. Then the people of the landmade his son Josiah king in his place.25Now the rest of the acts of Amonwhich he did, are they not wri en in thebook of the chronicles of the kings ofJudah?26And he was buried in his tomb inthe garden of Uzza. Then Josiah his sonreigned in his place.

22 1 Josiah was eight years oldwhen he became king, and he

reigned thirty–one years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Jedidah thedaughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.2And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, and walked in all the waysof his father David; he did not turn asideto the right hand or to the le .3Now it came to pass, in the eighteenthyear of King Josiah, that the king sent

2 KINGS 22 135Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah,the son of Meshullam, to the house ofthe LORD, saying:4 "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, thathe may count the money which has beenbrought into the house of the LORD,which the doorkeepers have gatheredfrom the people.5 "And let them deliver it into the handof those doing the work, who are theoverseers in the house of the LORD; letthem give it to those who are in thehouse of the LORD doing the work, torepair the damages of the house––6 "to carpenters and builders andmasons––and to buy mber and hewnstone to repair the house.7 "However there need be noaccoun ng made with them of themoney delivered into their hand,because they deal faithfully."

2 KINGS 22 1368 Then Hilkiah the high priest said toShaphan the scribe, "I have found theBook of the Law in the house of theLORD." And Hilkiah gave the book toShaphan, and he read it.9 So Shaphan the scribe went to theking, bringing the king word, saying,"Your servants have gathered the moneythat was found in the house, and havedelivered it into the hand of those whodo the work, who oversee the house ofthe LORD."10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed theking, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has givenme a book." And Shaphan read it beforethe king.11Now it happened, when the kingheard the words of the Book of the Law,that he tore his clothes.12 Then the king commanded Hilkiahthe priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan,Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan

2 KINGS 22 137the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of theking, saying,13 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, forthe people and for all Judah, concerningthe words of this book that has beenfound; for great is the wrath of the LORDthat is aroused against us, because ourfathers have not obeyed the words ofthis book, to do according to all that iswri en concerning us."14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor,Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah theprophetess, the wife of Shallum the sonof Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper ofthe wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalemin the Second Quarter.) And they spokewith her.15 Then she said to them, "Thus saysthe LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the manwho sent you to Me,16 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I willbring calamity on this place and on its

2 KINGS 22 138inhabitants––all the words of the bookwhich the king of Judah has read––17 ‘because they have forsaken Meand burned incense to other gods, thatthey might provoke Me to anger with allthe works of their hands. Therefore Mywrath shall be aroused against this placeand shall not be quenched.’"’18 "But as for the king of Judah, whosent you to inquire of the LORD, in thismanner you shall speak to him, ‘Thussays the LORD God of Israel: "Concerningthe words which you have heard––19 "because your heart was tender, andyou humbled yourself before the LORDwhen you heard what I spoke againstthis place and against its inhabitants,that they would become a desola onand a curse, and you tore your clothesand wept before Me, I also have heardyou," says the LORD.

2 KINGS 22–23 13920 "Surely, therefore, I will gather you toyour fathers, and you shall be gatheredto your grave in peace; and your eyesshall not see all the calamity which I willbring on this place."’" So they broughtback word to the king.

23 1Now the king sent them togather all the elders of Judah and

Jerusalem to him.2 The king went up to the house ofthe LORD with all the men of Judah,and with him all the inhabitants ofJerusalem––the priests and the prophetsand all the people, both small and great.And he read in their hearing all thewords of the Book of the Covenantwhich had been found in the house ofthe LORD.3 Then the king stood by a pillar andmade a covenant before the LORD,to follow the LORD and to keep Hiscommandments and His tes monies

2 KINGS 23 140and His statutes, with all his heart andall his soul, to perform the words of thiscovenant that were wri en in this book.And all the people took a stand for thecovenant.4And the king commanded Hilkiah thehigh priest, the priests of the secondorder, and the doorkeepers, to bring outof the temple of the LORD all the ar clesthat were made for Baal, for Asherah,and for all the host of heaven; and heburned them outside Jerusalem in thefields of Kidron, and carried their ashesto Bethel.5 Then he removed the idolatrouspriests whom the kings of Judah hadordained to burn incense on the highplaces in the ci es of Judah and in theplaces all around Jerusalem, and thosewho burned incense to Baal, to the sun,to the moon, to the constella ons, andto all the host of heaven.

2 KINGS 23 1416And he brought out the woodenimage from the house of the LORD, tothe Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem,burned it at the Brook Kidron and groundit to ashes, and threw its ashes on thegraves of the common people.7 Then he tore down the ritual boothsof the perverted persons that werein the house of the LORD, where thewomen wove hangings for the woodenimage.8And he brought all the priests fromthe ci es of Judah, and defiled the highplaces where the priests had burnedincense, from Geba to Beersheba; alsohe broke down the high places at thegates which were at the entrance of theGate of Joshua the governor of the city,which were to the le of the city gate.9Nevertheless the priests of the highplaces did not come up to the altar of

2 KINGS 23 142the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ateunleavened bread among their brethren.10And he defiled Topheth, which is inthe Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that noman might make his son or his daughterpass through the fire to Molech.11 Then he removed the horses that thekings of Judah had dedicated to the sun,at the entrance to the house of the LORD,by the chamber of Nathan–Melech, theofficer who was in the court; and heburned the chariots of the sun with fire.12 The altars that were on the roof, theupper chamber of Ahaz, which the kingsof Judah had made, and the altars whichManasseh had made in the two courtsof the house of the LORD, the king brokedown and pulverized there, and threwtheir dust into the Brook Kidron.13 Then the king defiled the high placesthat were east of Jerusalem, which wereon the south of theMount of Corrup on,

2 KINGS 23 143which Solomon king of Israel had builtfor Ashtoreth the abomina on of theSidonians, for Chemosh the abomina onof the Moabites, and for Milcom theabomina on of the people of Ammon.14And he broke in pieces the sacredpillars and cut down the wooden images,and filled their places with the bones ofmen.15Moreover the altar that was atBethel, and the high place whichJeroboam the son of Nebat, who madeIsrael sin, had made, both that altar andthe high place he broke down; and heburned the high place and crushed it topowder, and burned the wooden image.16As Josiah turned, he saw the tombsthat were there on the mountain. Andhe sent and took the bones out of thetombs and burned them on the altar, anddefiled it according to the word of the

2 KINGS 23 144LORD which the man of God proclaimed,who proclaimed these words.17 Then he said, "What gravestoneis this that I see?" So the men of thecity told him, "It is the tomb of theman of God who came from Judah andproclaimed these things which you havedone against the altar of Bethel."18And he said, "Let him alone; let noone move his bones." So they let hisbones alone, with the bones of theprophet who came from Samaria.19Now Josiah also took away all theshrines of the high places that were inthe ci es of Samaria, which the kings ofIsrael had made to provoke the LORD toanger; and he did to them according toall the deeds he had done in Bethel.20He executed all the priests of the highplaces who were there, on the altars,and burned men’s bones on them; andhe returned to Jerusalem.

2 KINGS 23 14521 Then the king commanded all thepeople, saying, "Keep the Passover tothe LORD your God, as it is wri en in thisBook of the Covenant."22 Such a Passover surely had neverbeen held since the days of the judgeswho judged Israel, nor in all the days ofthe kings of Israel and the kings of Judah.23 But in the eighteenth year of KingJosiah this Passover was held before theLORD in Jerusalem.24Moreover Josiah put away thosewho consulted mediums and spiri sts,the household gods and idols, all theabomina ons that were seen in the landof Judah and in Jerusalem, that he mightperform the words of the law whichwere wri en in the book that Hilkiah thepriest found in the house of the LORD.25Now before him there was no kinglike him, who turned to the LORD withall his heart, with all his soul, and with

2 KINGS 23 146all his might, according to all the Law ofMoses; nor a er him did any arise likehim.26Nevertheless the LORD did not turnfrom the fierceness of His great wrath,with which His anger was arousedagainst Judah, because of all theprovoca ons with which Manasseh hadprovoked Him.27And the LORD said, "I will alsoremove Judah from My sight, as I haveremoved Israel, and will cast off this cityJerusalem which I have chosen, and thehouse of which I said, ‘My name shall bethere.’"28Now the rest of the acts of Josiah,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah?29 In his days Pharaoh Necho king ofEgypt went to the aid of the king ofAssyria, to the River Euphrates; and King

2 KINGS 23 147Josiah went against him. And PharaohNecho killed him at Megiddo when heconfronted him.30 Then his servants moved his body ina chariot from Megiddo, brought him toJerusalem, and buried him in his owntomb. And the people of the land tookJehoahaz the son of Josiah, anointedhim, and made him king in his father’splace.31 Jehoahaz was twenty–three years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedthree months in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Hamutal the daughter ofJeremiah of Libnah.32And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to all that his fathershad done.33Now Pharaoh Necho put him inprison at Riblah in the land of Hamath,that he might not reign in Jerusalem;and he imposed on the land a tribute

2 KINGS 23 148of one hundred talents of silver and atalent of gold.34 Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakimthe son of Josiah king in place of hisfather Josiah, and changed his name toJehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahazand went to Egypt, and he died there.35 So Jehoiakim gave the silver and goldto Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to givemoney according to the command ofPharaoh; he exacted the silver and goldfrom the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to giveit to Pharaoh Necho.36 Jehoiakim was twenty–five years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedeleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Zebudah the daughter ofPedaiah of Rumah.37And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to all that his fathershad done.

2 KINGS 24 149

24 1 In his days Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon came up, and

Jehoiakim became his vassal for threeyears. Then he turned and rebelledagainst him.2And the LORD sent against him raidingbands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians,bands of Moabites, and bands of thepeople of Ammon; He sent them againstJudah to destroy it, according to theword of the LORD which He had spokenby His servants the prophets.3 Surely at the commandment of theLORD this came upon Judah, to removethem from His sight because of the sinsof Manasseh, according to all that hehad done,4 and also because of the innocentblood that he had shed; for he had filledJerusalem with innocent blood, whichthe LORD would not pardon.

2 KINGS 24 1505Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim,and all that he did, are they not wri enin the book of the chronicles of the kingsof Judah?6 So Jehoiakim rested with his fathers.Then Jehoiachin his son reigned in hisplace.7And the king of Egypt did not comeout of his land anymore, for the kingof Babylon had taken all that belongedto the king of Egypt from the Brook ofEgypt to the River Euphrates.8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years oldwhen he became king, and he reigned inJerusalem three months. His mother’sname was Nehushta the daughter ofElnathan of Jerusalem.9And he did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to all that his father haddone.10At that me the servants ofNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came

2 KINGS 24 151up against Jerusalem, and the city wasbesieged.11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babyloncame against the city, as his servantswere besieging it.12 Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, hismother, his servants, his princes, and hisofficers went out to the king of Babylon;and the king of Babylon, in the eighthyear of his reign, took him prisoner.13And he carried out from there all thetreasures of the house of the LORD andthe treasures of the king’s house, andhe cut in pieces all the ar cles of goldwhich Solomon king of Israel had madein the temple of the LORD, as the LORDhad said.14Also he carried into cap vity allJerusalem: all the captains and all themighty men of valor, ten thousandcap ves, and all the cra smen and

2 KINGS 24 152smiths. None remained except thepoorest people of the land.15And he carried Jehoiachin cap ve toBabylon. The king’s mother, the king’swives, his officers, and the mighty ofthe land he carried into cap vity fromJerusalem to Babylon.16All the valiant men, seven thousand,and cra smen and smiths, onethousand, all who were strong and fit forwar, these the king of Babylon broughtcap ve to Babylon.17 Then the king of Babylon madeMa aniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king inhis place, and changed his name toZedekiah.18 Zedekiah was twenty–one years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedeleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Hamutal the daughter ofJeremiah of Libnah.

2 KINGS 24–25 15319He also did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to all that Jehoiakimhad done.20 For because of the anger of theLORD this happened in Jerusalem andJudah, that He finally cast them out fromHis presence. Then Zedekiah rebelledagainst the king of Babylon.

25 1Now it came to pass in the ninthyear of his reign, in the tenth

month, on the tenth day of the month,that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonand all his army came against Jerusalemand encamped against it; and they builta siege wall against it all around.2 So the city was besieged un l theeleventh year of King Zedekiah.3 By the ninth day of the fourth monththe famine had become so severe inthe city that there was no food for thepeople of the land.

2 KINGS 25 1544 Then the city wall was brokenthrough, and all the men of war fled atnight by way of the gate between twowalls, which was by the king’s garden,even though the Chaldeans were s llencamped all around against the city.And the king went by way of the plain.5 But the army of the Chaldeanspursued the king, and they overtook himin the plains of Jericho. All his army wassca ered from him.6 So they took the king and brought himup to the king of Babylon at Riblah, andthey pronounced judgment on him.7 Then they killed the sons of Zedekiahbefore his eyes, put out the eyes ofZedekiah, bound himwith bronze fe ers,and took him to Babylon.8And in the fi h month, on the seventhday of the month (which was thenineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the

2 KINGS 25 155captain of the guard, a servant of theking of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.9He burned the house of the LORDand the king’s house; all the houses ofJerusalem, that is, all the houses of thegreat, he burned with fire.10And all the army of the Chaldeanswho were with the captain of the guardbroke down the walls of Jerusalem allaround.11 Then Nebuzaradan the captain ofthe guard carried away cap ve the restof the people who remained in the cityand the defectors who had deserted tothe king of Babylon, with the rest of themul tude.12 But the captain of the guard le someof the poor of the land as vinedressersand farmers.13 The bronze pillars that were in thehouse of the LORD, and the carts andthe bronze Sea that were in the house of

2 KINGS 25 156the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces,and carried their bronze to Babylon.14 They also took away the pots, theshovels, the trimmers, the spoons, andall the bronze utensils with which thepriests ministered.15 The firepans and the basins, thethings of solid gold and solid silver, thecaptain of the guard took away.16 The two pillars, one Sea, and thecarts, which Solomon had made for thehouse of the LORD, the bronze of allthese ar cles was beyond measure.17 The height of one pillar was eighteencubits, and the capital on it was ofbronze. The height of the capital wasthree cubits, and the network andpomegranates all around the capitalwere all of bronze. The second pillar wasthe same, with a network.18And the captain of the guard tookSeraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah

2 KINGS 25 157the second priest, and the threedoorkeepers.19He also took out of the city an officerwho had charge of the men of war,five men of the king’s close associateswho were found in the city, the chiefrecrui ng officer of the army, whomustered the people of the land, andsixty men of the people of the land whowere found in the city.20 So Nebuzaradan, captain of theguard, took these and brought them tothe king of Babylon at Riblah.21 Then the king of Babylon struck themand put them to death at Riblah in theland of Hamath. Thus Judah was carriedaway cap ve from its own land.22 Then he made Gedaliah the son ofAhikam, the son of Shaphan, governorover the people who remained in theland of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon had le .

2 KINGS 25 15823Now when all the captains of thearmies, they and their men, heard thatthe king of Babylon had made Gedaliahgovernor, they came to Gedaliah atMizpah––Ishmael the son of Nethaniah,Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah theson of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, andJaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, theyand their men.24And Gedaliah took an oath beforethem and their men, and said to them,"Do not be afraid of the servants of theChaldeans. Dwell in the land and servethe king of Babylon, and it shall be wellwith you."25 But it happened in the seventhmonththat Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, theson of Elishama, of the royal family,came with ten men and struck andkilled Gedaliah, the Jews, as well asthe Chaldeans who were with him atMizpah.

2 KINGS 25 15926And all the people, small and great,and the captains of the armies, aroseand went to Egypt; for they were afraidof the Chaldeans.27Now it came to pass in thethirty–seventh year of the cap vity ofJehoiachin king of Judah, in the twel hmonth, on the twenty–seventh day ofthe month, that Evil–Merodach king ofBabylon, in the year that he began toreign, released Jehoiachin king of Judahfrom prison.28He spoke kindly to him, and gave hima more prominent seat than those of thekings who were with him in Babylon.29 So Jehoiachin changed from hisprison garments, and he ate breadregularly before the king all the days ofhis life.30And as for his provisions, there wasa regular ra on given him by the king, a

2 KINGS 25 160por on for each day, all the days of hislife.

1 Chronicles

1 1Adam, Seth, Enosh,2 Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared,

3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.5 The sons of Japheth were Gomer,Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech,and Tiras.6 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz,Diphath, and Togarmah.7 The sons of Javan were Elishah,Tarshishah, Ki m, and Rodanim.8 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim,Put, and Canaan.9 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah,Sabta, Raama, and Sabtecha. The sons ofRaama were Sheba and Dedan.10 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be amighty one on the earth.

1 CHRONICLES 1 211Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim,Lehabim, Naphtuhim,12 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whomcame the Philis nes and the Caphtorim).13 Canaan begot Sidon, his firstborn,and Heth;14 the Jebusite, the Amorite, and theGirgashite;15 the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;16 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and theHamathite.17 The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur,Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether,and Meshech.18Arphaxad begot Shelah, and Shelahbegot Eber.19 To Eber were born two sons: thename of one was Peleg, for in his daysthe earth was divided; and his brother’sname was Joktan.20 Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph,Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

1 CHRONICLES 1 321Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All thesewere the sons of Joktan.24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,26 Serug, Nahor, Terah,27 and Abram, who is Abraham.28 The sons of Abraham were Isaac andIshmael.29 These are their genealogies: Thefirstborn of Ishmael was Nebajoth; thenKedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad,Tema,31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. Thesewere the sons of Ishmael.32Now the sons born to Keturah,Abraham’s concubine, were Zimran,Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, andShuah. The sons of Jokshan were Shebaand Dedan.

1 CHRONICLES 1 433 The sons of Midian were Ephah,Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. Allthese were the children of Keturah.34And Abraham begot Isaac. The sonsof Isaac were Esau and Israel.35 The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel,Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.36And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman,Omar, Zephi, Gatam, and Kenaz; and byTimna, Amalek.37 The sons of Reuel were Nahath,Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.38 The sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal,Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.39And the sons of Lotan were Hori andHomam; Lotan’s sister was Timna.40 The sons of Shobal were Alian,Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Thesons of Zibeon were Ajah and Anah.41 The son of Anah was Dishon. Thesons of Dishon were Hamran, Eshban,Ithran, and Cheran.

1 CHRONICLES 1 542 The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan,and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan were Uzand Aran.43Now these were the kings whoreigned in the land of Edom before aking reigned over the children of Israel:Bela the son of Beor, and the name ofhis city was Dinhabah.44And when Bela died, Jobab the sonof Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.45When Jobab died, Husham of theland of the Temanites reigned in hisplace.46And when Husham died, Hadad theson of Bedad, who a acked Midian inthe field of Moab, reigned in his place.The name of his city was Avith.47When Hadad died, Samlah ofMasrekah reigned in his place.48And when Samlah died, Saul ofRehoboth–by–the–River reigned in hisplace.

1 CHRONICLES 1–2 649When Saul died, Baal–Hanan the sonof Achbor reigned in his place.50And when Baal–Hanan died, Hadadreigned in his place; and the name ofhis city was Pai. His wife’s name wasMehetabel the daughter of Matred, thedaughter of Mezahab.51Hadad died also. And the chiefs ofEdom were Chief Timnah, Chief Aliah,Chief Jetheth,52 Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, ChiefPinon,53 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, ChiefMibzar,54 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. Thesewere the chiefs of Edom.

2 1 These were the sons of Israel:Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,

Issachar, Zebulun,2Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad,and Asher.

1 CHRONICLES 2 73 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, andShelah. These three were born to him bythe daughter of Shua, the Canaanitess.Er, the firstborn of Judah, was wicked inthe sight of the LORD; so He killed him.4And Tamar, his daughter–in–law, borehim Perez and Zerah. All the sons ofJudah were five.5 The sons of Perez were Hezron andHamul.6 The sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan,Heman, Calcol, and Dara––five of themin all.7 The son of Carmi was Achar, thetroubler of Israel, who transgressed inthe accursed thing.8 The son of Ethan was Azariah.9Also the sons of Hezron who wereborn to him were Jerahmeel, Ram, andChelubai.

1 CHRONICLES 2 810 Ram begot Amminadab, andAmminadab begot Nahshon, leader ofthe children of Judah;11Nahshon begot Salma, and Salmabegot Boaz;12 Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begotJesse;13 Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn,Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,14Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fi h,15Ozem the sixth, and David theseventh.16Now their sisters were Zeruiah andAbigail. And the sons of Zeruiah wereAbishai, Joab, and Asahel––three.17Abigail bore Amasa; and the father ofAmasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.18 Caleb the son of Hezron had childrenby Azubah, his wife, and by Jerioth. Nowthese were her sons: Jesher, Shobab,and Ardon.

1 CHRONICLES 2 919When Azubah died, Caleb tookEphrath as his wife, who bore him Hur.20And Hur begot Uri, and Uri begotBezalel.21Now a erward Hezron went in to thedaughter of Machir the father of Gilead,whom he married when he was sixtyyears old; and she bore him Segub.22 Segub begot Jair, who had twenty–three ci es in the land of Gilead.23 (Geshur and Syria took from themthe towns of Jair, with Kenath and itstowns––sixty towns.) All these belongedto the sons of Machir the father ofGilead.24A er Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah,Hezron’s wife Abijah bore him Ashhurthe father of Tekoa.25 The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstbornof Hezron, were Ram, the firstborn, andBunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.

1 CHRONICLES 2 1026 Jerahmeel had another wife, whosename was Atarah; she was the motherof Onam.27 The sons of Ram, the firstborn ofJerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.28 The sons of Onam were Shammaiand Jada. The sons of Shammai wereNadab and Abishur.29And the name of the wife of Abishurwas Abihail, and she bore him Ahbanand Molid.30 The sons of Nadab were Seled andAppaim; Seled died without children.31 The son of Appaim was Ishi, the sonof Ishi was Sheshan, and Sheshan’s childwas Ahlai.32 The sons of Jada, the brother ofShammai, were Jether and Jonathan;Jether died without children.33 The sons of Jonathan were Pelethand Zaza. These were the sons ofJerahmeel.

1 CHRONICLES 2 1134Now Sheshan had no sons, onlydaughters. And Sheshan had an Egyp anservant whose name was Jarha.35 Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarhahis servant as wife, and she bore himA ai.36A ai begot Nathan, and Nathanbegot Zabad;37 Zabad begot Ephlal, and Ephlal begotObed;38Obed begot Jehu, and Jehu begotAzariah;39Azariah begot Helez, and Helez begotEleasah;40 Eleasah begot Sismai, and Sismaibegot Shallum;41 Shallum begot Jekamiah, andJekamiah begot Elishama.42 The descendants of Caleb the brotherof Jerahmeel were Mesha, his firstborn,who was the father of Ziph, and the sonsof Mareshah the father of Hebron.

1 CHRONICLES 2 1243 The sons of Hebron were Korah,Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.44 Shema begot Raham the father ofJorkoam, and Rekem begot Shammai.45And the son of Shammai was Maon,and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.46 Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, boreHaran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haranbegot Gazez.47And the sons of Jahdai were Regem,Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, andShaaph.48Maachah, Caleb’s concubine, boreSheber and Tirhanah.49 She also bore Shaaph the fatherof Madmannah, Sheva the father ofMachbenah and the father of Gibea. Andthe daughter of Caleb was Achsah.50 These were the descendants ofCaleb: The sons of Hur, the firstborn ofEphrathah, were Shobal the father ofKirjath Jearim,

1 CHRONICLES 2–3 1351 Salma the father of Bethlehem, andHareph the father of Beth Gader.52And Shobal the father of KirjathJearim had descendants: Haroeh, andhalf of the families of Manuhoth.53 The families of Kirjath Jearimwere the Ithrites, the Puthites, theShumathites, and the Mishraites. Fromthese came the Zorathites and theEshtaolites.54 The sons of Salma were Bethlehem,the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, halfof the Manahethites, and the Zorites.55And the families of the scribes whodwelt at Jabez were the Tirathites,the Shimeathites, and the Suchathites.These were the Kenites who came fromHammath, the father of the house ofRechab.

3 1Now these were the sons of Davidwho were born to him in Hebron:

The firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam

1 CHRONICLES 3 14the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, byAbigail the Carmelitess;2 the third, Absalom the son of Maacah,the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;3 the fi h, Shepha ah, by Abital; thesixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.4 These six were born to him in Hebron.There he reigned seven years and sixmonths, and in Jerusalem he reignedthirty–three years.5And these were born to him inJerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan,and Solomon––four by Bathshua thedaughter of Ammiel.6Also there were Ibhar, Elishama,Eliphelet,7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet––ninein all.

1 CHRONICLES 3 159 These were all the sons of David,besides the sons of the concubines, andTamar their sister.10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam;Abijah was his son, Asa his son,Jehoshaphat his son,11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joashhis son,12Amaziah his son, Azariah his son,Jotham his son,13Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son,Manasseh his son,14Amon his son, and Josiah his son.15 The sons of Josiah were Johananthe firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, thethird Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.16 The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiahhis son and Zedekiah his son.17And the sons of Jeconiah were Assir,Sheal el his son,18 and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar,Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

1 CHRONICLES 3–4 1619 The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabeland Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabelwere Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomiththeir sister,20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah,Hasadiah, and Jushab–Hesed––five inall.21 The sons of Hananiah were Pela ahand Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, thesons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, andthe sons of Shechaniah.22 The son of Shechaniahwas Shemaiah.The sons of Shemaiah were Ha ush, Igal,Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat––six in all.23 The sons of Neariah were Elioenai,Hezekiah, and Azrikam––three in all.24 The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah,Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan,Delaiah, and Anani––seven in all.

4 1 The sons of Judah were Perez,Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.

1 CHRONICLES 4 172And Reaiah the son of Shobal begotJahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai andLahad. These were the families of theZorathites.3 These were the sons of the father ofEtam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; andthe name of their sister was Hazelelponi;4 and Penuel was the father of Gedor,and Ezer was the father of Hushah.These were the sons of Hur, the firstbornof Ephrathah the father of Bethlehem.5And Ashhur the father of Tekoa hadtwo wives, Helah and Naarah.6Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher,Temeni, and Haahashtari. These werethe sons of Naarah.7 The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar,and Ethnan;8 and Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, andthe families of Aharhel the son of Harum.9Now Jabez was more honorable thanhis brothers, and his mother called his

1 CHRONICLES 4 18name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore himin pain."10And Jabez called on the God of Israelsaying, "Oh, that You would bless meindeed, and enlarge my territory, thatYour hand would be with me, and thatYou would keep me from evil, that I maynot cause pain!" So God granted himwhat he requested.11 Chelub the brother of Shuhah begotMehir, who was the father of Eshton.12And Eshton begot Beth–Rapha,Paseah, and Tehinnah the father ofIr–Nahash. These were the men ofRechah.13 The sons of Kenaz were Othnieland Seraiah. The sons of Othniel wereHathath,14 and Meonothai who begot Ophrah.Seraiah begot Joab the father of GeHarashim, for they were cra smen.

1 CHRONICLES 4 1915 The sons of Caleb the son ofJephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam.The son of Elah was Kenaz.16 The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph,Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.17 The sons of Ezrah were Jether,Mered, Epher, and Jalon. And Mered’swife bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbahthe father of Eshtemoa.18 (His wife Jehudijah bore Jered thefather of Gedor, Heber the father ofSochoh, and Jekuthiel the father ofZanoah.) And these were the sons ofBithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whomMered took.19 The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sisterof Naham, were the fathers of Keilahthe Garmite and of Eshtemoa theMaachathite.20And the sons of Shimon wereAmnon, Rinnah, Ben–Hanan, and Tilon.

1 CHRONICLES 4 20And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth andBen–Zoheth.21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judahwere Er the father of Lecah, Laadah thefather of Mareshah, and the families ofthe house of the linen workers of thehouse of Ashbea;22 also Jokim, the men of Chozeba, andJoash; Saraph, who ruled in Moab, andJashubi–Lehem. Now the records areancient.23 These were the po ers and thosewho dwell at Netaim and Gederah; therethey 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, andMishma his son.26And the sons of Mishma wereHamuel his son, Zacchur his son, andShimei his son.

1 CHRONICLES 4 2127 Shimei had sixteen sons and sixdaughters; but his brothers did nothave many children, nor did any of theirfamilies mul ply as much as the childrenof Judah.28 They dwelt at Beersheba, Moladah,Hazar Shual,29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,31 Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, BethBiri, and at Shaaraim. These were theirci es un l the reign of David.32And their villages were Etam, Ain,Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan––fiveci es––33 and all the villages that werearound these ci es as far as Baal. Thesewere their dwelling places, and theymaintained their genealogy:34Meshobab, Jamlech, and Joshah theson of Amaziah;

1 CHRONICLES 4 2235 Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah,the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel;36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah,Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah;37 Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son ofAllon, the son of Jedaiah, the son ofShimri, the son of Shemaiah––38 these men oned by name wereleaders in their families, and theirfather’s house increased greatly.39 So they went to the entrance ofGedor, as far as the east side of thevalley, to seek pasture for their flocks.40And they found rich, good pasture,and the land was broad, quiet, andpeaceful; for some Hamites formerlylived there.41 These recorded by name came in thedays of Hezekiah king of Judah; and theya acked their tents and the Meuniteswho were found there, and u erlydestroyed them, as it is to this day. So

1 CHRONICLES 4–5 23they dwelt in their place, because therewas pasture for their flocks there.42Now some of them, five hundredmen of the sons of Simeon, went toMount Seir, having as their captainsPela ah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel,the sons of Ishi.43And they defeated the rest of theAmalekites who had escaped. They havedwelt there to this day.

5 1Now the sons of Reuben thefirstborn of Israel––he was indeed

the firstborn, but because he defiled hisfather’s bed, his birthright was given tothe sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, sothat the genealogy is not listed accordingto the birthright;2 yet Judah prevailed over his brothers,and from him came a ruler, although thebirthright was Joseph’s––

1 CHRONICLES 5 243 the sons of Reuben the firstborn ofIsrael were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, andCarmi.4 The sons of Joel were Shemaiah hisson, Gog his son, Shimei his son,5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal hisson,6 and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria carried intocap vity. He was leader of theReubenites.7And his brethren by their families,when the genealogy of their genera onswas registered: the chief, Jeiel, andZechariah,8 and Bela the son of Azaz, the son ofShema, the son of Joel, who dwelt inAroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.9 Eastward they se led as far as theentrance of the wilderness this side ofthe River Euphrates, because their ca lehad mul plied in the land of Gilead.

1 CHRONICLES 5 2510Now in the days of Saul they madewar with the Hagrites, who fell by theirhand; and they dwelt in their tentsthroughout the en re area east ofGilead.11And the children of Gad dwelt nextto them in the land of Bashan as far asSalcah:12 Joel was the chief, Shapham the next,then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan,13 and their brethren of their father’shouse: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba,Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Eber––seven in all.14 These were the children of Abihailthe son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, theson of Gilead, the son of Michael, theson of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, theson of Buz;15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son ofGuni, was chief of their father’s house.16And the Gadites dwelt in Gilead, inBashan and in its villages, and in all the

1 CHRONICLES 5 26common–lands of Sharon within theirborders.17All these were registered bygenealogies in the days of Jotham kingof Judah, and in the days of Jeroboamking of Israel.18 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites,and half the tribe of Manasseh hadforty–four thousand seven hundredand sixty valiant men, men able to bearshield and sword, to shoot with the bow,and skillful in war, who went to war.19 They made war with the Hagrites,Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.20And they were helped against them,and the Hagrites were delivered intotheir hand, and all who were with them,for they cried out to God in the ba le.He heeded their prayer, because theyput their trust in Him.21 Then they took away their livestock––fi y thousand of their camels, two

1 CHRONICLES 5 27hundred and fi y thousand of theirsheep, and two thousand of theirdonkeys––also one hundred thousand oftheir men;22 for many fell dead, because the warwas God’s. And they dwelt in their placeun l the cap vity.23 So the children of the half–tribeof Manasseh dwelt in the land. Theirnumbers increased from Bashan to BaalHermon, that is, to Senir, or MountHermon.24 These were the heads of theirfathers’ houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel,Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. Theywere mighty men of valor, famous men,and heads of their fathers’ houses.25And they were unfaithful to the Godof their fathers, and played the harlota er the gods of the peoples of the land,whom God had destroyed before them.

1 CHRONICLES 5–6 2826 So the God of Israel s rred upthe spirit of Pul king of Assyria, thatis, Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyria. Hecarried the Reubenites, the Gadites,and the half–tribe of Manasseh intocap vity. He took them to Halah, Habor,Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

6 1 The sons of Levi were Gershon,Kohath, and Merari.

2 The sons of Kohath were Amram,Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.3 The children of Amram were Aaron,Moses, and Miriam. And the sons ofAaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, andIthamar.4 Eleazar begot Phinehas, and Phinehasbegot Abishua;5Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begotUzzi;6Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiahbegot Meraioth;

1 CHRONICLES 6 297Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariahbegot Ahitub;8Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begotAhimaaz;9Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariahbegot Johanan;10 Johanan begot Azariah (it was hewho ministered as priest in the templethat Solomon built in Jerusalem);11Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariahbegot Ahitub;12Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begotShallum;13 Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiahbegot Azariah;14Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiahbegot Jehozadak.15 Jehozadak went into cap vitywhen the LORD carried Judah andJerusalem into cap vity by the hand ofNebuchadnezzar.

1 CHRONICLES 6 3016 The sons of Levi were Gershon,Kohath, and Merari.17 These are the names of the sons ofGershon: Libni and Shimei.18 The sons of Kohath were Amram,Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.19 The sons of Merari were Mahli andMushi. Now these are the families of theLevites according to their fathers:20Of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahathhis son, Zimmah his son,21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah hisson, and Jeatherai his son.22 The sons of Kohath were Amminadabhis son, Korah his son, Assir his son,23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son,Assir his son,24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziahhis son, and Shaul his son.25 The sons of Elkanah were Amasai andAhimoth.

1 CHRONICLES 6 3126As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanahwere Zophai his son, Nahath his son,27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, andElkanah his son.28 The sons of Samuel were Joel thefirstborn, and Abijah the second.29 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libnihis son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, andAsaiah his son.31Now these are the men whom Davidappointed over the service of song in thehouse of the LORD, a er the ark came torest.32 They were ministering with musicbefore the dwelling place of thetabernacle of mee ng, un l Solomonhad built the house of the LORD inJerusalem, and they served in theiroffice according to their order.33And these are the ones whoministered with their sons: Of the sons

1 CHRONICLES 6 32of the Kohathites were Heman thesinger, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,34 the son of Elkanah, the son ofJeroham, the son of Eliel, the son ofToah,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.39And his brother Asaph, who stoodat his right hand, was Asaph the son ofBerachiah, the son of Shimea,40 the son of Michael, the son ofBaaseiah, the son of Malchijah,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,

1 CHRONICLES 6 3343 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon,the son of Levi.44 Their brethren, the sons of Merari,on the le hand, were Ethan the sonof Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son ofMalluch,45 the son of Hashabiah, the son ofAmaziah, the son of Hilkiah,46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, theson of Shamer,47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi,the son of Merari, the son of Levi.48And their brethren, the Levites, wereappointed to every kind of service of thetabernacle of the house of God.49 But Aaron and his sons offeredsacrifices on the altar of burnt offeringand on the altar of incense, for all thework of the Most Holy Place, and tomake atonement for Israel, according toall that Moses the servant of God hadcommanded.

1 CHRONICLES 6 3450Now these are the sons of Aaron:Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son,Abishua his son,51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiahhis son,52Meraioth his son, Amariah his son,Ahitub his son,53 Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.54Now these are their dwelling placesthroughout their se lements in theirterritory, for they were given by lot tothe sons of Aaron, of the family of theKohathites:55 They gave them Hebron in theland of Judah, with its surroundingcommon–lands.56 But the fields of the city and itsvillages they gave to Caleb the son ofJephunneh.57And to the sons of Aaron they gaveone of the ci es of refuge, Hebron; also

1 CHRONICLES 6 35Libnah with its common–lands, Ja r,Eshtemoa with its common–lands,58Hilen with its common–lands, Debirwith its common–lands,59Ashan with its common–lands, andBeth Shemesh with its common–lands.60And from the tribe of Benjamin:Geba with its common–lands, Alemethwith its common–lands, and Anathothwith its common–lands. All their ci esamong their families were thirteen.61 To the rest of the family of the tribeof the Kohathites they gave by lot tenci es from half the tribe of Manasseh.62And to the sons of Gershon,throughout their families, they gavethirteen ci es from the tribe of Issachar,from the tribe of Asher, from the tribeof Naphtali, and from the tribe ofManasseh in Bashan.63 To the sons of Merari, throughouttheir families, they gave twelve ci es

1 CHRONICLES 6 36from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribeof Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.64 So the children of Israel gave theseci es with their common–lands to theLevites.65And they gave by lot from the tribeof the children of Judah, from the tribeof the children of Simeon, and from thetribe of the children of Benjamin theseci es which are called by their names.66Now some of the families of thesons of Kohath were given ci es as theirterritory from the tribe of Ephraim.67And they gave them one of the ci esof refuge, Shechem with its common–lands, in the mountains of Ephraim, alsoGezer with its common–lands,68 Jokmeam with its common–lands,Beth Horon with its common–lands,69Aijalon with its common–lands, andGath Rimmon with its common–lands.

1 CHRONICLES 6 3770And from the half–tribe ofManasseh:Aner with its common–lands and Bileamwith its common–lands, for the rest ofthe family of the sons of Kohath.71 From the family of the half–tribeof Manasseh the sons of Gershonwere given Golan in Bashan with itscommon–lands and Ashtaroth with itscommon–lands.72And from the tribe of Issachar:Kedesh with its common–lands,Daberath with its common–lands,73 Ramoth with its common–lands, andAnem with its common–lands.74And from the tribe of Asher: Mashalwith its common–lands, Abdon with itscommon–lands,75Hukok with its common–lands, andRehob with its common–lands.76And from the tribe of Naphtali:Kedesh in Galilee with its common–

1 CHRONICLES 6–7 38lands, Hammon with its common–lands,and Kirjathaim with its common–lands.77 From the tribe of Zebulun the restof the children of Merari were givenRimmon with its common–lands andTabor with its common–lands.78And on the other side of the Jordan,across from Jericho, on the east side ofthe Jordan, they were given from thetribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wildernesswith its common–lands, Jahzah with itscommon–lands,79 Kedemoth with its common–lands,and Mephaath with its common–lands.80And from the tribe of Gad: Ramothin Gilead with its common–lands,Mahanaim with its common–lands,81Heshbon with its common–lands,and Jazer with its common–lands.

7 1 The sons of Issachar were Tola,Puah, Jashub, and Shimron––four in

all.

1 CHRONICLES 7 392 The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah,Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Shemuel,heads of their father’s house. The sonsof Tola were mighty men of valor in theirgenera ons; their number in the daysof David was twenty–two thousand sixhundred.3 The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah, and thesons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah,Joel, and Ishiah. All five of them werechief men.4And with them, by their genera ons,according to their fathers’ houses, werethirty–six thousand troops ready forwar; for they had many wives and sons.5Now their brethren among all thefamilies of Issachar were mighty menof valor, listed by their genealogies,eighty–seven thousand in all.6 The sons of Benjamin were Bela,Becher, and Jediael––three in all.

1 CHRONICLES 7 407 The sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi,Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri––five in all. Theywere heads of their fathers’ houses, andthey were listed by their genealogies,twenty–two thousand and thirty–fourmighty men of valor.8 The sons of Becher were Zemirah,Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jerimoth,Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All theseare the sons of Becher.9And they were recorded by genealogyaccording to their genera ons, heads oftheir fathers’ houses, twenty thousandtwo hundred mighty men of valor.10 The son of Jediael was Bilhan, andthe sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin,Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tharshish,and Ahishahar.11All these sons of Jediael were headsof their fathers’ houses; there wereseventeen thousand two hundred

1 CHRONICLES 7 41mighty men of valor fit to go out for warand ba le.12 Shuppim and Huppim were the sonsof Ir, and Hushim was the son of Aher.13 The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel,Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons ofBilhah.14 The descendants of Manasseh: hisSyrian concubine bore him Machir thefather of Gilead, the father of Asriel.15Machir took as his wife the sister ofHuppim and Shuppim, whose name wasMaachah. The name of Gilead’s grandsonwas Zelophehad, but Zelophehad begotonly daughters.16 (Maachah the wife of Machir bore ason, and she called his name Peresh. Thename of his brother was Sheresh, andhis sons were Ulam and Rakem.17 The son of Ulam was Bedan.) Thesewere the descendants of Gilead the sonof Machir, the son of Manasseh.

1 CHRONICLES 7 4218His sister Hammoleketh bore Ishhod,Abiezer, and Mahlah.19And the sons of Shemida were Ahian,Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.20 The sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah,Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah hisson, Tahath his son,21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son,and Ezer and Elead. The men of Gathwho were born in that land killed thembecause they came down to take awaytheir ca le.22 Then Ephraim their father mournedmany days, and his brethren came tocomfort him.23And when he went in to his wife, sheconceived and bore a son; and he calledhis name Beriah, because tragedy hadcome upon his house.24Now his daughter was Sheerah, whobuilt Lower and Upper Beth Horon andUzzen Sheerah;

1 CHRONICLES 7 4325 and Rephah was his son, as well asResheph, and Telah his son, Tahan hisson,26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son,Elishama his son,27Nun his son, and Joshua his son.28Now their possessions and dwellingplaces were Bethel and its towns: to theeast Naaran, to the west Gezer and itstowns, and Shechem and its towns, asfar as Ayyah and its towns;29 and by the borders of the childrenof Manasseh were Beth Shean and itstowns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddoand its towns, Dor and its towns. Inthese dwelt the children of Joseph, theson of Israel.30 The sons of Asher were Imnah,Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sisterSerah.31 The sons of Beriah were Heber andMalchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.

1 CHRONICLES 7 4432And Heber begot Japhlet, Shomer,Hotham, and their sister Shua.33 The sons of Japhlet were Pasach,Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were thechildren of Japhlet.34 The sons of Shemer were Ahi,Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.35And the sons of his brother Helemwere Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.36 The sons of Zophah were Suah,Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah,Jithran, and Beera.38 The sons of Jether were Jephunneh,Pispah, and Ara.39 The sons of Ulla were Arah, Haniel,and Rizia.40All these were the children of Asher,heads of their fathers’ houses, choicemen, mighty men of valor, chief leaders.And they were recorded by genealogies

1 CHRONICLES 8 45among the army fit for ba le; theirnumber was twenty–six thousand.

8 1Now Benjamin begot Bela hisfirstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah

the third,2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fi h.3 The sons of Bela were Addar, Gera,Abihud,4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.6 These are the sons of Ehud, who werethe heads of the fathers’ houses of theinhabitants of Geba, and who forcedthem to move to Manahath:7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera who forcedthem to move. He begot Uzza andAhihud.8And Shaharaim had children in thecountry of Moab, a er he had sent awayHushim and Baara his wives.9 By Hodesh his wife he begot Jobab,Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,

1 CHRONICLES 8 4610 Jeuz, Sachiah, and Mirmah. Thesewere his sons, heads of their fathers’houses.11And by Hushim he begot Abitub andElpaal.12 The sons of Elpaal were Eber,Misham, and Shemed, who built Onoand Lod with its towns;13 and Beriah and Shema, who wereheads of their fathers’ houses of theinhabitants of Aijalon, who drove outthe inhabitants of Gath.14Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,16Michael, Ispah, and Joha were thesons of Beriah.17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,18 Ishmerai, Jizliah, and Jobab were thesons of Elpaal.19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,

1 CHRONICLES 8 4721Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath werethe sons of Shimei.22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,24Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah,25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sonsof Shashak.26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri werethe sons of Jeroham.28 These were heads of the fathers’houses by their genera ons, chief men.These dwelt in Jerusalem.29Now the father of Gibeon, whosewife’s name was Maacah, dwelt atGibeon.30And his firstborn son was Abdon,then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,32 and Mikloth, who begot Shimeah.They also dwelt alongside their rela vesin Jerusalem, with their brethren.

1 CHRONICLES 8 4833Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul,and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua,Abinadab, and Esh–Baal.34 The son of Jonathan was Merib–Baal,and Merib–Baal begot Micah.35 The sons of Micah were Pithon,Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.36And Ahaz begot Jehoaddah;Jehoaddah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth,and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza.37Moza begot Binea, Raphah his son,Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.38Azel had six sons whose nameswere these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael,Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All thesewere the sons of Azel.39And the sons of Eshek his brotherwere Ulam his firstborn, Jeush thesecond, and Eliphelet the third.40 The sons of Ulam were mighty menof valor––archers. They had many sons

1 CHRONICLES 9 49and grandsons, one hundred and fi y inall. These were all sons of Benjamin.

9 1 So all Israel was recorded bygenealogies, and indeed, they were

inscribed in the book of the kings ofIsrael. But Judah was carried awaycap ve to Babylon because of theirunfaithfulness.2And the first inhabitants who dweltin their possessions in their ci es wereIsraelites, priests, Levites, and theNethinim.3Now in Jerusalem the children ofJudah dwelt, and some of the children ofBenjamin, and of the children of Ephraimand Manasseh:4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son ofOmri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani,of the descendants of Perez, the son ofJudah.5Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstbornand his sons.

1 CHRONICLES 9 506Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and theirbrethren––six hundred and ninety.7Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the sonof Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, theson of Hassenuah;8 Ibneiah the son of Jeroham; Elahthe son of Uzzi, the son of Michri;Meshullam the son of Shepha ah, theson of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;9 and their brethren, according totheir genera ons––nine hundred andfi y–six. All these men were heads of afather’s house in their fathers’ houses.10Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, andJachin;11Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son ofMeshullam, the son of Zadok, the son ofMeraioth, the son of Ahitub, the officerover the house of God;12Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son ofPashur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai theson of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son

1 CHRONICLES 9 51of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith,the son of Immer;13 and their brethren, heads of theirfathers’ houses––one thousand sevenhundred and sixty. They were very ablemen for the work of the service of thehouse of God.14Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son ofHasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son ofHashabiah, of the sons of Merari;15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, andMa aniah the son of Micah, the son ofZichri, the son of Asaph;16Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, theson of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; andBerechiah the son of Asa, the son ofElkanah, who lived in the villages of theNetophathites.17And the gatekeepers were Shallum,Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and theirbrethren. Shallum was the chief.

1 CHRONICLES 9 5218Un l then they had been gatekeepersfor the camps of the children of Levi atthe King’s Gate on the east.19 Shallum the son of Kore, the sonof Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, andhis brethren, from his father’s house,the Korahites, were in charge of thework of the service, gatekeepers ofthe tabernacle. Their fathers had beenkeepers of the entrance to the camp ofthe LORD.20And Phinehas the son of Eleazar hadbeen the officer over them in me past;the LORD was with him.21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiahwas keeper of the door of the tabernacleof mee ng.22All those chosen as gatekeepers weretwo hundred and twelve. They wererecorded by their genealogy, in theirvillages. David and Samuel the seer hadappointed them to their trusted office.

1 CHRONICLES 9 5323 So they and their children were incharge of the gates of the house of theLORD, the house of the tabernacle, byassignment.24 The gatekeepers were assigned tothe four direc ons: the east, west, north,and south.25And their brethren in their villageshad to come with them from me tome for seven days.26 For in this trusted office were fourchief gatekeepers; they were Levites.And they had charge over the chambersand treasuries of the house of God.27And they lodged all around thehouse of God because they had theresponsibility, and they were in chargeof opening it every morning.28Now some of them were in chargeof the serving vessels, for they broughtthem in and took them out by count.

1 CHRONICLES 9 5429 Some of them were appointedover the furnishings and over all theimplements of the sanctuary, and overthe fine flour and the wine and the oiland the incense and the spices.30And some of the sons of the priestsmade the ointment of the spices.31Ma thiah of the Levites, thefirstborn of Shallum the Korahite, hadthe trusted office over the things thatwere baked in the pans.32And some of their brethren of thesons of the Kohathites were in chargeof preparing the showbread for everySabbath.33 These are the singers, heads of thefathers’ houses of the Levites, wholodged in the chambers, and werefree from other du es; for they wereemployed in that work day and night.

1 CHRONICLES 9 5534 These heads of the fathers’ houses ofthe Levites were heads throughout theirgenera ons. They dwelt at Jerusalem.35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whosewife’s name was Maacah, dwelt atGibeon.36His firstborn son was Abdon, thenZur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.38And Mikloth begot Shimeam. Theyalso dwelt alongside their rela ves inJerusalem, with their brethren.39Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul,and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua,Abinadab, and Esh–Baal.40 The son of Jonathan was Merib–Baal,and Merib–Baal begot Micah.41 The sons of Micah were Pithon,Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.42And Ahaz begot Jarah; Jarah begotAlemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimribegot Moza;

1 CHRONICLES 9–10 5643Moza begot Binea, Rephaiah his son,Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.44And Azel had six sons whose nameswere these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael,Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; thesewere the sons of Azel.

10 1Now the Philis nes foughtagainst Israel; and the men of

Israel fled from before the Philis nes,and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.2 Then the Philis nes followed harda er Saul and his sons. And thePhilis nes killed Jonathan, Abinadab,and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.3 The ba le became fierce againstSaul. The archers hit him, and he waswounded by the archers.4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer,"Draw your sword, and thrust methrough with it, lest these uncircumcisedmen come and abuse me." But hisarmorbearer would not, for he was

1 CHRONICLES 10 57greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took asword and fell on it.5And when his armorbearer saw thatSaul was dead, he also fell on his swordand died.6 So Saul and his three sons died, andall his house died together.7And when all the men of Israel whowere in the valley saw that they had fledand that Saul and his sons were dead,they forsook their ci es and fled; thenthe Philis nes came and dwelt in them.8 So it happened the next day, when thePhilis nes came to strip the slain, thatthey found Saul and his sons fallen onMount Gilboa.9And they stripped him and took hishead and his armor, and sent wordthroughout the land of the Philis nes toproclaim the news in the temple of theiridols and among the people.

1 CHRONICLES 10–11 5810 Then they put his armor in thetemple of their gods, and fastened hishead in the temple of Dagon.11And when all Jabesh Gilead heard allthat the Philis nes had done to Saul,12 all the valiant men arose and took thebody of Saul and the bodies of his sons;and they brought them to Jabesh, andburied their bones under the tamarisktree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulnesswhich he had commi ed against theLORD, because he did not keep theword of the LORD, and also because heconsulted a medium for guidance.14 But he did not inquire of the LORD;therefore He killed him, and turned thekingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

11 1 Then all Israel came together toDavid at Hebron, saying, "Indeed

we are your bone and your flesh.

1 CHRONICLES 11 592 "Also, in me past, even when Saulwas king, you were the one who ledIsrael out and brought them in; and theLORD your God said to you, ‘You shallshepherd My people Israel, and be rulerover My people Israel.’"3 Therefore all the elders of Israel cameto the king at Hebron, and David madea covenant with them at Hebron beforethe LORD. Then they anointed David kingover Israel, according to the word of theLORD by Samuel.4And David and all Israel went toJerusalem, which is Jebus, where theJebusites were, the inhabitants of theland.5 Then the inhabitants of Jebus saidto David, "You shall not come in here!"Nevertheless David took the strongholdof Zion (that is, the City of David).6Now David said, "Whoever a acks theJebusites first shall be chief and captain."

1 CHRONICLES 11 60And Joab the son of Zeruiah went upfirst, and became chief.7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold;therefore they called it the City of David.8And he built the city around it, fromthe Millo to the surrounding area. Joabrepaired the rest of the city.9 Then David went on and becamegreat, and the LORD of hosts was withhim.10Now these were the heads of themighty men whom David had, whostrengthened themselves with him in hiskingdom, with all Israel, to make himking, according to the word of the LORDconcerning Israel.11And this is the number of the mightymen whom David had: Jashobeamthe son of a Hachmonite, chief of thecaptains; he had li ed up his spearagainst three hundred, killed by him atone me.

1 CHRONICLES 11 6112A er him was Eleazar the son ofDodo, the Ahohite, who was one of thethree mighty men.13He was with David at Pasdammim.Now there the Philis nes were gatheredfor ba le, and there was a piece ofground full of barley. And the peoplefled from the Philis nes.14 But they sta oned themselves inthe middle of that field, defended it,and killed the Philis nes. So the LORDbrought about a great victory.15Now three of the thirty chief menwent down to the rock to David, intothe cave of Adullam; and the army ofthe Philis nes encamped in the Valley ofRephaim.16David was then in the stronghold,and the garrison of the Philis nes wasthen in Bethlehem.17And David said with longing, "Oh,that someone would give me a drink of

1 CHRONICLES 11 62water from the well of Bethlehem, whichis by the gate!"18 So the three broke through the campof the Philis nes, drew water from thewell of Bethlehem that was by the gate,and took it and brought it to David.Nevertheless David would not drink it,but poured it out to the LORD.19And he said, "Far be it fromme, O myGod, that I should do this! Shall I drinkthe blood of these men who have puttheir lives in jeopardy? For at the risk oftheir lives they brought it." Therefore hewould not drink it. These things weredone by the three mighty men.20Abishai the brother of Joab was chiefof another three. He had li ed up hisspear against three hundred men, killedthem, and won a name among thesethree.21Of the three he was more honoredthan the other two men. Therefore he

1 CHRONICLES 11 63became their captain. However he didnot a ain to the first three.22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, theson of a valiant man from Kabzeel, whohad done many deeds. He had killed twolion–like heroes of Moab. He also hadgone down and killed a lion in the midstof a pit on a snowy day.23And he killed an Egyp an, a manof great height, five cubits tall. In theEgyp an’s hand there was a spear likea weaver’s beam; and he went down tohim with a staff, wrested the spear outof the Egyp an’s hand, and killed himwith his own spear.24 These things Benaiah the son ofJehoiada did, and won a name amongthree mighty men.25 Indeed he was more honored thanthe thirty, but he did not a ain to thefirst three. And David appointed himover his guard.

1 CHRONICLES 11 6426Also the mighty warriors were Asahelthe brother of Joab, Elhanan the son ofDodo of Bethlehem,27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez thePelonite,28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,Abiezer the Anathothite,29 Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai theAhohite,30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled theson of Baanah the Netophathite,31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah,of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah thePirathonite,32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abielthe Arbathite,33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahbathe Shaalbonite,34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite,35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite,Eliphal the son of Ur,

1 CHRONICLES 11 6536Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah thePelonite,37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the sonof Ezbai,38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibharthe son of Hagri,39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai theBerothite (the armorbearer of Joab theson of Zeruiah),40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,41Uriah the Hi te, Zabad the son ofAhlai,42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite(a chief of the Reubenites) and thirtywith him,43Hanan the son of Maachah,Joshaphat the Mithnite,44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama andJeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Johahis brother, the Tizite,

1 CHRONICLES 11–12 6646 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai andJoshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmahthe Moabite,47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel theMezobaite.

12 1Now these were the men whocame to David at Ziklag while he

was s ll a fugi ve from Saul the son ofKish; and they were among the mightymen, helpers in the war,2 armed with bows, using both the righthand and the le in hurling stones andshoo ng arrows with the bow. Theywere of Benjamin, Saul’s brethren.3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash,the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite;Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth;Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite;4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mightyman among the thirty, and over thethirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, andJozabad the Gederathite;

1 CHRONICLES 12 675 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah,and Shepha ah the Haruphite;6 Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, andJashobeam, the Korahites;7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons ofJeroham of Gedor.8 Some Gadites joined David at thestronghold in the wilderness, mightymen of valor, men trained for ba le,who could handle shield and spear,whose faces were like the faces of lions,and were as swi as gazelles on themountains:9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second,Eliab the third,10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiahthe fi h,11A ai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad theninth,13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanaithe eleventh.

1 CHRONICLES 12 6814 These were from the sons of Gad,captains of the army; the least was overa hundred, and the greatest was over athousand.15 These are the ones who crossed theJordan in the first month, when it hadoverflowed all its banks; and they put toflight all those in the valleys, to the eastand to the west.16 Then some of the sons of Benjaminand Judah came to David at thestronghold.17And David went out to meet them,and answered and said to them, "If youhave come peaceably to me to help me,my heart will be united with you; but ifto betray me to my enemies, since thereis no wrong in my hands, may the God ofour fathers look and bring judgment."18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai,chief of the captains, and he said: "Weare yours, O David; We are on your side,

1 CHRONICLES 12 69O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, Andpeace to your helpers! For your Godhelps you." So David received them, andmade them captains of the troop.19And some from Manasseh defectedto David when he was going with thePhilis nes to ba le against Saul; but theydid not help them, for the lords of thePhilis nes sent him away by agreement,saying, "He may defect to his masterSaul and endanger our heads."20When he went to Ziklag, thoseof Manasseh who defected to himwere Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael,Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captainsof the thousands who were fromManasseh.21And they helped David against thebands of raiders, for they were all mightymen of valor, and they were captains inthe army.

1 CHRONICLES 12 7022 For at that me they came to Davidday by day to help him, un l it was agreat army, like the army of God.23Now these were the numbers ofthe divisions that were equipped forwar, and came to David at Hebron toturn over the kingdom of Saul to him,according to the word of the LORD:24 of the sons of Judah bearing shieldand spear, six thousand eight hundredarmed for war;25 of the sons of Simeon, mighty menof valor fit for war, seven thousand onehundred;26 of the sons of Levi four thousand sixhundred;27 Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites,and with him three thousand sevenhundred;28 Zadok, a young man, a valiantwarrior, and from his father’s housetwenty–two captains;

1 CHRONICLES 12 7129 of the sons of Benjamin, rela vesof Saul, three thousand (un l then thegreatest part of them had remainedloyal to the house of Saul);30 of the sons of Ephraim twentythousand eight hundred, mighty menof valor, famous men throughout theirfather’s house;31 of the half–tribe of Manasseheighteen thousand, who weredesignated by name to come and makeDavid king;32 of the sons of Issachar who hadunderstanding of the mes, to knowwhat Israel ought to do, their chiefs weretwo hundred; and all their brethrenwere at their command;33 of Zebulun there were fi y thousandwho went out to ba le, expert in warwith all weapons of war, stoutheartedmen who could keep ranks;

1 CHRONICLES 12 7234 of Naphtali one thousand captains,and with them thirty–seven thousandwith shield and spear;35 of the Danites who could keep ba leforma on, twenty–eight thousand sixhundred;36 of Asher, those who could go out towar, able to keep ba le forma on, fortythousand;37 of the Reubenites and the Gaditesand the half–tribe of Manasseh, fromthe other side of the Jordan, onehundred and twenty thousand armedfor ba le with every kind of weapon ofwar.38All these men of war, who could keepranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart,to make David king over all Israel; andall the rest of Israel were of one mind tomake David king.

1 CHRONICLES 12–13 7339And they were there with Davidthree days, ea ng and drinking, for theirbrethren had prepared for them.40Moreover those who were near tothem, from as far away as Issachar andZebulun and Naphtali, were bringingfood on donkeys and camels, on mulesand oxen––provisions of flour and cakesof figs and cakes of raisins, wine andoil and oxen and sheep abundantly, forthere was joy in Israel.

13 1 Then David consulted withthe captains of thousands and

hundreds, and with every leader.2And David said to all the assembly ofIsrael, "If it seems good to you, and if itis of the LORD our God, let us send outto our brethren everywhere who are lein all the land of Israel, and with them tothe priests and Levites who are in theirci es and their common–lands, thatthey may gather together to us;

1 CHRONICLES 13 743 "and let us bring the ark of our Godback to us, for we have not inquired at itsince the days of Saul."4 Then all the assembly said that theywould do so, for the thing was right inthe eyes of all the people.5 So David gathered all Israel together,from Shihor in Egypt to as far as theentrance of Hamath, to bring the ark ofGod from Kirjath Jearim.6And David and all Israel went upto Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, whichbelonged to Judah, to bring up fromthere the ark of God the LORD, whodwells between the cherubim, where Hisname is proclaimed.7 So they carried the ark of God on anew cart from the house of Abinadab,and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.8 Then David and all Israel playedmusic before God with all their might,with singing, on harps, on stringed

1 CHRONICLES 13 75instruments, on tambourines, oncymbals, and with trumpets.9And when they came to Chidon’sthreshing floor, Uzza put out his hand tohold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.10 Then the anger of the LORD wasaroused against Uzza, and He struck himbecause he put his hand to the ark; andhe died there before God.11And David became angry becauseof the LORD’S outbreak against Uzza;therefore that place is called Perez Uzzato this day.12David was afraid of God that day,saying, "How can I bring the ark of Godto me?"13 So David would not move the arkwith him into the City of David, but tookit aside into the house of Obed–Edomthe Gi te.14 The ark of God remained with thefamily of Obed–Edom in his house three

1 CHRONICLES 14 76months. And the LORD blessed thehouse of Obed–Edom and all that hehad.

14 1Now Hiram king of Tyre sentmessengers to David, and cedar

trees, with masons and carpenters, tobuild him a house.2 So David knew that the LORD hadestablished him as king over Israel, forhis kingdom was highly exalted for thesake of His people Israel.3 Then David took more wives inJerusalem, and David begot more sonsand daughters.4And these are the names of hischildren whom he had in Jerusalem:Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.8Now when the Philis nes heard thatDavid had been anointed king over all

1 CHRONICLES 14 77Israel, all the Philis nes went up tosearch for David. And David heard of itand went out against them.9 Then the Philis nes went and made araid on the Valley of Rephaim.10And David inquired of God, saying,"Shall I go up against the Philis nes? WillYou deliver them into my hand?" Andthe LORD said to him, "Go up, for I willdeliver them into your hand."11 So they went up to Baal Perazim,and David defeated them there. ThenDavid said, "God has broken through myenemies by my hand like a breakthroughof water." Therefore they called thename of that place Baal Perazim.12And when they le their gods there,David gave a commandment, and theywere burned with fire.13 Then the Philis nes once again madea raid on the valley.

1 CHRONICLES 14–15 7814 Therefore David inquired again ofGod, and God said to him, "You shall notgo up a er them; circle around them,and come upon them in front of themulberry trees.15 "And it shall be, when you hear asound of marching in the tops of themulberry trees, then you shall go out toba le, for God has gone out before youto strike the camp of the Philis nes."16 So David did as God commandedhim, and they drove back the army ofthe Philis nes from Gibeon as far asGezer.17 Then the fame of David went out intoall lands, and the LORD brought the fearof him upon all na ons.

15 1David built houses for himselfin the City of David; and he

prepared a place for the ark of God, andpitched a tent for it.

1 CHRONICLES 15 792 Then David said, "No one may carrythe ark of God but the Levites, for theLORD has chosen them to carry theark of God and to minister before Himforever."3And David gathered all Israel togetherat Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of theLORD to its place, which he had preparedfor it.4 Then David assembled the children ofAaron and the Levites:5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief,and one hundred and twenty of hisbrethren;6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah thechief, and two hundred and twenty ofhis brethren;7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel thechief, and one hundred and thirty of hisbrethren;8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah thechief, and two hundred of his brethren;

1 CHRONICLES 15 809 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief,and eighty of his brethren;10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab thechief, and one hundred and twelve of hisbrethren.11And David called for Zadok andAbiathar the priests, and for the Levites:for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel,and Amminadab.12He said to them, "You are the headsof the fathers’ houses of the Levites;sanc fy yourselves, you and yourbrethren, that you may bring up the arkof the LORD God of Israel to the place Ihave prepared for it.13 "For because you did not do it thefirst me, the LORD our God broke outagainst us, because we did not consultHim about the proper order."14 So the priests and the Levitessanc fied themselves to bring up the arkof the LORD God of Israel.

1 CHRONICLES 15 8115And the children of the Levites borethe ark of God on their shoulders, byits poles, as Moses had commandedaccording to the word of the LORD.16 Then David spoke to the leaders ofthe Levites to appoint their brethrento be the singers accompaniedby instruments of music, stringedinstruments, harps, and cymbals, byraising the voice with resounding joy.17 So the Levites appointed Hemanthe son of Joel; and of his brethren,Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of theirbrethren, the sons of Merari, Ethan theson of Kushaiah;18 and with them their brethrenof the second rank: Zechariah, Ben,Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni,Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Ma thiah,Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed–Edom, andJeiel, the gatekeepers;

1 CHRONICLES 15 8219 the singers, Heman, Asaph, andEthan, were to sound the cymbals ofbronze;20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth,Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, andBenaiah, with strings according toAlamoth;21Ma thiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah,Obed–Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to directwith harps on the Sheminith;22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites,was instructor in charge of the music,because he was skillful;23 Berechiah and Elkanah weredoorkeepers for the ark;24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel,Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer,the priests, were to blow the trumpetsbefore the ark of God; and Obed–Edomand Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.25 So David, the elders of Israel, and thecaptains over thousands went to bring

1 CHRONICLES 15 83up the ark of the covenant of the LORDfrom the house of Obed–Edom with joy.26And so it was, when God helped theLevites who bore the ark of the covenantof the LORD, that they offered sevenbulls and seven rams.27David was clothed with a robe of finelinen, as were all the Levites who borethe ark, the singers, and Chenaniah themusic master with the singers. Davidalso wore a linen ephod.28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark ofthe covenant of the LORD with shou ngand with the sound of the horn, withtrumpets and with cymbals, makingmusic with stringed instruments andharps.29And it happened, as the ark of thecovenant of the LORD came to the Cityof David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter,looked through a window and saw King

1 CHRONICLES 16 84David whirling and playing music; andshe despised him in her heart.

16 1 So they brought the ark of God,and set it in the midst of the

tabernacle that David had erected for it.Then they offered burnt offerings andpeace offerings before God.2And when David had finished offeringthe burnt offerings and the peaceofferings, he blessed the people in thename of the LORD.3 Then he distributed to everyoneof Israel, both man and woman, toeveryone a loaf of bread, a piece ofmeat, and a cake of raisins.4And he appointed some of the Levitesto minister before the ark of the LORD,to commemorate, to thank, and to praisethe LORD God of Israel:5Asaph the chief, and next to himZechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth,Jehiel, Ma thiah, Eliab, Benaiah,

1 CHRONICLES 16 85and Obed–Edom: Jeiel with stringedinstruments and harps, but Asaph mademusic with cymbals;6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priestsregularly blew the trumpets before theark of the covenant of God.7On that day David first delivered thispsalm into the hand of Asaph and hisbrethren, to thank the LORD:8Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Callupon His name; Make known His deedsamong the peoples!9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talkof all His wondrous works!10Glory in His holy name; Let the heartsof those rejoice who seek the LORD!11 Seek the LORD and His strength; SeekHis face evermore!12 Remember His marvelous workswhich He has done, His wonders, andthe judgments of His mouth,

1 CHRONICLES 16 8613O seed of Israel His servant, Youchildren of Jacob, His chosen ones!14He is the LORD our God; Hisjudgments are in all the earth.15 Remember His covenant forever,The word which He commanded, for athousand genera ons,16 The covenant which He made withAbraham, And His oath to Isaac,17And confirmed it to Jacob for astatute, To Israel for an everlas ngcovenant,18 Saying, "To you I will give the landof Canaan As the allotment of yourinheritance,"19When you were few in number,Indeed very few, and strangers in it.20When they went from one na onto another, And from one kingdom toanother people,

1 CHRONICLES 16 8721He permi ed no man to do themwrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for theirsakes,22 Saying, "Do not touch My anointedones, And do My prophets no harm."23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;Proclaim the good news of His salva onfrom day to day.24Declare His glory among the na ons,His wonders among all peoples.25 For the LORD is great and greatly tobe praised; He is also to be feared aboveall gods.26 For all the gods of the peoples areidols, But the LORD made the heavens.27Honor and majesty are before Him;Strength and gladness are in His place.28Give to the LORD, O families of thepeoples, Give to the LORD glory andstrength.29Give to the LORD the glory due Hisname; Bring an offering, and come

1 CHRONICLES 16 88before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in thebeauty of holiness!30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.The world also is firmly established, Itshall not be moved.31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let theearth be glad; And let them say amongthe na ons, "The LORD reigns."32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.33 Then the trees of the woods shallrejoice before the LORD, For He iscoming to judge the earth.34Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He isgood! For His mercy endures forever.35And say, "Save us, O God of oursalva on; Gather us together, anddeliver us from the Gen les, To givethanks to Your holy name, To triumph inYour praise."36 Blessed be the LORD God of IsraelFrom everlas ng to everlas ng! And all

1 CHRONICLES 16 89the people said, "Amen!" and praisedthe LORD.37 So he le Asaph and his brothersthere before the ark of the covenantof the LORD to minister before the arkregularly, as every day’s work required;38 and Obed–Edom with his sixty–eightbrethren, including Obed–Edom theson of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to begatekeepers;39 and Zadok the priest and his brethrenthe priests, before the tabernacle ofthe LORD at the high place that was atGibeon,40 to offer burnt offerings to theLORD on the altar of burnt offeringregularly morning and evening, and todo according to all that is wri en in theLaw of the LORD which He commandedIsrael;41 and with them Heman and Jeduthunand the rest who were chosen, who

1 CHRONICLES 16–17 90were designated by name, to give thanksto the LORD, because His mercy enduresforever;42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun,to sound aloud with trumpets andcymbals and the musical instruments ofGod. Now the sons of Jeduthun weregatekeepers.43 Then all the people departed, everyman to his house; and David returned tobless his house.

17 1Now it came to pass, whenDavid was dwelling in his house,

that David said to Nathan the prophet,"See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, butthe ark of the covenant of the LORD isunder tent curtains."2 Then Nathan said to David, "Do allthat is in your heart, for God is with you."3 But it happened that night that theword of God came to Nathan, saying,

1 CHRONICLES 17 914 "Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thussays the LORD: "You shall not build Me ahouse to dwell in.5 "For I have not dwelt in a house sincethe me that I brought up Israel, even tothis day, but have gone from tent to tent,and from one tabernacle to another.6 "Wherever I have moved about withall Israel, have I ever spoken a wordto any of the judges of Israel, whom Icommanded to shepherd My people,saying, ‘Why have you not built Me ahouse of cedar?’"’7 "Now therefore, thus shall you say toMy servant David, ‘Thus says the LORDof hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold,from following the sheep, to be rulerover My people Israel.8 "And I have been with you whereveryou have gone, and have cut off all yourenemies from before you, and have

1 CHRONICLES 17 92made you a name like the name of thegreat men who are on the earth.9 "Moreover I will appoint a place forMy people Israel, and will plant them,that they may dwell in a place of theirown and move no more; nor shallthe sons of wickedness oppress themanymore, as previously,10 "since the me that I commandedjudges to be over My people Israel.Also I will subdue all your enemies.Furthermore I tell you that the LORD willbuild you a house.11 "And it shall be, when your days arefulfilled, when you must go to be withyour fathers, that I will set up your seeda er you, who will be of your sons; and Iwill establish his kingdom.12 "He shall build Me a house, and I willestablish his throne forever.13 "I will be his Father, and he shall beMy son; and I will not take My mercy

1 CHRONICLES 17 93away from him, as I took it from him whowas before you.14 "And I will establish him in My houseand in My kingdom forever; and histhrone shall be established forever."’"15According to all these words andaccording to all this vision, so Nathanspoke to David.16 Then King David went in and satbefore the LORD; and he said: "Who amI, O LORD God? And what is my house,that You have brought me this far?17 "And yet this was a small thing inYour sight, O God; and You have alsospoken of Your servant’s house for agreat while to come, and have regardedme according to the rank of a man ofhigh degree, O LORD God.18 "What more can David say to You forthe honor of Your servant? For You knowYour servant.

1 CHRONICLES 17 9419 "O LORD, for Your servant’s sake, andaccording to Your own heart, You havedone all this greatness, in making knownall these great things.20 "O LORD, there is none like You, noris there any God besides You, accordingto all that we have heard with our ears.21 "And who is like Your people Israel,the one na on on the earth whomGod went to redeem for Himself as apeople––to make for Yourself a name bygreat and awesome deeds, by drivingout na ons from before Your peoplewhom You redeemed from Egypt?22 "For You have made Your peopleIsrael Your very own people forever; andYou, LORD, have become their God.23 "And now, O LORD, the word whichYou have spoken concerning Yourservant and concerning his house, let itbe established forever, and do as Youhave said.

1 CHRONICLES 17–18 9524 "So let it be established, that Yourname may be magnified forever, saying,‘The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, isIsrael’s God.’ And let the house of Yourservant David be established before You.25 "For You, O my God, have revealedto Your servant that You will build him ahouse. Therefore Your servant has foundit in his heart to pray before You.26 "And now, LORD, You are God, andhave promised this goodness to Yourservant.27 "Now You have been pleased to blessthe house of Your servant, that it maycon nue before You forever; for Youhave blessed it, O LORD, and it shall beblessed forever."

18 1A er this it came to pass thatDavid a acked the Philis nes,

subdued them, and took Gath and itstowns from the hand of the Philis nes.

1 CHRONICLES 18 962 Then he defeated Moab, and theMoabites became David’s servants, andbrought tribute.3And David defeated Hadadezer kingof Zobah as far as Hamath, as he wentto establish his power by the RiverEuphrates.4David took from him one thousandchariots, seven thousand horsemen,and twenty thousand foot soldiers. AndDavid also hamstrung all the chariothorses, except that he spared enough ofthem for one hundred chariots.5When the Syrians of Damascus cameto help Hadadezer king of Zobah, Davidkilled twenty–two thousand of theSyrians.6 Then David put garrisons in Syriaof Damascus; and the Syrians becameDavid’s servants, and brought tribute. Sothe LORD preserved David wherever hewent.

1 CHRONICLES 18 977And David took the shields of goldthat were on the servants of Hadadezer,and brought them to Jerusalem.8Also from Tibhath and from Chun,ci es of Hadadezer, David brought alarge amount of bronze, with whichSolomon made the bronze Sea, thepillars, and the ar cles of bronze.9Now when Tou king of Hamath heardthat David had defeated all the army ofHadadezer king of Zobah,10 he sent Hadoram his son toKing David, to greet him and blesshim, because he had fought againstHadadezer and defeated him (forHadadezer had been at war with Tou);and Hadoram brought with him all kindsof ar cles of gold, silver, and bronze.11 King David also dedicated these tothe LORD, along with the silver andgold that he had brought from all thesena ons––from Edom, from Moab,

1 CHRONICLES 18 98from the people of Ammon, from thePhilis nes, and from Amalek.12Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiahkilled eighteen thousand Edomites in theValley of Salt.13He also put garrisons in Edom, and allthe Edomites became David’s servants.And the LORD preserved David whereverhe went.14 So David reigned over all Israel, andadministered judgment and jus ce to allhis people.15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over thearmy; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahiludwas recorder;16 Zadok the son of Ahitub andAbimelech the son of Abiathar were thepriests; Shavsha was the scribe;17 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was overthe Cherethites and the Pelethites; andDavid’s sons were chief ministers at theking’s side.

1 CHRONICLES 19 99

19 1 It happened a er this thatNahash the king of the people of

Ammon died, and his son reigned in hisplace.2 Then David said, "I will show kindnessto Hanun the son of Nahash, becausehis father showed kindness to me."So David sent messengers to comforthim concerning his father. And David’sservants came to Hanun in the land ofthe people of Ammon to comfort him.3And the princes of the people ofAmmon said to Hanun, "Do you thinkthat David really honors your fatherbecause he has sent comforters to you?Did his servants not come to you tosearch and to overthrow and to spy outthe land?"4 Therefore Hanun took David’sservants, shaved them, and cut offtheir garments in the middle, at theirbu ocks, and sent them away.

1 CHRONICLES 19 1005 Then some went and told David aboutthe men; and he sent to meet them,because the men were greatly ashamed.And the king said, "Wait at Jerichoun l your beards have grown, and thenreturn."6When the people of Ammon saw thatthey had made themselves repulsiveto David, Hanun and the people ofAmmon sent a thousand talents of silverto hire for themselves chariots andhorsemen from Mesopotamia, fromSyrian Maachah, and from Zobah.7 So they hired for themselves thirty–two thousand chariots, with the kingof Maachah and his people, who cameand encamped before Medeba. Also thepeople of Ammon gathered togetherfrom their ci es, and came to ba le.8Now when David heard of it, he sentJoab and all the army of the mighty men.

1 CHRONICLES 19 1019 Then the people of Ammon cameout and put themselves in ba le arraybefore the gate of the city, and the kingswho had come were by themselves inthe field.10When Joab saw that the ba le linewas against him before and behind, hechose some of Israel’s best and put themin ba le array against the Syrians.11And the rest of the people heput under the command of Abishaihis brother, and they set themselvesin ba le array against the people ofAmmon.12 Then he said, "If the Syrians are toostrong for me, then you shall help me;but if the people of Ammon are toostrong for you, then I will help you.13 "Be of good courage, and let us bestrong for our people and for the ci esof our God. And may the LORD do whatis good in His sight."

1 CHRONICLES 19 10214 So Joab and the people who werewith him drew near for the ba le againstthe Syrians, and they fled before him.15When the people of Ammon saw thatthe Syrians were fleeing, they also fledbefore Abishai his brother, and enteredthe city. So Joab went to Jerusalem.16Now when the Syrians saw that theyhad been defeated by Israel, they sentmessengers and brought the Syrians whowere beyond the River, and Shophachthe commander of Hadadezer’s armywent before them.17When it was told David, he gatheredall Israel, crossed over the Jordan andcame upon them, and set up in ba learray against them. So when David hadset up in ba le array against the Syrians,they fought with him.18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel;and David killed seven thousandcharioteers and forty thousand foot

1 CHRONICLES 19–20 103soldiers of the Syrians, and killedShophach the commander of the army.19And when the servants of Hadadezersaw that they were defeated by Israel,theymade peace with David and becamehis servants. So the Syrians were notwilling to help the people of Ammonanymore.

20 1 It happened in the spring ofthe year, at the me kings go

out to ba le, that Joab led out thearmed forces and ravaged the countryof the people of Ammon, and came andbesieged Rabbah. But David stayed atJerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbahand overthrew it.2 Then David took their king’s crownfrom his head, and found it to weigh atalent of gold, and there were preciousstones in it. And it was set on David’shead. Also he brought out the spoil ofthe city in great abundance.

1 CHRONICLES 20 1043And he brought out the people whowere in it, and put them to work withsaws, with iron picks, and with axes. SoDavid did to all the ci es of the people ofAmmon. Then David and all the peoplereturned to Jerusalem.4Now it happened a erward that warbroke out at Gezer with the Philis nes,at which me Sibbechai the Hushathitekilled Sippai, who was one of the sons ofthe giant. And they were subdued.5Again there was war with thePhilis nes, and Elhanan the son of Jairkilled Lahmi the brother of Goliath theGi te, the sha of whose spear was likea weaver’s beam.6 Yet again there was war at Gath,where there was a man of great stature,with twenty–four fingers and toes, six oneach hand and six on each foot; and healso was born to the giant.

1 CHRONICLES 20–21 1057 So when he defied Israel, Jonathanthe son of Shimea, David’s brother, killedhim.8 These were born to the giant in Gath,and they fell by the hand of David and bythe hand of his servants.

21 1Now Satan stood up againstIsrael, and moved David to

number Israel.2 So David said to Joab and to theleaders of the people, "Go, numberIsrael from Beersheba to Dan, and bringthe number of them to me that I mayknow it."3And Joab answered, "May the LORDmake His people a hundred mes morethan they are. But, my lord the king,are they not all my lord’s servants? Whythen does my lord require this thing?Why should he be a cause of guilt inIsrael?"

1 CHRONICLES 21 1064Nevertheless the king’s word prevailedagainst Joab. Therefore Joab departedand went throughout all Israel and cameto Jerusalem.5 Then Joab gave the sum of thenumber of the people to David. All Israelhad one million one hundred thousandmen who drew the sword, and Judahhad four hundred and seventy thousandmen who drew the sword.6 But he did not count Levi andBenjamin among them, for the king’sword was abominable to Joab.7And God was displeased with thisthing; therefore He struck Israel.8 So David said to God, "I have sinnedgreatly, because I have done this thing;but now, I pray, take away the iniquityof Your servant, for I have done veryfoolishly."9And the LORD spoke to Gad, David’sseer, saying,

1 CHRONICLES 21 10710 "Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thussays the LORD: "I offer you three things;choose one of them for yourself, that Imay do it to you."’"11 So Gad came to David and said tohim, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Choose foryourself,12 ‘either three years of famine, or threemonths to be defeated by your foes withthe sword of your enemies overtakingyou, or else for three days the swordof the LORD––the plague in the land,with the angel of the LORD destroyingthroughout all the territory of Israel.’Now consider what answer I should takeback to Him who sent me."13And David said to Gad, "I am in greatdistress. Please let me fall into the handof the LORD, for His mercies are verygreat; but do not let me fall into thehand of man."

1 CHRONICLES 21 10814 So the LORD sent a plague uponIsrael, and seventy thousand men ofIsrael fell.15And God sent an angel to Jerusalemto destroy it. As he was destroying,the LORD looked and relented of thedisaster, and said to the angel who wasdestroying, "It is enough; now restrainyour hand." And the angel of the LORDstood by the threshing floor of Ornanthe Jebusite.16 Then David li ed his eyes and sawthe angel of the LORD standing betweenearth and heaven, having in his handa drawn sword stretched out overJerusalem. So David and the elders,clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.17And David said to God, "Was it notI who commanded the people to benumbered? I am the one who has sinnedand done evil indeed; but these sheep,what have they done? Let Your hand, I

1 CHRONICLES 21 109pray, O LORD my God, be against me andmy father’s house, but not against Yourpeople that they should be plagued."18 Therefore, the angel of the LORDcommanded Gad to say to David thatDavid should go and erect an altar to theLORD on the threshing floor of Ornanthe Jebusite.19 So David went up at the word of Gad,which he had spoken in the name of theLORD.20Now Ornan turned and saw theangel; and his four sons who werewith him hid themselves, but Ornancon nued threshing wheat.21 Then David came to Ornan, andOrnan looked and saw David. And hewent out from the threshing floor, andbowed before David with his face to theground.22 Then David said to Ornan, "Grant methe place of this threshing floor, that I

1 CHRONICLES 21 110may build an altar on it to the LORD. Youshall grant it to me at the full price, thatthe plague may be withdrawn from thepeople."23And Ornan said to David, "Take itto yourself, and let my lord the king dowhat is good in his eyes. Look, I also giveyou the oxen for burnt offerings, thethreshing implements for wood, and thewheat for the grain offering; I give it all."24 Then King David said to Ornan, "No,but I will surely buy it for the full price,for I will not take what is yours for theLORD, nor offer burnt offerings with thatwhich costs me nothing."25 So David gave Ornan six hundredshekels of gold by weight for the place.26And David built there an altar to theLORD, and offered burnt offerings andpeace offerings, and called on the LORD;and He answered him from heaven byfire on the altar of burnt offering.

1 CHRONICLES 21–22 11127 So the LORD commanded the angel,and he returned his sword to its sheath.28At that me, when David saw thatthe LORD had answered him on thethreshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, hesacrificed there.29 For the tabernacle of the LORD andthe altar of the burnt offering, whichMoses had made in the wilderness, wereat that me at the high place in Gibeon.30 But David could not go before it toinquire of God, for he was afraid of thesword of the angel of the LORD.

22 1 Then David said, "This is thehouse of the LORD God, and this

is the altar of burnt offering for Israel."2 So David commanded to gather thealiens who were in the land of Israel;and he appointed masons to cut hewnstones to build the house of God.3And David prepared iron in abundancefor the nails of the doors of the gates and

1 CHRONICLES 22 112for the joints, and bronze in abundancebeyond measure,4 and cedar trees in abundance; for theSidonians and those from Tyre broughtmuch cedar wood to David.5Now David said, "Solomon my sonis young and inexperienced, and thehouse to be built for the LORD must beexceedingly magnificent, famous andglorious throughout all countries. I willnow make prepara on for it." So Davidmade abundant prepara ons before hisdeath.6 Then he called for his son Solomon,and charged him to build a house for theLORD God of Israel.7And David said to Solomon: "My son,as for me, it was in my mind to build ahouse to the name of the LORD my God;8 "but the word of the LORD came tome, saying, ‘You have shed much bloodand have made great wars; you shall not

1 CHRONICLES 22 113build a house for My name, because youhave shed much blood on the earth inMy sight.9 ‘Behold, a son shall be born to you,who shall be a man of rest; and I will givehim rest from all his enemies all around.His name shall be Solomon, for I will givepeace 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 hisFather; and I will establish the throne ofhis kingdom over Israel forever.’11 "Now, my son, may the LORD be withyou; and may you prosper, and build thehouse of the LORD your God, as He hassaid to you.12 "Only may the LORD give you wisdomand understanding, and give you chargeconcerning Israel, that you may keep thelaw of the LORD your God.13 "Then you will prosper, if you takecare to fulfill the statutes and judgments

1 CHRONICLES 22 114with which the LORD charged Mosesconcerning Israel. Be strong and of goodcourage; do not fear nor be dismayed.14 "Indeed I have taken much trouble toprepare for the house of the LORD onehundred thousand talents of gold andone million talents of silver, and bronzeand iron beyond measure, for it is soabundant. I have prepared mber andstone also, and you may add to them.15 "Moreover there are workmen withyou in abundance: woodsmen andstonecu ers, and all types of skillful menfor every kind of work.16 "Of gold and silver and bronze andiron there is no limit. Arise and beginworking, and the LORD be with you."17David also commanded all theleaders of Israel to help Solomon his son,saying,18 "Is not the LORD your God with you?And has He not given you rest on every

1 CHRONICLES 22–23 115side? For He has given the inhabitants ofthe land into my hand, and the land issubdued before the LORD and before Hispeople.19 "Now set your heart and your soul toseek the LORD your God. Therefore ariseand build the sanctuary of the LORDGod, to bring the ark of the covenant ofthe LORD and the holy ar cles of Godinto the house that is to be built for thename of the LORD."

23 1 So when David was old and fullof days, he made his son Solomon

king over Israel.2And he gathered together all theleaders of Israel, with the priests and theLevites.3Now the Levites were numbered fromthe age of thirty years and above; andthe number of individual males wasthirty–eight thousand.

1 CHRONICLES 23 1164Of these, twenty–four thousand wereto look a er the work of the house ofthe LORD, six thousand were officers andjudges,5 four thousand were gatekeepers, andfour thousand praised the LORD withmusical instruments, "which I made,"said David, "for giving praise."6Also David separated them intodivisions among the sons of Levi:Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.7Of the Gershonites: Laadan andShimei.8 The sons of Laadan: the first Jehiel,then Zetham and Joel––three in all.9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, Haziel,and Haran––three in all. These were theheads of the fathers’ houses of Laadan.10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina,Jeush, and Beriah. These were the foursons of Shimei.

1 CHRONICLES 23 11711 Jahath was the first and Zizah thesecond. But Jeush and Beriah did nothave many sons; therefore they wereassigned as one father’s house.12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar,Hebron, and Uzziel––four in all.13 The sons of Amram: Aaron andMoses; and Aaron was set apart, he andhis sons forever, that he should sanc fythe most holy things, to burn incensebefore the LORD, to minister to Him, andto give the blessing in His name forever.14Now the sons of Moses the man ofGod were reckoned to the tribe of Levi.15 The sons of Moses were Gershon andEliezer.16Of the sons of Gershon, Shebuel wasthe first.17Of the descendants of Eliezer,Rehabiah was the first. And Eliezer hadno other sons, but the sons of Rehabiahwere very many.

1 CHRONICLES 23 11818Of the sons of Izhar, Shelomith wasthe first.19Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah was thefirst, Amariah the second, Jahaziel thethird, and Jekameam the fourth.20Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah was thefirst and Jesshiah the second.21 The sons of Merari were Mahli andMushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazarand Kish.22And Eleazar died, and had no sons,but only daughters; and their brethren,the sons of Kish, took them as wives.23 The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder,and Jeremoth––three in all.24 These were the sons of Levi bytheir fathers’ houses––the heads of thefathers’ houses as they were countedindividually by the number of theirnames, who did the work for the serviceof the house of the LORD, from the ageof twenty years and above.

1 CHRONICLES 23 11925 For David said, "The LORD God ofIsrael has given rest to His people, thatthey may dwell in Jerusalem forever";26 and also to the Levites, "They shallno longer carry the tabernacle, or any ofthe ar cles for its service."27 For by the last words of David theLevites were numbered from twentyyears old and above;28 because their duty was to help thesons of Aaron in the service of the houseof the LORD, in the courts and in thechambers, in the purifying of all holythings and the work of the service of thehouse of God,29 both with the showbread and thefine flour for the grain offering, with theunleavened cakes and what is baked inthe pan, with what is mixed and with allkinds of measures and sizes;30 to stand every morning to thank andpraise the LORD, and likewise at evening;

1 CHRONICLES 23–24 12031 and at every presenta on of a burntoffering to the LORD on the Sabbathsand on the New Moons and on theset feasts, by number according to theordinance governing them, regularlybefore the LORD;32 and that they should a end to theneeds of the tabernacle of mee ng, theneeds of the holy place, and the needsof the sons of Aaron their brethren inthe work of the house of the LORD.

24 1Now these are the divisions ofthe sons of Aaron. The sons of

Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, andIthamar.2And Nadab and Abihu died beforetheir father, and had no children;therefore Eleazar and Ithamarministered as priests.3 Then David with Zadok of the sons ofEleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of

1 CHRONICLES 24 121Ithamar, divided them according to theschedule of their service.4 There were more leaders found ofthe sons of Eleazar than of the sons ofIthamar, and thus they were divided.Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteenheads of their fathers’ houses, and eightheads of their fathers’ houses amongthe sons of Ithamar.5 Thus they were divided by lot, onegroup as another, for there were officialsof the sanctuary and officials of thehouse of God, from the sons of Eleazarand from the sons of Ithamar.6And the scribe, Shemaiah the sonof Nethanel, one of the Levites, wrotethem down before the king, the leaders,Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son ofAbiathar, and the heads of the fathers’houses of the priests and Levites, onefather’s house taken for Eleazar and onefor Ithamar.

1 CHRONICLES 24 1227Now the first lot fell to Jehoiarib, thesecond to Jedaiah,8 the third to Harim, the fourth toSeorim,9 the fi h to Malchijah, the sixth toMijamin,10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth toAbijah,11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth toShecaniah,12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twel hto Jakim,13 the thirteenth to Huppah, thefourteenth to Jeshebeab,14 the fi eenth to Bilgah, the sixteenthto Immer,15 the seventeenth to Hezir, theeighteenth to Happizzez,16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, thetwen eth to Jehezekel,17 the twenty–first to Jachin, thetwenty–second to Gamul,

1 CHRONICLES 24 12318 the twenty–third to Delaiah, thetwenty–fourth to Maaziah.19 This was the schedule of their servicefor coming into the house of the LORDaccording to their ordinance by the handof Aaron their father, as the LORD God ofIsrael had commanded him.20And the rest of the sons of Levi: ofthe sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sonsof Shubael, Jehdeiah.21 Concerning Rehabiah, of the sons ofRehabiah, the first was Isshiah.22Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of thesons of Shelomoth, Jahath.23Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah was thefirst, Amariah the second, Jahaziel thethird, and Jekameam the fourth.24Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah; of thesons of Michah, Shamir.25 The brother of Michah, Isshiah; ofthe sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.

1 CHRONICLES 24–25 12426 The sons of Merari were Mahli andMushi; the son of Jaaziah, Beno.27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah wereBeno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.28Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.29Of Kish: the son of Kish, Jerahmeel.30Also the sons of Mushi were Mahli,Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sonsof the Levites according to their fathers’houses.31 These also cast lots just as theirbrothers the sons of Aaron did, inthe presence of King David, Zadok,Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’houses of the priests and Levites. Thechief fathers did just as their youngerbrethren.

25 1Moreover David and thecaptains of the army separated

for the service some of the sons ofAsaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, whoshould prophesy with harps, stringed

1 CHRONICLES 25 125instruments, and cymbals. And thenumber of the skilled men performingtheir service was:2Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph,Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sonsof Asaph were under the direc on ofAsaph, who prophesied according to theorder of the king.3Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun:Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,Hashabiah, and Ma thiah, six, underthe direc on of their father Jeduthun,who prophesied with a harp to givethanks and to praise the LORD.4Of Heman, the sons of Heman:Bukkiah, Ma aniah, Uzziel, Shebuel,Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah,Giddal , Romam –Ezer, Joshbekashah,Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.5All these were the sons of Heman theking’s seer in the words of God, to exalt

1 CHRONICLES 25 126his horn. For God gave Heman fourteensons and three daughters.6All these were under the direc on oftheir father for the music in the houseof the LORD, with cymbals, stringedinstruments, and harps, for the serviceof the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun,and Heman were under the authority ofthe king.7 So the number of them, with theirbrethren who were instructed in thesongs of the LORD, all who were skillful,was two hundred and eighty–eight.8And they cast lots for their duty, thesmall as well as the great, the teacherwith the student.9Now the first lot for Asaph came outfor Joseph; the second for Gedaliah, himwith his brethren and sons, twelve;10 the third for Zaccur, his sons and hisbrethren, twelve;

1 CHRONICLES 25 12711 the fourth for Jizri, his sons and hisbrethren, twelve;12 the fi h for Nethaniah, his sons andhis brethren, twelve;13 the sixth for Bukkiah, his sons and hisbrethren, twelve;14 the seventh for Jesharelah, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;15 the eighth for Jeshaiah, his sons andhis brethren, twelve;16 the ninth for Ma aniah, his sons andhis brethren, twelve;17 the tenth for Shimei, his sons and hisbrethren, twelve;18 the eleventh for Azarel, his sons andhis brethren, twelve;19 the twel h for Hashabiah, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;20 the thirteenth for Shubael, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;21 the fourteenth for Ma thiah, hissons and his brethren, twelve;

1 CHRONICLES 25–26 12822 the fi eenth for Jeremoth, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;23 the sixteenth for Hananiah, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;24 the seventeenth for Joshbekashah,his sons and his brethren, twelve;25 the eighteenth for Hanani, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;26 the nineteenth for Mallothi, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;27 the twen eth for Eliathah, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;28 the twenty–first for Hothir, his sonsand his brethren, twelve;29 the twenty–second for Giddal , hissons and his brethren, twelve;30 the twenty–third for Mahazioth, hissons and his brethren, twelve;31 the twenty–fourth for Romam –Ezer,his sons and his brethren, twelve.

26 1 Concerning the divisions of thegatekeepers: of the Korahites,

1 CHRONICLES 26 129Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of thesons of Asaph.2And the sons of Meshelemiah wereZechariah the firstborn, Jediael thesecond, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel thefourth,3 Elam the fi h, Jehohanan the sixth,Eliehoenai the seventh.4Moreover the sons of Obed–Edomwere Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabadthe second, Joah the third, Sacar thefourth, Nethanel the fi h,5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar theseventh, Peulthai the eighth; for Godblessed him.6Also to Shemaiah his son were sonsborn who governed their fathers’houses, because they were men of greatability.7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni,Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose

1 CHRONICLES 26 130brothers Elihu and Semachiah were ablemen.8All these were of the sons of Obed–Edom, they and their sons and theirbrethren, able men with strength for thework: sixty–two of Obed–Edom.9And Meshelemiah had sons andbrethren, eighteen able men.10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari,had sons: Shimri the first (for though hewas not the firstborn, his father madehim the first),11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah thethird, Zechariah the fourth; all the sonsand brethren of Hosah were thirteen.12Among these were the divisions ofthe gatekeepers, among the chief men,having du es just like their brethren, toserve in the house of the LORD.13And they cast lots for each gate, thesmall as well as the great, according totheir father’s house.

1 CHRONICLES 26 13114 The lot for the East Gate fell toShelemiah. Then they cast lots for hisson Zechariah, a wise counselor, and hislot came out for the North Gate;15 to Obed–Edom the South Gate, andto his sons the storehouse.16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lotcame out for the West Gate, with theShallecheth Gate on the ascendinghighway––watchman oppositewatchman.17On the east were six Levites, on thenorth four each day, on the south foureach day, and for the storehouse two bytwo.18As for the Parbar on the west, therewere four on the highway and two at theParbar.19 These were the divisions of thegatekeepers among the sons of Korahand among the sons of Merari.

1 CHRONICLES 26 13220Of the Levites, Ahijah was over thetreasuries of the house of God and overthe treasuries of the dedicated things.21 The sons of Laadan, the descendantsof the Gershonites of Laadan, headsof their fathers’ houses, of Laadan theGershonite: Jehieli.22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joelhis brother, were over the treasuries ofthe house of the LORD.23Of the Amramites, the Izharites, theHebronites, and the Uzzielites:24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the sonofMoses, was overseer of the treasuries.25And his brethren by Eliezer wereRehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joramhis son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith hisson.26 This Shelomith and his brethren wereover all the treasuries of the dedicatedthings which King David and the headsof fathers’ houses, the captains over

1 CHRONICLES 26 133thousands and hundreds, and thecaptains of the army, had dedicated.27 Some of the spoils won in ba lesthey dedicated to maintain the house ofthe LORD.28And all that Samuel the seer, Saul theson of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, andJoab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated,every dedicated thing, was under thehand of Shelomith and his brethren.29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and hissons performed du es as officials andjudges over Israel outside Jerusalem.30Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and hisbrethren, one thousand seven hundredable men, had the oversight of Israel onthe west side of the Jordan for all thebusiness of the LORD, and in the serviceof the king.31Among the Hebronites, Jerijah washead of the Hebronites according to hisgenealogy of the fathers. In the for eth

1 CHRONICLES 26–27 134year of the reign of David they weresought, and there were found amongthem capable men at Jazer of Gilead.32And his brethren were two thousandseven hundred able men, heads offathers’ houses, whom King Davidmade officials over the Reubenites, theGadites, and the half–tribe of Manasseh,for every ma er pertaining to God andthe affairs of the king.

27 1And the children of Israel,according to their number, the

heads of fathers’ houses, the captainsof thousands and hundreds and theirofficers, served the king in every ma erof the military divisions. These divisionscame in and went out month by monththroughout all the months of theyear, each division having twenty–fourthousand.2Over the first division for the firstmonth was Jashobeam the son of

1 CHRONICLES 27 135Zabdiel, and in his division weretwenty–four thousand;3 he was of the children of Perez, andthe chief of all the captains of the armyfor the first month.4Over the division of the second monthwas Dodai an Ahohite, and of his divisionMikloth also was the leader; in hisdivision were twenty–four thousand.5 The third captain of the army for thethird month was Benaiah, the son ofJehoiada the priest, who was chief; in hisdivision were twenty–four thousand.6 This was the Benaiah who was mightyamong the thirty, and was over thethirty; in his division was Ammizabad hisson.7 The fourth captain for the fourthmonth was Asahel the brother of Joab,and Zebadiah his son a er him; in hisdivision were twenty–four thousand.

1 CHRONICLES 27 1368 The fi h captain for the fi h monthwas Shamhuth the Izrahite; in hisdivision were twenty–four thousand.9 The sixth captain for the sixth monthwas Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; inhis division were twenty–four thousand.10 The seventh captain for the seventhmonth was Helez the Pelonite, of thechildren of Ephraim; in his division weretwenty–four thousand.11 The eighth captain for the eighthmonth was Sibbechai the Hushathite,of the Zarhites; in his division weretwenty–four thousand.12 The ninth captain for the ninthmonth was Abiezer the Anathothite,of the Benjamites; in his division weretwenty–four thousand.13 The tenth captain for the tenthmonth was Maharai the Netophathite,of the Zarhites; in his division weretwenty–four thousand.

1 CHRONICLES 27 13714 The eleventh captain for the eleventhmonth was Benaiah the Pirathonite, ofthe children of Ephraim; in his divisionwere twenty–four thousand.15 The twel h captain for the twel hmonth was Heldai the Netophathite, ofOthniel; in his division were twenty–fourthousand.16 Furthermore, over the tribes ofIsrael: the officer over the Reubeniteswas Eliezer the son of Zichri; over theSimeonites, Shepha ah the son ofMaachah;17 over the Levites, Hashabiah the sonof Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok;18 over Judah, Elihu, one of David’sbrothers; over Issachar, Omri the son ofMichael;19 over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son ofObadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth theson of Azriel;

1 CHRONICLES 27 13820 over the children of Ephraim, Hosheathe son of Azaziah; over the half–tribe ofManasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;21 over the half–tribe of Manasseh inGilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; overBenjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;22 over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham.These were the leaders of the tribes ofIsrael.23 But David did not take the numberof those twenty years old and under,because the LORD had said He wouldmul ply Israel like the stars of theheavens.24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began acensus, but he did not finish, for wrathcame upon Israel because of this census;nor was the number recorded in theaccount of the chronicles of King David.25And Azmaveth the son of Adielwas over the king’s treasuries; andJehonathan the son of Uzziah was over

1 CHRONICLES 27 139the storehouses in the field, in the ci es,in the villages, and in the fortresses.26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over thosewho did the work of the field for llingthe ground.27And Shimei the Ramathite was overthe vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmitewas over the produce of the vineyardsfor the supply of wine.28 Baal–Hanan the Gederite was overthe olive trees and the sycamore treesthat were in the lowlands, and Joash wasover the store of oil.29And Shitrai the Sharonite was overthe herds that fed in Sharon, andShaphat the son of Adlai was over theherds that were in the valleys.30Obil the Ishmaelite was over thecamels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite wasover the donkeys,

1 CHRONICLES 27–28 14031 and Jaziz the Hagrite was over theflocks. All these were the officials overKing David’s property.32Also Jehonathan, David’s uncle, wasa counselor, a wise man, and a scribe;and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was withthe king’s sons.33Ahithophel was the king’s counselor,and Hushai the Archite was the king’scompanion.34A er Ahithophel was Jehoiada theson of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And thegeneral of the king’s army was Joab.

28 1Now David assembled atJerusalem all the leaders of Israel:

the officers of the tribes and the captainsof the divisions who served the king, thecaptains over thousands and captainsover hundreds, and the stewards overall the substance and possessions of theking and of his sons, with the officials,

1 CHRONICLES 28 141the valiant men, and all the mighty menof valor.2 Then King David rose to his feet andsaid, "Hear me, my brethren and mypeople: I had it in my heart to build ahouse of rest for the ark of the covenantof the LORD, and for the footstool ofour God, and had made prepara ons tobuild it.3 "But God said to me, ‘You shall notbuild a house for My name, because youhave been a man of war and have shedblood.’4 "However the LORD God of Israelchose me above all the house of myfather to be king over Israel forever, forHe has chosen Judah to be the ruler; andof the house of Judah, the house of myfather, and among the sons of my father,He was pleased with me to make meking over all Israel.

1 CHRONICLES 28 1425 "And of all my sons (for the LORD hasgiven me many sons) He has chosen myson Solomon to sit on the throne of thekingdom of the LORD over Israel.6 "Now He said to me, ‘It is your sonSolomon who shall build My house andMy courts; for I have chosen him to beMy son, and I will be his Father.7 ‘Moreover I will establish his kingdomforever, if he is steadfast to observe Mycommandments and My judgments, asit is this day.’8 "Now therefore, in the sight of allIsrael, the assembly of the LORD, andin the hearing of our God, be carefulto seek out all the commandmentsof the LORD your God, that you maypossess this good land, and leave it as aninheritance for your children a er youforever.9 "As for you, my son Solomon, knowthe God of your father, and serve Him

1 CHRONICLES 28 143with a loyal heart and with a willingmind; for the LORD searches all heartsand understands all the intent of thethoughts. If you seek Him, He will befound by you; but if you forsake Him, Hewill cast you off forever.10 "Consider now, for the LORD haschosen you to build a house for thesanctuary; be strong, and do it."11 Then David gave his son Solomon theplans for the ves bule, its houses, itstreasuries, its upper chambers, its innerchambers, and the place of the mercyseat;12 and the plans for all that he had bythe Spirit, of the courts of the house ofthe LORD, of all the chambers all around,of the treasuries of the house of God,and of the treasuries for the dedicatedthings;13 also for the division of the priestsand the Levites, for all the work of the

1 CHRONICLES 28 144service of the house of the LORD, andfor all the ar cles of service in the houseof the LORD.14He gave gold by weight for things ofgold, for all ar cles used in every kind ofservice; also silver for all ar cles of silverby weight, for all ar cles used in everykind of service;15 the weight for the lampstands ofgold, and their lamps of gold, by weightfor each lampstand and its lamps; forthe lampstands of silver by weight, forthe lampstand and its lamps, accordingto the use of each lampstand.16And by weight he gave gold for thetables of the showbread, for each table,and silver for the tables of silver;17 also pure gold for the forks, thebasins, the pitchers of pure gold, and thegolden bowls––he gave gold by weightfor every bowl; and for the silver bowls,silver by weight for every bowl;

1 CHRONICLES 28 14518 and refined gold by weight forthe altar of incense, and for theconstruc on of the chariot, that is,the gold cherubim that spread theirwings and overshadowed the ark of thecovenant of the LORD.19 "All this," said David, "the LORDmade me understand in wri ng, by Hishand upon me, all the works of theseplans."20And David said to his son Solomon,"Be strong and of good courage, and doit; do not fear nor be dismayed, for theLORD God––my God––will be with you.He will not leave you nor forsake you,un l you have finished all the work forthe service of the house of the LORD.21 "Here are the divisions of the priestsand the Levites for all the service ofthe house of God; and every willingcra sman will be with you for allmanner of workmanship, for every

1 CHRONICLES 29 146kind of service; also the leaders and allthe people will be completely at yourcommand."

29 1 Furthermore King David saidto all the assembly: "My son

Solomon, whom alone God has chosen,is young and inexperienced; and thework is great, because the temple is notfor man but for the LORD God.2 "Now for the house of my God I haveprepared with all my might: gold forthings to be made of gold, silver forthings of silver, bronze for things ofbronze, iron for things of iron, woodfor things of wood, onyx stones, stonesto be set, glistening stones of variouscolors, all kinds of precious stones, andmarble slabs in abundance.3 "Moreover, because I have set myaffec on on the house of my God, I havegiven to the house of my God, over andabove all that I have prepared for the

1 CHRONICLES 29 147holy house, my own special treasure ofgold and silver:4 "three thousand talents of gold, ofthe gold of Ophir, and seven thousandtalents of refined silver, to overlay thewalls of the houses;5 "the gold for things of gold andthe silver for things of silver, and forall kinds of work to be done by thehands of cra smen. Who then is willingto consecrate himself this day to theLORD?"6 Then the leaders of the fathers’houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel,the captains of thousands and ofhundreds, with the officers over theking’s work, offered willingly.7 They gave for the work of the houseof God five thousand talents and tenthousand darics of gold, ten thousandtalents of silver, eighteen thousand

1 CHRONICLES 29 148talents of bronze, and one hundredthousand talents of iron.8And whoever had precious stonesgave them to the treasury of the houseof the LORD, into the hand of Jehiel theGershonite.9 Then the people rejoiced, for theyhad offered willingly, because with aloyal heart they had offered willingly tothe LORD; and King David also rejoicedgreatly.10 Therefore David blessed the LORDbefore all the assembly; and David said:"Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel,our Father, forever and ever.11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, Thepower and the glory, The victory and themajesty; For all that is in heaven and inearth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, OLORD, And You are exalted as head overall.

1 CHRONICLES 29 14912 Both riches and honor come fromYou, And You reign over all. In Your handis power and might; In Your hand it is tomake great And to give strength to all.13 "Now therefore, our God, We thankYou And praise Your glorious name.14 But who am I, and who are mypeople, That we should be able to offerso willingly as this? For all things comefrom You, And of Your own we havegiven You.15 For we are aliens and pilgrims beforeYou, As were all our fathers; Our dayson earth are as a shadow, And withouthope.16 "O LORD our God, all this abundancethat we have prepared to build You ahouse for Your holy name is from Yourhand, and is all Your own.17 "I know also, my God, that Youtest the heart and have pleasurein uprightness. As for me, in the

1 CHRONICLES 29 150uprightness of my heart I have willinglyoffered all these things; and now withjoy I have seen Your people, who arepresent here to offer willingly to You.18 "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, andIsrael, our fathers, keep this forever inthe intent of the thoughts of the heart ofYour people, and fix their heart towardYou.19 "And give my son Solomon a loyalheart to keep Your commandments andYour tes monies and Your statutes, to doall these things, and to build the templefor which I have made provision."20 Then David said to all the assembly,"Now bless the LORD your God." So allthe assembly blessed the LORD God oftheir fathers, and bowed their heads andprostrated themselves before the LORDand the king.21And they made sacrifices to the LORDand offered burnt offerings to the LORD

1 CHRONICLES 29 151on the next day: a thousand bulls, athousand rams, a thousand lambs, withtheir drink offerings, and sacrifices inabundance for all Israel.22 So they ate and drank before theLORD with great gladness on thatday. And they made Solomon the sonof David king the second me, andanointed him before the LORD to be theleader, and Zadok to be priest.23 Then Solomon sat on the throneof the LORD as king instead of Davidhis father, and prospered; and all Israelobeyed him.24All the leaders and the mighty men,and also all the sons of King David,submi ed themselves to King Solomon.25 So the LORD exalted Solomonexceedingly in the sight of all Israel, andbestowed on him such royal majesty ashad not been on any king before him inIsrael.

1 CHRONICLES 29 15226 Thus David the son of Jesse reignedover all Israel.27And the period that he reigned overIsrael was forty years; seven years hereigned in Hebron, and thirty–threeyears he reigned in Jerusalem.28 So he died in a good old age, full ofdays and riches and honor; and Solomonhis son reigned in his place.29Now the acts of King David, firstand last, indeed they are wri en in thebook of Samuel the seer, in the book ofNathan the prophet, and in the book ofGad the seer,30with all his reign and his might, andthe events that happened to him, toIsrael, and to all the kingdoms of thelands.

2 Chronicles

1 1Now Solomon the son of Davidwas strengthened in his kingdom,

and the LORD his God was with him andexalted him exceedingly.2And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to thecaptains of thousands and of hundreds,to the judges, and to every leader in allIsrael, the heads of the fathers’ houses.3 Then Solomon, and all the assemblywith him, went to the high place thatwas at Gibeon; for the tabernacle ofmee ng with God was there, whichMoses the servant of the LORD hadmade in the wilderness.4 But David had brought up the ark ofGod from Kirjath Jearim to the placeDavid had prepared for it, for he hadpitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

2 CHRONICLES 1 25Now the bronze altar that Bezalel theson of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, heput before the tabernacle of the LORD;Solomon and the assembly sought Himthere.6And Solomon went up there to thebronze altar before the LORD, whichwas at the tabernacle of mee ng, andoffered a thousand burnt offerings on it.7On that night God appeared toSolomon, and said to him, "Ask! Whatshall I give you?"8And Solomon said to God: "You haveshown great mercy to David my father,and have made me king in his place.9 "Now, O LORD God, let Your promiseto David my father be established, forYou have made me king over a peoplelike the dust of the earth in mul tude.10 "Now give me wisdom andknowledge, that I may go out and come

2 CHRONICLES 1 3in before this people; for who can judgethis great people of Yours?"11And God said to Solomon: "Becausethis was in your heart, and you havenot asked riches or wealth or honor orthe life of your enemies, nor have youasked long life––but have asked wisdomand knowledge for yourself, that youmay judge My people over whom I havemade you king––12 "wisdom and knowledge are grantedto you; and I will give you riches andwealth and honor, such as none of thekings have had who were before you,nor shall any a er you have the like."13 So Solomon came to Jerusalem fromthe high place that was at Gibeon, frombefore the tabernacle of mee ng, andreigned over Israel.14And Solomon gathered chariots andhorsemen; he had one thousand fourhundred chariots and twelve thousand

2 CHRONICLES 1–2 4horsemen, whom he sta oned in thechariot ci es and with the king inJerusalem.15Also the king made silver and goldas common in Jerusalem as stones, andhe made cedars as abundant as thesycamores which are in the lowland.16And Solomon had horses importedfrom Egypt and Keveh; the king’smerchants bought them in Keveh at thecurrent price.17 They also acquired and importedfrom Egypt a chariot for six hundredshekels of silver, and a horse for onehundred and fi y; thus, through theiragents, they exported them to all thekings of the Hi tes and the kings ofSyria.

2 1 Then Solomon determined to builda temple for the name of the LORD,

and a royal house for himself.

2 CHRONICLES 2 52 Solomon selected seventy thousandmen to bear burdens, eighty thousandto quarry stone in the mountains, andthree thousand six hundred to overseethem.3 Then Solomon sent to Hiram kingof Tyre, saying: As you have dealt withDavid my father, and sent him cedars tobuild himself a house to dwell in, so dealwith me.4 Behold, I am building a temple for thename of the LORD my God, to dedicateit to Him, to burn before Him sweetincense, for the con nual showbread,for the burnt offerings morning andevening, on the Sabbaths, on the NewMoons, and on the set feasts of theLORD our God. This is an ordinanceforever to Israel.5And the temple which I build will begreat, for our God is greater than allgods.

2 CHRONICLES 2 66 But who is able to build Him a temple,since heaven and the heaven of heavenscannot contain Him? Who am I then,that I should build Him a temple, exceptto burn sacrifice before Him?7 Therefore send me at once a manskillful to work in gold and silver, inbronze and iron, in purple and crimsonand blue, who has skill to engrave withthe skillful men who are with me inJudah and Jerusalem, whom David myfather provided.8Also send me cedar and cypress andalgum logs from Lebanon, for I know thatyour servants have skill to cut mber inLebanon; and indeed my servants will bewith your servants,9 to prepare mber for me inabundance, for the temple which Iam about to build shall be great andwonderful.

2 CHRONICLES 2 710And indeed I will give to yourservants, the woodsmen who cut mber,twenty thousand kors of ground wheat,twenty thousand kors of barley, twentythousand baths of wine, and twentythousand baths of oil.11 Then Hiram king of Tyre answeredin wri ng, which he sent to Solomon:Because the LORD loves His people, Hehas made you king over them.12Hiram also said: Blessed be the LORDGod of Israel, who made heaven andearth, for He has given King David awise son, endowed with prudence andunderstanding, who will build a templefor the LORD and a royal house forhimself!13And now I have sent a skillful man,endowed with understanding, Hurammy master cra sman14 (the son of a woman of the daughtersof Dan, and his father was a man of

2 CHRONICLES 2 8Tyre), skilled to work in gold and silver,bronze and iron, stone and wood, purpleand blue, fine linen and crimson, and tomake any engraving and to accomplishany plan which may be given to him,with your skillful men and with theskillful men of my lord David your father.15Now therefore, the wheat, the barley,the oil, and the wine which my lord hasspoken of, let him send to his servants.16And we will cut wood from Lebanon,as much as you need; we will bring it toyou in ra s by sea to Joppa, and you willcarry it up to Jerusalem.17 Then Solomon numbered all thealiens who were in the land of Israel,a er the census in which David his fatherhad numbered them; and there werefound to be one hundred and fi y–threethousand six hundred.18And he made seventy thousandof them bearers of burdens, eighty

2 CHRONICLES 3 9thousand stonecu ers in the mountain,and three thousand six hundredoverseers to make the people work.

3 1Now Solomon began to build thehouse of the LORD at Jerusalem on

Mount Moriah, where the LORD hadappeared to his father David, at theplace that David had prepared on thethreshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.2And he began to build on the secondday of the second month in the fourthyear of his reign.3 This is the founda on which Solomonlaid for building the house of God:The length was sixty cubits (by cubitsaccording to the former measure) andthe width twenty cubits.4And the ves bule that was in front ofthe sanctuary was twenty cubits longacross the width of the house, and theheight was one hundred and twenty. Heoverlaid the inside with pure gold.

2 CHRONICLES 3 105 The larger room he paneled withcypress which he overlaid with fine gold,and he carved palm trees and chainworkon it.6And he decorated the house withprecious stones for beauty, and the goldwas gold from Parvaim.7He also overlaid the house––thebeams and doorposts, its walls anddoors––with gold; and he carvedcherubim on the walls.8And he made the Most Holy Place.Its length was according to the width ofthe house, twenty cubits, and its widthtwenty cubits. He overlaid it with sixhundred talents of fine gold.9 The weight of the nails was fi yshekels of gold; and he overlaid theupper area with gold.10 In the Most Holy Place he made twocherubim, fashioned by carving, andoverlaid them with gold.

2 CHRONICLES 3 1111 The wings of the cherubim weretwenty cubits in overall length: onewing of the one cherub was five cubits,touching the wall of the room, and theother wing was five cubits, touching thewing of the other cherub;12 one wing of the other cherub wasfive cubits, touching the wall of theroom, and the other wing also was fivecubits, touching the wing of the othercherub.13 The wings of these cherubimspanned twenty cubits overall. Theystood on their feet, and they facedinward.14And he made the veil of blue, purple,crimson, and fine linen, and wovecherubim into it.15Also he made in front of the templetwo pillars thirty–five cubits high, andthe capital that was on the top of eachof them was five cubits.

2 CHRONICLES 3–4 1216He made wreaths of chainwork, asin the inner sanctuary, and put themon top of the pillars; and he made onehundred pomegranates, and put themon the wreaths of chainwork.17 Then he set up the pillars before thetemple, one on the right hand and theother on the le ; he called the name ofthe one on the right hand Jachin, andthe name of the one on the le Boaz.

4 1Moreover he made a bronze altar:twenty cubits was its length, twenty

cubits its width, and ten cubits its height.2 Then he made the Sea of cast bronze,ten cubits from one brim to the other;it was completely round. Its height wasfive cubits, and a line of thirty cubitsmeasured its circumference.3And under it was the likeness of oxenencircling it all around, ten to a cubit, allthe way around the Sea. The oxen werecast in two rows, when it was cast.

2 CHRONICLES 4 134 It stood on twelve oxen: three lookingtoward the north, three looking towardthe west, three looking toward thesouth, and three looking toward theeast; the Sea was set upon them, and alltheir back parts pointed inward.5 It was a handbreadth thick; and itsbrim was shaped like the brim of a cup,like a lily blossom. It contained threethousand baths.6He also made ten lavers, and put fiveon the right side and five on the le ,to wash in them; such things as theyoffered for the burnt offering they wouldwash in them, but the Sea was for thepriests to wash in.7And he made ten lampstands of goldaccording to their design, and set themin the temple, five on the right side andfive on the le .8He also made ten tables, and placedthem in the temple, five on the right side

2 CHRONICLES 4 14and five on the le . And he made onehundred bowls of gold.9 Furthermore he made the court of thepriests, and the great court and doors forthe court; and he overlaid these doorswith bronze.10He set the Sea on the right side,toward the southeast.11 Then Huram made the pots andthe shovels and the bowls. So Huramfinished doing the work that he was todo for King Solomon for the house ofGod:12 the two pillars and the bowl–shapedcapitals that were on top of the twopillars; the two networks covering thetwo bowl–shaped capitals which wereon top of the pillars;13 four hundred pomegranatesfor the two networks (two rows ofpomegranates for each network, to

2 CHRONICLES 4 15cover the two bowl–shaped capitals thatwere on the pillars);14 he also made carts and the lavers onthe carts;15 one Sea and twelve oxen under it;16 also the pots, the shovels, theforks––and all their ar cles Huram hismaster cra sman made of burnishedbronze for King Solomon for the houseof the LORD.17 In the plain of Jordan the kinghad them cast in clay molds, betweenSuccoth and Zeredah.18And Solomon had all these ar clesmade in such great abundance thatthe weight of the bronze was notdetermined.19 Thus Solomon had all the furnishingsmade for the house of God: the altar ofgold and the tables on which was theshowbread;

2 CHRONICLES 4–5 1620 the lampstands with their lamps ofpure gold, to burn in the prescribedmanner in front of the inner sanctuary,21with the flowers and the lamps andthe wick–trimmers of gold, of purestgold;22 the trimmers, the bowls, the ladles,and the censers of pure gold. As for theentry of the sanctuary, its inner doors tothe Most Holy Place, and the doors ofthe main hall of the temple, were gold.

5 1 So all the work that Solomon haddone for the house of the LORD

was finished; and Solomon brought inthe things which his father David haddedicated: the silver and the gold and allthe furnishings. And he put them in thetreasuries of the house of God.2Now Solomon assembled the eldersof Israel and all the heads of the tribes,the chief fathers of the children of Israel,in Jerusalem, that they might bring the

2 CHRONICLES 5 17ark of the covenant of the LORD up fromthe City of David, which is Zion.3 Therefore all the men of Israelassembled with the king at the feast,which was in the seventh month.4 So all the elders of Israel came, andthe Levites took up the ark.5 Then they brought up the ark, thetabernacle of mee ng, and all the holyfurnishings that were in the tabernacle.The priests and the Levites brought themup.6Also King Solomon, and all thecongrega on of Israel who wereassembled with him before the ark, weresacrificing sheep and oxen that could notbe counted or numbered for mul tude.7 Then the priests brought in the ark ofthe covenant of the LORD to its place,into the inner sanctuary of the temple,to the Most Holy Place, under the wingsof the cherubim.

2 CHRONICLES 5 188 For the cherubim spread their wingsover the place of the ark, and thecherubim overshadowed the ark and itspoles.9And the poles extended so that theends of the poles of the ark could beseen from the holy place, in front of theinner sanctuary; but they could not beseen from outside. And they are there tothis day.10Nothing was in the ark except thetwo tablets which Moses put there atHoreb, when the LORD made a covenantwith the children of Israel, when theyhad come out of Egypt.11And it came to pass when the priestscame out of the Most Holy Place (forall the priests who were present hadsanc fied themselves, without keepingto their divisions),12 and the Levites who were the singers,all those of Asaph and Heman and

2 CHRONICLES 5 19Jeduthun, with their sons and theirbrethren, stood at the east end of thealtar, clothed in white linen, havingcymbals, stringed instruments and harps,and with them one hundred and twentypriests sounding with trumpets––13 indeed it came to pass, when thetrumpeters and singers were as one, tomake one sound to be heard in praisingand thanking the LORD, and when theyli ed up their voice with the trumpetsand cymbals and instruments of music,and praised the LORD, saying: "For Heis good, For His mercy endures forever,"that the house, the house of the LORD,was filled with a cloud,14 so that the priests could not con nueministering because of the cloud; forthe glory of the LORD filled the house ofGod.

2 CHRONICLES 6 20

6 1 Then Solomon spoke: "The LORDsaid He would dwell in the dark

cloud.2 I have surely built You an exaltedhouse, And a place for You to dwell inforever."3 Then the king turned around andblessed the whole assembly of Israel,while all the assembly of Israel wasstanding.4And he said: "Blessed be the LORDGod of Israel, who has fulfilled with Hishands what He spoke with His mouth tomy father David, saying,5 ‘Since the day that I brought Mypeople out of the land of Egypt, I havechosen no city from any tribe of Israel inwhich to build a house, that My namemight be there, nor did I choose any manto be a ruler over My people Israel.

2 CHRONICLES 6 216 ‘Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that Myname may be there; and I have chosenDavid to be over My people Israel.’7 "Now it was in the heart of my fatherDavid to build a temple for the name ofthe LORD God of Israel.8 "But the LORD said to my father David,‘Whereas it was in your heart to build atemple for My name, you did well in thatit was in your heart.9 ‘Nevertheless you shall not build thetemple, but your son whowill come fromyour body, he shall build the temple forMy name.’10 "So the LORD has fulfilled His wordwhich He spoke, and I have filled theposi on of my father David, and siton the throne of Israel, as the LORDpromised; and I have built the templefor the name of the LORD God of Israel.

2 CHRONICLES 6 2211 "And there I have put the ark, inwhich is the covenant of the LORD whichHe made with the children of Israel."12 Then Solomon stood before the altarof the LORD in the presence of all theassembly of Israel, and spread out hishands13 (for Solomon had made a bronzepla orm five cubits long, five cubitswide, and three cubits high, and had setit in the midst of the court; and he stoodon it, knelt down on his knees before allthe assembly of Israel, and spread outhis hands toward heaven);14 and he said: "LORD God of Israel,there is no God in heaven or on earth likeYou, who keep Your covenant and mercywith Your servants who walk before Youwith all their hearts.15 "You have kept what You promisedYour servant David my father; You haveboth spoken with Your mouth and

2 CHRONICLES 6 23fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is thisday.16 "Therefore, LORD God of Israel, nowkeep what You promised Your servantDavid my father, saying, ‘You shall notfail to have a man sit before Me on thethrone of Israel, only if your sons takeheed to their way, that they walk in Mylaw as you have walked before Me.’17 "And now, O LORD God of Israel, letYour word come true, which You havespoken to Your servant David.18 "But will God indeed dwell with menon the earth? Behold, heaven and theheaven of heavens cannot contain You.How much less this temple which I havebuilt!19 "Yet regard the prayer of Your servantand his supplica on, O LORD my God,and listen to the cry and the prayerwhich Your servant is praying before You:

2 CHRONICLES 6 2420 "that Your eyes may be open towardthis temple day and night, toward theplace where You said You would put Yourname, that You may hear the prayerwhich Your servant prays toward thisplace.21 "And may You hear the supplica onsof Your servant and of Your people Israel,when they pray toward this place. Hearfrom heaven Your dwelling place, andwhen You hear, forgive.22 "If anyone sins against his neighbor,and is forced to take an oath, and comesand takes an oath before Your altar inthis temple,23 "then hear from heaven, and act, andjudge Your servants, bringing retribu onon the wicked by bringing his wayon his own head, and jus fying therighteous by giving him according to hisrighteousness.

2 CHRONICLES 6 2524 "Or if Your people Israel are defeatedbefore an enemy because they havesinned against You, and return andconfess Your name, and pray and makesupplica on before You in this temple,25 "then hear from heaven and forgivethe sin of Your people Israel, and bringthem back to the land which You gave tothem and their fathers.26 "When the heavens are shut up andthere is no rain because they have sinnedagainst You, when they pray toward thisplace and confess Your name, and turnfrom their sin because You afflict them,27 "then hear in heaven, and forgive thesin of Your servants, Your people Israel,that You may teach them the good wayin which they should walk; and send rainon Your land which You have given toYour people as an inheritance.28 "When there is famine in the land,pes lence or blight or mildew, locusts

2 CHRONICLES 6 26or grasshoppers; when their enemiesbesiege them in the land of their ci es;whatever plague or whatever sicknessthere is;29 "whatever prayer, whateversupplica on is made by anyone, or byall Your people Israel, when each oneknows his own burden and his own grief,and spreads out his hands to this temple:30 "then hear from heaven Yourdwelling place, and forgive, and giveto everyone according to all his ways,whose heart You know (for You aloneknow the hearts of the sons of men),31 "that they may fear You, to walk inYour ways as long as they live in the landwhich You gave to our fathers.32 "Moreover, concerning a foreigner,who is not of Your people Israel, but whocomes from a far country for the sake ofYour great name and Your mighty hand

2 CHRONICLES 6 27and Your outstretched arm, when theycome and pray in this temple;33 "then hear from heaven Yourdwelling place, and do according to allfor which the foreigner calls to You, thatall peoples of the earth may know Yourname and fear You, as do Your peopleIsrael, and that they may know that thistemple which I have built is called byYour name.34 "When Your people go out to ba leagainst their enemies, wherever Yousend them, and when they pray to Youtoward this city which You have chosenand the temple which I have built forYour name,35 "then hear from heaven their prayerand their supplica on, and maintaintheir cause.36 "When they sin against You (for thereis no one who does not sin), and Youbecome angry with them and deliver

2 CHRONICLES 6 28them to the enemy, and they take themcap ve to a land far or near;37 "yet when they come to themselvesin the land where they were carriedcap ve, and repent, and makesupplica on to You in the land of theircap vity, saying, ‘We have sinned, wehave done wrong, and have commi edwickedness’;38 "and when they return to You withall their heart and with all their soul inthe land of their cap vity, where theyhave been carried cap ve, and praytoward their land which You gave totheir fathers, the city which You havechosen, and toward the temple which Ihave built for Your name:39 "then hear from heaven Yourdwelling place their prayer and theirsupplica ons, and maintain their cause,and forgive Your people who have sinnedagainst You.

2 CHRONICLES 6–7 2940 "Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyesbe open and let Your ears be a en ve tothe prayer made in this place.41 "Now therefore, Arise, O LORD God,to Your res ng place, You and the ark ofYour strength. Let Your priests, O LORDGod, be clothed with salva on, And letYour saints rejoice in goodness.42 "O LORD God, do not turn away theface of Your Anointed; Remember themercies of Your servant David."

7 1When Solomon had finishedpraying, fire came down from

heaven and consumed the burnt offeringand the sacrifices; and the glory of theLORD filled the temple.2And the priests could not enter thehouse of the LORD, because the glory ofthe LORD had filled the LORD’S house.3When all the children of Israel sawhow the fire came down, and theglory of the LORD on the temple, they

2 CHRONICLES 7 30bowed their faces to the ground on thepavement, and worshiped and praisedthe LORD, saying: "For He is good, ForHis mercy endures forever."4 Then the king and all the peopleoffered sacrifices before the LORD.5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice oftwenty–two thousand bulls and onehundred and twenty thousand sheep.So the king and all the people dedicatedthe house of God.6And the priests a ended totheir services; the Levites also withinstruments of the music of the LORD,which King David had made to praise theLORD, saying, "For His mercy enduresforever," whenever David offered praiseby their ministry. The priests soundedtrumpets opposite them, while all Israelstood.7 Furthermore Solomon consecratedthe middle of the court that was in front

2 CHRONICLES 7 31of the house of the LORD; for there heoffered burnt offerings and the fat ofthe peace offerings, because the bronzealtar which Solomon had made was notable to receive the burnt offerings, thegrain offerings, and the fat.8At that me Solomon kept the feastseven days, and all Israel with him, avery great assembly from the entranceof Hamath to the Brook of Egypt.9And on the eighth day they held asacred assembly, for they observed thededica on of the altar seven days, andthe feast seven days.10On the twenty–third day of theseventh month he sent the people awayto their tents, joyful and glad of heartfor the good that the LORD had done forDavid, for Solomon, and for His peopleIsrael.11 Thus Solomon finished the houseof the LORD and the king’s house; and

2 CHRONICLES 7 32Solomon successfully accomplished allthat came into his heart to make in thehouse of the LORD and in his own house.12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomonby night, and said to him: "I have heardyour prayer, and have chosen this placefor Myself as a house of sacrifice.13 "When I shut up heaven and thereis no rain, or command the locusts todevour the land, or send pes lenceamong My people,14 "if My people who are called byMy name will humble themselves, andpray and seek My face, and turn fromtheir wicked ways, then I will hear fromheaven, and will forgive their sin andheal their land.15 "Now My eyes will be open and Myears a en ve to prayer made in thisplace.16 "For now I have chosen and sanc fiedthis house, that My name may be there

2 CHRONICLES 7 33forever; and My eyes and My heart willbe there perpetually.17 "As for you, if you walk before Meas your father David walked, and doaccording to all that I have commandedyou, and if you keep My statutes and Myjudgments,18 "then I will establish the throne ofyour kingdom, as I covenanted withDavid your father, saying, ‘You shall notfail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’19 "But if you turn away and forsake Mystatutes and My commandments whichI have set before you, and go and serveother gods, and worship them,20 "then I will uproot them from Myland which I have given them; and thishouse which I have sanc fied for Myname I will cast out of My sight, and willmake it a proverb and a byword amongall peoples.

2 CHRONICLES 7–8 3421 "And as for this house, which isexalted, everyone who passes by it willbe astonished and say, ‘Why has theLORD done thus to this land and thishouse?’22 "Then they will answer, ‘Becausethey forsook the LORD God of theirfathers, who brought them out of theland of Egypt, and embraced othergods, and worshiped them and servedthem; therefore He has brought all thiscalamity on them.’"

8 1 It came to pass at the end of twentyyears, in which Solomon had built

the house of the LORD and his ownhouse,2 that the ci es which Hiram had givento Solomon, Solomon built them; and hese led the children of Israel there.3And Solomon went to Hamath Zobahand seized it.

2 CHRONICLES 8 354He also built Tadmor in thewilderness,and all the storage ci es which he builtin Hamath.5He built Upper Beth Horon and LowerBeth Horon, for fied ci es with walls,gates, and bars,6 also Baalath and all the storage ci esthat Solomon had, and all the chariotci es and the ci es of the cavalry, andall that Solomon desired to build inJerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all theland of his dominion.7All the people who were le of theHi tes, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites,and Jebusites, who were not of Israel––8 that is, their descendants who werele in the land a er them, whom thechildren of Israel did not destroy––fromthese Solomon raised forced labor, as itis to this day.9 But Solomon did not make thechildren of Israel servants for his work.

2 CHRONICLES 8 36Some were men of war, captains of hisofficers, captains of his chariots, and hiscavalry.10And others were chiefs of the officialsof King Solomon: two hundred and fi y,who ruled over the people.11Now Solomon brought the daughterof Pharaoh up from the City of Davidto the house he had built for her, forhe said, "My wife shall not dwell in thehouse of David king of Israel, becausethe places to which the ark of the LORDhas come are holy."12 Then Solomon offered burnt offeringsto the LORD on the altar of the LORDwhich he had built before the ves bule,13 according to the daily rate, offeringaccording to the commandment ofMoses, for the Sabbaths, the NewMoons, and the three appointed yearlyfeasts––the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

2 CHRONICLES 8 37the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast ofTabernacles.14And, according to the order of Davidhis father, he appointed the divisions ofthe priests for their service, the Levitesfor their du es (to praise and servebefore the priests) as the duty of eachday required, and the gatekeepers bytheir divisions at each gate; for so Davidthe man of God had commanded.15 They did not depart from thecommand of the king to the priestsand Levites concerning any ma er orconcerning the treasuries.16Now all the work of Solomon waswell–ordered from the day of thefounda on of the house of the LORDun l it was finished. So the house of theLORD was completed.17 Then Solomon went to Ezion Geberand Elath on the seacoast, in the land ofEdom.

2 CHRONICLES 8–9 3818And Hiram sent him ships by the handof his servants, and servants who knewthe sea. They went with the servantsof Solomon to Ophir, and acquired fourhundred and fi y talents of gold fromthere, and brought it to King Solomon.

9 1Now when the queen of Shebaheard of the fame of Solomon, she

came to Jerusalem to test Solomonwith hard ques ons, having a very greatre nue, camels that bore spices, goldin abundance, and precious stones; andwhen she came to Solomon, she spokewith him about all that was in her heart.2 So Solomon answered all herques ons; there was nothing so difficultfor Solomon that he could not explain itto her.3And when the queen of Sheba hadseen the wisdom of Solomon, the housethat he had built,

2 CHRONICLES 9 394 the food on his table, the sea ng ofhis servants, the service of his waitersand their apparel, his cupbearers andtheir apparel, and his entryway by whichhe went up to the house of the LORD,there was no more spirit in her.5 Then she said to the king: "It was atrue report which I heard in my own landabout your words and your wisdom.6 "However I did not believe their wordsun l I came and saw with my own eyes;and indeed the half of the greatnessof your wisdom was not told me. Youexceed the fame of which I heard.7 "Happy are your men and happyare these your servants, who standcon nually before you and hear yourwisdom!8 "Blessed be the LORD your God, whodelighted in you, se ng you on Histhrone to be king for the LORD yourGod! Because your God has loved Israel,

2 CHRONICLES 9 40to establish them forever, therefore Hemade you king over them, to do jus ceand righteousness."9And she gave the king one hundredand twenty talents of gold, spices ingreat abundance, and precious stones;there never were any spices such asthose the queen of Sheba gave to KingSolomon.10Also, the servants of Hiram and theservants of Solomon, who brought goldfrom Ophir, brought algum wood andprecious stones.11And the king made walkways of thealgum wood for the house of the LORDand for the king’s house, also harps andstringed instruments for singers; andthere were none such as these seenbefore in the land of Judah.12Now King Solomon gave to the queenof Sheba all she desired, whatever sheasked, much more than she had brought

2 CHRONICLES 9 41to the king. So she turned and went toher own country, she and her servants.13 The weight of gold that came toSolomon yearly was six hundred andsixty–six talents of gold,14 besides what the traveling merchantsand traders brought. And all the kingsof Arabia and governors of the countrybrought gold and silver to Solomon.15And King Solomon made twohundred large shields of hammeredgold; six hundred shekels of hammeredgold went into each shield.16He also made three hundred shieldsof hammered gold; three hundredshekels of gold went into each shield.The king put them in the House of theForest of Lebanon.17Moreover the king made a greatthrone of ivory, and overlaid it with puregold.

2 CHRONICLES 9 4218 The throne had six steps, with afootstool of gold, which were fastenedto the throne; there were armrests oneither side of the place of the seat, andtwo lions stood beside the armrests.19 Twelve lions stood there, one on eachside of the six steps; nothing like this hadbeen made for any other kingdom.20All King Solomon’s drinking vesselswere gold, and all the vessels of theHouse of the Forest of Lebanon werepure gold. Not one was silver, for thiswas accounted as nothing in the days ofSolomon.21 For the king’s ships went to Tarshishwith the servants of Hiram. Once everythree years the merchant ships came,bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, andmonkeys.22 So King Solomon surpassed all thekings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

2 CHRONICLES 9 4323And all the kings of the earth soughtthe presence of Solomon to hear hiswisdom, which God had put in his heart.24 Each man brought his present:ar cles of silver and gold, garments,armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a setrate year by year.25 Solomon had four thousand stallsfor horses and chariots, and twelvethousand horsemen whom he sta onedin the chariot ci es and with the king atJerusalem.26 So he reigned over all the kings fromthe River to the land of the Philis nes, asfar as the border of Egypt.27 The king made silver as common inJerusalem as stones, and he made cedartrees as abundant as the sycamoreswhich are in the lowland.28And they brought horses to Solomonfrom Egypt and from all lands.

2 CHRONICLES 9–10 4429Now the rest of the acts of Solomon,first and last, are they not wri en inthe book of Nathan the prophet, in theprophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and inthe visions of Iddo the seer concerningJeroboam the son of Nebat?30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem overall Israel forty years.31 Then Solomon rested with hisfathers, and was buried in the City ofDavid his father. And Rehoboam his sonreigned in his place.

10 1And Rehoboam went toShechem, for all Israel had gone

to Shechem to make him king.2 So it happened, when Jeroboam theson of Nebat heard it (he was in Egypt,where he had fled from the presence ofKing Solomon), that Jeroboam returnedfrom Egypt.

2 CHRONICLES 10 453 Then they sent for him and called him.And Jeroboam and all Israel came andspoke to Rehoboam, saying,4 "Your father made our yoke heavy;now therefore, lighten the burdensomeservice of your father and his heavy yokewhich he put on us, and we will serveyou."5 So he said to them, "Come back tome a er three days." And the peopledeparted.6 Then King Rehoboam consulted theelders who stood before his fatherSolomon while he s ll lived, saying,"How do you advise me to answer thesepeople?"7And they spoke to him, saying, "If youare kind to these people, and pleasethem, and speak good words to them,they will be your servants forever."8 But he rejected the advice which theelders had given him, and consulted the

2 CHRONICLES 10 46young men who had grown up with him,who stood before him.9And he said to them, "What advice doyou give? How should we answer thispeople who have spoken to me, saying,‘Lighten the yoke which your father puton us’?"10 Then the young men who had grownup with him spoke to him, saying, "Thusyou should speak to the people whohave spoken to you, saying, ‘Your fathermade our yoke heavy, but you make itlighter on us’ ––thus you shall say tothem: ‘My li le finger shall be thickerthan my father’s waist!11 ‘And now, whereas my father put aheavy yoke on you, I will add to youryoke; my father chas sed you withwhips, but I will chas se you withscourges!’"12 So Jeroboam and all the people cameto Rehoboam on the third day, as the

2 CHRONICLES 10 47king had directed, saying, "Come back tome the third day."13 Then the king answered themroughly. King Rehoboam rejected theadvice of the elders,14 and he spoke to them according tothe advice of the young men, saying,"My father made your yoke heavy, butI will add to it; my father chas sed youwith whips, but I will chas se you withscourges!"15 So the king did not listen to thepeople; for the turn of events was fromGod, that the LORD might fulfill Hisword, which He had spoken by the handof Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam theson of Nebat.16Now when all Israel saw that theking did not listen to them, the peopleanswered the king, saying: "Whatshare have we in David? We have noinheritance in the son of Jesse. Every

2 CHRONICLES 10–11 48man to your tents, O Israel! Now see toyour own house, O David!" So all Israeldeparted to their tents.17 But Rehoboam reigned over thechildren of Israel who dwelt in the ci esof Judah.18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram,who was in charge of revenue; but thechildren of Israel stoned himwith stones,and he died. Therefore King Rehoboammounted his chariot in haste to flee toJerusalem.19 So Israel has been in rebellion againstthe house of David to this day.

11 1Now when Rehoboam came toJerusalem, he assembled from

the house of Judah and Benjamin onehundred and eighty thousand chosenmen who were warriors, to fight againstIsrael, that he might restore the kingdomto Rehoboam.

2 CHRONICLES 11 492 But the word of the LORD came toShemaiah the man of God, saying,3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son ofSolomon, king of Judah, and to all Israelin Judah and Benjamin, saying,4 ‘Thus says the LORD: "You shall notgo up or fight against your brethren!Let every man return to his house, forthis thing is from Me."’" Therefore theyobeyed the words of the LORD, andturned back from a acking Jeroboam.5 So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, andbuilt ci es for defense in Judah.6And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,7 Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, whichare in Judah and Benjamin, for fiedci es.

2 CHRONICLES 11 5011And he for fied the strongholds, andput captains in them, and stores of food,oil, and wine.12Also in every city he put shields andspears, and made them very strong,having Judah and Benjamin on his side.13And from all their territories thepriests and the Levites who were in allIsrael took their stand with him.14 For the Levites le their common–lands and their possessions and came toJudah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam andhis sons had rejected them from servingas priests to the LORD.15 Then he appointed for himself priestsfor the high places, for the demons, andthe calf idols which he had made.16And a er the Levites le , those fromall the tribes of Israel, such as set theirheart to seek the LORD God of Israel,came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to theLORD God of their fathers.

2 CHRONICLES 11 5117 So they strengthened the kingdom ofJudah, and made Rehoboam the son ofSolomon strong for three years, becausethey walked in the way of David andSolomon for three years.18 Then Rehoboam took for himself aswife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoththe son of David, and of Abihail thedaughter of Eliah the son of Jesse.19And she bore him children: Jeush,Shamariah, and Zaham.20A er her he took Maacah thegranddaughter of Absalom; and she borehim Abijah, A ai, Ziza, and Shelomith.21Now Rehoboam loved Maachah thegranddaughter of Absalom more than allhis wives and his concubines; for he tookeighteen wives and sixty concubines,and begot twenty–eight sons and sixtydaughters.22And Rehoboam appointed Abijah theson of Maachah as chief, to be leader

2 CHRONICLES 11–12 52among his brothers; for he intended tomake him king.23He dealt wisely, and dispersed someof his sons throughout all the territoriesof Judah and Benjamin, to every for fiedcity; and he gave them provisions inabundance. He also sought many wivesfor them.

12 1Now it came to pass, whenRehoboam had established the

kingdom and had strengthened himself,that he forsook the law of the LORD, andall Israel along with him.2And it happened in the fi h yearof King Rehoboam, that Shishak kingof Egypt came up against Jerusalem,because they had transgressed againstthe LORD,3with twelve hundred chariots, sixtythousand horsemen, and people withoutnumber who came with him out of

2 CHRONICLES 12 53Egypt––the Lubim and the Sukkiim andthe Ethiopians.4And he took the for fied ci es ofJudah and came to Jerusalem.5 Then Shemaiah the prophet cameto Rehoboam and the leaders ofJudah, who were gathered together inJerusalem because of Shishak, and saidto them, "Thus says the LORD: ‘You haveforsaken Me, and therefore I also havele you in the hand of Shishak.’"6 So the leaders of Israel and the kinghumbled themselves; and they said,"The LORD is righteous."7Now when the LORD saw that theyhumbled themselves, the word of theLORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "Theyhave humbled themselves; therefore Iwill not destroy them, but I will grantthem some deliverance. My wrath shallnot be poured out on Jerusalem by thehand of Shishak.

2 CHRONICLES 12 548 "Nevertheless they will be hisservants, that they may dis nguish Myservice from the service of the kingdomsof the na ons."9 So Shishak king of Egypt came upagainst Jerusalem, and took away thetreasures of the house of the LORD andthe treasures of the king’s house; hetook everything. He also carried awaythe gold shields which Solomon hadmade.10 Then King Rehoboam made bronzeshields in their place, and commi edthem to the hands of the captains of theguard, who guarded the doorway of theking’s house.11And whenever the king entered thehouse of the LORD, the guard would goand bring them out; then they wouldtake them back into the guardroom.12When he humbled himself, the wrathof the LORD turned from him, so as not

2 CHRONICLES 12 55to destroy him completely; and thingsalso went well in Judah.13 Thus Rehoboam strengthenedhimself in Jerusalem and reigned. NowRehoboam was forty–one years oldwhen he became king; and he reignedseventeen years in Jerusalem, the citywhich the LORD had chosen out of allthe tribes of Israel, to put His namethere. His mother’s name was Naamah,an Ammonitess.14And he did evil, because he did notprepare his heart to seek the LORD.15 The acts of Rehoboam, first andlast, are they not wri en in the bookof Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddothe seer concerning genealogies? Andthere were wars between Rehoboamand Jeroboam all their days.16 So Rehoboam rested with his fathers,and was buried in the City of David. ThenAbijah his son reigned in his place.

2 CHRONICLES 13 56

13 1 In the eighteenth year of KingJeroboam, Abijah became king

over Judah.2He reigned three years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Michaiah thedaughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And therewas war between Abijah and Jeroboam.3Abijah set the ba le in order with anarmy of valiant warriors, four hundredthousand choice men. Jeroboam alsodrew up in ba le forma on against himwith eight hundred thousand choicemen, mighty men of valor.4 Then Abijah stood on MountZemaraim, which is in the mountains ofEphraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboamand all Israel:5 "Should you not know that the LORDGod of Israel gave the dominion overIsrael to David forever, to him and hissons, by a covenant of salt?

2 CHRONICLES 13 576 "Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, theservant of Solomon the son of David,rose up and rebelled against his lord.7 "Then worthless rogues gatheredto him, and strengthened themselvesagainst Rehoboam the son of Solomon,when Rehoboam was young andinexperienced and could not withstandthem.8 "And now you think to withstand thekingdom of the LORD, which is in thehand of the sons of David; and you area great mul tude, and with you are thegold calves which Jeroboam made foryou as gods.9 "Have you not cast out the priests ofthe LORD, the sons of Aaron, and theLevites, and made for yourselves priests,like the peoples of other lands, so thatwhoever comes to consecrate himselfwith a young bull and seven rams maybe a priest of things that are not gods?

2 CHRONICLES 13 5810 "But as for us, the LORD is our God,and we have not forsaken Him; and thepriests who minister to the LORD are thesons of Aaron, and the Levites a end totheir du es.11 "And they burn to the LORD everymorning and every evening burntsacrifices and sweet incense; they alsoset the showbread in order on the puregold table, and the lampstand of goldwith its lamps to burn every evening; forwe keep the command of the LORD ourGod, but you have forsaken Him.12 "Now look, God Himself is with us asour head, and His priests with soundingtrumpets to sound the alarm againstyou. O children of Israel, do not fightagainst the LORD God of your fathers,for you shall not prosper!"13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush togo around behind them; so they were

2 CHRONICLES 13 59in front of Judah, and the ambush wasbehind them.14And when Judah looked around, totheir surprise the ba le line was at bothfront and rear; and they cried out tothe LORD, and the priests sounded thetrumpets.15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout;and as the men of Judah shouted, ithappened that God struck Jeroboam andall Israel before Abijah and Judah.16And the children of Israel fled beforeJudah, and God delivered them intotheir hand.17 Then Abijah and his people struckthem with a great slaughter; so fivehundred thousand choice men of Israelfell slain.18 Thus the children of Israel weresubdued at that me; and the childrenof Judah prevailed, because they reliedon the LORD God of their fathers.

2 CHRONICLES 13–14 6019And Abijah pursued Jeroboam andtook ci es from him: Bethel with itsvillages, Jeshanah with its villages, andEphrain with its villages.20 So Jeroboam did not recover strengthagain in the days of Abijah; and the LORDstruck him, and he died.21 But Abijah grew mighty, marriedfourteen wives, and begot twenty–twosons and sixteen daughters.22Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, hisways, and his sayings are wri en in theannals of the prophet Iddo.

14 1 So Abijah rested with his fathers,and they buried him in the City

of David. Then Asa his son reigned in hisplace. In his days the land was quiet forten years.2Asa did what was good and right inthe eyes of the LORD his God,3 for he removed the altars of theforeign gods and the high places, and

2 CHRONICLES 14 61broke down the sacred pillars and cutdown the wooden images.4He commanded Judah to seek theLORD God of their fathers, and toobserve the law and the commandment.5He also removed the high places andthe incense altars from all the ci es ofJudah, and the kingdom was quiet underhim.6And he built for fied ci es in Judah,for the land had rest; he had no war inthose years, because the LORD had givenhim rest.7 Therefore he said to Judah, "Let usbuild these ci es and make walls aroundthem, and towers, gates, and bars, whilethe land is yet before us, because wehave sought the LORD our God; we havesought Him, and He has given us rest onevery side." So they built and prospered.8And Asa had an army of three hundredthousand from Judahwho carried shields

2 CHRONICLES 14 62and spears, and from Benjamin twohundred and eighty thousand men whocarried shields and drew bows; all thesewere mighty men of valor.9 Then Zerah the Ethiopian came outagainst them with an army of a millionmen and three hundred chariots, and hecame to Mareshah.10 So Asa went out against him, andthey set the troops in ba le array in theValley of Zephathah at Mareshah.11And Asa cried out to the LORD hisGod, and said, "LORD, it is nothing forYou to help, whether with many or withthose who have no power; help us, OLORD our God, for we rest on You, and inYour name we go against this mul tude.O LORD, You are our God; do not let manprevail against You!"12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopiansbefore Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopiansfled.

2 CHRONICLES 14–15 6313And Asa and the people who werewith him pursued them to Gerar. So theEthiopians were overthrown, and theycould not recover, for they were brokenbefore the LORD and His army. And theycarried away very much spoil.14 Then they defeated all the ci esaround Gerar, for the fear of the LORDcame upon them; and they plunderedall the ci es, for there was exceedinglymuch spoil in them.15 They also a acked the livestockenclosures, and carried off sheep andcamels in abundance, and returned toJerusalem.

15 1Now the Spirit of God cameupon Azariah the son of Oded.

2And he went out to meet Asa, and saidto him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah andBenjamin. The LORD is with you whileyou are with Him. If you seek Him, He

2 CHRONICLES 15 64will be found by you; but if you forsakeHim, He will forsake you.3 "For a long me Israel has beenwithout the true God, without ateaching priest, and without law;4 "but when in their trouble they turnedto the LORD God of Israel, and soughtHim, He was found by them.5 "And in those mes there was nopeace to the one who went out, nor tothe one who came in, but great turmoilwas on all the inhabitants of the lands.6 "So na on was destroyed by na on,and city by city, for God troubled themwith every adversity.7 "But you, be strong and do not letyour hands be weak, for your work shallbe rewarded!"8And when Asa heard these wordsand the prophecy of Oded the prophet,he took courage, and removed theabominable idols from all the land of

2 CHRONICLES 15 65Judah and Benjamin and from the ci eswhich he had taken in the mountains ofEphraim; and he restored the altar of theLORD that was before the ves bule ofthe LORD.9 Then he gathered all Judah andBenjamin, and those who dwelt withthem from Ephraim, Manasseh, andSimeon, for they came over to him ingreat numbers from Israel when theysaw that the LORD his God was with him.10 So they gathered together atJerusalem in the third month, in thefi eenth year of the reign of Asa.11And they offered to the LORD at thatme seven hundred bulls and seven

thousand sheep from the spoil they hadbrought.12 Then they entered into a covenant toseek the LORD God of their fathers withall their heart and with all their soul;

2 CHRONICLES 15 6613 and whoever would not seek theLORD God of Israel was to be put todeath, whether small or great, whetherman or woman.14 Then they took an oath before theLORD with a loud voice, with shou ngand trumpets and rams’ horns.15And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, forthey had sworn with all their heart andsought Him with all their soul; and Hewas found by them, and the LORD gavethem rest all around.16Also he removed Maachah, themother of Asa the king, from beingqueenmother, because she hadmade anobscene image of Asherah; and Asa cutdown her obscene image, then crushedand burned it by the Brook Kidron.17 But the high places were notremoved from Israel. Nevertheless theheart of Asa was loyal all his days.

2 CHRONICLES 15–16 6718He also brought into the houseof God the things that his father haddedicated and that he himself haddedicated: silver and gold and utensils.19And there was no war un l thethirty–fi h year of the reign of Asa.

16 1 In the thirty–sixth year of thereign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel

came up against Judah and built Ramah,that he might let none go out or come into Asa king of Judah.2 Then Asa brought silver and gold fromthe treasuries of the house of the LORDand of the king’s house, and sent toBen–Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt inDamascus, saying,3 "Let there be a treaty between youand me, as there was between my fatherand your father. Here, I have sent yousilver and gold; come, break your treatywith Baasha king of Israel, so that he willwithdraw from me."

2 CHRONICLES 16 684 So Ben–Hadad heeded King Asa, andsent the captains of his armies againstthe ci es of Israel. They a acked Ijon,Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storageci es of Naphtali.5Now it happened, when Baasha heardit, that he stopped building Ramah andceased his work.6 Then King Asa took all Judah, andthey carried away the stones and mberof Ramah, which Baasha had used forbuilding; and with them he built Gebaand Mizpah.7And at that me Hanani the seer cameto Asa king of Judah, and said to him:"Because you have relied on the king ofSyria, and have not relied on the LORDyour God, therefore the army of the kingof Syria has escaped from your hand.8 "Were the Ethiopians and the Lubimnot a huge army with very many chariotsand horsemen? Yet, because you relied

2 CHRONICLES 16 69on the LORD, He delivered them intoyour hand.9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to andfro throughout the whole earth, to showHimself strong on behalf of those whoseheart is loyal to Him. In this you havedone foolishly; therefore from now onyou shall have wars."10 Then Asa was angry with the seer,and put him in prison, for he wasenraged at him because of this. And Asaoppressed some of the people at thatme.11Note that the acts of Asa, first andlast, are indeed wri en in the book ofthe kings of Judah and Israel.12And in the thirty–ninth year of hisreign, Asa became diseased in his feet,and his malady was severe; yet in hisdisease he did not seek the LORD, butthe physicians.

2 CHRONICLES 16–17 7013 So Asa rested with his fathers; hedied in the forty–first year of his reign.14 They buried him in his own tomb,which he had made for himself in theCity of David; and they laid him inthe bed which was filled with spicesand various ingredients prepared in amixture of ointments. They made a verygreat burning for him.

17 1 Then Jehoshaphat his sonreigned in his place, and

strengthened himself against Israel.2And he placed troops in all thefor fied ci es of Judah, and set garrisonsin the land of Judah and in the ci es ofEphraim which Asa his father had taken.3Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat,because he walked in the former waysof his father David; he did not seek theBaals,

2 CHRONICLES 17 714 but sought the God of his father, andwalked in His commandments and notaccording to the acts of Israel.5 Therefore the LORD established thekingdom in his hand; and all Judah gavepresents to Jehoshaphat, and he hadriches and honor in abundance.6And his heart took delight in the waysof the LORD; moreover he removed thehigh places and wooden images fromJudah.7Also in the third year of his reign hesent his leaders, Ben–Hail, Obadiah,Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, toteach in the ci es of Judah.8And with them he sent Levites:Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel,Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah,Tobijah, and Tobadonijah––the Levites;and with them Elishama and Jehoram,the priests.

2 CHRONICLES 17 729 So they taught in Judah, and had theBook of the Law of the LORD with them;they went throughout all the ci es ofJudah and taught the people.10And the fear of the LORD fell on allthe kingdoms of the lands that werearound Judah, so that they did not makewar against Jehoshaphat.11Also some of the Philis nes broughtJehoshaphat presents and silver astribute; and the Arabians brought himflocks, seven thousand seven hundredrams and seven thousand seven hundredmale goats.12 So Jehoshaphat became increasinglypowerful, and he built fortresses andstorage ci es in Judah.13He had much property in the ci es ofJudah; and the men of war, mighty menof valor, were in Jerusalem.14 These are their numbers, accordingto their fathers’ houses. Of Judah,

2 CHRONICLES 17 73the captains of thousands: Adnah thecaptain, and with him three hundredthousand mighty men of valor;15 and next to him was Jehohanan thecaptain, and with him two hundred andeighty thousand;16 and next to him was Amasiah the sonof Zichri, who willingly offered himselfto the LORD, and with him two hundredthousand mighty men of valor.17Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty manof valor, and with him two hundredthousand men armed with bow andshield;18 and next to him was Jehozabad,and with him one hundred and eightythousand prepared for war.19 These served the king, besidesthose the king put in the for fied ci esthroughout all Judah.

2 CHRONICLES 18 74

18 1 Jehoshaphat had riches andhonor in abundance; and by

marriage he allied himself with Ahab.2A er some years he went down tovisit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killedsheep and oxen in abundance for himand the people who were with him, andpersuaded him to go up with him toRamoth Gilead.3 So Ahab king of Israel said toJehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you gowith me against Ramoth Gilead?" Andhe answered him, "I am as you are, andmy people as your people; we will bewith you in the war."4And Jehoshaphat said to the king ofIsrael, "Please inquire for the word ofthe LORD today."5 Then the king of Israel gatheredthe prophets together, four hundredmen, and said to them, "Shall we go towar against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I

2 CHRONICLES 18 75refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for Godwill deliver it into the king’s hand."6 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there nots ll a prophet of the LORD here, that wemay inquire of Him?"7 So the king of Israel said toJehoshaphat, "There is s ll one man bywhom we may inquire of the LORD; but Ihate him, because he never prophesiesgood concerning me, but always evil.He is Micaiah the son of Imla." AndJehoshaphat said, "Let not the king saysuch things!"8 Then the king of Israel called one ofhis officers and said, "Bring Micaiah theson of Imla quickly!"9 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphatking of Judah, clothed in their robes,sat each on his throne; and they sat ata threshing floor at the entrance of thegate of Samaria; and all the prophetsprophesied before them.

2 CHRONICLES 18 7610Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanahhad made horns of iron for himself; andhe said, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Withthese you shall gore the Syrians un lthey are destroyed.’"11And all the prophets prophesied so,saying, "Go up to Ramoth Gilead andprosper, for the LORD will deliver it intothe king’s hand."12 Then the messenger who had goneto call Micaiah spoke to him, saying,"Now listen, the words of the prophetswith one accord encourage the king.Therefore please let your word be likethe word of one of them, and speakencouragement."13And Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives,whatever my God says, that I will speak."14 Then he came to the king; and theking said to him, "Micaiah, shall we goto war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall Irefrain?" And he said, "Go and prosper,

2 CHRONICLES 18 77and they shall be delivered into yourhand!"15 So the king said to him, "How manymes shall I make you swear that you tell

me nothing but the truth in the name ofthe LORD?"16 Then he said, "I saw all Israelsca ered on the mountains, as sheepthat have no shepherd. And the LORDsaid, ‘These have no master. Let eachreturn to his house in peace.’"17And the king of Israel said toJehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you he wouldnot prophesy good concerning me, butevil?"18 Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hearthe word of the LORD: I saw the LORDsi ng on His throne, and all the host ofheaven standing on His right hand andHis le .19 "And the LORD said, ‘Who willpersuade Ahab king of Israel to go up,

2 CHRONICLES 18 78that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ Soone spoke in this manner, and anotherspoke in that manner.20 "Then a spirit came forward andstood before the LORD, and said, ‘I willpersuade him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘Inwhat way?’21 "So he said, ‘I will go out and bea lying spirit in the mouth of all hisprophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shallpersuade him and also prevail; go outand do so.’22 "Therefore look! The LORD has puta lying spirit in the mouth of theseprophets of yours, and the LORD hasdeclared disaster against you."23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanahwent near and struck Micaiah on thecheek, and said, "Which way did thespirit from the LORD go from me tospeak to you?"

2 CHRONICLES 18 7924And Micaiah said, "Indeed you shallsee on that day when you go into aninner chamber to hide!"25 Then the king of Israel said, "TakeMicaiah, and return him to Amon thegovernor of the city and to Joash theking’s son;26 "and say, ‘Thus says the king: "Putthis fellow in prison, and feed him withbread of afflic on and water of afflic onun l I return in peace."’"27 ThenMicaiah said, "If you ever returnin peace, the LORD has not spoken byme." And he said, "Take heed, all youpeople!"28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphatthe king of Judah went up to RamothGilead.29And the king of Israel said toJehoshaphat, "I will disguise myselfand go into ba le; but you put on your

2 CHRONICLES 18 80robes." So the king of Israel disguisedhimself, and they went into ba le.30Now the king of Syria hadcommanded the captains of thechariots who were with him, saying,"Fight with no one small or great, butonly with the king of Israel."31 So it was, when the captains of thechariots saw Jehoshaphat, that theysaid, "It is the king of Israel!" Thereforethey surrounded him to a ack; butJehoshaphat cried out, and the LORDhelped him, and God diverted themfrom him.32 For so it was, when the captains ofthe chariots saw that it was not the kingof Israel, that they turned back frompursuing him.33Now a certain man drew a bow atrandom, and struck the king of Israelbetween the joints of his armor. So hesaid to the driver of his chariot, "Turn

2 CHRONICLES 18–19 81around and take me out of the ba le, forI am wounded."34 The ba le increased that day, and theking of Israel propped himself up in hischariot facing the Syrians un l evening;and about the me of sunset he died.

19 1 Then Jehoshaphat the kingof Judah returned safely to his

house in Jerusalem.2And Jehu the son of Hanani the seerwent out to meet him, and said to KingJehoshaphat, "Should you help thewicked and love those who hate theLORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORDis upon you.3 "Nevertheless good things are foundin you, in that you have removed thewooden images from the land, and haveprepared your heart to seek God."4 So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem;and he went out again among the peoplefrom Beersheba to the mountains of

2 CHRONICLES 19 82Ephraim, and brought them back to theLORD God of their fathers.5 Then he set judges in the landthroughout all the for fied ci es ofJudah, city by city,6 and said to the judges, "Take heed towhat you are doing, for you do not judgefor man but for the LORD, who is withyou in the judgment.7 "Now therefore, let the fear of theLORD be upon you; take care and do it,for there is no iniquity with the LORD ourGod, no par ality, nor taking of bribes."8Moreover in Jerusalem, for thejudgment of the LORD and forcontroversies, Jehoshaphat appointedsome of the Levites and priests, andsome of the chief fathers of Israel, whenthey returned to Jerusalem.9And he commanded them, saying,"Thus you shall act in the fear of theLORD, faithfully and with a loyal heart:

2 CHRONICLES 19–20 8310 "Whatever case comes to you fromyour brethren who dwell in their ci es,whether of bloodshed or offensesagainst law or commandment, againststatutes or ordinances, you shall warnthem, lest they trespass against theLORD and wrath come upon you andyour brethren. Do this, and you will notbe guilty.11 "And take no ce: Amariah the chiefpriest is over you in all ma ers of theLORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael,the ruler of the house of Judah, forall the king’s ma ers; also the Leviteswill be officials before you. Behavecourageously, and the LORD will be withthe good."

20 1 It happened a er this thatthe people of Moab with the

people of Ammon, and others with thembesides the Ammonites, came to ba leagainst Jehoshaphat.

2 CHRONICLES 20 842 Then some came and toldJehoshaphat, saying, "A great mul tudeis coming against you from beyond thesea, from Syria; and they are in HazazonTamar" (which is En Gedi).3And Jehoshaphat feared, andset himself to seek the LORD, andproclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.4 So Judah gathered together to askhelp from the LORD; and from all theci es of Judah they came to seek theLORD.5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in theassembly of Judah and Jerusalem, inthe house of the LORD, before the newcourt,6 and said: "O LORD God of our fathers,are You not God in heaven, and do Younot rule over all the kingdoms of thena ons, and in Your hand is there notpower and might, so that no one is ableto withstand You?

2 CHRONICLES 20 857 "Are You not our God, who droveout the inhabitants of this land beforeYour people Israel, and gave it to thedescendants of Abraham Your friendforever?8 "And they dwell in it, and have builtYou a sanctuary in it for Your name,saying,9 ‘If disaster comes upon us––sword,judgment, pes lence, or famine––wewill stand before this temple and inYour presence (for Your name is inthis temple), and cry out to You in ourafflic on, and You will hear and save.’10 "And now, here are the people ofAmmon, Moab, and Mount Seir––whomYou would not let Israel invade whenthey came out of the land of Egypt,but they turned from them and did notdestroy them––11 "here they are, rewarding usby coming to throw us out of Your

2 CHRONICLES 20 86possession which You have given us toinherit.12 "O our God, will You not judge them?For we have no power against this greatmul tude that is coming against us; nordo we know what to do, but our eyes areupon You."13Now all Judah, with their li le ones,their wives, and their children, stoodbefore the LORD.14 Then the Spirit of the LORD cameupon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, theson of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the sonof Ma aniah, a Levite of the sons ofAsaph, in the midst of the assembly.15And he said, "Listen, all you ofJudah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem,and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus saysthe LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraidnor dismayed because of this greatmul tude, for the ba le is not yours, butGod’s.

2 CHRONICLES 20 8716 ‘Tomorrow go down against them.They will surely come up by the Ascentof Ziz, and you will find them at the endof the brook before the Wilderness ofJeruel.17 ‘You will not need to fight in thisba le. Posi on yourselves, stand s lland see the salva on of the LORD, whois with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Donot fear or be dismayed; tomorrow goout against them, for the LORD is withyou."18And Jehoshaphat bowed his headwith his face to the ground, and all Judahand the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowedbefore the LORD, worshiping the LORD.19 Then the Levites of the children ofthe Kohathites and of the children of theKorahites stood up to praise the LORDGod of Israel with voices loud and high.20 So they rose early in the morning andwent out into the Wilderness of Tekoa;

2 CHRONICLES 20 88and as they went out, Jehoshaphatstood and said, "Hear me, O Judah andyou inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believein the LORD your God, and you shall beestablished; believe His prophets, andyou shall prosper."21And when he had consulted with thepeople, he appointed those who shouldsing to the LORD, and who should praisethe beauty of holiness, as they wentout before the army and were saying:"Praise the LORD, For His mercy enduresforever."22Now when they began to sing andto praise, the LORD set ambushesagainst the people of Ammon, Moab,and Mount Seir, who had come againstJudah; and they were defeated.23 For the people of Ammon and Moabstood up against the inhabitants ofMount Seir to u erly kill and destroythem. And when they had made an end

2 CHRONICLES 20 89of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped todestroy one another.24 So when Judah came to a placeoverlooking the wilderness, they lookedtoward the mul tude; and there weretheir dead bodies, fallen on the earth.No one had escaped.25When Jehoshaphat and his peoplecame to take away their spoil, theyfound among them an abundance ofvaluables on the dead bodies, andprecious jewelry, which they stripped offfor themselves, more than they couldcarry away; and they were three daysgathering the spoil because there was somuch.26And on the fourth day theyassembled in the Valley of Berachah, forthere they blessed the LORD; thereforethe name of that place was called TheValley of Berachah un l this day.

2 CHRONICLES 20 9027 Then they returned, every man ofJudah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphatin front of them, to go back to Jerusalemwith joy, for the LORD had made themrejoice over their enemies.28 So they came to Jerusalem, withstringed instruments and harps andtrumpets, to the house of the LORD.29And the fear of God was on all thekingdoms of those countries when theyheard that the LORD had fought againstthe enemies of Israel.30 Then the realm of Jehoshaphat wasquiet, for his God gave him rest allaround.31 So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah.He was thirty–five years old when hebecame king, and he reigned twenty–fiveyears in Jerusalem. His mother’s namewas Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.32And he walked in the way of hisfather Asa, and did not turn aside from

2 CHRONICLES 20 91it, doing what was right in the sight ofthe LORD.33Nevertheless the high places werenot taken away, for as yet the peoplehad not directed their hearts to the Godof their fathers.34Now the rest of the acts ofJehoshaphat, first and last, indeed theyare wri en in the book of Jehu the sonof Hanani, which is men oned in thebook of the kings of Israel.35A er this Jehoshaphat king of Judahallied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel,who acted very wickedly.36And he allied himself with him tomake ships to go to Tarshish, and theymade the ships in Ezion Geber.37 But Eliezer the son of Dodavahof Mareshah prophesied againstJehoshaphat, saying, "Because you haveallied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORDhas destroyed your works." Then the

2 CHRONICLES 21 92ships were wrecked, so that they werenot able to go to Tarshish.

21 1And Jehoshaphat rested withhis fathers, and was buried with

his fathers in the City of David. ThenJehoram his son reigned in his place.2He had brothers, the sons ofJehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah,Azaryahu, Michael, and Shepha ah; allthese were the sons of Jehoshaphat kingof Israel.3 Their father gave them great gi s ofsilver and gold and precious things, withfor fied ci es in Judah; but he gave thekingdom to Jehoram, because he wasthe firstborn.4Now when Jehoram was establishedover the kingdom of his father, hestrengthened himself and killed all hisbrothers with the sword, and also othersof the princes of Israel.

2 CHRONICLES 21 935 Jehoram was thirty–two years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedeight years in Jerusalem.6And he walked in the way of the kingsof Israel, just as the house of Ahab haddone, for he had the daughter of Ahabas a wife; and he did evil in the sight ofthe LORD.7 Yet the LORD would not destroy thehouse of David, because of the covenantthat He had made with David, and sinceHe had promised to give a lamp to himand to his sons forever.8 In his days the Edomites revoltedagainst Judah’s authority, and made aking over themselves.9 So Jehoram went out with his officers,and all his chariots with him. And he roseby night and a acked the Edomites whohad surrounded him and the captains ofthe chariots.

2 CHRONICLES 21 9410 Thus Edom has been in revolt againstJudah’s authority to this day. At that meLibnah revolted against his rule, becausehe had forsaken the LORD God of hisfathers.11Moreover he made high places inthe mountains of Judah, and causedthe inhabitants of Jerusalem to commitharlotry, and led Judah astray.12And a le er came to him from Elijahthe prophet, saying, Thus says the LORDGod of your father David: Becauseyou have not walked in the ways ofJehoshaphat your father, or in the waysof Asa king of Judah,13 but have walked in the way of thekings of Israel, and have made Judah andthe inhabitants of Jerusalem to play theharlot like the harlotry of the house ofAhab, and also have killed your brothers,those of your father’s household, whowere be er than yourself,

2 CHRONICLES 21 9514 behold, the LORD will strike yourpeople with a serious afflic on––yourchildren, your wives, and all yourpossessions;15 and you will become very sick witha disease of your intes nes, un l yourintes nes come out by reason of thesickness, day by day.16Moreover the LORD s rred up againstJehoram the spirit of the Philis nesand the Arabians who were near theEthiopians.17And they came up into Judah andinvaded it, and carried away all thepossessions that were found in the king’shouse, and also his sons and his wives,so that there was not a son le to himexcept Jehoahaz, the youngest of hissons.18A er all this the LORD struck him inhis intes nes with an incurable disease.

2 CHRONICLES 21–22 9619 Then it happened in the course ofme, a er the end of two years, that

his intes nes came out because of hissickness; so he died in severe pain. Andhis people made no burning for him, likethe burning for his fathers.20He was thirty–two years old when hebecame king. He reigned in Jerusalemeight years and, to no one’s sorrow,departed. However they buried him inthe City of David, but not in the tombs ofthe kings.

22 1 Then the inhabitants ofJerusalem made Ahaziah his

youngest son king in his place, for theraiders who came with the Arabians intothe camp had killed all the older sons.So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king ofJudah, reigned.2Ahaziah was forty–two years old whenhe became king, and he reigned one

2 CHRONICLES 22 97year in Jerusalem. His mother’s namewas Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri.3He also walked in the ways of thehouse of Ahab, for his mother advisedhim to do wickedly.4 Therefore he did evil in the sight ofthe LORD, like the house of Ahab; forthey were his counselors a er the deathof his father, to his destruc on.5He also followed their advice, andwent with Jehoram the son of Ahab kingof Israel to war against Hazael king ofSyria at Ramoth Gilead; and the Syrianswounded Joram.6 Then he returned to Jezreel to recoverfrom the wounds which he had receivedat Ramah, when he fought againstHazael king of Syria. And Azariah the sonof Jehoram, king of Judah, went down tosee Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel,because he was sick.

2 CHRONICLES 22 987His going to Joram was God’s occasionfor Ahaziah’s downfall; for when hearrived, he went out with Jehoramagainst Jehu the son of Nimshi, whomthe LORD had anointed to cut off thehouse of Ahab.8And it happened, when Jehu wasexecu ng judgment on the house ofAhab, and found the princes of Judahand the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers whoserved Ahaziah, that he killed them.9 Then he searched for Ahaziah; andthey caught him (he was hiding inSamaria), and brought him to Jehu.When they had killed him, they buriedhim, "because," they said, "he is theson of Jehoshaphat, who sought theLORD with all his heart." So the houseof Ahaziah had no one to assume powerover the kingdom.10Now when Athaliah the mother ofAhaziah saw that her son was dead, she

2 CHRONICLES 22–23 99arose and destroyed all the royal heirs ofthe house of Judah.11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter ofthe king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah,and stole him away from among theking’s sons who were being murdered,and put him and his nurse in a bedroom.So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of KingJehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest(for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hidhim from Athaliah so that she did not killhim.12And he was hidden with them inthe house of God for six years, whileAthaliah reigned over the land.

23 1 In the seventh year Jehoiadastrengthened himself, andmade a

covenant with the captains of hundreds:Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael theson of Jehohanan, Azariah the son ofObed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, andElishaphat the son of Zichri.

2 CHRONICLES 23 1002And they went throughout Judah andgathered the Levites from all the ci esof Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel,and they came to Jerusalem.3 Then all the assembly made acovenant with the king in the house ofGod. And he said to them, "Behold, theking’s son shall reign, as the LORD hassaid of the sons of David.4 "This is what you shall do: One–thirdof you entering on the Sabbath, of thepriests and the Levites, shall be keepingwatch over the doors;5 "one–third shall be at the king’shouse; and one–third at the Gate of theFounda on. All the people shall be inthe courts of the house of the LORD.6 "But let no one come into the houseof the LORD except the priests and thoseof the Levites who serve. They may goin, for they are holy; but all the peopleshall keep the watch of the LORD.

2 CHRONICLES 23 1017 "And the Levites shall surround theking on all sides, every man with hisweapons in his hand; and whoevercomes into the house, let him be put todeath. You are to be with the king whenhe comes in and when he goes out."8 So the Levites and all Judah didaccording to all that Jehoiada the priestcommanded. And each man took hismen who were to be on duty on theSabbath, with those who were going offduty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada thepriest had not dismissed the divisions.9And Jehoiada the priest gave to thecaptains of hundreds the spears andthe large and small shields which hadbelonged to King David, that were in thetemple of God.10 Then he set all the people, every manwith his weapon in his hand, from theright side of the temple to the le side

2 CHRONICLES 23 102of the temple, along by the altar and bythe temple, all around the king.11And they brought out the king’s son,put the crown on him, gave him theTes mony, and made him king. ThenJehoiada and his sons anointed him, andsaid, "Long live the king!"12Now when Athaliah heard the noiseof the people running and praising theking, she came to the people in thetemple of the LORD.13When she looked, there was the kingstanding by his pillar at the entrance; andthe leaders and the trumpeters were bythe king. All the people of the land wererejoicing and blowing trumpets, also thesingers with musical instruments, andthose who led in praise. So Athaliah toreher clothes and said, "Treason! Treason!"14And Jehoiada the priest brought outthe captains of hundreds who were setover the army, and said to them, "Take

2 CHRONICLES 23 103her outside under guard, and slay withthe sword whoever follows her." For thepriest had said, "Do not kill her in thehouse of the LORD."15 So they seized her; and she went byway of the entrance of the Horse Gateinto the king’s house, and they killed herthere.16 Then Jehoiada made a covenantbetween himself, the people, and theking, that they should be the LORD’Speople.17And all the people went to thetemple of Baal, and tore it down. Theybroke in pieces its altars and images, andkilled Ma an the priest of Baal beforethe altars.18Also Jehoiada appointed theoversight of the house of the LORD tothe hand of the priests, the Levites,whom David had assigned in the houseof the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings

2 CHRONICLES 23–24 104of the LORD, as it is wri en in the Law ofMoses, with rejoicing and with singing,as it was established by David.19And he set the gatekeepers at thegates of the house of the LORD, so thatno one who was in any way uncleanshould enter.20 Then he took the captains ofhundreds, the nobles, the governors ofthe people, and all the people of theland, and brought the king down fromthe house of the LORD; and they wentthrough the Upper Gate to the king’shouse, and set the king on the throne ofthe kingdom.21 So all the people of the land rejoiced;and the city was quiet, for they had slainAthaliah with the sword.

24 1 Joash was seven years old whenhe became king, and he reigned

forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’sname was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 CHRONICLES 24 1052 Joash did what was right in the sightof the LORD all the days of Jehoiada thepriest.3And Jehoiada took two wives for him,and he had sons and daughters.4Now it happened a er this that Joashset his heart on repairing the house ofthe LORD.5 Then he gathered the priests and theLevites, and said to them, "Go out to theci es of Judah, and gather from all Israelmoney to repair the house of your Godfrom year to year, and see that you do itquickly." However the Levites did not doit quickly.6 So the king called Jehoiada the chiefpriest, and said to him, "Why have younot required the Levites to bring in fromJudah and from Jerusalem the collec on,according to the commandment ofMoses the servant of the LORD and of

2 CHRONICLES 24 106the assembly of Israel, for the tabernacleof witness?"7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wickedwoman, had broken into the house ofGod, and had also presented all thededicated things of the house of theLORD to the Baals.8 Then at the king’s command theymade a chest, and set it outside at thegate of the house of the LORD.9And they made a proclama onthroughout Judah and Jerusalem tobring to the LORD the collec on thatMoses the servant of God had imposedon Israel in the wilderness.10 Then all the leaders and all the peoplerejoiced, brought their contribu ons,and put them into the chest un l all hadgiven.11 So it was, at that me, when thechest was brought to the king’s official bythe hand of the Levites, and when they

2 CHRONICLES 24 107saw that there was much money, thatthe king’s scribe and the high priest’sofficer came and emp ed the chest, andtook it and returned it to its place. Thusthey did day by day, and gathered moneyin abundance.12 The king and Jehoiada gave it tothose who did the work of the service ofthe house of the LORD; and they hiredmasons and carpenters to repair thehouse of the LORD, and also those whoworked in iron and bronze to restore thehouse of the LORD.13 So the workmen labored, and thework was completed by them; theyrestored the house of God to its originalcondi on and reinforced it.14When they had finished, theybrought the rest of the money beforethe king and Jehoiada; they made fromit ar cles for the house of the LORD,ar cles for serving and offering, spoons

2 CHRONICLES 24 108and vessels of gold and silver. And theyoffered burnt offerings in the houseof the LORD con nually all the days ofJehoiada.15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full ofdays, and he died; he was one hundredand thirty years old when he died.16And they buried him in the City ofDavid among the kings, because he haddone good in Israel, both toward Godand His house.17Now a er the death of Jehoiada theleaders of Judah came and bowed downto the king. And the king listened tothem.18 Therefore they le the house ofthe LORD God of their fathers, andserved wooden images and idols; andwrath came upon Judah and Jerusalembecause of their trespass.19 Yet He sent prophets to them, tobring them back to the LORD; and they

2 CHRONICLES 24 109tes fied against them, but they wouldnot listen.20 Then the Spirit of God came uponZechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest,who stood above the people, and saidto them, "Thus says God: ‘Why do youtransgress the commandments of theLORD, so that you cannot prosper?Because you have forsaken the LORD, Healso has forsaken you.’"21 So they conspired against him, andat the command of the king they stonedhimwith stones in the court of the houseof the LORD.22 Thus Joash the king did notremember the kindness which Jehoiadahis father had done to him, but killed hisson; and as he died, he said, "The LORDlook on it, and repay!"23 So it happened in the spring of theyear that the army of Syria came upagainst him; and they came to Judah and

2 CHRONICLES 24 110Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leadersof the people from among the people,and sent all their spoil to the king ofDamascus.24 For the army of the Syrians camewith a small company of men; but theLORD delivered a very great army intotheir hand, because they had forsakenthe LORD God of their fathers. So theyexecuted judgment against Joash.25And when they had withdrawnfrom him (for they le him severelywounded), his own servants conspiredagainst him because of the blood of thesons of Jehoiada the priest, and killedhim on his bed. So he died. And theyburied him in the City of David, but theydid not bury him in the tombs of thekings.26 These are the ones who conspiredagainst him: Zabad the son of Shimeath

2 CHRONICLES 24–25 111the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the sonof Shimrith the Moabitess.27Now concerning his sons, andthe many oracles about him, and therepairing of the house of God, indeedthey are wri en in the annals of thebook of the kings. Then Amaziah his sonreigned in his place.

25 1Amaziah was twenty–five yearsold when he became king, and he

reigned twenty–nine years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Jehoaddan ofJerusalem.2And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.3Now it happened, as soon as thekingdom was established for him, thathe executed his servants who hadmurdered his father the king.4However he did not execute theirchildren, but did as it is wri en in theLaw in the Book of Moses, where the

2 CHRONICLES 25 112LORD commanded, saying, "The fathersshall not be put to death for theirchildren, nor shall the children be putto death for their fathers; but a personshall die for his own sin."5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judahtogether and set over them captains ofthousands and captains of hundreds,according to their fathers’ houses,throughout all Judah and Benjamin; andhe numbered them from twenty yearsold and above, and found them to bethree hundred thousand choice men,able to go to war, who could handlespear and shield.6He also hired one hundred thousandmighty men of valor from Israel for onehundred talents of silver.7 But a man of God came to him, saying,"O king, do not let the army of Israelgo with you, for the LORD is not with

2 CHRONICLES 25 113Israel––not with any of the children ofEphraim.8 "But if you go, be gone! Be strong inba le! Even so, God shall make you fallbefore the enemy; for God has power tohelp and to overthrow."9 Then Amaziah said to the man ofGod, "But what shall we do about thehundred talents which I have given tothe troops of Israel?" And the man ofGod answered, "The LORD is able to giveyou much more than this."10 So Amaziah discharged the troopsthat had come to him from Ephraim, togo back home. Therefore their angerwas greatly aroused against Judah, andthey returned home in great anger.11 Then Amaziah strengthened himself,and leading his people, he went to theValley of Salt and killed ten thousand ofthe people of Seir.

2 CHRONICLES 25 11412Also the children of Judah tookcap ve ten thousand alive, broughtthem to the top of the rock, and castthem down from the top of the rock, sothat they all were dashed in pieces.13 But as for the soldiers of the armywhich Amaziah had discharged, so thatthey would not go with him to ba le,they raided the ci es of Judah fromSamaria to Beth Horon, killed threethousand in them, and took much spoil.14Now it was so, a er Amaziah camefrom the slaughter of the Edomites, thathe brought the gods of the people ofSeir, set them up to be his gods, andbowed down before them and burnedincense to them.15 Therefore the anger of the LORD wasaroused against Amaziah, and He senthim a prophet who said to him, "Whyhave you sought the gods of the people,

2 CHRONICLES 25 115which could not rescue their own peoplefrom your hand?"16 So it was, as he talked with him, thatthe king said to him, "Have we madeyou the king’s counselor? Cease! Whyshould you be killed?" Then the prophetceased, and said, "I know that God hasdetermined to destroy you, because youhave done this and have not heeded myadvice."17Now Amaziah king of Judah askedadvice and sent to Joash the son ofJehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel,saying, "Come, let us face one another inba le."18And Joash king of Israel sent toAmaziah king of Judah, saying, "Thethistle that was in Lebanon sent to thecedar that was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Giveyour daughter to my son as wife’; and awild beast that was in Lebanon passedby and trampled the thistle.

2 CHRONICLES 25 11619 "Indeed you say that you havedefeated the Edomites, and your heartis li ed up to boast. Stay at home now;why should you meddle with trouble,that you should fall––you and Judahwith you?"20 But Amaziah would not heed, for itcame from God, that He might give theminto the hand of their enemies, becausethey sought the gods of Edom.21 So Joash king of Israel went out; andhe and Amaziah king of Judah faced oneanother at Beth Shemesh, which belongsto Judah.22And Judah was defeated by Israel,and every man fled to his tent.23 Then Joash the king of Israel capturedAmaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash,the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh;and he brought him to Jerusalem, andbroke down the wall of Jerusalem from

2 CHRONICLES 25 117the Gate of Ephraim to the CornerGate––four hundred cubits.24And he took all the gold and silver, allthe ar cles that were found in the houseof God with Obed–Edom, the treasuresof the king’s house, and hostages, andreturned to Samaria.25Amaziah the son of Joash, king ofJudah, lived fi een years a er the deathof Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king ofIsrael.26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah,from first to last, indeed are they notwri en in the book of the kings of Judahand Israel?27A er the me that Amaziah turnedaway from following the LORD, theymade a conspiracy against him inJerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; butthey sent a er him to Lachish and killedhim there.

2 CHRONICLES 25–26 11828 Then they brought him on horses andburied him with his fathers in the City ofJudah.

26 1Now all the people of Judahtook Uzziah, who was sixteen

years old, and made him king instead ofhis father Amaziah.2He built Elath and restored it to Judah,a er the king rested with his fathers.3Uzziah was sixteen years old when hebecame king, and he reigned fi y–twoyears in Jerusalem. His mother’s namewas Jecholiah of Jerusalem.4And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, according to all that hisfather Amaziah had done.5He sought God in the days ofZechariah, who had understanding in thevisions of God; and as long as he soughtthe LORD, God made him prosper.6Now he went out and made waragainst the Philis nes, and broke down

2 CHRONICLES 26 119the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh,and the wall of Ashdod; and he builtci es around Ashdod and among thePhilis nes.7God helped him against the Philis nes,against the Arabians who lived in GurBaal, and against the Meunites.8Also the Ammonites brought tributeto Uzziah. His fame spread as far asthe entrance of Egypt, for he becameexceedingly strong.9And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalemat the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate,and at the corner bu ress of the wall;then he for fied them.10Also he built towers in the desert.He dug many wells, for he had muchlivestock, both in the lowlands and inthe plains; he also had farmers andvinedressers in the mountains and inCarmel, for he loved the soil.

2 CHRONICLES 26 12011Moreover Uzziah had an army offigh ng men who went out to war bycompanies, according to the numberon their roll as prepared by Jeiel thescribe and Maaseiah the officer, underthe hand of Hananiah, one of the king’scaptains.12 The total number of chief officersof the mighty men of valor was twothousand six hundred.13And under their authority wasan army of three hundred and seventhousand five hundred, that made warwith mighty power, to help the kingagainst the enemy.14 Then Uzziah prepared for them, forthe en re army, shields, spears, helmets,body armor, bows, and slings to caststones.15And he made devices in Jerusalem,invented by skillful men, to be on thetowers and the corners, to shoot arrows

2 CHRONICLES 26 121and large stones. So his fame spread farand wide, for he was marvelously helpedll he became strong.16 But when he was strong his heartwas li ed up, to his destruc on, for hetransgressed against the LORD his Godby entering the temple of the LORD toburn incense on the altar of incense.17 So Azariah the priest went in a erhim, and with him were eighty priests ofthe LORD––valiant men.18And they withstood King Uzziah, andsaid to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah,to burn incense to the LORD, but forthe priests, the sons of Aaron, who areconsecrated to burn incense. Get out ofthe sanctuary, for you have trespassed!You shall have no honor from the LORDGod."19 Then Uzziah became furious; andhe had a censer in his hand to burnincense. And while he was angry with

2 CHRONICLES 26 122the priests, leprosy broke out on hisforehead, before the priests in the houseof the LORD, beside the incense altar.20And Azariah the chief priest and allthe priests looked at him, and there, onhis forehead, he was leprous; so theythrust him out of that place. Indeed healso hurried to get out, because theLORD had struck him.21 King Uzziah was a leper un l the dayof his death. He dwelt in an isolatedhouse, because he was a leper; for hewas cut off from the house of the LORD.Then Jotham his son was over the king’shouse, judging the people of the land.22Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah,from first to last, the prophet Isaiah theson of Amoz wrote.23 So Uzziah rested with his fathers,and they buried him with his fathers inthe field of burial which belonged to the

2 CHRONICLES 27 123kings, for they said, "He is a leper." ThenJotham his son reigned in his place.

27 1 Jotham was twenty–five yearsold when he became king, and

he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Jerushah thedaughter of Zadok.2And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, according to all that hisfather Uzziah had done (although he didnot enter the temple of the LORD). Buts ll the people acted corruptly.3He built the Upper Gate of the houseof the LORD, and he built extensively onthe wall of Ophel.4Moreover he built ci es in themountains of Judah, and in the forestshe built fortresses and towers.5He also fought with the king of theAmmonites and defeated them. Andthe people of Ammon gave him inthat year one hundred talents of silver,

2 CHRONICLES 27–28 124ten thousand kors of wheat, and tenthousand of barley. The people ofAmmon paid this to him in the secondand third years also.6 So Jotham became mighty, becausehe prepared his ways before the LORDhis God.7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham,and all his wars and his ways, indeedthey are wri en in the book of the kingsof Israel and Judah.8He was twenty–five years old whenhe became king, and he reigned sixteenyears in Jerusalem.9 So Jotham rested with his fathers, andthey buried him in the City of David.Then Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

28 1Ahaz was twenty years old whenhe became king, and he reigned

sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he didnot do what was right in the sight of theLORD, as his father David had done.

2 CHRONICLES 28 1252 For he walked in the ways of the kingsof Israel, and made molded images forthe Baals.3He burned incense in the Valley ofthe Son of Hinnom, and burned hischildren in the fire, according to theabomina ons of the na ons whom theLORD had cast out before the children ofIsrael.4And he sacrificed and burned incenseon the high places, on the hills, andunder every green tree.5 Therefore the LORD his God deliveredhim into the hand of the king of Syria.They defeated him, and carried away agreat mul tude of them as cap ves, andbrought them to Damascus. Then he wasalso delivered into the hand of the kingof Israel, who defeated him with a greatslaughter.6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah killedone hundred and twenty thousand

2 CHRONICLES 28 126in Judah in one day, all valiant men,because they had forsaken the LORDGod of their fathers.7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killedMaaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam theofficer over the house, and Elkanah whowas second to the king.8And the children of Israel carried awaycap ve of their brethren two hundredthousand women, sons, and daughters;and they also took away much spoil fromthem, and brought the spoil to Samaria.9 But a prophet of the LORD was there,whose name was Oded; and he went outbefore the army that came to Samaria,and said to them: "Look, because theLORD God of your fathers was angry withJudah, He has delivered them into yourhand; but you have killed them in a ragethat reaches up to heaven.10 "And now you propose to force thechildren of Judah and Jerusalem to be

2 CHRONICLES 28 127your male and female slaves; but areyou not also guilty before the LORD yourGod?11 "Now hear me, therefore, and returnthe cap ves, whom you have takencap ve from your brethren, for thefierce wrath of the LORD is upon you."12 Then some of the heads of thechildren of Ephraim, Azariah the sonof Johanan, Berechiah the son ofMeshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son ofShallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai,stood up against those who came fromthe war,13 and said to them, "You shall not bringthe cap ves here, for we already haveoffended the LORD. You intend to add toour sins and to our guilt; for our guilt isgreat, and there is fierce wrath againstIsrael."

2 CHRONICLES 28 12814 So the armed men le the cap vesand the spoil before the leaders and allthe assembly.15 Then the men who were designatedby name rose up and took the cap ves,and from the spoil they clothed all whowere naked among them, dressed themand gave them sandals, gave them foodand drink, and anointed them; and theylet all the feeble ones ride on donkeys.So they brought them to their brethrenat Jericho, the city of palm trees. Thenthey returned to Samaria.16At the same me King Ahaz sent tothe kings of Assyria to help him.17 For again the Edomites had come,a acked Judah, and carried awaycap ves.18 The Philis nes also had invaded theci es of the lowland and of the Southof Judah, and had taken Beth Shemesh,Aijalon, Gederoth, Sochoh with its

2 CHRONICLES 28 129villages, Timnah with its villages, andGimzo with its villages; and they dweltthere.19 For the LORD brought Judah lowbecause of Ahaz king of Israel, for he hadencouraged moral decline in Judah andhad been con nually unfaithful to theLORD.20Also Tiglath–Pileser king of Assyriacame to him and distressed him, and didnot assist him.21 For Ahaz took part of the treasuresfrom the house of the LORD, from thehouse of the king, and from the leaders,and he gave it to the king of Assyria; buthe did not help him.22Now in the me of his distress KingAhaz became increasingly unfaithful tothe LORD. This is that King Ahaz.23 For he sacrificed to the gods ofDamascus which had defeated him,saying, "Because the gods of the kings of

2 CHRONICLES 28 130Syria help them, I will sacrifice to themthat they may help me." But they werethe ruin of him and of all Israel.24 So Ahaz gathered the ar cles of thehouse of God, cut in pieces the ar clesof the house of God, shut up the doorsof the house of the LORD, and madefor himself altars in every corner ofJerusalem.25And in every single city of Judah hemade high places to burn incense toother gods, and provoked to anger theLORD God of his fathers.26Now the rest of his acts and all hisways, from first to last, indeed they arewri en in the book of the kings of Judahand Israel.27 So Ahaz rested with his fathers, andthey buried him in the city, in Jerusalem;but they did not bring him into the tombsof the kings of Israel. Then Hezekiah hisson reigned in his place.

2 CHRONICLES 29 131

29 1Hezekiah became king when hewas twenty–five years old, and he

reigned twenty–nine years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Abijah thedaughter of Zechariah.2And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, according to all that hisfather David had done.3 In the first year of his reign, in thefirst month, he opened the doors of thehouse of the LORD and repaired them.4 Then he brought in the priests and theLevites, and gathered them in the EastSquare,5 and said to them: "Hear me, Levites!Now sanc fy yourselves, sanc fy thehouse of the LORD God of your fathers,and carry out the rubbish from the holyplace.6 "For our fathers have trespassedand done evil in the eyes of the LORDour God; they have forsaken Him,

2 CHRONICLES 29 132have turned their faces away from thedwelling place of the LORD, and turnedtheir backs on Him.7 "They have also shut up the doors ofthe ves bule, put out the lamps, andhave not burned incense or offeredburnt offerings in the holy place to theGod of Israel.8 "Therefore the wrath of the LORD fellupon Judah and Jerusalem, and He hasgiven them up to trouble, to desola on,and to jeering, as you see with your eyes.9 "For indeed, because of this ourfathers have fallen by the sword; and oursons, our daughters, and our wives arein cap vity.10 "Now it is in my heart to make acovenant with the LORD God of Israel,that His fierce wrath may turn away fromus.11 "My sons, do not be negligent now,for the LORD has chosen you to stand

2 CHRONICLES 29 133before Him, to serve Him, and thatyou should minister to Him and burnincense."12 Then these Levites arose: Mahaththe son of Amasai and Joel the son ofAzariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; ofthe sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdiand Azariah the son of Jehallelel; of theGershonites, Joah the son of Zimmahand Eden the son of Joah;13 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri andJeiel; of the sons of Asaph, Zechariahand Ma aniah;14 of the sons of Heman, Jehiel andShimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun,Shemaiah and Uzziel.15And they gathered their brethren,sanc fied themselves, and wentaccording to the commandment ofthe king, at the words of the LORD, tocleanse the house of the LORD.

2 CHRONICLES 29 13416 Then the priests went into the innerpart of the house of the LORD to cleanseit, and brought out all the debris thatthey found in the temple of the LORD tothe court of the house of the LORD. Andthe Levites took it out and carried it tothe Brook Kidron.17Now they began to sanc fy on thefirst day of the first month, and on theeighth day of the month they came tothe ves bule of the LORD. Then theysanc fied the house of the LORD in eightdays, and on the sixteenth day of thefirst month they finished.18 Then they went in to King Hezekiahand said, "We have cleansed all thehouse of the LORD, the altar of burntofferings with all its ar cles, and thetable of the showbread with all itsar cles.19 "Moreover all the ar cles which KingAhaz in his reign had cast aside in his

2 CHRONICLES 29 135transgression we have prepared andsanc fied; and there they are, beforethe altar of the LORD."20 Then King Hezekiah rose early,gathered the rulers of the city, and wentup to the house of the LORD.21And they brought seven bulls, sevenrams, seven lambs, and seven malegoats for a sin offering for the kingdom,for the sanctuary, and for Judah. Thenhe commanded the priests, the sons ofAaron, to offer them on the altar of theLORD.22 So they killed the bulls, and thepriests received the blood and sprinkledit on the altar. Likewise they killed therams and sprinkled the blood on thealtar. They also killed the lambs andsprinkled the blood on the altar.23 Then they brought out the malegoats for the sin offering before the king

2 CHRONICLES 29 136and the assembly, and they laid theirhands on them.24And the priests killed them; and theypresented their blood on the altar as asin offering to make an atonement forall Israel, for the king commanded thatthe burnt offering and the sin offering bemade for all Israel.25And he sta oned the Levites inthe house of the LORD with cymbals,with stringed instruments, and withharps, according to the commandmentof David, of Gad the king’s seer, andof Nathan the prophet; for thus wasthe commandment of the LORD by Hisprophets.26 The Levites stood with theinstruments of David, and the priestswith the trumpets.27 Then Hezekiah commanded themto offer the burnt offering on the altar.And when the burnt offering began, the

2 CHRONICLES 29 137song of the LORD also began, with thetrumpets and with the instruments ofDavid king of Israel.28 So all the assembly worshiped,the singers sang, and the trumpeterssounded; all this con nued un l theburnt offering was finished.29And when they had finished offering,the king and all who were present withhim bowed and worshiped.30Moreover King Hezekiah and theleaders commanded the Levites to singpraise to the LORD with the words ofDavid and of Asaph the seer. So theysang praises with gladness, and theybowed their heads and worshiped.31 Then Hezekiah answered and said,"Now that you have consecratedyourselves to the LORD, come near, andbring sacrifices and thank offerings intothe house of the LORD." So the assemblybrought in sacrifices and thank offerings,

2 CHRONICLES 29 138and as many as were of a willing heartbrought burnt offerings.32And the number of the burntofferings which the assembly broughtwas seventy bulls, one hundred rams,and two hundred lambs; all these werefor a burnt offering to the LORD.33 The consecrated things were sixhundred bulls and three thousandsheep.34 But the priests were too few, sothat they could not skin all the burntofferings; therefore their brethren theLevites helped them un l the workwas ended and un l the other priestshad sanc fied themselves, for theLevites were more diligent in sanc fyingthemselves than the priests.35Also the burnt offerings were inabundance, with the fat of the peaceofferings and with the drink offerings for

2 CHRONICLES 29–30 139every burnt offering. So the service ofthe house of the LORD was set in order.36 Then Hezekiah and all the peoplerejoiced that God had prepared thepeople, since the events took place sosuddenly.

30 1And Hezekiah sent to all Israeland Judah, and also wrote le ers

to Ephraim and Manasseh, that theyshould come to the house of the LORDat Jerusalem, to keep the Passover tothe LORD God of Israel.2 For the king and his leaders and allthe assembly in Jerusalem had agreed tokeep the Passover in the second month.3 For they could not keep it at theregular me, because a sufficientnumber of priests had not consecratedthemselves, nor had the people gatheredtogether at Jerusalem.4And the ma er pleased the king andall the assembly.

2 CHRONICLES 30 1405 So they resolved to make aproclama on throughout all Israel, fromBeersheba to Dan, that they shouldcome to keep the Passover to the LORDGod of Israel at Jerusalem, since theyhad not done it for a long me in theprescribed manner.6 Then the runners went throughout allIsrael and Judah with the le ers fromthe king and his leaders, and spokeaccording to the command of the king:"Children of Israel, return to the LORDGod of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; thenHe will return to the remnant of you whohave escaped from the hand of the kingsof Assyria.7 "And do not be like your fathers andyour brethren, who trespassed againstthe LORD God of their fathers, so that Hegave them up to desola on, as you see.8 "Now do not be s ff–necked, as yourfathers were, but yield yourselves to the

2 CHRONICLES 30 141LORD; and enter His sanctuary, whichHe has sanc fied forever, and serve theLORD your God, that the fierceness ofHis wrath may turn away from you.9 "For if you return to the LORD, yourbrethren and your children will betreated with compassion by those wholead them cap ve, so that they maycome back to this land; for the LORDyour God is gracious and merciful, andwill not turn His face from you if youreturn to Him."10 So the runners passed from city tocity through the country of Ephraim andManasseh, as far as Zebulun; but theylaughed at them and mocked them.11Nevertheless some from Asher,Manasseh, and Zebulun humbledthemselves and came to Jerusalem.12Also the hand of God was on Judahto give them singleness of heart to

2 CHRONICLES 30 142obey the command of the king and theleaders, at the word of the LORD.13Now many people, a very greatassembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keepthe Feast of Unleavened Bread in thesecond month.14 They arose and took away the altarsthat were in Jerusalem, and they tookaway all the incense altars and cast theminto the Brook Kidron.15 Then they slaughtered the Passoverlambs on the fourteenth day of thesecond month. The priests and theLevites were ashamed, and sanc fiedthemselves, and brought the burntofferings to the house of the LORD.16 They stood in their place accordingto their custom, according to the Lawof Moses the man of God; the priestssprinkled the blood received from thehand of the Levites.

2 CHRONICLES 30 14317 For there were many in the assemblywho had not sanc fied themselves;therefore the Levites had charge of theslaughter of the Passover lambs foreveryone who was not clean, to sanc fythem to the LORD.18 For a mul tude of the people, manyfrom Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, andZebulun, had not cleansed themselves,yet they ate the Passover contrary towhat was wri en. But Hezekiah prayedfor them, saying, "May the good LORDprovide atonement for everyone19who prepares his heart to seek God,the LORD God of his fathers, thoughhe is not cleansed according to thepurifica on of the sanctuary."20And the LORD listened to Hezekiahand healed the people.21 So the children of Israel who werepresent at Jerusalem kept the Feastof Unleavened Bread seven days with

2 CHRONICLES 30 144great gladness; and the Levites and thepriests praised the LORD day by day,singing to the LORD, accompanied byloud instruments.22And Hezekiah gave encouragementto all the Levites who taught the goodknowledge of the LORD; and they atethroughout the feast seven days, offeringpeace offerings and making confessionto the LORD God of their fathers.23 Then the whole assembly agreed tokeep the feast another seven days, andthey kept it another seven days withgladness.24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave tothe assembly a thousand bulls and seventhousand sheep, and the leaders gave tothe assembly a thousand bulls and tenthousand sheep; and a great number ofpriests sanc fied themselves.25 The whole assembly of Judahrejoiced, also the priests and Levites, all

2 CHRONICLES 30–31 145the assembly that came from Israel, thesojourners who came from the land ofIsrael, and those who dwelt in Judah.26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem,for since the me of Solomon the sonof David, king of Israel, there had beennothing like this in Jerusalem.27 Then the priests, the Levites, aroseand blessed the people, and their voicewas heard; and their prayer came up toHis holy dwelling place, to heaven.

31 1Now when all this was finished,all Israel who were present went

out to the ci es of Judah and brokethe sacred pillars in pieces, cut downthe wooden images, and threw downthe high places and the altars––fromall Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, andManasseh––un l they had u erlydestroyed them all. Then all the childrenof Israel returned to their own ci es,every man to his possession.

2 CHRONICLES 31 1462And Hezekiah appointed the divisionsof the priests and the Levites accordingto their divisions, each man accordingto his service, the priests and Levites forburnt offerings and peace offerings, toserve, to give thanks, and to praise in thegates of the camp of the LORD.3 The king also appointed a por on ofhis possessions for the burnt offerings:for the morning and evening burntofferings, the burnt offerings for theSabbaths and the New Moons and theset feasts, as it is wri en in the Law ofthe LORD.4Moreover he commanded the peoplewho dwelt in Jerusalem to contributesupport for the priests and the Levites,that they might devote themselves tothe Law of the LORD.5As soon as the commandment wascirculated, the children of Israel broughtin abundance the firs ruits of grain

2 CHRONICLES 31 147and wine, oil and honey, and of all theproduce of the field; and they brought inabundantly the the of everything.6And the children of Israel and Judah,who dwelt in the ci es of Judah, broughtthe the of oxen and sheep; alsothe the of holy things which wereconsecrated to the LORD their God theylaid in heaps.7 In the third month they began layingthem in heaps, and they finished in theseventh month.8And when Hezekiah and the leaderscame and saw the heaps, they blessedthe LORD and His people Israel.9 Then Hezekiah ques oned the priestsand the Levites concerning the heaps.10And Azariah the chief priest, from thehouse of Zadok, answered him and said,"Since the people began to bring theofferings into the house of the LORD, wehave had enough to eat and have plenty

2 CHRONICLES 31 148le , for the LORD has blessed His people;and what is le is this great abundance."11Now Hezekiah commanded them toprepare rooms in the house of the LORD,and they prepared them.12 Then they faithfully brought in theofferings, the thes, and the dedicatedthings; Cononiah the Levite had chargeof them, and Shimei his brother was thenext.13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel,Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah,Mahath, and Benaiah were overseersunder the hand of Cononiah and Shimeihis brother, at the commandment ofHezekiah the king and Azariah the rulerof the house of God.14 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, thekeeper of the East Gate, was over thefreewill offerings to God, to distributethe offerings of the LORD and the mostholy things.

2 CHRONICLES 31 14915And under him were Eden, Miniamin,Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, andShecaniah, his faithful assistants inthe ci es of the priests, to distributeallotments to their brethren by divisions,to the great as well as the small.16 Besides those males from three yearsold and up who were wri en in thegenealogy, they distributed to everyonewho entered the house of the LORD hisdaily por on for the work of his service,by his division,17 and to the priests who were wri enin the genealogy according to theirfather’s house, and to the Levites fromtwenty years old and up according totheir work, by their divisions,18 and to all who were wri en in thegenealogy––their li le ones and theirwives, their sons and daughters, thewhole company of them––for in their

2 CHRONICLES 31–32 150faithfulness they sanc fied themselvesin holiness.19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests,who were in the fields of the common–lands of their ci es, in every single city,there were men who were designatedby name to distribute por ons to all themales among the priests and to all whowere listed by genealogies among theLevites.20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout allJudah, and he did what was good andright and true before the LORD his God.21And in every work that he began inthe service of the house of God, in thelaw and in the commandment, to seekhis God, he did it with all his heart. So heprospered.

32 1A er these deeds offaithfulness, Sennacherib

king of Assyria came and entered Judah;

2 CHRONICLES 32 151he encamped against the for fied ci es,thinking to win them over to himself.2And when Hezekiah saw thatSennacherib had come, and that hispurpose was to make war againstJerusalem,3 he consulted with his leaders andcommanders to stop the water from thesprings which were outside the city; andthey helped him.4 Thus many people gathered togetherwho stopped all the springs and thebrook that ran through the land, saying,"Why should the kings of Assyria comeand find much water?"5And he strengthened himself, built upall the wall that was broken, raised itup to the towers, and built another walloutside; also he repaired the Millo in theCity of David, and made weapons andshields in abundance.

2 CHRONICLES 32 1526 Then he set military captains over thepeople, gathered them together to himin the open square of the city gate, andgave them encouragement, saying,7 "Be strong and courageous; do not beafraid nor dismayed before the king ofAssyria, nor before all the mul tude thatis with him; for there are more with usthan with him.8 "With him is an arm of flesh; but withus is the LORD our God, to help us and tofight our ba les." And the people werestrengthened by the words of Hezekiahking of Judah.9A er this Sennacherib king of Assyriasent his servants to Jerusalem (but heand all the forces with him laid siegeagainst Lachish), to Hezekiah king ofJudah, and to all Judah who were inJerusalem, saying,

2 CHRONICLES 32 15310 "Thus says Sennacherib king ofAssyria: ‘In what do you trust, that youremain under siege in Jerusalem?11 ‘Does not Hezekiah persuade you togive yourselves over to die by famineand by thirst, saying, "The LORD our Godwill deliver us from the hand of the kingof Assyria"?12 ‘Has not the same Hezekiah takenaway His high places and His altars,and commanded Judah and Jerusalem,saying, "You shall worship before onealtar and burn incense on it"?13 ‘Do you not know what I and myfathers have done to all the peoplesof other lands? Were the gods of thena ons of those lands in any way able todeliver their lands out of my hand?14 ‘Who was there among all the godsof those na ons that my fathers u erlydestroyed that could deliver his people

2 CHRONICLES 32 154from my hand, that your God should beable to deliver you from my hand?15 ‘Now therefore, do not let Hezekiahdeceive you or persuade you like this,and do not believe him; for no god of anyna on or kingdom was able to deliverhis people from my hand or the hand ofmy fathers. How much less will your Goddeliver you from my hand?’"16 Furthermore, his servants spokeagainst the LORD God and against Hisservant Hezekiah.17He also wrote le ers to revile theLORD God of Israel, and to speak againstHim, saying, "As the gods of the na onsof other lands have not delivered theirpeople from my hand, so the God ofHezekiah will not deliver His people frommy hand."18 Then they called out with a loud voicein Hebrew to the people of Jerusalemwho were on the wall, to frighten them

2 CHRONICLES 32 155and trouble them, that they might takethe city.19And they spoke against the God ofJerusalem, as against the gods of thepeople of the earth––the work of men’shands.20Now because of this King Hezekiahand the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz,prayed and cried out to heaven.21 Then the LORD sent an angel who cutdown every mighty man of valor, leader,and captain in the camp of the king ofAssyria. So he returned shamefaced tohis own land. And when he had goneinto the temple of his god, some of hisown offspring struck him down with thesword there.22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah andthe inhabitants of Jerusalem from thehand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria,and from the hand of all others, andguided them on every side.

2 CHRONICLES 32 15623And many brought gi s to the LORDat Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiahking of Judah, so that he was exalted inthe sight of all na ons therea er.24 In those days Hezekiah was sick andnear death, and he prayed to the LORD;and He spoke to him and gave him a sign.25 But Hezekiah did not repay accordingto the favor shown him, for his heart wasli ed up; therefore wrath was loomingover him and over Judah and Jerusalem.26 Then Hezekiah humbled himselffor the pride of his heart, he and theinhabitants of Jerusalem, so that thewrath of the LORD did not come uponthem in the days of Hezekiah.27Hezekiah had very great riches andhonor. And he made himself treasuriesfor silver, for gold, for precious stones,for spices, for shields, and for all kinds ofdesirable items;

2 CHRONICLES 32 15728 storehouses for the harvest of grain,wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds oflivestock, and folds for flocks.29Moreover he provided ci es forhimself, and possessions of flocks andherds in abundance; for God had givenhim very much property.30 This same Hezekiah also stoppedthe water outlet of Upper Gihon, andbrought the water by tunnel to thewest side of the City of David. Hezekiahprospered in all his works.31However, regarding the ambassadorsof the princes of Babylon, whom theysent to him to inquire about the wonderthat was done in the land, God withdrewfrom him, in order to test him, that Hemight know all that was in his heart.32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah,and his goodness, indeed they arewri en in the vision of Isaiah the

2 CHRONICLES 32–33 158prophet, the son of Amoz, and in thebook of the kings of Judah and Israel.33 So Hezekiah rested with his fathers,and they buried him in the upper tombsof the sons of David; and all Judah andthe inhabitants of Jerusalem honoredhim at his death. Then Manasseh his sonreigned in his place.

33 1Manasseh was twelve years oldwhen he became king, and he

reigned fi y–five years in Jerusalem.2 But he did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to the abomina ons ofthe na ons whom the LORD had cast outbefore the children of Israel.3 For he rebuilt the high places whichHezekiah his father had broken down; heraised up altars for the Baals, and madewooden images; and he worshiped allthe host of heaven and served them.

2 CHRONICLES 33 1594He also built altars in the house of theLORD, of which the LORD had said, "InJerusalem shall My name be forever."5And he built altars for all the host ofheaven in the two courts of the house ofthe LORD.6Also he caused his sons to passthrough the fire in the Valley of the Sonof Hinnom; he prac ced soothsaying,used witchcra and sorcery, andconsulted mediums and spiri sts. He didmuch evil in the sight of the LORD, toprovoke Him to anger.7He even set a carved image, the idolwhich he had made, in the house of God,of which God had said to David and toSolomon his son, "In this house and inJerusalem, which I have chosen out ofall the tribes of Israel, I will put My nameforever;8 "and I will not again remove the footof Israel from the land which I have

2 CHRONICLES 33 160appointed for your fathers––only ifthey are careful to do all that I havecommanded them, according to thewhole law and the statutes and theordinances by the hand of Moses."9 So Manasseh seduced Judah and theinhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evilthan the na ons whom the LORD haddestroyed before the children of Israel.10And the LORD spoke to Manassehand his people, but they would notlisten.11 Therefore the LORD brought uponthem the captains of the army of theking of Assyria, who took Manasseh withhooks, bound him with bronze fe ers,and carried him off to Babylon.12Now when he was in afflic on,he implored the LORD his God, andhumbled himself greatly before the Godof his fathers,

2 CHRONICLES 33 16113 and prayed to Him; and He receivedhis entreaty, heard his supplica on, andbrought him back to Jerusalem into hiskingdom. Then Manasseh knew that theLORD was God.14A er this he built a wall outside theCity of David on the west side of Gihon,in the valley, as far as the entrance of theFish Gate; and it enclosed Ophel, and heraised it to a very great height. Then heput military captains in all the for fiedci es of Judah.15He took away the foreign gods andthe idol from the house of the LORD,and all the altars that he had built in themount of the house of the LORD and inJerusalem; and he cast them out of thecity.16He also repaired the altar of theLORD, sacrificed peace offerings andthank offerings on it, and commandedJudah to serve the LORD God of Israel.

2 CHRONICLES 33 16217Nevertheless the people s llsacrificed on the high places, but only tothe LORD their God.18Now the rest of the acts ofManasseh,his prayer to his God, and the words ofthe seers who spoke to him in the nameof the LORD God of Israel, indeed theyare wri en in the book of the kings ofIsrael.19Also his prayer and how God receivedhis entreaty, and all his sin and trespass,and the sites where he built high placesand set up wooden images and carvedimages, before he was humbled, indeedthey are wri en among the sayings ofHozai.20 So Manasseh rested with his fathers,and they buried him in his own house.Then his son Amon reigned in his place.21Amon was twenty–two years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedtwo years in Jerusalem.

2 CHRONICLES 33–34 16322 But he did evil in the sight of theLORD, as his father Manasseh had done;for Amon sacrificed to all the carvedimages which his father Manasseh hadmade, and served them.23And he did not humble himself beforethe LORD, as his father Manasseh hadhumbled himself; but Amon trespassedmore and more.24 Then his servants conspired againsthim, and killed him in his own house.25 But the people of the land executedall those who had conspired againstKing Amon. Then the people of the landmade his son Josiah king in his place.

34 1 Josiah was eight years old whenhe became king, and he reigned

thirty–one years in Jerusalem.2And he did what was right in the sightof the LORD, and walked in the ways ofhis father David; he did not turn aside tothe right hand or to the le .

2 CHRONICLES 34 1643 For in the eighth year of his reign,while he was s ll young, he began toseek the God of his father David; andin the twel h year he began to purgeJudah and Jerusalem of the high places,the wooden images, the carved images,and the molded images.4 They broke down the altars of theBaals in his presence, and the incensealtars which were above them he cutdown; and the wooden images, thecarved images, and the molded imageshe broke in pieces, and made dust ofthem and sca ered it on the graves ofthose who had sacrificed to them.5He also burned the bones of thepriests on their altars, and cleansedJudah and Jerusalem.6And so he did in the ci es ofManasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as faras Naphtali and all around, with axes.

2 CHRONICLES 34 1657When he had broken down the altarsand the wooden images, had beatenthe carved images into powder, and cutdown all the incense altars throughoutall the land of Israel, he returned toJerusalem.8 In the eighteenth year of his reign,when he had purged the land and thetemple, he sent Shaphan the son ofAzaliah, Maaseiah the governor of thecity, and Joah the son of Joahaz therecorder, to repair the house of theLORD his God.9When they came to Hilkiah thehigh priest, they delivered the moneythat was brought into the house ofGod, which the Levites who kept thedoors had gathered from the hand ofManasseh and Ephraim, from all theremnant of Israel, from all Judah andBenjamin, and which they had broughtback to Jerusalem.

2 CHRONICLES 34 16610 Then they put it in the hand of theforemen who had the oversight of thehouse of the LORD; and they gave it tothe workmen who worked in the houseof the LORD, to repair and restore thehouse.11 They gave it to the cra smen andbuilders to buy hewn stone and mberfor beams, and to floor the houses whichthe kings of Judah had destroyed.12And the men did the work faithfully.Their overseerswere Jahath andObadiahthe Levites, of the sons of Merari, andZechariah and Meshullam, of the sonsof the Kohathites, to supervise. Othersof the Levites, all of whom were skillfulwith instruments of music,13were over the burden bearers andwere overseers of all who did work in anykind of service. And some of the Leviteswere scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.

2 CHRONICLES 34 16714Now when they brought out themoney that was brought into the houseof the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found theBook of the Law of the LORD given byMoses.15 Then Hilkiah answered and said toShaphan the scribe, "I have found theBook of the Law in the house of theLORD." And Hilkiah gave the book toShaphan.16 So Shaphan carried the book to theking, bringing the king word, saying, "Allthat was commi ed to your servantsthey are doing.17 "And they have gathered the moneythat was found in the house of the LORD,and have delivered it into the hand ofthe overseers and the workmen."18 Then Shaphan the scribe told theking, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has givenme a book." And Shaphan read it beforethe king.

2 CHRONICLES 34 16819 Thus it happened, when the kingheard the words of the Law, that he torehis clothes.20 Then the king commanded Hilkiah,Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon theson of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, andAsaiah a servant of the king, saying,21 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, andfor those who are le in Israel and Judah,concerning the words of the book thatis found; for great is the wrath of theLORD that is poured out on us, becauseour fathers have not kept the word ofthe LORD, to do according to all that iswri en in this book."22 So Hilkiah and those the kinghad appointed went to Huldah theprophetess, the wife of Shallum the sonof Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper ofthe wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem inthe Second Quarter.) And they spoke toher to that effect.

2 CHRONICLES 34 16923 Then she answered them, "Thus saysthe LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the manwho sent you to Me,24 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I willbring calamity on this place and onits inhabitants, all the curses that arewri en in the book which they have readbefore the king of Judah,25 ‘because they have forsaken Meand burned incense to other gods, thatthey might provoke Me to anger with allthe works of their hands. Therefore Mywrath will be poured out on this place,and not be quenched.’"’26 "But as for the king of Judah, whosent you to inquire of the LORD, in thismanner you shall speak to him, ‘Thussays the LORD God of Israel: "Concerningthe words which you have heard––27 "because your heart was tender, andyou humbled yourself before God whenyou heard His words against this place

2 CHRONICLES 34 170and against its inhabitants, and youhumbled yourself before Me, and youtore your clothes and wept before Me, Ialso have heard you," says the LORD.28 "Surely I will gather you to yourfathers, and you shall be gathered toyour grave in peace; and your eyes shallnot see all the calamity which I will bringon this place and its inhabitants."’" Sothey brought back word to the king.29 Then the king sent and gathered allthe elders of Judah and Jerusalem.30 The king went up to the house of theLORD, with all the men of Judah and theinhabitants of Jerusalem––the priestsand the Levites, and all the people,great and small. And he read in theirhearing all the words of the Book of theCovenant which had been found in thehouse of the LORD.31 Then the king stood in his placeand made a covenant before the LORD,

2 CHRONICLES 34–35 171to follow the LORD, and to keep Hiscommandments and His tes moniesand His statutes with all his heart andall his soul, to perform the words of thecovenant that were wri en in this book.32And he made all who were presentin Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand.So the inhabitants of Jerusalem didaccording to the covenant of God, theGod of their fathers.33 Thus Josiah removed all theabomina ons from all the country thatbelonged to the children of Israel, andmade all who were present in Israeldiligently serve the LORD their God.All his days they did not depart fromfollowing the LORD God of their fathers.

35 1Now Josiah kept a Passover tothe LORD in Jerusalem, and they

slaughtered the Passover lambs on thefourteenth day of the first month.

2 CHRONICLES 35 1722And he set the priests in their du esand encouraged them for the service ofthe house of the LORD.3 Then he said to the Levites who taughtall Israel, who were holy to the LORD:"Put the holy ark in the house whichSolomon the son of David, king of Israel,built. It shall no longer be a burden onyour shoulders. Now serve the LORDyour God and His people Israel.4 "Prepare yourselves according toyour fathers’ houses, according toyour divisions, following the wri eninstruc on of David king of Israel and thewri en instruc on of Solomon his son.5 "And stand in the holy place accordingto the divisions of the fathers’ housesof your brethren the lay people, andaccording to the division of the father’shouse of the Levites.6 "So slaughter the Passover offerings,consecrate yourselves, and prepare

2 CHRONICLES 35 173them for your brethren, that they maydo according to the word of the LORD bythe hand of Moses."7 Then Josiah gave the lay peoplelambs and young goats from the flock,all for Passover offerings for all whowere present, to the number of thirtythousand, as well as three thousandca le; these were from the king’spossessions.8And his leaders gave willingly to thepeople, to the priests, and to the Levites.Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, rulers ofthe house of God, gave to the priestsfor the Passover offerings two thousandsix hundred from the flock, and threehundred ca le.9Also Conaniah, his brothers Shemaiahand Nethanel, and Hashabiah and Jeieland Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gaveto the Levites for Passover offerings

2 CHRONICLES 35 174five thousand from the flock and fivehundred ca le.10 So the service was prepared, and thepriests stood in their places, and theLevites in their divisions, according tothe king’s command.11And they slaughtered the Passoverofferings; and the priests sprinkled theblood with their hands, while the Levitesskinned the animals.12 Then they removed the burntofferings that they might give them tothe divisions of the fathers’ houses ofthe lay people, to offer to the LORD, as itis wri en in the Book of Moses. And sothey did with the ca le.13Also they roasted the Passoverofferings with fire according to theordinance; but the other holy offeringsthey boiled in pots, in caldrons, and inpans, and divided them quickly amongall the lay people.

2 CHRONICLES 35 17514 Then a erward they preparedpor ons for themselves and for thepriests, because the priests, the sonsof Aaron, were busy in offering burntofferings and fat un l night; thereforethe Levites prepared por ons forthemselves and for the priests, the sonsof Aaron.15And the singers, the sons of Asaph,were in their places, according to thecommand of David, Asaph, Heman,and Jeduthun the king’s seer. Also thegatekeepers were at each gate; they didnot have to leave their posi on, becausetheir brethren the Levites preparedpor ons for them.16 So all the service of the LORD wasprepared the same day, to keep thePassover and to offer burnt offerings onthe altar of the LORD, according to thecommand of King Josiah.

2 CHRONICLES 35 17617And the children of Israel who werepresent kept the Passover at that me,and the Feast of Unleavened Bread forseven days.18 There had been no Passover kept inIsrael like that since the days of Samuelthe prophet; and none of the kings ofIsrael had kept such a Passover as Josiahkept, with the priests and the Levites, allJudah and Israel who were present, andthe inhabitants of Jerusalem.19 In the eighteenth year of the reign ofJosiah this Passover was kept.20A er all this, when Josiah hadprepared the temple, Necho kingof Egypt came up to fight againstCarchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiahwent out against him.21 But he sent messengers to him,saying, "What have I to do with you,king of Judah? I have not come againstyou this day, but against the house with

2 CHRONICLES 35 177which I have war; for God commandedme to make haste. Refrain frommeddling with God, who is with me, lestHe destroy you."22Nevertheless Josiah would not turnhis face from him, but disguised himselfso that he might fight with him, and didnot heed the words of Necho from themouth of God. So he came to fight in theValley of Megiddo.23And the archers shot King Josiah; andthe king said to his servants, "Take meaway, for I am severely wounded."24His servants therefore took him outof that chariot and put him in the secondchariot that he had, and they broughthim to Jerusalem. So he died, and wasburied in one of the tombs of his fathers.And all Judah and Jerusalem mournedfor Josiah.25 Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah.And to this day all the singing men

2 CHRONICLES 35–36 178and the singing women speak of Josiahin their lamenta ons. They made it acustom in Israel; and indeed they arewri en in the Laments.26Now the rest of the acts of Josiahand his goodness, according to what waswri en in the Law of the LORD,27 and his deeds from first to last,indeed they are wri en in the book ofthe kings of Israel and Judah.

36 1 Then the people of the landtook Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,

and made him king in his father’s placein Jerusalem.2 Jehoahaz was twenty–three years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedthree months in Jerusalem.3Now the king of Egypt deposed him atJerusalem; and he imposed on the landa tribute of one hundred talents of silverand a talent of gold.

2 CHRONICLES 36 1794 Then the king of Egypt madeJehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king overJudah and Jerusalem, and changed hisname to Jehoiakim. And Necho tookJehoahaz his brother and carried him offto Egypt.5 Jehoiakim was twenty–five years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedeleven years in Jerusalem. And he didevil in the sight of the LORD his God.6Nebuchadnezzar king of Babyloncame up against him, and bound himin bronze fe ers to carry him off toBabylon.7Nebuchadnezzar also carried off someof the ar cles from the house of theLORD to Babylon, and put them in histemple at Babylon.8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim,the abomina ons which he did, andwhat was found against him, indeedthey are wri en in the book of the kings

2 CHRONICLES 36 180of Israel and Judah. Then Jehoiachin hisson reigned in his place.9 Jehoiachin was eight years old whenhe became king, and he reigned inJerusalem three months and ten days.And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.10At the turn of the year KingNebuchadnezzar summoned him andtook him to Babylon, with the costlyar cles from the house of the LORD, andmade Zedekiah, Jehoiakim’s brother,king over Judah and Jerusalem.11 Zedekiah was twenty–one years oldwhen he became king, and he reignedeleven years in Jerusalem.12He did evil in the sight of the LORDhis God, and did not humble himselfbefore Jeremiah the prophet, who spokefrom the mouth of the LORD.13And he also rebelled against KingNebuchadnezzar, who had made himswear an oath by God; but he s ffened

2 CHRONICLES 36 181his neck and hardened his heart againstturning to the LORD God of Israel.14Moreover all the leaders of thepriests and the people transgressedmore and more, according to all theabomina ons of the na ons, and defiledthe house of the LORD which He hadconsecrated in Jerusalem.15And the LORD God of theirfathers sent warnings to them by Hismessengers, rising up early and sendingthem, because He had compassion onHis people and on His dwelling place.16 But they mocked the messengers ofGod, despised His words, and scoffedat His prophets, un l the wrath of theLORD arose against His people, ll therewas no remedy.17 Therefore He brought against themthe king of the Chaldeans, who killedtheir young men with the sword in thehouse of their sanctuary, and had no

2 CHRONICLES 36 182compassion on young man or virgin, onthe aged or the weak; He gave them allinto his hand.18And all the ar cles from the house ofGod, great and small, the treasures ofthe house of the LORD, and the treasuresof the king and of his leaders, all thesehe took to Babylon.19 Then they burned the house ofGod, broke down the wall of Jerusalem,burned all its palaces with fire, anddestroyed all its precious possessions.20And those who escaped from thesword he carried away to Babylon,where they became servants to him andhis sons un l the rule of the kingdom ofPersia,21 to fulfill the word of the LORD by themouth of Jeremiah, un l the land hadenjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as shelay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfillseventy years.

2 CHRONICLES 36 18322Now in the first year of Cyrus king ofPersia, that the word of the LORD by themouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, theLORD s rred up the spirit of Cyrus king ofPersia, so that he made a proclama onthroughout all his kingdom, and also putit in wri ng, saying,23 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All thekingdoms of the earth the LORD Godof heaven has given me. And He hascommanded me to build Him a houseat Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who isamong you of all His people? May theLORD his God be with him, and let himgo up!

Ezra

1 1Now in the first year of Cyrusking of Persia, that the word of the

LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah mightbe fulfilled, the LORD s rred up thespirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that hemade a proclama on throughout allhis kingdom, and also put it in wri ng,saying,2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All thekingdoms of the earth the LORD Godof heaven has given me. And He hascommanded me to build Him a house atJerusalem which is in Judah.3Who is among you of all His people?May his God be with him, and let himgo up to Jerusalem which is in Judah,and build the house of the LORD God ofIsrael (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.

EZRA 1 24And whoever is le in any placewhere he dwells, let the men of hisplace help him with silver and gold, withgoods and livestock, besides the freewillofferings for the house of God which isin Jerusalem.5 Then the heads of the fathers’ housesof Judah and Benjamin, and the priestsand the Levites, with all whose spiritsGod had moved, arose to go up andbuild the house of the LORD which is inJerusalem.6And all those who were around themencouraged them with ar cles of silverand gold, with goods and livestock, andwith precious things, besides all that waswillingly offered.7 King Cyrus also brought out thear cles of the house of the LORD,which Nebuchadnezzar had taken fromJerusalem and put in the temple of hisgods;

EZRA 1–2 38 and Cyrus king of Persia broughtthem out by the hand of Mithredaththe treasurer, and counted them out toSheshbazzar the prince of Judah.9 This is the number of them: thirty goldpla ers, one thousand silver pla ers,twenty–nine knives,10 thirty gold basins, four hundred andten silver basins of a similar kind, andone thousand other ar cles.11All the ar cles of gold and silver werefive thousand four hundred. All theseSheshbazzar took with the cap veswho were brought from Babylon toJerusalem.

2 1Now these are the people of theprovince who came back from the

cap vity, of those who had been carriedaway, whom Nebuchadnezzar the kingof Babylon had carried away to Babylon,and who returned to Jerusalem andJudah, everyone to his own city.

EZRA 2 42 Those who came with Zerubbabelwere Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah,Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar,Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The numberof the men of the people of Israel:3 the people of Parosh, two thousandone hundred and seventy–two;4 the people of Shepha ah, threehundred and seventy–two;5 the people of Arah, seven hundredand seventy–five;6 the people of Pahath–Moab, ofthe people of Jeshua and Joab, twothousand eight hundred and twelve;7 the people of Elam, one thousand twohundred and fi y–four;8 the people of Za u, nine hundred andforty–five;9 the people of Zaccai, seven hundredand sixty;10 the people of Bani, six hundred andforty–two;

EZRA 2 511 the people of Bebai, six hundred andtwenty–three;12 the people of Azgad, one thousandtwo hundred and twenty–two;13 the people of Adonikam, six hundredand sixty–six;14 the people of Bigvai, two thousandand fi y–six;15 the people of Adin, four hundred andfi y–four;16 the people of Ater of Hezekiah,ninety–eight;17 the people of Bezai, three hundredand twenty–three;18 the people of Jorah, one hundredand twelve;19 the people of Hashum, two hundredand twenty–three;20 the people of Gibbar, ninety–five;21 the people of Bethlehem, onehundred and twenty–three;22 the men of Netophah, fi y–six;

EZRA 2 623 the men of Anathoth, one hundredand twenty–eight;24 the people of Azmaveth, forty–two;25 the people of Kirjath Arim,Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundredand forty–three;26 the people of Ramah and Geba, sixhundred and twenty–one;27 the men of Michmas, one hundredand twenty–two;28 the men of Bethel and Ai, twohundred and twenty–three;29 the people of Nebo, fi y–two;30 the people of Magbish, one hundredand fi y–six;31 the people of the other Elam, onethousand two hundred and fi y–four;32 the people of Harim, three hundredand twenty;33 the people of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,seven hundred and twenty–five;

EZRA 2 734 the people of Jericho, three hundredand forty–five;35 the people of Senaah, three thousandsix hundred and thirty.36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, ofthe house of Jeshua, nine hundred andseventy–three;37 the sons of Immer, one thousand andfi y–two;38 the sons of Pashhur, one thousandtwo hundred and forty–seven;39 the sons of Harim, one thousand andseventeen.40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshuaand Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah,seventy–four.41 The singers: the sons of Asaph, onehundred and twenty–eight.42 The sons of the gatekeepers: thesons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, thesons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the

EZRA 2 8sons of Ha ta, and the sons of Shobai,one hundred and thirty–nine in all.43 The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, thesons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,44 the sons of Keros, the sons of Siaha,the sons of Padon,45 the sons of Lebanah, the sons ofHagabah, the sons of Akkub,46 the sons of Hagab, the sons ofShalmai, the sons of Hanan,47 the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,the sons of Reaiah,48 the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,the sons of Gazzam,49 the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,the sons of Besai,50 the sons of Asnah, the sons ofMeunim, the sons of Nephusim,51 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons ofHakupha, the sons of Harhur,52 the sons of Bazluth, the sons ofMehida, the sons of Harsha,

EZRA 2 953 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera,the sons of Tamah,54 the sons of Neziah, and the sons ofHa pha.55 The sons of Solomon’s servants: thesons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, thesons of Peruda,56 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon,the sons of Giddel,57 the sons of Shepha ah, the sons ofHa l, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim,and the sons of Ami.58All the Nethinim and the children ofSolomon’s servants were three hundredand ninety–two.59And these were the ones who cameup from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub,Addan, and Immer; but they could notiden fy their father’s house or theirgenealogy, whether they were of Israel:

EZRA 2 1060 the sons of Delaiah, the sons ofTobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, sixhundred and fi y–two;61 and of the sons of the priests: thesons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, andthe sons of Barzillai, who took a wife ofthe daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite,and was called by their name.62 These sought their lis ng amongthose who were registered by genealogy,but they were not found; therefore theywere excluded from the priesthood asdefiled.63And the governor said to them thatthey should not eat of the most holythings ll a priest could consult with theUrim and Thummim.64 The whole assembly together wasforty–two thousand three hundred andsixty,65 besides their male and femaleservants, of whom there were seven

EZRA 2 11thousand three hundred and thirty–seven; and they had two hundred menand women singers.66 Their horses were seven hundredand thirty–six, their mules two hundredand forty–five,67 their camels four hundred andthirty–five, and their donkeys sixthousand seven hundred and twenty.68 Some of the heads of the fathers’houses, when they came to the house ofthe LORD which is in Jerusalem, offeredfreely for the house of God, to erect it inits place:69According to their ability, they gaveto the treasury for the work sixty–onethousand gold drachmas, five thousandminas of silver, and one hundred priestlygarments.70 So the priests and the Levites,some of the people, the singers, the

EZRA 3 12gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, dwelt intheir ci es, and all Israel in their ci es.

3 1And when the seventh month hadcome, and the children of Israel

were in the ci es, the people gatheredtogether as one man to Jerusalem.2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak andhis brethren the priests, and Zerubbabelthe son of Sheal el and his brethren,arose and built the altar of the God ofIsrael, to offer burnt offerings on it, as itis wri en in the Law of Moses the manof God.3 Though fear had come upon thembecause of the people of those countries,they set the altar on its bases; and theyoffered burnt offerings on it to the LORD,both the morning and evening burntofferings.4 They also kept the Feast ofTabernacles, as it is wri en, and offered

EZRA 3 13the daily burnt offerings in the numberrequired by ordinance for each day.5A erwards they offered the regularburnt offering, and those for NewMoonsand for all the appointed feasts of theLORD that were consecrated, and thoseof everyone who willingly offered afreewill offering to the LORD.6 From the first day of the seventhmonth they began to offer burntofferings to the LORD, although thefounda on of the temple of the LORDhad not been laid.7 They also gave money to the masonsand the carpenters, and food, drink,and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyreto bring cedar logs from Lebanon tothe sea, to Joppa, according to thepermission which they had from Cyrusking of Persia.8Now in the second month of thesecond year of their coming to the house

EZRA 3 14of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the sonof Sheal el, Jeshua the son of Jozadak,and the rest of their brethren the priestsand the Levites, and all those who hadcome out of the cap vity to Jerusalem,began work and appointed the Levitesfrom twenty years old and above tooversee the work of the house of theLORD.9 Then Jeshua with his sons andbrothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and thesons of Judah, arose as one to overseethose working on the house of God: thesons of Henadad with their sons andtheir brethren the Levites.10When the builders laid thefounda on of the temple of the LORD,the priests stood in their apparel withtrumpets, and the Levites, the sons ofAsaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD,according to the ordinance of David kingof Israel.

EZRA 3–4 1511And they sang responsively, praisingand giving thanks to the LORD: "For Heis good, For His mercy endures forevertoward Israel." Then all the peopleshouted with a great shout, whenthey praised the LORD, because thefounda on of the house of the LORDwas laid.12 But many of the priests and Levitesand heads of the fathers’ houses, oldmenwho had seen the first temple, weptwith a loud voice when the founda onof this temple was laid before their eyes.Yet many shouted aloud for joy,13 so that the people could not discernthe noise of the shout of joy from thenoise of the weeping of the people, forthe people shouted with a loud shout,and the sound was heard afar off.

4 1Now when the adversaries ofJudah and Benjamin heard that

the descendants of the cap vity were

EZRA 4 16building the temple of the LORD God ofIsrael,2 they came to Zerubbabel and theheads of the fathers’ houses, and saidto them, "Let us build with you, forwe seek your God as you do; and wehave sacrificed to Him since the days ofEsarhaddon king of Assyria, who broughtus here."3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and therest of the heads of the fathers’ housesof Israel said to them, "You may donothing with us to build a house for ourGod; but we alone will build to the LORDGod of Israel, as King Cyrus the king ofPersia has commanded us."4 Then the people of the land tried todiscourage the people of Judah. Theytroubled them in building,5 and hired counselors against them tofrustrate their purpose all the days of

EZRA 4 17Cyrus king of Persia, even un l the reignof Darius king of Persia.6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in thebeginning of his reign, they wrote anaccusa on against the inhabitants ofJudah and Jerusalem.7 In the days of Artaxerxes also, Bishlam,Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of theircompanions wrote to Artaxerxes kingof Persia; and the le er was wri en inAramaic script, and translated into theAramaic language.8 Rehum the commander and Shimshaithe scribe wrote a le er againstJerusalem to King Artaxerxes in thisfashion:9 From Rehum the commander,Shimshai the scribe, and the rest oftheir companions––representa ves ofthe Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, theTarpelites, the people of Persia and

EZRA 4 18Erech and Babylon and Shushan, theDehavites, the Elamites,10 and the rest of the na ons whom thegreat and noble Osnapper took cap veand se led in the ci es of Samaria andthe remainder beyond the River––andso forth.11 (This is a copy of the le er that theysent him) To King Artaxerxes from yourservants, the men of the region beyondthe River, and so forth:12 Let it be known to the king that theJews who came up from you have cometo us at Jerusalem, and are building therebellious and evil city, and are finishingits walls and repairing the founda ons.13 Let it now be known to the kingthat, if this city is built and the wallscompleted, they will not pay tax, tribute,or custom, and the king’s treasury willbe diminished.

EZRA 4 1914Now because we receive supportfrom the palace, it was not proper for usto see the king’s dishonor; therefore wehave sent and informed the king,15 that search may be made in the bookof the records of your fathers. And youwill find in the book of the records andknow that this city is a rebellious city,harmful to kings and provinces, and thatthey have incited sedi on within the cityin former mes, for which cause this citywas destroyed.16We inform the king that if this cityis rebuilt and its walls are completed,the result will be that you will have nodominion beyond the River.17 The king sent an answer: To Rehumthe commander, to Shimshai the scribe,to the rest of their companions whodwell in Samaria, and to the remainderbeyond the River: Peace, and so forth.

EZRA 4 2018 The le er which you sent to us hasbeen clearly read before me.19And I gave the command, and asearch has been made, and it was foundthat this city in former mes has revoltedagainst kings, and rebellion and sedi onhave been fostered in it.20 There have also been mighty kingsover Jerusalem, who have ruled over allthe region beyond the River; and tax,tribute, and custom were paid to them.21Now give the command to makethese men cease, that this city may notbe built un l the command is given byme.22 Take heed now that you do not fail todo this. Why should damage increase tothe hurt of the kings?23Now when the copy of KingArtaxerxes’ le er was read beforeRehum, Shimshai the scribe, and theircompanions, they went up in haste to

EZRA 4–5 21Jerusalem against the Jews, and by forceof arms made them cease.24 Thus the work of the house of Godwhich is at Jerusalem ceased, and it wasdiscon nued un l the second year ofthe reign of Darius king of Persia.

5 1 Then the prophet Haggai andZechariah the son of Iddo, prophets,

prophesied to the Jews who were inJudah and Jerusalem, in the name of theGod of Israel, who was over them.2 So Zerubbabel the son of Sheal el andJeshua the son of Jozadak rose up andbegan to build the house of God whichis in Jerusalem; and the prophets of Godwere with them, helping them.3At the same me Ta enai thegovernor of the region beyond theRiver and Shethar–Boznai and theircompanions came to them and spokethus to them: "Who has commanded

EZRA 5 22you to build this temple and finish thiswall?"4 Then, accordingly, we told themthe names of the men who wereconstruc ng this building.5 But the eye of their God was upon theelders of the Jews, so that they couldnot make them cease ll a report couldgo to Darius. Then a wri en answer wasreturned concerning this ma er.6 This is a copy of the le er that Ta enaisent: The governor of the region beyondthe River, and Shethar–Boznai, and hiscompanions, the Persians who were inthe region beyond the River, to Dariusthe king.7 They sent a le er to him, in whichwas wri en thus––To Darius the king: Allpeace.8 Let it be known to the king that wewent into the province of Judea, to thetemple of the great God, which is being

EZRA 5 23built with heavy stones, and mber isbeing laid in the walls; and this workgoes on diligently and prospers in theirhands.9 Then we asked those elders, andspoke thus to them: "Who commandedyou to build this temple and to finishthese walls?"10We also asked them their namesto inform you, that we might writethe names of the men who were chiefamong them.11And thus they returned us an answer,saying: "We are the servants of theGod of heaven and earth, and we arerebuilding the temple that was builtmany years ago, which a great king ofIsrael built and completed.12 "But because our fathers provokedthe God of heaven to wrath, He gavethem into the hand of Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon, the Chaldean, who

EZRA 5 24destroyed this temple and carried thepeople away to Babylon.13 "However, in the first year of Cyrusking of Babylon, King Cyrus issued adecree to build this house of God.14 "Also, the gold and silverar cles of the house of God, whichNebuchadnezzar had taken from thetemple that was in Jerusalem and carriedinto the temple of Babylon––thoseKing Cyrus took from the temple ofBabylon, and they were given to onenamed Sheshbazzar, whom he had madegovernor.15 "And he said to him, ‘Take thesear cles; go, carry them to the templesite that is in Jerusalem, and let thehouse of God be rebuilt on its formersite.’16 "Then the same Sheshbazzar cameand laid the founda on of the house ofGod which is in Jerusalem; but from that

EZRA 5–6 25me even un l now it has been under

construc on, and it is not finished."17Now therefore, if it seems good tothe king, let a search be made in theking’s treasure house, which is there inBabylon, whether it is so that a decreewas issued by King Cyrus to build thishouse of God at Jerusalem, and let theking send us his pleasure concerning thisma er.

6 1 Then King Darius issued a decree,and a search was made in the

archives, where the treasures werestored in Babylon.2And at Achmetha, in the palace thatis in the province of Media, a scroll wasfound, and in it a record was wri enthus:3 In the first year of King Cyrus, KingCyrus issued a decree concerning thehouse of God at Jerusalem: "Let thehouse be rebuilt, the place where

EZRA 6 26they offered sacrifices; and let thefounda ons of it be firmly laid, its heightsixty cubits and its width sixty cubits,4with three rows of heavy stones andone row of new mber. Let the expensesbe paid from the king’s treasury.5Also let the gold and silverar cles of the house of God, whichNebuchadnezzar took from the templewhich is in Jerusalem and brought toBabylon, be restored and taken back tothe temple which is in Jerusalem, eachto its place; and deposit them in thehouse of God" ––6Now therefore, Ta enai, governorof the region beyond the River, andShethar–Boznai, and your companionsthe Persians who are beyond the River,keep yourselves far from there.7 Let the work of this house of Godalone; let the governor of the Jews and

EZRA 6 27the elders of the Jews build this house ofGod on its site.8Moreover I issue a decree as to whatyou shall do for the elders of these Jews,for the building of this house of God: Letthe cost be paid at the king’s expensefrom taxes on the region beyond theRiver; this is to be given immediatelyto these men, so that they are nothindered.9And whatever they need––youngbulls, rams, and lambs for the burntofferings of the God of heaven, wheat,salt, wine, and oil, according to therequest of the priests who are inJerusalem––let it be given them day byday without fail,10 that they may offer sacrifices ofsweet aroma to the God of heaven, andpray for the life of the king and his sons.11Also I issue a decree that whoeveralters this edict, let a mber be pulled

EZRA 6 28from his house and erected, and let himbe hanged on it; and let his house bemade a refuse heap because of this.12And may the God who causes Hisname to dwell there destroy any king orpeople who put their hand to alter it, orto destroy this house of God which is inJerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let itbe done diligently.13 Then Ta enai, governor of the regionbeyond the River, Shethar–Boznai,and their companions diligently didaccording to what King Darius had sent.14 So the elders of the Jews built, andthey prospered through the prophesyingof Haggai the prophet and Zechariah theson of Iddo. And they built and finishedit, according to the commandmentof the God of Israel, and according tothe command of Cyrus, Darius, andArtaxerxes king of Persia.

EZRA 6 2915Now the temple was finished on thethird day of the month of Adar, whichwas in the sixth year of the reign of KingDarius.16 Then the children of Israel, thepriests and the Levites and the restof the descendants of the cap vity,celebrated the dedica on of this houseof God with joy.17And they offered sacrifices at thededica on of this house of God, onehundred bulls, two hundred rams, fourhundred lambs, and as a sin offering forall Israel twelve male goats, according tothe number of the tribes of Israel.18 They assigned the priests to theirdivisions and the Levites to theirdivisions, over the service of God inJerusalem, as it is wri en in the Book ofMoses.

EZRA 6 3019And the descendants of the cap vitykept the Passover on the fourteenth dayof the first month.20 For the priests and the Levites hadpurified themselves; all of them wereritually clean. And they slaughtered thePassover lambs for all the descendantsof the cap vity, for their brethren thepriests, and for themselves.21 Then the children of Israel who hadreturned from the cap vity ate togetherwith all who had separated themselvesfrom the filth of the na ons of the landin order to seek the LORD God of Israel.22And they kept the Feast ofUnleavened Bread seven days with joy;for the LORD made them joyful, andturned the heart of the king of Assyriatoward them, to strengthen their handsin the work of the house of God, the Godof Israel.

EZRA 7 31

7 1Now a er these things, in the reignof Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the

son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, theson 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 ofPhinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son ofAaron the chief priest––6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; andhe was a skilled scribe in the Law ofMoses, which the LORD God of Israelhad given. The king granted him all hisrequest, according to the hand of theLORD his God upon him.7 Some of the children of Israel, thepriests, the Levites, the singers, thegatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up

EZRA 7 32to Jerusalem in the seventh year of KingArtaxerxes.8And Ezra came to Jerusalem in thefi h month, which was in the seventhyear of the king.9On the first day of the first month hebegan his journey from Babylon, and onthe first day of the fi h month he cameto Jerusalem, according to the goodhand of his God upon him.10 For Ezra had prepared his heart toseek the Law of the LORD, and to do it,and to teach statutes and ordinances inIsrael.11 This is a copy of the le er thatKing Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest,the scribe, expert in the words of thecommandments of the LORD, and of Hisstatutes to Israel:12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra thepriest, a scribe of the Law of the God ofheaven: Perfect peace, and so forth.

EZRA 7 3313 I issue a decree that all those of thepeople of Israel and the priests andLevites in my realm, who volunteer to goup to Jerusalem, may go with you.14And whereas you are being sent bythe king and his seven counselors toinquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem,with regard to the Law of your Godwhich is in your hand;15 and whereas you are to carry thesilver and gold which the king and hiscounselors have freely offered to theGod of Israel, whose dwelling is inJerusalem;16 and whereas all the silver and goldthat you may find in all the province ofBabylon, along with the freewill offeringof the people and the priests, are to befreely offered for the house of their Godin Jerusalem––17 now therefore, be careful to buywith this money bulls, rams, and lambs,

EZRA 7 34with their grain offerings and their drinkofferings, and offer them on the altar ofthe house of your God in Jerusalem.18And whatever seems good to youand your brethren to do with the rest ofthe silver and the gold, do it according tothe will of your God.19Also the ar cles that are given toyou for the service of the house of yourGod, deliver in full before the God ofJerusalem.20And whatever more may be neededfor the house of your God, which youmay have occasion to provide, pay for itfrom the king’s treasury.21And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king,issue a decree to all the treasurers whoare in the region beyond the River, thatwhatever Ezra the priest, the scribeof the Law of the God of heaven, mayrequire of you, let it be done diligently,

EZRA 7 3522 up to one hundred talents of silver,one hundred kors of wheat, one hundredbaths of wine, one hundred baths of oil,and salt without prescribed limit.23Whatever is commanded by the Godof heaven, let it diligently be done forthe house of the God of heaven. For whyshould there be wrath against the realmof the king and his sons?24Also we inform you that it shall not belawful to impose tax, tribute, or customon any of the priests, Levites, singers,gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants ofthis house of God.25And you, Ezra, according to yourGod–given wisdom, set magistrates andjudges who may judge all the peoplewho are in the region beyond the River,all such as know the laws of your God;and teach those who do not know them.26Whoever will not observe the law ofyour God and the law of the king, let

EZRA 7–8 36judgment be executed speedily on him,whether it be death, or banishment, orconfisca on of goods, or imprisonment.27 Blessed be the LORD God of ourfathers, who has put such a thing as thisin the king’s heart, to beau fy the houseof the LORD which is in Jerusalem,28 and has extended mercy to mebefore the king and his counselors, andbefore all the king’s mighty princes.So I was encouraged, as the hand ofthe LORD my God was upon me; and Igathered leading men of Israel to go upwith me.

8 1 These are the heads of theirfathers’ houses, and this is the

genealogy of those who went up withme from Babylon, in the reign of KingArtaxerxes:2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; ofthe sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sonsof David, Ha ush;

EZRA 8 373 of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sonsof Parosh, Zechariah; and registered withhim were one hundred and fi y males;4 of the sons of Pahath–Moab,Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and withhim two hundred males;5 of the sons of Shechaniah, Ben–Jahaziel, and with him three hundredmales;6 of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son ofJonathan, and with him fi y males;7 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the sonof Athaliah, and with him seventy males;8 of the sons of Shepha ah, Zebadiahthe son of Michael, and with him eightymales;9 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the sonof Jehiel, and with him two hundred andeighteen males;10 of the sons of Shelomith, Ben–Josiphiah, and with him one hundredand sixty males;

EZRA 8 3811 of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah theson of Bebai, and with him twenty–eightmales;12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the sonof Hakkatan, and with him one hundredand ten males;13 of the last sons of Adonikam, whosenames are these––Eliphelet, Jeiel, andShemaiah––and with them sixty males;14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai andZabbud, and with them seventy males.15Now I gathered them by the riverthat flows to Ahava, and we campedthere three days. And I looked amongthe people and the priests, and foundnone of the sons of Levi there.16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel,Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan,Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam,leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan,men of understanding.

EZRA 8 3917And I gave them a command for Iddothe chief man at the place Casiphia, andI told them what they should say to Iddoand his brethren the Nethinim at theplace Casiphia––that they should bringus servants for the house of our God.18 Then, by the good hand of our Godupon us, they brought us a man ofunderstanding, of the sons of Mahli theson of Levi, the son of Israel, namelySherebiah, with his sons and brothers,eighteen men;19 and Hashabiah, and with himJeshaiah of the sons of Merari, hisbrothers and their sons, twenty men;20 also of the Nethinim, whom Davidand the leaders had appointed for theservice of the Levites, two hundredand twenty Nethinim. All of them weredesignated by name.21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at theriver of Ahava, that we might humble

EZRA 8 40ourselves before our God, to seek fromHim the right way for us and our li leones and all our possessions.22 For I was ashamed to request of theking an escort of soldiers and horsemento help us against the enemy on theroad, because we had spoken to theking, saying, "The hand of our God isupon all those for good who seek Him,but His power and His wrath are againstall those who forsake Him."23 So we fasted and entreated our Godfor this, and He answered our prayer.24And I separated twelve of the leadersof the priests––Sherebiah, Hashabiah,and ten of their brethren with them––25 and weighed out to them the silver,the gold, and the ar cles, the offeringfor the house of our God which the kingand his counselors and his princes, andall Israel who were present, had offered.

EZRA 8 4126 I weighed into their hand six hundredand fi y talents of silver, silver ar clesweighing one hundred talents, onehundred talents of gold,27 twenty gold basins worth a thousanddrachmas, and two vessels of finepolished bronze, precious as gold.28And I said to them, "You are holyto the LORD; the ar cles are holy also;and the silver and the gold are a freewilloffering to the LORD God of your fathers.29 "Watch and keep them un l youweigh them before the leaders of thepriests and the Levites and heads of thefathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, inthe chambers of the house of the LORD."30 So the priests and the Levitesreceived the silver and the gold andthe ar cles by weight, to bring them toJerusalem to the house of our God.31 Then we departed from the river ofAhava on the twel h day of the first

EZRA 8 42month, to go to Jerusalem. And thehand of our God was upon us, and Hedelivered us from the hand of the enemyand from ambush along the road.32 So we came to Jerusalem, and stayedthere three days.33Now on the fourth day the silver andthe gold and the ar cles were weighedin the house of our God by the hand ofMeremoth the son of Uriah the priest,and with him was Eleazar the son ofPhinehas; with them were the Levites,Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiahthe son of Binnui,34with the number and weight ofeverything. All the weight was wri endown at that me.35 The children of those who hadbeen carried away cap ve, who hadcome from the cap vity, offered burntofferings to the God of Israel: twelvebulls for all Israel, ninety–six rams,

EZRA 8–9 43seventy–seven lambs, and twelve malegoats as a sin offering. All this was aburnt offering to the LORD.36And they delivered the king’s ordersto the king’s satraps and the governorsin the region beyond the River. So theygave support to the people and thehouse of God.

9 1When these things were done,the leaders came to me, saying,

"The people of Israel and the priestsand the Levites have not separatedthemselves from the peoples of thelands, with respect to the abomina onsof the Canaanites, the Hi tes, thePerizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites,the Moabites, the Egyp ans, and theAmorites.2 "For they have taken some of theirdaughters as wives for themselves andtheir sons, so that the holy seed is mixedwith the peoples of those lands. Indeed,

EZRA 9 44the hand of the leaders and rulers hasbeen foremost in this trespass."3 So when I heard this thing, I tore mygarment and my robe, and plucked outsome of the hair of my head and beard,and sat down astonished.4 Then everyone who trembled at thewords of the God of Israel assembledto me, because of the transgressionof those who had been carried awaycap ve, and I sat astonished un l theevening sacrifice.5At the evening sacrifice I arose frommy fas ng; and having torn my garmentand my robe, I fell on my knees andspread out my hands to the LORD myGod.6And I said: "O my God, I am tooashamed and humiliated to li up myface to You, my God; for our iniqui eshave risen higher than our heads, andour guilt has grown up to the heavens.

EZRA 9 457 "Since the days of our fathers to thisday we have been very guilty, and for ouriniqui es we, our kings, and our priestshave been delivered into the hand ofthe kings of the lands, to the sword, tocap vity, to plunder, and to humilia on,as it is this day.8 "And now for a li le while grace hasbeen shown from the LORD our God, toleave us a remnant to escape, and togive us a peg in His holy place, that ourGod may enlighten our eyes and give usa measure of revival in our bondage.9 "For we were slaves. Yet our God didnot forsake us in our bondage; but Heextended mercy to us in the sight of thekings of Persia, to revive us, to repairthe house of our God, to rebuild itsruins, and to give us a wall in Judah andJerusalem.

EZRA 9 4610 "And now, O our God, what shall wesay a er this? For we have forsaken Yourcommandments,11 "which You commanded by Yourservants the prophets, saying, ‘The landwhich you are entering to possess isan unclean land, with the uncleannessof the peoples of the lands, with theirabomina ons which have filled it fromone end to another with their impurity.12 ‘Now therefore, do not give yourdaughters as wives for their sons, nortake their daughters to your sons; andnever seek their peace or prosperity,that you may be strong and eat the goodof the land, and leave it as an inheritanceto your children forever.’13 "And a er all that has come upon usfor our evil deeds and for our great guilt,since You our God have punished us lessthan our iniqui es deserve, and havegiven us such deliverance as this,

EZRA 9–10 4714 "should we again break Yourcommandments, and join in marriagewith the people commi ng theseabomina ons? Would You not be angrywith us un l You had consumed us,so that there would be no remnant orsurvivor?15 "O LORD God of Israel, You arerighteous, for we are le as a remnant,as it is this day. Here we are before You,in our guilt, though no one can standbefore You because of this!"

10 1Now while Ezra was praying,and while he was confessing,

weeping, and bowing down before thehouse of God, a very large assembly ofmen, women, and children gathered tohim from Israel; for the people weptvery bi erly.2And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, oneof the sons of Elam, spoke up and said toEzra, "We have trespassed against our

EZRA 10 48God, and have taken pagan wives fromthe peoples of the land; yet now there ishope in Israel in spite of this.3 "Now therefore, let us make acovenant with our God to put away allthese wives and those who have beenborn to them, according to the advice ofmy master and of those who tremble atthe commandment of our God; and let itbe done according to the law.4 "Arise, for this ma er is yourresponsibility. We also are with you. Beof good courage, and do it."5 Then Ezra arose, and made theleaders of the priests, the Levites, and allIsrael swear an oath that they would doaccording to this word. So they swore anoath.6 Then Ezra rose up from beforethe house of God, and went into thechamber of Jehohanan the son ofEliashib; and when he came there, he

EZRA 10 49ate no bread and drank no water, for hemourned because of the guilt of thosefrom the cap vity.7And they issued a proclama onthroughout Judah and Jerusalem to allthe descendants of the cap vity, thatthey must gather at Jerusalem,8 and that whoever would not comewithin three days, according to theinstruc ons of the leaders and elders, allhis property would be confiscated, andhe himself would be separated from theassembly of those from the cap vity.9 So all the men of Judah and Benjamingathered at Jerusalem within three days.It was the ninth month, on the twen ethof the month; and all the people sat inthe open square of the house of God,trembling because of this ma er andbecause of heavy rain.10 Then Ezra the priest stood up andsaid to them, "You have transgressed

EZRA 10 50and have taken pagan wives, adding tothe guilt of Israel.11 "Now therefore, make confession tothe LORD God of your fathers, and doHis will; separate yourselves from thepeoples of the land, and from the paganwives."12 Then all the assembly answered andsaid with a loud voice, "Yes! As you havesaid, so we must do.13 "But there are many people; it is theseason for heavy rain, and we are notable to stand outside. Nor is this thework of one or two days, for there aremany of us who have transgressed inthis ma er.14 "Please, let the leaders of our en reassembly stand; and let all those in ourci es who have taken pagan wives comeat appointed mes, together with theelders and judges of their ci es, un l the

EZRA 10 51fierce wrath of our God is turned awayfrom us in this ma er."15Only Jonathan the son of Asaheland Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposedthis, and Meshullam and Shabbethai theLevite gave them support.16 Then the descendants of the cap vitydid so. And Ezra the priest, with certainheads of the fathers’ households, wereset apart by the fathers’ households,each of them by name; and they satdown on the first day of the tenth monthto examine the ma er.17 By the first day of the first monththey finished ques oning all the menwho had taken pagan wives.18And among the sons of the priestswho had taken paganwives the followingwere found of the sons of Jeshua the sonof Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah,Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

EZRA 10 5219And they gave their promise thatthey would put away their wives; andbeing guilty, they presented a ram of theflock as their trespass offering.20Also of the sons of Immer: Hananiand Zebadiah;21 of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah,Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah;22 of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai,Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad,and Elasah.23Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei,Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah,Judah, and Eliezer.24Also of the singers: Eliashib; and ofthe gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, andUri.25And others of Israel: of the sonsof Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah,Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, andBenaiah;

EZRA 10 5326 of the sons of Elam: Ma aniah,Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, andEliah;27 of the sons of Za u: Elioenai, Eliashib,Ma aniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;28 of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan,Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;29 of the sons of Bani: Meshullam,Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, andRamoth;30 of the sons of Pahath–Moab: Adna,Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Ma aniah,Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;31 of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah,Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;33 of the sons of Hashum: Ma enai,Ma a ah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai,Manasseh, and Shimei;34 of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram,Uel,35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluh,

EZRA 10 5436Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,37Ma aniah, Ma enai, Jaasai,38 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,40Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,41Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph;43 of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Ma thiah,Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.44All these had taken pagan wives, andsome of them had wives by whom theyhad children.

Nehemiah

1 1 The words of Nehemiah the sonof Hachaliah. It came to pass in the

month of Chislev, in the twen eth year,as I was in Shushan the citadel,2 that Hanani one of my brethren camewith men from Judah; and I asked themconcerning the Jews who had escaped,who had survived the cap vity, andconcerning Jerusalem.3And they said to me, "The survivorswho are le from the cap vity in theprovince are there in great distress andreproach. The wall of Jerusalem is alsobroken down, and its gates are burnedwith fire."4 So it was, when I heard these words,that I sat down and wept, and mourned

NEHEMIAH 1 2for many days; I was fas ng and prayingbefore the God of heaven.5And I said: "I pray, LORD God ofheaven, O great and awesome God, Youwho keep Your covenant and mercy withthose who love You and observe Yourcommandments,6 "please let Your ear be a en ve andYour eyes open, that You may hearthe prayer of Your servant which I praybefore You now, day and night, for thechildren of Israel Your servants, andconfess the sins of the children of Israelwhich we have sinned against You. Bothmy father’s house and I have sinned.7 "We have acted very corruptlyagainst You, and have not kept thecommandments, the statutes, nor theordinances which You commanded Yourservant Moses.8 "Remember, I pray, the word that Youcommanded Your servant Moses, saying,

NEHEMIAH 1–2 3‘If you are unfaithful, I will sca er youamong the na ons;9 ‘but if you return to Me, and keep Mycommandments and do them, thoughsome of you were cast out to the farthestpart of the heavens, yet I will gatherthem from there, and bring them to theplace which I have chosen as a dwellingfor My name.’10 "Now these are Your servants andYour people, whom You have redeemedby Your great power, and by Your stronghand.11 "O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear bea en ve to the prayer of Your servant,and to the prayer of Your servants whodesire to fear Your name; and let Yourservant prosper this day, I pray, and granthim mercy in the sight of this man." For Iwas the king’s cupbearer.

2 1And it came to pass in the month ofNisan, in the twen eth year of King

NEHEMIAH 2 4Artaxerxes, when wine was before him,that I took the wine and gave it to theking. Now I had never been sad in hispresence before.2 Therefore the king said to me, "Whyis your face sad, since you are not sick?This is nothing but sorrow of heart." So Ibecame dreadfully afraid,3 and said to the king, "May the kinglive forever! Why should my face notbe sad, when the city, the place of myfathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gatesare burned with fire?"4 Then the king said to me, "What doyou request?" So I prayed to the God ofheaven.5And I said to the king, "If it pleases theking, and if your servant has found favorin your sight, I ask that you send me toJudah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs,that I may rebuild it."

NEHEMIAH 2 56 Then the king said to me (the queenalso si ng beside him), "How long willyour journey be? And when will youreturn?" So it pleased the king to sendme; and I set him a me.7 Furthermore I said to the king, "Ifit pleases the king, let le ers be givento me for the governors of the regionbeyond the River, that they must permitme to pass through ll I come to Judah,8 "and a le er to Asaph the keeper ofthe king’s forest, that he must give member to make beams for the gates of

the citadel which pertains to the temple,for the city wall, and for the house that Iwill occupy." And the king granted themto me according to the good hand of myGod upon me.9 Then I went to the governors in theregion beyond the River, and gave themthe king’s le ers. Now the king had sent

NEHEMIAH 2 6captains of the army and horsemen withme.10When Sanballat the Horonite andTobiah the Ammonite official heard of it,they were deeply disturbed that a manhad come to seek the well–being of thechildren of Israel.11 So I came to Jerusalem and was therethree days.12 Then I arose in the night, I and afew men with me; I told no one whatmy God had put in my heart to do atJerusalem; nor was there any animalwith me, except the one on which I rode.13And I went out by night through theValley Gate to the Serpent Well and theRefuse Gate, and viewed the walls ofJerusalem which were broken down andits gates which were burned with fire.14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gateand to the King’s Pool, but there was noroom for the animal under me to pass.

NEHEMIAH 2 715 So I went up in the night by the valley,and viewed the wall; then I turned backand entered by the Valley Gate, and soreturned.16And the officials did not know whereI had gone or what I had done; I had notyet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles,the officials, or the others who did thework.17 Then I said to them, "You see thedistress that we are in, how Jerusalemlies waste, and its gates are burned withfire. Come and let us build the wall ofJerusalem, that we may no longer be areproach."18And I told them of the hand of myGod which had been good upon me,and also of the king’s words that he hadspoken to me. So they said, "Let us riseup and build." Then they set their handsto this good work.

NEHEMIAH 2–3 819 But when Sanballat the Horonite,Tobiah the Ammonite official, andGeshem the Arab heard of it, theylaughed at us and despised us, and said,"What is this thing that you are doing?Will you rebel against the king?"20 So I answered them, and said tothem, "The God of heaven Himself willprosper us; thereforeweHis servants willarise and build, but you have no heritageor right or memorial in Jerusalem."

3 1 Then Eliashib the high priest roseup with his brethren the priests and

built the Sheep Gate; they consecratedit and hung its doors. They built asfar as the Tower of the Hundred, andconsecrated it, then as far as the Towerof Hananel.2Next to Eliashib the men of Jerichobuilt. And next to them Zaccur the sonof Imri built.

NEHEMIAH 3 93Also the sons of Hassenaah built theFish Gate; they laid its beams and hungits doors with its bolts and bars.4And next to them Meremoth the sonof Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs.Next to them Meshullam the son ofBerechiah, the son of Meshezabel, maderepairs. Next to them Zadok the son ofBaana made repairs.5Next to them the Tekoites maderepairs; but their nobles did not put theirshoulders to the work of their Lord.6Moreover Jehoiada the son of Paseahand Meshullam the son of Besodeiahrepaired the Old Gate; they laid itsbeams and hung its doors, with its boltsand bars.7And next to them Mela ah theGibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, themen of Gibeon and Mizpah, repaired theresidence of the governor of the regionbeyond the River.

NEHEMIAH 3 108Next to himUzziel the son of Harhaiah,one of the goldsmiths, made repairs.Also next to him Hananiah, one of theperfumers, made repairs; and theyfor fied Jerusalem as far as the BroadWall.9And next to them Rephaiah the sonof Hur, leader of half the district ofJerusalem, made repairs.10Next to them Jedaiah the son ofHarumaph made repairs in front of hishouse. And next to him Ha ush the sonof Hashabniah made repairs.11Malchijah the son of Harim andHashub the son of Pahath–Moabrepaired another sec on, as well as theTower of the Ovens.12And next to him was Shallum the sonof Hallohesh, leader of half the districtof Jerusalem; he and his daughters maderepairs.

NEHEMIAH 3 1113Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoahrepaired the Valley Gate. They built it,hung its doors with its bolts and bars,and repaired a thousand cubits of thewall as far as the Refuse Gate.14Malchijah the son of Rechab, leaderof the district of Beth Haccerem,repaired the Refuse Gate; he built it andhung its doors with its bolts and bars.15 Shallun the son of Col–Hozeh, leaderof the district of Mizpah, repaired theFountain Gate; he built it, covered it,hung its doors with its bolts and bars,and repaired the wall of the Pool ofShelah by the King’s Garden, as far asthe stairs that go down from the City ofDavid.16A er him Nehemiah the son ofAzbuk, leader of half the district of BethZur, made repairs as far as the placein front of the tombs of David, to the

NEHEMIAH 3 12man–made pool, and as far as the Houseof the Mighty.17A er him the Levites, under Rehumthe son of Bani, made repairs. Next tohim Hashabiah, leader of half the districtof Keilah, made repairs for his district.18A er him their brethren, underBavai the son of Henadad, leader of theother half of the district of Keilah, maderepairs.19And next to him Ezer the son ofJeshua, the leader of Mizpah, repairedanother sec on in front of the Ascent tothe Armory at the bu ress.20A er him Baruch the son of Zabbaicarefully repaired the other sec on,from the bu ress to the door of thehouse of Eliashib the high priest.21A er him Meremoth the son ofUrijah, the son of Koz, repaired anothersec on, from the door of the house

NEHEMIAH 3 13of Eliashib to the end of the house ofEliashib.22And a er him the priests, the men ofthe plain, made repairs.23A er him Benjamin and Hasshubmade repairs opposite their house. A erthem Azariah the son of Maaseiah, theson of Ananiah, made repairs by hishouse.24A er him Binnui the son of Henadadrepaired another sec on, from thehouse of Azariah to the bu ress, even asfar as the corner.25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairsopposite the bu ress, and on the towerwhich projects from the king’s upperhouse that was by the court of theprison. A er him Pedaiah the son ofParosh made repairs.26Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt inOphel made repairs as far as the place in

NEHEMIAH 3 14front of the Water Gate toward the east,and on the projec ng tower.27A er them the Tekoites repairedanother sec on, next to the greatprojec ng tower, and as far as the wallof Ophel.28 Beyond the Horse Gate the priestsmade repairs, each in front of his ownhouse.29A er them Zadok the son of Immermade repairs in front of his ownhouse. A er him Shemaiah the son ofShechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate,made repairs.30A er him Hananiah the son ofShelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son ofZalaph, repaired another sec on. A erhim Meshullam the son of Berechiahmade repairs in front of his dwelling.31A er him Malchijah, one of thegoldsmiths, made repairs as far asthe house of the Nethinim and of the

NEHEMIAH 3–4 15merchants, in front of the Miphkad Gate,and as far as the upper room at thecorner.32And between the upper room at thecorner, as far as the Sheep Gate, thegoldsmiths and the merchants maderepairs.

4 1 But it so happened, when Sanballatheard that we were rebuilding

the wall, that he was furious and veryindignant, and mocked the Jews.2And he spoke before his brethren andthe army of Samaria, and said, "What arethese feeble Jews doing?Will they for fythemselves? Will they offer sacrifices?Will they complete it in a day? Will theyrevive the stones from the heaps ofrubbish––stones that are burned?"3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was besidehim, and he said, "Whatever they build,if even a fox goes up on it, he will breakdown their stone wall."

NEHEMIAH 4 164Hear, O our God, for we are despised;turn their reproach on their own heads,and give them as plunder to a land ofcap vity!5Do not cover their iniquity, and do notlet their sin be blo ed out from beforeYou; for they have provoked You to angerbefore the builders.6 So we built the wall, and the en rewall was joined together up to half itsheight, for the people had a mind towork.7Now it happened, when Sanballat,Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, andthe Ashdodites heard that the walls ofJerusalem were being restored and thegaps were beginning to be closed, thatthey became very angry,8 and all of them conspired together tocome and a ack Jerusalem and createconfusion.

NEHEMIAH 4 179Nevertheless we made our prayer toour God, and because of them we set awatch against them day and night.10 Then Judah said, "The strength of thelaborers is failing, and there is so muchrubbish that we are not able to build thewall."11And our adversaries said, "They willneither know nor see anything, ll wecome into their midst and kill them andcause the work to cease."12 So it was, when the Jews who dweltnear them came, that they told us tenmes, "From whatever place you turn,

they will be upon us."13 Therefore I posi oned men behindthe lower parts of the wall, at theopenings; and I set the people accordingto their families, with their swords, theirspears, and their bows.14And I looked, and arose and said tothe nobles, to the leaders, and to the

NEHEMIAH 4 18rest of the people, "Do not be afraid ofthem. Remember the Lord, great andawesome, and fight for your brethren,your sons, your daughters, your wives,and your houses."15And it happened, when our enemiesheard that it was known to us, and thatGod had brought their plot to nothing,that all of us returned to the wall,everyone to his work.16 So it was, from that me on, that halfof my servants worked at construc on,while the other half held the spears, theshields, the bows, and wore armor; andthe leaders were behind all the house ofJudah.17 Those who built on the wall, andthose who carried burdens, loadedthemselves so that with one hand theyworked at construc on, and with theother held a weapon.

NEHEMIAH 4 1918 Every one of the builders had hissword girded at his side as he built. Andthe one who sounded the trumpet wasbeside me.19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers,and the rest of the people, "The workis great and extensive, and we areseparated far from one another on thewall.20 "Wherever you hear the sound of thetrumpet, rally to us there. Our God willfight for us."21 So we labored in the work, andhalf of the men held the spears fromdaybreak un l the stars appeared.22At the same me I also said to thepeople, "Let each man and his servantstay at night in Jerusalem, that they maybe our guard by night and a workingparty by day."23 So neither I, my brethren, myservants, nor the men of the guard who

NEHEMIAH 5 20followed me took off our clothes, exceptthat everyone took them off for washing.

5 1And there was a great outcry of thepeople and their wives against their

Jewish brethren.2 For there were those who said, "We,our sons, and our daughters are many;therefore let us get grain, that we mayeat and live."3 There were also some who said, "Wehave mortgaged our lands and vineyardsand houses, that we might buy grainbecause of the famine."4 There were also those who said, "Wehave borrowed money for the king’s taxon our lands and vineyards.5 "Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of ourbrethren, our children as their children;and indeed we are forcing our sons andour daughters to be slaves, and some ofour daughters have been brought intoslavery. It is not in our power to redeem

NEHEMIAH 5 21them, for other men have our lands andvineyards."6And I became very angry when I heardtheir outcry and these words.7A er serious thought, I rebuked thenobles and rulers, and said to them,"Each of you is exac ng usury from hisbrother." So I called a great assemblyagainst them.8And I said to them, "According to ourability we have redeemed our Jewishbrethren who were sold to the na ons.Now indeed, will you even sell yourbrethren? Or should they be sold tous?" Then they were silenced and foundnothing to say.9 Then I said, "What you are doing isnot good. Should you not walk in thefear of our God because of the reproachof the na ons, our enemies?"

NEHEMIAH 5 2210 "I also, with my brethren and myservants, am lending them money andgrain. Please, let us stop this usury!11 "Restore now to them, even thisday, their lands, their vineyards, theirolive groves, and their houses, also ahundredth of the money and the grain,the new wine and the oil, that you havecharged them."12 So they said, "We will restore it, andwill require nothing from them; we willdo as you say." Then I called the priests,and required an oath from them thatthey would do according to this promise.13 Then I shook out the fold of mygarment and said, "So may God shakeout each man from his house, and fromhis property, who does not perform thispromise. Even thus may he be shakenout and emp ed." And all the assemblysaid, "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

NEHEMIAH 5 23Then the people did according to thispromise.14Moreover, from the me that Iwas appointed to be their governor inthe land of Judah, from the twen ethyear un l the thirty–second year ofKing Artaxerxes, twelve years, neitherI nor my brothers ate the governor’sprovisions.15 But the former governors who werebefore me laid burdens on the people,and took from them bread and wine,besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, eventheir servants bore rule over the people,but I did not do so, because of the fearof God.16 Indeed, I also con nued the work onthis wall, and we did not buy any land.All my servants were gathered there forthe work.17And at my table were one hundredand fi y Jews and rulers, besides those

NEHEMIAH 5–6 24who came to us from the na ons aroundus.18Now that which was prepared dailywas one ox and six choice sheep. Alsofowl were prepared for me, and onceevery ten days an abundance of allkinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I didnot demand the governor’s provisions,because the bondage was heavy on thispeople.19 Remember me, my God, for good,according to all that I have done for thispeople.

6 1Now it happened when Sanballat,Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the

rest of our enemies heard that I hadrebuilt the wall, and that there were nobreaks le in it (though at that me I hadnot hung the doors in the gates),2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent tome, saying, "Come, let us meet together

NEHEMIAH 6 25among the villages in the plain of Ono."But they thought to do me harm.3 So I sent messengers to them, saying,"I am doing a great work, so that I cannotcome down. Why should the work ceasewhile I leave it and go down to you?"4 But they sent me this message fourmes, and I answered them in the same

manner.5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to meas before, the fi h me, with an openle er in his hand.6 In it was wri en: It is reported amongthe na ons, and Geshem says, that youand the Jews plan to rebel; therefore,according to these rumors, you arerebuilding the wall, that you may betheir king.7And you have also appointed prophetsto proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem,saying, "There is a king in Judah!" Nowthese ma ers will be reported to the

NEHEMIAH 6 26king. So come, therefore, and let usconsult together.8 Then I sent to him, saying, "No suchthings as you say are being done, butyou invent them in your own heart."9 For they all were trying to makeus afraid, saying, "Their hands willbe weakened in the work, and it willnot be done." Now therefore, O God,strengthen my hands.10A erward I came to the house ofShemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son ofMehetabel, who was a secret informer;and he said, "Let us meet together in thehouse of God, within the temple, andlet us close the doors of the temple, forthey are coming to kill you; indeed, atnight they will come to kill you."11And I said, "Should such a man asI flee? And who is there such as I whowould go into the temple to save his life?I will not go in!"

NEHEMIAH 6 2712 Then I perceived that God had notsent him at all, but that he pronouncedthis prophecy against me because Tobiahand Sanballat had hired him.13 For this reason he was hired, that Ishould be afraid and act that way andsin, so that they might have cause for anevil report, that they might reproach me.14My God, remember Tobiah andSanballat, according to these theirworks, and the prophetess Noadiah andthe rest of the prophets who would havemade me afraid.15 So the wall was finished on thetwenty–fi h day of Elul, in fi y–twodays.16And it happened, when all ourenemies heard of it, and all the na onsaround us saw these things, that theywere very disheartened in their owneyes; for they perceived that this workwas done by our God.

NEHEMIAH 6–7 2817Also in those days the nobles ofJudah sent many le ers to Tobiah, andthe le ers of Tobiah came to them.18 For many in Judah were pledged tohim, because he was the son–in–law ofShechaniah the son of Arah, and his sonJehohanan had married the daughter ofMeshullam the son of Berechiah.19Also they reported his good deedsbefore me, and reported my words tohim. Tobiah sent le ers to frighten me.

7 1 Then it was, when the wall wasbuilt and I had hung the doors, when

the gatekeepers, the singers, and theLevites had been appointed,2 that I gave the charge of Jerusalem tomy brother Hanani, and Hananiah theleader of the citadel, for he was a faithfulman and feared God more than many.3And I said to them, "Do not let thegates of Jerusalem be opened un lthe sun is hot; and while they stand

NEHEMIAH 7 29guard, let them shut and bar the doors;and appoint guards from among theinhabitants of Jerusalem, one at hiswatch sta on and another in front of hisown house."4Now the city was large and spacious,but the people in it were few, and thehouses were not rebuilt.5 Then my God put it into my heart togather the nobles, the rulers, and thepeople, that they might be registered bygenealogy. And I found a register of thegenealogy of those who had come up inthe first return, and found wri en in it:6 These are the people of the provincewho came back from the cap vity, ofthose who had been carried away, whomNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylonhad carried away, and who returned toJerusalem and Judah, everyone to hiscity.

NEHEMIAH 7 307 Those who came with Zerubbabelwere Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah,Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan,Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.The number of the men of the people ofIsrael:8 the sons of Parosh, two thousand onehundred and seventy–two;9 the sons of Shepha ah, three hundredand seventy–two;10 the sons of Arah, six hundred andfi y–two;11 the sons of Pahath–Moab, of thesons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousandeight hundred and eighteen;12 the sons of Elam, one thousand twohundred and fi y–four;13 the sons of Za u, eight hundred andforty–five;14 the sons of Zaccai, seven hundredand sixty;

NEHEMIAH 7 3115 the sons of Binnui, six hundred andforty–eight;16 the sons of Bebai, six hundred andtwenty–eight;17 the sons of Azgad, two thousandthree hundred and twenty–two;18 the sons of Adonikam, six hundredand sixty–seven;19 the sons of Bigvai, two thousand andsixty–seven;20 the sons of Adin, six hundred andfi y–five;21 the sons of Ater of Hezekiah,ninety–eight;22 the sons of Hashum, three hundredand twenty–eight;23 the sons of Bezai, three hundred andtwenty–four;24 the sons of Hariph, one hundred andtwelve;25 the sons of Gibeon, ninety–five;

NEHEMIAH 7 3226 themenof BethlehemandNetophah,one hundred and eighty–eight;27 the men of Anathoth, one hundredand twenty–eight;28 the men of Beth Azmaveth,forty–two;29 the men of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah,and Beeroth, seven hundred andforty–three;30 the men of Ramah and Geba, sixhundred and twenty–one;31 the men of Michmas, one hundredand twenty–two;32 the men of Bethel and Ai, onehundred and twenty–three;33 themen of the other Nebo, fi y–two;34 the sons of the other Elam, onethousand two hundred and fi y–four;35 the sons of Harim, three hundredand twenty;36 the sons of Jericho, three hundredand forty–five;

NEHEMIAH 7 3337 the sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,seven hundred and twenty–one;38 the sons of Senaah, three thousandnine hundred and thirty.39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, ofthe house of Jeshua, nine hundred andseventy–three;40 the sons of Immer, one thousand andfi y–two;41 the sons of Pashhur, one thousandtwo hundred and forty–seven;42 the sons of Harim, one thousand andseventeen.43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, ofKadmiel, and of the sons of Hodevah,seventy–four.44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, onehundred and forty–eight.45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum,the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon,the sons of Akkub, the sons of Ha ta,

NEHEMIAH 7 34the sons of Shobai, one hundred andthirty–eight.46 The Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, thesons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, thesons of Padon,48 the sons of Lebana, the sons ofHagaba, the sons of Salmai,49 the sons of Hanan, the sons ofGiddel, the sons of Gahar,50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin,the sons of Nekoda,51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza,the sons of Paseah,52 the sons of Besai, the sons ofMeunim, the sons of Nephishesim,53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons ofHakupha, the sons of Harhur,54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons ofMehida, the sons of Harsha,55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera,the sons of Tamah,

NEHEMIAH 7 3556 the sons of Neziah, and the sons ofHa pha.57 The sons of Solomon’s servants: thesons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, thesons of Perida,58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon,the sons of Giddel,59 the sons of Shepha ah, the sons ofHa l, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim,and the sons of Amon.60All the Nethinim, and the sons ofSolomon’s servants, were three hundredand ninety–two.61And these were the ones who cameup from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub,Addon, and Immer, but they could notiden fy their father’s house nor theirlineage, whether they were of Israel:62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons ofTobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundredand forty–two;

NEHEMIAH 7 3663 and of the priests: the sons ofHabaiah, the sons of Koz, the sonsof Barzillai, who took a wife of thedaughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, andwas called by their name.64 These sought their lis ng amongthose who were registered by genealogy,but it was not found; therefore theywere excluded from the priesthood asdefiled.65And the governor said to them thatthey should not eat of the most holythings ll a priest could consult with theUrim and Thummim.66Altogether the whole assembly wasforty–two thousand three hundred andsixty,67 besides their male and femaleservants, of whom there were seventhousand three hundred and thirty–seven; and they had two hundred andforty–five men and women singers.

NEHEMIAH 7 3768 Their horses were seven hundredand thirty–six, their mules two hundredand forty–five,69 their camels four hundred andthirty–five, and donkeys six thousandseven hundred and twenty.70And some of the heads of the fathers’houses gave to the work. The governorgave to the treasury one thousand golddrachmas, fi y basins, and five hundredand thirty priestly garments.71 Some of the heads of the fathers’houses gave to the treasury of the worktwenty thousand gold drachmas, andtwo thousand two hundred silver minas.72And that which the rest of thepeople gave was twenty thousand golddrachmas, two thousand silver minas,and sixty–seven priestly garments.73 So the priests, the Levites, thegatekeepers, the singers, some of thepeople, the Nethinim, and all Israel

NEHEMIAH 8 38dwelt in their ci es. When the seventhmonth came, the children of Israel werein their ci es.

8 1Now all the people gatheredtogether as one man in the open

square that was in front of the WaterGate; and they told Ezra the scribe tobring the Book of the Law of Moses,which the LORD had commanded Israel.2 So Ezra the priest brought the Lawbefore the assembly of men andwomen and all who could hear withunderstanding on the first day of theseventh month.3 Then he read from it in the opensquare that was in front of the WaterGate from morning un l midday, beforethe men and women and those whocould understand; and the ears of all thepeople were a en ve to the Book of theLaw.

NEHEMIAH 8 394 So Ezra the scribe stood on a pla ormof wood which they had made for thepurpose; and beside him, at his righthand, stood Ma thiah, Shema, Anaiah,Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at hisle hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah,Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, andMeshullam.5And Ezra opened the book in the sightof all the people, for he was standingabove all the people; and when heopened it, all the people stood up.6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the greatGod. Then all the people answered,"Amen, Amen!" while li ing up theirhands. And they bowed their heads andworshiped the LORD with their faces tothe ground.7Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin,Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah,Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah,and the Levites, helped the people to

NEHEMIAH 8 40understand the Law; and the peoplestood in their place.8 So they read dis nctly from the book,in the Law of God; and they gave thesense, and helped them to understandthe reading.9And Nehemiah, who was thegovernor, Ezra the priest and scribe, andthe Levites who taught the people saidto all the people, "This day is holy tothe LORD your God; do not mourn norweep." For all the people wept, whenthey heard the words of the Law.10 Then he said to them, "Go your way,eat the fat, drink the sweet, and sendpor ons to those for whom nothingis prepared; for this day is holy to ourLORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of theLORD is your strength."11 So the Levites quieted all the people,saying, "Be s ll, for the day is holy; donot be grieved."

NEHEMIAH 8 4112And all the people went their wayto eat and drink, to send por ons andrejoice greatly, because they understoodthe words that were declared to them.13Now on the second day the headsof the fathers’ houses of all the people,with the priests and Levites, weregathered to Ezra the scribe, in order tounderstand the words of the Law.14And they found wri en in the Law,which the LORD had commanded byMoses, that the children of Israel shoulddwell in booths during the feast of theseventh month,15 and that they should announceand proclaim in all their ci es andin Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to themountain, and bring olive branches,branches of oil trees, myrtle branches,palm branches, and branches of leafytrees, to make booths, as it is wri en."

NEHEMIAH 8–9 4216 Then the people went out andbrought them and made themselvesbooths, each one on the roof of hishouse, or in their courtyards or thecourts of the house of God, and in theopen square of the Water Gate and inthe open square of the Gate of Ephraim.17 So the whole assembly of those whohad returned from the cap vity madebooths and sat under the booths; forsince the days of Joshua the son of Nunun l that day the children of Israel hadnot done so. And there was very greatgladness.18Also day by day, from the first dayun l the last day, he read from the Bookof the Law of God. And they kept thefeast seven days; and on the eighth daythere was a sacred assembly, accordingto the prescribed manner.

9 1Now on the twenty–fourth day ofthismonth the children of Israel were

NEHEMIAH 9 43assembled with fas ng, in sackcloth, andwith dust on their heads.2 Then those of Israelite lineageseparated themselves from allforeigners; and they stood andconfessed their sins and the iniqui es oftheir fathers.3And they stood up in their placeand read from the Book of the Law ofthe LORD their God for one–fourth ofthe day; and for another fourth theyconfessed and worshiped the LORD theirGod.4 Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel,Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, andChenani stood on the stairs of the Levitesand cried out with a loud voice to theLORD their God.5And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel,Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah,Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: "Standup and bless the LORD your God Forever

NEHEMIAH 9 44and ever! "Blessed be Your gloriousname,Which is exalted above all blessingand praise!6 You alone are the LORD; You havemade heaven, The heaven of heavens,with all their host, The earth andeverything on it, The seas and all that isin them, And You preserve them all. Thehost of heaven worships You.7 "You are the LORD God, Who choseAbram, And brought him out of Ur ofthe Chaldeans, And gave him the nameAbraham;8 You found his heart faithful beforeYou, And made a covenant with him Togive the land of the Canaanites, TheHi tes, the Amorites, The Perizzites, theJebusites, And the Girgashites––To give itto his descendants. You have performedYour words, For You are righteous.

NEHEMIAH 9 459 "You saw the afflic on of our fathersin Egypt, And heard their cry by the RedSea.10 You showed signs and wondersagainst Pharaoh, Against all his servants,And against all the people of his land.For You knew that they acted proudlyagainst them. So You made a name forYourself, as it is this day.11And You divided the sea before them,So that they went through the midstof the sea on the dry land; And theirpersecutors You threw into the deep, Asa stone into the mighty waters.12Moreover You led them by day witha cloudy pillar, And by night with a pillarof fire, To give them light on the roadWhich they should travel.13 "You came down also onMount Sinai,And spoke with them from heaven, Andgave them just ordinances and true laws,Good statutes and commandments.

NEHEMIAH 9 4614 You made known to them Yourholy Sabbath, And commanded themprecepts, statutes and laws, By the handof Moses Your servant.15 You gave them bread from heaven fortheir hunger, And brought them waterout of the rock for their thirst, And toldthem to go in to possess the land WhichYou had sworn to give them.16 "But they and our fathers actedproudly, Hardened their necks, And didnot heed Your commandments.17 They refused to obey, And they werenot mindful of Your wonders That Youdid among them. But they hardenedtheir necks, And in their rebellion Theyappointed a leader To return to theirbondage. But You are God, Ready topardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow toanger, Abundant in kindness, And didnot forsake them.

NEHEMIAH 9 4718 "Even when they made a molded calffor themselves, And said, ‘This is yourgod That brought you up out of Egypt,’And worked great provoca ons,19 Yet in Your manifold mercies You didnot forsake them in the wilderness. Thepillar of the cloud did not depart fromthem by day, To lead them on the road;Nor the pillar of fire by night, To showthem light, And the way they should go.20 You also gave Your good Spirit toinstruct them, And did not withholdYour manna from their mouth, And gavethem water for their thirst.21 Forty years You sustained them in thewilderness, They lacked nothing; Theirclothes did not wear out And their feetdid not swell.22 "Moreover You gave them kingdomsand na ons, And divided them intodistricts. So they took possession of theland of Sihon, The land of the king of

NEHEMIAH 9 48Heshbon, And the land of Og king ofBashan.23 You also mul plied their children asthe stars of heaven, And brought theminto the land Which You had told theirfathers To go in and possess.24 So the people went in And possessedthe land; You subdued before them theinhabitants of the land, The Canaanites,And gave them into their hands, Withtheir kings And the people of the land,That they might do with them as theywished.25And they took strong ci es and arich land, And possessed houses fullof all goods, Cisterns already dug,vineyards, olive groves, And fruit trees inabundance. So they ate and were filledand grew fat, And delighted themselvesin Your great goodness.26 "Nevertheless they were disobedientAnd rebelled against You, Cast Your

NEHEMIAH 9 49law behind their backs And killed Yourprophets, who tes fied against them Toturn them to Yourself; And they workedgreat provoca ons.27 Therefore You delivered theminto the hand of their enemies, Whooppressed them; And in the me of theirtrouble, When they cried to You, Youheard from heaven; And according toYour abundant mercies You gave themdeliverers who saved them From thehand of their enemies.28 "But a er they had rest, They againdid evil before You. Therefore You lethem in the hand of their enemies, Sothat they had dominion over them; Yetwhen they returned and cried out toYou, You heard from heaven; And manymes You delivered them according to

Your mercies,29And tes fied against them, That Youmight bring them back to Your law. Yet

NEHEMIAH 9 50they acted proudly, And did not heedYour commandments, But sinned againstYour judgments, ‘Which if a man does,he shall live by them.’ And they shruggedtheir shoulders, S ffened their necks,And would not hear.30 Yet for many years You had pa encewith them, And tes fied against themby Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet theywould not listen; Therefore You gavethem into the hand of the peoples of thelands.31Nevertheless in Your great mercyYou did not u erly consume them norforsake them; For You are God, graciousand merciful.32 "Now therefore, our God, The great,the mighty, and awesome God, Whokeeps covenant and mercy: Do not let allthe trouble seem small before You Thathas come upon us, Our kings and ourprinces, Our priests and our prophets,

NEHEMIAH 9 51Our fathers and on all Your people, Fromthe days of the kings of Assyria un l thisday.33However You are just in all that hasbefallen us; For You have dealt faithfully,But we have done wickedly.34Neither our kings nor our princes, Ourpriests nor our fathers, Have kept Yourlaw, Nor heeded Your commandmentsand Your tes monies, With which Youtes fied against them.35 For they have not served You in theirkingdom, Or in the many good thingsthat You gave them, Or in the large andrich land which You set before them; Nordid they turn from their wicked works.36 "Here we are, servants today! Andthe land that You gave to our fathers, Toeat its fruit and its bounty, Here we are,servants in it!37And it yields much increase to thekings You have set over us, Because

NEHEMIAH 9–10 52of our sins; Also they have dominionover our bodies and our ca le At theirpleasure; And we are in great distress.38 "And because of all this, We make asure covenant, and write it; Our leaders,our Levites, and our priests seal it."

10 1Now those who placed theirseal on the document were:

Nehemiah the governor, the son ofHacaliah, and Zedekiah,2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,4Ha ush, Shebaniah, Malluch,5Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,6Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,7Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,8Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. Thesewere the priests.9 The Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah,Binnui of the sons of Henadad, andKadmiel.

NEHEMIAH 10 5310 Their brethren: Shebaniah, Hodijah,Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,11Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,13Hodijah, Bani, and Beninu.14 The leaders of the people: Parosh,Pahath–Moab, Elam, Za u, Bani,15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,16Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,17Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,18Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,19Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,20Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,21Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,22 Pela ah, Hanan, Anaiah,23Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,24Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,26Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,27Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.28Now the rest of the people––thepriests, the Levites, the gatekeepers,

NEHEMIAH 10 54the singers, the Nethinim, and all thosewho had separated themselves fromthe peoples of the lands to the Lawof God, their wives, their sons, andtheir daughters, everyone who hadknowledge and understanding––29 these joined with their brethren,their nobles, and entered into a curseand an oath to walk in God’s Law, whichwas given by Moses the servant ofGod, and to observe and do all thecommandments of the LORD our Lord,and His ordinances and His statutes:30We would not give our daughters aswives to the peoples of the land, nortake their daughters for our sons;31 if the peoples of the land broughtwares or any grain to sell on the Sabbathday, we would not buy it from them onthe Sabbath, or on a holy day; and wewould forego the seventh year’s produceand the exac ng of every debt.

NEHEMIAH 10 5532Also we made ordinances forourselves, to exact from ourselves yearlyone–third of a shekel for the service ofthe house of our God:33 for the showbread, for the regulargrain offering, for the regular burntoffering of the Sabbaths, the NewMoons, and the set feasts; for the holythings, for the sin offerings to makeatonement for Israel, and all the work ofthe house of our God.34We cast lots among the priests, theLevites, and the people, for bringing thewood offering into the house of our God,according to our fathers’ houses, at theappointed mes year by year, to burnon the altar of the LORD our God as it iswri en in the Law.35And we made ordinances to bringthe firs ruits of our ground and thefirs ruits of all fruit of all trees, year byyear, to the house of the LORD;

NEHEMIAH 10 5636 to bring the firstborn of our sons andour ca le, as it is wri en in the Law, andthe firstborn of our herds and our flocks,to the house of our God, to the priestswho minister in the house of our God;37 to bring the firs ruits of our dough,our offerings, the fruit from all kindsof trees, the new wine and oil, to thepriests, to the storerooms of the houseof our God; and to bring the thes of ourland to the Levites, for the Levites shouldreceive the thes in all our farmingcommuni es.38And the priest, the descendant ofAaron, shall be with the Levites when theLevites receive thes; and the Levitesshall bring up a tenth of the thes to thehouse of our God, to the rooms of thestorehouse.39 For the children of Israel and thechildren of Levi shall bring the offeringof the grain, of the new wine and the

NEHEMIAH 11 57oil, to the storerooms where the ar clesof the sanctuary are, where the priestswho minister and the gatekeepers andthe singers are; and we will not neglectthe house of our God.

11 1Now the leaders of the peopledwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of

the people cast lots to bring one out often to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city,and nine–tenths were to dwell in otherci es.2And the people blessed all the menwho willingly offered themselves todwell at Jerusalem.3 These are the heads of the provincewho dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in theci es of Judah everyone dwelt inhis own possession in their ci es––Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, anddescendants of Solomon’s servants.)4Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of thechildren of Judah and of the children

NEHEMIAH 11 58of Benjamin. The children of Judah:Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son ofZechariah, the son of Amariah, the sonof Shepha ah, the son of Mahalalel, ofthe children of Perez;5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, theson of Col–Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah,the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, theson of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.6All the sons of Perez who dweltat Jerusalem were four hundred andsixty–eight valiant men.7And these are the sons of Benjamin:Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son ofJoed, the son of Pedaiah, the son ofKolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son ofIthiel, the son of Jeshaiah;8 and a er him Gabbai and Sallai, ninehundred and twenty–eight.9 Joel the son of Zichri was theiroverseer, and Judah the son of Senuahwas second over the city.

NEHEMIAH 11 5910Of the priests: Jedaiah the son ofJoiarib, and Jachin;11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son ofMeshullam, the son of Zadok, the sonof Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was theleader of the house of God.12 Their brethren who did the workof the house were eight hundred andtwenty–two; and Adaiah the son ofJeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son ofAmzi, the son of Zechariah, the son ofPashhur, the son of Malchijah,13 and his brethren, heads of thefathers’ houses, were two hundredand forty–two; and Amashai the sonof Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son ofMeshillemoth, the son of Immer,14 and their brethren, mighty men ofvalor, were one hundred and twenty–eight. Their overseer was Zabdiel the sonof one of the great men.

NEHEMIAH 11 6015Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the sonof Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the sonof Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, of theheads of the Levites, had the oversightof the business outside of the house ofGod;17Ma aniah the son of Micha, theson of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, theleader who began the thanksgivingwith prayer; Bakbukiah, the secondamong his brethren; and Abda the sonof Shammua, the son of Galal, the son ofJeduthun.18All the Levites in the holy city weretwo hundred and eighty–four.19Moreover the gatekeepers, Akkub,Talmon, and their brethren who keptthe gates, were one hundred andseventy–two.

NEHEMIAH 11 6120And the rest of Israel, of the priestsand Levites, were in all the ci es ofJudah, everyone in his inheritance.21 But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel. AndZiha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.22Also the overseer of the Levites atJerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, theson of Hashabiah, the son of Ma aniah,the son of Micha, of the sons of Asaph,the singers in charge of the service ofthe house of God.23 For it was the king’s commandconcerning them that a certain por onshould be for the singers, a quota day byday.24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, ofthe children of Zerah the son of Judah,was the king’s deputy in all ma ersconcerning the people.25And as for the villages with theirfields, some of the children of Judahdwelt in Kirjath Arba and its villages,

NEHEMIAH 11 62Dibon and its villages, Jekabzeel and itsvillages;26 in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet,27Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and itsvillages;28 in Ziklag and Meconah and itsvillages;29 in En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages;in Lachish and its fields; in Azekah andits villages. They dwelt from Beershebato the Valley of Hinnom.31Also the children of Benjamin fromGeba dwelt in Michmash, Aija, andBethel, and their villages;32 in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah;33 in Hazor, Ramah, Gi aim;34 in Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat;35 in Lod, Ono, and the Valley ofCra smen.36 Some of the Judean divisions ofLevites were in Benjamin.

NEHEMIAH 12 63

12 1Now these are the priests andthe Levites who came up with

Zerubbabel the son of Sheal el, andJeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,2Amariah, Malluch, Ha ush,3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.These were the heads of the priests andtheir brethren in the days of Jeshua.8Moreover the Levites were Jeshua,Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, andMa aniah who led the thanksgivingpsalms, he and his brethren.9Also Bakbukiah and Unni, theirbrethren, stood across from them intheir du es.10 Jeshua begot Joiakim, Joiakim begotEliashib, Eliashib begot Joiada,

NEHEMIAH 12 6411 Joiada begot Jonathan, and Jonathanbegot Jaddua.12Now in the days of Joiakim, thepriests, the heads of the fathers’ houseswere: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah,Hananiah;13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,Jehohanan;14 of Melichu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah,Joseph;15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon,Meshullam;17 of Abijah, Zichri; the son of Minjamin;of Moadiah, Piltai;18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah,Jehonathan;19 of Joiarib, Ma enai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; and of Jedaiah,Nethanel.

NEHEMIAH 12 6522During the reign of Darius thePersian, a record was also kept of theLevites and priests who had been headsof their fathers’ houses in the days ofEliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua.23 The sons of Levi, the heads of thefathers’ houses un l the days of Johananthe son of Eliashib, were wri en in thebook of the chronicles.24And the heads of the Levites wereHashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua theson of Kadmiel, with their brothersacross from them, to praise and givethanks, group alterna ng with group,according to the command of David theman of God.25Ma aniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah,Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub weregatekeepers keeping the watch at thestorerooms of the gates.26 These lived in the days of Joiakim theson of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in

NEHEMIAH 12 66the days of Nehemiah the governor, andof Ezra the priest, the scribe.27Now at the dedica on of the wall ofJerusalem they sought out the Levitesin all their places, to bring them toJerusalem to celebrate the dedica onwith gladness, both with thanksgivingsand singing, with cymbals and stringedinstruments and harps.28And the sons of the singers gatheredtogether from the countryside aroundJerusalem, from the villages of theNetophathites,29 from the house of Gilgal, and fromthe fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for thesingers had built themselves villages allaround Jerusalem.30 Then the priests and Levites purifiedthemselves, and purified the people, thegates, and the wall.31 So I brought the leaders of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two large

NEHEMIAH 12 67thanksgiving choirs. One went to theright hand on the wall toward the RefuseGate.32A er them went Hoshaiah and halfof the leaders of Judah,33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah,Jeremiah,35 and some of the priests’ sonswith trumpets––Zechariah the son ofJonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the sonof Ma aniah, the son of Michaiah, theson of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,36 and his brethren, Shemaiah,Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel,Judah, and Hanani, with the musicalinstruments of David the man of God.Ezra the scribe went before them.37 By the Fountain Gate, in front ofthem, they went up the stairs of the Cityof David, on the stairway of the wall,

NEHEMIAH 12 68beyond the house of David, as far as theWater Gate eastward.38 The other thanksgiving choir wentthe opposite way, and I was behind themwith half of the people on the wall, goingpast the Tower of the Ovens as far as theBroad Wall,39 and above the Gate of Ephraim,above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate,the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of theHundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; andthey stopped by the Gate of the Prison.40 So the two thanksgiving choirs stoodin the house of God, likewise I and thehalf of the rulers with me;41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah,Minjamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah,and Hananiah, with trumpets;42 also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar,Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam,and Ezer. The singers sang loudly withJezrahiah the director.

NEHEMIAH 12 6943Also that day they offered greatsacrifices, and rejoiced, for God hadmade them rejoice with great joy; thewomen and the children also rejoiced,so that the joy of Jerusalem was heardafar off.44And at the same me some wereappointed over the rooms of thestorehouse for the offerings, thefirs ruits, and the thes, to gatherinto them from the fields of the ci esthe por ons specified by the Lawfor the priests and Levites; for Judahrejoiced over the priests and Levites whoministered.45 Both the singers and the gatekeeperskept the charge of their God and thecharge of the purifica on, according tothe command of David and Solomon hisson.

NEHEMIAH 12–13 7046 For in the days of David and Asaph ofold there were chiefs of the singers, andsongs of praise and thanksgiving to God.47 In the days of Zerubbabel and inthe days of Nehemiah all Israel gavethe por ons for the singers and thegatekeepers, a por on for each day.They also consecrated holy things forthe Levites, and the Levites consecratedthem for the children of Aaron.

13 1On that day they read from theBook of Moses in the hearing of

the people, and in it was found wri enthat no Ammonite or Moabite shouldever come into the assembly of God,2 because they had not met the childrenof Israel with bread and water, but hiredBalaam against them to curse them.However, our God turned the curse intoa blessing.

NEHEMIAH 13 713 So it was, when they had heard theLaw, that they separated all the mixedmul tude from Israel.4Now before this, Eliashib the priest,having authority over the storerooms ofthe house of our God, was allied withTobiah.5And he had prepared for him a largeroom, where previously they had storedthe grain offerings, the frankincense,the ar cles, the thes of grain, the newwine and oil, which were commanded tobe given to the Levites and singers andgatekeepers, and the offerings for thepriests.6 But during all this I was not inJerusalem, for in the thirty–secondyear of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I hadreturned to the king. Then a er certaindays I obtained leave from the king,7 and I came to Jerusalem anddiscovered the evil that Eliashib had

NEHEMIAH 13 72done for Tobiah, in preparing a room forhim in the courts of the house of God.8And it grieved me bi erly; therefore Ithrew all the household goods of Tobiahout of the room.9 Then I commanded them to cleansethe rooms; and I brought back into themthe ar cles of the house of God, withthe grain offering and the frankincense.10 I also realized that the por ons forthe Levites had not been given them; foreach of the Levites and the singers whodid the work had gone back to his field.11 So I contended with the rulers,and said, "Why is the house of Godforsaken?" And I gathered them togetherand set them in their place.12 Then all Judah brought the the ofthe grain and the new wine and the oilto the storehouse.13And I appointed as treasurers overthe storehouse Shelemiah the priest and

NEHEMIAH 13 73Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites,Pedaiah; and next to them was Hananthe son of Zaccur, the son of Ma aniah;for they were considered faithful, andtheir task was to distribute to theirbrethren.14 Remember me, O my God,concerning this, and do not wipe outmy good deeds that I have done for thehouse of my God, and for its services!15 In those days I saw people in Judahtreading wine presses on the Sabbath,and bringing in sheaves, and loadingdonkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and allkinds of burdens, which they broughtinto Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. AndI warned them about the day on whichthey were selling provisions.16Men of Tyre dwelt there also, whobrought in fish and all kinds of goods,and sold them on the Sabbath to thechildren of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

NEHEMIAH 13 7417 Then I contended with the noblesof Judah, and said to them, "What evilthing is this that you do, by which youprofane the Sabbath day?18 "Did not your fathers do thus, anddid not our God bring all this disasteron us and on this city? Yet you bringadded wrath on Israel by profaning theSabbath."19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem,as it began to be dark before theSabbath, that I commanded the gates tobe shut, and charged that they must notbe opened ll a er the Sabbath. Then Iposted some of my servants at the gates,so that no burdens would be brought inon the Sabbath day.20Now the merchants and sellers of allkinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalemonce or twice.21 Then I warned them, and said tothem, "Why do you spend the night

NEHEMIAH 13 75around the wall? If you do so again, I willlay hands on you!" From that me onthey came no more on the Sabbath.22And I commanded the Levites thatthey should cleanse themselves, andthat they should go and guard the gates,to sanc fy the Sabbath day. Rememberme, O my God, concerning this also, andspare me according to the greatness ofYour mercy!23 In those days I also saw Jews whohad married women of Ashdod, Ammon,and Moab.24And half of their children spokethe language of Ashdod, and could notspeak the language of Judah, but spokeaccording to the language of one or theother people.25 So I contended with them and cursedthem, struck some of them and pulledout their hair, and made them swearby God, saying, "You shall not give your

NEHEMIAH 13 76daughters as wives to their sons, nortake their daughters for your sons oryourselves.26 "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin bythese things? Yet among many na onsthere was no king like him, who wasbeloved of his God; and God made himking over all Israel. Nevertheless paganwomen caused even him to sin.27 "Should we then hear of your doingall this great evil, transgressing againstour God by marrying pagan women?"28And one of the sons of Joiada, theson of Eliashib the high priest, was ason–in–law of Sanballat the Horonite;therefore I drove him from me.29 Remember them, O my God, becausethey have defiled the priesthood andthe covenant of the priesthood and theLevites.30 Thus I cleansed them of everythingpagan. I also assigned du es to the

NEHEMIAH 13 77priests and the Levites, each to hisservice,31 and to bringing the wood offeringand the firs ruits at appointed mes.Remember me, O my God, for good!

Esther

1 1Now it came to pass in the days ofAhasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus

who reigned over one hundred andtwenty–seven provinces, from India toEthiopia),2 in those days when King Ahasuerussat on the throne of his kingdom, whichwas in Shushan the citadel,3 that in the third year of his reign hemade a feast for all his officials andservants––the powers of Persia andMedia, the nobles, and the princes ofthe provinces being before him––4when he showed the riches of hisglorious kingdom and the splendor ofhis excellent majesty for many days, onehundred and eighty days in all.

ESTHER 1 25Andwhen these days were completed,the king made a feast las ng seven daysfor all the people who were present inShushan the citadel, from great to small,in the court of the garden of the king’spalace.6 There were white and blue linencurtains fastened with cords of fine linenand purple on silver rods and marblepillars; and the couches were of gold andsilver on amosaic pavement of alabaster,turquoise, and white and black marble.7And they served drinks in goldenvessels, each vessel being different fromthe other, with royal wine in abundance,according to the generosity of the king.8 In accordance with the law, thedrinking was not compulsory; for sothe king had ordered all the officersof his household, that they should doaccording to each man’s pleasure.

ESTHER 1 39Queen Vash also made a feast forthe women in the royal palace whichbelonged to King Ahasuerus.10On the seventh day, when theheart of the king was merry with wine,he commanded Mehuman, Biztha,Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, andCarcas, seven eunuchs who served in thepresence of King Ahasuerus,11 to bring Queen Vash before theking, wearing her royal crown, in orderto show her beauty to the people andthe officials, for she was beau ful tobehold.12 But Queen Vash refused to comeat the king’s command brought by hiseunuchs; therefore the king was furious,and his anger burned within him.13 Then the king said to the wise menwho understood the mes (for this wasthe king’s manner toward all who knewlaw and jus ce,

ESTHER 1 414 those closest to him being Carshena,Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,Marsena, and Memucan, the sevenprinces of Persia and Media, who hadaccess to the king’s presence, and whoranked highest in the kingdom):15 "What shall we do to Queen Vash ,according to law, because she did notobey the command of King Ahasuerusbrought to her by the eunuchs?"16And Memucan answered before theking and the princes: "Queen Vash hasnot only wronged the king, but also allthe princes, and all the people who arein all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.17 "For the queen’s behavior willbecome known to all women, so thatthey will despise their husbands in theireyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasueruscommanded Queen Vash to be broughtin before him, but she did not come.’

ESTHER 1 518 "This very day the noble ladies ofPersia and Media will say to all the king’sofficials that they have heard of thebehavior of the queen. Thus there willbe excessive contempt and wrath.19 "If it pleases the king, let a royaldecree go out from him, and let it berecorded in the laws of the Persians andthe Medes, so that it will not be altered,that Vash shall come no more beforeKing Ahasuerus; and let the king give herroyal posi on to another who is be erthan she.20 "When the king’s decree which hewill make is proclaimed throughout allhis empire (for it is great), all wives willhonor their husbands, both great andsmall."21And the reply pleased the king andthe princes, and the king did accordingto the word of Memucan.

ESTHER 1–2 622 Then he sent le ers to all the king’sprovinces, to each province in its ownscript, and to every people in their ownlanguage, that each man should bemaster in his own house, and speak inthe language of his own people.

2 1A er these things, when the wrathof King Ahasuerus subsided, he

remembered Vash , what she had done,and what had been decreed against her.2 Then the king’s servants who a endedhim said: "Let beau ful young virgins besought for the king;3 "and let the king appoint officers inall the provinces of his kingdom, thatthey may gather all the beau ful youngvirgins to Shushan the citadel, into thewomen’s quarters, under the custody ofHegai the king’s eunuch, custodian ofthe women. And let beauty prepara onsbe given them.

ESTHER 2 74 "Then let the young woman whopleases the king be queen instead ofVash ." This thing pleased the king, andhe did so.5 In Shushan the citadel there was acertain Jew whose name was Mordecaithe son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the sonof Kish, a Benjamite.6 Kish had been carried away fromJerusalem with the cap ves who hadbeen captured with Jeconiah king ofJudah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the kingof Babylon had carried away.7And Mordecai had brought upHadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’sdaughter, for she had neither father normother. The young woman was lovelyand beau ful. When her father andmother died, Mordecai took her as hisown daughter.8 So it was, when the king’s commandand decree were heard, and when

ESTHER 2 8many young women were gathered atShushan the citadel, under the custodyof Hegai, that Esther also was taken tothe king’s palace, into the care of Hegaithe custodian of the women.9Now the young woman pleased him,and she obtained his favor; so he readilygave beauty prepara ons to her, besidesher allowance. Then seven choicemaidservants were provided for herfrom the king’s palace, and he movedher and her maidservants to the bestplace in the house of the women.10 Esther had not revealed her peopleor family, for Mordecai had charged hernot to reveal it.11And every day Mordecai pacedin front of the court of the women’squarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare andwhat was happening to her.12 Each young woman’s turn came togo in to King Ahasuerus a er she had

ESTHER 2 9completed twelve months’ prepara on,according to the regula ons for thewomen, for thus were the days of theirprepara on appor oned: six monthswith oil of myrrh, and six monthswith perfumes and prepara ons forbeau fying women.13 Thus prepared, each young womanwent to the king, and she was givenwhatever she desired to take with herfrom the women’s quarters to the king’spalace.14 In the evening she went, and in themorning she returned to the secondhouse of the women, to the custody ofShaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who keptthe concubines. She would not go in tothe king again unless the king delightedin her and called for her by name.15Now when the turn came for Estherthe daughter of Abihail the uncle ofMordecai, who had taken her as his

ESTHER 2 10daughter, to go in to the king, sherequested nothing but what Hegai theking’s eunuch, the custodian of thewomen, advised. And Esther obtainedfavor in the sight of all who saw her.16 So Esther was taken to KingAhasuerus, into his royal palace, in thetenth month, which is the month ofTebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.17 The king loved Esther more than allthe other women, and she obtainedgrace and favor in his sight more thanall the virgins; so he set the royal crownupon her head and made her queeninstead of Vash .18 Then the king made a great feast, theFeast of Esther, for all his officials andservants; and he proclaimed a holiday inthe provinces and gave gi s according tothe generosity of a king.

ESTHER 2 1119When virgins were gathered togethera second me, Mordecai sat within theking’s gate.20Now Esther had not revealed herfamily and her people, just as Mordecaihad charged her, for Esther obeyed thecommand of Mordecai as when she wasbrought up by him.21 In those days, while Mordecaisat within the king’s gate, two of theking’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh,doorkeepers, became furious and soughtto lay hands on King Ahasuerus.22 So the ma er became known toMordecai, who told Queen Esther, andEsther informed the king in Mordecai’sname.23And when an inquiry was made intothe ma er, it was confirmed, and bothwere hanged on a gallows; and it waswri en in the book of the chronicles inthe presence of the king.

ESTHER 3 12

3 1A er these things King Ahasueruspromoted Haman, the son of

Hammedatha the Agagite, and advancedhim and set his seat above all the princeswho were with him.2And all the king’s servants who werewithin the king’s gate bowed and paidhomage to Haman, for so the kinghad commanded concerning him. ButMordecai would not bow or pay homage.3 Then the king’s servants who werewithin the king’s gate said to Mordecai,"Why do you transgress the king’scommand?"4Now it happened, when they spoketo him daily and he would not listen tothem, that they told it to Haman, to seewhether Mordecai’s words would stand;for Mordecai had told them that he wasa Jew.

ESTHER 3 135When Haman saw that Mordecai didnot bow or pay him homage, Haman wasfilled with wrath.6 But he disdained to lay hands onMordecai alone, for they had told him ofthe people of Mordecai. Instead, Hamansought to destroy all the Jews whowere throughout the whole kingdom ofAhasuerus––the people of Mordecai.7 In the first month, which is the monthof Nisan, in the twel h year of KingAhasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, thelot), before Haman to determine the dayand the month, un l it fell on the twel hmonth, which is the month of Adar.8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus,"There is a certain people sca ered anddispersed among the people in all theprovinces of your kingdom; their lawsare different from all other people’s,and they do not keep the king’s laws.

ESTHER 3 14Therefore it is not fi ng for the king tolet them remain.9 "If it pleases the king, let a decree bewri en that they be destroyed, and I willpay ten thousand talents of silver intothe hands of those who do the work, tobring it into the king’s treasuries."10 So the king took his signet ring fromhis hand and gave it to Haman, the sonof Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemyof the Jews.11And the king said to Haman, "Themoney and the people are given to you,to do with them as seems good to you."12 Then the king’s scribes were calledon the thirteenth day of the first month,and a decree was wri en according to allthat Haman commanded––to the king’ssatraps, to the governors who wereover each province, to the officials of allpeople, to every province according toits script, and to every people in their

ESTHER 3–4 15language. In the name of King Ahasuerusit was wri en, and sealed with the king’ssignet ring.13And the le ers were sent by couriersinto all the king’s provinces, to destroy,to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews,both young and old, li le children andwomen, in one day, on the thirteenthday of the twel h month, which is themonth of Adar, and to plunder theirpossessions.14A copy of the document was to beissued as law in every province, beingpublished for all people, that they shouldbe ready for that day.15 The couriers went out, hastened bythe king’s command; and the decree wasproclaimed in Shushan the citadel. Sothe king and Haman sat down to drink,but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

4 1When Mordecai learned all thathad happened, he tore his clothes

ESTHER 4 16and put on sackcloth and ashes, andwent out into the midst of the city. Hecried out with a loud and bi er cry.2He went as far as the front of theking’s gate, for no one might enter theking’s gate clothed with sackcloth.3And in every province where theking’s command and decree arrived,there was great mourning among theJews, with fas ng, weeping, and wailing;and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.4 So Esther’s maids and eunuchs cameand told her, and the queen was deeplydistressed. Then she sent garments toclothe Mordecai and take his sackclothaway from him, but he would not acceptthem.5 Then Esther called Hathach, oneof the king’s eunuchs whom he hadappointed to a end her, and she gavehim a command concerning Mordecai,to learn what and why this was.

ESTHER 4 176 So Hathach went out to Mordecai inthe city square that was in front of theking’s gate.7And Mordecai told him all that hadhappened to him, and the sum of moneythat Haman had promised to pay intothe king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews.8He also gave him a copy of the wri endecree for their destruc on, which wasgiven at Shushan, that he might show itto Esther and explain it to her, and thathe might command her to go in to theking to make supplica on to him andplead before him for her people.9 So Hathach returned and told Estherthe words of Mordecai.10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, andgave him a command for Mordecai:11 "All the king’s servants and thepeople of the king’s provinces know thatany man or woman who goes into theinner court to the king, who has not

ESTHER 4 18been called, he has but one law: put allto death, except the one to whom theking holds out the golden scepter, thathe may live. Yet I myself have not beencalled to go in to the king these thirtydays."12 So they told Mordecai Esther’swords.13And Mordecai told them to answerEsther: "Do not think in your heart thatyou will escape in the king’s palace anymore than all the other Jews.14 "For if you remain completely silentat this me, relief and deliverance willarise for the Jews from another place,but you and your father’s house willperish. Yet who knows whether you havecome to the kingdom for such a me asthis?"15 Then Esther told them to reply toMordecai:

ESTHER 4–5 1916 "Go, gather all the Jews who arepresent in Shushan, and fast for me;neither eat nor drink for three days,night or day. My maids and I will fastlikewise. And so I will go to the king,which is against the law; and if I perish, Iperish!"17 So Mordecai went his way and didaccording to all that Esther commandedhim.

5 1Now it happened on the third daythat Esther put on her royal robes

and stood in the inner court of the king’spalace, across from the king’s house,while the king sat on his royal throne inthe royal house, facing the entrance ofthe house.2 So it was, when the king saw QueenEsther standing in the court, that shefound favor in his sight, and the kingheld out to Esther the golden scepter

ESTHER 5 20that was in his hand. Then Esther wentnear and touched the top of the scepter.3And the king said to her, "What doyou wish, Queen Esther? What is yourrequest? It shall be given to you––up tohalf the kingdom!"4 So Esther answered, "If it pleases theking, let the king and Haman come todayto the banquet that I have prepared forhim."5 Then the king said, "Bring Hamanquickly, that he may do as Esther hassaid." So the king and Haman went tothe banquet that Esther had prepared.6At the banquet of wine the king saidto Esther, "What is your pe on? It shallbe granted you. What is your request, upto half the kingdom? It shall be done!"7 Then Esther answered and said, "Mype on and request is this:8 "If I have found favor in the sight ofthe king, and if it pleases the king to

ESTHER 5 21grant my pe on and fulfill my request,then let the king and Haman come to thebanquet which I will prepare for them,and tomorrow I will do as the king hassaid."9 So Haman went out that day joyfuland with a glad heart; but when HamansawMordecai in the king’s gate, and thathe did not stand or tremble before him,he was filled with indigna on againstMordecai.10Nevertheless Haman restrainedhimself and went home, and he sent andcalled for his friends and his wife Zeresh.11 Then Haman told them of hisgreat riches, the mul tude of hischildren, everything in which the kinghad promoted him, and how he hadadvanced him above the officials andservants of the king.12Moreover Haman said, "Besides,Queen Esther invited no one but me to

ESTHER 5–6 22come in with the king to the banquetthat she prepared; and tomorrow I amagain invited by her, along with the king.13 "Yet all this avails me nothing, so longas I see Mordecai the Jew si ng at theking’s gate."14 Then his wife Zeresh and all hisfriends said to him, "Let a gallowsbe made, fi y cubits high, and inthe morning suggest to the king thatMordecai be hanged on it; then gomerrily with the king to the banquet."And the thing pleased Haman; so he hadthe gallows made.

6 1 That night the king could not sleep.So one was commanded to bring the

book of the records of the chronicles;and they were read before the king.2And it was found wri en thatMordecai had told of Bigthana andTeresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the

ESTHER 6 23doorkeepers who had sought to layhands on King Ahasuerus.3 Then the king said, "What honor ordignity has been bestowed on Mordecaifor this?" And the king’s servants whoa ended him said, "Nothing has beendone for him."4 So the king said, "Who is in the court?"Now Haman had just entered the outercourt of the king’s palace to suggest thatthe king hang Mordecai on the gallowsthat he had prepared for him.5 The king’s servants said to him,"Haman is there, standing in the court."And the king said, "Let him come in."6 So Haman came in, and the king askedhim, "What shall be done for the manwhom the king delights to honor?" NowHaman thought in his heart, "Whomwould the king delight to honor morethan me?"

ESTHER 6 247And Haman answered the king, "Forthe man whom the king delights tohonor,8 "let a royal robe be brought which theking has worn, and a horse on which theking has ridden, which has a royal crestplaced on its head.9 "Then let this robe and horse bedelivered to the hand of one of theking’s most noble princes, that he mayarray the man whom the king delights tohonor. Then parade him on horsebackthrough the city square, and proclaimbefore him: ‘Thus shall it be done to theman whom the king delights to honor!’"10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry,take the robe and the horse, as youhave suggested, and do so for Mordecaithe Jew who sits within the king’s gate!Leave nothing undone of all that youhave spoken."

ESTHER 6 2511 So Haman took the robe and thehorse, arrayed Mordecai and led him onhorseback through the city square, andproclaimed before him, "Thus shall it bedone to the man whom the king delightsto honor!"12A erward Mordecai went back tothe king’s gate. But Haman hurried tohis house, mourning and with his headcovered.13When Haman told his wife Zereshand all his friends everything that hadhappened to him, his wise men and hiswife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai,before whom you have begun to fall, isof Jewish descent, you will not prevailagainst him but will surely fall beforehim."14While they were s ll talking with him,the king’s eunuchs came, and hastenedto bring Haman to the banquet whichEsther had prepared.

ESTHER 7 26

7 1 So the king and Haman went todine with Queen Esther.

2And on the second day, at the banquetof wine, the king again said to Esther,"What is your pe on, Queen Esther? Itshall be granted you. And what is yourrequest, up to half the kingdom? It shallbe done!"3 Then Queen Esther answered andsaid, "If I have found favor in your sight,O king, and if it pleases the king, let mylife be given me at my pe on, and mypeople at my request.4 "For we have been sold, my peopleand I, to be destroyed, to be killed, andto be annihilated. Had we been sold asmale and female slaves, I would haveheld my tongue, although the enemycould never compensate for the king’sloss."5 So King Ahasuerus answered and saidto Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where

ESTHER 7 27is he, who would dare presume in hisheart to do such a thing?"6And Esther said, "The adversary andenemy is this wicked Haman!" So Hamanwas terrified before the king and queen.7 Then the king arose in his wrath fromthe banquet of wine and went into thepalace garden; but Haman stood beforeQueen Esther, pleading for his life, forhe saw that evil was determined againsthim by the king.8When the king returned from thepalace garden to the place of thebanquet of wine, Haman had fallenacross the couch where Esther was.Then the king said, "Will he also assaultthe queen while I am in the house?"As the word le the king’s mouth, theycovered Haman’s face.9Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs,said to the king, "Look! The gallows,fi y cubits high, which Haman made

ESTHER 7–8 28for Mordecai, who spoke good on theking’s behalf, is standing at the house ofHaman." Then the king said, "Hang himon it!"10 So they hanged Haman on thegallows that he had prepared forMordecai. Then the king’s wrathsubsided.

8 1On that day King Ahasuerus gaveQueen Esther the house of Haman,

the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecaicame before the king, for Esther had toldhow he was related to her.2 So the king took off his signet ring,which he had taken from Haman,and gave it to Mordecai; and Estherappointed Mordecai over the house ofHaman.3Now Esther spoke again to the king,fell down at his feet, and implored himwith tears to counteract the evil of

ESTHER 8 29Haman the Agagite, and the schemewhich he had devised against the Jews.4And the king held out the goldenscepter toward Esther. So Esther aroseand stood before the king,5 and said, "If it pleases the king, andif I have found favor in his sight and thething seems right to the king and I ampleasing in his eyes, let it be wri en torevoke the le ers devised by Haman, theson of Hammedatha the Agagite, whichhe wrote to annihilate the Jews who arein all the king’s provinces.6 "For how can I endure to see the evilthat will come to my people? Or howcan I endure to see the destruc on ofmy countrymen?"7 Then King Ahasuerus said to QueenEsther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, Ihave given Esther the house of Haman,and they have hanged him on the

ESTHER 8 30gallows because he tried to lay his handon the Jews.8 "You yourselves write a decreeconcerning the Jews, as you please, inthe king’s name, and seal it with theking’s signet ring; for whatever is wri enin the king’s name and sealed with theking’s signet ring no one can revoke."9 So the king’s scribes were called atthat me, in the third month, which isthe month of Sivan, on the twenty–thirdday; and it was wri en, accordingto all that Mordecai commanded, tothe Jews, the satraps, the governors,and the princes of the provinces fromIndia to Ethiopia, one hundred andtwenty–seven provinces in all, to everyprovince in its own script, to everypeople in their own language, and to theJews in their own script and language.10And he wrote in the name of KingAhasuerus, sealed it with the king’s

ESTHER 8 31signet ring, and sent le ers by courierson horseback, riding on royal horsesbred from swi steeds.11 By these le ers the king permi edthe Jews who were in every city togather together and protect theirlives––to destroy, kill, and annihilateall the forces of any people or provincethat would assault them, both li lechildren and women, and to plundertheir possessions,12 on one day in all the provinces ofKing Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day ofthe twel h month, which is the monthof Adar.13A copy of the document was to beissued as a decree in every province andpublished for all people, so that the Jewswould be ready on that day to avengethemselves on their enemies.14 The couriers who rode on royalhorses went out, hastened and pressed

ESTHER 8–9 32on by the king’s command. And thedecree was issued in Shushan thecitadel.15 So Mordecai went out from thepresence of the king in royal apparel ofblue and white, with a great crown ofgold and a garment of fine linen andpurple; and the city of Shushan rejoicedand was glad.16 The Jews had light and gladness, joyand honor.17And in every province and city,wherever the king’s command anddecree came, the Jews had joy andgladness, a feast and a holiday. Thenmany of the people of the land becameJews, because fear of the Jews fell uponthem.

9 1Now in the twel h month, thatis, the month of Adar, on the

thirteenth day, the me came for theking’s command and his decree to be

ESTHER 9 33executed. On the day that the enemiesof the Jews had hoped to overpowerthem, the opposite occurred, in that theJews themselves overpowered thosewho hated them.2 The Jews gathered together in theirci es throughout all the provinces ofKing Ahasuerus to lay hands on thosewho sought their harm. And no onecould withstand them, because fear ofthem fell upon all people.3And all the officials of the provinces,the satraps, the governors, and all thosedoing the king’s work, helped the Jews,because the fear of Mordecai fell uponthem.4 For Mordecai was great in the king’spalace, and his fame spread throughoutall the provinces; for this man Mordecaibecame increasingly prominent.5 Thus the Jews defeated all theirenemies with the stroke of the sword,

ESTHER 9 34with slaughter and destruc on, and didwhat they pleased with those who hatedthem.6And in Shushan the citadel the Jewskilled and destroyed five hundred men.7Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, andVajezatha––10 the ten sons of Haman the sonof Hammedatha, the enemy of theJews––they killed; but they did not lay ahand on the plunder.11On that day the number of thosewho were killed in Shushan the citadelwas brought to the king.12And the king said to Queen Esther,"The Jews have killed and destroyed fivehundredmen in Shushan the citadel, andthe ten sons of Haman. What have theydone in the rest of the king’s provinces?Now what is your pe on? It shall be

ESTHER 9 35granted to you. Or what is your furtherrequest? It shall be done."13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases theking, let it be granted to the Jews whoare in Shushan to do again tomorrowaccording to today’s decree, and letHaman’s ten sons be hanged on thegallows."14 So the king commanded this to bedone; the decree was issued in Shushan,and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.15And the Jews who were in Shushangathered together again on thefourteenth day of the month of Adar andkilled three hundred men at Shushan;but they did not lay a hand on theplunder.16 The remainder of the Jews in theking’s provinces gathered together andprotected their lives, had rest fromtheir enemies, and killed seventy–five

ESTHER 9 36thousand of their enemies; but they didnot lay a hand on the plunder.17 This was on the thirteenth day of themonth of Adar. And on the fourteenthday of the month they rested and madeit a day of feas ng and gladness.18 But the Jews who were at Shushanassembled together on the thirteenthday, as well as on the fourteenth; andon the fi eenth of the month theyrested, and made it a day of feas ng andgladness.19 Therefore the Jews of the villageswho dwelt in the unwalled townscelebrated the fourteenth day of themonth of Adar with gladness andfeas ng, as a holiday, and for sendingpresents to one another.20And Mordecai wrote these thingsand sent le ers to all the Jews, near andfar, who were in all the provinces of KingAhasuerus,

ESTHER 9 3721 to establish among them that theyshould celebrate yearly the fourteenthand fi eenth days of the month of Adar,22 as the days on which the Jews hadrest from their enemies, as the monthwhich was turned from sorrow to joy forthem, and from mourning to a holiday;that they should make them days offeas ng and joy, of sending presents toone another and gi s to the poor.23 So the Jews accepted the customwhich they had begun, as Mordecai hadwri en to them,24 because Haman, the son ofHammedatha the Agagite, the enemyof all the Jews, had plo ed against theJews to annihilate them, and had castPur (that is, the lot), to consume themand destroy them;25 but when Esther came before theking, he commanded by le er that thiswicked plot which Haman had devised

ESTHER 9 38against the Jews should return on hisown head, and that he and his sonsshould be hanged on the gallows.26 So they called these days Purim, a erthe name Pur. Therefore, because of allthe words of this le er, what they hadseen concerning this ma er, and whathad happened to them,27 the Jews established and imposed itupon themselves and their descendantsand all who would join them, thatwithout fail they should celebrate thesetwo days every year, according to thewri en instruc ons and according to theprescribed me,28 that these days should beremembered and kept throughoutevery genera on, every family, everyprovince, and every city, that these daysof Purim should not fail to be observedamong the Jews, and that the memory

ESTHER 9 39of them should not perish among theirdescendants.29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter ofAbihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrotewith full authority to confirm this secondle er about Purim.30And Mordecai sent le ers to allthe Jews, to the one hundred andtwenty–seven provinces of the kingdomof Ahasuerus, with words of peace andtruth,31 to confirm these days of Purim attheir appointed me, as Mordecai theJew and Queen Esther had prescribedfor them, and as they had decreedfor themselves and their descendantsconcerning ma ers of their fas ng andlamen ng.32 So the decree of Esther confirmedthese ma ers of Purim, and it waswri en in the book.

ESTHER 10 40

10 1And King Ahasuerus imposedtribute on the land and on the

islands of the sea.2Now all the acts of his power and hismight, and the account of the greatnessof Mordecai, to which the king advancedhim, are they not wri en in the book ofthe chronicles of the kings of Media andPersia?3 For Mordecai the Jew was second toKing Ahasuerus, and was great amongthe Jews and well received by themul tude of his brethren, seeking thegood of his people and speaking peaceto all his countrymen.

Job

1 1 There was a man in the land of Uz,whose name was Job; and that man

was blameless and upright, and one whofeared God and shunned evil.2And seven sons and three daughterswere born to him.3Also, his possessions were seventhousand sheep, three thousand camels,five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundredfemale donkeys, and a very largehousehold, so that this man was thegreatest of all the people of the East.4And his sons would go and feast intheir houses, each on his appointed day,and would send and invite their threesisters to eat and drink with them.5 So it was, when the days of feas nghad run their course, that Job would

JOB 1 2send and sanc fy them, and he wouldrise early in the morning and offer burntofferings according to the number ofthem all. For Job said, "It may be thatmy sons have sinned and cursed God intheir hearts." Thus Job did regularly.6Now there was a day when the sons ofGod came to present themselves beforethe LORD, and Satan also came amongthem.7And the LORD said to Satan, "Fromwhere do you come?" So Satan answeredthe LORD and said, "From going to andfro on the earth, and from walking backand forth on it."8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Haveyou considered My servant Job, thatthere is none like him on the earth, ablameless and upright man, one whofears God and shuns evil?"9 So Satan answered the LORD and said,"Does Job fear God for nothing?

JOB 1 310 "Have You not made a hedge aroundhim, around his household, and aroundall that he has on every side? You haveblessed the work of his hands, and hispossessions have increased in the land.11 "But now, stretch out Your hand andtouch all that he has, and he will surelycurse You to Your face!"12And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold,all that he has is in your power; only donot lay a hand on his person." So Satanwent out from the presence of the LORD.13Now there was a day when his sonsand daughters were ea ng and drinkingwine in their oldest brother’s house;14 and a messenger came to Job andsaid, "The oxen were plowing and thedonkeys feeding beside them,15 "when the Sabeans raided them andtook them away––indeed they havekilled the servants with the edge of the

JOB 1 4sword; and I alone have escaped to tellyou!"16While he was s ll speaking, anotheralso came and said, "The fire of God fellfrom heaven and burned up the sheepand the servants, and consumed them;and I alone have escaped to tell you!"17While he was s ll speaking, anotheralso came and said, "The Chaldeansformed three bands, raided the camelsand took them away, yes, and killed theservants with the edge of the sword; andI alone have escaped to tell you!"18While he was s ll speaking, anotheralso came and said, "Your sons anddaughters were ea ng and drinking winein their oldest brother’s house,19 "and suddenly a great wind camefrom across the wilderness and struckthe four corners of the house, and it fellon the young people, and they are dead;and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

JOB 1–2 520 Then Job arose, tore his robe, andshaved his head; and he fell to theground and worshiped.21And he said: "Naked I came from mymother’s womb, And naked shall I returnthere. The LORD gave, and the LORD hastaken away; Blessed be the name of theLORD."22 In all this Job did not sin nor chargeGod with wrong.

2 1Again there was a day whenthe sons of God came to present

themselves before the LORD, and Satancame also among them to presenthimself before the LORD.2And the LORD said to Satan, "Fromwhere do you come?" So Satan answeredthe LORD and said, "From going to andfro on the earth, and from walking backand forth on it."3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Haveyou considered My servant Job, that

JOB 2 6there is none like him on the earth, ablameless and upright man, one whofears God and shuns evil? And s ll heholds fast to his integrity, although youincited Me against him, to destroy himwithout cause."4 So Satan answered the LORD and said,"Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has hewill give for his life.5 "But stretch out Your hand now, andtouch his bone and his flesh, and he willsurely curse You to Your face!"6And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold,he is in your hand, but spare his life."7 So Satan went out from the presenceof the LORD, and struck Job with painfulboils from the sole of his foot to thecrown of his head.8And he took for himself a potsherdwith which to scrape himself while hesat in the midst of the ashes.

JOB 2 79 Then his wife said to him, "Do you s llhold fast to your integrity? Curse Godand die!"10 But he said to her, "You speak as oneof the foolish women speaks. Shall weindeed accept good from God, and shallwe not accept adversity?" In all this Jobdid not sin with his lips.11Now when Job’s three friends heardof all this adversity that had comeupon him, each one came from his ownplace––Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad theShuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. Forthey had made an appointment togetherto come and mourn with him, and tocomfort him.12And when they raised their eyes fromafar, and did not recognize him, theyli ed their voices and wept; and eachone tore his robe and sprinkled dust onhis head toward heaven.

JOB 2–3 813 So they sat down with him on theground seven days and seven nights, andno one spoke a word to him, for theysaw that his grief was very great.

3 1A er this Job opened his mouthand cursed the day of his birth.

2And Job spoke, and said:3 "May the day perish on which I wasborn, And the night in which it was said,‘A male child is conceived.’4May that day be darkness; May Godabove not seek it, Nor the light shineupon it.5May darkness and the shadow ofdeath claim it; May a cloud se le on it;May the blackness of the day terrify it.6As for that night, may darkness seizeit; May it not rejoice among the daysof the year, May it not come into thenumber of the months.7Oh, may that night be barren! May nojoyful shout come into it!

JOB 3 98May those curse it who curse theday, Those who are ready to arouseLeviathan.9May the stars of its morning be dark;May it look for light, but have none, Andnot see the dawning of the day;10 Because it did not shut up the doorsof my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrowfrom my eyes.11 "Why did I not die at birth? Why did Inot perish when I came from the womb?12Why did the knees receive me? Orwhy the breasts, that I should nurse?13 For now I would have lain s ll andbeen quiet, I would have been asleep;Then I would have been at rest14With kings and counselors of theearth, Who built ruins for themselves,15Or with princes who had gold, Whofilled their houses with silver;

JOB 3 1016Or why was I not hidden like as llborn child, Like infants who neversaw light?17 There the wicked cease fromtroubling, And there the weary are atrest.18 There the prisoners rest together;They do not hear the voice of theoppressor.19 The small and great are there, Andthe servant is free from his master.20 "Why is light given to him who is inmisery, And life to the bi er of soul,21Who long for death, but it doesnot come, And search for it more thanhidden treasures;22Who rejoice exceedingly, And areglad when they can find the grave?23Why is light given to a man whoseway is hidden, And whom God hashedged in?

JOB 3–4 1124 For my sighing comes before I eat,And my groanings pour out like water.25 For the thing I greatly feared hascome upon me, And what I dreaded hashappened to me.26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; Ihave no rest, for trouble comes."

4 1 Then Eliphaz the Temaniteanswered and said:

2 "If one a empts a word with you,will you become weary? But who canwithhold himself from speaking?3 Surely you have instructed many, Andyou have strengthened weak hands.4 Your words have upheld him who wasstumbling, And you have strengthenedthe feeble knees;5 But now it comes upon you, and youare weary; It touches you, and you aretroubled.

JOB 4 126 Is not your reverence your confidence?And the integrity of your ways yourhope?7 "Remember now, who ever perishedbeing innocent? Or where were theupright ever cut off?8 Even as I have seen, Those who plowiniquity And sow trouble reap the same.9 By the blast of God they perish, Andby the breath of His anger they areconsumed.10 The roaring of the lion, The voiceof the fierce lion, And the teeth of theyoung lions are broken.11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey,And the cubs of the lioness are sca ered.12 "Now a word was secretly brought tome, And my ear received a whisper of it.13 In disquie ng thoughts from thevisions of the night, When deep sleepfalls on men,

JOB 4 1314 Fear came upon me, and trembling,Which made all my bones shake.15 Then a spirit passed before my face;The hair on my body stood up.16 It stood s ll, But I could not discernits appearance. A form was before myeyes; There was silence; Then I heard avoice saying:17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous thanGod? Can a man be more pure than hisMaker?18 If He puts no trust in His servants, IfHe charges His angels with error,19How much more those who dwellin houses of clay, Whose founda on isin the dust, Who are crushed before amoth?20 They are broken in pieces frommorning ll evening; They perish forever,with no one regarding.21Does not their own excellence goaway? They die, even without wisdom.’

JOB 5 14

5 1 "Call out now; Is there anyone whowill answer you? And to which of the

holy ones will you turn?2 For wrath kills a foolish man, And envyslays a simple one.3 I have seen the foolish taking root, Butsuddenly I cursed his dwelling place.4His sons are far from safety, They arecrushed in the gate, And there is nodeliverer.5 Because the hungry eat up his harvest,Taking it even from the thorns, And asnare snatches their substance.6 For afflic on does not come from thedust, Nor does trouble spring from theground;7 Yet man is born to trouble, As thesparks fly upward.8 "But as for me, I would seek God, Andto God I would commit my cause––

JOB 5 159Who does great things, andunsearchable, Marvelous things withoutnumber.10He gives rain on the earth, And sendswaters on the fields.11He sets on high those who are lowly,And those who mourn are li ed tosafety.12He frustrates the devices of thecra y, So that their hands cannot carryout their plans.13He catches the wise in their owncra iness, And the counsel of thecunning comes quickly upon them.14 They meet with darkness in theday me, And grope at noon me as inthe night.15 But He saves the needy from thesword, From the mouth of the mighty,And from their hand.16 So the poor have hope, And injus ceshuts her mouth.

JOB 5 1617 "Behold, happy is the man whomGod corrects; Therefore do not despisethe chastening of the Almighty.18 For He bruises, but He binds up; Hewounds, but His hands make whole.19He shall deliver you in six troubles,Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.20 In famine He shall redeem you fromdeath, And in war from the power of thesword.21 You shall be hidden from the scourgeof the tongue, And you shall not beafraid of destruc on when it comes.22 You shall laugh at destruc on andfamine, And you shall not be afraid ofthe beasts of the earth.23 For you shall have a covenant withthe stones of the field, And the beasts ofthe field shall be at peace with you.24 You shall know that your tent is inpeace; You shall visit your dwelling andfind nothing amiss.

JOB 5–6 1725 You shall also know that yourdescendants shall be many, And youroffspring like the grass of the earth.26 You shall come to the grave at a fullage, As a sheaf of grain ripens in itsseason.27 Behold, this we have searched out; Itis true. Hear it, and know for yourself."

6 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "Oh, that my grief were fully

weighed, And my calamity laid with it onthe scales!3 For then it would be heavier than thesand of the sea––Therefore my wordshave been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty arewithin me; My spirit drinks in theirpoison; The terrors of God are arrayedagainst me.5Does the wild donkey bray when ithas grass, Or does the ox low over itsfodder?

JOB 6 186 Can flavorless food be eaten withoutsalt? Or is there any taste in the white ofan egg?7My soul refuses to touch them; Theyare as loathsome food to me.8 "Oh, that I might have my request,That God would grant me the thing thatI long for!9 That it would please God to crush me,That He would loose His hand and cutme off!10 Then I would s ll have comfort;Though in anguish, I would exult, He willnot spare; For I have not concealed thewords of the Holy One.11 "What strength do I have, that Ishould hope? And what is my end, that Ishould prolong my life?12 Is my strength the strength of stones?Or is my flesh bronze?13 Is my help not within me? And issuccess driven from me?

JOB 6 1914 "To him who is afflicted, kindnessshould be shown by his friend, Eventhough he forsakes the fear of theAlmighty.15My brothers have dealt decei ullylike a brook, Like the streams of thebrooks that pass away,16Which are dark because of the ice,And into which the snow vanishes.17When it is warm, they cease to flow;When it is hot, they vanish from theirplace.18 The paths of their way turn aside,They go nowhere and perish.19 The caravans of Tema look, Thetravelers of Sheba hope for them.20 They are disappointed because theywere confident; They come there andare confused.21 For now you are nothing, You seeterror and are afraid.

JOB 6 2022Did I ever say, ‘Bring something tome’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from yourwealth’?23Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’shand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the handof oppressors’?24 "Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;Cause me to understand wherein I haveerred.25How forceful are right words! Butwhat does your arguing prove?26Do you intend to rebuke my words,And the speeches of a desperate one,which are as wind?27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,And you undermine your friend.28Now therefore, be pleased to look atme; For I would never lie to your face.29 Yield now, let there be no injus ce!Yes, concede, my righteousness s llstands!

JOB 6–7 2130 Is there injus ce on my tongue?Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?

7 1 "Is there not a me of hard servicefor man on earth? Are not his days

also like the days of a hired man?2 Like a servant who earnestly desiresthe shade, And like a hired man whoeagerly looks for his wages,3 So I have been allo ed months offu lity, And wearisome nights have beenappointed to me.4When I lie down, I say, ‘When shallI arise, And the night be ended?’ For Ihave had my fill of tossing ll dawn.5My flesh is caked with worms anddust, My skin is cracked and breaks outafresh.6 "My days are swi er than a weaver’sshu le, And are spent without hope.7Oh, remember that my life is a breath!My eye will never again see good.

JOB 7 228 The eye of him who sees me will seeme no more; While your eyes are uponme, I shall no longer be.9As the cloud disappears and vanishesaway, So he who goes down to the gravedoes not come up.10He shall never return to his house,Nor shall his place know him anymore.11 "Therefore I will not restrain mymouth; I will speak in the anguish of myspirit; I will complain in the bi erness ofmy soul.12Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That Youset a guard over me?13When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,My couch will ease my complaint,’14 Then You scare me with dreams Andterrify me with visions,15 So that my soul chooses stranglingAnd death rather than my body.

JOB 7–8 2316 I loathe my life; I would not liveforever. Let me alone, For my days arebut a breath.17 "What is man, that You should exalthim, That You should set Your heart onhim,18 That You should visit him everymorning, And test him every moment?19How long? Will You not look awayfrom me, And let me alone ll I swallowmy saliva?20Have I sinned? What have I done toYou, O watcher of men? Why have Youset me as Your target, So that I am aburden to myself?21Why then do You not pardon mytransgression, And take away myiniquity? For now I will lie down in thedust, And You will seek me diligently, ButI will no longer be."

8 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answeredand said:

JOB 8 242 "How long will you speak these things,And the words of your mouth be like astrong wind?3Does God subvert judgment? Or doesthe Almighty pervert jus ce?4 If your sons have sinned againstHim, He has cast them away for theirtransgression.5 If you would earnestly seek God Andmake your supplica on to the Almighty,6 If you were pure and upright, Surelynow He would awake for you, Andprosper your righ ul dwelling place.7 Though your beginning was small,Yet your la er end would increaseabundantly.8 "For inquire, please, of the formerage, And consider the things discoveredby their fathers;9 For we were born yesterday, and knownothing, Because our days on earth area shadow.

JOB 8 2510Will they not teach you and tell you,And u er words from their heart?11 "Can the papyrus grow up without amarsh? Can the reeds flourish withoutwater?12While it is yet green and not cutdown, It withers before any other plant.13 So are the paths of all who forgetGod; And the hope of the hypocrite shallperish,14Whose confidence shall be cut off,And whose trust is a spider’s web.15He leans on his house, but it does notstand. He holds it fast, but it does notendure.16He grows green in the sun, And hisbranches spread out in his garden.17His roots wrap around the rock heap,And look for a place in the stones.18 If he is destroyed from his place,Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have notseen you.’

JOB 8–9 2619 "Behold, this is the joy of His way,And out of the earth others will grow.20 Behold, God will not cast awaythe blameless, Nor will He uphold theevildoers.21He will yet fill your mouth withlaughing, And your lips with rejoicing.22 Those who hate you will be clothedwith shame, And the dwelling place ofthe wicked will come to nothing."

9 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "Truly I know it is so, But how can

a man be righteous before God?3 If one wished to contend with Him, Hecould not answer Him one me out of athousand.4God is wise in heart and mighty instrength. Who has hardened himselfagainst Him and prospered?5He removes the mountains, and theydo not know When He overturns themin His anger;

JOB 9 276He shakes the earth out of its place,And its pillars tremble;7He commands the sun, and it doesnot rise; He seals off the stars;8He alone spreads out the heavens,And treads on the waves of the sea;9He made the Bear, Orion, and thePleiades, And the chambers of the south;10He does great things past finding out,Yes, wonders without number.11 If He goes by me, I do not see Him; IfHe moves past, I do not perceive Him;12 If He takes away, who can hinderHim?Who can say to Him, ‘What are Youdoing?’13God will not withdraw His anger, Theallies of the proud lie prostrate beneathHim.14 "How then can I answer Him, Andchoose my words to reason with Him?

JOB 9 2815 For though I were righteous, I couldnot answer Him; I would beg mercy ofmy Judge.16 If I called and He answered me, Iwould not believe that He was listeningto my voice.17 For He crushes me with a tempest,And mul plies my wounds withoutcause.18He will not allow me to catch mybreath, But fills me with bi erness.19 If it is a ma er of strength, indeedHe is strong; And if of jus ce, who willappoint my day in court?20 Though I were righteous, my ownmouth would condemn me; ThoughI were blameless, it would prove meperverse.21 "I am blameless, yet I do not knowmyself; I despise my life.22 It is all one thing; Therefore I say, ‘Hedestroys the blameless and the wicked.’

JOB 9 2923 If the scourge slays suddenly, Helaughs at the plight of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hand ofthe wicked. He covers the faces of itsjudges. If it is not He, who else could itbe?25 "Now my days are swi er than arunner; They flee away, they see nogood.26 They pass by like swi ships, Like aneagle swooping on its prey.27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,I will put off my sad face and wear asmile,’28 I am afraid of all my sufferings; I knowthat You will not hold me innocent.29 If I am condemned, Why then do Ilabor in vain?30 If I wash myself with snow water, Andcleanse my hands with soap,31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit,And my own clothes will abhor me.

JOB 9–10 3032 "For He is not a man, as I am, That Imay answer Him, And that we should goto court together.33Nor is there any mediator betweenus, Who may lay his hand on us both.34 Let Him take His rod away from me,And do not let dread of Him terrify me.35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,But it is not so with me.

10 1 "My soul loathes my life; I willgive free course to my complaint,

I will speak in the bi erness of my soul.2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemnme; Show me why You contend with me.3Does it seem good to You that Youshould oppress, That You should despisethe work of Your hands, And smile onthe counsel of the wicked?4Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do Yousee as man sees?

JOB 10 315Are Your days like the days of a mortalman? Are Your years like the days of amighty man,6 That You should seek for my iniquityAnd search out my sin,7Although You know that I am notwicked, And there is no one who candeliver from Your hand?8 ‘Your hands have made me andfashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet Youwould destroy me.9 Remember, I pray, that You have mademe like clay. And will You turn me intodust again?10Did you not pour me out like milk,And curdle me like cheese,11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, Andknit me together with bones and sinews?12 You have granted me life and favor,And Your care has preserved my spirit.

JOB 10 3213 ‘And these things You have hiddenin Your heart; I know that this was withYou:14 If I sin, then You mark me, And willnot acquit me of my iniquity.15 If I am wicked, woe to me; Even if Iam righteous, I cannot li up my head. Iam full of disgrace; See my misery!16 If my head is exalted, You hunt melike a fierce lion, And again You showYourself awesome against me.17 You renew Your witnesses againstme, And increase Your indigna ontoward me; Changes and war are everwith me.18 ‘Why then have You brought me outof the womb? Oh, that I had perishedand no eye had seen me!19 I would have been as though I hadnot been. I would have been carriedfrom the womb to the grave.

JOB 10–11 3320Are not my days few? Cease! Leaveme alone, that I may take a li le comfort,21 Before I go to the place from which Ishall not return, To the land of darknessand the shadow of death,22A land as dark as darkness itself, Asthe shadow of death, without any order,Where even the light is like darkness.’"

11 1 Then Zophar the Naamathiteanswered and said:

2 "Should not the mul tude of wordsbe answered? And should a man full oftalk be vindicated?3 Should your empty talk make menhold their peace? And when you mock,should no one rebuke you?4 For you have said, ‘My doctrine ispure, And I am clean in your eyes.’5 But oh, that God would speak, Andopen His lips against you,6 That He would show you the secretsof wisdom! For they would double your

JOB 11 34prudence. Know therefore that Godexacts from you Less than your iniquitydeserves.7 "Can you search out the deep thingsof God? Can you find out the limits ofthe Almighty?8 They are higher than heaven––whatcan you do? Deeper than Sheol––whatcan you know?9 Their measure is longer than the earthAnd broader than the sea.10 "If He passes by, imprisons, andgathers to judgment, Then who canhinder Him?11 For He knows decei ul men; Hesees wickedness also. Will He not thenconsider it?12 For an empty–headed man will bewise, When a wild donkey’s colt is borna man.13 "If you would prepare your heart,And stretch out your hands toward Him;

JOB 11 3514 If iniquity were in your hand, andyou put it far away, And would not letwickedness dwell in your tents;15 Then surely you could li up yourface without spot; Yes, you could besteadfast, and not fear;16 Because you would forget yourmisery, And remember it as waters thathave passed away,17And your life would be brighter thannoonday. Though you were dark, youwould be like the morning.18And you would be secure, becausethere is hope; Yes, you would dig aroundyou, and take your rest in safety.19 You would also lie down, and no onewould make you afraid; Yes, many wouldcourt your favor.20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,And they shall not escape, And theirhope––loss of life!"

JOB 12 36

12 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "No doubt you are the people,

And wisdom will die with you!3 But I have understanding as well asyou; I am not inferior to you. Indeed,who does not know such things asthese?4 "I am one mocked by his friends, Whocalled on God, and He answered him,The just and blameless who is ridiculed.5A lamp is despised in the thought ofone who is at ease; It is made ready forthose whose feet slip.6 The tents of robbers prosper, Andthose who provoke God are secure––Inwhat God provides by His hand.7 "But now ask the beasts, and they willteach you; And the birds of the air, andthey will tell you;8Or speak to the earth, and it will teachyou; And the fish of the sea will explainto you.

JOB 12 379Who among all these does not knowThat the hand of the LORD has done this,10 In whose hand is the life of everyliving thing, And the breath of allmankind?11Does not the ear test words And themouth taste its food?12Wisdom is with aged men, And withlength of days, understanding.13 "With Him are wisdom and strength,He has counsel and understanding.14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannotbe rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, therecan be no release.15 If He withholds the waters, theydry up; If He sends them out, theyoverwhelm the earth.16With Him are strength and prudence.The deceived and the deceiver are His.17He leads counselors away plundered,And makes fools of the judges.

JOB 12 3818He loosens the bonds of kings, Andbinds their waist with a belt.19He leads princes away plundered,And overthrows the mighty.20He deprives the trusted ones ofspeech, And takes away the discernmentof the elders.21He pours contempt on princes, Anddisarms the mighty.22He uncovers deep things out ofdarkness, And brings the shadow ofdeath to light.23He makes na ons great, and destroysthem; He enlarges na ons, and guidesthem.24He takes away the understanding ofthe chiefs of the people of the earth,And makes them wander in a pathlesswilderness.25 They grope in the dark withoutlight, And He makes them stagger like adrunken man.

JOB 13 39

13 1 "Behold, my eye has seenall this, My ear has heard and

understood it.2What you know, I also know; I am notinferior to you.3 But I would speak to the Almighty,And I desire to reason with God.4 But you forgers of lies, You are allworthless physicians.5Oh, that you would be silent, And itwould be your wisdom!6Now hear my reasoning, And heed thepleadings of my lips.7Will you speak wickedly for God, Andtalk decei ully for Him?8Will you show par ality for Him? Willyou contend for God?9Will it be well when He searches youout? Or can you mock Him as one mocksa man?10He will surely rebuke you If yousecretly show par ality.

JOB 13 4011Will not His excellence make youafraid, And the dread of Him fall uponyou?12 Your pla tudes are proverbs of ashes,Your defenses are defenses of clay.13 "Hold your peace with me, and letme speak, Then let come on me whatmay!14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,And put my life in my hands?15 Though He slay me, yet will I trustHim. Even so, I will defend my own waysbefore Him.16He also shall be my salva on, For ahypocrite could not come before Him.17 Listen carefully to my speech, And tomy declara on with your ears.18 See now, I have prepared my case, Iknow that I shall be vindicated.19Who is he who will contend with me?If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

JOB 13 4120 "Only two things do not do to me,Then I will not hide myself from You:21Withdraw Your hand far from me,And let not the dread of You make meafraid.22 Then call, and I will answer; Or let mespeak, then You respond to me.23Howmany are my iniqui es and sins?Make me knowmy transgression and mysin.24Why do You hide Your face, Andregard me as Your enemy?25Will You frighten a leaf driven to andfro? And will You pursue dry stubble?26 For You write bi er things againstme, And make me inherit the iniqui esof my youth.27 You put my feet in the stocks, Andwatch closely all my paths. You set a limitfor the soles of my feet.28 "Man decays like a ro en thing, Likea garment that is moth–eaten.

JOB 14 42

14 1 "Man who is born of woman Isof few days and full of trouble.

2He comes forth like a flower and fadesaway; He flees like a shadow and doesnot con nue.3And do You open Your eyes on sucha one, And bring me to judgment withYourself?4Who can bring a clean thing out of anunclean? No one!5 Since his days are determined, Thenumber of his months is with You; Youhave appointed his limits, so that hecannot pass.6 Look away from him that he may rest,Till like a hired man he finishes his day.7 "For there is hope for a tree, If it is cutdown, that it will sprout again, And thatits tender shoots will not cease.8 Though its root may grow old in theearth, And its stump may die in theground,

JOB 14 439 Yet at the scent of water it will budAnd bring forth branches like a plant.10 But man dies and is laid away; Indeedhe breathes his last And where is he?11As water disappears from the sea,And a river becomes parched and driesup,12 So man lies down and does not rise.Till the heavens are no more, They willnot awake Nor be roused from theirsleep.13 "Oh, that You would hide me inthe grave, That You would conceal meun l Your wrath is past, That You wouldappoint me a set me, and rememberme!14 If a man dies, shall he live again? Allthe days of my hard service I will wait,Till my change comes.15 You shall call, and I will answer You;You shall desire the work of Your hands.

JOB 14–15 4416 For now You number my steps, Butdo not watch over my sin.17My transgression is sealed up in abag, And You cover my iniquity.18 "But as amountain falls and crumblesaway, And as a rock is moved from itsplace;19As water wears away stones, And astorrents wash away the soil of the earth;So You destroy the hope of man.20 You prevail forever against him,and he passes on; You change hiscountenance and send him away.21His sons come to honor, and he doesnot know it; They are brought low, andhe does not perceive it.22 But his flesh will be in pain over it,And his soul will mourn over it."

15 1 Then Eliphaz the Temaniteanswered and said:

JOB 15 452 "Should a wise man answer withempty knowledge, And fill himself withthe east wind?3 Should he reason with unprofitabletalk, Or by speeches with which he cando no good?4 Yes, you cast off fear, And restrainprayer before God.5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,And you choose the tongue of the cra y.6 Your own mouth condemns you, andnot I; Yes, your own lips tes fy againstyou.7 "Are you the first man who was born?Or were you made before the hills?8Have you heard the counsel of God?Do you limit wisdom to yourself?9What do you know that we do notknow? What do you understand that isnot in us?

JOB 15 4610 Both the gray–haired and the agedare among us, Much older than yourfather.11Are the consola ons of God too smallfor you, And the word spoken gentlywith you?12Why does your heart carry you away,And what do your eyes wink at,13 That you turn your spirit againstGod, And let such words go out of yourmouth?14 "What is man, that he could be pure?And he who is born of a woman, that hecould be righteous?15 If God puts no trust in His saints, Andthe heavens are not pure in His sight,16How much less man, who isabominable and filthy, Who drinksiniquity like water!17 "I will tell you, hear me; What I haveseen I will declare,

JOB 15 4718What wise men have told, Not hidinganything received from their fathers,19 To whom alone the land was given,And no alien passed among them:20 The wicked man writhes with painall his days, And the number of years ishidden from the oppressor.21Dreadful sounds are in his ears; Inprosperity the destroyer comes uponhim.22He does not believe that he willreturn from darkness, For a sword iswai ng for him.23He wanders about for bread, saying,‘Where is it?’ He knows that a day ofdarkness is ready at his hand.24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;They overpower him, like a king readyfor ba le.25 For he stretches out his hand againstGod, And acts defiantly against theAlmighty,

JOB 15 4826 Running stubbornly against HimWithhis strong, embossed shield.27 "Though he has covered his face withhis fatness, And made his waist heavywith fat,28He dwells in desolate ci es, Inhouses which no one inhabits, Whichare des ned to become ruins.29He will not be rich, Nor will hiswealth con nue, Nor will his possessionsoverspread the earth.30He will not depart from darkness;The flame will dry out his branches, Andby the breath of His mouth he will goaway.31 Let him not trust in fu le things,deceiving himself, For fu lity will be hisreward.32 It will be accomplished before hisme, And his branch will not be green.

JOB 15–16 4933He will shake off his unripe grape likea vine, And cast off his blossom like anolive tree.34 For the company of hypocrites will bebarren, And fire will consume the tentsof bribery.35 They conceive trouble and bring forthfu lity; Their womb prepares deceit."

16 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "I have heard many such

things; Miserable comforters are you all!3 Shall words of wind have an end? Orwhat provokes you that you answer?4 I also could speak as you do, If yoursoul were in my soul’s place. I couldheap up words against you, And shakemy head at you;5 But I would strengthen you with mymouth, And the comfort of my lips wouldrelieve your grief.

JOB 16 506 "Though I speak, my grief is notrelieved; And if I remain silent, how am Ieased?7 But now He has worn me out; Youhave made desolate all my company.8 You have shriveled me up, And it is awitness against me; My leanness risesup against me And bears witness to myface.9He tears me in His wrath, and hatesme; He gnashes at me with His teeth;My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.10 They gape at me with their mouth,They strike me reproachfully on thecheek, They gather together against me.11God has delivered me to the ungodly,And turned me over to the hands of thewicked.12 I was at ease, but He has sha eredme; He also has taken me by my neck,and shaken me to pieces; He has set meup for His target,

JOB 16 5113His archers surround me. He piercesmy heart and does not pity; He poursout my gall on the ground.14He breaks me with wound uponwound; He runs at me like a warrior.15 "I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,And laid my head in the dust.16My face is flushed fromweeping, Andon my eyelids is the shadow of death;17Although no violence is in my hands,And my prayer is pure.18 "O earth, do not cover my blood, Andlet my cry have no res ng place!19 Surely even now my witness is inheaven, And my evidence is on high.20My friends scorn me; My eyes pourout tears to God.21Oh, that one might plead for aman with God, As a man pleads for hisneighbor!22 For when a few years are finished, Ishall go the way of no return.

JOB 17 52

17 1 "My spirit is broken, My days areex nguished, The grave is ready

for me.2Are not mockers with me? And doesnot my eye dwell on their provoca on?3 "Now put down a pledge for me withYourself. Who is he who will shake handswith me?4 For You have hidden their heart fromunderstanding; Therefore You will notexalt them.5He who speaks fla ery to his friends,Even the eyes of his children will fail.6 "But He has made me a byword ofthe people, And I have become one inwhose face men spit.7My eye has also grown dim becauseof sorrow, And all my members are likeshadows.8Upright men are astonished at this,And the innocent s rs himself up againstthe hypocrite.

JOB 17 539 Yet the righteous will hold to his way,And he who has clean hands will bestronger and stronger.10 "But please, come back again, all ofyou, For I shall not find one wise manamong you.11My days are past, My purposes arebroken off, Even the thoughts of myheart.12 They change the night into day; ‘Thelight is near,’ they say, in the face ofdarkness.13 If I wait for the grave as my house, If Imake my bed in the darkness,14 If I say to corrup on, ‘You are myfather,’ And to the worm, ‘You are mymother and my sister,’15Where then is my hope? As for myhope, who can see it?16Will they go down to the gates ofSheol? Shall we have rest together in thedust?"

JOB 18 54

18 1 Then Bildad the Shuhiteanswered and said:

2 "How long ll you put an end towords? Gain understanding, anda erward we will speak.3Why are we counted as beasts, Andregarded as stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself in anger, Shallthe earth be forsaken for you? Or shallthe rock be removed from its place?5 "The light of the wicked indeed goesout, And the flame of his fire does notshine.6 The light is dark in his tent, And hislamp beside him is put out.7 The steps of his strength areshortened, And his own counsel castshim down.8 For he is cast into a net by his ownfeet, And he walks into a snare.9 The net takes him by the heel, And asnare lays hold of him.

JOB 18 5510A noose is hidden for him on theground, And a trap for him in the road.11 Terrors frighten him on every side,And drive him to his feet.12His strength is starved, Anddestruc on is ready at his side.13 It devours patches of his skin; Thefirstborn of death devours his limbs.14He is uprooted from the shelter ofhis tent, And they parade him before theking of terrors.15 They dwell in his tent who are noneof his; Brimstone is sca ered on hisdwelling.16His roots are dried out below, And hisbranch withers above.17 The memory of him perishes fromthe earth, And he has no name amongthe renowned.18He is driven from light into darkness,And chased out of the world.

JOB 18–19 5619He has neither son nor posterityamong his people, Nor any remaining inhis dwellings.20 Those in the west are astonishedat his day, As those in the east arefrightened.21 Surely such are the dwellings of thewicked, And this is the place of him whodoes not know God."

19 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "How long will you torment

my soul, And break me in pieces withwords?3 These ten mes you have reproachedme; You are not ashamed that you havewronged me.4And if indeed I have erred, My errorremains with me.5 If indeed you exalt yourselves againstme, And plead my disgrace against me,6 Know then that God has wronged me,And has surrounded me with His net.

JOB 19 577 "If I cry out concerning wrong, I amnot heard. If I cry aloud, there is nojus ce.8He has fenced up my way, so that Icannot pass; And He has set darkness inmy paths.9He has stripped me of my glory, Andtaken the crown from my head.10He breaks me down on everyside, And I am gone; My hope He hasuprooted like a tree.11He has also kindled His wrath againstme, And He counts me as one of Hisenemies.12His troops come together And buildup their road against me; They encampall around my tent.13 "He has removed my brothers farfrom me, And my acquaintances arecompletely estranged from me.14My rela ves have failed, And myclose friends have forgo en me.

JOB 19 5815 Those who dwell in my house,and my maidservants, Count me as astranger; I am an alien in their sight.16 I call my servant, but he gives noanswer; I beg him with my mouth.17My breath is offensive to my wife,And I am repulsive to the children of myown body.18 Even young children despise me; Iarise, and they speak against me.19All my close friends abhor me, Andthose whom I love have turned againstme.20My bone clings to my skin and to myflesh, And I have escaped by the skin ofmy teeth.21 "Have pity on me, have pity on me, Oyou my friends, For the hand of God hasstruck me!22Why do you persecute me as Goddoes, And are not sa sfied with myflesh?

JOB 19–20 5923 "Oh, that my words were wri en!Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!24 That they were engraved on a rockWith an iron pen and lead, forever!25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,And He shall stand at last on the earth;26And a er my skin is destroyed, this Iknow, That in my flesh I shall see God,27Whom I shall see for myself, And myeyes shall behold, and not another. Howmy heart yearns within me!28 If you should say, ‘How shall wepersecute him?’ ––Since the root of thema er is found in me,29 Be afraid of the sword for yourselves;For wrath brings the punishment of thesword, That you may know there is ajudgment."

20 1 Then Zophar the Naamathiteanswered and said:

JOB 20 602 "Therefore my anxious thoughts makeme answer, Because of the turmoilwithin me.3 I have heard the rebuke thatreproaches me, And the spirit of myunderstanding causes me to answer.4 "Do you not know this of old, Sinceman was placed on earth,5 That the triumphing of the wicked isshort, And the joy of the hypocrite is butfor a moment?6 Though his haugh ness mounts up tothe heavens, And his head reaches tothe clouds,7 Yet he will perish forever like his ownrefuse; Those who have seen him willsay, ‘Where is he?’8He will fly away like a dream, and notbe found; Yes, he will be chased awaylike a vision of the night.

JOB 20 619 The eye that saw him will see himno more, Nor will his place behold himanymore.10His children will seek the favor ofthe poor, And his hands will restore hiswealth.11His bones are full of his youthfulvigor, But it will lie down with him in thedust.12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth,And he hides it under his tongue,13 Though he spares it and does notforsake it, But s ll keeps it in his mouth,14 Yet his food in his stomach turnssour; It becomes cobra venom withinhim.15He swallows down riches And vomitsthem up again; God casts them out ofhis belly.16He will suck the poison of cobras;The viper’s tongue will slay him.

JOB 20 6217He will not see the streams, Therivers flowing with honey and cream.18He will restore that for which helabored, And will not swallow it down;From the proceeds of business He willget no enjoyment.19 For he has oppressed and forsakenthe poor, He has violently seized a housewhich he did not build.20 "Because he knows no quietness inhis heart, He will not save anything hedesires.21Nothing is le for him to eat;Therefore his well–being will not last.22 In his self–sufficiency he will be indistress; Every hand of misery will comeagainst him.23When he is about to fill his stomach,God will cast on him the fury of Hiswrath, And will rain it on him while he isea ng.

JOB 20–21 6324He will flee from the iron weapon; Abronze bow will pierce him through.25 It is drawn, and comes out of thebody; Yes, the gli ering point comes outof his gall. Terrors come upon him;26 Total darkness is reserved for histreasures. An unfanned fire will consumehim; It shall go ill with him who is le inhis tent.27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity,And the earth will rise up against him.28 The increase of his house will depart,And his goods will flow away in the dayof His wrath.29 This is the por on from God for awicked man, The heritage appointed tohim by God."

21 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "Listen carefully to my speech,

And let this be your consola on.3 Bear with me that I may speak, Anda er I have spoken, keep mocking.

JOB 21 644 "As for me, is my complaint againstman? And if it were, why should I not beimpa ent?5 Look at me and be astonished; Putyour hand over your mouth.6 Even when I remember I am terrified,And trembling takes hold of my flesh.7Why do the wicked live and becomeold, Yes, become mighty in power?8 Their descendants are establishedwith them in their sight, And theiroffspring before their eyes.9 Their houses are safe from fear,Neither is the rod of God upon them.10 Their bull breeds without failure;Their cow calves without miscarriage.11 They send forth their li le ones like aflock, And their children dance.12 They sing to the tambourine andharp, And rejoice to the sound of theflute.

JOB 21 6513 They spend their days in wealth, Andin a moment go down to the grave.14 Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us,For we do not desire the knowledge ofYour ways.15Who is the Almighty, that we shouldserve Him? And what profit do we haveif we pray to Him?’16 Indeed their prosperity is not in theirhand; The counsel of the wicked is farfrom me.17 "How o en is the lamp of thewicked put out? How o en does theirdestruc on come upon them, Thesorrows God distributes in His anger?18 They are like straw before the wind,And like chaff that a storm carries away.19 They say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquityfor his children’; Let Him recompensehim, that he may know it.

JOB 21 6620 Let his eyes see his destruc on,And let him drink of the wrath of theAlmighty.21 For what does he care about hishousehold a er him, When the numberof his months is cut in half?22 "Can anyone teach God knowledge,Since He judges those on high?23One dies in his full strength, Beingwholly at ease and secure;24His pails are full of milk, And themarrow of his bones is moist.25Another man dies in the bi ernessof his soul, Never having eaten withpleasure.26 They lie down alike in the dust, Andworms cover them.27 "Look, I know your thoughts, And theschemes with which you would wrongme.

JOB 21–22 6728 For you say, ‘Where is the house ofthe prince? And where is the tent, Thedwelling place of the wicked?’29Have you not asked those who travelthe road? And do you not know theirsigns?30 For the wicked are reserved for theday of doom; They shall be brought outon the day of wrath.31Who condemns his way to his face?And who repays him for what he hasdone?32 Yet he shall be brought to the grave,And a vigil kept over the tomb.33 The clods of the valley shall be sweetto him; Everyone shall follow him, Ascountless have gone before him.34How then can you comfort me withempty words, Since falsehood remainsin your answers?"

22 1 Then Eliphaz the Temaniteanswered and said:

JOB 22 682 "Can a man be profitable to God,Though he who is wise may be profitableto himself?3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty thatyou are righteous? Or is it gain to Himthat you make your ways blameless?4 "Is it because of your fear of Himthat He corrects you, And enters intojudgment with you?5 Is not your wickedness great, Andyour iniquity without end?6 For you have taken pledges from yourbrother for no reason, And stripped thenaked of their clothing.7 You have not given the weary waterto drink, And you have withheld breadfrom the hungry.8 But the mighty man possessed theland, And the honorable man dwelt in it.9 You have sent widows away empty,And the strength of the fatherless wascrushed.

JOB 22 6910 Therefore snares are all around you,And sudden fear troubles you,11Or darkness so that you cannot see;And an abundance of water covers you.12 "Is not God in the height of heaven?And see the highest stars, how lo y theyare!13And you say, ‘What does Godknow? Can He judge through the deepdarkness?14 Thick clouds cover Him, so that Hecannot see, And He walks above thecircle of heaven.’15Will you keep to the old way Whichwicked men have trod,16Who were cut down before theirme, Whose founda ons were swept

away by a flood?17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us!What can the Almighty do to them?’

JOB 22 7018 Yet He filled their houses with goodthings; But the counsel of the wicked isfar from me.19 "The righteous see it and are glad,And the innocent laugh at them:20 ‘Surely our adversaries are cut down,And the fire consumes their remnant.’21 "Now acquaint yourself with Him,and be at peace; Thereby good will cometo you.22 Receive, please, instruc on from Hismouth, And lay up His words in yourheart.23 If you return to the Almighty, you willbe built up; You will remove iniquity farfrom your tents.24 Then you will lay your gold in thedust, And the gold of Ophir among thestones of the brooks.25 Yes, the Almighty will be your goldAnd your precious silver;

JOB 22–23 7126 For then you will have your delightin the Almighty, And li up your face toGod.27 You will make your prayer to Him,He will hear you, And you will pay yourvows.28 You will also declare a thing, And itwill be established for you; So light willshine on your ways.29When they cast you down, and yousay, ‘Exalta on will come!’ Then He willsave the humble person.30He will even deliver one who is notinnocent; Yes, he will be delivered by thepurity of your hands."

23 1 Then Job answered and said:2 "Even today my complaint is

bi er; My hand is listless because of mygroaning.3Oh, that I knew where I might findHim, That I might come to His seat!

JOB 23 724 I would present my case before Him,And fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know the words which Hewould answer me, And understand whatHe would say to me.6Would He contend with me in Hisgreat power? No! But He would takenote of me.7 There the upright could reason withHim, And I would be delivered foreverfrom my Judge.8 "Look, I go forward, but He is notthere, And backward, but I cannotperceive Him;9When He works on the le hand, Icannot behold Him; When He turns tothe right hand, I cannot see Him.10 But He knows the way that I take;When He has tested me, I shall comeforth as gold.11My foot has held fast to His steps; Ihave kept His way and not turned aside.

JOB 23–24 7312 I have not departed from thecommandment of His lips; I havetreasured the words of His mouth Morethan my necessary food.13 "But He is unique, and who can makeHim change? And whatever His souldesires, that He does.14 For He performs what is appointedfor me, And many such things are withHim.15 Therefore I am terrified at Hispresence; When I consider this, I amafraid of Him.16 For God made my heart weak, Andthe Almighty terrifies me;17 Because I was not cut off from thepresence of darkness, And He did nothide deep darkness from my face.

24 1 "Since mes are not hiddenfrom the Almighty, Why do those

who know Him see not His days?

JOB 24 742 "Some remove landmarks; They seizeflocks violently and feed on them;3 They drive away the donkey of thefatherless; They take the widow’s ox as apledge.4 They push the needy off the road; Allthe poor of the land are forced to hide.5 Indeed, like wild donkeys in thedesert, They go out to their work,searching for food. The wilderness yieldsfood for them and for their children.6 They gather their fodder in the fieldAnd glean in the vineyard of the wicked.7 They spend the night naked, withoutclothing, And have no covering in thecold.8 They are wet with the showers of themountains, And huddle around the rockfor want of shelter.9 "Some snatch the fatherless from thebreast, And take a pledge from the poor.

JOB 24 7510 They cause the poor to go naked,without clothing; And they take awaythe sheaves from the hungry.11 They press out oil within their walls,And tread winepresses, yet suffer thirst.12 The dying groan in the city, And thesouls of the wounded cry out; Yet Goddoes not charge them with wrong.13 "There are those who rebel againstthe light; They do not know its ways Norabide in its paths.14 The murderer rises with the light;He kills the poor and needy; And in thenight he is like a thief.15 The eye of the adulterer waits for thetwilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me’;And he disguises his face.16 In the dark they break into housesWhich they marked for themselves inthe day me; They do not know the light.17 For the morning is the same to themas the shadow of death; If someone

JOB 24 76recognizes them, They are in the terrorsof the shadow of death.18 "They should be swi on the faceof the waters, Their por on should becursed in the earth, So that no onewouldturn into the way of their vineyards.19As drought and heat consume thesnow waters, So the grave consumesthose who have sinned.20 The womb should forget him, Theworm should feed sweetly on him; Heshould be remembered no more, Andwickedness should be broken like a tree.21 For he preys on the barren who donot bear, And does no good for thewidow.22 "But God draws the mighty awaywith His power; He rises up, but no manis sure of life.23He gives them security, and they relyon it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.

JOB 24–25 7724 They are exalted for a li le while,Then they are gone. They are broughtlow; They are taken out of the way likeall others; They dry out like the heads ofgrain.25 "Now if it is not so, who will proveme a liar, And make my speech worthnothing?"

25 1 Then Bildad the Shuhiteanswered and said:

2 "Dominion and fear belong to Him; Hemakes peace in His high places.3 Is there any number to His armies?Upon whom does His light not rise?4How then can man be righteousbefore God? Or how can he be pure whois born of a woman?5 If even the moon does not shine, Andthe stars are not pure in His sight,6How much less man, who is a maggot,And a son of man, who is a worm?"

JOB 26 78

26 1 But Job answered and said:2 "How have you helped him

who is without power? How have yousaved the arm that has no strength?3How have you counseled one who hasno wisdom? And how have you declaredsound advice to many?4 To whom have you u ered words?And whose spirit came from you?5 "The dead tremble, Those under thewaters and those inhabi ng them.6 Sheol is naked before Him, AndDestruc on has no covering.7He stretches out the north over emptyspace; He hangs the earth on nothing.8He binds up the water in His thickclouds, Yet the clouds are not brokenunder it.9He covers the face of His throne, Andspreads His cloud over it.

JOB 26–27 7910He drew a circular horizon on theface of the waters, At the boundary oflight and darkness.11 The pillars of heaven tremble, Andare astonished at His rebuke.12He s rs up the sea with His power,And by His understanding He breaks upthe storm.13 By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.14 Indeed these are the mere edgesof His ways, And how small a whisperwe hear of Him! But the thunder of Hispower who can understand?"

27 1Moreover Job con nued hisdiscourse, and said:

2 "As God lives, who has taken away myjus ce, And the Almighty, who has mademy soul bi er,3As long as my breath is in me, And thebreath of God in my nostrils,

JOB 27 804My lips will not speak wickedness, Normy tongue u er deceit.5 Far be it from me That I should sayyou are right; Till I die I will not put awaymy integrity from me.6My righteousness I hold fast, and willnot let it go; My heart shall not reproachme as long as I live.7 "May my enemy be like the wicked,And he who rises up against me like theunrighteous.8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite,Though he may gain much, If God takesaway his life?9Will God hear his cry When troublecomes upon him?10Will he delight himself in theAlmighty? Will he always call on God?11 "I will teach you about the hand ofGod; What is with the Almighty I will notconceal.

JOB 27 8112 Surely all of you have seen it; Whythen do you behave with completenonsense?13 "This is the por on of a wickedman with God, And the heritage ofoppressors, received from the Almighty:14 If his children are mul plied, it is forthe sword; And his offspring shall not besa sfied with bread.15 Those who survive him shall beburied in death, And their widows shallnot weep,16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,And piles up clothing like clay––17He may pile it up, but the just willwear it, And the innocent will divide thesilver.18He builds his house like a moth, Likea booth which a watchman makes.19 The rich man will lie down, But notbe gathered up; He opens his eyes, Andhe is no more.

JOB 27–28 8220 Terrors overtake him like a flood; Atempest steals him away in the night.21 The east wind carries him away, andhe is gone; It sweeps him out of hisplace.22 It hurls against him and does notspare; He flees desperately from itspower.23Men shall clap their hands at him,And shall hiss him out of his place.

28 1 "Surely there is a mine for silver,And a place where gold is refined.

2 Iron is taken from the earth, Andcopper is smelted from ore.3Man puts an end to darkness, Andsearches every recess For ore in thedarkness and the shadow of death.4He breaks open a sha away frompeople; In places forgo en by feet Theyhang far away from men; They swing toand fro.

JOB 28 835As for the earth, from it comes bread,But underneath it is turned up as by fire;6 Its stones are the source of sapphires,And it contains gold dust.7 That path no bird knows, Nor has thefalcon’s eye seen it.8 The proud lions have not trodden it,Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.9He puts his hand on the flint; Heoverturns the mountains at the roots.10He cuts out channels in the rocks,And his eye sees every precious thing.11He dams up the streams fromtrickling; What is hidden he brings forthto light.12 "But where can wisdom be found?Andwhere is the place of understanding?13Man does not know its value, Nor isit found in the land of the living.14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; Andthe sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

JOB 28 8415 It cannot be purchased for gold, Norcan silver be weighed for its price.16 It cannot be valued in the gold ofOphir, In precious onyx or sapphire.17Neither gold nor crystal can equal it,Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry offine gold.18No men on shall be made of coral orquartz, For the price of wisdom is aboverubies.19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,Nor can it be valued in pure gold.20 "From where then does wisdomcome? And where is the place ofunderstanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living,And concealed from the birds of the air.22Destruc on and Death say, ‘We haveheard a report about it with our ears.’23God understands its way, And Heknows its place.

JOB 28–29 8524 For He looks to the ends of the earth,And sees under the whole heavens,25 To establish a weight for the wind,And appor on the waters by measure.26When He made a law for the rain,And a path for the thunderbolt,27 Then He saw wisdom and declared it;He prepared it, indeed, He searched itout.28And to man He said, ‘Behold, thefear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And todepart from evil is understanding.’"

29 1 Job further con nued hisdiscourse, and said:

2Oh, that I were as in months past, Asin the days when God watched over me;3When His lamp shone upon my head,And when by His light I walked throughdarkness;4 Just as I was in the days of my prime,When the friendly counsel of God wasover my tent;

JOB 29 865When the Almighty was yet with me,When my children were around me;6When my steps were bathed withcream, And the rock poured out rivers ofoil for me!7 "When I went out to the gate by thecity, When I took my seat in the opensquare,8 The young men saw me and hid, Andthe aged arose and stood;9 The princes refrained from talking,And put their hand on their mouth;10 The voice of nobles was hushed, Andtheir tongue stuck to the roof of theirmouth.11When the ear heard, then it blessedme, And when the eye saw, then itapproved me;12 Because I delivered the poor whocried out, The fatherless and the onewho had no helper.

JOB 29 8713 The blessing of a perishing man cameupon me, And I caused the widow’sheart to sing for joy.14 I put on righteousness, and it clothedme; My jus ce was like a robe and aturban.15 I was eyes to the blind, And I was feetto the lame.16 I was a father to the poor, And Isearched out the case that I did notknow.17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, Andplucked the vic m from his teeth.18 "Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest,And mul ply my days as the sand.19My root is spread out to the waters,And the dew lies all night on my branch.20My glory is fresh within me, And mybow is renewed in my hand.’21 "Men listened to me and waited, Andkept silence for my counsel.

JOB 29–30 8822A er my words they did not speakagain, And my speech se led on them asdew.23 They waited for me as for the rain,And they opened their mouth wide asfor the spring rain.24 If I mocked at them, they didnot believe it, And the light of mycountenance they did not cast down.25 I chose the way for them, and sat aschief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, Asone who comforts mourners.

30 1 "But now they mock at me, menyounger than I, Whose fathers I

disdained to put with the dogs of myflock.2 Indeed, what profit is the strengthof their hands to me? Their vigor hasperished.3 They are gaunt from want and famine,Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolateand waste,

JOB 30 894Who pluck mallow by the bushes, Andbroom tree roots for their food.5 They were driven out from amongmen, They shouted at them as at a thief.6 They had to live in the cle s of thevalleys, In caves of the earth and therocks.7Among the bushes they brayed, Underthe ne les they nestled.8 They were sons of fools, Yes, sons ofvile men; They were scourged from theland.9 "And now I am their taun ng song;Yes, I am their byword.10 They abhor me, they keep far fromme; They do not hesitate to spit in myface.11 Because He has loosed my bowstringand afflicted me, They have cast offrestraint before me.

JOB 30 9012At my right hand the rabble arises;They push away my feet, And they raiseagainst me their ways of destruc on.13 They break up my path, Theypromote my calamity; They have nohelper.14 They come as broad breakers; Underthe ruinous storm they roll along.15 Terrors are turned upon me; Theypursue my honor as the wind, And myprosperity has passed like a cloud.16 "And now my soul is poured outbecause of my plight; The days ofafflic on take hold of me.17My bones are pierced in me at night,And my gnawing pains take no rest.18 By great force my garment isdisfigured; It binds me about as thecollar of my coat.19He has cast me into the mire, And Ihave become like dust and ashes.

JOB 30 9120 "I cry out to You, but You do notanswer me; I stand up, and You regardme.21 But You have become cruel to me;With the strength of Your hand Youoppose me.22 You li me up to the wind and causeme to ride on it; You spoil my success.23 For I know that You will bring me todeath, And to the house appointed forall living.24 "Surely He would not stretch out Hishand against a heap of ruins, If they cryout when He destroys it.25Have I not wept for him who was introuble? Has not my soul grieved for thepoor?26 But when I looked for good, evil cameto me; And when I waited for light, thencame darkness.27My heart is in turmoil and cannotrest; Days of afflic on confront me.

JOB 30–31 9228 I go about mourning, but not in thesun; I stand up in the assembly and cryout for help.29 I am a brother of jackals, And acompanion of ostriches.30My skin grows black and falls fromme; My bones burn with fever.31My harp is turned to mourning, Andmy flute to the voice of those who weep.

31 1 "I have made a covenant withmy eyes; Why then should I look

upon a young woman?2 For what is the allotment of Godfrom above, And the inheritance of theAlmighty from on high?3 Is it not destruc on for the wicked,And disaster for the workers of iniquity?4Does He not see my ways, And countall my steps?5 "If I have walked with falsehood, Or ifmy foot has hastened to deceit,

JOB 31 936 Let me be weighed on honest scales,That God may know my integrity.7 If my step has turned from the way, Ormy heart walked a er my eyes, Or if anyspot adheres to my hands,8 Then let me sow, and another eat;Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.9 "If my heart has been en ced bya woman, Or if I have lurked at myneighbor’s door,10 Then let my wife grind for another,And let others bow down over her.11 For that would be wickedness; Yes, itwould be iniquity deserving of judgment.12 For that would be a fire thatconsumes to destruc on, And wouldroot out all my increase.13 "If I have despised the cause of mymale or female servant When theycomplained against me,

JOB 31 9414What then shall I do when God risesup? When He punishes, how shall Ianswer Him?15Did not He who made me in thewomb make them? Did not the sameOne fashion us in the womb?16 "If I have kept the poor from theirdesire, Or caused the eyes of the widowto fail,17Or eaten my morsel by myself, Sothat the fatherless could not eat of it18 (But from my youth I reared him as afather, And from my mother’s womb Iguided the widow);19 If I have seen anyone perish for lackof clothing, Or any poor man withoutcovering;20 If his heart has not blessed me, Andif he was not warmed with the fleece ofmy sheep;

JOB 31 9521 If I have raised my hand against thefatherless, When I saw I had help in thegate;22 Then let my arm fall from myshoulder, Let my arm be torn from thesocket.23 For destruc on from God is a terrorto me, And because of His magnificenceI cannot endure.24 "If I have made gold my hope, Or saidto fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;25 If I have rejoiced because my wealthwas great, And because my hand hadgained much;26 If I have observed the sun whenit shines, Or the moon moving inbrightness,27 So that my heart has been secretlyen ced, And my mouth has kissed myhand;

JOB 31 9628 This also would be an iniquitydeserving of judgment, For I would havedenied God who is above.29 "If I have rejoiced at the destruc onof him who hated me, Or li ed myselfup when evil found him30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouthto sin By asking for a curse on his soul);31 If the men of my tent have not said,‘Who is there that has not been sa sfiedwith his meat?’32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in thestreet, For I have opened my doors tothe traveler);33 If I have covered my transgressionsas Adam, By hiding my iniquity in mybosom,34 Because I feared the great mul tude,And dreaded the contempt of families,So that I kept silence And did not go outof the door––

JOB 31–32 9735Oh, that I had one to hear me! Hereis my mark. Oh, that the Almighty wouldanswer me, That my Prosecutor hadwri en a book!36 Surely I would carry it on myshoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;37 I would declare to Him the number ofmy steps; Like a prince I would approachHim.38 "If my land cries out against me, Andits furrows weep together;39 If I have eaten its fruit withoutmoney, Or caused its owners to losetheir lives;40 Then let thistles grow instead ofwheat, And weeds instead of barley."The words of Job are ended.

32 1 So these three men ceasedanswering Job, because he was

righteous in his own eyes.2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son ofBarachel the Buzite, of the family of

JOB 32 98Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrathwas aroused because he jus fied himselfrather than God.3Also against his three friends his wrathwas aroused, because they had found noanswer, and yet had condemned Job.4Now because they were years olderthan he, Elihu had waited to speak toJob.5When Elihu saw that there was noanswer in the mouth of these three men,his wrath was aroused.6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel theBuzite, answered and said: "I am youngin years, and you are very old; ThereforeI was afraid, And dared not declare myopinion to you.7 I said, ‘Age should speak, Andmul tude of years should teachwisdom.’

JOB 32 998 But there is a spirit in man, Andthe breath of the Almighty gives himunderstanding.9Great men are not always wise, Nordo the aged always understand jus ce.10 "Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I alsowill declare my opinion.’11 Indeed I waited for your words, Ilistened to your reasonings, while yousearched out what to say.12 I paid close a en on to you; Andsurely not one of you convinced Job, Oranswered his words––13 Lest you say, ‘We have foundwisdom’; God will vanquish him, notman.14Now he has not directed his wordsagainst me; So I will not answer him withyour words.15 "They are dismayed and answer nomore; Words escape them.

JOB 32–33 10016And I have waited, because they didnot speak, Because they stood s ll andanswered no more.17 I also will answer my part, I too willdeclare my opinion.18 For I am full of words; The spiritwithin me compels me.19 Indeed my belly is like wine that hasno vent; It is ready to burst like newwineskins.20 I will speak, that I may find relief; Imust open my lips and answer.21 Let me not, I pray, show par ality toanyone; Nor let me fla er any man.22 For I do not know how to fla er, Elsemy Maker would soon take me away.

33 1 "But please, Job, hear myspeech, And listen to all my

words.2Now, I open my mouth; My tonguespeaks in my mouth.

JOB 33 1013My words come from my uprightheart; My lips u er pure knowledge.4 The Spirit of God has made me, Andthe breath of the Almighty gives me life.5 If you can answer me, Set your wordsin order before me; Take your stand.6 Truly I am as your spokesman beforeGod; I also have been formed out of clay.7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you,Nor will my hand be heavy on you.8 "Surely you have spoken in myhearing, And I have heard the sound ofyour words, saying,9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; Iam innocent, and there is no iniquity inme.10 Yet He finds occasions against me, Hecounts me as His enemy;11He puts my feet in the stocks, Hewatches all my paths.’

JOB 33 10212 "Look, in this you are not righteous. Iwill answer you, For God is greater thanman.13Why do you contend with Him? ForHe does not give an accoun ng of any ofHis words.14 For God may speak in one way, or inanother, Yet man does not perceive it.15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,When deep sleep falls upon men, Whileslumbering on their beds,16 Then He opens the ears of men, Andseals their instruc on.17 In order to turn man from his deed,And conceal pride from man,18He keeps back his soul from the Pit,And his life from perishing by the sword.19 "Man is also chastened with pain onhis bed, And with strong pain in many ofhis bones,20 So that his life abhors bread, And hissoul succulent food.

JOB 33 10321His flesh wastes away from sight, Andhis bones s ck out which once were notseen.22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, Andhis life to the execu oners.23 "If there is a messenger for him, Amediator, one among a thousand, Toshow 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’;25His flesh shall be young like a child’s,He shall return to the days of his youth.26He shall pray to God, and He willdelight in him, He shall see His facewith joy, For He restores to man Hisrighteousness.27 Then he looks at men and says, ‘Ihave sinned, and perverted what wasright, And it did not profit me.’

JOB 33–34 10428He will redeem his soul from goingdown to the Pit, And his life shall see thelight.29 "Behold, God works all these things,Twice, in fact, three mes with a man,30 To bring back his soul from the Pit,That he may be enlightened with thelight of life.31 "Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold yourpeace, and I will speak.32 If you have anything to say, answerme; Speak, for I desire to jus fy you.33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace,and I will teach you wisdom."

34 1 Elihu further answered and said:2 "Hear my words, you wise

men; Give ear to me, you who haveknowledge.3 For the ear tests words As the palatetastes food.4 Let us choose jus ce for ourselves; Letus know among ourselves what is good.

JOB 34 1055 "For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, ButGod has taken away my jus ce;6 Should I lie concerning my right? Mywound is incurable, though I am withouttransgression.’7What man is like Job, Who drinksscorn like water,8Who goes in company with theworkers of iniquity, And walks withwicked men?9 For he has said, ‘It profits a mannothing That he should delight in God.’10 "Therefore listen to me, you men ofunderstanding: Far be it from God to dowickedness, And from the Almighty tocommit iniquity.11 For He repays man according to hiswork, And makes man to find a rewardaccording to his way.12 Surely God will never do wickedly,Nor will the Almighty pervert jus ce.

JOB 34 10613Who gave Him charge over theearth? Or who appointed Him over thewhole world?14 If He should set His heart on it, If Heshould gather to Himself His Spirit andHis breath,15All flesh would perish together, Andman would return to dust.16 "If you have understanding, hear this;listen to the sound of my words:17 Should onewho hates jus ce govern?Will you condemn Him who is most just?18 Is it fi ng to say to a king, ‘Youare worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You arewicked’?19 Yet He is not par al to princes, Nordoes He regard the rich more than thepoor; For they are all the work of Hishands.20 In a moment they die, in the middleof the night; The people are shaken and

JOB 34 107pass away; The mighty are taken awaywithout a hand.21 "For His eyes are on the ways of man,And He sees all his steps.22 There is no darkness nor shadow ofdeath Where the workers of iniquitymay hide themselves.23 For He need not further consider aman, That he should go before God injudgment.24He breaks in pieces mighty menwithout inquiry, And sets others in theirplace.25 Therefore he knows their works; Heoverthrows them in the night, And theyare crushed.26He strikes them as wicked men In theopen sight of others,27 Because they turned back from Him,And would not consider any of His ways,

JOB 34 10828 So that they caused the cry of thepoor to come to Him; For He hears thecry of the afflicted.29When He gives quietness, who thencan make trouble? And when He hidesHis face, who then can see Him,Whetherit is against a na on or a man alone? ––30 That the hypocrite should not reign,Lest the people be ensnared.31 "For has anyone said to God, ‘I haveborne chastening; I will offend no more;32 Teach me what I do not see; If I havedone iniquity, I will do no more’?33 Should He repay it according to yourterms, Just because you disavow it? Youmust choose, and not I; Therefore speakwhat you know.34 "Men of understanding say to me,Wise men who listen to me:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge, Hiswords are without wisdom.’

JOB 34–35 10936Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,Because his answers are like those ofwicked men!37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; Heclaps his hands among us, And mul plieshis words against God."

35 1Moreover Elihu answered andsaid:

2 "Do you think this is right? Do you say,‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?3 For you say, ‘What advantage will it beto You? What profit shall I have, morethan if I had sinned?’4 "I will answer you, And yourcompanions with you.5 Look to the heavens and see; Andbehold the clouds––They are higherthan you.6 If you sin, what do you accomplishagainst Him? Or, if your transgressionsare mul plied, what do you do to Him?

JOB 35 1107 If you are righteous, what do you giveHim? Or what does He receive from yourhand?8 Your wickedness affects a man suchas you, And your righteousness a son ofman.9 "Because of the mul tude ofoppressions they cry out; They cry outfor help because of the arm of themighty.10 But no one says, ‘Where is God myMaker, Who gives songs in the night,11Who teaches us more than thebeasts of the earth, And makes us wiserthan the birds of heaven?’12 There they cry out, but He does notanswer, Because of the pride of evil men.13 Surely God will not listen to emptytalk, Nor will the Almighty regard it.14Although you say you do not seeHim, Yet jus ce is before Him, and youmust wait for Him.

JOB 35–36 11115And now, because He has notpunished in His anger, Nor taken muchno ce of folly,16 Therefore Job opens his mouthin vain; He mul plies words withoutknowledge."

36 1 Elihu also proceeded and said:2 "Bear with me a li le, and I will

show you That there are yet words tospeak on God’s behalf.3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; Iwill ascribe righteousness to my Maker.4 For truly my words are not false; Onewho is perfect in knowledge is with you.5 "Behold, God is mighty, but despisesno one; He is mighty in strength ofunderstanding.6He does not preserve the life ofthe wicked, But gives jus ce to theoppressed.7He does not withdraw His eyes fromthe righteous; But they are on the throne

JOB 36 112with kings, For He has seated themforever, And they are exalted.8And if they are bound in fe ers, Heldin the cords of afflic on,9 Then He tells them their work andtheir transgressions––That they haveacted defiantly.10He also opens their ear to instruc on,And commands that they turn frominiquity.11 If they obey and serve Him, Theyshall spend their days in prosperity, Andtheir years in pleasures.12 But if they do not obey, They shallperish by the sword, And they shall diewithout knowledge.13 "But the hypocrites in heart store upwrath; They do not cry for help when Hebinds them.14 They die in youth, And their life endsamong the perverted persons.

JOB 36 11315He delivers the poor in their afflic on,And opens their ears in oppression.16 "Indeed He would have brought youout of dire distress, Into a broad placewhere there is no restraint; And whatis set on your table would be full ofrichness.17 But you are filled with the judgmentdue the wicked; Judgment and jus cetake hold of you.18 Because there is wrath, beware lestHe take you away with one blow; For alarge ransom would not help you avoidit.19Will your riches, Or all the mightyforces, Keep you from distress?20Do not desire the night, When peopleare cut off in their place.21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity,For you have chosen this rather thanafflic on.

JOB 36 11422 "Behold, God is exalted by His power;Who teaches like Him?23Who has assigned Him His way, Orwho has said, ‘You have done wrong’?24 "Remember to magnify His work, Ofwhich men have sung.25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on itfrom afar.26 "Behold, God is great, and we do notknow Him; Nor can the number of Hisyears be discovered.27 For He draws up drops of water,Which dis ll as rain from the mist,28Which the clouds drop down Andpour abundantly on man.29 Indeed, can anyone understand thespreading of clouds, The thunder fromHis canopy?30 Look, He sca ers his light upon it,And covers the depths of the sea.31 For by these He judges the peoples;He gives food in abundance.

JOB 36–37 11532He covers His hands with lightning,And commands it to strike.33His thunder declares it, The ca lealso, concerning the rising storm.

37 1 "At this also my heart trembles,And leaps from its place.

2Hear a en vely the thunder of Hisvoice, And the rumbling that comes fromHis mouth.3He sends it forth under the wholeheaven, His lightning to the ends of theearth.4A er it a voice roars; He thunderswith His majes c voice, And He does notrestrain them when His voice is heard.5God thunders marvelously with Hisvoice; He does great things which wecannot comprehend.6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on theearth’; Likewise to the gentle rain andthe heavy rain of His strength.

JOB 37 1167He seals the hand of every man, Thatall men may know His work.8 The beasts go into dens, And remainin their lairs.9 From the chamber of the southcomes the whirlwind, And cold from thesca ering winds of the north.10 By the breath of God ice is given, Andthe broad waters are frozen.11Also with moisture He saturatesthe thick clouds; He sca ers His brightclouds.12And they swirl about, being turnedby His guidance, That they may dowhatever He commands them On theface of the whole earth.13He causes it to come, Whether forcorrec on, Or for His land, Or for mercy.14 "Listen to this, O Job; Stand s ll andconsider the wondrous works of God.

JOB 37 11715Do you know when God dispatchesthem, And causes the light of His cloudto shine?16Do you know how the clouds arebalanced, Those wondrous works of Himwho is perfect in knowledge?17Why are your garments hot, WhenHe quiets the earth by the south wind?18With Him, have you spread out theskies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?19 "Teach us what we should say to Him,For we can prepare nothing because ofthe darkness.20 Should He be told that I wish tospeak? If a man were to speak, surely hewould be swallowed up.21 Even now men cannot look at thelight when it is bright in the skies, Whenthe wind has passed and cleared them.22He comes from the north as goldensplendor; With God is awesome majesty.

JOB 37–38 11823As for the Almighty, we cannotfind Him; He is excellent in power, Injudgment and abundant jus ce; He doesnot oppress.24 Therefore men fear Him; He showsno par ality to any who are wise ofheart."

38 1 Then the LORD answered Jobout of the whirlwind, and said:

2 "Who is this who darkens counsel Bywords without knowledge?3Now prepare yourself like a man; I willques on you, and you shall answer Me.4 "Where were you when I laid thefounda ons of the earth? Tell Me, if youhave understanding.5Who determined its measurements?Surely you know! Or who stretched theline upon it?6 To what were its founda onsfastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,

JOB 38 1197When the morning stars sangtogether, And all the sons of Godshouted for joy?8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors,When it burst forth and issued from thewomb;9When I made the clouds its garment,And thick darkness its swaddling band;10When I fixed My limit for it, And setbars and doors;11When I said, ‘This far you may come,but no farther, And here your proudwaves must stop!’12 "Have you commanded the morningsince your days began, And caused thedawn to know its place,13 That it might take hold of the ends ofthe earth, And the wicked be shaken outof it?14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,And stands out like a garment.

JOB 38 12015 From the wicked their light iswithheld, And the upraised arm isbroken.16 "Have you entered the springs of thesea? Or have you walked in search of thedepths?17Have the gates of death beenrevealed to you? Or have you seen thedoors of the shadow of death?18Have you comprehended the breadthof the earth? Tell Me, if you know allthis.19 "Where is the way to the dwelling oflight? And darkness, where is its place,20 That you may take it to its territory,That you may know the paths to itshome?21Do you know it, because you wereborn then, Or because the number ofyour days is great?

JOB 38 12122 "Have you entered the treasury ofsnow, Or have you seen the treasury ofhail,23Which I have reserved for the me oftrouble, For the day of ba le and war?24 By what way is light diffused, Or theeast wind sca ered over the earth?25 "Who has divided a channel for theoverflowing water, Or a path for thethunderbolt,26 To cause it to rain on a land wherethere is no one, A wilderness in whichthere is no man;27 To sa sfy the desolate waste, Andcause to spring forth the growth oftender grass?28Has the rain a father? Or who hasbego en the drops of dew?29 From whose womb comes the ice?And the frost of heaven, who gives itbirth?

JOB 38 12230 The waters harden like stone, Andthe surface of the deep is frozen.31 "Can you bind the cluster of thePleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in itsseason? Or can you guide the Great Bearwith its cubs?33Do you know the ordinances of theheavens? Can you set their dominionover the earth?34 "Can you li up your voice to theclouds, That an abundance of water maycover you?35 Can you send out lightnings, thatthey may go, And say to you, ‘Here weare!’?36Who has put wisdom in the mind?Or who has given understanding to theheart?37Who can number the clouds bywisdom? Or who can pour out thebo les of heaven,

JOB 38–39 12338When the dust hardens in clumps,And the clods cling together?39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lion,Or sa sfy the appe te of the younglions,40When they crouch in their dens, Orlurk in their lairs to lie in wait?41Who provides food for the raven,When its young ones cry to God, Andwander about for lack of food?

39 1 "Do you know the me whenthe wild mountain goats bear

young? Or can you mark when the deergives birth?2 Can you number the months that theyfulfill? Or do you know the me whenthey bear young?3 They bow down, They bring forth theiryoung, They deliver their offspring.4 Their young ones are healthy, Theygrow strong with grain; They depart anddo not return to them.

JOB 39 1245 "Who set the wild donkey free? Wholoosed the bonds of the onager,6Whose home I have made thewilderness, And the barren land hisdwelling?7He scorns the tumult of the city; Hedoes not heed the shouts of the driver.8 The range of the mountains is hispasture, And he searches a er everygreen thing.9 "Will the wild ox be willing to serveyou? Will he bed by your manger?10 Can you bind the wild ox in thefurrow with ropes? Or will he plow thevalleys behind you?11Will you trust him because hisstrength is great? Or will you leave yourlabor to him?12Will you trust him to bring home yourgrain, And gather it to your threshingfloor?

JOB 39 12513 "The wings of the ostrich waveproudly, But are her wings and pinionslike the kindly stork’s?14 For she leaves her eggs on theground, And warms them in the dust;15 She forgets that a foot may crushthem, Or that a wild beast may breakthem.16 She treats her young harshly, asthough they were not hers; Her labor isin vain, without concern,17 Because God deprived her ofwisdom, And did not endow her withunderstanding.18When she li s herself on high, Shescorns the horse and its rider.19 "Have you given the horse strength?Have you clothed his neck with thunder?20 Can you frighten him like a locust?His majes c snor ng strikes terror.

JOB 39 12621He paws in the valley, and rejoices inhis strength; He gallops into the clash ofarms.22He mocks at fear, and is notfrightened; Nor does he turn back fromthe sword.23 The quiver ra les against him, Thegli ering spear and javelin.24He devours the distance withfierceness and rage; Nor does he cometo a halt because the trumpet hassounded.25At the blast of the trumpet he says,‘Aha!’ He smells the ba le from afar, Thethunder of captains and shou ng.26 "Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,And spread its wings toward the south?27Does the eagle mount up at yourcommand, And make its nest on high?28On the rocks it dwells and resides, Onthe crag of the rock and the stronghold.

JOB 39–40 12729 From there it spies out the prey; Itseyes observe from afar.30 Its young ones suck up blood; Andwhere the slain are, there it is."

40 1Moreover the LORD answeredJob, and said:

2 "Shall the one who contends with theAlmighty correct Him? He who rebukesGod, let him answer it."3 Then Job answered the LORD andsaid:4 "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answerYou? I lay my hand over my mouth.5Once I have spoken, but I will notanswer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed nofurther."6 Then the LORD answered Job out ofthe whirlwind, and said:7 "Now prepare yourself like a man; Iwill ques on you, and you shall answerMe:

JOB 40 1288 "Would you indeed annul Myjudgment? Would you condemn Me thatyou may be jus fied?9Have you an arm like God? Or can youthunder with a voice like His?10 Then adorn yourself with majestyand splendor, and array yourself withglory and beauty.11Disperse the rage of your wrath; Lookon everyone who is proud, and humblehim.12 Look on everyone who is proud, andbring him low; Tread down the wicked intheir place.13Hide them in the dust together, Bindtheir faces in hidden darkness.14 Then I will also confess to you Thatyour own right hand can save you.15 "Look now at the behemoth, which Imade along with you; He eats grass likean ox.

JOB 40 12916 See now, his strength is in his hips,And his power is in his stomach muscles.17He moves his tail like a cedar; Thesinews of his thighs are ghtly knit.18His bones are like beams of bronze,His ribs like bars of iron.19He is the first of the ways of God;Only He who made him can bring nearHis sword.20 Surely the mountains yield food forhim, And all the beasts of the field playthere.21He lies under the lotus trees, In acovert of reeds and marsh.22 The lotus trees cover him withtheir shade; The willows by the brooksurround him.23 Indeed the river may rage, Yet he isnot disturbed; He is confident, thoughthe Jordan gushes into his mouth,24 Though he takes it in his eyes, Or onepierces his nose with a snare.

JOB 41 130

41 1 "Can you draw out Leviathanwith a hook, Or snare his tongue

with a line which you lower?2 Can you put a reed through his nose,Or pierce his jaw with a hook?3Will he make many supplica ons toyou? Will he speak so ly to you?4Will he make a covenant with you?Will you take him as a servant forever?5Will you play with him as with a bird,Or will you leash him for your maidens?6Will your companions make a banquetof him? Will they appor on him amongthe merchants?7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Orhis head with fishing spears?8 Lay your hand on him; Remember theba le––Never do it again!9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming himis false; Shall one not be overwhelmedat the sight of him?

JOB 41 13110No one is so fierce that he woulddare s r him up. Who then is able tostand against Me?11Who has preceded Me, that I shouldpay him? Everything under heaven isMine.12 "I will not conceal his limbs,His mighty power, or his gracefulpropor ons.13Who can remove his outer coat?Who can approach him with a doublebridle?14Who can open the doors of his face,With his terrible teeth all around?15His rows of scales are his pride, Shutup ghtly as with a seal;16One is so near another That no aircan come between them;17 They are joined one to another, Theys ck together and cannot be parted.18His sneezings flash forth light, And hiseyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

JOB 41 13219Out of his mouth go burning lights;Sparks of fire shoot out.20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, Asfrom a boiling pot and burning rushes.21His breath kindles coals, And a flamegoes out of his mouth.22 Strength dwells in his neck, Andsorrow dances before him.23 The folds of his flesh are joinedtogether; They are firm on him andcannot be moved.24His heart is as hard as stone, Even ashard as the lower millstone.25When he raises himself up, themighty are afraid; Because of hiscrashings they are beside themselves.26 Though the sword reaches him, itcannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, orjavelin.27He regards iron as straw, And bronzeas ro en wood.

JOB 41–42 13328 The arrow cannot make him flee;Slingstones become like stubble to him.29Darts are regarded as straw; Helaughs at the threat of javelins.30His undersides are like sharppotsherds; He spreads pointed marks inthe mire.31He makes the deep boil like a pot; Hemakes the sea like a pot of ointment.32He leaves a shining wake behind him;One would think the deep had whitehair.33On earth there is nothing like him,Which is made without fear.34He beholds every high thing; He isking over all the children of pride."

42 1 Then Job answered the LORDand said:

2 "I know that You can do everything,And that no purpose of Yours can bewithheld from You.

JOB 42 1343 You asked, ‘Who is this who hidescounsel without knowledge?’ ThereforeI have u ered what I did not understand,Things too wonderful for me, which I didnot know.4 Listen, please, and let me speak; Yousaid, ‘I will ques on you, and you shallanswer Me.’5 "I have heard of You by the hearing ofthe ear, But now my eye sees You.6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repentin dust and ashes."7And so it was, a er the LORD hadspoken these words to Job, that theLORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "Mywrath is aroused against you and yourtwo friends, for you have not spoken ofMe what is right, as My servant Job has.8 "Now therefore, take for yourselvesseven bulls and seven rams, go to Myservant Job, and offer up for yourselvesa burnt offering; and My servant Job

JOB 42 135shall pray for you. For I will accept him,lest I deal with you according to yourfolly; because you have not spoken ofMe what is right, as My servant Job has."9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildadthe Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathitewent and did as the LORD commandedthem; for the LORD had accepted Job.10And the LORD restored Job’s losseswhen he prayed for his friends. Indeedthe LORD gave Job twice as much as hehad before.11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters,and all those who had been hisacquaintances before, came to him andate food with him in his house; and theyconsoled him and comforted him for allthe adversity that the LORD had broughtupon him. Each one gave him a piece ofsilver and each a ring of gold.12Now the LORD blessed the la erdays of Job more than his beginning;

JOB 42 136for he had fourteen thousand sheep, sixthousand camels, one thousand yoke ofoxen, and one thousand female donkeys.13He also had seven sons and threedaughters.14And he called the name of the firstJemimah, the name of the secondKeziah, and the name of the thirdKeren–Happuch.15 In all the land were found no womenso beau ful as the daughters of Job; andtheir father gave them an inheritanceamong their brothers.16A er this Job lived one hundred andforty years, and saw his children andgrandchildren for four genera ons.17 So Job died, old and full of days.

Psalms

1 1 Blessed is the man Who walks notin the counsel of the ungodly, Nor

stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits inthe seat of the scornful;2 But his delight is in the law of theLORD, And in His law he meditates dayand night.3He shall be like a tree Planted by therivers of water, That brings forth itsfruit in its season, Whose leaf also shallnot wither; And whatever he does shallprosper.4 The ungodly are not so, But are likethe chaff which the wind drives away.5 Therefore the ungodly shall not standin the judgment, Nor sinners in thecongrega on of the righteous.

PSALMS 1–2 26 For the LORD knows the way of therighteous, But the way of the ungodlyshall perish.

2 1Why do the na ons rage, And thepeople plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,And the rulers take counsel together,Against the LORD and against HisAnointed, saying,3 "Let us break Their bonds in piecesAnd cast away Their cords from us."4He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;The Lord shall hold them in derision.5 Then He shall speak to them in Hiswrath, And distress them in His deepdispleasure:6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hillof Zion."7 "I will declare the decree: The LORDhas said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today Ihave bego en You.

PSALMS 2–3 38Ask of Me, and I will give You Thena ons for Your inheritance, And theends of the earth for Your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod ofiron; You shall dash them to pieces like apo er’s vessel.’"10Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Beinstructed, you judges of the earth.11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoicewith trembling.12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, Andyou perish in the way, When His wrath iskindled but a li le. Blessed are all thosewho put their trust in Him.

3 1 “A Psalm of David when he fledfrom Absalom his son.” LORD, how

they have increased who trouble me!Many are they who rise up against me.2Many are they who say of me, "Thereis no help for him in God." Selah

PSALMS 3–4 43 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,My glory and the One who li s up myhead.4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, AndHe heard me from His holy hill. Selah5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for theLORD sustained me.6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands ofpeople Who have set themselves againstme all around.7Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God!For You have struck all my enemies onthe cheekbone; You have broken theteeth of the ungodly.8 Salva on belongs to the LORD. Yourblessing is upon Your people. Selah

4 1 “To the Chief Musician. Withstringed instruments. A Psalm of

David.” Hear me when I call, O God ofmy righteousness! You have relieved mein my distress; Have mercy on me, andhear my prayer.

PSALMS 4 52How long, O you sons of men, Willyou turn my glory to shame? How longwill you love worthlessness And seekfalsehood? Selah3 But know that the LORD has set apartfor Himself him who is godly; The LORDwill hear when I call to Him.4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditatewithin your heart on your bed, and bes ll. Selah5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,And put your trust in the LORD.6 There are many who say, "Who willshow us any good?" LORD, li up thelight of Your countenance upon us.7 You have put gladness in my heart,More than in the season that their grainand wine increased.8 I will both lie down in peace, andsleep; For You alone, O LORD, make medwell in safety.

PSALMS 5 6

5 1 “To the Chief Musician. With flutes.A Psalm of David.” Give ear to my

words, O LORD, Consider my medita on.2Give heed to the voice of my cry, MyKing and my God, For to You I will pray.3My voice You shall hear in themorning, O LORD; In the morning I willdirect it to You, And I will look up.4 For You are not a God who takespleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evildwell with You.5 The boas ul shall not stand in Yoursight; You hate all workers of iniquity.6 You shall destroy those who speakfalsehood; The LORD abhors thebloodthirsty and decei ul man.7 But as for me, I will come into Yourhouse in the mul tude of Your mercy;In fear of You I will worship toward Yourholy temple.

PSALMS 5–6 78 Lead me, O LORD, in Yourrighteousness because of my enemies;Make Your way straight before my face.9 For there is no faithfulness in theirmouth; Their inward part is destruc on;Their throat is an open tomb; Theyfla er with their tongue.10 Pronounce them guilty, O God! Letthem fall by their own counsels; Castthem out in the mul tude of theirtransgressions, For they have rebelledagainst You.11 But let all those rejoice who put theirtrust in You; Let them ever shout for joy,because You defend them; Let those alsowho love Your name Be joyful in You.12 For You, O LORD, will bless therighteous; With favor You will surroundhim as with a shield.

6 1 “To the Chief Musician. Withstringed instruments. On an eight–

stringed harp. A Psalm of David.” O

PSALMS 6 8LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.2Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I amweak; O LORD, heal me, for my bonesare troubled.3My soul also is greatly troubled; ButYou, O LORD––how long?4 Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, saveme for Your mercies’ sake!5 For in death there is no remembranceof You; In the grave who will give Youthanks?6 I am weary with my groaning; All nightI make my bed swim; I drench my couchwith my tears.7My eye wastes away because of grief;It grows old because of all my enemies.8Depart from me, all you workers ofiniquity; For the LORD has heard thevoice of my weeping.9 The LORD has heard my supplica on;The LORD will receive my prayer.

PSALMS 6–7 910 Let all my enemies be ashamed andgreatly troubled; Let them turn back andbe ashamed suddenly.

7 1 “A Medita on of David, which hesang to the LORD concerning the

words of Cush, a Benjamite.” O LORD myGod, in You I put my trust; Save me fromall those who persecute me; And deliverme,2 Lest they tear me like a lion, Rendingme in pieces, while there is none todeliver.3O LORD my God, if I have done this: Ifthere is iniquity in my hands,4 If I have repaid evil to him who was atpeace with me, Or have plundered myenemy without cause,5 Let the enemy pursue me andovertake me; Yes, let him trample my lifeto the earth, And lay my honor in thedust. Selah

PSALMS 7 106Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; LiYourself up because of the rage of myenemies; Rise up for me to the judgmentYou have commanded!7 So the congrega on of the peoplesshall surround You; For their sakes,therefore, return on high.8 The LORD shall judge the peoples;Judge me, O LORD, according to myrighteousness, And according to myintegrity within me.9Oh, let the wickedness of the wickedcome to an end, But establish the just;For the righteous God tests the heartsand minds.10My defense is of God, Who saves theupright in heart.11God is a just judge, And God is angrywith the wicked every day.12 If he does not turn back, He willsharpen His sword; He bends His bowand makes it ready.

PSALMS 7–8 1113He also prepares for Himselfinstruments of death; He makes Hisarrows into fiery sha s.14 Behold, the wicked brings forthiniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble andbrings forth falsehood.15He made a pit and dug it out, Andhas fallen into the ditch which he made.16His trouble shall return upon his ownhead, And his violent dealing shall comedown on his own crown.17 I will praise the LORD according toHis righteousness, And will sing praise tothe name of the LORD Most High.

8 1 “To the Chief Musician. On theinstrument of Gath. A Psalm of

David.” O LORD, our Lord, How excellentis Your name in all the earth, Who haveset Your glory above the heavens!2Out of themouth of babes and nursinginfants You have ordained strength,

PSALMS 8 12Because of Your enemies, That You maysilence the enemy and the avenger.3When I consider Your heavens, thework of Your fingers, The moon and thestars, which You have ordained,4What is man that You are mindful ofhim, And the son of man that You visithim?5 For You have made him a li le lowerthan the angels, And You have crownedhim with glory and honor.6 You have made him to have dominionover the works of Your hands; You haveput all things under his feet,7All sheep and oxen––Even the beastsof the field,8 The birds of the air, And the fish of thesea That pass through the paths of theseas.9O LORD, our Lord, How excellent isYour name in all the earth!

PSALMS 9 13

9 1 “To the Chief Musician. To the tuneof "Death of the Son." A Psalm of

David.” I will praise You, O LORD, withmy whole heart; I will tell of all Yourmarvelous works.2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I willsing praise to Your name, O Most High.3When my enemies turn back, Theyshall fall and perish at Your presence.4 For You have maintained my right andmy cause; You sat on the throne judgingin righteousness.5 You have rebuked the na ons, Youhave destroyed the wicked; You haveblo ed out their name forever and ever.6O enemy, destruc ons are finishedforever! And you have destroyed ci es;Even their memory has perished.7 But the LORD shall endure forever; Hehas prepared His throne for judgment.

PSALMS 9 148He shall judge the world inrighteousness, And He shall administerjudgment for the peoples in uprightness.9 The LORD also will be a refuge for theoppressed, A refuge in mes of trouble.10And those who know Your name willput their trust in You; For You, LORD,have not forsaken those who seek You.11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwellsin Zion! Declare His deeds among thepeople.12When He avenges blood, Heremembers them; He does not forgetthe cry of the humble.13Havemercy onme, O LORD! Considermy trouble from those who hate me, Youwho li me up from the gates of death,14 That I may tell of all Your praise Inthe gates of the daughter of Zion. I willrejoice in Your salva on.

PSALMS 9–10 1515 The na ons have sunk down in thepit which they made; In the net whichthey hid, their own foot is caught.16 The LORD is known by the judgmentHe executes; The wicked is snared inthe work of his own hands. Medita on.Selah17 The wicked shall be turned into hell,And all the na ons that forget God.18 For the needy shall not always beforgo en; The expecta on of the poorshall not perish forever.19Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail;Let the na ons be judged in Your sight.20 Put them in fear, O LORD, That thena ons may know themselves to be butmen. Selah

10 1Why do You stand afar off, OLORD? Why do You hide in mes

of trouble?

PSALMS 10 162 The wicked in his pride persecutes thepoor; Let them be caught in the plotswhich they have devised.3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’sdesire; He blesses the greedy andrenounces the LORD.4 The wicked in his proud countenancedoes not seek God; God is in none of histhoughts.5His ways are always prospering; Yourjudgments are far above, out of his sight;As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.6He has said in his heart, "I shall not bemoved; I shall never be in adversity."7His mouth is full of cursing and deceitand oppression; Under his tongue istrouble and iniquity.8He sits in the lurking places of thevillages; In the secret places he murdersthe innocent; His eyes are secretly fixedon the helpless.

PSALMS 10 179He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in hisden; He lies in wait to catch the poor;He catches the poor when he draws himinto his net.10 So he crouches, he lies low, That thehelpless may fall by his strength.11He has said in his heart, "God hasforgo en; He hides His face; He willnever see."12Arise, O LORD! O God, li up Yourhand! Do not forget the humble.13Why do the wicked renounce God?He has said in his heart, "You will notrequire an account."14 But You have seen, for You observetrouble and grief, To repay it by Yourhand. The helpless commits himself toYou; You are the helper of the fatherless.15 Break the arm of the wicked and theevil man; Seek out his wickedness un lYou find none.

PSALMS 10–11 1816 The LORD is King forever and ever;The na ons have perished out of Hisland.17 LORD, You have heard the desire ofthe humble; You will prepare their heart;You will cause Your ear to hear,18 To do jus ce to the fatherless and theoppressed, That the man of the earthmay oppress no more.

11 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” In the LORD I put my

trust; How can you say to my soul, "Fleeas a bird to your mountain"?2 For look! The wicked bend their bow,They make ready their arrow on thestring, That they may shoot secretly atthe upright in heart.3 If the founda ons are destroyed,What can the righteous do?4 The LORD is in His holy temple, TheLORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyesbehold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

PSALMS 11–12 195 The LORD tests the righteous, But thewicked and the one who loves violenceHis soul hates.6Upon the wicked He will rain coals;Fire and brimstone and a burning windShall be the por on of their cup.7 For the LORD is righteous, He lovesrighteousness; His countenance beholdsthe upright.

12 1 “To the Chief Musician. On aneight–stringed harp. A Psalm of

David.” Help, LORD, for the godly manceases! For the faithful disappear fromamong the sons of men.2 They speak idly everyone with hisneighbor; With fla ering lips and adouble heart they speak.3May the LORD cut off all fla eringlips, And the tongue that speaks proudthings,

PSALMS 12–13 204Who have said, "With our tongue wewill prevail; Our lips are our own; Who islord over us?"5 "For the oppression of the poor, forthe sighing of the needy, Now I willarise," says the LORD; "I will set him inthe safety for which he yearns."6 The words of the LORD are purewords, Like silver tried in a furnace ofearth, Purified seven mes.7 You shall keep them, O LORD, Youshall preserve them from this genera onforever.8 The wicked prowl on every side, Whenvileness is exalted among the sons ofmen.

13 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” How long, O LORD?

Will You forget me forever? How longwill You hide Your face from me?2How long shall I take counsel in mysoul, Having sorrow in my heart daily?

PSALMS 13–14 21How long will my enemy be exalted overme?3 Consider and hear me, O LORD myGod; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep thesleep of death;4 Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailedagainst him"; Lest those who trouble merejoice when I am moved.5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; Myheart shall rejoice in Your salva on.6 I will sing to the LORD, Because He hasdealt boun fully with me.

14 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” The fool has said in

his heart, "There is no God." They arecorrupt, They have done abominableworks, There is none who does good.2 The LORD looks down from heavenupon the children of men, To see if thereare any who understand, who seek God.

PSALMS 14–15 223 They have all turned aside, They havetogether become corrupt; There is nonewho does good, No, not one.4Have all the workers of iniquity noknowledge, Who eat up my people asthey eat bread, And do not call on theLORD?5 There they are in great fear, For God iswith the genera on of the righteous.6 You shame the counsel of the poor,But the LORD is his refuge.7Oh, that the salva on of Israel wouldcome out of Zion! When the LORD bringsback the cap vity of His people, LetJacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

15 1 “A Psalm of David.” LORD, whomay abide in Your tabernacle?

Who may dwell in Your holy hill?2He who walks uprightly, And worksrighteousness, And speaks the truth inhis heart;

PSALMS 15–16 233He who does not backbite with histongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor,Nor does he take up a reproach againsthis friend;4 In whose eyes a vile person isdespised, But he honors those who fearthe LORD; He who swears to his ownhurt and does not change;5He who does not put out his money atusury, Nor does he take a bribe againstthe innocent. He who does these thingsshall never be moved.

16 1 “A Michtam of David.” Preserveme, O God, for in You I put my

trust.2O my soul, you have said to theLORD, "You are my Lord, My goodness isnothing apart from You."3As for the saints who are on the earth,"They are the excellent ones, in whom isall my delight."

PSALMS 16 244 Their sorrows shall be mul plied whohasten a er another god; Their drinkofferings of blood I will not offer, Nortake up their names on my lips.5O LORD, You are the por on of myinheritance and my cup; You maintainmy lot.6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasantplaces; Yes, I have a good inheritance.7 I will bless the LORD who has givenme counsel; My heart also instructs mein the night seasons.8 I have set the LORD always before me;Because He is at my right hand I shall notbe moved.9 Therefore my heart is glad, and myglory rejoices; My flesh also will rest inhope.10 For You will not leave my soul inSheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy Oneto see corrup on.

PSALMS 16–17 2511 You will show me the path of life; InYour presence is fullness of joy; At Yourright hand are pleasures forevermore.

17 1 “A Prayer of David.” Hear a justcause, O LORD, A end to my cry;

Give ear to my prayer which is not fromdecei ul lips.2 Let my vindica on come from Yourpresence; Let Your eyes look on thethings that are upright.3 You have tested my heart; You havevisited me in the night; You have triedme and have found nothing; I havepurposed that my mouth shall nottransgress.4 Concerning the works of men, By theword of Your lips, I have kept away fromthe paths of the destroyer.5Uphold my steps in Your paths, Thatmy footsteps may not slip.

PSALMS 17 266 I have called upon You, for You willhear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me,and hear my speech.7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindnessby Your right hand, O You who savethose who trust in You From those whorise up against them.8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;Hide me under the shadow of Yourwings,9 From the wicked who oppress me,From my deadly enemies who surroundme.10 They have closed up their fat hearts;With their mouths they speak proudly.11 They have now surrounded us inour steps; They have set their eyes,crouching down to the earth,12As a lion is eager to tear his prey, Andlike a young lion lurking in secret places.

PSALMS 17–18 2713Arise, O LORD, Confront him, casthim down; Deliver my life from thewicked with Your sword,14With Your hand from men, O LORD,From men of the world who have theirpor on in this life, And whose belly Youfill with Your hidden treasure. They aresa sfied with children, And leave therest of their possession for their babes.15As for me, I will see Your face inrighteousness; I shall be sa sfied when Iawake in Your likeness.

18 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David the servant of the LORD,

who spoke to the LORD the words of thissong on the day that the LORD deliveredhim from the hand of all his enemiesand from the hand of Saul. And he said:”I will love You, O LORD, my strength.2 The LORD is my rock and my fortressand my deliverer; My God, my strength,

PSALMS 18 28in whom I will trust; My shield and thehorn of my salva on, my stronghold.3 I will call upon the LORD, who isworthy to be praised; So shall I be savedfrom my enemies.4 The pangs of death surrounded me,And the floods of ungodliness made meafraid.5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;The snares of death confronted me.6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,And cried out to my God; He heard myvoice from His temple, And my cry camebefore Him, even to His ears.7 Then the earth shook and trembled;The founda ons of the hills also quakedand were shaken, Because He was angry.8 Smoke went up from His nostrils, Anddevouring fire from His mouth; Coalswere kindled by it.9He bowed the heavens also, and camedown With darkness under His feet.

PSALMS 18 2910And He rode upon a cherub, andflew; He flew upon the wings of thewind.11He made darkness His secret place;His canopy around Him was dark watersAnd thick clouds of the skies.12 From the brightness before Him, Histhick clouds passed with hailstones andcoals of fire.13 The LORD thundered from heaven,And the Most High u ered His voice,Hailstones and coals of fire.14He sent out His arrows and sca eredthe foe, Lightnings in abundance, and Hevanquished them.15 Then the channels of the sea wereseen, The founda ons of the world wereuncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, Atthe blast of the breath of Your nostrils.16He sent from above, He took me; Hedrew me out of many waters.

PSALMS 18 3017He delivered me from my strongenemy, From those who hated me, Forthey were too strong for me.18 They confronted me in the day of mycalamity, But the LORD was my support.19He also brought me out into a broadplace; He delivered me because Hedelighted in me.20 The LORD rewarded me accordingto my righteousness; According tothe cleanness of my hands He hasrecompensed me.21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,And have not wickedly departed frommy God.22 For all His judgments were beforeme, And I did not put away His statutesfrom me.23 I was also blameless before Him, AndI kept myself from my iniquity.24 Therefore the LORD hasrecompensed me according to my

PSALMS 18 31righteousness, According to thecleanness of my hands in His sight.25With the merciful You will showYourself merciful; With a blameless manYou will show Yourself blameless;26With the pure You will show Yourselfpure; And with the devious You will showYourself shrewd.27 For You will save the humble people,But will bring down haughty looks.28 For You will light my lamp; The LORDmy God will enlighten my darkness.29 For by You I can run against a troop,By my God I can leap over a wall.30As for God, His way is perfect; Theword of the LORD is proven; He is ashield to all who trust in Him.31 For who is God, except the LORD?And who is a rock, except our God?32 It is God who arms me with strength,And makes my way perfect.

PSALMS 18 3233He makes my feet like the feet ofdeer, And sets me on my high places.34He teaches my hands to make war, Sothat my arms can bend a bow of bronze.35 You have also given me the shield ofYour salva on; Your right hand has heldme up, Your gentleness has made megreat.36 You enlarged my path under me, Somy feet did not slip.37 I have pursued my enemies andovertaken them; Neither did I turn backagain ll they were destroyed.38 I have wounded them, So that theycould not rise; They have fallen undermy feet.39 For You have armed me with strengthfor the ba le; You have subdued underme those who rose up against me.40 You have also given me the necks ofmy enemies, So that I destroyed thosewho hated me.

PSALMS 18 3341 They cried out, but there was noneto save; Even to the LORD, but He didnot answer them.42 Then I beat them as fine as the dustbefore the wind; I cast them out like dirtin the streets.43 You have delivered me from thestrivings of the people; You have mademe the head of the na ons; A people Ihave not known shall serve me.44As soon as they hear of me they obeyme; The foreigners submit to me.45 The foreigners fade away, And comefrightened from their hideouts.46 The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock!Let the God of my salva on be exalted.47 It is God who avenges me, Andsubdues the peoples under me;48He delivers me from my enemies.You also li me up above those who riseagainst me; You have delivered me fromthe violent man.

PSALMS 18–19 3449 Therefore I will give thanks to You,O LORD, among the Gen les, And singpraises to Your name.50Great deliverance He gives toHis king, And shows mercy to Hisanointed, To David and his descendantsforevermore.

19 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” The heavens declare

the glory of God; And the firmamentshows His handiwork.2Day unto day u ers speech, And nightunto night reveals knowledge.3 There is no speech nor languageWhere their voice is not heard.4 Their line has gone out through all theearth, And their words to the end of theworld. In them He has set a tabernaclefor the sun,5Which is like a bridegroom coming outof his chamber, And rejoices like a strongman to run its race.

PSALMS 19 356 Its rising is from one end of heaven,And its circuit to the other end; Andthere is nothing hidden from its heat.7 The law of the LORD is perfect,conver ng the soul; The tes monyof the LORD is sure, making wise thesimple;8 The statutes of the LORD are right,rejoicing the heart; The commandmentof the LORD is pure, enlightening theeyes;9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduringforever; The judgments of the LORD aretrue and righteous altogether.10More to be desired are they thangold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeteralso than honey and the honeycomb.11Moreover by them Your servant iswarned, And in keeping them there isgreat reward.12Who can understand his errors?Cleanse me from secret faults.

PSALMS 19–20 3613 Keep back Your servant also frompresumptuous sins; Let them not havedominion over me. Then I shall beblameless, And I shall be innocent ofgreat transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth and themedita on of my heart Be acceptable inYour sight, O LORD, my strength and myRedeemer.

20 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” May the LORD answer

you in the day of trouble; May the nameof the God of Jacob defend you;2May He send you help from thesanctuary, And strengthen you out ofZion;3May He remember all your offerings,And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah4May He grant you according toyour heart’s desire, And fulfill all yourpurpose.

PSALMS 20–21 375We will rejoice in your salva on, Andin the name of our God we will set upour banners! May the LORD fulfill allyour pe ons.6Now I know that the LORD saves Hisanointed; He will answer him from Hisholy heaven With the saving strength ofHis right hand.7 Some trust in chariots, and some inhorses; But we will remember the nameof the LORD our God.8 They have bowed down and fallen;But we have risen and stand upright.9 Save, LORD! May the King answer uswhen we call.

21 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” The king shall have joy

in Your strength, O LORD; And in Yoursalva on how greatly shall he rejoice!2 You have given him his heart’s desire,And have not withheld the request of hislips. Selah

PSALMS 21 383 For You meet him with the blessingsof goodness; You set a crown of puregold upon his head.4He asked life from You, and You gave itto him––Length of days forever and ever.5His glory is great in Your salva on;Honor and majesty You have placedupon him.6 For You have made him most blessedforever; You have made him exceedinglyglad with Your presence.7 For the king trusts in the LORD, Andthrough the mercy of the Most High heshall not be moved.8 Your hand will find all Your enemies;Your right hand will find those who hateYou.9 You shall make them as a fiery oven inthe me of Your anger; The LORD shallswallow them up in His wrath, And thefire shall devour them.

PSALMS 21–22 3910 Their offspring You shall destroy fromthe earth, And their descendants fromamong the sons of men.11 For they intended evil against You;They devised a plot which they are notable to perform.12 Therefore You will make them turntheir back; You will make ready Yourarrows on Your string toward their faces.13 Be exalted, O LORD, in Your ownstrength! We will sing and praise Yourpower.

22 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"The Deer of the Dawn." A Psalm

of David.” My God, My God, why haveYou forsaken Me? Why are You so farfrom helping Me, And from the words ofMy groaning?2O My God, I cry in the day me, butYou do not hear; And in the night season,and am not silent.

PSALMS 22 403 But You are holy, Enthroned in thepraises of Israel.4Our fathers trusted in You; Theytrusted, and You delivered them.5 They cried to You, and were delivered;They trusted in You, and were notashamed.6 But I am a worm, and no man; Areproach of men, and despised by thepeople.7All those who see Me ridicule Me;They shoot out the lip, they shake thehead, saying,8 "He trusted in the LORD, let Himrescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, sinceHe delights in Him!"9 But You are He who took Me out ofthe womb; You made Me trust while onMy mother’s breasts.10 I was cast upon You from birth. FromMy mother’s womb You have been MyGod.

PSALMS 22 4111 Be not far from Me, For trouble isnear; For there is none to help.12Many bulls have surrounded Me;Strong bulls of Bashan have encircledMe.13 They gape at Me with their mouths,Like a raging and roaring lion.14 I am poured out like water, And allMy bones are out of joint; My heart islike wax; It has melted within Me.15My strength is dried up like apotsherd, And My tongue clings to Myjaws; You have brought Me to the dustof death.16 For dogs have surrounded Me; Thecongrega on of the wicked has enclosedMe. They piercedMy hands andMy feet;17 I can count all My bones. They lookand stare at Me.18 They divide My garments amongthem, And for My clothing they cast lots.

PSALMS 22 4219 But You, O LORD, do not be far fromMe; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!20Deliver Me from the sword, Myprecious life from the power of the dog.21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth Andfrom the horns of the wild oxen! Youhave answered Me.22 I will declare Your name to Mybrethren; In the midst of the assembly Iwill praise You.23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him!All you descendants of Jacob, glorifyHim, And fear Him, all you offspring ofIsrael!24 For He has not despised nor abhorredthe afflic on of the afflicted; Nor has Hehidden His face from Him; But when Hecried to Him, He heard.25My praise shall be of You in the greatassembly; I will pay My vows beforethose who fear Him.

PSALMS 22–23 4326 The poor shall eat and be sa sfied;Those who seek Him will praise theLORD. Let your heart live forever!27All the ends of the world Shallremember and turn to the LORD, And allthe families of the na ons Shall worshipbefore You.28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S, AndHe rules over the na ons.29All the prosperous of the earth Shalleat and worship; All those who go downto the dust Shall bow before Him, Evenhe who cannot keep himself alive.30A posterity shall serve Him. It willbe recounted of the Lord to the nextgenera on,31 They will come and declare Hisrighteousness to a people who will beborn, That He has done this.

23 1 “A Psalm of David.” The LORD ismy shepherd; I shall not want.

PSALMS 23–24 442He makes me to lie down in greenpastures; He leads me beside the s llwaters.3He restores my soul; He leads mein the paths of righteousness For Hisname’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valleyof the shadow of death, I will fear noevil; For You are with me; Your rod andYour staff, they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me in thepresence of my enemies; You anoint myhead with oil; My cup runs over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shallfollow me All the days of my life; AndI will dwell in the house of the LORDForever.

24 1 “A Psalm of David.” The earthis the LORD’S, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.2 For He has founded it upon the seas,And established it upon the waters.

PSALMS 24 453Who may ascend into the hill of theLORD? Or who may stand in His holyplace?4He who has clean hands and a pureheart, Who has not li ed up his soul toan idol, Nor sworn decei ully.5He shall receive blessing from theLORD, And righteousness from the Godof his salva on.6 This is Jacob, the genera on of thosewho seek Him, Who seek Your face.Selah7 Li up your heads, O you gates! Andbe li ed up, you everlas ng doors! Andthe King of glory shall come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORDstrong and mighty, The LORD mighty inba le.9 Li up your heads, O you gates! Liup, you everlas ng doors! And the Kingof glory shall come in.

PSALMS 24–25 4610Who is this King of glory? The LORDof hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah

25 1 “A Psalm of David.” To You, OLORD, I li up my soul.

2Omy God, I trust in You; Let me not beashamed; Let not my enemies triumphover me.3 Indeed, let no one who waits on Yoube ashamed; Let those be ashamed whodeal treacherously without cause.4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teachme Your paths.5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,For You are the God of my salva on; OnYou I wait all the day.6 Remember, O LORD, Your tendermercies and Your lovingkindnesses, Forthey are from of old.7Do not remember the sins of myyouth, nor my transgressions; Accordingto Your mercy remember me, For Yourgoodness’ sake, O LORD.

PSALMS 25 478Good and upright is the LORD;Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.9 The humble He guides in jus ce, Andthe humble He teaches His way.10All the paths of the LORD are mercyand truth, To such as keep His covenantand His tes monies.11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD,Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.12Who is the man that fears theLORD? Him shall He teach in the way Hechooses.13He himself shall dwell in prosperity,And his descendants shall inherit theearth.14 The secret of the LORD is with thosewho fear Him, And He will show themHis covenant.15My eyes are ever toward the LORD,For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercyon me, For I am desolate and afflicted.

PSALMS 25–26 4817 The troubles of my heart haveenlarged; Bring me out of my distresses!18 Look on my afflic on and my pain,And forgive all my sins.19 Consider my enemies, for they aremany; And they hate me with cruelhatred.20 Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let menot be ashamed, for I put my trust inYou.21 Let integrity and uprightnesspreserve me, For I wait for You.22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all theirtroubles!

26 1 “A Psalm of David.” Vindicateme, O LORD, For I have walked in

my integrity. I have also trusted in theLORD; I shall not slip.2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;Try my mind and my heart.3 For Your lovingkindness is before myeyes, And I have walked in Your truth.

PSALMS 26 494 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,Nor will I go in with hypocrites.5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,And will not sit with the wicked.6 I will wash my hands in innocence; SoI will go about Your altar, O LORD,7 That I may proclaim with the voiceof thanksgiving, And tell of all Yourwondrous works.8 LORD, I have loved the habita on ofYour house, And the place where Yourglory dwells.9Do not gather my soul with sinners,Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,And whose right hand is full of bribes.11 But as for me, I will walk in myintegrity; Redeem me and be merciful tome.12My foot stands in an even place; Inthe congrega ons I will bless the LORD.

PSALMS 27 50

27 1 “A Psalm of David.” The LORD ismy light and my salva on; Whom

shall I fear? The LORD is the strength ofmy life; Of whom shall I be afraid?2When the wicked came against me Toeat up my flesh, My enemies and foes,They stumbled and fell.3 Though an army may encamp againstme, My heart shall not fear; Though warshould rise against me, In this I will beconfident.4One thing I have desired of the LORD,That will I seek: That I may dwell in thehouse of the LORD All the days of my life,To behold the beauty of the LORD, Andto inquire in His temple.5 For in the me of trouble He shall hideme in His pavilion; In the secret place ofHis tabernacle He shall hide me; He shallset me high upon a rock.6And now my head shall be li edup above my enemies all around me;

PSALMS 27 51Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy inHis tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will singpraises to the LORD.7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with myvoice! Have mercy also upon me, andanswer me.8When You said, "Seek My face," Myheart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I willseek."9Do not hide Your face from me; Donot turn Your servant away in anger; Youhave been my help; Do not leave me norforsake me, O God of my salva on.10When my father and my motherforsake me, Then the LORD will take careof me.11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, Andlead me in a smooth path, because ofmy enemies.12Do not deliver me to the will of myadversaries; For false witnesses have

PSALMS 27–28 52risen against me, And such as breatheout violence.13 I would have lost heart, unless I hadbelieved That I would see the goodnessof the LORD In the land of the living.14Wait on the LORD; Be of goodcourage, And He shall strengthen yourheart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

28 1 “A Psalm of David.” To You I willcry, O LORD my Rock: Do not be

silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me,I become like those who go down to thepit.2Hear the voice of my supplica onsWhen I cry to You, When I li up myhands toward Your holy sanctuary.3Do not take me away with the wickedAnd with the workers of iniquity, Whospeak peace to their neighbors, But evilis in their hearts.4Give them according to their deeds,And according to the wickedness of their

PSALMS 28–29 53endeavors; Give them according to thework of their hands; Render to themwhat they deserve.5 Because they do not regard the worksof the LORD, Nor the opera on of Hishands, He shall destroy them And notbuild them up.6 Blessed be the LORD, Because He hasheard the voice of my supplica ons!7 The LORD is my strength and myshield; My heart trusted in Him, and Iam helped; Therefore my heart greatlyrejoices, And with my song I will praiseHim.8 The LORD is their strength, And He isthe saving refuge of His anointed.9 Save Your people, And bless Yourinheritance; Shepherd them also, Andbear them up forever.

29 1 “A Psalm of David.” Give untothe LORD, O you mighty ones,

Give unto the LORD glory and strength.

PSALMS 29 542Give unto the LORD the glory dueto His name; Worship the LORD in thebeauty of holiness.3 The voice of the LORD is over thewaters; The God of glory thunders; TheLORD is over 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 thecedars, Yes, the LORD splinters thecedars of Lebanon.6He makes them also skip like a calf,Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.7 The voice of the LORD divides theflames of fire.8 The voice of the LORD shakes thewilderness; The LORD shakes theWilderness of Kadesh.9 The voice of the LORD makes thedeer give birth, And strips the forestsbare; And in His temple everyone says,"Glory!"

PSALMS 29–30 5510 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood,And the LORD sits as King forever.11 The LORD will give strength to Hispeople; The LORD will bless His peoplewith peace.

30 1 “A Psalm. A Song at thededica on of the house of David.”

I will extol You, O LORD, for You haveli ed me up, And have not let my foesrejoice over me.2O LORD my God, I cried out to You,And You healed me.3O LORD, You brought my soul up fromthe grave; You have kept me alive, that Ishould not go down to the pit.4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints ofHis, And give thanks at the remembranceof His holy name.5 For His anger is but for a moment, Hisfavor is for life; Weeping may endure fora night, But joy comes in the morning.

PSALMS 30–31 566Now in my prosperity I said, "I shallnever be moved."7 LORD, by Your favor You have mademy mountain stand strong; You hid Yourface, and I was troubled.8 I cried out to You, O LORD; And to theLORD I made supplica on:9 "What profit is there in my blood,When I go down to the pit? Will the dustpraise You? Will it declare Your truth?10Hear, O LORD, and have mercy onme; LORD, be my helper!"11 You have turned for me my mourninginto dancing; You have put off mysackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12 To the end that my glory may singpraise to You and not be silent. O LORDmy God, I will give thanks to You forever.

31 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” In You, O LORD, I put

my trust; Let me never be ashamed;Deliver me in Your righteousness.

PSALMS 31 572 Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver mespeedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortressof defense to save me.3 For You are my rock and my fortress;Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Leadme and guide me.4 Pull me out of the net which theyhave secretly laid for me, For You are mystrength.5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;You have redeemed me, O LORD God oftruth.6 I have hated those who regard uselessidols; But I trust in the LORD.7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy,For You have considered my trouble; Youhave known my soul in adversi es,8And have not shut me up into thehand of the enemy; You have set my feetin a wide place.

PSALMS 31 589Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I amin trouble; My eye wastes away withgrief, Yes, my soul and my body!10 For my life is spent with grief, Andmy years with sighing; My strength failsbecause of my iniquity, And my boneswaste away.11 I am a reproach among all myenemies, But especially among myneighbors, And am repulsive to myacquaintances; Those who see meoutside flee from me.12 I am forgo en like a dead man, outof mind; I am like a broken vessel.13 For I hear the slander of many; Fearis on every side; While they take counseltogether against me, They scheme totake away my life.14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;I say, "You are my God."

PSALMS 31 5915My mes are in Your hand; Deliverme from the hand of my enemies, Andfrom those who persecute me.16Make Your face shine upon Yourservant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake.17Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD,for I have called upon You; Let the wickedbe ashamed; Let them be silent in thegrave.18 Let the lying lips be put to silence,Which speak insolent things proudly andcontemptuously against the righteous.19Oh, how great is Your goodness,Which You have laid up for those whofear You, Which You have prepared forthose who trust in You In the presenceof the sons of men!20 You shall hide them in the secretplace of Your presence From the plots ofman; You shall keep them secretly in apavilion From the strife of tongues.

PSALMS 31–32 6021 Blessed be the LORD, For He hasshown me His marvelous kindness in astrong city!22 For I said in my haste, "I am cut offfrom before Your eyes"; NeverthelessYou heard the voice of my supplica onsWhen I cried out to You.23Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!For the LORD preserves the faithful, Andfully repays the proud person.24 Be of good courage, And He shallstrengthen your heart, All you who hopein the LORD.

32 1 “A Psalm of David. AContempla on.” Blessed is

he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORDdoes not impute iniquity, And in whosespirit there is no deceit.3When I kept silent, my bones grew oldThrough my groaning all the day long.

PSALMS 32 614 For day and night Your hand washeavy upon me; My vitality was turnedinto the drought of summer. Selah5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And myiniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I willconfess my transgressions to the LORD,"And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.Selah6 For this cause everyone who is godlyshall pray to You In a me when Youmay be found; Surely in a flood of greatwaters They shall not come near him.7 You are my hiding place; You shallpreserve me from trouble; You shallsurround me with songs of deliverance.Selah8 I will instruct you and teach you in theway you should go; I will guide you withMy eye.9Do not be like the horse or like themule, Which have no understanding,

PSALMS 32–33 62Which must be harnessed with bit andbridle, Else they will not come near you.10Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;But he who trusts in the LORD, mercyshall surround him.11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, yourighteous; And shout for joy, all youupright in heart!

33 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O yourighteous! For praise from the

upright is beau ful.2 Praise the LORD with the harp; Makemelody to Him with an instrument of tenstrings.3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfullywith a shout of joy.4 For the word of the LORD is right, Andall His work is done in truth.5He loves righteousness and jus ce;The earth is full of the goodness of theLORD.

PSALMS 33 636 By the word of the LORD the heavenswere made, And all the host of them bythe breath of His mouth.7He gathers the waters of the seatogether as a heap; He lays up the deepin storehouses.8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Letall the inhabitants of the world stand inawe of Him.9 For He spoke, and it was done; Hecommanded, and it stood fast.10 The LORD brings the counsel of thena ons to nothing; He makes the plansof the peoples of no effect.11 The counsel of the LORD standsforever, The plans of His heart to allgenera ons.12 Blessed is the na on whose God isthe LORD, The people He has chosen asHis own inheritance.13 The LORD looks from heaven; Hesees all the sons of men.

PSALMS 33 6414 From the place of His dwelling Helooks On all the inhabitants of the earth;15He fashions their hearts individually;He considers all their works.16No king is saved by the mul tude ofan army; A mighty man is not deliveredby great strength.17A horse is a vain hope for safety;Neither shall it deliver any by its greatstrength.18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is onthose who fear Him, On those who hopein His mercy,19 To deliver their soul from death, Andto keep them alive in famine.20Our soul waits for the LORD; He isour help and our shield.21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him,Because we have trusted in His holyname.22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,Just as we hope in You.

PSALMS 34 65

34 1 “A Psalm of David when hepretended madness before

Abimelech, who drove him away, andhe departed.” I will bless the LORD at allmes; His praise shall con nually be in

my mouth.2My soul shall make its boast in theLORD; The humble shall hear of it and beglad.3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, Andlet 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 out, and theLORD heard him, And saved him out ofall his troubles.7 The angel of the LORD encamps allaround those who fear Him, And deliversthem.

PSALMS 34 668Oh, taste and see that the LORD isgood; Blessed is the man who trusts inHim!9Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!There is no want to those who fear Him.10 The young lions lack and sufferhunger; But those who seek the LORDshall not lack any good thing.11 Come, you children, listen to me; Iwill teach you the fear of the LORD.12Who is the man who desires life, Andloves many days, that he may see good?13 Keep your tongue from evil, And yourlips from speaking deceit.14Depart from evil and do good; Seekpeace and pursue it.15 The eyes of the LORD are on therighteous, And His ears are open to theircry.16 The face of the LORD is against thosewho do evil, To cut off the remembranceof them from the earth.

PSALMS 34–35 6717 The righteous cry out, and the LORDhears, And delivers them out of all theirtroubles.18 The LORD is near to those who havea broken heart, And saves such as have acontrite spirit.19Many are the afflic ons of therighteous, But the LORD delivers him outof them all.20He guards all his bones; Not one ofthem is broken.21 Evil shall slay the wicked, Andthose who hate the righteous shall becondemned.22 The LORD redeems the soul of Hisservants, And none of those who trust inHim shall be condemned.

35 1 “A Psalm of David.” Plead mycause, O LORD, with those who

strive with me; Fight against those whofight against me.

PSALMS 35 682 Take hold of shield and buckler, Andstand up for my help.3Also draw out the spear, And stopthose who pursue me. Say to my soul, "Iam your salva on."4 Let those be put to shame andbrought to dishonor Who seek a ermy life; Let those be turned back andbrought to confusion Who plot my hurt.5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,And let the angel of the LORD chasethem.6 Let their way be dark and slippery,And let the angel of the LORD pursuethem.7 For without cause they have hiddentheir net for me in a pit, Which they havedug without cause for my life.8 Let destruc on come upon himunexpectedly, And let his net that hehas hidden catch himself; Into that verydestruc on let him fall.

PSALMS 35 699And my soul shall be joyful in theLORD; It shall rejoice in His salva on.10All my bones shall say, "LORD, who islike You, Delivering the poor from himwho is too strong for him, Yes, the poorand the needy from him who plundershim?"11 Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask methings that I do not know.12 They reward me evil for good, To thesorrow of my soul.13 But as for me, when they were sick,My clothing was sackcloth; I humbledmyself with fas ng; And my prayerwould return to my own heart.14 I paced about as though he were myfriend or brother; I bowed down heavily,as one who mourns for his mother.15 But in my adversity they rejoiced Andgathered together; A ackers gatheredagainst me, And I did not know it; Theytore at me and did not cease;

PSALMS 35 7016With ungodly mockers at feasts Theygnashed at me with their teeth.17 Lord, how long will You look on?Rescue me from their destruc ons, Myprecious life from the lions.18 I will give You thanks in the greatassembly; I will praise You among manypeople.19 Let them not rejoice over me who arewrongfully my enemies; Nor let themwink with the eye who hate me withouta cause.20 For they do not speak peace, Butthey devise decei ul ma ers Against thequiet ones in the land.21 They also opened their mouth wideagainst me, And said, "Aha, aha! Oureyes have seen it."22 This You have seen, O LORD; Do notkeep silence. O Lord, do not be far fromme.

PSALMS 35 7123 S r up Yourself, and awake to myvindica on, To my cause, my God andmy Lord.24Vindicate me, O LORD my God,according to Your righteousness; And letthem not rejoice over me.25 Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah,so we would have it!" Let them not say,"We have swallowed him up."26 Let them be ashamed and broughtto mutual confusion Who rejoice at myhurt; Let them be clothed with shameand dishonor Who exalt themselvesagainst me.27 Let them shout for joy and be glad,Who favor my righteous cause; And letthem say con nually, "Let the LORDbe magnified, Who has pleasure in theprosperity of His servant."28And my tongue shall speak of Yourrighteousness And of Your praise all theday long.

PSALMS 36 72

36 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David the servant of the LORD.”

An oracle within my heart concerningthe transgression of the wicked: There isno fear of God before his eyes.2 For he fla ers himself in his own eyes,When he finds out his iniquity and whenhe hates.3 The words of his mouth arewickedness and deceit; He has ceased tobe wise and to do good.4He devises wickedness on his bed; Hesets himself in a way that is not good; Hedoes not abhor evil.5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.6 Your righteousness is like the greatmountains; Your judgments are a greatdeep; O LORD, You preserve man andbeast.7How precious is Your lovingkindness,O God! Therefore the children of men

PSALMS 36–37 73put their trust under the shadow of Yourwings.8 They are abundantly sa sfied withthe fullness of Your house, And Yougive them drink from the river of Yourpleasures.9 For with You is the fountain of life; InYour light we see light.10Oh, con nue Your lovingkindnessto those who know You, And Yourrighteousness to the upright in heart.11 Let not the foot of pride come againstme, And let not the hand of the wickeddrive me away.12 There the workers of iniquity havefallen; They have been cast down andare not able to rise.

37 1 “A Psalm of David.” Do not fretbecause of evildoers, Nor be

envious of the workers of iniquity.2 For they shall soon be cut down likethe grass, And wither as the green herb.

PSALMS 37 743 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwellin the land, and feed on His faithfulness.4Delight yourself also in the LORD, AndHe shall give you the desires of yourheart.5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trustalso in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.6He shall bring forth your righteousnessas the light, And your jus ce as thenoonday.7 Rest in the LORD, and wait pa entlyfor Him; Do not fret because of him whoprospers in his way, Because of the manwho brings wicked schemes to pass.8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;Do not fret––it only causes harm.9 For evildoers shall be cut off; Butthose who wait on the LORD, They shallinherit the earth.10 For yet a li le while and the wickedshall be no more; Indeed, you will look

PSALMS 37 75carefully for his place, But it shall be nomore.11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,And shall delight themselves in theabundance of peace.12 The wicked plots against the just,And gnashes at him with his teeth.13 The Lord laughs at him, For He seesthat his day is coming.14 The wicked have drawn the swordAnd have bent their bow, To cast downthe poor and needy, To slay those whoare of upright conduct.15 Their sword shall enter their ownheart, And their bows shall be broken.16A li le that a righteous man has Isbe er than the riches of many wicked.17 For the arms of the wicked shallbe broken, But the LORD upholds therighteous.

PSALMS 37 7618 The LORD knows the days of theupright, And their inheritance shall beforever.19 They shall not be ashamed in theevil me, And in the days of famine theyshall be sa sfied.20 But the wicked shall perish; And theenemies of the LORD, Like the splendorof the meadows, shall vanish. Into smokethey shall vanish away.21 The wicked borrows and does notrepay, But the righteous shows mercyand gives.22 For those blessed by Him shall inheritthe earth, But those cursed by Him shallbe cut off.23 The steps of a good man are orderedby the LORD, And He delights in his way.24 Though he fall, he shall not be u erlycast down; For the LORD upholds himwith His hand.

PSALMS 37 7725 I have been young, and now amold; Yet I have not seen the righteousforsaken, Nor his descendants beggingbread.26He is ever merciful, and lends; Andhis descendants are blessed.27Depart from evil, and do good; Anddwell forevermore.28 For the LORD loves jus ce, Anddoes not forsake His saints; They arepreserved forever, But the descendantsof the wicked shall be cut off.29 The righteous shall inherit the land,And dwell in it forever.30 The mouth of the righteous speakswisdom, And his tongue talks of jus ce.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.

PSALMS 37 7833 The LORD will not leave him in hishand, Nor condemn him when he isjudged.34Wait on the LORD, And keep His way,And He shall exalt you to inherit theland; When the wicked are cut off, youshall see it.35 I have seen the wicked in greatpower, And spreading himself like ana ve green tree.36 Yet he passed away, and behold, hewas no more; Indeed I sought him, buthe could not be found.37Mark the blameless man, andobserve the upright; For the future ofthat man is peace.38 But the transgressors shall bedestroyed together; The future of thewicked shall be cut off.39 But the salva on of the righteous isfrom the LORD; He is their strength inthe me of trouble.

PSALMS 37–38 7940And the LORD shall help them anddeliver them; He shall deliver them fromthe wicked, And save them, Becausethey trust in Him.

38 1 “A Psalm of David. To bring toremembrance.” O LORD, do not

rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chastenme in Your hot displeasure!2 For Your arrows pierce me deeply, AndYour hand presses me down.3 There is no soundness in my fleshBecause of Your anger, Nor any health inmy bones Because of my sin.4 For my iniqui es have gone over myhead; Like a heavy burden they are tooheavy for me.5My wounds are foul and festeringBecause of my foolishness.6 I am troubled, I am bowed downgreatly; I go mourning all the day long.7 For my loins are full of inflamma on,And there is no soundness in my flesh.

PSALMS 38 808 I am feeble and severely broken; Igroan because of the turmoil of myheart.9 Lord, all my desire is before You; Andmy sighing is not hidden from You.10My heart pants, my strength fails me;As for the light of my eyes, it also hasgone from me.11My loved ones and my friends standaloof from my plague, And my rela vesstand afar off.12 Those also who seek my life laysnares for me; Those who seek my hurtspeak of destruc on, And plan decep onall the day long.13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;And I am like a mute who does not openhis mouth.14 Thus I am like a man who doesnot hear, And in whose mouth is noresponse.

PSALMS 38–39 8115 For in You, O LORD, I hope; You willhear, O Lord my God.16 For I said, "Hear me, lest they rejoiceover me, Lest, when my foot slips, theyexalt themselves against me."17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrowis con nually before me.18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will bein anguish over my sin.19 But my enemies are vigorous, andthey are strong; And those who hate mewrongfully have mul plied.20 Those also who render evil for good,They are my adversaries, because Ifollow what is good.21Do not forsake me, O LORD; O myGod, be not far from me!22Make haste to help me, O Lord, mysalva on!

39 1 “To the Chief Musician. ToJeduthun. A Psalm of David.” I

said, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with

PSALMS 39 82my tongue; I will restrain my mouth witha muzzle, While the wicked are beforeme."2 I was mute with silence, I held mypeace even from good; And my sorrowwas s rred up.3My heart was hot within me; WhileI was musing, the fire burned. Then Ispoke with my tongue:4 "LORD, make me to knowmy end, Andwhat is the measure of my days, That Imay know how frail I am.5 Indeed, You have made my days ashandbreadths, And my age is as nothingbefore You; Certainly every man at hisbest state is but vapor. Selah6 Surely every man walks about like ashadow; Surely they busy themselves invain; He heaps up riches, And does notknow who will gather them.7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for?My hope is in You.

PSALMS 39–40 838Deliver me from all my transgressions;Do not make me the reproach of thefoolish.9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth,Because it was You who did it.10 Remove Your plague from me; I amconsumed by the blow of Your hand.11When with rebukes You correct manfor iniquity, You make his beauty meltaway like a moth; Surely every man isvapor. Selah12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, And giveear to my cry; Do not be silent at mytears; For I am a stranger with You, Asojourner, as all my fathers were.13 Remove Your gaze from me, that Imay regain strength, Before I go awayand am no more."

40 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” I waited pa ently for

the LORD; And He inclined to me, Andheard my cry.

PSALMS 40 842He also brought me up out of ahorrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And setmy feet upon a rock, And established mysteps.3He has put a new song in my mouth––Praise to our God; Many will see it andfear, And will trust in the LORD.4 Blessed is that man who makes theLORD his trust, And does not respect theproud, nor such as turn aside to lies.5Many, O LORD my God, are Yourwonderful works Which You have done;And Your thoughts toward us Cannotbe recounted to You in order; If I woulddeclare and speak of them, They aremore than can be numbered.6 Sacrifice and offering You did notdesire; My ears You have opened. Burntoffering and sin offering You did notrequire.7 Then I said, "Behold, I come; In thescroll of the book it is wri en of me.

PSALMS 40 858 I delight to do Your will, O my God,And Your law is within my heart."9 I have proclaimed the good news ofrighteousness In the great assembly;Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD,You Yourself know.10 I have not hidden Your righteousnesswithin my heart; I have declared Yourfaithfulness and Your salva on; I havenot concealed Your lovingkindness andYour truth From the great assembly.11Do not withhold Your tendermercies from me, O LORD; LetYour lovingkindness and Your truthcon nually preserve me.12 For innumerable evils havesurrounded me; My iniqui es haveovertaken me, so that I am not able tolook up; They are more than the hairs ofmy head; Therefore my heart fails me.13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; OLORD, make haste to help me!

PSALMS 40–41 8614 Let them be ashamed and brought tomutual confusion Who seek to destroymy life; Let them be driven backwardand brought to dishonor Who wish meevil.15 Let them be confounded because oftheir shame, Who say to me, "Aha, aha!"16 Let all those who seek You rejoiceand be glad in You; Let such as love Yoursalva on say con nually, "The LORD bemagnified!"17 But I am poor and needy; Yet theLord thinks upon me. You are my helpand my deliverer; Do not delay, O myGod.

41 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” Blessed is he who

considers the poor; The LORDwill deliverhim in me of trouble.2 The LORD will preserve him and keephim alive, And he will be blessed on the

PSALMS 41 87earth; You will not deliver him to the willof his enemies.3 The LORD will strengthen him on hisbed of illness; You will sustain him on hissickbed.4 I said, "LORD, be merciful to me; Healmy soul, for I have sinned against You."5My enemies speak evil of me: "Whenwill he die, and his name perish?"6And if he comes to see me, he speakslies; His heart gathers iniquity to itself;When he goes out, he tells it.7All who hate me whisper togetheragainst me; Against me they devise myhurt.8 "An evil disease," they say, "clings tohim. And now that he lies down, he willrise up no more."9 Even my own familiar friend in whomI trusted, Who ate my bread, Has li edup his heel against me.

PSALMS 41–42 8810 But You, O LORD, be merciful to me,and raise me up, That I may repay them.11 By this I know that You are wellpleased with me, Because my enemydoes not triumph over me.12As for me, You uphold me in myintegrity, And set me before Your faceforever.13 Blessed be the LORD God of IsraelFrom everlas ng to everlas ng! Amenand Amen.

42 1 “To the Chief Musician. AContempla on of the sons of

Korah.” As the deer pants for the waterbrooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.2My soul thirsts for God, for the livingGod. When shall I come and appearbefore God?3My tears have been my food day andnight, While they con nually say to me,"Where is your God?"

PSALMS 42 894When I remember these things, I pourout my soul within me. For I used to gowith the mul tude; I went with them tothe house of God, With the voice of joyand praise, With a mul tude that kept apilgrim feast.5Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall yet praise HimFor the help of His countenance.6Omy God, my soul is cast down withinme; Therefore I will remember You fromthe land of the Jordan, And from theheights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.7Deep calls unto deep at the noiseof Your waterfalls; All Your waves andbillows have gone over me.8 The LORD will command Hislovingkindness in the day me, And inthe night His song shall be with me––Aprayer to the God of my life.

PSALMS 42–43 909 I will say to God my Rock, "Whyhave You forgo en me? Why do I gomourning because of the oppression ofthe enemy?"10As with a breaking of my bones, Myenemies reproach me, While they say tome all day long, "Where is your God?"11Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and myGod.

43 1Vindicate me, O God, And pleadmy cause against an ungodly

na on; Oh, deliver me from the decei uland unjust man!2 For You are the God of my strength;Why do You cast me off? Why do I gomourning because of the oppression ofthe enemy?

PSALMS 43–44 913Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!Let them lead me; Let them bring me toYour holy hill And to Your tabernacle.4 Then I will go to the altar of God, ToGod my exceeding joy; And on the harp Iwill praise You, O God, my God.5Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and myGod.

44 1 “To the Chief Musician. AContempla on of the sons of

Korah.” We have heard with our ears, OGod, Our fathers have told us, The deedsYou did in their days, In days of old:2 You drove out the na ons withYour hand, But them You planted; Youafflicted the peoples, and cast them out.3 For they did not gain possession of theland by their own sword, Nor did theirown arm save them; But it was Your

PSALMS 44 92right hand, Your arm, and the light ofYour countenance, Because You favoredthem.4 You are my King, O God; Commandvictories for Jacob.5 Through You we will push down ourenemies; Through Your name we willtrample those who rise up against us.6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shallmy sword save me.7 But You have saved us from ourenemies, And have put to shame thosewho hated us.8 In God we boast all day long, Andpraise Your name forever. Selah9 But You have cast us off and put us toshame, And You do not go out with ourarmies.10 You make us turn back from theenemy, And those who hate us havetaken spoil for themselves.

PSALMS 44 9311 You have given us up like sheepintended for food, And have sca ered usamong the na ons.12 You sell Your people for next tonothing, And are not enriched by sellingthem.13 You make us a reproach to ourneighbors, A scorn and a derision tothose all around us.14 You make us a byword among thena ons, A shaking of the head amongthe peoples.15My dishonor is con nually beforeme, And the shame of my face hascovered me,16 Because of the voice of him whoreproaches and reviles, Because of theenemy and the avenger.17All this has come upon us; But wehave not forgo en You, Nor have wedealt falsely with Your covenant.

PSALMS 44 9418Our heart has not turned back, Norhave our steps departed from Your way;19 But You have severely broken us inthe place of jackals, And covered us withthe shadow of death.20 If we had forgo en the name of ourGod, Or stretched out our hands to aforeign god,21Would not God search this out? ForHe knows the secrets of the heart.22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all daylong; We are accounted as sheep for theslaughter.23Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord?Arise! Do not cast us off forever.24Why do You hide Your face, Andforget our afflic on and our oppression?25 For our soul is bowed down to thedust; Our body clings to the ground.26Arise for our help, And redeem us forYour mercies’ sake.

PSALMS 45 95

45 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"The Lillies." A Contempla on of

the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.” Myheart is overflowing with a good theme;I recite my composi on concerning theKing; My tongue is the pen of a readywriter.2 You are fairer than the sons ofmen; Grace is poured upon Your lips;Therefore God has blessed You forever.3Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, OMighty One, With Your glory and Yourmajesty.4And in Your majesty ride prosperouslybecause of truth, humility, andrighteousness; And Your right hand shallteach You awesome things.5 Your arrows are sharp in the heartof the King’s enemies; The peoples fallunder You.

PSALMS 45 966 Your throne, O God, is forever andever; A scepter of righteousness is thescepter of Your kingdom.7 You love righteousness and hatewickedness; Therefore God, Your God,has anointed YouWith the oil of gladnessmore than Your companions.8All Your garments are scented withmyrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of theivory palaces, by which they have madeYou glad.9 Kings’ daughters are among Yourhonorable women; At Your right handstands the queen in gold from Ophir.10 Listen, O daughter, Consider andincline your ear; Forget your own peoplealso, and your father’s house;11 So the King will greatly desire yourbeauty; Because He is your Lord, worshipHim.

PSALMS 45–46 9712And the daughter of Tyre will comewith a gi ; The rich among the peoplewill seek your favor.13 The royal daughter is all gloriouswithin the palace; Her clothing is wovenwith gold.14 She shall be brought to the King inrobes of many colors; The virgins, hercompanions who follow her, shall bebrought to You.15With gladness and rejoicing theyshall be brought; They shall enter theKing’s palace.16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Yoursons, Whom You shall make princes in allthe earth.17 I will make Your name to beremembered in all genera ons;Therefore the people shall praise Youforever and ever.

46 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof the sons of Korah. A Song

PSALMS 46 98for Alamoth.” God is our refuge andstrength, A very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, Eventhough the earth be removed, Andthough the mountains be carried intothe midst of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and betroubled, Though the mountains shakewith its swelling. Selah4 There is a river whose streams shallmake glad the city of God, The holy placeof the tabernacle of the Most High.5God is in the midst of her, she shallnot be moved; God shall help her, just atthe break of dawn.6 The na ons raged, the kingdoms weremoved; He u ered His voice, the earthmelted.7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The Godof Jacob is our refuge. Selah8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,Who has made desola ons in the earth.

PSALMS 46–47 999He makes wars cease to the end ofthe earth; He breaks the bow and cutsthe spear in two; He burns the chariot inthe fire.10 Be s ll, and know that I am God; I willbe exalted among the na ons, I will beexalted in the earth!11 The LORD of hosts is with us; TheGod of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

47 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof the sons of Korah.” Oh, clap

your hands, all you peoples! Shout toGod with the voice of triumph!2 For the LORD Most High is awesome;He is a great King over all the earth.3He will subdue the peoples under us,And the na ons under our feet.4He will choose our inheritance for us,The excellence of Jacob whom He loves.Selah5God has gone up with a shout, TheLORD with the sound of a trumpet.

PSALMS 47–48 1006 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Singpraises to our King, sing praises!7 For God is the King of all the earth;Sing praises with understanding.8God reigns over the na ons; God sitson His holy throne.9 The princes of the people havegathered together, The people of theGod of Abraham. For the shields ofthe earth belong to God; He is greatlyexalted.

48 1 “A Song. A Psalm of the sons ofKorah.” Great is the LORD, and

greatly to be praised In the city of ourGod, In His holy mountain.2 Beau ful in eleva on, The joy of thewhole earth, Is Mount Zion on the sidesof the north, The city of the great King.3God is in her palaces; He is known asher refuge.4 For behold, the kings assembled, Theypassed by together.

PSALMS 48 1015 They saw it, and so they marveled;They were troubled, they hastenedaway.6 Fear took hold of them there, Andpain, as of a woman in birth pangs,7As when You break the ships ofTarshish With an east wind.8As we have heard, So we have seen Inthe city of the LORD of hosts, In the cityof our God: God will establish it forever.Selah9We have thought, O God, on Yourlovingkindness, In the midst of Yourtemple.10According to Your name, O God, Sois Your praise to the ends of the earth;Your right hand is full of righteousness.11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let thedaughters of Judah be glad, Because ofYour judgments.12Walk about Zion, And go all aroundher. Count her towers;

PSALMS 48–49 10213Mark well her bulwarks; Considerher palaces; That you may tell it to thegenera on following.14 For this is God, Our God forever andever; He will be our guide Even to death.

49 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof the sons of Korah.” Hear this,

all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants ofthe world,2 Both low and high, Rich and poortogether.3My mouth shall speak wisdom, Andthe medita on of my heart shall giveunderstanding.4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I willdisclose my dark saying on the harp.5Why should I fear in the days of evil,When the iniquity at my heels surroundsme?6 Those who trust in their wealth Andboast in the mul tude of their riches,

PSALMS 49 1037None of them can by any meansredeem his brother, Nor give to God aransom for him––8 For the redemp on of their souls iscostly, And it shall cease forever––9 That he should con nue to liveeternally, And not see the Pit.10 For he sees wise men die; Likewisethe fool and the senseless person perish,And leave their wealth to others.11 Their inner thought is that theirhouses will last forever, Their dwellingplaces to all genera ons; They call theirlands a er their own names.12Nevertheless man, though in honor,does not remain; He is like the beaststhat perish.13 This is the way of those who arefoolish, And of their posterity whoapprove their sayings. Selah14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;Death shall feed on them; The upright

PSALMS 49–50 104shall have dominion over them in themorning; And their beauty shall beconsumed in the grave, far from theirdwelling.15 But God will redeem my soul fromthe power of the grave, For He shallreceive me. Selah16Do not be afraid when one becomesrich, When the glory of his house isincreased;17 For when he dies he shall carrynothing away; His glory shall notdescend a er him.18 Though while he lives he blesseshimself (For men will praise you whenyou do well for yourself),19He shall go to the genera on of hisfathers; They shall never see light.20A man who is in honor, yet does notunderstand, Is like the beasts that perish.

50 1 “A Psalm of Asaph.” The MightyOne, God the LORD, Has spoken

PSALMS 50 105and called the earth From the rising ofthe sun to its going down.2Out of Zion, the perfec on of beauty,God will shine forth.3Our God shall come, and shall notkeep silent; A fire shall devour beforeHim, And it shall be very tempestuous allaround Him.4He shall call to the heavens fromabove, And to the earth, that He mayjudge His people:5 "Gather My saints together to Me,Those who have made a covenant withMe by sacrifice."6 Let the heavens declare Hisrighteousness, For God Himself is Judge.Selah7 "Hear, O My people, and I will speak,O Israel, and I will tes fy against you; Iam God, your God!

PSALMS 50 1068 I will not rebuke you for your sacrificesOr your burnt offerings, Which arecon nually before Me.9 I will not take a bull from your house,Nor goats out of your folds.10 For every beast of the forest is Mine,And the ca le on a thousand hills.11 I know all the birds of the mountains,And the wild beasts of the field areMine.12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you;For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drinkthe blood of goats?14Offer to God thanksgiving, And payyour vows to the Most High.15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;I will deliver you, and you shall glorifyMe."16 But to the wicked God says: "Whatright have you to declare My statutes, Ortake My covenant in your mouth,

PSALMS 50–51 10717 Seeing you hate instruc on And castMy words behind you?18When you saw a thief, you consentedwith him, And have been a partaker withadulterers.19 You give your mouth to evil, And yourtongue frames deceit.20 You sit and speak against yourbrother; You slander your own mother’sson.21 These things you have done, andI kept silent; You thought that I wasaltogether like you; But I will rebuke you,And set them in order before your eyes.22 "Now consider this, you who forgetGod, Lest I tear you in pieces, And therebe none to deliver:23Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;And to him who orders his conductaright I will show the salva on of God."

51 1 “To the Chief Musician. APsalm of David when Nathan

PSALMS 51 108the prophet went to him, a er hehad gone in to Bathsheba.” Havemercy upon me, O God, According toYour lovingkindness; According to themul tude of Your tender mercies, Blotout my transgressions.2Wash me thoroughly frommy iniquity,And cleanse me from my sin.3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,And my sin is always before me.4Against You, You only, have I sinned,And done this evil in Your sight––ThatYou may be found just when You speak,And blameless when You judge.5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,And in sin my mother conceived me.6 Behold, You desire truth in the inwardparts, And in the hidden part You willmake me to know wisdom.7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall beclean; Wash me, and I shall be whiterthan snow.

PSALMS 51 1098Make me hear joy and gladness, Thatthe bones You have broken may rejoice.9Hide Your face from my sins, And blotout all my iniqui es.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,And renew a steadfast spirit within me.11Do not cast me away from Yourpresence, And do not take Your HolySpirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Yoursalva on, And uphold me by Yourgenerous Spirit.13 Then I will teach transgressors Yourways, And sinners shall be converted toYou.14Deliver me from the guilt ofbloodshed, O God, The God of mysalva on, And my tongue shall singaloud of Your righteousness.15O Lord, open my lips, And my mouthshall show forth Your praise.

PSALMS 51–52 11016 For You do not desire sacrifice, orelse I would give it; You do not delight inburnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a brokenspirit, A broken and a contrite heart––These, O God, You will not despise.18Do good in Your good pleasure toZion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.19 Then You shall be pleased with thesacrifices of righteousness, With burntoffering and whole burnt offering; Thenthey shall offer bulls on Your altar.

52 1 “To the Chief Musician. AContempla on of David when

Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul,and said to him, "David has gone to thehouse of Ahimelech."”Why do you boastin evil, O mighty man? The goodness ofGod endures con nually.2 Your tongue devises destruc on, Likea sharp razor, working decei ully.

PSALMS 52 1113 You love evil more than good, Lyingrather than speaking righteousness.Selah4 You love all devouring words, Youdecei ul tongue.5God shall likewise destroy you forever;He shall take you away, and pluck youout of your dwelling place, And uprootyou from the land of the living. Selah6 The righteous also shall see and fear,And shall laugh at him, saying,7 "Here is the man who did notmake God his strength, But trustedin the abundance of his riches, Andstrengthened himself in his wickedness."8 But I am like a green olive tree in thehouse of God; I trust in the mercy of Godforever and ever.9 I will praise You forever, Because Youhave done it; And in the presence ofYour saints I will wait on Your name, forit is good.

PSALMS 53 112

53 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"Mahalath." A Contempla on of

David.” The fool has said in his heart,"There is no God." They are corrupt, andhave done abominable iniquity; There isnone who does good.2God looks down from heaven uponthe children of men, To see if there areany who understand, who seek God.3 Every one of them has turned aside;They have together become corrupt;There is none who does good, No, notone.4Have the workers of iniquity noknowledge, Who eat up my people asthey eat bread, And do not call uponGod?5 There they are in great fear Whereno fear was, For God has sca ered thebones of him who encamps against you;You have put them to shame, BecauseGod has despised them.

PSALMS 53–54 1136Oh, that the salva on of Israel wouldcome out of Zion! When God brings backthe cap vity of His people, Let Jacobrejoice and Israel be glad.

54 1 “To the Chief Musician.With stringed instruments. A

Contempla on of David when theZiphites went and said to Saul, "Is Davidnot hiding with us?"” Save me, O God,by Your name, And vindicate me by Yourstrength.2Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear tothe words of my mouth.3 For strangers have risen up againstme, And oppressors have sought a ermy life; They have not set God beforethem. Selah4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord iswith those who uphold my life.5He will repay my enemies for theirevil. Cut them off in Your truth.

PSALMS 54–55 1146 I will freely sacrifice to You; I willpraise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.7 For He has delivered me out of alltrouble; And my eye has seen its desireupon my enemies.

55 1 “To the Chief Musician.With stringed instruments. A

Contempla on of David.” Give ear to myprayer, O God, And do not hide Yourselffrom my supplica on.2A end to me, and hear me; I amrestless in my complaint, and moannoisily,3 Because of the voice of the enemy,Because of the oppression of the wicked;For they bring down trouble upon me,And in wrath they hate me.4My heart is severely pained withinme, And the terrors of death have fallenupon me.

PSALMS 55 1155 Fearfulness and trembling have comeupon me, And horror has overwhelmedme.6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like adove! I would fly away and be at rest.7 Indeed, I would wander far off, Andremain in the wilderness. Selah8 I would hasten my escape From thewindy storm and tempest."9Destroy, O Lord, and divide theirtongues, For I have seen violence andstrife in the city.10Day and night they go around it on itswalls; Iniquity and trouble are also in themidst of it.11Destruc on is in its midst; Oppressionand deceit do not depart from its streets.12 For it is not an enemywho reproachesme; Then I could bear it. Nor is it onewho hates me who has exalted himselfagainst me; Then I could hide from him.

PSALMS 55 11613 But it was you, a man my equal, Mycompanion and my acquaintance.14We took sweet counsel together,And walked to the house of God in thethrong.15 Let death seize them; Let them godown alive into hell, For wickedness is intheir dwellings and among them.16As for me, I will call upon God, Andthe LORD shall save me.17 Evening and morning and at noonI will pray, and cry aloud, And He shallhear my voice.18He has redeemed my soul in peacefrom the ba le that was against me, Forthere were many against me.19God will hear, and afflict them,Even He who abides from of old. SelahBecause they do not change, Thereforethey do not fear God.

PSALMS 55–56 11720He has put forth his hands againstthose who were at peace with him; Hehas broken his covenant.21 The words of his mouth weresmoother than bu er, But war was in hisheart; His words were so er than oil, Yetthey were drawn swords.22 Cast your burden on the LORD, AndHe shall sustain you; He shall neverpermit the righteous to be moved.23 But You, O God, shall bring themdown to the pit of destruc on;Bloodthirsty and decei ul men shall notlive out half their days; But I will trust inYou.

56 1 “To the Chief Musician. Setto "The Silent Dove in Distant

Lands." A Michtam of David when thePhilis nes captured him in Gath.” Bemerciful to me, O God, for man wouldswallow me up; Figh ng all day heoppresses me.

PSALMS 56 1182My enemies would hound me all day,For there are many who fight againstme, O Most High.3Whenever I am afraid, I will trust inYou.4 In God (I will praise His word), In GodI have put my trust; I will not fear. Whatcan flesh do to me?5All day they twist my words; All theirthoughts are against me for evil.6 They gather together, They hide, theymark my steps, When they lie in wait formy life.7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In angercast down the peoples, O God!8 You number my wanderings; Put mytears into Your bo le; Are they not inYour book?9When I cry out to You, Then myenemies will turn back; This I know,because God is for me.

PSALMS 56–57 11910 In God (I will praise His word), In theLORD (I will praise His word),11 In God I have put my trust; I will notbe afraid. What can man do to me?12Vows made to You are binding uponme, O God; I will render praises to You,13 For You have delivered my soul fromdeath. Have You not kept my feet fromfalling, That I may walk before God Inthe light of the living?

57 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"Do Not Destroy." A Michtam of

David when he fled from Saul into thecave.” Be merciful to me, O God, bemerciful to me! For my soul trusts in You;And in the shadow of Your wings I willmake my refuge, Un l these calami eshave passed by.2 I will cry out to GodMost High, To Godwho performs all things for me.3He shall send from heaven and saveme; He reproaches the one who would

PSALMS 57 120swallow me up. Selah God shall sendforth His mercy and His truth.4My soul is among lions; I lie amongthe sons of men Who are set on fire,Whose teeth are spears and arrows, Andtheir 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 mysteps; My soul is bowed down; Theyhave dug a pit before me; Into the midstof it they themselves have fallen. Selah7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heartis steadfast; I will sing and give praise.8Awake, my glory! Awake, lute andharp! I will awaken the dawn.9 I will praise You, O Lord, among thepeoples; I will sing to You among thena ons.10 For Your mercy reaches unto theheavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.

PSALMS 57–58 12111 Be exalted, O God, above theheavens; Let Your glory be above all theearth.

58 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"Do Not Destroy." A Michtam

of David.” Do you indeed speakrighteousness, you silent ones? Do youjudge uprightly, you sons of men?2No, in heart you work wickedness; Youweigh out the violence of your hands inthe earth.3 The wicked are estranged from thewomb; They go astray as soon as theyare born, speaking lies.4 Their poison is like the poison of aserpent; They are like the deaf cobrathat stops its ear,5Which will not heed the voice ofcharmers, Charming ever so skillfully.6 Break their teeth in their mouth, OGod! Break out the fangs of the younglions, O LORD!

PSALMS 58–59 1227 Let them flow away as waters whichrun con nually; When he bends his bow,Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.8 Let them be like a snail which meltsaway as it goes, Like a s llborn child of awoman, that they may not see the sun.9 Before your pots can feel the burningthorns, He shall take them away as witha whirlwind, As in His living and burningwrath.10 The righteous shall rejoice when hesees the vengeance; He shall wash hisfeet in the blood of the wicked,11 So that men will say, "Surely there isa reward for the righteous; Surely He isGod who judges in the earth."

59 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"Do Not Destroy." A Michtam of

David when Saul sent men, and theywatched the house in order to kill him.”Deliver me from my enemies, O my

PSALMS 59 123God; Defend me from those who rise upagainst me.2Deliver me from the workers ofiniquity, And save me from bloodthirstymen.3 For look, they lie in wait for my life;The mighty gather against me, Not formy transgression nor for my sin, O LORD.4 They run and prepare themselvesthrough no fault of mine. Awake to helpme, and behold!5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts,the God of Israel, Awake to punish allthe na ons; Do not be merciful to anywicked transgressors. Selah6At evening they return, They growllike a dog, And go all around the city.7 Indeed, they belch 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 na ons in derision.

PSALMS 59 1249 I will wait for You, O You his Strength;For God is my defense;10My God of mercy shall come to meetme; God shall let me see my desire onmy enemies.11Do not slay them, lest my peopleforget; Sca er them by Your power, Andbring them down, O Lord our shield.12 For the sin of their mouth and thewords of their lips, Let them even betaken in their pride, And for the cursingand lying which they speak.13 Consume them in wrath, consumethem, That they may not be; And letthem know that God rules in Jacob Tothe ends of the earth. Selah14And at evening they return, Theygrowl like a dog, And go all around thecity.15 They wander up and down for food,And howl if they are not sa sfied.

PSALMS 59–60 12516 But I will sing of Your power; Yes,I will sing aloud of Your mercy in themorning; For You have been my defenseAnd refuge in the day of my trouble.17 To You, O my Strength, I will singpraises; For God is my defense, My Godof mercy.

60 1 “To the Chief Musician. Setto "Lily of the Tes mony." A

Michtam of David. For teaching. Whenhe fought against Mesopotamia andSyria of Zobah, and Joab returned andkilled twelve thousand Edomites in theValley of Salt.” O God, You have cast usoff; You have broken us down; You havebeen displeased; Oh, restore us again!2 You have made the earth tremble; Youhave broken it; Heal its breaches, for it isshaking.3 You have shown Your people hardthings; You have made us drink the wineof confusion.

PSALMS 60 1264 You have given a banner to thosewho fear You, That it may be displayedbecause of the truth. Selah5 That Your beloved may be delivered,Save with Your right hand, and hear me.6God has spoken in His holiness: "Iwill rejoice; I will divide Shechem Andmeasure out the Valley of Succoth.7Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;Judah is My lawgiver.8Moab is My washpot; Over Edom I willcast My shoe; Philis a, shout in triumphbecause of Me."9Who will bring me to the strong city?Who will lead me to Edom?10 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?And You, O God, who did not go out withour armies?11Give us help from trouble, For thehelp of man is useless.

PSALMS 60–61 12712 Through God we will do valiantly,For it is He who shall tread down ourenemies.

61 1 “To the Chief Musician. On astringed instrument. A Psalm of

David.” Hear my cry, O God; A end tomy prayer.2 From the end of the earth I will cry toYou, When my heart is overwhelmed;Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.3 For You have been a shelter for me, Astrong tower from the enemy.4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.Selah5 For You, O God, have heard my vows;You have given me the heritage of thosewho fear Your name.6 You will prolong the king’s life, Hisyears as many genera ons.

PSALMS 61–62 1287He shall abide before God forever. Oh,prepare mercy and truth, which maypreserve him!8 So I will sing praise to Your nameforever, That I may daily perform myvows.

62 1 “To the Chief Musician. ToJeduthun. A Psalm of David.”

Truly my soul silently waits for God;From Him comes my salva on.2He only is my rock and my salva on;He is my defense; I shall not be greatlymoved.3How long will you a ack a man? Youshall be slain, all of you, Like a leaningwall and a to ering fence.4 They only consult to cast him downfrom his high posi on; They delight inlies; They bless with their mouth, Butthey curse inwardly. Selah5My soul, wait silently for God alone,For my expecta on is from Him.

PSALMS 62–63 1296He only is my rock and my salva on;He is my defense; I shall not be moved.7 In God is my salva on and my glory;The rock of my strength, And my refuge,is in God.8 Trust in Him at all mes, you people;Pour out your heart before Him; God is arefuge for us. Selah9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor,Men of high degree are a lie; If theyare weighed on the scales, They arealtogether lighter than vapor.10Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainlyhope in robbery; If riches increase, Donot set your heart on them.11God has spoken once, Twice I haveheard this: That power belongs to God.12Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;For You render to each one according tohis work.

63 1 “A Psalm of David when he wasin the wilderness of Judah.” O

PSALMS 63 130God, You are my God; Early will I seekYou; My soul thirsts for You; My fleshlongs for You In a dry and thirsty landWhere there is no water.2 So I have looked for You in thesanctuary, To see Your power and Yourglory.3 Because Your lovingkindness is be erthan life, My lips shall praise You.4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I willli up my hands in Your name.5My soul shall be sa sfied as withmarrow and fatness, And my mouthshall praise You with joyful lips.6When I remember You on my bed, Imeditate on You in the night watches.7 Because You have been my help,Therefore in the shadow of Your wings Iwill rejoice.8My soul follows close behind You;Your right hand upholds me.

PSALMS 63–64 1319 But those who seek my life, to destroyit, Shall go into the lower parts of theearth.10 They shall fall by the sword; Theyshall be a por on for jackals.11 But the king shall rejoice in God;Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;But the mouth of those who speak liesshall be stopped.

64 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David.” Hear my voice, O God,

in my medita on; Preserve my life fromfear of the enemy.2Hide me from the secret plots ofthe wicked, From the rebellion of theworkers of iniquity,3Who sharpen their tongue like asword, And bend their bows to shoottheir arrows––bi er words,4 That they may shoot in secret at theblameless; Suddenly they shoot at himand do not fear.

PSALMS 64–65 1325 They encourage themselves in anevil ma er; They talk of laying snaressecretly; They say, "Who will see them?"6 They devise iniqui es: "We haveperfected a shrewd scheme." Both theinward thought and the heart of manare deep.7 But God shall shoot at them with anarrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded.8 So He will make them stumble overtheir own tongue; All who see them shallflee away.9All men shall fear, And shall declarethe work of God; For they shall wiselyconsider His doing.10 The righteous shall be glad in theLORD, and trust in Him. And all theupright in heart shall glory.

65 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David. A Song.” Praise is

awai ng You, O God, in Zion; And to Youthe vow shall be performed.

PSALMS 65 1332O You who hear prayer, To You all fleshwill come.3 Iniqui es prevail against me; As forour transgressions, You will provideatonement for them.4 Blessed is the man You choose, Andcause to approach You, That he maydwell in Your courts. We shall be sa sfiedwith the goodness of Your house, OfYour holy temple.5 By awesome deeds in righteousnessYou will answer us, O God of oursalva on, You who are the confidenceof all the ends of the earth, And of thefar–off seas;6Who established the mountains by Hisstrength, Being clothed with power;7 You who s ll the noise of the seas,The noise of their waves, And the tumultof the peoples.8 They also who dwell in the farthestparts are afraid of Your signs; You make

PSALMS 65–66 134the outgoings of the morning andevening rejoice.9 You visit the earth and water it, Yougreatly enrich it; The river of God is fullof water; You provide their grain, For soYou have prepared it.10 You water its ridges abundantly, Youse le its furrows; You make it so withshowers, You bless its growth.11 You crown the year with Yourgoodness, And Your paths drip withabundance.12 They drop on the pastures of thewilderness, And the li le hills rejoice onevery side.13 The pastures are clothed with flocks;The valleys also are covered with grain;They shout for joy, they also sing.

66 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Song.A Psalm.” Make a joyful shout to

God, all the earth!

PSALMS 66 1352 Sing out the honor of His name; MakeHis praise glorious.3 Say to God, "How awesome areYour works! Through the greatness ofYour power Your enemies shall submitthemselves to You.4All the earth shall worship You Andsing praises to You; They shall singpraises to Your name." Selah5 Come and see the works of God; He isawesome in His doing toward the sonsof men.6He turned the sea into dry land; Theywent through the river on foot. Therewe will rejoice in Him.7He rules by His power forever; Hiseyes observe the na ons; Do not let therebellious exalt themselves. Selah8Oh, bless our God, you peoples! Andmake the voice of His praise to be heard,

PSALMS 66 1369Who keeps our soul among the living,And does not allow our feet to bemoved.10 For You, O God, have tested us; Youhave refined us as silver is refined.11 You brought us into the net; You laidafflic on on our backs.12 You have caused men to ride overour heads; We went through fire andthrough water; But You brought us outto rich fulfillment.13 I will go into Your house with burntofferings; I will pay You my vows,14Which my lips have u ered And mymouth has spoken when I was in trouble.15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fatanimals, With the sweet aroma of rams;I will offer bulls with goats. Selah16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,And I will declare what He has done formy soul.

PSALMS 66–67 13717 I cried to Him with my mouth, AndHe was extolled with my tongue.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, TheLord will not hear.19 But certainly God has heard me; Hehas a ended to the voice of my prayer.20 Blessed be God, Who has not turnedaway my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

67 1 “To the Chief Musician. Onstringed instruments. A Psalm. A

Song.” God be merciful to us and blessus, And cause His face to shine upon us.Selah2 That Your way may be known onearth, Your salva on among all na ons.3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Letall the peoples praise You.4Oh, let the na ons be glad and singfor joy! For You shall judge the peoplerighteously, And govern the na ons onearth. Selah

PSALMS 67–68 1385 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Letall the peoples praise You.6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;God, our own God, shall bless us.7God shall bless us, And all the ends ofthe earth shall fear Him.

68 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof David. A Song.” Let God arise,

Let His enemies be sca ered; Let thosealso who hate Him flee before Him.2As smoke is driven away, So drivethem away; As wax melts before the fire,So let the wicked perish at the presenceof God.3 But let the righteous be glad; Let themrejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoiceexceedingly.4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name;Extol Him who rides on the clouds, ByHis name YAH, And rejoice before Him.5A father of the fatherless, a defenderof widows, Is God in His holy habita on.

PSALMS 68 1396God sets the solitary in families; Hebrings out those who are bound intoprosperity; But the rebellious dwell in adry land.7OGod, when Youwent out before Yourpeople, When You marched through thewilderness, Selah8 The earth shook; The heavens alsodropped rain at the presence of God;Sinai itself was moved at the presence ofGod, the God of Israel.9 You, O God, sent a plen fulrain, Whereby You confirmed Yourinheritance, When it was weary.10 Your congrega on dwelt in it; You, OGod, provided from Your goodness forthe poor.11 The Lord gave the word; Great wasthe company of those who proclaimedit:

PSALMS 68 14012 "Kings of armies flee, they flee, Andshe who remains at home divides thespoil.13 Though you lie down among thesheepfolds, You will be like the wingsof a dove covered with silver, And herfeathers with yellow gold."14When the Almighty sca ered kings init, It was white as snow in Zalmon.15A mountain of God is the mountainof Bashan; A mountain of many peaks isthe mountain of Bashan.16Why do you fume with envy, youmountains of many peaks? This is themountain which God desires to dwell in;Yes, the LORD will dwell in it forever.17 The chariots of God are twentythousand, Even thousands of thousands;The Lord is among them as in Sinai, inthe Holy Place.18 You have ascended on high, Youhave led cap vity cap ve; You have

PSALMS 68 141received gi s among men, Even fromthe rebellious, That the LORD God mightdwell there.19 Blessed be the Lord, Who dailyloads us with benefits, The God of oursalva on! Selah20Our God is the God of salva on; Andto GOD the Lord belong escapes fromdeath.21 But God will wound the head of Hisenemies, The hairy scalp of the one whos ll goes on in His trespasses.22 The Lord said, "I will bring back fromBashan, I will bring them back from thedepths of the sea,23 That your foot may crush them inblood, And the tongues of your dogs mayhave their por on from your enemies."24 They have seen Your procession, OGod, The procession of my God, my King,into the sanctuary.

PSALMS 68 14225 The singers went before, the playerson instruments followed a er; Amongthemwere the maidens playing mbrels.26 Bless God in the congrega ons, TheLord, from the fountain of Israel.27 There is li le Benjamin, their leader,The princes of Judah and their company,The princes of Zebulun and the princesof Naphtali.28 Your God has commanded yourstrength; Strengthen, O God, what Youhave done for us.29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,Kings will bring presents to You.30 Rebuke the beasts of the reeds, Theherd of bulls with the calves of thepeoples, Till everyone submits himselfwith pieces of silver. Sca er the peopleswho delight in war.31 Envoys will come out of Egypt;Ethiopia will quickly stretch out herhands to God.

PSALMS 68–69 14332 Sing to God, you kingdoms of theearth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah33 To Him who rides on the heaven ofheavens, which were of old! Indeed, Hesends out His voice, a mighty voice.34Ascribe strength to God; Hisexcellence is over Israel, And Hisstrength is in the clouds.35O God, You are more awesome thanYour holy places. The God of Israel is Hewho gives strength and power to Hispeople. Blessed be God!

69 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"The Lilies." A Psalm of David.”

Save me, O God! For the waters havecome up to my neck.2 I sink in deep mire, Where there is nostanding; I have come into deep waters,Where the floods overflow me.3 I am weary with my crying; My throatis dry; My eyes fail while I wait for myGod.

PSALMS 69 1444 Those who hate me without a causeAre more than the hairs of my head;They are mighty who would destroy me,Being my enemies wrongfully; Though Ihave stolen nothing, I s ll must restoreit.5O God, You know my foolishness; Andmy sins are not hidden from You.6 Let not those who wait for You, OLord GOD of hosts, be ashamed becauseof me; Let not those who seek You beconfounded because of me, O God ofIsrael.7 Because for Your sake I have bornereproach; Shame has covered my face.8 I have become a stranger to mybrothers, And an alien to my mother’schildren;9 Because zeal for Your house has eatenme up, And the reproaches of those whoreproach You have fallen on me.

PSALMS 69 14510When I wept and chastened my soulwith fas ng, That became my reproach.11 I also made sackcloth my garment; Ibecame a byword to them.12 Those who sit in the gate speakagainst me, And I am the song of thedrunkards.13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, OLORD, in the acceptable me; O God, inthe mul tude of Your mercy, Hear me inthe truth of Your salva on.14Deliver me out of the mire, And letme not sink; Let me be delivered fromthose who hate me, And out of the deepwaters.15 Let not the floodwater overflow me,Nor let the deep swallow me up; And letnot the pit shut its mouth on me.16Hear me, O LORD, for Yourlovingkindness is good; Turn to meaccording to the mul tude of Yourtender mercies.

PSALMS 69 14617And do not hide Your face from Yourservant, For I am in trouble; Hear mespeedily.18Draw near to my soul, and redeem it;Deliver me because of my enemies.19 You know my reproach, my shame,and my dishonor; My adversaries are allbefore You.20 Reproach has broken my heart,And I am full of heaviness; I looked forsomeone to take pity, but there wasnone; And for comforters, but I foundnone.21 They also gave me gall for my food,And for my thirst they gave me vinegarto drink.22 Let their table become a snare beforethem, And their well–being a trap.23 Let their eyes be darkened, so thatthey do not see; And make their loinsshake con nually.

PSALMS 69 14724 Pour out Your indigna on uponthem, And let Your wrathful anger takehold of them.25 Let their dwelling place be desolate;Let no one live in their tents.26 For they persecute the ones You havestruck, And talk of the grief of those Youhave wounded.27Add iniquity to their iniquity, And letthem not come into Your righteousness.28 Let them be blo ed out of the bookof the living, And not be wri en with therighteous.29 But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Yoursalva on, O God, set me up on high.30 I will praise the name of God witha song, And will magnify Him withthanksgiving.31 This also shall please the LORD be erthan an ox or bull, Which has horns andhooves.

PSALMS 69–70 14832 The humble shall see this and beglad; And you who seek God, your heartsshall live.33 For the LORD hears the poor, Anddoes not despise His prisoners.34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, Theseas and everything that moves in them.35 For God will save Zion And build theci es of Judah, That they may dwellthere and possess it.36Also, the descendants of His servantsshall inherit it, And those who love Hisname shall dwell in it.

70 1 “To the Chief Musician. APsalm of David. To bring to

remembrance.” Make haste, O God, todeliver me! Make haste to help me, OLORD!2 Let them be ashamed and confoundedWho seek my life; Let them be turnedback and confused Who desire my hurt.

PSALMS 70–71 1493 Let them be turned back because oftheir shame, Who say, "Aha, aha!"4 Let all those who seek You rejoice andbe glad in You; And let those who loveYour salva on say con nually, "Let Godbe magnified!"5 But I am poor and needy; Make hasteto me, O God! You are my help and mydeliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

71 1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust;Let me never be put to shame.

2Deliver me in Your righteousness, andcause me to escape; Incline Your ear tome, and save me.3 Be my strong refuge, To which I mayresort con nually; You have given thecommandment to save me, For You aremy rock and my fortress.4Deliver me, O my God, out of the handof the wicked, Out of the hand of theunrighteous and cruel man.

PSALMS 71 1505 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; Youare my trust from my youth.6 By You I have been upheld frombirth; You are He who took me out ofmy mother’s womb. My praise shall becon nually of You.7 I have become as a wonder to many,But You are my strong refuge.8 Let my mouth be filled with Yourpraise And with Your glory all the day.9Do not cast me off in the me ofold age; Do not forsake me when mystrength fails.10 For my enemies speak against me;And those who lie in wait for my life takecounsel together,11 Saying, "God has forsaken him;Pursue and take him, for there is none todeliver him."12O God, do not be far from me; O myGod, make haste to help me!

PSALMS 71 15113 Let them be confounded andconsumed Who are adversaries of mylife; Let them be covered with reproachand dishonor Who seek my hurt.14 But I will hope con nually, And willpraise You yet more and more.15My mouth shall tell of Yourrighteousness And Your salva on all theday, For I do not know their limits.16 I will go in the strength of the LordGOD; I will make men on of Yourrighteousness, of Yours only.17O God, You have taught me from myyouth; And to this day I declare Yourwondrous works.18Now also when I am old andgrayheaded, O God, do not forsake me,Un l I declare Your strength to thisgenera on, Your power to everyone whois to come.

PSALMS 71 15219Also Your righteousness, O God, isvery high, You who have done greatthings; O God, who is like You?20 You, who have shown me great andsevere troubles, Shall revive me again,And bring me up again from the depthsof the earth.21 You shall increase my greatness, Andcomfort me on every side.22Also with the lute I will praiseyou––And Your faithfulness, O my God!To You I will sing with the harp, O HolyOne of Israel.23My lips shall greatly rejoice when Ising to You, And my soul, which You haveredeemed.24My tongue also shall talk of Yourrighteousness all the day long; For theyare confounded, For they are brought toshame Who seek my hurt.

PSALMS 72 153

72 1 “A Psalm of Solomon.” Give theking Your judgments, O God, And

Your righteousness to the king’s Son.2He will judge Your people withrighteousness, And Your poor withjus ce.3 The mountains will bring peaceto the people, And the li le hills, byrighteousness.4He will bring jus ce to the poor ofthe people; He will save the children ofthe needy, And will break in pieces theoppressor.5 They shall fear You As long as thesun and moon endure, Throughout allgenera ons.6He shall come down like rain upon thegrass before mowing, Like showers thatwater the earth.7 In His days the righteous shall flourish,And abundance of peace, Un l themoonis no more.

PSALMS 72 1548He shall have dominion also from seato sea, And from the River to the ends ofthe earth.9 Those who dwell in the wilderness willbow before Him, And His enemies willlick the dust.10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islesWill bring presents; The kings of Shebaand Seba Will offer gi s.11 Yes, all kings shall fall down beforeHim; All na ons shall serve Him.12 For He will deliver the needy whenhe cries, The poor also, and him who hasno helper.13He will spare the poor and needy,And will save the souls of the needy.14He will redeem their life fromoppression and violence; And preciousshall be their blood in His sight.15And He shall live; And the gold ofSheba will be given to Him; Prayer also

PSALMS 72–73 155will be made for Him con nually, Anddaily He shall be praised.16 There will be an abundance ofgrain in the earth, On the top of themountains; Its fruit shall wave likeLebanon; And those of the city shallflourish like grass of the earth.17His name shall endure forever; Hisname shall con nue as long as the sun.And men shall be blessed in Him; Allna ons shall call Him blessed.18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God ofIsrael, Who only does wondrous things!19And blessed be His glorious nameforever! And let the whole earth be filledwith His glory. Amen and Amen.20 The prayers of David the son of Jesseare ended.

73 1 “A Psalm of Asaph.” Truly God isgood to Israel, To such as are pure

in heart.

PSALMS 73 1562 But as for me, my feet had almoststumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the boas ul,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,Nor are they plagued like other men.6 Therefore pride serves as theirnecklace; Violence covers them like agarment.7 Their eyes bulge with abundance;They have more than heart could wish.8 They scoff and speak wickedlyconcerning oppression; They speaklo ily.9 They set their mouth against theheavens, And their tongue walks throughthe earth.10 Therefore his people return here,And waters of a full cup are drained bythem.

PSALMS 73 15711And they say, "How does God know?And is there knowledge in the MostHigh?"12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Whoare always at ease; They increase inriches.13 Surely I have cleansed my heartin vain, And washed my hands ininnocence.14 For all day long I have been plagued,And chastened every morning.15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"Behold, I would have been untrue to thegenera on of Your children.16When I thought how to understandthis, It was too painful for me––17Un l I went into the sanctuary ofGod; Then I understood their end.18 Surely You set them in slippery places;You cast them down to destruc on.

PSALMS 73 15819Oh, how they are brought todesola on, as in a moment! They areu erly consumed with terrors.20As a dream when one awakes, So,Lord, when You awake, You shall despisetheir image.21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I wasvexed in my mind.22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I waslike a beast before You.23Nevertheless I am con nually withYou; You hold me by my right hand.24 You will guide me with Your counsel,And a erward receive me to glory.25Whom have I in heaven but You? Andthere is none upon earth that I desirebesides You.26My flesh and my heart fail; But God isthe strength of my heart and my por onforever.

PSALMS 73–74 15927 For indeed, those who are far fromYou shall perish; You have destroyed allthose who desert You for harlotry.28 But it is good for me to draw nearto God; I have put my trust in the LordGOD, That I may declare all Your works.

74 1 “A Contempla on of Asaph.”O God, why have You cast us off

forever? Why does Your anger smokeagainst the sheep of Your pasture?2 Remember Your congrega on, whichYou have purchased of old, The tribeof Your inheritance, which You haveredeemed––This Mount Zion where Youhave dwelt.3 Li up Your feet to the perpetualdesola ons. The enemy has damagedeverything in the sanctuary.4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Yourmee ng place; They set up their bannersfor signs.

PSALMS 74 1605 They seem like men who li up Axesamong the thick trees.6And now they break down its carvedwork, all at once, With axes andhammers.7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;They have defiled the dwelling place ofYour name to the ground.8 They said in their hearts, "Let usdestroy them altogether." They haveburned up all the mee ng places of Godin the land.9We do not see our signs; There is nolonger any prophet; Nor is there anyamong us who knows how long.10O God, how long will the adversaryreproach? Will the enemy blasphemeYour name forever?11Why do You withdraw Your hand,even Your right hand? Take it out of Yourbosom and destroy them.

PSALMS 74 16112 For God is my King from of old,Working salva on in the midst of theearth.13 You divided the sea by Your strength;You broke the heads of the sea serpentsin the waters.14 You broke the heads of Leviathanin pieces, And gave him as food to thepeople inhabi ng the wilderness.15 You broke open the fountain and theflood; You dried up mighty rivers.16 The day is Yours, the night also isYours; You have prepared the light andthe sun.17 You have set all the borders of theearth; You have made summer andwinter.18 Remember this, that the enemy hasreproached, O LORD, And that a foolishpeople has blasphemed Your name.

PSALMS 74–75 16219Oh, do not deliver the life of Yourturtledove to the wild beast! Do notforget the life of Your poor forever.20Have respect to the covenant; Forthe dark places of the earth are full ofthe haunts of cruelty.21Oh, do not let the oppressed returnashamed! Let the poor and needy praiseYour name.22Arise, O God, plead Your owncause; Remember how the foolish manreproaches You daily.23Do not forget the voice of Yourenemies; The tumult of those who riseup against You increases con nually.

75 1 “To the Chief Musician. Set to"Do Not Destroy." A Psalm of

Asaph. A Song.” We give thanks to You, OGod, we give thanks! For Your wondrousworks declare that Your name is near.2 "When I choose the proper me, I willjudge uprightly.

PSALMS 75 1633 The earth and all its inhabitants aredissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah4 ‘I said to the boas ul, ‘Do not dealboas ully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do notli up the horn.5Do not li up your horn on high; Donot speak with a s ff neck.’"6 For exalta on comes neither from theeast Nor from the west nor from thesouth.7 But God is the Judge: He puts downone, And exalts another.8 For in the hand of the LORD there is acup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed,and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shallall the wicked of the earth Drain anddrink down.9 But I will declare forever, I will singpraises to the God of Jacob.10 ‘All the horns of the wicked I will alsocut off, But the horns of the righteousshall be exalted."

PSALMS 76 164

76 1 “To the Chief Musician. Onstringed instruments. A Psalm of

Asaph. A Song.” In Judah God is known;His name is great in Israel.2 In Salem also is His tabernacle, AndHis dwelling place in Zion.3 There He broke the arrows of the bow,The shield and sword of ba le. Selah4 You are more glorious and excellentThan the mountains of prey.5 The stouthearted were plundered;They have sunk into their sleep; Andnone of the mighty men have found theuse of their hands.6At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Boththe chariot and horse were cast into adead sleep.7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; Andwho may stand in Your presence Whenonce You are angry?

PSALMS 76–77 1658 You caused judgment to be heardfrom heaven; The earth feared and wass ll,9When God arose to judgment, Todeliver all the oppressed of the earth.Selah10 Surely the wrath of man shall praiseYou; With the remainder of wrath Youshall gird Yourself.11Make vows to the LORD your God,and pay them; Let all who are aroundHim bring presents to Him who ought tobe feared.12He shall cut off the spirit of princes;He is awesome to the kings of the earth.

77 1 “To the Chief Musician. ToJeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.” I

cried out to God with my voice––To Godwith my voice; And He gave ear to me.2 In the day of my trouble I sought theLord; My hand was stretched out in the

PSALMS 77 166night without ceasing; My soul refusedto be comforted.3 I remembered God, and was troubled;I complained, and my spirit wasoverwhelmed. Selah4 You hold my eyelids open; I am sotroubled that I cannot speak.5 I have considered the days of old, Theyears of ancient mes.6 I call to remembrance my song in thenight; I meditate within my heart, Andmy spirit makes diligent search.7Will the Lord cast off forever? And willHe be favorable no more?8Has His mercy ceased forever? Has Hispromise failed forevermore?9Has God forgo en to be gracious? HasHe in anger shut up His tender mercies?Selah10And I said, "This is my anguish; ButI will remember the years of the righthand of the Most High."

PSALMS 77 16711 I will remember the works of theLORD; Surely I will remember Yourwonders of old.12 I will also meditate on all Your work,And talk of Your deeds.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 amongthe peoples.15 You have with Your arm redeemedYour people, The sons of Jacob andJoseph. Selah16 The waters saw You, O God; Thewaters saw You, they were afraid; Thedepths also trembled.17 The clouds poured out water; Theskies sent out a sound; Your arrows alsoflashed about.18 The voice of Your thunder was inthe whirlwind; The lightnings lit up theworld; The earth trembled and shook.

PSALMS 77–78 16819 Your way was in the sea, Your pathin the great waters, And Your footstepswere not known.20 You led Your people like a flock Bythe hand of Moses and Aaron.

78 1 “A Contempla on of Asaph.”Give ear, O my people, to my law;

Incline your ears to the words of mymouth.2 I will open my mouth in a parable; Iwill u er dark sayings of old,3Which we have heard and known, Andour fathers have told us.4We will not hide them from theirchildren, Telling to the genera on tocome the praises of the LORD, And Hisstrength and His wonderful works thatHe has done.5 For He established a tes mony inJacob, And appointed a law in Israel,Which He commanded our fathers, That

PSALMS 78 169they should make them known to theirchildren;6 That the genera on to come mightknow them, The children who would beborn, That they may arise and declarethem to their children,7 That they may set their hope in God,And not forget the works of God, Butkeep His commandments;8And may not be like their fathers, Astubborn and rebellious genera on, Agenera on that did not set its heartaright, And whose spirit was not faithfulto God.9 The children of Ephraim, being armedand carrying bows, Turned back in theday of ba le.10 They did not keep the covenant ofGod; They refused to walk in His law,11And forgot His works And Hiswonders that He had shown them.

PSALMS 78 17012Marvelous things He did in the sightof their fathers, In the land of Egypt, inthe field of Zoan.13He divided the sea and caused themto pass through; And He made thewaters stand up like a heap.14 In the day me also He led them withthe cloud, And all the night with a lightof fire.15He split the rocks in the wilderness,And gave them drink in abundance likethe depths.16He also brought streams out of therock, And caused waters to run downlike rivers.17 But they sinned even more againstHim By rebelling against the Most Highin the wilderness.18And they tested God in their heart Byasking for the food of their fancy.

PSALMS 78 17119 Yes, they spoke against God: Theysaid, "Can God prepare a table in thewilderness?20 Behold, He struck the rock, So thatthe waters gushed out, And the streamsoverflowed. Can He give bread also? CanHe provide meat for His people?"21 Therefore the LORD heard this andwas furious; So a fire was kindled againstJacob, And anger also came up againstIsrael,22 Because they did not believe in God,And did not trust in His salva on.23 Yet He had commanded the cloudsabove, And opened the doors of heaven,24Had rained down manna on themto eat, And given them of the bread ofheaven.25Men ate angels’ food; He sent themfood to the full.

PSALMS 78 17226He caused an east wind to blowin the heavens; And by His power Hebrought in the south wind.27He also rained meat on them like thedust, Feathered fowl like the sand of theseas;28And He let them fall in the midst oftheir camp, All around their dwellings.29 So they ate and were well filled, ForHe gave them their own desire.30 They were not deprived of theircraving; But while their food was s ll intheir mouths,31 The wrath of God came against them,And slew the stoutest of them, Andstruck down the choice men of Israel.32 In spite of this they s ll sinned, Anddid not believe in His wondrous works.33 Therefore their days He consumed infu lity, And their years in fear.

PSALMS 78 17334When He slew them, then theysought Him; And they returned andsought earnestly for God.35 Then they remembered that God wastheir rock, And the Most High God theirRedeemer.36Nevertheless they fla ered Him withtheir mouth, And they lied to Him withtheir tongue;37 For their heart was not steadfastwith Him, Nor were they faithful in Hiscovenant.38 But He, being full of compassion,forgave their iniquity, And did notdestroy them. Yes, many a me Heturned His anger away, And did not s rup all His wrath;39 For He remembered that they werebut flesh, A breath that passes away anddoes not come again.

PSALMS 78 17440How o en they provoked Him inthe wilderness, And grieved Him in thedesert!41 Yes, again and again they temptedGod, And limited the Holy One of Israel.42 They did not remember His power:The day when He redeemed them fromthe enemy,43When He worked His signs in Egypt,And His wonders in the field of Zoan;44 Turned their rivers into blood, Andtheir streams, that they could not drink.45He sent swarms of flies among them,which devoured them, And frogs, whichdestroyed them.46He also gave their crops to thecaterpillar, And their labor to the locust.47He destroyed their vines with hail,And their sycamore trees with frost.48He also gave up their ca le to thehail, And their flocks to fiery lightning.

PSALMS 78 17549He cast on them the fierceness of Hisanger, Wrath, indigna on, and trouble,By sending angels of destruc on amongthem.50He made a path for His anger; He didnot spare their soul from death, But gavetheir life over to the plague,51And destroyed all the firstborn inEgypt, The first of their strength in thetents of Ham.52 But He made His own people goforth like sheep, And guided them in thewilderness like a flock;53And He led them on safely, sothat they did not fear; But the seaoverwhelmed their enemies.54And He brought them to His holyborder, This mountain which His righthand had acquired.55He also drove out the na ons beforethem, Allo ed them an inheritance by

PSALMS 78 176survey, And made the tribes of Israeldwell in their tents.56 Yet they tested and provoked theMost High God, And did not keep Histes monies,57 But turned back and actedunfaithfully like their fathers; They wereturned aside like a decei ul bow.58 For they provoked Him to anger withtheir high places, And moved Him tojealousy with their carved images.59WhenGod heard this, Hewas furious,And greatly abhorred Israel,60 So that He forsook the tabernacle ofShiloh, The tent He had placed amongmen,61And delivered His strength intocap vity, And His glory into the enemy’shand.62He also gave His people over tothe sword, And was furious with Hisinheritance.

PSALMS 78 17763 The fire consumed their young men,And their maidens were not given inmarriage.64 Their priests fell by the sword, Andtheir widows made no lamenta on.65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,Like a mighty man who shouts becauseof wine.66And He beat back His enemies; Heput them to a perpetual reproach.67Moreover He rejected the tent ofJoseph, And did not choose the tribe ofEphraim,68 But chose the tribe of Judah, MountZion which He loved.69And He built His sanctuary like theheights, Like the earth which He hasestablished forever.70He also chose David His servant, Andtook him from the sheepfolds;71 From following the ewes that hadyoung He brought him, To shepherd

PSALMS 78–79 178Jacob His people, And Israel Hisinheritance.72 So he shepherded them accordingto the integrity of his heart, And guidedthem by the skillfulness of his hands.

79 1 “A Psalm of Asaph.” O God,the na ons have come into Your

inheritance; Your holy temple they havedefiled; They have laid Jerusalem inheaps.2 The dead bodies of Your servants Theyhave given as food for the birds of theheavens, The flesh of Your saints to thebeasts of the earth.3 Their blood they have shed like waterall around Jerusalem, And there was noone to bury them.4We have become a reproach to ourneighbors, A scorn and derision to thosewho are around us.5How long, LORD? Will You be angryforever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

PSALMS 79 1796 Pour out Your wrath on the na onsthat do not know You, And on thekingdoms that do not call on Your name.7 For they have devoured Jacob, Andlaid waste his dwelling place.8Oh, do not remember formeriniqui es against us! Let Your tendermercies come speedily to meet us, Forwe have been brought very low.9Help us, O God of our salva on, Forthe glory of Your name; And deliver us,and provide atonement for our sins, ForYour name’s sake!10Why should the na ons say, "Whereis their God?" Let there be known amongthe na ons in our sight The avenging ofthe blood of Your servants which hasbeen shed.11 Let the groaning of the prisonercome before You; According to thegreatness of Your power Preserve thosewho are appointed to die;

PSALMS 79–80 18012And return to our neighborssevenfold into their bosom Theirreproach with which they havereproached You, O Lord.13 So we, Your people and sheep of Yourpasture, Will give You thanks forever;We will show forth Your praise to allgenera ons.

80 1 “To the Chief Musician. Setto "The Lillies." A Tes mony of

Asaph. A Psalm.” Give ear, O Shepherd ofIsrael, You who lead Joseph like a flock;You who dwell between the cherubim,shine forth!2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, andManasseh, S r up Your strength, Andcome and save us!3 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face toshine, And we shall be saved!4O LORD God of hosts, How long willYou be angry Against the prayer of Yourpeople?

PSALMS 80 1815 You have fed them with the bread oftears, And given them tears to drink ingreat measure.6 You have made us a strife to ourneighbors, And our enemies laughamong themselves.7 Restore us, O God of hosts; Cause Yourface to shine, And we shall be saved!8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt;You have cast out the na ons, andplanted it.9 You prepared room for it, And causedit to take deep root, And it filled theland.10 The hills were covered with itsshadow, And the mighty cedars with itsboughs.11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea,And her branches to the River.12Why have You broken down herhedges, So that all who pass by the waypluck her fruit?

PSALMS 80 18213 The boar out of the woods uproots it,And the wild beast of the field devoursit.14 Return, we beseech You, O God ofhosts; Look down from heaven and see,And visit this vine15And the vineyard which Your righthand has planted, And the branch thatYou made strong for Yourself.16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;They perish at the rebuke of Yourcountenance.17 Let Your hand be upon the man ofYour right hand, Upon the son of manwhom You made strong for Yourself.18 Then we will not turn back from You;Revive us, and we will call upon Yourname.19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;Cause Your face to shine, And we shallbe saved!

PSALMS 81 183

81 1 “To the Chief Musician. On aninstrument of Gath. A Psalm of

Asaph.” Sing aloud to God our strength;Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.2 Raise a song and strike the mbrel,The pleasant harp with the lute.3 Blow the trumpet at the me of theNew Moon, At the full moon, on oursolemn feast day.4 For this is a statute for Israel, A law ofthe God of Jacob.5 This He established in Joseph as ates mony, When He went throughoutthe land of Egypt, Where I heard alanguage I did not understand.6 "I removed his shoulder from theburden; His hands were freed from thebaskets.7 You called in trouble, and I deliveredyou; I answered you in the secret placeof thunder; I tested you at the waters ofMeribah. Selah

PSALMS 81 1848 "Hear, O My people, and I willadmonish you! O Israel, if you will listento Me!9 There shall be no foreign god amongyou; Nor shall you worship any foreigngod.10 I am the LORD your God, Whobrought you out of the land of Egypt;Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.11 "But My people would not heed Myvoice, And Israel would have none ofMe.12 So I gave them over to their ownstubborn heart, To walk in their owncounsels.13 "Oh, that My people would listen toMe, That Israel would walk in My ways!14 I would soon subdue their enemies,And turn My hand against theiradversaries.

PSALMS 81–82 18515 The haters of the LORD wouldpretend submission to Him, But theirfate would endure forever.16He would have fed them also withthe finest of wheat; And with honeyfrom the rock I would have sa sfiedyou."

82 1 “A Psalm of Asaph.” God standsin the congrega on of the mighty;

He judges among the gods.2How long will you judge unjustly, Andshow par ality to the wicked? Selah3Defend the poor and fatherless; Dojus ce to the afflicted and needy.4Deliver the poor and needy; Freethem from the hand of the wicked.5 They do not know, nor do theyunderstand; They walk about indarkness; All the founda ons of theearth are unstable.6 I said, "You are gods, And all of youare children of the Most High.

PSALMS 82–83 1867 But you shall die like men, And fall likeone of the princes."8Arise, O God, judge the earth; For Youshall inherit all na ons.

83 1 “A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.” Donot keep silent, O God! Do not

hold Your peace, And do not be s ll, OGod!2 For behold, Your enemies make atumult; And those who hate You haveli ed up their head.3 They have taken cra y counsel againstYour people, And consulted togetheragainst Your sheltered ones.4 They have said, "Come, and let us cutthem off from being a na on, That thename of Israel may be remembered nomore."5 For they have consulted together withone consent; They form a confederacyagainst You:

PSALMS 83 1876 The tents of Edomand the Ishmaelites;Moab and the Hagrites;7Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philis awith the inhabitants of Tyre;8Assyria also has joined with them;They have helped the children of Lot.Selah9Deal with them as with Midian, Aswith Sisera, As with Jabin at the BrookKishon,10Who perished at En Dor, Whobecame as refuse on the earth.11Make their nobles like Oreb and likeZeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah andZalmunna,12Who said, "Let us take for ourselvesThe pastures of God for a possession."13O my God, make them like thewhirling dust, Like the chaff before thewind!14As the fire burns the woods, And asthe flame sets the mountains on fire,

PSALMS 83–84 18815 So pursue them with Your tempest,And frighten them with Your storm.16 Fill their faces with shame, That theymay seek Your name, O LORD.17 Let them be confounded anddismayed forever; Yes, let them be putto shame and perish,18 That they may know that You, whosename alone is the LORD, Are the MostHigh over all the earth.

84 1 “To the Chief Musician. On aninstrument of Gath. A Psalm of

the sons of Korah.” How lovely is Yourtabernacle, O LORD of hosts!2My soul longs, yes, even faints For thecourts of the LORD; My heart and myflesh cry out for the living God.3 Even the sparrow has found a home,And the swallow a nest for herself,Where she may lay her young––EvenYour altars, O LORD of hosts, My Kingand my God.

PSALMS 84 1894 Blessed are those who dwell in Yourhouse; They will s ll be praising You.Selah5 Blessed is the man whose strength isin You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.6As they pass through the Valley ofBaca, They make it a spring; The rain alsocovers it with pools.7 They go from strength to strength;Each one appears before God in Zion.8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah9O God, behold our shield, And lookupon the face of Your anointed.10 For a day in Your courts is be erthan a thousand. I would rather be adoorkeeper in the house of my God Thandwell in the tents of wickedness.11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;The LORD will give grace and glory; Nogood thing will He withhold From thosewho walk uprightly.

PSALMS 84–85 19012O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the manwho trusts in You!

85 1 “To the Chief Musician. A Psalmof the sons of Korah.” LORD, You

have been favorable to Your land; Youhave brought back the cap vity of Jacob.2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Yourpeople; You have covered all their sin.Selah3 You have taken away all Your wrath;You have turned from the fierceness ofYour anger.4 Restore us, O God of our salva on,And cause Your anger toward us tocease.5Will You be angry with us forever?Will You prolong Your anger to allgenera ons?6Will You not revive us again, That Yourpeople may rejoice in You?7 Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grantus Your salva on.

PSALMS 85–86 1918 I will hear what God the LORD willspeak, For He will speak peace To Hispeople and to His saints; But let themnot turn back to folly.9 Surely His salva on is near to thosewho fear Him, That glory may dwell inour land.10Mercy and truth have met together;Righteousness and peace have kissed.11 Truth shall spring out of the earth,And righteousness shall look down fromheaven.12 Yes, the LORD will give what is good;And our land will yield its increase.13 Righteousness will go before Him,And shall make His footsteps ourpathway.

86 1 “A Prayer of David” Bow downYour ear, O LORD, hear me; For I

am poor and needy.

PSALMS 86 1922 Preserve my life, for I am holy; You aremy God; Save Your servant who trusts inYou!3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry toYou all day long.4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant, Forto You, O Lord, I li up my soul.5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready toforgive, And abundant in mercy to allthose who call upon You.6Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; Anda end to the voice of my supplica ons.7 In the day of my trouble I will callupon You, For You will answer me.8Among the gods there is none likeYou, O Lord; Nor are there any works likeYour works.9All na ons whom You have made Shallcome and worship before You, O Lord,And shall glorify Your name.10 For You are great, and do wondrousthings; You alone are God.

PSALMS 86 19311 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I willwalk in Your truth; Unite my heart tofear Your name.12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, withall my heart, And I will glorify Your nameforevermore.13 For great is Your mercy toward me,And You have delivered my soul from thedepths of Sheol.14O God, the proud have risen againstme, And a mob of violent men havesought my life, And have not set Youbefore them.15 But You, O Lord, are a God full ofcompassion, and gracious, Longsufferingand abundant in mercy and truth.16Oh, turn to me, and have mercy onme! Give Your strength to Your servant,And save the son of Your maidservant.17 Show me a sign for good, Thatthose who hate me may see it and be

PSALMS 87 194ashamed, Because You, LORD, havehelped me and comforted me.

87 1 “A Psalm of the sons of Korah.A Song.” His founda on is in the

holy mountains.2 The LORD loves the gates of ZionMorethan all the dwellings of Jacob.3Glorious things are spoken of you, Ocity of God! Selah4 "I will make men on of Rahab andBabylon to those who know Me; Behold,O Philis a and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘Thisone was born there.’"5And of Zion it will be said, "This oneand that one were born in her; And theMost High Himself shall establish her."6 The LORD will record, When Heregisters the peoples: "This one wasborn there." Selah7 Both the singers and the players oninstruments say, "All my springs are inyou."

PSALMS 88 195

88 1 “A Song. A Psalm of thesons of Korah. To the Chief

Musician. Set to "Mahalath Leannoth." AContempla on of Heman the Ezrahite.”O LORD, God of my salva on, I havecried out 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 mylife draws near to the grave.4 I am counted with those who go downto the pit; I am like a man who has nostrength,5Adri among the dead, Like theslain who lie in the grave, Whom Youremember no more, And who are cut offfrom Your hand.6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, Indarkness, in the depths.7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, AndYou have afflicted me with all Yourwaves. Selah

PSALMS 88 1968 You have put away my acquaintancesfar from me; You have made me anabomina on to them; I am shut up, andI cannot get out;9My eye wastes away because ofafflic on. LORD, I have called daily uponYou; I have stretched out my hands toYou.10Will You work wonders for the dead?Shall the dead arise and praise You?Selah11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declaredin the grave? Or Your faithfulness in theplace of destruc on?12 Shall Your wonders be known in thedark? And Your righteousness in the landof forge ulness?13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD,And in the morning my prayer comesbefore You.14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul?Why do You hide Your face from me?

PSALMS 88–89 19715 I have been afflicted and ready to diefrommy youth; I suffer Your terrors; I amdistraught.16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;Your terrors have cut me off.17 They came around me all day longlike water; They engulfed me altogether.18 Loved one and friend You have putfar from me, And my acquaintances intodarkness.

89 1 “A Contempla on of Ethan theEzrahite.” I will sing of the mercies

of the LORD forever; With my mouthwill I make known Your faithfulness to allgenera ons.2 For I have said, "Mercy shall be builtup forever; Your faithfulness You shallestablish in the very heavens."3 "I have made a covenant with Mychosen, I have sworn to My servantDavid:

PSALMS 89 1984 ‘Your seed I will establish forever, Andbuild up your throne to all genera ons.’"Selah5And the heavens will praise Yourwonders, O LORD; Your faithfulness alsoin the assembly of the saints.6 For who in the heavens can becompared to the LORD? Who among thesons of the mighty can be likened to theLORD?7God is greatly to be feared in theassembly of the saints, And to be held inreverence by all those around Him.8O LORD God of hosts, Who is mightylike You, O LORD? Your faithfulness alsosurrounds You.9 You rule the raging of the sea; Whenits waves rise, You s ll them.10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, asone who is slain; You have sca ered Yourenemies with Your mighty arm.

PSALMS 89 19911 The heavens are Yours, the earth alsois Yours; The world and all its fullness,You have founded them.12 The north and the south, You havecreated them; Tabor and Hermon rejoicein Your name.13 You have a mighty arm; Strong is Yourhand, and high is Your right hand.14 Righteousness and jus ce are thefounda on of Your throne; Mercy andtruth go before Your face.15 Blessed are the people who knowthe joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, inthe light of Your countenance.16 In Your name they rejoice all daylong, And in Your righteousness they areexalted.17 For You are the glory of theirstrength, And in Your favor our horn isexalted.18 For our shield belongs to the LORD,And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

PSALMS 89 20019 Then You spoke in a vision to Yourholy one, And said: "I have given help toone who is mighty; I have exalted onechosen from the people.20 I have found My servant David; WithMy holy oil I have anointed him,21With whom My hand shall beestablished; Also My arm shallstrengthen him.22 The enemy shall not outwit him, Northe son of wickedness afflict him.23 I will beat down his foes before hisface, And plague those who hate him.24 "But My faithfulness and My mercyshall be with him, And in My name hishorn shall be exalted.25Also I will set his hand over the sea,And his right hand over the rivers.26He shall cry to Me, ‘You are myFather, My God, and the rock of mysalva on.’

PSALMS 89 20127Also I will make him My firstborn,The highest of the kings of the earth.28My mercy I will keep for him forever,And My covenant shall stand firm withhim.29His seed also I will make to endureforever, And his throne as the days ofheaven.30 "If his sons forsake My law And donot walk in My judgments,31 If they break My statutes And do notkeep My commandments,32 Then I will punish their transgressionwith the rod, And their iniquity withstripes.33Nevertheless My lovingkindness I willnot u erly take from him, Nor allow Myfaithfulness to fail.34My covenant I will not break, Noralter the word that has gone out of Mylips.

PSALMS 89 20235Once I have sworn by My holiness; Iwill not lie to David:36His seed shall endure forever, And histhrone as the sun before Me;37 It shall be established forever like themoon, Even like the faithful witness inthe sky." Selah38 But You have cast off and abhorred,You have been furious with Youranointed.39 You have renounced the covenantof Your servant; You have profaned hiscrown by cas ng it to the ground.40 You have broken down all his hedges;You have brought his strongholds to ruin.41All who pass by the way plunder him;He is a reproach to his neighbors.42 You have exalted the right hand ofhis adversaries; You have made all hisenemies rejoice.

PSALMS 89 20343 You have also turned back the edgeof his sword, And have not sustainedhim in the ba le.44 You have made his glory cease, Andcast his throne down to the ground.45 The days of his youth You haveshortened; You have covered him withshame. Selah46How long, LORD? Will You hideYourself forever? Will Your wrath burnlike fire?47 Remember how short my me is; Forwhat fu lity have You created all thechildren of men?48What man can live and not seedeath? Can he deliver his life from thepower of the grave? Selah49 Lord, where are Your formerlovingkindnesses, Which You swore toDavid in Your truth?

PSALMS 89–90 20450 Remember, Lord, the reproach ofYour servants––How I bear in my bosomthe reproach of all the many peoples,51With which Your enemies havereproached, O LORD, With which theyhave reproached the footsteps of Youranointed.52 Blessed be the LORD forevermore!Amen and Amen.

90 1 “A Prayer of Moses the man ofGod.” Lord, You have been our

dwelling place in all genera ons.2 Before the mountains were broughtforth, Or ever You had formed the earthand the world, Even from everlas ng toeverlas ng, You are God.3 You turn man to destruc on, And say,"Return, O children of men."4 For a thousand years in Your sight Arelike yesterday when it is past, And like awatch in the night.

PSALMS 90 2055 You carry them away like a flood; Theyare like a sleep. In the morning they arelike grass which grows up:6 In the morning it flourishes and growsup; In the evening it is cut down andwithers.7 For we have been consumed byYour anger, And by Your wrath we areterrified.8 You have set our iniqui es beforeYou, Our secret sins in the light of Yourcountenance.9 For all our days have passed away inYour wrath; We finish our years like asigh.10 The days of our lives are seventyyears; And if by reason of strength theyare eighty years, Yet their boast is onlylabor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off,and we fly away.11Who knows the power of Your anger?For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.

PSALMS 90–91 20612 So teach us to number our days, Thatwe may gain a heart of wisdom.13 Return, O LORD! How long? And havecompassion on Your servants.14Oh, sa sfy us early with Your mercy,That we may rejoice and be glad all ourdays!15Make us glad according to the days inwhich You have afflicted us, The years inwhich we have seen evil.16 Let Your work appear to Yourservants, And Your glory to theirchildren.17And let the beauty of the LORD ourGod be upon us, And establish the workof our hands for us; Yes, establish thework of our hands.

91 1He who dwells in the secretplace of theMost High Shall abide

under the shadow of the Almighty.

PSALMS 91 2072 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refugeand my fortress; My God, in Him I willtrust."3 Surely He shall deliver you fromthe snare of the fowler And from theperilous pes lence.4He shall cover you with His feathers,And under His wings you shall takerefuge; His truth shall be your shield andbuckler.5 You shall not be afraid of the terror bynight, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,6Nor of the pes lence that walks indarkness, Nor of the destruc on thatlays waste at noonday.7A thousand may fall at your side, Andten thousand at your right hand; But itshall not come near you.8Only with your eyes shall you look,And see the reward of the wicked.

PSALMS 91 2089 Because you have made the LORD,who is my refuge, Even the Most High,your dwelling place,10No evil shall befall you, Nor shall anyplague come near your dwelling;11 For He shall give His angels chargeover you, To keep you in all your ways.12 In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.13 You shall tread upon the lion and thecobra, The young lion and the serpentyou shall trample underfoot.14 "Because he has set his love uponMe, therefore I will deliver him; I will sethim on high, because he has known Myname.15He shall call upon Me, and I willanswer him; I will be with him in trouble;I will deliver him and honor him.16With long life I will sa sfy him, Andshow him My salva on."

PSALMS 92 209

92 1 “A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbathday.” It is good to give thanks to

the LORD, And to sing praises to Yourname, O Most High;2 To declare Your lovingkindness in themorning, And Your faithfulness everynight,3On an instrument of ten strings,On the lute, And on the harp, Withharmonious sound.4 For You, LORD, have made me gladthrough Your work; I will triumph in theworks of Your hands.5O LORD, how great are Your works!Your thoughts are very deep.6A senseless man does not know, Nordoes a fool understand this.7When the wicked spring up like grass,And when all the workers of iniquityflourish, It is that they may be destroyedforever.

PSALMS 92 2108 But You, LORD, are on highforevermore.9 For behold, Your enemies, O LORD,For behold, Your enemies shall perish;All the workers of iniquity shall besca ered.10 But my horn You have exalted like awild ox; I have been anointed with freshoil.11My eye also has seen my desire onmy enemies; My ears hear my desire onthe wicked Who rise up against me.12 The righteous shall flourish like apalm tree, He shall grow like a cedar inLebanon.13 Those who are planted in the houseof the LORD Shall flourish in the courtsof our God.14 They shall s ll bear fruit in old age;They shall be fresh and flourishing,

PSALMS 92–94 21115 To declare that the LORD isupright; He is my rock, and there is nounrighteousness in Him.

93 1 The LORD reigns, He is clothedwith majesty; The LORD is

clothed, He has girded Himself withstrength. Surely the world is established,so that it cannot be moved.2 Your throne is established from of old;You are from everlas ng.3 The floods have li ed up, O LORD, Thefloods have li ed up their voice; Thefloods li up their waves.4 The LORD on high is migh er Than thenoise of many waters, Than the mightywaves of the sea.5 Your tes monies are very sure;Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD,forever.

94 1O LORD God, to whomvengeance belongs––O God, to

whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

PSALMS 94 2122 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Renderpunishment to the proud.3 LORD, how long will the wicked, Howlong will the wicked triumph?4 They u er speech, and speak insolentthings; All the workers of iniquity boastin themselves.5 They break in pieces Your people, OLORD, And afflict Your heritage.6 They slay the widow and the stranger,And murder the fatherless.7 Yet they say, "The LORD does not see,Nor does the God of Jacob understand."8Understand, you senseless among thepeople; And you fools, when will you bewise?9He who planted the ear, shall He nothear? He who formed the eye, shall Henot see?10He who instructs the na ons, shallHe not correct, He who teaches manknowledge?

PSALMS 94 21311 The LORD knows the thoughts ofman, That they are fu le.12 Blessed is the man whom Youinstruct, O LORD, And teach out of Yourlaw,13 That You may give him rest from thedays of adversity, Un l the pit is dug forthe wicked.14 For the LORD will not cast offHis people, Nor will He forsake Hisinheritance.15 But judgment will return torighteousness, And all the upright inheart will follow it.16Who will rise up for me against theevildoers? Who will stand up for meagainst the workers of iniquity?17Unless the LORD had been my help,My soul would soon have se led insilence.18 If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, OLORD, will hold me up.

PSALMS 94–95 21419 In the mul tude of my anxie eswithin me, Your comforts delight mysoul.20 Shall the throne of iniquity, whichdevises evil by law, Have fellowship withYou?21 They gather together against the lifeof the righteous, And condemn innocentblood.22 But the LORD has been my defense,And my God the rock of my refuge.23He has brought on them their owniniquity, And shall cut them off in theirown wickedness; The LORD our Godshall cut them off.

95 1Oh come, let us sing to theLORD! Let us shout joyfully to the

Rock of our salva on.2 Let us come before His presence withthanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully toHim with psalms.

PSALMS 95 2153 For the LORD is the great God, Andthe great King above all gods.4 In His hand are the deep places of theearth; The heights of the hills are Hisalso.5 The sea is His, for He made it; And Hishands formed the dry land.6Oh come, let us worship and bowdown; Let us kneel before the LORD ourMaker.7 For He is our God, And we are thepeople of His pasture, And the sheepof His hand. Today, if you will hear Hisvoice:8 "Do not harden your hearts, as in therebellion, As in the day of trial in thewilderness,9When your fathers tested Me; Theytried Me, though they saw My work.10 For forty years I was grieved withthat genera on, And said, ‘It is a people

PSALMS 95–96 216who go astray in their hearts, And theydo not know My ways.’11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shallnot enter My rest.’"

96 1Oh, sing to the LORD a newsong! Sing to the LORD, all the

earth.2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;Proclaim the good news of His salva onfrom day to day.3Declare His glory among the na ons,His wonders among all peoples.4 For the LORD is great and greatly tobe praised; He is to be feared above allgods.5 For all the gods of the peoples areidols, But the LORD made the heavens.6Honor and majesty are before Him;Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.7Give to the LORD, O families of thepeoples, Give to the LORD glory andstrength.

PSALMS 96 2178Give to the LORD the glory due Hisname; Bring an offering, and come intoHis courts.9Oh, worship the LORD in the beautyof holiness! Tremble before Him, all theearth.10 Say among the na ons, "TheLORD reigns; The world also is firmlyestablished, It shall not be moved; Heshall judge the peoples righteously."11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let theearth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all itsfullness;12 Let the field be joyful, and all that isin it. Then all the trees of the woods willrejoice13 before the LORD. (96:13) For He iscoming, for He is coming to judge theearth. He shall judge the world withrighteousness, And the peoples with Histruth.

PSALMS 97 218

97 1 The LORD reigns; Let the earthrejoice; Let the mul tude of isles

be glad!2 Clouds and darkness surround Him;Righteousness and jus ce are thefounda on of His throne.3A fire goes before Him, And burns upHis enemies round about.4His lightnings light the world; Theearth sees and trembles.5 The mountains melt like wax at thepresence of the LORD, At the presenceof the Lord of the whole earth.6 The heavens declare Hisrighteousness, And all the peoplessee His glory.7 Let all be put to shame who servecarved images, Who boast of idols.Worship Him, all you gods.8 Zion hears and is glad, And thedaughters of Judah rejoice Because ofYour judgments, O LORD.

PSALMS 97–98 2199 For You, LORD, are most high above allthe earth; You are exalted far above allgods.10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!He preserves the souls of His saints; Hedelivers them out of the hand of thewicked.11 Light is sown for the righteous, Andgladness for the upright in heart.12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,And give thanks at the remembrance ofHis holy name.

98 1 “A Psalm.” Oh, sing to the LORDa new song! For He has done

marvelous things; His right hand and Hisholy arm have gained Him the victory.2 The LORD has made known Hissalva on; His righteousness He hasrevealed in the sight of the na ons.3He has remembered His mercy andHis faithfulness to the house of Israel;

PSALMS 98–99 220All the ends of the earth have seen thesalva on of our God.4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all theearth; Break forth in song, rejoice, andsing praises.5 Sing to the LORD with the harp, Withthe harp and the sound of a psalm,6With trumpets and the sound of ahorn; Shout joyfully before the LORD,the King.7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,The world and those who dwell in it;8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let thehills be joyful together9 before the LORD, (98:9) For Heis coming to judge the earth. Withrighteousness He shall judge the world,And the peoples with equity.

99 1 The LORD reigns; Let thepeoples tremble! He dwells

between the cherubim; Let the earth bemoved!

PSALMS 99 2212 The LORD is great in Zion, And He ishigh above all the peoples.3 Let them praise Your great andawesome name––He is holy.4 The King’s strength also loves jus ce;You have established equity; You haveexecuted jus ce and righteousness inJacob.5 Exalt the LORD our God, And worshipat His footstool––He is holy.6Moses and Aaron were among Hispriests, And Samuel was among thosewho called upon His name; They calledupon the LORD, and He answered them.7He spoke to them in the cloudypillar; They kept His tes monies and theordinance He gave them.8 You answered them, O LORD our God;You were to them God–Who–Forgives,Though You took vengeance on theirdeeds.

PSALMS 99–101 2229 Exalt the LORD our God, And worshipat His holy hill; For the LORD our God isholy.

100 1 “A Psalm of Thanksgiving.”Make a joyful shout to the

LORD, all you lands!2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Comebefore His presence with singing.3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is Hewho has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of Hispasture.4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise. Bethankful to Him, and bless His name.5 For the LORD is good; His mercy iseverlas ng, And His truth endures to allgenera ons.

101 1 “A Psalm of David.” I will singof mercy and jus ce; To You, O

LORD, I will sing praises.

PSALMS 101 2232 I will behave wisely in a perfect way.Oh, when will You come to me? I willwalk within my house with a perfectheart.3 I will set nothing wicked before myeyes; I hate the work of those who fallaway; It shall not cling to me.4A perverse heart shall depart fromme; I will not know wickedness.5Whoever secretly slanders hisneighbor, Him I will destroy; The onewho has a haughty look and a proudheart, Him I will not endure.6My eyes shall be on the faithful ofthe land, That they may dwell with me;He who walks in a perfect way, He shallserve me.7He who works deceit shall not dwellwithin my house; He who tells lies shallnot con nue in my presence.

PSALMS 101–102 2248 Early I will destroy all the wickedof the land, That I may cut off all theevildoers from the city of the LORD.

102 1 “A Prayer of the afflictedwhen he is overwhelmed

and pours out his complaint before theLORD.” Hear my prayer, O LORD, And letmy cry come to You.2Do not hide Your face from me in theday of my trouble; Incline Your ear tome; In the day that I call, answer mespeedily.3 For my days are consumed like smoke,And my bones are burned like a hearth.4My heart is stricken and withered likegrass, So that I forget to eat my bread.5 Because of the sound of my groaningMy bones cling to my skin.6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness; Iam like an owl of the desert.7 I lie awake, And am like a sparrowalone on the housetop.

PSALMS 102 2258My enemies reproach me all day long,Those who deride me swear an oathagainst me.9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, Andmingled my drink with weeping,10 Because of Your indigna on and Yourwrath; For You have li ed me up andcast me away.11My days are like a shadow thatlengthens, And I wither away like grass.12 But You, O LORD, shall endureforever, And the remembrance of Yourname to all genera ons.13 You will arise and have mercy onZion; For the me to favor her, Yes, theset me, has come.14 For Your servants take pleasure in herstones, And show favor to her dust.15 So the na ons shall fear the name ofthe LORD, And all the kings of the earthYour glory.

PSALMS 102 22616 For the LORD shall build up Zion; Heshall appear in His glory.17He shall regard the prayer of thedes tute, And shall not despise theirprayer.18 This will be wri en for the genera onto come, That a people yet to be createdmay praise the LORD.19 For He looked down from the heightof His sanctuary; From heaven the LORDviewed the earth,20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,To release those appointed to death,21 To declare the name of the LORD inZion, And His praise in Jerusalem,22When the peoples are gatheredtogether, And the kingdoms, to serve theLORD.23He weakened my strength in the way;He shortened my days.

PSALMS 102–103 22724 I said, "O my God, Do not take meaway in the midst of my days; Your yearsare throughout all genera ons.25Of old You laid the founda on of theearth, And the heavens are the work ofYour hands.26 They will perish, but You will endure;Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;Like a cloak You will change them, Andthey will be changed.27 But You are the same, And Your yearswill have no end.28 The children of Your servants willcon nue, And their descendants will beestablished before You."

103 1 “A Psalm of David.” Bless theLORD, O my soul; And all that

is within me, bless His holy name!2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forgetnot all His benefits:3Who forgives all your iniqui es, Whoheals all your diseases,

PSALMS 103 2284Who redeems your life fromdestruc on, Who crowns you withlovingkindness and tender mercies,5Who sa sfies your mouth with goodthings, So that your youth is renewedlike the eagle’s.6 The LORD executes righteousness Andjus ce for all who are oppressed.7He made known His ways to Moses,His acts to the children of Israel.8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.9He will not always strive with us, Norwill He keep His anger forever.10He has not dealt with us according toour sins, Nor punished us according toour iniqui es.11 For as the heavens are high abovethe earth, So great is His mercy towardthose who fear Him;

PSALMS 103 22912As far as the east is from the west, Sofar has He removed our transgressionsfrom us.13As a father pi es his children, So theLORD pi es those who fear Him.14 For He knows our frame; Heremembers that we are dust.15As for man, his days are like grass; Asa flower of the field, so he flourishes.16 For the wind passes over it, and itis gone, And its place remembers it nomore.17 But the mercy of the LORD is fromeverlas ng to everlas ng On thosewho fear Him, And His righteousness tochildren’s children,18 To such as keep His covenant,And to those who remember Hiscommandments to do them.19 The LORD has established His thronein heaven, And His kingdom rules overall.

PSALMS 103–104 23020 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Whoexcel in strength, who do His word,Heeding the voice of His word.21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, Youministers of His, who do His pleasure.22 Bless the LORD, all His works, In allplaces of His dominion. Bless the LORD,O my soul!

104 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!O LORD my God, You are very

great: You are clothed with honor andmajesty,2Who cover Yourself with light as witha garment, Who stretch out the heavenslike a curtain.3He lays the beams of His upperchambers in the waters, Who makes theclouds His chariot, Who walks on thewings of the wind,4Who makes His angels spirits, Hisministers a flame of fire.

PSALMS 104 2315 You who laid the founda ons of theearth, So that it should not be movedforever,6 You covered it with the deep as witha garment; The waters stood above themountains.7At Your rebuke they fled; At the voiceof Your thunder they hastened away.8 They went up over the mountains;They went down into the valleys, To theplace which You founded for them.9 You have set a boundary that theymay not pass over, That they may notreturn to cover the earth.10He sends the springs into the valleys,They flow among the hills.11 They give drink to every beast of thefield; The wild donkeys quench theirthirst.12 By them the birds of the heavenshave their home; They sing among thebranches.

PSALMS 104 23213He waters the hills from His upperchambers; The earth is sa sfied with thefruit of Your works.14He causes the grass to grow for theca le, And vegeta on for the service ofman, That he may bring forth food fromthe earth,15And wine that makes glad the heartof man, Oil to make his face shine, Andbread which strengthens man’s heart.16 The trees of the LORD are full ofsap, The cedars of Lebanon which Heplanted,17Where the birds make their nests;The stork has her home in the fir trees.18 The high hills are for the wild goats;The cliffs are a refuge for the rockbadgers.19He appointed the moon for seasons;The sun knows its going down.

PSALMS 104 23320 You make darkness, and it is night, Inwhich all the beasts of the forest creepabout.21 The young lions roar a er their prey,And seek their food from God.22When the sun rises, they gathertogether And lie down in their dens.23Man goes out to his work And to hislabor un l the evening.24O LORD, how manifold are Yourworks! In wisdom You have made themall. The earth is full of Your possessions––25 This great and wide sea, In whichare innumerable teeming things, Livingthings both small and great.26 There the ships sail about; There isthat Leviathan Which You have made toplay there.27 These all wait for You, That You maygive them their food in due season.

PSALMS 104 23428What You give them they gather in;You open Your hand, they are filled withgood.29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;You take away their breath, they die andreturn to their dust.30 You send forth Your Spirit, they arecreated; And You renew the face of theearth.31May the glory of the LORD endureforever; May the LORD rejoice in Hisworks.32He looks on the earth, and ittrembles; He touches the hills, and theysmoke.33 I will sing to the LORD as long as Ilive; I will sing praise to my God while Ihave my being.34May my medita on be sweet to Him;I will be glad in the LORD.

PSALMS 104–105 23535May sinners be consumed from theearth, And the wicked be no more. Blessthe LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!

105 1Oh, give thanks to the LORD!Call upon His name; Make

known His deeds among the peoples!2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talkof all His wondrous works!3Glory in His holy name; Let the heartsof those rejoice who seek the LORD!4 Seek the LORD and His strength; SeekHis face evermore!5 Remember His marvelous workswhich He has done, His wonders, andthe judgments of His mouth,6O seed of Abraham His servant, Youchildren of Jacob, His chosen ones!7He is the LORD our God; His judgmentsare in all the earth.8He remembers His covenant forever,The word which He commanded, for athousand genera ons,

PSALMS 105 2369 The covenant which He made withAbraham, And His oath to Isaac,10And confirmed it to Jacob for astatute, To Israel as an everlas ngcovenant,11 Saying, "To you I will give the landof Canaan As the allotment of yourinheritance,"12When they were few in number,Indeed very few, and strangers in it.13When they went from one na on toanother, From one kingdom to anotherpeople,14He permi ed no one to do themwrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for theirsakes,15 Saying, "Do not touch My anointedones, And do My prophets no harm."16Moreover He called for a famine inthe land; He destroyed all the provisionof bread.

PSALMS 105 23717He sent a man before them––Joseph––who was sold as a slave.18 They hurt his feet with fe ers, Hewas laid in irons.19Un l the me that his word came topass, The word of the LORD tested him.20 The king sent and released him, Theruler of the people let him go free.21He made him lord of his house, Andruler of all his possessions,22 To bind his princes at his pleasure,And teach his elders wisdom.23 Israel also came into Egypt, AndJacob dwelt in the land of Ham.24He increased His people greatly, Andmade them stronger than their enemies.25He turned their heart to hate Hispeople, To deal cra ily with His servants.26He sent Moses His servant, AndAaron whom He had chosen.27 They performed His signs amongthem, And wonders in the land of Ham.

PSALMS 105 23828He sent darkness, and made it dark;And they did not rebel against His word.29He turned their waters into blood,And killed their fish.30 Their land abounded with frogs, Evenin the chambers of their kings.31He spoke, and there came swarms offlies, And lice in all their territory.32He gave them hail for rain, Andflaming fire in their land.33He struck their vines also, and theirfig trees, And splintered the trees oftheir territory.34He spoke, and locusts came, Younglocusts without number,35And ate up all the vegeta on in theirland, And devoured the fruit of theirground.36He also destroyed all the firstborn intheir land, The first of all their strength.

PSALMS 105 23937He also brought them out with silverand gold, And there was none feebleamong His tribes.38 Egypt was glad when they departed,For the fear of them had fallen uponthem.39He spread a cloud for a covering, Andfire to give light in the night.40 The people asked, and He broughtquail, And sa sfied them with the breadof heaven.41He opened the rock, and watergushed out; It ran in the dry places like ariver.42 For He remembered His holypromise, And Abraham His servant.43He brought out His people with joy,His chosen ones with gladness.44He gave them the lands of theGen les, And they inherited the labor ofthe na ons,

PSALMS 105–106 24045 That they might observe His statutesAnd keep His laws. Praise the LORD!

106 1 Praise the LORD! Oh, givethanks to the LORD, for He is

good! For His mercy endures forever.2Who can u er the mighty acts of theLORD? Who can declare all His praise?3 Blessed are those who keep jus ce,And he who does righteousness at allmes!4 Remember me, O LORD, with thefavor You have toward Your people; Oh,visit me with Your salva on,5 That I may see the benefit of Yourchosen ones, That I may rejoice in thegladness of Your na on, That I may glorywith Your inheritance.6We have sinned with our fathers, Wehave commi ed iniquity, We have donewickedly.7Our fathers in Egypt did notunderstand Your wonders; They did

PSALMS 106 241not remember the mul tude of Yourmercies, But rebelled by the sea––theRed Sea.8Nevertheless He saved them for Hisname’s sake, That He might make Hismighty power known.9He rebuked the Red Sea also, and itdried up; So He led them through thedepths, As through the wilderness.10He saved them from the hand of himwho hated them, And redeemed themfrom the hand of the enemy.11 The waters covered their enemies;There was not one of them le .12 Then they believed His words; Theysang His praise.13 They soon forgot His works; They didnot wait for His counsel,14 But lusted exceedingly in thewilderness, And tested God in thedesert.

PSALMS 106 24215And He gave them their request, Butsent leanness into their soul.16When they envied Moses in thecamp, And Aaron the saint of the LORD,17 The earth opened up and swallowedDathan, And covered the fac on ofAbiram.18A fire was kindled in their company;The flame burned up the wicked.19 They made a calf in Horeb, Andworshiped the molded image.20 Thus they changed their glory Intothe image of an ox that eats grass.21 They forgot God their Savior, Whohad done great things in Egypt,22Wondrous works in the land of Ham,Awesome things by the Red Sea.23 Therefore He said that He woulddestroy them, Had not Moses His chosenone stood before Him in the breach, Toturn away His wrath, lest He destroythem.

PSALMS 106 24324 Then they despised the pleasantland; They did not believe His word,25 But complained in their tents, Anddid not heed the voice of the LORD.26 Therefore He raised up His hand in anoath against them, To overthrow themin the wilderness,27 To overthrow their descendantsamong the na ons, And to sca er themin the lands.28 They joined themselves also to Baalof Peor, And ate sacrifices made to thedead.29 Thus they provoked Him to angerwith their deeds, And the plague brokeout among them.30 Then Phinehas stood up andintervened, And the plague was stopped.31And that was accounted to himfor righteousness To all genera onsforevermore.

PSALMS 106 24432 They angered Him also at the watersof strife, So that it went ill with Moseson account of them;33 Because they rebelled against HisSpirit, So that he spoke rashly with hislips.34 They did not destroy the peoples,Concerning whom the LORD hadcommanded them,35 But they mingled with the Gen lesAnd learned their works;36 They served their idols, Whichbecame a snare to them.37 They even sacrificed their sons Andtheir daughters to demons,38And shed innocent blood, The bloodof their sons and daughters, Whom theysacrificed to the idols of Canaan; Andthe land was polluted with blood.39 Thus they were defiled by their ownworks, And played the harlot by theirown deeds.

PSALMS 106 24540 Therefore the wrath of the LORD waskindled against His people, So that Heabhorred His own inheritance.41And He gave them into the hand ofthe Gen les, And those who hated themruled over them.42 Their enemies also oppressed them,And they were brought into subjec onunder their hand.43Many mes He delivered them; Butthey rebelled in their counsel, And werebrought low for their iniquity.44Nevertheless He regarded theirafflic on, When He heard their cry;45And for their sake He rememberedHis covenant, And relented according tothe mul tude of His mercies.46He also made them to be pi ed By allthose who carried them away cap ve.47 Save us, O LORD our God, And gatherus from among the Gen les, To give

PSALMS 106–107 246thanks to Your holy name, To triumph inYour praise.48 Blessed be the LORD God of IsraelFrom everlas ng to everlas ng! And letall the people say, "Amen!" Praise theLORD!

107 1Oh, 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 handof the enemy,3And gathered out of the lands, Fromthe east and from the west, From thenorth and from the south.4 They wandered in the wilderness ina desolate way; They found no city todwell in.5Hungry and thirsty, Their soul faintedin them.

PSALMS 107 2476 Then they cried out to the LORD intheir trouble, And He delivered them outof their distresses.7And He led them forth by the rightway, That they might go to a city for adwelling place.8Oh, that men would give thanks tothe LORD for His goodness, And for Hiswonderful works to the children of men!9 For He sa sfies the longing soul, Andfills the hungry soul with goodness.10 Those who sat in darkness and in theshadow of death, Bound in afflic on andirons––11 Because they rebelled against thewords of God, And despised the counselof the Most High,12 Therefore He brought down theirheart with labor; They fell down, andthere was none to help.

PSALMS 107 24813 Then they cried out to the LORD intheir trouble, And He saved them out oftheir distresses.14He brought them out of darkness andthe shadow of death, And broke theirchains in pieces.15Oh, that men would give thanks tothe LORD for His goodness, And for Hiswonderful works to the children of men!16 For He has broken the gates ofbronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.17 Fools, because of their transgression,And because of their iniqui es, wereafflicted.18 Their soul abhorred all manner offood, And they drew near to the gates ofdeath.19 Then they cried out to the LORD intheir trouble, And He saved them out oftheir distresses.

PSALMS 107 24920He sent His word and healedthem, And delivered them from theirdestruc ons.21Oh, that men would give thanks tothe LORD for His goodness, And for Hiswonderful works to the children of men!22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices ofthanksgiving, And declare His works withrejoicing.23 Those who go down to the sea inships, Who do business on great waters,24 They see the works of the LORD, AndHis wonders in the deep.25 For He commands and raises thestormy wind, Which li s up the waves ofthe sea.26 They mount up to the heavens, Theygo down again to the depths; Their soulmelts because of trouble.27 They reel to and fro, and stagger likea drunken man, And are at their wits’end.

PSALMS 107 25028 Then they cry out to the LORD intheir trouble, And He brings them out oftheir distresses.29He calms the storm, So that its wavesare s ll.30 Then they are glad because they arequiet; So He guides them to their desiredhaven.31Oh, that men would give thanks tothe LORD for His goodness, And for Hiswonderful works to the children of men!32 Let them exalt Him also in theassembly of the people, And praise Himin the company of the elders.33He turns rivers into a wilderness, Andthe watersprings into dry ground;34A frui ul land into barrenness, Forthe wickedness of those who dwell in it.35He turns a wilderness into pools ofwater, And dry land into watersprings.

PSALMS 107 25136 There He makes the hungry dwell,That they may establish a city for adwelling place,37And sow fields and plant vineyards,That they may yield a frui ul harvest.38He also blesses them, and theymul ply greatly; And He does not lettheir ca le decrease.39When they are diminished andbrought low Through oppression,afflic on, and sorrow,40He pours contempt on princes, Andcauses them to wander in the wildernesswhere there is no way;41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far fromafflic on, And makes their families like aflock.42 The righteous see it and rejoice, Andall iniquity stops its mouth.43Whoever is wise will observe thesethings, And they will understand thelovingkindness of the LORD.

PSALMS 108 252

108 1 “A Song. A Psalm of David.”O God, my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and give praise, even with myglory.2Awake, lute and harp! I will awakenthe dawn.3 I will praise You, O LORD, among thepeoples, And I will sing praises to Youamong the na ons.4 For Your mercy is great above theheavens, And Your truth reaches to theclouds.5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,And Your glory above all the earth;6 That Your beloved may be delivered,Save with Your right hand, and hear me.7God has spoken in His holiness: "Iwill rejoice; I will divide Shechem Andmeasure out the Valley of Succoth.8Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;Judah is My lawgiver.

PSALMS 108–109 2539Moab is My washpot; Over Edom Iwill cast My shoe; Over Philis a I willtriumph."10Who will bring me into the strongcity? Who will lead me to Edom?11 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?And You, O God, who did not go out withour armies?12Give us help from trouble, For thehelp of man is useless.13 Through God we will do valiantly,For it is He who shall tread down ourenemies.

109 1 “To the Chief Musician. APsalm of David.” Do not keep

silent, O God of my praise!2 For the mouth of the wicked and themouth of the decei ul Have openedagainst me; They have spoken againstme with a lying tongue.

PSALMS 109 2543 They have also surrounded me withwords of hatred, And fought against mewithout a cause.4 In return for my love they are myaccusers, But I give myself to prayer.5 Thus they have rewarded me evil forgood, And hatred for my love.6 Set a wicked man over him, And let anaccuser stand at his right hand.7When he is judged, let him be foundguilty, And let his prayer become sin.8 Let his days be few, And let anothertake his office.9 Let his children be fatherless, And hiswife a widow.10 Let his children con nually bevagabonds, and beg; Let them seek theirbread also from their desolate places.11 Let the creditor seize all that he has,And let strangers plunder his labor.

PSALMS 109 25512 Let there be none to extend mercyto him, Nor let there be any to favor hisfatherless children.13 Let his posterity be cut off, And in thegenera on following let their name beblo ed out.14 Let the iniquity of his fathers beremembered before the LORD, And letnot the sin of his mother be blo ed out.15 Let them be con nually before theLORD, That He may cut off the memoryof them from the earth;16 Because he did not remember toshow mercy, But persecuted the poorand needy man, That he might even slaythe broken in heart.17As he loved cursing, so let it come tohim; As he did not delight in blessing, solet it be far from him.18As he clothed himself with cursing aswith his garment, So let it enter his bodylike water, And like oil into his bones.

PSALMS 109 25619 Let it be to him like the garmentwhich covers him, And for a belt withwhich he girds himself con nually.20 Let this be the LORD’S reward to myaccusers, And to those who speak evilagainst my person.21 But You, O GOD the Lord, Deal withme for Your name’s sake; Because Yourmercy is good, deliver me.22 For I am poor and needy, And myheart is wounded within me.23 I am gone like a shadow when itlengthens; I am shaken off like a locust.24My knees are weak through fas ng,And my flesh is feeble from lack offatness.25 I also have become a reproach tothem; When they look at me, they shaketheir heads.26Help me, O LORD my God! Oh, saveme according to Your mercy,

PSALMS 109–110 25727 That they may know that this is Yourhand––That You, LORD, have done it!28 Let them curse, but You bless; Whenthey arise, let them be ashamed, But letYour servant rejoice.29 Let my accusers be clothed withshame, And let them cover themselveswith their own disgrace as with a mantle.30 I will greatly praise the LORD with mymouth; Yes, I will praise Him among themul tude.31 For He shall stand at the right handof the poor, To save him from those whocondemn him.

110 1 “A Psalm of David.” The LORDsaid to my Lord, "Sit at My

right hand, Till I make Your enemies Yourfootstool."2 The LORD shall send the rod of Yourstrength out of Zion. Rule in the midst ofYour enemies!

PSALMS 110–111 2583 Your people shall be volunteers In theday of Your power; In the beau es ofholiness, from the womb of themorning,You have the dew of Your youth.4 The LORD has sworn And willnot relent, "You are a priest foreverAccording to the order of Melchizedek."5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He shallexecute kings in the day of His wrath.6He shall judge among the na ons, Heshall fill the places with dead bodies,He shall execute the heads of manycountries.7He shall drink of the brook by thewayside; Therefore He shall li up thehead.

111 1 Praise the LORD! I will praisethe LORD with my whole

heart, In the assembly of the upright andin the congrega on.

PSALMS 111 2592 The works of the LORD are great,Studied by all who have pleasure inthem.3His work is honorable and glorious,And His righteousness endures forever.4He has made His wonderful works tobe remembered; The LORD is graciousand full of compassion.5He has given food to those who fearHim; He will ever be mindful of Hiscovenant.6He has declared to His people thepower of His works, In giving them theheritage of the na ons.7 The works of His hands are verity andjus ce; All His precepts are sure.8 They stand fast forever and ever, Andare done in truth and uprightness.9He has sent redemp on to His people;He has commanded His covenantforever: Holy and awesome is His name.

PSALMS 111–112 26010 The fear of the LORD is the beginningof wisdom; A good understanding haveall those who do His commandments.His praise endures forever.

112 1 Praise the LORD! Blessedis the man who fears the

LORD, Who delights greatly in Hiscommandments.2His descendants will be mighty onearth; The genera on of the upright willbe blessed.3Wealth and riches will be in his house,And his righteousness endures forever.4Unto the upright there arises light inthe darkness; He is gracious, and full ofcompassion, and righteous.5A good man deals graciously andlends; He will guide his affairs withdiscre on.6 Surely he will never be shaken;The righteous will be in everlas ngremembrance.

PSALMS 112–113 2617He will not be afraid of evil dings; Hisheart is steadfast, trus ng in the LORD.8His heart is established; He will not beafraid, Un l he sees his desire upon hisenemies.9He has dispersed abroad, He has givento the poor; His righteousness enduresforever; His horn will be exalted withhonor.10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;He will gnash his teeth and melt away;The desire of the wicked shall perish.

113 1 Praise the LORD! Praise, Oservants of the LORD, Praise

the name of the LORD!2 Blessed be the name of the LORDFrom this me forth and forevermore!3 From the rising of the sun to its goingdown The LORD’S name is to be praised.4 The LORD is high above all na ons, Hisglory above the heavens.

PSALMS 113–114 2625Who is like the LORD our God, Whodwells on high,6Who humbles Himself to behold Thethings that are in the heavens and in theearth?7He raises the poor out of the dust,And li s the needy out of the ash heap,8 That He may seat him with princes––With the princes of His people.9He grants the barren woman a home,Like a joyful mother of children. Praisethe LORD!

114 1When Israel went out ofEgypt, The house of Jacob

from a people of strange language,2 Judah became His sanctuary, AndIsrael His dominion.3 The sea saw it and fled; Jordan turnedback.4 The mountains skipped like rams, Theli le hills like lambs.

PSALMS 114–115 2635What ails you, O sea, that you fled? OJordan, that you turned back?6O mountains, that you skipped likerams? O li le hills, like lambs?7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence ofthe Lord, At the presence of the God ofJacob,8Who turned the rock into a pool ofwater, The flint into a fountain of waters.

115 1Not unto us, O LORD, notunto us, But to Your name give

glory, Because of Your mercy, Because ofYour truth.2Why should the Gen les say, "Sowhere is their God?"3 But our God is in heaven; He doeswhatever He pleases.4 Their idols are silver and gold, Thework of men’s hands.5 They have mouths, but they do notspeak; Eyes they have, but they do notsee;

PSALMS 115 2646 They have ears, but they do not hear;Noses they have, but they do not smell;7 They have hands, but they do nothandle; Feet they have, but they do notwalk; Nor do they mu er through theirthroat.8 Those who make them are like them;So is everyone who trusts in them.9O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is theirhelp and their shield.10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;He is their help and their shield.11 You who fear the LORD, trust in theLORD; He is their help and their shield.12 The LORD has been mindful of us; Hewill bless us; He will bless the house ofIsrael; He will bless the house of Aaron.13He will bless those who fear theLORD, Both small and great.14May the LORD give you increasemore and more, You and your children.

PSALMS 115–116 26515May you be blessed by the LORD,Who made heaven and earth.16 The heaven, even the heavens, arethe LORD’S; But the earth He has givento the children of men.17 The dead do not praise the LORD,Nor any who go down into silence.18 But we will bless the LORD From thisme forth and forevermore. Praise the

LORD!

116 1 I love the LORD, because Hehas heard My voice and my

supplica ons.2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,Therefore I will call upon Him as long as Ilive.3 The pains of death surrounded me,And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; Ifound trouble and sorrow.4 Then I called upon the name of theLORD: "O LORD, I implore You, delivermy soul!"

PSALMS 116 2665Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;Yes, our God is merciful.6 The LORD preserves the simple; I wasbrought low, and He saved me.7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For theLORD has dealt boun fully with you.8 For You have delivered my soul fromdeath, My eyes from tears, And my feetfrom falling.9 I will walk before the LORD In the landof the living.10 I believed, therefore I spoke, "I amgreatly afflicted."11 I said in my haste, "All men are liars."12What shall I render to the LORD Forall His benefits toward me?13 I will take up the cup of salva on,And call upon the name of the LORD.14 I will pay my vows to the LORD Nowin the presence of all His people.15 Precious in the sight of the LORD Isthe death of His saints.

PSALMS 116–118 26716O LORD, truly I am Your servant;I am Your servant, the son of Yourmaidservant; You have loosed my bonds.17 I will offer to You the sacrifice ofthanksgiving, And will call upon thename of the LORD.18 I will pay my vows to the LORD Nowin the presence of all His people,19 In the courts of the LORD’S house, Inthe midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise theLORD!

117 1 Praise the LORD, all youGen les! Laud Him, all you

peoples!2 For His merciful kindness is greattoward us, And the truth of the LORDendures forever. Praise the LORD!

118 1Oh, give thanks to the LORD,for He is good! For His mercy

endures forever.2 Let Israel now say, "His mercy enduresforever."

PSALMS 118 2683 Let the house of Aaron now say, "Hismercy endures forever."4 Let those who fear the LORD now say,"His mercy endures forever."5 I called on the LORD in distress; TheLORD answered me and set me in abroad place.6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.What can man do to me?7 The LORD is for me among those whohelp me; Therefore I shall see my desireon those who hate me.8 It is be er to trust in the LORD Thanto put confidence in man.9 It is be er to trust in the LORD Thanto put confidence in princes.10All na ons surrounded me, But in thename of the LORD I will destroy them.11 They surrounded me, Yes, theysurrounded me; But in the name of theLORD I will destroy them.

PSALMS 118 26912 They surrounded me like bees; Theywere quenched like a fire of thorns; Forin the name of the LORD I will destroythem.13 You pushed me violently, that I mightfall, But the LORD helped me.14 The LORD is my strength and song,And He has become my salva on.15 The voice of rejoicing and salva on Isin the tents of the righteous; The righthand of the LORD does valiantly.16 The right hand of the LORD isexalted; The right hand of the LORD doesvaliantly.17 I shall not die, but live, And declarethe works of the LORD.18 The LORD has chastenedme severely,But He has not given me over to death.19Open to me the gates ofrighteousness; I will go throughthem, And I will praise the LORD.

PSALMS 118 27020 This is the gate of the LORD, Throughwhich the righteous shall enter.21 I will praise You, For You haveanswered me, And have become mysalva on.22 The stone which the builders rejectedHas become the chief cornerstone.23 This was the LORD’S doing; It ismarvelous in our eyes.24 This is the day the LORD has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it.25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, Ipray, send now prosperity.26 Blessed is he who comes in the nameof the LORD! We have blessed you fromthe house of the LORD.27God is the LORD, And He has given uslight; Bind the sacrifice with cords to thehorns of the altar.28 You are my God, and I will praise You;You are my God, I will exalt You.

PSALMS 118–119 27129Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He isgood! For His mercy endures forever.

119 1ALEPH. Blessed are theundefiled in the way, Who

walk in the law of the LORD!2 Blessed are those who keep Histes monies, Who seek Him with thewhole heart!3 They also do no iniquity; They walk inHis ways.4 You have commanded us To keep Yourprecepts diligently.5Oh, that my ways were directed Tokeep Your statutes!6 Then I would not be ashamed, When Ilook into all Your commandments.7 I will praise You with uprightnessof heart, When I learn Your righteousjudgments.8 I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do notforsake me u erly!

PSALMS 119 2729 BETH. How can a young man cleansehis way? By taking heed according toYour word.10With my whole heart I have soughtYou; Oh, let me not wander from Yourcommandments!11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,That I might not sin against You!12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach meYour statutes!13With my lips I have declared All thejudgments of Your mouth.14 I have rejoiced in the way of Yourtes monies, As much as in all riches.15 I will meditate on Your precepts, Andcontemplate Your ways.16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; Iwill not forget Your word.17GIMEL. Deal boun fully with Yourservant, That I may live and keep Yourword.

PSALMS 119 27318Open my eyes, that I may seeWondrous things from Your law.19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do nothide Your commandments from me.20My soul breaks with longing For Yourjudgments at all mes.21 You rebuke the proud––the cursed,Who stray from Your commandments.22 Remove from me reproach andcontempt, For I have kept Yourtes monies.23 Princes also sit and speak againstme, But Your servant meditates on Yourstatutes.24 Your tes monies also are my delightAnd my counselors.25DALETH. My soul clings to the dust;Revive me according to Your word.26 I have declared my ways, and Youanswered me; Teach me Your statutes.

PSALMS 119 27427Make me understand the way of Yourprecepts; So shall I meditate on Yourwondrous works.28My soul melts from 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; Yourjudgments I have laid before me.31 I cling to Your tes monies; O LORD,do not put me to shame!32 I will run the course of Yourcommandments, For You shall enlargemy heart.33HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way ofYour statutes, And I shall keep it to theend.34Give me understanding, and I shallkeep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe itwith my whole heart.35Make me walk in the path of Yourcommandments, For I delight in it.

PSALMS 119 27536 Incline my heart to Your tes monies,And not to covetousness.37 Turn away my eyes from looking atworthless things, And revive me in Yourway.38 Establish Your word to Your servant,Who is devoted to fearing You.39 Turn away my reproach which Idread, For Your judgments are good.40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;Revive me in Your righteousness.41WAW. Let Your mercies come also tome, O LORD––Your salva on accordingto Your word.42 So shall I have an answer for him whoreproaches me, For I trust in Your word.43And take not the word of truth u erlyout of my mouth, For I have hoped inYour ordinances.44 So shall I keep Your law con nually,Forever and ever.

PSALMS 119 27645And I will walk at liberty, For I seekYour precepts.46 I will speak of Your tes monies alsobefore kings, And will not be ashamed.47And I will delight myself in Yourcommandments, Which I love.48My hands also I will li up to Yourcommandments, Which I love, And I willmeditate on Your statutes.49 ZAYIN. Remember the word to Yourservant, Upon which You have causedme to hope.50 This is my comfort in my afflic on,For Your word has given me life.51 The proud have me in great derision,Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.52 I remembered Your judgments of old,O LORD, And have comforted myself.53 Indigna on has taken hold of meBecause of the wicked, who forsake Yourlaw.

PSALMS 119 27754 Your statutes have been my songs Inthe house of my pilgrimage.55 I remember Your name in the night,O LORD, And I keep Your law.56 This has become mine, Because Ikept Your precepts.57HETH. You are my por on, O LORD; Ihave said that I would keep Your words.58 I entreated Your favor with my wholeheart; Be merciful to me according toYour word.59 I thought about my ways, And turnedmy feet to Your tes monies.60 I made haste, and did not delay Tokeep Your commandments.61 The cords of the wicked have boundme, But I have not forgo en Your law.62At midnight I will rise to give thanksto You, Because of Your righteousjudgments.63 I am a companion of all who fear You,And of those who keep Your precepts.

PSALMS 119 27864 The earth, O LORD, is full of Yourmercy; Teach me Your statutes.65 TETH. You have dealt well with Yourservant, O LORD, according to Your word.66 Teach me good judgment andknowledge, For I believe Yourcommandments.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,But now I keep Your word.68 You are good, and do good; Teach meYour statutes.69 The proud have forged a lie againstme, But I will keep Your precepts withmy whole heart.70 Their heart is as fat as grease, But Idelight in Your law.71 It is good for me that I have beenafflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.72 The law of Your mouth is be er tome Than thousands of coins of gold andsilver.

PSALMS 119 27973 YOD. Your hands have made me andfashioned me; Give me understanding,that I may learn Your commandments.74 Those who fear You will be glad whenthey see me, Because I have hoped inYour word.75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgmentsare right, And that in faithfulness Youhave afflicted me.76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness befor my comfort, According to Your wordto Your servant.77 Let Your tender mercies come tome, that I may live; For Your law is mydelight.78 Let the proud be ashamed, For theytreated me wrongfully with falsehood;But I will meditate on Your precepts.79 Let those who fear You turn to me,Those who know Your tes monies.

PSALMS 119 28080 Let my heart be blameless regardingYour statutes, That I may not beashamed.81 KAPH. My soul faints for Yoursalva on, But I hope in Your word.82My eyes fail from searching Yourword, Saying, "When will You comfortme?"83 For I have become like a wineskin insmoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes.84How many are the days of Yourservant? When will You executejudgment on those who persecute me?85 The proud have dug pits for me,Which is not according to Your law.86All Your commandments are faithful;They persecute me wrongfully; Help me!87 They almost made an end of meon earth, But I did not forsake Yourprecepts.

PSALMS 119 28188 Revive me according to Yourlovingkindness, So that I may keep thetes mony of Your mouth.89 LAMED. Forever, O LORD, Your wordis se led in heaven.90 Your faithfulness endures to allgenera ons; You established the earth,and it abides.91 They con nue this day accordingto Your ordinances, For all are Yourservants.92Unless Your law had been my delight,I would then have perished in myafflic on.93 I will never forget Your precepts, Forby them You have given me life.94 I am Yours, saveme; For I have soughtYour precepts.95 The wicked wait for me to destroyme, But I will consider Your tes monies.

PSALMS 119 28296 I have seen the consumma on of allperfec on, But Your commandment isexceedingly broad.97MEM. Oh, how I love Your law! It ismy medita on all the day.98 You, through Your commandments,make me wiser than my enemies; Forthey are ever with me.99 I have more understanding than allmy teachers, For Your tes monies aremy medita on.100 I understand more than theancients, Because I keep Your precepts.101 I have restrained my feet from everyevil way, That I may keep Your word.102 I have not departed from Yourjudgments, For You Yourself have taughtme.103How sweet are Your words to mytaste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

PSALMS 119 283104 Through Your precepts I getunderstanding; Therefore I hate everyfalse way.105NUN. Your word is a lamp to my feetAnd a light to my path.106 I have sworn and confirmed That Iwill keep Your righteous judgments.107 I am afflicted very much; Revive me,O LORD, according to Your word.108Accept, I pray, the freewill offeringsof my mouth, O LORD, And teach meYour judgments.109My life is con nually in my hand, YetI do not forget Your law.110 The wicked have laid a snare forme, Yet I have not strayed from Yourprecepts.111 Your tes monies I have taken asa heritage forever, For they are therejoicing of my heart.112 I have inclined my heart to performYour statutes Forever, to the very end.

PSALMS 119 284113 SAMEK. I hate the double–minded,But I love Your law.114 You are my hiding place and myshield; I hope in Your word.115Depart from me, you evildoers, ForI will keep the commandments of myGod!116Uphold me according to Your word,that I may live; And do not let me beashamed of my hope.117Hold me up, and I shall be safe, AndI shall observe Your statutes con nually.118 You reject all those who strayfrom Your statutes, For their deceit isfalsehood.119 You put away all the wicked of theearth like dross; Therefore I love Yourtes monies.120My flesh trembles for fear of You,And I am afraid of Your judgments.

PSALMS 119 285121AYIN. I have done jus ce andrighteousness; Do not leave me to myoppressors.122 Be surety for Your servant for good;Do not let the proud oppress me.123My eyes fail from seeking Yoursalva on And Your righteous word.124Deal with Your servant according toYour mercy, And teach me Your statutes.125 I am Your servant; Give meunderstanding, That I may know Yourtes monies.126 It is me for You to act, O LORD, Forthey have regarded Your law as void.127 Therefore I love Yourcommandments More than gold,yes, than fine gold!128 Therefore all Your preceptsconcerning all things I consider to beright; I hate every false way.129 PE. Your tes monies are wonderful;Therefore my soul keeps them.

PSALMS 119 286130 The entrance of Your words giveslight; It gives understanding to thesimple.131 I opened my mouth and panted, ForI longed for Your commandments.132 Look upon me and be merciful tome, As Your custom is toward those wholove Your name.133Direct my steps by Your word, Andlet no iniquity have dominion over me.134 Redeem me from the oppression ofman, That I may keep Your precepts.135Make Your face shine upon Yourservant, And teach me Your statutes.136 Rivers of water run down from myeyes, Because men do not keep Your law.137 TSADDE. Righteous are You, O LORD,And upright are Your judgments.138 Your tes monies, which You havecommanded, Are righteous and veryfaithful.

PSALMS 119 287139My zeal has consumed me, Becausemy enemies have forgo en Your words.140 Your word is very pure; ThereforeYour servant loves it.141 I am small and despised, Yet I do notforget Your precepts.142 Your righteousness is an everlas ngrighteousness, And Your law is truth.143 Trouble and anguish have overtakenme, Yet Your commandments are mydelights.144 The righteousness of Yourtes monies is everlas ng; Give meunderstanding, and I shall live.145QOPH. I cry out with my wholeheart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Yourstatutes.146 I cry out to You; Save me, and I willkeep Your tes monies.147 I rise before the dawning of themorning, And cry for help; I hope in Yourword.

PSALMS 119 288148My eyes are awake through thenight watches, That I may meditate onYour word.149Hear my voice according to Yourlovingkindness; O LORD, revive meaccording to Your jus ce.150 They draw near who follow a erwickedness; They are far from Your law.151 You are near, O LORD, And all Yourcommandments are truth.152 Concerning Your tes monies, I haveknown of old that You have foundedthem forever.153 RESH. Consider my afflic on anddeliver me, For I do not forget Your law.154 Plead my cause and redeem me;Revive me according to Your word.155 Salva on is far from the wicked, Forthey do not seek Your statutes.156Great are Your tender mercies, OLORD; Revive me according to Yourjudgments.

PSALMS 119 289157Many are my persecutors and myenemies, Yet I do not turn from Yourtes monies.158 I see the treacherous, and amdisgusted, Because they do not keepYour word.159 Consider how I love Your precepts;Revive me, O LORD, according to Yourlovingkindness.160 The en rety of Your word is truth,And every one of Your righteousjudgments endures forever.161 SHIN. Princes persecute me withouta cause, But my heart stands in awe ofYour word.162 I rejoice at Your word As one whofinds great treasure.163 I hate and abhor lying, But I loveYour law.164 Seven mes a day I praise You,Because of Your righteous judgments.

PSALMS 119 290165Great peace have those who loveYour law, And nothing causes them tostumble.166 LORD, I hope for Your salva on, AndI do Your commandments.167My soul keeps Your tes monies,And I love them exceedingly.168 I keep Your precepts and Yourtes monies, For all my ways are beforeYou.169 TAU. Let my cry come before You, OLORD; Give me understanding accordingto Your word.170 Let my supplica on come beforeYou; Deliver me according to Your word.171My lips shall u er praise, For Youteach me Your statutes.172My tongue shall speak of Yourword, For all Your commandments arerighteousness.173 Let Your hand become my help, ForI have chosen Your precepts.

PSALMS 119–120 291174 I long for Your salva on, O LORD,And Your law is my delight.175 Let my soul live, and it shall praiseYou; And let Your judgments help me.176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep;Seek Your servant, For I do not forgetYour commandments.

120 1 “A Song of Ascents.” In mydistress I cried to the LORD,

And He heard me.2Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lyinglips And from a decei ul tongue.3What shall be given to you, Or whatshall be done to you, You false tongue?4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, Withcoals of the broom tree!5Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech,That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!6My soul has dwelt too long With onewho hates peace.7 I am for peace; But when I speak, theyare for war.

PSALMS 121–122 292

121 1 “A Song of Ascents.” I will liup my eyes to the hills––From

whence comes my help?2My help comes from the LORD, Whomade heaven and earth.3He will not allow your foot to bemoved; He who keeps you will notslumber.4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shallneither slumber nor sleep.5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD isyour shade at your right hand.6 The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.7 The LORD shall preserve you from allevil; He shall preserve your soul.8 The LORD shall preserve your goingout and your coming in From this meforth, and even forevermore.

122 1 “A Song of Ascents. OfDavid.” I was glad when they

PSALMS 122 293said to me, "Let us go into the house ofthe LORD."2Our feet have been standing Withinyour gates, O Jerusalem!3 Jerusalem is built As a city that iscompact together,4Where the tribes go up, The tribes ofthe LORD, To the Tes mony of Israel, Togive thanks to the name of the LORD.5 For thrones are set there forjudgment, The thrones of the house ofDavid.6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "Maythey prosper who love you.7 Peace be within your walls, Prosperitywithin your palaces."8 For the sake of my brethren andcompanions, I will now say, "Peace bewithin you."9 Because of the house of the LORD ourGod I will seek your good.

PSALMS 123–124 294

123 1 “A Song of Ascents.” UntoYou I li up my eyes, O You

who dwell in the heavens.2 Behold, as the eyes of servants lookto the hand of their masters, As the eyesof a maid to the hand of her mistress, Soour eyes look to the LORD our God, Un lHe has mercy on us.3Have mercy on us, O LORD, havemercy on us! For we are exceedinglyfilled with contempt.4Our soul is exceedingly filled With thescorn of those who are at ease, With thecontempt of the proud.

124 1 “A Song of Ascents. OfDavid.” "If it had not been the

LORD who was on our side," Let Israelnow say––2 "If it had not been the LORD who wason our side, When men rose up againstus,

PSALMS 124–125 2953 Then they would have swallowed usalive, When their wrath was kindledagainst us;4 Then the waters would haveoverwhelmed us, The stream wouldhave gone over our soul;5 Then the swollen waters Would havegone over our soul."6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has notgiven us as prey to their teeth.7Our soul has escaped as a bird fromthe snare of the fowlers; The snare isbroken, and we have escaped.8Our help is in the name of the LORD,Who made heaven and earth.

125 1 “A Song of Ascents.” Thosewho trust in the LORD Are like

Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved,but abides forever.2As the mountains surround Jerusalem,So the LORD surrounds His people Fromthis me forth and forever.

PSALMS 125–126 2963 For the scepter of wickedness shallnot rest On the land allo ed to therighteous, Lest the righteous reach outtheir hands to iniquity.4Do good, O LORD, to those who aregood, And to those who are upright intheir hearts.5As for such as turn aside to theircrooked ways, The LORD shall lead themaway With the workers of iniquity. Peacebe upon Israel!

126 1 “A Song of Ascents.” Whenthe LORD brought back the

cap vity of Zion, We were like thosewho dream.2 Then our mouth was filled withlaughter, And our tongue with singing.Then they said among the na ons, "TheLORD has done great things for them."3 The LORD has done great things forus, And we are glad.

PSALMS 126–127 2974 Bring back our cap vity, O LORD, Asthe streams in the South.5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap injoy.6He who con nually goes forthweeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shalldoubtless come again with rejoicing,Bringing his sheaves with him.

127 1 “A Song of Ascents. OfSolomon.” Unless the LORD

builds the house, They labor in vain whobuild it; Unless the LORD guards the city,The watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To situp late, To eat the bread of sorrows; Forso He gives His beloved sleep.3 Behold, children are a heritage fromthe LORD, The fruit of the womb is areward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are the children of one’s youth.

PSALMS 127–128 2985Happy is the man who has his quiverfull of them; They shall not be ashamed,But shall speak with their enemies in thegate.

128 1 “A Song of Ascents.” Blessedis every one who fears the

LORD, Who walks in His ways.2When you eat the labor of your hands,You shall be happy, and it shall be wellwith you.3 Your wife shall be like a frui ul vineIn the very heart of your house, Yourchildren like olive plants All around yourtable.4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessedWho fears the LORD.5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, Andmay you see the good of Jerusalem Allthe days of your life.6 Yes, may you see your children’schildren. Peace be upon Israel!

PSALMS 129 299

129 1 “A Song of Ascents.” "Manya me they have afflicted me

from my youth," Let Israel now say––2 "Many a me they have afflictedme from my youth; Yet they have notprevailed against me.3 The plowers plowed on my back; Theymade their furrows long."4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut inpieces the cords of the wicked.5 Let all those who hate Zion Be put toshame and turned back.6 Let them be as the grass on thehousetops, Which withers before itgrows up,7With which the reaper does not fillhis hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, hisarms.8Neither let those who pass by themsay, "The blessing of the LORD be uponyou; We bless you in the name of theLORD!"

PSALMS 130 300

130 1 “A Song of Ascents.” Out ofthe depths I have cried to You,

O LORD;2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Yourears be a en ve To the voice of mysupplica ons.3 If You, LORD, should mark iniqui es, OLord, who could stand?4 But there is forgiveness with You, ThatYou may be feared.5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,And in His word I do hope.6My soul waits for the Lord More thanthose who watch for the morning––Yes,more than those who watch for themorning.7O Israel, hope in the LORD; For withthe LORD there is mercy, And with Himis abundant redemp on.8And He shall redeem Israel From allhis iniqui es.

PSALMS 131–132 301

131 1 “A Song of Ascents. OfDavid.” LORD, my heart is not

haughty, Nor my eyes lo y. Neither do Iconcern myself with great ma ers, Norwith things too profound for me.2 Surely I have calmed and quietedmy soul, Like a weaned child with hismother; Like a weaned child is my soulwithin me.3O Israel, hope in the LORD From thisme forth and forever.

132 1 “A Song of Ascents.” LORD,remember David And all his

afflic ons;2How he swore to the LORD, Andvowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:3 "Surely I will not go into the chamberof my house, Or go up to the comfort ofmy bed;4 I will not give sleep to my eyes Orslumber to my eyelids,

PSALMS 132 3025Un l I find a place for the LORD, Adwelling place for the Mighty One ofJacob."6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;We found it in the fields of the woods.7 Let us go into His tabernacle; Let usworship at His footstool.8Arise, O LORD, to Your res ng place,You and the ark of Your strength.9 Let Your priests be clothed withrighteousness, And let Your saints shoutfor joy.10 For Your servant David’s sake, Do notturn away the face of Your Anointed.11 The LORD has sworn in truth toDavid; He will not turn from it: "I will setupon your throne the fruit of your body.12 If your sons will keep My covenantAnd My tes mony which I shall teachthem, Their sons also shall sit upon yourthrone forevermore."

PSALMS 132–133 30313 For the LORD has chosen Zion; Hehas desired it for His dwelling place:14 "This is My res ng place forever;Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.15 I will abundantly bless her provision;I will sa sfy her poor with bread.16 I will also clothe her priests withsalva on, And her saints shall shoutaloud for joy.17 There I will make the horn of Davidgrow; I will prepare a lamp for MyAnointed.18His enemies I will clothe with shame,But upon Himself His crown shallflourish."

133 1 “A Song of Ascents. OfDavid.” Behold, how good and

how pleasant it is For brethren to dwelltogether in unity!2 It is like the precious oil upon thehead, Running down on the beard, The

PSALMS 133–135 304beard of Aaron, Running down on theedge of his garments.3 It is like the dew of Hermon,Descending upon the mountains of Zion;For there the LORD commanded theblessing––Life forevermore.

134 1 “A Song of Ascents.” Behold,bless the LORD, All you

servants of the LORD, Who by nightstand in the house of the LORD!2 Li up your hands in the sanctuary,And bless the LORD.3 The LORD who made heaven andearth Bless you from Zion!

135 1 Praise the LORD! Praise thename of the LORD; Praise Him,

O you servants of the LORD!2 You who stand in the house of theLORD, In the courts of the house of ourGod,

PSALMS 135 3053 Praise the LORD, for the LORD isgood; Sing praises to His name, for it ispleasant.4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob forHimself, Israel for His special treasure.5 For I know that the LORD is great, Andour Lord is above all gods.6Whatever the LORD pleases He does,In heaven and in earth, In the seas andin all deep places.7He causes the vapors to ascend fromthe ends of the earth; Hemakes lightningfor the rain; He brings the wind out ofHis treasuries.8He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt,Both of man and beast.9He sent signs and wonders into themidst of you, O Egypt, Upon Pharaohand all his servants.10He defeated many na ons And slewmighty kings––

PSALMS 135 30611 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og kingof Bashan, And all the kingdoms ofCanaan––12And gave their land as a heritage, Aheritage to Israel His people.13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever,Your fame, O LORD, throughout allgenera ons.14 For the LORD will judge His people,And He will have compassion on Hisservants.15 The idols of the na ons are silver andgold, The work of men’s hands.16 They have mouths, but they do notspeak; Eyes they have, but they do notsee;17 They have ears, but they do not hear;Nor is there any breath in their mouths.18 Those who make them are like them;So is everyone who trusts in them.19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel!Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron!

PSALMS 135–136 30720 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi! Youwho fear the LORD, bless the LORD!21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion,Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise theLORD!

136 1Oh, give thanks to the LORD,for He is good! For His mercy

endures forever.2Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!For His mercy endures forever.3Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!For His mercy endures forever:4 To Himwho alone does great wonders,For His mercy endures forever;5 To Him who by wisdom made theheavens, For His mercy endures forever;6 To Him who laid out the earth abovethe waters, For His mercy enduresforever;7 To Him who made great lights, For Hismercy endures forever––

PSALMS 136 3088 The sun to rule by day, For His mercyendures forever;9 The moon and stars to rule by night,For His mercy endures forever.10 To Him who struck Egypt in theirfirstborn, For His mercy endures forever;11And brought out Israel from amongthem, For His mercy endures forever;12With a strong hand, and with anoutstretched arm, For His mercy enduresforever;13 To Him who divided the Red Sea intwo, For His mercy endures forever;14And made Israel pass through themidst of it, For His mercy enduresforever;15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his armyin the Red Sea, For His mercy enduresforever;16 To Him who led His people throughthe wilderness, For His mercy enduresforever;

PSALMS 136 30917 To Him who struck down great kings,For His mercy endures forever;18And slew famous kings, For His mercyendures forever––19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For Hismercy endures forever;20And Og king of Bashan, For His mercyendures forever––21And gave their land as a heritage, ForHis mercy endures forever;22A heritage to Israel His servant, ForHis mercy endures forever.23Who remembered us in our lowlystate, For His mercy endures forever;24And rescued us from our enemies,For His mercy endures forever;25Who gives food to all flesh, For Hismercy endures forever.26Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!For His mercy endures forever.

PSALMS 137 310

137 1 By the rivers of Babylon,There we sat down, yea, we

wept When we remembered Zion.2We hung our harps Upon the willowsin the midst of it.3 For there those who carried us awaycap ve asked of us a song, And thosewho plundered us requested mirth,Saying, "Sing us one of the songs ofZion!"4How shall we sing the LORD’S song Ina foreign land?5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let myright hand forget its skill!6 If I do not remember you, Let mytongue cling to the roof of my mouth––IfI do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chiefjoy.7 Remember, O LORD, against the sonsof Edom The day of Jerusalem,Who said,"Raze it, raze it, To its very founda on!"

PSALMS 137–138 3118O daughter of Babylon, who are to bedestroyed, Happy the one who repaysyou as you have served us!9Happy the one who takes and dashesYour li le ones against the rock!

138 1 “A Psalm of David.” I willpraise You with my whole

heart; Before the gods I will sing praisesto You.2 I will worship toward Your holytemple, And praise Your name For Yourlovingkindness and Your truth; For Youhave magnified Your word above all Yourname.3 In the day when I cried out, Youanswered me, And made me bold withstrength in my soul.4All the kings of the earth shall praiseYou, O LORD, When they hear the wordsof Your mouth.5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of theLORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.

PSALMS 138–139 3126 Though the LORD is on high, Yet Heregards the lowly; But the proud Heknows from afar.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,You will revive me; You will stretch outYour hand Against the wrath of myenemies, And Your right hand will saveme.8 The LORD will perfect that whichconcerns me; Your mercy, O LORD,endures forever; Do not forsake theworks of Your hands.

139 1 “For the Chief Musician. APsalm of David.” O LORD, You

have searched me and known me.2 You know my si ng down and myrising up; You understand my thoughtafar off.3 You comprehend my path and mylying down, And are acquainted with allmy ways.

PSALMS 139 3134 For there is not a word on my tongue,But behold, O LORD, You know italtogether.5 You have hedged me behind andbefore, And laid Your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful forme; It is high, I cannot a ain it.7Where can I go from Your Spirit? Orwhere can I flee from Your presence?8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in hell, behold, You arethere.9 If I take the wings of the morning, Anddwell in the u ermost 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 shallfall on me," Even the night shall be lightabout me;12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hidefrom You, But the night shines as the

PSALMS 139 314day; The darkness and the light are bothalike to You.13 For You formed my inward parts; Youcovered me in my mother’s womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfullyand wonderfully made; Marvelous areYour works, And that my soul knows verywell.15My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret, And skillfullywrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, beingyet unformed. And in Your book they allwere wri en, The days fashioned for me,When as yet there were none of them.17How precious also are Your thoughtsto me, O God! How great is the sum ofthem!18 If I should count them, they would bemore in number than the sand; When Iawake, I am s ll with You.

PSALMS 139–140 31519Oh, that You would slay the wicked,O God! Depart from me, therefore, youbloodthirsty men.20 For they speak against You wickedly;Your enemies take Your name in vain.21Do I not hate them, O LORD, whohate You? And do I not loathe those whorise up against You?22 I hate them with perfect hatred; Icount them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know myheart; Try me, and know my anxie es;24And see if there is any wicked way inme, And lead me in the way everlas ng.

140 1 “To the Chief Musician. APsalm of David.” Deliver me, O

LORD, from evil men; Preserve me fromviolent men,2Who plan evil things in their hearts;They con nually gather together for war.

PSALMS 140 3163 They sharpen their tongues like aserpent; The poison of asps is undertheir lips. Selah4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands ofthe wicked; Preserve me from violentmen, Who have purposed to make mysteps stumble.5 The proud have hidden a snare forme, and cords; They have spread a netby the wayside; They have set traps forme. Selah6 I said to the LORD: "You are my God;Hear the voice of my supplica ons, OLORD.7O GOD the Lord, the strength of mysalva on, You have covered my head inthe day of ba le.8Do not grant, O LORD, the desires ofthe wicked; Do not further his wickedscheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah

PSALMS 140–141 3179 "As for the head of those whosurround me, Let the evil of their lipscover them;10 Let burning coals fall upon them; Letthem be cast into the fire, Into deep pits,that they rise not up again.11 Let not a slanderer be established inthe earth; Let evil hunt the violent manto overthrow him."12 I know that the LORD will maintainThe cause of the afflicted, And jus ce forthe poor.13 Surely the righteous shall give thanksto Your name; The upright shall dwell inYour presence.

141 1 “A Psalm of David.” LORD, Icry out to You; Make haste to

me! Give ear to my voice when I cry outto You.2 Let my prayer be set before You asincense, The li ing up of my hands asthe evening sacrifice.

PSALMS 141 3183 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;Keep watch over the door of my lips.4Do not incline my heart to any evilthing, To prac ce wicked works Withmen who work iniquity; And do not letme eat of their delicacies.5 Let the righteous strike me; It shall bea kindness. And let him rebuke me; Itshall be as excellent oil; Let my head notrefuse it. For s ll my prayer is against thedeeds of the wicked.6 Their judges are overthrown by thesides of the cliff, And they hear mywords, for they are sweet.7Our bones are sca ered at the mouthof the grave, As when one plows andbreaks up the earth.8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD theLord; In You I take refuge; Do not leavemy soul des tute.

PSALMS 141–142 3199 Keep me from the snares they havelaid for me, And from the traps of theworkers of iniquity.10 Let the wicked fall into their ownnets, While I escape safely.

142 1 “A Contempla on of David.A Prayer when he was in the

cave.” I cry out to the LORD with myvoice; With my voice to the LORD I makemy supplica on.2 I pour out my complaint before Him; Ideclare before Him my trouble.3When my spirit was overwhelmedwithin me, Then You knew my path.In the way in which I walk They havesecretly set a snare for me.4 Look on my right hand and see, Forthere is no one who acknowledges me;Refuge has failed me; No one cares formy soul.

PSALMS 142–143 3205 I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "Youare my refuge, My por on in the land ofthe living.6A end tomy cry, For I am brought verylow; Deliver me from my persecutors,For they are stronger than I.7 Bring my soul out of prison, That Imay praise Your name; The righteousshall surround me, For You shall dealboun fully with me."

143 1 “A Psalm of David.” Hear myprayer, O LORD, Give ear to

my supplica ons! In Your faithfulnessanswer me, And in Your righteousness.2Do not enter into judgment with Yourservant, For in Your sight no one living isrighteous.3 For the enemy has persecuted mysoul; He has crushed my life to theground; He has made me dwell indarkness, Like those who have long beendead.

PSALMS 143 3214 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmedwithin me; My heart within me isdistressed.5 I remember the days of old; I meditateon all Your works; I muse on the work ofYour hands.6 I spread out my hands to You; My soullongs for You like a thirsty land. Selah7Answer me speedily, O LORD; Myspirit fails! Do not hide Your face fromme, Lest I be like those who go downinto the pit.8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindnessin the morning, For in You do I trust;Cause me to know the way in which Ishould walk, For I li up my soul to You.9Deliverme, O LORD, frommy enemies;In You I take shelter.10 Teach me to do Your will, For You aremy God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me inthe land of uprightness.

PSALMS 143–144 32211 Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’ssake! For Your righteousness’ sake bringmy soul out of trouble.12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies,And destroy all those who afflict my soul;For I am Your servant.

144 1 “A Psalm of David.” Blessedbe the LORD my Rock, Who

trains my hands for war, And my fingersfor ba le––2My lovingkindness and my fortress,My high tower and my deliverer, Myshield and the One in whom I takerefuge, Who subdues my people underme.3 LORD, what is man, that You takeknowledge of him? Or the son of man,that You are mindful of him?4Man is like a breath; His days are like apassing shadow.

PSALMS 144 3235 Bow down Your heavens, O LORD, andcome down; Touch the mountains, andthey shall smoke.6 Flash forth lightning and sca er them;Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.7 Stretch out Your hand from above;Rescue me and deliver me out of greatwaters, From the hand of foreigners,8Whose mouth speaks vain words,And whose right hand is a right hand offalsehood.9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;On a harp of ten strings I will sing praisesto You,10 The One who gives salva on to kings,Who delivers David His servant From thedeadly sword.11 Rescue me and deliver me from thehand of foreigners, Whosemouth speakslying words, And whose right hand is aright hand of falsehood––

PSALMS 144–145 32412 That our sons may be as plants grownup in their youth; That our daughtersmay be as pillars, Sculptured in palacestyle;13 That our barns may be full, Supplyingall kinds of produce; That our sheepmay bring forth thousands And tenthousands in our fields;14 That our oxen may be well–laden;That there be no breaking in or goingout; That there be no outcry in ourstreets.15Happy are the people who are insuch a state; Happy are the peoplewhose God is the LORD!

145 1 “A Praise of David.” I willextol You, my God, O King; And

I will bless Your name forever and ever.2 Every day I will bless You, And I willpraise Your name forever and ever.

PSALMS 145 3253Great is the LORD, and greatlyto be praised; And His greatness isunsearchable.4One genera on shall praise Yourworks to another, And shall declare Yourmighty acts.5 I will meditate on the glorioussplendor of Your majesty, And on Yourwondrous works.6Men shall speak of the might of Yourawesome acts, And I will declare Yourgreatness.7 They shall u er the memory of Yourgreat goodness, And shall sing of Yourrighteousness.8 The LORD is gracious and full ofcompassion, Slow to anger and great inmercy.9 The LORD is good to all, And Histender mercies are over all His works.10All Your works shall praise You, OLORD, And Your saints shall bless You.

PSALMS 145 32611 They shall speak of the glory of Yourkingdom, And talk of Your power,12 To make known to the sons of menHis mighty acts, And the glorious majestyof His kingdom.13 Your kingdom is an everlas ngkingdom, And Your dominion enduresthroughout all genera ons.14 The LORD upholds all who fall, Andraises up all who are bowed down.15 The eyes of all look expectantly toYou, And You give them their food in dueseason.16 You open Your hand And sa sfy thedesire of every living thing.17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,Gracious in all His works.18 The LORD is near to all who call uponHim, To all who call upon Him in truth.19He will fulfill the desire of those whofear Him; He also will hear their cry andsave them.

PSALMS 145–146 32720 The LORD preserves all who loveHim, But all the wicked He will destroy.21My mouth shall speak the praise ofthe LORD, And all flesh shall bless Hisholy name Forever and ever.

146 1 Praise the LORD! Praise theLORD, O my soul!

2While I live I will praise the LORD; Iwill sing praises to my God while I havemy being.3Do not put your trust in princes, Norin a son of man, in whom there is nohelp.4His spirit departs, he returns to hisearth; In that very day his plans perish.5Happy is he who has the God of Jacobfor his help, Whose hope is in the LORDhis God,6Who made heaven and earth, Thesea, and all that is in them; Who keepstruth forever,

PSALMS 146–147 3287Who executes jus ce for theoppressed, Who gives food to thehungry. The LORD gives freedom to theprisoners.8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;The LORD raises those who are boweddown; The LORD loves the righteous.9 The LORD watches over the strangers;He relieves the fatherless and widow;But the way of the wicked He turnsupside down.10 The LORD shall reign forever––YourGod, O Zion, to all genera ons. Praisethe LORD!

147 1 Praise the LORD! For it isgood to sing praises to our

God; For it is pleasant, and praise isbeau ful.2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; Hegathers together the outcasts of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted And bindsup their wounds.

PSALMS 147 3294He counts the number of the stars; Hecalls them all by name.5Great is our Lord, and mighty inpower; His understanding is infinite.6 The LORD li s up the humble; He caststhe wicked down to the ground.7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;Sing praises on the harp to our God,8Who covers the heavens with clouds,Who prepares rain for the earth, Whomakes grass to grow on the mountains.9He gives to the beast its food, And tothe young ravens that cry.10He does not delight in the strength ofthe horse; He takes no pleasure in thelegs of a man.11 The LORD takes pleasure in thosewho fear Him, In those who hope in Hismercy.12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praiseyour God, O Zion!

PSALMS 147–148 33013 For He has strengthened the bars ofyour gates; He has blessed your childrenwithin you.14He makes peace in your borders, Andfills you with the finest wheat.15He sends out His command to theearth; His word runs very swi ly.16He gives snow like wool; He sca ersthe frost like ashes;17He casts out His hail like morsels;Who can stand before His cold?18He sends out His word and meltsthem; He causes His wind to blow, andthe waters flow.19He declares His word to Jacob, Hisstatutes and His judgments to Israel.20He has not dealt thus with anyna on; And as for His judgments, theyhave not known them. Praise the LORD!

148 1 Praise the LORD! Praise theLORD from the heavens; Praise

Him in the heights!

PSALMS 148 3312 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him,all His hosts!3 Praise Him, sun and moon; PraiseHim, all you stars of light!4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,And you waters above the heavens!5 Let them praise the name of theLORD, For He commanded and theywere created.6He also established them forever andever; He made a decree which shall notpass away.7 Praise the LORD from the earth, Yougreat sea creatures and all the depths;8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormywind, fulfilling His word;9Mountains and all hills; Frui ul treesand all cedars;10 Beasts and all ca le; Creeping thingsand flying fowl;11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;Princes and all judges of the earth;

PSALMS 148–149 33212 Both young men and maidens; Oldmen and children.13 Let them praise the name of theLORD, For His name alone is exalted; Hisglory is above the earth and heaven.14And He has exalted the horn of Hispeople, The praise of all His saints––Ofthe children of Israel, A people near toHim. Praise the LORD!

149 1 Praise the LORD! Sing to theLORD a new song, And His

praise in the assembly of saints.2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Letthe children of Zion be joyful in theirKing.3 Let them praise His name with thedance; Let them sing praises to Him withthe mbrel and harp.4 For the LORD takes pleasure in Hispeople; He will beau fy the humble withsalva on.

PSALMS 149–150 3335 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Letthem sing aloud on their beds.6 Let the high praises of God be in theirmouth, And a two–edged sword in theirhand,7 To execute vengeance on the na ons,And punishments on the peoples;8 To bind their kings with chains, Andtheir nobles with fe ers of iron;9 To execute on them the wri enjudgment––This honor have all Hissaints. Praise the LORD!

150 1 Praise the LORD! Praise Godin His sanctuary; Praise Him in

His mighty firmament!2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; PraiseHim according to His excellent greatness!3 Praise Him with the sound of thetrumpet; Praise Him with the lute andharp!

PSALMS 150 3344 Praise Himwith the mbrel and dance;Praise Him with stringed instrumentsand flutes!5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; PraiseHim with clashing cymbals!6 Let everything that has breath praisethe LORD. Praise the LORD!

Proverbs

1 1 The proverbs of Solomon the sonof David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruc on, Toperceive the words of understanding,3 To receive the instruc on of wisdom,Jus ce, judgment, and equity;4 To give prudence to the simple, To theyoung man knowledge and discre on––5A wise man will hear and increaselearning, And a man of understandingwill a ain wise counsel,6 To understand a proverb and anenigma, The words of the wise and theirriddles.7 The fear of the LORD is the beginningof knowledge, But fools despise wisdomand instruc on.

PROVERBS 1 28My son, hear the instruc on of yourfather, And do not forsake the law ofyour mother;9 For they will be a graceful ornamenton your head, And chains about yourneck.10My son, if sinners en ce you, Do notconsent.11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us liein wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretlyfor the innocent without cause;12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,And whole, like those who go down tothe Pit;13We shall find all kinds of preciouspossessions, We shall fill our houseswith spoil;14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us allhave one purse" ––15My son, do not walk in the way withthem, Keep your foot from their path;

PROVERBS 1 316 For their feet run to evil, And theymake haste to shed blood.17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In thesight of any bird;18 But they lie in wait for their ownblood, They lurk secretly for their ownlives.19 So are the ways of everyone who isgreedy for gain; It takes away the life ofits owners.20Wisdom calls aloud outside; Sheraises her voice in the open squares.21 She cries out in the chief concourses,At the openings of the gates in the cityShe speaks her words:22 "How long, you simple ones, willyou love simplicity? For scornersdelight in their scorning, And fools hateknowledge.23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pourout my spirit on you; I will make mywords known to you.

PROVERBS 1 424 Because I have called and yourefused, I have stretched out my handand no one regarded,25 Because you disdained all mycounsel, And would have none of myrebuke,26 I also will laugh at your calamity; Iwill mock when your terror comes,27When your terror comes like a storm,And your destruc on comes like awhirlwind, When distress and anguishcome upon you.28 "Then they will call on me, but I willnot answer; They will seek me diligently,but they will not find me.29 Because they hated knowledge Anddid not choose the fear of the LORD,30 They would have none of my counselAnd despised my every rebuke.31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit oftheir own way, And be filled to the fullwith their own fancies.

PROVERBS 1–2 532 For the turning away of the simplewill slay them, And the complacency offools will destroy them;33 But whoever listens to me will dwellsafely, And will be secure, without fearof evil."

2 1My son, if you receive my words,And treasure my commands within

you,2 So that you incline your ear towisdom,And apply your heart to understanding;3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,And li up your voice for understanding,4 If you seek her as silver, And searchfor her as for hidden treasures;5 Then you will understand the fear ofthe LORD, And find the knowledge ofGod.6 For the LORD gives wisdom; FromHis mouth come knowledge andunderstanding;

PROVERBS 2 67He stores up sound wisdom for theupright; He is a shield to those who walkuprightly;8He guards the paths of jus ce, Andpreserves the way of His saints.9 Then you will understandrighteousness and jus ce, Equityand every good path.10When wisdom enters your heart, Andknowledge is pleasant to your soul,11Discre on will preserve you;Understanding will keep you,12 To deliver you from the way of evil,From the man who speaks perversethings,13 From those who leave the pathsof uprightness To walk in the ways ofdarkness;14Who rejoice in doing evil, And delightin the perversity of the wicked;15Whose ways are crooked, And whoare devious in their paths;

PROVERBS 2–3 716 To deliver you from the immoralwoman, From the seductress whofla ers with her words,17Who forsakes the companion of heryouth, And forgets the covenant of herGod.18 For her house leads down to death,And her paths to the dead;19None who go to her return, Nor dothey regain the paths of life––20 So you may walk in the way ofgoodness, And keep to the paths ofrighteousness.21 For the upright will dwell in the land,And the blameless will remain in it;22 But the wicked will be cut off fromthe earth, And the unfaithful will beuprooted from it.

3 1My son, do not forget my law, Butlet your heart keep my commands;

2 For length of days and long life Andpeace they will add to you.

PROVERBS 3 83 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;Bind them around your neck, Write themon the tablet of your heart,4And so find favor and high esteem Inthe sight of God and man.5 Trust in the LORD with all yourheart, And lean not on your ownunderstanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He shall direct your paths.7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fearthe LORD and depart from evil.8 It will be health to your flesh, Andstrength to your bones.9Honor the LORD with yourpossessions, And with the firs ruits ofall your increase;10 So your barns will be filled withplenty, And your vats will overflow withnew wine.

PROVERBS 3 911My son, do not despise thechastening of the LORD, Nor detest Hiscorrec on;12 For whom the LORD loves Hecorrects, Just as a father the son inwhom he delights.13Happy is the man who finds wisdom,And the man who gains understanding;14 For her proceeds are be er than theprofits of silver, And her gain than finegold.15 She is more precious than rubies,And all the things you may desire cannotcompare with her.16 Length of days is in her right hand, Inher le hand riches and honor.17Her ways are ways of pleasantness,And all her paths are peace.18 She is a tree of life to those who takehold of her, And happy are all who retainher.

PROVERBS 3 1019 The LORD by wisdom founded theearth; By understanding He establishedthe heavens;20 By His knowledge the depths werebroken up, And clouds drop down thedew.21My son, let them not depart fromyour eyes––Keep sound wisdom anddiscre on;22 So they will be life to your soul Andgrace to your neck.23 Then you will walk safely in your way,And your foot will not stumble.24When you lie down, you will not beafraid; Yes, you will lie down and yoursleep will be sweet.25Do not be afraid of sudden terror,Nor of trouble from the wicked when itcomes;26 For the LORD will be your confidence,And will keep your foot from beingcaught.

PROVERBS 3 1127Do not withhold good from those towhom it is due, When it is in the powerof your hand to do so.28Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, andcome back, And tomorrow I will give it,"When you have it with you.29Do not devise evil against yourneighbor, For he dwells by you forsafety’s sake.30Do not strive with a man withoutcause, If he has done you no harm.31Do not envy the oppressor, Andchoose none of his ways;32 For the perverse person is anabomina on to the LORD, But His secretcounsel is with the upright.33 The curse of the LORD is on thehouse of the wicked, But He blesses thehome of the just.34 Surely He scorns the scornful, Butgives grace to the humble.

PROVERBS 3–4 1235 The wise shall inherit glory, Butshame shall be the legacy of fools.

4 1Hear, my children, the instruc onof a father, And give a en on to

know understanding;2 For I give you good doctrine: Do notforsake my law.3When I was my father’s son, Tenderand the only one in the sight of mymother,4He also taught me, and said to me:"Let your heart retain my words; Keepmy commands, and live.5Get wisdom! Get understanding! Donot forget, nor turn away from the wordsof my mouth.6Do not forsake her, and she willpreserve you; Love her, and she will keepyou.7Wisdom is the principal thing;Therefore get wisdom. And in all yourge ng, get understanding.

PROVERBS 4 138 Exalt her, and she will promote you;She will bring you honor, when youembrace her.9 She will place on your head anornament of grace; A crown of glory shewill deliver to you."10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,And the years of your life will be many.11 I have taught you in the way ofwisdom; I have led you in right paths.12When you walk, your steps will notbe hindered, And when you run, you willnot stumble.13 Take firm hold of instruc on, do notlet go; Keep her, for she is your life.14Do not enter the path of the wicked,And do not walk in the way of evil.15Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turnaway from it and pass on.16 For they do not sleep unless theyhave done evil; And their sleep is takenaway unless they make someone fall.

PROVERBS 4 1417 For they eat the bread of wickedness,And drink the wine of violence.18 But the path of the just is like theshining sun, That shines ever brighterunto the perfect day.19 The way of the wicked is likedarkness; They do not know what makesthem stumble.20My son, give a en on to my words;Incline your ear to my sayings.21Do not let them depart from youreyes; Keep them in the midst of yourheart;22 For they are life to those who findthem, And health to all their flesh.23 Keep your heart with all diligence,For out of it spring the issues of life.24 Put away from you a decei ul mouth,And put perverse lips far from you.25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,And your eyelids look right before you.

PROVERBS 4–5 1526 Ponder the path of your feet, And letall your ways be established.27Do not turn to the right or the le ;Remove your foot from evil.

5 1My son, pay a en on to mywisdom; Lend your ear to my

understanding,2 That you may preserve discre on, Andyour lips may keep knowledge.3 For the lips of an immoral woman driphoney, And her mouth is smoother thanoil;4 But in the end she is bi er aswormwood, Sharp as a two–edgedsword.5Her feet go down to death, Her stepslay hold of hell.6 Lest you ponder her path of life––Herways are unstable; You do not knowthem.

PROVERBS 5 167 Therefore hear me now, my children,And do not depart from the words of mymouth.8 Remove your way far from her, Anddo not go near the door of her house,9 Lest you give your honor to others,And your years to the cruel one;10 Lest aliens be filled with your wealth,And your labors go to the house of aforeigner;11And you mourn at last, When yourflesh and your body are consumed,12And say: "How I have hatedinstruc on, And my heart despisedcorrec on!13 I have not obeyed the voice of myteachers, Nor inclined my ear to thosewho instructed me!14 I was on the verge of total ruin,In the midst of the assembly andcongrega on."

PROVERBS 5 1715Drink water from your own cistern,And running water from your own well.16 Should your fountains be dispersedabroad, Streams of water in the streets?17 Let them be only your own, And notfor strangers with you.18 Let your fountain be blessed, Andrejoice with the wife of your youth.19As a loving deer and a graceful doe,Let her breasts sa sfy you at all mes;And always be enraptured with her love.20 For why should you, my son, beenraptured by an immoral woman,And be embraced in the arms of aseductress?21 For the ways of man are before theeyes of the LORD, And He ponders all hispaths.22His own iniqui es entrap the wickedman, And he is caught in the cords of hissin.

PROVERBS 5–6 1823He shall die for lack of instruc on,And in the greatness of his folly he shallgo astray.

6 1My son, if you become surety foryour friend, If you have shaken hands

in pledge for a stranger,2 You are snared by the words of yourmouth; You are taken by the words ofyour mouth.3 So do this, my son, and deliveryourself; For you have come into thehand of your friend: Go and humbleyourself; Plead with your friend.4Give no sleep to your eyes, Norslumber to your eyelids.5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from thehand of the hunter, And like a bird fromthe hand of the fowler.6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Considerher ways and be wise,7Which, having no captain, Overseer orruler,

PROVERBS 6 198 Provides her supplies in the summer,And gathers her food in the harvest.9How long will you slumber, Osluggard? When will you rise from yoursleep?10A li le sleep, a li le slumber, A li lefolding of the hands to sleep––11 So shall your poverty come on youlike a prowler, And your need like anarmed man.12A worthless person, a wicked man,Walks with a perverse mouth;13He winks with his eyes, He shuffleshis feet, He points with his fingers;14 Perversity is in his heart, He devisesevil con nually, He sows discord.15 Therefore his calamity shall comesuddenly; Suddenly he shall be brokenwithout remedy.16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes,seven are an abomina on to Him:

PROVERBS 6 2017A proud look, A lying tongue, Handsthat shed innocent blood,18A heart that devises wicked plans,Feet that are swi in running to evil,19A false witness who speaks lies, Andone who sows discord among brethren.20My son, keep your father’s command,And do not forsake the law of yourmother.21 Bind them con nually upon yourheart; Tie them around your neck.22When you roam, they will lead you;When you sleep, they will keep you; Andwhen you awake, they will speak withyou.23 For the commandment is a lamp, Andthe law a light; Reproofs of instruc onare the way of life,24 To keep you from the evil woman,From the fla ering tongue of aseductress.

PROVERBS 6 2125Do not lust a er her beauty in yourheart, Nor let her allure you with hereyelids.26 For by means of a harlot A man isreduced to a crust of bread; And anadulteress will prey upon his preciouslife.27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,And his clothes not be burned?28 Can one walk on hot coals, And hisfeet not be seared?29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’swife; Whoever touches her shall not beinnocent.30 People do not despise a thief Ifhe steals to sa sfy himself when he isstarving.31 Yet when he is found, hemust restoresevenfold; He may have to give up all thesubstance of his house.

PROVERBS 6–7 2232Whoever commits adultery with awoman lacks understanding; He whodoes so destroys his own soul.33Wounds and dishonor he will get,And his reproach will not be wiped away.34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;Therefore he will not spare in the day ofvengeance.35He will accept no recompense, Norwill he be appeased though you givemany gi s.

7 1My son, keep my words, Andtreasure my commands within you.

2 Keep my commands and live, And mylaw as the apple of your eye.3 Bind them on your fingers; Write themon the tablet of your heart.4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"And call understanding your nearest kin,5 That they may keep you from theimmoral woman, From the seductresswho fla ers with her words.

PROVERBS 7 236 For at the window of my house Ilooked through my la ce,7And saw among the simple, Iperceived among the youths, A youngman devoid of understanding,8 Passing along the street near hercorner; And he took the path to herhouse9 In the twilight, in the evening, In theblack and dark night.10And there a woman met him, Withthe a re of a harlot, and a cra y heart.11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feetwould not stay at home.12At mes she was outside, at mes inthe open square, Lurking at every corner.13 So she caught him and kissed him;With an impudent face she said to him:14 "I have peace offerings with me;Today I have paid my vows.15 So I came out to meet you, Diligentlyto seek your face, And I have found you.

PROVERBS 7 2416 I have spread my bed with tapestry,Colored coverings of Egyp an linen.17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh,aloes, and cinnamon.18 Come, let us take our fill of love un lmorning; Let us delight ourselves withlove.19 For my husband is not at home; Hehas gone on a long journey;20He has taken a bag of money withhim, And will come home on theappointed day."21With her en cing speech she causedhim to yield, With her fla ering lips sheseduced him.22 Immediately he went a er her, as anox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool tothe correc on of the stocks,23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a birdhastens to the snare, He did not know itwould cost his life.

PROVERBS 7–8 2524Now therefore, listen to me, mychildren; Pay a en on to the words ofmy mouth:25Do not let your heart turn aside toher ways, Do not stray into her paths;26 For she has cast down manywounded, And all who were slain by herwere strong men.27Her house is the way to hell,Descending to the chambers of death.

8 1Does not wisdom cry out, Andunderstanding li up her voice?

2 She takes her stand on the top ofthe high hill, Beside the way, where thepaths meet.3 She cries out by the gates, at the entryof the city, At the entrance of the doors:4 "To you, O men, I call, And my voice isto the sons of men.5O you simple ones, understandprudence, And you fools, be of anunderstanding heart.

PROVERBS 8 266 Listen, for I will speak of excellentthings, And from the opening of my lipswill come right things;7 For my mouth will speak truth;Wickedness is an abomina on to my lips.8All the words of my mouth are withrighteousness; Nothing crooked orperverse is in them.9 They are all plain to him whounderstands, And right to those whofind knowledge.10 Receive my instruc on, and notsilver, And knowledge rather than choicegold;11 For wisdom is be er than rubies, Andall the things one may desire cannot becompared with her.12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, Andfind out knowledge and discre on.13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;Pride and arrogance and the evil wayAnd the perverse mouth I hate.

PROVERBS 8 2714 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;I am understanding, I have strength.15 By me kings reign, And rulers decreejus ce.16 By me princes rule, and nobles, Allthe judges of the earth.17 I love those who love me, And thosewho seek me diligently will find me.18 Riches and honor are with me,Enduring riches and righteousness.19My fruit is be er than gold, yes, thanfine gold, And my revenue than choicesilver.20 I traverse the way of righteousness,In the midst of the paths of jus ce,21 That I may cause those who love meto inherit wealth, That I may fill theirtreasuries.22 "The LORD possessed me at thebeginning of His way, Before His worksof old.

PROVERBS 8 2823 I have been established fromeverlas ng, From the beginning, beforethere was ever an earth.24When there were no depths I wasbrought forth, When there were nofountains abounding with water.25 Before the mountains were se led,Before the hills, I was brought forth;26While as yet He had not made theearth or the fields, Or the primeval dustof the world.27When He prepared the heavens, Iwas there, When He drew a circle on theface of the deep,28When He established the cloudsabove, When He strengthened thefountains of the deep,29When He assigned to the sea its limit,So that the waters would not transgressHis command, When He marked out thefounda ons of the earth,

PROVERBS 8–9 2930 Then I was beside Him as a mastercra sman; And I was daily His delight,Rejoicing always before Him,31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, Andmy delight was with the sons of men.32 "Now therefore, listen to me, mychildren, For blessed are those who keepmy ways.33Hear instruc on and be wise, And donot disdain it.34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,Watching daily at my gates, Wai ng atthe posts of my doors.35 For whoever finds me finds life, Andobtains favor from the LORD;36 But he who sins against me wrongshis own soul; All those who hate me lovedeath."

9 1Wisdom has built her house, Shehas hewn out her seven pillars;

PROVERBS 9 302 She has slaughtered her meat, She hasmixed her wine, She has also furnishedher table.3 She has sent out her maidens, Shecries out from the highest places of thecity,4 "Whoever is simple, let him turnin here!" As for him who lacksunderstanding, she says to him,5 "Come, eat of my bread And drink ofthe wine I have mixed.6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go inthe way of understanding.7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shamefor himself, And he who rebukes awicked man only harms himself.8Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hateyou; Rebuke a wise man, and he will loveyou.9Give instruc on to a wise man, and hewill be s ll wiser; Teach a just man, andhe will increase in learning.

PROVERBS 9 3110 "The fear of the LORD is the beginningof wisdom, And the knowledge of theHoly One is understanding.11 For by me your days will bemul plied, And years of life will beadded to you.12 If you are wise, you are wise foryourself, And if you scoff, you will bear italone."13A foolish woman is clamorous; She issimple, and knows nothing.14 For she sits at the door of her house,On a seat by the highest places of thecity,15 To call to those who pass by, Who gostraight on their way:16 "Whoever is simple, let him turnin here"; And as for him who lacksunderstanding, she says to him,17 "Stolen water is sweet, And breadeaten in secret is pleasant."

PROVERBS 9–10 3218 But he does not know that the deadare there, That her guests are in thedepths of hell.

10 1 The Proverbs of Solomon: Awise son makes a glad father, But

a foolish son is the grief of his mother.2 Treasures of wickedness profitnothing, But righteousness delivers fromdeath.3 The LORD will not allow the righteoussoul to famish, But He casts away thedesire of the wicked.4He who has a slack hand becomespoor, But the hand of the diligent makesrich.5He who gathers in summer is a wiseson; He who sleeps in harvest is a sonwho causes shame.6 Blessings are on the head of therighteous, But violence covers themouth of the wicked.

PROVERBS 10 337 The memory of the righteous isblessed, But the name of the wicked willrot.8 The wise in heart will receivecommands, But a pra ng fool will fall.9He who walks with integrity walkssecurely, But he who perverts his wayswill become known.10He who winks with the eye causestrouble, But a pra ng fool will fall.11 The mouth of the righteous is a wellof life, But violence covers the mouth ofthe wicked.12Hatred s rs up strife, But love coversall sins.13Wisdom is found on the lips of himwho has understanding, But a rod isfor the back of him who is devoid ofunderstanding.14Wise people store up knowledge,But the mouth of the foolish is neardestruc on.

PROVERBS 10 3415 The rich man’s wealth is his strongcity; The destruc on of the poor is theirpoverty.16 The labor of the righteous leads tolife, The wages of the wicked to sin.17He who keeps instruc on is in theway of life, But hewho refuses correc ongoes astray.18Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,And whoever spreads slander is a fool.19 In the mul tude of words sin is notlacking, But he who restrains his lips iswise.20 The tongue of the righteous is choicesilver; The heart of the wicked is worthli le.21 The lips of the righteous feed many,But fools die for lack of wisdom.22 The blessing of the LORD makes onerich, And He adds no sorrow with it.23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, But aman of understanding has wisdom.

PROVERBS 10 3524 The fear of thewickedwill come uponhim, And the desire of the righteous willbe granted.25When the whirlwind passes by, thewicked is no more, But the righteous hasan everlas ng founda on.26As vinegar to the teeth and smoketo the eyes, So is the lazy man to thosewho send him.27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days,But the years of the wicked will beshortened.28 The hope of the righteous will begladness, But the expecta on of thewicked will perish.29 The way of the LORD is strength forthe upright, But destruc on will come tothe workers of iniquity.30 The righteous will never be removed,But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

PROVERBS 10–11 3631 The mouth of the righteous bringsforth wisdom, But the perverse tonguewill be cut out.32 The lips of the righteous know whatis acceptable, But the mouth of thewicked what is perverse.

11 1Dishonest scales are anabomina on to the LORD, But a

just weight is His delight.2When pride comes, then comesshame; But with the humble is wisdom.3 The integrity of the upright will guidethem, But the perversity of the unfaithfulwill destroy them.4 Riches do not profit in the day ofwrath, But righteousness delivers fromdeath.5 The righteousness of the blamelesswill direct his way aright, But the wickedwill fall by his own wickedness.

PROVERBS 11 376 The righteousness of the upright willdeliver them, But the unfaithful will becaught by their lust.7When a wicked man dies, hisexpecta on will perish, And the hope ofthe unjust perishes.8 The righteous is delivered fromtrouble, And it comes to the wickedinstead.9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroyshis neighbor, But through knowledge therighteous will be delivered.10When it goes well with the righteous,the city rejoices; And when the wickedperish, there is jubila on.11 By the blessing of the upright the cityis exalted, But it is overthrown by themouth of the wicked.12He who is devoid of wisdom despiseshis neighbor, But a man of understandingholds his peace.

PROVERBS 11 3813A talebearer reveals secrets, Buthe who is of a faithful spirit conceals ama er.14Where there is no counsel, thepeople fall; But in the mul tude ofcounselors there is safety.15He who is surety for a stranger willsuffer, But one who hates being surety issecure.16A gracious woman retains honor, Butruthless men retain riches.17 The merciful man does good for hisown soul, But he who is cruel troubleshis own flesh.18 The wicked man does decep vework, But he who sows righteousnesswill have a sure reward.19As righteousness leads to life, So hewho pursues evil pursues it to his owndeath.

PROVERBS 11 3920 Those who are of a perverse heartare an abomina on to the LORD, But theblameless in their ways are His delight.21 Though they join forces, the wickedwill not go unpunished; But the posterityof the righteous will be delivered.22As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, Sois a lovely woman who lacks discre on.23 The desire of the righteous is onlygood, But the expecta on of the wickedis wrath.24 There is one who sca ers, yetincreases more; And there is one whowithholds more than is right, But it leadsto poverty.25 The generous soul will be made rich,And he who waters will also be wateredhimself.26 The people will curse him whowithholds grain, But blessing will be onthe head of him who sells it.

PROVERBS 11–12 4027He who earnestly seeks good findsfavor, But trouble will come to him whoseeks evil.28He who trusts in his riches willfall, But the righteous will flourish likefoliage.29He who troubles his own house willinherit the wind, And the fool will beservant to the wise of heart.30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree oflife, And he who wins souls is wise.31 If the righteous will be recompensedon the earth, How much more theungodly and the sinner.

12 1Whoever loves instruc on lovesknowledge, But he who hates

correc on is stupid.2A good man obtains favor from theLORD, But a man of wicked inten ons Hewill condemn.

PROVERBS 12 413A man is not established bywickedness, But the root of therighteous cannot be moved.4An excellent wife is the crown of herhusband, But she who causes shame islike ro enness in his bones.5 The thoughts of the righteous areright, But the counsels of the wicked aredecei ul.6 The words of the wicked are, "Lie inwait for blood," But the mouth of theupright will deliver them.7 The wicked are overthrown and areno more, But the house of the righteouswill stand.8A man will be commended accordingto his wisdom, But he who is of aperverse heart will be despised.9 Be er is the one who is slighted buthas a servant, Than he who honorshimself but lacks bread.

PROVERBS 12 4210A righteous man regards the life ofhis animal, But the tender mercies of thewicked are cruel.11He who lls his land will be sa sfiedwith bread, But he who follows frivolityis devoid of understanding.12 The wicked covet the catch of evilmen, But the root of the righteous yieldsfruit.13 The wicked is ensnared by thetransgression of his lips, But therighteous will come through trouble.14A man will be sa sfied with goodby the fruit of his mouth, And therecompense of a man’s hands will berendered to him.15 The way of a fool is right in his owneyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.16A fool’s wrath is known at once, But aprudent man covers shame.

PROVERBS 12 4317He who speaks truth declaresrighteousness, But a false witness,deceit.18 There is one who speaks like thepiercings of a sword, But the tongue ofthe wise promotes health.19 The truthful lip shall be establishedforever, But a lying tongue is but for amoment.20Deceit is in the heart of those whodevise evil, But counselors of peace havejoy.21No grave trouble will overtake therighteous, But the wicked shall be filledwith evil.22 Lying lips are an abomina on to theLORD, But those who deal truthfully areHis delight.23A prudent man conceals knowledge,But the heart of fools proclaimsfoolishness.

PROVERBS 12–13 4424 The hand of the diligent will rule, Butthe lazy man will be put to forced labor.25Anxiety in the heart of man causesdepression, But a good word makes itglad.26 The righteous should choose hisfriends carefully, For the way of thewicked leads them astray.27 The lazy man does not roast what hetook in hun ng, But diligence is man’sprecious possession.28 In the way of righteousness is life,And in its pathway there is no death.

13 1A wise son heeds his father’sinstruc on, But a scoffer does not

listen to rebuke.2A man shall eat well by the fruit of hismouth, But the soul of the unfaithfulfeeds on violence.3He who guards his mouth preserveshis life, But he who opens wide his lipsshall have destruc on.

PROVERBS 13 454 The soul of a lazy man desires, andhas nothing; But the soul of the diligentshall be made rich.5A righteous man hates lying, But awicked man is loathsome and comes toshame.6 Righteousness guards him whose wayis blameless, But wickedness overthrowsthe sinner.7 There is one who makes himself rich,yet has nothing; And one who makeshimself 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, Butthe lamp of the wicked will be put out.10 By pride comes nothing but strife,But with the well–advised is wisdom.11Wealth gained by dishonesty will bediminished, But he who gathers by laborwill increase.

PROVERBS 13 4612Hope deferred makes the heart sick,But when the desire comes, it is a tree oflife.13He who despises the word willbe destroyed, But he who fears thecommandment will be rewarded.14 The law of the wise is a fountain oflife, To turn one away from the snares ofdeath.15Good understanding gains favor, Butthe way of the unfaithful is hard.16 Every prudent man acts withknowledge, But a fool lays open his folly.17A wicked messenger falls intotrouble, But a faithful ambassador bringshealth.18 Poverty and shame will come to himwho disdains correc on, But he whoregards a rebuke will be honored.19A desire accomplished is sweet to thesoul, But it is an abomina on to fools todepart from evil.

PROVERBS 13–14 4720He who walks with wise men will bewise, But the companion of fools will bedestroyed.21 Evil pursues sinners, But to therighteous, good shall be repaid.22A good man leaves an inheritance tohis children’s children, But the wealth ofthe sinner is stored up for the righteous.23Much food is in the fallow ground ofthe poor, And for lack of jus ce there iswaste.24He who spares his rod hates his son,But he who loves him disciplines himpromptly.25 The righteous eats to the sa sfying ofhis soul, But the stomach of the wickedshall be in want.

14 1 The wise woman builds herhouse, But the foolish pulls it

down with her hands.

PROVERBS 14 482He who walks in his uprightness fearsthe LORD, But he who is perverse in hisways despises Him.3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,But the lips of the wise will preservethem.4Where no oxen are, the trough isclean; But much increase comes by thestrength of an ox.5A faithful witness does not lie, But afalse witness will u er lies.6A scoffer seeks wisdom and does notfind it, But knowledge is easy to him whounderstands.7Go from the presence of a foolishman, When you do not perceive in himthe lips of knowledge.8 The wisdom of the prudent is tounderstand his way, But the folly of foolsis deceit.9 Fools mock at sin, But among theupright there is favor.

PROVERBS 14 4910 The heart knows its own bi erness,And a stranger does not share its joy.11 The house of the wicked will beoverthrown, But the tent of the uprightwill flourish.12 There is a way that seems right to aman, But its end is the way of death.13 Even in laughter the heart maysorrow, And the end of mirth may begrief.14 The backslider in heart will be filledwith his own ways, But a good man willbe sa sfied from above.15 The simple believes every word, Butthe prudent considers well his steps.16A wise man fears and departsfrom evil, But a fool rages and isself–confident.17A quick–tempered man acts foolishly,And a man of wicked inten ons is hated.18 The simple inherit folly, But theprudent are crowned with knowledge.

PROVERBS 14 5019 The evil will bow before the good,And the wicked at the gates of therighteous.20 The poor man is hated even by hisown neighbor, But the rich has manyfriends.21He who despises his neighbor sins;But he who has mercy on the poor,happy is he.22Do they not go astray who deviseevil? But mercy and truth belong tothose who devise good.23 In all labor there is profit, But idlecha er leads only to poverty.24 The crown of the wise is their riches,But the foolishness of fools is folly.25A true witness delivers souls, But adecei ul witness speaks lies.26 In the fear of the LORD there is strongconfidence, And His children will have aplace of refuge.

PROVERBS 14 5127 The fear of the LORD is a fountain oflife, To turn one away from the snares ofdeath.28 In a mul tude of people is a king’shonor, But in the lack of people is thedownfall of a prince.29He who is slow to wrath has greatunderstanding, But he who is impulsiveexalts folly.30A sound heart is life to the body, Butenvy is ro enness to the bones.31He who oppresses the poorreproaches his Maker, But he whohonors Him has mercy on the needy.32 The wicked is banished in hiswickedness, But the righteous has arefuge in his death.33Wisdom rests in the heart of himwho has understanding, But what is inthe heart of fools is made known.34 Righteousness exalts a na on, But sinis a reproach to any people.

PROVERBS 14–15 5235 The king’s favor is toward a wiseservant, But his wrath is against him whocauses shame.

15 1A so answer turns away wrath,But a harsh word s rs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise usesknowledge rightly, But the mouth offools pours forth foolishness.3 The eyes of the LORD are in everyplace, Keeping watch on the evil and thegood.4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.5A fool despises his father’s instruc on,But he who receives correc on isprudent.6 In the house of the righteous there ismuch treasure, But in the revenue of thewicked is trouble.7 The lips of the wise disperseknowledge, But the heart of the fooldoes not do so.

PROVERBS 15 538 The sacrifice of the wicked is anabomina on to the LORD, But the prayerof the upright is His delight.9 The way of the wicked is anabomina on to the LORD, But He loveshim who follows righteousness.10Harsh discipline is for him whoforsakes the way, And he who hatescorrec on will die.11Hell and Destruc on are before theLORD; So how much more the hearts ofthe sons of men.12A scoffer does not love one whocorrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.13A merry heart makes a cheerfulcountenance, But by sorrow of the heartthe spirit is broken.14 The heart of him who hasunderstanding seeks knowledge,But the mouth of fools feeds onfoolishness.

PROVERBS 15 5415All the days of the afflicted are evil,But he who is of a merry heart has acon nual feast.16 Be er is a li le with the fear of theLORD, Than great treasure with trouble.17 Be er is a dinner of herbs where loveis, Than a fa ed calf with hatred.18A wrathful man s rs up strife, But hewho is slow to anger allays conten on.19 The way of the lazy man is like ahedge of thorns, But the way of theupright is a highway.20A wise son makes a father glad, But afoolish man despises his mother.21 Folly is joy to him who is des tuteof discernment, But a man ofunderstanding walks uprightly.22Without counsel, plans go awry, Butin the mul tude of counselors they areestablished.

PROVERBS 15 5523A man has joy by the answer ofhis mouth, And a word spoken in dueseason, how good it is!24 The way of life winds upward for thewise, That he may turn away from hellbelow.25 The LORD will destroy the houseof the proud, But He will establish theboundary of the widow.26 The thoughts of the wicked are anabomina on to the LORD, But the wordsof the pure are pleasant.27He who is greedy for gain troubles hisown house, But he who hates bribes willlive.28 The heart of the righteous studieshow to answer, But the mouth of thewicked pours forth evil.29 The LORD is far from the wicked, ButHe hears the prayer of the righteous.

PROVERBS 15–16 5630 The light of the eyes rejoices theheart, And a good report makes thebones healthy.31 The ear that hears the rebukes of lifeWill abide among the wise.32He who disdains instruc on despiseshis own soul, But he who heeds rebukegets understanding.33 The fear of the LORD is the instruc onof wisdom, And before honor is humility.

16 1 The prepara ons of the heartbelong to man, But the answer of

the tongue is from the LORD.2All the ways of a man are pure in hisown eyes, But the LORD weighs thespirits.3 Commit your works to the LORD, Andyour thoughts will be established.4 The LORD has made all for Himself,Yes, even the wicked for the day ofdoom.

PROVERBS 16 575 Everyone proud in heart is anabomina on to the LORD; Though theyjoin forces, none will go unpunished.6 In mercy and truth Atonement isprovided for iniquity; And by the fear ofthe LORD one departs from evil.7When a man’s ways please the LORD,He makes even his enemies to be atpeace with him.8 Be er is a li le with righteousness,Than vast revenues without jus ce.9A man’s heart plans his way, But theLORD directs his steps.10Divina on is on the lips of theking; His mouth must not transgress injudgment.11Honest weights and scales are theLORD’S; All the weights in the bag areHis work.12 It is an abomina on for kings tocommit wickedness, For a throne isestablished by righteousness.

PROVERBS 16 5813 Righteous lips are the delight ofkings, And they love him who speakswhat is right.14As messengers of death is the king’swrath, But a wise man will appease it.15 In the light of the king’s face is life,And his favor is like a cloud of the la errain.16Howmuch be er to get wisdom thangold! And to get understanding is to bechosen rather than silver.17 The highway of the upright is todepart from evil; He who keeps his waypreserves his soul.18 Pride goes before destruc on, And ahaughty spirit before a fall.19 Be er to be of a humble spirit withthe lowly, Than to divide the spoil withthe proud.20He who heeds the word wisely willfind good, And whoever trusts in theLORD, happy is he.

PROVERBS 16 5921 The wise in heart will be calledprudent, And sweetness of the lipsincreases learning.22Understanding is a wellspring of lifeto him who has it. But the correc on offools is folly.23 The heart of the wise teaches hismouth, And adds learning to his lips.24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,Sweetness to the soul and health to thebones.25 There is a way that seems right to aman, But its end is the way of death.26 The person who labors, labors forhimself, For his hungry mouth drives himon.27An ungodly man digs up evil, And it ison his lips like a burning fire.28A perverse man sows strife, And awhisperer separates the best of friends.29A violent man en ces his neighbor,And leads him in a way that is not good.

PROVERBS 16–17 6030He winks his eye to devise perversethings; He purses his lips and bringsabout evil.31 The silver–haired head is a crownof glory, If it is found in the way ofrighteousness.32He who is slow to anger is be erthan the mighty, And he who rules hisspirit than he who takes a city.33 The lot is cast into the lap, But itsevery decision is from the LORD.

17 1 Be er is a dry morsel withquietness, Than a house full of

feas ng with strife.2A wise servant will rule over a sonwho causes shame, And will share aninheritance among the brothers.3 The refining pot is for silver and thefurnace for gold, But the LORD tests thehearts.4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; Aliar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

PROVERBS 17 615He who mocks the poor reproacheshis Maker; He who is glad at calamitywill not go unpunished.6 Children’s children are the crown ofold men, And the glory of children istheir father.7 Excellent speech is not becoming to afool, Much less lying lips to a prince.8A present is a precious stone in theeyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns,he prospers.9He who covers a transgression seekslove, But he who repeats a ma erseparates friends.10 Rebuke is more effec ve for a wiseman Than a hundred blows on a fool.11An evil man seeks only rebellion;Therefore a cruel messenger will be sentagainst him.12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of hercubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

PROVERBS 17 6213Whoever rewards evil for good, Evilwill not depart from his house.14 The beginning of strife is like releasingwater; Therefore stop conten on beforea quarrel starts.15He who jus fies the wicked, and hewho condemns the just, Both of themalike are an abomina on to the LORD.16Why is there in the hand of a fool thepurchase price of wisdom, Since he hasno heart for it?17A friend loves at all mes, And abrother is born for adversity.18A man devoid of understandingshakes hands in a pledge, And becomessurety for his friend.19He who loves transgression lovesstrife, And he who exalts his gate seeksdestruc on.20He who has a decei ul heart finds nogood, And he who has a perverse tonguefalls into evil.

PROVERBS 17 6321He who begets a scoffer does so tohis sorrow, And the father of a fool hasno joy.22A merry heart does good, likemedicine, But a broken spirit dries thebones.23A wicked man accepts a bribe behindthe back To pervert the ways of jus ce.24Wisdom is in the sight of him whohas understanding, But the eyes of a foolare on the ends of the earth.25A foolish son is a grief to his father,And bi erness to her who bore him.26Also, to punish the righteous is notgood, Nor to strike princes for theiruprightness.27He who has knowledge spares hiswords, And a man of understanding is ofa calm spirit.28 Even a fool is counted wise when heholds his peace; When he shuts his lips,he is considered percep ve.

PROVERBS 18 64

18 1A man who isolates himselfseeks his own desire; He rages

against all wise judgment.2A fool has no delight in understanding,But in expressing his own heart.3When the wicked comes, contemptcomes also; And with dishonor comesreproach.4 The words of a man’s mouth are deepwaters; The wellspring of wisdom is aflowing brook.5 It is not good to show par ality to thewicked, Or to overthrow the righteous injudgment.6A fool’s lips enter into conten on, Andhis mouth calls for blows.7A fool’s mouth is his destruc on, Andhis lips are the snare of his soul.8 The words of a talebearer are liketasty trifles, And they go down into theinmost body.

PROVERBS 18 659He who is slothful in his work Is abrother to him who is a great destroyer.10 The name of the LORD is a strongtower; The righteous run to it and aresafe.11 The rich man’s wealth is his strongcity, And like a high wall in his ownesteem.12 Before destruc on the heart of aman is haughty, And before honor ishumility.13He who answers a ma er before hehears it, It is folly and shame to him.14 The spirit of a man will sustain himin sickness, But who can bear a brokenspirit?15 The heart of the prudent acquiresknowledge, And the ear of the wiseseeks knowledge.16Aman’s gi makes room for him, Andbrings him before great men.

PROVERBS 18 6617 The first one to plead his causeseems right, Un l his neighbor comesand examines him.18 Cas ng lots causes conten ons tocease, And keeps the mighty apart.19A brother offended is harder to winthan a strong city, And conten ons arelike the bars of a castle.20A man’s stomach shall be sa sfiedfrom the fruit of his mouth, From theproduce of his lips he shall be filled.21Death and life are in the power of thetongue, And those who love it will eat itsfruit.22He who finds a wife finds a goodthing, And obtains favor from the LORD.23 The poor man uses entrea es, Butthe rich answers roughly.24A man who has friends must himselfbe friendly, But there is a friend whos cks closer than a brother.

PROVERBS 19 67

19 1 Be er is the poor who walksin his integrity Than one who is

perverse in his lips, and is a fool.2Also it is not good for a soul to bewithout knowledge, And he sins whohastens with his feet.3 The foolishness of a man twists hisway, And his heart frets against theLORD.4Wealth makes many friends, But thepoor is separated from his friend.5A false witness will not go unpunished,And he who speaks lies will not escape.6Many entreat the favor of the nobility,And every man is a friend to one whogives gi s.7All the brothers of the poor hate him;How much more do his friends go farfrom him! He may pursue them withwords, yet they abandon him.

PROVERBS 19 688He who gets wisdom loves his ownsoul; He who keeps understanding willfind good.9A false witness will not go unpunished,And he who speaks lies shall perish.10 Luxury is not fi ng for a fool, Muchless for a servant to rule over princes.11 The discre on of a man makeshim slow to anger, And his glory is tooverlook a transgression.12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring ofa lion, But his favor is like dew on thegrass.13A foolish son is the ruin of his father,And the conten ons of a wife are acon nual dripping.14Houses and riches are an inheritancefrom fathers, But a prudent wife is fromthe LORD.15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,And an idle person will suffer hunger.

PROVERBS 19 6916He who keeps the commandmentkeeps his soul, But he who is careless ofhis ways will die.17He who has pity on the poor lends tothe LORD, And He will pay back what hehas given.18 Chasten your son while there ishope, And do not set your heart on hisdestruc on.19A man of great wrath will sufferpunishment; For if you rescue him, youwill have to do it again.20 Listen to counsel and receiveinstruc on, That you may be wise inyour la er days.21 There are many plans in a man’sheart, Nevertheless the LORD’Scounsel––that will stand.22What is desired in a man is kindness,And a poor man is be er than a liar.

PROVERBS 19 7023 The fear of the LORD leads to life, Andhe who has it will abide in sa sfac on;He will not be visited with evil.24A lazy man buries his hand in thebowl, And will not so much as bring it tohis mouth again.25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple willbecome wary; Rebuke one who hasunderstanding, and he will discernknowledge.26He who mistreats his father andchases away his mother Is a son whocauses shame and brings reproach.27 Cease listening to instruc on, myson, And you will stray from the wordsof knowledge.28A disreputable witness scorns jus ce,And the mouth of the wicked devoursiniquity.29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,And bea ngs for the backs of fools.

PROVERBS 20 71

20 1Wine is a mocker, Strong drinkis a brawler, And whoever is led

astray by it is not wise.2 The wrath of a king is like the roaringof a lion; Whoever provokes him toanger sins against his own life.3 It is honorable for a man to stopstriving, Since any fool can start aquarrel.4 The lazy man will not plow because ofwinter; He will beg during harvest andhave nothing.5 Counsel in the heart of man is likedeep water, But a man of understandingwill draw it out.6Most men will proclaim each his owngoodness, But who can find a faithfulman?7 The righteous man walks in hisintegrity; His children are blessed a erhim.

PROVERBS 20 728A king who sits on the throne ofjudgment Sca ers all evil with his eyes.9Who can say, "I have made my heartclean, I am pure from my sin"?10Diverse weights and diversemeasures, They are both alike, anabomina on to the LORD.11 Even a child is known by his deeds,Whether what he does is pure and right.12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,The LORD has made them both.13Do not love sleep, lest you come topoverty; Open your eyes, and you will besa sfied with bread.14 "It is good for nothing," cries thebuyer; But when he has gone his way,then he boasts.15 There is gold and a mul tude ofrubies, But the lips of knowledge are aprecious jewel.

PROVERBS 20 7316 Take the garment of one who issurety for a stranger, And hold it as apledge when it is for a seductress.17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to aman, But a erward his mouth will befilled with gravel.18 Plans are established by counsel; Bywise counsel wage war.19He who goes about as a talebearerreveals secrets; Therefore do notassociate with one who fla ers with hislips.20Whoever curses his father or hismother, His lamp will be put out in deepdarkness.21An inheritance gained has ly at thebeginning Will not be blessed at the end.22Do not say, "I will recompense evil";Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.23Diverse weights are an abomina onto the LORD, And dishonest scales arenot good.

PROVERBS 20–21 7424A man’s steps are of the LORD; Howthen can a man understand his ownway?25 It is a snare for a man to devoterashly something as holy, And a erwardto reconsider his vows.26A wise king si s out the wicked, Andbrings the threshing wheel over them.27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of theLORD, Searching all the inner depths ofhis heart.28Mercy and truth preserve the king,And by lovingkindness he upholds histhrone.29 The glory of young men is theirstrength, And the splendor of old men istheir gray head.30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, Asdo stripes the inner depths of the heart.

21 1 The king’s heart is in the hand ofthe LORD, Like the rivers of water;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

PROVERBS 21 752 Every way of a man is right in his owneyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.3 To do righteousness and jus ce Ismore acceptable to the LORD thansacrifice.4A haughty look, a proud heart, Andthe plowing of the wicked are sin.5 The plans of the diligent lead surelyto plenty, But those of everyone who ishasty, surely to poverty.6Ge ng treasures by a lying tongue Isthe flee ng fantasy of those who seekdeath.7 The violence of the wicked will destroythem, Because they refuse to do jus ce.8 The way of a guilty man is perverse;But as for the pure, his work is right.9 Be er to dwell in a corner of ahousetop, Than in a house shared with aconten ous woman.10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

PROVERBS 21 7611When the scoffer is punished, thesimple is made wise; But when the wiseis instructed, he receives knowledge.12 The righteous God wisely considersthe house of the wicked, Overthrowingthe wicked for their wickedness.13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry ofthe poor Will also cry himself and not beheard.14A gi in secret pacifies anger, And abribe behind the back, strong wrath.15 It is a joy for the just to do jus ce,But destruc on will come to the workersof iniquity.16A man who wanders from the way ofunderstanding Will rest in the assemblyof the dead.17He who loves pleasure will be a poorman; He who loves wine and oil will notbe rich.

PROVERBS 21 7718 The wicked shall be a ransom for therighteous, And the unfaithful for theupright.19 Be er to dwell in the wilderness,Than with a conten ous and angrywoman.20 There is desirable treasure, And oilin the dwelling of the wise, But a foolishman squanders it.21He who follows righteousness andmercy Finds life, righteousness, andhonor.22A wise man scales the city of themighty, And brings down the trustedstronghold.23Whoever guards his mouth andtongue Keeps his soul from troubles.24Aproud and haughtyman ––"Scoffer"is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.25 The desire of the lazy man kills him,For his hands refuse to labor.

PROVERBS 21–22 7826He covets greedily all day long, Butthe righteous gives and does not spare.27 The sacrifice of the wicked is anabomina on; How much more when hebrings it with wicked intent!28A false witness shall perish, But theman who hears him will speak endlessly.29A wicked man hardens his face, Butas for the upright, he establishes his way.30 There is no wisdom or understandingOr counsel against the LORD.31 The horse is prepared for the day ofba le, But deliverance is of the LORD.

22 1A good name is to be chosenrather than great riches, Loving

favor rather than silver and gold.2 The rich and the poor have this incommon, The LORD is the maker of themall.3A prudent man foresees evil and hideshimself, But the simple pass on and arepunished.

PROVERBS 22 794 By humility and the fear of the LORDAre riches and honor and life.5 Thorns and snares are in the way ofthe perverse; He who guards his soul willbe far from them.6 Train up a child in the way he shouldgo, And when he is old he will not departfrom it.7 The rich rules over the poor, And theborrower is servant to the lender.8He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,And the rod of his anger will fail.9He who has a generous eye will beblessed, For he gives of his bread to thepoor.10 Cast out the scoffer, and conten onwill leave; Yes, strife and reproach willcease.11He who loves purity of heart Andhas grace on his lips, The king will be hisfriend.

PROVERBS 22 8012 The eyes of the LORD preserveknowledge, But He overthrows thewords of the faithless.13 The lazy man says, "There is a lionoutside! I shall be slain in the streets!"14 The mouth of an immoral woman isa deep pit; He who is abhorred by theLORD will fall there.15 Foolishness is bound up in the heartof a child; The rod of correc on will driveit far from him.16He who oppresses the poor toincrease his riches, And he who gives tothe rich, will surely come to poverty.17 Incline your ear and hear the wordsof the wise, And apply your heart to myknowledge;18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keepthem within you; Let them all be fixedupon your lips,

PROVERBS 22 8119 So that your trust may be in theLORD; I have instructed you today, evenyou.20Have I not wri en to you excellentthings Of counsels and knowledge,21 That I may make you know thecertainty of the words of truth, That youmay answer words of truth To those whosend to you?22Do not rob the poor because he ispoor, Nor oppress the afflicted at thegate;23 For the LORD will plead their cause,And plunder the soul of those whoplunder them.24Make no friendship with an angryman, And with a furious man do not go,25 Lest you learn his ways And set asnare for your soul.26Do not be one of those who shakeshands in a pledge, One of those who issurety for debts;

PROVERBS 22–23 8227 If you have nothing with which topay, Why should he take away your bedfrom under you?28Do not remove the ancient landmarkWhich your fathers have set.29Do you see a man who excels in hiswork? He will stand before kings; He willnot stand before unknown men.

23 1When you sit down to eat witha ruler, Consider carefully what is

before you;2And put a knife to your throat If youare a man given to appe te.3Do not desire his delicacies, For theyare decep ve food.4Do not overwork to be rich; Becauseof your own understanding, cease!5Will you set your eyes on thatwhich is not? For riches certainly makethemselves wings; They fly away like aneagle toward heaven.

PROVERBS 23 836Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nordesire his delicacies;7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."Eat and drink!" he says to you, But hisheart is not with you.8 The morsel you have eaten, you willvomit up, And waste your pleasantwords.9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,For he will despise the wisdom of yourwords.10Do not remove the ancient landmark,Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;11 For their Redeemer is mighty; He willplead their cause against you.12Apply your heart to instruc on, Andyour ears to words of knowledge.13Do not withhold correc on from achild, For if you beat him with a rod, hewill not die.14 You shall beat him with a rod, Anddeliver his soul from hell.

PROVERBS 23 8415My son, if your heart is wise, Myheart will rejoice––indeed, I myself;16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoiceWhen your lips speak right things.17Do not let your heart envy sinners,But be zealous for the fear of the LORDall the day;18 For surely there is a herea er, Andyour hope will not be cut off.19Hear, my son, and be wise; And guideyour heart in the way.20Do not mix with winebibbers, Or withglu onous eaters of meat;21 For the drunkard and the glu on willcome to poverty, And drowsiness willclothe a man with rags.22 Listen to your father who begot you,And do not despise your mother whenshe is old.23 Buy the truth, and do not sellit, Also wisdom and instruc on andunderstanding.

PROVERBS 23 8524 The father of the righteous willgreatly rejoice, And he who begets awise child will delight in him.25 Let your father and your mother beglad, And let her who bore you rejoice.26My son, give me your heart, And letyour eyes observe my ways.27 For a harlot is a deep pit, And aseductress is a narrow well.28 She also lies in wait as for a vic m,And increases the unfaithful amongmen.29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?Who has conten ons? Who hascomplaints? Who has wounds withoutcause? Who has redness of eyes?30 Those who linger long at the wine,Those who go in search of mixed wine.31Do not look on the wine when it isred, When it sparkles in the cup, Whenit swirls around smoothly;

PROVERBS 23–24 8632At the last it bites like a serpent, Ands ngs like a viper.33 Your eyes will see strange things, Andyour heart will u er perverse things.34 Yes, you will be like one who liesdown in the midst of the sea, Or like onewho lies at the top of the mast, saying:35 "They have struck me, but I was nothurt; They have beaten me, but I did notfeel it. When shall I awake, that I mayseek another drink?"

24 1Do not be envious of evil men,Nor desire to be with them;

2 For their heart devises violence, Andtheir lips talk of troublemaking.3 Through wisdom a house is built, Andby understanding it is established;4 By knowledge the rooms are filledWith all precious and pleasant riches.5A wise man is strong, Yes, a man ofknowledge increases strength;

PROVERBS 24 876 For by wise counsel you will wageyour own war, And in a mul tude ofcounselors there is safety.7Wisdom is too lo y for a fool; He doesnot open his mouth in the gate.8He who plots to do evil Will be calleda schemer.9 The devising of foolishness is sin, Andthe scoffer is an abomina on to men.10 If you faint in the day of adversity,Your strength is small.11Deliver those who are drawn towarddeath, And hold back those stumbling tothe slaughter.12 If you say, "Surely we did not knowthis," Does not He who weighs thehearts consider it? He who keeps yoursoul, does He not know it? And will Henot render to each man according to hisdeeds?

PROVERBS 24 8813My son, eat honey because it is good,And the honeycomb which is sweet toyour taste;14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom beto your soul; If you have found it, thereis a prospect, And your hope will not becut off.15Do not lie in wait, O wicked man,against the dwelling of the righteous; Donot plunder his res ng place;16 For a righteous man may fall sevenmes And rise again, But the wicked

shall fall by calamity.17Do not rejoice when your enemyfalls, And do not let your heart be gladwhen he stumbles;18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displeaseHim, And He turn away His wrath fromhim.19Do not fret because of evildoers, Norbe envious of the wicked;

PROVERBS 24 8920 For there will be no prospect for theevil man; The lamp of the wicked will beput out.21My son, fear the LORD and the king;Do not associate with those given tochange;22 For their calamity will rise suddenly,And who knows the ruin those two canbring?23 These things also belong to thewise: It is not good to show par ality injudgment.24He who says to the wicked, "You arerighteous," Him the people will curse;Na ons will abhor him.25 But those who rebuke the wicked willhave delight, And a good blessing willcome upon them.26He who gives a right answer kissesthe lips.

PROVERBS 24 9027 Prepare your outside work, Make itfit for yourself in the field; And a erwardbuild your house.28Do not be a witness against yourneighbor without cause, For would youdeceive with your lips?29Do not say, "I will do to him just as hehas done to me; I will render to the manaccording to his work."30 I went by the field of the lazy man,And by the vineyard of the man devoidof understanding;31And there it was, all overgrown withthorns; Its surface was covered withne les; Its stone wall was broken down.32When I saw it, I considered it well; Ilooked on it and received instruc on:33A li le sleep, a li le slumber, A li lefolding of the hands to rest;34 So shall your poverty come like aprowler, And your need like an armedman.

PROVERBS 25 91

25 1 These also are proverbs ofSolomon which the men of

Hezekiah king of Judah copied:2 It is the glory of God to conceal ama er, But the glory of kings is to searchout a ma er.3As the heavens for height and theearth for depth, So the heart of kings isunsearchable.4 Take away the dross from silver, And itwill go to the silversmith for jewelry.5 Take away the wicked from before theking, And his throne will be establishedin righteousness.6Do not exalt yourself in the presenceof the king, And do not stand in the placeof the great;7 For it is be er that he say to you,"Come up here," Than that you shouldbe put lower in the presence of theprince, Whom your eyes have seen.

PROVERBS 25 928Do not go has ly to court; For whatwill you do in the end, When yourneighbor has put you to shame?9Debate your case with your neighbor,And do not disclose the secret toanother;10 Lest he who hears it expose yourshame, And your reputa on be ruined.11A word fitly spoken is like apples ofgold In se ngs of silver.12 Like an earring of gold and anornament of fine gold Is a wise rebukerto an obedient ear.13 Like the cold of snow in me ofharvest Is a faithful messenger to thosewho send him, For he refreshes the soulof his masters.14Whoever falsely boasts of giving Islike clouds and wind without rain.15 By long forbearance a ruler ispersuaded, And a gentle tongue breaksa bone.

PROVERBS 25 9316Have you found honey? Eat only asmuch as you need, Lest you be filledwith it and vomit.17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’shouse, Lest he become weary of you andhate you.18A man who bears false witnessagainst his neighbor Is like a club, asword, and a sharp arrow.19 Confidence in an unfaithful man inme of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a

foot out of joint.20 Like one who takes away a garmentin cold weather, And like vinegar onsoda, Is one who sings songs to a heavyheart.21 If your enemy is hungry, give himbread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give himwater to drink;22 For so you will heap coals of fire onhis head, And the LORD will reward you.

PROVERBS 25–26 9423 The north wind brings forth rain,And a backbi ng tongue an angrycountenance.24 It is be er to dwell in a corner of ahousetop, Than in a house shared with aconten ous woman.25As cold water to a weary soul, So isgood news from a far country.26A righteous man who falters beforethe wicked Is like a murky spring and apolluted well.27 It is not good to eat much honey; Soto seek one’s own glory is not glory.28Whoever has no rule over his ownspirit Is like a city broken down, withoutwalls.

26 1As snow in summer and rain inharvest, So honor is not fi ng for

a fool.2 Like a fli ng sparrow, like a flyingswallow, So a curse without cause shallnot alight.

PROVERBS 26 953A whip for the horse, A bridle for thedonkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.4Do not answer a fool according to hisfolly, Lest you also be like him.5Answer a fool according to his folly,Lest he be wise in his own eyes.6He who sends a message by the handof a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinksviolence.7 Like the legs of the lame that hanglimp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling Ishe who gives honor to a fool.9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand ofa drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth offools.10 The great God who formedeverything Gives the fool his hire andthe transgressor his wages.11As a dog returns to his own vomit, Soa fool repeats his folly.

PROVERBS 26 9612Do you see a man wise in his owneyes? There is more hope for a fool thanfor him.13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion inthe road! A fierce lion is in the streets!"14As a door turns on its hinges, So doesthe lazy man on his bed.15 The lazy man buries his hand in thebowl; It wearies him to bring it back tohis mouth.16 The lazy man is wiser in his owneyes Than seven men who can answersensibly.17He who passes by and meddles in aquarrel not his own Is like one who takesa dog by the ears.18 Like a madman who throwsfirebrands, arrows, and death,19 Is themanwho deceives his neighbor,And says, "I was only joking!"

PROVERBS 26 9720Where there is no wood, the fire goesout; And where there is no talebearer,strife ceases.21As charcoal is to burning coals, andwood to fire, So is a conten ous man tokindle strife.22 The words of a talebearer are liketasty trifles, And they go down into theinmost body.23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart Arelike earthenware covered with silverdross.24He who hates, disguises it with hislips, And lays up deceit within himself;25When he speaks kindly, do notbelieve him, For there are sevenabomina ons in his heart;26 Though his hatred is covered bydeceit, His wickedness will be revealedbefore the assembly.

PROVERBS 26–27 9827Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,And he who rolls a stone will have it rollback on him.28A lying tongue hates those who arecrushed by it, And a fla ering mouthworks ruin.

27 1Do not boast about tomorrow,For you do not know what a day

may bring forth.2 Let another man praise you, and notyour own mouth; A stranger, and notyour own lips.3A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both ofthem.4Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, Butwho is able to stand before jealousy?5Open rebuke is be er Than lovecarefully concealed.6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,But the kisses of an enemy are decei ul.

PROVERBS 27 997A sa sfied soul loathes thehoneycomb, But to a hungry soulevery bi er thing is sweet.8 Like a bird that wanders from its nestIs a man who wanders from his place.9Ointment and perfume delight theheart, And the sweetness of a man’sfriend gives delight by hearty counsel.10Do not forsake your own friend oryour father’s friend, Nor go to yourbrother’s house in the day of yourcalamity; Be er is a neighbor nearbythan a brother far away.11My son, be wise, and make myheart glad, That I may answer him whoreproaches me.12A prudent man foresees evil andhides himself; The simple pass on andare punished.13 Take the garment of himwho is suretyfor a stranger, And hold it in pledge whenhe is surety for a seductress.

PROVERBS 27 10014He who blesses his friend with a loudvoice, rising early in the morning, It willbe counted a curse to him.15A con nual dripping on a very rainyday And a conten ous woman are alike;16Whoever restrains her restrains thewind, And grasps oil with his right hand.17As iron sharpens iron, So a mansharpens the countenance of his friend.18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eatits fruit; So he who waits on his masterwill be honored.19As in water face reflects face, So aman’s heart reveals the man.20Hell and Destruc on are never full;So the eyes of man are never sa sfied.21 The refining pot is for silver and thefurnace for gold, And a man is valued bywhat others say of him.22 Though you grind a fool in a mortarwith a pestle along with crushed grain,

PROVERBS 27–28 101Yet his foolishness will not depart fromhim.23 Be diligent to know the state of yourflocks, And a end to your herds;24 For riches are not forever, Nor does acrown endure to all genera ons.25When the hay is removed, and thetender grass shows itself, And the herbsof the mountains are gathered in,26 The lambs will provide your clothing,And the goats the price of a field;27 You shall have enough goats’ milkfor your food, For the food of yourhousehold, And the nourishment of yourmaidservants.

28 1 The wicked flee when no onepursues, But the righteous are

bold as a lion.2 Because of the transgression of a land,many are its princes; But by a man ofunderstanding and knowledge Right willbe prolonged.

PROVERBS 28 1023A poor man who oppresses the poor Islike a driving rain which leaves no food.4 Those who forsake the law praisethe wicked, But such as keep the lawcontend with them.5 Evil men do not understand jus ce,But thosewho seek the LORDunderstandall.6 Be er is the poor who walks in hisintegrity Than one perverse in his ways,though he be rich.7Whoever keeps the law is a discerningson, But a companion of glu ons shameshis father.8One who increases his possessions byusury and extor on Gathers it for himwho will pity the poor.9One who turns away his ear fromhearing the law, Even his prayer is anabomina on.10Whoever causes the upright to goastray in an evil way, He himself will fall

PROVERBS 28 103into his own pit; But the blameless willinherit good.11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,But the poor who has understandingsearches him out.12When the righteous rejoice, there isgreat glory; But when the wicked arise,men hide themselves.13He who covers his sins will notprosper, But whoever confesses andforsakes them will have mercy.14Happy is the man who is alwaysreverent, But he who hardens his heartwill fall into calamity.15 Like a roaring lion and a chargingbear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.16A ruler who lacks understanding isa great oppressor, But he who hatescovetousness will prolong his days.17A man burdened with bloodshed willflee into a pit; Let no one help him.

PROVERBS 28 10418Whoever walks blamelessly will besaved, But he who is perverse in his wayswill suddenly fall.19He who lls his land will have plentyof bread, But he who follows frivolity willhave poverty enough!20A faithful man will abound withblessings, But he who hastens to be richwill not go unpunished.21 To show par ality is not good,Because for a piece of bread a man willtransgress.22A man with an evil eye hastensa er riches, And does not consider thatpoverty will come upon him.23He who rebukes a man will find morefavor a erward Than he who fla erswith the tongue.24Whoever robs his father orhis mother, And says, "It is notransgression," The same is companionto a destroyer.

PROVERBS 28–29 10525He who is of a proud heart s rs upstrife, But he who trusts in the LORD willbe prospered.26He who trusts in his own heart is afool, But whoever walks wisely will bedelivered.27He who gives to the poor will notlack, But he who hides his eyes will havemany curses.28When the wicked arise, men hidethemselves; But when they perish, therighteous increase.

29 1He who is o en rebuked, andhardens his neck, Will suddenly

be destroyed, and that without remedy.2When the righteous are in authority,the people rejoice; But when a wickedman rules, the people groan.3Whoever loves wisdom makes hisfather rejoice, But a companion ofharlots wastes his wealth.

PROVERBS 29 1064 The king establishes the land byjus ce, But he who receives bribesoverthrows it.5A man who fla ers his neighborSpreads a net for his feet.6 By transgression an evil man is snared,But the righteous sings and rejoices.7 The righteous considers the causeof the poor, But the wicked does notunderstand such knowledge.8 Scoffers set a city aflame, But wisemen turn away wrath.9 If a wise man contends with a foolishman, Whether the fool rages or laughs,there is no peace.10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,But the upright seek his well–being.11A fool vents all his feelings, But a wiseman holds them back.12 If a ruler pays a en on to lies, All hisservants become wicked.

PROVERBS 29 10713 The poor man and the oppressorhave this in common: The LORD giveslight to the eyes of both.14 The king who judges the poor withtruth, His throne will be establishedforever.15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, Buta child le to himself brings shame to hismother.16When the wicked are mul plied,transgression increases; But therighteous will see their fall.17 Correct your son, and he will give yourest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.18Where there is no revela on, thepeople cast off restraint; But happy is hewho keeps the law.19A servant will not be corrected bymere words; For though he understands,he will not respond.

PROVERBS 29 10820Do you see a man hasty in his words?There is more hope for a fool than forhim.21He who pampers his servant fromchildhood Will have him as a son in theend.22An angry man s rs up strife, And afurious man abounds in transgression.23A man’s pride will bring him low, Butthe humble in spirit will retain honor.24Whoever is a partner with a thiefhates his own life; He swears to tell thetruth, but reveals nothing.25 The fear of man brings a snare, Butwhoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.26Many seek the ruler’s favor, Butjus ce for man comes from the LORD.27An unjust man is an abomina on tothe righteous, And he who is upright inthe way is an abomina on to the wicked.

PROVERBS 30 109

30 1 The words of Agur the son ofJakeh, his u erance. This man

declared to Ithiel––to Ithiel and Ucal:2 Surely I ammore stupid than any man,And do not have the understanding of aman.3 I neither learned wisdom Nor haveknowledge of the Holy One.4Who has ascended into heaven, ordescended? Who has gathered the windin His fists? Who has bound the watersin a garment? Who has established allthe ends of the earth? What is His name,and what is His Son’s name, If you know?5 Every word of God is pure; He is ashield to those who put their trust inHim.6Do not add to His words, Lest Herebuke you, and you be found a liar.7 Two things I request of You (Depriveme not before I die):

PROVERBS 30 1108 Remove falsehood and lies far fromme; Give me neither poverty norriches––Feed me with the food allo edto me;9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say,"Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor andsteal, And profane the name of my God.10Do not malign a servant to his master,Lest he curse you, and you be foundguilty.11 There is a genera on that curses itsfather, And does not bless its mother.12 There is a genera on that is pure inits own eyes, Yet is not washed from itsfilthiness.13 There is a genera on––oh, how lo yare their eyes! And their eyelids areli ed up.14 There is a genera on whose teethare like swords, And whose fangs are likeknives, To devour the poor from off theearth, And the needy from among men.

PROVERBS 30 11115 The leech has two daughters––Giveand Give! There are three things thatare never sa sfied, Four never say,"Enough!":16 The grave, The barren womb,The earth that is not sa sfied withwater––And the fire never says,"Enough!"17 The eye that mocks his father, Andscorns obedience to his mother, Theravens of the valley will pick it out, Andthe young eagles will eat it.18 There are three things which are toowonderful for me, Yes, four which I donot understand:19 The way of an eagle in the air, Theway of a serpent on a rock, The way of aship in the midst of the sea, And the wayof a man with a virgin.20 This is the way of an adulterouswoman: She eats and wipes her mouth,And says, "I have done no wickedness."

PROVERBS 30 11221 For three things the earth isperturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bearup:22 For a servant when he reigns, A foolwhen he is filled with food,23A hateful woman when she ismarried, And a maidservant whosucceeds her mistress.24 There are four things which are li leon the earth, But they are exceedinglywise:25 The ants are a people not strong, Yetthey prepare their food in the summer;26 The rock badgers are a feeble folk,Yet they make their homes in the crags;27 The locusts have no king, Yet they alladvance in ranks;28 The spider skillfully grasps with itshands, And it is in kings’ palaces.29 There are three things which aremajes c in pace, Yes, four which arestately in walk:

PROVERBS 30–31 11330A lion, which is mighty among beastsAnd does not turn away from any;31A greyhound, A male goat also, And aking whose troops are with him.32 If you have been foolish in exal ngyourself, Or if you have devised evil, putyour hand on your mouth.33 For as the churning of milk producesbu er, And wringing the nose producesblood, So the forcing of wrath producesstrife.

31 1 The words of King Lemuel,the u erance which his mother

taught him:2What, my son? And what, son of mywomb? And what, son of my vows?3Do not give your strength to women,Nor your ways to that which destroyskings.4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is notfor kings to drink wine, Nor for princesintoxica ng drink;

PROVERBS 31 1145 Lest they drink and forget the law, Andpervert the jus ce of all the afflicted.6Give strong drink to him who isperishing, And wine to those who arebi er of heart.7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,And remember his misery no more.8Open your mouth for the speechless,In the cause of all who are appointed todie.9Open your mouth, judge righteously,And plead the cause of the poor andneedy.10Who can find a virtuous wife? For herworth is far above rubies.11 The heart of her husband safelytrusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.12 She does him good and not evil Allthe days of her life.13 She seeks wool and flax, And willinglyworks with her hands.

PROVERBS 31 11514 She is like the merchant ships, Shebrings her food from afar.15 She also rises while it is yet night,And provides food for her household,And a por on for her maidservants.16 She considers a field and buys it;From her profits she plants a vineyard.17 She girds herself with strength, Andstrengthens her arms.18 She perceives that her merchandiseis good, And her lamp does not go outby night.19 She stretches out her hands to thedistaff, And her hand holds the spindle.20 She extends her hand to the poor,Yes, she reaches out her hands to theneedy.21 She is not afraid of snow for herhousehold, For all her household isclothed with scarlet.22 She makes tapestry for herself; Herclothing is fine linen and purple.

PROVERBS 31 11623Her husband is known in the gates,When he sits among the elders of theland.24 She makes linen garments and sellsthem, And supplies sashes for themerchants.25 Strength and honor are her clothing;She shall rejoice in me to come.26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,And on her tongue is the law of kindness.27 She watches over the ways of herhousehold, And does not eat the breadof idleness.28Her children rise up and call herblessed; Her husband also, and hepraises her:29 "Many daughters have done well, Butyou excel them all."30 Charm is decei ul and beauty ispassing, But a woman who fears theLORD, she shall be praised.

PROVERBS 31 11731Give her of the fruit of her hands,And let her own works praise her in thegates.

Ecclesiastes

1 1 The words of the Preacher, the sonof David, king in Jerusalem.

2 "Vanity of vani es," says the Preacher;"Vanity of vani es, all is vanity."3What profit has a man from all hislabor In which he toils under the sun?4One genera on passes away, andanother genera on comes; But the earthabides forever.5 The sun also rises, and the sun goesdown, And hastens to the place where itarose.6 The wind goes toward the south, Andturns around to the north; The windwhirls about con nually, And comesagain on its circuit.

ECCLESIASTES 1 27All the rivers run into the sea, Yet thesea is not full; To the place from whichthe rivers come, There they return again.8All things are full of labor; Man cannotexpress it. The eye is not sa sfied withseeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.9 That which has been is what will be,That which is done is what will be done,And there is nothing new under the sun.10 Is there anything of which it may besaid, "See, this is new"? It has alreadybeen in ancient mes before us.11 There is no remembrance offormer things, Nor will there be anyremembrance of things that are to comeBy those who will come a er.12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israelin Jerusalem.13And I set my heart to seek and searchout by wisdom concerning all that isdone under heaven; this burdensome

ECCLESIASTES 1 3task God has given to the sons of man,by which they may be exercised.14 I have seen all the works that aredone under the sun; and indeed, all isvanity and grasping for the wind.15What is crooked cannot be madestraight, And what is lacking cannot benumbered.16 I communed with my heart, saying,"Look, I have a ained greatness, andhave gained more wisdom than allwho were before me in Jerusalem. Myheart has understood great wisdom andknowledge."17And I set my heart to know wisdomand to know madness and folly. Iperceived that this also is grasping forthe wind.18 For in much wisdom is much grief,And he who increases knowledgeincreases sorrow.

ECCLESIASTES 2 4

2 1 I said in my heart, "Come now, Iwill test you with mirth; therefore

enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also wasvanity.2 I said of laughter––"Madness!"; andof mirth, "What does it accomplish?"3 I searched in my heart how to gra fymy flesh with wine, while guiding myheart with wisdom, and how to lay holdon folly, ll I might see what was goodfor the sons of men to do under heavenall the days of their lives.4 I made my works great, I built myselfhouses, and planted myself vineyards.5 I made myself gardens and orchards,and I planted all kinds of fruit trees inthem.6 I made myself water pools from whichto water the growing trees of the grove.7 I acquired male and female servants,and had servants born in my house. Yes,I had greater possessions of herds and

ECCLESIASTES 2 5flocks than all who were in Jerusalembefore me.8 I also gathered for myself silver andgold and the special treasures of kingsand of the provinces. I acquired maleand female singers, the delights of thesons of men, and musical instruments ofall kinds.9 So I became great and excelledmore than all who were before me inJerusalem. Also my wisdom remainedwith me.10Whatever my eyes desired I did notkeep from them. I did not withhold myheart from any pleasure, For my heartrejoiced in all my labor; And this was myreward from all my labor.11 Then I looked on all the works thatmy hands had done And on the labor inwhich I had toiled; And indeed all wasvanity and grasping for the wind. Therewas no profit under the sun.

ECCLESIASTES 2 612 Then I turned myself to considerwisdom and madness and folly; For whatcan the man do who succeeds the king?––Only what he has already done.13 Then I saw that wisdom excels follyAs light excels darkness.14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head,But the fool walks in darkness. Yet Imyself perceived That the same eventhappens to them all.15 So I said in my heart, "As it happensto the fool, It also happens to me, Andwhy was I then more wise?" Then I saidin my heart, "This also is vanity."16 For there is no more remembrance ofthe wise than of the fool forever, Sinceall that now is will be forgo en in thedays to come. And how does a wise mandie? As the fool!17 Therefore I hated life because thework that was done under the sun was

ECCLESIASTES 2 7distressing to me, for all is vanity andgrasping for the wind.18 Then I hated all my labor in which Ihad toiled under the sun, because I mustleave it to the man who will come a erme.19And who knows whether he will bewise or a fool? Yet he will rule over allmy labor in which I toiled and in which Ihave shown myself wise under the sun.This also is vanity.20 Therefore I turned my heart anddespaired of all the labor in which I hadtoiled under the sun.21 For there is a man whose labor iswith wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yethe must leave his heritage to a man whohas not labored for it. This also is vanityand a great evil.22 For what has man for all his labor,and for the striving of his heart withwhich he has toiled under the sun?

ECCLESIASTES 2–3 823 For all his days are sorrowful, and hiswork burdensome; even in the night hisheart takes no rest. This also is vanity.24Nothing is be er for a man than thathe should eat and drink, and that hissoul should enjoy good in his labor. Thisalso, I saw, was from the hand of God.25 For who can eat, or who can haveenjoyment, more than I?26 For God gives wisdom and knowledgeand joy to a man who is good in His sight;but to the sinner He gives the work ofgathering and collec ng, that he maygive to him who is good before God. Thisalso is vanity and grasping for the wind.

3 1 To everything there is a season,A me for every purpose under

heaven:2A me to be born, And a me to die; Ame to plant, And a me to pluck what

is planted;

ECCLESIASTES 3 93A me to kill, And a me to heal; Ame to break down, And a me to build

up;4A me to weep, And a me to laugh;A me to mourn, And a me to dance;5A me to cast away stones, And a meto gather stones; A me to embrace,And a me to refrain from embracing;6A me to gain, And a me to lose; Ame to keep, And a me to throw away;7A me to tear, And a me to sew;A me to keep silence, And a me tospeak;8A me to love, And a me to hate; Ame of war, And a me of peace.9What profit has the worker from thatin which he labors?10 I have seen the God–given taskwith which the sons of men are to beoccupied.11He has made everything beau ful inits me. Also He has put eternity in their

ECCLESIASTES 3 10hearts, except that no one can find outthe work that God does from beginningto end.12 I know that nothing is be er for themthan to rejoice, and to do good in theirlives,13 and also that every man should eatand drink and enjoy the good of all hislabor––it is the gi of God.14 I know that whatever God does, Itshall be forever. Nothing can be added toit, And nothing taken from it. God doesit, that men should fear before Him.15 That which is has already been, Andwhat is to be has already been; And Godrequires an account of what is past.16Moreover I saw under the sun: Inthe place of judgment, Wickedness wasthere; And in the place of righteousness,Iniquity was there.17 I said in my heart, "God shall judgethe righteous and the wicked, For there

ECCLESIASTES 3 11is a me there for every purpose and forevery work."18 I said in my heart, "Concerning thecondi on of the sons of men, Godtests them, that they may see that theythemselves are like animals."19 For what happens to the sons ofmen also happens to animals; one thingbefalls them: as one dies, so dies theother. Surely, they all have one breath;man has no advantage over animals, forall is vanity.20All go to one place: all are from thedust, and all return to dust.21Who knows the spirit of the sons ofmen, which goes upward, and the spiritof the animal, which goes down to theearth?22 So I perceived that nothing is be erthan that a man should rejoice in his ownworks, for that is his heritage. For who

ECCLESIASTES 4 12can bring him to see what will happena er him?

4 1 Then I returned and considered allthe oppression that is done under

the sun: And look! The tears of theoppressed, But they have no comforter––On the side of their oppressors there ispower, But they have no comforter.2 Therefore I praised the dead whowere already dead, More than the livingwho are s ll alive.3 Yet, be er than both is he who hasnever existed, Who has not seen the evilwork that is done under the sun.4Again, I saw that for all toil and everyskillful work a man is envied by hisneighbor. This also is vanity and graspingfor the wind.5 The fool folds his hands And consumeshis own flesh.

ECCLESIASTES 4 136 Be er a handful with quietness Thanboth hands full, together with toil andgrasping for the wind.7 Then I returned, and I saw vanityunder the sun:8 There is one alone, withoutcompanion: He has neither son norbrother. Yet there is no end to all hislabors, Nor is his eye sa sfied withriches. But he never asks, "For whom doI toil and deprive myself of good?" Thisalso is vanity and a grave misfortune.9 Two are be er than one, Becausethey have a good reward for their labor.10 For if they fall, one will li up hiscompanion. But woe to him who is alonewhen he falls, For he has no one to helphim up.11Again, if two lie down together, theywill keep warm; But how can one bewarm alone?

ECCLESIASTES 4–5 1412 Though one may be overpowered byanother, two can withstand him. And athreefold cord is not quickly broken.13 Be er a poor and wise youth Thanan old and foolish king who will beadmonished no more.14 For he comes out of prison to beking, Although he was born poor in hiskingdom.15 I saw all the living who walk underthe sun; They were with the secondyouth who stands in his place.16 There was no end of all the peopleover whom he was made king; Yet thosewho come a erward will not rejoicein him. Surely this also is vanity andgrasping for the wind.

5 1Walk prudently when you go to thehouse of God; and draw near to hear

rather than to give the sacrifice of fools,for they do not know that they do evil.

ECCLESIASTES 5 152Do not be rash with your mouth, Andlet not your heart u er anything has lybefore God. For God is in heaven, andyou on earth; Therefore let your wordsbe few.3 For a dream comes through muchac vity, And a fool’s voice is known byhis many words.4When you make a vow to God, do notdelay to pay it; For He has no pleasure infools. Pay what you have vowed––5 Be er not to vow than to vow and notpay.6Do not let yourmouth cause your fleshto sin, nor say before the messenger ofGod that it was an error. Why shouldGod be angry at your excuse and destroythe work of your hands?7 For in the mul tude of dreams andmany words there is also vanity. But fearGod.

ECCLESIASTES 5 168 If you see the oppression of the poor,and the violent perversion of jus ceand righteousness in a province, do notmarvel at the ma er; for high officialwatches over high official, and higherofficials are over them.9Moreover the profit of the land is forall; even the king is served from the field.10He who loves silver will not besa sfied with silver; Nor he who lovesabundance, with increase. This also isvanity.11When goods increase, They increasewho eat them; So what profit have theowners Except to see them with theireyes?12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,Whether he eats li le or much; But theabundance of the rich will not permithim to sleep.

ECCLESIASTES 5 1713 There is a severe evil which I haveseen under the sun: Riches kept for theirowner to his hurt.14 But those riches perish throughmisfortune; When he begets a son, thereis nothing in his hand.15As he came from his mother’s womb,naked shall he return, To go as he came;And he shall take nothing from his laborWhich he may carry away in his hand.16And this also is a severe evil––Justexactly as he came, so shall he go. Andwhat profit has he who has labored forthe wind?17All his days he also eats in darkness,And he has much sorrow and sicknessand anger.18Here is what I have seen: It is goodand fi ng for one to eat and drink, andto enjoy the good of all his labor in whichhe toils under the sun all the days of

ECCLESIASTES 5–6 18his life which God gives him; for it is hisheritage.19As for every man to whom God hasgiven riches and wealth, and given himpower to eat of it, to receive his heritageand rejoice in his labor––this is the giof God.20 For he will not dwell unduly on thedays of his life, because God keeps himbusy with the joy of his heart.

6 1 There is an evil which I have seenunder the sun, and it is common

among men:2A man to whom God has given richesand wealth and honor, so that he lacksnothing for himself of all he desires; yetGod does not give him power to eat ofit, but a foreigner consumes it. This isvanity, and it is an evil afflic on.3 If a man begets a hundred childrenand lives many years, so that the daysof his years are many, but his soul is not

ECCLESIASTES 6 19sa sfied with goodness, or indeed hehas no burial, I say that a s llborn childis be er than he––4 for it comes in vanity and departs indarkness, and its name is covered withdarkness.5 Though it has not seen the sun orknown anything, this has more rest thanthat man,6 even if he lives a thousand yearstwice––but has not seen goodness. Donot all go to one place?7All the labor of man is for his mouth,And yet the soul is not sa sfied.8 For what more has the wise man thanthe fool? What does the poor man have,Who knows how to walk before theliving?9 Be er is the sight of the eyes than thewandering of desire. This also is vanityand grasping for the wind.

ECCLESIASTES 6–7 2010Whatever one is, he has been namedalready, For it is known that he is man;And he cannot contend with Him who ismigh er than he.11 Since there are many things thatincrease vanity, How is man the be er?12 For who knows what is good for manin life, all the days of his vain life whichhe passes like a shadow? Who can tell aman what will happen a er him underthe sun?

7 1A good name is be er thanprecious ointment, And the day of

death than the day of one’s birth;2 Be er to go to the house of mourningThan to go to the house of feas ng, Forthat is the end of all men; And the livingwill take it to heart.3 Sorrow is be er than laughter, For bya sad countenance the heart is madebe er.

ECCLESIASTES 7 214 The heart of the wise is in the houseof mourning, But the heart of fools is inthe house of mirth.5 It is be er to hear the rebuke of thewise Than for a man to hear the song offools.6 For like the crackling of thorns undera pot, So is the laughter of the fool. Thisalso is vanity.7 Surely oppression destroys a wiseman’s reason, And a bribe debases theheart.8 The end of a thing is be er than itsbeginning; The pa ent in spirit is be erthan the proud in spirit.9Do not hasten in your spirit to beangry, For anger rests in the bosom offools.10Do not say, "Why were the formerdays be er than these?" For you do notinquire wisely concerning this.

ECCLESIASTES 7 2211Wisdom is good with an inheritance,And profitable to those who see the sun.12 For wisdom is a defense as moneyis a defense, But the excellence ofknowledge is that wisdom gives life tothose who have it.13 Consider the work of God; For whocan make straight what He has madecrooked?14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, Butin the day of adversity consider: SurelyGod has appointed the one as well as theother, So that man can find out nothingthat will come a er him.15 I have seen everything in my days ofvanity: There is a just man who perishesin his righteousness, And there is awicked man who prolongs life in hiswickedness.16Do not be overly righteous, Nor beoverly wise: Why should you destroyyourself?

ECCLESIASTES 7 2317Do not be overly wicked, Nor befoolish: Why should you die before yourme?18 It is good that you grasp this, Andalso not remove your hand from theother; For he who fears God will escapethem all.19Wisdom strengthens the wise Morethan ten rulers of the city.20 For there is not a just man on earthwho does good And does not sin.21Also do not take to heart everythingpeople say, Lest you hear your servantcursing you.22 For many mes, also, your own hearthas known That even you have cursedothers.23All this I have proved by wisdom. Isaid, "I will be wise"; But it was far fromme.24As for that which is far off andexceedingly deep, Who can find it out?

ECCLESIASTES 7–8 2425 I applied my heart to know, To searchand seek out wisdom and the reason ofthings, To know the wickedness of folly,Even of foolishness and madness.26And I find more bi er than deathThe woman whose heart is snares andnets, Whose hands are fe ers. He whopleases God shall escape from her, Butthe sinner shall be trapped by her.27 "Here is what I have found," says thePreacher, "Adding one thing to the otherto find out the reason,28Which my soul s ll seeks but I cannotfind: One man among a thousand I havefound, But a woman among all these Ihave not found.29 Truly, this only I have found: ThatGod made man upright, But they havesought out many schemes."

8 1Who is like a wise man? And whoknows the interpreta on of a thing?

ECCLESIASTES 8 25A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,And the sternness of his face is changed.2 I say, "Keep the king’s commandmentfor the sake of your oath to God.3 "Do not be hasty to go from hispresence. Do not take your stand for anevil thing, for he does whatever pleaseshim."4Where the word of a king is, there ispower; And who may say to him, "Whatare you doing?"5He who keeps his command willexperience nothing harmful; And a wiseman’s heart discerns both me andjudgment,6 Because for every ma er there is ame and judgment, Though the misery

of man increases greatly.7 For he does not know what willhappen; So who can tell him when it willoccur?

ECCLESIASTES 8 268No one has power over the spirit toretain the spirit, And no one has powerin the day of death. There is no releasefrom that war, And wickedness will notdeliver those who are given to it.9All this I have seen, and applied myheart to every work that is done underthe sun: There is a me in which oneman rules over another to his own hurt.10 Then I saw the wicked buried, whohad come and gone from the place ofholiness, and they were forgo en in thecity where they had so done. This also isvanity.11 Because the sentence against an evilwork is not executed speedily, thereforethe heart of the sons of men is fully setin them to do evil.12 Though a sinner does evil a hundredmes, and his days are prolonged, yet

I surely know that it will be well with

ECCLESIASTES 8 27those who fear God, who fear beforeHim.13 But it will not be well with thewicked; nor will he prolong his days,which are as a shadow, because he doesnot fear before God.14 There is a vanity which occurs onearth, that there are just men to whomit happens according to the work of thewicked; again, there are wicked men towhom it happens according to the workof the righteous. I said that this also isvanity.15 So I commended enjoyment, becausea man has nothing be er under the sunthan to eat, drink, and be merry; forthis will remain with him in his labor allthe days of his life which God gives himunder the sun.16When I applied my heart to knowwisdom and to see the business that is

ECCLESIASTES 8–9 28done on earth, even though one sees nosleep day or night,17 then I saw all the work of God, thata man cannot find out the work thatis done under the sun. For though aman labors to discover it, yet he will notfind it; moreover, though a wise mana empts to know it, he will not be ableto find it.

9 1 For I considered all this in my heart,so that I could declare it all: that the

righteous and the wise and their worksare in the hand of God. People knowneither love nor hatred by anything theysee before them.2All things come alike to all: Oneevent happens to the righteous and thewicked; To the good, the clean, and theunclean; To him who sacrifices and himwho does not sacrifice. As is the good,so is the sinner; He who takes an oath ashe who fears an oath.

ECCLESIASTES 9 293 This is an evil in all that is done underthe sun: that one thing happens to all.Truly the hearts of the sons of men arefull of evil; madness is in their heartswhile they live, and a er that they go tothe dead.4 But for him who is joined to all theliving there is hope, for a living dog isbe er than a dead lion.5 For the living know that they will die;But the dead know nothing, And theyhave no more reward, For the memoryof them is forgo en.6Also their love, their hatred, and theirenvy have now perished; Nevermorewill they have a share In anything doneunder the sun.7Go, eat your bread with joy, And drinkyour wine with a merry heart; For Godhas already accepted your works.8 Let your garments always be white,And let your head lack no oil.

ECCLESIASTES 9 309 Live joyfully with the wife whom youlove all the days of your vain life whichHe has given you under the sun, all yourdays of vanity; for that is your por on inlife, and in the labor which you performunder the sun.10Whatever your hand finds to do, doit with your might; for there is no workor device or knowledge or wisdom in thegrave where you are going.11 I returned and saw under the sunthat––The race is not to the swi , Northe ba le to the strong, Nor breadto the wise, Nor riches to men ofunderstanding, Nor favor to men of skill;But me and chance happen to them all.12 For man also does not know his me:Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birdscaught in a snare, So the sons of menare snared in an evil me, When it fallssuddenly upon them.

ECCLESIASTES 9–10 3113 This wisdom I have also seen underthe sun, and it seemed great to me:14 There was a li le city with few menin it; and a great king came againstit, besieged it, and built great snaresaround it.15Now there was found in it a poor wiseman, and he by his wisdom delivered thecity. Yet no one remembered that samepoor man.16 Then I said: "Wisdom is be er thanstrength. Nevertheless the poor man’swisdom is despised, And his words arenot heard.17Words of the wise, spoken quietly,should be heard Rather than the shoutof a ruler of fools.18Wisdom is be er than weaponsof war; But one sinner destroys muchgood."

10 1Dead flies putrefy theperfumer’s ointment, And cause

ECCLESIASTES 10 32it to give off a foul odor; So does a li lefolly to one respected for wisdom andhonor.2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,But a fool’s heart at his le .3 Even when a fool walks along theway, He lacks wisdom, And he showseveryone that he is a fool.4 If the spirit of the ruler rises againstyou, Do not leave your post; Forconcilia on pacifies great offenses.5 There is an evil I have seen under thesun, As an error proceeding from theruler:6 Folly is set in great dignity, While therich sit in a lowly place.7 I have seen servants on horses, Whileprinces walk on the ground like servants.8He who digs a pit will fall into it, Andwhoever breaks through a wall will bebi en by a serpent.

ECCLESIASTES 10 339He who quarries stones may be hurtby them, And he who splits wood maybe endangered by it.10 If the ax is dull, And one does notsharpen the edge, Then he must usemore strength; But wisdom bringssuccess.11A serpent may bite when it is notcharmed; The babbler is no different.12 The words of a wise man’s mouthare gracious, But the lips of a fool shallswallow him up;13 The words of his mouth begin withfoolishness, And the end of his talk israving madness.14A fool also mul plies words. No manknows what is to be; Who can tell himwhat will be a er him?15 The labor of fools wearies them, Forthey do not even know how to go to thecity!

ECCLESIASTES 10–11 3416Woe to you, O land, when your kingis a child, And your princes feast in themorning!17 Blessed are you, O land, when yourking is the son of nobles, And yourprinces feast at the proper me––Forstrength and not for drunkenness!18 Because of laziness the buildingdecays, And through idleness of handsthe house leaks.19A feast is made for laughter, Andwine makes merry; But money answerseverything.20Do not curse the king, even in yourthought; Do not curse the rich, even inyour bedroom; For a bird of the air maycarry your voice, And a bird in flight maytell the ma er.

11 1 Cast your bread upon thewaters, For you will find it a er

many days.

ECCLESIASTES 11 352Give a serving to seven, and also toeight, For you do not know what evil willbe on the earth.3 If the clouds are full of rain, Theyempty themselves upon the earth; Andif a tree falls to the south or the north,In the place where the tree falls, there itshall lie.4He who observes the wind will notsow, And he who regards the clouds willnot reap.5As you do not know what is the wayof the wind, Or how the bones grow inthe womb of her who is with child, Soyou do not know the works of God whomakes everything.6 In the morning sow your seed, And inthe evening do not withhold your hand;For you do not know which will prosper,Either this or that, Or whether both alikewill be good.

ECCLESIASTES 11–12 367 Truly the light is sweet, And it ispleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;8 But if a man lives many yearsAnd rejoices in them all, Yet let himremember the days of darkness, For theywill be many. All that is coming is vanity.9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,And let your heart cheer you in the daysof your youth; Walk in the ways of yourheart, And in the sight of your eyes; Butknow that for all these God will bringyou into judgment.10 Therefore remove sorrow from yourheart, And put away evil from your flesh,For childhood and youth are vanity.

12 1 Remember now your Creator inthe days of your youth, Before the

difficult days come, And the years drawnear when you say, "I have no pleasurein them":

ECCLESIASTES 12 372While the sun and the light, The moonand the stars, Are not darkened, And theclouds do not return a er the rain;3 In the day when the keepers of thehouse tremble, And the strong menbow down; When the grinders ceasebecause they are few, And those thatlook through the windows grow dim;4When the doors are shut in thestreets, And the sound of grinding is low;When one rises up at the sound of abird, And all the daughters of music arebrought low;5Also they are afraid of height, And ofterrors in the way; When the almondtree blossoms, The grasshopper is aburden, And desire fails. For man goesto his eternal home, And the mournersgo about the streets.6 Remember your Creator before thesilver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowlis broken, Or the pitcher sha ered at

ECCLESIASTES 12 38the fountain, Or the wheel broken at thewell.7 Then the dust will return to the earthas it was, And the spirit will return toGod who gave it.8 "Vanity of vani es," says the Preacher,"All is vanity."9And moreover, because the Preacherwas wise, he s ll taught the peopleknowledge; yes, he pondered and soughtout and set in order many proverbs.10 The Preacher sought to findacceptable words; and what was wri enwas upright––words of truth.11 The words of the wise are likegoads, and the words of scholars arelike well–driven nails, given by oneShepherd.12And further, my son, be admonishedby these. Of making many books there isno end, and much study is wearisome tothe flesh.

ECCLESIASTES 12 3913 Let us hear the conclusion of thewhole ma er: Fear God and keep Hiscommandments, For this is man’s all.14 For God will bring every work intojudgment, Including every secret thing,Whether good or evil.

Song of Solomon

1 1 The song of songs, which isSolomon’s.

2 THE SHULAMITE Let him kiss me withthe kisses of his mouth––For your love isbe er than wine.3 Because of the fragrance of yourgood ointments, Your name is ointmentpoured forth; Therefore the virgins loveyou.4Draw me away! THE DAUGHTERS OFJERUSALEM We will run a er you. THESHULAMITE The king has brought meinto his chambers. THE DAUGHTERS OFJERUSALEM We will be glad and rejoicein you. We will remember your lovemore than wine. THE SHULAMITE Rightlydo they love you.

SONG OF SOLOMON 1 25 I am dark, but lovely, O daughters ofJerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Likethe curtains of Solomon.6Do not look upon me, because I amdark, Because the sun has tanned me.My mother’s sons were angry withme; They made me the keeper of thevineyards, But my own vineyard I havenot kept.7 (TO HER BELOVED) Tell me, O youwhom I love, Where you feed your flock,Where you make it rest at noon. For whyshould I be as one who veils herself Bythe flocks of your companions?8 THE BELOVED If you do not know,O fairest among women, Follow in thefootsteps of the flock, And feed yourli le goats Beside the shepherds’ tents.9 I have compared you, my love, To myfilly among Pharaoh’s chariots.

SONG OF SOLOMON 1 310 Your cheeks are lovely withornaments, Your neck with chains ofgold.11 THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEMWewill make you ornaments of gold Withstuds of silver.12 THE SHULAMITE While the king is athis table, My spikenard sends forth itsfragrance.13A bundle of myrrh is my belovedto me, That lies all night between mybreasts.14My beloved is to me a cluster ofhenna blooms In the vineyards of EnGedi.15 THE BELOVED Behold, you are fair,my love! Behold, you are fair! You havedove’s eyes.16 THE SHULAMITE Behold, you arehandsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant!Also our bed is green.

SONG OF SOLOMON 1–2 417 The beams of our houses are cedar,And our ra ers of fir.

2 1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lilyof the valleys.

2 THE BELOVED Like a lily among thorns,So is my love among the daughters.3 THE SHULAMITE Like an apple treeamong the trees of the woods, So is mybeloved among the sons. I sat down inhis shade with great delight, And his fruitwas sweet to my taste.4 THE SHULAMITE TO THE DAUGHTERSOF JERUSALEM He brought me to thebanque ng house, And his banner overme was love.5 Sustain me with cakes of raisins,Refresh me with apples, For I amlovesick.6His le hand is under my head, Andhis right hand embraces me.7 I charge you, O daughters ofJerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does

SONG OF SOLOMON 2 5of the field, Do not s r up nor awakenlove Un l it pleases.8 THE SHULAMITE The voice of mybeloved! Behold, he comes Leapingupon the mountains, Skipping upon thehills.9My beloved is like a gazelle or a youngstag. Behold, he stands behind our wall;He is looking through the windows,Gazing through the la ce.10My beloved spoke, and said to me:"Rise up, my love, my fair one, And comeaway.11 For lo, the winter is past, The rain isover and gone.12 The flowers appear on the earth; Theme of singing has come, And the voice

of the turtledove Is heard in our land.13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs,And the vines with the tender grapesGive a good smell. Rise up, my love, myfair one, And come away!

SONG OF SOLOMON 2–3 614 "O my dove, in the cle s of the rock,In the secret places of the cliff, Let mesee your face, Let me hear your voice;For your voice is sweet, And your face islovely."15HER BROTHERS Catch us the foxes,The li le foxes that spoil the vines, Forour vines have tender grapes.16 THE SHULAMITE My beloved is mine,and I am his. He feeds his flock amongthe lilies.17 (TO HER BELOVED) Un l the daybreaks And the shadows flee away, Turn,my beloved, And be like a gazelle Ora young stag Upon the mountains ofBether.

3 1 THE SHULAMITE By night on mybed I sought the one I love; I sought

him, but I did not find him.2 "I will rise now," I said, "And go aboutthe city; In the streets and in the squares

SONG OF SOLOMON 3 7I will seek the one I love." I sought him,but I did not find him.3 The watchmen who go about the cityfound me; I said, "Have you seen the oneI love?"4 Scarcely had I passed by them, WhenI found the one I love. I held him andwould not let him go, Un l I had broughthim to the house of my mother, And intothe chamber of her who conceived me.5 I charge you, O daughters ofJerusalem, By the gazelles or by the doesof the field, Do not s r up nor awakenlove Un l it pleases.6 THE SHULAMITE Who is this comingout of the wilderness Like pillars ofsmoke, Perfumed with myrrh andfrankincense, With all the merchant’sfragrant powders?7 Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, Withsixty valiant men around it, Of the valiantof Israel.

SONG OF SOLOMON 3–4 88 They all hold swords, Being expertin war. Every man has his sword on histhigh Because of fear in the night.9Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon theKing Made himself a palanquin:10He made its pillars of silver, Itssupport of gold, Its seat of purple, Itsinterior pavedwith love By the daughtersof Jerusalem.11Go forth, O daughters of Zion, Andsee King Solomon with the crown Withwhich his mother crowned him Onthe day of his wedding, The day of thegladness of his heart.

4 1 THE BELOVED Behold, you are fair,my love! Behold, you are fair! You

have dove’s eyes behind your veil. Yourhair is like a flock of goats, Going downfrom Mount Gilead.2 Your teeth are like a flock of shornsheep Which have come up from the

SONG OF SOLOMON 4 9washing, Every one of which bears twins,And none is barren among them.3 Your lips are like a strand of scarlet,And your mouth is lovely. Your templesbehind your veil Are like a piece ofpomegranate.4 Your neck is like the tower of David,Built for an armory, On which hang athousand bucklers, All shields of mightymen.5 Your two breasts are like two fawns,Twins of a gazelle, Which feed amongthe lilies.6Un l the day breaks And the shadowsflee away, I will go my way to themountain of myrrh And to the hill offrankincense.7 You are all fair, my love, And there isno spot in you.8 Come with me from Lebanon, myspouse, With me from Lebanon. Lookfrom the top of Amana, From the top of

SONG OF SOLOMON 4 10Senir 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 heartWith one look of your eyes, With onelink of your necklace.10How fair is your love, My sister, myspouse! How much be er than wineis your love, And the scent of yourperfumes Than all spices!11 Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as thehoneycomb; Honey and milk are underyour tongue; And the fragrance ofyour garments Is like the fragrance ofLebanon.12A garden enclosed Is my sister, myspouse, A spring shut up, A fountainsealed.13 Your plants are an orchard ofpomegranates With pleasant fruits,Fragrant henna with spikenard,

SONG OF SOLOMON 4–5 1114 Spikenard and saffron, Calamusand cinnamon, With all trees offrankincense, Myrrh and aloes, With allthe chief spices––15A fountain of gardens, A well of livingwaters, And streams from Lebanon.16 THE SHULAMITE Awake, O northwind, And come, O south! Blow upon mygarden, That its spices may flow out. Letmy beloved come to his garden And eatits pleasant fruits.

5 1 THE BELOVED I have come to mygarden, my sister, my spouse; I have

gathered my myrrh with my spice; I haveeaten my honeycomb with my honey; Ihave drunk my wine with my milk. (TOHIS FRIENDS) Eat, O friends! Drink, yes,drink deeply, O beloved ones!2 THE SHULAMITE I sleep, but my heartis awake; It is the voice of my beloved!He knocks, saying, "Open for me, mysister, my love, My dove, my perfect one;

SONG OF SOLOMON 5 12For my head is covered with dew, Mylocks with the drops of the night."3 I have taken off my robe; How can Iput it on again? I have washed my feet;How can I defile them?4My beloved put his hand By the latchof the door, And my heart yearned forhim.5 I arose to open for my beloved, Andmy hands dripped with myrrh, Myfingers with liquid myrrh, On the handlesof the lock.6 I opened for my beloved, But mybeloved had turned away and was gone.My heart leaped up when he spoke. Isought him, but I could not find him; Icalled him, but he gave me no answer.7 The watchmen who went about thecity found me. They struck me, theywounded me; The keepers of the wallsTook my veil away from me.

SONG OF SOLOMON 5 138 I charge you, O daughters ofJerusalem, If you find my beloved, Thatyou tell him I am lovesick!9 THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEMWhat is your belovedMore than anotherbeloved, O fairest among women? Whatis your beloved More than anotherbeloved, That you so charge us?10 THE SHULAMITE My beloved is whiteand ruddy, Chief among ten thousand.11His head is like the finest gold; Hislocks are wavy, And black as a raven.12His eyes are like doves By the riversof waters, Washed with milk, And fitlyset.13His cheeks are like a bed of spices,Banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies,Dripping liquid myrrh.14His hands are rods of gold Set withberyl. His body is carved ivory Inlaid withsapphires.

SONG OF SOLOMON 5–6 1415His legs are pillars of marble Set onbases of fine gold. His countenance islike Lebanon, Excellent as the cedars.16His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he isaltogether lovely. This is my beloved,And this is my friend, O daughters ofJerusalem!

6 1 THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEMWhere has your beloved gone, O

fairest among women? Where has yourbeloved turned aside, That we may seekhim with you?2 THE SHULAMITE My beloved has goneto his garden, To the beds of spices, Tofeed his flock in the gardens, And togather lilies.3 I am my beloved’s, And my beloved ismine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.4 THE BELOVED O my love, you are asbeau ful as Tirzah, Lovely as Jerusalem,Awesome as an army with banners!

SONG OF SOLOMON 6 155 Turn your eyes away from me, Forthey have overcome me. Your hair is likea flock of goats Going down from Gilead.6 Your teeth are like a flock of sheepWhich have come up from the washing;Every one bears twins, And none isbarren among them.7 Like a piece of pomegranate Are yourtemples behind your veil.8 There are sixty queens And eightyconcubines, And virgins without number.9My dove, my perfect one, Is theonly one, The only one of her mother,The favorite of the one who bore her.The daughters saw her And called herblessed, The queens and the concubines,And they praised her.10Who is she who looks forth as themorning, Fair as the moon, Clear as thesun, Awesome as an army with banners?11 THE SHULAMITE I went down tothe garden of nuts To see the verdure

SONG OF SOLOMON 6–7 16of the valley, To see whether the vinehad budded And the pomegranates hadbloomed.12 Before I was even aware, My soul hadmade me As the chariots of my noblepeople.13 THE BELOVED AND HIS FRIENDSReturn, return, O Shulamite; Return,return, that we may look upon you! THESHULAMITE What would you see in theShulamite––As it were, the dance of thetwo camps?

7 1 THE BELOVED How beau ful areyour feet in sandals, O prince’s

daughter! The curves of your thighs arelike jewels, The work of the hands of askillful workman.2 Your navel is a rounded goblet; It lacksno blended beverage. Your waist is aheap of wheat Set about with lilies.3 Your two breasts are like two fawns,Twins of a gazelle.

SONG OF SOLOMON 7 174 Your neck is like an ivory tower, Youreyes like the pools in Heshbon By thegate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like thetower of Lebanon Which looks towardDamascus.5 Your head crowns you like MountCarmel, And the hair of your head is likepurple; A king is held cap ve by yourtresses.6How fair and how pleasant you are, Olove, with your delights!7 This stature of yours is like a palmtree, And your breasts like its clusters.8 I said, "I will go up to the palm tree, Iwill take hold of its branches." Let nowyour breasts be like clusters of the vine,The fragrance of your breath like apples,9And the roof of your mouth like thebest wine. THE SHULAMITE The winegoes down smoothly for my beloved,Moving gently the lips of sleepers.

SONG OF SOLOMON 7–8 1810 I am my beloved’s, And his desire istoward me.11 Come, my beloved, Let us go forth tothe field; Let us lodge in the villages.12 Let us get up early to the vineyards;Let us see if the vine has budded,Whether the grape blossoms are open,And the pomegranates are in bloom.There I will give you my love.13 The mandrakes give off a fragrance,And at our gates are pleasant fruits, Allmanner, new and old, Which I have laidup for you, my beloved.

8 1Oh, that you were like my brother,Who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

If I should find you outside, I would kissyou; I would not be despised.2 I would lead you and bring you Intothe house of my mother, She who usedto instruct me. I would cause you todrink of spiced wine, Of the juice of mypomegranate.

SONG OF SOLOMON 8 193 (TO THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM)His le hand is under my head, And hisright hand embraces me.4 I charge you, O daughters ofJerusalem, Do not s r up nor awakenlove Un l it pleases.5A RELATIVE Who is this coming upfrom the wilderness, Leaning upon herbeloved? I awakened you under theapple tree. There your mother broughtyou forth; There she who bore youbrought you forth.6 THE SHULAMITE TO HER BELOVED Setme as a seal upon your heart, As a sealupon your arm; For love is as strong asdeath, Jealousy as cruel as the grave;Its flames are flames of fire, A mostvehement flame.7Many waters cannot quench love, Norcan the floods drown it. If a man wouldgive for love All the wealth of his house,It would be u erly despised.

SONG OF SOLOMON 8 208 THE SHULAMITE’S BROTHERSWe havea li le sister, And she has no breasts.What shall we do for our sister In theday when she is spoken for?9 If she is a wall, We will build upon herA ba lement of silver; And if she is adoor, We will enclose her With boards ofcedar.10 THE SHULAMITE I am a wall, And mybreasts like towers; Then I became in hiseyes As one who found peace.11 Solomon had a vineyard at BaalHamon; He leased the vineyard tokeepers; Everyone was to bring for itsfruit A thousand silver coins.12 (TO SOLOMON) My own vineyard isbefore me. You, O Solomon, may have athousand, And those who tend its fruittwo hundred.13 THE BELOVED You who dwell in thegardens, The companions listen for yourvoice––Let me hear it!

SONG OF SOLOMON 8 2114 THE SHULAMITE Make haste, mybeloved, And be like a gazelle Or a youngstag On the mountains of spices.

Isaiah

1 1 The vision of Isaiah the son ofAmoz, which he saw concerning

Judah and Jerusalem in the days ofUzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah,kings of Judah.2Hear, O heavens, and give ear, Oearth! For the LORD has spoken: "I havenourished and brought up children, Andthey have rebelled against Me;3 The ox knows its owner And thedonkey its master’s crib; But Israel doesnot know, My people do not consider."4Alas, sinful na on, A people ladenwith iniquity, A brood of evildoers,Children who are corrupters! They haveforsaken the LORD, They have provokedto anger The Holy One of Israel, Theyhave turned away backward.

ISAIAH 1 25Why should you be stricken again?You will revolt more and more. Thewhole head is sick, And the whole heartfaints.6 From the sole of the foot even tothe head, There is no soundness in it,But wounds and bruises and putrefyingsores; They have not been closed orbound up, Or soothed with ointment.7 Your country is desolate, Your ci esare burned with fire; Strangers devouryour land in your presence; And it isdesolate, as overthrown by strangers.8 So the daughter of Zion is le as abooth in a vineyard, As a hut in a gardenof cucumbers, As a besieged city.9Unless the LORD of hosts Had le tous a very small remnant, We would havebecome like Sodom, We would havebeen made like Gomorrah.

ISAIAH 1 310Hear the word of the LORD, Yourulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law ofour God, You people of Gomorrah:11 "To what purpose is the mul tude ofyour sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "Ihave had enough of burnt offerings oframs And the fat of fed ca le. I do notdelight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambsor goats.12 "When you come to appear beforeMe, Who has required this from yourhand, To trample My courts?13 Bring no more fu le sacrifices;Incense is an abomina on to Me. TheNew Moons, the Sabbaths, and thecalling of assemblies––I cannot endureiniquity and the sacred mee ng.14 Your NewMoons and your appointedfeasts My soul hates; They are a troubleto Me, I am weary of bearing them.15When you spread out your hands, Iwill hide My eyes from you; Even though

ISAIAH 1 4you make many prayers, I will not hear.Your hands are full of blood.16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselvesclean; Put away the evil of your doingsfrom before My eyes. Cease to do evil,17 Learn to do good; Seek jus ce,Rebuke the oppressor; Defend thefatherless, Plead for the widow.18 "Come now, and let us reasontogether," Says the LORD, "Though yoursins are like scarlet, They shall be aswhite as snow; Though they are red likecrimson, They shall be as wool.19 If you are willing and obedient, Youshall eat the good of the land;20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shallbe devoured by the sword"; For themouth of the LORD has spoken.21How the faithful city has becomea harlot! It was full of jus ce;Righteousness lodged in it, But nowmurderers.

ISAIAH 1 522 Your silver has become dross, Yourwine mixed with water.23 Your princes are rebellious, Andcompanions of thieves; Everyone lovesbribes, And follows a er rewards. Theydo not defend the fatherless, Nor doesthe cause of the widow come beforethem.24 Therefore the Lord says, The LORDof hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, "Ah,I will rid Myself of My adversaries, Andtake vengeance on My enemies.25 I will turn My hand against you, Andthoroughly purge away your dross, Andtake away all your alloy.26 I will restore your judges as at thefirst, And your counselors as at thebeginning. A erward you shall be calledthe city of righteousness, the faithfulcity."27 Zion shall be redeemed with jus ce,And her penitents with righteousness.

ISAIAH 1–2 628 The destruc on of transgressorsand of sinners shall be together, Andthose who forsake the LORD shall beconsumed.29 For they shall be ashamed of theterebinth trees Which you have desired;And you shall be embarrassed becauseof the gardens Which you have chosen.30 For you shall be as a terebinth whoseleaf fades, And as a garden that has nowater.31 The strong shall be as nder, Andthe work of it as a spark; Both will burntogether, And no one shall quench them.

2 1 The word that Isaiah the son ofAmoz saw concerning Judah and

Jerusalem.2Now it shall come to pass in the la erdays That the mountain of the LORD’Shouse Shall be established on the topof the mountains, And shall be exalted

ISAIAH 2 7above the hills; And all na ons shall flowto it.3Many people shall come and say,"Come, and let us go up to the mountainof the LORD, To the house of the God ofJacob; He will teach us His ways, And weshall walk in His paths." For out of Zionshall go forth the law, And the word ofthe LORD from Jerusalem.4He shall judge between the na ons,And rebuke many people; They shallbeat their swords into plowshares, Andtheir spears into pruning hooks; Na onshall not li up sword against na on,Neither shall they learn war anymore.5O house of Jacob, come and let uswalk In the light of the LORD.6 For You have forsaken Your people, thehouse of Jacob, Because they are filledwith eastern ways; They are soothsayerslike the Philis nes, And they are pleasedwith the children of foreigners.

ISAIAH 2 87 Their land is also full of silver and gold,And there is no end to their treasures;Their land is also full of horses, Andthere is no end to their chariots.8 Their land is also full of idols; Theyworship the work of their own hands,That which their own fingers have made.9 People bow down, And each manhumbles himself; Therefore do notforgive them.10 Enter into the rock, and hide in thedust, From the terror of the LORD Andthe glory of His majesty.11 The lo y looks of man shall behumbled, The haugh ness of men shallbe bowed down, And the LORD aloneshall be exalted in that day.12 For the day of the LORD of hosts Shallcome upon everything proud and lo y,Upon everything li ed up––And it shallbe brought low––

ISAIAH 2 913Upon all the cedars of Lebanon thatare high and li ed up, And upon all theoaks of Bashan;14Upon all the high mountains, Andupon all the hills that are li ed up;15Upon every high tower, And uponevery for fied wall;16Upon all the ships of Tarshish, Andupon all the beau ful sloops.17 The lo iness of man shall be boweddown, And the haugh ness of men shallbe brought low; The LORD alone will beexalted in that day,18 But the idols He shall u erly abolish.19 They shall go into the holes of therocks, And into the caves of the earth,From the terror of the LORD And theglory of His majesty, When He arises toshake the earth migh ly.20 In that day a man will cast awayhis idols of silver And his idols of gold,

ISAIAH 2–3 10Which they made, each for himself toworship, To the moles and bats,21 To go into the cle s of the rocks, Andinto the crags of the rugged rocks, Fromthe terror of the LORD And the glory ofHis majesty, When He arises to shake theearth migh ly.22 Sever yourselves from such a man,Whose breath is in his nostrils; For ofwhat account is he?

3 1 For behold, the Lord, the LORD ofhosts, Takes away from Jerusalem

and from Judah The stock and the store,The whole supply of bread and thewhole supply of water;2 The mighty man and the man of war,The judge and the prophet, And thediviner and the elder;3 The captain of fi y and the honorableman, The counselor and the skillfular san, And the expert enchanter.

ISAIAH 3 114 "I will give children to be their princes,And babes shall rule over them.5 The people will be oppressed, Everyone by another and every one by hisneighbor; The child will be insolenttoward the elder, And the base towardthe honorable."6When a man takes hold of his brotherIn the house of his father, saying, "Youhave clothing; You be our ruler, And letthese ruins be under your power,"7 In that day he will protest, saying, "Icannot cure your ills, For in my house isneither food nor clothing; Do not makeme a ruler of the people."8 For Jerusalem stumbled, And Judahis fallen, Because their tongue and theirdoings Are against the LORD, To provokethe eyes of His glory.9 The look on their countenancewitnesses against them, And theydeclare their sin as Sodom; They do not

ISAIAH 3 12hide it. Woe to their soul! For they havebrought evil upon themselves.10 "Say to the righteous that it shall bewell with them, For they shall eat thefruit of their doings.11Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill withhim, For the reward of his hands shall begiven him.12As for My people, children are theiroppressors, And women rule over them.O My people! Those who lead you causeyou to err, And destroy the way of yourpaths."13 The LORD stands up to plead, Andstands to judge the people.14 The LORD will enter into judgmentWith the elders of His people And Hisprinces: "For you have eaten up thevineyard; The plunder of the poor is inyour houses.

ISAIAH 3 1315What do you mean by crushing Mypeople And grinding the faces of thepoor?" Says the Lord GOD of hosts.16Moreover the LORD says: "Becausethe daughters of Zion are haughty,And walk with outstretched necks Andwanton eyes, Walking and mincing asthey go, Making a jingling with their feet,17 Therefore the Lord will strike witha scab The crown of the head of thedaughters of Zion, And the LORD willuncover their secret parts."18 In that day the Lord will take awaythe finery: The jingling anklets, thescarves, and the crescents;19 The pendants, the bracelets, and theveils;20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments,and the headbands; The perfume boxes,the charms,21 and the rings; The nose jewels,

ISAIAH 3–4 1422 the festal apparel, and the mantles;The outer garments, the purses,23 and the mirrors; The fine linen, theturbans, and the robes.24And so it shall be: Instead of a sweetsmell there will be a stench; Instead ofa sash, a rope; Instead of well–set hair,baldness; Instead of a rich robe, a girdingof sackcloth; And branding instead ofbeauty.25 Your men shall fall by the sword, Andyour mighty in the war.26Her gates shall lament and mourn,And she being desolate shall sit on theground.

4 1And in that day seven women shalltake hold of one man, saying, "We

will eat our own food and wear our ownapparel; Only let us be called by yourname, To take away our reproach."2 In that day the Branch of the LORDshall be beau ful and glorious; And the

ISAIAH 4 15fruit of the earth shall be excellent andappealing For those of Israel who haveescaped.3And it shall come to pass that he whois le in Zion and remains in Jerusalemwill be called holy––everyone who isrecorded among the living in Jerusalem.4When the Lord has washed awaythe filth of the daughters of Zion, andpurged the blood of Jerusalem from hermidst, by the spirit of judgment and bythe spirit of burning,5 then the LORD will create above everydwelling place of Mount Zion, and aboveher assemblies, a cloud and smoke byday and the shining of a flaming fire bynight. For over all the glory there will bea covering.6And there will be a tabernacle forshade in the day me from the heat, fora place of refuge, and for a shelter fromstorm and rain.

ISAIAH 5 16

5 1Now let me sing to my Well–beloved A song of my Beloved

regarding His vineyard: MyWell–belovedhas a vineyard On a very frui ul hill.2He dug it up and cleared out its stones,And planted it with the choicest vine. Hebuilt a tower in its midst, And also madea winepress in it; So He expected it tobring forth good grapes, But it broughtforth wild grapes.3 "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalemand men of Judah, Judge, please,between Me and My vineyard.4What more could have been done toMy vineyard That I have not done in it?Why then, when I expected it to bringforth good grapes, Did it bring forth wildgrapes?5And now, please let Me tell you what Iwill do to My vineyard: I will take awayits hedge, and it shall be burned; And

ISAIAH 5 17break down its wall, and it shall betrampled down.6 I will lay it waste; It shall not bepruned or dug, But there shall come upbriers and thorns. I will also commandthe clouds That they rain no rain on it."7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hostsis the house of Israel, And the men ofJudah are His pleasant plant. He lookedfor jus ce, but behold, oppression; Forrighteousness, but behold, a cry for help.8Woe to those who join house tohouse; They add field to field, Till thereis no place Where they may dwell alonein the midst of the land!9 In my hearing the LORD of hosts said,"Truly, many houses shall be desolate,Great and beau ful ones, withoutinhabitant.10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yieldone bath, And a homer of seed shallyield one ephah."

ISAIAH 5 1811Woe to those who rise early inthe morning, That they may followintoxica ng drink; Who con nue un lnight, ll wine inflames them!12 The harp and the strings, Thetambourine and flute, And wine arein their feasts; But they do not regardthe work of the LORD, Nor consider theopera on of His hands.13 Therefore my people have goneinto cap vity, Because they have noknowledge; Their honorable men arefamished, And their mul tude dried upwith thirst.14 Therefore Sheol has enlarged itselfAnd opened its mouth beyond measure;Their glory and their mul tude and theirpomp, And he who is jubilant, shalldescend into it.15 People shall be brought down, Eachman shall be humbled, And the eyes ofthe lo y shall be humbled.

ISAIAH 5 1916 But the LORD of hosts shall be exaltedin judgment, And God who is holy shallbe hallowed in righteousness.17 Then the lambs shall feed in theirpasture, And in the waste places of thefat ones strangers shall eat.18Woe to those who draw iniquity withcords of vanity, And sin as if with a cartrope;19 That say, "Let Him make speed andhasten His work, That we may see it; Andlet the counsel of the Holy One of Israeldraw near and come, That we may knowit."20Woe to those who call evil good, andgood evil; Who put darkness for light,and light for darkness; Who put bi erfor sweet, and sweet for bi er!21Woe to those who are wise in theirown eyes, And prudent in their ownsight!

ISAIAH 5 2022Woe to men mighty at drinkingwine, Woe to men valiant for mixingintoxica ng drink,23Who jus fy the wicked for a bribe,And take away jus ce from the righteousman!24 Therefore, as the fire devours thestubble, And the flame consumes thechaff, So their root will be as ro enness,And their blossom will ascend like dust;Because they have rejected the law ofthe LORD of hosts, And despised theword of the Holy One of Israel.25 Therefore the anger of the LORDis aroused against His people; He hasstretched out His hand against them Andstricken them, And the hills trembled.Their carcasses were as refuse in themidst of the streets. For all this Hisanger is not turned away, But His hand isstretched out s ll.

ISAIAH 5 2126He will li up a banner to the na onsfrom afar, And will whistle to them fromthe end of the earth; Surely they shallcome with speed, swi ly.27No one will be weary or stumbleamong them, No one will slumber orsleep; Nor will the belt on their loins beloosed, Nor the strap of their sandals bebroken;28Whose arrows are sharp, And alltheir bows bent; Their horses’ hooveswill seem like flint, And their wheels likea whirlwind.29 Their roaring will be like a lion, Theywill roar like young lions; Yes, they willroar And lay hold of the prey; They willcarry it away safely, And no one willdeliver.30 In that day they will roar againstthem Like the roaring of the sea. And ifone looks to the land, Behold, darkness

ISAIAH 6 22and sorrow; And the light is darkened bythe clouds.

6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaw the Lord si ng on a throne, high

and li ed up, and the train of His robefilled the temple.2Above it stood seraphim; each onehad six wings: with two he covered hisface, with two he covered his feet, andwith two he flew.3And one cried to another and said:"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;The whole earth is full of His glory!"4And the posts of the door were shakenby the voice of him who cried out, andthe house was filled with smoke.5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone!Because I am aman of unclean lips, And Idwell in the midst of a people of uncleanlips; For my eyes have seen the King, TheLORD of hosts."

ISAIAH 6 236 Then one of the seraphim flew to me,having in his hand a live coal which hehad taken with the tongs from the altar.7And he touchedmymouth with it, andsaid: "Behold, this has touched your lips;Your iniquity is taken away, And your sinpurged."8Also I heard the voice of the Lord,saying: "Whom shall I send, And who willgo for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Sendme."9And He said, "Go, and tell this people:‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’10 "Make the heart of this people dull,And their ears heavy, And shut theireyes; Lest they see with their eyes, Andhear with their ears, And understandwith their heart, And return and behealed."11 Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And Heanswered: "Un l the ci es are laid waste

ISAIAH 6–7 24and without inhabitant, The housesare without a man, The land is u erlydesolate,12 The LORD has removed men faraway, And the forsaken places are manyin the midst of the land.13 But yet a tenth will be in it, Andwill return and be for consuming, Asa terebinth tree or as an oak, Whosestump remains when it is cut down. Sothe holy seed shall be its stump."

7 1Now it came to pass in the days ofAhaz the son of Jotham, the son of

Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king ofSyria and Pekah the son of Remaliah,king of Israel, went up to Jerusalemto make war against it, but could notprevail against it.2And it was told to the house of David,saying, "Syria’s forces are deployed inEphraim." So his heart and the heart of

ISAIAH 7 25his people were moved as the trees ofthe woods are moved with the wind.3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Goout now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear–Jashub your son, at the end of theaqueduct from the upper pool, on thehighway to the Fuller’s Field,4 "and say to him: ‘Take heed, and bequiet; do not fear or be fainthearted forthese two stubs of smoking firebrands,for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria,and the son of Remaliah.5 ‘Because Syria, Ephraim, and the sonof Remaliah have plo ed evil againstyou, saying,6 "Let us go up against Judah andtrouble it, and let us make a gap in itswall for ourselves, and set a king overthem, the son of Tabel" ––7 ‘thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall notstand, Nor shall it come to pass.

ISAIAH 7 268 For the head of Syria is Damascus, Andthe head of Damascus is Rezin. Withinsixty–five years Ephraim will be broken,So that it will not be a people.9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, Andthe head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. Ifyou will not believe, Surely you shall notbe established."’"10Moreover the LORD spoke again toAhaz, saying,11 "Ask a sign for yourself from theLORD your God; ask it either in the depthor in the height above."12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor willI test the LORD!"13 Then he said, "Hear now, O house ofDavid! Is it a small thing for you to wearymen, but will you weary my God also?14 "Therefore the Lord Himself willgive you a sign: Behold, the virgin shallconceive and bear a Son, and shall callHis name Immanuel.

ISAIAH 7 2715 "Curds and honey He shall eat, thatHe may know to refuse the evil andchoose the good.16 "For before the Child shall know torefuse the evil and choose the good, theland that you dread will be forsaken byboth her kings.17 "The LORD will bring the king ofAssyria upon you and your people andyour father’s house––days that havenot come since the day that Ephraimdeparted from Judah."18And it shall come to pass in that dayThat the LORD will whistle for the flyThat is in the farthest part of the riversof Egypt, And for the bee that is in theland of Assyria.19 They will come, and all of them willrest In the desolate valleys and in thecle s of the rocks, And on all thorns andin all pastures.

ISAIAH 7 2820 In the same day the Lord will shavewith a hired razor, With those frombeyond the River, with the king ofAssyria, The head and the hair of thelegs, And will also remove the beard.21 It shall be in that day That a man willkeep alive a young cow and two sheep;22 So it shall be, from the abundance ofmilk they give, That he will eat curds; Forcurds and honey everyone will eat whois le in the land.23 It shall happen in that day, Thatwherever there could be a thousandvines Worth a thousand shekels of silver,It will be for briers and thorns.24With arrows and bows men will comethere, Because all the land will becomebriers and thorns.25And to any hill which could be dugwith the hoe, You will not go there forfear of briers and thorns; But it will

ISAIAH 8 29become a range for oxen And a place forsheep to roam.

8 1Moreover the LORD said to me,"Take a large scroll, and write

on it with a man’s pen concerningMaher–Shalal–Hash–Baz.2 "And I will take for Myself faithfulwitnesses to record, Uriah the priest andZechariah the son of Jeberechiah."3 Then I went to the prophetess, andshe conceived and bore a son. Thenthe LORD said to me, "Call his nameMaher–Shalal–Hash–Baz;4 "for before the child shall haveknowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘Mymother,’ the riches of Damascus andthe spoil of Samaria will be taken awaybefore the king of Assyria."5 The LORD also spoke to me again,saying:6 "Inasmuch as these people refusedThe waters of Shiloah that flow so ly,

ISAIAH 8 30And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah’sson;7Now therefore, behold, the Lordbrings up over them The waters of theRiver, strong and mighty––The king ofAssyria and all his glory; He will go upover all his channels And go over all hisbanks.8He will pass through Judah, He willoverflow and pass over, He will reach upto the neck; And the stretching out of hiswings Will fill the breadth of Your land,O Immanuel.9 "Be sha ered, O you peoples, and bebroken in pieces! Give ear, all you fromfar countries. Gird yourselves, but bebroken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but bebroken in pieces.10 Take counsel together, but it willcome to nothing; Speak the word, but itwill not stand, For God is with us."

ISAIAH 8 3111 For the LORD spoke thus to me witha strong hand, and instructed me thatI should not walk in the way of thispeople, saying:12 "Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’Concerning all that this people call aconspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats,nor be troubled.13 The LORD of hosts, Him you shallhallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Himbe your dread.14He will be as a sanctuary, But a stoneof stumbling and a rock of offense Toboth the houses of Israel, As a trap and asnare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.15Andmany among them shall stumble;They shall fall and be broken, Be snaredand taken."16 Bind up the tes mony, Seal the lawamong my disciples.

ISAIAH 8 3217And I will wait on the LORD, Whohides His face from the house of Jacob;And I will hope in Him.18Here am I and the children whomthe LORD has given me! We are for signsand wonders in Israel From the LORD ofhosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.19And when they say to you, "Seekthose who are mediums and wizards,who whisper and mu er," should not apeople seek their God? Should they seekthe dead on behalf of the living?20 To the law and to the tes mony!If they do not speak according to thisword, it is because there is no light inthem.21 They will pass through it hardpressed and hungry; and it shall happen,when they are hungry, that they will beenraged and curse their king and theirGod, and look upward.

ISAIAH 8–9 3322 Then they will look to the earth,and see trouble and darkness, gloomof anguish; and they will be driven intodarkness.

9 1Nevertheless the gloom will notbe upon her who is distressed, As

when at first He lightly esteemed Theland of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,And a erward more heavily oppressedher, By the way of the sea, beyond theJordan, In Galilee of the Gen les.2 The people who walked in darknessHave seen a great light; Those who dweltin the land of the shadow of death, Uponthem a light has shined.3 You have mul plied the na on Andincreased its joy; They rejoice before YouAccording to the joy of harvest, As menrejoice when they divide the spoil.4 For You have broken the yoke of hisburden And the staff of his shoulder, The

ISAIAH 9 34rod of his oppressor, As in the day ofMidian.5 For every warrior’s sandal from thenoisy ba le, And garments rolled inblood, Will be used for burning and fuelof fire.6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us aSon is given; And the government willbe upon His shoulder. And His name willbe called Wonderful, Counselor, MightyGod, Everlas ng Father, Prince of Peace.7Of the increase of His government andpeace There will be no end, Upon thethrone of David and over His kingdom,To order it and establish it with judgmentand jus ce From that me forward, evenforever. The zeal of the LORD of hostswill perform this.8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob,And it has fallen on Israel.

ISAIAH 9 359All the people will know––Ephraimand the inhabitant of Samaria––Who sayin pride and arrogance of heart:10 "The bricks have fallen down, Butwe will rebuild with hewn stones; Thesycamores are cut down, But we willreplace them with cedars."11 Therefore the LORD shall set up Theadversaries of Rezin against him, Andspur his enemies on,12 The Syrians before and the Philis nesbehind; And they shall devour Israelwith an open mouth. For all this Hisanger is not turned away, But His hand isstretched out s ll.13 For the people do not turn to Himwho strikes them, Nor do they seek theLORD of hosts.14 Therefore the LORD will cut off headand tail from Israel, Palm branch andbulrush in one day.

ISAIAH 9 3615 The elder and honorable, he is thehead; The prophet who teaches lies, heis the tail.16 For the leaders of this people causethem to err, And those who are led bythem are destroyed.17 Therefore the Lord will have no joyin their young men, Nor have mercyon their fatherless and widows; Foreveryone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,And every mouth speaks folly. For all thisHis anger is not turned away, But Hishand is stretched out s ll.18 For wickedness burns as the fire; Itshall devour the briers and thorns, Andkindle in the thickets of the forest; Theyshall mount up like rising smoke.19 Through the wrath of the LORD ofhosts The land is burned up, And thepeople shall be as fuel for the fire; Noman shall spare his brother.

ISAIAH 9–10 3720And he shall snatch on the right handAnd be hungry; He shall devour on thele hand And not be sa sfied; Every manshall eat the flesh of his own arm.21Manasseh shall devour Ephraim,and Ephraim Manasseh; Together theyshall be against Judah. For all this Hisanger is not turned away, But His hand isstretched out s ll.

10 1 "Woe to those who decreeunrighteous decrees, Who write

misfortune, Which they have prescribed2 To rob the needy of jus ce, And totake what is right from the poor of Mypeople, That widows may be their prey,And that they may rob the fatherless.3What will you do in the day ofpunishment, And in the desola onwhich will come from afar? To whom willyou flee for help? And where will youleave your glory?

ISAIAH 10 384Without Me they shall bow downamong the prisoners, And they shallfall among the slain." For all this Hisanger is not turned away, But His hand isstretched out s ll.5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My angerAnd the staff in whose hand is Myindigna on.6 I will send him against an ungodlyna on, And against the people of Mywrath I will give him charge, To seize thespoil, to take the prey, And to tread themdown like the mire of the streets.7 Yet he does not mean so, Nor does hisheart think so; But it is in his heart todestroy, And cut off not a few na ons.8 For he says, ‘Are not my princesaltogether kings?9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is notHamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria likeDamascus?

ISAIAH 10 3910As my hand has found the kingdomsof the idols, Whose carved imagesexcelled those of Jerusalem andSamaria,11As I have done to Samaria and heridols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalemand her idols?’"12 Therefore it shall come to pass, whenthe Lord has performed all His work onMount Zion and on Jerusalem, that Hewill say, "I will punish the fruit of thearrogant heart of the king of Assyria, andthe glory of his haughty looks."13 For he says: "By the strength of myhand I have done it, And by my wisdom,for I am prudent; Also I have removedthe boundaries of the people, And haverobbed their treasuries; So I have putdown the inhabitants like a valiant man.14My hand has found like a nest theriches of the people, And as one gatherseggs that are le , I have gathered all the

ISAIAH 10 40earth; And there was no one who movedhis wing, Nor opened his mouth witheven a peep."15 Shall the ax boast itself against himwho chops with it? Or shall the saw exaltitself against him who saws with it? Asif a rod could wield itself against thosewho li it up, Or as if a staff could li up,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 aburning Like the burning of a fire.17 So the Light of Israel will be for a fire,And his Holy One for a flame; It will burnand devour His thorns and his briers inone day.18And it will consume the glory of hisforest and of his frui ul field, Both souland body; And they will be as when asick man wastes away.

ISAIAH 10 4119 Then the rest of the trees of his forestWill be so few in number That a childmay write them.20And it shall come to pass in that dayThat the remnant of Israel, And suchas have escaped of the house of Jacob,Will never again depend on him whodefeated them, But will depend on theLORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.21 The remnant will return, the remnantof Jacob, To the Mighty God.22 For though your people, O Israel, beas the sand of the sea, A remnant of themwill return; The destruc on decreedshall overflow with righteousness.23 For the Lord GOD of hosts Will makea determined end In the midst of all theland.24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD ofhosts: "O My people, who dwell in Zion,do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall

ISAIAH 10 42strike you with a rod and li up his staffagainst you, in the manner of Egypt.25 "For yet a very li le while and theindigna on will cease, as will My angerin their destruc on."26And the LORD of hosts will s r upa scourge for him like the slaughter ofMidian at the rock of Oreb; as His rodwas on the sea, so will He li it up in themanner of Egypt.27 It shall come to pass in that day Thathis burden will be taken away from yourshoulder, And his yoke from your neck,And the yoke will be destroyed becauseof the anoin ng oil.28He has come to Aiath, He has passedMigron; At Michmash he has a endedto his equipment.29 They have gone along the ridge, Theyhave taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah isafraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled.

ISAIAH 10–11 4330 Li up your voice, O daughter ofGallim! Cause it to be heard as far asLaish––O poor Anathoth!31Madmenah has fled, The inhabitantsof Gebim seek refuge.32As yet he will remain at Nob that day;He will shake his fist at the mount of thedaughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem.33 Behold, the Lord, The LORD of hosts,Will lop off the bough with terror; Thoseof high stature will be hewn down, Andthe haughty will be humbled.34He will cut down the thickets of theforest with iron, And Lebanon will fall bythe Mighty One.

11 1 There shall come forth a Rodfrom the stem of Jesse, And a

Branch shall grow out of his roots.2 The Spirit of the LORD shall restupon Him, The Spirit of wisdom andunderstanding, The Spirit of counsel and

ISAIAH 11 44might, The Spirit of knowledge and ofthe fear of the LORD.3His delight is in the fear of the LORD,And He shall not judge by the sight of Hiseyes, Nor decide by the hearing of Hisears;4 But with righteousness He shall judgethe poor, And decide with equity for themeek of the earth; He shall strike theearth with the rod of His mouth, Andwith the breath of His lips He shall slaythe wicked.5 Righteousness shall be the belt of Hisloins, And faithfulness the belt of Hiswaist.6 "The wolf also shall dwell with thelamb, The leopard shall lie down withthe young goat, The calf and the younglion and the fatling together; And a li lechild shall lead them.

ISAIAH 11 457 The cow and the bear shall graze;Their young ones shall lie down together;And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 The nursing child shall play by thecobra’s hole, And the weaned child shallput his hand in the viper’s den.9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in allMy holy mountain, For the earth shall befull of the knowledge of the LORD As thewaters cover the sea.10 "And in that day there shall be a Rootof Jesse, Who shall stand as a bannerto the people; For the Gen les shallseek Him, And His res ng place shall beglorious."11 It shall come to pass in that day Thatthe Lord shall set His hand again thesecond me To recover the remnant ofHis people who are le , From Assyriaand Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, FromElam and Shinar, From Hamath and theislands of the sea.

ISAIAH 11 4612He will set up a banner for thena ons, And will assemble the outcastsof Israel, And gather together thedispersed of Judah From the four cornersof the earth.13Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart,And the adversaries of Judah shall be cutoff; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, AndJudah shall not harass Ephraim.14 But they shall fly down upon theshoulder of the Philis nes toward thewest; Together they shall plunder thepeople of the East; They shall lay theirhand on Edom and Moab; And thepeople of Ammon shall obey them.15 The LORD will u erly destroy thetongue of the Sea of Egypt; With Hismighty wind He will shake His fist overthe River, And strike it in the sevenstreams, And make men cross overdry–shod.

ISAIAH 11–12 4716 There will be a highway for theremnant of His people Who will be lefrom Assyria, As it was for Israel In theday that he came up from the land ofEgypt.

12 1And in that day you will say: "OLORD, I will praise You; Though

You were angry with me, Your anger isturned away, and You comfort me.2 Behold, God is my salva on, I willtrust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, theLORD, is my strength and song; He alsohas become my salva on.’"3 Therefore with joy you will draw waterFrom the wells of salva on.4And in that day you will say: "Praisethe LORD, call upon His name; DeclareHis deeds among the peoples, Makemen on that His name is exalted.5 Sing to the LORD, For He has doneexcellent things; This is known in all theearth.

ISAIAH 12–13 486 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant ofZion, For great is the Holy One of Israelin your midst!"

13 1 The burden against Babylonwhich Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

2 "Li up a banner on the highmountain, Raise your voice to them;Wave your hand, that they may enterthe gates of the nobles.3 I have commanded My sanc fiedones; I have also called My mighty onesfor My anger––Those who rejoice in Myexalta on."4 The noise of a mul tude in themountains, Like that of many people!A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms ofna ons gathered together! The LORD ofhosts musters The army for ba le.5 They come from a far country, Fromthe end of heaven––The LORD and Hisweapons of indigna on, To destroy thewhole land.

ISAIAH 13 496Wail, for the day of the LORD is athand! It will come as destruc on fromthe Almighty.7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Everyman’s heart will melt,8And they will be afraid. Pangs andsorrows will take hold of them; They willbe in pain as a woman in childbirth; Theywill be amazed at one another; Theirfaces will be like flames.9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes,Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,To lay the land desolate; And He willdestroy its sinners from it.10 For the stars of heaven and theirconstella ons Will not give their light;The sun will be darkened in its goingforth, And the moon will not cause itslight to shine.11 "I will punish the world for its evil,And the wicked for their iniquity; I will

ISAIAH 13 50halt the arrogance of the proud, And willlay low the haugh ness of the terrible.12 I will make a mortal more rare thanfine gold, A man more than the goldenwedge of Ophir.13 Therefore I will shake the heavens,And the earth will move out of her place,In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And inthe day of His fierce anger.14 It shall be as the hunted gazelle, Andas a sheep that no man takes up; Everyman will turn to his own people, Andeveryone will flee to his own land.15 Everyone who is found will be thrustthrough, And everyone who is capturedwill fall by the sword.16 Their children also will be dashed topieces before their eyes; Their houseswill be plundered And their wivesravished.

ISAIAH 13 5117 "Behold, I will s r up the Medesagainst them, Who will not regard silver;And as for gold, they will not delight in it.18Also their bows will dash the youngmen to pieces, And they will have no pityon the fruit of the womb; Their eye willnot spare children.19And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Willbe as when God overthrew Sodom andGomorrah.20 It will never be inhabited, Norwill it be se led from genera on togenera on; Nor will the Arabian pitchtents there, Nor will the shepherds maketheir sheepfolds there.21 But wild beasts of the desert will liethere, And their houses will be full ofowls; Ostriches will dwell there, Andwild goats will caper there.22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels,And jackals in their pleasant palaces. Her

ISAIAH 14 52me is near to come, And her days will

not be prolonged."

14 1 For the LORD will have mercy onJacob, and will s ll choose Israel,

and se le them in their own land. Thestrangers will be joined with them, andthey will cling to the house of Jacob.2 Then people will take them and bringthem to their place, and the house ofIsrael will possess them for servants andmaids in the land of the LORD; they willtake them cap ve whose cap ves theywere, and rule over their oppressors.3 It shall come to pass in the day theLORD gives you rest from your sorrow,and from your fear and the hard bondagein which you were made to serve,4 that you will take up this proverbagainst the king of Babylon, and say:"How the oppressor has ceased, Thegolden city ceased!

ISAIAH 14 535 The LORD has broken the staff of thewicked, The scepter of the rulers;6He who struck the people in wrathwith a con nual stroke, He who ruledthe na ons in anger, Is persecuted andno one hinders.7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;They break forth into singing.8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoiceover you, And the cedars of Lebanon,Saying, ‘Since you were cut down, Nowoodsman has come up against us.’9 "Hell from beneath is excited aboutyou, To meet you at your coming; It s rsup the dead for you, All the chief onesof the earth; It has raised up from theirthrones All the kings of the na ons.10 They all shall speak and say to you:‘Have you also become as weak as we?Have you become like us?11 Your pomp is brought down toSheol, And the sound of your stringed

ISAIAH 14 54instruments; The maggot is spreadunder you, And worms cover you.’12 "How you are fallen from heaven, OLucifer, son of the morning! How youare cut down to the ground, You whoweakened the na ons!13 For you have said in your heart: ‘Iwill ascend into heaven, I will exalt mythrone above the stars of God; I will alsosit on the mount of the congrega on Onthe farthest sides of the north;14 I will ascend above the heights of theclouds, I will be like the Most High.’15 Yet you shall be brought down toSheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.16 "Those who see you will gaze at you,And consider you, saying: ‘Is this theman who made the earth tremble, Whoshook kingdoms,17Who made the world as a wildernessAnd destroyed its ci es, Who did notopen the house of his prisoners?’

ISAIAH 14 5518 "All the kings of the na ons, All ofthem, sleep in glory, Everyone in his ownhouse;19 But you are cast out of your graveLike an abominable branch, Like thegarment of those who are slain, Thrustthrough with a sword, Who go downto the stones of the pit, Like a corpsetrodden underfoot.20 You will not be joined with them inburial, Because you have destroyed yourland And slain your people. The brood ofevildoers shall never be named.21 Prepare slaughter for his childrenBecause of the iniquity of their fathers,Lest they rise up and possess the land,And fill the face of the world with ci es."22 "For I will rise up against them," saysthe LORD of hosts, "And cut off fromBabylon the name and remnant, Andoffspring and posterity," says the LORD.

ISAIAH 14 5623 "I will also make it a possession forthe porcupine, And marshes of muddywater; I will sweep it with the broom ofdestruc on," says the LORD of hosts.24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying,"Surely, as I have thought, so it shallcome to pass, And as I have purposed,so it shall stand:25 That I will break the Assyrian inMy land, And on My mountains treadhim underfoot. Then his yoke shall beremoved from them, And his burdenremoved from their shoulders.26 This is the purpose that is purposedagainst the whole earth, And this is thehand that is stretched out over all thena ons.27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed,And who will annul it? His hand isstretched out, And who will turn itback?"

ISAIAH 14–15 5728 This is the burden which came in theyear that King Ahaz died.29 "Do not rejoice, all you of Philis a,Because the rod that struck you isbroken; For out of the serpent’s rootswill come forth a viper, And its offspringwill be a fiery flying serpent.30 The firstborn of the poor will feed,And the needy will lie down in safety; Iwill kill your roots with famine, And itwill slay your remnant.31Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you ofPhilis a are dissolved; For smoke willcome from the north, And no one will bealone in his appointed mes."32What will they answer themessengers of the na on? That theLORD has founded Zion, And the poor ofHis people shall take refuge in it.

15 1 The burden against Moab.Because in the night Ar of Moab

is laid waste And destroyed, Because in

ISAIAH 15 58the night Kir of Moab is laid waste Anddestroyed,2He has gone up to the temple andDibon, To the high places to weep. Moabwill wail over Nebo and over Medeba;On all their heads will be baldness, Andevery beard cut off.3 In their streets they will clothethemselves with sackcloth; On the topsof their houses And in their streetsEveryone will wail, weeping bi erly.4Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out,Their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz;Therefore the armed soldiers of Moabwill cry out; His life will be burdensometo him.5 "My heart will cry out for Moab;His fugi ves shall flee to Zoar, Like athree–year–old heifer. For by the Ascentof Luhith They will go up with weeping;For in the way of Horonaim They willraise up a cry of destruc on,

ISAIAH 15–16 596 For the waters of Nimrim will bedesolate, For the green grass haswithered away; The grass fails, there isnothing green.7 Therefore the abundance they havegained, And what they have laid up,They will carry away to the Brook of theWillows.8 For the cry has gone all around theborders of Moab, Its wailing to EglaimAnd its wailing to Beer Elim.9 For the waters of Dimon will be full ofblood; Because I will bring more uponDimon, Lions upon him who escapesfrom Moab, And on the remnant of theland."

16 1 Send the lamb to the ruler of theland, From Sela to the wilderness,

To the mount of the daughter of Zion.2 For it shall be as a wandering birdthrown out of the nest; So shall be the

ISAIAH 16 60daughters of Moab at the fords of theArnon.3 "Take counsel, execute judgment;Make your shadow like the night in themiddle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Donot betray him who escapes.4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, OMoab; Be a shelter to them from theface of the spoiler. For the extor oneris at an end, Devasta on ceases, Theoppressors are consumed out of theland.5 In mercy the throne will beestablished; And One will sit on it intruth, in the tabernacle of David, Judgingand seeking jus ce and hasteningrighteousness."6We have heard of the pride of Moab––He is very proud––Of his haugh nessand his pride and his wrath; But his liesshall not be so.

ISAIAH 16 617 Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab;Everyone shall wail. For the founda onsof Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surelythey are stricken.8 For the fields of Heshbon languish,And the vine of Sibmah; The lords ofthe na ons have broken down its choiceplants, Which have reached to Jazer Andwandered through the wilderness. Herbranches are stretched out, They aregone over the sea.9 Therefore I will bewail the vine ofSibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I willdrench you with my tears, O Heshbonand Elealeh; For ba le cries have fallenOver your summer fruits and yourharvest.10Gladness is taken away, And joyfrom the plen ful field; In the vineyardsthere will be no singing, Nor will therebe shou ng; No treaders will tread out

ISAIAH 16–17 62wine in the presses; I have made theirshou ng cease.11 Therefore my heart shall resound likea harp for Moab, And my inner being forKir Heres.12And it shall come to pass, When itis seen that Moab is weary on the highplace, That he will come to his sanctuaryto pray; But he will not prevail.13 This is the word which the LORDhas spoken concerning Moab since thatme.14 But now the LORD has spoken,saying, "Within three years, as the yearsof a hired man, the glory of Moab will bedespised with all that great mul tude,and the remnant will be very small andfeeble."

17 1 The burden against Damascus."Behold, Damascus will cease

from being a city, And it will be a ruinousheap.

ISAIAH 17 632 The ci es of Aroer are forsaken; Theywill be for flocks Which lie down, and noone will make them afraid.3 The fortress also will cease fromEphraim, The kingdom from Damascus,And the remnant of Syria; They will be asthe glory of the children of Israel," Saysthe LORD of hosts.4 "In that day it shall come to pass Thatthe glory of Jacob will wane, And thefatness of his flesh grow lean.5 It shall be as when the harvestergathers the grain, And reaps the headswith his arm; It shall be as he whogathers heads of grain In the Valley ofRephaim.6 Yet gleaning grapes will be le in it,Like the shaking of an olive tree, Two orthree olives at the top of the uppermostbough, Four or five in its most frui ulbranches," Says the LORD God of Israel.

ISAIAH 17 647 In that day a man will look to hisMaker, And his eyes will have respect forthe Holy One of Israel.8He will not look to the altars, The workof his hands; He will not respect whathis fingers have made, Nor the woodenimages nor the incense altars.9 In that day his strong ci es will be asa forsaken bough And an uppermostbranch, Which they le because of thechildren of Israel; And there will bedesola on.10 Because you have forgo en the Godof your salva on, And have not beenmindful of the Rock of your stronghold,Therefore you will plant pleasant plantsAnd set out foreign seedlings;11 In the day you will make your plant togrow, And in the morning you will makeyour seed to flourish; But the harvestwill be a heap of ruins In the day of griefand desperate sorrow.

ISAIAH 17–18 6512Woe to themul tude of many peopleWho make a noise like the roar of theseas, And to the rushing of na ons Thatmake a rushing like the rushing of mightywaters!13 The na ons will rush like the rushingof many waters; But God will rebukethem and they will flee far away, And bechased like the chaff of the mountainsbefore the wind, Like a rolling thingbefore the whirlwind.14 Then behold, at even de, trouble!And before the morning, he is no more.This is the por on of those who plunderus, And the lot of those who rob us.

18 1Woe to the land shadowed withbuzzing wings, Which is beyond

the rivers of Ethiopia,2Which sends ambassadors by sea,Even in vessels of reed on the waters,saying, "Go, swi messengers, to ana on tall and smooth of skin, To a

ISAIAH 18 66people terrible from their beginningonward, A na on powerful and treadingdown, Whose land the rivers divide."3All inhabitants of the world anddwellers on the earth: When he li s upa banner on the mountains, you see it;And when he blows a trumpet, you hearit.4 For so the LORD said to me, "I will takeMy rest, And I will look fromMy dwellingplace Like clear heat in sunshine, Like acloud of dew in the heat of harvest."5 For before the harvest, when the budis perfect And the sour grape is ripeningin the flower, He will both cut off thesprigs with pruning hooks And take awayand cut down the branches.6 They will be le together for themountain birds of prey And for thebeasts of the earth; The birds of prey willsummer on them, And all the beasts ofthe earth will winter on them.

ISAIAH 18–19 677 In that me a present will be broughtto the LORD of hosts From a people talland smooth of skin, And from a peopleterrible from their beginning onward,A na on powerful and treading down,Whose land the rivers divide––To theplace of the name of the LORD of hosts,To Mount Zion.

19 1 The burden against Egypt.Behold, the LORD rides on a swi

cloud, And will come into Egypt; Theidols of Egypt will to er at His presence,And the heart of Egypt will melt in itsmidst.2 "I will set Egyp ans against Egyp ans;Everyone will fight against his brother,And everyone against his neighbor, Cityagainst city, kingdom against kingdom.3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst;I will destroy their counsel, And they willconsult the idols and the charmers, Themediums and the sorcerers.

ISAIAH 19 684And the Egyp ans I will give Into thehand of a cruel master, And a fierce kingwill rule over them," Says the Lord, theLORD of hosts.5 The waters will fail from the sea, Andthe river will be wasted and dried up.6 The rivers will turn foul; The brooks ofdefense will be emp ed and dried up;The reeds and rushes will wither.7 The papyrus reeds by the River, by themouth of the River, And everything sownby the River, Will wither, be driven away,and be no more.8 The fishermen also will mourn; Allthose will lament who cast hooks intothe River, And they will languish whospread nets on the waters.9Moreover those who work in fine flaxAnd those who weave fine fabric will beashamed;

ISAIAH 19 6910And its founda ons will be broken.All who make wages will be troubled ofsoul.11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools;Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolishcounsel. How do you say to Pharaoh,"I am the son of the wise, The son ofancient kings?"12Where are they? Where are yourwise men? Let them tell you now, Andlet them know what the LORD of hostshas purposed against Egypt.13 The princes of Zoan have becomefools; The princes of Noph are deceived;They have also deluded Egypt, Thosewho are the mainstay of its tribes.14 The LORD has mingled a perversespirit in her midst; And they have causedEgypt to err in all her work, As a drunkenman staggers in his vomit.

ISAIAH 19 7015Neither will there be any work forEgypt, Which the head or tail, Palmbranch or bulrush, may do.16 In that day Egypt will be like women,and will be afraid and fear because ofthe waving of the hand of the LORD ofhosts, which He waves over it.17And the land of Judah will be a terrorto Egypt; everyone who makes men onof it will be afraid in himself, because ofthe counsel of the LORD of hosts whichHe has determined against it.18 In that day five ci es in the land ofEgypt will speak the language of Canaanand swear by the LORD of hosts; one willbe called the City of Destruc on.19 In that day there will be an altar tothe LORD in the midst of the land ofEgypt, and a pillar to the LORD at itsborder.20And it will be for a sign and for awitness to the LORD of hosts in the land

ISAIAH 19 71of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORDbecause of the oppressors, and He willsend them a Savior and a Mighty One,and He will deliver them.21 Then the LORD will be known toEgypt, and the Egyp ans will know theLORD in that day, and will make sacrificeand offering; yes, they will make a vowto the LORD and perform it.22And the LORD will strike Egypt, Hewill strike and heal it; they will return tothe LORD, and He will be entreated bythem and heal them.23 In that day there will be a highwayfrom Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrianwill come into Egypt and the Egyp aninto Assyria, and the Egyp ans will servewith the Assyrians.24 In that day Israel will be one of threewith Egypt and Assyria––a blessing inthe midst of the land,

ISAIAH 19–20 7225whom the LORD of hosts shall bless,saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, andAssyria the work of My hands, and IsraelMy inheritance."

20 1 In the year that Tartan came toAshdod, when Sargon the king of

Assyria sent him, and he fought againstAshdod and took it,2 at the same me the LORD spoke byIsaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, andremove the sackcloth from your body,and take your sandals off your feet." Andhe did so, walking naked and barefoot.3 Then the LORD said, "Just as Myservant Isaiah has walked naked andbarefoot three years for a sign and awonder against Egypt and Ethiopia,4 "so shall the king of Assyria leadaway the Egyp ans as prisoners and theEthiopians as cap ves, young and old,naked and barefoot, with their bu ocksuncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

ISAIAH 20–21 735 "Then they shall be afraid andashamed of Ethiopia their expecta onand Egypt their glory.6 "And the inhabitant of this territorywill say in that day, ‘Surely such is ourexpecta on, wherever we flee for helpto be delivered from the king of Assyria;and how shall we escape?’"

21 1 The burden against theWilderness of the Sea. As

whirlwinds in the South pass through, Soit comes from the desert, from a terribleland.2A distressing vision is declared tome; The treacherous dealer dealstreacherously, And the plundererplunders. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, OMedia! All its sighing I have made tocease.3 Therefore my loins are filled withpain; Pangs have taken hold of me,like the pangs of a woman in labor. I

ISAIAH 21 74was distressed when I heard it; I wasdismayed when I saw it.4My heart wavered, fearfulnessfrightened me; The night for which Ilonged He turned into fear for me.5 Prepare the table, Set a watchmanin the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, youprinces, Anoint the shield!6 For thus has the Lord said to me: "Go,set a watchman, Let him declare whathe sees."7And he saw a chariot with a pair ofhorsemen, A chariot of donkeys, anda chariot of camels, And he listenedearnestly with great care.8 Then he cried, "A lion, my Lord! Istand con nually on the watchtower inthe day me; I have sat at my post everynight.9And look, here comes a chariot ofmen with a pair of horsemen!" Then heanswered and said, "Babylon is fallen, is

ISAIAH 21 75fallen! And all the carved images of hergods He has broken to the ground."10Oh, my threshing and the grain of myfloor! That which I have heard from theLORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I havedeclared to you.11 The burden against Dumah. He callsto me out of Seir, "Watchman, whatof the night? Watchman, what of thenight?"12 The watchman said, "The morningcomes, and also the night. If you willinquire, inquire; Return! Come back!"13 The burden against Arabia. In theforest in Arabia you will lodge, O youtraveling companies of Dedanites.14O inhabitants of the land of Tema,Bring water to him who is thirsty; Withtheir bread they met him who fled.15 For they fled from the swords, fromthe drawn sword, From the bent bow,and from the distress of war.

ISAIAH 21–22 7616 For thus the Lord has said to me:"Within a year, according to the year of ahired man, all the glory of Kedar will fail;17 "and the remainder of the number ofarchers, the mighty men of the people ofKedar, will be diminished; for the LORDGod of Israel has spoken it."

22 1 The burden against the Valleyof Vision. What ails you now, that

you have all gone up to the housetops,2 You who are full of noise, Atumultuous city, a joyous city? Your slainmen are not slain with the sword, Nordead in ba le.3All your rulers have fled together;They are captured by the archers.All who are found in you are boundtogether; They have fled from afar.4 Therefore I said, "Look away fromme, I will weep bi erly; Do not labor tocomfort me Because of the plunderingof the daughter of my people."

ISAIAH 22 775 For it is a day of trouble and treadingdown and perplexity By the Lord GOD ofhosts In the Valley of Vision––Breakingdown the walls And of crying to themountain.6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots ofmen and horsemen, And Kir uncoveredthe shield.7 It shall come to pass that your choicestvalleys Shall be full of chariots, And thehorsemen shall set themselves in arrayat the gate.8He removed the protec on of Judah.You looked in that day to the armor ofthe House of the Forest;9 You also saw the damage to the cityof David, That it was great; And yougathered together the waters of thelower pool.10 You numbered the houses ofJerusalem, And the houses you brokedown To for fy the wall.

ISAIAH 22 7811 You also made a reservoir betweenthe two walls For the water of the oldpool. But you did not look to its Maker,Nor did you have respect for Him whofashioned it long ago.12And in that day the Lord GOD of hostsCalled for weeping and for mourning, Forbaldness and for girding with sackcloth.13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slayingoxen and killing sheep, Ea ng meat anddrinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, fortomorrow we die!"14 Then it was revealed in my hearingby the LORD of hosts, "Surely for thisiniquity there will be no atonement foryou, Even to your death," says the LordGOD of hosts.15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts:"Go, proceed to this steward, To Shebna,who is over the house, and say:16 ‘What have you here, and whomhave you here, That you have hewn a

ISAIAH 22 79sepulcher here, As he who hews himselfa sepulcher on high, Who carves a tombfor himself in a rock?17 Indeed, the LORD will throw youaway violently, O mighty man, And willsurely seize you.18He will surely turn violently and tossyou like a ball Into a large country; Thereyou shall die, and there your gloriouschariots Shall be the shame of yourmaster’s house.19 So I will drive you out of your office,And from your posi on he will pull youdown.20 ‘Then it shall be in that day, That Iwill call My servant Eliakim the son ofHilkiah;21 I will clothe him with your robe Andstrengthen him with your belt; I willcommit your responsibility into his hand.He shall be a father to the inhabitants ofJerusalem And to the house of Judah.

ISAIAH 22–23 8022 The key of the house of David I willlay on his shoulder; So he shall open,and no one shall shut; And he shall shut,and no one shall open.23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secureplace, And he will become a gloriousthrone to his father’s house.24 ‘They will hang on him all the glory ofhis father’s house, the offspring and theposterity, all vessels of small quan ty,from the cups to all the pitchers.25 ‘In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts,‘the peg that is fastened in the secureplace will be removed and be cut downand fall, and the burden that was on itwill be cut off; for the LORD has spoken.’"

23 1 The burden against Tyre. Wail,you ships of Tarshish! For it is

laid waste, So that there is no house,no harbor; From the land of Cyprus it isrevealed to them.

ISAIAH 23 812 Be s ll, you inhabitants of thecoastland, You merchants of Sidon,Whom those who cross the sea havefilled.3And on great waters the grain ofShihor, The harvest of the River, is herrevenue; And she is a marketplace forthe na ons.4 Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea hasspoken, The strength of the sea, saying,"I do not labor, nor bring forth children;Neither do I rear young men, Nor bringup virgins."5When the report reaches Egypt, Theyalso will be in agony at the report ofTyre.6 Cross over to Tarshish; Wail, youinhabitants of the coastland!7 Is this your joyous city, Whosean quity is from ancient days, Whosefeet carried her far off to dwell?

ISAIAH 23 828Who has taken this counsel againstTyre, the crowning city, Whosemerchants are princes, Whose tradersare the honorable of the earth?9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it, Tobring to dishonor the pride of all glory,To bring into contempt all the honorableof the earth.10Overflow through your land like theRiver, O daughter of Tarshish; There is nomore strength.11He stretched out His hand over thesea, He shook the kingdoms; The LORDhas given a commandment againstCanaan To destroy its strongholds.12And He said, "You will rejoice nomore, O you oppressed virgin daughterof Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus;There also you will have no rest."13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans,This people which was not; Assyriafounded it for wild beasts of the desert.

ISAIAH 23 83They set up its towers, They raised up itspalaces, And brought it to ruin.14Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For yourstrength is laid waste.15Now it shall come to pass in that daythat Tyre will be forgo en seventy years,according to the days of one king. At theend of seventy years it will happen toTyre as in the song of the harlot:16 "Take a harp, go about the city, Youforgo en harlot; Make sweet melody,sing many songs, That you may beremembered."17And it shall be, at the end of seventyyears, that the LORD will visit Tyre.She will return to her hire, and commitfornica on with all the kingdoms of theworld on the face of the earth.18Her gain and her pay will be set apartfor the LORD; it will not be treasurednor laid up, for her gain will be for

ISAIAH 24 84those who dwell before the LORD, to eatsufficiently, and for fine clothing.

24 1 Behold, the LORD makes theearth empty and makes it waste,

Distorts its surface And sca ers abroadits inhabitants.2And it shall be: As with the people,so with the priest; As with the servant,so with his master; As with the maid, sowith her mistress; As with the buyer, sowith the seller; As with the lender, sowith the borrower; As with the creditor,so with the debtor.3 The land shall be en rely emp edand u erly plundered, For the LORD hasspoken this word.4 The earth mourns and fades away, Theworld languishes and fades away; Thehaughty people of the earth languish.5 The earth is also defiled underits inhabitants, Because they havetransgressed the laws, Changed the

ISAIAH 24 85ordinance, Broken the everlas ngcovenant.6 Therefore the curse has devoured theearth, And those who dwell in it aredesolate. Therefore the inhabitants ofthe earth are burned, And few men arele .7 The new wine fails, the vinelanguishes, All the merry–hearted sigh.8 The mirth of the tambourine ceases,The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy ofthe harp ceases.9 They shall not drink wine with a song;Strong drink is bi er to those who drinkit.10 The city of confusion is broken down;Every house is shut up, so that none maygo in.11 There is a cry for wine in the streets,All joy is darkened, The mirth of the landis gone.

ISAIAH 24 8612 In the city desola on is le , And thegate is stricken with destruc on.13When it shall be thus in the midst ofthe land among the people, It shall belike the shaking of an olive tree, Like thegleaning of grapes when the vintage isdone.14 They shall li up their voice, theyshall sing; For the majesty of the LORDThey shall cry aloud from the sea.15 Therefore glorify the LORD in thedawning light, The name of the LORDGod of Israel in the coastlands of thesea.16 From the ends of the earth we haveheard songs: "Glory to the righteous!"But I said, "I am ruined, ruined! Woe tome! The treacherous dealers have dealttreacherously, Indeed, the treacherousdealers have dealt very treacherously."17 Fear and the pit and the snare Areupon you, O inhabitant of the earth.

ISAIAH 24 8718And it shall be That he who fleesfrom the noise of the fear Shall fall intothe pit, And he who comes up from themidst of the pit Shall be caught in thesnare; For the windows from on high areopen, And the founda ons of the earthare shaken.19 The earth is violently broken, Theearth is split open, The earth is shakenexceedingly.20 The earth shall reel to and fro like adrunkard, And shall to er like a hut; Itstransgression shall be heavy upon it, Andit will fall, and not rise again.21 It shall come to pass in that day Thatthe LORD will punish on high the host ofexalted ones, And on the earth the kingsof the earth.22 They will be gathered together, Asprisoners are gathered in the pit, Andwill be shut up in the prison; A er manydays they will be punished.

ISAIAH 24–25 8823 Then the moon will be disgracedAnd the sun ashamed; For the LORDof hosts will reign On Mount Zion andin Jerusalem And before His elders,gloriously.

25 1O LORD, You are my God. I willexalt You, I will praise Your name,

For You have done wonderful things;Your counsels of old are faithfulness andtruth.2 For You have made a city a ruin, Afor fied city a ruin, A palace of foreignersto be a city no more; It will never berebuilt.3 Therefore the strong people willglorify You; The city of the terriblena ons will fear You.4 For You have been a strength to thepoor, A strength to the needy in hisdistress, A refuge from the storm, Ashade from the heat; For the blast of the

ISAIAH 25 89terrible ones is as a storm against thewall.5 You will reduce the noise of aliens,As heat in a dry place; As heat in theshadow of a cloud, The song of theterrible ones will be diminished.6And in this mountain The LORD ofhosts will make for all people A feastof choice pieces, A feast of wines onthe lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Ofwell–refined wines on the lees.7And He will destroy on this mountainThe surface of the covering cast over allpeople, And the veil that is spread overall na ons.8He will swallow up death forever, Andthe Lord GOD will wipe away tears fromall faces; The rebuke of His people Hewill take away from all the earth; For theLORD has spoken.9And it will be said in that day: "Behold,this is our God; We have waited for Him,

ISAIAH 25–26 90and He will save us. This is the LORD; Wehave waited for Him; We will be glad andrejoice in His salva on."10 For on this mountain the hand ofthe LORD will rest, And Moab shall betrampled down under Him, As straw istrampled down for the refuse heap.11And He will spread out His hands intheir midst As a swimmer reaches outto swim, And He will bring down theirpride Together with the trickery of theirhands.12 The fortress of the high fort of yourwalls He will bring down, lay low, Andbring to the ground, down to the dust.

26 1 In that day this song will be sungin the land of Judah: "We have a

strong city; God will appoint salva onfor walls and bulwarks.2Open the gates, That the righteousna on which keeps the truth may enterin.

ISAIAH 26 913 You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You, Becausehe trusts in You.4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH,the LORD, is everlas ng strength.5 For He brings down those who dwellon high, The lo y city; He lays it low, Helays it low to the ground, He brings itdown to the dust.6 The foot shall tread it down––The feetof the poor And the steps of the needy."7 The way of the just is uprightness; OMost Upright, You weigh the path of thejust.8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments,O LORD, we have waited for You; Thedesire of our soul is for Your name Andfor the remembrance of You.9With my soul I have desired You in thenight, Yes, by my spirit within me I willseek You early; For when Your judgments

ISAIAH 26 92are in the earth, The inhabitants of theworld will learn righteousness.10 Let grace be shown to the wicked, Yethe will not learn righteousness; In theland of uprightness he will deal unjustly,And will not behold the majesty of theLORD.11 LORD, when Your hand is li ed up,they will not see. But they will see andbe ashamed For their envy of people;Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devourthem.12 LORD, You will establish peace for us,For You have also done all our works inus.13O LORD our God, masters besidesYou Have had dominion over us; Butby You only we make men on of Yourname.14 They are dead, they will not live;They are deceased, they will not rise.Therefore You have punished and

ISAIAH 26 93destroyed them, And made all theirmemory to perish.15 You have increased the na on, OLORD, You have increased the na on;You are glorified; You have expanded allthe borders of the land.16 LORD, in trouble they have visitedYou, They poured out a prayer whenYour chastening was upon them.17As a woman with child Is in pain andcries out in her pangs, When she drawsnear the me of her delivery, So have webeen in Your sight, O LORD.18We have been with child, we havebeen in pain; We have, as it were,brought forth wind; We have notaccomplished any deliverance in theearth, Nor have the inhabitants of theworld fallen.19 Your dead shall live; Together withmy dead body they shall arise. Awakeand sing, you who dwell in dust; For your

ISAIAH 26–27 94dew is like the dew of herbs, And theearth shall cast out the dead.20 Come, my people, enter yourchambers, And shut your doors behindyou; Hide yourself, as it were, for a li lemoment, Un l the indigna on is past.21 For behold, the LORD comes out ofHis place To punish the inhabitants ofthe earth for their iniquity; The earthwill also disclose her blood, And will nomore cover her slain.

27 1 In that day the LORD withHis severe sword, great and

strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeingserpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent;And He will slay the rep le that is in thesea.2 In that day sing to her, "A vineyard ofred wine!3 I, the LORD, keep it, I water it everymoment; Lest any hurt it, I keep it nightand day.

ISAIAH 27 954 Fury is not in Me. Who would setbriers and thorns Against Me in ba le?I would go through them, I would burnthem together.5Or let him take hold of My strength,That he may make peace with Me; Andhe shall make peace with Me."6 Those who come He shall cause totake root in Jacob; Israel shall blossomand bud, And fill the face of the worldwith fruit.7Has He struck Israel as He struck thosewho struck him? Or has He been slainaccording to the slaughter of those whowere slain by Him?8 In measure, by sending it away, Youcontended with it. He removes it by Hisrough wind In the day of the east wind.9 Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacobwill be covered; And this is all the fruit oftaking away his sin: When he makes allthe stones of the altar Like chalkstones

ISAIAH 27 96that are beaten to dust, Wooden imagesand incense altars shall not stand.10 Yet the for fied city will be desolate,The habita on forsaken and le like awilderness; There the calf will feed, andthere it will lie down And consume itsbranches.11When its boughs are withered, theywill be broken off; The women come andset them on fire. For it is a people of nounderstanding; Therefore He who madethem will not have mercy on them, AndHe who formed them will show them nofavor.12And it shall come to pass in that dayThat the LORD will thresh, From thechannel of the River to the Brook ofEgypt; And you will be gathered one byone, O you children of Israel.13 So it shall be in that day: The greattrumpet will be blown; They will come,who are about to perish in the land of

ISAIAH 28 97Assyria, And they who are outcasts inthe land of Egypt, And shall worship theLORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

28 1Woe to the crown of pride, tothe drunkards of Ephraim, Whose

glorious beauty is a fading flower Whichis at the head of the verdant valleys, Tothose who are overcome with wine!2 Behold, the Lord has a mighty andstrong one, Like a tempest of hail and adestroying storm, Like a flood of mightywaters overflowing, Who will bring themdown to the earth with His hand.3 The crown of pride, the drunkards ofEphraim, Will be trampled underfoot;4And the glorious beauty is a fadingflower Which is at the head of theverdant valley, Like the first fruit beforethe summer, Which an observer sees; Heeats it up while it is s ll in his hand.

ISAIAH 28 985 In that day the LORD of hosts will beFor a crown of glory and a diadem ofbeauty To the remnant of His people,6 For a spirit of jus ce to him who sitsin judgment, And for strength to thosewho turn back the ba le at the gate.7 But they also have erred throughwine,And through intoxica ng drink are outof the way; The priest and the prophethave erred through intoxica ng drink,They are swallowed up by wine, Theyare out of the way through intoxica ngdrink; They err in vision, they stumble injudgment.8 For all tables are full of vomit and filth;No place is clean.9 "Whom will he teach knowledge? Andwhom will he make to understand themessage? Those just weaned from milk?Those just drawn from the breasts?10 For precept must be upon precept,precept upon precept, Line upon line,

ISAIAH 28 99line upon line, Here a li le, there ali le."11 For with stammering lips and anothertongue He will speak to this people,12 To whom He said, "This is the restwith which You may cause the weary torest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yetthey would not hear.13 But the word of the LORD was tothem, "Precept upon precept, preceptupon precept, Line upon line, line uponline, Here a li le, there a li le," Thatthey might go and fall backward, and bebroken And snared and caught.14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD,you scornful men, Who rule this peoplewho are in Jerusalem,15 Because you have said, "We havemade a covenant with death, And withSheol we are in agreement. When theoverflowing scourge passes through, Itwill not come to us, For we have made

ISAIAH 28 100lies our refuge, And under falsehood wehave hidden ourselves."16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for afounda on, A tried stone, a preciouscornerstone, a sure founda on;Whoever believes will not act has ly.17Also I will make jus ce the measuringline, And righteousness the plummet;The hail will sweep away the refuge oflies, And the waters will overflow thehiding place.18 Your covenant with death willbe annulled, And your agreementwith Sheol will not stand; When theoverflowing scourge passes through,Then you will be trampled down by it.19As o en as it goes out it will takeyou; For morning by morning it will passover, And by day and by night; It will bea terror just to understand the report."

ISAIAH 28 10120 For the bed is too short to stretch outon, And the covering so narrow that onecannot wrap himself in it.21 For the LORD will rise up as at MountPerazim, He will be angry as in the Valleyof Gibeon––That He may do His work,His awesome work, And bring to pass Hisact, His unusual act.22Now therefore, do not be mockers,Lest your bonds be made strong; For Ihave heard from the Lord GOD of hosts,A destruc on determined even upon thewhole earth.23Give ear and hear my voice, Listenand hear my speech.24Does the plowman keep plowing allday to sow? Does he keep turning hissoil and breaking the clods?25When he has leveled its surface,Does he not sow the black cummin Andsca er the cummin, Plant the wheat in

ISAIAH 28–29 102rows, The barley in the appointed place,And the spelt in its place?26 For He instructs him in rightjudgment, His God teaches him.27 For the black cummin is not threshedwith a threshing sledge, Nor is acartwheel rolled over the cummin; Butthe black cummin is beaten out with as ck, And the cummin with a rod.28 Bread flour must be ground;Therefore he does not thresh it forever,Break it with his cartwheel, Or crush itwith his horsemen.29 This also comes from the LORD ofhosts, Who is wonderful in counsel andexcellent in guidance.

29 1 "Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the citywhere David dwelt! Add year to

year; Let feasts come around.2 Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall beheaviness and sorrow, And it shall be toMe as Ariel.

ISAIAH 29 1033 I will encamp against you all around, Iwill lay siege against you with a mound,And I will raise siegeworks against you.4 You shall be brought down, You shallspeak out of the ground; Your speechshall be low, out of the dust; Your voiceshall be like a medium’s, out of theground; And your speech shall whisperout of the dust.5 "Moreover the mul tude of yourfoes Shall be like fine dust, And themul tude of the terrible ones Like chaffthat passes away; Yes, it shall be in aninstant, suddenly.6 You will be punished by the LORD ofhosts With thunder and earthquake andgreat noise, With storm and tempestAnd the flame of devouring fire.7 The mul tude of all the na ons whofight against Ariel, Even all who fightagainst her and her fortress, And distressher, Shall be as a dream of a night vision.

ISAIAH 29 1048 It shall even be as when a hungryman dreams, And look––he eats; Buthe awakes, and his soul is s ll empty;Or as when a thirsty man dreams,And look––he drinks; But he awakes,and indeed he is faint, And his souls ll craves: So the mul tude of all thena ons shall be, Who fight againstMount Zion."9 Pause and wonder! Blind yourselvesand be blind! They are drunk, but notwith wine; They stagger, but not withintoxica ng drink.10 For the LORD has poured out on youThe spirit of deep sleep, And has closedyour eyes, namely, the prophets; AndHe has covered your heads, namely, theseers.11 The whole vision has become to youlike the words of a book that is sealed,which men deliver to one who is literate,

ISAIAH 29 105saying, "Read this, please." And he says,"I cannot, for it is sealed."12 Then the book is delivered to onewho is illiterate, saying, "Read this,please." And he says, "I am not literate."13 Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuchas these people draw near with theirmouths And honor Me with their lips,But have removed their hearts far fromMe, And their fear toward Me is taughtby the commandment of men,14 Therefore, behold, I will again do amarvelous work Among this people, Amarvelous work and a wonder; For thewisdom of their wise men shall perish,And the understanding of their prudentmen shall be hidden."15Woe to those who seek deep to hidetheir counsel far from the LORD, Andtheir works are in the dark; They say,"Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?"

ISAIAH 29 10616 Surely you have things turnedaround! Shall the po er be esteemedas the clay; For shall the thing madesay of him who made it, "He did notmake me"? Or shall the thing formedsay of him who formed it, "He has nounderstanding"?17 Is it not yet a very li le while TillLebanon shall be turned into a frui ulfield, And the frui ul field be esteemedas a forest?18 In that day the deaf shall hear thewords of the book, And the eyes of theblind shall see out of obscurity and outof darkness.19 The humble also shall increase theirjoy in the LORD, And the poor amongmen shall rejoice In the Holy One ofIsrael.20 For the terrible one is brought tonothing, The scornful one is consumed,

ISAIAH 29–30 107And all who watch for iniquity are cutoff––21Who make a man an offender bya word, And lay a snare for him whoreproves in the gate, And turn aside thejust by empty words.22 Therefore thus says the LORD, whoredeemed Abraham, concerning thehouse of Jacob: "Jacob shall not now beashamed, Nor shall his face now growpale;23 But when he sees his children, Thework of My hands, in his midst, They willhallow My name, And hallow the HolyOne of Jacob, And fear the God of Israel.24 These also who erred in spirit willcome to understanding, And those whocomplained will learn doctrine."

30 1 "Woe to the rebelliouschildren," says the LORD, "Who

take counsel, but not of Me, And who

ISAIAH 30 108devise plans, but not of My Spirit, Thatthey may add sin to sin;2Who walk to go down to Egypt, Andhave not asked My advice, To strengthenthemselves in the strength of Pharaoh,And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!3 Therefore the strength of PharaohShall be your shame, And trust inthe shadow of Egypt Shall be yourhumilia on.4 For his princes were at Zoan, And hisambassadors came to Hanes.5 They were all ashamed of a peoplewho could not benefit them, Or behelp or benefit, But a shame and also areproach."6 The burden against the beasts of theSouth. Through a land of trouble andanguish, From which came the lionessand lion, The viper and fiery flyingserpent, They will carry their riches onthe backs of young donkeys, And their

ISAIAH 30 109treasures on the humps of camels, To apeople who shall not profit;7 For the Egyp ans shall help in vainand to no purpose. Therefore I havecalled her Rahab–Hem–Shebeth.8Now go, write it before them on atablet, And note it on a scroll, That it maybe for me to come, Forever and ever:9 That this is a rebellious people, Lyingchildren, Children who will not hear thelaw of the LORD;10Who say to the seers, "Do not see,"And to the prophets, "Do not prophesyto us right things; Speak to us smooththings, prophesy deceits.11Get out of the way, Turn aside fromthe path, Cause the Holy One of Israel Tocease from before us."12 Therefore thus says the Holy One ofIsrael: "Because you despise this word,And trust in oppression and perversity,And rely on them,

ISAIAH 30 11013 Therefore this iniquity shall be toyou Like a breach ready to fall, A bulgein a high wall, Whose breaking comessuddenly, in an instant.14And He shall break it like the breakingof the po er’s vessel, Which is brokenin pieces; He shall not spare. So thereshall not be found among its fragmentsA shard to take fire from the hearth, Orto take water from the cistern."15 For thus says the Lord GOD, the HolyOne of Israel: "In returning and restyou shall be saved; In quietness andconfidence shall be your strength." Butyou would not,16And you said, "No, for we will fleeon horses" ––Therefore you shall flee!And, "We will ride on swi horses"––Therefore those who pursue you shallbe swi !17One thousand shall flee at the threatof one, At the threat of five you shall

ISAIAH 30 111flee, Till you are le as a pole on top of amountain And as a banner on a hill.18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that Hemay be gracious to you; And thereforeHe will be exalted, that He may havemercy on you. For the LORD is a God ofjus ce; Blessed are all those who waitfor Him.19 For the people shall dwell in Zion atJerusalem; You shall weep no more. Hewill be very gracious to you at the soundof your cry; When He hears it, He willanswer you.20And though the Lord gives you Thebread of adversity and the water ofafflic on, Yet your teachers will not bemoved into a corner anymore, But youreyes shall see your teachers.21 Your ears shall hear a word behindyou, saying, "This is the way, walk in it,"Whenever you turn to the right hand Orwhenever you turn to the le .

ISAIAH 30 11222 You will also defile the covering ofyour graven images of silver, And theornament of your molded images ofgold. You will throw them away as anunclean thing; You will say to them, "Getaway!"23 Then He will give the rain for yourseed With which you sow the ground,And bread of the increase of the earth; Itwill be fat and plen ful. In that day yourca le will feed In large pastures.24 Likewise the oxen and the youngdonkeys that work the ground Will eatcured fodder, Which has been winnowedwith the shovel and fan.25 There will be on every high mountainAnd on every high hill Rivers and streamsof waters, In the day of the greatslaughter, When the towers fall.26Moreover the light of the moon willbe as the light of the sun, And the lightof the sun will be sevenfold, As the light

ISAIAH 30 113of seven days, In the day that the LORDbinds up the bruise of His people Andheals the stroke of their wound.27 Behold, the name of the LORD comesfrom afar, Burning with His anger, AndHis burden is heavy; His lips are fullof indigna on, And His tongue like adevouring fire.28His breath is like an overflowingstream, Which reaches up to the neck,To si the na ons with the sieve offu lity; And there shall be a bridle in thejaws of the people, Causing them to err.29 You shall have a song As in the nightwhen a holy fes val is kept, And gladnessof heart as when one goes with a flute,To come into the mountain of the LORD,To the Mighty One of Israel.30 The LORD will cause His gloriousvoice to be heard, And show the descentof His arm, With the indigna on of His

ISAIAH 30–31 114anger And the flame of a devouring fire,With sca ering, tempest, and hailstones.31 For through the voice of the LORDAssyria will be beaten down, As Hestrikes with the rod.32And in every place where the staffof punishment passes, Which the LORDlays on him, It will be with tambourinesand harps; And in ba les of brandishingHe will fight with it.33 For Tophet was established of old,Yes, for the king it is prepared. He hasmade it deep and large; Its pyre is firewith much wood; The breath of theLORD, like a stream of brimstone, Kindlesit.

31 1Woe to those who go downto Egypt for help, And rely on

horses, Who trust in chariots becausethey aremany, And in horsemen becausethey are very strong, But who do not

ISAIAH 31 115look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seekthe LORD!2 Yet He also is wise and will bringdisaster, And will not call back His words,But will arise against the house ofevildoers, And against the help of thosewho work iniquity.3Now the Egyp ans are men, and notGod; And their horses are flesh, and notspirit. When the LORD stretches out Hishand, Both he who helps will fall, And hewho is helped will fall down; They all willperish together.4 For thus the LORD has spoken to me:"As a lion roars, And a young lion overhis prey (When a mul tude of shepherdsis summoned against him, He will not beafraid of their voice Nor be disturbed bytheir noise), So the LORD of hosts willcome down To fight for Mount Zion andfor its hill.

ISAIAH 31 1165 Like birds flying about, So will theLORD of hosts defend Jerusalem.Defending, He will also deliver it; Passingover, He will preserve it."6 Return to Him against whom thechildren of Israel have deeply revolted.7 For in that day every man shall throwaway his idols of silver and his idols ofgold––sin, which your own hands havemade for yourselves.8 "Then Assyria shall fall by a sword notof man, And a sword not of mankindshall devour him. But he shall flee fromthe sword, And his young men shallbecome forced labor.9He shall cross over to his strongholdfor fear, And his princes shall be afraidof the banner," Says the LORD, Whosefire is in Zion And whose furnace is inJerusalem.

ISAIAH 32 117

32 1 Behold, a king will reign inrighteousness, And princes will

rule with jus ce.2A man will be as a hiding place fromthe wind, And a cover from the tempest,As rivers of water in a dry place, As theshadow of a great rock in a weary land.3 The eyes of those who see will not bedim, And the ears of those who hear willlisten.4Also the heart of the rash willunderstand knowledge, And the tongueof the stammerers will be ready to speakplainly.5 The foolish person will no longer becalled generous, Nor the miser said tobe boun ful;6 For the foolish person will speakfoolishness, And his heart will workiniquity: To prac ce ungodliness, Tou er error against the LORD, To keep the

ISAIAH 32 118hungry unsa sfied, And he will cause thedrink of the thirsty to fail.7Also the schemes of the schemer areevil; He devises wicked plans To destroythe poor with lying words, Even whenthe needy speaks jus ce.8 But a generous man devises generousthings, And by generosity he shall stand.9 Rise up, you women who are atease, Hear my voice; You complacentdaughters, Give ear to my speech.10 In a year and some days You will betroubled, you complacent women; Forthe vintage will fail, The gathering willnot come.11 Tremble, you women who are atease; Be troubled, you complacent ones;Strip yourselves, make yourselves bare,And gird sackcloth on your waists.12 People shall mourn upon theirbreasts For the pleasant fields, for thefrui ul vine.

ISAIAH 32 11913On the land of my people will comeup thorns and briers, Yes, on all thehappy homes in the joyous city;14 Because the palaces will be forsaken,The bustling city will be deserted. Theforts and towers will become lairsforever, A joy of wild donkeys, a pastureof flocks––15Un l the Spirit is poured uponus from on high, And the wildernessbecomes a frui ul field, And the frui ulfield is counted as a forest.16 Then jus ce will dwell in thewilderness, And righteousness remain inthe frui ul field.17 The work of righteousness will bepeace, And the effect of righteousness,quietness and assurance forever.18My people will dwell in a peacefulhabita on, In secure dwellings, and inquiet res ng places,

ISAIAH 32–33 12019 Though hail comes down on theforest, And the city is brought low inhumilia on.20 Blessed are you who sow beside allwaters, Who send out freely the feet ofthe ox and the donkey.

33 1Woe to youwho plunder, thoughyou have not been plundered;

And you who deal treacherously, thoughthey have not dealt treacherously withyou! When you cease plundering, Youwill be plundered; When you make anend of dealing treacherously, They willdeal treacherously with you.2O LORD, be gracious to us; We havewaited for You. Be their arm everymorning, Our salva on also in the meof trouble.3At the noise of the tumult the peopleshall flee; When You li Yourself up, thena ons shall be sca ered;

ISAIAH 33 1214And Your plunder shall be gatheredLike the gathering of the caterpillar; Asthe running to and fro of locusts, Heshall run upon them.5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells onhigh; He has filled Zion with jus ce andrighteousness.6Wisdom and knowledge will be thestability of your mes, And the strengthof salva on; The fear of the LORD is Histreasure.7 Surely their valiant ones shall cryoutside, The ambassadors of peace shallweep bi erly.8 The highways lie waste, The travelingman ceases. He has broken the covenant,He has despised the ci es, He regards noman.9 The earth mourns and languishes,Lebanon is shamed and shriveled;Sharon is like a wilderness, And Bashanand Carmel shake off their fruits.

ISAIAH 33 12210 "Now I will rise," says the LORD;"Now I will be exalted, Now I will liMyself up.11 You shall conceive chaff, You shallbring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire,shall devour you.12And the people shall be like theburnings of lime; Like thorns cut up theyshall be burned in the fire.13Hear, you who are afar off, whatI have done; And you who are near,acknowledge My might."14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:"Who among us shall dwell with thedevouring fire? Who among us shalldwell with everlas ng burnings?"15He who walks righteously and speaksuprightly, He who despises the gainof oppressions, Who gestures with hishands, refusing bribes, Who stops his

ISAIAH 33 123ears from hearing of bloodshed, Andshuts his eyes from seeing evil:16He will dwell on high; His place ofdefense will be the fortress of rocks;Bread will be given him, His water will besure.17 Your eyes will see the King in Hisbeauty; They will see the land that isvery far off.18 Your heart will meditate on terror:"Where is the scribe? Where is he whoweighs? Where is he who counts thetowers?"19 You will not see a fierce people,A people of obscure speech, beyondpercep on, Of a stammering tonguethat you cannot understand.20 Look upon Zion, the city of ourappointed feasts; Your eyes will seeJerusalem, a quiet home, A tabernaclethat will not be taken down; Not one of

ISAIAH 33–34 124its stakes will ever be removed, Nor willany of its cords be broken.21 But there the majes c LORD willbe for us A place of broad rivers andstreams, In which no galley with oars willsail, Nor majes c ships pass by22 (For the LORD is our Judge, The LORDis our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; Hewill save us);23 Your tackle is loosed, They could notstrengthen their mast, They could notspread the sail. Then the prey of greatplunder is divided; The lame take theprey.24And the inhabitant will not say, "I amsick"; The people who dwell in it will beforgiven their iniquity.

34 1 Come near, you na ons, to hear;And heed, you people! Let the

earth hear, and all that is in it, The worldand all things that come forth from it.

ISAIAH 34 1252 For the indigna on of the LORD isagainst all na ons, And His fury againstall their armies; He has u erly destroyedthem, He has given them over to theslaughter.3Also their slain shall be thrown out;Their stench shall rise from their corpses,And the mountains shall be melted withtheir blood.4All the host of heaven shall bedissolved, And the heavens shall berolled up like a scroll; All their host shallfall down As the leaf falls from the vine,And as fruit falling from a fig tree.5 "For My sword shall be bathed inheaven; Indeed it shall come down onEdom, And on the people of My curse,for judgment.6 The sword of the LORD is filled withblood, It is made overflowing withfatness, With the blood of lambs andgoats, With the fat of the kidneys of

ISAIAH 34 126rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice inBozrah, And a great slaughter in the landof Edom.7 The wild oxen shall come down withthem, And the young bulls with themighty bulls; Their land shall be soakedwith blood, And their dust saturatedwith fatness."8 For it is the day of the LORD’Svengeance, The year of recompense forthe cause of Zion.9 Its streams shall be turned into pitch,And its dust into brimstone; Its land shallbecome burning pitch.10 It shall not be quenched night orday; Its smoke shall ascend forever.From genera on to genera on it shalllie waste; No one shall pass through itforever and ever.11 But the pelican and the porcupineshall possess it, Also the owl and theraven shall dwell in it. And He shall

ISAIAH 34 127stretch out over it The line of confusionand the stones of emp ness.12 They shall call its nobles to thekingdom, But none shall be there, andall its princes shall be nothing.13And thorns shall come up in itspalaces, Ne les and brambles in itsfortresses; It shall be a habita on ofjackals, A courtyard for ostriches.14 The wild beasts of the desert shallalso meet with the jackals, And the wildgoat shall bleat to its companion; Alsothe night creature shall rest there, Andfind for herself a place of rest.15 There the arrow snake shall make hernest and lay eggs And hatch, and gatherthem under her shadow; There also shallthe hawks be gathered, Every one withher mate.16 "Search from the book of the LORD,and read: Not one of these shall fail; Notone shall lack her mate. For My mouth

ISAIAH 34–35 128has commanded it, and His Spirit hasgathered them.17He has cast the lot for them, And Hishand has divided it among them witha measuring line. They shall possess itforever; From genera on to genera onthey shall dwell in it."

35 1 The wilderness and thewasteland shall be glad for them,

And the desert shall rejoice and blossomas the rose;2 It shall blossom abundantly andrejoice, Even with joy and singing. Theglory of Lebanon shall be given to it,The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.They shall see the glory of the LORD, Theexcellency of our God.3 Strengthen the weak hands, Andmakefirm the feeble knees.4 Say to those who are fearful–hearted,"Be strong, do not fear! Behold, yourGod will come with vengeance, With the

ISAIAH 35 129recompense of God; He will come andsave you."5 Then the eyes of the blind shall beopened, And the ears of the deaf shallbe unstopped.6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,And the tongue of the dumb sing. Forwaters shall burst forth in thewilderness,And streams in the desert.7 The parched ground shall becomea pool, And the thirsty land springs ofwater; In the habita on of jackals, whereeach lay, There shall be grass with reedsand rushes.8A highway shall be there, and a road,And it shall be called the Highway ofHoliness. The unclean shall not pass overit, But it shall be for others. Whoeverwalks the road, although a fool, Shall notgo astray.9No lion shall be there, Nor shall anyravenous beast go up on it; It shall not

ISAIAH 35–36 130be found there. But the redeemed shallwalk there,10And the ransomed of the LORD shallreturn, And come to Zion with singing,With everlas ng joy on their heads.They shall obtain joy and gladness, Andsorrow and sighing shall flee away.

36 1Now it came to pass in thefourteenth year of King Hezekiah

that Sennacherib king of Assyria cameup against all the for fied ci es of Judahand took them.2 Then the king of Assyria sent theRabshakeh with a great army fromLachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.And he stood by the aqueduct fromthe upper pool, on the highway to theFuller’s Field.3And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, whowas over the household, Shebna thescribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, therecorder, came out to him.

ISAIAH 36 1314 Then the Rabshakeh said to them,"Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says thegreat king, the king of Assyria: "Whatconfidence is this in which you trust?5 "I say you speak of having plans andpower for war; but they are mere words.Now in whom do you trust, that yourebel against me?6 "Look! You are trus ng in the staff ofthis broken reed, Egypt, on which if aman leans, it will go into his hand andpierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt toall who trust in him.7 "But if you say to me, ‘We trust inthe LORD our God,’ is it not He whosehigh places and whose altars Hezekiahhas taken away, and said to Judah andJerusalem, ‘You shall worship before thisaltar’?"’8 "Now therefore, I urge you, givea pledge to my master the king ofAssyria, and I will give you two thousand

ISAIAH 36 132horses––if you are able on your part toput riders on them!9 "How then will you repel one captainof the least of my master’s servants, andput your trust in Egypt for chariots andhorsemen?10 "Have I now come up without theLORD against this land to destroy it? TheLORD said to me, ‘Go up against thisland, and destroy it.’"11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah saidto the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to yourservants in the Aramaic language, for weunderstand it; and do not speak to usin Hebrew in the hearing of the peoplewho are on the wall."12 But the Rabshakeh said, "Has mymaster sent me to your master and toyou to speak these words, and not to themen who sit on the wall, who will eatand drink their own waste with you?"

ISAIAH 36 13313 Then the Rabshakeh stood and calledout with a loud voice in Hebrew, andsaid, "Hear the words of the great king,the king of Assyria!14 "Thus says the king: ‘Do not letHezekiah deceive you, for he will not beable to deliver you;15 ‘nor let Hezekiah make you trust inthe LORD, saying, "The LORD will surelydeliver us; this city will not be given intothe hand of the king of Assyria."’16 "Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thussays the king of Assyria: ‘Make peacewith me by a present and come out tome; and every one of you eat from hisown vine and every one from his ownfig tree, and every one of you drink thewaters of his own cistern;17 ‘un l I come and take you away toa land like your own land, a land ofgrain and new wine, a land of bread andvineyards.

ISAIAH 36 13418 ‘Beware lest Hezekiah persuadeyou, saying, "The LORD will deliver us."Has any one of the gods of the na onsdelivered its land from the hand of theking of Assyria?19 ‘Where are the gods of Hamathand Arpad? Where are the godsof Sepharvaim? Indeed, have theydelivered Samaria from my hand?20 ‘Who among all the gods of theselands have delivered their countriesfrom my hand, that the LORD shoulddeliver Jerusalem from my hand?’"21 But they held their peace andanswered him not a word; for the king’scommandment was, "Do not answerhim."22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, whowas over the household, Shebna thescribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, therecorder, came to Hezekiah with their

ISAIAH 37 135clothes torn, and told him the words ofthe Rabshakeh.

37 1And so it was, when KingHezekiah heard it, that he tore his

clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,and went into the house of the LORD.2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was overthe household, Shebna the scribe, andthe elders of the priests, covered withsackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the sonof Amoz.3And they said to him, "Thus saysHezekiah: ‘This day is a day of troubleand rebuke and blasphemy; for thechildren have come to birth, but there isno strength to bring them forth.4 ‘It may be that the LORD your God willhear the words of the Rabshakeh, whomhis master the king of Assyria has sent toreproach the living God, and will rebukethe words which the LORD your God has

ISAIAH 37 136heard. Therefore li up your prayer forthe remnant that is le .’"5 So the servants of King Hezekiah cameto Isaiah.6And Isaiah said to them, "Thus shallyou say to your master, ‘Thus says theLORD: "Do not be afraid of the wordswhich you have heard, with which theservants of the king of Assyria haveblasphemed Me.7 "Surely I will send a spirit upon him,and he shall hear a rumor and return tohis own land; and I will cause him to fallby the sword in his own land."’"8 Then the Rabshakeh returned, andfound the king of Assyria warringagainst Libnah, for he heard that he haddeparted from Lachish.9And the king heard concerningTirhakah king of Ethiopia, "He has comeout to make war with you." So when

ISAIAH 37 137he heard it, he sent messengers toHezekiah, saying,10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiahking of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let yourGod in whom you trust deceive you,saying, "Jerusalem shall not be giveninto the hand of the king of Assyria."11 ‘Look! You have heard what the kingsof Assyria have done to all lands byu erly destroying them; and shall yoube delivered?12 ‘Have the gods of the na onsdelivered those whom my fathers havedestroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph,and the people of Eden who were inTelassar?13 ‘Where is the king of Hamath, theking of Arpad, and the king of the city ofSepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?’"14And Hezekiah received the le erfrom the hand of the messengers, andread it; and Hezekiah went up to the

ISAIAH 37 138house of the LORD, and spread it beforethe LORD.15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD,saying:16 "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, theOne who dwells between the cherubim,You are God, You alone, of all thekingdoms of the earth. You have madeheaven and earth.17 "Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear;open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; andhear all the words of Sennacherib, whichhe has sent to reproach the living God.18 "Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyriahave laid waste all the na ons and theirlands,19 "and have cast their gods into thefire; for they were not gods, but thework of men’s hands––wood and stone.Therefore they have destroyed them.20 "Now therefore, O LORD our God,save us from his hand, that all the

ISAIAH 37 139kingdoms of the earth may know thatYou are the LORD, You alone."21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sentto Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says theLORD God of Israel, ‘Because you haveprayed to Me against Sennacherib kingof Assyria,22 ‘this is the word which the LORDhas spoken concerning him: "The virgin,the daughter of Zion, Has despised you,laughed you to scorn; The daughter ofJerusalem Has shaken her head behindyour back!23 "Whom have you reproached andblasphemed? Against whom have youraised your voice, And li ed up your eyeson high? Against the Holy One of Israel.24 By your servants youhave reproachedthe Lord, And said, ‘By the mul tudeof my chariots I have come up to theheight of the mountains, To the limits ofLebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars

ISAIAH 37 140And its choice cypress trees; I will enterits farthest height, To its frui ul forest.25 I have dug and drunk water, And withthe soles of my feet I have dried up Allthe brooks of defense.’26 "Did you not hear long ago HowI made it, From ancient mes that Iformed it? Now I have brought it to pass,That you should be For crushing for fiedci es into heaps of ruins.27 Therefore their inhabitants hadli le power; They were dismayed andconfounded; They were as the grassof the field And the green herb, Asthe grass on the housetops And grainblighted before it is grown.28 "But I know your dwelling place, Yourgoing out and your coming in, And yourrage against Me.29 Because your rage against Me andyour tumult Have come up to My ears,Therefore I will put My hook in your nose

ISAIAH 37 141And My bridle in your lips, And I will turnyou back By the way which you came."’30 "This shall be a sign to you: You shalleat this year such as grows of itself, Andthe second year what springs from thesame; Also in the third year sow andreap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit ofthem.31And the remnant who have escapedof the house of Judah Shall again takeroot downward, And bear fruit upward.32 For out of Jerusalem shall go aremnant, And those who escape fromMount Zion. The zeal of the LORD ofhosts will do this.33 "Therefore thus says the LORDconcerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shallnot come into this city, Nor shoot anarrow there, Nor come before it withshield, Nor build a siege mound againstit.

ISAIAH 37 14234 By the way that he came, By thesame shall he return; And he shall notcome into this city,’ Says the LORD.35 ‘For I will defend this city, to save itFor My own sake and for My servantDavid’s sake.’"36 Then the angel of the LORD went out,and killed in the camp of the Assyriansone hundred and eighty–five thousand;and when people arose early in themorning, there were the corpses––alldead.37 So Sennacherib king of Assyriadeparted and went away, returnedhome, and remained at Nineveh.38Now it came to pass, as he wasworshiping in the house of Nisroch hisgod, that his sons Adrammelech andSharezer struck him down with thesword; and they escaped into the land ofArarat. Then Esarhaddon his son reignedin his place.

ISAIAH 38 143

38 1 In those days Hezekiah was sickand near death. And Isaiah the

prophet, the son of Amoz, went to himand said to him, "Thus says the LORD:‘Set your house in order, for you shall dieand not live.’"2 Then Hezekiah turned his face towardthe wall, and prayed to the LORD,3 and said, "Remember now, O LORD,I pray, how I have walked before You intruth and with a loyal heart, and havedone what is good in Your sight." AndHezekiah wept bi erly.4And the word of the LORD came toIsaiah, saying,5 "Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says theLORD, the God of David your father:"I have heard your prayer, I have seenyour tears; surely I will add to your daysfi een years.

ISAIAH 38 1446 "I will deliver you and this city fromthe hand of the king of Assyria, and I willdefend this city."’7 "And this is the sign to you from theLORD, that the LORD will do this thingwhich He has spoken:8 "Behold, I will bring the shadow onthe sundial, which has gone down withthe sun on the sundial of Ahaz, tendegrees backward." So the sun returnedten degrees on the dial by which it hadgone down.9 This is the wri ng of Hezekiah king ofJudah, when he had been sick and hadrecovered from his sickness:10 I said, "In the prime of my life I shallgo to the gates of Sheol; I am deprivedof the remainder of my years."11 I said, "I shall not see YAH, The LORDin the land of the living; I shall observeman no more among the inhabitants ofthe world.

ISAIAH 38 14512My life span is gone, Taken from melike a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off mylife like a weaver. He cuts me off fromthe loom; From day un l night You makean end of me.13 I have considered un l morning––Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones;From day un l night You make an end ofme.14 Like a crane or a swallow, so Icha ered; I mourned like a dove; Myeyes fail from looking upward. O LORD, Iam oppressed; Undertake for me!15 "What shall I say? He has bothspoken to me, And He Himself has doneit. I shall walk carefully all my years Inthe bi erness of my soul.16O Lord, by these things men live; Andin all these things is the life of my spirit;So You will restore me and make me live.17 Indeed it was for my own peace ThatI had great bi erness; But You have

ISAIAH 38–39 146lovingly delivered my soul from the pitof corrup on, For You have cast all mysins behind Your back.18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Deathcannot praise You; Those who go downto the pit cannot hope for Your truth.19 The living, the living man, he shallpraise You, As I do this day; The fathershall make known Your truth to thechildren.20 "The LORD was ready to save me;Therefore we will sing my songs withstringed instruments All the days of ourlife, in the house of the LORD."21Now Isaiah had said, "Let them takea lump of figs, and apply it as a poul ceon the boil, and he shall recover."22And Hezekiah had said, "What is thesign that I shall go up to the house of theLORD?"

39 1At that me Merodach–Baladanthe son of Baladan, king of

ISAIAH 39 147Babylon, sent le ers and a present toHezekiah, for he heard that he had beensick and had recovered.2And Hezekiah was pleased withthem, and showed them the house ofhis treasures––the silver and gold, thespices and precious ointment, and allhis armory––all that was found amonghis treasures. There was nothing inhis house or in all his dominion thatHezekiah did not show them.3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to KingHezekiah, and said to him, "What didthese men say, and from where did theycome to you?" So Hezekiah said, "Theycame to me from a far country, fromBabylon."4And he said, "What have they seenin your house?" So Hezekiah answered,"They have seen all that is in my house;there is nothing among my treasuresthat I have not shown them."

ISAIAH 39–40 1485 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hearthe word of the LORD of hosts:6 ‘Behold, the days are coming whenall that is in your house, and what yourfathers have accumulated un l this day,shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shallbe le ,’ says the LORD.7 ‘And they shall take away some ofyour sons who will descend from you,whom you will beget; and they shallbe eunuchs in the palace of the king ofBabylon.’"8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The wordof the LORD which you have spoken isgood!" For he said, "At least there willbe peace and truth in my days."

40 1 "Comfort, yes, comfort Mypeople!" Says your God.

2 "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cryout to her, That her warfare is ended,That her iniquity is pardoned; For she

ISAIAH 40 149has received from the LORD’S handDouble for all her sins."3 The voice of one crying in thewilderness: "Prepare the way of theLORD; Make straight in the desert Ahighway for our God.4 Every valley shall be exalted And everymountain and hill brought low; Thecrooked places shall be made straightAnd the rough places smooth;5 The glory of the LORD shall berevealed, And all flesh shall see ittogether; For the mouth of the LORD hasspoken."6 The voice said, "Cry out!" And he said,"What shall I cry?" "All flesh is grass, Andall its loveliness is like the flower of thefield.7 The grass withers, the flower fades,Because the breath of the LORD blowsupon it; Surely the people are grass.

ISAIAH 40 1508 The grass withers, the flower fades,But the word of our God stands forever."9O Zion, You who bring good dings,Get up into the high mountain; OJerusalem, You who bring good dings,Li up your voice with strength, Li it up,be not afraid; Say to the ci es of Judah,"Behold your God!"10 Behold, the Lord GOD shall comewith a strong hand, And His arm shallrule for Him; Behold, His reward is withHim, And His work before Him.11He will feed His flock like a shepherd;He will gather the lambs with His arm,And carry them in His bosom, And gentlylead those who are with young.12Who has measured the waters in thehollow of His hand, Measured heavenwith a span And calculated the dust ofthe earth in a measure? Weighed themountains in scales And the hills in abalance?

ISAIAH 40 15113Who has directed the Spirit of theLORD, Or as His counselor has taughtHim?14With whom did He take counsel, andwho instructed Him, And taught Himin the path of jus ce? Who taught Himknowledge, And showed Him the way ofunderstanding?15 Behold, the na ons are as a drop ina bucket, And are counted as the smalldust on the scales; Look, He li s up theisles as a very li le thing.16And Lebanon is not sufficient toburn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burntoffering.17All na ons before Him are as nothing,And they are counted by Him less thannothing and worthless.18 To whom then will you liken God? Orwhat likeness will you compare to Him?

ISAIAH 40 15219 The workman molds an image, Thegoldsmith overspreads it with gold, Andthe silversmith casts silver chains.20Whoever is too impoverished forsuch a contribu on Chooses a tree thatwill not rot; He seeks for himself a skillfulworkman To prepare a carved imagethat will not to er.21Have you not known? Have you notheard? Has it not been told you from thebeginning? Have you not understoodfrom the founda ons of the earth?22 It is He who sits above the circle ofthe earth, And its inhabitants are likegrasshoppers, Who stretches out theheavens like a curtain, And spreads themout like a tent to dwell in.23He brings the princes to nothing; Hemakes the judges of the earth useless.24 Scarcely shall they be planted,Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcelyshall their stock take root in the earth,

ISAIAH 40 153When He will also blow on them, Andthey will wither, And the whirlwind willtake them away like stubble.25 "To whom then will you liken Me, Orto whom shall I be equal?" says the HolyOne.26 Li up your eyes on high, And seewho has created these things, Whobrings out their host by number; He callsthem all by name, By the greatness ofHis might And the strength of His power;Not one is missing.27Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak,O Israel: "My way is hidden from theLORD, And my just claim is passed overby my God"?28Have you not known? Have younot heard? The everlas ng God, theLORD, The Creator of the ends of theearth, Neither faints nor is weary. Hisunderstanding is unsearchable.

ISAIAH 40–41 15429He gives power to the weak, And tothose who have no might He increasesstrength.30 Even the youths shall faint and beweary, And the young men shall u erlyfall,31 But those who wait on the LORDShall renew their strength; They shallmount up with wings like eagles, Theyshall run and not be weary, They shallwalk and not faint.

41 1 "Keep silence before Me, Ocoastlands, And let the people

renew their strength! Let them comenear, then let them speak; Let us comenear together for judgment.2 "Who raised up one from the east?Who in righteousness called him to Hisfeet? Who gave the na ons before him,And made him rule over kings? Whogave them as the dust to his sword, Asdriven stubble to his bow?

ISAIAH 41 1553Who pursued them, and passed safelyBy the way that he had not gone with hisfeet?4Who has performed and doneit, Calling the genera ons from thebeginning? ‘I, the LORD, am the first;And with the last I am He.’"5 The coastlands saw it and feared, Theends of the earth were afraid; They drewnear and came.6 Everyone helped his neighbor, Andsaid to his brother, "Be of good courage!"7 So the cra sman encouraged thegoldsmith; He who smooths with thehammer inspired him who strikesthe anvil, Saying, "It is ready for thesoldering"; Then he fastened it withpegs, That it might not to er.8 "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacobwhom I have chosen, The descendantsof Abraham My friend.

ISAIAH 41 1569 You whom I have taken from the endsof the earth, And called from its farthestregions, And said to you, ‘You are Myservant, I have chosen you and have notcast you away:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be notdismayed, for I am your God. I willstrengthen you, Yes, I will help you, Iwill uphold you with My righteous righthand.’11 "Behold, all those who were incensedagainst you Shall be ashamed anddisgraced; They shall be as nothing, Andthose who strive with you shall perish.12 You shall seek them and not findthem––Those who contended with you.Those who war against you Shall be asnothing, As a nonexistent thing.13 For I, the LORD your God, will holdyour right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not,I will help you.’

ISAIAH 41 15714 "Fear not, you worm Jacob, You menof Israel! I will help you," says the LORDAnd your Redeemer, the Holy One ofIsrael.15 "Behold, I will make you into a newthreshing sledge with sharp teeth; Youshall thresh the mountains and beatthem small, And make the hills like chaff.16 You shall winnow them, the windshall carry them away, And the whirlwindshall sca er them; You shall rejoice inthe LORD, And glory in the Holy One ofIsrael.17 "The poor and needy seek water,but there is none, Their tongues fail forthirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, theGod of Israel, will not forsake them.18 I will open rivers in desolate heights,And fountains in the midst of the valleys;I will make the wilderness a pool ofwater, And the dry land springs of water.

ISAIAH 41 15819 I will plant in the wilderness thecedar and the acacia tree, The myrtleand the oil tree; I will set in the desertthe cypress tree and the pine And thebox tree together,20 That they may see and know, Andconsider and understand together, Thatthe hand of the LORD has done this, Andthe Holy One of Israel has created it.21 "Present your case," says the LORD."Bring forth your strong reasons," saysthe King of Jacob.22 "Let them bring forth and show uswhat will happen; Let them show theformer things, what they were, That wemay consider them, And know the la erend of them; Or declare to us things tocome.23 Show the things that are to comeherea er, That we may know that youare gods; Yes, do good or do evil, Thatwe may be dismayed and see it together.

ISAIAH 41 15924 Indeed you are nothing, And yourwork is nothing; He who chooses you isan abomina on.25 "I have raised up one from the north,And he shall come; From the rising ofthe sun he shall call on My name; Andhe shall come against princes as thoughmortar, As the po er treads clay.26Who has declared from thebeginning, that we may know? Andformer mes, that we may say, ‘Heis righteous’? Surely there is no onewho shows, Surely there is no one whodeclares, Surely there is no one whohears your words.27 The first me I said to Zion, ‘Look,there they are!’ And I will give toJerusalem one who brings good dings.28 For I looked, and there was no man;I looked among them, but there was nocounselor, Who, when I asked of them,could answer a word.

ISAIAH 41–42 16029 Indeed they are all worthless; Theirworks are nothing; Their molded imagesare wind and confusion.

42 1 "Behold! My Servant whom Iuphold, My Elect One in whom

My soul delights! I have put My Spiritupon Him; He will bring forth jus ce tothe Gen les.2He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,Nor cause His voice to be heard in thestreet.3A bruised reed He will not break, Andsmoking flax He will not quench; He willbring forth jus ce for truth.4He will not fail nor be discouraged, TillHe has established jus ce in the earth;And the coastlands shall wait for Hislaw."5 Thus says God the LORD, Who createdthe heavens and stretched them out,Who spread forth the earth and thatwhich comes from it, Who gives breath

ISAIAH 42 161to the people on it, And spirit to thosewho walk on it:6 "I, the LORD, have called You inrighteousness, And will hold Your hand; Iwill keep You and give You as a covenantto the people, As a light to the Gen les,7 To open blind eyes, To bring outprisoners from the prison, Those who sitin darkness from the prison house.8 I am the LORD, that is My name; AndMy glory I will not give to another, NorMy praise to carved images.9 Behold, the former things have cometo pass, And new things I declare; Beforethey spring forth I tell you of them."10 Sing to the LORD a new song, And Hispraise from the ends of the earth, Youwho go down to the sea, and all that isin it, You coastlands and you inhabitantsof them!11 Let the wilderness and its ci es liup their voice, The villages that Kedar

ISAIAH 42 162inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,Let them shout from the top of themountains.12 Let them give glory to the LORD, Anddeclare His praise in the coastlands.13 The LORD shall go forth like a mightyman; He shall s r up His zeal like a manof war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud;He shall prevail against His enemies.14 "I have held My peace a long me,I have been s ll and restrained Myself.Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I willpant and gasp at once.15 I will lay waste the mountains andhills, And dry up all their vegeta on; Iwill make the rivers coastlands, And I willdry up the pools.16 I will bring the blind by a way they didnot know; I will lead them in paths theyhave not known. I will make darknesslight before them, And crooked places

ISAIAH 42 163straight. These things I will do for them,And not forsake them.17 They shall be turned back, They shallbe greatly ashamed, Who trust in carvedimages, Who say to the molded images,‘You are our gods.’18 "Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind,that you may see.19Who is blind but My servant, Or deafas My messenger whom I send? Who isblind as he who is perfect, And blind asthe LORD’S servant?20 Seeing many things, but you do notobserve; Opening the ears, but he doesnot hear."21 The LORD is well pleased for Hisrighteousness’ sake; He will exalt the lawand make it honorable.22 But this is a people robbed andplundered; All of them are snared inholes, And they are hidden in prisonhouses; They are for prey, and no one

ISAIAH 42–43 164delivers; For plunder, and no one says,"Restore!"23Who among you will give ear to this?Who will listen and hear for the me tocome?24Who gave Jacob for plunder, andIsrael to the robbers? Was it not theLORD, He against whomwe have sinned?For they would not walk in His ways, Norwere they obedient to His law.25 Therefore He has poured on him thefury of His anger And the strength ofba le; It has set him on fire all around,Yet he did not know; And it burned him,Yet he did not take it to heart.

43 1 But now, thus says the LORD,who created you, O Jacob, And

He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not,for I have redeemed you; I have calledyou by your name; You are Mine.2When you pass through the waters, Iwill be with you; And through the rivers,

ISAIAH 43 165they shall not overflow you. When youwalk through the fire, you shall not beburned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.3 For I am the LORD your God, The HolyOne of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egyptfor your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba inyour place.4 Since you were precious in My sight,You have been honored, And I haveloved you; Therefore I will give men foryou, And people for your life.5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bringyour descendants from the east, Andgather you from the west;6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’And to the south, ‘Do not keep themback!’ Bring My sons from afar, And Mydaughters from the ends of the earth––7 Everyone who is called by My name,Whom I have created for My glory; Ihave formed him, yes, I have made him."

ISAIAH 43 1668 Bring out the blind people who haveeyes, And the deaf who have ears.9 Let all the na ons be gatheredtogether, And let the people beassembled. Who among them candeclare this, And show us former things?Let them bring out their witnesses, thatthey may be jus fied; Or let them hearand say, "It is truth."10 "You are My witnesses," says theLORD, "And My servant whom I havechosen, That you may know and believeMe, And understand that I am He. BeforeMe there was no God formed, Nor shallthere be a er Me.11 I, even I, am the LORD, And besidesMe there is no savior.12 I have declared and saved, I haveproclaimed, And there was no foreigngod among you; Therefore you are Mywitnesses," Says the LORD, "that I amGod.

ISAIAH 43 16713 Indeed before the day was, I am He;And there is no one who can deliver outof My hand; I work, and who will reverseit?"14 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,The Holy One of Israel: "For your sake Iwill send to Babylon, And bring them alldown as fugi ves––The Chaldeans, whorejoice in their ships.15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, TheCreator of Israel, your King."16 Thus says the LORD, who makes away in the sea And a path through themighty waters,17Who brings forth the chariot andhorse, The army and the power (Theyshall lie down together, they shall notrise; They are ex nguished, they arequenched like a wick):18 "Do not remember the former things,Nor consider the things of old.

ISAIAH 43 16819 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now itshall spring forth; Shall you not know it?I will even make a road in the wildernessAnd rivers in the desert.20 The beast of the field will honor Me,The jackals and the ostriches, Because Igive waters in the wilderness And riversin the desert, To give drink to My people,My chosen.21 This people I have formed for Myself;They shall declare My praise.22 "But you have not called upon Me, OJacob; And you have been weary of Me,O Israel.23 You have not brought Me the sheepfor your burnt offerings, Nor have youhonored Me with your sacrifices. I havenot caused you to serve with grainofferings, Nor wearied you with incense.24 You have bought Me no sweet canewith money, Nor have you sa sfied Mewith the fat of your sacrifices; But you

ISAIAH 43–44 169have burdened Me with your sins, Youhave wearied Me with your iniqui es.25 "I, even I, am He who blots out yourtransgressions for My own sake; And Iwill not remember your sins.26 Put Me in remembrance; Let uscontend together; State your case, thatyou may be acqui ed.27 Your first father sinned, And yourmediators have transgressed against Me.28 Therefore I will profane the princesof the sanctuary; I will give Jacob to thecurse, And Israel to reproaches.

44 1 "Yet hear now, O Jacob Myservant, And Israel whom I have

chosen.2 Thus says the LORD who made youAnd formed you from the womb, whowill help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob Myservant; And you, Jeshurun, whom Ihave chosen.

ISAIAH 44 1703 For I will pour water on him who isthirsty, And floods on the dry ground; Iwill pour My Spirit on your descendants,And My blessing on your offspring;4 They will spring up among the grassLike willows by the watercourses.’5One will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’;Another will call himself by the name ofJacob; Another will write with his hand,‘The LORD’S,’ And name himself by thename of Israel.6 "Thus says the LORD, the King ofIsrael, And his Redeemer, the LORD ofhosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last;Besides Me there is no God.7And who can proclaim as I do? Thenlet him declare it and set it in orderfor Me, Since I appointed the ancientpeople. And the things that are comingand shall come, Let them show these tothem.

ISAIAH 44 1718Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I nottold you from that me, and declaredit? You are My witnesses. Is there a Godbesides Me? Indeed there is no otherRock; I know not one.’"9 Those who make an image, all of themare useless, And their precious thingsshall not profit; They are their ownwitnesses; They neither see nor know,that they may be ashamed.10Who would form a god or mold animage That profits him nothing?11 Surely all his companions would beashamed; And the workmen, they aremere men. Let them all be gatheredtogether, Let them stand up; Yet theyshall fear, They shall be ashamedtogether.12 The blacksmith with the tongsworks one in the coals, Fashions it withhammers, And works it with the strengthof his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and

ISAIAH 44 172his strength fails; He drinks no water andis faint.13 The cra sman stretches out his rule,Hemarks one out with chalk; He fashionsit with a plane, He marks it out with thecompass, And makes it like the figureof a man, According to the beauty of aman, that it may remain in the house.14He cuts down cedars for himself,And takes the cypress and the oak; Hesecures it for himself among the trees ofthe forest. He plants a pine, and the rainnourishes it.15 Then it shall be for a man to burn,For he will take some of it and warmhimself; Yes, he kindles it and bakesbread; Indeed he makes a god andworships it; He makes it a carved image,and falls down to it.16He burns half of it in the fire; Withthis half he eats meat; He roasts a roast,and is sa sfied. He even warms himself

ISAIAH 44 173and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seenthe fire."17And the rest of it he makes into agod, His carved image. He falls downbefore it and worships it, Prays to it andsays, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"18 They do not know nor understand;For He has shut their eyes, so that theycannot see, And their hearts, so thatthey cannot understand.19And no one considers in his heart, Noris there knowledge nor understandingto say, "I have burned half of it in thefire, Yes, I have also baked bread on itscoals; I have roasted meat and eatenit; And shall I make the rest of it anabomina on? Shall I fall down before ablock of wood?"20He feeds on ashes; A deceived hearthas turned him aside; And he cannotdeliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not alie in my right hand?"

ISAIAH 44 17421 "Remember these, O Jacob, AndIsrael, for you are My servant; I haveformed you, you are My servant; OIsrael, you will not be forgo en by Me!22 I have blo ed out, like a thick cloud,your transgressions, And like a cloud,your sins. Return to Me, for I haveredeemed you."23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD hasdone it! Shout, you lower parts of theearth; Break forth into singing, youmountains, O forest, and every tree in it!For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, Andglorified Himself in Israel.24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,And He who formed you from thewomb: "I am the LORD, who makes allthings, Who stretches out the heavensall alone, Who spreads abroad the earthby Myself;25Who frustrates the signs of thebabblers, And drives diviners mad; Who

ISAIAH 44–45 175turns wise men backward, And makestheir knowledge foolishness;26Who confirms the word of Hisservant, And performs the counsel ofHis messengers; Who says to Jerusalem,‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the ci es ofJudah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raiseup her waste places;27Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And Iwill dry up your rivers’;28Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is Myshepherd, And he shall perform all Mypleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "Youshall be built," And to the temple, "Yourfounda on shall be laid."’

45 1 "Thus says the LORD to Hisanointed, To Cyrus, whose right

hand I have held––To subdue na onsbefore him And loose the armor of kings,To open before him the double doors, Sothat the gates will not be shut:

ISAIAH 45 1762 ‘I will go before you And make thecrooked places straight; I will break inpieces the gates of bronze And cut thebars of iron.3 I will give you the treasures ofdarkness And hidden riches of secretplaces, That you may know that I, theLORD, Who call you by your name, Amthe God of Israel.4 For Jacob My servant’s sake, AndIsrael My elect, I have even called you byyour name; I have named you, thoughyou have not known Me.5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;There is no God besides Me. I will girdyou, though you have not known Me,6 That they may know from the rising ofthe sun to its se ng That there is nonebesides Me. I am the LORD, and there isno other;

ISAIAH 45 1777 I form the light and create darkness,I make peace and create calamity; I, theLORD, do all these things.’8 "Rain down, you heavens, fromabove, And let the skies pour downrighteousness; Let the earth open, letthem bring forth salva on, And letrighteousness spring up together. I, theLORD, have created it.9 "Woe to him who strives with hisMaker! Let the potsherd strive with thepotsherds of the earth! Shall the claysay to him who forms it, ‘What are youmaking?’ Or shall your handiwork say,‘He has no hands’?10Woe to him who says to his father,‘What are you bege ng?’ Or to thewoman, ‘What have you brought forth?’"11 Thus says the LORD, The Holy Oneof Israel, and his Maker: "Ask Me ofthings to come concerning My sons; And

ISAIAH 45 178concerning the work of My hands, youcommand Me.12 I have made the earth, And createdman on it. I––My hands––stretched outthe heavens, And all their host I havecommanded.13 I have raised him up in righteousness,And I will direct all his ways; He shallbuild My city And let My exiles go free,Not for price nor reward," Says the LORDof hosts.14 Thus says the LORD: "The labor ofEgypt and merchandise of Cush Andof the Sabeans, men of stature, Shallcome over to you, and they shall beyours; They shall walk behind you, Theyshall come over in chains; And theyshall bow down to you. They will makesupplica on to you, saying, ‘Surely Godis in you, And there is no other; There isno other God.’"

ISAIAH 45 17915 Truly You are God, who hide Yourself,O God of Israel, the Savior!16 They shall be ashamed And alsodisgraced, all of them; They shall go inconfusion together, Who are makers ofidols.17 But Israel shall be saved by the LORDWith an everlas ng salva on; You shallnot be ashamed or disgraced Foreverand ever.18 For thus says the LORD, Whocreated the heavens, Who is God, Whoformed the earth and made it, Who hasestablished it, Who did not create it invain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "Iam the LORD, and there is no other.19 I have not spoken in secret, In a darkplace of the earth; I did not say to theseed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, theLORD, speak righteousness, I declarethings that are right.

ISAIAH 45 18020 "Assemble yourselves and come;Draw near together, You who haveescaped from the na ons. They have noknowledge, Who carry the wood of theircarved image, And pray to a god thatcannot save.21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, letthem take counsel together. Who hasdeclared this from ancient me? Whohas told it from that me? Have not I,the LORD? And there is no other Godbesides Me, A just God and a Savior;There is none besides Me.22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All youends of the earth! For I am God, andthere is no other.23 I have sworn by Myself; The word hasgone out of My mouth in righteousness,And shall not return, That to Me everyknee shall bow, Every tongue shall takean oath.

ISAIAH 45–46 18124He shall say, ‘Surely in the LORD Ihave righteousness and strength. ToHim men shall come, And all shall beashamed Who are incensed against Him.25 In the LORD all the descendants ofIsrael Shall be jus fied, and shall glory.’"

46 1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops;Their idols were on the beasts

and on the ca le. Your carriages wereheavily loaded, A burden to the wearybeast.2 They stoop, they bow down together;They could not deliver the burden, Buthave themselves gone into cap vity.3 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, Andall the remnant of the house of Israel,Who have been upheld by Me frombirth, Who have been carried from thewomb:4 Even to your old age, I am He, Andeven to gray hairs I will carry you! I have

ISAIAH 46 182made, and I will bear; Even I will carry,and will deliver you.5 "To whomwill you liken Me, and makeMe equal And compare Me, that weshould be alike?6 They lavish gold out of the bag, Andweigh silver on the scales; They hire agoldsmith, and he makes it a god; Theyprostrate themselves, yes, they worship.7 They bear it on the shoulder, theycarry it And set it in its place, and itstands; From its place it shall not move.Though one cries out to it, yet it cannotanswer Nor save him out of his trouble.8 "Remember this, and show yourselvesmen; Recall tomind, O you transgressors.9 Remember the former things of old,For I am God, and there is no other; I amGod, and there is none like Me,10Declaring the end from thebeginning, And from ancient mesthings that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My

ISAIAH 46–47 183counsel shall stand, And I will do all Mypleasure,’11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,The man who executes My counsel, froma far country. Indeed I have spoken it; Iwill also bring it to pass. I have purposedit; I will also do it.12 "Listen toMe, you stubborn–hearted,Who are far from righteousness:13 I bring My righteousness near, it shallnot be far off; My salva on shall notlinger. And I will place salva on in Zion,For Israel My glory.

47 1 "Come down and sit in the dust,O virgin daughter of Babylon;

Sit on the ground without a throne, Odaughter of the Chaldeans! For you shallno more be called Tender and delicate.2 Take the millstones and grind meal.Remove your veil, Take off the skirt,Uncover the thigh, Pass through therivers.

ISAIAH 47 1843 Your nakedness shall be uncovered,Yes, your shame will be seen; I will takevengeance, And I will not arbitrate witha man."4As for our Redeemer, the LORD ofhosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.5 "Sit in silence, and go into darkness,O daughter of the Chaldeans; For youshall no longer be called The Lady ofKingdoms.6 I was angry with My people; I haveprofaned My inheritance, And giventhem into your hand. You showed themno mercy; On the elderly you laid youryoke very heavily.7And you said, ‘I shall be a lady forever,’So that you did not take these things toheart, Nor remember the la er end ofthem.8 "Therefore hear this now, you who aregiven to pleasures, Who dwell securely,Who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there

ISAIAH 47 185is no one else besides me; I shall not sitas a widow, Nor shall I know the loss ofchildren’;9 But these two things shall cometo you In a moment, in one day: Theloss of children, and widowhood. Theyshall come upon you in their fullnessBecause of the mul tude of yoursorceries, For the great abundance ofyour enchantments.10 "For you have trusted in yourwickedness; You have said, ‘No one seesme’; Your wisdom and your knowledgehave warped you; And you have said inyour heart, ‘I am, and there is no oneelse besides me.’11 Therefore evil shall come upon you;You shall not know from where it arises.And trouble shall fall upon you; You willnot be able to put it off. And desola onshall come upon you suddenly, Whichyou shall not know.

ISAIAH 47–48 18612 "Stand now with your enchantmentsAnd the mul tude of your sorceries,In which you have labored from youryouth––Perhaps you will be able toprofit, Perhaps you will prevail.13 You are wearied in the mul tude ofyour counsels; Let now the astrologers,the stargazers, And the monthlyprognos cators Stand up and save youFrom what shall come upon you.14 Behold, they shall be as stubble,The fire shall burn them; They shall notdeliver themselves From the power ofthe flame; It shall not be a coal to bewarmed by, Nor a fire to sit before!15 Thus shall they be to you With whomyou have labored, Your merchants fromyour youth; They shall wander each oneto his quarter. No one shall save you.

48 1 "Hear this, O house of Jacob,Who are called by the name of

Israel, And have come forth from the

ISAIAH 48 187wellsprings of Judah; Who swear by thename of the LORD, And make men onof the God of Israel, But not in truth orin righteousness;2 For they call themselves a er the holycity, And lean on the God of Israel; TheLORD of hosts is His name:3 "I have declared the former thingsfrom the beginning; They went forthfrom My mouth, and I caused them tohear it. Suddenly I did them, and theycame to pass.4 Because I knew that you wereobs nate, And your neck was an ironsinew, And your brow bronze,5 Even from the beginning I havedeclared it to you; Before it came to passI proclaimed it to you, Lest you shouldsay, ‘My idol has done them, And mycarved image and my molded imageHave commanded them.’

ISAIAH 48 1886 "You have heard; See all this. And willyou not declare it? I have made you hearnew things from this me, Even hiddenthings, and you did not know them.7 They are created now and not fromthe beginning; And before this day youhave not heard them, Lest you shouldsay, ‘Of course I knew them.’8 Surely you did not hear, Surely youdid not know; Surely from long ago yourear was not opened. For I knew that youwould deal very treacherously, And werecalled a transgressor from the womb.9 "For My name’s sake I will defer Myanger, And for My praise I will restrain itfrom you, So that I do not cut you off.10 Behold, I have refined you, but not assilver; I have tested you in the furnace ofafflic on.11 For My own sake, for My own sake,I will do it; For how should My name be

ISAIAH 48 189profaned? And I will not give My glory toanother.12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel,My called: I am He, I am the First, I amalso the Last.13 Indeed My hand has laid thefounda on of the earth, And My righthand has stretched out the heavens;When I call to them, They stand uptogether.14 "All of you, assemble yourselves, andhear! Who among them has declaredthese things? The LORD loves him; Heshall do His pleasure on Babylon, AndHis arm shall be against the Chaldeans.15 I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I havecalled him, I have brought him, and hisway will prosper.16 "Come near to Me, hear this: I havenot spoken in secret from the beginning;From the me that it was, I was there.

ISAIAH 48 190And now the Lord GOD and His SpiritHave sent Me."17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORDyour God, Who teaches you to profit,Who leads you by the way you shouldgo.18Oh, that you had heeded Mycommandments! Then your peacewould have been like a river, And yourrighteousness like the waves of the sea.19 Your descendants also would havebeen like the sand, And the offspring ofyour body like the grains of sand; Hisname would not have been cut off Nordestroyed from before Me."20Go forth from Babylon! Flee fromthe Chaldeans! With a voice of singing,Declare, proclaim this, U er it to theend of the earth; Say, "The LORD hasredeemed His servant Jacob!"

ISAIAH 48–49 19121And they did not thirst When He ledthem through the deserts; He causedthe waters to flow from the rock forthem; He also split the rock, and thewaters gushed out.22 "There is no peace," says the LORD,"for the wicked."

49 1 "Listen, O coastlands, to Me,And take heed, you peoples from

afar! The LORD has called Me from thewomb; From the matrix of My motherHe has made men on of My name.2And He has made My mouth likea sharp sword; In the shadow of Hishand He has hidden Me, And made Mea polished sha ; In His quiver He hashidden Me."3 "And He said to me, ‘You are Myservant, O Israel, In whom I will beglorified.’4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, Ihave spent my strength for nothing and

ISAIAH 49 192in vain; Yet surely my just reward is withthe LORD, And my work with my God.’"5 "And now the LORD says, Who formedMe from the womb to be His Servant, Tobring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel isgathered to Him (For I shall be gloriousin the eyes of the LORD, And My Godshall be My strength),6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thingthat You should be My Servant To raiseup the tribes of Jacob, And to restorethe preserved ones of Israel; I will alsogive You as a light to the Gen les, ThatYou should be My salva on to the endsof the earth.’"7 Thus says the LORD, The Redeemerof Israel, their Holy One, To Him whomman despises, To Him whom the na onabhors, To the Servant of rulers: "Kingsshall see and arise, Princes also shallworship, Because of the LORD who is

ISAIAH 49 193faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And Hehas chosen You."8 Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptableme I have heard You, And in the day

of salva on I have helped You; I willpreserve You and give You As a covenantto the people, To restore the earth,To cause them to inherit the desolateheritages;9 That You may say to the prisoners,‘Go forth,’ To those who are in darkness,‘Show yourselves.’ "They shall feed alongthe roads, And their pastures shall be onall desolate heights.10 They shall neither hunger nor thirst,Neither heat nor sun shall strike them;For He who has mercy on them will leadthem, Even by the springs of water Hewill guide them.11 I will make each of My mountainsa road, And My highways shall beelevated.

ISAIAH 49 19412 Surely these shall come from afar;Look! Those from the north and thewest, And these from the land of Sinim."13 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth!And break out in singing, O mountains!For the LORD has comforted His people,And will have mercy on His afflicted.14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsakenme, And my Lord has forgo en me."15 "Can a woman forget her nursingchild, And not have compassion onthe son of her womb? Surely they mayforget, Yet I will not forget you.16 See, I have inscribed you on thepalms of My hands; Your walls arecon nually before Me.17 Your sons shall make haste; Yourdestroyers and those who laid you wasteShall go away from you.18 Li up your eyes, look around andsee; All these gather together and cometo you. As I live," says the LORD, "You

ISAIAH 49 195shall surely clothe yourselves with themall as an ornament, And bind them onyou as a bride does.19 "For your waste and desolate places,And the land of your destruc on,Will even now be too small for theinhabitants; And those who swallowedyou up will be far away.20 The children you will have, A er youhave lost the others, Will say again inyour ears, ‘The place is too small for me;Give me a place where I may dwell.’21 Then you will say in your heart, ‘Whohas bego en these for me, Since I havelost my children and am desolate, Acap ve, and wandering to and fro? Andwho has brought these up? There I was,le alone; But these, where were they?’"22 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold,I will li My hand in an oath to thena ons, And set up My standard for thepeoples; They shall bring your sons in

ISAIAH 49 196their arms, And your daughters shall becarried on their shoulders;23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,And their queens your nursing mothers;They shall bow down to you with theirfaces to the earth, And lick up the dust ofyour feet. Then you will know that I amthe LORD, For they shall not be ashamedwho wait for Me."24 Shall the prey be taken from themighty, Or the cap ves of the righteousbe delivered?25 But thus says the LORD: "Even thecap ves of the mighty shall be takenaway, And the prey of the terrible bedelivered; For I will contend with himwho contends with you, And I will saveyour children.26 I will feed those who oppress youwith their own flesh, And they shallbe drunk with their own blood as withsweet wine. All flesh shall know That

ISAIAH 50 197I, the LORD, am your Savior, And yourRedeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

50 1 Thus says the LORD: "Where isthe cer ficate of your mother’s

divorce, Whom I have put away? Orwhich of My creditors is it to whomI have sold you? For your iniqui esyou have sold yourselves, And for yourtransgressions your mother has beenput away.2Why, when I came, was there no man?Why, when I called, was there none toanswer? Is My hand shortened at all thatit cannot redeem? Or have I no power todeliver? Indeed with My rebuke I dry upthe sea, I make the rivers a wilderness;Their fish s nk because there is nowater, And die of thirst.3 I clothe the heavens with blackness,And I make sackcloth their covering."4 "The Lord GOD has given Me Thetongue of the learned, That I should

ISAIAH 50 198know how to speak A word in seasonto him who is weary. He awakens Memorning by morning, He awakens Myear To hear as the learned.5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear;And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turnaway.6 I gave My back to those who struckMe, And My cheeks to those whoplucked out the beard; I did not hide Myface from shame and spi ng.7 "For the Lord GOD will help Me;Therefore I will not be disgraced;Therefore I have set My face like a flint,And I know that I will not be ashamed.8He is near who jus fies Me; Who willcontend with Me? Let us stand together.Who is My adversary? Let him comenear Me.9 Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;Who is hewhowill condemnMe? Indeed

ISAIAH 50–51 199they will all grow old like a garment; Themoth will eat them up.10 "Who among you 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 LORDAnd rely upon his God.11 Look, all you who kindle a fire, Whoencircle yourselves with sparks: Walk inthe light of your fire and in the sparksyou have kindled––This you shall havefrom My hand: You shall lie down intorment.

51 1 "Listen to Me, you who followa er righteousness, You who

seek the LORD: Look to the rock fromwhich you were hewn, And to the holeof the pit from which you were dug.2 Look to Abraham your father, And toSarah who bore you; For I called himalone, And blessed him and increasedhim."

ISAIAH 51 2003 For the LORD will comfort Zion, Hewill comfort all her waste places; Hewill make her wilderness like Eden, Andher desert like the garden of the LORD;Joy and gladness will be found in it,Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.4 "Listen to Me, My people; And giveear to Me, O My na on: For law willproceed from Me, And I will make Myjus ce rest As a light of the peoples.5My righteousness is near, My salva onhas gone forth, And My arms will judgethe peoples; The coastlands will waitupon Me, And on My arm they will trust.6 Li up your eyes to the heavens,And look on the earth beneath. For theheavens will vanish away like smoke,The earth will grow old like a garment,And those who dwell in it will die inlike manner; But My salva on will beforever, And My righteousness will notbe abolished.

ISAIAH 51 2017 "Listen to Me, you who knowrighteousness, You people in whoseheart is My law: Do not fear the reproachof men, Nor be afraid of their insults.8 For the moth will eat them up like agarment, And the worm will eat themlike wool; But My righteousness willbe forever, And My salva on fromgenera on to genera on."9Awake, awake, put on strength, O armof the LORD! Awake as in the ancientdays, In the genera ons of old. Are Younot the arm that cut Rahab apart, Andwounded the serpent?10Are You not the One who dried upthe sea, The waters of the great deep;That made the depths of the sea a roadFor the redeemed to cross over?11 So the ransomed of the LORD shallreturn, And come to Zion with singing,With everlas ng joy on their heads. They

ISAIAH 51 202shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrowand sighing shall flee away.12 "I, even I, am He who comforts you.Who are you that you should be afraidOf a man who will die, And of the son ofa man who will be made like grass?13And you forget the LORD your Maker,Who stretched out the heavens And laidthe founda ons of the earth; You havefeared con nually every day Because ofthe fury of the oppressor, When he hasprepared to destroy. And where is thefury of the oppressor?14 The cap ve exile hastens, that hemay be loosed, That he should not diein the pit, And that his bread should notfail.15 But I am the LORD your God,Who divided the sea whose wavesroared––The LORD of hosts is His name.16And I have put My words in yourmouth; I have covered you with the

ISAIAH 51 203shadow of My hand, That I may plantthe heavens, Lay the founda ons ofthe earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are Mypeople.’"17Awake, awake! Stand up, OJerusalem, You who have drunk at thehand of the LORD The cup of His fury;You have drunk the dregs of the cup oftrembling, And drained it out.18 There is no one to guide her Amongall the sons she has brought forth; Noris there any who takes her by the handAmong all the sons she has brought up.19 These two things have come to you;Who will be sorry for you? ––Desola onand destruc on, famine and sword––Bywhom will I comfort you?20 Your sons have fainted, They lie at thehead of all the streets, Like an antelopein a net; They are full of the fury of theLORD, The rebuke of your God.

ISAIAH 51–52 20421 Therefore please hear this, youafflicted, And drunk but not with wine.22 Thus says your Lord, The LORD andyour God, Who pleads the cause of Hispeople: "See, I have taken out of yourhand The cup of trembling, The dregs ofthe cup of My fury; You shall no longerdrink it.23 But I will put it into the hand of thosewho afflict you, Who have said to you,‘Lie down, that we may walk over you.’And you have laid your body like theground, And as the street, for those whowalk over."

52 1Awake, awake! Put on yourstrength, O Zion; Put on your

beau ful garments, O Jerusalem, theholy city! For the uncircumcised and theunclean Shall no longer come to you.2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise;Sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself

ISAIAH 52 205from the bonds of your neck, O cap vedaughter of Zion!3 For thus says the LORD: "You have soldyourselves for nothing, And you shall beredeemed without money."4 For thus says the Lord GOD: "Mypeople went down at first Into Egyptto dwell there; Then the Assyrianoppressed them without cause.5Now therefore, what have I here,"says the LORD, "That My people aretaken away for nothing? Those who ruleover them Make them wail," says theLORD, "And My name is blasphemedcon nually every day.6 Therefore My people shall know Myname; Therefore they shall know in thatday That I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, itis I.’"7How beau ful upon the mountainsAre the feet of him who brings goodnews, Who proclaims peace, Who

ISAIAH 52 206brings glad dings of good things, Whoproclaims salva on, Who says to Zion,"Your God reigns!"8 Your watchmen shall li up theirvoices, With their voices they shall singtogether; For they shall see eye to eyeWhen the LORD brings back Zion.9 Break forth into joy, sing together,You waste places of Jerusalem! For theLORD has comforted His people, He hasredeemed Jerusalem.10 The LORD has made bare His holyarm In the eyes of all the na ons; Andall the ends of the earth shall see Thesalva on of our God.11Depart! Depart! Go out from there,Touch no unclean thing; Go out from themidst of her, Be clean, You who bear thevessels of the LORD.12 For you shall not go out with haste,Nor go by flight; For the LORD will go

ISAIAH 52–53 207before you, And the God of Israel will beyour rear guard.13 Behold, My Servant shall dealprudently; He shall be exalted andextolled and be very high.14 Just as many were astonished at you,So His visage was marred more than anyman, And His form more than the sonsof men;15 So shall He sprinkle many na ons.Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; Forwhat had not been told them they shallsee, And what they had not heard theyshall consider.

53 1Who has believed our report?And to whom has the arm of the

LORD been revealed?2 For He shall grow up before Him as atender plant, And as a root out of dryground. He has no form or comeliness;And when we see Him, There is nobeauty that we should desire Him.

ISAIAH 53 2083He is despised and rejected by men,A Man of sorrows and acquainted withgrief. And we hid, as it were, our facesfrom Him; He was despised, and we didnot esteem Him.4 Surely He has borne our griefs Andcarried our sorrows; Yet we esteemedHim stricken, Smi en by God, andafflicted.5 But He was wounded for ourtransgressions, He was bruised for ouriniqui es; The chas sement for ourpeace was upon Him, And by His stripeswe are healed.6All we like sheep have gone astray;We have turned, every one, to his ownway; And the LORD has laid on Him theiniquity of us all.7He was oppressed and He wasafflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth;He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

ISAIAH 53 209And as a sheep before its shearers issilent, So He opened not His mouth.8He was taken from prison and fromjudgment, And who will declare Hisgenera on? For He was cut off from theland of the living; For the transgressionsof My people He was stricken.9And they made His grave with thewicked––But with the rich at His death,Because He had done no violence, Norwas any deceit in His mouth.10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruiseHim; He has put Him to grief. When Youmake His soul an offering for sin, Heshall see His seed, He shall prolong Hisdays, And the pleasure of the LORD shallprosper in His hand.11He shall see the labor of His soul,and be sa sfied. By His knowledge Myrighteous Servant shall jus fy many, ForHe shall bear their iniqui es.

ISAIAH 53–54 21012 Therefore I will divide Him a por onwith the great, And He shall dividethe spoil with the strong, Because Hepoured out His soul unto death, And Hewas numbered with the transgressors,And He bore the sin of many, And madeintercession for the transgressors.

54 1 "Sing, O barren, You who havenot borne! Break forth into

singing, and cry aloud, You who havenot labored with child! For more arethe children of the desolate Than thechildren of the married woman," saysthe LORD.2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, Andlet them stretch out the curtains of yourdwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen yourcords, And strengthen your stakes.3 For you shall expand to the rightand to the le , And your descendantswill inherit the na ons, And make thedesolate ci es inhabited.

ISAIAH 54 2114 "Do not fear, for you will not beashamed; Neither be disgraced, for youwill not be put to shame; For you willforget the shame of your youth, Andwill not remember the reproach of yourwidowhood anymore.5 For your Maker is your husband, TheLORD of hosts is His name; And yourRedeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He iscalled the God of the whole earth.6 For the LORD has called you Like awoman forsaken and grieved in spirit,Like a youthful wife when you wererefused," Says your God.7 "For a mere moment I have forsakenyou, But with great mercies I will gatheryou.8With a li le wrath I hid My face fromyou for a moment; But with everlas ngkindness I will have mercy on you," Saysthe LORD, your Redeemer.

ISAIAH 54 2129 "For this is like the waters of Noahto Me; For as I have sworn That thewaters of Noah would no longer coverthe earth, So have I sworn That I wouldnot be angry with you, nor rebuke you.10 For the mountains shall depart Andthe hills be removed, But My kindnessshall not depart from you, Nor shall Mycovenant of peace be removed," Saysthe LORD, who has mercy on you.11 "O you afflicted one, Tossed withtempest, and not comforted, Behold, Iwill lay your stones with colorful gems,And lay your founda ons with sapphires.12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,Your gates of crystal, And all your wallsof precious stones.13All your children shall be taught bythe LORD, And great shall be the peaceof your children.14 In righteousness you shall beestablished; You shall be far from

ISAIAH 54–55 213oppression, for you shall not fear; Andfrom terror, for it shall not come nearyou.15 Indeed they shall surely assemble,but not because of Me. Whoeverassembles against you shall fall for yoursake.16 "Behold, I have created theblacksmith Who blows the coals in thefire, Who brings forth an instrument forhis work; And I have created the spoilerto destroy.17No weapon formed against youshall prosper, And every tongue whichrises against you in judgment Youshall condemn. This is the heritage ofthe servants of the LORD, And theirrighteousness is from Me," Says theLORD.

55 1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts,Come to the waters; And you

who have no money, Come, buy and eat.

ISAIAH 55 214Yes, come, buy wine and milk Withoutmoney and without price.2Why do you spend money for whatis not bread, And your wages for whatdoes not sa sfy? Listen carefully to Me,and eat what is good, And let your souldelight itself in abundance.3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.Hear, and your soul shall live; And Iwill make an everlas ng covenant withyou––The sure mercies of David.4 Indeed I have given him as a witnessto the people, A leader and commanderfor the people.5 Surely you shall call a na on you donot know, And na ons who do not knowyou shall run to you, Because of theLORD your God, And the Holy One ofIsrael; For He has glorified you."6 Seek the LORD while He may befound, Call upon Him while He is near.

ISAIAH 55 2157 Let the wicked forsake his way, Andthe unrighteous man his thoughts; Lethim return to the LORD, And He will havemercy on him; And to our God, For Hewill abundantly pardon.8 "For My thoughts are not yourthoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,"says the LORD.9 "For as the heavens are higher thanthe earth, So are My ways higher thanyour ways, And My thoughts than yourthoughts.10 "For as the rain comes down, and thesnow from heaven, And do not returnthere, But water the earth, And makeit bring forth and bud, That it may giveseed to the sower And bread to theeater,11 So shall My word be that goes forthfrom My mouth; It shall not return toMe void, But it shall accomplish what I

ISAIAH 55–56 216please, And it shall prosper in the thingfor which I sent it.12 "For you shall go out with joy, And beled out with peace; The mountains andthe hills Shall break forth into singingbefore you, And all the trees of the fieldshall clap their hands.13 Instead of the thorn shall come upthe cypress tree, And instead of the briershall come up the myrtle tree; And itshall be to the LORD for a name, For aneverlas ng sign that shall not be cut off."

56 1 Thus says the LORD: "Keepjus ce, and do righteousness, For

My salva on is about to come, And Myrighteousness to be revealed.2 Blessed is the man who does this, Andthe son of man who lays hold on it; Whokeeps from defiling the Sabbath, Andkeeps his hand from doing any evil."3Do not let the son of the foreignerWho has joined himself to the LORD

ISAIAH 56 217Speak, saying, "The LORD has u erlyseparated me from His people"; Nor letthe eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree."4 For thus says the LORD: "To theeunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, Andchoose what pleases Me, And hold fastMy covenant,5 Even to them I will give in My houseAnd within My walls a place and a nameBe er than that of sons and daughters; Iwill give them an everlas ng name Thatshall not be cut off.6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Whojoin themselves to the LORD, to serveHim, And to love the name of the LORD,to be His servants––Everyone who keepsfrom defiling the Sabbath, And holds fastMy covenant––7 Even them I will bring to My holymountain, And make them joyful in Myhouse of prayer. Their burnt offeringsand their sacrifices Will be accepted on

ISAIAH 56 218My altar; For My house shall be called ahouse of prayer for all na ons."8 The Lord GOD, who gathers theoutcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gatherto him Others besides those who aregathered to him."9All you beasts of the field, come todevour, All you beasts in the forest.10His watchmen are blind, They are allignorant; They are all dumb dogs, Theycannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, lovingto slumber.11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Whichnever have enough. And they areshepherds Who cannot understand;They all look to their own way, Every onefor his own gain, From his own territory.12 "Come," one says, "I will bringwine, And we will fill ourselves withintoxica ng drink; Tomorrow will be astoday, And much more abundant."

ISAIAH 57 219

57 1 The righteous perishes, And noman takes it to heart; Merciful

men are taken away, While no oneconsiders That the righteous is takenaway from evil.2He shall enter into peace; They shallrest in their beds, Each one walking inhis uprightness.3 "But come here, You sons of thesorceress, You offspring of the adultererand the harlot!4Whom do you ridicule? Against whomdo you make a wide mouth And s ckout the tongue? Are you not children oftransgression, Offspring of falsehood,5 Inflaming yourselves with gods underevery green tree, Slaying the childrenin the valleys, Under the cle s of therocks?6Among the smooth stones of thestream Is your por on; They, they, areyour lot! Even to them you have poured

ISAIAH 57 220a drink offering, You have offered a grainoffering. Should I receive comfort inthese?7 "On a lo y and high mountain Youhave set your bed; Even there you wentup To offer sacrifice.8Also behind the doors and their postsYou have set up your remembrance; Foryou have uncovered yourself to thoseother than Me, And have gone up tothem; You have enlarged your bed Andmade a covenant with them; You haveloved their bed, Where you saw theirnudity.9 You went to the king with ointment,And increased your perfumes; Yousent your messengers far off, And evendescended to Sheol.10 You are wearied in the length of yourway; Yet you did not say, ‘There is nohope.’ You have found the life of yourhand; Therefore you were not grieved.

ISAIAH 57 22111 "And of whom have you been afraid,or feared, That you have lied And notremembered Me, Nor taken it to yourheart? Is it not because I have held Mypeace from of old That you do not fearMe?12 I will declare your righteousness Andyour works, For they will not profit you.13When you cry out, Let your collec onof idols deliver you. But the wind willcarry them all away, A breath will takethem. But he who puts his trust in Meshall possess the land, And shall inheritMy holy mountain."14And one shall say, "Heap it up!Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take thestumbling block out of the way of Mypeople."15 For thus says the High and Lo y OneWho inhabits eternity, whose name isHoly: "I dwell in the high and holy place,With him who has a contrite and humble

ISAIAH 57 222spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble,And to revive the heart of the contriteones.16 For I will not contend forever, Nor willI always be angry; For the spirit wouldfail before Me, And the souls which Ihave made.17 For the iniquity of his covetousness Iwas angry and struck him; I hid and wasangry, And he went on backsliding in theway of his heart.18 I have seen his ways, and will healhim; I will also lead him, And restorecomforts to him And to his mourners.19 "I create the fruit of the lips: Peace,peace to him who is far off and to himwho is near," Says the LORD, "And I willheal him."20 But the wicked are like the troubledsea, When it cannot rest, Whose waterscast up mire and dirt.

ISAIAH 57–58 22321 "There is no peace," Says my God,"for the wicked."

58 1 "Cry aloud, spare not; Li upyour voice like a trumpet; Tell

My people their transgression, And thehouse of Jacob their sins.2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delightto know My ways, As a na on that didrighteousness, And did not forsake theordinance of their God. They ask of Methe ordinances of jus ce; They takedelight in approaching God.3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,‘and You have not seen? Why have weafflicted our souls, and You take nono ce?’ "In fact, in the day of your fastyou find pleasure, And exploit all yourlaborers.4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate,And to strike with the fist of wickedness.You will not fast as you do this day, Tomake your voice heard on high.

ISAIAH 58 2245 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A dayfor a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bowdown his head like a bulrush, And tospread out sackcloth and ashes? Wouldyou call this a fast, And an acceptableday to the LORD?6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen:To loose the bonds of wickedness, Toundo the heavy burdens, To let theoppressed go free, And that you breakevery yoke?7 Is it not to share your bread with thehungry, And that you bring to your housethe poor who are cast out; When yousee the naked, that you cover him, Andnot hide yourself from your own flesh?8 Then your light shall break forth likethe morning, Your healing shall springforth speedily, And your righteousnessshall go before you; The glory of theLORD shall be your rear guard.

ISAIAH 58 2259 Then you shall call, and the LORD willanswer; You shall cry, and He will say,‘Here I am.’ "If you take away the yokefrom your midst, The poin ng of thefinger, and speaking wickedness,10 If you extend your soul to the hungryAnd sa sfy the afflicted soul, Then yourlight shall dawn in the darkness, Andyour darkness shall be as the noonday.11 The LORD will guide you con nually,And sa sfy your soul in drought, Andstrengthen your bones; You shall be likea watered garden, And like a spring ofwater, whose waters do not fail.12 Those from among you Shall buildthe old waste places; You shall raise upthe founda ons of many genera ons;And you shall be called the Repairer ofthe Breach, The Restorer of Streets toDwell In.13 "If you turn away your foot fromthe Sabbath, From doing your pleasure

ISAIAH 58–59 226on My holy day, And call the Sabbatha delight, The holy day of the LORDhonorable, And shall honor Him, notdoing your own ways, Nor finding yourown pleasure, Nor speaking your ownwords,14 Then you shall delight yourself in theLORD; And I will cause you to ride on thehigh hills of the earth, And feed you withthe heritage of Jacob your father. Themouth of the LORD has spoken."

59 1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is notshortened, That it cannot save;

Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.2 But your iniqui es have separatedyou from your God; And your sins havehidden His face from you, So that He willnot hear.3 For your hands are defiled with blood,And your fingers with iniquity; Yourlips have spoken lies, Your tongue hasmu ered perversity.

ISAIAH 59 2274No one calls for jus ce, Nor does anyplead for truth. They trust in emptywords and speak lies; They conceive eviland bring forth iniquity.5 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave thespider’s web; He who eats of their eggsdies, And from that which is crushed aviper breaks out.6 Their webs will not become garments,Nor will they cover themselves with theirworks; Their works are works of iniquity,And the act of violence is in their hands.7 Their feet run to evil, And they makehaste to shed innocent blood; Theirthoughts are thoughts of iniquity;Was ng and destruc on are in theirpaths.8 The way of peace they have notknown, And there is no jus ce in theirways; They have made themselvescrooked paths; Whoever takes that wayshall not know peace.

ISAIAH 59 2289 Therefore jus ce is far from us, Nordoes righteousness overtake us; Welook for light, but there is darkness! Forbrightness, but we walk in blackness!10We grope for the wall like the blind,And we grope as if we had no eyes; Westumble at noonday as at twilight; Weare as dead men in desolate places.11We all growl like bears, And moansadly like doves; We look for jus ce, butthere is none; For salva on, but it is farfrom us.12 For our transgressions are mul pliedbefore You, And our sins tes fy againstus; For our transgressions are with us,And as for our iniqui es, we know them:13 In transgressing and lying againstthe LORD, And depar ng from ourGod, Speaking oppression and revolt,Conceiving and u ering from the heartwords of falsehood.

ISAIAH 59 22914 Jus ce is turned back, Andrighteousness stands afar off; For truthis fallen in the street, And equity cannotenter.15 So truth fails, And he who departsfrom evil makes himself a prey. Then theLORD saw it, and it displeased Him Thatthere was no jus ce.16He saw that there was no man, Andwondered that there was no intercessor;Therefore His own arm brought salva onfor Him; And His own righteousness, itsustained Him.17 For He put on righteousness as abreastplate, And a helmet of salva onon His head; He put on the garments ofvengeance for clothing, And was cladwith zeal as a cloak.18According to their deeds, accordinglyHe will repay, Fury to His adversaries,Recompense to His enemies; Thecoastlands He will fully repay.

ISAIAH 59–60 23019 So shall they fear The name of theLORD from the west, And His glory fromthe rising of the sun; When the enemycomes in like a flood, The Spirit of theLORD will li up a standard against him.20 "The Redeemer will come toZion, And to those who turn fromtransgression in Jacob," Says the LORD.21 "As for Me," says the LORD, "this isMy covenant with them: My Spirit whois upon you, and My words which I haveput in your mouth, shall not depart fromyour mouth, nor from the mouth ofyour descendants, nor from the mouthof your descendants’ descendants,"says the LORD, "from this me andforevermore."

60 1Arise, shine; For your light hascome! And the glory of the LORD

is risen upon you.2 For behold, the darkness shall coverthe earth, And deep darkness the

ISAIAH 60 231people; But the LORD will arise over you,And His glory will be seen upon you.3 The Gen les shall come to your light,And kings to the brightness of yourrising.4 "Li up your eyes all around, and see:They all gather together, they come toyou; Your sons shall come from afar, Andyour daughters shall be nursed at yourside.5 Then you shall see and becomeradiant, And your heart shall swell withjoy; Because the abundance of the seashall be turned to you, The wealth of theGen les shall come to you.6 The mul tude of camels shall coveryour land, The dromedaries of Midianand Ephah; All those from Sheba shallcome; They shall bring gold and incense,And they shall proclaim the praises ofthe LORD.

ISAIAH 60 2327All the flocks of Kedar shall begathered together to you, The rams ofNebaioth shall minister to you; Theyshall ascend with acceptance on Myaltar, And I will glorify the house of Myglory.8 "Who are these who fly like a cloud,And like doves to their roosts?9 Surely the coastlands shall wait forMe; And the ships of Tarshish will comefirst, To bring your sons from afar, Theirsilver and their gold with them, To thename of the LORD your God, And tothe Holy One of Israel, Because He hasglorified you.10 "The sons of foreigners shall build upyour walls, And their kings shall ministerto you; For in My wrath I struck you, Butin My favor I have had mercy on you.11 Therefore your gates shall be opencon nually; They shall not be shut dayor night, That men may bring to you the

ISAIAH 60 233wealth of the Gen les, And their kings inprocession.12 For the na on and kingdom whichwill not serve you shall perish, And thosena ons shall be u erly ruined.13 "The glory of Lebanon shall come toyou, The cypress, the pine, and the boxtree together, To beau fy the place ofMy sanctuary; And I will make the placeof My feet glorious.14Also the sons of those who afflictedyou Shall come bowing to you, Andall those who despised you shall fallprostrate at the soles of your feet; Andthey shall call you The City of the LORD,Zion of the Holy One of Israel.15 "Whereas you have been forsakenand hated, So that no one wentthrough you, I will make you an eternalexcellence, A joy of many genera ons.16 You shall drink the milk of theGen les, And milk the breast of kings;

ISAIAH 60 234You shall know that I, the LORD, am yourSavior And your Redeemer, the MightyOne of Jacob.17 "Instead of bronze I will bring gold,Instead of iron I will bring silver, Insteadof wood, bronze, And instead of stones,iron. I will also make your officers peace,And your magistrates righteousness.18Violence shall no longer be heardin your land, Neither was ng nordestruc on within your borders; But youshall call your walls Salva on, And yourgates Praise.19 "The sun shall no longer be your lightby day, Nor for brightness shall the moongive light to you; But the LORD will be toyou an everlas ng light, And your Godyour glory.20 Your sun shall no longer go down,Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; Forthe LORD will be your everlas ng light,

ISAIAH 60–61 235And the days of your mourning shall beended.21Also your people shall all berighteous; They shall inherit the landforever, The branch of My plan ng,The work of My hands, That I may beglorified.22A li le one shall become a thousand,And a small one a strong na on. I, theLORD, will hasten it in its me."

61 1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD isupon Me, Because the LORD has

anointed Me To preach good dings tothe poor; He has sent Me to heal thebrokenhearted, To proclaim liberty tothe cap ves, And the opening of theprison to those who are bound;2 To proclaim the acceptable year of theLORD, And the day of vengeance of ourGod; To comfort all who mourn,3 To console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of

ISAIAH 61 236joy for mourning, The garment of praisefor the spirit of heaviness; That they maybe called trees of righteousness, Theplan ng of the LORD, that He may beglorified."4And they shall rebuild the oldruins, They shall raise up the formerdesola ons, And they shall repair theruined ci es, The desola ons of manygenera ons.5 Strangers shall stand and feed yourflocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shallbe your plowmen and your vinedressers.6 But you shall be named the priestsof the LORD, They shall call you theservants of our God. You shall eat theriches of the Gen les, And in their gloryyou shall boast.7 Instead of your shame you shall havedouble honor, And instead of confusionthey shall rejoice in their por on.

ISAIAH 61 237Therefore in their land they shall possessdouble; Everlas ng joy shall be theirs.8 "For I, the LORD, love jus ce; I haterobbery for burnt offering; I will directtheir work in truth, And will make withthem an everlas ng covenant.9 Their descendants shall be knownamong the Gen les, And their offspringamong the people. All who see themshall acknowledge them, That theyare the posterity whom the LORD hasblessed."10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, Mysoul shall be joyful in my God; For Hehas clothed me with the garments ofsalva on, He has covered me with therobe of righteousness, As a bridegroomdecks himself with ornaments, And as abride adorns herself with her jewels.11 For as the earth brings forth its bud,As the garden causes the things that aresown in it to spring forth, So the Lord

ISAIAH 62 238GOD will cause righteousness and praiseto spring forth before all the na ons.

62 1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold Mypeace, And for Jerusalem’s sake

I will not rest, Un l her righteousnessgoes forth as brightness, And hersalva on as a lamp that burns.2 The Gen les shall see yourrighteousness, And all kings yourglory. You shall be called by a new name,Which the mouth of the LORD will name.3 You shall also be a crown of gloryIn the hand of the LORD, And a royaldiadem In the hand of your God.4 You shall no longer be termedForsaken, Nor shall your land any morebe termed Desolate; But you shall becalled Hephzibah, and your land Beulah;For the LORD delights in you, And yourland shall be married.5 For as a young man marries a virgin,So shall your sons marry you; And as the

ISAIAH 62 239bridegroom rejoices over the bride, Soshall your God rejoice over you.6 I have set watchmen on your walls,O Jerusalem; They shall never holdtheir peace day or night. You who makemen on of the LORD, do not keep silent,7And give Him no rest ll He establishesAnd ll He makes Jerusalem a praise inthe earth.8 The LORD has sworn by His right handAnd by the arm of His strength: "SurelyI will no longer give your grain As foodfor your enemies; And the sons of theforeigner shall not drink your new wine,For which you have labored.9 But those who have gathered it shalleat it, And praise the LORD; Those whohave brought it together shall drink it inMy holy courts."10Go through, Go through the gates!Prepare the way for the people; Build

ISAIAH 62–63 240up, Build up the highway! Take out thestones, Li up a banner for the peoples!11 Indeed the LORD has proclaimedTo the end of the world: "Say to thedaughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salva onis coming; Behold, His reward is withHim, And His work before Him.’"12And they shall call them The HolyPeople, The Redeemed of the LORD; Andyou shall be called Sought Out, A CityNot Forsaken.

63 1Who is this who comes fromEdom, With dyed garments from

Bozrah, This One who is glorious inHis apparel, Traveling in the greatnessof His strength? ––"I who speak inrighteousness, mighty to save."2Why is Your apparel red, And Yourgarments like one who treads in thewinepress?3 "I have trodden the winepress alone,And from the peoples no one was

ISAIAH 63 241with Me. For I have trodden them inMy anger, And trampled them in Myfury; Their blood is sprinkled upon Mygarments, And I have stained all Myrobes.4 For the day of vengeance is in Myheart, And the year of My redeemed hascome.5 I looked, but there was no one tohelp, And I wondered That there was noone to uphold; Therefore My own armbrought salva on for Me; And My ownfury, it sustained Me.6 I have trodden down the peoples inMy anger, Made them drunk in My fury,And brought down their strength to theearth."7 I will men on the lovingkindnessesof the LORD And the praises of theLORD, According to all that the LORD hasbestowed on us, And the great goodnesstoward the house of Israel, Which He

ISAIAH 63 242has bestowed on them according to Hismercies, According to the mul tude ofHis lovingkindnesses.8 For He said, "Surely they are Mypeople, Children who will not lie." So Hebecame their Savior.9 In all their afflic on He was afflicted,And the Angel of His Presence savedthem; In His love and in His pity Heredeemed them; And He bore them andcarried them All the days of old.10 But they rebelled and grieved HisHoly Spirit; So He turned Himself againstthem as an enemy, And He foughtagainst them.11 Then he remembered the days of old,Moses and his people, saying: "Where isHe who brought them up out of the seaWith the shepherd of His flock? Where isHe who put His Holy Spirit within them,12Who led them by the right hand ofMoses, With His glorious arm, Dividing

ISAIAH 63 243the water before them To make forHimself an everlas ng name,13Who led them through the deep, As ahorse in the wilderness, That they mightnot stumble?"14As a beast goes down into the valley,And the Spirit of the LORD causes him torest, So You lead Your people, To makeYourself a glorious name.15 Look down from heaven, Andsee from Your habita on, holy andglorious. Where are Your zeal and Yourstrength, The yearning of Your heartand Your mercies toward me? Are theyrestrained?16Doubtless You are our Father, ThoughAbraham was ignorant of us, And Israeldoes not acknowledge us. You, O LORD,are our Father; Our Redeemer fromEverlas ng is Your name.17O LORD, why have You made us strayfrom Your ways, And hardened our heart

ISAIAH 63–64 244from Your fear? Return for Your servants’sake, The tribes of Your inheritance.18 Your holy people have possessed itbut a li le while; Our adversaries havetrodden down Your sanctuary.19We have become like those of old,over whom You never ruled, Those whowere never called by Your name.

64 1Oh, that You would rend theheavens! That You would come

down! That the mountains might shakeat Your presence––2As fire burns brushwood, As firecauses water to boil––To make Yourname known to Your adversaries,That the na ons may tremble at Yourpresence!3When You did awesome things forwhich we did not look, You came down,The mountains shook at Your presence.4 For since the beginning of the worldMen have not heard nor perceived by

ISAIAH 64 245the ear, Nor has the eye seen any Godbesides You, Who acts for the one whowaits for Him.5 You meet him who rejoices and doesrighteousness, Who remembers Youin Your ways. You are indeed angry,for we have sinned––In these ways wecon nue; And we need to be saved.6 But we are all like an unclean thing,And all our righteousnesses are likefilthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And ouriniqui es, like the wind, Have taken usaway.7And there is no one who calls on Yourname, Who s rs himself up to take holdof You; For You have hidden Your facefrom us, And have consumed us becauseof our iniqui es.8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father;We are the clay, and You our po er; Andall we are the work of Your hand.

ISAIAH 64–65 2469Do not be furious, O LORD, Norremember iniquity forever; Indeed,please look––we all are Your people!10 Your holy ci es are a wilderness, Zionis a wilderness, Jerusalem a desola on.11Our holy and beau ful temple,Where our fathers praised You, Is burnedup with fire; And all our pleasant thingsare laid waste.12Will You restrain Yourself because ofthese things, O LORD?Will You hold Yourpeace, and afflict us very severely?

65 1 "I was sought by those who didnot ask for Me; I was found by

those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘HereI am, here I am,’ To a na on that was notcalled by My name.2 I have stretched out My hands all daylong to a rebellious people, Who walkin a way that is not good, According totheir own thoughts;

ISAIAH 65 2473A people who provoke Me to angercon nually to My face; Who sacrifice ingardens, And burn incense on altars ofbrick;4Who sit among the graves, And spendthe night in the tombs; Who eat swine’sflesh, And the broth of abominablethings is in their vessels;5Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, Do notcome near me, For I am holier than you!’These are smoke in My nostrils, A firethat burns all the day.6 "Behold, it is wri en before Me: I willnot keep silence, but will repay––Evenrepay into their bosom––7 Your iniqui es and the iniqui es ofyour fathers together," Says the LORD,"Who have burned incense on themountains And blasphemed Me onthe hills; Therefore I will measure theirformer work into their bosom."

ISAIAH 65 2488 Thus says the LORD: "As the new wineis found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Donot destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ Sowill I do for My servants’ sake, That I maynot destroy them all.9 I will bring forth descendants fromJacob, And from Judah an heir of Mymountains; My elect shall inherit it, AndMy servants shall dwell there.10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, Andthe Valley of Achor a place for herdsto lie down, For My people who havesought Me.11 "But you are those who forsake theLORD, Who forget My holy mountain,Who prepare a table for Gad, And whofurnish a drink offering for Meni.12 Therefore I will number you for thesword, And you shall all bow down tothe slaughter; Because, when I called,you did not answer; When I spoke, youdid not hear, But did evil before My

ISAIAH 65 249eyes, And chose that in which I do notdelight."13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, My servants shall eat, But youshall be hungry; Behold, My servantsshall drink, But you shall be thirsty;Behold, My servants shall rejoice, Butyou shall be ashamed;14 Behold, My servants shall sing for joyof heart, But you shall cry for sorrow ofheart, And wail for grief of spirit.15 You shall leave your name as a curseto My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slayyou, And call His servants by anothername;16 So that he who blesses himself in theearth Shall bless himself in the God oftruth; And he who swears in the earthShall swear by the God of truth; Becausethe former troubles are forgo en, Andbecause they are hidden from My eyes.

ISAIAH 65 25017 "For behold, I create new heavensand a new earth; And the former shallnot be remembered or come to mind.18 But be glad and rejoice foreverin what I create; For behold, I createJerusalem as a rejoicing, And her peoplea joy.19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy inMy people; The voice of weeping shallno longer be heard in her, Nor the voiceof crying.20 "No more shall an infant from therelive but a few days, Nor an old man whohas not fulfilled his days; For the childshall die one hundred years old, But thesinner being one hundred years old shallbe accursed.21 They shall build houses and inhabitthem; They shall plant vineyards and eattheir fruit.22 They shall not build and anotherinhabit; They shall not plant and another

ISAIAH 65–66 251eat; For as the days of a tree, so shallbe the days of My people, And My electshall long enjoy the work of their hands.23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bringforth children for trouble; For they shallbe the descendants of the blessed of theLORD, And their offspring with them.24 "It shall come to pass That beforethey call, I will answer; And while theyare s ll speaking, I will hear.25 The wolf and the lamb shall feedtogether, The lion shall eat straw like theox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all Myholy mountain," Says the LORD.

66 1 Thus says the LORD: "Heavenis My throne, And earth is My

footstool. Where is the house that youwill build Me? And where is the place ofMy rest?2 For all those things My hand hasmade, And all those things exist," Says

ISAIAH 66 252the LORD. "But on this one will I look: Onhim who is poor and of a contrite spirit,And who trembles at My word.3 "He who kills a bull is as if he slaysa man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as ifhe breaks a dog’s neck; He who offersa grain offering, as if he offers swine’sblood; He who burns incense, as if heblesses an idol. Just as they have chosentheir own ways, And their soul delightsin their abomina ons,4 So will I choose their delusions, Andbring their fears on them; Because,when I called, no one answered, WhenI spoke they did not hear; But they didevil before My eyes, And chose that inwhich I do not delight."5Hear the word of the LORD, You whotremble at His word: "Your brethrenwho hated you, Who cast you out forMy name’s sake, said, ‘Let the LORD be

ISAIAH 66 253glorified, That we may see your joy.’ Butthey shall be ashamed."6 The sound of noise from the city! Avoice from the temple! The voice of theLORD, Who fully repays His enemies!7 "Before she was in labor, she gavebirth; Before her pain came, Shedelivered a male child.8Who has heard such a thing? Whohas seen such things? Shall the earth bemade to give birth in one day? Or shall ana on be born at once? For as soon asZion was in labor, She gave birth to herchildren.9 Shall I bring to the me of birth, andnot cause delivery?" says the LORD."Shall I who cause delivery shut up thewomb?" says your God.10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be gladwith her, all you who love her; Rejoicefor joy with her, all you who mourn forher;

ISAIAH 66 25411 That you may feed and be sa sfiedWith the consola on of her bosom, Thatyou may drink deeply and be delightedWith the abundance of her glory."12 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, Iwill extend peace to her like a river, Andthe glory of the Gen les like a flowingstream. Then you shall feed; On her sidesshall you be carried, And be dandled onher knees.13As one whom his mother comforts,So I will comfort you; And you shall becomforted in Jerusalem."14When you see this, your heart shallrejoice, And your bones shall flourishlike grass; The hand of the LORD shallbe known to His servants, And Hisindigna on to His enemies.15 For behold, the LORD will comewith fire And with His chariots, like awhirlwind, To render His anger with fury,And His rebuke with flames of fire.

ISAIAH 66 25516 For by fire and by His sword TheLORD will judge all flesh; And the slain ofthe LORD shall be many.17 "Those who sanc fy themselves andpurify themselves, To go to the gardensA er an idol in the midst, Ea ng swine’sflesh and the abomina on and themouse, Shall be consumed together,"says the LORD.18 "For I know their works and theirthoughts. It shall be that I will gatherall na ons and tongues; and they shallcome and see My glory.19 "I will set a sign among them; andthose among them who escape I willsend to the na ons: to Tarshish and Puland Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubaland Javan, to the coastlands afar off whohave not heard My fame nor seen Myglory. And they shall declare My gloryamong the Gen les.

ISAIAH 66 25620 "Then they shall bring all yourbrethren for an offering to the LORD outof all na ons, on horses and in chariotsand in li ers, on mules and on camels, toMy holy mountain Jerusalem," says theLORD, "as the children of Israel bring anoffering in a clean vessel into the houseof the LORD.21 "And I will also take some of them forpriests and Levites," says the LORD.22 "For as the new heavens and thenew earth Which I will make shallremain before Me," says the LORD, "Soshall your descendants and your nameremain.23And it shall come to pass That fromone New Moon to another, And fromone Sabbath to another, All flesh shallcome to worship before Me," says theLORD.24 "And they shall go forth and lookUpon the corpses of the men Who

ISAIAH 66 257have transgressed against Me. For theirworm does not die, And their fire is notquenched. They shall be an abhorrenceto all flesh."

Jeremiah

1 1 The words of Jeremiah the son ofHilkiah, of the priests who were in

Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,2 to whom the word of the LORD camein the days of Josiah the son of Amon,king of Judah, in the thirteenth year ofhis reign.3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakimthe son of Josiah, king of Judah, un l theend of the eleventh year of Zedekiah theson of Josiah, king of Judah, un l thecarrying away of Jerusalem cap ve inthe fi h month.4 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying:5 "Before I formed you in the wombI knew you; Before you were born I

JEREMIAH 1 2sanc fied you; I ordained you a prophetto the na ons."6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, Icannot speak, for I am a youth."7 But the LORD said to me: "Do notsay, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go toall to whom I send you, And whatever Icommand you, you shall speak.8Do not be afraid of their faces, For Iam with you to deliver you," says theLORD.9 Then the LORD put forth His hand andtouched my mouth, and the LORD saidto me: "Behold, I have put My words inyour mouth.10 See, I have this day set you over thena ons and over the kingdoms, To rootout and to pull down, To destroy and tothrow down, To build and to plant."11Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do

JEREMIAH 1 3you see?" And I said, "I see a branch ofan almond tree."12 Then the LORD said to me, "You haveseen well, for I am ready to perform Myword."13And the word of the LORD came tome the second me, saying, "What doyou see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot,and it is facing away from the north."14 Then the LORD said to me: "Out ofthe north calamity shall break forth Onall the inhabitants of the land.15 For behold, I am calling All thefamilies of the kingdoms of the north,"says the LORD; "They shall come andeach one set his throne At the entranceof the gates of Jerusalem, Against all itswalls all around, And against all the ci esof Judah.16 I will u er My judgments Againstthem concerning all their wickedness,Because they have forsaken Me, Burned

JEREMIAH 1–2 4incense to other gods, And worshipedthe works of their own hands.17 "Therefore prepare yourself andarise, And speak to them all that Icommand you. Do not be dismayedbefore their faces, Lest I dismay youbefore them.18 For behold, I have made you thisday A for fied city and an iron pillar,And bronze walls against the wholeland––Against the kings of Judah,Against its princes, Against its priests,And against the people of the land.19 They will fight against you, But theyshall not prevail against you. For I amwith you," says the LORD, "to deliveryou."

2 1Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

2 "Go and cry in the hearing ofJerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD:"I remember you, The kindness of your

JEREMIAH 2 5youth, The love of your betrothal, Whenyou went a er Me in the wilderness, Ina land not sown.3 Israel was holiness to the LORD, Thefirs ruits of His increase. All that devourhim will offend; Disaster will come uponthem," says the LORD.’"4Hear the word of the LORD, O houseof Jacob and all the families of the houseof Israel.5 Thus says the LORD: "What injus cehave your fathers found in Me, That theyhave gone far from Me, Have followedidols, And have become idolaters?6Neither did they say, ‘Where is theLORD, Who brought us up out of theland of Egypt, Who led us through thewilderness, Through a land of desertsand pits, Through a land of drought andthe shadow of death, Through a landthat no one crossed And where no onedwelt?’

JEREMIAH 2 67 I brought you into a boun ful country,To eat its fruit and its goodness. Butwhen you entered, you defiled My landAnd made My heritage an abomina on.8 The priests did not say, ‘Where isthe LORD?’ And those who handle thelaw did not know Me; The rulers alsotransgressed against Me; The prophetsprophesied by Baal, And walked a erthings that do not profit.9 "Therefore I will yet bring chargesagainst you," says the LORD, "Andagainst your children’s children I willbring charges.10 For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprusand see, Send to Kedar and considerdiligently, And see if there has been sucha thing.11Has a na on changed its gods, Whichare not gods? But My people havechanged their Glory For what does notprofit.

JEREMIAH 2 712 Be astonished, O heavens, at this,And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,"says the LORD.13 "For My people have commi edtwo evils: They have forsaken Me, thefountain of living waters, And hewnthemselves cisterns––broken cisternsthat can hold no water.14 "Is Israel a servant? Is he a homebornslave? Why is he plundered?15 The young lions roared at him, andgrowled; They made his land waste; Hisci es are burned, without inhabitant.16Also the people of Noph andTahpanhes Have broken the crown ofyour head.17Have you not brought this onyourself, In that you have forsaken theLORD your God When He led you in theway?18And now why take the road to Egypt,To drink the waters of Sihor? Or why take

JEREMIAH 2 8the road to Assyria, To drink the watersof the River?19 Your own wickedness will correctyou, And your backslidings will rebukeyou. Know therefore and see that it isan evil and bi er thing That you haveforsaken the LORD your God, And thefear of Me is not in you," Says the LordGOD of hosts.20 "For of old I have broken your yokeand burst your bonds; And you said, ‘Iwill not transgress,’ When on every highhill and under every green tree You laydown, playing the harlot.21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine,a seed of highest quality. How thenhave you turned before Me Into thedegenerate plant of an alien vine?22 For though you wash yourself withlye, and use much soap, Yet your iniquityis marked before Me," says the LordGOD.

JEREMIAH 2 923 "How can you say, ‘I am not polluted,I have not gone a er the Baals’? Seeyour way in the valley; Know what youhave done: You are a swi dromedarybreaking loose in her ways,24Awild donkey used to the wilderness,That sniffs at the wind in her desire; Inher me of ma ng, who can turn heraway? All those who seek her will notweary themselves; In her month theywill find her.25Withhold your foot from beingunshod, and your throat from thirst. Butyou said, ‘There is no hope. No! For Ihave loved aliens, and a er them I willgo.’26 "As the thief is ashamed when heis found out, So is the house of Israelashamed; They and their kings andtheir princes, and their priests and theirprophets,

JEREMIAH 2 1027 Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’And to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’For they have turned their back to Me,and not their face. But in the me oftheir trouble They will say, ‘Arise andsave us.’28 But where are your gods that youhave made for yourselves? Let themarise, If they can save you in the meof your trouble; For according to thenumber of your ci es Are your gods, OJudah.29 "Why will you plead with Me? You allhave transgressed against Me," says theLORD.30 "In vain I have chastened yourchildren; They received no correc on.Your sword has devoured your prophetsLike a destroying lion.31 "O genera on, see the word of theLORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel,Or a land of darkness? Why do My

JEREMIAH 2 11people say, ‘We are lords; We will comeno more to You’?32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Ora bride her a re? Yet My people haveforgo en Me days without number.33 "Why do you beau fy your way toseek love? Therefore you have alsotaught The wicked women your ways.34Also on your skirts is found The bloodof the lives of the poor innocents. I havenot found it by secret search, But plainlyon all these things.35 Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent,Surely His anger shall turn from me.’Behold, I will plead My case against you,Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’36Why do you gad about so much tochange your way? Also you shall beashamed of Egypt as you were ashamedof Assyria.37 Indeed you will go forth from himWith your hands on your head; For the

JEREMIAH 3 12LORD has rejected your trusted allies,And you will not prosper by them.

3 1 "They say, ‘If a man divorces hiswife, And she goes from him And

becomes another man’s, May he returnto her again?’ Would not that land begreatly polluted? But you have playedthe harlot with many lovers; Yet returnto Me," says the LORD.2 "Li up your eyes to the desolateheights and see:Where have you not lainwith men? By the road you have sat forthem Like an Arabian in the wilderness;And you have polluted the land Withyour harlotries and your wickedness.3 Therefore the showers have beenwithheld, And there has been no la errain. You have had a harlot’s forehead;You refuse to be ashamed.4Will you not from this me cry toMe, ‘My father, You are the guide of myyouth?

JEREMIAH 3 135Will He remain angry forever? Will Hekeep it to the end?’ Behold, you havespoken and done evil things, As youwere able."6 The LORD said also to me in the daysof Josiah the king: "Have you seen whatbacksliding Israel has done? She hasgone up on every high mountain andunder every green tree, and there playedthe harlot.7 "And I said, a er she had done allthese things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she didnot return. And her treacherous sisterJudah saw it.8 "Then I saw that for all the causes forwhich backsliding Israel had commi edadultery, I had put her away and givenher a cer ficate of divorce; yet hertreacherous sister Judah did not fear, butwent and played the harlot also.9 "So it came to pass, through hercasual harlotry, that she defiled the land

JEREMIAH 3 14and commi ed adultery with stones andtrees.10 "And yet for all this her treacheroussister Judah has not turned to Me withher whole heart, but in pretense," saysthe LORD.11 Then the LORD said to me,"Backsliding Israel has shown herselfmore righteous than treacherous Judah.12 "Go and proclaim these wordstoward the north, and say: ‘Return,backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD; ‘I willnot cause My anger to fall on you. For Iam merciful,’ says the LORD; ‘I will notremain angry forever.13Only acknowledge your iniquity,That you have transgressed against theLORD your God, And have sca eredyour charms To alien dei es under everygreen tree, And you have not obeyed Myvoice,’ says the LORD.

JEREMIAH 3 1514 "Return, O backsliding children," saysthe LORD; "for I am married to you. I willtake you, one from a city and two from afamily, and I will bring you to Zion.15 "And I will give you shepherdsaccording to My heart, who will feed youwith knowledge and understanding.16 "Then it shall come to pass, whenyou are mul plied and increased in theland in those days," says the LORD, "thatthey will say no more, ‘The ark of thecovenant of the LORD.’ It shall not cometo mind, nor shall they remember it, norshall they visit it, nor shall it be madeanymore.17 "At that me Jerusalem shall becalled The Throne of the LORD, and allthe na ons shall be gathered to it, tothe name of the LORD, to Jerusalem. Nomore shall they follow the dictates oftheir evil hearts.

JEREMIAH 3 1618 "In those days the house of Judahshall walk with the house of Israel, andthey shall come together out of the landof the north to the land that I have givenas an inheritance to your fathers.19 "But I said: ‘How can I put you amongthe children And give you a pleasantland, A beau ful heritage of the hosts ofna ons?’ "And I said: ‘You shall call Me,"My Father," And not turn away fromMe.’20 Surely, as a wife treacherouslydeparts from her husband, So have youdealt treacherously with Me, O house ofIsrael," says the LORD.21A voice was heard on the desolateheights, Weeping and supplica ons ofthe children of Israel. For they haveperverted their way; They have forgo enthe LORD their God.22 "Return, you backsliding children,And I will heal your backslidings."

JEREMIAH 3–4 17"Indeed we do come to You, For You arethe LORD our God.23 Truly, in vain is salva on hoped forfrom the hills, And from the mul tude ofmountains; Truly, in the LORD our God Isthe salva on of Israel.24 For shame has devoured The labor ofour fathers from our youth––Their flocksand their herds, Their sons and theirdaughters.25We lie down in our shame, And ourreproach covers us. For we have sinnedagainst the LORD our God, We and ourfathers, From our youth even to this day,And have not obeyed the voice of theLORD our God."

4 1 "If you will return, O Israel," saysthe LORD, "Return to Me; And if you

will put away your abomina ons out ofMy sight, Then you shall not be moved.2And you shall swear, ‘The LORDlives,’ In truth, in judgment, and in

JEREMIAH 4 18righteousness; The na ons shall blessthemselves in Him, And in Him they shallglory."3 For thus says the LORD to the men ofJudah and Jerusalem: "Break up yourfallow ground, And do not sow amongthorns.4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,And take away the foreskins of yourhearts, Youmen of Judah and inhabitantsof Jerusalem, Lest My fury come forthlike fire, And burn so that no one canquench it, Because of the evil of yourdoings."5Declare in Judah and proclaim inJerusalem, and say: "Blow the trumpetin the land; Cry, ‘Gather together,’ Andsay, ‘Assemble yourselves, And let us gointo the for fied ci es.’6 Set up the standard toward Zion.Take refuge! Do not delay! For I will

JEREMIAH 4 19bring disaster from the north, And greatdestruc on."7 The lion has come up from his thicket,And the destroyer of na ons is on hisway. He has gone forth from his place Tomake your land desolate. Your ci es willbe laid waste, Without inhabitant.8 For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth,Lament and wail. For the fierce anger ofthe LORD Has not turned back from us.9 "And it shall come to pass in that day,"says the LORD, "That the heart of theking shall perish, And the heart of theprinces; The priests shall be astonished,And the prophets shall wonder."10 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! SurelyYou have greatly deceived this peopleand Jerusalem, Saying, ‘You shall havepeace,’ Whereas the sword reaches tothe heart."11At that me it will be said To thispeople and to Jerusalem, "A dry wind

JEREMIAH 4 20of the desolate heights blows in thewilderness Toward the daughter of Mypeople––Not to fan or to cleanse––12A wind too strong for these will comefor Me; Now I will also speak judgmentagainst them."13 "Behold, he shall come up like clouds,And his chariots like a whirlwind. Hishorses are swi er than eagles. Woe tous, for we are plundered!"14O Jerusalem, wash your heart fromwickedness, That you may be saved.How long shall your evil thoughts lodgewithin you?15 For a voice declares from DanAnd proclaims afflic on from MountEphraim:16 "Make men on to the na ons,Yes, proclaim against Jerusalem, Thatwatchers come from a far country Andraise their voice against the ci es ofJudah.

JEREMIAH 4 2117 Like keepers of a field they areagainst her all around, Because she hasbeen rebellious against Me," says theLORD.18 "Your ways and your doings Haveprocured these things for you. This isyour wickedness, Because it is bi er,Because it reaches to your heart."19O my soul, my soul! I am pained inmy very heart! My heart makes a noisein me; I cannot hold my peace, Becauseyou have heard, O my soul, The sound ofthe trumpet, The alarm of war.20Destruc on upon destruc on iscried, For the whole land is plundered.Suddenly my tents are plundered, Andmy curtains in a moment.21How long will I see the standard, Andhear the sound of the trumpet?22 "ForMy people are foolish, They havenot known Me. They are silly children,And they have no understanding. They

JEREMIAH 4 22are wise to do evil, But to do good theyhave no knowledge."23 I beheld the earth, and indeed itwas without form, and void; And theheavens, they had no light.24 I beheld the mountains, and indeedthey trembled, And all the hills movedback and forth.25 I beheld, and indeed there was noman, And all the birds of the heavenshad fled.26 I beheld, and indeed the frui ul landwas a wilderness, And all its ci es werebroken down At the presence of theLORD, By His fierce anger.27 For thus says the LORD: "The wholeland shall be desolate; Yet I will not makea full end.28 For this shall the earth mourn, Andthe heavens above be black, Because Ihave spoken. I have purposed and willnot relent, Nor will I turn back from it.

JEREMIAH 4–5 2329 The whole city shall flee from thenoise of the horsemen and bowmen.They shall go into thickets and climb upon the rocks. Every city shall be forsaken,And not a man shall dwell in it.30 "And when you are plundered, Whatwill you do? Though you clothe yourselfwith crimson, Though you adorn yourselfwith ornaments of gold, Though youenlarge your eyes with paint, In vain youwill make yourself fair; Your lovers willdespise you; They will seek your life.31 "For I have heard a voice as of awoman in labor, The anguish as of herwho brings forth her first child, Thevoice of the daughter of Zion bewailingherself; She spreads her hands, saying,‘Woe is me now, for my soul is wearyBecause of murderers!’

5 1 "Run to and fro through the streetsof Jerusalem; See now and know;

And seek in her open places If you

JEREMIAH 5 24can find a man, If there is anyone whoexecutes judgment, Who seeks thetruth, And I will pardon her.2 Though they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’Surely they swear falsely."3O LORD, are not Your eyes on thetruth? You have stricken them, But theyhave not grieved; You have consumedthem, But they have refused to receivecorrec on. They have made their facesharder than rock; They have refused toreturn.4 Therefore I said, "Surely these arepoor. They are foolish; For they donot know the way of the LORD, Thejudgment of their God.5 I will go to the great men and speak tothem, For they have known the way ofthe LORD, The judgment of their God."But these have altogether broken theyoke And burst the bonds.

JEREMIAH 5 256 Therefore a lion from the forest shallslay them, A wolf of the deserts shalldestroy them; A leopard will watch overtheir ci es. Everyone who goes out fromthere shall be torn in pieces, Becausetheir transgressions are many; Theirbackslidings have increased.7 "How shall I pardon you for this? Yourchildren have forsaken Me And sworn bythose that are not gods. When I had fedthem to the full, Then they commi edadultery And assembled themselves bytroops in the harlots’ houses.8 They were like well–fed lusty stallions;Every one neighed a er his neighbor’swife.9 Shall I not punish them for thesethings?" says the LORD. "And shall I notavenge Myself on such a na on as this?10 "Go up on her walls and destroy,But do not make a complete end. Take

JEREMIAH 5 26away her branches, For they are not theLORD’S.11 For the house of Israel and the houseof Judah Have dealt very treacherouslywith Me," says the LORD.12 They have lied about the LORD, Andsaid, "It is not He. Neither will evil comeupon us, Nor shall we see sword orfamine.13And the prophets become wind, Forthe word is not in them. Thus shall it bedone to them."14 Therefore thus says the LORD Godof hosts: "Because you speak this word,Behold, I will make My words in yourmouth fire, And this people wood, And itshall devour them.15 Behold, I will bring a na on againstyou from afar, O house of Israel," saysthe LORD. "It is a mighty na on, Itis an ancient na on, A na on whose

JEREMIAH 5 27language you do not know, Nor can youunderstand what they say.16 Their quiver is like an open tomb;They are all mighty men.17And they shall eat up your harvestand your bread, Which your sons anddaughters should eat. They shall eat upyour flocks and your herds; They shalleat up your vines and your fig trees;They shall destroy your for fied ci es, Inwhich you trust, with the sword.18 "Nevertheless in those days," saysthe LORD, "I will not make a completeend of you.19 "And it will be when you say, ‘Whydoes the LORD our God do all thesethings to us?’ then you shall answerthem, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me andserved foreign gods in your land, so youshall serve aliens in a land that is notyours.’

JEREMIAH 5 2820 "Declare this in the house of JacobAnd proclaim it in Judah, saying,21 ‘Hear this now, O foolish people,Without understanding, Who have eyesand see not, And who have ears andhear not:22Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD.‘Will you not tremble at My presence,Who have placed the sand as the boundof the sea, By a perpetual decree, that itcannot pass beyond it? And though itswaves toss to and fro, Yet they cannotprevail; Though they roar, yet theycannot pass over it.23 But this people has a defiant andrebellious heart; They have revolted anddeparted.24 They do not say in their heart, "Let usnow fear the LORD our God, Who givesrain, both the former and the la er, in itsseason. He reserves for us the appointedweeks of the harvest."

JEREMIAH 5 2925 Your iniqui es have turned thesethings away, And your sins have withheldgood from you.26 ‘For among My people are foundwicked men; They lie in wait as one whosets snares; They set a trap; They catchmen.27As a cage is full of birds, So theirhouses are full of deceit. Therefore theyhave become great and grown rich.28 They have grown fat, they are sleek;Yes, they surpass the deeds of thewicked; They do not plead the cause,The cause of the fatherless; Yet theyprosper, And the right of the needy theydo not defend.29 Shall I not punish them for thesethings?’ says the LORD. ‘Shall I notavenge Myself on such a na on as this?’30 "An astonishing and horrible thingHas been commi ed in the land:

JEREMIAH 5–6 3031 The prophets prophesy falsely, Andthe priests rule by their own power; AndMy people love to have it so. But whatwill you do in the end?

6 1 "O you children of Benjamin,Gather yourselves to flee from the

midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet inTekoa, And set up a signal–fire in BethHaccerem; For disaster appears out ofthe north, And great destruc on.2 I have likened the daughter of Zion Toa lovely and delicate woman.3 The shepherds with their flocks shallcome to her. They shall pitch their tentsagainst her all around. Each one shallpasture in his own place."4 "Prepare war against her; Arise, andlet us go up at noon. Woe to us, for theday goes away, For the shadows of theevening are lengthening.5Arise, and let us go by night, And letus destroy her palaces."

JEREMIAH 6 316 For thus has the LORD of hosts said:"Cut down trees, And build a moundagainst Jerusalem. This is the city to bepunished. She is full of oppression in hermidst.7As a fountain wells up with water,So she wells up with her wickedness.Violence and plundering are heard inher. Before Me con nually are grief andwounds.8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem, Lest Mysoul depart from you; Lest I make youdesolate, A land not inhabited."9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Theyshall thoroughly glean as a vine theremnant of Israel; As a grape–gatherer,put your hand back into the branches."10 To whom shall I speak and givewarning, That they may hear? Indeedtheir ear is uncircumcised, And theycannot give heed. Behold, the word of

JEREMIAH 6 32the LORD is a reproach to them; Theyhave no delight in it.11 Therefore I am full of the fury of theLORD. I am weary of holding it in. "I willpour it out on the children outside, Andon the assembly of young men together;For even the husband shall be taken withthe wife, The aged with him who is fullof days.12And their houses shall be turned overto others, Fields and wives together; ForI will stretch out My hand Against theinhabitants of the land," says the LORD.13 "Because from the least of themeven to the greatest of them, Everyoneis given to covetousness; And from theprophet even to the priest, Everyonedeals falsely.14 They have also healed the hurt of Mypeople slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’When there is no peace.

JEREMIAH 6 3315Were they ashamed when they hadcommi ed abomina on? No! They werenot at all ashamed; Nor did they knowhow to blush. Therefore they shall fallamong those who fall; At the me Ipunish them, They shall be cast down,"says the LORD.16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in theways and see, And ask for the old paths,where the good way is, And walk in it;Then you will find rest for your souls. Butthey said, ‘We will not walk in it.’17Also, I set watchmen over you,saying, ‘Listen to the sound of thetrumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will notlisten.’18 Therefore hear, you na ons, Andknow, O congrega on, what is amongthem.19Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainlybring calamity on this people––The fruitof their thoughts, Because they have

JEREMIAH 6 34not heeded My words, Nor My law, butrejected it.20 For what purpose to Me Comesfrankincense from Sheba, And sweetcane from a far country? Your burntofferings are not acceptable, Nor yoursacrifices sweet to Me."21 Therefore thus says the LORD:"Behold, I will lay stumbling blocksbefore this people, And the fathers andthe sons together shall fall on them. Theneighbor and his friend shall perish."22 Thus says the LORD: "Behold, apeople comes from the north country,And a great na on will be raised fromthe farthest parts of the earth.23 They will lay hold on bow and spear;They are cruel and have no mercy; Theirvoice roars like the sea; And they rideon horses, As men of war set in arrayagainst you, O daughter of Zion."

JEREMIAH 6 3524We have heard the report of it; Ourhands grow feeble. Anguish has takenhold of us, Pain as of a woman in labor.25Do not go out into the field, Nor walkby the way. Because of the sword of theenemy, Fear is on every side.26O daughter of my people, Dress insackcloth And roll about in ashes! Makemourning as for an only son, most bi erlamenta on; For the plunderer willsuddenly come upon us.27 "I have set you as an assayer and afortress among My people, That youmay know and test their way.28 They are all stubborn rebels, walkingas slanderers. They are bronze and iron,They are all corrupters;29 The bellows blow fiercely, The leadis consumed by the fire; The smelterrefines in vain, For the wicked are notdrawn off.

JEREMIAH 6–7 3630 People will call them rejected silver,Because the LORD has rejected them."

7 1 The word that came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD, saying,

2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD’Shouse, and proclaim there this word,and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, allyou of Judah who enter in at these gatesto worship the LORD!’"3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the Godof Israel: "Amend your ways and yourdoings, and I will cause you to dwell inthis place.4 "Do not trust in these lying words,saying, ‘The temple of the LORD, thetemple of the LORD, the temple of theLORD are these.’5 "For if you thoroughly amend yourways and your doings, if you thoroughlyexecute judgment between a man andhis neighbor,

JEREMIAH 7 376 "if you do not oppress the stranger,the fatherless, and the widow, and donot shed innocent blood in this place, orwalk a er other gods to your hurt,7 "then I will cause you to dwell in thisplace, in the land that I gave to yourfathers forever and ever.8 "Behold, you trust in lying words thatcannot profit.9 "Will you steal, murder, commitadultery, swear falsely, burn incense toBaal, and walk a er other gods whomyou do not know,10 "and then come and stand beforeMe in this house which is called by Myname, and say, ‘We are delivered to doall these abomina ons’?11 "Has this house, which is called byMy name, become a den of thieves inyour eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seenit," says the LORD.

JEREMIAH 7 3812 "But go now to My place which wasin Shiloh, where I set My name at thefirst, and see what I did to it because ofthe wickedness of My people Israel.13 "And now, because you have doneall these works," says the LORD, "andI spoke to you, rising up early andspeaking, but you did not hear, and Icalled you, but you did not answer,14 "therefore I will do to the housewhich is called by My name, in whichyou trust, and to this place which I gaveto you and your fathers, as I have doneto Shiloh.15 "And I will cast you out of My sight,as I have cast out all your brethren––thewhole posterity of Ephraim.16 "Therefore do not pray for thispeople, nor li up a cry or prayer forthem, nor make intercession to Me; for Iwill not hear you.

JEREMIAH 7 3917 "Do you not see what they do inthe ci es of Judah and in the streets ofJerusalem?18 "The children gather wood, thefathers kindle the fire, and the womenknead dough, to make cakes for thequeen of heaven; and they pour outdrink offerings to other gods, that theymay provoke Me to anger.19 "Do they provoke Me to anger?"says the LORD. "Do they not provokethemselves, to the shame of their ownfaces?"20 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, My anger and My fury will bepoured out on this place––on man andon beast, on the trees of the field and onthe fruit of the ground. And it will burnand not be quenched."21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the Godof Israel: "Add your burnt offerings toyour sacrifices and eat meat.

JEREMIAH 7 4022 "For I did not speak to your fathers,or command them in the day that Ibrought them out of the land of Egypt,concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.23 "But this is what I commanded them,saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will beyour God, and you shall be My people.And walk in all the ways that I havecommanded you, that it may be wellwith you.’24 "Yet they did not obey or incline theirear, but followed the counsels and thedictates of their evil hearts, and wentbackward and not forward.25 "Since the day that your fathers cameout of the land of Egypt un l this day, Ihave even sent to you all My servantsthe prophets, daily rising up early andsending them.26 "Yet they did not obey Me or inclinetheir ear, but s ffened their neck. Theydid worse than their fathers.

JEREMIAH 7 4127 "Therefore you shall speak all thesewords to them, but they will not obeyyou. You shall also call to them, but theywill not answer you.28 "So you shall say to them, ‘This isa na on that does not obey the voiceof the LORD their God nor receivecorrec on. Truth has perished and hasbeen cut off from their mouth.29 ‘Cut off your hair and cast it away, andtake up a lamenta on on the desolateheights; for the LORD has rejected andforsaken the genera on of His wrath.’30 "For the children of Judah have doneevil in My sight," says the LORD. "Theyhave set their abomina ons in the housewhich is called by My name, to pollute it.31 "And they have built the high placesof Tophet, which is in the Valley of theSon of Hinnom, to burn their sons andtheir daughters in the fire, which I did

JEREMIAH 7–8 42not command, nor did it come into Myheart.32 "Therefore behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "when it willno more be called Tophet, or the Valleyof the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley ofSlaughter; for they will bury in Tophetun l there is no room.33 "The corpses of this people will befood for the birds of the heaven and forthe beasts of the earth. And no one willfrighten them away.34 "Then I will cause to cease from theci es of Judah and from the streetsof Jerusalem the voice of mirth andthe voice of gladness, the voice of thebridegroom and the voice of the bride.For the land shall be desolate.

8 1 "At that me," says the LORD, "theyshall bring out the bones of the kings

of Judah, and the bones of its princes,and the bones of the priests, and the

JEREMIAH 8 43bones of the prophets, and the bonesof the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out oftheir graves.2 "They shall spread them before thesun and the moon and all the host ofheaven, which they have loved andwhich they have served and a er whichthey have walked, which they havesought and which they have worshiped.They shall not be gathered nor buried;they shall be like refuse on the face ofthe earth.3 "Then death shall be chosen ratherthan life by all the residue of those whoremain of this evil family, who remain inall the places where I have driven them,"says the LORD of hosts.4 "Moreover you shall say to them,‘Thus says the LORD: "Will they fall andnot rise? Will one turn away and notreturn?

JEREMIAH 8 445Why has this people slidden back,Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding?They hold fast to deceit, They refuse toreturn.6 I listened and heard, But they do notspeak aright. No man repented of hiswickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’Everyone turned to his own course, Asthe horse rushes into the ba le.7 "Even the stork in the heavens Knowsher appointed mes; And the turtledove,the swi , and the swallow Observe theme of their coming. But My people do

not know the judgment of the LORD.8 "How can you say, ‘We are wise, Andthe law of the LORD is with us’? Look,the false pen of the scribe certainlyworks falsehood.9 The wise men are ashamed, They aredismayed and taken. Behold, they haverejected the word of the LORD; So whatwisdom do they have?

JEREMIAH 8 4510 Therefore I will give their wives toothers, And their fields to those who willinherit them; Because from the leasteven to the greatest Everyone is given tocovetousness; From the prophet even tothe priest Everyone deals falsely.11 For they have healed the hurt of thedaughter of My people slightly, Saying,‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.12Were they ashamed when they hadcommi ed abomina on? No! They werenot at all ashamed, Nor did they knowhow to blush. Therefore they shall fallamong those who fall; In the me oftheir punishment They shall be castdown," says the LORD.13 "I will surely consume them," saysthe LORD. "No grapes shall be on thevine, Nor figs on the fig tree, And the leafshall fade; And the things I have giventhem shall pass away from them."’"

JEREMIAH 8 4614 "Why do we sit s ll? Assembleyourselves, And let us enter the for fiedci es, And let us be silent there. For theLORD our God has put us to silence Andgiven us water of gall to drink, Becausewe have sinned against the LORD.15 "We looked for peace, but no goodcame; And for a me of health, andthere was trouble!16 The snor ng of His horses was heardfrom Dan. The whole land trembled atthe sound of the neighing of His strongones; For they have come and devouredthe land and all that is in it, The city andthose who dwell in it."17 "For behold, I will send serpentsamong you, Vipers which cannot becharmed, And they shall bite you," saysthe LORD.18 I would comfort myself in sorrow; Myheart is faint in me.

JEREMIAH 8–9 4719 Listen! The voice, The cry of thedaughter of my people From a farcountry: "Is not the LORD in Zion? Isnot her King in her?" "Why have theyprovoked Me to anger With their carvedimages––With foreign idols?"20 "The harvest is past, The summer isended, And we are not saved!"21 For the hurt of the daughter ofmy people I am hurt. I am mourning;Astonishment has taken hold of me.22 Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there nophysician there? Why then is there norecovery For the health of the daughterof my people?

9 1Oh, that my head were waters, Andmy eyes a fountain of tears, That I

might weep day and night For the slainof the daughter of my people!2Oh, that I had in the wilderness Alodging place for travelers; That I mightleave my people, And go from them! For

JEREMIAH 9 48they are all adulterers, An assembly oftreacherous men.3 "And like their bow they have benttheir tongues for lies. They are notvaliant for the truth on the earth. Forthey proceed from evil to evil, And theydo not know Me," says the LORD.4 "Everyone take heed to his neighbor,And do not trust any brother; For everybrother will u erly supplant, And everyneighbor will walk with slanderers.5 Everyone will deceive his neighbor,And will not speak the truth; They havetaught their tongue to speak lies; Theyweary themselves to commit iniquity.6 Your dwelling place is in the midst ofdeceit; Through deceit they refuse toknow Me," says the LORD.7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts:"Behold, I will refine them and try them;For how shall I deal with the daughter ofMy people?

JEREMIAH 9 498 Their tongue is an arrow shot out; Itspeaks deceit; One speaks peaceably tohis neighbor with his mouth, But in hisheart he lies in wait.9 Shall I not punish them for thesethings?" says the LORD. "Shall I notavenge Myself on such a na on as this?"10 I will take up a weeping and wailingfor the mountains, And for the dwellingplaces of the wilderness a lamenta on,Because they are burned up, So that noone can pass through; Nor can men hearthe voice of the ca le. Both the birds ofthe heavens and the beasts have fled;They are gone.11 "I will make Jerusalem a heap ofruins, a den of jackals. I will make theci es of Judah desolate, without aninhabitant."12Who is the wise man who mayunderstand this? And who is he to whomthe mouth of the LORD has spoken, that

JEREMIAH 9 50he may declare it? Why does the landperish and burn up like a wilderness, sothat no one can pass through?13And the LORD said, "Because theyhave forsaken My law which I set beforethem, and have not obeyed My voice,nor walked according to it,14 "but they have walked according tothe dictates of their own hearts and a erthe Baals, which their fathers taughtthem,"15 therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I willfeed them, this people, with wormwood,and give them water of gall to drink.16 "I will sca er them also among theGen les, whom neither they nor theirfathers have known. And I will send asword a er them un l I have consumedthem."17 Thus says the LORD of hosts:"Consider and call for the mourning

JEREMIAH 9 51women, That they may come; And sendfor skillful wailing women, That they maycome.18 Let them make haste And take up awailing for us, That our eyes may runwith tears, And our eyelids gush withwater.19 For a voice of wailing is heard fromZion: ‘How we are plundered! We aregreatly ashamed, Because we haveforsaken the land, Because we havebeen cast out of our dwellings.’"20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, Owomen, And let your ear receive theword of His mouth; Teach your daughterswailing, And everyone her neighbor alamenta on.21 For death has come through ourwindows, Has entered our palaces, Tokill off the children––no longer to beoutside! And the young men––no longeron the streets!

JEREMIAH 9 5222 Speak, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Eventhe carcasses of men shall fall as refuseon the open field, Like cu ngs a erthe harvester, And no one shall gatherthem.’"23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wiseman glory in his wisdom, Let not themighty man glory in his might, Nor letthe rich man glory in his riches;24 But let him who glories glory in this,That he understands and knowsMe, ThatI am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness,judgment, and righteousness in theearth. For in these I delight," says theLORD.25 "Behold, the days are coming," saysthe LORD, "that I will punish all who arecircumcised with the uncircumcised––26 "Egypt, Judah, Edom, the peopleof Ammon, Moab, and all who are inthe farthest corners, who dwell in thewilderness. For all these na ons are

JEREMIAH 10 53uncircumcised, and all the house ofIsrael are uncircumcised in the heart."

10 1Hear the word which the LORDspeaks to you, O house of Israel.

2 Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn theway of the Gen les; Do not be dismayedat the signs of heaven, For the Gen lesare dismayed at them.3 For the customs of the peoples arefu le; For one cuts a tree from theforest, The work of the hands of theworkman, with the ax.4 They decorate it with silver and gold;They fasten it with nails and hammersSo that it will not topple.5 They are upright, like a palm tree,And they cannot speak; They must becarried, Because they cannot go bythemselves. Do not be afraid of them,For they cannot do evil, Nor can they doany good."

JEREMIAH 10 546 Inasmuch as there is none like You, OLORD (You are great, and Your name isgreat in might),7Who would not fear You, O King of thena ons? For this is Your righ ul due. Foramong all the wise men of the na ons,And in all their kingdoms, There is nonelike You.8 But they are altogether dull–heartedand foolish; A wooden idol is a worthlessdoctrine.9 Silver is beaten into plates; It isbrought from Tarshish, And gold fromUphaz, The work of the cra sman Andof the hands of the metalsmith; Blue andpurple are their clothing; They are all thework of skillful men.10 But the LORD is the true God; He isthe living God and the everlas ng King.At His wrath the earth will tremble, Andthe na ons will not be able to endureHis indigna on.

JEREMIAH 10 5511 Thus you shall say to them: "The godsthat have not made the heavens and theearth shall perish from the earth andfrom under these heavens."12He has made the earth by His power,He has established the world by Hiswisdom, And has stretched out theheavens at His discre on.13When He u ers His voice, There isa mul tude of waters in the heavens:"And He causes the vapors to ascendfrom the ends of the earth. He makeslightning for the rain, He brings the windout of His treasuries."14 Everyone is dull–hearted, withoutknowledge; Every metalsmith is put toshame by an image; For his moldedimage is falsehood, And there is nobreath in them.15 They are fu le, a work of errors; Inthe me of their punishment they shallperish.

JEREMIAH 10 5616 The Por on of Jacob is not like them,For He is the Maker of all things, AndIsrael is the tribe of His inheritance; TheLORD of hosts is His name.17Gather up your wares from the land,O inhabitant of the fortress!18 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I willthrow out at this me The inhabitantsof the land, And will distress them, Thatthey may find it so."19Woe is me for my hurt! My woundis severe. But I say, "Truly this is aninfirmity, And I must bear it."20My tent is plundered, And all mycords are broken; My children have gonefrom me, And they are no more. There isno one to pitch my tent anymore, Or setup my curtains.21 For the shepherds have becomedull–hearted, And have not sought theLORD; Therefore they shall not prosper,And all their flocks shall be sca ered.

JEREMIAH 10–11 5722 Behold, the noise of the report hascome, And a great commo on out ofthe north country, To make the ci es ofJudah desolate, a den of jackals.23O LORD, I know the way of man is notin himself; It is not in man who walks todirect his own steps.24O LORD, correct me, but with jus ce;Not in Your anger, lest You bring me tonothing.25 Pour out Your fury on the Gen les,who do not know You, And on thefamilies who do not call on Your name;For they have eaten up Jacob, Devouredhim and consumed him, And made hisdwelling place desolate.

11 1 The word that came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD, saying,

2 "Hear the words of this covenant, andspeak to the men of Judah and to theinhabitants of Jerusalem;

JEREMIAH 11 583 "and say to them, ‘Thus says theLORD God of Israel: "Cursed is the manwho does not obey the words of thiscovenant4 "which I commanded your fathers inthe day I brought them out of the landof Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying,‘Obey My voice, and do according to allthat I command you; so shall you be Mypeople, and I will be your God,’5 "that I may establish the oath which Ihave sworn to your fathers, to give them‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ asit is this day."’" And I answered and said,"So be it, LORD."6 Then the LORD said to me, "Proclaimall these words in the ci es of Judah andin the streets of Jerusalem, saying: ‘Hearthe words of this covenant and do them.7 ‘For I earnestly exhorted your fathersin the day I brought them up out of the

JEREMIAH 11 59land of Egypt, un l this day, rising earlyand exhor ng, saying, "Obey My voice."8 ‘Yet they did not obey or inclinetheir ear, but everyone followed thedictates of his evil heart; therefore I willbring upon them all the words of thiscovenant, which I commanded them todo, but which they have not done.’"9And the LORD said to me, "Aconspiracy has been found among themen of Judah and among the inhabitantsof Jerusalem.10 "They have turned back to theiniqui es of their forefathers whorefused to hear My words, and they havegone a er other gods to serve them; thehouse of Israel and the house of Judahhave broken My covenant which I madewith their fathers."11 Therefore thus says the LORD:"Behold, I will surely bring calamity onthem which they will not be able to

JEREMIAH 11 60escape; and though they cry out to Me, Iwill not listen to them.12 "Then the ci es of Judah and theinhabitants of Jerusalem will go andcry out to the gods to whom they offerincense, but they will not save them atall in the me of their trouble.13 "For according to the number ofyour ci es were your gods, O Judah; andaccording to the number of the streetsof Jerusalem you have set up altarsto that shameful thing, altars to burnincense to Baal.14 "So do not pray for this people, or liup a cry or prayer for them; for I will nothear them in the me that they cry outto Me because of their trouble.15 "What has My beloved to do in Myhouse, Having done lewd deeds withmany? And the holy flesh has passedfrom you. When you do evil, then yourejoice.

JEREMIAH 11 6116 The LORD called your name, GreenOlive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit.With the noise of a great tumult He haskindled fire on it, And its branches arebroken.17 "For the LORD of hosts, who plantedyou, has pronounced doom against youfor the evil of the house of Israel andof the house of Judah, which they havedone against themselves to provoke Meto anger in offering incense to Baal."18Now the LORD gave me knowledgeof it, and I know it; for You showed metheir doings.19 But I was like a docile lamb broughtto the slaughter; and I did not know thatthey had devised schemes against me,saying, "Let us destroy the tree with itsfruit, and let us cut him off from theland of the living, that his name may beremembered no more."

JEREMIAH 11–12 6220 But, O LORD of hosts, You who judgerighteously, Tes ng the mind and theheart, Let me see Your vengeance onthem, For to You I have revealed mycause.21 "Therefore thus says the LORDconcerning the men of Anathoth whoseek your life, saying, ‘Do not prophesyin the name of the LORD, lest you die byour hand’ ––22 "therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. Theyoung men shall die by the sword, theirsons and their daughters shall die byfamine;23 ‘and there shall be no remnant ofthem, for I will bring catastrophe on themen of Anathoth, even the year of theirpunishment.’"

12 1 Righteous are You, O LORD,when I plead with You; Yet let me

talk with You about Your judgments.Why

JEREMIAH 12 63does the way of the wicked prosper?Why are those happy who deal sotreacherously?2 You have planted them, yes, they havetaken root; They grow, yes, they bearfruit. You are near in their mouth But farfrom their mind.3 But You, O LORD, know me; You haveseen me, And You have tested my hearttoward You. Pull them out like sheep forthe slaughter, And prepare them for theday of slaughter.4How long will the land mourn, Andthe herbs of every field wither? Thebeasts and birds are consumed, For thewickedness of those who dwell there,Because they said, "He will not see ourfinal end."5 "If you have run with the footmen,and they have wearied you, Then howcan you contend with horses? And if inthe land of peace, In which you trusted,

JEREMIAH 12 64they wearied you, Then how will you doin the floodplain of the Jordan?6 For even your brothers, the houseof your father, Even they have dealttreacherously with you; Yes, they havecalled a mul tude a er you. Do notbelieve them, Even though they speaksmooth words to you.7 "I have forsaken My house, I have leMy heritage; I have given the dearlybeloved of My soul into the hand of herenemies.8My heritage is to Me like a lion in theforest; It cries out against Me; ThereforeI have hated it.9My heritage is to Me like a speckledvulture; The vultures all around areagainst her. Come, assemble all thebeasts of the field, Bring them to devour!10 "Many rulers have destroyed Myvineyard, They have trodden My por on

JEREMIAH 12 65underfoot; They have made My pleasantpor on a desolate wilderness.11 They have made it desolate;Desolate, it mourns to Me; The wholeland is made desolate, Because no onetakes it to heart.12 The plunderers have come On all thedesolate heights in the wilderness, Forthe sword of the LORD shall devour Fromone end of the land to the other end ofthe land; No flesh shall have peace.13 They have sown wheat but reapedthorns; They have put themselves topain but do not profit. But be ashamedof your harvest Because of the fierceanger of the LORD."14 Thus says the LORD: "Against all Myevil neighbors who touch the inheritancewhich I have caused My people Israel toinherit––behold, I will pluck them outof their land and pluck out the house ofJudah from among them.

JEREMIAH 12–13 6615 "Then it shall be, a er I have pluckedthem out, that I will return and havecompassion on them and bring themback, everyone to his heritage andeveryone to his land.16 "And it shall be, if they will learncarefully the ways of My people, toswear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’as they taught My people to swear byBaal, then they shall be established inthe midst of My people.17 "But if they do not obey, I will u erlypluck up and destroy that na on," saysthe LORD.

13 1 Thus the LORD said to me: "Goand get yourself a linen sash, and

put it around your waist, but do not putit in water."2 So I got a sash according to the wordof the LORD, and put it around my waist.3And the word of the LORD came to methe second me, saying,

JEREMIAH 13 674 "Take the sash that you acquired,which is around your waist, and arise, goto the Euphrates, and hide it there in ahole in the rock."5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates,as the LORD commanded me.6Now it came to pass a er many daysthat the LORD said to me, "Arise, go tothe Euphrates, and take from there thesash which I commanded you to hidethere."7 Then I went to the Euphrates and dug,and I took the sash from the place whereI had hidden it; and there was the sash,ruined. It was profitable for nothing.8 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying,9 "Thus says the LORD: ‘In this manner Iwill ruin the pride of Judah and the greatpride of Jerusalem.10 ‘This evil people, who refuse to hearMy words, who follow the dictates of

JEREMIAH 13 68their hearts, and walk a er other godsto serve them and worship them, shallbe just like this sash which is profitablefor nothing.11 ‘For as the sash clings to the waist ofa man, so I have caused the whole houseof Israel and the whole house of Judahto cling to Me,’ says the LORD, ‘that theymay become My people, for renown, forpraise, and for glory; but they would nothear.’12 "Therefore you shall speak to themthis word: ‘Thus says the LORD God ofIsrael: "Every bo le shall be filled withwine."’ And they will say to you, ‘Do wenot certainly know that every bo le willbe filled with wine?’13 "Then you shall say to them, ‘Thussays the LORD: "Behold, I will fill all theinhabitants of this land––even the kingswho sit on David’s throne, the priests,

JEREMIAH 13 69the prophets, and all the inhabitants ofJerusalem––with drunkenness!14 "And I will dash them one againstanother, even the fathers and the sonstogether," says the LORD. "I will notpity nor spare nor have mercy, but willdestroy them."’"15Hear and give ear: Do not be proud,For the LORD has spoken.16Give glory to the LORD your GodBefore He causes darkness, Andbefore your feet stumble On the darkmountains, And while you are lookingfor light, He turns it into the shadow ofdeath And makes it dense darkness.17 But if you will not hear it, My soulwill weep in secret for your pride; Myeyes will weep bi erly And run downwith tears, Because the LORD’S flock hasbeen taken cap ve.18 Say to the king and to the queenmother, "Humble yourselves; Sit down,

JEREMIAH 13 70For your rule shall collapse, the crown ofyour glory."19 The ci es of the South shall be shutup, And no one shall open them; Judahshall be carried away cap ve, all of it; Itshall be wholly carried away cap ve.20 Li up your eyes and see Those whocome from the north. Where is the flockthat was given to you, Your beau fulsheep?21What will you say when He punishesyou? For you have taught them To bechie ains, to be head over you. Will notpangs seize you, Like a woman in labor?22And if you say in your heart, "Whyhave these things come upon me?" Forthe greatness of your iniquity Your skirtshave been uncovered, Your heels madebare.23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin orthe leopard its spots? Then may you alsodo good who are accustomed to do evil.

JEREMIAH 13–14 7124 "Therefore I will sca er them likestubble That passes away by the wind ofthe wilderness.25 This is your lot, The por on of yourmeasures from Me," says the LORD,"Because you have forgo en Me Andtrusted in falsehood.26 Therefore I will uncover your skirtsover your face, That your shame mayappear.27 I have seen your adulteries And yourlus ul neighings, The lewdness of yourharlotry, Your abomina ons on the hillsin the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem!Will you s ll not be made clean?"

14 1 The word of the LORD thatcame to Jeremiah concerning the

droughts.2 "Judah mourns, And her gateslanguish; They mourn for the land, Andthe cry of Jerusalem has gone up.

JEREMIAH 14 723 Their nobles have sent their lads forwater; They went to the cisterns andfound no water. They returned with theirvessels empty; They were ashamed andconfounded And covered their heads.4 Because the ground is parched, Forthere was no rain in the land, Theplowmen were ashamed; They coveredtheir heads.5 Yes, the deer also gave birth in thefield, But le because there was nograss.6And the wild donkeys stood in thedesolate heights; They sniffed at thewind like jackals; Their eyes failedbecause there was no grass."7O LORD, though our iniqui es tes fyagainst us, Do it for Your name’s sake;For our backslidings are many, We havesinned against You.8O the Hope of Israel, his Savior in meof trouble, Why should You be like a

JEREMIAH 14 73stranger in the land, And like a travelerwho turns aside to tarry for a night?9Why should You be like a manastonished, Like a mighty one whocannot save? Yet You, O LORD, are in ourmidst, 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; Theyhave not restrained their feet. Thereforethe LORD does not accept them; Hewill remember their iniquity now, Andpunish their sins."11 Then the LORD said to me, "Do notpray for this people, for their good.12 "When they fast, I will not hear theircry; and when they offer burnt offeringand grain offering, I will not accept them.But I will consume them by the sword,by the famine, and by the pes lence."13 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold,the prophets say to them, ‘You shall

JEREMIAH 14 74not see the sword, nor shall you havefamine, but I will give you assured peacein this place.’"14And the LORD said to me, "Theprophets prophesy lies in My name. Ihave not sent them, commanded them,nor spoken to them; they prophesy toyou a false vision, divina on, a worthlessthing, and the deceit of their heart.15 "Therefore thus says the LORDconcerning the prophets who prophesyin My name, whom I did not send, andwho say, ‘Sword and famine shall notbe in this land’ ––‘By sword and faminethose prophets shall be consumed!16 ‘And the people to whom theyprophesy shall be cast out in the streetsof Jerusalem because of the famine andthe sword; they will have no one to burythem––them nor their wives, their sonsnor their daughters––for I will pour theirwickedness on them.’

JEREMIAH 14 7517 "Therefore you shall say this word tothem: ‘Let my eyes flow with tears nightand day, And let them not cease; For thevirgin daughter of my people Has beenbroken with a mighty stroke, with a verysevere blow.18 If I go out to the field, Then behold,those slain with the sword! And if I enterthe city, Then behold, those sick fromfamine! Yes, both prophet and priest goabout in a land they do not know.’"19Have You u erly rejected Judah? HasYour soul loathed Zion? Why have Youstricken us so that there is no healing forus? We looked for peace, but there wasno good; And for the me of healing,and there was trouble.20We acknowledge, O LORD, ourwickedness And the iniquity of ourfathers, For we have sinned against You.21Do not abhor us, for Your name’ssake; Do not disgrace the throne of Your

JEREMIAH 14–15 76glory. Remember, do not break Yourcovenant with us.22Are there any among the idols of thena ons that can cause rain? Or can theheavens give showers? Are You not He,O LORD our God? Therefore we will waitfor You, Since You have made all these.

15 1 Then the LORD said tome, "Evenif Moses and Samuel stood before

Me, My mind would not be favorabletoward this people. Cast them out of Mysight, and let them go forth.2 "And it shall be, if they say to you,‘Where should we go?’ then you shalltell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: "Such asare for death, to death; And such as arefor the sword, to the sword; And suchas are for the famine, to the famine;And such as are for the cap vity, to thecap vity."’3 "And I will appoint over them fourforms of destruc on," says the LORD:

JEREMIAH 15 77"the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, thebirds of the heavens and the beasts ofthe earth to devour and destroy.4 "I will hand them over to trouble, toall kingdoms of the earth, because ofManasseh the son of Hezekiah, king ofJudah, for what he did in Jerusalem.5 "For who will have pity on you, OJerusalem? Or who will bemoan you? Orwho will turn aside to ask how you aredoing?6 You have forsakenMe," says the LORD,"You have gone backward. Therefore Iwill stretch out My hand against you anddestroy you; I am weary of relen ng!7And I will winnow them with awinnowing fan in the gates of the land;I will bereave them of children; I willdestroy My people, Since they do notreturn from their ways.8 Their widows will be increased toMe more than the sand of the seas;

JEREMIAH 15 78I will bring against them, Against themother of the young men, A plundererat noonday; I will cause anguish andterror to fall on them suddenly.9 "She languishes who has borne seven;She has breathed her last; Her sun hasgone down While it was yet day; Shehas been ashamed and confounded. Andthe remnant of them I will deliver to thesword Before their enemies," says theLORD.10Woe is me, my mother, That youhave borne me, A man of strife and aman of conten on to the whole earth! Ihave neither lent for interest, Nor havemen lent to me for interest. Every one ofthem curses me.11 The LORD said: "Surely it will be wellwith your remnant; Surely I will causethe enemy to intercede with you In theme of adversity and in the me of

afflic on.

JEREMIAH 15 7912 Can anyone break iron, The northerniron and the bronze?13 Your wealth and your treasures I willgive as plunder without price, Because ofall your sins, Throughout your territories.14And I will make you cross over withyour enemies Into a land which you donot know; For a fire is kindled in Myanger, Which shall burn upon you."15O LORD, You know; Remember meand visit me, And take vengeance forme on my persecutors. In Your enduringpa ence, do not take me away. Knowthat for Your sake I have suffered rebuke.16 Your words were found, and I atethem, And Your word was to me the joyand rejoicing of my heart; For I am calledby Your name, O LORD God of hosts.17 I did not sit in the assembly of themockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alonebecause of Your hand, For You have filledme with indigna on.

JEREMIAH 15–16 8018Why is my pain perpetual And mywound incurable, Which refuses to behealed? Will You surely be to me like anunreliable stream, As waters that fail?19 Therefore thus says the LORD: "If youreturn, Then I will bring you back; Youshall stand before Me; If you take outthe precious from the vile, You shall beas My mouth. Let them return to you,But you must not return to them.20And I will make you to this people afor fied bronze wall; And they will fightagainst you, But they shall not prevailagainst you; For I am with you to saveyou And deliver you," says the LORD.21 "I will deliver you from the hand ofthe wicked, And I will redeem you fromthe grip of the terrible."

16 1 The word of the LORD also cameto me, saying,

JEREMIAH 16 812 "You shall not take a wife, nor shallyou have sons or daughters in thisplace."3 For thus says the LORD concerningthe sons and daughters who are born inthis place, and concerning their motherswho bore them and their fathers whobegot them in this land:4 "They shall die gruesome deaths; theyshall not be lamented nor shall theybe buried, but they shall be like refuseon the face of the earth. They shall beconsumed by the sword and by famine,and their corpses shall be meat for thebirds of heaven and for the beasts of theearth."5 For thus says the LORD: "Do not enterthe house of mourning, nor go to lamentor bemoan them; for I have taken awayMy peace from this people," says theLORD, "lovingkindness and mercies.

JEREMIAH 16 826 "Both the great and the small shall diein this land. They shall not be buried;neither shall men lament for them, cutthemselves, nor make themselves baldfor them.7 "Nor shall men break bread inmourning for them, to comfort themfor the dead; nor shall men give themthe cup of consola on to drink for theirfather or their mother.8 "Also you shall not go into the houseof feas ng to sit with them, to eat anddrink."9 For thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: "Behold, I will cause tocease from this place, before your eyesand in your days, the voice of mirth andthe voice of gladness, the voice of thebridegroom and the voice of the bride.10 "And it shall be, when you show thispeople all these words, and they say toyou, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced all

JEREMIAH 16 83this great disaster against us? Or what isour iniquity? Or what is our sin that wehave commi ed against the LORD ourGod?’11 "then you shall say to them, ‘Becauseyour fathers have forsaken Me,’ saysthe LORD; ‘they have walked a erother gods and have served them andworshiped them, and have forsaken Meand not kept My law.12 ‘And you have done worse than yourfathers, for behold, each one follows thedictates of his own evil heart, so that noone listens to Me.13 ‘Therefore I will cast you out of thisland into a land that you do not know,neither you nor your fathers; and thereyou shall serve other gods day and night,where I will not show you favor.’14 "Therefore behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "that it shallno more be said, ‘The LORD lives who

JEREMIAH 16 84brought up the children of Israel fromthe land of Egypt,’15 "but, ‘The LORD lives who broughtup the children of Israel from the land ofthe north and from all the lands whereHe had driven them.’ For I will bringthem back into their land which I gave totheir fathers.16 "Behold, I will send for manyfishermen," says the LORD, "and theyshall fish them; and a erward I will sendfor many hunters, and they shall huntthem from every mountain and everyhill, and out of the holes of the rocks.17 "For My eyes are on all their ways;they are not hidden from My face, nor istheir iniquity hidden from My eyes.18 "And first I will repay double for theiriniquity and their sin, because they havedefiled My land; they have filled Myinheritance with the carcasses of theirdetestable and abominable idols."

JEREMIAH 16–17 8519O LORD, my strength and my fortress,My refuge in the day of afflic on, TheGen les shall come to You From the endsof the earth and say, "Surely our fathershave inherited lies, Worthlessness andunprofitable things."20Will a man make gods for himself,Which are not gods?21 "Therefore behold, I will this oncecause them to know, I will cause them toknow My hand and My might; And theyshall know that My name is the LORD.

17 1 "The sin of Judah is wri en witha pen of iron; With the point of

a diamond it is engraved On the tabletof their heart, And on the horns of youraltars,2While their children remember Theiraltars and their wooden images By thegreen trees on the high hills.3O My mountain in the field, I willgive as plunder your wealth, all your

JEREMIAH 17 86treasures, And your high places of sinwithin all your borders.4And you, even yourself, Shall let goof your heritage which I gave you; And Iwill cause you to serve your enemies Inthe land which you do not know; For youhave kindled a fire in My anger whichshall burn forever."5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is theman who trusts in man And makes fleshhis strength, Whose heart departs fromthe LORD.6 For he shall be like a shrub in thedesert, And shall not see when goodcomes, But shall inhabit the parchedplaces in the wilderness, In a salt landwhich is not inhabited.7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in theLORD, And whose hope is the LORD.8 For he shall be like a tree planted bythe waters, Which spreads out its rootsby the river, And will not fear when heat

JEREMIAH 17 87comes; But its leaf will be green, And willnot be anxious in the year of drought,Nor will cease from yielding fruit.9 "The heart is decei ul above allthings, And desperately wicked; Whocan know it?10 I, the LORD, search the heart, Itest the mind, Even to give every manaccording to his ways, According to thefruit of his doings.11 "As a partridge that broods but doesnot hatch, So is he who gets riches, butnot by right; It will leave him in the midstof his days, And at his end he will be afool."12A glorious high throne from thebeginning Is the place of our sanctuary.13O LORD, the hope of Israel, All whoforsake You shall be ashamed. "Thosewho depart from Me Shall be wri en inthe earth, Because they have forsakenthe LORD, The fountain of living waters."

JEREMIAH 17 8814Heal me, O LORD, and I shall behealed; Save me, and I shall be saved,For You are my praise.15 Indeed they say to me, "Where is theword of the LORD? Let it come now!"16As for me, I have not hurried awayfrom being a shepherd who follows You,Nor have I desired the woeful day; Youknow what came out of my lips; It wasright there before You.17Do not be a terror to me; You are myhope in the day of doom.18 Let them be ashamed who persecuteme, But do not let me be put to shame;Let them be dismayed, But do not let mebe dismayed. Bring on them the day ofdoom, And destroy them with doubledestruc on!19 Thus the LORD said to me: "Go andstand in the gate of the children of thepeople, by which the kings of Judah

JEREMIAH 17 89come in and by which they go out, andin all the gates of Jerusalem;20 "and say to them, ‘Hear the wordof the LORD, you kings of Judah, andall Judah, and all the inhabitants ofJerusalem, who enter by these gates.21 ‘Thus says the LORD: "Take heed toyourselves, and bear no burden on theSabbath day, nor bring it in by the gatesof Jerusalem;22 "nor carry a burden out of yourhouses on the Sabbath day, nor do anywork, but hallow the Sabbath day, as Icommanded your fathers.23 "But they did not obey nor inclinetheir ear, but made their neck s ff,that they might not hear nor receiveinstruc on.24 "And it shall be, if you heed Mecarefully," says the LORD, "to bring noburden through the gates of this city on

JEREMIAH 17 90the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbathday, to do no work in it,25 "then shall enter the gates of this citykings and princes si ng on the throne ofDavid, riding in chariots and on horses,they and their princes, accompanied bythe men of Judah and the inhabitantsof Jerusalem; and this city shall remainforever.26 "And they shall come from theci es of Judah and from the placesaround Jerusalem, from the land ofBenjamin and from the lowland, fromthe mountains and from the South,bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices,grain offerings and incense, bringingsacrifices of praise to the house of theLORD.27 "But if you will not heedMe to hallowthe Sabbath day, such as not carryinga burden when entering the gates ofJerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I

JEREMIAH 18 91will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shalldevour the palaces of Jerusalem, and itshall not be quenched."’"

18 1 The word which came toJeremiah from the LORD, saying:

2 "Arise and go down to the po er’shouse, and there I will cause you to hearMy words."3 Then I went down to the po er’shouse, and there he was, makingsomething at the wheel.4And the vessel that he made of claywas marred in the hand of the po er; sohe made it again into another vessel, asit seemed good to the po er to make.5 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do withyou as this po er?" says the LORD."Look, as the clay is in the po er’s hand,so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

JEREMIAH 18 927 "The instant I speak concerning ana on and concerning a kingdom, topluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,8 "if that na on against whom I havespoken turns from its evil, I will relent ofthe disaster that I thought to bring uponit.9 "And the instant I speak concerninga na on and concerning a kingdom, tobuild and to plant it,10 "if it does evil in My sight so thatit does not obey My voice, then I willrelent concerning the good with which Isaid I would benefit it.11 "Now therefore, speak to the menof Judah and to the inhabitants ofJerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD:"Behold, I am fashioning a disaster anddevising a plan against you. Return nowevery one from his evil way, and makeyour ways and your doings good."’"

JEREMIAH 18 9312And they said, "That is hopeless! Sowe will walk according to our own plans,and we will every one obey the dictatesof his evil heart."13 Therefore thus says the LORD: "Asknow among the Gen les, Who has heardsuch things? The virgin of Israel has donea very horrible thing.14Will a man leave the snow water ofLebanon, Which comes from the rock ofthe field? Will the cold flowing waters beforsaken for strange waters?15 "Because My people have forgo enMe, They have burned incense toworthless idols. And they have causedthemselves to stumble in their ways,From the ancient paths, To walk inpathways and not on a highway,16 To make their land desolate and aperpetual hissing; Everyone who passesby it will be astonished And shake hishead.

JEREMIAH 18 9417 I will sca er them as with an eastwind before the enemy; I will show themthe back and not the face In the day oftheir calamity."18 Then they said, "Come and let usdevise plans against Jeremiah; for thelaw shall not perish from the priest, norcounsel from the wise, nor the wordfrom the prophet. Come and let us a ackhim with the tongue, and let us not giveheed to any of his words."19Give heed to me, O LORD, And listento the voice of those who contend withme!20 Shall evil be repaid for good? For theyhave dug a pit for my life. Rememberthat I stood before You To speak goodfor them, To turn away Your wrath fromthem.21 Therefore deliver up their children tothe famine, And pour out their blood Bythe force of the sword; Let their wives

JEREMIAH 18–19 95become widows And bereaved of theirchildren. Let their men be put to death,Their young men be slain By the swordin ba le.22 Let a cry be heard from their houses,When You bring a troop suddenly uponthem; For they have dug a pit to takeme, And hidden snares for my feet.23 Yet, LORD, You know all their counselWhich is against me, to slay me. Provideno atonement for their iniquity, Nor blotout their sin from Your sight; But letthem be overthrown before You. Dealthus with them In the me of Your anger.

19 1 Thus says the LORD: "Go and geta po er’s earthen flask, and take

some of the elders of the people andsome of the elders of the priests.2 "And go out to the Valley of the Sonof Hinnom, which is by the entry of thePotsherd Gate; and proclaim there thewords that I will tell you,

JEREMIAH 19 963 "and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD,O kings of Judah and inhabitants ofJerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts,the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bringsuch a catastrophe on this place, thatwhoever hears of it, his ears will ngle.4 "Because they have forsaken Me andmade this an alien place, because theyhave burned incense in it to other godswhom neither they, their fathers, northe kings of Judah have known, and havefilled this place with the blood of theinnocents5 "(they have also built the high placesof Baal, to burn their sons with fire forburnt offerings to Baal, which I did notcommand or speak, nor did it come intoMy mind),6 "therefore behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "that this placeshall no more be called Tophet or the

JEREMIAH 19 97Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but theValley of Slaughter.7 "And I will make void the counsel ofJudah and Jerusalem in this place, andI will cause them to fall by the swordbefore their enemies and by the handsof those who seek their lives; theircorpses I will give as meat for the birdsof the heaven and for the beasts of theearth.8 "I will make this city desolate and ahissing; everyone who passes by it willbe astonished and hiss because of all itsplagues.9 "And I will cause them to eat theflesh of their sons and the flesh of theirdaughters, and everyone shall eat theflesh of his friend in the siege and in thedespera on with which their enemiesand those who seek their lives shall drivethem to despair."’

JEREMIAH 19 9810 "Then you shall break the flask in thesight of the men who go with you,11 "and say to them, ‘Thus says theLORD of hosts: "Even so I will break thispeople and this city, as one breaks apo er’s vessel, which cannot be madewhole again; and they shall bury them inTophet ll there is no place to bury.12 "Thus I will do to this place," says theLORD, "and to its inhabitants, and makethis city like Tophet.13 "And the houses of Jerusalem andthe houses of the kings of Judah shall bedefiled like the place of Tophet, becauseof all the houses on whose roofs theyhave burned incense to all the host ofheaven, and poured out drink offeringsto other gods."’"14 Then Jeremiah came from Tophet,where the LORD had sent him toprophesy; and he stood in the court

JEREMIAH 19–20 99of the Lord’s house and said to all thepeople,15 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring onthis city and on all her towns all thedoom that I have pronounced against it,because they have s ffened their necksthat they might not hear My words.’"

20 1Now Pashhur the son of Immer,the priest who was also chief

governor in the house of the LORD,heard that Jeremiah prophesied thesethings.2 Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah theprophet, and put him in the stocks thatwere in the high gate of Benjamin, whichwas by the house of the LORD.3And it happened on the next day thatPashhur brought Jeremiah out of thestocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "TheLORD has not called your name Pashhur,but Magor–Missabib.

JEREMIAH 20 1004 "For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I willmake you a terror to yourself and to allyour friends; and they shall fall by thesword of their enemies, and your eyesshall see it. I will give all Judah into thehand of the king of Babylon, and he shallcarry them cap ve to Babylon and slaythem with the sword.5 ‘Moreover I will deliver all the wealthof this city, all its produce, and all itsprecious things; all the treasures of thekings of Judah I will give into the hand oftheir enemies, who will plunder them,seize them, and carry them to Babylon.6 ‘And you, Pashhur, and all who dwellin your house, shall go into cap vity. Youshall go to Babylon, and there you shalldie, and be buried there, you and all yourfriends, to whom you have prophesiedlies.’"7O LORD, You induced me, and I waspersuaded; You are stronger than I, and

JEREMIAH 20 101have prevailed. I am in derision daily;Everyone mocks me.8 For when I spoke, I cried out; Ishouted, "Violence and plunder!"Because the word of the LORD was madeto me A reproach and a derision daily.9 Then I said, "I will not make men onof Him, Nor speak anymore in His name."But His word was in my heart like aburning fire Shut up in my bones; I wasweary of holding it back, And I could not.10 For I heard many mocking: "Fear onevery side!" "Report," they say, "andwe will report it!" All my acquaintanceswatched for my stumbling, saying,"Perhaps he can be induced; Then wewill prevail against him, And we will takeour revenge on him."11 But the LORD is with me as amighty, awesome One. Therefore mypersecutors will stumble, and will notprevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for

JEREMIAH 20 102they will not prosper. Their everlas ngconfusion will never be forgo en.12 But, O LORD of hosts, You who testthe righteous, And see the mind andheart, Let me see Your vengeance onthem; For I have pleaded my causebefore You.13 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD!For He has delivered the life of the poorFrom the hand of evildoers.14 Cursed be the day in which I wasborn! Let the day not be blessed in whichmy mother bore me!15 Let the man be cursed Who broughtnews to my father, saying, "A male childhas been born to you!" Making him veryglad.16And let that man be like the ci esWhich the LORD overthrew, and didnot relent; Let him hear the cry in themorning And the shou ng at noon,

JEREMIAH 20–21 10317 Because he did not kill me from thewomb, That my mother might havebeen my grave, And her womb alwaysenlarged with me.18Why did I come forth from the wombto see labor and sorrow, That my daysshould be consumed with shame?

21 1 The word which came toJeremiah from the LORD when

King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur theson of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the sonof Maaseiah, the priest, saying,2 "Please inquire of the LORD for us,for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonmakes war against us. Perhaps the LORDwill deal with us according to all Hiswonderful works, that the king may goaway from us."3 Then Jeremiah said to them, "Thusyou shall say to Zedekiah,4 ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel:"Behold, I will turn back the weapons of

JEREMIAH 21 104war that are in your hands, with whichyou fight against the king of Babylon andthe Chaldeans who besiege you outsidethe walls; and I will assemble them inthe midst of this city.5 "I Myself will fight against you withan outstretched hand and with a strongarm, even in anger and fury and greatwrath.6 "I will strike the inhabitants of thiscity, both man and beast; they shall dieof a great pes lence.7 "And a erward," says the LORD, "Iwill deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, hisservants and the people, and such as arele in this city from the pes lence andthe sword and the famine, into the handof Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, intothe hand of their enemies, and into thehand of those who seek their life; andhe shall strike them with the edge of the

JEREMIAH 21 105sword. He shall not spare them, or havepity or mercy."’8 "Now you shall say to this people,‘Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I setbefore you the way of life and the way ofdeath.9 "He who remains in this city shalldie by the sword, by famine, and bypes lence; but he who goes out anddefects to the Chaldeans who besiegeyou, he shall live, and his life shall be asa prize to him.10 "For I have set My face against thiscity for adversity and not for good," saysthe LORD. "It shall be given into the handof the king of Babylon, and he shall burnit with fire."’11 "And concerning the house of theking of Judah, say, ‘Hear the word of theLORD,12 ‘O house of David! Thus saysthe LORD: "Execute judgment in the

JEREMIAH 21–22 106morning; And deliver him who isplundered Out of the hand of theoppressor, Lest My fury go forth like fireAnd burn so that no one can quench it,Because of the evil of your doings.13 "Behold, I am against you, Oinhabitant of the valley, And rock of theplain," says the LORD, "Who say, ‘Whoshall come down against us? Or whoshall enter our dwellings?’14 But I will punish you according to thefruit of your doings," says the LORD; "Iwill kindle a fire in its forest, And it shalldevour all things around it."’"

22 1 Thus says the LORD: "Go downto the house of the king of Judah,

and there speak this word,2 "and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD,O king of Judah, you who sit on thethrone of David, you and your servantsand your people who enter these gates!

JEREMIAH 22 1073 ‘Thus says the LORD: "Executejudgment and righteousness, and deliverthe plundered out of the hand of theoppressor. Do no wrong and do noviolence to the stranger, the fatherless,or the widow, nor shed innocent bloodin this place.4 "For if you indeed do this thing, thenshall enter the gates of this house, ridingon horses and in chariots, accompaniedby servants and people, kings who sit onthe throne of David.5 "But if you will not hear these words,I swear by Myself," says the LORD, "thatthis house shall become a desola on."’"6 For thus says the LORD to the houseof the king of Judah: "You are Gilead toMe, The head of Lebanon; Yet I surelywill make you a wilderness, Ci es whichare not inhabited.7 I will prepare destroyers against you,Everyone with his weapons; They shall

JEREMIAH 22 108cut down your choice cedars And castthem into the fire.8 "And many na ons will pass bythis city; and everyone will say to hisneighbor, ‘Why has the LORD done so tothis great city?’9 "Then they will answer, ‘Because theyhave forsaken the covenant of the LORDtheir God, and worshiped other godsand served them.’"10Weep not for the dead, nor bemoanhim; Weep bi erly for him who goesaway, For he shall return no more, Norsee his na ve country.11 For thus says the LORD concerningShallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah,who reigned instead of Josiah his father,who went from this place: "He shall notreturn here anymore,12 "but he shall die in the place wherethey have led him cap ve, and shall seethis land no more.

JEREMIAH 22 10913 "Woe to him who builds his houseby unrighteousness And his chambersby injus ce, Who uses his neighbor’sservice without wages And gives himnothing for his work,14Who says, ‘I will build myself a widehouse with spacious chambers, And cutout windows for it, Paneling it with cedarAnd pain ng it with vermilion.’15 "Shall you reign because you encloseyourself in cedar? Did not your fathereat and drink, And do jus ce andrighteousness? Then it was well withhim.16He judged the cause of the poor andneedy; Then it was well. Was not thisknowing Me?" says the LORD.17 "Yet your eyes and your heart arefor nothing but your covetousness, Forshedding innocent blood, And prac cingoppression and violence."

JEREMIAH 22 11018 Therefore thus says the LORDconcerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,king of Judah: "They shall not lament forhim, Saying, ‘Alas, my brother!’ or ‘Alas,my sister!’ They shall not lament for him,Saying, ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, his glory!’19He shall be buried with the burial ofa donkey, Dragged and cast out beyondthe gates of Jerusalem.20 "Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, Andli up your voice in Bashan; Cry fromAbarim, For all your lovers are destroyed.21 I spoke to you in your prosperity, Butyou said, ‘I will not hear.’ This has beenyour manner from your youth, That youdid not obey My voice.22 The wind shall eat up all your rulers,And your lovers shall go into cap vity;Surely then you will be ashamed andhumiliated For all your wickedness.23O inhabitant of Lebanon, Makingyour nest in the cedars, How gracious

JEREMIAH 22 111will you be when pangs come upon you,Like the pain of a woman in labor?24 "As I live," says the LORD, "thoughConiah the son of Jehoiakim, king ofJudah, were the signet on My right hand,yet I would pluck you off;25 "and I will give you into the hand ofthose who seek your life, and into thehand of those whose face you fear––thehand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonand the hand of the Chaldeans.26 "So I will cast you out, and yourmother who bore you, into anothercountry where you were not born; andthere you shall die.27 "But to the land to which they desireto return, there they shall not return.28 "Is this man Coniah a despised,broken idol––A vessel in which is nopleasure? Why are they cast out, he andhis descendants, And cast into a landwhich they do not know?

JEREMIAH 22–23 11229O earth, earth, earth, Hear the wordof the LORD!30 Thus says the LORD: ‘Write this mandown as childless, A man who shallnot prosper in his days; For none of hisdescendants shall prosper, Si ng on thethrone of David, And ruling anymore inJudah.’"

23 1 "Woe to the shepherds whodestroy and sca er the sheep of

My pasture!" says the LORD.2 Therefore thus says the LORD Godof Israel against the shepherds whofeed My people: "You have sca eredMy flock, driven them away, and nota ended to them. Behold, I will a endto you for the evil of your doings," saysthe LORD.3 "But I will gather the remnant of Myflock out of all countries where I havedriven them, and bring them back to

JEREMIAH 23 113their folds; and they shall be frui ul andincrease.4 "I will set up shepherds over themwho will feed them; and they shall fearno more, nor be dismayed, nor shall theybe lacking," says the LORD.5 "Behold, the days are coming," saysthe LORD, "That I will raise to David aBranch of righteousness; A King shallreign and prosper, And execute judgmentand righteousness in the earth.6 In His days Judah will be saved, AndIsrael will dwell safely; Now this is Hisname by which He will be called: THELORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.7 "Therefore, behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "that they shallno longer say, ‘As the LORD lives whobrought up the children of Israel fromthe land of Egypt,’8 "but, ‘As the LORD lives who broughtup and led the descendants of the house

JEREMIAH 23 114of Israel from the north country andfrom all the countries where I had driventhem.’ And they shall dwell in their ownland."9My heart within me is broken Becauseof the prophets; All my bones shake. Iam like a drunken man, And like a manwhom wine has overcome, Becauseof the LORD, And because of His holywords.10 For the land is full of adulterers; Forbecause of a curse the land mourns. Thepleasant places of the wilderness aredried up. Their course of life is evil, Andtheir might is not right.11 "For both prophet and priest areprofane; Yes, in My house I have foundtheir wickedness," says the LORD.12 "Therefore their way shall be to themLike slippery ways; In the darkness theyshall be driven on And fall in them; For I

JEREMIAH 23 115will bring disaster on them, The year oftheir punishment," says the LORD.13 "And I have seen folly in the prophetsof Samaria: They prophesied by Baal Andcaused My people Israel to err.14Also I have seen a horrible thingin the prophets of Jerusalem: Theycommit adultery and walk in lies;They also strengthen the hands ofevildoers, So that no one turns backfrom his wickedness. All of them are likeSodom to Me, And her inhabitants likeGomorrah.15 "Therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts concerning the prophets: ‘Behold,I will feed them with wormwood, Andmake them drink the water of gall;For from the prophets of JerusalemProfaneness has gone out into all theland.’"16 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Donot listen to the words of the prophets

JEREMIAH 23 116who prophesy to you. They make youworthless; They speak a vision of theirown heart, Not from the mouth of theLORD.17 They con nually say to those whodespise Me, ‘The LORD has said, "Youshall have peace"’; And to everyone whowalks according to the dictates of hisown heart, they say, ‘No evil shall comeupon you.’"18 For who has stood in the counsel ofthe LORD, And has perceived and heardHis word? Who has marked His wordand heard it?19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD hasgone forth in fury––A violent whirlwind!It will fall violently on the head of thewicked.20 The anger of the LORD will notturn back Un l He has executed andperformed the thoughts of His heart.

JEREMIAH 23 117In the la er days you will understand itperfectly.21 "I have not sent these prophets, yetthey ran. I have not spoken to them, yetthey prophesied.22 But if they had stood in My counsel,And had caused My people to hear Mywords, Then they would have turnedthem from their evil way And from theevil of their doings.23 "Am I a God near at hand," says theLORD, "And not a God afar off?24 Can anyone hide himself in secretplaces, So I shall not see him?" says theLORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?"says the LORD.25 "I have heard what the prophetshave said who prophesy lies in Myname, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I havedreamed!’26 "How long will this be in the heart ofthe prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed

JEREMIAH 23 118they are prophets of the deceit of theirown heart,27 "who try to make My people forgetMy name by their dreams whicheveryone tells his neighbor, as theirfathers forgot My name for Baal.28 "The prophet who has a dream, lethim tell a dream; And he who has Myword, let him speak My word faithfully.What is the chaff to the wheat?" saysthe LORD.29 "Is not My word like a fire?" says theLORD, "And like a hammer that breaksthe rock in pieces?30 "Therefore behold, I am against theprophets," says the LORD, "who steal Mywords every one from his neighbor.31 "Behold, I am against the prophets,"says the LORD, "who use their tonguesand say, ‘He says.’32 "Behold, I am against those whoprophesy false dreams," says the LORD,

JEREMIAH 23 119"and tell them, and cause My people toerr by their lies and by their recklessness.Yet I did not send them or commandthem; therefore they shall not profit thispeople at all," says the LORD.33 "So when these people or theprophet or the priest ask you, saying,‘What is the oracle of the LORD?’ youshall then say to them, ‘What oracle?’ Iwill even forsake you," says the LORD.34 "And as for the prophet and thepriest and the people who say, ‘Theoracle of the LORD!’ I will even punishthat man and his house.35 "Thus every one of you shall sayto his neighbor, and every one to hisbrother, ‘What has the LORD answered?’and, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’36 "And the oracle of the LORD you shallmen on no more. For every man’s wordwill be his oracle, for you have perverted

JEREMIAH 23–24 120the words of the living God, the LORD ofhosts, 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 oracle of theLORD!’ therefore thus says the LORD:‘Because you say this word, "The oracleof the LORD!" and I have sent to you,saying, "Do not say, ‘The oracle of theLORD!’"39 ‘therefore behold, I, even I, willu erly forget you and forsake you, andthe city that I gave you and your fathers,and will cast you out of My presence.40 ‘And I will bring an everlas ngreproach upon you, and a perpetualshame, which shall not be forgo en.’"

24 1 The LORD showed me, andthere were two baskets of figs

set before the temple of the LORD, a erNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had

JEREMIAH 24 121carried away cap ve Jeconiah the son ofJehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princesof Judah with the cra smen and smiths,from Jerusalem, and had brought themto Babylon.2One basket had very good figs, likethe figs that are first ripe; and the otherbasket had very bad figs which could notbe eaten, they were so bad.3 Then the LORD said to me, "What doyou see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "Figs, thegood figs, very good; and the bad, verybad, which cannot be eaten, they are sobad."4Again the word of the LORD came tome, saying,5 "Thus says the LORD, the God ofIsrael: ‘Like these good figs, so will Iacknowledge those who are carriedaway cap ve from Judah, whom I havesent out of this place for their own good,into the land of the Chaldeans.

JEREMIAH 24 1226 ‘For I will set My eyes on them forgood, and I will bring them back to thisland; I will build them and not pull themdown, and I will plant them and notpluck them up.7 ‘Then I will give them a heart to knowMe, that I am the LORD; and they shallbe My people, and I will be their God, forthey shall return to Me with their wholeheart.8 ‘And as the bad figs which cannotbe eaten, they are so bad’ ––surelythus says the LORD––‘so will I give upZedekiah the king of Judah, his princes,the residue of Jerusalem who remain inthis land, and those who dwell in theland of Egypt.9 ‘I will deliver them to trouble intoall the kingdoms of the earth, for theirharm, to be a reproach and a byword, ataunt and a curse, in all places where Ishall drive them.

JEREMIAH 24–25 12310 ‘And I will send the sword, thefamine, and the pes lence among them,ll they are consumed from the land

that I gave to them and their fathers.’"

25 1 The word that came to Jeremiahconcerning all the people of

Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakimthe son of Josiah, king of Judah (whichwas the first year of Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon),2which Jeremiah the prophet spoketo all the people of Judah and to all theinhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:3 "From the thirteenth year of Josiahthe son of Amon, king of Judah, even tothis day, this is the twenty–third year inwhich the word of the LORD has cometo me; and I have spoken to you, risingearly and speaking, but you have notlistened.4 "And the LORD has sent to you all Hisservants the prophets, rising early and

JEREMIAH 25 124sending them, but you have not listenednor inclined your ear to hear.5 "They said, ‘Repent now everyone ofhis evil way and his evil doings, and dwellin the land that the LORD has given toyou and your fathers forever and ever.6 ‘Do not go a er other gods to servethem and worship them, and do notprovoke Me to anger with the works ofyour hands; and I will not harm you.’7 "Yet you have not listened to Me,"says the LORD, "that you might provokeMe to anger with the works of yourhands to your own hurt.8 "Therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts: ‘Because you have not heard Mywords,9 ‘behold, I will send and take allthe families of the north,’ says theLORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king ofBabylon, My servant, and will bring themagainst this land, against its inhabitants,

JEREMIAH 25 125and against these na ons all around,and will u erly destroy them, and makethem an astonishment, a hissing, andperpetual desola ons.10 ‘Moreover I will take from them thevoice of mirth and the voice of gladness,the voice of the bridegroom and thevoice of the bride, the sound of themillstones and the light of the lamp.11 ‘And this whole land shall be adesola on and an astonishment, andthese na ons shall serve the king ofBabylon seventy years.12 ‘Then it will come to pass, whenseventy years are completed, that I willpunish the king of Babylon and thatna on, the land of the Chaldeans, fortheir iniquity,’ says the LORD; ‘and I willmake it a perpetual desola on.13 ‘So I will bring on that land all Mywords which I have pronounced againstit, all that is wri en in this book, which

JEREMIAH 25 126Jeremiah has prophesied concerning allthe na ons.14 ‘(For many na ons and great kingsshall be served by them also; and I willrepay them according to their deedsand according to the works of their ownhands.)’"15 For thus says the LORD God of Israelto me: "Take this wine cup of fury fromMy hand, and cause all the na ons, towhom I send you, to drink it.16 "And they will drink and stagger andgo mad because of the sword that I willsend among them."17 Then I took the cup from the LORD’Shand, and made all the na ons drink, towhom the LORD had sent me:18 Jerusalem and the ci es of Judah, itskings and its princes, to make them adesola on, an astonishment, a hissing,and a curse, as it is this day;

JEREMIAH 25 12719 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants,his princes, and all his people;20 all the mixed mul tude, all thekings of the land of Uz, all the kingsof the land of the Philis nes (namely,Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnantof Ashdod);21 Edom, Moab, and the people ofAmmon;22 all the kings of Tyre, all the kings ofSidon, and the kings of the coastlandswhich are across the sea;23Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who are inthe farthest corners;24 all the kings of Arabia and all thekings of the mixed mul tude who dwellin the desert;25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings ofElam, and all the kings of the Medes;26 all the kings of the north, far andnear, one with another; and all thekingdoms of the world which are on

JEREMIAH 25 128the face of the earth. Also the king ofSheshach shall drink a er them.27 "Therefore you shall say to them,‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God ofIsrael: "Drink, be drunk, and vomit! Falland rise no more, because of the swordwhich I will send among you."’28 "And it shall be, if they refuse to takethe cup from your hand to drink, thenyou shall say to them, ‘Thus says theLORD of hosts: "You shall certainly drink!29 "For behold, I begin to bring calamityon the city which is called by My name,and should you be u erly unpunished?You shall not be unpunished, for I willcall for a sword on all the inhabitants ofthe earth," says the LORD of hosts.’30 "Therefore prophesy against themall these words, and say to them: ‘TheLORD will roar from on high, And u erHis voice from His holy habita on; Hewill roar migh ly against His fold. He

JEREMIAH 25 129will give a shout, as those who tread thegrapes, Against all the inhabitants of theearth.31A noise will come to the ends of theearth––For the LORD has a controversywith the na ons; He will plead His casewith all flesh. He will give those who arewicked to the sword,’ says the LORD."32 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold,disaster shall go forth From na on tona on, And a great whirlwind shall beraised up From the farthest parts of theearth.33 "And at that day the slain of the LORDshall be from one end of the earth evento the other end of the earth. They shallnot be lamented, or gathered, or buried;they shall become refuse on the ground.34 "Wail, shepherds, and cry! Roll aboutin the ashes, You leaders of the flock!For the days of your slaughter and your

JEREMIAH 25–26 130dispersions are fulfilled; You shall fall likea precious vessel.35And the shepherds will have no wayto flee, Nor the leaders of the flock toescape.36A voice of the cry of the shepherds,And a wailing of the leaders to theflock will be heard. For the LORD hasplundered their pasture,37And the peaceful dwellings are cutdown Because of the fierce anger of theLORD.38He has le His lair like the lion;For their land is desolate Because ofthe fierceness of the Oppressor, Andbecause of His fierce anger."

26 1 In the beginning of the reign ofJehoiakim the son of Josiah, king

of Judah, this word came from the LORD,saying,2 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in thecourt of the LORD’S house, and speak

JEREMIAH 26 131to all the ci es of Judah, which cometo worship in the LORD’S house, all thewords that I command you to speak tothem. Do not diminish a word.3 ‘Perhaps everyone will listen andturn from his evil way, that I may relentconcerning the calamity which I purposeto bring on them because of the evil oftheir doings.’4 "And you shall say to them, ‘Thus saysthe LORD: "If you will not listen to Me, towalk in My law which I have set beforeyou,5 "to heed the words of My servants theprophets whom I sent to you, both risingup early and sending them (but you havenot heeded),6 "then I will make this house likeShiloh, and will make this city a curse toall the na ons of the earth."’"

JEREMIAH 26 1327 So the priests and the prophets andall the people heard Jeremiah speakingthese words in the house of the LORD.8Now it happened, when Jeremiah hadmade an end of speaking all that theLORD had commanded him to speak toall the people, that the priests and theprophets and all the people seized him,saying, "You will surely die!9 "Why have you prophesied in thename of the LORD, saying, ‘This houseshall be like Shiloh, and this city shall bedesolate, without an inhabitant’?" Andall the people were gathered againstJeremiah in the house of the LORD.10When the princes of Judah heardthese things, they came up from theking’s house to the house of the LORDand sat down in the entry of the NewGate of the LORD’S house.11And the priests and the prophetsspoke to the princes and all the people,

JEREMIAH 26 133saying, "This man deserves to die! For hehas prophesied against this city, as youhave heard with your ears."12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all theprinces and all the people, saying: "TheLORD sent me to prophesy against thishouse and against this city with all thewords that you have heard.13 "Now therefore, amend your waysand your doings, and obey the voice ofthe LORD your God; then the LORD willrelent concerning the doom that He haspronounced against you.14 "As for me, here I am, in your hand;do with me as seems good and proper toyou.15 "But know for certain that if youput me to death, you will surely bringinnocent blood on yourselves, on thiscity, and on its inhabitants; for truly theLORD has sent me to you to speak allthese words in your hearing."

JEREMIAH 26 13416 So the princes and all the people saidto the priests and the prophets, "Thisman does not deserve to die. For he hasspoken to us in the name of the LORDour God."17 Then certain of the elders of the landrose up and spoke to all the assembly ofthe people, saying:18 "Micah of Moresheth prophesied inthe days of Hezekiah king of Judah, andspoke to all the people of Judah, saying,‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Zionshall be plowed like a field, Jerusalemshall become heaps of ruins, And themountain of the temple Like the barehills of the forest."’19 "Did Hezekiah king of Judah andall Judah ever put him to death? Didhe not fear the LORD and seek theLORD’S favor? And the LORD relentedconcerning the doom which He had

JEREMIAH 26 135pronounced against them. But we aredoing great evil against ourselves."20Now there was also a man whoprophesied in the name of the LORD,Urijah the son of Shemaiah of KirjathJearim, who prophesied against this cityand against this land according to all thewords of Jeremiah.21And when Jehoiakim the king, withall his mighty men and all the princes,heard his words, the king sought to puthim to death; but when Urijah heardit, he was afraid and fled, and went toEgypt.22 Then Jehoiakim the king sent men toEgypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor, andother men who went with him to Egypt.23And they brought Urijah from Egyptand brought him to Jehoiakim the king,who killed him with the sword and casthis dead body into the graves of thecommon people.

JEREMIAH 26–27 13624Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam theson of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, sothat they should not give him into thehand of the people to put him to death.

27 1 In the beginning of the reign ofJehoiakim the son of Josiah, king

of Judah, this word came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD, saying,2 "Thus says the LORD to me: ‘Make foryourselves bonds and yokes, and putthem on your neck,3 ‘and send them to the king of Edom,the king of Moab, the king of theAmmonites, the king of Tyre, andthe king of Sidon, by the hand of themessengers who come to Jerusalem toZedekiah king of Judah.4 ‘And command them to say to theirmasters, "Thus says the LORD of hosts,the God of Israel––thus you shall say toyour masters:

JEREMIAH 27 1375 ‘I have made the earth, the man andthe beast that are on the ground, by Mygreat power and by My outstretchedarm, and have given it to whom itseemed proper to Me.6 ‘And now I have given all these landsinto the hand of Nebuchadnezzar theking of Babylon, My servant; and thebeasts of the field I have also given himto serve him.7 ‘So all na ons shall serve him and hisson and his son’s son, un l the me ofhis land comes; and then many na onsand great kings shall make him servethem.8 ‘And it shall be, that the na onand kingdom which will not serveNebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon,and which will not put its neck under theyoke of the king of Babylon, that na onI will punish,’ says the LORD, ‘with the

JEREMIAH 27 138sword, the famine, and the pes lence,un l I have consumed them by his hand.9 ‘Therefore do not listen to yourprophets, your diviners, your dreamers,your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, whospeak to you, saying, "You shall not servethe king of Babylon."10 ‘For they prophesy a lie to you, toremove you far from your land; and I willdrive you out, and you will perish.11 ‘But the na ons that bring theirnecks under the yoke of the king ofBabylon and serve him, I will let themremain in their own land,’ says the LORD,‘and they shall ll it and dwell in it.’"’"12 I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judahaccording to all these words, saying,"Bring your necks under the yoke of theking of Babylon, and serve him and hispeople, and live!13 "Why will you die, you and yourpeople, by the sword, by the famine,

JEREMIAH 27 139and by the pes lence, as the LORD hasspoken against the na on that will notserve the king of Babylon?14 "Therefore do not listen to the wordsof the prophets who speak to you,saying, ‘You shall not serve the king ofBabylon,’ for they prophesy a lie to you;15 "for I have not sent them," says theLORD, "yet they prophesy a lie in Myname, that I may drive you out, and thatyou may perish, you and the prophetswho prophesy to you."16Also I spoke to the priests and toall this people, saying, "Thus says theLORD: ‘Do not listen to the words of yourprophets who prophesy to you, saying,"Behold, the vessels of the LORD’S housewill now shortly be brought back fromBabylon"; for they prophesy a lie to you.17 ‘Do not listen to them; serve the kingof Babylon, and live! Why should thiscity be laid waste?

JEREMIAH 27 14018 ‘But if they are prophets, and if theword of the LORD is with them, let themnow make intercession to the LORD ofhosts, that the vessels which are le inthe house of the LORD, in the house ofthe king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, donot go to Babylon.’19 "For thus says the LORD of hostsconcerning the pillars, concerningthe Sea, concerning the carts, andconcerning the remainder of the vesselsthat remain in this city,20 "which Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon did not take, when he carriedaway cap ve Jeconiah the son ofJehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalemto Babylon, and all the nobles of Judahand Jerusalem––21 "yes, thus says the LORD of hosts,the God of Israel, concerning the vesselsthat remain in the house of the LORD,

JEREMIAH 27–28 141and in the house of the king of Judahand of Jerusalem:22 ‘They shall be carried to Babylon,and there they shall be un l the day thatI visit them,’ says the LORD. ‘Then I willbring them up and restore them to thisplace.’"

28 1And it happened in the sameyear, at the beginning of the

reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in thefourth year and in the fi h month, thatHananiah the son of Azur the prophet,who was from Gibeon, spoke to me inthe house of the LORD in the presence ofthe priests and of all the people, saying,2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken theyoke of the king of Babylon.3 ‘Within two full years I will bring backto this place all the vessels of the LORD’Shouse, that Nebuchadnezzar king of

JEREMIAH 28 142Babylon took away from this place andcarried to Babylon.4 ‘And I will bring back to this placeJeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king ofJudah, with all the cap ves of Judahwho went to Babylon,’ says the LORD,‘for I will break the yoke of the king ofBabylon.’"5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke tothe prophet Hananiah in the presence ofthe priests and in the presence of all thepeople who stood in the house of theLORD,6 and the prophet Jeremiah said,"Amen! The LORD do so; the LORDperform your words which you haveprophesied, to bring back the vesselsof the LORD’S house and all who werecarried away cap ve, from Babylon tothis place.

JEREMIAH 28 1437 "Nevertheless hear now this wordthat I speak in your hearing and in thehearing of all the people:8 "The prophets who have been beforeme and before you of old prophesiedagainst many countries and greatkingdoms––of war and disaster andpes lence.9 "As for the prophet who prophesiesof peace, when the word of the prophetcomes to pass, the prophet will beknown as one whom the LORD has trulysent."10 Then Hananiah the prophet took theyoke off the prophet Jeremiah’s neckand broke it.11And Hananiah spoke in the presenceof all the people, saying, "Thus says theLORD: ‘Even so I will break the yoke ofNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon fromthe neck of all na ons within the space

JEREMIAH 28 144of two full years.’" And the prophetJeremiah went his way.12Now the word of the LORD came toJeremiah, a er Hananiah the prophethad broken the yoke from the neck ofthe prophet Jeremiah, saying,13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thussays the LORD: "You have broken theyokes of wood, but you have made intheir place yokes of iron."14 ‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: "I have put a yoke of ironon the neck of all these na ons, thatthey may serve Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon; and they shall serve him. I havegiven him the beasts of the field also."’"15 Then the prophet Jeremiah saidto Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now,Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you,but you make this people trust in a lie.16 "Therefore thus says the LORD:‘Behold, I will cast you from the face

JEREMIAH 28–29 145of the earth. This year you shall die,because you have taught rebellionagainst the LORD.’"17 So Hananiah the prophet died thesame year in the seventh month.

29 1Now these are the words ofthe le er that Jeremiah the

prophet sent from Jerusalem to theremainder of the elders who werecarried away cap ve––to the priests,the prophets, and all the people whomNebuchadnezzar had carried awaycap ve from Jerusalem to Babylon.2 (This happened a er Jeconiah theking, the queen mother, the eunuchs,the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, thecra smen, and the smiths had departedfrom Jerusalem.)3 The le er was sent by the handof Elasah the son of Shaphan, andGemariah the son of Hilkiah, whomZedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon,

JEREMIAH 29 146to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,saying,4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel, to all who were carriedaway cap ve, whom I have caused to becarried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:5 Build houses and dwell in them; plantgardens and eat their fruit.6 Take wives and beget sons anddaughters; and take wives for your sonsand give your daughters to husbands, sothat they may bear sons and daughters––that you may be increased there, andnot diminished.7And seek the peace of the city whereI have caused you to be carried awaycap ve, and pray to the LORD for it; forin its peace you will have peace.8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: Do not let your prophetsand your diviners who are in your midst

JEREMIAH 29 147deceive you, nor listen to your dreamswhich you cause to be dreamed.9 For they prophesy falsely to you in Myname; I have not sent them, says theLORD.10 For thus says the LORD: A er seventyyears are completed at Babylon, I willvisit you and perform My good wordtoward you, and cause you to return tothis place.11 For I know the thoughts that I thinktoward you, says the LORD, thoughtsof peace and not of evil, to give you afuture and a hope.12 Then you will call upon Me and goand pray to Me, and I will listen to you.13And you will seek Me and find Me,when you search for Me with all yourheart.14 I will be found by you, says the LORD,and I will bring you back from yourcap vity; I will gather you from all the

JEREMIAH 29 148na ons and from all the places where Ihave driven you, says the LORD, and Iwill bring you to the place from which Icause you to be carried away cap ve.15 Because you have said, "The LORDhas raised up prophets for us in Babylon"––16 therefore thus says the LORDconcerning the king who sits on thethrone of David, concerning all thepeople who dwell in this city, andconcerning your brethren who have notgone out with you into cap vity––17 thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, Iwill send on them the sword, the famine,and the pes lence, and will make themlike ro en figs that cannot be eaten,they are so bad.18And I will pursue them with thesword, with famine, and with pes lence;and I will deliver them to trouble amongall the kingdoms of the earth––to be a

JEREMIAH 29 149curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and areproach among all the na ons where Ihave driven them,19 because they have not heeded Mywords, says the LORD, which I sent tothem byMy servants the prophets, risingup early and sending them; neitherwould you heed, says the LORD.20 Therefore hear the word of the LORD,all you of the cap vity, whom I have sentfrom Jerusalem to Babylon.21 Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel, concerning Ahab the sonof Kolaiah, and Zedekiah the son ofMaaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you inMy name: Behold, I will deliver theminto the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon, and he shall slay them beforeyour eyes.22And because of them a curse shallbe taken up by all the cap vity of Judahwho are in Babylon, saying, "The LORD

JEREMIAH 29 150make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whomthe king of Babylon roasted in the fire";23 because they have done disgracefulthings in Israel, have commi ed adulterywith their neighbors’ wives, and havespoken lying words in My name, whichI have not commanded them. Indeed Iknow, and am a witness, says the LORD.24 You shall also speak to Shemaiah theNehelamite, saying,25 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel, saying: You have sentle ers in your name to all the peoplewho are at Jerusalem, to Zephaniah theson of Maaseiah the priest, and to all thepriests, saying,26 "The LORD has made you priestinstead of Jehoiada the priest, so thatthere should be officers in the houseof the LORD over every man who isdemented and considers himself a

JEREMIAH 29 151prophet, that you should put him inprison and in the stocks.27Now therefore, why have you notreproved Jeremiah of Anathoth whomakes himself a prophet to you?28 For he has sent to us in Babylon,saying, ‘This cap vity is long; buildhouses and dwell in them, and plantgardens and eat their fruit.’"29Now Zephaniah the priest read thisle er in the hearing of Jeremiah theprophet.30 Then the word of the LORD came toJeremiah, saying:31 Send to all those in cap vity,saying, Thus says the LORD concerningShemaiah the Nehelamite: BecauseShemaiah has prophesied to you, and Ihave not sent him, and he has causedyou to trust in a lie––32 therefore thus says the LORD:Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the

JEREMIAH 30 152Nehelamite and his family: he shallnot have anyone to dwell among thispeople, nor shall he see the good thatI will do for My people, says the LORD,because he has taught rebellion againstthe LORD.

30 1 The word that came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD, saying,

2 "Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel,saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself allthe words that I have spoken to you.3 ‘For behold, the days are coming,’ saysthe LORD, ‘that I will bring back fromcap vity My people Israel and Judah,’says the LORD. ‘And I will cause them toreturn to the land that I gave to theirfathers, and they shall possess it.’"4Now these are the words that theLORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah.5 "For thus says the LORD: ‘We haveheard a voice of trembling, Of fear, andnot of peace.

JEREMIAH 30 1536Ask now, and see, Whether a manis ever in labor with child? So why doI see every man with his hands on hisloins Like a woman in labor, And all facesturned pale?7Alas! For that day is great, So thatnone is like it; And it is the me of Jacob’strouble, 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 breakhis yoke from your neck, And will burstyour bonds; Foreigners shall no moreenslave them.9 But they shall serve the LORD theirGod, And David their king, Whom I willraise up for them.10 ‘Therefore do not fear, O My servantJacob,’ says the LORD, ‘Nor be dismayed,O Israel; For behold, I will save you fromafar, And your seed from the land oftheir cap vity. Jacob shall return, have

JEREMIAH 30 154rest and be quiet, And no one shall makehim afraid.11 For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘tosave you; Though I make a full end of allna ons where I have sca ered you, YetI will not make a complete end of you.But I will correct you in jus ce, And willnot let you go altogether unpunished.’12 "For thus says the LORD: ‘Yourafflic on is incurable, Your wound issevere.13 There is no one to plead your cause,That you may be bound up; You have nohealing medicines.14All your lovers have forgo en you;They do not seek you; For I havewounded you with the wound of anenemy, With the chas sement of a cruelone, For the mul tude of your iniqui es,Because your sins have increased.15Why do you cry about your afflic on?Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the

JEREMIAH 30 155mul tude of your iniqui es, Becauseyour sins have increased, I have donethese things to you.16 ‘Therefore all those who devouryou shall be devoured; And all youradversaries, every one of them, shall gointo cap vity; Those who plunder youshall become plunder, And all who preyupon you I will make a prey.17 For I will restore health to you Andheal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD,‘Because they called you an outcastsaying: "This is Zion; No one seeks her."’18 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I willbring back the cap vity of Jacob’s tents,And have mercy on his dwelling places;The city shall be built upon its ownmound, And the palace shall remainaccording to its own plan.19 Then out of them shall proceedthanksgiving And the voice of those whomake merry; I will mul ply them, and

JEREMIAH 30 156they shall not diminish; I will also glorifythem, and they shall not be small.20 Their children also shall be asbefore, And their congrega on shall beestablished before Me; And I will punishall who oppress them.21 Their nobles shall be from amongthem, And their governor shall comefrom their midst; Then I will cause himto draw near, And he shall approach Me;For who is this who pledged his heart toapproach Me?’ says the LORD.22 ‘You shall be My people, And I will beyour God.’"23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORDGoes forth with fury, A con nuingwhirlwind; It will fall violently on thehead of the wicked.24 The fierce anger of the LORD will notreturn un l He has done it, And un l Hehas performed the intents of His heart.In the la er days you will consider it.

JEREMIAH 31 157

31 1 "At the same me," says theLORD, "I will be the God of all the

families of Israel, and they shall be Mypeople."2 Thus says the LORD: "The people whosurvived the sword Found grace in thewilderness––Israel, when I went to givehim rest."3 The LORD has appeared of old tome, saying: "Yes, I have loved you withan everlas ng love; Therefore withlovingkindness I have drawn you.4Again I will build you, and you shall berebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall againbe adorned with your tambourines, Andshall go forth in the dances of those whorejoice.5 You shall yet plant vines on themountains of Samaria; The planters shallplant and eat them as ordinary food.6 For there shall be a day When thewatchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim,

JEREMIAH 31 158‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To theLORD our God.’"7 For thus says the LORD: "Sing withgladness for Jacob, And shout amongthe chief of the na ons; Proclaim, givepraise, and say, ‘O LORD, save Yourpeople, The remnant of Israel!’8 Behold, I will bring them from thenorth country, And gather them fromthe ends of the earth, Among them theblind and the lame, The woman withchild And the one who labors with child,together; A great throng shall returnthere.9 They shall come with weeping, Andwith supplica ons I will lead them. Iwill cause them to walk by the rivers ofwaters, In a straight way in which theyshall not stumble; For I am a Father toIsrael, And Ephraim is My firstborn.10 "Hear the word of the LORD, Ona ons, And declare it in the isles afar

JEREMIAH 31 159off, and say, ‘He who sca ered Israel willgather him, And keep him as a shepherddoes his flock.’11 For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,And ransomed him from the hand of onestronger than he.12 Therefore they shall come and singin the height of Zion, Streaming to thegoodness of the LORD––For wheat andnew wine and oil, For the young of theflock and the herd; Their souls shall belike a well–watered garden, And theyshall sorrow no more at all.13 "Then shall the virgin rejoice in thedance, And the young men and the old,together; For I will turn their mourningto joy, Will comfort them, And makethem rejoice rather than sorrow.14 I will sa ate the soul of the priestswith abundance, And My people shallbe sa sfied with My goodness, says theLORD."

JEREMIAH 31 16015 Thus says the LORD: "A voice washeard in Ramah, Lamenta on andbi er weeping, Rachel weeping for herchildren, Refusing to be comforted forher children, Because they are no more."16 Thus says the LORD: "Refrain yourvoice from weeping, And your eyes fromtears; For your work shall be rewarded,says the LORD, And they shall come backfrom the land of the enemy.17 There is hope in your future, saysthe LORD, That your children shall comeback to their own border.18 "I have surely heard Ephraimbemoaning himself: ‘You have chas sedme, and I was chas sed, Like anuntrained bull; Restore me, and I willreturn, For You are the LORD my God.19 Surely, a er my turning, I repented;And a er I was instructed, I struck myselfon the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even

JEREMIAH 31 161humiliated, Because I bore the reproachof my youth.’20 Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he apleasant child? For though I spokeagainst him, I earnestly remember hims ll; Therefore My heart yearns for him;I will surely have mercy on him, says theLORD.21 "Set up signposts, Make landmarks;Set your heart toward the highway, Theway in which you went. Turn back, Ovirgin of Israel, Turn back to these yourci es.22How long will you gad about, O youbacksliding daughter? For the LORD hascreated a new thing in the earth––Awoman shall encompass a man."23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: "They shall again use thisspeech in the land of Judah and in itsci es, when I bring back their cap vity:

JEREMIAH 31 162‘The LORD bless you, O home of jus ce,and mountain of holiness!’24 "And there shall dwell in Judah itself,and in all its ci es together, farmers andthose going out with flocks.25 "For I have sa ated the weary soul,and I have replenished every sorrowfulsoul."26A er this I awoke and looked around,and my sleep was sweet to me.27 "Behold, the days are coming, saysthe LORD, that I will sow the house ofIsrael and the house of Judah with theseed of man and the seed of beast.28 "And it shall come to pass, that as Ihave watched over them to pluck up, tobreak down, to throw down, to destroy,and to afflict, so I will watch over themto build and to plant, says the LORD.29 "In those days they shall say nomore:‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, Andthe children’s teeth are set on edge.’

JEREMIAH 31 16330 "But every one shall die for his owniniquity; every man who eats the sourgrapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.31 "Behold, the days are coming, saysthe LORD, when I will make a newcovenant with the house of Israel andwith the house of Judah––32 "not according to the covenant that Imade with their fathers in the day that Itook them by the hand to lead them outof the land of Egypt, My covenant whichthey broke, though I was a husband tothem, says the LORD.33 "But this is the covenant that I willmake with the house of Israel a er thosedays, says the LORD: I will put My law intheir minds, and write it on their hearts;and I will be their God, and they shall beMy people.34 "No more shall every man teach hisneighbor, and every man his brother,saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall

JEREMIAH 31 164know Me, from the least of them to thegreatest of them, says the LORD. For Iwill forgive their iniquity, and their sin Iwill remember no more."35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives thesun for a light by day, The ordinancesof the moon and the stars for a lightby night, Who disturbs the sea, And itswaves roar (The LORD of hosts is Hisname):36 "If those ordinances depart Frombefore Me, says the LORD, Then the seedof Israel shall also cease From being ana on before Me forever."37 Thus says the LORD: "If heaven abovecan be measured, And the founda onsof the earth searched out beneath, I willalso cast off all the seed of Israel For allthat they have done, says the LORD.38 "Behold, the days are coming, saysthe LORD, that the city shall be built for

JEREMIAH 31–32 165the LORD from the Tower of Hananel tothe Corner Gate.39 "The surveyor’s line shall againextend straight forward over the hillGareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.40 "And the whole valley of the deadbodies and of the ashes, and all thefields as far as the Brook Kidron, to thecorner of the Horse Gate toward theeast, shall be holy to the LORD. It shallnot be plucked up or thrown downanymore forever."

32 1 The word that came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD in the tenth year

of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was theeighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.2 For then the king of Babylon’s armybesieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah theprophet was shut up in the court of theprison, which was in the king of Judah’shouse.

JEREMIAH 32 1663 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shuthim up, saying, "Why do you prophesyand say, ‘Thus says the LORD: "Behold,I will give this city into the hand of theking of Babylon, and he shall take it;4 "and Zedekiah king of Judah shall notescape from the hand of the Chaldeans,but shall surely be delivered into thehand of the king of Babylon, and shallspeak with him face to face, and see himeye to eye;5 "then he shall lead Zedekiah toBabylon, and there he shall be un l Ivisit him," says the LORD; "though youfight with the Chaldeans, you shall notsucceed"’?"6And Jeremiah said, "The word of theLORD came to me, saying,7 ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallumyour uncle will come to you, saying, "Buymy field which is in Anathoth, for theright of redemp on is yours to buy it."’

JEREMIAH 32 1678 "Then Hanamel my uncle’s soncame to me in the court of the prisonaccording to the word of the LORD, andsaid to me, ‘Please buy my field that isin Anathoth, which is in the country ofBenjamin; for the right of inheritance isyours, and the redemp on yours; buy itfor yourself.’ Then I knew that this wasthe word of the LORD.9 "So I bought the field from Hanamel,the son of my uncle who was inAnathoth, and weighed out to him themoney––seventeen shekels of silver.10 "And I signed the deed and sealed it,took witnesses, and weighed the moneyon the scales.11 "So I took the purchase deed, boththat which was sealed according to thelaw and custom, and that which wasopen;12 "and I gave the purchase deedto Baruch the son of Neriah, son of

JEREMIAH 32 168Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamelmy uncle’s son, and in the presence ofthe witnesses who signed the purchasedeed, before all the Jews who sat in thecourt of the prison.13 "Then I charged Baruch before them,saying,14 ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: "Take these deeds, boththis purchase deed which is sealed andthis deed which is open, and put themin an earthen vessel, that they may lastmany days."15 ‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: "Houses and fields andvineyards shall be possessed again inthis land."’16 "Now when I had delivered thepurchase deed to Baruch the son ofNeriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying:17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You havemade the heavens and the earth by

JEREMIAH 32 169Your great power and outstretched arm.There is nothing too hard for You.18 ‘You show lovingkindness tothousands, and repay the iniquity of thefathers into the bosom of their childrena er them––the Great, the Mighty God,whose name is the LORD of hosts.19 ‘You are great in counsel and mightyin work, for Your eyes are open to allthe ways of the sons of men, to giveeveryone according to his ways andaccording to the fruit of his doings.20 ‘You have set signs and wonders inthe land of Egypt, to this day, and inIsrael and among other men; and Youhave made Yourself a name, as it is thisday.21 ‘You have brought Your people Israelout of the land of Egypt with signs andwonders, with a strong hand and anoutstretched arm, and with great terror;

JEREMIAH 32 17022 ‘You have given them this land, ofwhich You swore to their fathers to givethem––"a land flowing with milk andhoney."23 ‘And they came in and tookpossession of it, but they have notobeyed Your voice or walked in Your law.They have done nothing of all that Youcommanded them to do; therefore Youhave caused all this calamity to comeupon them.24 ‘Look, the siege mounds! They havecome to the city to take it; and the cityhas been given into the hand of theChaldeans who fight against it, becauseof the sword and famine and pes lence.What You have spoken has happened;there You see it!25 ‘And You have said to me, O LordGOD, "Buy the field for money, and takewitnesses"! ––yet the city has beengiven into the hand of the Chaldeans.’"

JEREMIAH 32 17126 Then the word of the LORD came toJeremiah, saying,27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God ofall flesh. Is there anything too hard forMe?28 "Therefore thus says the LORD:‘Behold, I will give this city into thehand of the Chaldeans, into the hand ofNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and heshall take it.29 ‘And the Chaldeans who fight againstthis city shall come and set fire to thiscity and burn it, with the houses onwhose roofs they have offered incenseto Baal and poured out drink offerings toother gods, to provoke Me to anger;30 ‘because the children of Israel andthe children of Judah have done onlyevil before Me from their youth. For thechildren of Israel have provoked Me onlyto anger with the work of their hands,"says the LORD.

JEREMIAH 32 17231 ‘For this city has been to Me aprovoca on of My anger and My furyfrom the day that they built it, even tothis day; so I will remove it from beforeMy face32 ‘because of all the evil of the childrenof Israel and the children of Judah,which they have done to provoke Me toanger––they, their kings, their princes,their priests, their prophets, the men ofJudah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.33 ‘And they have turned to Me theback, and not the face; though I taughtthem, rising up early and teaching them,yet they have not listened to receiveinstruc on.34 ‘But they set their abomina ons inthe house which is called by My name,to defile it.35 ‘And they built the high places ofBaal which are in the Valley of the Sonof Hinnom, to cause their sons and their

JEREMIAH 32 173daughters to pass through the fire toMolech, which I did not command them,nor did it come into My mind that theyshould do this abomina on, to causeJudah to sin.’36 "Now therefore, thus says the LORD,the God of Israel, concerning this cityof which you say, ‘It shall be deliveredinto the hand of the king of Babylon bythe sword, by the famine, and by thepes lence’:37 ‘Behold, I will gather them out of allcountries where I have driven them inMy anger, in My fury, and in great wrath;I will bring them back to this place, and Iwill cause them to dwell safely.38 ‘They shall be My people, and I willbe their God;39 ‘then I will give them one heart andone way, that they may fear Me forever,for the good of them and their childrena er them.

JEREMIAH 32 17440 ‘And I will make an everlas ngcovenant with them, that I will not turnaway from doing them good; but I willput My fear in their hearts so that theywill not depart from Me.41 ‘Yes, I will rejoice over them to dothem good, and I will assuredly plantthem in this land, with all My heart andwith all My soul.’42 "For thus says the LORD: ‘Just as Ihave brought all this great calamity onthis people, so I will bring on them allthe good that I have promised them.43 ‘And fields will be bought in this landof which you say, "It is desolate, withoutman or beast; it has been given into thehand of the Chaldeans."44 ‘Men will buy fields for money,sign deeds and seal them, and takewitnesses, in the land of Benjamin, in theplaces around Jerusalem, in the ci esof Judah, in the ci es of the mountains,

JEREMIAH 33 175in the ci es of the lowland, and in theci es of the South; for I will cause theircap ves to return,’ says the LORD."

33 1Moreover the word of the LORDcame to Jeremiah a second me,

while he was s ll shut up in the court ofthe prison, saying,2 "Thus says the LORD who made it, theLORD who formed it to establish it (theLORD is His name):3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, andshow you great and mighty things, whichyou do not know.’4 "For thus says the LORD, the God ofIsrael, concerning the houses of this cityand the houses of the kings of Judah,which have been pulled down to for fyagainst the siege mounds and the sword:5 ‘They come to fight with theChaldeans, but only to fill their placeswith the dead bodies of men whom Iwill slay in My anger and My fury, all

JEREMIAH 33 176for whose wickedness I have hidden Myface from this city.6 ‘Behold, I will bring it health andhealing; I will heal them and reveal tothem the abundance of peace and truth.7 ‘And I will cause the cap ves of Judahand the cap ves of Israel to return, andwill rebuild those places as at the first.8 ‘I will cleanse them from all theiriniquity by which they have sinnedagainst Me, and I will pardon all theiriniqui es by which they have sinned andby which they have transgressed againstMe.9 ‘Then it shall be to Me a name of joy,a praise, and an honor before all na onsof the earth, who shall hear all the goodthat I do to them; they shall fear andtremble for all the goodness and all theprosperity that I provide for it.’10 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Again thereshall be heard in this place––of which

JEREMIAH 33 177you say, "It is desolate, without manand without beast" ––in the ci es ofJudah, in the streets of Jerusalem thatare desolate, without man and withoutinhabitant and without beast,11 ‘the voice of joy and the voice ofgladness, the voice of the bridegroomand the voice of the bride, the voice ofthose who will say: "Praise the LORDof hosts, For the LORD is good, For Hismercy endures forever" ––and of thosewho will bring the sacrifice of praise intothe house of the LORD. For I will causethe cap ves of the land to return as atthe first,’ says the LORD.12 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In thisplace which is desolate, without manand without beast, and in all its ci es,there shall again be a dwelling placeof shepherds causing their flocks to liedown.

JEREMIAH 33 17813 ‘In the ci es of the mountains, inthe ci es of the lowland, in the ci esof the South, in the land of Benjamin,in the places around Jerusalem, and inthe ci es of Judah, the flocks shall againpass under the hands of him who countsthem,’ says the LORD.14 ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ saysthe LORD, ‘that I will perform that goodthing which I have promised to the houseof Israel and to the house of Judah:15 ‘In those days and at that me I willcause to grow up to David A Branchof righteousness; He shall executejudgment and righteousness in theearth.16 In those days Judah will be saved,And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And thisis the name by which she will be called:THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

JEREMIAH 33 17917 "For thus says the LORD: ‘David shallnever lack a man to sit on the throne ofthe house of Israel;18 ‘nor shall the priests, the Levites, lacka man to offer burnt offerings beforeMe, to kindle grain offerings, and tosacrifice con nually.’"19And the word of the LORD came toJeremiah, saying,20 "Thus says the LORD: ‘If you canbreak My covenant with the day and Mycovenant with the night, so that therewill not be day and night in their season,21 ‘then My covenant may also bebroken with David My servant, so thathe shall not have a son to reign on histhrone, and with the Levites, the priests,My ministers.22 ‘As the host of heaven cannotbe numbered, nor the sand of thesea measured, so will I mul ply the

JEREMIAH 33 180descendants of David My servant andthe Levites who minister to Me.’"23Moreover the word of the LORDcame to Jeremiah, saying,24 "Have you not considered what thesepeople have spoken, saying, ‘The twofamilies which the LORD has chosen, Hehas also cast them off’? Thus they havedespised My people, as if they should nomore be a na on before them.25 "Thus says the LORD: ‘If My covenantis not with day and night, and if I havenot appointed the ordinances of heavenand earth,26 ‘then I will cast away the descendantsof Jacob and David My servant, so that Iwill not take any of his descendants to berulers over the descendants of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause theircap ves to return, and will have mercyon them.’"

JEREMIAH 34 181

34 1 The word which came toJeremiah from the LORD, when

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon andall his army, all the kingdoms of theearth under his dominion, and all thepeople, fought against Jerusalem and allits ci es, saying,2 "Thus says the LORD, the God ofIsrael: ‘Go and speak to Zedekiah king ofJudah and tell him, "Thus says the LORD:‘Behold, I will give this city into the handof the king of Babylon, and he shall burnit with fire.3 ‘And you shall not escape from hishand, but shall surely be taken anddelivered into his hand; your eyes shallsee the eyes of the king of Babylon, heshall speak with you face to face, andyou shall go to Babylon.’"’4 "Yet hear the word of the LORD, OZedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the

JEREMIAH 34 182LORD concerning you: ‘You shall not dieby the sword.5 ‘You shall die in peace; as in theceremonies of your fathers, the formerkings who were before you, so theyshall burn incense for you and lamentfor you, saying, "Alas, lord!" For I havepronounced the word, says the LORD.’"6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke allthese words to Zedekiah king of Judah inJerusalem,7when the king of Babylon’s armyfought against Jerusalem and all theci es of Judah that were le , againstLachish and Azekah; for only thesefor fied ci es remained of the ci es ofJudah.8 This is the word that came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD, a er King Zedekiah hadmade a covenant with all the peoplewho were at Jerusalem to proclaimliberty to them:

JEREMIAH 34 1839 that every man should set free hismale and female slave––a Hebrew manor woman––that no one should keep aJewish brother in bondage.10Now when all the princes and allthe people, who had entered into thecovenant, heard that everyone shouldset free his male and female slaves, thatno one should keep them in bondageanymore, they obeyed and let them go.11 But a erward they changed theirminds and made the male and femaleslaves return, whom they had set free,and brought them into subjec on asmale and female slaves.12 Therefore the word of the LORDcame to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,13 "Thus says the LORD, the God ofIsrael: ‘I made a covenant with yourfathers in the day that I brought themout of the land of Egypt, out of the houseof bondage, saying,

JEREMIAH 34 18414 "At the end of seven years let everyman set free his Hebrew brother, whohas been sold to him; and when he hasserved you six years, you shall let him gofree from you." But your fathers did notobey Me nor incline their ear.15 ‘Then you recently turned and didwhat was right in My sight––every manproclaiming liberty to his neighbor; andyou made a covenant before Me in thehouse which is called by My name.16 ‘Then you turned around andprofaned My name, and every one ofyou brought back his male and femaleslaves, whom you had set at liberty, attheir pleasure, and brought them backinto subjec on, to be your male andfemale slaves.’17 "Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Youhave not obeyed Me in proclaimingliberty, every one to his brother andevery one to his neighbor. Behold,

JEREMIAH 34 185I proclaim liberty to you,’ says theLORD––‘to the sword, to pes lence,and to famine! And I will deliver you totrouble among all the kingdoms of theearth.18 ‘And I will give the men who havetransgressedMy covenant, who have notperformed the words of the covenantwhich they made before Me, when theycut the calf in two and passed betweenthe parts of it––19 ‘the princes of Judah, the princes ofJerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, andall the people of the land who passedbetween the parts of the calf––20 ‘I will give them into the hand of theirenemies and into the hand of those whoseek their life. Their dead bodies shall befor meat for the birds of the heaven andthe beasts of the earth.21 ‘And I will give Zedekiah king of Judahand his princes into the hand of their

JEREMIAH 34–35 186enemies, into the hand of those whoseek their life, and into the hand of theking of Babylon’s army which has goneback from you.22 ‘Behold, I will command,’ says theLORD, ‘and cause them to return to thiscity. They will fight against it and takeit and burn it with fire; and I will makethe ci es of Judah a desola on withoutinhabitant.’"

35 1 The word which came toJeremiah from the LORD in the

days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, kingof Judah, saying,2 "Go to the house of the Rechabites,speak to them, and bring them intothe house of the LORD, into one of thechambers, and give them wine to drink."3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son ofJeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, hisbrothers and all his sons, and the wholehouse of the Rechabites,

JEREMIAH 35 1874 and I brought them into the house ofthe LORD, into the chamber of the sonsof Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man ofGod, which was by the chamber of theprinces, above the chamber of Maaseiahthe son of Shallum, the keeper of thedoor.5 Then I set before the sons of thehouse of the Rechabites bowls full ofwine, and cups; and I said to them,"Drink wine."6 But they said, "We will drink no wine,for Jonadab the son of Rechab, ourfather, commanded us, saying, ‘Youshall drink no wine, you nor your sons,forever.7 ‘You shall not build a house, sow seed,plant a vineyard, nor have any of these;but all your days you shall dwell in tents,that you may live many days in the landwhere you are sojourners.’

JEREMIAH 35 1888 "Thus we have obeyed the voice ofJonadab the son of Rechab, our father, inall that he charged us, to drink no wineall our days, we, our wives, our sons, orour daughters,9 "nor to build ourselves houses todwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field,or seed.10 "But we have dwelt in tents, andhave obeyed and done according to allthat Jonadab our father commanded us.11 "But it came to pass, whenNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon cameup into the land, that we said, ‘Come,let us go to Jerusalem for fear of thearmy of the Chaldeans and for fear ofthe army of the Syrians.’ So we dwell atJerusalem."12 Then came the word of the LORD toJeremiah, saying,13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of

JEREMIAH 35 189Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,"Will you not receive instruc on to obeyMy words?" says the LORD.14 "The words of Jonadab the son ofRechab, which he commanded his sons,not to drink wine, are performed; for tothis day they drink none, and obey theirfather’s commandment. But althoughI have spoken to you, rising early andspeaking, you did not obey Me.15 "I have also sent to you all Myservants the prophets, rising up earlyand sending them, saying, ‘Turn noweveryone from his evil way, amend yourdoings, and do not go a er other godsto serve them; then you will dwell in theland which I have given you and yourfathers.’ But you have not inclined yourear, nor obeyed Me.16 "Surely the sons of Jonadab theson of Rechab have performed thecommandment of their father, which he

JEREMIAH 35 190commanded them, but this people hasnot obeyed Me."’17 "Therefore thus says the LORD Godof hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I willbring on Judah and on all the inhabitantsof Jerusalem all the doom that I havepronounced against them; because Ihave spoken to them but they have notheard, and I have called to them butthey have not answered.’"18And Jeremiah said to the house ofthe Rechabites, "Thus says the LORDof hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Becauseyou have obeyed the commandmentof Jonadab your father, and kept all hisprecepts and done according to all thathe commanded you,19 ‘therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts, the God of Israel: "Jonadab theson of Rechab shall not lack a man tostand before Me forever."’"

JEREMIAH 36 191

36 1Now it came to pass in thefourth year of Jehoiakim the son

of Josiah, king of Judah, that this wordcame to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:2 "Take a scroll of a book and write on itall the words that I have spoken to youagainst Israel, against Judah, and againstall the na ons, from the day I spoke toyou, from the days of Josiah even to thisday.3 "It may be that the house of Judah willhear all the adversi es which I purposeto bring upon them, that everyone mayturn from his evil way, that I may forgivetheir iniquity and their sin."4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the sonof Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a scrollof a book, at the instruc on of Jeremiah,all the words of the LORD which He hadspoken to him.

JEREMIAH 36 1925And Jeremiah commanded Baruch,saying, "I am confined, I cannot go intothe house of the LORD.6 "You go, therefore, and read fromthe scroll which you have wri en at myinstruc on, the words of the LORD, inthe hearing of the people in the LORD’Shouse on the day of fas ng. And youshall also read them in the hearing of allJudah who come from their ci es.7 "It may be that they will presenttheir supplica on before the LORD, andeveryone will turn from his evil way.For great is the anger and the fury thatthe LORD has pronounced against thispeople."8And Baruch the son of Neriah didaccording to all that Jeremiah theprophet commanded him, reading fromthe book the words of the LORD in theLORD’S house.

JEREMIAH 36 1939Now it came to pass in the fi h yearof Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king ofJudah, in the ninth month, that theyproclaimed a fast before the LORD toall the people in Jerusalem, and to allthe people who came from the ci es ofJudah to Jerusalem.10 Then Baruch read from the book thewords of Jeremiah in the house of theLORD, in the chamber of Gemariah theson of Shaphan the scribe, in the uppercourt at the entry of the New Gate ofthe LORD’S house, in the hearing of allthe people.11WhenMichaiah the son of Gemariah,the son of Shaphan, heard all the wordsof the LORD from the book,12 he then went down to the king’shouse, into the scribe’s chamber; andthere all the princes were si ng––Elishama the scribe, Delaiah the son ofShemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor,

JEREMIAH 36 194Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiahthe son of Hananiah, and all the princes.13 Then Michaiah declared to themall the words that he had heard whenBaruch read the book in the hearing ofthe people.14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudithe son of Nethaniah, the son ofShelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch,saying, "Take in your hand the scrollfrom which you have read in the hearingof the people, and come." So Baruch theson of Neriah took the scroll in his handand came to them.15And they said to him, "Sit down now,and read it in our hearing." So Baruchread it in their hearing.16Now it happened, when they hadheard all the words, that they looked infear from one to another, and said toBaruch, "We will surely tell the king of allthese words."

JEREMIAH 36 19517And they asked Baruch, saying, "Tellus now, how did you write all thesewords––at his instruc on?"18 So Baruch answered them, "Heproclaimed with his mouth all thesewords to me, and I wrote them with inkin the book."19 Then the princes said to Baruch, "Goand hide, you and Jeremiah; and let noone know where you are."20And they went to the king, into thecourt; but they stored the scroll in thechamber of Elishama the scribe, and toldall the words in the hearing of the king.21 So the king sent Jehudi to bring thescroll, and he took it from Elishamathe scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi readit in the hearing of the king and in thehearing of all the princes who stoodbeside the king.

JEREMIAH 36 19622Now the king was si ng in the winterhouse in the ninth month, with a fireburning on the hearth before him.23And it happened, when Jehudi hadread three or four columns, that the kingcut it with the scribe’s knife and cast itinto the fire that was on the hearth, un lall the scroll was consumed in the firethat was on the hearth.24 Yet they were not afraid, nor did theytear their garments, the king nor any ofhis servants who heard all these words.25Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, andGemariah implored the king not to burnthe scroll; but he would not listen tothem.26And the king commanded Jerahmeelthe king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel,and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, toseize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah theprophet, but the LORD hid them.

JEREMIAH 36 19727Now a er the king had burned thescroll with the words which Baruch hadwri en at the instruc on of Jeremiah,the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,saying:28 "Take yet another scroll, and write onit all the former words that were in thefirst scroll which Jehoiakim the king ofJudah has burned.29 "And you shall say to Jehoiakim kingof Judah, ‘Thus says the LORD: "You haveburned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have youwri en in it that the king of Babylon willcertainly come and destroy this land,and cause man and beast to cease fromhere?’"30 ‘Therefore thus says the LORDconcerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: "Heshall have no one to sit on the throne ofDavid, and his dead body shall be castout to the heat of the day and the frostof the night.

JEREMIAH 36–37 19831 "I will punish him, his family, andhis servants for their iniquity; and I willbring on them, on the inhabitants ofJerusalem, and on the men of Judahall the doom that I have pronouncedagainst them; but they did not heed."’"32 Then Jeremiah took another scrolland gave it to Baruch the scribe, theson of Neriah, who wrote on it at theinstruc on of Jeremiah all the words ofthe book which Jehoiakim king of Judahhad burned in the fire. And besides,there were added to them many similarwords.

37 1Now King Zedekiah the sonof Josiah reigned instead of

Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whomNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon madeking in the land of Judah.2 But neither he nor his servants northe people of the land gave heed to the

JEREMIAH 37 199words of the LORD which He spoke bythe prophet Jeremiah.3And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucalthe son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniahthe son of Maaseiah, the priest, to theprophet Jeremiah, saying, "Pray now tothe LORD our God for us."4Now Jeremiah was coming and goingamong the people, for they had not yetput him in prison.5 Then Pharaoh’s army came up fromEgypt; and when the Chaldeans whowere besieging Jerusalem heard news ofthem, they departed from Jerusalem.6 Then the word of the LORD came tothe prophet Jeremiah, saying,7 "Thus says the LORD, the God ofIsrael, ‘Thus you shall say to the king ofJudah, who sent you to Me to inquire ofMe: "Behold, Pharaoh’s army which hascome up to help you will return to Egypt,to their own land.

JEREMIAH 37 2008 "And the Chaldeans shall come backand fight against this city, and take it andburn it with fire."’9 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not deceiveyourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans willsurely depart from us," for they will notdepart.10 ‘For though you had defeated thewhole army of the Chaldeans who fightagainst you, and there remained onlywounded men among them, they wouldrise up, every man in his tent, and burnthe city with fire.’"11And it happened, when the army ofthe Chaldeans le the siege of Jerusalemfor fear of Pharaoh’s army,12 that Jeremiah went out of Jerusalemto go into the land of Benjamin to claimhis property there among the people.13And when he was in the Gate ofBenjamin, a captain of the guard wasthere whose name was Irijah the son of

JEREMIAH 37 201Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; andhe seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying,"You are defec ng to the Chaldeans!"14 Then Jeremiah said, "False! I am notdefec ng to the Chaldeans." But hedid not listen to him. So Irijah seizedJeremiah and brought him to the princes.15 Therefore the princes were angrywith Jeremiah, and they struck himand put him in prison in the house ofJonathan the scribe. For they had madethat the prison.16When Jeremiah entered the dungeonand the cells, and Jeremiah hadremained there many days,17 then Zedekiah the king sent and tookhim out. The king asked him secretly inhis house, and said, "Is there any wordfrom the LORD?" And Jeremiah said,"There is." Then he said, "You shall bedelivered into the hand of the king ofBabylon!"

JEREMIAH 37 20218Moreover Jeremiah said to KingZedekiah, "What offense have Icommi ed against you, against yourservants, or against this people, that youhave put me in prison?19 "Where now are your prophets whoprophesied to you, saying, ‘The king ofBabylon will not come against you oragainst this land’?20 "Therefore please hear now, O mylord the king. Please, let my pe on beaccepted before you, and do not makeme return to the house of Jonathan thescribe, lest I die there."21 Then Zedekiah the king commandedthat they should commit Jeremiah to thecourt of the prison, and that they shouldgive him daily a piece of bread from thebakers’ street, un l all the bread in thecity was gone. Thus Jeremiah remainedin the court of the prison.

JEREMIAH 38 203

38 1Now Shepha ah the son ofMa an, Gedaliah the son of

Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, andPashhur the son of Malchiah heard thewords that Jeremiah had spoken to allthe people, saying,2 "Thus says the LORD: ‘He who remainsin this city shall die by the sword, byfamine, and by pes lence; but he whogoes over to the Chaldeans shall live;his life shall be as a prize to him, and heshall live.’3 "Thus says the LORD: ‘This city shallsurely be given into the hand of the kingof Babylon’s army, which shall take it.’"4 Therefore the princes said to the king,"Please, let this man be put to death,for thus he weakens the hands of themen of war who remain in this city, andthe hands of all the people, by speakingsuch words to them. For this man does

JEREMIAH 38 204not seek the welfare of this people, buttheir harm."5 Then Zedekiah the king said, "Look,he is in your hand. For the king can donothing against you."6 So they took Jeremiah and cast himinto the dungeon of Malchiah the king’sson, which was in the court of the prison,and they let Jeremiah down with ropes.And in the dungeon there was no water,but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire.7Now Ebed–Melech the Ethiopian, oneof the eunuchs, who was in the king’shouse, heard that they had put Jeremiahin the dungeon. When the king wassi ng at the Gate of Benjamin,8 Ebed–Melech went out of the king’shouse and spoke to the king, saying:9 "My lord the king, these men havedone evil in all that they have done toJeremiah the prophet, whom they havecast into the dungeon, and he is likely to

JEREMIAH 38 205die from hunger in the place where he is.For there is no more bread in the city."10 Then the king commanded Ebed–Melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Takefrom here thirty men with you, andli Jeremiah the prophet out of thedungeon before he dies."11 So Ebed–Melech took the men withhim and went into the house of theking under the treasury, and took fromthere old clothes and old rags, and letthem down by ropes into the dungeonto Jeremiah.12 Then Ebed–Melech the Ethiopiansaid to Jeremiah, "Please put these oldclothes and rags under your armpits,under the ropes." And Jeremiah did so.13 So they pulled Jeremiah up withropes and li ed him out of the dungeon.And Jeremiah remained in the court ofthe prison.

JEREMIAH 38 20614 Then Zedekiah the king sent and hadJeremiah the prophet brought to him atthe third entrance of the house of theLORD. And the king said to Jeremiah,"I will ask you something. Hide nothingfrom me."15 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If Ideclare it to you, will you not surely putme to death? And if I give you advice,you will not listen to me."16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretlyto Jeremiah, saying, "As the LORD lives,who made our very souls, I will not putyou to death, nor will I give you into thehand 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 surely surrenderto the king of Babylon’s princes, thenyour soul shall live; this city shall notbe burned with fire, and you and yourhouse shall live.

JEREMIAH 38 20718 ‘But if you do not surrender to theking of Babylon’s princes, then thiscity shall be given into the hand of theChaldeans; they shall burn it with fire,and you shall not escape from theirhand.’"19And Zedekiah the king said toJeremiah, "I am afraid of the Jews whohave defected to the Chaldeans, lestthey deliver me into their hand, and theyabuse me."20 But Jeremiah said, "They shall notdeliver you. Please, obey the voice of theLORD which I speak to you. So it shall bewell with you, and your soul shall live.21 "But if you refuse to surrender, this isthe word that the LORD has shown me:22 ‘Now behold, all the women who arele in the king of Judah’s house shallbe surrendered to the king of Babylon’sprinces, and those women shall say:"Your close friends have set upon you

JEREMIAH 38 208And prevailed against you; Your feethave sunk in the mire, And they haveturned away again."23 ‘So they shall surrender all yourwives and children to the Chaldeans. Youshall not escape from their hand, butshall be taken by the hand of the king ofBabylon. And you shall cause this city tobe burned with fire.’"24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Letno one know of these words, and youshall not die.25 "But if the princes hear that I havetalked with you, and they come to youand say to you, ‘Declare to us now whatyou have said to the king, and also whatthe king said to you; do not hide it fromus, and we will not put you to death,’26 "then you shall say to them, ‘Ipresented my request before the king,that he would not make me return toJonathan’s house to die there.’"

JEREMIAH 38–39 20927 Then all the princes came toJeremiah and asked him. And he toldthem according to all these words thatthe king had commanded. So theystopped speaking with him, for theconversa on had not been heard.28Now Jeremiah remained in the courtof the prison un l the day that Jerusalemwas taken. And he was there whenJerusalem was taken.

39 1 In the ninth year of Zedekiahking of Judah, in the tenth month,

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and allhis army came against Jerusalem, andbesieged it.2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, inthe fourth month, on the ninth day ofthe month, the city was penetrated.3 Then all the princes of the king ofBabylon came in and sat in the MiddleGate: Nergal–Sharezer, Samgar–Nebo,Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal–Sarezer,

JEREMIAH 39 210Rabmag, with the rest of the princes ofthe king of Babylon.4 So it was, when Zedekiah the king ofJudah and all the men of war saw them,that they fled and went out of the cityby night, by way of the king’s garden, bythe gate between the two walls. And hewent out by way of the plain.5 But the Chaldean army pursuedthem and overtook Zedekiah in theplains of Jericho. And when they hadcaptured him, they brought him up toNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, toRiblah in the land of Hamath, where hepronounced judgment on him.6 Then the king of Babylon killed thesons of Zedekiah before his eyes inRiblah; the king of Babylon also killed allthe nobles of Judah.7Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes,and bound him with bronze fe ers tocarry him off to Babylon.

JEREMIAH 39 2118And the Chaldeans burned the king’shouse and the houses of the peoplewith fire, and broke down the walls ofJerusalem.9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain ofthe guard carried away cap ve toBabylon the remnant of the people whoremained in the city and those whodefected to him, with the rest of thepeople who remained.10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of theguard le in the land of Judah the poorpeople, who had nothing, and gave themvineyards and fields at the same me.11Now Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon gave charge concerningJeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain ofthe guard, saying,12 "Take him and look a er him, and dohim no harm; but do to him just as hesays to you."

JEREMIAH 39 21213 So Nebuzaradan the captain of theguard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris,Nergal–Sharezer, Rabmag, and all theking of Babylon’s chief officers;14 then they sent someone to takeJeremiah from the court of the prison,and commi ed him to Gedaliah the sonof Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, thathe should take him home. So he dweltamong the people.15Meanwhile the word of the LORDhad come to Jeremiah while he was shutup in the court of the prison, saying,16 "Go and speak to Ebed–Melech theEthiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the LORDof hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, Iwill bring My words upon this city foradversity and not for good, and theyshall be performed in that day beforeyou.17 "But I will deliver you in that day,"says the LORD, "and you shall not be

JEREMIAH 39–40 213given into the hand of the men of whomyou are afraid.18 "For I will surely deliver you, andyou shall not fall by the sword; but yourlife shall be as a prize to you, becauseyou have put your trust in Me," says theLORD.’"

40 1 The word that came to Jeremiahfrom the LORD a er Nebuzaradan

the captain of the guard had let him gofrom Ramah, when he had taken himbound in chains among all who werecarried away cap ve from Jerusalem andJudah, who were carried away cap ve toBabylon.2And the captain of the guard tookJeremiah and said to him: "The LORDyour God has pronounced this doom onthis place.3 "Now the LORD has brought it, andhas done just as He said. Because youpeople have sinned against the LORD,

JEREMIAH 40 214and not obeyed His voice, therefore thisthing has come upon you.4 "And now look, I free you this dayfrom the chains that were on your hand.If it seems good to you to come with meto Babylon, come, and I will look a eryou. But if it seems wrong for you tocome with me to Babylon, remain here.See, all the land is before you; whereverit seems good and convenient for you togo, go there."5Now while Jeremiah had not yet goneback, Nebuzaradan said, "Go back toGedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son ofShaphan, whom the king of Babylon hasmade governor over the ci es of Judah,and dwell with him among the people.Or go wherever it seems convenient foryou to go." So the captain of the guardgave him ra ons and a gi and let himgo.

JEREMIAH 40 2156 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah theson of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dweltwith him among the people who werele in the land.7And when all the captains of thearmies who were in the fields, they andtheir men, heard that the king of Babylonhad made Gedaliah the son of Ahikamgovernor in the land, and had commi edto him men, women, children, and thepoorest of the land who had not beencarried away cap ve to Babylon,8 then they came to Gedaliah atMizpah––Ishmael the son of Nethaniah,Johanan and Jonathan the sons ofKareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth,the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, andJezaniah the son of a Maachathite, theyand their men.9And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, theson of Shaphan, took an oath beforethem and their men, saying, "Do not be

JEREMIAH 40 216afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell inthe land and serve the king of Babylon,and it shall be well with you.10 "As for me, I will indeed dwell atMizpah and serve the Chaldeans whocome to us. But you, gather wine andsummer fruit and oil, put them in yourvessels, and dwell in your ci es that youhave taken."11 Likewise, when all the Jews whowere in Moab, among the Ammonites, inEdom, and who were in all the countries,heard that the king of Babylon had lea remnant of Judah, and that he had setover them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam,the son of Shaphan,12 then all the Jews returned out of allplaces where they had been driven, andcame to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah atMizpah, and gathered wine and summerfruit in abundance.

JEREMIAH 40 21713Moreover Johanan the son of Kareahand all the captains of the forces thatwere in the fields came to Gedaliah atMizpah,14 and said to him, "Do you certainlyknow that Baalis the king of theAmmonites has sent Ishmael the son ofNethaniah to murder you?" But Gedaliahthe son of Ahikam did not believe them.15 Then Johanan the son of Kareahspoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah,saying, "Let me go, please, and I willkill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, andno one will know it. Why should hemurder you, so that all the Jews who aregathered to you would be sca ered, andthe remnant in Judah perish?"16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam saidto Johanan the son of Kareah, "You shallnot do this thing, for you speak falselyconcerning Ishmael."

JEREMIAH 41 218

41 1Now it came to pass in theseventh month that Ishmael the

son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama,of the royal family and of the officers ofthe king, came with ten men to Gedaliahthe son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And therethey ate bread together in Mizpah.2 Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah,and the ten men who were with him,arose and struck Gedaliah the son ofAhikam, the son of Shaphan, with thesword, and killed him whom the king ofBabylon had made governor over theland.3 Ishmael also struck down all theJews who were with him, that is, withGedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeanswho were found there, the men of war.4And it happened, on the second daya er he had killed Gedaliah, when as yetno one knew it,

JEREMIAH 41 2195 that certain men came from Shechem,from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eightymen with their beards shaved and theirclothes torn, having cut themselves,with offerings and incense in their hand,to bring them to the house of the LORD.6Now Ishmael the son of Nethaniahwent out from Mizpah to meet them,weeping as he went along; and ithappened as he met them that he saidto them, "Come to Gedaliah the son ofAhikam!"7 So it was, when they came into themidst of the city, that Ishmael the sonof Nethaniah killed them and cast theminto the midst of a pit, he and the menwho were with him.8 But ten men were found among themwho said to Ishmael, "Do not kill us, forwe have treasures of wheat, barley, oil,and honey in the field." So he desisted

JEREMIAH 41 220and did not kill them among theirbrethren.9Now the pit into which Ishmael hadcast all the dead bodies of the menwhom he had slain, because of Gedaliah,was the same one Asa the king hadmade for fear of Baasha king of Israel.Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled itwith the slain.10 Then Ishmael carried away cap veall the rest of the people who were inMizpah, the king’s daughters and allthe people who remained in Mizpah,whom Nebuzaradan the captain ofthe guard had commi ed to Gedaliahthe son of Ahikam. And Ishmael theson of Nethaniah carried them awaycap ve and departed to go over to theAmmonites.11 But when Johanan the son of Kareahand all the captains of the forces that

JEREMIAH 41 221were with him heard of all the evil thatIshmael the son of Nethaniah had done,12 they took all the men and went tofight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah;and they found him by the great poolthat is in Gibeon.13 So it was, when all the people whowere with Ishmael saw Johanan the sonof Kareah, and all the captains of theforces who were with him, that theywere glad.14 Then all the people whom Ishmaelhad carried away cap ve from Mizpahturned around and came back, and wentto Johanan the son of Kareah.15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniahescaped from Johanan with eight menand went to the Ammonites.16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah, andall the captains of the forces that werewith him, took from Mizpah all the restof the people whom he had recovered

JEREMIAH 41–42 222from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah a erhe had murdered Gedaliah the son ofAhikam––the mighty men of war andthe women and the children and theeunuchs, whom he had brought backfrom Gibeon.17And they departed and dwelt in thehabita on of Chimham, which is nearBethlehem, as they went on their way toEgypt,18 because of the Chaldeans; for theywere afraid of them, because Ishmaelthe son of Nethaniah had murderedGedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom theking of Babylon had made governor inthe land.

42 1Now all the captains of theforces, Johanan the son of

Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah,and all the people, from the least to thegreatest, came near

JEREMIAH 42 2232 and said to Jeremiah the prophet,"Please, let our pe on be acceptableto you, and pray for us to the LORD yourGod, for all this remnant (since we arele but a few of many, as you can see),3 "that the LORD your God may showus the way in which we should walk andthe thing we should do."4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said tothem, "I have heard. Indeed, I will prayto the LORD your God according to yourwords, and it shall be, that whatever theLORD answers you, I will declare it toyou. I will keep nothing back from you."5 So they said to Jeremiah, "Let theLORD be a true and faithful witnessbetween us, if we do not do accordingto everything which the LORD your Godsends us by you.6 "Whether it is pleasing or displeasing,we will obey the voice of the LORD ourGod to whom we send you, that it may

JEREMIAH 42 224be well with us when we obey the voiceof the LORD our God."7And it happened a er ten days thatthe word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.8 Then he called Johanan the son ofKareah, all the captains of the forceswhich were with him, and all the peoplefrom the least even to the greatest,9 and said to them, "Thus says theLORD, the God of Israel, to whom yousent me to present your pe on beforeHim:10 ‘If you will s ll remain in this land,then I will build you and not pull youdown, and I will plant you and not pluckyou up. For I relent concerning thedisaster that I have brought upon you.11 ‘Do not be afraid of the king ofBabylon, of whom you are afraid; do notbe afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for Iam with you, to save you and deliver youfrom his hand.

JEREMIAH 42 22512 ‘And I will show you mercy, that hemay have mercy on you and cause youto return to your own land.’13 "But if you say, ‘We will not dwell inthis land,’ disobeying the voice of theLORD your God,14 "saying, ‘No, but we will go to theland of Egypt where we shall see no war,nor hear the sound of the trumpet, norbe hungry for bread, and there we willdwell’ ––15 "Then hear now the word of theLORD, O remnant of Judah! Thus saysthe LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Ifyou wholly set your faces to enter Egypt,and go to dwell there,16 ‘then it shall be that the sword whichyou feared shall overtake you there inthe land of Egypt; the famine of whichyou were afraid shall follow close a eryou there in Egypt; and there you shalldie.

JEREMIAH 42 22617 ‘So shall it be with all the men whoset their faces to go to Egypt to dwellthere. They shall die by the sword, byfamine, and by pes lence. And none ofthem shall remain or escape from thedisaster that I will bring upon them.’18 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: ‘As My anger and My furyhave been poured out on the inhabitantsof Jerusalem, so will My fury be pouredout on you when you enter Egypt. Andyou shall be an oath, an astonishment, acurse, and a reproach; and you shall seethis place no more.’19 "The LORD has said concerningyou, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not goto Egypt!’ Know certainly that I haveadmonished you this day.20 "For you were hypocrites in yourhearts when you sent me to the LORDyour God, saying, ‘Pray for us to theLORD our God, and according to all that

JEREMIAH 42–43 227the LORD your God says, so declare to usand we will do it.’21 "And I have this day declared it toyou, but you have not obeyed the voiceof the LORD your God, or anything whichHe has sent you by me.22 "Now therefore, know certainly thatyou shall die by the sword, by famine,and by pes lence in the place where youdesire to go to dwell."

43 1Now it happened, whenJeremiah had stopped speaking

to all the people all the words of theLORD their God, for which the LORDtheir God had sent him to them, all thesewords,2 that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah,Johanan the son of Kareah, and all theproud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah,"You speak falsely! The LORD our Godhas not sent you to say, ‘Do not go toEgypt to dwell there.’

JEREMIAH 43 2283 "But Baruch the son of Neriah hasset you against us, to deliver us into thehand of the Chaldeans, that they mayput us to death or carry us away cap veto Babylon."4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, all thecaptains of the forces, and all the peoplewould not obey the voice of the LORD,to remain in the land of Judah.5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and allthe captains of the forces took all theremnant of Judah who had returnedto dwell in the land of Judah, from allna ons where they had been driven––6men, women, children, the king’sdaughters, and every person whomNebuzaradan the captain of the guardhad le with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam,the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah theprophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.

JEREMIAH 43 2297 So they went to the land of Egypt, forthey did not obey the voice of the LORD.And they went as far as Tahpanhes.8 Then the word of the LORD came toJeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,9 "Take large stones in your hand, andhide them in the sight of the men ofJudah, in the clay in the brick courtyardwhich is at the entrance to Pharaoh’shouse in Tahpanhes;10 "and say to them, ‘Thus says theLORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold,I will send and bring Nebuchadnezzarthe king of Babylon, My servant, and willset his throne above these stones that Ihave hidden. And he will spread his royalpavilion over them.11 "When he comes, he shall strike theland of Egypt and deliver to death thoseappointed for death, and to cap vitythose appointed for cap vity, and to thesword those appointed for the sword.

JEREMIAH 43–44 23012 "I will kindle a fire in the houses ofthe gods of Egypt, and he shall burnthem and carry them away cap ve. Andhe shall array himself with the landof Egypt, as a shepherd puts on hisgarment, and he shall go out from therein peace.13 "He shall also break the sacred pillarsof Beth Shemesh that are in the land ofEgypt; and the houses of the gods of theEgyp ans he shall burn with fire."’"

44 1 The word that came to Jeremiahconcerning all the Jews who

dwell in the land of Egypt, who dwell atMigdol, at Tahpanhes, at Noph, and inthe country of Pathros, saying,2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the Godof Israel: ‘You have seen all the calamitythat I have brought on Jerusalem and onall the ci es of Judah; and behold, thisday they are a desola on, and no onedwells in them,

JEREMIAH 44 2313 ‘because of their wickedness whichthey have commi ed to provoke Me toanger, in that they went to burn incenseand to serve other gods whom they didnot know, they nor you nor your fathers.4 ‘However I have sent to you all Myservants the prophets, rising early andsending them, saying, "Oh, do not dothis abominable thing that I hate!"5 ‘But they did not listen or incline theirear to turn from their wickedness, toburn no incense to other gods.6 ‘So My fury and My anger werepoured out and kindled in the ci es ofJudah and in the streets of Jerusalem;and they are wasted and desolate, as itis this day.’7 "Now therefore, thus says the LORD,the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Whydo you commit this great evil againstyourselves, to cut off from you man and

JEREMIAH 44 232woman, child and infant, out of Judah,leaving none to remain,8 ‘in that you provoke Me to wrathwith the works of your hands, burningincense to other gods in the land ofEgypt where you have gone to dwell,that you may cut yourselves off and bea curse and a reproach among all thena ons of the earth?9 ‘Have you forgo en the wickednessof your fathers, the wickedness of thekings of Judah, the wickedness of theirwives, your own wickedness, and thewickedness of your wives, which theycommi ed in the land of Judah and inthe streets of Jerusalem?10 ‘They have not been humbled, to thisday, nor have they feared; they have notwalked in My law or in My statutes that Iset before you and your fathers.’11 "Therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will

JEREMIAH 44 233set My face against you for catastropheand for cu ng off all Judah.12 ‘And I will take the remnant of Judahwho have set their faces to go into theland of Egypt to dwell there, and theyshall all be consumed and fall in the landof Egypt. They shall be consumed by thesword and by famine. They shall die,from the least to the greatest, by thesword and by famine; and they shall bean oath, an astonishment, a curse and areproach!13 ‘For I will punish those who dwell inthe land of Egypt, as I have punishedJerusalem, by the sword, by famine, andby pes lence,14 ‘so that none of the remnant of Judahwho have gone into the land of Egyptto dwell there shall escape or survive,lest they return to the land of Judah, towhich they desire to return and dwell.

JEREMIAH 44 234For none shall return except those whoescape.’"15 Then all the men who knew that theirwives had burned incense to other gods,with all the women who stood by, agreat mul tude, and all the people whodwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros,answered Jeremiah, saying:16 "As for the word that you havespoken to us in the name of the LORD,we will not listen to you!17 "But we will certainly do whateverhas gone out of our own mouth, to burnincense to the queen of heaven andpour out drink offerings to her, as wehave done, we and our fathers, our kingsand our princes, in the ci es of Judahand in the streets of Jerusalem. For thenwe had plenty of food, were well–off,and saw no trouble.18 "But since we stopped burningincense to the queen of heaven and

JEREMIAH 44 235pouring out drink offerings to her, wehave lacked everything and have beenconsumed by the sword and by famine."19 The women also said, "And when weburned incense to the queen of heavenand poured out drink offerings to her,did we make cakes for her, to worshipher, and pour out drink offerings to herwithout our husbands’ permission?"20 Then Jeremiah spoke to all thepeople––the men, the women, and allthe people who had given him thatanswer––saying:21 "The incense that you burned inthe ci es of Judah and in the streets ofJerusalem, you and your fathers, yourkings and your princes, and the peopleof the land, did not the LORD rememberthem, and did it not come into His mind?22 "So the LORD could no longer bearit, because of the evil of your doingsand because of the abomina ons which

JEREMIAH 44 236you commi ed. Therefore your land isa desola on, an astonishment, a curse,and without an inhabitant, as it is thisday.23 "Because you have burned incenseand because you have sinned against theLORD, and have not obeyed the voiceof the LORD or walked in His law, in Hisstatutes or in His tes monies, thereforethis calamity has happened to you, as atthis day."24Moreover Jeremiah said to all thepeople and to all the women, "Hear theword of the LORD, all Judah who are inthe land of Egypt!25 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel, saying: ‘You and your wiveshave spoken with your mouths andfulfilled with your hands, saying, "Wewill surely keep our vows that we havemade, to burn incense to the queen ofheaven and pour out drink offerings to

JEREMIAH 44 237her." You will surely keep your vows andperform your vows!’26 "Therefore hear the word of theLORD, all Judah who dwell in the land ofEgypt: ‘Behold, I have sworn by My greatname,’ says the LORD, ‘that My nameshall no more be named in the mouth ofany man of Judah in all the land of Egypt,saying, "The Lord GOD lives."27 ‘Behold, I will watch over them foradversity and not for good. And all themen of Judah who are in the land ofEgypt shall be consumed by the swordand by famine, un l there is an end tothem.28 ‘Yet a small number who escape thesword shall return from the land of Egyptto the land of Judah; and all the remnantof Judah, who have gone to the land ofEgypt to dwell there, shall know whosewords will stand, Mine or theirs.

JEREMIAH 44–45 23829 ‘And this shall be a sign to you,’says the LORD, ‘that I will punish you inthis place, that you may know that Mywords will surely stand against you foradversity.’30 "Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I willgive Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt intothe hand of his enemies and into thehand of those who seek his life, as I gaveZedekiah king of Judah into the handof Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, hisenemy who sought his life.’"

45 1 The word that Jeremiah theprophet spoke to Baruch the son

of Neriah, when he had wri en thesewords in a book at the instruc on ofJeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakimthe son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,2 "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,to you, O Baruch:

JEREMIAH 45–46 2393 ‘You said, "Woe is me now! For theLORD has added grief to my sorrow. Ifainted in my sighing, and I find no rest."’4 "Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus saysthe LORD: "Behold, what I have built Iwill break down, and what I have plantedI will pluck up, that is, this whole land.5 "And do you seek great things foryourself? Do not seek them; for behold, Iwill bring adversity on all flesh," says theLORD. "But I will give your life to you as aprize in all places, wherever you go."’"

46 1 The word of the LORD whichcame to Jeremiah the prophet

against the na ons.2Against Egypt. Concerning the army ofPharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which wasby the River Euphrates in Carchemish,and which Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon defeated in the fourth yearof Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king ofJudah:

JEREMIAH 46 2403 "Order the buckler and shield, Anddraw near to ba le!4Harness the horses, And mount up,you horsemen! Stand forth with yourhelmets, Polish the spears, Put on thearmor!5Why have I seen them dismayed andturned back? Their mighty ones arebeaten down; They have speedily fled,And did not look back, For fear was allaround," says the LORD.6 "Do not let the swi flee away, Nor themighty man escape; They will stumbleand fall Toward the north, by the RiverEuphrates.7 "Who is this coming up like a flood,Whose waters move like the rivers?8 Egypt rises up like a flood, And itswaters move like the rivers; And he says,‘I will go up and cover the earth, I willdestroy the city and its inhabitants.’

JEREMIAH 46 2419 Come up, O horses, and rage, Ochariots! And let the mighty men comeforth: The Ethiopians and the Libyanswho handle the shield, And the Lydianswho handle and bend the bow.10 For this is the day of the Lord GODof hosts, A day of vengeance, That Hemay avenge Himself on His adversaries.The sword shall devour; It shall besa ated and made drunk with theirblood; For the Lord GOD of hosts hasa sacrifice In the north country by theRiver Euphrates.11 "Go up to Gilead and take balm, Ovirgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain youwill use many medicines; You shall notbe cured.12 The na ons have heard of yourshame, And your cry has filled theland; For the mighty man has stumbledagainst the mighty; They both havefallen together."

JEREMIAH 46 24213 The word that the LORD spoketo Jeremiah the prophet, howNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon wouldcome and strike the land of Egypt.14 "Declare in Egypt, and proclaimin Migdol; Proclaim in Noph and inTahpanhes; Say, ‘Stand fast and prepareyourselves, For the sword devours allaround you.’15Why are your valiant men sweptaway? They did not stand Because theLORD drove them away.16He made many fall; Yes, one fell uponanother. And they said, ‘Arise! Let usgo back to our own people And to theland of our na vity From the oppressingsword.’17 They cried there, ‘Pharaoh, king ofEgypt, is but a noise. He has passed bythe appointed me!’18 "As I live," says the King, Whosename is the LORD of hosts, "Surely as

JEREMIAH 46 243Tabor is among the mountains And asCarmel by the sea, so he shall come.19O you daughter dwelling in Egypt,Prepare yourself to go into cap vity!For Noph shall be waste and desolate,without inhabitant.20 "Egypt is a very pre y heifer, Butdestruc on comes, it comes from thenorth.21Also her mercenaries are in her midstlike fat bulls, For they also are turnedback, They have fled away together.They did not stand, For the day of theircalamity had come upon them, The meof their punishment.22Her noise shall go like a serpent, Forthey shall march with an army And comeagainst her with axes, Like those whochop wood.23 "They shall cut down her forest,"says the LORD, "Though it cannot be

JEREMIAH 46 244searched, Because they are innumerable,And more numerous than grasshoppers.24 The daughter of Egypt shall beashamed; She shall be delivered into thehand Of the people of the north."25 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,says: "Behold, I will bring punishmenton Amon of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt,with their gods and their kings––Pharaohand those who trust in him.26 "And I will deliver them into the handof those who seek their lives, into thehand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonand the hand of his servants. A erwardit shall be inhabited as in the days ofold," says the LORD.27 "But do not fear, O My servant Jacob,And do not be dismayed, O Israel! Forbehold, I will save you from afar, Andyour offspring from the land of theircap vity; Jacob shall return, have rest

JEREMIAH 46–47 245and be at ease; No one shall make himafraid.28Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,"says the LORD, "For I am with you; ForI will make a complete end of all thena ons To which I have driven you, ButI will not make a complete end of you.I will rightly correct you, For I will notleave you wholly unpunished."

47 1 The word of the LORD that cameto Jeremiah the prophet against

the Philis nes, before Pharaoh a ackedGaza.2 Thus says the LORD: "Behold, watersrise out of the north, And shall be anoverflowing flood; They shall overflowthe land and all that is in it, The city andthose who dwell within; Then the menshall cry, And all the inhabitants of theland shall wail.3At the noise of the stamping hoovesof his strong horses, At the rushing of his

JEREMIAH 47–48 246chariots, At the rumbling of his wheels,The fathers will not look back for theirchildren, Lacking courage,4 Because of the day that comes toplunder all the Philis nes, To cut offfrom Tyre and Sidon every helper whoremains; For the LORD shall plunder thePhilis nes, The remnant of the countryof Caphtor.5 Baldness has come upon Gaza,Ashkelon is cut off With the remnantof their valley. How long will you cutyourself?6 "O you sword of the LORD, How longun l you are quiet? Put yourself up intoyour scabbard, Rest and be s ll!7How can it be quiet, Seeing the LORDhas given it a charge Against Ashkelonand against the seashore? There He hasappointed it."

48 1Against Moab. Thus says theLORD of hosts, the God of Israel:

JEREMIAH 48 247"Woe to Nebo! For it is plundered,Kirjathaim is shamed and taken; The highstronghold is shamed and dismayed––2No more praise of Moab. In Heshbonthey have devised evil against her:‘Come, and let us cut her off as a na on.’You also shall be cut down, O Madmen!The sword shall pursue you;3A voice of crying shall be fromHoronaim: ‘Plundering and greatdestruc on!’4 "Moab is destroyed; Her li le oneshave caused a cry to be heard;5 For in the Ascent of Luhith theyascend with con nual weeping; For inthe descent of Horonaim the enemieshave heard a cry of destruc on.6 "Flee, save your lives! And be like thejuniper in the wilderness.7 For because you have trusted in yourworks and your treasures, You also shallbe taken. And Chemosh shall go forth

JEREMIAH 48 248into cap vity, His priests and his princestogether.8And the plunderer shall come againstevery city; No one shall escape. Thevalley also shall perish, And the plainshall be destroyed, As the LORD hasspoken.9 "Give wings to Moab, That she mayflee and get away; For her ci es shall bedesolate, Without any to dwell in them.10 Cursed is he who does the work ofthe LORD decei ully, And cursed is hewho keeps back his sword from blood.11 "Moab has been at ease from hisyouth; He has se led on his dregs, Andhas not been emp ed from vessel tovessel, Nor has he gone into cap vity.Therefore his taste remained in him, Andhis scent has not changed.12 "Therefore behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "That I shallsend him wine–workers Who will p him

JEREMIAH 48 249over And empty his vessels And breakthe bo les.13Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh,As the house of Israel was ashamed ofBethel, their confidence.14 "How can you say, ‘We are mightyAnd strong men for the war’?15Moab is plundered and gone up fromher ci es; Her chosen young men havegone down to the slaughter," says theKing, Whose name is the LORD of hosts.16 "The calamity of Moab is near athand, And his afflic on comes quickly.17 Bemoan him, all you who are aroundhim; And all you who know his name,Say, ‘How the strong staff is broken, Thebeau ful rod!’18 "O daughter inhabi ng Dibon, Comedown from your glory, And sit in thirst;For the plunderer of Moab has comeagainst you, He has destroyed yourstrongholds.

JEREMIAH 48 25019O inhabitant of Aroer, Stand bythe way and watch; Ask him who fleesAnd her who escapes; Say, ‘What hashappened?’20Moab is shamed, for he is brokendown. Wail and cry! Tell it in Arnon, thatMoab is plundered.21 "And judgment has come on theplain country: On Holon and Jahzah andMephaath,22On Dibon and Nebo and BethDiblathaim,23On Kirjathaim and Beth Gamul andBeth Meon,24On Kerioth and Bozrah, On all theci es of the land of Moab, Far or near.25 The horn of Moab is cut off, And hisarm is broken," says the LORD.26 "Make him drunk, Because he exaltedhimself against the LORD. Moab shallwallow in his vomit, And he shall also bein derision.

JEREMIAH 48 25127 For was not Israel a derision toyou? Was he found among thieves? Forwhenever you speak of him, You shakeyour head in scorn.28 You who dwell in Moab, Leave theci es and dwell in the rock, And be likethe dove which makes her nest In thesides of the cave’s mouth.29 "We have heard the pride of Moab(He is exceedingly proud), Of his lo inessand arrogance and pride, And of thehaugh ness of his heart."30 "I know his wrath," says the LORD,"But it is not right; His lies have madenothing right.31 Therefore I will wail for Moab, And Iwill cry out for all Moab; I will mourn forthe men of Kir Heres.32O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for youwith the weeping of Jazer. Your plantshave gone over the sea, They reach to

JEREMIAH 48 252the sea of Jazer. The plunderer has fallenon your summer fruit and your vintage.33 Joy and gladness are taken Fromthe plen ful field And from the land ofMoab; I have caused wine to fail fromthe winepresses; No one will tread withjoyous shou ng––Not joyous shou ng!34 "From the cry of Heshbon to Elealehand to Jahaz They have u ered theirvoice, From Zoar to Horonaim, Like athree–year–old heifer; For the waters ofNimrim also shall be desolate.35 "Moreover," says the LORD, "I willcause to cease in Moab The one whooffers sacrifices in the high places Andburns incense to his gods.36 Therefore My heart shall wail likeflutes for Moab, And like flutes My heartshall wail For the men of Kir Heres.Therefore the riches they have acquiredhave perished.

JEREMIAH 48 25337 "For every head shall be bald,and every beard clipped; On all thehands shall be cuts, and on the loinssackcloth––38A general lamenta on On all thehousetops of Moab, And in its streets;For I have broken Moab like a vessel inwhich is no pleasure," says the LORD.39 "They shall wail: ‘How she is brokendown! How Moab has turned her backwith shame!’ SoMoab shall be a derisionAnd a dismay to all those about her."40 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, oneshall fly like an eagle, And spread hiswings over Moab.41 Kerioth is taken, And the strongholdsare surprised; The mighty men’s heartsin Moab on that day shall be Like theheart of a woman in birth pangs.42And Moab shall be destroyed asa people, Because he exalted himselfagainst the LORD.

JEREMIAH 48 25443 Fear and the pit and the snare shallbe upon you, O inhabitant of Moab,"says the LORD.44 "He who flees from the fear shall fallinto the pit, And he who gets out of thepit shall be caught in the snare. For uponMoab, upon it I will bring The year oftheir punishment," says the LORD.45 "Those who fled stood underthe shadow of Heshbon Because ofexhaus on. But a fire shall come outof Heshbon, A flame from the midstof Sihon, And shall devour the brow ofMoab, The crown of the head of thesons of tumult.46Woe to you, O Moab! The peopleof Chemosh perish; For your sons havebeen taken cap ve, And your daughterscap ve.47 "Yet I will bring back the cap ves ofMoab In the la er days," says the LORD.Thus far is the judgment of Moab.

JEREMIAH 49 255

49 1Against the Ammonites. Thussays the LORD: "Has Israel no

sons? Has he no heir? Why then doesMilcom inherit Gad, And his peopledwell in its ci es?2 Therefore behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "That I willcause to be heard an alarm of war InRabbah of the Ammonites; It shall be adesolate mound, And her villages shallbe burned with fire. Then Israel shalltake possession of his inheritance," saysthe LORD.3 "Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is plundered!Cry, you daughters of Rabbah, Girdyourselves with sackcloth! Lament andrun to and fro by the walls; For Milcomshall go into cap vity With his priestsand his princes together.4Why do you boast in the valleys, Yourflowing valley, O backsliding daughter?

JEREMIAH 49 256Who trusted in her treasures, saying,‘Who will come against me?’5 Behold, I will bring fear upon you,"Says the Lord GOD of hosts, "From allthose who are around you; You shall bedriven out, everyone headlong, And noone will gather those who wander off.6 But a erward I will bring back Thecap ves of the people of Ammon," saysthe LORD.7Against Edom. Thus says the LORD ofhosts: "Is wisdom no more in Teman?Has counsel perished from the prudent?Has their wisdom vanished?8 Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths,O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bringthe calamity of Esau upon him, The methat I will punish him.9 If grape–gatherers came to you,Would they not leave some gleaninggrapes? If thieves by night, Would theynot destroy un l they have enough?

JEREMIAH 49 25710 But I have made Esau bare; I haveuncovered his secret places, And heshall not be able to hide himself. Hisdescendants are plundered, His brethrenand his neighbors, And he is no more.11 Leave your fatherless children, Iwill preserve them alive; And let yourwidows trust in Me."12 For thus says the LORD: "Behold,those whose judgment was not to drinkof the cup have assuredly drunk. Andare you the one who will altogethergo unpunished? You shall not gounpunished, but you shall surely drink ofit.13 "For I have sworn by Myself," saysthe LORD, "that Bozrah shall become adesola on, a reproach, a waste, and acurse. And all its ci es shall be perpetualwastes."14 I have heard a message from theLORD, And an ambassador has been sent

JEREMIAH 49 258to the na ons: "Gather together, comeagainst her, And rise up to ba le!15 "For indeed, I will make you smallamong na ons, Despised among men.16 Your fierceness has deceived you,The pride of your heart, O you who dwellin the cle s of the rock, Who hold theheight of the hill! Though you make yournest as high as the eagle, I will bring youdown from there," says the LORD.17 "Edom also shall be an astonishment;Everyone who goes by it will beastonished And will hiss at all its plagues.18As in the overthrow of Sodom andGomorrah And their neighbors," says theLORD, "No one shall remain there, Norshall a son of man dwell in it.19 "Behold, he shall come up like a lionfrom the floodplain of the Jordan Againstthe dwelling place of the strong; But Iwill suddenly make him run away fromher. And who is a chosen man that I may

JEREMIAH 49 259appoint over her? For who is like Me?Who will arraign Me? And who is thatshepherd Who will withstand Me?"20 Therefore hear the counsel of theLORD that He has taken against Edom,And His purposes that He has proposedagainst the inhabitants of Teman: Surelythe least of the flock shall draw themout; Surely He shall make their dwellingplaces desolate with them.21 The earth shakes at the noise of theirfall; At the cry its noise is heard at theRed Sea.22 Behold, He shall come up and fly likethe eagle, And spread His wings overBozrah; The heart of the mighty men ofEdom in that day shall be Like the heartof a woman in birth pangs.23Against Damascus. "Hamath andArpad are shamed, For they have heardbad news. They are fainthearted; Thereis trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet.

JEREMIAH 49 26024Damascus has grown feeble; Sheturns to flee, And fear has seized her.Anguish and sorrows have taken her likea woman in labor.25Why is the city of praise not deserted,the city of My joy?26 Therefore her young men shall fall inher streets, And all the men of war shallbe cut off in that day," says the LORD ofhosts.27 "I will kindle a fire in the wall ofDamascus, And it shall consume thepalaces of Ben–Hadad."28Against Kedar and againstthe kingdoms of Hazor, whichNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon shallstrike. Thus says the LORD: "Arise, go upto Kedar, And devastate the men of theEast!29 Their tents and their flocks they shalltake away. They shall take for themselvestheir curtains, All their vessels and their

JEREMIAH 49 261camels; And they shall cry out to them,‘Fear is on every side!’30 "Flee, get far away! Dwell in thedepths, O inhabitants of Hazor!" saysthe LORD. "For Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon has taken counsel against you,And has conceived a plan against you.31 "Arise, go up to the wealthy na onthat dwells securely," says the LORD,"Which has neither gates nor bars,Dwelling alone.32 Their camels shall be for booty, Andthe mul tude of their ca le for plunder.I will sca er to all winds those in thefarthest corners, And I will bring theircalamity from all its sides," says theLORD.33 "Hazor shall be a dwelling for jackals,a desola on forever; No one shall residethere, Nor son of man dwell in it."34 The word of the LORD that came toJeremiah the prophet against Elam, in

JEREMIAH 49 262the beginning of the reign of Zedekiahking of Judah, saying,35 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,The foremost of their might.36Against Elam I will bring the fourwinds From the four quarters of heaven,And sca er them toward all those winds;There shall be no na ons where theoutcasts of Elam will not go.37 For I will cause Elam to be dismayedbefore their enemies And before thosewho seek their life. I will bring disasterupon them, My fierce anger,’ says theLORD; ‘And I will send the sword a erthem Un l I have consumed them.38 I will set My throne in Elam, Andwill destroy from there the king and theprinces,’ says the LORD.39 ‘But it shall come to pass in the la erdays: I will bring back the cap ves ofElam,’ says the LORD."

JEREMIAH 50 263

50 1 The word that the LORD spokeagainst Babylon and against the

land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah theprophet.2 "Declare among the na ons, Proclaim,and set up a standard; Proclaim––do notconceal it ––Say, ‘Babylon is taken, Bel isshamed. Merodach is broken in pieces;Her idols are humiliated, Her images arebroken in pieces.’3 For out of the north a na on comes upagainst her, Which shall make her landdesolate, And no one shall dwell therein.They shall move, they shall depart, Bothman and beast.4 "In those days and in that me," saysthe LORD, "The children of Israel shallcome, They and the children of Judahtogether; With con nual weeping theyshall come, And seek the LORD theirGod.

JEREMIAH 50 2645 They shall ask the way to Zion, Withtheir faces toward it, saying, ‘Come andlet us join ourselves to the LORD In aperpetual covenant That will not beforgo en.’6 "My people have been lost sheep.Their shepherds have led them astray;They have turned them away on themountains. They have gone frommountain to hill; They have forgo entheir res ng place.7All who found them have devouredthem; And their adversaries said, ‘Wehave not offended, Because they havesinned against the LORD, the habita onof jus ce, The LORD, the hope of theirfathers.’8 "Move from the midst of Babylon, Goout of the land of the Chaldeans; And belike the rams before the flocks.9 For behold, I will raise and cause tocome up against Babylon An assembly

JEREMIAH 50 265of great na ons from the north country,And they shall array themselves againsther; From there she shall be captured.Their arrows shall be like those of anexpert warrior; None shall return in vain.10And Chaldea shall become plunder;All who plunder her shall be sa sfied,"says the LORD.11 "Because you were glad, because yourejoiced, You destroyers of My heritage,Because you have grown fat like a heiferthreshing grain, And you bellow likebulls,12 Your mother shall be deeplyashamed; She who bore you shall beashamed. Behold, the least of thena ons shall be a wilderness, A dry landand a desert.13 Because of the wrath of the LORDShe shall not be inhabited, But she shallbe wholly desolate. Everyone who goes

JEREMIAH 50 266by Babylon shall be horrified And hiss atall her plagues.14 "Put yourselves in array againstBabylon all around, All you who bendthe bow; Shoot at her, spare no arrows,For she has sinned against the LORD.15 Shout against her all around; She hasgiven her hand, Her founda ons havefallen, Her walls are thrown down; Forit is the vengeance of the LORD. Takevengeance on her. As she has done, sodo to her.16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, Andhim who handles the sickle at harvestme. For fear of the oppressing sword

Everyone shall turn to his own people,And everyone shall flee to his own land.17 "Israel is like sca ered sheep; Thelions have driven him away. First the kingof Assyria devoured him; Now at last thisNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hasbroken his bones."

JEREMIAH 50 26718 Therefore thus says the LORD ofhosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I willpunish the king of Babylon and his land,As I have punished the king of Assyria.19 But I will bring back Israel to hishome, And he shall feed on Carmel andBashan; His soul shall be sa sfied onMount Ephraim and Gilead.20 In those days and in that me," saysthe LORD, "The iniquity of Israel shallbe sought, but there shall be none; Andthe sins of Judah, but they shall not befound; For I will pardon those whom Ipreserve.21 "Go up against the land ofMerathaim, against it, And against theinhabitants of Pekod. Waste and u erlydestroy them," says the LORD, "And doaccording to all that I have commandedyou.22A sound of ba le is in the land, Andof great destruc on.

JEREMIAH 50 26823How the hammer of the whole earthhas been cut apart and broken! HowBabylon has become a desola on amongthe na ons!24 I have laid a snare for you; You haveindeed been trapped, O Babylon, Andyou were not aware; You have beenfound and also caught, Because youhave contended against the LORD.25 The LORD has opened His armory,And has brought out the weapons ofHis indigna on; For this is the work ofthe Lord GOD of hosts In the land of theChaldeans.26 Come against her from the farthestborder; Open her storehouses; Cast herup as heaps of ruins, And destroy heru erly; Let nothing of her be le .27 Slay all her bulls, Let them go downto the slaughter. Woe to them! Fortheir day has come, the me of theirpunishment.

JEREMIAH 50 26928 The voice of those who flee andescape from the land of BabylonDeclares in Zion the vengeance of theLORD our God, The vengeance of Histemple.29 "Call together the archers againstBabylon. All you who bend the bow,encamp against it all around; Let none ofthem escape. Repay her according to herwork; According to all she has done, doto her; For she has been proud againstthe LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel.30 Therefore her young men shall fall inthe streets, And all her men of war shallbe cut off in that day," says the LORD.31 "Behold, I am against you, O mosthaughty one!" says the Lord GOD ofhosts; "For your day has come, The methat I will punish you.32 The most proud shall stumble andfall, And no one will raise him up; I will

JEREMIAH 50 270kindle a fire in his ci es, And it willdevour all around him."33 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Thechildren of Israel were oppressed, Alongwith the children of Judah; All who tookthem cap ve have held them fast; Theyhave refused to let them go.34 Their Redeemer is strong; The LORDof hosts is His name. He will thoroughlyplead their case, That He may give restto the land, And disquiet the inhabitantsof Babylon.35 "A sword is against the Chaldeans,"says the LORD, "Against the inhabitantsof Babylon, And against her princes andher wise men.36A sword is against the soothsayers,and they will be fools. A sword is againsther mighty men, and they will bedismayed.37A sword is against their horses,Against their chariots, And against all the

JEREMIAH 50 271mixed peoples who are in her midst; Andthey will become like women. A sword isagainst her treasures, and they will berobbed.38A drought is against her waters, andthey will be dried up. For it is the land ofcarved images, And they are insane withtheir idols.39 "Therefore the wild desert beastsshall dwell there with the jackals, Andthe ostriches shall dwell in it. It shall beinhabited nomore forever, Nor shall it bedwelt in from genera on to genera on.40As God overthrew Sodom andGomorrah And their neighbors," says theLORD, "So no one shall reside there, Norson of man dwell in it.41 "Behold, a people shall come fromthe north, And a great na on and manykings Shall be raised up from the ends ofthe earth.

JEREMIAH 50 27242 They shall hold the bow and thelance; They are cruel and shall not showmercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea;They shall ride on horses, Set in array,like a man for the ba le, Against you, Odaughter of Babylon.43 "The king of Babylon has heard thereport about them, And his hands growfeeble; Anguish has taken hold of him,Pangs as of a woman in childbirth.44 "Behold, he shall come up like a lionfrom the floodplain of the Jordan Againstthe dwelling place of the strong; But Iwill make them suddenly run away fromher. And who is a chosen man that I mayappoint over her? For who is like Me?Who will arraign Me? And who is thatshepherd Who will withstand Me?"45 Therefore hear the counsel of theLORD that He has taken against Babylon,And His purposes that He has proposedagainst the land of the Chaldeans: Surely

JEREMIAH 50–51 273the least of the flock shall draw themout; Surely He will make their dwellingplace desolate with them.46At the noise of the taking of BabylonThe earth trembles, And the cry is heardamong the na ons.

51 1 Thus says the LORD: "Behold,I will raise up against Babylon,

Against those who dwell in Leb Kamai, Adestroying wind.2And I will send winnowers to Babylon,Who shall winnow her and empty herland. For in the day of doom They shallbe against her all around.3Against her let the archer bend hisbow, And li himself up against her inhis armor. Do not spare her young men;U erly destroy all her army.4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land ofthe Chaldeans, And those thrust throughin her streets.

JEREMIAH 51 2745 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah,By his God, the LORD of hosts, Thoughtheir land was filled with sin against theHoly One of Israel."6 Flee from the midst of Babylon, Andevery one save his life! Do not be cut offin her iniquity, For this is the me of theLORD’S vengeance; He shall recompenseher.7 Babylon was a golden cup in theLORD’S hand, That made all the earthdrunk. The na ons drank her wine;Therefore the na ons are deranged.8 Babylon has suddenly fallen and beendestroyed. Wail for her! Take balm forher pain; Perhaps she may be healed.9We would have healed Babylon, Butshe is not healed. Forsake her, and let usgo everyone to his own country; For herjudgment reaches to heaven and is li edup to the skies.

JEREMIAH 51 27510 The LORD has revealed ourrighteousness. Come and let us declarein Zion the work of the LORD our God.11Make the arrows bright! Gather theshields! The LORD has raised up thespirit of the kings of the Medes. For Hisplan is against Babylon to destroy it,Because it is the vengeance of the LORD,The vengeance for His temple.12 Set up the standard on the walls ofBabylon; Make the guard strong, Set upthe watchmen, Prepare the ambushes.For the LORD has both devised and doneWhat He spoke against the inhabitantsof Babylon.13O you who dwell by many waters,Abundant in treasures, Your endhas come, The measure of yourcovetousness.14 The LORD of hosts has sworn byHimself: "Surely I will fill you with men,

JEREMIAH 51 276as with locusts, And they shall li up ashout against you."15He has made the earth by His power;He has established the world by Hiswisdom, And stretched out the heavenby His understanding.16When He u ers His voice––There is amul tude of waters in the heavens: "Hecauses the vapors to ascend from theends of the earth; He makes lightningsfor the rain; He brings the wind out ofHis treasuries."17 Everyone is dull–hearted, withoutknowledge; Every metalsmith is put toshame by the carved image; For hismolded image is falsehood, And there isno breath in them.18 They are fu le, a work of errors; Inthe me of their punishment they shallperish.19 The Por on of Jacob is not like them,For He is the Maker of all things; And

JEREMIAH 51 277Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. TheLORD of hosts is His name.20 "You are My ba le–ax and weaponsof war: For with you I will break thena on in pieces; With you I will destroykingdoms;21With you I will break in pieces thehorse and its rider; With you I will breakin pieces the chariot and its rider;22With you also I will break in piecesman and woman; With you I will breakin pieces old and young; With you I willbreak in pieces the young man and themaiden;23With you also I will break in piecesthe shepherd and his flock; With you Iwill break in pieces the farmer and hisyoke of oxen; And with you I will breakin pieces governors and rulers.24 "And I will repay Babylon And all theinhabitants of Chaldea For all the evil

JEREMIAH 51 278they have done In Zion in your sight,"says the LORD.25 "Behold, I am against you, Odestroying mountain, Who destroys allthe earth," says the LORD. "And I willstretch out My hand against you, Rollyou down from the rocks, And make youa burnt mountain.26 They shall not take from you a stonefor a corner Nor a stone for a founda on,But you shall be desolate forever," saysthe LORD.27 Set up a banner in the land, Blow thetrumpet among the na ons! Prepare thena ons against her, Call the kingdomstogether against her: Ararat, Minni, andAshkenaz. Appoint a general against her;Cause the horses to come up like thebristling locusts.28 Prepare against her the na ons, Withthe kings of the Medes, Its governors

JEREMIAH 51 279and all its rulers, All the land of hisdominion.29And the landwill tremble and sorrow;For every purpose of the LORD shall beperformed against Babylon, To make theland of Babylon a desola on withoutinhabitant.30 The mighty men of Babylon haveceased figh ng, They have remained intheir strongholds; Their might has failed,They became like women; They haveburned her dwelling places, The bars ofher gate are broken.31One runner will run to meet another,And one messenger to meet another, Toshow the king of Babylon that his city istaken on all sides;32 The passages are blocked, The reedsthey have burned with fire, And the menof war are terrified.33 For thus says the LORD of hosts, theGod of Israel: "The daughter of Babylon

JEREMIAH 51 280is like a threshing floor When it is meto thresh her; Yet a li le while And theme of her harvest will come."34 "Nebuchadnezzar the king of BabylonHas devoured me, he has crushed me;He has made me an empty vessel, Hehas swallowed me up like a monster; Hehas filled his stomach with my delicacies,He has spit me out.35 Let the violence done to me and myflesh be upon Babylon," The inhabitantof Zion will say; "And my blood be uponthe inhabitants of Chaldea!" Jerusalemwill say.36 Therefore thus says the LORD:"Behold, I will plead your case and takevengeance for you. I will dry up her seaand make her springs dry.37 Babylon shall become a heap,A dwelling place for jackals, Anastonishment and a hissing, Without aninhabitant.

JEREMIAH 51 28138 They shall roar together like lions,They shall growl like lions’ whelps.39 In their excitement I will preparetheir feasts; I will make them drunk, Thatthey may rejoice, And sleep a perpetualsleep And not awake," says the LORD.40 "I will bring them down Like lambs tothe slaughter, Like rams with male goats.41 "Oh, how Sheshach is taken! Oh, howthe praise of the whole earth is seized!How Babylon has become desolateamong the na ons!42 The sea has come up over Babylon;She is covered with the mul tude of itswaves.43Her ci es are a desola on, A dry landand a wilderness, A land where no onedwells, Through which no son of manpasses.44 I will punish Bel in Babylon, And Iwill bring out of his mouth what he hasswallowed; And the na ons shall not

JEREMIAH 51 282stream to him anymore. Yes, the wall ofBabylon shall fall.45 "My people, go out of the midst ofher! And let everyone deliver himselffrom the fierce anger of the LORD.46And lest your heart faint, And youfear for the rumor that will be heard inthe land (A rumor will come one year,And a er that, in another year A rumorwill come, And violence in the land,Ruler against ruler),47 Therefore behold, the days arecoming That I will bring judgment on thecarved images of Babylon; Her wholeland shall be ashamed, And all her slainshall fall in her midst.48 Then the heavens and the earth andall that is in them Shall sing joyously overBabylon; For the plunderers shall cometo her from the north," says the LORD.

JEREMIAH 51 28349As Babylon has caused the slain ofIsrael to fall, So at Babylon the slain of allthe earth shall fall.50 You who have escaped the sword,Get away! Do not stand s ll! Rememberthe LORD afar off, And let Jerusalemcome to your mind.51We are ashamed because we haveheard reproach. Shame has covered ourfaces, For strangers have come into thesanctuaries of the LORD’S house.52 "Therefore behold, the days arecoming," says the LORD, "That I will bringjudgment on her carved images, Andthroughout all her land the woundedshall groan.53 Though Babylon were to mount up toheaven, And though she were to for fythe height of her strength, Yet from Meplunderers would come to her," says theLORD.

JEREMIAH 51 28454 The sound of a cry comes fromBabylon, And great destruc on from theland of the Chaldeans,55 Because the LORD is plunderingBabylon And silencing her loud voice,Though her waves roar like great waters,And the noise of their voice is u ered,56 Because the plunderer comes againsther, against Babylon, And her mightymen are taken. Every one of their bowsis broken; For the LORD is the God ofrecompense, He will surely repay.57 "And I will make drunk Her princesand wise men, Her governors, herdepu es, and her mighty men. And theyshall sleep a perpetual sleep And notawake," says the King, Whose name isthe LORD of hosts.58 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Thebroad walls of Babylon shall be u erlybroken, And her high gates shall beburned with fire; The people will labor

JEREMIAH 51 285in vain, And the na ons, because of thefire; And they shall be weary."59 The word which Jeremiah theprophet commanded Seraiah the son ofNeriah, the son of Mahseiah, when hewent with Zedekiah the king of Judah toBabylon in the fourth year of his reign.And Seraiah was the quartermaster.60 So Jeremiah wrote in a book all theevil that would come upon Babylon, allthese words that are wri en againstBabylon.61And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "Whenyou arrive in Babylon and see it, andread all these words,62 "then you shall say, ‘O LORD, Youhave spoken against this place to cutit off, so that none shall remain in it,neither man nor beast, but it shall bedesolate forever.’63 "Now it shall be, when you havefinished reading this book, that you shall

JEREMIAH 51–52 286e a stone to it and throw it out into the

Euphrates.64 "Then you shall say, ‘Thus Babylonshall sink and not rise from thecatastrophe that I will bring upon her.And they shall be weary.’" Thus far arethe words of Jeremiah.

52 1 Zedekiah was twenty–one yearsold when he became king, and

he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.His mother’s name was Hamutal thedaughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.2He also did evil in the sight of theLORD, according to all that Jehoiakimhad done.3 For because of the anger of theLORD this happened in Jerusalem andJudah, ll He finally cast them out fromHis presence. Then Zedekiah rebelledagainst the king of Babylon.4Now it came to pass in the ninthyear of his reign, in the tenth month,

JEREMIAH 52 287on the tenth day of the month, thatNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and allhis army came against Jerusalem andencamped against it; and they built asiege wall against it all around.5 So the city was besieged un l theeleventh year of King Zedekiah.6 By the fourth month, on the ninth dayof the month, the famine had becomeso severe in the city that there was nofood for the people of the land.7 Then the city wall was broken through,and all the men of war fled and wentout of the city at night by way of thegate between the two walls, which wasby the king’s garden, even though theChaldeans were near the city all around.And they went by way of the plain.8 But the army of the Chaldeanspursued the king, and they overtookZedekiah in the plains of Jericho. All hisarmy was sca ered from him.

JEREMIAH 52 2889 So they took the king and brought himup to the king of Babylon at Riblah inthe land of Hamath, and he pronouncedjudgment on him.10 Then the king of Babylon killed thesons of Zedekiah before his eyes. And hekilled all the princes of Judah in Riblah.11He also put out the eyes of Zedekiah;and the king of Babylon bound him inbronze fe ers, took him to Babylon, andput him in prison ll the day of his death.12Now in the fi h month, on thetenth day of the month (which was thenineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, thecaptain of the guard, who served theking of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.13He burned the house of the LORDand the king’s house; all the houses ofJerusalem, that is, all the houses of thegreat, he burned with fire.

JEREMIAH 52 28914And all the army of the Chaldeanswho were with the captain of the guardbroke down all the walls of Jerusalem allaround.15 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of theguard carried away cap ve some of thepoor people, the rest of the people whoremained in the city, the defectors whohad deserted to the king of Babylon, andthe rest of the cra smen.16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of theguard le some of the poor of the landas vinedressers and farmers.17 The bronze pillars that were in thehouse of the LORD, and the carts andthe bronze Sea that were in the house ofthe LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces,and carried all their bronze to Babylon.18 They also took away the pots, theshovels, the trimmers, the bowls, thespoons, and all the bronze utensils withwhich the priests ministered.

JEREMIAH 52 29019 The basins, the firepans, the bowls,the pots, the lampstands, the spoons,and the cups, whatever was solid goldand whatever was solid silver, thecaptain of the guard took away.20 The two pillars, one Sea, the twelvebronze bulls which were under it, andthe carts, which King Solomon had madefor the house of the LORD––the bronzeof all these ar cles was beyondmeasure.21Now concerning the pillars: theheight of one pillar was eighteen cubits,a measuring line of twelve cubits couldmeasure its circumference, and itsthickness was four fingers; it was hollow.22A capital of bronze was on it; andthe height of one capital was five cubits,with a network and pomegranates allaround the capital, all of bronze. Thesecond pillar, with pomegranates wasthe same.

JEREMIAH 52 29123 There were ninety–six pomegranateson the sides; all the pomegranates,all around on the network, were onehundred.24 The captain of the guard took Seraiahthe chief priest, Zephaniah the secondpriest, and the three doorkeepers.25He also took out of the city an officerwho had charge of the men of war,seven men of the king’s close associateswho were found in the city, the principalscribe of the army who mustered thepeople of the land, and sixty men of thepeople of the land who were found inthe midst of the city.26And Nebuzaradan the captain of theguard took these and brought them tothe king of Babylon at Riblah.27 Then the king of Babylon struck themand put them to death at Riblah in theland of Hamath. Thus Judah was carriedaway cap ve from its own land.

JEREMIAH 52 29228 These are the people whomNebuchadnezzar carried away cap ve:in the seventh year, three thousand andtwenty–three Jews;29 in the eighteenth year ofNebuchadnezzar he carried awaycap ve from Jerusalem eight hundredand thirty–two persons;30 in the twenty–third year ofNebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan thecaptain of the guard carried awaycap ve of the Jews seven hundred andforty–five persons. All the persons werefour thousand six hundred.31Now it came to pass in thethirty–seventh year of the cap vity ofJehoiachin king of Judah, in the twel hmonth, on the twenty–fi h day of themonth, that Evil–Merodach king ofBabylon, in the first year of his reign,li ed up the head of Jehoiachin king ofJudah and brought him out of prison.

JEREMIAH 52 29332And he spoke kindly to him and gavehim amore prominent seat than those ofthe kings who were with him in Babylon.33 So Jehoiachin changed from hisprison garments, and he ate breadregularly before the king all the days ofhis life.34And as for his provisions, there wasa regular ra on given him by the king ofBabylon, a por on for each day un l theday of his death, all the days of his life.

Lamenta ons

1 1How lonely sits the city That wasfull of people! How like a widow is

she, Who was great among the na ons!The princess among the provinces Hasbecome a slave!2 She weeps bi erly in the night, Hertears are on her cheeks; Among all herlovers She has none to comfort her. Allher friends have dealt treacherously withher; They have become her enemies.3 Judah has gone into cap vity, Underafflic on and hard servitude; She dwellsamong the na ons, She finds no rest;All her persecutors overtake her in direstraits.4 The roads to Zion mourn Because noone comes to the set feasts. All her gates

LAMENTATIONS 1 2are desolate; Her priests sigh, Her virginsare afflicted, And she is in bi erness.5Her adversaries have become themaster, Her enemies prosper; For theLORD has afflicted her Because of themul tude of her transgressions. Herchildren have gone into cap vity beforethe enemy.6And from the daughter of Zion All hersplendor has departed. Her princes havebecome like deer That find no pasture,That flee without strength Before thepursuer.7 In the days of her afflic on androaming, Jerusalem remembers all herpleasant things That she had in thedays of old. When her people fell intothe hand of the enemy, With no one tohelp her, The adversaries saw her Andmocked at her downfall.8 Jerusalem has sinned gravely,Therefore she has become vile. All who

LAMENTATIONS 1 3honored her despise her Because theyhave seen her nakedness; Yes, she sighsand turns away.9Her uncleanness is in her skirts; Shedid not consider her des ny; Thereforeher collapse was awesome; She hadno comforter. "O LORD, behold myafflic on, For the enemy is exalted!"10 The adversary has spread his handOver all her pleasant things; For she hasseen the na ons enter her sanctuary,Those whom You commanded Not toenter Your assembly.11All her people sigh, They seek bread;They have given their valuables forfood to restore life. "See, O LORD, andconsider, For I am scorned."12 "Is it nothing to you, all you who passby? Behold and see If there is any sorrowlike my sorrow, Which has been broughton me, Which the LORD has inflicted Inthe day of His fierce anger.

LAMENTATIONS 1 413 "From above He has sent fire into mybones, And it overpowered them; Hehas spread a net for my feet And turnedme back; He has made me desolate Andfaint all the day.14 "The yoke of my transgressions wasbound; They were woven together byHis hands, And thrust upon my neck.He made my strength fail; The Lorddelivered me into the hands of thosewhom I am not able to withstand.15 "The Lord has trampled underfootall my mighty men in my midst; He hascalled an assembly against me To crushmy young men; The Lord trampled asin a winepress The virgin daughter ofJudah.16 "For these things I weep; My eye, myeye overflows with water; Because thecomforter, who should restore my life, Isfar from me. My children are desolateBecause the enemy prevailed."

LAMENTATIONS 1 517 Zion spreads out her hands, Butno one comforts her; The LORDhas commanded concerning JacobThat those around him become hisadversaries; Jerusalem has become anunclean thing among them.18 "The LORD is righteous, For I rebelledagainst His commandment. Hear now,all peoples, And behold my sorrow; Myvirgins and my young men Have goneinto cap vity.19 "I called for my lovers, But theydeceived me; My priests and my eldersBreathed their last in the city, While theysought food To restore their life.20 "See, O LORD, that I am in distress;My soul is troubled; My heart isoverturned within me, For I have beenvery rebellious. Outside the swordbereaves, At home it is like death.21 "They have heard that I sigh, But noone comforts me. All my enemies have

LAMENTATIONS 1–2 6heard of my trouble; They are glad thatYou have done it. Bring on the day Youhave announced, That they may becomelike me.22 "Let all their wickedness come beforeYou, And do to them as You have doneto me For all my transgressions; For mysighs are many, And my heart is faint."

2 1How the Lord has covered thedaughter of Zion With a cloud in His

anger! He cast down from heaven to theearth The beauty of Israel, And did notremember His footstool In the day of Hisanger.2 The Lord has swallowed up and hasnot pi ed All the dwelling places ofJacob. He has thrown down in His wrathThe strongholds of the daughter ofJudah; He has brought them down to theground; He has profaned the kingdomand its princes.

LAMENTATIONS 2 73He has cut off in fierce anger Everyhorn of Israel; He has drawn back Hisright hand From before the enemy. Hehas blazed against Jacob like a flamingfire Devouring all around.4 Standing like an enemy, He has bentHis bow; With His right hand, like anadversary, He has slain all who werepleasing to His eye; On the tent of thedaughter of Zion, He has poured out Hisfury like fire.5 The Lord was like an enemy. He hasswallowed up Israel, He has swallowedup all her palaces; He has destroyedher strongholds, And has increasedmourning and lamenta on In thedaughter of Judah.6He has done violence to Histabernacle, As if it were a garden; He hasdestroyed His place of assembly; TheLORD has caused The appointed feastsand Sabbaths to be forgo en in Zion. In

LAMENTATIONS 2 8His burning indigna on He has spurnedthe king and the priest.7 The Lord has spurned His altar, He hasabandoned His sanctuary; He has givenup the walls of her palaces Into the handof the enemy. They have made a noise inthe house of the LORD As on the day ofa set feast.8 The LORD has purposed to destroyThe wall of the daughter of Zion. Hehas stretched out a line; He has notwithdrawn His hand from destroying;Therefore He has caused the rampartand wall to lament; They languishedtogether.9Her gates have sunk into the ground;He has destroyed and broken her bars.Her king and her princes are among thena ons; The Law is no more, And herprophets find no vision from the LORD.10 The elders of the daughter of ZionSit on the ground and keep silence;

LAMENTATIONS 2 9They throw dust on their heads And girdthemselves with sackcloth. The virginsof Jerusalem Bow their heads to theground.11My eyes fail with tears, My heartis troubled; My bile is poured on theground Because of the destruc on ofthe daughter of my people, Becausethe children and the infants Faint in thestreets of the city.12 They say to their mothers, "Where isgrain and wine?" As they swoon like thewounded In the streets of the city, Astheir life is poured out In their mothers’bosom.13How shall I console you? Towhat shallI liken you, O daughter of Jerusalem?What shall I compare with you, that Imay comfort you, O virgin daughter ofZion? For your ruin is spread wide as thesea; Who can heal you?

LAMENTATIONS 2 1014 Your prophets have seen for youFalse and decep ve visions; They havenot uncovered your iniquity, To bringback your cap ves, But have envisionedfor you false prophecies and delusions.15All who pass by clap their hands atyou; They hiss and shake their headsAt the daughter of Jerusalem: "Is thisthe city that is called ‘The perfec on ofbeauty, The joy of the whole earth’?"16All your enemies have openedtheir mouth against you; They hiss andgnash their teeth. They say, "We haveswallowed her up! Surely this is the daywe have waited for; We have found it,we have seen it!"17 The LORD has done what Hepurposed; He has fulfilled His wordWhich He commanded in days of old.He has thrown down and has not pi ed,And He has caused an enemy to rejoice

LAMENTATIONS 2 11over you; He has exalted the horn ofyour adversaries.18 Their heart cried out to the Lord, "Owall of the daughter of Zion, Let tearsrun down like a river day and night; Giveyourself no relief; Give your eyes no rest.19 "Arise, cry out in the night, At thebeginning of the watches; Pour out yourheart like water before the face of theLord. Li your hands toward Him Forthe life of your young children, Whofaint from hunger at the head of everystreet."20 "See, O LORD, and consider! Towhom have You done this? Should thewomen eat their offspring, The childrenthey have cuddled? Should the priestand prophet be slain In the sanctuary ofthe Lord?21 "Young and old lie On the ground inthe streets; My virgins and my youngmen Have fallen by the sword; You have

LAMENTATIONS 2–3 12slain them in the day of Your anger, Youhave slaughtered and not pi ed.22 "You have invited as to a feast dayThe terrors that surround me. In theday of the LORD’S anger There was norefugee or survivor. Those whom I haveborne and brought up My enemies havedestroyed."

3 1 I am the man who has seenafflic on by the rod of His wrath.

2He has led me and made me walk Indarkness and not in light.3 Surely He has turned His hand againstme Time and me again throughout theday.4He has aged my flesh and my skin,And broken my bones.5He has besieged me And surroundedme with bi erness and woe.6He has set me in dark places Like thedead of long ago.

LAMENTATIONS 3 137He has hedged me in so that I cannotget out; He has made my chain heavy.8 Even when I cry and shout, He shutsout my prayer.9He has blocked my ways with hewnstone; He has made my paths crooked.10He has been to me a bear lying inwait, Like a lion in ambush.11He has turned aside my ways andtorn me in pieces; He has made medesolate.12He has bent His bow And set me upas a target for the arrow.13He has caused the arrows of Hisquiver To pierce my loins.14 I have become the ridicule of all mypeople––Their taun ng song all the day.15He has filled me with bi erness, Hehas made me drink wormwood.16He has also broken my teeth withgravel, And covered me with ashes.

LAMENTATIONS 3 1417 You have moved my soul far frompeace; I have forgo en prosperity.18And I said, "My strength and my hopeHave perished from the LORD."19 Remembermy afflic on and roaming,The wormwood and the gall.20My soul s ll remembers And sinkswithin me.21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore Ihave hope.22 Through the LORD’S mercies we arenot consumed, Because His compassionsfail not.23 They are new every morning; Greatis Your faithfulness.24 "The LORD is my por on," says mysoul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"25 The LORD is good to those who waitfor Him, To the soul who seeks Him.26 It is good that one should hope andwait quietly For the salva on of theLORD.

LAMENTATIONS 3 1527 It is good for a man to bear The yokein his youth.28 Let him sit alone and keep silent,Because God has laid it on him;29 Let him put his mouth in thedust––There may yet be hope.30 Let him give his cheek to the onewho strikes him, And be full of reproach.31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.32 Though He causes grief, Yet He willshow compassion According to themul tude of His mercies.33 For He does not afflict willingly, Norgrieve the children of men.34 To crush under one’s feet All theprisoners of the earth,35 To turn aside the jus ce due a manBefore the face of the Most High,36Or subvert a man in his cause––TheLord does not approve.

LAMENTATIONS 3 1637Who is he who speaks and itcomes to pass, When the Lord has notcommanded it?38 Is it not from the mouth of the MostHigh That woe and well–being proceed?39Why should a living man complain, Aman for the punishment of his sins?40 Let us search out and examine ourways, And turn back to the LORD;41 Let us li our hearts and hands ToGod in heaven.42We have transgressed and rebelled;You have not pardoned.43 You have covered Yourself with angerAnd pursued us; You have slain and notpi ed.44 You have covered Yourself with acloud, That prayer should not passthrough.45 You have made us an offscouring andrefuse In the midst of the peoples.

LAMENTATIONS 3 1746All our enemies Have opened theirmouths against us.47 Fear and a snare have come upon us,Desola on and destruc on.48My eyes overflowwith rivers of waterFor the destruc on of the daughter ofmy people.49My eyes flow and do not cease,Without interrup on,50 Till the LORD from heaven Looksdown and sees.51My eyes bring suffering to my soulBecause of all the daughters of my city.52My enemies without cause Huntedme down like a bird.53 They silenced my life in the pit Andthrew stones at me.54 The waters flowed over my head; Isaid, "I am cut off!"55 I called on Your name, O LORD, Fromthe lowest pit.

LAMENTATIONS 3 1856 You have heard my voice: "Do nothide Your ear From my sighing, from mycry for help."57 You drew near on the day I called onYou, And said, "Do not fear!"58O Lord, You have pleaded the casefor my soul; You have redeemed my life.59O LORD, You have seen how I amwronged; Judge my case.60 You have seen all their vengeance, Alltheir schemes against me.61 You have heard their reproach, OLORD, All their schemes against me,62 The lips of my enemies And theirwhispering against me all the day.63 Look at their si ng down and theirrising up; I am their taun ng song.64 Repay them, O LORD, According tothe work of their hands.65Give them a veiled heart; Your cursebe upon them!

LAMENTATIONS 3–4 1966 In Your anger, Pursue and destroythem From under the heavens of theLORD.

4 1How the gold has become dim!How changed the fine gold! The

stones of the sanctuary are sca ered Atthe head of every street.2 The precious sons of Zion, Valuableas fine gold, How they are regarded asclay pots, The work of the hands of thepo er!3 Even the jackals present their breastsTo nurse their young; But the daughterof my people is cruel, Like ostriches inthe wilderness.4 The tongue of the infant clings To theroof of its mouth for thirst; The youngchildren ask for bread, But no one breaksit for them.5 Those who ate delicacies Are desolatein the streets; Those who were broughtup in scarlet Embrace ash heaps.

LAMENTATIONS 4 206 The punishment of the iniquity of thedaughter of my people Is greater thanthe punishment of the sin of Sodom,Which was overthrown in a moment,With no hand to help her!7Her Nazirites were brighter than snowAnd whiter than milk; They were moreruddy in body than rubies, Like sapphirein their appearance.8Now their appearance is blackerthan soot; They go unrecognized in thestreets; Their skin clings to their bones,It has become as dry as wood.9 Those slain by the sword are be er offThan those who die of hunger; For thesepine away, Stricken for lack of the fruitsof the field.10 The hands of the compassionatewomen Have cooked their own children;They became food for them In thedestruc on of the daughter of mypeople.

LAMENTATIONS 4 2111 The LORD has fulfilled His fury, He haspoured out His fierce anger. He kindleda fire in Zion, And it has devoured itsfounda ons.12 The kings of the earth, And allinhabitants of the world, Would nothave believed That the adversary andthe enemy Could enter the gates ofJerusalem––13 Because of the sins of her prophetsAnd the iniqui es of her priests, Whoshed in her midst The blood of the just.14 They wandered blind in the streets;They have defiled themselves withblood, So that no one would touch theirgarments.15 They cried out to them, "Go away,unclean! Go away, go away, Do not touchus!" When they fled and wandered,Those among the na ons said, "Theyshall no longer dwell here."

LAMENTATIONS 4 2216 The face of the LORD sca ered them;He no longer regards them. The peopledo not respect the priests Nor showfavor to the elders.17 S ll our eyes failed us, Watchingvainly for our help; In our watching wewatched For a na on that could not saveus.18 They tracked our steps So that wecould not walk in our streets. Our endwas near; Our days were over, For ourend had come.19Our pursuers were swi er Than theeagles of the heavens. They pursued uson the mountains And lay in wait for usin the wilderness.20 The breath of our nostrils, theanointed of the LORD, Was caught intheir pits, Of whom we said, "Underhis shadow We shall live among thena ons."

LAMENTATIONS 4–5 2321 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter ofEdom, You who dwell in the land ofUz! The cup shall also pass over to youAnd you shall become drunk and makeyourself naked.22 The punishment of your iniquity isaccomplished, O daughter of Zion; Hewill no longer send you into cap vity. Hewill punish your iniquity, O daughter ofEdom; He will uncover your sins!

5 1 Remember, O LORD, what hascome upon us; Look, and behold our

reproach!2Our inheritance has been turned overto aliens, And our houses to foreigners.3We have become orphans and waifs,Our mothers are like widows.4We pay for the water we drink, Andour wood comes at a price.5 They pursue at our heels; We laborand have no rest.

LAMENTATIONS 5 246We have given our hand to theEgyp ans And the Assyrians, to besa sfied with bread.7Our fathers sinned and are no more,But we bear their iniqui es.8 Servants rule over us; There is none todeliver us from their hand.9We get our bread at the risk of ourlives, Because of the sword in thewilderness.10Our skin is hot as an oven, Becauseof the fever of famine.11 They ravished the women in Zion,The maidens in the ci es of Judah.12 Princes were hung up by their hands,And elders were not respected.13 Young men ground at the millstones;Boys staggered under loads of wood.14 The elders have ceased gathering atthe gate, And the young men from theirmusic.

LAMENTATIONS 5 2515 The joy of our heart has ceased; Ourdance has turned into mourning.16 The crown has fallen from our head.Woe to us, for we have sinned!17 Because of this our heart is faint;Because of these things our eyes growdim;18 Because of Mount Zion which isdesolate, With foxes walking about on it.19 You, O LORD, remain forever; Yourthrone from genera on to genera on.20Why do You forget us forever, Andforsake us for so long a me?21 Turn us back to You, O LORD, and wewill be restored; Renew our days as ofold,22Unless You have u erly rejected us,And are very angry with us!

Ezekiel

1 1Now it came to pass in the thir ethyear, in the fourth month, on the

fi h day of the month, as I was amongthe cap ves by the River Chebar, thatthe heavens were opened and I sawvisions of God.2On the fi h day of the month, whichwas in the fi h year of King Jehoiachin’scap vity,3 the word of the LORD came expresslyto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, inthe land of the Chaldeans by the RiverChebar; and the hand of the LORD wasupon him there.4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwindwas coming out of the north, a greatcloud with raging fire engulfing itself;and brightness was all around it and

EZEKIEL 1 2radia ng out of its midst like the color ofamber, out of the midst of the fire.5Also from within it came the likenessof four living creatures. And this wastheir appearance: they had the likenessof a man.6 Each one had four faces, and each onehad four wings.7 Their legs were straight, and the solesof their feet were like the soles of calves’feet. They sparkled like the color ofburnished bronze.8 The hands of a man were under theirwings on their four sides; and each ofthe four had faces and wings.9 Their wings touched one another. Thecreatures did not turn when they went,but each one went straight forward.10As for the likeness of their faces, eachhad the face of a man; each of the fourhad the face of a lion on the right side,each of the four had the face of an ox on

EZEKIEL 1 3the le side, and each of the four hadthe face of an eagle.11 Thus were their faces. Their wingsstretched upward; two wings of eachone touched one another, and twocovered their bodies.12And each one went straight forward;they went wherever the spirit wantedto go, and they did not turn when theywent.13As for the likeness of the livingcreatures, their appearance was likeburning coals of fire, like the appearanceof torches going back and forth amongthe living creatures. The fire was bright,and out of the fire went lightning.14And the living creatures ran backand forth, in appearance like a flash oflightning.15Now as I looked at the livingcreatures, behold, a wheel was on the

EZEKIEL 1 4earth beside each living creature with itsfour faces.16 The appearance of the wheels andtheir workings was like the color of beryl,and all four had the same likeness. Theappearance of their workings was, as itwere, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.17When they moved, they went towardany one of four direc ons; they did notturn aside when they went.18As for their rims, they were so highthey were awesome; and their rims werefull of eyes, all around the four of them.19When the living creatures went, thewheels went beside them; and when theliving creatures were li ed up from theearth, the wheels were li ed up.20Wherever the spirit wanted to go,they went, because there the spirit went;and the wheels were li ed togetherwith them, for the spirit of the livingcreatures was in the wheels.

EZEKIEL 1 521When those went, these went; whenthose stood, these stood; and whenthose were li ed up from the earth,the wheels were li ed up together withthem, for the spirit of the living creatureswas in the wheels.22 The likeness of the firmament abovethe heads of the living creatures waslike the color of an awesome crystal,stretched out over their heads.23And under the firmament their wingsspread out straight, one toward another.Each one had two which covered oneside, and each one had two whichcovered the other side of the body.24When they went, I heard the noiseof their wings, like the noise of manywaters, like the voice of the Almighty,a tumult like the noise of an army; andwhen they stood s ll, they let down theirwings.

EZEKIEL 1 625A voice came from above thefirmament that was over their heads;whenever they stood, they let downtheir wings.26And above the firmament over theirheads was the likeness of a throne, inappearance like a sapphire stone; on thelikeness of the throne was a likeness withthe appearance of a man high above it.27Also from the appearance of Hiswaist and upward I saw, as it were, thecolor of amber with the appearance offire all around within it; and from theappearance of His waist and downwardI saw, as it were, the appearance of firewith brightness all around.28 Like the appearance of a rainbowin a cloud on a rainy day, so was theappearance of the brightness all aroundit. This was the appearance of thelikeness of the glory of the LORD. So

EZEKIEL 2 7when I saw it, I fell on my face, and Iheard a voice of One speaking.

2 1And He said to me, "Son of man,stand on your feet, and I will speak

to you."2 Then the Spirit entered me when Hespoke to me, and set me on my feet; andI heard Him who spoke to me.3And He said to me: "Son of man, I amsending you to the children of Israel,to a rebellious na on that has rebelledagainst Me; they and their fathers havetransgressed against Me to this very day.4 "For they are impudent and stubbornchildren. I am sending you to them, andyou shall say to them, ‘Thus says theLord GOD.’5 "As for them, whether they hear orwhether they refuse––for they are arebellious house––yet they will knowthat a prophet has been among them.

EZEKIEL 2 86 "And you, son of man, do not be afraidof them nor be afraid of their words,though briers and thorns are with youand you dwell among scorpions; do notbe afraid of their words or dismayed bytheir looks, though they are a rebellioushouse.7 "You shall speak My words to them,whether they hear or whether theyrefuse, for they are rebellious.8 "But you, son of man, hear what I sayto you. Do not be rebellious like thatrebellious house; open your mouth andeat what I give you."9Now when I looked, there was a handstretched out to me; and behold, a scrollof a book was in it.10 Then He spread it before me; andthere was wri ng on the inside andon the outside, and wri en on it werelamenta ons and mourning and woe.

EZEKIEL 3 9

3 1Moreover He said to me, "Son ofman, eat what you find; eat this

scroll, and go, speak to the house ofIsrael."2 So I opened my mouth, and He causedme to eat that scroll.3And He said to me, "Son of man, feedyour belly, and fill your stomach with thisscroll that I give you." So I ate, and it wasin my mouth like honey in sweetness.4 Then He said to me: "Son of man, goto the house of Israel and speak with Mywords to them.5 "For you are not sent to a people ofunfamiliar speech and of hard language,but to the house of Israel,6 "not to many people of unfamiliarspeech and of hard language, whosewords you cannot understand. Surely,had I sent you to them, they would havelistened to you.

EZEKIEL 3 107 "But the house of Israel will not listento you, because they will not listento Me; for all the house of Israel areimpudent and hard–hearted.8 "Behold, I have made your face strongagainst their faces, and your foreheadstrong against their foreheads.9 "Like adamant stone, harder thanflint, I have made your forehead; do notbe afraid of them, nor be dismayed attheir looks, though they are a rebellioushouse."10Moreover He said to me: "Son ofman, receive into your heart all Mywords that I speak to you, and hear withyour ears.11 "And go, get to the cap ves, to thechildren of your people, and speak tothem and tell them, ‘Thus says the LordGOD,’ whether they hear, or whetherthey refuse."

EZEKIEL 3 1112 Then the Spirit li ed me up, and Iheard behind me a great thunderousvoice: "Blessed is the glory of the LORDfrom His place!"13 I also heard the noise of the wingsof the living creatures that touched oneanother, and the noise of the wheelsbeside them, and a great thunderousnoise.14 So the Spirit li ed me up and tookme away, and I went in bi erness, in theheat of my spirit; but the hand of theLORD was strong upon me.15 Then I came to the cap ves at TelAbib, who dwelt by the River Chebar;and I sat where they sat, and remainedthere astonished among them sevendays.16Now it came to pass at the end ofseven days that the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

EZEKIEL 3 1217 "Son of man, I have made you awatchman for the house of Israel;therefore hear a word from My mouth,and give them warning from Me:18 "When I say to the wicked, ‘You shallsurely die,’ and you give him no warning,nor speak to warn the wicked from hiswicked way, to save his life, that samewicked man shall die in his iniquity; buthis blood I will require at your hand.19 "Yet, if you warn the wicked, and hedoes not turn from his wickedness, norfrom his wicked way, he shall die in hisiniquity; but you have delivered yoursoul.20 "Again, when a righteous man turnsfrom his righteousness and commitsiniquity, and I lay a stumbling blockbefore him, he shall die; because you didnot give him warning, he shall die in hissin, and his righteousness which he has

EZEKIEL 3 13done shall not be remembered; but hisblood I will require at your hand.21 "Nevertheless if you warn therighteous man that the righteous shouldnot sin, and he does not sin, he shallsurely live because he took warning; alsoyou will have delivered your soul."22 Then the hand of the LORD was uponme there, and He said to me, "Arise, goout into the plain, and there I shall talkwith you."23 So I arose and went out into theplain, and behold, the glory of the LORDstood there, like the glory which I saw bythe River Chebar; and I fell on my face.24 Then the Spirit entered me and setme on my feet, and spoke with me andsaid to me: "Go, shut yourself insideyour house.25 "And you, O son of man, surely theywill put ropes on you and bind you with

EZEKIEL 3–4 14them, so that you cannot go out amongthem.26 "I will make your tongue cling to theroof of your mouth, so that you shall bemute and not be one to rebuke them,for they are a rebellious house.27 "But when I speak with you, I willopen your mouth, and you shall say tothem, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He whohears, let him hear; and he who refuses,let him refuse; for they are a rebellioushouse.

4 1 "You also, son of man, take a claytablet and lay it before you, and

portray on it a city, Jerusalem.2 "Lay siege against it, build a siege wallagainst it, and heap up a mound againstit; set camps against it also, and placeba ering rams against it all around.3 "Moreover take for yourself an ironplate, and set it as an iron wall betweenyou and the city. Set your face against it,

EZEKIEL 4 15and it shall be besieged, and you shalllay siege against it. This will be a sign tothe house of Israel.4 "Lie also on your le side, and lay theiniquity of the house of Israel upon it.According to the number of the daysthat you lie on it, you shall bear theiriniquity.5 "For I have laid on you the years oftheir iniquity, according to the numberof the days, three hundred and ninetydays; so you shall bear the iniquity of thehouse of Israel.6 "And when you have completed them,lie again on your right side; then youshall bear the iniquity of the house ofJudah forty days. I have laid on you a dayfor each year.7 "Therefore you shall set your facetoward the siege of Jerusalem; yourarm shall be uncovered, and you shallprophesy against it.

EZEKIEL 4 168 "And surely I will restrain you sothat you cannot turn from one side toanother ll you have ended the days ofyour siege.9 "Also take for yourself wheat, barley,beans, len ls, millet, and spelt; put theminto one vessel, and make bread of themfor yourself. During the number of daysthat you lie on your side, three hundredand ninety days, you shall eat it.10 "And your food which you eat shallbe by weight, twenty shekels a day; fromme to me you shall eat it.11 "You shall also drink water bymeasure, one–sixth of a hin; from meto me you shall drink.12 "And you shall eat it as barley cakes;and bake it using fuel of human waste intheir sight."13 Then the LORD said, "So shall thechildren of Israel eat their defiled bread

EZEKIEL 4–5 17among the Gen les, where I will drivethem."14 So I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Indeed Ihave never defiled myself frommy youthll now; I have never eaten what died

of itself or was torn by beasts, nor hasabominable flesh ever come into mymouth."15 Then He said to me, "See, I am givingyou cow dung instead of human waste,and you shall prepare your bread overit."16Moreover He said to me, "Son ofman, surely I will cut off the supply ofbread in Jerusalem; they shall eat breadby weight and with anxiety, and shalldrink water by measure and with dread,17 "that they may lack bread and water,and be dismayed with one another, andwaste away because of their iniquity.

5 1 "And you, son of man, take a sharpsword, take it as a barber’s razor, and

EZEKIEL 5 18pass it over your head and your beard;then take scales to weigh and divide thehair.2 "You shall burn with fire one–thirdin the midst of the city, when the daysof the siege are finished; then you shalltake one–third and strike around itwith the sword, and one–third you shallsca er in the wind: I will draw out asword a er them.3 "You shall also take a small number ofthem and bind them in the edge of yourgarment.4 "Then take some of them again andthrow them into the midst of the fire,and burn them in the fire. From therea fire will go out into all the house ofIsrael.5 "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘This isJerusalem; I have set her in the midst ofthe na ons and the countries all aroundher.

EZEKIEL 5 196 ‘She has rebelled against Myjudgments by doing wickedness morethan the na ons, and against Mystatutes more than the countries thatare all around her; for they have refusedMy judgments, and they have not walkedin My statutes.’7 "Therefore thus says the LordGOD: ‘Because you have mul plieddisobedience more than the na ons thatare all around you, have not walked inMy statutes nor kept My judgments, noreven done according to the judgmentsof the na ons that are all around you’ ––8 "therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and willexecute judgments in your midst in thesight of the na ons.9 ‘And I will do among you what I havenever done, and the like of which I willnever do again, because of all yourabomina ons.

EZEKIEL 5 2010 ‘Therefore fathers shall eat their sonsin your midst, and sons shall eat theirfathers; and I will execute judgmentsamong you, and all of you who remain Iwill sca er to all the winds.11 ‘Therefore, as I live,’ says the LordGOD, ‘surely, because you have defiledMy sanctuary with all your detestablethings and with all your abomina ons,therefore I will also diminish you; My eyewill not spare, nor will I have any pity.12 ‘One–third of you shall die of thepes lence, and be consumed withfamine in your midst; and one–thirdshall fall by the sword all around you;and I will sca er another third to all thewinds, and I will draw out a sword a erthem.13 ‘Thus shall My anger be spent, andI will cause My fury to rest upon them,and I will be avenged; and they shallknow that I, the LORD, have spoken it

EZEKIEL 5 21in My zeal, when I have spent My furyupon them.14 ‘Moreover I will make you a wasteand a reproach among the na ons thatare all around you, in the sight of all whopass by.15 ‘So it shall be a reproach, a taunt,a lesson, and an astonishment to thena ons that are all around you, when Iexecute judgments among you in angerand in fury and in furious rebukes. I, theLORD, have spoken.16 ‘When I send against them theterrible arrows of famine which shallbe for destruc on, which I will send todestroy you, I will increase the famineupon you and cut off your supply ofbread.17 ‘So I will send against you famine andwild beasts, and they will bereave you.Pes lence and blood shall pass through

EZEKIEL 6 22you, and I will bring the sword againstyou. I, the LORD, have spoken.’"

6 1Now the word of the LORD came tome, saying:

2 "Son of man, set your face towardthe mountains of Israel, and prophesyagainst them,3 "and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hearthe word of the Lord GOD!’ Thus saysthe Lord GOD to the mountains, to thehills, to the ravines, and to the valleys:"Indeed I, even I, will bring a swordagainst you, and I will destroy your highplaces.4 "Then your altars shall be desolate,your incense altars shall be broken, andI will cast down your slain men beforeyour idols.5 "And I will lay the corpses of thechildren of Israel before their idols, andI will sca er your bones all around youraltars.

EZEKIEL 6 236 "In all your dwelling places the ci esshall be laid waste, and the high placesshall be desolate, so that your altars maybe laid waste and made desolate, youridols may be broken and made to cease,your incense altars may be cut down,and your works may be abolished.7 "The slain shall fall in your midst, andyou shall know that I am the LORD.8 "Yet I will leave a remnant, so thatyou may have some who escape thesword among the na ons, when you aresca ered through the countries.9 "Then those of you who escape willremember Me among the na ons wherethey are carried cap ve, because I wascrushed by their adulterous heart whichhas departed from Me, and by theireyes which play the harlot a er theiridols; they will loathe themselves for theevils which they commi ed in all theirabomina ons.

EZEKIEL 6 2410 "And they shall know that I am theLORD; I have not said in vain that I wouldbring this calamity upon them."11 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Poundyour fists and stamp your feet, and say,‘Alas, for all the evil abomina ons of thehouse of Israel! For they shall fall by thesword, by famine, and by pes lence.12 ‘He who is far off shall die by thepes lence, he who is near shall fall bythe sword, and he who remains and isbesieged shall die by the famine. Thuswill I spend My fury upon them.13 ‘Then you shall know that I am theLORD, when their slain are among theiridols all around their altars, on everyhigh hill, on all the mountaintops, underevery green tree, and under everythick oak, wherever they offered sweetincense to all their idols.14 ‘So I will stretch out My hand againstthem and make the land desolate, yes,

EZEKIEL 7 25more desolate than the wildernesstoward Diblah, in all their dwellingplaces. Then they shall know that I amthe LORD.’"’"

7 1Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

2 "And you, son of man, thus says theLord GOD to the land of Israel: ‘An end!The end has come upon the four cornersof the land.3Now the end has come upon you, AndI will send My anger against you; I willjudge you according to your ways, And Iwill repay you for all your abomina ons.4My eye will not spare you, Nor willI have pity; But I will repay your ways,And your abomina ons will be in yourmidst; Then you shall know that I am theLORD!’5 "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘A disaster, asingular disaster; Behold, it has come!

EZEKIEL 7 266An end has come, The end has come;It has dawned for you; Behold, it hascome!7Doom has come to you, you who dwellin the land; The me has come, A day oftrouble is near, And not of rejoicing inthe mountains.8Now upon you I will soon pour outMy fury, And spend My anger uponyou; I will judge you according to yourways, And I will repay you for all yourabomina ons.9 ‘My eye will not spare, Nor will I havepity; I will repay you according to yourways, And your abomina ons will be inyour midst. Then you shall know that Iam the LORD who strikes.10 ‘Behold, the day! Behold, it hascome! Doom has gone out; The rod hasblossomed, Pride has budded.11Violence has risen up into a rod ofwickedness; None of them shall remain,

EZEKIEL 7 27None of their mul tude, None of them;Nor shall there be wailing for them.12 The me has come, The day drawsnear. ‘Let not the buyer rejoice, Nor theseller mourn, For wrath is on their wholemul tude.13 For the seller shall not return to whathas been sold, Though he may s ll bealive; For the vision concerns the wholemul tude, And it shall not turn back; Noone will strengthen himself Who lives ininiquity.14 ‘They have blown the trumpet andmade everyone ready, But no one goesto ba le; For My wrath is on all theirmul tude.15 The sword is outside, And thepes lence and famine within. Whoeveris in the field Will die by the sword;And whoever is in the city, Famine andpes lence will devour him.

EZEKIEL 7 2816 ‘Those who survive will escape andbe on the mountains Like doves of thevalleys, All of them mourning, Each forhis iniquity.17 Every hand will be feeble, And everyknee will be as weak as water.18 They will also be girded withsackcloth; Horror will cover them;Shame will be on every face, Baldnesson all their heads.19 ‘They will throw their silver into thestreets, And their gold will be like refuse;Their silver and their gold will not be ableto deliver them In the day of the wrathof the LORD; They will not sa sfy theirsouls, Nor fill their stomachs, Because itbecame their stumbling block of iniquity.20 ‘As for the beauty of his ornaments,He set it in majesty; But they made fromit The images of their abomina ons––Their detestable things; Therefore I havemade it Like refuse to them.

EZEKIEL 7 2921 I will give it as plunder Into the handsof strangers, And to the wicked of theearth as spoil; And they shall defile it.22 I will turn My face from them, Andthey will defile My secret place; Forrobbers shall enter it and defile it.23 ‘Make a chain, For the land is filledwith crimes of blood, And the city is fullof violence.24 Therefore I will bring the worst ofthe Gen les, And they will possess theirhouses; I will cause the pomp of thestrong to cease, And their holy placesshall be defiled.25Destruc on comes; They will seekpeace, but there shall be none.26Disaster will come upon disaster, Andrumor will be upon rumor. Then they willseek a vision from a prophet; But the lawwill perish from the priest, And counselfrom the elders.

EZEKIEL 7–8 3027 ‘The king will mourn, The princewill be clothed with desola on, Andthe hands of the common people willtremble. I will do to them according totheir way, And according to what theydeserve I will judge them; Then theyshall know that I am the LORD!’"

8 1And it came to pass in the sixthyear, in the sixth month, on the fi h

day of the month, as I sat in my housewith the elders of Judah si ng beforeme, that the hand of the Lord GOD fellupon me there.2 Then I looked, and there was alikeness, like the appearance of fire––from the appearance of His waist anddownward, fire; and from His waistand upward, like the appearance ofbrightness, like the color of amber.3He stretched out the form of a hand,and took me by a lock of my hair; andthe Spirit li ed me up between earth

EZEKIEL 8 31and heaven, and brought me in visionsof God to Jerusalem, to the door of thenorth gate of the inner court, where theseat of the image of jealousy was, whichprovokes to jealousy.4And behold, the glory of the God ofIsrael was there, like the vision that I sawin the plain.5 Then He said to me, "Son of man, liyour eyes now toward the north." SoI li ed my eyes toward the north, andthere, north of the altar gate, was thisimage of jealousy in the entrance.6 Furthermore He said to me, "Sonof man, do you see what they aredoing, the great abomina ons that thehouse of Israel commits here, to makeMe go far away from My sanctuary?Now turn again, you will see greaterabomina ons."

EZEKIEL 8 327 So He brought me to the door of thecourt; and when I looked, there was ahole in the wall.8 Then He said to me, "Son of man, diginto the wall"; and when I dug into thewall, there was a door.9And He said to me, "Go in, and seethe wicked abomina ons which they aredoing there."10 So I went in and saw, and there––every sort of creeping thing, abominablebeasts, and all the idols of the house ofIsrael, portrayed all around on the walls.11And there stood before them seventymen of the elders of the house of Israel,and in their midst stood Jaazaniah theson of Shaphan. Each man had a censerin his hand, and a thick cloud of incensewent up.12 Then He said to me, "Son of man,have you seen what the elders of thehouse of Israel do in the dark, every man

EZEKIEL 8 33in the room of his idols? For they say,‘The LORD does not see us, the LORDhas forsaken the land.’"13And He said to me, "Turn again, andyou will see greater abomina ons thatthey are doing."14 So He brought me to the door of thenorth gate of the LORD’S house; and tomy dismay, women were si ng thereweeping for Tammuz.15 Then He said to me, "Have you seenthis, O son of man? Turn again, you willsee greater abomina ons than these."16 So He brought me into the innercourt of the LORD’S house; and there,at the door of the temple of the LORD,between the porch and the altar, wereabout twenty–five men with their backstoward the temple of the LORD and theirfaces toward the east, and they wereworshiping the sun toward the east.

EZEKIEL 8–9 3417And He said to me, "Have youseen this, O son of man? Is it a trivialthing to the house of Judah to committhe abomina ons which they commithere? For they have filled the land withviolence; then they have returned toprovoke Me to anger. Indeed they putthe branch to their nose.18 "Therefore I also will act in fury. Myeye will not spare nor will I have pity;and though they cry in My ears with aloud voice, I will not hear them."

9 1 Then He called out in my hearingwith a loud voice, saying, "Let those

who have charge over the city draw near,each with a deadly weapon in his hand."2And suddenly six men came fromthe direc on of the upper gate, whichfaces north, each with his ba le–ax inhis hand. One man among them wasclothed with linen and had a writer’s

EZEKIEL 9 35inkhorn at his side. They went in andstood beside the bronze altar.3Now the glory of the God of Israel hadgone up from the cherub, where it hadbeen, to the threshold of the temple.And He called to the man clothed withlinen, who had the writer’s inkhorn athis side;4 and the LORD said to him, "Go throughthe midst of the city, through the midstof Jerusalem, and put a mark on theforeheads of the men who sigh and cryover all the abomina ons that are donewithin it."5 To the others He said in my hearing,"Go a er him through the city and kill;do not let your eye spare, nor have anypity.6 "U erly slay old and young men,maidens and li le children and women;but do not come near anyone on whomis the mark; and begin at My sanctuary."

EZEKIEL 9 36So they began with the elders who werebefore the temple.7 Then He said to them, "Defile thetemple, and fill the courts with the slain.Go out!" And they went out and killed inthe city.8 So it was, that while they were killingthem, I was le alone; and I fell on myface and cried out, and said, "Ah, LordGOD! Will You destroy all the remnantof Israel in pouring out Your fury onJerusalem?"9 Then He said to me, "The iniquityof the house of Israel and Judah isexceedingly great, and the land is full ofbloodshed, and the city full of perversity;for they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken theland, and the LORD does not see!’10 "And as for Me also, My eye willneither spare, nor will I have pity, butI will recompense their deeds on theirown head."

EZEKIEL 9–10 3711 Just then, the man clothed withlinen, who had the inkhorn at his side,reported back and said, "I have done asYou commanded me."

10 1And I looked, and there in thefirmament that was above the

head of the cherubim, there appearedsomething like a sapphire stone, havingthe appearance of the likeness of athrone.2 Then He spoke to the man clothedwith linen, and said, "Go in amongthe wheels, under the cherub, fill yourhands with coals of fire from among thecherubim, and sca er them over thecity." And he went in as I watched.3Now the cherubim were standing onthe south side of the temple when theman went in, and the cloud filled theinner court.4 Then the glory of the LORD went upfrom the cherub, and paused over the

EZEKIEL 10 38threshold of the temple; and the housewas filled with the cloud, and the courtwas full of the brightness of the LORD’Sglory.5And the sound of the wings of thecherubim was heard even in the outercourt, like the voice of Almighty Godwhen He speaks.6 Then it happened, when Hecommanded the man clothed in linen,saying, "Take fire from among thewheels, from among the cherubim," thathe went in and stood beside the wheels.7And the cherub stretched out his handfrom among the cherubim to the firethat was among the cherubim, and tooksome of it and put it into the hands ofthe man clothed with linen, who took itand went out.8 The cherubim appeared to have theform of a man’s hand under their wings.

EZEKIEL 10 399And when I looked, there were fourwheels by the cherubim, one wheel byone cherub and another wheel by eachother cherub; the wheels appeared tohave the color of a beryl stone.10As for their appearance, all fourlooked alike––as it were, a wheel in themiddle of a wheel.11When they went, they went towardany of their four direc ons; they did notturn aside when they went, but followedin the direc on the head was facing.They did not turn aside when they went.12And their whole body, with theirback, their hands, their wings, and thewheels that the four had, were full ofeyes all around.13As for the wheels, they were called inmy hearing, "Wheel."14 Each one had four faces: the first facewas the face of a cherub, the secondface the face of a man, the third the face

EZEKIEL 10 40of a lion, and the fourth the face of aneagle.15And the cherubim were li ed up.This was the living creature I saw by theRiver Chebar.16When the cherubim went, thewheels went beside them; and when thecherubim li ed their wings to mount upfrom the earth, the same wheels alsodid not turn from beside them.17When the cherubim stood s ll, thewheels stood s ll, and when one wasli ed up, the other li ed itself up, for thespirit of the living creature was in them.18 Then the glory of the LORD departedfrom the threshold of the temple andstood over the cherubim.19And the cherubim li ed their wingsand mounted up from the earth in mysight. When they went out, the wheelswere beside them; and they stood atthe door of the east gate of the LORD’S

EZEKIEL 10–11 41house, and the glory of the God of Israelwas above them.20 This is the living creature I saw underthe God of Israel by the River Chebar,and I knew they were cherubim.21 Each one had four faces and eachone four wings, and the likeness of thehands of a man was under their wings.22And the likeness of their faces wasthe same as the faces which I had seenby the River Chebar, their appearanceand their persons. They each wentstraight forward.

11 1 Then the Spirit li ed me up andbrought me to the East Gate of

the LORD’S house, which faces eastward;and there at the door of the gate weretwenty–five men, among whom I sawJaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pela ahthe son of Benaiah, princes of thepeople.

EZEKIEL 11 422And He said to me: "Son of man, theseare the men who devise iniquity andgive wicked counsel in this city,3 "who say, ‘The me is not near tobuild houses; this city is the caldron, andwe are the meat.’4 "Therefore prophesy against them,prophesy, O son of man!"5 Then the Spirit of the LORD fell uponme, and said to me, "Speak! ‘Thus saysthe LORD: "Thus you have said, O houseof Israel; for I know the things that comeinto your mind.6 "You have mul plied your slain in thiscity, and you have filled its streets withthe slain."7 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Your slain whom you have laid in itsmidst, they are the meat, and this city isthe caldron; but I shall bring you out ofthe midst of it.

EZEKIEL 11 438 "You have feared the sword; and I willbring a sword upon you," says the LordGOD.9 "And I will bring you out of its midst,and deliver you into the hands ofstrangers, and execute judgments onyou.10 "You shall fall by the sword. I willjudge you at the border of Israel. Thenyou shall know that I am the LORD.11 "This city shall not be your caldron,nor shall you be the meat in its midst. Iwill judge you at the border of Israel.12 "And you shall know that I am theLORD; for you have not walked in Mystatutes nor executed My judgments,but have done according to the customsof the Gen les which are all aroundyou."’"13Now it happened, while I wasprophesying, that Pela ah the son ofBenaiah died. Then I fell on my face and

EZEKIEL 11 44cried with a loud voice, and said, "Ah,Lord GOD! Will You make a completeend of the remnant of Israel?"14Again the word of the LORD came tome, saying,15 "Son of man, your brethren, yourrela ves, your countrymen, and allthe house of Israel in its en rety, arethose about whom the inhabitants ofJerusalem have said, ‘Get far away fromthe LORD; this land has been given to usas a possession.’16 "Therefore say, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "Although I have cast them far offamong the Gen les, and although I havesca ered them among the countries, yetI shall be a li le sanctuary for them inthe countries where they have gone."’17 "Therefore say, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "I will gather you from the peoples,assemble you from the countries where

EZEKIEL 11 45you have been sca ered, and I will giveyou the land of Israel."’18 "And they will go there, and they willtake away all its detestable things and allits abomina ons from there.19 "Then I will give them one heart, andI will put a new spirit within them, andtake the stony heart out of their flesh,and give them a heart of flesh,20 "that they may walk in My statutesand keep My judgments and do them;and they shall be My people, and I willbe their God.21 "But as for those whose hearts followthe desire for their detestable things andtheir abomina ons, I will recompensetheir deeds on their own heads," saysthe Lord GOD.22 So the cherubim li ed up their wings,with the wheels beside them, and theglory of the God of Israel was high abovethem.

EZEKIEL 11–12 4623And the glory of the LORD went upfrom the midst of the city and stood onthe mountain, which is on the east sideof the city.24 Then the Spirit took me up andbrought me in a vision by the Spirit ofGod into Chaldea, to those in cap vity.And the vision that I had seen went upfrom me.25 So I spoke to those in cap vity of allthe things the LORD had shown me.

12 1Now the word of the LORD cameto me, saying:

2 "Son of man, you dwell in the midst ofa rebellious house, which has eyes to seebut does not see, and ears to hear butdoes not hear; for they are a rebellioushouse.3 "Therefore, son of man, prepare yourbelongings for cap vity, and go intocap vity by day in their sight. You shallgo from your place into cap vity to

EZEKIEL 12 47another place in their sight. It may bethat they will consider, though they area rebellious house.4 "By day you shall bring out yourbelongings in their sight, as though goinginto cap vity; and at evening you shallgo in their sight, like those who go intocap vity.5 "Dig through the wall in their sight,and carry your belongings out through it.6 "In their sight you shall bear them onyour shoulders and carry them out attwilight; you shall cover your face, sothat you cannot see the ground, for Ihave made you a sign to the house ofIsrael."7 So I did as I was commanded. I broughtout my belongings by day, as thoughgoing into cap vity, and at evening I dugthrough the wall with my hand. I broughtthem out at twilight, and I bore them onmy shoulder in their sight.

EZEKIEL 12 488And in the morning the word of theLORD came to me, saying,9 "Son of man, has not the house ofIsrael, the rebellious house, said to you,‘What are you doing?’10 "Say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "This burden concerns the princein Jerusalem and all the house of Israelwho are among them."’11 "Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I havedone, so shall it be done to them; theyshall be carried away into cap vity.’12 "And the prince who is among themshall bear his belongings on his shoulderat twilight and go out. They shall digthrough the wall to carry them outthrough it. He shall cover his face, sothat he cannot see the ground with hiseyes.13 "I will also spread My net over him,and he shall be caught in My snare. Iwill bring him to Babylon, to the land of

EZEKIEL 12 49the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it,though he shall die there.14 "I will sca er to every wind all whoare around him to help him, and all histroops; and I will draw out the sworda er them.15 "Then they shall know that I am theLORD, when I sca er them among thena ons and disperse them throughoutthe countries.16 "But I will spare a few of their menfrom the sword, from famine, and frompes lence, that they may declare alltheir abomina ons among the Gen leswherever they go. Then they shall knowthat I am the LORD."17Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,18 "Son of man, eat your bread withquaking, and drink your water withtrembling and anxiety.

EZEKIEL 12 5019 "And say to the people of theland, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to theinhabitants of Jerusalem and to the landof Israel: "They shall eat their breadwith anxiety, and drink their water withdread, so that her land may be emp edof all who are in it, because of theviolence of all those who dwell in it.20 "Then the ci es that are inhabitedshall be laid waste, and the land shallbecome desolate; and you shall knowthat I am the LORD."’"21And the word of the LORD came tome, saying,22 "Son of man, what is this proverbthat you people have about the landof Israel, which says, ‘The days areprolonged, and every vision fails’?23 "Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says theLord GOD: "I will lay this proverb torest, and they shall no more use it as aproverb in Israel." But say to them, "The

EZEKIEL 12 51days are at hand, and the fulfillment ofevery vision.24 "For no more shall there be any falsevision or fla ering divina on within thehouse of Israel.25 "For I am the LORD. I speak, and theword which I speak will come to pass;it will no more be postponed; for inyour days, O rebellious house, I will saythe word and perform it," says the LordGOD.’"26Again the word of the LORD came tome, saying,27 "Son of man, look, the house of Israelis saying, ‘The vision that he sees is formany days from now, and he prophesiesof mes far off.’28 "Therefore say to them, ‘Thus saysthe Lord GOD: "None of My words willbe postponed any more, but the wordwhich I speak will be done," says theLord GOD.’"

EZEKIEL 13 52

13 1And the word of the LORD cameto me, saying,

2 "Son of man, prophesy against theprophets of Israel who prophesy, and sayto those who prophesy out of their ownheart, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’"3 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to thefoolish prophets, who follow their ownspirit and have seen nothing!4 "O Israel, your prophets are like foxesin the deserts.5 "You have not gone up into the gapsto build a wall for the house of Israel tostand in ba le on the day of the LORD.6 "They have envisioned fu lity andfalse divina on, saying, ‘Thus says theLORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them;yet they hope that the word may beconfirmed.7 "Have you not seen a fu le vision, andhave you not spoken false divina on?

EZEKIEL 13 53You say, ‘The LORD says,’ but I have notspoken."8 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Because you have spoken nonsense andenvisioned lies, therefore I am indeedagainst you," says the Lord GOD.9 "My hand will be against the prophetswho envision fu lity and who divine lies;they shall not be in the assembly of Mypeople, nor be wri en in the record ofthe house of Israel, nor shall they enterinto the land of Israel. Then you shallknow that I am the Lord GOD.10 "Because, indeed, because they haveseduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’when there is no peace––and onebuilds a wall, and they plaster it withuntempered mortar ––11 "say to those who plaster it withuntempered mortar, that it will fall.There will be flooding rain, and you, O

EZEKIEL 13 54great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormywind shall tear it down.12 "Surely, when the wall has fallen,will it not be said to you, ‘Where is themortar with which you plastered it?’"13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Iwill cause a stormy wind to break forthin My fury; and there shall be a floodingrain in My anger, and great hailstones infury to consume it.14 "So I will break down the wall youhave plastered with untempered mortar,and bring it down to the ground, so thatits founda on will be uncovered; it willfall, and you shall be consumed in themidst of it. Then you shall know that Iam the LORD.15 "Thus will I accomplish My wrathon the wall and on those who haveplastered it with untempered mortar;and I will say to you, ‘The wall is nomore, nor those who plastered it,

EZEKIEL 13 5516 ‘that is, the prophets of Israel whoprophesy concerning Jerusalem, andwho see visions of peace for her whenthere is no peace,’" says the Lord GOD.17 "Likewise, son of man, set your faceagainst the daughters of your people,who prophesy out of their own heart;prophesy against them,18 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"Woe to the women who sew magiccharms on their sleeves and make veilsfor the heads of people of every heightto hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls ofMy people, and keep yourselves alive?19 "And will you profane Me amongMy people for handfuls of barley andfor pieces of bread, killing people whoshould not die, and keeping people alivewho should not live, by your lying to Mypeople who listen to lies?"20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, I am against your magic charms

EZEKIEL 13–14 56by which you hunt souls there like birds.I will tear them from your arms, andlet the souls go, the souls you hunt likebirds.21 "I will also tear off your veils anddeliver My people out of your hand, andthey shall no longer be as prey in yourhand. Then you shall know that I am theLORD.22 "Because with lies you have madethe heart of the righteous sad, whomI have not made sad; and you havestrengthened the hands of the wicked,so that he does not turn from his wickedway to save his life.23 "Therefore you shall no longerenvision fu lity nor prac ce divina on;for I will deliver My people out of yourhand, and you shall know that I am theLORD."’"

14 1Now some of the elders of Israelcame to me and sat before me.

EZEKIEL 14 572And the word of the LORD came tome, saying,3 "Son of man, these men have setup their idols in their hearts, and putbefore them that which causes them tostumble into iniquity. Should I let Myselfbe inquired of at all by them?4 "Therefore speak to them, and sayto them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"Everyone of the house of Israel whosets up his idols in his heart, and putsbefore him what causes him to stumbleinto iniquity, and then comes to theprophet, I the LORD will answer him whocomes, according to the mul tude of hisidols,5 "that I may seize the house of Israelby their heart, because they are allestranged from Me by their idols."’6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel,‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Repent, turn

EZEKIEL 14 58away from your idols, and turn yourfaces away from all your abomina ons.7 "For anyone of the house of Israel,or of the strangers who dwell in Israel,who separates himself from Me andsets up his idols in his heart and putsbefore him what causes him to stumbleinto iniquity, then comes to a prophetto inquire of him concerning Me, I theLORD will answer him by Myself.8 "I will set My face against that manand make him a sign and a proverb, andI will cut him off from the midst of Mypeople. Then you shall know that I amthe LORD.9 "And if the prophet is induced tospeak anything, I the LORD have inducedthat prophet, and I will stretch out Myhand against him and destroy him fromamong My people Israel.10 "And they shall bear their iniquity;the punishment of the prophet shall be

EZEKIEL 14 59the same as the punishment of the onewho inquired,11 "that the house of Israel may nolonger stray from Me, nor be profanedanymore with all their transgressions,but that they may be My people and Imay be their God," says the Lord GOD.’"12 The word of the LORD came again tome, saying:13 "Son of man, when a land sins againstMe by persistent unfaithfulness, I willstretch out My hand against it; I will cutoff its supply of bread, send famine on it,and cut off man and beast from it.14 "Even if these three men, Noah,Daniel, and Job, were in it, theywould deliver only themselves by theirrighteousness," says the Lord GOD.15 "If I cause wild beasts to pass throughthe land, and they empty it, and makeit so desolate that no man may passthrough because of the beasts,

EZEKIEL 14 6016 "even though these three menwere in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD,"they would deliver neither sons nordaughters; only they would be delivered,and the land would be desolate.17 "Or if I bring a sword on that land,and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’and I cut off man and beast from it,18 "even though these three menwere in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD,"they would deliver neither sons nordaughters, but only they themselveswould be delivered.19 "Or if I send a pes lence into thatland and pour out My fury on it in blood,and cut off from it man and beast,20 "even though Noah, Daniel, andJob were in it, as I live," says the LordGOD, "they would deliver neither sonnor daughter; they would deliver onlythemselves by their righteousness."

EZEKIEL 14–15 6121 For thus says the Lord GOD: "Howmuch more it shall be when I send Myfour severe judgments on Jerusalem––the sword and famine and wild beastsand pes lence––to cut off man andbeast from it?22 "Yet behold, there shall be le in it aremnant who will be brought out, bothsons and daughters; surely they willcome out to you, and you will see theirways and their doings. Then you will becomforted concerning the disaster that Ihave brought upon Jerusalem, all that Ihave brought upon it.23 "And they will comfort you, whenyou see their ways and their doings; andyou shall know that I have done nothingwithout cause that I have done in it,"says the Lord GOD.

15 1 Then the word of the LORDcame to me, saying:

EZEKIEL 15 622 "Son of man, how is the wood of thevine be er than any other wood, thevine branch which is among the trees ofthe forest?3 "Is wood taken from it to make anyobject? Or can men make a peg from itto hang any vessel on?4 "Instead, it is thrown into the fire forfuel; the fire devours both ends of it, andits middle is burned. Is it useful for anywork?5 "Indeed, when it was whole, no objectcould be made from it. How much lesswill it be useful for any work when thefire has devoured it, and it is burned?6 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Like the wood of the vine among thetrees of the forest, which I have givento the fire for fuel, so I will give up theinhabitants of Jerusalem;7 ‘and I will set My face against them.They will go out from one fire, but

EZEKIEL 15–16 63another fire shall devour them. Then youshall know that I am the LORD, when Iset My face against them.8 ‘Thus I will make the land desolate,because they have persisted inunfaithfulness,’ says the Lord GOD."

16 1Again the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

2 "Son of man, cause Jerusalem to knowher abomina ons,3 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD toJerusalem: "Your birth and your na vityare from the land of Canaan; your fatherwas an Amorite and your mother aHi te.4 "As for your na vity, on the day youwere born your navel cord was not cut,nor were you washed in water to cleanseyou; you were not rubbed with salt norwrapped in swaddling cloths.5 "No eye pi ed you, to do any of thesethings for you, to have compassion on

EZEKIEL 16 64you; but you were thrown out into theopen field, when you yourself wereloathed on the day you were born.6 "And when I passed by you and sawyou struggling in your own blood, I saidto you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said toyou in your blood, ‘Live!’7 "I made you thrive like a plant inthe field; and you grew, matured, andbecame very beau ful. Your breastswere formed, your hair grew, but youwere naked and bare.8 "When I passed by you again andlooked upon you, indeed your me wasthe me of love; so I spread My wingover you and covered your nakedness.Yes, I swore an oath to you and enteredinto a covenant with you, and youbecame Mine," says the Lord GOD.9 "Then I washed you in water; yes, Ithoroughly washed off your blood, and Ianointed you with oil.

EZEKIEL 16 6510 "I clothed you in embroidered clothand gave you sandals of badger skin; Iclothed you with fine linen and coveredyou with silk.11 "I adorned you with ornaments, putbracelets on your wrists, and a chain onyour neck.12 "And I put a jewel in your nose,earrings in your ears, and a beau fulcrown on your head.13 "Thus you were adorned with goldand silver, and your clothing was of finelinen, silk, and embroidered cloth. Youate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil.You were exceedingly beau ful, andsucceeded to royalty.14 "Your fame went out among thena ons because of your beauty, for itwas perfect through My splendor whichI had bestowed on you," says the LordGOD.

EZEKIEL 16 6615 "But you trusted in your own beauty,played the harlot because of yourfame, and poured out your harlotry oneveryone passing by who would have it.16 "You took some of your garmentsand adorned mul colored high placesfor yourself, and played the harlot onthem. Such things should not happen,nor be.17 "You have also taken your beau fuljewelry from My gold and My silver,which I had given you, and made foryourself male images and played theharlot with them.18 "You took your embroideredgarments and covered them, and you setMy oil and My incense before them.19 "Also My food which I gave you––thepastry of fine flour, oil, and honey whichI fed you––you set it before them assweet incense; and so it was," says theLord GOD.

EZEKIEL 16 6720 "Moreover you took your sons andyour daughters, whom you bore to Me,and these you sacrificed to them to bedevoured. Were your acts of harlotry asmall ma er,21 "that you have slain My children andoffered them up to them by causingthem to pass through the fire?22 "And in all your abomina ons andacts of harlotry you did not rememberthe days of your youth, when you werenaked and bare, struggling in your blood.23 "Then it was so, a er all yourwickedness––‘Woe, woe to you!’ saysthe Lord GOD––24 "that you also built for yourselfa shrine, and made a high place foryourself in every street.25 "You built your high places at thehead of every road, and made yourbeauty to be abhorred. You offered

EZEKIEL 16 68yourself to everyone who passed by, andmul plied your acts of harlotry.26 "You also commi ed harlotrywith the Egyp ans, your very fleshlyneighbors, and increased your acts ofharlotry to provoke Me to anger.27 "Behold, therefore, I stretched outMy hand against you, diminished yourallotment, and gave you up to the willof those who hate you, the daughters ofthe Philis nes, who were ashamed ofyour lewd behavior.28 "You also played the harlot with theAssyrians, because you were insa able;indeed you played the harlot with themand s ll were not sa sfied.29 "Moreover you mul plied your actsof harlotry as far as the land of thetrader, Chaldea; and even then you werenot sa sfied.

EZEKIEL 16 6930 "How degenerate is your heart!" saysthe Lord GOD, "seeing you do all thesethings, the deeds of a brazen harlot.31 "You erected your shrine at the headof every road, and built your high placein every street. Yet you were not like aharlot, because you scorned payment.32 "You are an adulterous wife, whotakes strangers instead of her husband.33 "Men make payment to all harlots,but you made your payments to all yourlovers, and hired them to come to youfrom all around for your harlotry.34 "You are the opposite of otherwomen in your harlotry, because no onesolicited you to be a harlot. In that yougave payment but no payment was givenyou, therefore you are the opposite."35 ‘Now then, O harlot, hear the wordof the LORD!36 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Becauseyour filthiness was poured out and your

EZEKIEL 16 70nakedness uncovered in your harlotrywith your lovers, and with all yourabominable idols, and because of theblood of your children which you gave tothem,37 "surely, therefore, I will gatherall your lovers with whom you tookpleasure, all those you loved, and allthose you hated; I will gather them fromall around against you and will uncoveryour nakedness to them, that they maysee all your nakedness.38 "And I will judge you as women whobreak wedlock or shed blood are judged;I will bring blood upon you in fury andjealousy.39 "I will also give you into their hand,and they shall throw down your shrinesand break down your high places. Theyshall also strip you of your clothes, takeyour beau ful jewelry, and leave younaked and bare.

EZEKIEL 16 7140 "They shall also bring up an assemblyagainst you, and they shall stone youwith stones and thrust you through withtheir swords.41 "They shall burn your houses withfire, and execute judgments on you inthe sight of many women; and I willmake you cease playing the harlot, andyou shall no longer hire lovers.42 "So I will lay to rest My fury towardyou, and My jealousy shall depart fromyou. I will be quiet, and be angry nomore.43 "Because you did not remember thedays of your youth, but agitated Mewith all these things, surely I will alsorecompense your deeds on your ownhead," says the Lord GOD. "And you shallnot commit lewdness in addi on to allyour abomina ons.

EZEKIEL 16 7244 "Indeed everyone who quotesproverbs will use this proverb againstyou: ‘Like mother, like daughter!’45 "You are your mother’s daughter,loathing husband and children; andyou are the sister of your sisters, wholoathed their husbands and children;your mother was a Hi te and yourfather an Amorite.46 "Your elder sister is Samaria, whodwells with her daughters to the northof you; and your younger sister, whodwells to the south of you, is Sodom andher daughters.47 "You did not walk in their ways noract according to their abomina ons; but,as if that were too li le, you becamemore corrupt than they in all your ways.48 "As I live," says the Lord GOD,"neither your sister Sodom nor herdaughters have done as you and yourdaughters have done.

EZEKIEL 16 7349 "Look, this was the iniquity of yoursister Sodom: She and her daughter hadpride, fullness of food, and abundanceof idleness; neither did she strengthenthe hand of the poor and needy.50 "And they were haughty andcommi ed abomina on before Me;therefore I took them away as I saw fit.51 "Samaria did not commit half ofyour sins; but you have mul plied yourabomina ons more than they, andhave jus fied your sisters by all theabomina ons which you have done.52 "You who judged your sisters, bearyour own shame also, because thesins which you commi ed were moreabominable than theirs; they are morerighteous than you. Yes, be disgracedalso, and bear your own shame, becauseyou jus fied your sisters.53 "When I bring back their cap ves, thecap ves of Sodom and her daughters,

EZEKIEL 16 74and the cap ves of Samaria and herdaughters, then I will also bring back thecap ves of your cap vity among them,54 "that you may bear your own shameand be disgraced by all that you didwhen you comforted them.55 "When your sisters, Sodom and herdaughters, return to their former state,and Samaria and her daughters returnto their former state, then you and yourdaughters will return to your formerstate.56 "For your sister Sodom was not abyword in your mouth in the days ofyour pride,57 "before your wickedness wasuncovered. It was like the me of thereproach of the daughters of Syriaand all those around her, and of thedaughters of the Philis nes, who despiseyou everywhere.

EZEKIEL 16 7558 "You have paid for your lewdness andyour abomina ons," says the LORD.59 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: "Iwill deal with you as you have done,who despised the oath by breaking thecovenant.60 "Nevertheless I will remember Mycovenant with you in the days of youryouth, and I will establish an everlas ngcovenant with you.61 "Then you will remember your waysand be ashamed, when you receive yourolder and your younger sisters; for I willgive them to you for daughters, but notbecause of My covenant with you.62 "And I will establish My covenantwith you. Then you shall know that I amthe LORD,63 "that you may remember and beashamed, and never open your mouthanymore because of your shame, when

EZEKIEL 17 76I provide you an atonement for all youhave done," says the Lord GOD.’"

17 1And the word of the LORD cameto me, saying,

2 "Son of man, pose a riddle, and speaka parable to the house of Israel,3 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Agreat eagle with large wings and longpinions, Full of feathers of various colors,Came to Lebanon And took from thecedar the highest branch.4He cropped off its topmost young twigAnd carried it to a land of trade; He set itin a city of merchants.5 Then he took some of the seed of theland And planted it in a fer le field; Heplaced it by abundant waters And set itlike a willow tree.6And it grew and became a spreadingvine of low stature; Its branches turnedtoward him, But its roots were under

EZEKIEL 17 77it. So it became a vine, Brought forthbranches, And put forth shoots.7 "But there was another great eaglewith large wings and many feathers; Andbehold, this vine bent its roots towardhim, And stretched its branches towardhim, From the garden terrace where ithad been planted, That he might waterit.8 It was planted in good soil by manywaters, To bring forth branches, bearfruit, And become a majes c vine."’9 "Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Will itthrive? Will he not pull up its roots, Cutoff its fruit, And leave it to wither? All ofits spring leaves will wither, And no greatpower or many people Will be neededto pluck it up by its roots.10 Behold, it is planted, Will it thrive?Will it not u erly wither when the eastwind touches it? It will wither in thegarden terrace where it grew."’"

EZEKIEL 17 7811Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,12 "Say now to the rebellious house:‘Do you not know what these thingsmean?’ Tell them, ‘Indeed the king ofBabylon went to Jerusalem and took itsking and princes, and led them with himto Babylon.13 ‘And he took the king’s offspring,made a covenant with him, and puthim under oath. He also took away themighty of the land,14 ‘that the kingdom might be broughtlow and not li itself up, but that bykeeping his covenant it might stand.15 ‘But he rebelled against him bysending his ambassadors to Egypt, thatthey might give him horses and manypeople. Will he prosper? Will he whodoes such things escape? Can he break acovenant and s ll be delivered?

EZEKIEL 17 7916 ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surelyin the place where the king dwells whomade him king, whose oath he despisedand whose covenant he broke––withhim in the midst of Babylon he shall die.17 ‘Nor will Pharaoh with his mightyarmy and great company do anythingin the war, when they heap up a siegemound and build a wall to cut off manypersons.18 ‘Since he despised the oath bybreaking the covenant, and in fact gavehis hand and s ll did all these things, heshall not escape.’"19 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"As I live, surely My oath which hedespised, and My covenant which hebroke, I will recompense on his ownhead.20 "I will spread My net over him, andhe shall be taken in My snare. I will bring

EZEKIEL 17 80him to Babylon and try him there for thetreason which he commi ed against Me.21 "All his fugi ves with all his troopsshall fall by the sword, and those whoremain shall be sca ered to every wind;and you shall know that I, the LORD,have spoken."22 Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will takealso one of the highest branches of thehigh cedar and set it out. I will crop offfrom the topmost of its young twigs atender one, and will plant it on a highand prominent mountain.23 "On the mountain height of IsraelI will plant it; and it will bring forthboughs, and bear fruit, and be a majes ccedar. Under it will dwell birds of everysort; in the shadow of its branches theywill dwell.24 "And all the trees of the field shallknow that I, the LORD, have broughtdown the high tree and exalted the low

EZEKIEL 18 81tree, dried up the green tree and madethe dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, havespoken and have done it."

18 1 The word of the LORD came tome again, saying,

2 "What do you mean when you usethis proverb concerning the land ofIsrael, saying: ‘The fathers have eatensour grapes, And the children’s teeth areset on edge’?3 "As I live," says the Lord GOD, "youshall no longer use this proverb in Israel.4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soulof the father As well as the soul of theson is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.5 But if a man is just And does what islawful and right;6 If he has not eaten on the mountains,Nor li ed up his eyes to the idols ofthe house of Israel, Nor defiled hisneighbor’s wife, Nor approached awoman during her impurity;

EZEKIEL 18 827 If he has not oppressed anyone, Buthas restored to the debtor his pledge;Has robbed no one by violence, Buthas given his bread to the hungry Andcovered the naked with clothing;8 If he has not exacted usury Nor takenany increase, But has withdrawn hishand from iniquity And executed truejudgment between man and man;9 If he has walked in My statutes Andkept My judgments faithfully––He is just;He shall surely live!" Says the Lord GOD.10 "If he begets a son who is a robberOr a shedder of blood, Who does any ofthese things11And does none of those du es, Buthas eaten on the mountains Or defiledhis neighbor’s wife;12 If he has oppressed the poor andneedy, Robbed by violence, Not restoredthe pledge, Li ed his eyes to the idols,Or commi ed abomina on;

EZEKIEL 18 8313 If he has exacted usury Or takenincrease––Shall he then live? He shallnot live! If he has done any of theseabomina ons, He shall surely die; Hisblood shall be upon him.14 "If, however, he begets a son Whosees all the sins which his father hasdone, And considers but does not dolikewise;15Who has not eaten on themountains,Nor li ed his eyes to the idols of thehouse of Israel, Nor defiled his neighbor’swife;16Has not oppressed anyone, Norwithheld a pledge, Nor robbed byviolence, But has given his bread to thehungry And covered the naked withclothing;17Who has withdrawn his handfrom the poor And not received usuryor increase, But has executed Myjudgments And walked in My statutes–

EZEKIEL 18 84–He shall not die for the iniquity of hisfather; He shall surely live!18 "As for his father, Because he cruellyoppressed, Robbed his brother byviolence, And did what is not goodamong his people, Behold, he shall diefor his iniquity.19 "Yet you say, ‘Why should the son notbear the guilt of the father?’ Becausethe son has done what is lawful andright, and has kept all My statutes andobserved them, he shall surely live.20 "The soul who sins shall die. The sonshall not bear the guilt of the father, northe father bear the guilt of the son. Therighteousness of the righteous shall beupon himself, and the wickedness of thewicked shall be upon himself.21 "But if a wicked man turns from allhis sins which he has commi ed, keepsall My statutes, and does what is lawful

EZEKIEL 18 85and right, he shall surely live; he shallnot die.22 "None of the transgressionswhich he has commi ed shall beremembered against him; because ofthe righteousness which he has done, heshall live.23 "Do I have any pleasure at all that thewicked should die?" says the Lord GOD,"and not that he should turn from hisways and live?24 "But when a righteous man turnsaway from his righteousness andcommits iniquity, and does accordingto all the abomina ons that thewicked man does, shall he live? All therighteousness which he has done shallnot be remembered; because of theunfaithfulness of which he is guilty andthe sin which he has commi ed, becauseof them he shall die.

EZEKIEL 18 8625 "Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord isnot fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is itnot My way which is fair, and your wayswhich are not fair?26 "When a righteous man turns awayfrom his righteousness, commits iniquity,and dies in it, it is because of the iniquitywhich he has done that he dies.27 "Again, when a wicked man turnsaway from the wickedness which hecommi ed, and does what is lawful andright, he preserves himself alive.28 "Because he considers and turnsaway from all the transgressions whichhe commi ed, he shall surely live; heshall not die.29 "Yet the house of Israel says, ‘Theway of the Lord is not fair.’ O house ofIsrael, is it not My ways which are fair,and your ways which are not fair?30 "Therefore I will judge you, O houseof Israel, every one according to his

EZEKIEL 18–19 87ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, andturn from all your transgressions, so thatiniquity will not be your ruin.31 "Cast away from you all thetransgressions which you havecommi ed, and get yourselves a newheart and a new spirit. For why shouldyou die, O house of Israel?32 "For I have no pleasure in the deathof one who dies," says the Lord GOD."Therefore turn and live!"

19 1 "Moreover take up alamenta on for the princes

of Israel,2 "and say: ‘What is your mother? Alioness: She lay down among the lions;Among the young lions she nourishedher cubs.3 She brought up one of her cubs, Andhe became a young lion; He learned tocatch prey, And he devoured men.

EZEKIEL 19 884 The na ons also heard of him; He wastrapped in their pit, And they broughthim with chains to the land of Egypt.5 ‘When she saw that she waited, thather hope was lost, She took another ofher cubs and made him a young lion.6He roved among the lions, Andbecame a young lion; He learned tocatch prey; He devoured men.7He knew their desolate places, Andlaid waste their ci es; The land with itsfullness was desolated By the noise ofhis roaring.8 Then the na ons set against him fromthe provinces on every side, And spreadtheir net over him; He was trapped intheir pit.9 They put him in a cage with chains,And brought him to the king of Babylon;They brought him in nets, That hisvoice should no longer be heard on themountains of Israel.

EZEKIEL 19–20 8910 ‘Your mother was like a vine in yourbloodline, Planted by the waters, Frui uland full of branches Because of manywaters.11 She had strong branches for sceptersof rulers. She towered in stature abovethe thick branches, And was seen in herheight amid the dense foliage.12 But she was plucked up in fury, Shewas cast down to the ground, And theeast wind dried her fruit. Her strongbranches were broken and withered;The fire consumed them.13And now she is planted in thewilderness, In a dry and thirsty land.14 Fire has come out from a rod of herbranches And devoured her fruit, So thatshe has no strong branch––a scepter forruling.’" This is a lamenta on, and hasbecome a lamenta on.

20 1 It came to pass in the seventhyear, in the fi h month, on the

EZEKIEL 20 90tenth day of the month, that certain ofthe elders of Israel came to inquire ofthe LORD, and sat before me.2 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying,3 "Son of man, speak to the elders ofIsrael, and say to them, ‘Thus says theLord GOD: "Have you come to inquire ofMe? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I willnot be inquired of by you."’4 "Will you judge them, son of man, willyou judge them? Then make known tothem the abomina ons of their fathers.5 "Say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "On the day when I chose Israeland raised My hand in an oath to thedescendants of the house of Jacob, andmade Myself known to them in the landof Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath tothem, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God.’6 "On that day I raised My hand inan oath to them, to bring them out of

EZEKIEL 20 91the land of Egypt into a land that I hadsearched out for them, ‘flowing withmilk and honey,’ the glory of all lands.7 "Then I said to them, ‘Each of you,throw away the abomina ons whichare before his eyes, and do not defileyourselves with the idols of Egypt. I amthe LORD your God.’8 "But they rebelled against Me andwould not obey Me. They did not allcast away the abomina ons which werebefore their eyes, nor did they forsakethe idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pourout My fury on them and fulfill My angeragainst them in the midst of the land ofEgypt.’9 "But I acted for My name’s sake, thatit should not be profaned before theGen les among whom they were, inwhose sight I had made Myself knownto them, to bring them out of the land ofEgypt.

EZEKIEL 20 9210 "Therefore I made them go out of theland of Egypt and brought them into thewilderness.11 "And I gave them My statutes andshowed them My judgments, ‘which, if aman does, he shall live by them.’12 "Moreover I also gave them MySabbaths, to be a sign between themand Me, that they might know that I amthe LORD who sanc fies them.13 "Yet the house of Israel rebelledagainst Me in the wilderness; they didnot walk in My statutes; they despisedMy judgments, ‘which, if a man does,he shall live by them’; and they greatlydefiled My Sabbaths. Then I said Iwould pour out My fury on them in thewilderness, to consume them.14 "But I acted for My name’s sake, thatit should not be profaned before theGen les, in whose sight I had broughtthem out.

EZEKIEL 20 9315 "So I also raised My hand in an oathto them in the wilderness, that I wouldnot bring them into the land which Ihad given them, ‘flowing with milk andhoney,’ the glory of all lands,16 "because they despised Myjudgments and did not walk in Mystatutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; fortheir heart went a er their idols.17 "Nevertheless My eye spared themfrom destruc on. I did not make an endof them in the wilderness.18 "But I said to their children in thewilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutesof your fathers, nor observe theirjudgments, nor defile yourselves withtheir idols.19 ‘I am the LORD your God: Walk in Mystatutes, keep My judgments, and dothem;

EZEKIEL 20 9420 ‘hallow My Sabbaths, and they willbe a sign between Me and you, that youmay know that I am the LORD your God.’21 "Notwithstanding, the childrenrebelled against Me; they did not walkin My statutes, and were not carefulto observe My judgments, ‘which, if aman does, he shall live by them’; butthey profaned My Sabbaths. Then Isaid I would pour out My fury on themand fulfill My anger against them in thewilderness.22 "Nevertheless I withdrew My handand acted for My name’s sake, thatit should not be profaned in the sightof the Gen les, in whose sight I hadbrought them out.23 "Also I raised My hand in an oath tothose in the wilderness, that I wouldsca er them among the Gen les anddisperse them throughout the countries,

EZEKIEL 20 9524 "because they had not executedMy judgments, but had despised Mystatutes, profaned My Sabbaths, andtheir eyes were fixed on their fathers’idols.25 "Therefore I also gave them upto statutes that were not good, andjudgments by which they could not live;26 "and I pronounced them uncleanbecause of their ritual gi s, in that theycaused all their firstborn to pass throughthe fire, that I might make them desolateand that they might know that I am theLORD."’27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to thehouse of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thussays the Lord GOD: "In this too yourfathers have blasphemed Me, by beingunfaithful to Me.28 "When I brought them into the landconcerning which I had raised My handin an oath to give them, and they saw

EZEKIEL 20 96all the high hills and all the thick trees,there they offered their sacrifices andprovoked Me with their offerings. Therethey also sent up their sweet aroma andpoured out their drink offerings.29 "Then I said to them, ‘What is thishigh place to which you go?’ So its nameis called Bamah to this day."’30 "Therefore say to the house of Israel,‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are youdefiling yourselves in the manner ofyour fathers, and commi ng harlotryaccording to their abomina ons?31 "For when you offer your gi s andmake your sons pass through the fire,you defile yourselves with all your idols,even to this day. So shall I be inquired ofby you, O house of Israel? As I live," saysthe Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired ofby you.32 "What you have in your mind shallnever be, when you say, ‘We will be like

EZEKIEL 20 97the Gen les, like the families in othercountries, serving wood and stone.’33 "As I live," says the Lord GOD,"surely with a mighty hand, with anoutstretched arm, and with fury pouredout, I will rule over you.34 "I will bring you out from the peoplesand gather you out of the countrieswhere you are sca ered, with a mightyhand, with an outstretched arm, andwith fury poured out.35 "And I will bring you into thewilderness of the peoples, and there Iwill plead My case with you face to face.36 "Just as I pleaded My case with yourfathers in the wilderness of the land ofEgypt, so I will plead My case with you,"says the Lord GOD.37 "I will make you pass under the rod,and I will bring you into the bond of thecovenant;

EZEKIEL 20 9838 "I will purge the rebels from amongyou, and those who transgress againstMe; I will bring them out of the countrywhere they dwell, but they shall notenter the land of Israel. Then you willknow that I am the LORD.39 "As for you, O house of Israel," thussays the Lord GOD: "Go, serve every oneof you his idols––and herea er––if youwill not obey me; but profane My holyname no more with your gi s and youridols.40 "For on My holy mountain, on themountain height of Israel," says the LordGOD, "there all the house of Israel, all ofthem in the land, shall serve Me; there Iwill accept them, and there I will requireyour offerings and the firs ruits of yoursacrifices, together with all your holythings.41 "I will accept you as a sweet aromawhen I bring you out from the peoples

EZEKIEL 20 99and gather you out of the countrieswhere you have been sca ered; andI will be hallowed in you before theGen les.42 "Then you shall know that I am theLORD, when I bring you into the landof Israel, into the country for which Iraised My hand in an oath to give to yourfathers.43 "And there you shall remember yourways and all your doings with whichyou were defiled; and you shall loatheyourselves in your own sight because ofall the evils that you have commi ed.44 "Then you shall know that I amthe LORD, when I have dealt with youfor My name’s sake, not according toyour wicked ways nor according to yourcorrupt doings, O house of Israel," saysthe Lord GOD.’"45 Furthermore the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

EZEKIEL 20–21 10046 "Son of man, set your face towardthe south; preach against the south andprophesy against the forest land, theSouth,47 "and say to the forest of the South,‘Hear the word of the LORD! Thus saysthe Lord GOD: "Behold, I will kindle afire in you, and it shall devour everygreen tree and every dry tree in you;the blazing flame shall not be quenched,and all faces from the south to the northshall be scorched by it.48 "All flesh shall see that I, theLORD, have kindled it; it shall not bequenched."’"49 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They sayof me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’"

21 1And the word of the LORD cameto me, saying,

2 "Son of man, set your face towardJerusalem, preach against the holy

EZEKIEL 21 101places, and prophesy against the land ofIsrael;3 "and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thussays the LORD: "Behold, I am againstyou, and I will draw My sword out of itssheath and cut off both righteous andwicked from you.4 "Because I will cut off both righteousand wicked from you, therefore Mysword shall go out of its sheath againstall flesh from south to north,5 "that all flesh may know that I, theLORD, have drawn My sword out of itssheath; it shall not return anymore."’6 "Sigh therefore, son of man, with abreaking heart, and sigh with bi ernessbefore their eyes.7 "And it shall be when they say to you,‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shallanswer, ‘Because of the news; when itcomes, every heart will melt, all handswill be feeble, every spirit will faint, and

EZEKIEL 21 102all knees will be weak as water. Behold,it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’says the Lord GOD."8Again the word of the LORD came tome, saying,9 "Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thussays the LORD!’ Say: ‘A sword, a sword issharpened And also polished!10 Sharpened to make a dreadfulslaughter, Polished to flash like lightning!Should we then make mirth? It despisesthe scepter of My Son, As it does allwood.11And He has given it to be polished,That it may be handled; This sword issharpened, and it is polished To be giveninto the hand of the slayer.’12 "Cry and wail, son of man; For itwill be against My people, Against allthe princes of Israel. Terrors includingthe sword will be against My people;Therefore strike your thigh.

EZEKIEL 21 10313 "Because it is a tes ng, And what ifthe sword despises even the scepter?The scepter shall be no more," says theLord GOD.14 "You therefore, son ofman, prophesy,And strike your hands together. The thirdme let the sword do double damage. It

is the sword that slays, The sword thatslays the great men, That enters theirprivate chambers.15 I have set the point of the swordagainst all their gates, That the heartmay melt and many may stumble.Ah! It is made bright; It is grasped forslaughter:16 "Swords at the ready! Thrust right!Set your blade! Thrust le ––Whereveryour edge is ordered!17 "I also will beat My fists together,And I will cause My fury to rest; I, theLORD, have spoken."

EZEKIEL 21 10418 The word of the LORD came to meagain, saying:19 "And son of man, appoint for yourselftwo ways for the sword of the king ofBabylon to go; both of them shall gofrom the same land. Make a sign; put itat the head of the road to the city.20 "Appoint a road for the sword to goto Rabbah of the Ammonites, and toJudah, into for fied Jerusalem.21 "For the king of Babylon stands atthe par ng of the road, at the fork of thetwo roads, to use divina on: he shakesthe arrows, he consults the images, helooks at the liver.22 "In his right hand is the divina on forJerusalem: to set up ba ering rams, tocall for a slaughter, to li the voice withshou ng, to set ba ering rams againstthe gates, to heap up a siege mound,and to build a wall.

EZEKIEL 21 10523 "And it will be to them like a falsedivina on in the eyes of those who havesworn oaths with them; but he will bringtheir iniquity to remembrance, that theymay be taken.24 "Therefore thus says the LordGOD: ‘Because you have made youriniquity to be remembered, in thatyour transgressions are uncovered,so that in all your doings your sinsappear––because you have come toremembrance, you shall be taken inhand.25 ‘Now to you, O profane, wickedprince of Israel, whose day has come,whose iniquity shall end,26 ‘thus says the Lord GOD: "Removethe turban, and take off the crown;Nothing shall remain the same. Exalt thehumble, and humble the exalted.27Overthrown, overthrown, I will makeit overthrown! It shall be no longer, Un l

EZEKIEL 21 106He comes whose right it is, And I willgive it to Him."’28 "And you, son of man, prophesy andsay, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD concerningthe Ammonites and concerning theirreproach,’ and say: ‘A sword, a swordis drawn, Polished for slaughter, Forconsuming, for flashing––29While they see false visions for you,While they divine a lie to you, To bringyou on the necks of the wicked, the slainWhose day has come, Whose iniquityshall end.30 ‘Return it to its sheath. I will judgeyou In the place where youwere created,In the land of your na vity.31 I will pour out My indigna on on you;I will blow against you with the fire of Mywrath, And deliver you into the hands ofbrutal men who are skillful to destroy.32 You shall be fuel for the fire; Yourblood shall be in the midst of the land.

EZEKIEL 22 107You shall not be remembered, For I theLORD have spoken.’"

22 1Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

2 "Now, son of man, will you judge, willyou judge the bloody city? Yes, show herall her abomina ons!3 "Then say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"The city sheds blood in her own midst,that her me may come; and she makesidols within herself to defile herself.4 "You have become guilty by the bloodwhich you have shed, and have defiledyourself with the idols which you havemade. You have caused your days todraw near, and have come to the end ofyour years; therefore I have made you areproach to the na ons, and a mockeryto all countries.5 "Those near and those far from youwill mock you as infamous and full oftumult.

EZEKIEL 22 1086 "Look, the princes of Israel: each onehas used his power to shed blood in you.7 "In you they have made light of fatherand mother; in your midst they haveoppressed the stranger; in you they havemistreated the fatherless and the widow.8 "You have despised My holy thingsand profaned My Sabbaths.9 "In you are men who slander to causebloodshed; in you are those who eaton the mountains; in your midst theycommit lewdness.10 "In you men uncover their fathers’nakedness; in you they violate womenwho are set apart during their impurity.11 "One commits abomina on with hisneighbor’s wife; another lewdly defileshis daughter–in–law; and another in youviolates his sister, his father’s daughter.12 "In you they take bribes to shedblood; you take usury and increase; youhave made profit from your neighbors

EZEKIEL 22 109by extor on, and have forgo en Me,"says the Lord GOD.13 "Behold, therefore, I beat My fistsat the dishonest profit which you havemade, and at the bloodshed which hasbeen in your midst.14 "Can your heart endure, or can yourhands remain strong, in the days whenI shall deal with you? I, the LORD, havespoken, and will do it.15 "I will sca er you among the na ons,disperse you throughout the countries,and remove your filthiness completelyfrom you.16 "You shall defile yourself in the sightof the na ons; then you shall know thatI am the LORD."’"17 The word of the LORD came to me,saying,18 "Son of man, the house of Israel hasbecome dross to Me; they are all bronze,n, iron, and lead, in the midst of a

EZEKIEL 22 110furnace; they have become dross fromsilver.19 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Because you have all become dross,therefore behold, I will gather you intothe midst of Jerusalem.20 ‘As men gather silver, bronze, iron,lead, and n into the midst of a furnace,to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I willgather you in My anger and in My fury,and I will leave you there and melt you.21 ‘Yes, I will gather you and blow onyou with the fire of My wrath, and youshall be melted in its midst.22 ‘As silver is melted in the midst ofa furnace, so shall you be melted in itsmidst; then you shall know that I, theLORD, have poured out My fury on you.’"23And the word of the LORD came tome, saying,

EZEKIEL 22 11124 "Son of man, say to her: ‘You are aland that is not cleansed or rained on inthe day of indigna on.’25 "The conspiracy of her prophets inher midst is like a roaring lion tearing theprey; they have devoured people; theyhave taken treasure and precious things;they have made many widows in hermidst.26 "Her priests have violated My lawand profaned My holy things; they havenot dis nguished between the holy andunholy, nor have they made known thedifference between the unclean and theclean; and they have hidden their eyesfromMy Sabbaths, so that I am profanedamong them.27 "Her princes in her midst are likewolves tearing the prey, to shed blood,to destroy people, and to get dishonestgain.

EZEKIEL 22–23 11228 "Her prophets plastered them withuntempered mortar, seeing false visions,and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thussays the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD hadnot spoken.29 "The people of the land have usedoppressions, commi ed robbery, andmistreated the poor and needy; andthey wrongfully oppress the stranger.30 "So I sought for a man among themwho would make a wall, and stand in thegap before Me on behalf of the land,that I should not destroy it; but I foundno one.31 "Therefore I have poured out Myindigna on on them; I have consumedthem with the fire of My wrath; and Ihave recompensed their deeds on theirown heads," says the Lord GOD.

23 1 The word of the LORD cameagain to me, saying:

EZEKIEL 23 1132 "Son of man, there were two women,The daughters of one mother.3 They commi ed harlotry in Egypt,They commi ed harlotry in their youth;Their breasts were there embraced,Their virgin bosom was there pressed.4 Their names: Oholah the elder andOholibah her sister; They were Mine,And they bore sons and daughters. Asfor their names, Samaria is Oholah, andJerusalem is Oholibah.5 "Oholah played the harlot eventhough she was Mine; And she lusted forher lovers, the neighboring Assyrians,6Who were clothed in purple, Captainsand rulers, All of them desirable youngmen, Horsemen riding on horses.7 Thus she commi ed her harlotry withthem, All of them choice men of Assyria;And with all for whom she lusted, Withall their idols, she defiled herself.

EZEKIEL 23 1148 She has never given up her harlotrybrought from Egypt, For in her youththey had lain with her, Pressed her virginbosom, And poured out their immoralityupon her.9 "Therefore I have delivered her Intothe hand of her lovers, Into the hand ofthe Assyrians, For whom she lusted.10 They uncovered her nakedness,Took away her sons and daughters, Andslew her with the sword; She becamea byword among women, For they hadexecuted judgment on her.11 "Now although her sister Oholibahsaw this, she became more corrupt inher lust than she, and in her harlotrymore corrupt than her sister’s harlotry.12 "She lusted for the neighboringAssyrians, Captains and rulers, Clothedmost gorgeously, Horsemen riding onhorses, All of them desirable young men.

EZEKIEL 23 11513 Then I saw that she was defiled; Bothtook the same way.14 But she increased her harlotry;She looked at men portrayed on thewall, Images of Chaldeans portrayed invermilion,15Girded with belts around theirwaists, Flowing turbans on their heads,All of them looking like captains, In themanner of the Babylonians of Chaldea,The land of their na vity.16As soon as her eyes saw them, Shelusted for them And sent messengers tothem in Chaldea.17 "Then the Babylonians came to her,into the bed of love, And they defiledher with their immorality; So she wasdefiled by them, and alienated herselffrom them.18 She revealed her harlotry anduncovered her nakedness. Then I

EZEKIEL 23 116alienated Myself from her, As I hadalienated Myself from her sister.19 "Yet she mul plied her harlotry Incalling to remembrance the days of heryouth, When she had played the harlotin the land of Egypt.20 For she lusted for her paramours,Whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys,And whose issue is like the issue ofhorses.21 Thus you called to remembrancethe lewdness of your youth, When theEgyp ans pressed your bosom Becauseof your youthful breasts.22 "Therefore, Oholibah, thus says theLord GOD: ‘Behold, I will s r up yourlovers against you, From whom you havealienated yourself, And I will bring themagainst you from every side:23 The Babylonians, All the Chaldeans,Pekod, Shoa, Koa, All the Assyrians withthem, All of them desirable young men,

EZEKIEL 23 117Governors and rulers, Captains and menof renown, All of them riding on horses.24And they shall come against youWith chariots, wagons, and war–horses,With a horde of people. They shall arrayagainst you Buckler, shield, and helmetall around. ‘I will delegate judgment tothem, And they shall judge you accordingto their judgments.25 I will set My jealousy against you,And they shall deal furiously with you;They shall remove your nose and yourears, And your remnant shall fall by thesword; They shall take your sons andyour daughters, And your remnant shallbe devoured by fire.26 They shall also strip you of yourclothes And take away your beau fuljewelry.27 ‘Thus I will make you cease yourlewdness and your harlotry Broughtfrom the land of Egypt, So that you

EZEKIEL 23 118will not li your eyes to them, Norremember Egypt anymore.’28 "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘SurelyI will deliver you into the hand of thoseyou hate, into the hand of those fromwhom you alienated yourself.29 ‘They will deal hatefully with you,take away all you have worked for,and leave you naked and bare. Thenakedness of your harlotry shall beuncovered, both your lewdness and yourharlotry.30 ‘I will do these things to you becauseyou have gone as a harlot a er theGen les, because you have becomedefiled by their idols.31 ‘You have walked in the way of yoursister; therefore I will put her cup in yourhand.’32 "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘You shalldrink of your sister’s cup, The deep and

EZEKIEL 23 119wide one; You shall be laughed to scornAnd held in derision; It contains much.33 You will be filled with drunkennessand sorrow, The cup of horror anddesola on, The cup of your sisterSamaria.34 You shall drink and drain it, You shallbreak its shards, And tear at your ownbreasts; For I have spoken,’ Says the LordGOD.35 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Because you have forgo en Me andcast Me behind your back, Therefore youshall bear the penalty Of your lewdnessand your harlotry.’"36 The LORD also said to me: "Sonof man, will you judge Oholah andOholibah? Then declare to them theirabomina ons.37 "For they have commi ed adultery,and blood is on their hands. They havecommi ed adultery with their idols, and

EZEKIEL 23 120even sacrificed their sons whom theybore to Me, passing them through thefire, to devour them.38 "Moreover they have done this toMe: They have defiled My sanctuaryon the same day and profaned MySabbaths.39 "For a er they had slain theirchildren for their idols, on the same daythey came into My sanctuary to profaneit; and indeed thus they have done inthe midst of My house.40 "Furthermore you sent for men tocome from afar, to whom a messengerwas sent; and there they came. Andyou washed yourself for them, paintedyour eyes, and adorned yourself withornaments.41 "You sat on a stately couch, with atable prepared before it, on which youhad set My incense and My oil.

EZEKIEL 23 12142 "The sound of a carefree mul tudewas with her, and Sabeans were broughtfrom the wilderness with men of thecommon sort, who put bracelets on theirwrists and beau ful crowns on theirheads.43 "Then I said concerning her whohad grown old in adulteries, ‘Will theycommit harlotry with her now, and shewith them?’44 "Yet they went in to her, as men go into a woman who plays the harlot; thusthey went in to Oholah and Oholibah,the lewd women.45 "But righteous men will judge thema er the manner of adulteresses, anda er the manner of women who shedblood, because they are adulteresses,and blood is on their hands.46 "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Bringup an assembly against them, give themup to trouble and plunder.

EZEKIEL 23–24 12247 ‘The assembly shall stone them withstones and execute them with theirswords; they shall slay their sons andtheir daughters, and burn their houseswith fire.48 ‘Thus I will cause lewdness to ceasefrom the land, that all women may betaught not to prac ce your lewdness.49 ‘They shall repay you for yourlewdness, and you shall pay for youridolatrous sins. Then you shall know thatI am the Lord GOD.’"

24 1Again, in the ninth year, in thetenth month, on the tenth day of

the month, the word of the LORD cameto me, saying,2 "Son of man, write down the nameof the day, this very day––the kingof Babylon started his siege againstJerusalem this very day.3 "And u er a parable to the rebellioushouse, and say to them, ‘Thus says the

EZEKIEL 24 123Lord GOD: "Put on a pot, set it on, Andalso pour water into it.4Gather pieces of meat in it, Everygood piece, The thigh and the shoulder.Fill it with choice cuts;5 Take the choice of the flock. Also pilefuel bones under it, Make it boil well,And let the cuts simmer in it."6 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Woe to the bloody city, To the potwhose scum is in it, And whose scum isnot gone from it! Bring it out piece bypiece, On which no lot has fallen.7 For her blood is in her midst; She setit on top of a rock; She did not pour it onthe ground, To cover it with dust.8 That it may raise up fury and takevengeance, I have set her blood on topof a rock, That it may not be covered."9 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Woe to the bloody city! I too will makethe pyre great.

EZEKIEL 24 12410Heap on the wood, Kindle the fire;Cook the meat well, Mix in the spices,And let the cuts be burned up.11 "Then set the pot empty on thecoals, That it may become hot and itsbronze may burn, That its filthiness maybe melted in it, That its scum may beconsumed.12 She has grown weary with lies, Andher great scum has not gone from her.Let her scum be in the fire!13 In your filthiness is lewdness.Because I have cleansed you, and youwere not cleansed, You will not becleansed of your filthiness anymore, Till Ihave caused My fury to rest upon you.14 I, the LORD, have spoken it; It shallcome to pass, and I will do it; I will nothold back, Nor will I spare, Nor willI relent; According to your ways Andaccording to your deeds They will judgeyou," Says the Lord GOD.’"

EZEKIEL 24 12515Also the word of the LORD came tome, saying,16 "Son of man, behold, I take awayfrom you the desire of your eyes withone stroke; yet you shall neither mournnor weep, nor shall your tears run down.17 "Sigh in silence, make no mourningfor the dead; bind your turban on yourhead, and put your sandals on your feet;do not cover your lips, and do not eatman’s bread of sorrow."18 So I spoke to the people in themorning, and at evening my wife died;and the next morning I did as I wascommanded.19And the people said to me, "Will younot tell us what these things signify tous, that you behave so?"20 Then I answered them, "The word ofthe LORD came to me, saying,21 ‘Speak to the house of Israel, "Thussays the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I will profane

EZEKIEL 24 126My sanctuary, your arrogant boast, thedesire of your eyes, the delight of yoursoul; and your sons and daughters whomyou le behind shall fall by the sword.22 ‘And you shall do as I have done; youshall not cover your lips nor eat man’sbread of sorrow.23 ‘Your turbans shall be on your headsand your sandals on your feet; you shallneither mourn nor weep, but you shallpine away in your iniqui es and mournwith one another.24 ‘Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you;according to all that he has done youshall do; and when this comes, you shallknow that I am the Lord GOD.’"25 ‘And you, son of man––will it not bein the day when I take from them theirstronghold, their joy and their glory, thedesire of their eyes, and that on whichthey set their minds, their sons and theirdaughters:

EZEKIEL 24–25 12726 ‘that on that day one who escapeswill come to you to let you hear it withyour ears?27 ‘On that day your mouth will beopened to him who has escaped; youshall speak and no longer be mute. Thusyou will be a sign to them, and they shallknow that I am the LORD.’"

25 1 The word of the LORD came tome, saying,

2 "Son of man, set your face against theAmmonites, and prophesy against them.3 "Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear theword of the Lord GOD! Thus says theLord GOD: "Because you said, ‘Aha!’against My sanctuary when it wasprofaned, and against the land of Israelwhen it was desolate, and against thehouse of Judah when they went intocap vity,4 "indeed, therefore, I will deliver youas a possession to the men of the East,

EZEKIEL 25 128and they shall set their encampmentsamong you and make their dwellingsamong you; they shall eat your fruit, andthey shall drink your milk.5 "And I will make Rabbah a stable forcamels and Ammon a res ng place forflocks. Then you shall know that I am theLORD."6 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: "Becauseyou clapped your hands, stamped yourfeet, and rejoiced in heart with all yourdisdain for the land of Israel,7 "indeed, therefore, I will stretch outMy hand against you, and give you asplunder to the na ons; I will cut you offfrom the peoples, and I will cause you toperish from the countries; I will destroyyou, and you shall know that I am theLORD."8 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "BecauseMoab and Seir say, ‘Look! The house ofJudah is like all the na ons,’

EZEKIEL 25 1299 "therefore, behold, I will clear theterritory of Moab of ci es, of theci es on its fron er, the glory of thecountry, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon,and Kirjathaim.10 "To the men of the East I will giveit as a possession, together with theAmmonites, that the Ammonites maynot be remembered among the na ons.11 "And I will execute judgments uponMoab, and they shall know that I am theLORD."12 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Becauseof what Edom did against the houseof Judah by taking vengeance, and hasgreatly offended by avenging itself onthem,"13 ‘therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"I will also stretch out My hand againstEdom, cut off man and beast from it, andmake it desolate from Teman; Dedanshall fall by the sword.

EZEKIEL 25–26 13014 "I will lay My vengeance on Edom bythe hand of My people Israel, that theymay do in Edom according to My angerand according to My fury; and they shallknow My vengeance," says the LordGOD.15 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Becausethe Philis nes dealt vengefully and tookvengeance with a spiteful heart, todestroy because of the old hatred,"16 ‘therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"I will stretch out My hand againstthe Philis nes, and I will cut off theCherethites and destroy the remnant ofthe seacoast.17 "I will execute great vengeance onthem with furious rebukes; and theyshall know that I am the LORD, when Ilay My vengeance upon them."’"

26 1And it came to pass in theeleventh year, on the first day of

EZEKIEL 26 131the month, that the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,2 "Son of man, because Tyre has saidagainst Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is brokenwho was the gateway of the peoples;now she is turned over to me; I shall befilled; she is laid waste.’3 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, andwill cause many na ons to come upagainst you, as the sea causes its wavesto come up.4 ‘And they shall destroy the walls ofTyre and break down her towers; I willalso scrape her dust from her, and makeher like the top of a rock.5 ‘It shall be a place for spreadingnets in the midst of the sea, for I havespoken,’ says the Lord GOD; ‘it shallbecome plunder for the na ons.6 ‘Also her daughter villages which arein the fields shall be slain by the sword.

EZEKIEL 26 132Then they shall know that I am theLORD.’7 "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold,I will bring against Tyre from the northNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, kingof kings, with horses, with chariots, andwith horsemen, and an army with manypeople.8 ‘He will slay with the sword yourdaughter villages in the fields; he willheap up a siege mound against you,build a wall against you, and raise adefense against you.9 ‘He will direct his ba ering ramsagainst your walls, and with his axes hewill break down your towers.10 ‘Because of the abundance of hishorses, their dust will cover you; yourwalls will shake at the noise of thehorsemen, the wagons, and the chariots,when he enters your gates, as men entera city that has been breached.

EZEKIEL 26 13311 ‘With the hooves of his horses he willtrample all your streets; he will slay yourpeople by the sword, and your strongpillars will fall to the ground.12 ‘They will plunder your riches andpillage your merchandise; they willbreak down your walls and destroyyour pleasant houses; they will lay yourstones, your mber, and your soil in themidst of the water.13 ‘I will put an end to the sound of yoursongs, and the sound of your harps shallbe heard no more.14 ‘I will make you like the top of a rock;you shall be a place for spreading nets,and you shall never be rebuilt, for I theLORD have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD.15 "Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre:‘Will the coastlands not shake at thesound of your fall, when the woundedcry, when slaughter is made in the midstof you?

EZEKIEL 26 13416 ‘Then all the princes of the sea willcome down from their thrones, layaside their robes, and take off theirembroidered garments; they will clothethemselves with trembling; they will siton the ground, tremble every moment,and be astonished at you.17 ‘And they will take up a lamenta onfor you, and say to you: "How you haveperished, O one inhabited by seafaringmen, O renowned city, Who was strongat sea, She and her inhabitants, Whocaused their terror to be on all herinhabitants!18Now the coastlands tremble on theday of your fall; Yes, the coastlands bythe sea are troubled at your departure."’19 "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘When Imake you a desolate city, like ci es thatare not inhabited, when I bring the deepupon you, and great waters cover you,

EZEKIEL 26–27 13520 ‘then I will bring you down withthose who descend into the Pit, to thepeople of old, and I will make you dwellin the lowest part of the earth, in placesdesolate from an quity, with those whogo down to the Pit, so that you maynever be inhabited; and I shall establishglory in the land of the living.21 ‘I will make you a terror, and you shallbe no more; though you are sought for,you will never be found again,’ says theLord GOD."

27 1 The word of the LORD cameagain to me, saying,

2 "Now, son of man, take up alamenta on for Tyre,3 "and say to Tyre, ‘You who are situatedat the entrance of the sea, merchant ofthe peoples on many coastlands, thussays the Lord GOD: "O Tyre, you havesaid, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’

EZEKIEL 27 1364 Your borders are in the midst of theseas. Your builders have perfected yourbeauty.5 They made all your planks of fir treesfrom Senir; They took a cedar fromLebanon to make you a mast.6Of oaks from Bashan they made youroars; The company of Ashurites haveinlaid your planks With ivory from thecoasts of Cyprus.7 Fine embroidered linen from Egyptwas what you spread for your sail; Blueand purple from the coasts of Elishahwas what covered you.8 "Inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad wereyour oarsmen; Your wise men, O Tyre,were in you; They became your pilots.9 Elders of Gebal and its wise menWerein you to caulk your seams; All the shipsof the sea And their oarsmen were inyou To market your merchandise.

EZEKIEL 27 13710 "Those from Persia, Lydia, and LibyaWere in your army as men of war; Theyhung shield and helmet in you; Theygave splendor to you.11Men of Arvad with your army wereon your walls all around, And the menof Gammad were in your towers; Theyhung their shields on your walls allaround; They made your beauty perfect.12 "Tarshish was your merchant becauseof your many luxury goods. They gaveyou silver, iron, n, and lead for yourgoods.13 "Javan, Tubal, and Meshech wereyour traders. They bartered humanlives and vessels of bronze for yourmerchandise.14 "Those from the house of Togarmahtraded for your wares with horses,steeds, and mules.15 "The men of Dedan were yourtraders; many isles were the market of

EZEKIEL 27 138your hand. They brought you ivory tusksand ebony as payment.16 "Syria was your merchant becauseof the abundance of goods you made.They gave you for your wares emeralds,purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals,and rubies.17 "Judah and the land of Israel wereyour traders. They traded for yourmerchandise wheat of Minnith, millet,honey, oil, and balm.18 "Damascus was your merchantbecause of the abundance of goods youmade, because of your many luxuryitems, with the wine of Helbon and withwhite wool.19 "Dan and Javan paid for your wares,traversing back and forth. Wroughtiron, cassia, and cane were among yourmerchandise.20 "Dedan was your merchant insaddlecloths for riding.

EZEKIEL 27 13921 "Arabia and all the princes of Kedarwere your regular merchants. Theytraded with you in lambs, rams, andgoats.22 "The merchants of Sheba andRaamah were your merchants. Theytraded for your wares the choicestspices, all kinds of precious stones, andgold.23 "Haran, Canneh, Eden, themerchantsof Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad wereyour merchants.24 "These were your merchants inchoice items––in purple clothes, inembroidered garments, in chests ofmul colored apparel, in sturdy wovencords, which were in your marketplace.25 "The ships of Tarshish were carriersof your merchandise. You were filled andvery glorious in the midst of the seas.

EZEKIEL 27 14026 Your oarsmen brought you into manywaters, But the east wind broke you inthe midst of the seas.27 "Your riches, wares, andmerchandise, Your mariners andpilots, Your caulkers and merchandisers,All your men of war who are in you,And the en re company which is in yourmidst, Will fall into the midst of the season the day of your ruin.28 The common–land will shake at thesound of the cry of your pilots.29 "All who handle the oar, Themariners, All the pilots of the sea Willcome down from their ships and standon the shore.30 They will make their voice heardbecause of you; They will cry bi erly andcast dust on their heads; They will rollabout in ashes;31 They will shave themselvescompletely bald because of you, Gird

EZEKIEL 27 141themselves with sackcloth, And weep foryou With bi erness of heart and bi erwailing.32 In their wailing for you They will takeup a lamenta on, And lament for you:‘What city is like Tyre, Destroyed in themidst of the sea?33 ‘When your wares went out by sea,You sa sfied many people; You enrichedthe kings of the earth With your manyluxury goods and your merchandise.34 But you are broken by the seas in thedepths of the waters; Your merchandiseand the en re company will fall in yourmidst.35All the inhabitants of the isles will beastonished at you; Their kings will begreatly afraid, And their countenancewill be troubled.36 The merchants among the peopleswill hiss at you; You will become a horror,and be no more forever.’"’"

EZEKIEL 28 142

28 1 The word of the LORD came tome again, saying,

2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre,‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because yourheart is li ed up, And you say, ‘I am agod, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midstof the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and nota god, Though you set your heart as theheart of a god3 (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel!There is no secret that can be hiddenfrom you!4With your wisdom and yourunderstanding You have gained richesfor yourself, And gathered gold and silverinto your treasuries;5 By your great wisdom in trade youhave increased your riches, And yourheart is li ed up because of yourriches),"

EZEKIEL 28 1436 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Because you have set your heart as theheart of a god,7 Behold, therefore, I will bringstrangers against you, The most terribleof the na ons; And they shall drawtheir swords against the beauty of yourwisdom, And defile your splendor.8 They shall throw you down into thePit, And you shall die the death of theslain In the midst of the seas.9 "Will you s ll say before him whoslays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall bea man, and not a god, In the hand of himwho slays you.10 You shall die the death of theuncircumcised By the hand of aliens; ForI have spoken," says the Lord GOD.’"11Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,12 "Son of man, take up a lamenta onfor the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus

EZEKIEL 28 144says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal ofperfec on, Full of wisdom and perfect inbeauty.13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;Every precious stone was your covering:The sardius, topaz, and diamond,Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire,turquoise, and emerald with gold. Theworkmanship of your mbrels and pipesWas prepared for you on the day youwere created.14 "You were the anointed cherub whocovers; I established you; You were onthe holy mountain of God; You walkedback and forth in the midst of fierystones.15 You were perfect in your ways fromthe day you were created, Till iniquitywas found in you.16 "By the abundance of your tradingYou became filled with violence within,And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as

EZEKIEL 28 145a profane thing Out of the mountain ofGod; And I destroyed you, O coveringcherub, From the midst of the fierystones.17 "Your heart was li ed up because ofyour beauty; You corrupted your wisdomfor the sake of your splendor; I cast youto the ground, I laid you before kings,That they might gaze at you.18 "You defiled your sanctuaries Bythe mul tude of your iniqui es, By theiniquity of your trading; Therefore Ibrought fire from yourmidst; It devouredyou, And I turned you to ashes upon theearth In the sight of all who saw you.19All who knew you among the peoplesare astonished at you; You have becomea horror, And shall be nomore forever."’"20 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying,21 "Son of man, set your face towardSidon, and prophesy against her,

EZEKIEL 28 14622 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, I am against you, O Sidon; Iwill be glorified in your midst; And theyshall know that I am the LORD, WhenI execute judgments in her and amhallowed in her.23 For I will send pes lence upon her,And blood in her streets; The woundedshall be judged in her midst By the swordagainst her on every side; Then theyshall know that I am the LORD.24 "And there shall no longer be apricking brier or a painful thorn for thehouse of Israel from among all who arearound them, who despise them. Thenthey shall know that I am the Lord GOD."25 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "When Ihave gathered the house of Israel fromthe peoples among whom they aresca ered, and am hallowed in them inthe sight of the Gen les, then they will

EZEKIEL 28–29 147dwell in their own land which I gave toMy servant Jacob.26 "And they will dwell safely there,build houses, and plant vineyards; yes,they will dwell securely, when I executejudgments on all those around themwho despise them. Then they shall knowthat I am the LORD their God."’"

29 1 In the tenth year, in the tenthmonth, on the twel h day of the

month, the word of the LORD came tome, saying,2 "Son of man, set your face againstPharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesyagainst him, and against all Egypt.3 "Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "Behold, I am against you, OPharaoh king of Egypt, O great monsterwho lies in the midst of his rivers, Whohas said, ‘My River is my own; I havemade it for myself.’

EZEKIEL 29 1484 But I will put hooks in your jaws, Andcause the fish of your rivers to s ck toyour scales; I will bring you up out of themidst of your rivers, And all the fish inyour rivers will s ck to your scales.5 I will leave you in the wilderness, Youand all the fish of your rivers; You shallfall on the open field; You shall not bepicked up or gathered. I have given youas food To the beasts of the field And tothe birds of the heavens.6 "Then all the inhabitants of EgyptShall know that I am the LORD, Becausethey have been a staff of reed to thehouse of Israel.7When they took hold of you withthe hand, You broke and tore all theirshoulders; When they leaned on you,You broke and made all their backsquiver."

EZEKIEL 29 1498 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Surely I will bring a sword upon you andcut off from you man and beast.9 "And the land of Egypt shall becomedesolate and waste; then they will knowthat I am the LORD, because he said,‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’10 "Indeed, therefore, I am against youand against your rivers, and I will makethe land of Egypt u erly waste anddesolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far asthe border of Ethiopia.11 "Neither foot of man shall passthrough it nor foot of beast pass throughit, and it shall be uninhabited forty years.12 "I will make the land of Egyptdesolate in the midst of the countriesthat are desolate; and among theci es that are laid waste, her ci esshall be desolate forty years; and I willsca er the Egyp ans among the na ons

EZEKIEL 29 150and disperse them throughout thecountries."13 ‘Yet, thus says the Lord GOD: "Atthe end of forty years I will gather theEgyp ans from the peoples amongwhom they were sca ered.14 "I will bring back the cap ves of Egyptand cause them to return to the land ofPathros, to the land of their origin, andthere they shall be a lowly kingdom.15 "It shall be the lowliest of kingdoms;it shall never again exalt itself abovethe na ons, for I will diminish them sothat they will not rule over the na onsanymore.16 "No longer shall it be the confidenceof the house of Israel, but will remindthem of their iniquity when they turnedto follow them. Then they shall knowthat I am the Lord GOD."’"17And it came to pass in the twenty–seventh year, in the first month, on the

EZEKIEL 29 151first day of the month, that the word ofthe LORD came to me, saying,18 "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar kingof Babylon caused his army to laborstrenuously against Tyre; every head wasmade bald, and every shoulder rubbedraw; yet neither he nor his army receivedwages from Tyre, for the labor whichthey expended on it.19 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Surely I will give the land of Egypt toNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; heshall take away her wealth, carry off herspoil, and remove her pillage; and thatwill be the wages for his army.20 ‘I have given him the land of Egyptfor his labor, because they worked forMe,’ says the Lord GOD.21 ‘In that day I will cause the horn ofthe house of Israel to spring forth, and Iwill open your mouth to speak in their

EZEKIEL 30 152midst. Then they shall know that I amthe LORD.’"

30 1 The word of the LORD came tome again, saying,

2 "Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thussays the Lord GOD: "Wail, ‘Woe to theday!’3 For the day is near, Even the day of theLORD is near; It will be a day of clouds,the me of the Gen les.4 The sword shall come upon Egypt, Andgreat anguish shall be in Ethiopia, Whenthe slain fall in Egypt, And they takeaway her wealth, And her founda onsare broken down.5 "Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mingledpeople, Chub, and the men of the landswho are allied, shall fall with them bythe sword."6 ‘Thus says the LORD: "Those whouphold Egypt shall fall, And the prideof her power shall come down. From

EZEKIEL 30 153Migdol to Syene Those within her shallfall by the sword," Says the Lord GOD.7 "They shall be desolate in the midstof the desolate countries, And her ci esshall be in the midst of the ci es that arelaid waste.8 Then they will know that I am theLORD, When I have set a fire in EgyptAnd all her helpers are destroyed.9On that day messengers shall go forthfrom Me in ships To make the carelessEthiopians afraid, And great anguishshall come upon them, As on the day ofEgypt; For indeed it is coming!"10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will alsomake a mul tude of Egypt to cease Bythe hand of Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon.11He and his people with him, the mostterrible of the na ons, Shall be broughtto destroy the land; They shall draw their

EZEKIEL 30 154swords against Egypt, And fill the landwith the slain.12 I will make the rivers dry, And sell theland into the hand of the wicked; I willmake the land waste, and all that is in it,By the hand of aliens. I, the LORD, havespoken."13 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will alsodestroy the idols, And cause the imagesto cease from Noph; There shall nolonger be princes from the land of Egypt;I will put fear in the land of Egypt.14 I will make Pathros desolate, Set fireto Zoan, And execute judgments in No.15 I will pour My fury on Sin, thestrength of Egypt; I will cut off themul tude of No,16And set a fire in Egypt; Sin shall havegreat pain, No shall be split open, AndNoph shall be in distress daily.

EZEKIEL 30 15517 The youngmen of Aven and Pi Besethshall fall by the sword, And these ci esshall go into cap vity.18At Tehaphnehes the day shall also bedarkened, When I break the yokes ofEgypt there. And her arrogant strengthshall cease in her; As for her, a cloudshall cover her, And her daughters shallgo into cap vity.19 Thus I will execute judgments onEgypt, Then they shall know that I amthe LORD."’"20And it came to pass in the eleventhyear, in the first month, on the seventhday of the month, that the word of theLORD came to me, saying,21 "Son of man, I have broken the armof Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it hasnot been bandaged for healing, nor asplint put on to bind it, to make it strongenough to hold a sword.

EZEKIEL 30 15622 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Surely I am against Pharaoh king ofEgypt, and will break his arms, both thestrong one and the one that was broken;and I will make the sword fall out of hishand.23 ‘I will sca er the Egyp ans among thena ons, and disperse them throughoutthe countries.24 ‘I will strengthen the arms of theking of Babylon and put My sword in hishand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms,and he will groan before him with thegroanings of a mortally wounded man.25 ‘Thus I will strengthen the arms ofthe king of Babylon, but the arms ofPharaoh shall fall down; they shall knowthat I am the LORD, when I put My swordinto the hand of the king of Babylon andhe stretches it out against the land ofEgypt.

EZEKIEL 30–31 15726 ‘I will sca er the Egyp ans among thena ons and disperse them throughoutthe countries. Then they shall know thatI am the LORD.’"

31 1Now it came to pass in theeleventh year, in the third month,

on the first day of the month, that theword of the LORD came to me, saying,2 "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king ofEgypt and to his mul tude: ‘Whom areyou like in your greatness?3 Indeed Assyria was a cedar inLebanon, With fine branches thatshaded the forest, And of high stature;And its top was among the thick boughs.4 The waters made it grow;Underground waters gave it height,With their rivers running around theplace where it was planted, And sent outrivulets to all the trees of the field.5 ‘Therefore its height was exaltedabove all the trees of the field; Its

EZEKIEL 31 158boughs were mul plied, And itsbranches became long because of theabundance of water, As it sent them out.6All the birds of the heavensmade theirnests in its boughs; Under its branchesall the beasts of the field brought forththeir young; And in its shadow all greatna ons made their home.7 ‘Thus it was beau ful in greatness andin the length of its branches, Because itsroots reached to abundant waters.8 The cedars in the garden of God couldnot hide it; The fir trees were not like itsboughs, And the chestnut trees were notlike its branches; No tree in the gardenof God was like it in beauty.9 I made it beau ful with a mul tude ofbranches, So that all the trees of Edenenvied it, That were in the garden ofGod.’10 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Because you have increased in height,

EZEKIEL 31 159and it set its top among the thick boughs,and its heart was li ed up in its height,11 ‘therefore I will deliver it into thehand of the mighty one of the na ons,and he shall surely deal with it; I havedriven it out for its wickedness.12 ‘And aliens, the most terrible of thena ons, have cut it down and le it; itsbranches have fallen on the mountainsand in all the valleys; its boughs liebroken by all the rivers of the land; andall the peoples of the earth have gonefrom under its shadow and le it.13 ‘On its ruin will remain all the birdsof the heavens, And all the beasts of thefield will come to its branches––14 ‘So that no trees by the waters mayever again exalt themselves for theirheight, nor set their tops among thethick boughs, that no tree which drinkswater may ever be high enough to reachup to them. ‘For they have all been

EZEKIEL 31 160delivered to death, To the depths of theearth, Among the children of men whogo down to the Pit.’15 "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘In the daywhen it went down to hell, I causedmourning. I covered the deep becauseof it. I restrained its rivers, and the greatwaters were held back. I caused Lebanonto mourn for it, and all the trees of thefield wilted because of it.16 ‘I made the na ons shake at thesound of its fall, when I cast it down tohell together with those who descendinto the Pit; and all the trees of Eden,the choice and best of Lebanon, allthat drink water, were comforted in thedepths of the earth.17 ‘They also went down to hell withit, with those slain by the sword; andthose who were its strong arm dwelt inits shadows among the na ons.

EZEKIEL 31–32 16118 ‘To which of the trees in Eden will youthen be likened in glory and greatness?Yet you shall be brought down withthe trees of Eden to the depths of theearth; you shall lie in the midst of theuncircumcised, with those slain bythe sword. This is Pharaoh and all hismul tude,’ says the Lord GOD."

32 1And it came to pass in thetwel h year, in the twel h

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 lamenta onfor Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say tohim: ‘You are like a young lion amongthe na ons, And you are like a monsterin the seas, Burs ng forth in your rivers,Troubling the waters with your feet, Andfouling their rivers.’3 "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I willtherefore spread My net over you with a

EZEKIEL 32 162company of many people, And they willdraw you up in My net.4 Then I will leave you on the land; Iwill cast you out on the open fields, Andcause to se le on you all the birds ofthe heavens. And with you I will fill thebeasts of the whole earth.5 I will lay your flesh on the mountains,And fill the valleys with your carcass.6 ‘I will also water the land with the flowof your blood, Even to the mountains;And the riverbeds will be full of you.7When I put out your light, I will coverthe heavens, and make its stars dark; Iwill cover the sun with a cloud, And themoon shall not give her light.8All the bright lights of the heavensI will make dark over you, And bringdarkness upon your land,’ Says the LordGOD.9 ‘I will also trouble the hearts of manypeoples, when I bring your destruc on

EZEKIEL 32 163among the na ons, into the countrieswhich you have not known.10 ‘Yes, I will make many peoplesastonished at you, and their kings shallbe horribly afraid of you when I brandishMy sword before them; and they shalltremble every moment, every man forhis own life, in the day of your fall.’11 "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Thesword of the king of Babylon shall comeupon you.12 ‘By the swords of the mightywarriors, all of them the most terrible ofthe na ons, I will cause your mul tudeto fall. ‘They shall plunder the pompof Egypt, And all its mul tude shall bedestroyed.13Also I will destroy all its animals Frombeside its great waters; The foot of manshall muddy them no more, Nor shall thehooves of animals muddy them.

EZEKIEL 32 16414 Then I will make their waters clear,And make their rivers run like oil,’ Saysthe Lord GOD.15 ‘When I make the land of Egyptdesolate, And the country is des tute ofall that once filled it, When I strike allwho dwell in it, Then they shall knowthat I am the LORD.16 ‘This is the lamenta on With whichthey shall lament her; The daughters ofthe na ons shall lament her; They shalllament for her, for Egypt, And for all hermul tude,’ Says the Lord GOD."17 It came to pass also in the twel hyear, on the fi eenth day of the month,that the word of the LORD came to me,saying:18 "Son of man, wail over the mul tudeof Egypt, And cast them down tothe depths of the earth, Her and thedaughters of the famous na ons, Withthose who go down to the Pit:

EZEKIEL 32 16519 ‘Whom do you surpass in beauty? Godown, be placedwith the uncircumcised.’20 "They shall fall in the midst of thoseslain by the sword; She is deliveredto the sword, Drawing her and all hermul tudes.21 The strong among the mighty Shallspeak to him out of themidst of hellWiththose who help him: ‘They have gonedown, They lie with the uncircumcised,slain by the sword.’22 "Assyria is there, and all her company,With their graves all around her, All ofthem slain, fallen by the sword.23Her graves are set in the recesses ofthe Pit, And her company is all aroundher grave, All of them slain, fallen by thesword, Who caused terror in the land ofthe living.24 "There is Elam and all her mul tude,All around her grave, All of them slain,fallen by the sword, Who have gone

EZEKIEL 32 166down uncircumcised to the lower partsof the earth, Who caused their terrorin the land of the living; Now they beartheir shame with those who go down tothe Pit.25 They have set her bed in the midstof the slain, With all her mul tude,With her graves all around it, All ofthem uncircumcised, slain by the sword;Though their terror was caused In theland of the living, Yet they bear theirshame With those who go down to thePit; It was put in the midst of the slain.26 "There are Meshech and Tubal andall their mul tudes, With all their gravesaround it, All of them uncircumcised,slain by the sword, Though they causedtheir terror in the land of the living.27 They do not lie with the mightyWho are fallen of the uncircumcised,Who have gone down to hell with theirweapons of war; They have laid their

EZEKIEL 32 167swords under their heads, But theiriniqui es will be on their bones, Becauseof the terror of the mighty in the land ofthe living.28 Yes, you shall be broken in the midstof the uncircumcised, And lie with thoseslain by the sword.29 "There is Edom, Her kings and all herprinces, Who despite their might Arelaid beside those 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 Sidonians, Whohave gone down with the slain In shameat the terror which they caused by theirmight; They lie uncircumcised with thoseslain by the sword, And bear their shamewith those who go down to the Pit.31 "Pharaoh will see them And becomforted over all his mul tude,

EZEKIEL 32–33 168Pharaoh and all his army, Slain by thesword," Says the Lord GOD.32 "For I have caused My terror in theland of the living; And he shall be placedin the midst of the uncircumcised Withthose slain by the sword, Pharaoh andall his mul tude," Says the Lord GOD.

33 1Again the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

2 "Son of man, speak to the children ofyour people, and say to them: ‘When Ibring the sword upon a land, and thepeople of the land take a man from theirterritory and make him their watchman,3 ‘when he sees the sword coming uponthe land, if he blows the trumpet andwarns the people,4 ‘then whoever hears the sound of thetrumpet and does not take warning, ifthe sword comes and takes him away,his blood shall be on his own head.

EZEKIEL 33 1695 ‘He heard the sound of the trumpet,but did not take warning; his bloodshall be upon himself. But he who takeswarning will save his life.6 ‘But if the watchman sees the swordcoming and does not blow the trumpet,and the people are not warned, and thesword comes and takes any person fromamong them, he is taken away in hisiniquity; but his blood I will require atthe watchman’s hand.’7 "So you, son of man: I have madeyou a watchman for the house of Israel;therefore you shall hear a word from Mymouth and warn them for Me.8 "When I say to the wicked, ‘O wickedman, you shall surely die!’ and you donot speak to warn the wicked from hisway, that wicked man shall die in hisiniquity; but his blood I will require atyour hand.

EZEKIEL 33 1709 "Nevertheless if you warn the wickedto turn from his way, and he does notturn from his way, he shall die in hisiniquity; but you have delivered yoursoul.10 "Therefore you, O son of man, say tothe house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, "If ourtransgressions and our sins lie upon us,and we pine away in them, how can wethen live?"’11 "Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the LordGOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the deathof the wicked, but that the wicked turnfrom his way and live. Turn, turn fromyour evil ways! For why should you die,O house of Israel?’12 "Therefore you, O son of man, sayto the children of your people: ‘Therighteousness of the righteous manshall not deliver him in the day of histransgression; as for the wickedness ofthe wicked, he shall not fall because

EZEKIEL 33 171of it in the day that he turns from hiswickedness; nor shall the righteous beable to live because of his righteousnessin the day that he sins.’13 "When I say to the righteous thathe shall surely live, but he trusts in hisown righteousness and commits iniquity,none of his righteous works shall beremembered; but because of the iniquitythat he has commi ed, he shall die.14 "Again, when I say to the wicked,‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from hissin and does what is lawful and right,15 "if the wicked restores the pledge,gives back what he has stolen, and walksin the statutes of life without commi nginiquity, he shall surely live; he shall notdie.16 "None of his sins which he hascommi ed shall be remembered againsthim; he has done what is lawful andright; he shall surely live.

EZEKIEL 33 17217 "Yet the children of your people say,‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it istheir way which is not fair!18 "When the righteous turns from hisrighteousness and commits iniquity, heshall die because of it.19 "But when the wicked turns from hiswickedness and does what is lawful andright, he shall live because of it.20 "Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord isnot fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judgeevery one of you according to his ownways."21And it came to pass in the twel hyear of our cap vity, in the tenth month,on the fi h day of the month, that onewho had escaped from Jerusalem cameto me and said, "The city has beencaptured!"22Now the hand of the LORD had beenupon me the evening before the mancame who had escaped. And He had

EZEKIEL 33 173opened my mouth; so when he cameto me in the morning, my mouth wasopened, and I was no longer mute.23 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying:24 "Son of man, they who inhabit thoseruins in the land of Israel are saying,‘Abrahamwas only one, and he inheritedthe land. But we are many; the land hasbeen given to us as a possession.’25 "Therefore say to them, ‘Thus saysthe Lord GOD: "You eat meat with blood,you li up your eyes toward your idols,and shed blood. Should you then possessthe land?26 "You rely on your sword, you commitabomina ons, and you defile oneanother’s wives. Should you thenpossess the land?"’27 "Say thus to them, ‘Thus says theLord GOD: "As I live, surely those whoare in the ruins shall fall by the sword,

EZEKIEL 33 174and the one who is in the open field Iwill give to the beasts to be devoured,and those who are in the strongholdsand caves shall die of the pes lence.28 "For I will make the land mostdesolate, her arrogant strength shallcease, and the mountains of Israel shallbe so desolate that no one will passthrough.29 "Then they shall know that I amthe LORD, when I have made theland most desolate because of alltheir abomina ons which they havecommi ed."’30 "As for you, son of man, the childrenof your people are talking about youbeside the walls and in the doors of thehouses; and they speak to one another,everyone saying to his brother, ‘Pleasecome and hear what the word is thatcomes from the LORD.’

EZEKIEL 33–34 17531 "So they come to you as people do,they sit before you as My people, andthey hear your words, but they do notdo them; for with their mouth they showmuch love, but their hearts pursue theirown gain.32 "Indeed you are to them as a verylovely song of one who has a pleasantvoice and can play well on an instrument;for they hear your words, but they donot do them.33 "And when this comes to pass––surely it will come––then they will knowthat a prophet has been among them."

34 1And the word of the LORD cameto me, saying,

2 "Son of man, prophesy against theshepherds of Israel, prophesy and say tothem, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to theshepherds: "Woe to the shepherds ofIsrael who feed themselves! Should notthe shepherds feed the flocks?

EZEKIEL 34 1763 "You eat the fat and clothe yourselveswith the wool; you slaughter the fatlings,but you do not feed the flock.4 "The weak you have not strengthened,nor have you healed those who weresick, nor bound up the broken, norbrought back what was driven away, norsought what was lost; but with force andcruelty you have ruled them.5 "So they were sca ered because therewas no shepherd; and they became foodfor all the beasts of the field when theywere sca ered.6 "My sheep wandered through allthe mountains, and on every high hill;yes, My flock was sca ered over thewhole face of the earth, and no one wasseeking or searching for them."7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear theword of the LORD:8 "as I live," says the Lord GOD, "surelybecauseMy flock became a prey, andMy

EZEKIEL 34 177flock became food for every beast of thefield, because there was no shepherd,nor did My shepherds search for Myflock, but the shepherds fed themselvesand did not feed My flock" ––9 ‘therefore, O shepherds, hear theword of the LORD!10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold,I am against the shepherds, and I willrequire My flock at their hand; I willcause them to cease feeding the sheep,and the shepherds shall feed themselvesno more; for I will deliver My flock fromtheir mouths, that they may no longerbe food for them."11 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: "IndeedI Myself will search for My sheep andseek them out.12 "As a shepherd seeks out his flock onthe day he is among his sca ered sheep,so will I seek out My sheep and deliver

EZEKIEL 34 178them from all the places where theywere sca ered on a cloudy and dark day.13 "And I will bring them out fromthe peoples and gather them fromthe countries, and will bring them totheir own land; I will feed them on themountains of Israel, in the valleys and inall the inhabited places of the country.14 "I will feed them in good pasture, andtheir fold shall be on the high mountainsof Israel. There they shall lie down in agood fold and feed in rich pasture on themountains of Israel.15 "I will feed My flock, and I will makethem lie down," says the Lord GOD.16 "I will seek what was lost and bringback what was driven away, bind up thebroken and strengthen what was sick;but I will destroy the fat and the strong,and feed them in judgment."17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus saysthe Lord GOD: "Behold, I shall judge

EZEKIEL 34 179between sheep and sheep, betweenrams and goats.18 "Is it too li le for you to have eatenup the good pasture, that you musttread down with your feet the residueof your pasture––and to have drunk ofthe clear waters, that you must foul theresidue with your feet?19 "And as for My flock, they eat whatyou have trampled with your feet, andthey drink what you have fouled withyour feet."20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GODto them: "Behold, I Myself will judgebetween the fat and the lean sheep.21 "Because you have pushed with sideand shoulder, bu ed all the weak oneswith your horns, and sca ered themabroad,22 "therefore I will save My flock, andthey shall no longer be a prey; and I willjudge between sheep and sheep.

EZEKIEL 34 18023 "I will establish one shepherd overthem, and he shall feed them––Myservant David. He shall feed them andbe their shepherd.24 "And I, the LORD, will be their God,and My servant David a prince amongthem; I, the LORD, have spoken.25 "I will make a covenant of peacewith them, and cause wild beasts tocease from the land; and they will dwellsafely in the wilderness and sleep in thewoods.26 "I will make them and the places allaroundMy hill a blessing; and I will causeshowers to come down in their season;there shall be showers of blessing.27 "Then the trees of the field shall yieldtheir fruit, and the earth shall yield herincrease. They shall be safe in their land;and they shall know that I am the LORD,when I have broken the bands of their

EZEKIEL 34–35 181yoke and delivered them from the handof those who enslaved them.28 "And they shall no longer be a preyfor the na ons, nor shall beasts of theland devour them; but they shall dwellsafely, and no one shall make themafraid.29 "I will raise up for them a gardenof renown, and they shall no longer beconsumed with hunger in the land, norbear the shame of the Gen les anymore.30 "Thus they shall know that I, theLORD their God, amwith them, and they,the house of Israel, are My people," saysthe Lord GOD.’"31 "You are My flock, the flock of Mypasture; you are men, and I am yourGod," says the Lord GOD.

35 1Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,

2 "Son of man, set your face againstMount Seir and prophesy against it,

EZEKIEL 35 1823 "and say to it, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "Behold, OMount Seir, I am againstyou; I will stretch out My hand againstyou, And make you most desolate;4 I shall lay your ci es waste, And youshall be desolate. Then you shall knowthat I am the LORD.5 "Because you have had an ancienthatred, and have shed the blood of thechildren of Israel by the power of thesword at the me of their calamity, whentheir iniquity came to an end,6 "therefore, as I live," says the LordGOD, "I will prepare you for blood, andblood shall pursue you; since you havenot hated blood, therefore blood shallpursue you.7 "Thus I will make Mount Seir mostdesolate, and cut off from it the one wholeaves and the one who returns.8 "And I will fill its mountains with theslain; on your hills and in your valleys

EZEKIEL 35 183and in all your ravines those who areslain by the sword shall fall.9 "I will make you perpetually desolate,and your ci es shall be uninhabited;then you shall know that I am the LORD.10 "Because you have said, ‘These twona ons and these two countries shallbe mine, and we will possess them,’although the LORD was there,11 "therefore, as I live," says the LordGOD, "I will do according to your angerand according to the envy which youshowed in your hatred against them;and I will make Myself known amongthem when I judge you.12 "Then you shall know that I am theLORD. I have heard all your blasphemieswhich you have spoken against themountains of Israel, saying, ‘Theyare desolate; they are given to us toconsume.’

EZEKIEL 35–36 18413 "Thus with your mouth you haveboasted against Me and mul plied yourwords against Me; I have heard them."14 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "The wholeearth will rejoice when I make youdesolate.15 "As you rejoiced because theinheritance of the house of Israel wasdesolate, so I will do to you; you shall bedesolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all ofEdom––all of it! Then they shall knowthat I am the LORD."’

36 1 "And you, son of man, prophesyto the mountains of Israel, and

say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear theword of the LORD!2 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because theenemy has said of you, ‘Aha! The ancientheights have become our possession,’"’3 "therefore prophesy, and say, ‘Thussays the Lord GOD: "Because they madeyou desolate and swallowed you up

EZEKIEL 36 185on every side, so that you became thepossession of the rest of the na ons, andyou are taken up by the lips of talkersand slandered by the people" ––4 ‘therefore, O mountains of Israel, hearthe word of the Lord GOD! Thus says theLord GOD to the mountains, the hills, therivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes,and the ci es that have been forsaken,which became plunder and mockery tothe rest of the na ons all around––5 ‘therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Surely I have spoken in My burningjealousy against the rest of the na onsand against all Edom, who gave My landto themselves as a possession, withwhole–hearted joy and spiteful minds,in order to plunder its open country."’6 "Therefore prophesy concerning theland of Israel, and say to the mountains,the hills, the rivers, and the valleys,‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I

EZEKIEL 36 186have spoken in My jealousy and My fury,because you have borne the shame ofthe na ons."7 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"I have raised My hand in an oath thatsurely the na ons that are around youshall bear their own shame.8 "But you, O mountains of Israel, youshall shoot forth your branches and yieldyour fruit to My people Israel, for theyare about to come.9 "For indeed I am for you, and I willturn to you, and you shall be lled andsown.10 "I will mul ply men upon you, all thehouse of Israel, all of it; and the ci esshall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.11 "I will mul ply upon you man andbeast; and they shall increase and bearyoung; I will make you inhabited as informer mes, and do be er for you than

EZEKIEL 36 187at your beginnings. Then you shall knowthat I am the LORD.12 "Yes, I will cause men to walk onyou, My people Israel; they shall takepossession of you, and you shall be theirinheritance; no more shall you bereavethem of children."13 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Becausethey say to you, ‘You devour men andbereave your na on of children,’14 "therefore you shall devour menno more, nor bereave your na onanymore," says the Lord GOD.15 "Nor will I let you hear the tauntsof the na ons anymore, nor bear thereproach of the peoples anymore, norshall you cause your na on to stumbleanymore," says the Lord GOD.’"16Moreover the word of the LORDcame to me, saying:17 "Son of man, when the house ofIsrael dwelt in their own land, they

EZEKIEL 36 188defiled it by their own ways and deeds;to Me their way was like the uncleannessof a woman in her customary impurity.18 "Therefore I poured out My fury onthem for the blood they had shed on theland, and for their idols with which theyhad defiled it.19 "So I sca ered them among thena ons, and they were dispersedthroughout the countries; I judged themaccording to their ways and their deeds.20 "When they came to the na ons,wherever they went, they profaned Myholy name––when they said of them,‘These are the people of the LORD, andyet they have gone out of His land.’21 "But I had concern for My holy name,which the house of Israel had profanedamong the na ons wherever they went.22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel,‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not dothis for your sake, O house of Israel, but

EZEKIEL 36 189for My holy name’s sake, which you haveprofaned among the na ons whereveryou went.23 "And I will sanc fy My great name,which has been profaned among thena ons, which you have profaned intheir midst; and the na ons shall knowthat I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD,"when I am hallowed in you before theireyes.24 "For I will take you from among thena ons, gather you out of all countries,and bring you into your own land.25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water onyou, and you shall be clean; I will cleanseyou from all your filthiness and from allyour idols.26 "I will give you a new heart and puta new spirit within you; I will take theheart of stone out of your flesh and giveyou a heart of flesh.

EZEKIEL 36 19027 "I will put My Spirit within you andcause you to walk in My statutes, andyou will keep My judgments and dothem.28 "Then you shall dwell in the land thatI gave to your fathers; you shall be Mypeople, and I will be your God.29 "I will deliver you from all youruncleannesses. I will call for the grainand mul ply it, and bring no famineupon you.30 "And I will mul ply the fruit of yourtrees and the increase of your fields,so that you need never again bear thereproach of famine among the na ons.31 "Then you will remember your evilways and your deeds that were notgood; and you will loathe yourselves inyour own sight, for your iniqui es andyour abomina ons.32 "Not for your sake do I do this," saysthe Lord GOD, "let it be known to you.

EZEKIEL 36 191Be ashamed and confounded for yourown ways, O house of Israel!"33 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "On the daythat I cleanse you from all your iniqui es,I will also enable you to dwell in theci es, and the ruins shall be rebuilt.34 "The desolate land shall be lledinstead of lying desolate in the sight ofall who pass by.35 "So they will say, ‘This land that wasdesolate has become like the gardenof Eden; and the wasted, desolate,and ruined ci es are now for fied andinhabited.’36 "Then the na ons which are leall around you shall know that I, theLORD, have rebuilt the ruined places andplanted what was desolate. I, the LORD,have spoken it, and I will do it."37 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will alsolet the house of Israel inquire of Me to

EZEKIEL 36–37 192do this for them: I will increase theirmen like a flock.38 "Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices,like the flock at Jerusalem on its feastdays, so shall the ruined ci es be filledwith flocks of men. Then they shall knowthat I am the LORD."’"

37 1 The hand of the LORD cameupon me and brought me out in

the Spirit of the LORD, and set me downin the midst of the valley; and it was fullof bones.2 Then He caused me to pass by themall around, and behold, there were verymany in the open valley; and indeedthey were very dry.3And He said to me, "Son of man, canthese bones live?" So I answered, "OLord GOD, You know."4Again He said to me, "Prophesy tothese bones, and say to them, ‘O drybones, hear the word of the LORD!

EZEKIEL 37 1935 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to thesebones: "Surely I will cause breath toenter into you, and you shall live.6 "I will put sinews on you and bringflesh upon you, cover you with skinand put breath in you; and you shalllive. Then you shall know that I am theLORD."’"7 So I prophesied as I was commanded;and as I prophesied, there was a noise,and suddenly a ra ling; and the bonescame together, bone to bone.8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews andthe flesh came upon them, and the skincovered them over; but there was nobreath in them.9Also He said to me, "Prophesy to thebreath, prophesy, son of man, and sayto the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"Come from the four winds, O breath,and breathe on these slain, that theymay live."’"

EZEKIEL 37 19410 So I prophesied as He commandedme, and breath came into them, andthey lived, and stood upon their feet, anexceedingly great army.11 Then He said to me, "Son of man,these bones are the whole house ofIsrael. They indeed say, ‘Our bones aredry, our hope is lost, and we ourselvesare cut off!’12 "Therefore prophesy and say tothem, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold,O My people, I will open your graves andcause you to come up from your graves,and bring you into the land of Israel.13 "Then you shall know that I am theLORD, when I have opened your graves,O My people, and brought you up fromyour graves.14 "I will put My Spirit in you, and youshall live, and I will place you in yourown land. Then you shall know that I,

EZEKIEL 37 195the LORD, have spoken it and performedit," says the LORD.’"15Again the word of the LORD came tome, saying,16 "As for you, son of man, take as ck for yourself and write on it: ‘ForJudah and for the children of Israel, hiscompanions.’ Then take another s ckand write on it, ‘For Joseph, the s ck ofEphraim, and for all the house of Israel,his companions.’17 "Then join them one to another foryourself into one s ck, and they willbecome one in your hand.18 "And when the children of yourpeople speak to you, saying, ‘Will younot show us what you mean by these?’––19 "say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGOD: "Surely I will take the s ck ofJoseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim,and the tribes of Israel, his companions;

EZEKIEL 37 196and I will join them with it, with the s ckof Judah, and make them one s ck, andthey will be one in My hand."’20 "And the s cks on which you writewill be in your hand before their eyes.21 "Then say to them, ‘Thus says theLord GOD: "Surely I will take the childrenof Israel from among the na ons,wherever they have gone, and willgather them from every side and bringthem into their own land;22 "and I will make them one na on inthe land, on the mountains of Israel; andone king shall be king over them all; theyshall no longer be two na ons, nor shallthey ever be divided into two kingdomsagain.23 "They shall not defile themselvesanymore with their idols, nor with theirdetestable things, nor with any of theirtransgressions; but I will deliver themfrom all their dwelling places in which

EZEKIEL 37 197they have sinned, and will cleanse them.Then they shall be My people, and I willbe their God.24 "David My servant shall be kingover them, and they shall all have oneshepherd; they shall also walk in Myjudgments and observe My statutes, anddo them.25 "Then they shall dwell in the landthat I have given to Jacob My servant,where your fathers dwelt; and they shalldwell there, they, their children, andtheir children’s children, forever; andMy servant David shall be their princeforever.26 "Moreover I will make a covenantof peace with them, and it shall be aneverlas ng covenant with them; I willestablish them and mul ply them, andI will set My sanctuary in their midstforevermore.

EZEKIEL 37–38 19827 "My tabernacle also shall be withthem; indeed I will be their God, andthey shall be My people.28 "The na ons also will know that I, theLORD, sanc fy Israel, whenMy sanctuaryis in their midst forevermore."’"

38 1Now the word of the LORD cameto me, saying,

2 "Son of man, set your face againstGog, of the land of Magog, the prince ofRosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesyagainst him,3 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, I am against you, O Gog, theprince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.4 "I will turn you around, put hooksinto your jaws, and lead you out, withall your army, horses, and horsemen,all splendidly clothed, a great companywith bucklers and shields, all of themhandling swords.

EZEKIEL 38 1995 "Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are withthem, all of themwith shield and helmet;6 "Gomer and all its troops; the houseof Togarmah from the far north and allits troops––many people are with you.7 "Prepare yourself and be ready, youand all your companies that are gatheredabout you; and be a guard for them.8 "A er many days you will be visited.In the la er years you will come intothe land of those brought back from thesword and gathered from many peopleon the mountains of Israel, which hadlong been desolate; they were broughtout of the na ons, and now all of themdwell safely.9 "You will ascend, coming like a storm,covering the land like a cloud, you andall your troops and many peoples withyou."10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "On thatday it shall come to pass that thoughts

EZEKIEL 38 200will arise in your mind, and you will makean evil plan:11 "You will say, ‘I will go up against aland of unwalled villages; I will go to apeaceful people, who dwell safely, all ofthem dwelling without walls, and havingneither bars nor gates’ ––12 "to take plunder and to take booty,to stretch out your hand against thewaste places that are again inhabited,and against a people gathered from thena ons, who have acquired livestockand goods, who dwell in the midst of theland.13 "Sheba, Dedan, the merchants ofTarshish, and all their young lions will sayto you, ‘Have you come to take plunder?Have you gathered your army to takebooty, to carry away silver and gold, totake away livestock and goods, to takegreat plunder?’"’

EZEKIEL 38 20114 "Therefore, son of man, prophesyand say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"On that day when My people Israeldwell safely, will you not know it?15 "Then you will come from your placeout of the far north, you and manypeoples with you, all of them riding onhorses, a great company and a mightyarmy.16 "You will come up against My peopleIsrael like a cloud, to cover the land. Itwill be in the la er days that I will bringyou against My land, so that the na onsmay know Me, when I am hallowed inyou, O Gog, before their eyes."17 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you heof whom I have spoken in former daysby My servants the prophets of Israel,who prophesied for years in those daysthat I would bring you against them?18 "And it will come to pass at the sameme, when Gog comes against the land

EZEKIEL 38 202of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that Myfury will show in My face.19 "For in My jealousy and in the fire ofMy wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in thatday there shall be a great earthquake inthe land of Israel,20 ‘so that the fish of the sea, the birdsof the heavens, the beasts of the field,all creeping things that creep on theearth, and all men who are on the faceof the earth shall shake at My presence.The mountains shall be thrown down,the steep places shall fall, and every wallshall fall to the ground.’21 "I will call for a sword against Gogthroughout all My mountains," says theLord GOD. "Every man’s sword will beagainst his brother.22 "And I will bring him to judgmentwith pes lence and bloodshed; I willrain down on him, on his troops, andon the many peoples who are with him,

EZEKIEL 38–39 203flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, andbrimstone.23 "Thus I will magnify Myself andsanc fy Myself, and I will be known inthe eyes of many na ons. Then theyshall know that I am the LORD."’

39 1 "And you, son of man, prophesyagainst Gog, and say, ‘Thus says

the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you,O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, andTubal;2 "and I will turn you around andlead you on, bringing you up from thefar north, and bring you against themountains of Israel.3 "Then I will knock the bow out of yourle hand, and cause the arrows to fallout of your right hand.4 "You shall fall upon the mountains ofIsrael, you and all your troops and thepeoples who are with you; I will give you

EZEKIEL 39 204to birds of prey of every sort and to thebeasts of the field to be devoured.5 "You shall fall on the open field; for Ihave spoken," says the Lord GOD.6 "And I will send fire on Magog andon those who live in security in thecoastlands. Then they shall know that Iam the LORD.7 "So I will make My holy name knownin the midst of My people Israel, and Iwill not let them profane My holy nameanymore. Then the na ons shall knowthat I am the LORD, the Holy One inIsrael.8 "Surely it is coming, and it shall bedone," says the Lord GOD. "This is theday of which I have spoken.9 "Then those who dwell in the ci esof Israel will go out and set on fire andburn the weapons, both the shieldsand bucklers, the bows and arrows, the

EZEKIEL 39 205javelins and spears; and they will makefires with them for seven years.10 "They will not take wood from thefield nor cut down any from the forests,because they will make fires with theweapons; and they will plunder thosewho plundered them, and pillage thosewho pillaged them," says the Lord GOD.11 "It will come to pass in that daythat I will give Gog a burial place therein Israel, the valley of those who passby east of the sea; and it will obstructtravelers, because there they will buryGog and all his mul tude. Therefore theywill call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.12 "For seven months the house ofIsrael will be burying them, in order tocleanse the land.13 "Indeed all the people of the land willbe burying, and they will gain renownfor it on the day that I am glorified," saysthe Lord GOD.

EZEKIEL 39 20614 "They will set apart men regularlyemployed, with the help of a searchparty, to pass through the land and burythose bodies remaining on the ground,in order to cleanse it. At the end of sevenmonths they will make a search.15 "The search party will pass throughthe land; and when anyone sees a man’sbone, he shall set up a marker by it, llthe buriers have buried it in the Valley ofHamon Gog.16 "The name of the city will also beHamonah. Thus they shall cleanse theland."’17 "And as for you, son of man, thussays the Lord GOD, ‘Speak to every sortof bird and to every beast of the field:"Assemble yourselves and come; Gathertogether from all sides to My sacrificialmeal Which I am sacrificing for you, Agreat sacrificial meal on the mountains

EZEKIEL 39 207of Israel, That you may eat flesh anddrink blood.18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty,Drink the blood of the princes of theearth, Of rams and lambs, Of goats andbulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan.19 You shall eat fat ll you are full, Anddrink blood ll you are drunk, At Mysacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing foryou.20 You shall be filled at My table Withhorses and riders, With mighty men Andwith all the men of war," says the LordGOD.21 "I will set My glory among thena ons; all the na ons shall see Myjudgment which I have executed, andMy hand which I have laid on them.22 "So the house of Israel shall knowthat I am the LORD their God from thatday forward.

EZEKIEL 39 20823 "The Gen les shall know that thehouse of Israel went into cap vityfor their iniquity; because they wereunfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My facefrom them. I gave them into the hand oftheir enemies, and they all fell by thesword.24 "According to their uncleanness andaccording to their transgressions I havedealt with them, and hidden My facefrom them."’25 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:‘Now I will bring back the cap ves ofJacob, and have mercy on the wholehouse of Israel; and I will be jealous forMy holy name––26 ‘a er they have borne their shame,and all their unfaithfulness in which theywere unfaithful to Me, when they dweltsafely in their own land and no onemade them afraid.

EZEKIEL 39–40 20927 ‘When I have brought them backfrom the peoples and gathered themout of their enemies’ lands, and I amhallowed in them in the sight of manyna ons,28 ‘then they shall know that I am theLORD their God, who sent them intocap vity among the na ons, but alsobrought them back to their land, and lenone of them cap ve any longer.29 ‘And I will not hide My face fromthem anymore; for I shall have pouredout My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ saysthe Lord GOD."

40 1 In the twenty–fi h year of ourcap vity, at the beginning of the

year, on the tenth day of the month, inthe fourteenth year a er the city wascaptured, on the very same day the handof the LORD was upon me; and He tookme there.

EZEKIEL 40 2102 In the visions of God He took me intothe land of Israel and set me on a veryhigh mountain; on it toward the southwas something like the structure of acity.3He took me there, and behold, therewas a man whose appearance was likethe appearance of bronze. He had a lineof flax and a measuring rod in his hand,and he stood in the gateway.4And the man said to me, "Son of man,look with your eyes and hear with yourears, and fix your mind on everything Ishow you; for you were brought here sothat I might show them to you. Declareto the house of Israel everything yousee."5Now there was a wall all around theoutside of the temple. In the man’s handwas a measuring rod six cubits long,each being a cubit and a handbreadth;and he measured the width of the wall

EZEKIEL 40 211structure, one rod; and the height, onerod.6 Then he went to the gateway whichfaced east; and he went up its stairs andmeasured the threshold of the gateway,which was one rod wide, and the otherthreshold was one rod wide.7 Each gate chamber was one rod longand one rod wide; between the gatechambers was a space of five cubits;and the threshold of the gateway by theves bule of the inside gate was one rod.8He also measured the ves bule of theinside gate, one rod.9 Then hemeasured the ves bule of thegateway, eight cubits; and the gateposts,two cubits. The ves bule of the gate wason the inside.10 In the eastern gateway were threegate chambers on one side and three onthe other; the three were all the same

EZEKIEL 40 212size; also the gateposts were of the samesize on this side and that side.11He measured the width of theentrance to the gateway, ten cubits; andthe length of the gate, thirteen cubits.12 There was a space in front of the gatechambers, one cubit on this side and onecubit on that side; the gate chamberswere six cubits on this side and six cubitson that side.13 Then he measured the gateway fromthe roof of one gate chamber to the roofof the other; the width was twenty–fivecubits, as door faces door.14He measured the gateposts, sixtycubits high, and the court all around thegateway extended to the gatepost.15 From the front of the entrance gateto the front of the ves bule of the innergate was fi y cubits.16 There were beveled window framesin the gate chambers and in their

EZEKIEL 40 213intervening archways on the inside ofthe gateway all around, and likewisein the ves bules. There were windowsall around on the inside. And on eachgatepost were palm trees.17 Then he brought me into the outercourt; and there were chambers and apavement made all around the court;thirty chambers faced the pavement.18 The pavement was by the side of thegateways, corresponding to the lengthof the gateways; this was the lowerpavement.19 Then he measured the width fromthe front of the lower gateway to thefront of the inner court exterior, onehundred cubits toward the east and thenorth.20On the outer court was also agateway facing north, and he measuredits length and its width.

EZEKIEL 40 21421 Its gate chambers, three on this sideand three on that side, its gatepostsand its archways, had the samemeasurements as the first gate; itslength was fi y cubits and its widthtwenty–five cubits.22 Its windows and those of itsarchways, and also its palm trees, hadthe same measurements as the gatewayfacing east; it was ascended by sevensteps, and its archway was in front of it.23A gate of the inner court wasopposite the northern gateway, just asthe eastern gateway; and he measuredfrom gateway to gateway, one hundredcubits.24A er that he brought me toward thesouth, and there a gateway was facingsouth; and he measured its gatepostsand archways according to these samemeasurements.

EZEKIEL 40 21525 There were windows in it and in itsarchways all around like those windows;its length was fi y cubits and its widthtwenty–five cubits.26 Seven steps led up to it, and itsarchway was in front of them; and it hadpalm trees on its gateposts, one on thisside and one on that side.27 There was also a gateway on theinner court, facing south; and hemeasured from gateway to gatewaytoward the south, one hundred cubits.28 Then he brought me to the innercourt through the southern gateway;he measured the southern gatewayaccording to these same measurements.29Also its gate chambers, its gateposts,and its archways were according tothese same measurements; there werewindows in it and in its archways allaround; it was fi y cubits long andtwenty–five cubits wide.

EZEKIEL 40 21630 There were archways all around,twenty–five cubits long and five cubitswide.31 Its archways faced the outer court,palm trees were on its gateposts, andgoing up to it were eight steps.32And he brought me into the innercourt facing east; he measured thegateway according to these samemeasurements.33Also its gate chambers, its gateposts,and its archways were according tothese same measurements; and therewere windows in it and in its archwaysall around; it was fi y cubits long andtwenty–five cubits wide.34 Its archways faced the outer court,and palm trees were on its gateposts onthis side and on that side; and going upto it were eight steps.

EZEKIEL 40 21735 Then he brought me to the northgateway and measured it according tothese same measurements––36 also its gate chambers, its gateposts,and its archways. It had windows allaround; its length was fi y cubits and itswidth twenty–five cubits.37 Its gateposts faced the outer court,palm trees were on its gateposts on thisside and on that side, and going up to itwere eight steps.38 Therewas a chamber and its entranceby the gateposts of the gateway, wherethey washed the burnt offering.39 In the ves bule of the gatewaywere two tables on this side and twotables on that side, on which to slay theburnt offering, the sin offering, and thetrespass offering.40At the outer side of the ves bule,as one goes up to the entrance of thenorthern gateway, were two tables; and

EZEKIEL 40 218on the other side of the ves bule of thegateway were two tables.41 Four tables were on this side andfour tables on that side, by the side ofthe gateway, eight tables on which theyslaughtered the sacrifices.42 There were also four tables of hewnstone for the burnt offering, one cubitand a half long, one cubit and a halfwide, and one cubit high; on these theylaid the instruments with which theyslaughtered the burnt offering and thesacrifice.43 Inside were hooks, a handbreadthwide, fastened all around; and the fleshof the sacrifices was on the tables.44Outside the inner gate were thechambers for the singers in the innercourt, one facing south at the side ofthe northern gateway, and the otherfacing north at the side of the southerngateway.

EZEKIEL 40 21945 Then he said to me, "This chamberwhich faces south is for the priests whohave charge of the temple.46 "The chamber which faces north isfor the priests who have charge of thealtar; these are the sons of Zadok, fromthe sons of Levi, who come near theLORD to minister to Him."47And he measured the court, onehundred cubits long and one hundredcubits wide, foursquare. The altar was infront of the temple.48 Then he brought me to the ves buleof the temple and measured thedoorposts of the ves bule, five cubitson this side and five cubits on that side;and the width of the gateway was threecubits on this side and three cubits onthat side.49 The length of the ves bule wastwenty cubits, and the width elevencubits; and by the steps which led up to

EZEKIEL 41 220it there were pillars by the doorposts,one on this side and another on thatside.

41 1 Then he brought me into thesanctuary and measured the

doorposts, six cubits wide on oneside and six cubits wide on the otherside––the width of the tabernacle.2 The width of the entryway wasten cubits, and the side walls of theentrance were five cubits on this sideand five cubits on the other side; and hemeasured its length, forty cubits, and itswidth, twenty cubits.3Also he went inside and measured thedoorposts, two cubits; and the entrance,six cubits high; and the width of theentrance, seven cubits.4He measured the length, twentycubits; and the width, twenty cubits,beyond the sanctuary; and he said tome, "This is the Most Holy Place."

EZEKIEL 41 2215Next, he measured the wall of thetemple, six cubits. The width of eachside chamber all around the temple wasfour cubits on every side.6 The side chambers were in threestories, one above the other, thirtychambers in each story; they restedon ledges which were for the sidechambers all around, that they might besupported, but not fastened to the wallof the temple.7As one went up from story to story,the side chambers became wider allaround, because their suppor ng ledgesin the wall of the temple ascendedlike steps; therefore the width of thestructure increased as one went up fromthe lowest story to the highest by way ofthe middle one.8 I also saw an eleva on all around thetemple; it was the founda on of the side

EZEKIEL 41 222chambers, a full rod, that is, six cubitshigh.9 The thickness of the outer wall of theside chambers was five cubits, and soalso the remaining terrace by the placeof the side chambers of the temple.10And between it and the wallchambers was a width of twenty cubitsall around the temple on every side.11 The doors of the side chambersopened on the terrace, one door towardthe north and another toward the south;and the width of the terrace was fivecubits all around.12 The building that faced the separa ngcourtyard at its western end was seventycubits wide; the wall of the building wasfive cubits thick all around, and its lengthninety cubits.13 So he measured the temple, onehundred cubits long; and the separa ng

EZEKIEL 41 223courtyard with the building and its wallswas one hundred cubits long;14 also the width of the eastern faceof the temple, including the separa ngcourtyard, was one hundred cubits.15He measured the length of thebuilding behind it, facing the separa ngcourtyard, with its galleries on the oneside and on the other side, one hundredcubits, as well as the inner temple andthe porches of the court,16 their doorposts and the beveledwindow frames. And the galleries allaround their three stories opposite thethreshold were paneled with woodfrom the ground to the windows––thewindows were covered––17 from the space above the door, evento the inner room, as well as outside,and on every wall all around, inside andoutside, by measure.

EZEKIEL 41 22418And it was made with cherubim andpalm trees, a palm tree between cheruband cherub. Each cherub had two faces,19 so that the face of a man was towarda palm tree on one side, and the face ofa young lion toward a palm tree on theother side; thus it was made throughoutthe temple all around.20 From the floor to the space above thedoor, and on the wall of the sanctuary,cherubim and palm trees were carved.21 The doorposts of the temple weresquare, as was the front of the sanctuary;their appearance was similar.22 The altar was of wood, three cubitshigh, and its length two cubits. Itscorners, its length, and its sides were ofwood; and he said to me, "This is thetable that is before the LORD."23 The temple and the sanctuary hadtwo doors.

EZEKIEL 41–42 22524 The doors had two panels apiece,two folding panels: two panels for onedoor and two panels for the other door.25 Cherubim and palm trees werecarved on the doors of the temple justas they were carved on the walls. Awooden canopy was on the front of theves bule outside.26 There were beveled window framesand palm trees on one side and on theother, on the sides of the ves bule––alsoon the side chambers of the temple andon the canopies.

42 1 Then he brought me out intothe outer court, by the way

toward the north; and he brought meinto the chamber which was oppositethe separa ng courtyard, and which wasopposite the building toward the north.2 Facing the length, which was onehundred cubits (the width was fi ycubits), was the north door.

EZEKIEL 42 2263Opposite the inner court of twentycubits, and opposite the pavement ofthe outer court, was gallery againstgallery in three stories.4 In front of the chambers, toward theinside, was a walk ten cubits wide, at adistance of one cubit; and their doorsfaced north.5Now the upper chambers wereshorter, because the galleries took awayspace from them more than from thelower and middle stories of the building.6 For they were in three stories anddid not have pillars like the pillars ofthe courts; therefore the upper levelwas shortened more than the lower andmiddle levels from the ground up.7And a wall which was outside ranparallel to the chambers, at the front ofthe chambers, toward the outer court;its length was fi y cubits.

EZEKIEL 42 2278 The length of the chambers towardthe outer court was fi y cubits, whereasthat facing the temple was one hundredcubits.9At the lower chambers was theentrance on the east side, as one goesinto them from the outer court.10Also there were chambers in thethickness of the wall of the courttoward the east, opposite the separa ngcourtyard and opposite the building.11 There was a walk in front of themalso, and their appearance was like thechambers which were toward the north;they were as long and as wide as theothers, and all their exits and entranceswere according to plan.12And corresponding to the doors ofthe chambers that were facing south,as one enters them, there was a doorin front of the walk, the way directly infront of the wall toward the east.

EZEKIEL 42 22813 Then he said to me, "The northchambers and the south chambers,which are opposite the separa ngcourtyard, are the holy chambers wherethe priests who approach the LORD shalleat the most holy offerings. There theyshall lay the most holy offerings––thegrain offering, the sin offering, and thetrespass offering––for the place is holy.14 "When the priests enter them, theyshall not go out of the holy chamberinto the outer court; but there theyshall leave their garments in which theyminister, for they are holy. They shallput on other garments; then they mayapproach that which is for the people."15Nowwhen he had finishedmeasuringthe inner temple, he brought me outthrough the gateway that faces towardthe east, and measured it all around.

EZEKIEL 42–43 22916He measured the east side with themeasuring rod, five hundred rods by themeasuring rod all around.17He measured the north side, fivehundred rods by the measuring rod allaround.18He measured the south side, fivehundred rods by the measuring rod.19He came around to the west sideand measured five hundred rods by themeasuring rod.20He measured it on the four sides; ithad a wall all around, five hundred cubitslong and five hundred wide, to separatethe holy areas from the common.

43 1A erward he brought me to thegate, the gate that faces toward

the east.2And behold, the glory of the God ofIsrael came from the way of the east. Hisvoice was like the sound of many waters;and the earth shone with His glory.

EZEKIEL 43 2303 It was like the appearance of thevision which I saw––like the vision whichI saw when I came to destroy the city.The visions were like the vision which Isaw by the River Chebar; and I fell on myface.4And the glory of the LORD came intothe temple by way of the gate whichfaces toward the east.5 The Spirit li ed me up and broughtme into the inner court; and behold, theglory of the LORD filled the temple.6 Then I heard Him speaking to me fromthe temple, while a man stood besideme.7And He said to me, "Son of man,this is the place of My throne and theplace of the soles of My feet, where Iwill dwell in the midst of the children ofIsrael forever. No more shall the houseof Israel defile My holy name, they northeir kings, by their harlotry or with the

EZEKIEL 43 231carcasses of their kings on their highplaces.8 "When they set their threshold byMy threshold, and their doorpost by Mydoorpost, with a wall between them andMe, they defiled My holy name by theabomina ons which they commi ed;therefore I have consumed them in Myanger.9 "Now let them put their harlotry andthe carcasses of their kings far awayfrom Me, and I will dwell in their midstforever.10 "Son of man, describe the temple tothe house of Israel, that they may beashamed of their iniqui es; and let themmeasure the pa ern.11 "And if they are ashamed of allthat they have done, make known tothem the design of the temple and itsarrangement, its exits and its entrances,its en re design and all its ordinances, all

EZEKIEL 43 232its forms and all its laws. Write it downin their sight, so that they may keep itswhole design and all its ordinances, andperform them.12 "This is the law of the temple:The whole area surrounding themountaintop is most holy. Behold, this isthe law of the temple.13 "These are the measurements of thealtar in cubits (the cubit is one cubit anda handbreadth): the base one cubit highand one cubit wide, with a rim all aroundits edge of one span. This is the height ofthe altar:14 "from the base on the ground to thelower ledge, two cubits; the width of theledge, one cubit; from the smaller ledgeto the larger ledge, four cubits; and thewidth of the ledge, one cubit.15 "The altar hearth is four cubits high,with four horns extending upward fromthe hearth.

EZEKIEL 43 23316 "The altar hearth is twelve cubitslong, twelve wide, square at its fourcorners;17 "the ledge, fourteen cubits long andfourteen wide on its four sides, with arim of half a cubit around it; its base,one cubit all around; and its steps facetoward the east."18And He said to me, "Son of man,thus says the Lord GOD: ‘These are theordinances for the altar on the day whenit is made, for sacrificing burnt offeringson it, and for sprinkling blood on it.19 ‘You shall give a young bull for a sinoffering to the priests, the Levites, whoare of the seed of Zadok, who approachMe to minister to Me,’ says the LordGOD.20 ‘You shall take some of its blood andput it on the four horns of the altar, onthe four corners of the ledge, and on the

EZEKIEL 43 234rim around it; thus you shall cleanse itand make atonement for it.21 ‘Then you shall also take the bullof the sin offering, and burn it in theappointed place of the temple, outsidethe sanctuary.22 ‘On the second day you shall offer akid of the goats without blemish for a sinoffering; and they shall cleanse the altar,as they cleansed it with the bull.23 ‘When you have finished cleansingit, you shall offer a young bull withoutblemish, and a ram from the flockwithout blemish.24 ‘When you offer them before theLORD, the priests shall throw salt onthem, and they will offer them up as aburnt offering to the LORD.25 ‘Every day for seven days you shallprepare a goat for a sin offering; theyshall also prepare a young bull and a ramfrom the flock, both without blemish.

EZEKIEL 43–44 23526 ‘Seven days they shall makeatonement for the altar and purify it,and so consecrate it.27 ‘When these days are over it shallbe, on the eighth day and therea er,that the priests shall offer your burntofferings and your peace offerings onthe altar; and I will accept you,’ says theLord GOD."

44 1 Then He brought me back to theouter gate of the sanctuary which

faces toward the east, but it was shut.2And the LORD said to me, "This gateshall be shut; it shall not be opened, andno man shall enter by it, because theLORD God of Israel has entered by it;therefore it shall be shut.3 "As for the prince, because he is theprince, he may sit in it to eat breadbefore the LORD; he shall enter by wayof the ves bule of the gateway, and goout the same way."

EZEKIEL 44 2364Also He brought me by way of thenorth gate to the front of the temple;so I looked, and behold, the glory of theLORD filled the house of the LORD; and Ifell on my face.5And the LORD said to me, "Son ofman, mark well, see with your eyes andhear with your ears, all that I say to youconcerning all the ordinances of thehouse of the LORD and all its laws. Markwell who may enter the house and allwho go out from the sanctuary.6 "Now say to the rebellious, to thehouse of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD:"O house of Israel, let us have no moreof all your abomina ons.7 "When you brought in foreigners,uncircumcised in heart anduncircumcised in flesh, to be inMy sanctuary to defile it––My house––and when you offered My food, thefat and the blood, then they broke

EZEKIEL 44 237My covenant because of all yourabomina ons.8 "And you have not kept charge of Myholy things, but you have set others tokeep charge of My sanctuary for you."9 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Noforeigner, uncircumcised in heart oruncircumcised in flesh, shall enter Mysanctuary, including any foreigner who isamong the children of Israel.10 "And the Levites who went farfrom Me, when Israel went astray, whostrayed away from Me a er their idols,they shall bear their iniquity.11 "Yet they shall be ministers in Mysanctuary, as gatekeepers of the houseand ministers of the house; they shallslay the burnt offering and the sacrificefor the people, and they shall standbefore them to minister to them.12 "Because they ministered to thembefore their idols and caused the house

EZEKIEL 44 238of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore Ihave raised My hand in an oath againstthem," says the Lord GOD, "that theyshall bear their iniquity.13 "And they shall not come near Me tominister to Me as priest, nor come nearany of My holy things, nor into the MostHoly Place; but they shall bear theirshame and their abomina ons whichthey have commi ed.14 "Nevertheless I will make them keepcharge of the temple, for all its work,and for all that has to be done in it.15 "But the priests, the Levites, thesons of Zadok, who kept charge of Mysanctuary when the children of Israelwent astray from Me, they shall comenear Me to minister to Me; and theyshall stand before Me to offer to Me thefat and the blood," says the Lord GOD.16 "They shall enter My sanctuary,and they shall come near My table to

EZEKIEL 44 239minister to Me, and they shall keep Mycharge.17 "And it shall be, whenever theyenter the gates of the inner court, thatthey shall put on linen garments; nowool shall come upon them while theyminister within the gates of the innercourt or within the house.18 "They shall have linen turbans ontheir heads and linen trousers on theirbodies; they shall not clothe themselveswith anything that causes sweat.19 "When they go out to the outercourt, to the outer court to the people,they shall take off their garments inwhich they have ministered, leave themin the holy chambers, and put on othergarments; and in their holy garmentsthey shall not sanc fy the people.20 "They shall neither shave their headsnor let their hair grow long; but theyshall keep their hair well trimmed.

EZEKIEL 44 24021 "No priest shall drink wine when heenters the inner court.22 "They shall not take as wife a widowor a divorced woman, but take virgins ofthe descendants of the house of Israel,or widows of priests.23 "And they shall teach My peoplethe difference between the holy andthe unholy, and cause them to discernbetween the unclean and the clean.24 "In controversy they shall stand asjudges, and judge it according to Myjudgments. They shall keep My lawsand My statutes in all My appointedmee ngs, and they shall hallow MySabbaths.25 "They shall not defile themselves bycoming near a dead person. Only forfather or mother, for son or daughter,for brother or unmarried sister may theydefile themselves.

EZEKIEL 44 24126 "A er he is cleansed, they shall countseven days for him.27 "And on the day that he goes to thesanctuary to minister in the sanctuary,he must offer his sin offering in the innercourt," says the Lord GOD.28 "It shall be, in regard to theirinheritance, that I am their inheritance.You shall give them no possession inIsrael, for I am their possession.29 "They shall eat the grain offering, thesin offering, and the trespass offering;every dedicated thing in Israel shall betheirs.30 "The best of all firs ruits of any kind,and every sacrifice of any kind from allyour sacrifices, shall be the priest’s; alsoyou shall give to the priest the first ofyour ground meal, to cause a blessing torest on your house.

EZEKIEL 44–45 24231 "The priests shall not eat anything,bird or beast, that died naturally or wastorn by wild beasts.

45 1 "Moreover, when you divide theland by lot into inheritance, you

shall set apart a district for the LORD, aholy sec on of the land; its length shallbe twenty–five thousand cubits, andthe width ten thousand. It shall be holythroughout its territory all around.2 "Of this there shall be a square plotfor the sanctuary, five hundred by fivehundred rods, with fi y cubits around itfor an open space.3 "So this is the district you shallmeasure: twenty–five thousand cubitslong and ten thousand wide; in it shallbe the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.4 "It shall be a holy sec on of the land,belonging to the priests, the ministersof the sanctuary, who come near tominister to the LORD; it shall be a place

EZEKIEL 45 243for their houses and a holy place for thesanctuary.5 "An area twenty–five thousandcubits long and ten thousand wide shallbelong to the Levites, the ministersof the temple; they shall have twentychambers as a possession.6 "You shall appoint as the property ofthe city an area five thousand cubitswide and twenty–five thousand long,adjacent to the district of the holysec on; it shall belong to the wholehouse of Israel.7 "The prince shall have a sec on onone side and the other of the holydistrict and the city’s property; andbordering on the holy district and thecity’s property, extending westward onthe west side and eastward on the eastside, the length shall be side by side withone of the tribal por ons, from the westborder to the east border.

EZEKIEL 45 2448 "The land shall be his possession inIsrael; and My princes shall no moreoppress My people, but they shall givethe rest of the land to the house ofIsrael, according to their tribes."9 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Enough,O princes of Israel! Remove violenceand plundering, execute jus ce andrighteousness, and stop dispossessingMy people," says the Lord GOD.10 "You shall have honest scales, anhonest ephah, and an honest bath.11 "The ephah and the bath shall beof the same measure, so that the bathcontains one–tenth of a homer, andthe ephah one–tenth of a homer; theirmeasure shall be according to thehomer.12 "The shekel shall be twenty gerahs;twenty shekels, twenty–five shekels, andfi een shekels shall be your mina.

EZEKIEL 45 24513 "This is the offering which you shalloffer: you shall give one–sixth of anephah from a homer of wheat, andone–sixth of an ephah from a homer ofbarley.14 "The ordinance concerning oil, thebath of oil, is one–tenth of a bath froma kor. A kor is a homer or ten baths, forten baths are a homer.15 "And one lamb shall be given froma flock of two hundred, from the richpastures of Israel. These shall be forgrain offerings, burnt offerings, andpeace offerings, to make atonement forthem," says the Lord GOD.16 "All the people of the land shall givethis offering for the prince in Israel.17 "Then it shall be the prince’s partto give burnt offerings, grain offerings,and drink offerings, at the feasts, theNew Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all theappointed seasons of the house of Israel.

EZEKIEL 45 246He shall prepare the sin offering, thegrain offering, the burnt offering, andthe peace offerings to make atonementfor the house of Israel."18 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "In the firstmonth, on the first day of the month,you shall take a young bull withoutblemish and cleanse the sanctuary.19 "The priest shall take some of theblood of the sin offering and put it onthe doorposts of the temple, on the fourcorners of the ledge of the altar, and onthe gateposts of the gate of the innercourt.20 "And so you shall do on the seventhday of the month for everyone who hassinned uninten onally or in ignorance.Thus you shall make atonement for thetemple.21 "In the first month, on the fourteenthday of the month, you shall observe

EZEKIEL 45–46 247the Passover, a feast of seven days;unleavened bread shall be eaten.22 "And on that day the prince shallprepare for himself and for all the peopleof the land a bull for a sin offering.23 "On the seven days of the feasthe shall prepare a burnt offering tothe LORD, seven bulls and seven ramswithout blemish, daily for seven days,and a kid of the goats daily for a sinoffering.24 "And he shall prepare a grain offeringof one ephah for each bull and oneephah for each ram, together with a hinof oil for each ephah.25 "In the seventh month, on thefi eenth day of the month, at the feast,he shall do likewise for seven days,according to the sin offering, the burntoffering, the grain offering, and the oil."

46 1 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Thegateway of the inner court that

EZEKIEL 46 248faces toward the east shall be shut thesix working days; but on the Sabbath itshall be opened, and on the day of theNew Moon it shall be opened.2 "The prince shall enter by way ofthe ves bule of the gateway from theoutside, and stand by the gatepost. Thepriests shall prepare his burnt offeringand his peace offerings. He shall worshipat the threshold of the gate. Then heshall go out, but the gate shall not beshut un l evening.3 "Likewise the people of the land shallworship at the entrance to this gatewaybefore the LORD on the Sabbaths andthe New Moons.4 "The burnt offering that the princeoffers to the LORD on the Sabbath dayshall be six lambs without blemish, anda ram without blemish;5 "and the grain offering shall be oneephah for a ram, and the grain offering

EZEKIEL 46 249for the lambs, as much as he wants togive, as well as a hin of oil with everyephah.6 "On the day of the New Moon it shallbe a young bull without blemish, sixlambs, and a ram; they shall be withoutblemish.7 "He shall prepare a grain offering of anephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, asmuch as he wants to give for the lambs,and a hin of oil with every ephah.8 "When the prince enters, he shall goin by way of the ves bule of the gateway,and go out the same way.9 "But when the people of the landcome before the LORD on the appointedfeast days, whoever enters by way ofthe north gate to worship shall go outby way of the south gate; and whoeverenters by way of the south gate shall goout by way of the north gate. He shallnot return by way of the gate through

EZEKIEL 46 250which he came, but shall go out throughthe opposite gate.10 "The prince shall then be in theirmidst. When they go in, he shall go in;and when they go out, he shall go out.11 "At the fes vals and the appointedfeast days the grain offering shall be anephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, asmuch as he wants to give for the lambs,and a hin of oil with every ephah.12 "Now when the prince makes avoluntary burnt offering or voluntarypeace offering to the LORD, the gatethat faces toward the east shall then beopened for him; and he shall prepare hisburnt offering and his peace offerings ashe did on the Sabbath day. Then he shallgo out, and a er he goes out the gateshall be shut.13 "You shall daily make a burnt offeringto the LORD of a lamb of the first year

EZEKIEL 46 251without blemish; you shall prepare itevery morning.14 "And you shall prepare a grainoffering with it every morning, a sixth ofan ephah, and a third of a hin of oil tomoisten the fine flour. This grain offeringis a perpetual ordinance, to be maderegularly to the LORD.15 "Thus they shall prepare the lamb,the grain offering, and the oil, as aregular burnt offering every morning."16 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "If theprince gives a gi of some of hisinheritance to any of his sons, it shallbelong to his sons; it is their possessionby inheritance.17 "But if he gives a gi of some of hisinheritance to one of his servants, itshall be his un l the year of liberty, a erwhich it shall return to the prince. Buthis inheritance shall belong to his sons;it shall become theirs.

EZEKIEL 46 25218 "Moreover the prince shall nottake any of the people’s inheritance byevic ng them from their property; heshall provide an inheritance for his sonsfrom his own property, so that none ofMy people may be sca ered from hisproperty."’"19Now he brought me through theentrance, which was at the side of thegate, into the holy chambers of thepriests which face toward the north;and there a place was situated at theirextreme western end.20And he said to me, "This is the placewhere the priests shall boil the trespassoffering and the sin offering, and wherethey shall bake the grain offering, sothat they do not bring them out into theouter court to sanc fy the people."21 Then he brought me out into theouter court and caused me to pass bythe four corners of the court; and in fact,

EZEKIEL 46–47 253in every corner of the court there wasanother court.22 In the four corners of the court wereenclosed courts, forty cubits long andthirty wide; all four corners were thesame size.23 There was a row of building stonesall around in them, all around the four ofthem; and cooking hearths were madeunder the rows of stones all around.24And he said to me, "These are thekitchens where the ministers of thetemple shall boil the sacrifices of thepeople."

47 1 Then he brought me back tothe door of the temple; and

there was water, flowing from under thethreshold of the temple toward the east,for the front of the temple faced east;the water was flowing from under theright side of the temple, south of thealtar.

EZEKIEL 47 2542He brought me out by way of thenorth gate, and led me around on theoutside to the outer gateway that faceseast; and there was water, running outon the right side.3And when the man went out tothe east with the line in his hand, hemeasured one thousand cubits, and hebrought me through the waters; thewater came up to my ankles.4Again he measured one thousand andbrought me through the waters; thewater came up to my knees. Again hemeasured one thousand and broughtme through; the water came up to mywaist.5Again he measured one thousand,and it was a river that I could not cross;for the water was too deep, water inwhich one must swim, a river that couldnot be crossed.

EZEKIEL 47 2556He said to me, "Son of man, have youseen this?" Then he brought me andreturned me to the bank of the river.7When I returned, there, along thebank of the river, were very many treeson one side and the other.8 Then he said to me: "This water flowstoward the eastern region, goes downinto the valley, and enters the sea. Whenit reaches the sea, its waters are healed.9 "And it shall be that every living thingthat moves, wherever the rivers go, willlive. There will be a very great mul tudeof fish, because these waters go there;for they will be healed, and everythingwill live wherever the river goes.10 "It shall be that fishermen will standby it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they willbe places for spreading their nets. Theirfish will be of the same kinds as the fishof the Great Sea, exceedingly many.

EZEKIEL 47 25611 "But its swamps and marshes will notbe healed; they will be given over to salt.12 "Along the bank of the river, on thisside and that, will grow all kinds oftrees used for food; their leaves will notwither, and their fruit will not fail. Theywill bear fruit every month, becausetheir water flows from the sanctuary.Their fruit will be for food, and theirleaves for medicine."13 Thus says the Lord GOD: "These arethe borders by which you shall divide theland as an inheritance among the twelvetribes of Israel. Joseph shall have twopor ons.14 "You shall inherit it equally with oneanother; for I raised My hand in an oathto give it to your fathers, and this landshall fall to you as your inheritance.15 "This shall be the border of the landon the north: from the Great Sea, by theroad to Hethlon, as one goes to Zedad,

EZEKIEL 47 25716 "Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim (whichis between the border of Damascus andthe border of Hamath), to Hazar Ha con(which is on the border of Hauran).17 "Thus the boundary shall be fromthe Sea to Hazar Enan, the borderof Damascus; and as for the north,northward, it is the border of Hamath.This is the north side.18 "On the east side you shall mark outthe border from between Hauran andDamascus, and between Gilead and theland of Israel, along the Jordan, andalong the eastern side of the sea. This isthe east side.19 "The south side, toward the South,shall be from Tamar to the waters ofMeribah by Kadesh, along the brook tothe Great Sea. This is the south side,toward the South.20 "The west side shall be the Great Sea,from the southern boundary un l one

EZEKIEL 47–48 258comes to a point opposite Hamath. Thisis the west side.21 "Thus you shall divide this landamong yourselves according to thetribes of Israel.22 "It shall be that you will divide it bylot as an inheritance for yourselves, andfor the strangers who dwell among youand who bear children among you. Theyshall be to you as na ve–born amongthe children of Israel; they shall have aninheritance with you among the tribesof Israel.23 "And it shall be that in whatever tribethe stranger dwells, there you shall givehim his inheritance," says the Lord GOD.

48 1 "Now these are the names ofthe tribes: From the northern

border along the road to Hethlon at theentrance of Hamath, to Hazar Enan, theborder of Damascus northward, in thedirec on of Hamath, there shall be one

EZEKIEL 48 259sec on for Dan from its east to its westside;2 "by the border of Dan, from the eastside to the west, one sec on for Asher;3 "by the border of Asher, from theeast side to the west, one sec on forNaphtali;4 "by the border of Naphtali, from theeast side to the west, one sec on forManasseh;5 "by the border of Manasseh, from theeast side to the west, one sec on forEphraim;6 "by the border of Ephraim, from theeast side to the west, one sec on forReuben;7 "by the border of Reuben, from theeast side to the west, one sec on forJudah;8 "by the border of Judah, from the eastside to the west, shall be the districtwhich you shall set apart, twenty–five

EZEKIEL 48 260thousand cubits in width, and in lengththe same as one of the other por ons,from the east side to the west, with thesanctuary in the center.9 "The district that you shall set apartfor the LORD shall be twenty–fivethousand cubits in length and tenthousand in width.10 "To these––to the priests––theholy district shall belong: on the northtwenty–five thousand cubits in length,on the west ten thousand in width, onthe east ten thousand in width, andon the south twenty–five thousand inlength. The sanctuary of the LORD shallbe in the center.11 "It shall be for the priests of the sonsof Zadok, who are sanc fied, who havekept My charge, who did not go astraywhen the children of Israel went astray,as the Levites went astray.

EZEKIEL 48 26112 "And this district of land that is setapart shall be to them a thing most holyby the border of the Levites.13 "Opposite the border of the priests,the Levites shall have an area twenty–five thousand cubits in length and tenthousand in width; its en re length shallbe twenty–five thousand and its widthten thousand.14 "And they shall not sell or exchangeany of it; they may not alienate this bestpart of the land, for it is holy to theLORD.15 "The five thousand cubits in widththat remain, along the edge of thetwenty–five thousand, shall be forgeneral use by the city, for dwellings andcommon–land; and the city shall be inthe center.16 "These shall be its measurements:the north side four thousand fivehundred cubits, the south side four

EZEKIEL 48 262thousand five hundred, the east sidefour thousand five hundred, and thewest side four thousand five hundred.17 "The common–land of the city shallbe: to the north two hundred and fi ycubits, to the south two hundred andfi y, to the east two hundred and fi y,and to the west two hundred and fi y.18 "The rest of the length, alongsidethe district of the holy sec on, shall beten thousand cubits to the east and tenthousand to the west. It shall be adjacentto the district of the holy sec on, and itsproduce shall be food for the workers ofthe city.19 "The workers of the city, from all thetribes of Israel, shall cul vate it.20 "The en re district shall be twenty–five thousand cubits by twenty–fivethousand cubits, foursquare. You shallset apart the holy district with theproperty of the city.

EZEKIEL 48 26321 "The rest shall belong to the prince,on one side and on the other of the holydistrict and of the city’s property, next tothe twenty–five thousand cubits of theholy district as far as the eastern border,and westward next to the twenty–fivethousand as far as the western border,adjacent to the tribal por ons; it shallbelong to the prince. It shall be the holydistrict, and the sanctuary of the templeshall be in the center.22 "Moreover, apart from thepossession of the Levites and thepossession of the city which are in themidst of what belongs to the prince, thearea between the border of Judah andthe border of Benjamin shall belong tothe prince.23 "As for the rest of the tribes, fromthe east side to the west, Benjamin shallhave one sec on;

EZEKIEL 48 26424 "by the border of Benjamin, from theeast side to the west, Simeon shall haveone sec on;25 "by the border of Simeon, from theeast side to the west, Issachar shall haveone sec on;26 "by the border of Issachar, from theeast side to the west, Zebulun shall haveone sec on;27 "by the border of Zebulun, from theeast side to the west, Gad shall have onesec on;28 "by the border of Gad, on the southside, toward the South, the border shallbe from Tamar to the waters of Meribahby Kadesh, along the brook to the GreatSea.29 "This is the land which you shalldivide by lot as an inheritance amongthe tribes of Israel, and these are theirpor ons," says the Lord GOD.

EZEKIEL 48 26530 "These are the exits of the city. Onthe north side, measuring four thousandfive hundred cubits31 ‘(the gates of the city shall be nameda er the tribes of Israel), the three gatesnorthward: one gate for Reuben, onegate for Judah, and one gate for Levi;32 "on the east side, four thousand fivehundred cubits, three gates: one gate forJoseph, one gate for Benjamin, and onegate for Dan;33 "on the south side, measuring fourthousand five hundred cubits, threegates: one gate for Simeon, one gate forIssachar, and one gate for Zebulun;34 "on the west side, four thousand fivehundred cubits with their three gates:one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, andone gate for Naphtali.35 "All the way around shall be eighteenthousand cubits;and the name of the

EZEKIEL 48 266city from that day shall be: THE LORD ISTHERE."

Daniel

1 1 In the third year of the reignof Jehoiakim king of Judah,

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon cameto Jerusalem and besieged it.2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king ofJudah into his hand, with some of thear cles of the house of God, which hecarried into the land of Shinar to thehouse of his god; and he brought thear cles into the treasure house of hisgod.3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz,the master of his eunuchs, to bring someof the children of Israel and some ofthe king’s descendants and some of thenobles,4 young men in whom there was noblemish, but good–looking, gi ed in

DANIEL 1 2all wisdom, possessing knowledge andquick to understand, who had ability toserve in the king’s palace, and whomthey might teach the language andliterature of the Chaldeans.5And the king appointed for them adaily provision of the king’s delicaciesand of the wine which he drank, andthree years of training for them, so thatat the end of that me they might servebefore the king.6Now from among those of the sons ofJudah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,and Azariah.7 To them the chief of the eunuchsgave names: he gave Daniel the nameBelteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach;to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah,Abed–Nego.8 But Daniel purposed in his heart thathe would not defile himself with thepor on of the king’s delicacies, nor with

DANIEL 1 3the wine which he drank; therefore herequested of the chief of the eunuchsthat he might not defile himself.9Now God had brought Daniel into thefavor and goodwill of the chief of theeunuchs.10And the chief of the eunuchs saidto Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, whohas appointed your food and drink. Forwhy should he see your faces lookingworse than the young men who are yourage? Then you would endanger my headbefore the king."11 So Daniel said to the steward whomthe chief of the eunuchs had set overDaniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12 "Please test your servants for tendays, and let them give us vegetables toeat and water to drink.13 "Then let our appearance beexamined before you, and theappearance of the young men who eat

DANIEL 1 4the por on of the king’s delicacies;and as you see fit, so deal with yourservants."14 So he consented with them in thisma er, and tested them ten days.15And at the end of ten days theirfeatures appeared be er and fa er inflesh than all the young men who atethe por on of the king’s delicacies.16 Thus the steward took away theirpor on of delicacies and the wine thatthey were to drink, and gave themvegetables.17As for these four young men, Godgave them knowledge and skill in allliterature and wisdom; and Daniel hadunderstanding in all visions and dreams.18Now at the end of the days, whenthe king had said that they should bebrought in, the chief of the eunuchsbrought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

DANIEL 1–2 519 Then the king interviewed them, andamong them all none was found likeDaniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah;therefore they served before the king.20And in all ma ers of wisdom andunderstanding about which the kingexamined them, he found them tenmes be er than all the magicians and

astrologers who were in all his realm.21 Thus Daniel con nued un l the firstyear of King Cyrus.

2 1Now in the second yearof Nebuchadnezzar’s reign,

Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and hisspirit was so troubled that his sleep lehim.2 Then the king gave the command tocall the magicians, the astrologers, thesorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell theking his dreams. So they came and stoodbefore the king.

DANIEL 2 63And the king said to them, "I havehad a dream, and my spirit is anxious toknow the dream."4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the kingin Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tellyour servants the dream, and we willgive the interpreta on."5 The king answered and said to theChaldeans, "My decision is firm: if youdo not make known the dream to me,and its interpreta on, you shall be cut inpieces, and your houses shall be madean ash heap.6 "However, if you tell the dream andits interpreta on, you shall receive fromme gi s, rewards, and great honor.Therefore tell me the dream and itsinterpreta on."7 They answered again and said, "Letthe king tell his servants the dream, andwe will give its interpreta on."

DANIEL 2 78 The king answered and said, "I knowfor certain that you would gain me,because you see that my decision is firm:9 "if you do not make known the dreamto me, there is only one decree for you!For you have agreed to speak lying andcorrupt words before me ll the me haschanged. Therefore tell me the dream,and I shall know that you can give me itsinterpreta on."10 The Chaldeans answered the king,and said, "There is not a man on earthwho can tell the king’s ma er; thereforeno king, lord, or ruler has ever askedsuch things of any magician, astrologer,or Chaldean.11 "It is a difficult thing that the kingrequests, and there is no other who cantell it to the king except the gods, whosedwelling is not with flesh."

DANIEL 2 812 For this reason the king was angryand very furious, and gave a commandto destroy all the wise men of Babylon.13 So the decree went out, and theybegan killing the wise men; and theysought Daniel and his companions, to killthem.14 Then with counsel and wisdomDaniel answered Arioch, the captain ofthe king’s guard, who had gone out tokill the wise men of Babylon;15 he answered and said to Arioch theking’s captain, "Why is the decree fromthe king so urgent?" Then Arioch madethe decision known to Daniel.16 So Daniel went in and asked the kingto give him me, that he might tell theking the interpreta on.17 Then Daniel went to his house, andmade the decision known to Hananiah,Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,

DANIEL 2 918 that they might seek merciesfrom the God of heaven concerningthis secret, so that Daniel and hiscompanions might not perish with therest of the wise men of Babylon.19 Then the secret was revealed toDaniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessedthe God of heaven.20Daniel answered and said: "Blessedbe the name of God forever and ever,For wisdom and might are His.21And He changes the mes and theseasons; He removes kings and raisesup kings; He gives wisdom to the wiseAnd knowledge to those who haveunderstanding.22He reveals deep and secret things;He knows what is in the darkness, Andlight dwells with Him.23 "I thank You and praise You, O God ofmy fathers; You have given me wisdomand might, And have now made known

DANIEL 2 10to me what we asked of You, For Youhave made known to us the king’sdemand."24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch,whom the king had appointed to destroythe wise men of Babylon. He went andsaid thus to him: "Do not destroy thewise men of Babylon; take me beforethe king, and I will tell the king theinterpreta on."25 Then Arioch quickly brought Danielbefore the king, and said thus to him,"I have found a man of the cap ves ofJudah, who will make known to the kingthe interpreta on."26 The king answered and said toDaniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,"Are you able to make known to methe dream which I have seen, and itsinterpreta on?"27Daniel answered in the presence ofthe king, and said, "The secret which

DANIEL 2 11the king has demanded, the wise men,the astrologers, the magicians, and thesoothsayers cannot declare to the king.28 "But there is a God in heaven whoreveals secrets, and He has made knownto King Nebuchadnezzar what will bein the la er days. Your dream, and thevisions of your head upon your bed,were these:29 "As for you, O king, thoughts cameto your mind while on your bed, aboutwhat would come to pass a er this; andHe who reveals secrets has made knownto you what will be.30 "But as for me, this secret has notbeen revealed to me because I havemore wisdom than anyone living, butfor our sakes who make known theinterpreta on to the king, and that youmay know the thoughts of your heart.31 "You, O king, were watching; andbehold, a great image! This great image,

DANIEL 2 12whose splendor was excellent, stoodbefore you; and its form was awesome.32 "This image’s head was of fine gold,its chest and arms of silver, its belly andthighs of bronze,33 "its legs of iron, its feet partly of ironand partly of clay.34 "You watched while a stone was cutout without hands, which struck theimage on its feet of iron and clay, andbroke them in pieces.35 "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze,the silver, and the gold were crushedtogether, and became like chaff fromthe summer threshing floors; the windcarried them away so that no traceof them was found. And the stonethat struck the image became a greatmountain and filled the whole earth.36 "This is the dream. Now we will tellthe interpreta on of it before the king.

DANIEL 2 1337 "You, O king, are a king of kings.For the God of heaven has given you akingdom, power, strength, and glory;38 "and wherever the children of mendwell, or the beasts of the field and thebirds of the heaven, He has given theminto your hand, and has made you rulerover them all––you are this head of gold.39 "But a er you shall arise anotherkingdom inferior to yours; then another,a third kingdom of bronze, which shallrule over all the earth.40 "And the fourth kingdom shall be asstrong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaksin pieces and sha ers everything; andlike iron that crushes, that kingdom willbreak in pieces and crush all the others.41 "Whereas you saw the feet and toes,partly of po er’s clay and partly of iron,the kingdom shall be divided; yet thestrength of the iron shall be in it, just

DANIEL 2 14as you saw the iron mixed with ceramicclay.42 "And as the toes of the feet werepartly of iron and partly of clay, so thekingdom shall be partly strong and partlyfragile.43 "As you saw iron mixed with ceramicclay, they will mingle with the seed ofmen; but they will not adhere to oneanother, just as iron does not mix withclay.44 "And in the days of these kings theGod of heaven will set up a kingdomwhich shall never be destroyed; andthe kingdom shall not be le to otherpeople; it shall break in pieces andconsume all these kingdoms, and it shallstand forever.45 "Inasmuch as you saw that the stonewas cut out of the mountain withouthands, and that it broke in pieces theiron, the bronze, the clay, the silver,

DANIEL 2 15and the gold––the great God has madeknown to the king what will come topass a er this. The dream is certain, andits interpreta on is sure."46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell onhis face, prostrate before Daniel, andcommanded that they should present anoffering and incense to him.47 The king answered Daniel, and said,"Truly your God is the God of gods, theLord of kings, and a revealer of secrets,since you could reveal this secret."48 Then the king promoted Daniel andgave him many great gi s; and he madehim ruler over the whole province ofBabylon, and chief administrator over allthe wise men of Babylon.49Also Daniel pe oned the king,and he set Shadrach, Meshach, andAbed–Nego over the affairs of theprovince of Babylon; but Daniel sat inthe gate of the king.

DANIEL 3 16

3 1Nebuchadnezzar the king madean image of gold, whose height was

sixty cubits and its width six cubits. Heset it up in the plain of Dura, in theprovince of Babylon.2And King Nebuchadnezzar sent wordto gather together the satraps, theadministrators, the governors, thecounselors, the treasurers, the judges,the magistrates, and all the officials ofthe provinces, to come to the dedica onof the imagewhich King Nebuchadnezzarhad set up.3 So the satraps, the administrators,the governors, the counselors, thetreasurers, the judges, the magistrates,and all the officials of the provincesgathered together for the dedica on ofthe image that King Nebuchadnezzarhad set up; and they stood before theimage that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

DANIEL 3 174 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you itis commanded, O peoples, na ons, andlanguages,5 "that at the me you hear the sound ofthe horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,in symphony with all kinds of music, youshall fall down and worship the goldimage that King Nebuchadnezzar has setup;6 "and whoever does not fall down andworship shall be cast immediately intothe midst of a burning fiery furnace."7 So at that me, when all the peopleheard the sound of the horn, flute, harp,and lyre, in symphony with all kindsof music, all the people, na ons, andlanguages fell down and worshiped thegold image which King Nebuchadnezzarhad set up.8 Therefore at that me certainChaldeans came forward and accusedthe Jews.

DANIEL 3 189 They spoke and said to KingNebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!10 "You, O king, have made a decreethat everyone who hears the sound ofthe horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery,in symphony with all kinds of music, shallfall down and worship the gold image;11 "and whoever does not fall down andworship shall be cast into the midst of aburning fiery furnace.12 "There are certain Jews whom youhave set over the affairs of the provinceof Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, andAbed–Nego; these men, O king, havenot paid due regard to you. They donot serve your gods or worship the goldimage which you have set up."13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rageand fury, gave the command to bringShadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego. Sothey brought these men before the king.

DANIEL 3 1914Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying tothem, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach,and Abed–Nego, that you do not servemy gods or worship the gold imagewhich I have set up?15 "Now if you are ready at the me youhear the sound of the horn, flute, harp,lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with allkinds of music, and you fall down andworship the image which I have made,good! But if you do not worship, youshall be cast immediately into the midstof a burning fiery furnace. And who isthe god who will deliver you from myhands?"16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Negoanswered and said to the king, "ONebuchadnezzar, we have no need toanswer you in this ma er.17 "If that is the case, our God whomwe serve is able to deliver us from the

DANIEL 3 20burning fiery furnace, and He will deliverus from your hand, O king.18 "But if not, let it be known to you, Oking, that we do not serve your gods, norwill we worship the gold image whichyou have set up."19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full offury, and the expression on his facechanged toward Shadrach,Meshach, andAbed–Nego. He spoke and commandedthat they heat the furnace seven mesmore than it was usually heated.20And he commanded certain mightymen of valor who were in his army tobind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Nego, and cast them into the burningfiery furnace.21 Then these men were bound in theircoats, their trousers, their turbans, andtheir other garments, and were cast intothe midst of the burning fiery furnace.

DANIEL 3 2122 Therefore, because the king’scommand was urgent, and the furnaceexceedingly hot, the flame of the firekilled those men who took up Shadrach,Meshach, and Abed–Nego.23And these three men, Shadrach,Meshach, and Abed–Nego, fell downbound into the midst of the burning fieryfurnace.24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar wasastonished; and he rose in haste andspoke, saying to his counselors, "Did wenot cast three men bound into the midstof the fire?" They answered and said tothe king, "True, O king."25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four menloose, walking in the midst of the fire;and they are not hurt, and the form ofthe fourth is like the Son of God."26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near themouth of the burning fiery furnace andspoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and

DANIEL 3 22Abed–Nego, servants of the Most HighGod, come out, and come here." ThenShadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Negocame from the midst of the fire.27And the satraps, administrators,governors, and the king’s counselorsgathered together, and they saw thesemen on whose bodies the fire had nopower; the hair of their head was notsinged nor were their garments affected,and the smell of fire was not on them.28Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying,"Blessed be the God of Shadrach,Meshach, and Abed–Nego, who sent HisAngel and delivered His servants whotrusted in Him, and they have frustratedthe king’s word, and yielded their bodies,that they should not serve nor worshipany god except their own God!29 "Therefore I make a decree thatany people, na on, or language whichspeaks anything amiss against the God

DANIEL 3–4 23of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–Negoshall be cut in pieces, and their housesshall be made an ash heap; becausethere is no other God who can deliverlike this."30 Then the king promoted Shadrach,Meshach, and Abed–Nego in theprovince of Babylon.

4 1Nebuchadnezzar the king, To allpeoples, na ons, and languages

that dwell in all the earth: Peace bemul plied to you.2 I thought it good to declare the signsand wonders that the Most High Godhas worked for me.3How great are His signs, And howmighty His wonders! His kingdom is aneverlas ng kingdom, And His dominionis from genera on to genera on.4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in myhouse, and flourishing in my palace.

DANIEL 4 245 I saw a dream which made me afraid,and the thoughts on my bed and thevisions of my head troubled me.6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring inall the wise men of Babylon before me,that they might make known to me theinterpreta on of the dream.7 Then the magicians, the astrologers,the Chaldeans, and the soothsayerscame in, and I told them the dream;but they did not make known to me itsinterpreta on.8 But at last Daniel came before me(his name is Belteshazzar, according tothe name of my god; in him is the Spiritof the Holy God), and I told the dreambefore him, saying:9 "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians,because I know that the Spirit of the HolyGod is in you, and no secret troubles you,explain to me the visions of my dreamthat I have seen, and its interpreta on.

DANIEL 4 2510 "These were the visions of my headwhile on my bed: "I was looking, andbehold, A tree in the midst of the earth,And its height was great.11 The tree grew and became strong;Its height reached to the heavens, Andit could be seen to the ends of all theearth.12 Its leaves were lovely, Its fruitabundant, And in it was food for all. Thebeasts of the field found shade underit, The birds of the heavens dwelt in itsbranches, And all flesh was fed from it.13 "I saw in the visions of my head whileon my bed, and there was a watcher, aholy one, coming down from heaven.14He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chopdown the tree and cut off its branches,Strip off its leaves and sca er its fruit.Let the beasts get out from under it, Andthe birds from its branches.

DANIEL 4 2615Nevertheless leave the stump androots in the earth, Bound with a bandof iron and bronze, In the tender grassof the field. Let it be wet with the dewof heaven, And let him graze with thebeasts On the grass of the earth.16 Let his heart be changed from thatof a man, Let him be given the heart ofa beast, And let seven mes pass overhim.17 ‘This decision is by the decree ofthe watchers, And the sentence by theword of the holy ones, In order that theliving may know That the Most Highrules in the kingdom of men, Gives it towhomever He will, And sets over it thelowest of men.’18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar,have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar,declare its interpreta on, since all thewise men of my kingdom are not able tomake known to me the interpreta on;

DANIEL 4 27but you are able, for the Spirit of theHoly God is in you."19 Then Daniel, whose name wasBelteshazzar, was astonished for a me,and his thoughts troubled him. So theking spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, donot let the dream or its interpreta ontrouble you." Belteshazzar answeredand said, "My lord, may the dreamconcern those who hate you, and itsinterpreta on concern your enemies!20 The tree that you saw, which grewand became strong, whose heightreached to the heavens and which couldbe seen by all the earth,21whose leaves were lovely and itsfruit abundant, in which was food forall, under which the beasts of the fielddwelt, and in whose branches the birdsof the heaven had their home––22 it is you, O king, who have grown andbecome strong; for your greatness has

DANIEL 4 28grown and reaches to the heavens, andyour dominion to the end of the earth.23And inasmuch as the king saw awatcher, a holy one, coming down fromheaven and saying, ‘Chop down the treeand destroy it, but leave its stump androots in the earth, bound with a bandof iron and bronze in the tender grassof the field; let it be wet with the dewof heaven, and let him graze with thebeasts of the field, ll seven mes passover him’;24 this is the interpreta on, 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, yourdwelling shall be with the beasts of thefield, and they shall make you eat grasslike oxen. They shall wet you with thedew of heaven, and seven mes shallpass over you, ll you know that the

DANIEL 4 29Most High rules in the kingdom of men,and gives it to whomever He chooses.26And inasmuch as they gave thecommand to leave the stump and rootsof the tree, your kingdom shall beassured to you, a er you come to knowthat Heaven rules.27 Therefore, O king, let my advice beacceptable to you; break off your sinsby being righteous, and your iniqui esby showing mercy to the poor. Perhapsthere may be a lengthening of yourprosperity."28All this came upon KingNebuchadnezzar.29At the end of the twelve months hewas walking about the royal palace ofBabylon.30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not thisgreat Babylon, that I have built for aroyal dwelling by my mighty power andfor the honor of my majesty?"

DANIEL 4 3031While the word was s ll in the king’smouth, a voice fell from heaven: "KingNebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: thekingdom has departed from you!32And they shall drive you from men,and your dwelling shall be with thebeasts of the field. They shall make youeat grass like oxen; and seven mes shallpass over you, un l you know that theMost High rules in the kingdom of men,and gives it to whomever He chooses."33 That very hour the word was fulfilledconcerning Nebuchadnezzar; he wasdriven from men and ate grass likeoxen; his body was wet with the dew ofheaven ll his hair had grown like eagles’feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.34And at the end of the me I,Nebuchadnezzar, li ed my eyes toheaven, and my understanding returnedto me; and I blessed the Most Highand praised and honored Him who

DANIEL 4–5 31lives forever: For His dominion is aneverlas ng dominion, And His kingdomis from genera on to genera on.35All the inhabitants of the earth arereputed as nothing; He does accordingto His will in the army of heaven Andamong the inhabitants of the earth. Noone can restrain His hand Or say to Him,"What have You done?"36At the same memy reason returnedto me, and for the glory of my kingdom,my honor and splendor returned to me.My counselors and nobles resorted tome, I was restored to my kingdom, andexcellent majesty was added to me.37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise andextol and honor the King of heaven, allof whose works are truth, and His waysjus ce. And those who walk in pride Heis able to put down.

5 1 Belshazzar the king made a greatfeast for a thousand of his lords,

DANIEL 5 32and drank wine in the presence of thethousand.2While he tasted the wine, Belshazzargave the command to bring the goldand silver vessels which his fatherNebuchadnezzar had taken from thetemple which had been in Jerusalem,that the king and his lords, his wives, andhis concubines might drink from them.3 Then they brought the gold vesselsthat had been taken from the templeof the house of God which had been inJerusalem; and the king and his lords, hiswives, and his concubines drank fromthem.4 They drank wine, and praised the godsof gold and silver, bronze and iron, woodand stone.5 In the same hour the fingers of aman’shand appeared and wrote opposite thelampstand on the plaster of the wall of

DANIEL 5 33the king’s palace; and the king saw thepart of the hand that wrote.6 Then the king’s countenance changed,and his thoughts troubled him, so thatthe joints of his hips were loosened andhis knees knocked against each other.7 The king cried aloud to bring in theastrologers, the Chaldeans, and thesoothsayers. The king spoke, saying tothe wise men of Babylon, "Whoeverreads this wri ng, and tells me itsinterpreta on, shall be clothed withpurple and have a chain of gold aroundhis neck; and he shall be the third rulerin the kingdom."8Now all the king’s wise men came, butthey could not read the wri ng, or makeknown to the king its interpreta on.9 Then King Belshazzar was greatlytroubled, his countenance was changed,and his lords were astonished.

DANIEL 5 3410 The queen, because of the wordsof the king and his lords, came to thebanquet hall. The queen spoke, saying,"O king, live forever! Do not let yourthoughts trouble you, nor let yourcountenance change.11 "There is a man in your kingdomin whom is the Spirit of the Holy God.And in the days of your father, lightand understanding and wisdom, likethe wisdom of the gods, were foundin him; and King Nebuchadnezzar yourfather––your father the king––madehim chief of the magicians, astrologers,Chaldeans, and soothsayers.12 "Inasmuch as an excellent spirit,knowledge, understanding, interpre ngdreams, solving riddles, and explainingenigmas were found in this Daniel,whom the king named Belteshazzar, nowlet Daniel be called, and he will give theinterpreta on."

DANIEL 5 3513 Then Daniel was brought in beforethe king. The king spoke, and said toDaniel, "Are you that Daniel who is oneof the cap ves from Judah, whom myfather the king brought from Judah?14 "I have heard of you, that the Spiritof God is in you, and that light andunderstanding and excellent wisdom arefound in you.15 "Now the wise men, the astrologers,have been brought in before me, thatthey should read this wri ng and makeknown to me its interpreta on, but theycould not give the interpreta on of thething.16 "And I have heard of you, that youcan give interpreta ons and explainenigmas. Now if you can read thewri ng and make known to me itsinterpreta on, you shall be clothed withpurple and have a chain of gold around

DANIEL 5 36your neck, and shall be the third ruler inthe kingdom."17 Then Daniel answered, and saidbefore the king, "Let your gi s be foryourself, and give your rewards toanother; yet I will read the wri ng tothe king, and make known to him theinterpreta on.18 "O king, the Most High God gaveNebuchadnezzar your father a kingdomand majesty, glory and honor.19 "And because of the majesty thatHe gave him, all peoples, na ons, andlanguages trembled and feared beforehim. Whomever he wished, he executed;whomever he wished, he kept alive;whomever he wished, he set up; andwhomever he wished, he put down.20 "But when his heart was li ed up,and his spirit was hardened in pride, hewas deposed from his kingly throne, andthey took his glory from him.

DANIEL 5 3721 "Then he was driven from the sonsof men, his heart was made like thebeasts, and his dwelling was with thewild donkeys. They fed him with grasslike oxen, and his body was wet withthe dew of heaven, ll he knew that theMost High God rules in the kingdom ofmen, and appoints over it whomever Hechooses.22 "But you his son, Belshazzar, havenot humbled your heart, although youknew all this.23 "And you have li ed yourself upagainst the Lord of heaven. They havebrought the vessels of His house beforeyou, and you and your lords, your wivesand your concubines, have drunk winefrom them. And you have praised thegods of silver and gold, bronze and iron,wood and stone, which do not see orhear or know; and the God who holds

DANIEL 5 38your breath in His hand and owns allyour ways, you have not glorified.24 "Then the fingers of the hand weresent from Him, and this wri ng waswri en.25 "And this is the inscrip on thatwas wri en: MENE, MENE, TEKEL,UPHARSIN.26 "This is the interpreta on of eachword. MENE: God has numbered yourkingdom, and finished it;27 "TEKEL: You have been weighed inthe balances, and found wan ng;28 "PERES: Your kingdom has beendivided, and given to the Medes andPersians."29 Then Belshazzar gave the command,and they clothed Daniel with purple andput a chain of gold around his neck, andmade a proclama on concerning himthat he should be the third ruler in thekingdom.

DANIEL 5–6 3930 That very night Belshazzar, king ofthe Chaldeans, was slain.31And Darius the Mede received thekingdom, being about sixty–two yearsold.

6 1 It pleased Darius to set over thekingdom one hundred and twenty

satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;2 and over these, three governors, ofwhom Daniel was one, that the satrapsmight give account to them, so that theking would suffer no loss.3 Then this Daniel dis nguished himselfabove the governors and satraps,because an excellent spirit was in him;and the king gave thought to se ng himover the whole realm.4 So the governors and satraps soughtto find some charge against Danielconcerning the kingdom; but they couldfind no charge or fault, because he was

DANIEL 6 40faithful; nor was there any error or faultfound in him.5 Then these men said, "We shall notfind any charge against this Daniel unlesswe find it against him concerning the lawof his God."6 So these governors and satrapsthronged before the king, and said thusto him: "King Darius, live forever!7 "All the governors of the kingdom,the administrators and satraps, thecounselors and advisors, have consultedtogether to establish a royal statute andto make a firm decree, that whoeverpe ons any god or man for thirty days,except you, O king, shall be cast into theden of lions.8 "Now, O king, establish the decreeand sign the wri ng, so that it cannotbe changed, according to the law of theMedes and Persians, which does notalter."

DANIEL 6 419 Therefore King Darius signed thewri en decree.10Now when Daniel knew that thewri ng was signed, he went home. Andin his upper room, with his windowsopen toward Jerusalem, he knelt downon his knees three mes that day, andprayed and gave thanks before his God,as was his custom since early days.11 Then these men assembled andfound Daniel praying and makingsupplica on before his God.12And they went before the king, andspoke concerning the king’s decree:"Have you not signed a decree thatevery man who pe ons any god or manwithin thirty days, except you, O king,shall be cast into the den of lions?" Theking answered and said, "The thing istrue, according to the law of the Medesand Persians, which does not alter."

DANIEL 6 4213 So they answered and said beforethe king, "That Daniel, who is one of thecap ves from Judah, does not show dueregard for you, O king, or for the decreethat you have signed, but makes hispe on three mes a day."14And the king, when he heard thesewords, was greatly displeased withhimself, and set his heart on Daniel todeliver him; and he labored ll the goingdown of the sun to deliver him.15 Then these men approached theking, and said to the king, "Know, Oking, that it is the law of the Medes andPersians that no decree or statute whichthe king establishes may be changed."16 So the king gave the command, andthey brought Daniel and cast him intothe den of lions. But the king spoke,saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom youserve con nually, He will deliver you."

DANIEL 6 4317 Then a stone was brought and laidon the mouth of the den, and the kingsealed it with his own signet ring andwith the signets of his lords, that thepurpose concerning Daniel might not bechanged.18Now the king went to his palace andspent the night fas ng; and no musicianswere brought before him. Also his sleepwent from him.19 Then the king arose very early in themorning and went in haste to the den oflions.20And when he came to the den, hecried out with a lamen ng voice toDaniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel,"Daniel, servant of the living God, hasyour God, whom you serve con nually,been able to deliver you from the lions?"21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king,live forever!

DANIEL 6 4422 "My God sent His angel and shut thelions’ mouths, so that they have nothurt me, because I was found innocentbefore Him; and also, O king, I have doneno wrong before you."23 Then the king was exceedingly gladfor him, and commanded that theyshould take Daniel up out of the den. SoDaniel was taken up out of the den, andno injury whatever was found on him,because he believed in his God.24And the king gave the command,and they brought those men who hadaccused Daniel, and they cast theminto the den of lions––them, theirchildren, and their wives; and the lionsoverpowered them, and broke all theirbones in pieces before they ever cameto the bo om of the den.25 Then King Darius wrote: To allpeoples, na ons, and languages that

DANIEL 6–7 45dwell in all the earth: Peace bemul pliedto you.26 I make a decree that in everydominion of my kingdom men musttremble and fear before the God ofDaniel. For He is the living God, Andsteadfast forever; His kingdom is the onewhich shall not be destroyed, And Hisdominion shall endure to the end.27He delivers and rescues, And Heworks signs and wonders In heaven andon earth, Who has delivered Daniel fromthe power of the lions.28 So this Daniel prospered in the reignof Darius and in the reign of Cyrus thePersian.

7 1 In the first year of Belshazzar kingof Babylon, Daniel had a dream and

visions of his head while on his bed.Then he wrote down the dream, tellingthe main facts.

DANIEL 7 462Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in myvision by night, and behold, the fourwinds of heaven were s rring up theGreat Sea.3 "And four great beasts came up fromthe sea, each different from the other.4 "The first was like a lion, and hadeagle’s wings. I watched ll its wingswere plucked off; and it was li ed upfrom the earth and made to stand ontwo feet like a man, and a man’s heartwas given to it.5 "And suddenly another beast, asecond, like a bear. It was raised up onone side, and had three ribs in its mouthbetween its teeth. And they said thus toit: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’6 "A er this I looked, and there wasanother, like a leopard, which had on itsback four wings of a bird. The beast alsohad four heads, and dominion was givento it.

DANIEL 7 477 "A er this I saw in the night visions,and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful andterrible, exceedingly strong. It had hugeiron teeth; it was devouring, breakingin pieces, and trampling the residuewith its feet. It was different from all thebeasts that were before it, and it had tenhorns.8 "I was considering the horns, andthere was another horn, a li le one,coming up among them, before whomthree of the first horns were plucked outby the roots. And there, in this horn,were eyes like the eyes of a man, and amouth speaking pompous words.9 "I watched ll thrones were put inplace, And the Ancient of Days wasseated; His garment was white as snow,And the hair of His head was like purewool. His throne was a fiery flame, Itswheels a burning fire;

DANIEL 7 4810A fiery stream issued And came forthfrom before Him. A thousand thousandsministered to Him; Ten thousand mesten thousand stood before Him. Thecourt was seated, And the books wereopened.11 "I watched then because of thesound of the pompous words which thehorn was speaking; I watched ll thebeast was slain, and its body destroyedand given to the burning flame.12 "As for the rest of the beasts, theyhad their dominion taken away, yet theirlives were prolonged for a season and ame.13 "I was watching in the night visions,And behold, One like the Son of Man,Coming with the clouds of heaven! Hecame to the Ancient of Days, And theybrought Him near before Him.14 Then to Him was given dominion andglory and a kingdom, That all peoples,

DANIEL 7 49na ons, and languages should serveHim. His dominion is an everlas ngdominion, Which shall not pass away,And His kingdom the one Which shallnot be destroyed.15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spiritwithin my body, and the visions of myhead troubled me.16 "I came near to one of those whostood by, and asked him the truth of allthis. So he told me and made known tome the interpreta on of these things:17 ‘Those great beasts, which are four,are four kings which arise out of theearth.18 ‘But the saints of the Most High shallreceive the kingdom, and possess thekingdom forever, even forever and ever.’19 "Then I wished to know the truthabout the fourth beast, which wasdifferent from all the others, exceedinglydreadful, with its teeth of iron and its

DANIEL 7 50nails of bronze, which devoured, brokein pieces, and trampled the residue withits feet;20 "and the ten horns that were on itshead, and the other horn which cameup, before which three fell, namely,that horn which had eyes and a mouthwhich spoke pompous words, whoseappearance was greater than his fellows.21 "I was watching; and the same hornwas making war against the saints, andprevailing against them,22 "un l the Ancient of Days came,and a judgment was made in favor ofthe saints of the Most High, and theme came for the saints to possess the

kingdom.23 "Thus he said: ‘The fourth beastshall be A fourth kingdom on earth,Which shall be different from all otherkingdoms, And shall devour the wholeearth, Trample it and break it in pieces.

DANIEL 7 5124 The ten horns are ten kings Who shallarise from this kingdom. And anothershall rise a er them; He shall be differentfrom the first ones, And shall subduethree kings.25He shall speak pompous wordsagainst the Most High, Shall persecutethe saints of the Most High, And shallintend to change mes and law. Thenthe saints shall be given into his handFor a me and mes and half a me.26 ‘But the court shall be seated, Andthey shall take away his dominion, Toconsume and destroy it forever.27 Then the kingdom and dominion,And the greatness of the kingdomsunder the whole heaven, Shall be givento the people, the saints of the MostHigh. His kingdom is an everlas ngkingdom, And all dominions shall serveand obey Him.’

DANIEL 7–8 5228 "This is the end of the account. As forme, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubledme, and my countenance changed; but Ikept the ma er in my heart."

8 1 In the third year of the reign ofKing Belshazzar a vision appeared to

me––to me, Daniel––a er the one thatappeared to me the first me.2 I saw in the vision, and it so happenedwhile I was looking, that I was inShushan, the citadel, which is in theprovince of Elam; and I saw in the visionthat I was by the River Ulai.3 Then I li ed my eyes and saw, andthere, standing beside the river, was aram which had two horns, and the twohorns were high; but one was higherthan the other, and the higher one cameup last.4 I saw the ram pushing westward,northward, and southward, so that noanimal could withstand him; nor was

DANIEL 8 53there any that could deliver from hishand, but he did according to his willand became great.5And as I was considering, suddenly amale goat came from the west, acrossthe surface of the whole earth, withouttouching the ground; and the goat had anotable horn between his eyes.6 Then he came to the ram that had twohorns, which I had seen standing besidethe river, and ran at him with furiouspower.7And I saw him confron ng the ram;he was moved with rage against him,a acked the ram, and broke his twohorns. There was no power in the ram towithstand him, but he cast him down tothe ground and trampled him; and therewas no one that could deliver the ramfrom his hand.8 Therefore the male goat grew verygreat; but when he became strong, the

DANIEL 8 54large horn was broken, and in place of itfour notable ones came up toward thefour winds of heaven.9And out of one of them came a li lehorn which grew exceedingly greattoward the south, toward the east, andtoward the Glorious Land.10And it grew up to the host of heaven;and it cast down some of the host andsome of the stars to the ground, andtrampled them.11He even exalted himself as high asthe Prince of the host; and by him thedaily sacrifices were taken away, and theplace of His sanctuary was cast down.12 Because of transgression, an armywas given over to the horn to opposethe daily sacrifices; and he cast truthdown to the ground. He did all this andprospered.13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; andanother holy one said to that certain one

DANIEL 8 55who was speaking, "How long will thevision be, concerning the daily sacrificesand the transgression of desola on, thegiving of both the sanctuary and thehost to be trampled under foot?"14And he said tome, "For two thousandthree hundred days; then the sanctuaryshall be cleansed."15 Then it happened, when I, Daniel,had seen the vision and was seekingthe meaning, that suddenly there stoodbefore me one having the appearance ofa man.16And I heard a man’s voice betweenthe banks of the Ulai, who called, andsaid, "Gabriel, make thisman understandthe vision."17 So he came near where I stood, andwhen he came I was afraid and fell onmy face; but he said to me, "Understand,son of man, that the vision refers to theme of the end."

DANIEL 8 5618Now, as he was speaking with me, Iwas in a deep sleep with my face to theground; but he touched me, and stoodme upright.19And he said, "Look, I am makingknown to you what shall happen in thela er me of the indigna on; for at theappointed me the end shall be.20 "The ram which you saw, having thetwo horns––they are the kings of Mediaand Persia.21 "And the male goat is the kingdom ofGreece. The large horn that is betweenits eyes is the first king.22 "As for the broken horn and the fourthat stood up in its place, four kingdomsshall arise out of that na on, but notwith its power.23 "And in the la er me of theirkingdom, When the transgressors havereached their fullness, A king shall arise,

DANIEL 8 57Having fierce features, Who understandssinister schemes.24His power shall be mighty, but notby his own power; He shall destroyfearfully, And shall prosper and thrive;He shall destroy the mighty, and also theholy people.25 "Through his cunning He shall causedeceit to prosper under his rule; Andhe shall exalt himself in his heart. Heshall destroy many in their prosperity.He shall even rise against the Prince ofprinces; But he shall be broken withouthuman means.26 "And the vision of the eveningsand mornings Which was told is true;Therefore seal up the vision, For it refersto many days in the future."27And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick fordays; a erward I arose and went aboutthe king’s business. I was astonished bythe vision, but no one understood it.

DANIEL 9 58

9 1 In the first year of Darius the sonof Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the

Medes, who was made king over therealm of the Chaldeans––2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel,understood by the books the number ofthe years specified by the word of theLORD through Jeremiah the prophet,that He would accomplish seventy yearsin the desola ons of Jerusalem.3 Then I set my face toward the LordGod to make request by prayer andsupplica ons, with fas ng, sackcloth,and ashes.4And I prayed to the LORD my God,and made confession, and said, "O Lord,great and awesome God, who keeps Hiscovenant and mercy with those wholove Him, and with those who keep Hiscommandments,5 "we have sinned and commi ediniquity, we have done wickedly and

DANIEL 9 59rebelled, even by depar ng from Yourprecepts and Your judgments.6 "Neither have we heeded Yourservants the prophets, who spoke inYour name to our kings and our princes,to our fathers and all the people of theland.7 "O Lord, righteousness belongs toYou, but to us shame of face, as it isthis day––to the men of Judah, to theinhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel,those near and those far off in all thecountries to which You have driventhem, because of the unfaithfulnesswhich they have commi ed against You.8 "O Lord, to us belongs shame offace, to our kings, our princes, and ourfathers, because we have sinned againstYou.9 "To the Lord our God belong mercyand forgiveness, though we haverebelled against Him.

DANIEL 9 6010 "We have not obeyed the voice ofthe LORD our God, to walk in His laws,which He set before us by His servantsthe prophets.11 "Yes, all Israel has transgressed Yourlaw, and has departed so as not to obeyYour voice; therefore the curse and theoath wri en in the Law of Moses theservant of God have been poured out onus, because we have sinned against Him.12 "And He has confirmed His words,which He spoke against us and againstour judges who judged us, by bringingupon us a great disaster; for under thewhole heaven such has never been doneas what has been done to Jerusalem.13 "As it is wri en in the Law of Moses,all this disaster has come upon us; yetwe have not made our prayer before theLORD our God, that we might turn fromour iniqui es and understand Your truth.

DANIEL 9 6114 "Therefore the LORD has kept thedisaster in mind, and brought it upon us;for the LORD our God is righteous in allthe works which He does, though wehave not obeyed His voice.15 "And now, O Lord our God, whobrought Your people out of the land ofEgypt with a mighty hand, and madeYourself a name, as it is this day––wehave sinned, we have done wickedly!16 "O Lord, according to all Yourrighteousness, I pray, let Your anger andYour fury be turned away from Your cityJerusalem, Your holy mountain; becausefor our sins, and for the iniqui es of ourfathers, Jerusalem and Your people are areproach to all those around us.17 "Now therefore, our God, hearthe prayer of Your servant, and hissupplica ons, and for the Lord’s sakecause Your face to shine on Yoursanctuary, which is desolate.

DANIEL 9 6218 "O my God, incline Your ear andhear; open Your eyes and see ourdesola ons, and the city which is calledby Your name; for we do not present oursupplica ons before You because of ourrighteous deeds, but because of Yourgreat mercies.19 "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! OLord, listen and act! Do not delay forYour own sake, my God, for Your city andYour people are called by Your name."20Now while I was speaking, praying,and confessing my sin and the sin ofmy people Israel, and presen ng mysupplica on before the LORDmy God forthe holy mountain of my God,21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer,the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in thevision at the beginning, being caused tofly swi ly, reached me about the me ofthe evening offering.

DANIEL 9 6322And he informed me, and talkedwith me, and said, "O Daniel, I havenow come forth to give you skill tounderstand.23 "At the beginning of yoursupplica ons the command wentout, and I have come to tell you, for youare greatly beloved; therefore considerthe ma er, and understand the vision:24 "Seventy weeks are determinedFor your people and for your holy city,To finish the transgression, To makean end of sins, To make reconcilia onfor iniquity, To bring in everlas ngrighteousness, To seal up vision andprophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.25 "Know therefore and understand,That from the going forth of thecommand To restore and buildJerusalem Un l Messiah the Prince,There shall be seven weeks and sixty–two weeks; The street shall be built

DANIEL 9–10 64again, and the wall, Even in troublesomemes.26 "And a er the sixty–two weeksMessiah shall be cut off, but not forHimself; And the people of the princewho is to come Shall destroy the cityand the sanctuary. The end of it shall bewith a flood, And ll the end of the wardesola ons are determined.27 Then he shall confirm a covenantwith many for one week; But in themiddle of the week He shall bring an endto sacrifice and offering. And on the wingof abomina ons shall be one who makesdesolate, Even un l the consumma on,which is determined, Is poured out onthe desolate."

10 1 In the third year of Cyrus kingof Persia a message was revealed

to Daniel, whose name was calledBelteshazzar. The message was true,but the appointed me was long; and

DANIEL 10 65he understood the message, and hadunderstanding of the vision.2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourningthree full weeks.3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat orwine came into my mouth, nor did Ianoint myself at all, ll three wholeweeks were fulfilled.4Now on the twenty–fourth day of thefirst month, as I was by the side of thegreat river, that is, the Tigris,5 I li ed my eyes and looked, andbehold, a certain man clothed in linen,whose waist was girded with gold ofUphaz!6His body was like beryl, his face likethe appearance of lightning, his eyes liketorches of fire, his arms and feet likeburnished bronze in color, and the soundof his words like the voice of a mul tude.7And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision,for the men who were with me did not

DANIEL 10 66see the vision; but a great terror fellupon them, so that they fled to hidethemselves.8 Therefore I was le alone when Isaw this great vision, and no strengthremained in me; for my vigor wasturned to frailty in me, and I retained nostrength.9 Yet I heard the sound of his words;and while I heard the sound of his wordsI was in a deep sleep on my face, withmy face to the ground.10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, whichmade me tremble on my knees and onthe palms of my hands.11And he said to me, "O Daniel, mangreatly beloved, understand the wordsthat I speak to you, and stand upright,for I have now been sent to you." Whilehe was speaking this word to me, I stoodtrembling.

DANIEL 10 6712 Then he said to me, "Do not fear,Daniel, for from the first day that you setyour heart to understand, and to humbleyourself before your God, your wordswere heard; and I have come because ofyour words.13 "But the prince of the kingdom ofPersia withstood me twenty–one days;and behold, Michael, one of the chiefprinces, came to help me, for I had beenle alone there with the kings of Persia.14 "Now I have come to make youunderstand what will happen to yourpeople in the la er days, for the visionrefers to many days yet to come."15When he had spoken such words tome, I turned my face toward the groundand became speechless.16And suddenly, one having thelikeness of the sons of men touchedmy lips; then I opened my mouth andspoke, saying to him who stood before

DANIEL 10 68me, "My lord, because of the vision mysorrows have overwhelmed me, and Ihave retained no strength.17 "For how can this servant of my lordtalk with you, my lord? As for me, nostrength remains in me now, nor is anybreath le in me."18 Then again, the one having thelikeness of a man touched me andstrengthened me.19And he said, "O man greatly beloved,fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes,be strong!" So when he spoke to me Iwas strengthened, and said, "Let my lordspeak, for you have strengthened me."20 Then he said, "Do you know whyI have come to you? And now I mustreturn to fight with the prince of Persia;and when I have gone forth, indeed theprince of Greece will come.21 "But I will tell you what is noted inthe Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds

DANIEL 11 69me against these, except Michael yourprince.)

11 1 ("Also in the first year of Dariusthe Mede, I, even I, stood up to

confirm and strengthen him.)2 "And now I will tell you the truth:Behold, three more kings will arise inPersia, and the fourth shall be far richerthan them all; by his strength, throughhis riches, he shall s r up all against therealm of Greece.3 "Then a mighty king shall arise, whoshall rule with great dominion, and doaccording to his will.4 "And when he has arisen, his kingdomshall be broken up and divided towardthe four winds of heaven, but notamong his posterity nor according tohis dominion with which he ruled; forhis kingdom shall be uprooted, even forothers besides these.

DANIEL 11 705 "Also the king of the South shallbecome strong, as well as one of hisprinces; and he shall gain power overhim and have dominion. His dominionshall be a great dominion.6 "And at the end of some years theyshall join forces, for the daughter of theking of the South shall go to the kingof the North to make an agreement;but she shall not retain the power ofher authority, and neither he nor hisauthority shall stand; but she shall begiven up, with those who brought her,and with him who begot her, and withhim who strengthened her in thosemes.7 "But from a branch of her roots oneshall arise in his place, who shall comewith an army, enter the fortress of theking of the North, and deal with themand prevail.

DANIEL 11 718 "And he shall also carry their godscap ve to Egypt, with their princes andtheir precious ar cles of silver and gold;and he shall con nue more years thanthe king of the North.9 "Also the king of the North shall cometo the kingdom of the king of the South,but shall return to his own land.10 "However his sons shall s r up strife,and assemble a mul tude of greatforces; and one shall certainly come andoverwhelm and pass through; then heshall return to his fortress and s r upstrife.11 "And the king of the South shall bemoved with rage, and go out and fightwith him, with the king of the North,who shall muster a great mul tude; butthe mul tude shall be given into thehand of his enemy.12 "When he has taken away themul tude, his heart will be li ed up; and

DANIEL 11 72he will cast down tens of thousands, buthe will not prevail.13 "For the king of the North will returnand muster a mul tude greater than theformer, and shall certainly come at theend of some years with a great army andmuch equipment.14 "Now in those mes many shall riseup against the king of the South. Also,violent men of your people shall exaltthemselves in fulfillment of the vision,but they shall fall.15 "So the king of the North shall comeand build a siege mound, and take afor fied city; and the forces of the Southshall not withstand him. Even his choicetroops shall have no strength to resist.16 "But he who comes against him shalldo according to his own will, and no oneshall stand against him. He shall stand inthe Glorious Land with destruc on in hispower.

DANIEL 11 7317 "He shall also set his face to enterwith the strength of his whole kingdom,and upright ones with him; thus shall hedo. And he shall give him the daughterof women to destroy it; but she shall notstand with him, or be for him.18 "A er this he shall turn his face tothe coastlands, and shall take many. Buta ruler shall bring the reproach againstthem to an end; and with the reproachremoved, he shall turn back on him.19 "Then he shall turn his face towardthe fortress of his own land; but he shallstumble and fall, and not be found.20 "There shall arise in his place onewho imposes taxes on the gloriouskingdom; but within a few days he shallbe destroyed, but not in anger or inba le.21 "And in his place shall arise a vileperson, to whom they will not give thehonor of royalty; but he shall come in

DANIEL 11 74peaceably, and seize the kingdom byintrigue.22 "With the force of a flood they shallbe swept away from before him andbe broken, and also the prince of thecovenant.23 "And a er the league is made withhim he shall act decei ully, for he shallcome up and become strong with a smallnumber of people.24 "He shall enter peaceably, eveninto the richest places of the province;and he shall do what his fathers havenot done, nor his forefathers: he shalldisperse among them the plunder, spoil,and riches; and he shall devise his plansagainst the strongholds, but only for ame.25 "He shall s r up his power and hiscourage against the king of the Southwith a great army. And the king of theSouth shall be s rred up to ba le with a

DANIEL 11 75very great and mighty army; but he shallnot stand, for they shall devise plansagainst him.26 "Yes, those who eat of the por on ofhis delicacies shall destroy him; his armyshall be swept away, and many shall falldown slain.27 "Both these kings’ hearts shall bebent on evil, and they shall speak lies atthe same table; but it shall not prosper,for the end will s ll be at the appointedme.28 "While returning to his land withgreat riches, his heart shall be movedagainst the holy covenant; so he shall dodamage and return to his own land.29 "At the appointed me he shallreturn and go toward the south; but itshall not be like the former or the la er.30 "For ships from Cyprus shall comeagainst him; therefore he shall begrieved, and return in rage against the

DANIEL 11 76holy covenant, and do damage. So heshall return and show regard for thosewho forsake the holy covenant.31 "And forces shall be mustered byhim, and they shall defile the sanctuaryfortress; then they shall take away thedaily sacrifices, and place there theabomina on of desola on.32 "Those who do wickedly against thecovenant he shall corrupt with fla ery;but the people who know their God shallbe strong, and carry out great exploits.33 "And those of the people whounderstand shall instruct many; yet formany days they shall fall by sword andflame, by cap vity and plundering.34 "Now when they fall, they shall beaided with a li le help; but many shalljoin with them by intrigue.35 "And some of those of understandingshall fall, to refine them, purify them,and make them white, un l the me

DANIEL 11 77of the end; because it is s ll for theappointed me.36 "Then the king shall do according tohis own will: he shall exalt and magnifyhimself above every god, shall speakblasphemies against the God of gods,and shall prosper ll the wrath hasbeen accomplished; for what has beendetermined shall be done.37 "He shall regard neither the God ofhis fathers nor the desire of women, norregard any god; for he shall exalt himselfabove them all.38 "But in their place he shall honor agod of fortresses; and a god which hisfathers did not know he shall honor withgold and silver, with precious stones andpleasant things.39 "Thus he shall act against thestrongest fortresses with a foreigngod, which he shall acknowledge, andadvance its glory; and he shall cause

DANIEL 11 78them to rule over many, and divide theland for gain.40 "At the me of the end the king ofthe South shall a ack him; and the kingof the North shall come against him likea whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen,and with many ships; and he shall enterthe countries, overwhelm them, andpass through.41 "He shall also enter the GloriousLand, and many countries shall beoverthrown; but these shall escapefrom his hand: Edom, Moab, and theprominent people of Ammon.42 "He shall stretch out his hand againstthe countries, and the land of Egypt shallnot escape.43 "He shall have power over thetreasures of gold and silver, and over allthe precious things of Egypt; also theLibyans and Ethiopians shall follow at hisheels.

DANIEL 11–12 7944 "But news from the east and thenorth shall trouble him; therefore heshall go out with great fury to destroyand annihilate many.45 "And he shall plant the tents ofhis palace between the seas and theglorious holy mountain; yet he shallcome to his end, and no one will helphim.

12 1 "At that meMichael shall standup, The great prince who stands

watch over the sons of your people; Andthere shall be a me of trouble, Suchas never was since there was a na on,Even to that me. And at that me yourpeople shall be delivered, Every one whois found wri en in the book.2And many of those who sleep in thedust of the earth shall awake, Someto everlas ng life, Some to shame andeverlas ng contempt.

DANIEL 12 803 Those who are wise shall shine Likethe brightness of the firmament, Andthose who turn many to righteousnessLike the stars forever and ever.4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words,and seal the book un l the me of theend; many shall run to and fro, andknowledge shall increase."5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and therestood two others, one on this riverbankand the other on that riverbank.6And one said to the man clothed inlinen, who was above the waters of theriver, "How long shall the fulfillment ofthese wonders be?"7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen,who was above the waters of the river,when he held up his right hand and hisle hand to heaven, and swore by Himwho lives forever, that it shall be for ame, mes, and half a me; and when

the power of the holy people has been

DANIEL 12 81completely sha ered, all these thingsshall be finished.8Although I heard, I did not understand.Then I said, "My lord, what shall be theend of these things?"9And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, forthe words are closed up and sealed llthe me of the end.10 "Many shall be purified, madewhite, and refined, but the wicked shalldo wickedly; and none of the wickedshall understand, but the wise shallunderstand.11 "And from the me that thedaily sacrifice is taken away, and theabomina on of desola on is set up,there shall be one thousand twohundred and ninety days.12 "Blessed is he who waits, and comesto the one thousand three hundred andthirty–five days.

DANIEL 12 8213 "But you, go your way ll the end;for you shall rest, and will arise to yourinheritance at the end of the days."

Hosea

1 1 The word of the LORD that cameto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the

days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, andHezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the daysof Jeroboam the son of Joash, king ofIsrael.2When the LORD began to speak byHosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go, takeyourself a wife of harlotry And childrenof harlotry, For the land has commi edgreat harlotry By depar ng from theLORD."3 So he went and took Gomer thedaughter of Diblaim, and she conceivedand bore him a son.4 Then the LORD said to him: "Call hisname Jezreel, For in a li le while I willavenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the

HOSEA 1 2house of Jehu, And bring an end to thekingdom of the house of Israel.5 It shall come to pass in that day That Iwill break the bow of Israel in the Valleyof Jezreel."6And she conceived again and bore adaughter. Then God said to him: "Call hername Lo–Ruhamah, For I will no longerhave mercy on the house of Israel, But Iwill u erly take them away.7 Yet I will have mercy on the house ofJudah, Will save them by the LORD theirGod, And will not save them by bow,Nor by sword or ba le, By horses orhorsemen."8Now when she had weaned Lo–Ruhamah, she conceived and bore ason.9 Then God said: "Call his nameLo–Ammi, For you are not My people,And I will not be your God.

HOSEA 1–2 310 "Yet the number of the childrenof Israel Shall be as the sand of thesea, Which cannot be measured ornumbered. And it shall come to pass Inthe place where it was said to them, ‘Youare not My people,’ There it shall be saidto them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’11 Then the children of Judah and thechildren of Israel Shall be gatheredtogether, And appoint for themselvesone head; And they shall come up outof the land, For great will be the day ofJezreel!

2 1 Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’And to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’

2 "Bring charges against your mother,bring charges; For she is not My wife,nor am I her Husband! Let her put awayher harlotries from her sight, And heradulteries from between her breasts;3 Lest I strip her naked And expose her,as in the day she was born, And make

HOSEA 2 4her like a wilderness, And set her like adry land, And slay her with thirst.4 "I will not have mercy on her children,For they are the children of harlotry.5 For their mother has played theharlot; She who conceived them hasbehaved shamefully. For she said, ‘I willgo a er my lovers, Who give me mybread and my water, My wool and mylinen, My oil and my drink.’6 "Therefore, behold, I will hedge upyour way with thorns, And wall her in, Sothat she cannot find her paths.7 She will chase her lovers, But notovertake them; Yes, she will seek them,but not find them. Then she will say, ‘Iwill go and return to my first husband,For then it was be er for me than now.’8 For she did not know That I gaveher grain, new wine, and oil, Andmul plied her silver and gold––Whichthey prepared for Baal.

HOSEA 2 59 "Therefore I will return and take awayMy grain in its me And My new winein its season, And will take back Mywool and My linen, Given to cover hernakedness.10Now I will uncover her lewdness inthe sight of her lovers, And no one shalldeliver her from My hand.11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease,Her feast days, Her New Moons, HerSabbaths––All her appointed feasts.12 "And I will destroy her vines and herfig trees, Of which she has said, ‘Theseare my wages that my lovers have givenme.’ So I will make them a forest, Andthe beasts of the field shall eat them.13 I will punish her For the days of theBaals to which she burned incense. Shedecked herself with her earrings andjewelry, And went a er her lovers; ButMe she forgot," says the LORD.

HOSEA 2 614 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her,Will bring her into the wilderness, Andspeak comfort to her.15 I will give her her vineyards fromthere, And the Valley of Achor as a doorof hope; She shall sing there, As in thedays of her youth, As in the day whenshe came up from the land of Egypt.16 "And it shall be, in that day," Saysthe LORD, "That you will call Me ‘MyHusband,’ And no longer call Me ‘MyMaster,’17 For I will take from her mouth thenames of the Baals, And they shall beremembered by their name no more.18 In that day I will make a covenantfor them With the beasts of the field,With the birds of the air, And with thecreeping things of the ground. Bow andsword of ba le I will sha er from theearth, To make them lie down safely.

HOSEA 2–3 719 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes,I will betroth you to Me In righteousnessand jus ce, In lovingkindness and mercy;20 I will betroth you to Me infaithfulness, And you shall know theLORD.21 "It shall come to pass in that dayThat I will answer," says the LORD; "Iwill answer the heavens, And they shallanswer the earth.22 The earth shall answer With grain,With new wine, And with oil; They shallanswer Jezreel.23 Then I will sow her for Myself in theearth, And I will have mercy on her whohad not obtained mercy; Then I will sayto those who were not My people, ‘Youare My people!’ And they shall say, ‘Youare my God!’"

3 1 Then the LORD said to me, "Goagain, love a woman who is loved by

a lover and is commi ng adultery, just

HOSEA 3–4 8like the love of the LORD for the childrenof Israel, who look to other gods andlove the raisin cakes of the pagans."2 So I bought her for myself for fi eenshekels of silver, and one and one–halfhomers of barley.3And I said to her, "You shall stay withme many days; you shall not play theharlot, nor shall you have a man––so,too, will I be toward you."4 For the children of Israel shall abidemany days without king or prince,without sacrifice or sacred pillar, withoutephod or teraphim.5A erward the children of Israel shallreturn and seek the LORD their God andDavid their king. They shall fear the LORDand His goodness in the la er days.

4 1Hear the word of the LORD, Youchildren of Israel, For the LORD

brings a charge against the inhabitants

HOSEA 4 9of the land: "There is no truth or mercyOr knowledge of God in the land.2 By swearing and lying, Killing andstealing and commi ng adultery, Theybreak all restraint, With bloodshed uponbloodshed.3 Therefore the land will mourn; Andeveryone who dwells there will wasteaway With the beasts of the field Andthe birds of the air; Even the fish of thesea will be taken away.4 "Now let no man contend, or rebukeanother; For your people are like thosewho contend with the priest.5 Therefore you shall stumble in theday; The prophet also shall stumble withyou in the night; And I will destroy yourmother.6My people are destroyed for lack ofknowledge. Because you have rejectedknowledge, I also will reject you frombeing priest for Me; Because you have

HOSEA 4 10forgo en the law of your God, I also willforget your children.7 "The more they increased, The morethey sinned against Me; I will changetheir glory into shame.8 They eat up the sin of My people;They set their heart on their iniquity.9And it shall be: like people, like priest.So I will punish them for their ways, Andreward them for their deeds.10 For they shall eat, but not haveenough; They shall commit harlotry, butnot increase; Because they have ceasedobeying the LORD.11 "Harlotry, wine, and new wineenslave the heart.12My people ask counsel from theirwooden idols, And their staff informsthem. For the spirit of harlotry hascaused them to stray, And they haveplayed the harlot against their God.

HOSEA 4 1113 They offer sacrifices on themountaintops, And burn incense onthe hills, Under oaks, poplars, andterebinths, Because their shade isgood. Therefore your daughters commitharlotry, And your brides commitadultery.14 "I will not punish your daughterswhen they commit harlotry, Nor yourbrides when they commit adultery;For the men themselves go apart withharlots, And offer sacrifices with a ritualharlot. Therefore people who do notunderstand will be trampled.15 "Though you, Israel, play the harlot,Let not Judah offend. Do not come upto Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Norswear an oath, saying, ‘As the LORD lives’––16 "For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborncalf; Now the LORD will let them forageLike a lamb in open country.

HOSEA 4–5 1217 "Ephraim is joined to idols, Let himalone.18 Their drink is rebellion, They commitharlotry con nually. Her rulers dearlylove dishonor.19 The wind has wrapped her up inits wings, And they shall be ashamedbecause of their sacrifices.

5 1 "Hear this, O priests! Take heed,O house of Israel! Give ear, O house

of the king! For yours is the judgment,Because you have been a snare toMizpah And a net spread on Tabor.2 The revolters are deeply involved inslaughter, Though I rebuke them all.3 I know Ephraim, And Israel is nothidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim,you commit harlotry; Israel is defiled.4 "They do not direct their deedsToward turning to their God, For thespirit of harlotry is in their midst, Andthey do not know the LORD.

HOSEA 5 135 The pride of Israel tes fies to his face;Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble intheir iniquity; Judah also stumbles withthem.6 "With their flocks and herds Theyshall go to seek the LORD, But they willnot find Him; He has withdrawn Himselffrom them.7 They have dealt treacherously withthe LORD, For they have bego en paganchildren. Now a New Moon shall devourthem and their heritage.8 "Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, Thetrumpet in Ramah! Cry aloud at BethAven, ‘Look behind you, O Benjamin!’9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the dayof rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel Imake known what is sure.10 "The princes of Judah are like thosewho remove a landmark; I will pour outMy wrath on them like water.

HOSEA 5–6 1411 Ephraim is oppressed and broken injudgment, Because he willingly walkedby human precept.12 Therefore I will be to Ephraim like amoth, And to the house of Judah likero enness.13 "When Ephraim saw his sickness,And Judah saw his wound, Then Ephraimwent to Assyria And sent to King Jareb;Yet he cannot cure you, Nor heal you ofyour wound.14 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,And like a young lion to the house ofJudah. I, even I, will tear them and goaway; I will take them away, and no oneshall rescue.15 I will return again to My place Tillthey acknowledge their offense. Thenthey will seek My face; In their afflic onthey will earnestly seek Me."

6 1 Come, and let us return to theLORD; For He has torn, but He will

HOSEA 6 15heal us; He has stricken, but He will bindus up.2A er two days He will revive us; Onthe third day He will raise us up, That wemay live in His sight.3 Let us know, Let us pursue theknowledge of the LORD. His going forthis established as the morning; He willcome to us like the rain, Like the la erand former rain to the earth.4 "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? OJudah, what shall I do to you? For yourfaithfulness is like a morning cloud, Andlike the early dew it goes away.5 Therefore I have hewn them by theprophets, I have slain them by the wordsof My mouth; And your judgments arelike light that goes forth.6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,And the knowledge of God more thanburnt offerings.

HOSEA 6–7 167 "But like men they transgressed thecovenant; There they dealt treacherouslywith Me.8Gilead is a city of evildoers, Anddefiled with blood.9As bands of robbers lie in wait for aman, So the company of priests murderon the way to Shechem; Surely theycommit lewdness.10 I have seen a horrible thing in thehouse of Israel: There is the harlotry ofEphraim; Israel is defiled.11Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointedfor you, When I return the cap ves ofMy people.

7 1 "When I would have healed Israel,Then the iniquity of Ephraim was

uncovered, And the wickedness ofSamaria. For they have commi ed fraud;A thief comes in; A band of robbers takesspoil outside.

HOSEA 7 172 They do not consider in their heartsThat I remember all their wickedness;Now their own deeds have surroundedthem; They are before My face.3 They make a king glad with theirwickedness, And princes with their lies.4 "They are all adulterers. Like an ovenheated by a baker––He ceases s rringthe fire a er kneading the dough, Un lit is leavened.5 In the day of our king Princes havemade him sick, inflamed with wine; Hestretched out his hand with scoffers.6 They prepare their heart like an oven,While they lie in wait; Their baker sleepsall night; In the morning it burns like aflaming fire.7 They are all hot, like an oven, Andhave devoured their judges; All theirkings have fallen. None among themcalls upon Me.

HOSEA 7 188 "Ephraim has mixed himself amongthe peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned.9Aliens have devoured his strength, Buthe does not know it; Yes, gray hairs arehere and there on him, Yet he does notknow it.10And the pride of Israel tes fies to hisface, But they do not return to the LORDtheir God, Nor seek Him for all this.11 "Ephraim also is like a silly dove,without sense––They call to Egypt, Theygo to Assyria.12Wherever they go, I will spread Mynet on them; I will bring them downlike birds of the air; I will chas se themAccording to what their congrega onhas heard.13 "Woe to them, for they have fledfrom Me! Destruc on to them, Becausethey have transgressed against Me!Though I redeemed them, Yet they havespoken lies against Me.

HOSEA 7–8 1914 They did not cry out to Me with theirheart When they wailed upon theirbeds. "They assemble together for grainand new wine, They rebel against Me;15 Though I disciplined andstrengthened their arms, Yet theydevise evil against Me;16 They return, but not to the MostHigh; They are like a treacherous bow.Their princes shall fall by the sword Forthe cursings of their tongue. This shallbe their derision in the land of Egypt.

8 1 "Set the trumpet to your mouth!He shall come like an eagle against

the house of the LORD, Because theyhave transgressed My covenant Andrebelled against My law.2 Israel will cry to Me, ‘My God, weknow You!’3 Israel has rejected the good; Theenemy will pursue him.

HOSEA 8 204 "They set up kings, but not byMe; They made princes, but I didnot acknowledge them. From theirsilver and gold They made idols forthemselves––That they might be cut off.5 Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! Myanger is aroused against them––Howlong un l they a ain to innocence?6 For from Israel is even this: A workmanmade it, and it is not God; But the calf ofSamaria shall be broken to pieces.7 "They sow the wind, And reap thewhirlwind. The stalk has no bud; Itshall never produce meal. If it shouldproduce, Aliens would swallow it up.8 Israel is swallowed up; Now theyare among the Gen les Like a vessel inwhich is no pleasure.9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Likea wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraimhas hired lovers.

HOSEA 8–9 2110 Yes, though they have hired amongthe na ons, Now I will gather them; Andthey shall sorrow a li le, Because of theburden of the king of princes.11 "Because Ephraim has made manyaltars for sin, They have become for himaltars for sinning.12 I have wri en for him the great thingsof My law, But they were considered astrange thing.13 For the sacrifices of My offeringsthey sacrifice flesh and eat it, But theLORD does not accept them. Now Hewill remember their iniquity and punishtheir sins. They shall return to Egypt.14 "For Israel has forgo en his Maker,And has built temples; Judah also hasmul plied for fied ci es; But I will sendfire upon his ci es, And it shall devourhis palaces."

9 1Do not rejoice, O Israel, with joy likeother peoples, For you have played

HOSEA 9 22the harlot against your God. You havemade love for hire on every threshingfloor.2 The threshing floor and the winepressShall not feed them, And the new wineshall fail in her.3 They shall not dwell in the LORD’Sland, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt,And shall eat unclean things in Assyria.4 They shall not offer wine offerings tothe LORD, Nor shall their sacrifices bepleasing to Him. It shall be like bread ofmourners to them; All who eat it shall bedefiled. For their bread shall be for theirown life; It shall not come into the houseof the LORD.5What will you do in the appointed day,And in the day of the feast of the LORD?6 For indeed they are gone because ofdestruc on. Egypt shall gather them up;Memphis shall bury them. Ne les shall

HOSEA 9 23possess their valuables of silver; Thornsshall be in their tents.7 The days of punishment have come;The days of recompense have come.Israel knows! The prophet is a fool, Thespiritual man is insane, Because of thegreatness of your iniquity and greatenmity.8 The watchman of Ephraim is with myGod; But the prophet is a fowler’s snarein all his ways––Enmity in the house ofhis God.9 They are deeply corrupted, As in thedays of Gibeah. He will remember theiriniquity; He will punish their sins.10 "I found Israel Like grapes in thewilderness; I saw your fathers As thefirs ruits on the fig tree in its firstseason. But they went to Baal Peor, Andseparated themselves to that shame;They became an abomina on like thething they loved.

HOSEA 9 2411As for Ephraim, their glory shall flyaway like a bird––No birth, no pregnancy,and no concep on!12 Though they bring up their children,Yet I will bereave them to the last man.Yes, woe to them when I depart fromthem!13 Just as I saw Ephraim like Tyre,planted in a pleasant place, So Ephraimwill bring out his children to themurderer."14Give them, O LORD––What will Yougive? Give them a miscarrying wombAnd dry breasts!15 "All their wickedness is in Gilgal, Forthere I hated them. Because of the evilof their deeds I will drive them from Myhouse; I will love them no more. All theirprinces are rebellious.16 Ephraim is stricken, Their root isdried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes,

HOSEA 9–10 25were they to bear children, I would killthe darlings of their womb."17My God will cast them away, Becausethey did not obey Him; And they shall bewanderers among the na ons.

10 1 Israel emp es his vine; Hebrings forth fruit for himself.

According to the mul tude of his fruitHe has increased the altars; Accordingto the bounty of his land They haveembellished his sacred pillars.2 Their heart is divided; Now they areheld guilty. He will break down theiraltars; He will ruin their sacred pillars.3 For now they say, "We have no king,Because we did not fear the LORD. Andas for a king, what would he do for us?"4 They have spoken words, Swearingfalsely in making a covenant. Thusjudgment springs up like hemlock in thefurrows of the field.

HOSEA 10 265 The inhabitants of Samaria fearBecause of the calf of Beth Aven. Forits people mourn for it, And its priestsshriek for it––Because its glory hasdeparted from it.6 The idol also shall be carried to AssyriaAs a present for King Jareb. Ephraimshall receive shame, And Israel shall beashamed of his own counsel.7As for Samaria, her king is cut off Likea twig on the water.8Also the high places of Aven, the sin ofIsrael, Shall be destroyed. The thorn andthistle shall grow on their altars; Theyshall say to the mountains, "Cover us!"And to the hills, "Fall on us!"9 "O Israel, you have sinned from thedays of Gibeah; There they stood. Theba le in Gibeah against the children ofiniquity Did not overtake them.10When it is My desire, I will chastenthem. Peoples shall be gathered against

HOSEA 10 27them When I bind them for their twotransgressions.11 Ephraim is a trained heifer That lovesto thresh grain; But I harnessed her fairneck, I will make Ephraim pull a plow.Judah shall plow; Jacob shall break hisclods."12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;Reap in mercy; Break up your fallowground, For it is me to seek the LORD,Till He comes and rains righteousness onyou.13 You have plowed wickedness; Youhave reaped iniquity. You have eatenthe fruit of lies, Because you trusted inyour own way, In the mul tude of yourmighty men.14 Therefore tumult shall arise amongyour people, And all your fortresses shallbe plundered As Shalman plunderedBeth Arbel in the day of ba le––A

HOSEA 10–11 28mother dashed in pieces upon herchildren.15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,Because of your great wickedness. Atdawn the king of Israel Shall be cut offu erly.

11 1 "When Israel was a child, I lovedhim, And out of Egypt I called My

son.2As they called them, So they wentfrom them; They sacrificed to the Baals,And burned incense to carved images.3 "I taught Ephraim to walk, Takingthem by their arms; But they did notknow that I healed them.4 I drew them with gentle cords, Withbands of love, And I was to them asthose who take the yoke from their neck.I stooped and fed them.5 "He shall not return to the land ofEgypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king,Because they refused to repent.

HOSEA 11 296And the sword shall slash in his ci es,Devour his districts, And consume them,Because of their own counsels.7My people are bent on backslidingfrom Me. Though they call to the MostHigh, None at all exalt Him.8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? Howcan I hand you over, Israel? How can Imake you like Admah? How can I set youlike Zeboiim? My heart churns withinMe; My sympathy is s rred.9 I will not execute the fierceness of Myanger; I will not again destroy Ephraim.For I am God, and not man, The HolyOne in your midst; And I will not comewith terror.10 "They shall walk a er the LORD. Hewill roar like a lion. When He roars, ThenHis sons shall come trembling from thewest;11 They shall come trembling like a birdfrom Egypt, Like a dove from the land of

HOSEA 11–12 30Assyria. And I will let them dwell in theirhouses," Says the LORD.12 "Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,And the house of Israel with deceit; ButJudah s ll walks with God, Even with theHoly One who is faithful.

12 1 "Ephraim feeds on the wind,And pursues the east wind; He

daily increases lies and desola on.Also they make a covenant with theAssyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt.2 "The LORD also brings a charge againstJudah, And will punish Jacob accordingto his ways; According to his deeds Hewill recompense him.3He took his brother by the heel in thewomb, And in his strength he struggledwith God.4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel andprevailed; He wept, and sought favorfrom Him. He found Him in Bethel, Andthere He spoke to us––

HOSEA 12 315 That is, the LORD God of hosts. TheLORD is His memorable name.6 So you, by the help of your God,return; Observe mercy and jus ce, Andwait on your God con nually.7 "A cunning Canaanite! Decei ul scalesare in his hand; He loves to oppress.8And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I havebecome rich, I have found wealth formyself; In all my labors They shall find inme no iniquity that is sin.’9 "But I am the LORD your God, Eversince the land of Egypt; I will again makeyou dwell in tents, As in the days of theappointed feast.10 I have also spoken by the prophets,And have mul plied visions; I have givensymbols through the witness of theprophets."11 Though Gilead has idols––Surely theyare vanity––Though they sacrifice bulls

HOSEA 12–13 32in Gilgal, Indeed their altars shall beheaps in the furrows of the field.12 Jacob fled to the country of Syria;Israel served for a spouse, And for a wifehe tended sheep.13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israelout of Egypt, And by a prophet he waspreserved.14 Ephraim provoked Him to anger mostbi erly; Therefore his Lord will leave theguilt of his bloodshed upon him, Andreturn his reproach upon him.

13 1WhenEphraim spoke, trembling,He exalted himself in Israel; But

when he offended through Baal worship,he died.2Now they sin more and more, Andhave made for themselves moldedimages, Idols of their silver, accordingto their skill; All of it is the work ofcra smen. They say of them, "Let themen who sacrifice kiss the calves!"

HOSEA 13 333 Therefore they shall be like themorning cloud And like the early dewthat passes away, Like chaff blown offfrom a threshing floor And like smokefrom a chimney.4 "Yet I am the LORD your God Eversince the land of Egypt, And you shallknow no God but Me; For there is noSavior besides Me.5 I knew you in the wilderness, In theland of great drought.6When they had pasture, they werefilled; They were filled and their heartwas exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.7 "So I will be to them like a lion; Like aleopard by the road I will lurk;8 I will meet them like a bear deprivedof her cubs; I will tear open their ribcage, And there I will devour them like alion. The wild beast shall tear them.9 "O Israel, you are destroyed, But yourhelp is from Me.

HOSEA 13 3410 I will be your King; Where is anyother, That he may save you in all yourci es? And your judges to whom yousaid, ‘Give me a king and princes’?11 I gave you a king in My anger, Andtook him away in My wrath.12 "The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;His sin is stored up.13 The sorrows of a woman in childbirthshall come upon him. He is an unwiseson, For he should not stay long wherechildren are born.14 "I will ransom them from the powerof the grave; I will redeem them fromdeath. O Death, I will be your plagues! OGrave, I will be your destruc on! Pity ishidden from My eyes.15 Though he is frui ul among hisbrethren, An east wind shall come; Thewind of the LORD shall come up from thewilderness. Then his spring shall becomedry, And his fountain shall be dried up.

HOSEA 13–14 35He shall plunder the treasury of everydesirable prize.16 Samaria is held guilty, For she hasrebelled against her God. They shallfall by the sword, Their infants shall bedashed in pieces, And their women withchild ripped open.

14 1O Israel, return to the LORDyour God, For you have stumbled

because of your iniquity;2 Take words with you, And return tothe LORD. Say to Him, "Take away alliniquity; Receive us graciously, For wewill offer the sacrifices of our lips.3Assyria shall not save us, We will notride on horses, Nor will we say anymoreto the work of our hands, ‘You are ourgods.’ For in You the fatherless findsmercy."4 "I will heal their backsliding, I will lovethem freely, For My anger has turnedaway from him.

HOSEA 14 365 I will be like the dew to Israel; He shallgrow like the lily, And lengthen his rootslike Lebanon.6His branches shall spread; His beautyshall be like an olive tree, And hisfragrance like Lebanon.7 Those who dwell under his shadowshall return; They shall be revived likegrain, And grow like a vine. Their scentshall be like the wine of Lebanon.8 "Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to doanymore with idols?’ I have heard andobserved him. I am like a green cypresstree; Your fruit is found in Me."9Who is wise? Let him understandthese things. Who is prudent? Let himknow them. For the ways of the LORDare right; The righteous walk in them,But transgressors stumble in them.

Joel

1 1 The word of the LORD that came toJoel the son of Pethuel.

2Hear this, you elders, And give ear,all you inhabitants of the land! Hasanything like this happened in your days,Or even in the days of your fathers?3 Tell your children about it, Let yourchildren tell their children, And theirchildren another genera on.4What the chewing locust le , theswarming locust has eaten; What theswarming locust le , the crawling locusthas eaten; And what the crawling locustle , the consuming locust has eaten.5Awake, you drunkards, and weep; Andwail, all you drinkers of wine, Becauseof the new wine, For it has been cut offfrom your mouth.

JOEL 1 26 For a na on has come up against Myland, Strong, and without number; Histeeth are the teeth of a lion, And he hasthe fangs of a fierce lion.7He has laid waste My vine, And ruinedMy fig tree; He has stripped it bare andthrown it away; Its branches are madewhite.8 Lament like a virgin girded withsackcloth For the husband of her youth.9 The grain offering and the drinkoffering Have been cut off from thehouse of the LORD; The priests mourn,who minister to the LORD.10 The field is wasted, The land mourns;For the grain is ruined, The new wine isdried up, The oil fails.11 Be ashamed, you farmers, Wail, youvinedressers, For the wheat and thebarley; Because the harvest of the fieldhas perished.

JOEL 1 312 The vine has dried up, And the figtree has withered; The pomegranatetree, The palm tree also, And the appletree––All the trees of the field arewithered; Surely joy has withered awayfrom the sons of men.13Gird yourselves and lament, youpriests; Wail, you who minister beforethe altar; Come, lie all night in sackcloth,You who minister to my God; For thegrain offering and the drink offering Arewithheld from the house of your God.14 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacredassembly; Gather the elders And all theinhabitants of the land Into the house ofthe LORD your God, And cry out to theLORD.15Alas for the day! For the day ofthe LORD is at hand; It shall come asdestruc on from the Almighty.

JOEL 1–2 416 Is not the food cut off before oureyes, Joy and gladness from the houseof our God?17 The seed shrivels under the clods,Storehouses are in shambles; Barnsare broken down, For the grain haswithered.18How the animals groan! The herds ofca le are restless, Because they have nopasture; Even the flocks of sheep sufferpunishment.19O LORD, to You I cry out; For firehas devoured the open pastures, Anda flame has burned all the trees of thefield.20 The beasts of the field also cry outto You, For the water brooks are driedup, And fire has devoured the openpastures.

2 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,And sound an alarm in My holy

mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the

JOEL 2 5land tremble; For the day of the LORD iscoming, For it is at hand:2A day of darkness and gloominess,A day of clouds and thick darkness,Like the morning clouds spread overthe mountains. A people come, greatand strong, The like of whom has neverbeen; Nor will there ever be any sucha er them, Even for many successivegenera ons.3A fire devours before them, Andbehind them a flame burns; The land islike the Garden of Eden before them,And behind them a desolate wilderness;Surely nothing shall escape them.4 Their appearance is like theappearance of horses; And like swisteeds, so they run.5With a noise like chariots Overmountaintops they leap, Like the noiseof a flaming fire that devours the

JOEL 2 6stubble, Like a strong people set in ba learray.6 Before them the people writhe inpain; All faces are drained of color.7 They run like mighty men, They climbthe wall like men of war; Every onemarches in forma on, And they do notbreak ranks.8 They do not push one another; Everyone marches in his own column. Thoughthey lunge between the weapons, Theyare not cut down.9 They run to and fro in the city, Theyrun on the wall; They climb into thehouses, They enter at the windows like athief.10 The earth quakes before them, Theheavens tremble; The sun and moongrow dark, And the stars diminish theirbrightness.11 The LORD gives voice before Hisarmy, For His camp is very great; For

JOEL 2 7strong is the One who executes Hisword. For the day of the LORD is greatand very terrible; Who can endure it?12 "Now, therefore," says the LORD,"Turn to Me with all your heart,With fas ng, with weeping, and withmourning."13 So rend your heart, and not yourgarments; Return to the LORD your God,For He is gracious and merciful, Slow toanger, and of great kindness; And Herelents from doing harm.14Who knows if He will turn and relent,And leave a blessing behind Him––Agrain offering and a drink offering Forthe LORD your God?15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecratea fast, Call a sacred assembly;16Gather the people, Sanc fy thecongrega on, Assemble the elders,Gather the children and nursing babes;Let the bridegroom go out from his

JOEL 2 8chamber, And the bride from herdressing room.17 Let the priests, who minister to theLORD, Weep between the porch and thealtar; Let them say, "Spare Your people,O LORD, And do not give Your heritage toreproach, That the na ons should ruleover them. Why should they say amongthe peoples, ‘Where is their God?’"18 Then the LORD will be zealous for Hisland, And pity His people.19 The LORD will answer and say to Hispeople, "Behold, I will send you grainand new wine and oil, And you will besa sfied by them; I will no longer makeyou a reproach among the na ons.20 "But I will remove far from you thenorthern army, And will drive him awayinto a barren and desolate land, Withhis face toward the eastern sea And hisback toward the western sea; His stench

JOEL 2 9will come up, And his foul odor will rise,Because he has done monstrous things."21 Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice,For the LORD has done marvelousthings!22Do not be afraid, you beasts of thefield; For the open pastures are springingup, And the tree bears its fruit; The figtree and the vine yield their strength.23 Be glad then, you children of Zion,And rejoice in the LORD your God; For Hehas given you the former rain faithfully,And He will cause the rain to come downfor you––The former rain, And the la errain in the first month.24 The threshing floors shall be full ofwheat, And the vats shall overflow withnew wine and oil.25 "So I will restore to you the yearsthat the swarming locust has eaten, Thecrawling locust, The consuming locust,

JOEL 2 10And the chewing locust, My great armywhich I sent among you.26 You shall eat in plenty and besa sfied, And praise the name ofthe LORD your God, Who has dealtwondrously with you; And My peopleshall never be put to shame.27 Then you shall know that I am in themidst of Israel: I am the LORD your GodAnd there is no other. My people shallnever be put to shame.28 "And it shall come to pass a erwardThat I will pour out My Spirit on allflesh; Your sons and your daughters shallprophesy, Your old men shall dreamdreams, Your young men shall seevisions.29And also on My menservants andon My maidservants I will pour out MySpirit in those days.

JOEL 2–3 1130 "And I will show wonders in theheavens and in the earth: Blood and fireand pillars of smoke.31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,And the moon into blood, Before thecoming of the great and awesome day ofthe LORD.32And it shall come to pass Thatwhoever calls on the name of the LORDShall be saved. For in Mount Zion and inJerusalem there shall be deliverance, Asthe LORD has said, Among the remnantwhom the LORD calls.

3 1 "For behold, in those days and atthat me, When I bring back the

cap ves of Judah and Jerusalem,2 I will also gather all na ons, And bringthem down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;And I will enter into judgment withthem there On account of My people,My heritage Israel, Whom they have

JOEL 3 12sca ered among the na ons; They havealso divided up My land.3 They have cast lots for My people,Have given a boy as payment for a harlot,And sold a girl for wine, that they maydrink.4 "Indeed, what have you to do withMe, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coastsof Philis a? Will you retaliate againstMe? But if you retaliate against Me,Swi ly and speedily I will return yourretalia on upon your own head;5 Because you have taken My silverand My gold, And have carried into yourtemples My prized possessions.6Also the people of Judah and thepeople of Jerusalem You have sold to theGreeks, That you may remove them farfrom their borders.7 "Behold, I will raise them Out of theplace to which you have sold them, And

JOEL 3 13will return your retalia on upon yourown head.8 I will sell your sons and your daughtersInto the hand of the people of Judah,And they will sell them to the Sabeans,To a people far off; For the LORD hasspoken."9 Proclaim this among the na ons:"Prepare for war! Wake up the mightymen, Let all the men of war draw near,Let them come up.10 Beat your plowshares into swordsAnd your pruning hooks into spears; Letthe weak say, ‘I am strong.’"11Assemble and come, all you na ons,And gather together all around. CauseYour mighty ones to go down there, OLORD.12 "Let the na ons be wakened, andcome up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;For there I will sit to judge all thesurrounding na ons.

JOEL 3 1413 Put in the sickle, for the harvest isripe. Come, go down; For the winepressis full, The vats overflow––For theirwickedness is great."14Mul tudes, mul tudes in the valleyof decision! For the day of the LORD isnear in the valley of decision.15 The sun and moon will growdark, And the stars will diminish theirbrightness.16 The LORD also will roar from Zion,And u er His voice from Jerusalem; Theheavens and earth will shake; But theLORD will be a shelter for His people,And the strength of the children of Israel.17 "So you shall know that I am theLORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holymountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy,And no aliens shall ever pass throughher again."18And it will come to pass in that dayThat the mountains shall drip with new

JOEL 3 15wine, The hills shall flow with milk, Andall the brooks of Judah shall be floodedwith water; A fountain shall flow fromthe house of the LORD And water theValley of Acacias.19 "Egypt shall be a desola on, AndEdom a desolate wilderness, Because ofviolence against the people of Judah, Forthey have shed innocent blood in theirland.20 But Judah shall abide forever,And Jerusalem from genera on togenera on.21 "For I will acquit them of the guilt ofbloodshed, whom I had not acqui ed;For the LORD dwells in Zion."

Amos

1 1 The words of Amos, who wasamong the sheepbreeders of Tekoa,

which he saw concerning Israel in thedays of Uzziah king of Judah, and inthe days of Jeroboam the son of Joash,king of Israel, two years before theearthquake.2And he said: "The LORD roarsfrom Zion, And u ers His voicefrom Jerusalem; The pastures of theshepherds mourn, And the top of Carmelwithers."3 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Damascus, and forfour, I will not turn away its punishment,Because they have threshed Gilead withimplements of iron.

AMOS 1 24 But I will send a fire into the house ofHazael, Which shall devour the palacesof Ben–Hadad.5 I will also break the gate bar ofDamascus, And cut off the inhabitantfrom the Valley of Aven, And the onewho holds the scepter from Beth Eden.The people of Syria shall go cap ve toKir," Says the LORD.6 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Gaza, and for four, I willnot turn away its punishment, Becausethey took cap ve the whole cap vity Todeliver them up to Edom.7 But I will send a fire upon the wall ofGaza, Which shall devour its palaces.8 I will cut off the inhabitant fromAshdod, And the one who holds thescepter from Ashkelon; I will turn Myhand against Ekron, And the remnantof the Philis nes shall perish," Says theLord GOD.

AMOS 1 39 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Tyre, and for four, I willnot turn away its punishment, Becausethey delivered up the whole cap vityto Edom, And did not remember thecovenant of brotherhood.10 But I will send a fire upon the wall ofTyre, Which shall devour its palaces."11 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Edom, and for four,I will not turn away its punishment,Because he pursued his brother with thesword, And cast off all pity; His angertore perpetually, And he kept his wrathforever.12 But I will send a fire upon Teman,Which shall devour the palaces ofBozrah."13 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of the people of Ammon,and for four, I will not turn away itspunishment, Because they ripped open

AMOS 1–2 4the women with child in Gilead, Thatthey might enlarge their territory.14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall ofRabbah, And it shall devour its palaces,Amid shou ng in the day of ba le, And atempest in the day of the whirlwind.15 Their king shall go into cap vity, Heand his princes together," Says the LORD.

2 1 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Moab, and for four,

I will not turn away its punishment,Because he burned the bones of the kingof Edom to lime.2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, Andit shall devour the palaces of Kerioth;Moab shall die with tumult, Withshou ng and trumpet sound.3And I will cut off the judge from itsmidst, And slay all its princes with him,"Says the LORD.4 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Judah, and for four,

AMOS 2 5I will not turn away its punishment,Because they have despised the lawof the LORD, And have not kept Hiscommandments. Their lies lead themastray, Lies which their fathers followed.5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, Andit shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."6 Thus says the LORD: "For threetransgressions of Israel, and for four,I will not turn away its punishment,Because they sell the righteous for silver,And the poor for a pair of sandals.7 They pant a er the dust of the earthwhich is on the head of the poor, Andpervert the way of the humble. A manand his father go in to the same girl, Todefile My holy name.8 They lie down by every altar onclothes taken in pledge, And drink thewine of the condemned in the house oftheir god.

AMOS 2 69 "Yet it was I who destroyed theAmorite before them, Whose height waslike the height of the cedars, And he wasas strong as the oaks; Yet I destroyed hisfruit above And his roots beneath.10Also it was I who brought you upfrom the land of Egypt, And led you fortyyears through the wilderness, To possessthe land of the Amorite.11 I raised up some of your sons asprophets, And some of your young menas Nazirites. Is it not so, O you childrenof Israel?" Says the LORD.12 "But you gave the Nazirites wine todrink, And commanded the prophetssaying, ‘Do not prophesy!’13 "Behold, I am weighed down byyou, As a cart full of sheaves is weigheddown.14 Therefore flight shall perish from theswi , The strong shall not strengthen

AMOS 2–3 7his power, Nor shall the mighty deliverhimself;15He shall not stand who handles thebow, The swi of foot shall not escape,Nor shall he who rides a horse deliverhimself.16 The most courageous men of mightShall flee naked in that day," Says theLORD.

3 1Hear this word that the LORD hasspoken against you, O children of

Israel, against the whole family whichI brought up from the land of Egypt,saying:2 "You only have I known of all thefamilies of the earth; Therefore I willpunish you for all your iniqui es."3 Can two walk together, unless theyare agreed?4Will a lion roar in the forest, when hehas no prey? Will a young lion cry out ofhis den, if he has caught nothing?

AMOS 3 85Will a bird fall into a snare on theearth, where there is no trap for it? Willa snare spring up from the earth, if it hascaught nothing at all?6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will notthe people be afraid? If there is calamityin a city, will not the LORD have done it?7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing,Unless He reveals His secret to Hisservants the prophets.8A lion has roared! Who will not fear?The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can butprophesy?9 "Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod,And in the palaces in the land of Egypt,and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains ofSamaria; See great tumults in her midst,And the oppressed within her.10 For they do not know to do right,’Says the LORD, ‘Who store up violenceand robbery in their palaces.’"

AMOS 3 911 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"An adversary shall be all aroundthe land; He shall sap your strengthfrom you, And your palaces shall beplundered."12 Thus says the LORD: "As a shepherdtakes from the mouth of a lion Two legsor a piece of an ear, So shall the childrenof Israel be taken out Who dwell inSamaria––In the corner of a bed and onthe edge of a couch!13Hear and tes fy against the house ofJacob," Says the Lord GOD, the God ofhosts,14 "That in the day I punish Israel fortheir transgressions, I will also visitdestruc on on the altars of Bethel; Andthe horns of the altar shall be cut off Andfall to the ground.15 I will destroy the winter house alongwith the summer house; The houses of

AMOS 4 10ivory shall perish, And the great housesshall have an end," Says the LORD.

4 1Hear this word, you cows ofBashan, who are on the mountain

of Samaria, Who oppress the poor,Who crush the needy, Who say to yourhusbands, "Bring wine, let us drink!"2 The Lord GOD has sworn by Hisholiness: "Behold, the days shall comeupon you When He will take you awaywith fishhooks, And your posterity withfishhooks.3 You will go out through broken walls,Each one straight ahead of her, Andyou will be cast into Harmon," Says theLORD.4 "Come to Bethel and transgress, AtGilgal mul ply transgression; Bring yoursacrifices every morning, Your thesevery three days.5Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving withleaven, Proclaim and announce the

AMOS 4 11freewill offerings; For this you love, Youchildren of Israel!" Says the Lord GOD.6 "Also I gave you cleanness of teeth inall your ci es. And lack of bread in allyour places; Yet you have not returnedto Me," Says the LORD.7 "I also withheld rain from you, Whenthere were s ll three months to theharvest. I made it rain on one city, Iwithheld rain from another city. Onepart was rained upon, And where it didnot rain the part withered.8 So two or three ci es wandered toanother city to drink water, But theywere not sa sfied; Yet you have notreturned to Me," Says the LORD.9 "I blasted you with blight and mildew.When your gardens increased, Yourvineyards, Your fig trees, And your olivetrees, The locust devoured them; Yetyou have not returned to Me," Says theLORD.

AMOS 4 1210 "I sent among you a plague a er themanner of Egypt; Your young men I killedwith a sword, Along with your cap vehorses; I made the stench of your campscome up into your nostrils; Yet you havenot returned to Me," Says the LORD.11 "I overthrew some of you, As Godoverthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, Andyou were like a firebrand plucked fromthe burning; Yet you have not returnedto Me," Says the LORD.12 "Therefore thus will I do to you, OIsrael; Because I will do this to you,Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"13 For behold, Hewho formsmountains,And creates the wind, Who declares toman what his thought is, And makes themorning darkness, Who treads the highplaces of the earth––The LORD God ofhosts is His name.

AMOS 5 13

5 1Hear this word which I take upagainst you, a lamenta on, O house

of Israel:2 The virgin of Israel has fallen; She willrise no more. She lies forsaken on herland; There is no one to raise her up.3 For thus says the Lord GOD: "The citythat goes out by a thousand Shall havea hundred le , And that which goes outby a hundred Shall have ten le to thehouse of Israel."4 For thus says the LORD to the houseof Israel: "Seek Me and live;5 But do not seek Bethel, Nor enterGilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; ForGilgal shall surely go into cap vity, AndBethel shall come to nothing.6 Seek the LORD and live, Lest He breakout like fire in the house of Joseph, Anddevour it, With no one to quench it inBethel––

AMOS 5 147 You who turn jus ce to wormwood,And lay righteousness to rest in theearth!"8He made the Pleiades and Orion; Heturns the shadow of death into morningAnd makes the day dark as night; Hecalls for the waters of the sea And poursthem out on the face of the earth; TheLORD is His name.9He rains ruin upon the strong, So thatfury comes upon the fortress.10 They hate the one who rebukes inthe gate, And they abhor the one whospeaks uprightly.11 Therefore, because you tread downthe poor And take grain taxes from him,Though you have built houses of hewnstone, Yet you shall not dwell in them;You have planted pleasant vineyards,But you shall not drink wine from them.12 For I know your manifoldtransgressions And your mighty

AMOS 5 15sins: Afflic ng the just and taking bribes;Diver ng the poor from jus ce at thegate.13 Therefore the prudent keep silent atthat me, For it is an evil me.14 Seek good and not evil, That you maylive; So the LORD God of hosts will bewith you, As you have spoken.15Hate evil, love good; Establish jus cein the gate. It may be that the LORD Godof hosts Will be gracious to the remnantof Joseph.16 Therefore the LORD God of hosts, theLord, says this: "There shall be wailingin all streets, And they shall say in allthe highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shallcall the farmer to mourning, And skillfullamenters to wailing.17 In all vineyards there shall be wailing,For I will pass through you," Says theLORD.

AMOS 5 1618Woe to you who desire the day ofthe LORD! For what good is the day ofthe LORD to you? It will be darkness, andnot light.19 It will be as though a man fled from alion, And a bear met him! Or as thoughhe went into the house, Leaned his handon the wall, And a serpent bit him!20 Is not the day of the LORD darkness,and not light? Is it not very dark, with nobrightness in it?21 "I hate, I despise your feast days, AndI do not savor your sacred assemblies.22 Though you offer Me burnt offeringsand your grain offerings, I will not acceptthem, Nor will I regard your fa enedpeace offerings.23 Take away from Me the noise of yoursongs, For I will not hear the melody ofyour stringed instruments.24 But let jus ce run down like water,And righteousness like a mighty stream.

AMOS 5–6 1725 "Did you offer Me sacrifices andofferings In the wilderness forty years, Ohouse of Israel?26 You also carried Sikkuth your kingAnd Chiun, your idols, The star of yourgods, Which you made for yourselves.27 Therefore I will send you intocap vity beyond Damascus," Says theLORD, whose name is the God of hosts.

6 1Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable

persons in the chief na on, To whom thehouse of Israel comes!2Go over to Calneh and see; And fromthere go to Hamath the great; Then godown to Gath of the Philis nes. Are yoube er than these kingdoms? Or is theirterritory greater than your territory?3Woe to you who put far off the day ofdoom, Who cause the seat of violence tocome near;

AMOS 6 184Who lie on beds of ivory, Stretch outon your couches, Eat lambs from theflock And calves from the midst of thestall;5Who sing idly to the sound of stringedinstruments, And invent for yourselvesmusical instruments like David;6Who drink wine from bowls, Andanoint yourselves with the bestointments, But are not grieved for theafflic on of Joseph.7 Therefore they shall now go cap ve asthe first of the cap ves, And those whorecline at banquets shall be removed.8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself,The LORD God of hosts says: "I abhorthe pride of Jacob, And hate his palaces;Therefore I will deliver up the city Andall that is in it."9 Then it shall come to pass, that if tenmen remain in one house, they shall die.

AMOS 6 1910And when a rela ve of the dead,with one who will burn the bodies, picksup the bodies to take them out of thehouse, he will say to one inside thehouse, "Are there any more with you?"Then someone will say, "None." And hewill say, "Hold your tongue! For we darenot men on the name of the LORD."11 For behold, the LORD gives acommand: He will break the great houseinto bits, And the li le house into pieces.12Do horses run on rocks? Does oneplow there with oxen? Yet you haveturned jus ce into gall, And the fruit ofrighteousness into wormwood,13 You who rejoice over Lo Debar, Whosay, "Have we not taken Karnaim forourselves By our own strength?"14 "But, behold, I will raise up a na onagainst you, O house of Israel," Says theLORD God of hosts; "And they will afflict

AMOS 7 20you from the entrance of Hamath To theValley of the Arabah."

7 1 Thus the Lord GOD showed me:Behold, He formed locust swarms at

the beginning of the late crop; indeedit was the late crop a er the king’smowings.2And so it was, when they had finishedea ng the grass of the land, that I said:"O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, thatJacob may stand, For he is small!"3 So the LORD relented concerning this."It shall not be," said the LORD.4 Thus the Lord GOD showed me:Behold, the Lord GOD called for conflictby fire, and it consumed the great deepand devoured the territory.5 Then I said: "O Lord GOD, cease, Ipray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he issmall!"

AMOS 7 216 So the LORD relented concerning this."This also shall not be," said the LordGOD.7 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lordstood on a wall made with a plumb line,with a plumb line in His hand.8And the LORD said to me, "Amos,what do you see?" And I said, "A plumbline." Then the Lord said: "Behold, I amse ng a plumb line In the midst of Mypeople Israel; I will not pass by themanymore.9 The high places of Isaac shall bedesolate, And the sanctuaries of Israelshall be laid waste. I will rise with thesword against the house of Jeroboam."10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethelsent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying,"Amos has conspired against you in themidst of the house of Israel. The land isnot able to bear all his words.

AMOS 7 2211 "For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboamshall die by the sword, And Israel shallsurely be led away cap ve From theirown land.’"12 Then Amaziah said to Amos: "Go, youseer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eatbread, And there prophesy.13 But never again prophesy at Bethel,For it is the king’s sanctuary, And it is theroyal residence."14 Then Amos answered, and saidto Amaziah: "I was no prophet, Norwas I a son of a prophet, But I was asheepbreeder And a tender of sycamorefruit.15 Then the LORD took me as I followedthe flock, And the LORD said to me, ‘Go,prophesy to My people Israel.’16Now therefore, hear the word of theLORD: You say, ‘Do not prophesy againstIsrael, And do not spout against thehouse of Isaac.’

AMOS 7–8 2317 "Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Yourwife shall be a harlot in the city; Yoursons and daughters shall fall by thesword; Your land shall be divided bysurvey line; You shall die in a defiledland; And Israel shall surely be led awaycap ve From his own land.’"

8 1 Thus the Lord GOD showed me:Behold, a basket of summer fruit.

2And He said, "Amos, what do yousee?" So I said, "A basket of summerfruit." Then the LORD said to me: "Theend has come upon My people Israel; Iwill not pass by them anymore.3And the songs of the temple Shallbe wailing in that day," Says the LordGOD––"Many dead bodies everywhere,They shall be thrown out in silence."4Hear this, you who swallow up theneedy, And make the poor of the landfail,

AMOS 8 245 Saying: "When will the New Moonbe past, That we may sell grain? Andthe Sabbath, That we may trade wheat?Making the ephah small and the shekellarge, Falsifying the scales by deceit,6 That we may buy the poor forsilver, And the needy for a pair ofsandals––Even sell the bad wheat?"7 The LORD has sworn by the pride ofJacob: "Surely I will never forget any oftheir works.8 Shall the land not tremble for this,And everyone mourn who dwells in it?All of it shall swell like the River, Heaveand subside Like the River of Egypt.9 "And it shall come to pass in that day,"says the Lord GOD, "That I will make thesun go down at noon, And I will darkenthe earth in broad daylight;10 I will turn your feasts into mourning,And all your songs into lamenta on; Iwill bring sackcloth on every waist, And

AMOS 8–9 25baldness on every head; I will make itlike mourning for an only son, And itsend like a bi er day.11 "Behold, the days are coming," saysthe Lord GOD, "That I will send a famineon the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor athirst for water, But of hearing the wordsof the LORD.12 They shall wander from sea to sea,And from north to east; They shall run toand fro, seeking the word of the LORD,But shall not find it.13 "In that day the fair virgins Andstrong young men Shall faint from thirst.14 Those who swear by the sin ofSamaria, Who say, ‘As your god lives,O Dan!’ And, ‘As the way of Beershebalives!’ They shall fall and never riseagain."

9 1 I saw the Lord standing by the altar,and He said: "Strike the doorposts,

that the thresholds may shake, And

AMOS 9 26break them on the heads of them all. Iwill slay the last of them with the sword.He who flees from them shall not getaway, And he who escapes from themshall not be delivered.2 "Though they dig into hell, From theremy hand shall take them; Though theyclimb up to heaven, From there I willbring them down;3And though they hide themselves ontop of Carmel, From there I will searchand take them; Though they hide fromMy sight at the bo om of the sea, Fromthere I will command the serpent, and itshall bite them;4 Though they go into cap vity beforetheir enemies, From there I willcommand the sword, And it shall slaythem. I will set My eyes on them forharm and not for good."5 The Lord GOD of hosts, He whotouches the earth and it melts, And all

AMOS 9 27who dwell there mourn; All of it shallswell like the River, And subside like theRiver of Egypt.6He who builds His layers in the sky,And has founded His strata in the earth;Who calls for the waters of the sea,And pours them out on the face of theearth––The LORD is His name.7 "Are you not like the people ofEthiopia to Me, O children of Israel?"says the LORD. "Did I not bring up Israelfrom the land of Egypt, The Philis nesfrom Caphtor, And the Syrians from Kir?8 "Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD areon the sinful kingdom, And I will destroyit from the face of the earth; Yet I willnot u erly destroy the house of Jacob,"Says the LORD.9 "For surely I will command, And willsi the house of Israel among all na ons,As grain is si ed in a sieve; Yet not thesmallest grain shall fall to the ground.

AMOS 9 2810All the sinners of My people shall dieby the sword, Who say, ‘The calamityshall not overtake nor confront us.’11 "On that day I will raise up Thetabernacle of David, which has fallendown, And repair its damages; I will raiseup its ruins, And rebuild it as in the daysof old;12 That they may possess the remnantof Edom, And all the Gen les who arecalled by My name," Says the LORD whodoes this thing.13 "Behold, the days are coming," saysthe LORD, "When the plowman shallovertake the reaper, And the treaderof grapes him who sows seed; Themountains shall drip with sweet wine,And all the hills shall flow with it.14 I will bring back the cap ves of Mypeople Israel; They shall build the wasteci es and inhabit them; They shall plantvineyards and drink wine from them;

AMOS 9 29They shall also make gardens and eatfruit from them.15 I will plant them in their land, And nolonger shall they be pulled up From theland I have given them," Says the LORDyour God.

Obadiah

1 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saysthe Lord GOD concerning Edom (We

have heard a report from the LORD, Anda messenger has been sent among thena ons, saying, "Arise, and let us rise upagainst her for ba le"):2 "Behold, I will make you smallamong the na ons; You shall be greatlydespised.3 The pride of your heart has deceivedyou, You who dwell in the cle s of therock, Whose habita on is high; You whosay in your heart, ‘Who will bring medown to the ground?’4 Though you ascend as high as theeagle, And though you set your nestamong the stars, From there I will bringyou down," says the LORD.

OBADIAH 1 25 "If thieves had come to you, If robbersby night––Oh, how you will be cut off!––Would they not have stolen ll theyhad enough? If grape–gatherers hadcome to you, Would they not have lesome gleanings?6 "Oh, how Esau shall be searched out!How his hidden treasures shall be soughta er!7All the men in your confederacy Shallforce you to the border; The men atpeace with you Shall deceive you andprevail against you. Those who eat yourbread shall lay a trap for you. No one isaware of it.8 "Will I not in that day," says the LORD,"Even destroy the wise men from Edom,And understanding from the mountainsof Esau?9 Then your mighty men, O Teman, shallbe dismayed, To the end that everyone

OBADIAH 1 3from the mountains of Esau May be cutoff by slaughter.10 "For violence against your brotherJacob, Shame shall cover you, And youshall be cut off forever.11 In the day that you stood on the otherside––In the day that strangers carriedcap ve his forces, When foreignersentered his gates And cast lots forJerusalem––Even you were as one ofthem.12 But you should not have gazed onthe day of your brother In the day of hiscap vity; Nor should you have rejoicedover the children of Judah In the day oftheir destruc on; Nor should you havespoken proudly In the day of distress.13 You should not have entered thegate of My people In the day of theircalamity. Indeed, you should not havegazed on their afflic on In the day of

OBADIAH 1 4their calamity, Nor laid hands on theirsubstance In the day of their calamity.14 You should not have stood at thecrossroads To cut off those among themwho escaped; Nor should you havedelivered up those among them whoremained In the day of distress.15 "For the day of the LORD upon allthe na ons is near; As you have done, itshall be done to you; Your reprisal shallreturn upon your own head.16 For as you drank on my holymountain, So shall all the na ons drinkcon nually; Yes, they shall drink, andswallow, And they shall be as thoughthey had never been.17 "But on Mount Zion there shall bedeliverance, And there shall be holiness;The house of Jacob shall possess theirpossessions.18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,And the house of Joseph a flame; But

OBADIAH 1 5the house of Esau shall be stubble; Theyshall kindle them and devour them, Andno survivor shall remain of the house ofEsau," For the LORD has spoken.19 The South shall possess themountains of Esau, And the Lowlandshall possess Philis a. They shall possessthe fields of Ephraim And the fields ofSamaria. Benjamin shall possess Gilead.20And the cap ves of this host of thechildren of Israel Shall possess the landof the Canaanites As far as Zarephath.The cap ves of Jerusalem who are inSepharad Shall possess the ci es of theSouth.21 Then saviors shall come to MountZion To judge the mountains of Esau,And the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Jonah

1 1Now the word of the LORD came toJonah the son of Ami ai, saying,

2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that greatcity, and cry out against it; for theirwickedness has come up before Me."3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshishfrom the presence of the LORD. He wentdown to Joppa, and found a ship goingto Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and wentdown into it, to go with them to Tarshishfrom the presence of the LORD.4 But the LORD sent out a great wind onthe sea, and there was a mighty tempeston the sea, so that the ship was about tobe broken up.5 Then the mariners were afraid; andevery man cried out to his god, andthrew the cargo that was in the ship into

JONAH 1 2the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonahhad gone down into the lowest parts ofthe ship, had lain down, and was fastasleep.6 So the captain came to him, and saidto him, "What do you mean, sleeper?Arise, call on your God; perhaps yourGod will consider us, so that we may notperish."7And they said to one another, "Come,let us cast lots, that we may know forwhose cause this trouble has come uponus." So they cast lots, and the lot fell onJonah.8 Then they said to him, "Please tell us!For whose cause is this trouble upon us?What is your occupa on? And where doyou come from? What is your country?And of what people are you?"9 So he said to them, "I am a Hebrew;and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven,who made the sea and the dry land."

JONAH 1 310 Then the men were exceedinglyafraid, and said to him, "Why have youdone this?" For the men knew that hefled from the presence of the LORD,because he had told them.11 Then they said to him, "What shallwe do to you that the sea may be calmfor us?" ––for the sea was growing moretempestuous.12And he said to them, "Pick me up andthrow me into the sea; then the sea willbecome calm for you. For I know thatthis great tempest is because of me."13Nevertheless the men rowed hardto return to land, but they could not,for the sea con nued to grow moretempestuous against them.14 Therefore they cried out to the LORDand said, "We pray, O LORD, please donot let us perish for this man’s life, anddo not charge us with innocent blood;

JONAH 1–2 4for You, O LORD, have done as it pleasedYou."15 So they picked up Jonah and threwhim into the sea, and the sea ceasedfrom its raging.16 Then the men feared the LORDexceedingly, and offered a sacrifice tothe LORD and took vows.17Now the LORD had prepared a greatfish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inthe belly of the fish three days and threenights.

2 1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD hisGod from the fish’s belly.

2And he said: "I cried out to theLORD because of my afflic on, And Heanswered me. "Out of the belly of SheolI cried, And You heard my voice.3 For You cast me into the deep, Intothe heart of the seas, And the floodssurrounded me; All Your billows andYour waves passed over me.

JONAH 2 54 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out ofYour sight; Yet I will look again towardYour holy temple.’5 The waters surrounded me, even tomy soul; The deep closed around me;Weeds were wrapped around my head.6 I went down to the moorings of themountains; The earth with its barsclosed behind me forever; Yet You havebrought up my life from the pit, O LORD,my God.7 "When my soul fainted within me, Iremembered the LORD; And my prayerwent up to You, Into Your holy temple.8 "Those who regard worthless idolsForsake their own Mercy.9 But I will sacrifice to You With thevoice of thanksgiving; I will pay what Ihave vowed. Salva on is of the LORD."10 So the LORD spoke to the fish, and itvomited Jonah onto dry land.

JONAH 3 6

3 1Now the word of the LORD came toJonah the second me, saying,

2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city,and preach to it the message that I tellyou."3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh,according to the word of the LORD. NowNineveh was an exceedingly great city, athree–day journey in extent.4And Jonah began to enter the city onthe first day’s walk. Then he cried outand said, "Yet forty days, and Ninevehshall be overthrown!"5 So the people of Nineveh believedGod, proclaimed a fast, and put onsackcloth, from the greatest to the leastof them.6 Then word came to the king ofNineveh; and he arose from his throneand laid aside his robe, covered himselfwith sackcloth and sat in ashes.

JONAH 3–4 77And he caused it to be proclaimedand published throughout Nineveh bythe decree of the king and his nobles,saying, Let neither man nor beast, herdnor flock, taste anything; do not let themeat, or drink water.8 But let man and beast be covered withsackcloth, and cry migh ly to God; yes,let every one turn from his evil way andfrom the violence that is in his hands.9Who can tell if God will turn andrelent, and turn away from His fierceanger, so that we may not perish?10 Then God saw their works, that theyturned from their evil way; and Godrelented from the disaster that He hadsaid He would bring upon them, and Hedid not do it.

4 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,and he became angry.

2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said,"Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when

JONAH 4 8I was s ll in my country? Therefore Ifled previously to Tarshish; for I knowthat You are a gracious and mercifulGod, slow to anger and abundant inlovingkindness, One who relents fromdoing harm.3 "Therefore now, O LORD, please takemy life from me, for it is be er for me todie than to live!"4 Then the LORD said, "Is it right for youto be angry?"5 So Jonah went out of the city and saton the east side of the city. There hemade himself a shelter and sat underit in the shade, ll he might see whatwould become of the city.6And the LORD God prepared a plantand made it come up over Jonah, that itmight be shade for his head to deliverhim from his misery. So Jonah was verygrateful for the plant.

JONAH 4 97 But as morning dawned the nextday God prepared a worm, and it sodamaged the plant that it withered.8And it happened, when the sun arose,that God prepared a vehement eastwind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head,so that he grew faint. Then he wisheddeath for himself, and said, "It is be erfor me to die than to live."9 Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right foryou to be angry about the plant?" Andhe said, "It is right for me to be angry,even to death!"10 But the LORD said, "You have hadpity on the plant for which you have notlabored, nor made it grow, which cameup in a night and perished in a night.11 "And should I not pity Nineveh, thatgreat city, in which are more than onehundred and twenty thousand personswho cannot discern between their

JONAH 4 10right hand and their le ––and muchlivestock?"

Micah

1 1 The word of the LORD that cameto Micah of Moresheth in the days

of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings ofJudah, which he saw concerning Samariaand Jerusalem.2Hear, all you peoples! Listen, O earth,and all that is in it! Let the Lord GOD bea witness against you, The Lord from Hisholy temple.3 For behold, the LORD is coming out ofHis place; He will come down And treadon the high places of the earth.4 The mountains will melt under Him,And the valleys will split Like wax beforethe fire, Like waters poured down asteep place.5All this is for the transgression ofJacob And for the sins of the house

MICAH 1 2of Israel. What is the transgression ofJacob? Is it not Samaria? And what arethe high places of Judah? Are they notJerusalem?6 "Therefore I will make Samaria a heapof ruins in the field, Places for plan nga vineyard; I will pour down her stonesinto the valley, And I will uncover herfounda ons.7All her carved images shall be beatento pieces, And all her pay as a harlotshall be burned with the fire; All heridols I will lay desolate, For she gatheredit from the pay of a harlot, And they shallreturn to the pay of a harlot."8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will gostripped and naked; I will make a wailinglike the jackals And a mourning like theostriches,9 For her wounds are incurable. For ithas come to Judah; It has come to thegate of My people––To Jerusalem.

MICAH 1 310 Tell it not in Gath, Weep not at all; InBeth Aphrah Roll yourself in the dust.11 Pass by in naked shame, youinhabitant of Shaphir; The inhabitantof Zaanan does not go out. Beth Ezelmourns; Its place to stand is taken awayfrom you.12 For the inhabitant of Maroth pinedfor good, But disaster came down fromthe LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.13O inhabitant of Lachish, Harness thechariot to the swi steeds (She was thebeginning of sin to the daughter of Zion),For the transgressions of Israel werefound in you.14 Therefore you shall give presents toMoresheth Gath; The houses of Achzibshall be a lie to the kings of Israel.15 I will yet bring an heir to you, Oinhabitant of Mareshah; The glory ofIsrael shall come to Adullam.

MICAH 1–2 416Make yourself bald and cut off yourhair, Because of your precious children;Enlarge your baldness like an eagle, Forthey shall go from you into cap vity.

2 1Woe to those who devise iniquity,And work out evil on their beds! At

morning light they prac ce it, Because itis in the power of their hand.2 They covet fields and take them byviolence, Also houses, and seize them.So they oppress a man and his house, Aman and his inheritance.3 Therefore thus says the LORD:"Behold, against this family I am devisingdisaster, From which you cannot removeyour necks; Nor shall you walk haugh ly,For this is an evil me.4 In that day one shall take up a proverbagainst you, And lament with a bi erlamenta on, saying: ‘We are u erlydestroyed! He has changed the heritageof my people; How He has removed it

MICAH 2 5from me! To a turncoat He has dividedour fields.’"5 Therefore you will have no one todetermine boundaries by lot In theassembly of the LORD.6 "Do not pra le," you say to those whoprophesy. So they shall not prophesyto you; They shall not return insult forinsult.7 You who are named the houseof Jacob: "Is the Spirit of the LORDrestricted? Are these His doings? Do notMy words do good To him who walksuprightly?8 "Lately My people have risen up asan enemy––You pull off the robe withthe garment From those who trust you,as they pass by, Like men returned fromwar.9 The women of My people you cast outFrom their pleasant houses; From their

MICAH 2 6children You have taken away My gloryforever.10 "Arise and depart, For this is not yourrest; Because it is defiled, it shall destroy,Yes, with u er destruc on.11 If a man should walk in a false spiritAnd speak a lie, saying, ‘I will prophesyto you of wine and drink,’ Even he wouldbe the pra ler of this people.12 "I will surely assemble all of you, OJacob, I will surely gather the remnant ofIsrael; I will put them together like sheepof the fold, Like a flock in the midst oftheir pasture; They shall make a loudnoise because of so many people.13 The one who breaks open will comeup before them; They will break out,Pass through the gate, And go out by it;Their king will pass before them, Withthe LORD at their head."

MICAH 3 7

3 1And I said: "Hear now, O heads ofJacob, And you rulers of the house of

Israel: Is it not for you to know jus ce?2 You who hate good and love evil; Whostrip the skin from My people, And theflesh from their bones;3Who also eat the flesh of My people,Flay their skin from them, Break theirbones, And chop them in pieces Likemeat for the pot, Like flesh in thecaldron."4 Then they will cry to the LORD, But Hewill not hear them; He will even hide Hisface from them at that me, Becausethey have been evil in their deeds.5 Thus says the LORD concerning theprophets Who make my people stray;Who chant "Peace" While they chewwith their teeth, But who prepare waragainst him Who puts nothing into theirmouths:

MICAH 3 86 "Therefore you shall have nightwithout vision, And you shall havedarkness without divina on; The sunshall go down on the prophets, And theday shall be dark for them.7 So the seers shall be ashamed, Andthe diviners abashed; Indeed they shallall cover their lips; For there is no answerfrom God."8 But truly I am full of power by theSpirit of the LORD, And of jus ceand might, To declare to Jacob histransgression And to Israel his sin.9Now hear this, You heads of the houseof Jacob And rulers of the house ofIsrael, Who abhor jus ce And pervert allequity,10Who build up Zion with bloodshedAnd Jerusalem with iniquity:11Her heads judge for a bribe, Herpriests teach for pay, And her prophetsdivine for money. Yet they lean on the

MICAH 3–4 9LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD amongus? No harm can come upon us."12 Therefore because of you Zionshall be plowed like a field, Jerusalemshall become heaps of ruins, And themountain of the temple Like the barehills of the forest.

4 1Now it shall come to pass in thela er days That the mountain of

the LORD’S house Shall be establishedon the top of the mountains, And shallbe exalted above the hills; And peoplesshall flow to it.2Many na ons shall come and say,"Come, and let us go up to the mountainof the LORD, To the house of the God ofJacob; He will teach us His ways, And weshall walk in His paths." For out of Zionthe law shall go forth, And the word ofthe LORD from Jerusalem.3He shall judge betweenmany peoples,And rebuke strong na ons afar off; They

MICAH 4 10shall beat their swords into plowshares,And their spears into pruning hooks;Na on shall not li up sword againstna on, Neither shall they learn war anymore.4 But everyone shall sit under his vineand under his fig tree, And no one shallmake them afraid; For the mouth of theLORD of hosts has spoken.5 For all people walk each in the nameof his god, But we will walk in the nameof the LORD our God Forever and ever.6 "In that day," says the LORD, "I willassemble the lame, I will gather theoutcast And those whom I have afflicted;7 I will make the lame a remnant, Andthe outcast a strong na on; So the LORDwill reign over them in Mount Zion Fromnow on, even forever.8And you, O tower of the flock, Thestronghold of the daughter of Zion,To you shall it come, Even the former

MICAH 4 11dominion shall come, The kingdom ofthe daughter of Jerusalem."9Nowwhy do you cry aloud? Is there noking in your midst? Has your counselorperished? For pangs have seized you likea woman in labor.10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth,O daughter of Zion, Like a woman inbirth pangs. For now you shall go forthfrom the city, You shall dwell in thefield, And to Babylon you shall go. Thereyou shall be delivered; There the LORDwill redeem you From the hand of yourenemies.11Now also many na ons havegathered against you, Who say, "Let herbe defiled, And let our eye look uponZion."12 But they do not know the thoughtsof the LORD, Nor do they understandHis counsel; For He will gather them likesheaves to the threshing floor.

MICAH 4–5 1213 "Arise and thresh, O daughter ofZion; For I will make your horn iron, AndI will make your hooves bronze; Youshall beat in pieces many peoples; I willconsecrate their gain to the LORD, Andtheir substance to the Lord of the wholeearth."

5 1Now gather yourself in troops, Odaughter of troops; He has laid siege

against us; They will strike the judge ofIsrael with a rod on the cheek.2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Though you are li le among thethousands of Judah, Yet out of you shallcome forth to Me The One to be Ruler inIsrael, Whose goings forth are from ofold, From everlas ng."3 Therefore He shall give them up, Un lthe me that she who is in labor hasgiven birth; Then the remnant of Hisbrethren Shall return to the children ofIsrael.

MICAH 5 134And He shall stand and feed His flockIn the strength of the LORD, In themajesty of the name of the LORD HisGod; And they shall abide, For now Heshall be great To the ends of the earth;5And this One shall be peace. Whenthe Assyrian comes into our land, Andwhen he treads in our palaces, Then wewill raise against him Seven shepherdsand eight princely men.6 They shall waste with the sword theland of Assyria, And the land of Nimrodat its entrances; Thus He shall deliver usfrom the Assyrian, When he comes intoour land And when he treads within ourborders.7 Then the remnant of Jacob Shall bein the midst of many peoples, Like dewfrom the LORD, Like showers on thegrass, That tarry for no man Nor wait forthe sons of men.

MICAH 5 148And the remnant of Jacob Shall beamong the Gen les, In the midst ofmany peoples, Like a lion among thebeasts of the forest, Like a young lionamong flocks of sheep, Who, if he passesthrough, Both treads down and tears inpieces, And none can deliver.9 Your hand shall be li ed against youradversaries, And all your enemies shallbe cut off.10 "And it shall be in that day," says theLORD, "That I will cut off your horsesfrom your midst And destroy yourchariots.11 I will cut off the ci es of your landAnd throw down all your strongholds.12 I will cut off sorceries from your hand,And you shall have no soothsayers.13 Your carved images I will also cut off,And your sacred pillars from your midst;You shall no more worship the work ofyour hands;

MICAH 5–6 1514 I will pluck your wooden imagesfrom your midst; Thus I will destroy yourci es.15And I will execute vengeance in angerand fury On the na ons that have notheard."

6 1Hear now what the LORD says:"Arise, plead your case before the

mountains, And let the hills hear yourvoice.2Hear, O you mountains, the LORD’Scomplaint, And you strong founda onsof the earth; For the LORD has acomplaint against His people, And Hewill contend with Israel.3 "O My people, what have I done toyou? And how have I wearied you?Tes fy against Me.4 For I brought you up from the land ofEgypt, I redeemed you from the house ofbondage; And I sent before you Moses,Aaron, and Miriam.

MICAH 6 165O My people, remember now WhatBalak king of Moab counseled, And whatBalaam the son of Beor answered him,From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That youmay know the righteousness of theLORD."6With what shall I come before theLORD, And bow myself before the HighGod? Shall I come before Him with burntofferings, With calves a year old?7Will the LORD be pleased withthousands of rams, Ten thousand riversof oil? Shall I give my firstborn for mytransgression, The fruit of my body forthe sin of my soul?8He has shown you, O man, what isgood; And what does the LORD requireof you But to do justly, To love mercy,And to walk humbly with your God?9 The LORD’S voice cries to the city––Wisdom shall see Your name: "Hear theRod! Who has appointed it?

MICAH 6 1710Are there yet the treasures ofwickedness In the house of the wicked,And the short measure that is anabomina on?11 Shall I count pure those with thewicked scales, And with the bag ofdecei ul weights?12 For her rich men are full of violence,Her inhabitants have spoken lies, Andtheir tongue is decei ul in their mouth.13 "Therefore I will also make you sickby striking you, By making you desolatebecause of your sins.14 You shall eat, but not be sa sfied;Hunger shall be in your midst. You maycarry some away, but shall not savethem; And what you do rescue I will giveover to the sword.15 "You shall sow, but not reap; Youshall tread the olives, but not anointyourselves with oil; And make sweetwine, but not drink wine.

MICAH 6–7 1816 For the statutes of Omri are kept;All the works of Ahab’s house are done;And you walk in their counsels, That Imay make you a desola on, And yourinhabitants a hissing. Therefore you shallbear the reproach of My people."

7 1Woe is me! For I am like those whogather summer fruits, Like those

who glean vintage grapes; There is nocluster to eat Of the first–ripe fruit whichmy soul desires.2 The faithful man has perished fromthe earth, And there is no one uprightamong men. They all lie in wait forblood; Every man hunts his brother witha net.3 That they may successfully do evilwith both hands––The prince asks forgi s, The judge seeks a bribe, And thegreat man u ers his evil desire; So theyscheme together.

MICAH 7 194 The best of them is like a brier; Themost upright is sharper than a thornhedge; The day of your watchman andyour punishment comes; Now shall betheir perplexity.5Do not trust in a friend; Do not putyour confidence in a companion; Guardthe doors of your mouth From her wholies in your bosom.6 For son dishonors father, Daughterrises against her mother, Daughter–in–law against her mother–in–law; Aman’s enemies are the men of his ownhousehold.7 Therefore I will look to the LORD; Iwill wait for the God of my salva on; MyGod will hear me.8Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;When I fall, I will arise; When I sit indarkness, The LORD will be a light to me.9 I will bear the indigna on of the LORD,Because I have sinned against Him, Un l

MICAH 7 20He pleads my case And executes jus cefor me. He will bring me forth to thelight; I will see His righteousness.10 Then she who is my enemy will see,And shame will cover her who said tome, "Where is the LORD your God?"My eyes will see her; Now she will betrampled down Like mud in the streets.11 In the day when your walls are to bebuilt, In that day the decree shall go farand wide.12 In that day they shall come to youFrom Assyria and the for fied ci es,From the fortress to the River, From seato sea, And mountain to mountain.13 Yet the land shall be desolateBecause of those who dwell in it, And forthe fruit of their deeds.14 Shepherd Your people with Your staff,The flock of Your heritage, Who dwellsolitarily in a woodland, In the midst of

MICAH 7 21Carmel; Let them feed in Bashan andGilead, As in days of old.15 "As in the days when you came outof the land of Egypt, I will show themwonders."16 The na ons shall see and be ashamedof all their might; They shall put theirhand over their mouth; Their ears shallbe deaf.17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent;They shall crawl from their holes likesnakes of the earth. They shall be afraidof the LORD our God, And shall fearbecause of You.18Who is a God like You, Pardoninginiquity And passing over thetransgression of the remnant ofHis heritage? He does not retain Hisanger forever, Because He delights inmercy.19He will again have compassion on us,And will subdue our iniqui es. You will

MICAH 7 22cast all our sins Into the depths of thesea.20 You will give truth to Jacob Andmercy to Abraham, Which You havesworn to our fathers From days of old.

Nahum

1 1 The burden against Nineveh. Thebook of the vision of Nahum the

Elkoshite.2God is jealous, and the LORD avenges;The LORD avenges and is furious.The LORD will take vengeance on Hisadversaries, And He reserves wrath forHis enemies;3 The LORD is slow to anger and greatin power, And will not at all acquit thewicked. The LORD has His way In thewhirlwind and in the storm, And theclouds are the dust of His feet.4He rebukes the sea and makes itdry, And dries up all the rivers. Bashanand Carmel wither, And the flower ofLebanon wilts.

NAHUM 1 25 The mountains quake before Him, Thehills melt, And the earth heaves at Hispresence, Yes, the world and all whodwell in it.6Who can stand before His indigna on?And who can endure the fierceness ofHis anger? His fury is poured out like fire,And the rocks are thrown down by Him.7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in theday of trouble; And He knows those whotrust in Him.8 But with an overflowing flood Hewill make an u er end of its place, Anddarkness will pursue His enemies.9What do you conspire against theLORD? He will make an u er end of it.Afflic on will not rise up a second me.10 For while tangled like thorns, Andwhile drunken like drunkards, They shallbe devoured like stubble fully dried.

NAHUM 1 311 From you comes forth one Whoplots evil against the LORD, A wickedcounselor.12 Thus says the LORD: "Though theyare safe, and likewise many, Yet in thismanner they will be cut down When hepasses through. Though I have afflictedyou, I will afflict you no more;13 For now I will break off his yoke fromyou, And burst your bonds apart."14 The LORD has given a commandconcerning you: "Your name shall beperpetuated no longer. Out of the houseof your gods I will cut off the carvedimage and the molded image. I will digyour grave, For you are vile."15 Behold, on the mountains The feetof him who brings good dings, Whoproclaims peace! O Judah, keep yourappointed feasts, Perform your vows.For the wicked one shall no more passthrough you; He is u erly cut off.

NAHUM 2 4

2 1He who sca ers has come upbefore your face. Man the fort!

Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks!For fy your power migh ly.2 For the LORD will restore theexcellence of Jacob Like the excellenceof Israel, For the emp ers have emp edthemout And ruined their vine branches.3 The shields of his mighty men aremade red, The valiant men are in scarlet.The chariots come with flaming torchesIn the day of his prepara on, And thespears are brandished.4 The chariots rage in the streets, Theyjostle one another in the broad roads;They seem like torches, They run likelightning.5He remembers his nobles; Theystumble in their walk; They makehaste to her walls, And the defense isprepared.

NAHUM 2 56 The gates of the rivers are opened,And the palace is dissolved.7 It is decreed: She shall be led awaycap ve, She shall be brought up; Andher maidservants shall lead her as withthe voice of doves, Bea ng their breasts.8 Though Nineveh of old was like a poolof water, Now they flee away. "Halt!Halt!" they cry; But no one turns back.9 Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold!There is no end of treasure, Or wealth ofevery desirable prize.10 She is empty, desolate, and waste!The heart melts, and the knees shake;Much pain is in every side, And all theirfaces are drained of color.11Where is the dwelling of the lions,And the feeding place of the younglions, Where the lion walked, the lionessand lion’s cub, And no one made themafraid?

NAHUM 2–3 612 The lion tore in pieces enough for hiscubs, Killed for his lionesses, Filled hiscaves with prey, And his dens with flesh.13 "Behold, I am against you," says theLORD of hosts, "I will burn your chariotsin smoke, and the sword shall devouryour young lions; I will cut off your preyfrom the earth, and the voice of yourmessengers shall be heard no more."

3 1Woe to the bloody city! It is all fullof lies and robbery. Its vic m never

departs.2 The noise of a whip And the noise ofra ling wheels, Of galloping horses, Ofcla ering chariots!3Horsemen charge with bright swordand gli ering spear. There is a mul tudeof slain, A great number of bodies,Countless corpses––They stumble overthe corpses––4 Because of the mul tude of harlotriesof the seduc ve harlot, The mistress

NAHUM 3 7of sorceries, Who sells na ons throughher harlotries, And families through hersorceries.5 "Behold, I am against you," says theLORD of hosts; "I will li your skirtsover your face, I will show the na onsyour nakedness, And the kingdoms yourshame.6 I will cast abominable filth uponyou, Make you vile, And make you aspectacle.7 It shall come to pass that all who lookupon you Will flee from you, and say,‘Nineveh is laid waste! Who will bemoanher?’ Where shall I seek comforters foryou?"8Are you be er than No Amon Thatwas situated by the River, That had thewaters around her, Whose rampart wasthe sea, Whose wall was the sea?

NAHUM 3 89 Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength,And it was boundless; Put and Lubimwere your helpers.10 Yet she was carried away, She wentinto cap vity; Her young children alsowere dashed to pieces At the headof every street; They cast lots for herhonorable men, And all her great menwere bound in chains.11 You also will be drunk; You will behidden; You also will seek refuge fromthe enemy.12All your strongholds are fig trees withripened figs: If they are shaken, They fallinto the mouth of the eater.13 Surely, your people in your midst arewomen! The gates of your land are wideopen for your enemies; Fire shall devourthe bars of your gates.14Draw your water for the siege! For fyyour strongholds! Go into the clay and

NAHUM 3 9tread the mortar! Make strong the brickkiln!15 There the fire will devour you, Thesword will cut you off; It will eat you uplike a locust. Make yourself many––likethe locust! Make yourself many––likethe swarming locusts!16 You have mul plied your merchantsmore than the stars of heaven. Thelocust plunders and flies away.17 Your commanders are like swarminglocusts, And your generals like greatgrasshoppers, Which camp in the hedgeson a cold day; When the sun rises theyflee away, And the place where they areis not known.18 Your shepherds slumber, O king ofAssyria; Your nobles rest in the dust. Yourpeople are sca ered on the mountains,And no one gathers them.19 Your injury has no healing, Yourwound is severe. All who hear news of

NAHUM 3 10you Will clap their hands over you, Forupon whom has not your wickednesspassed con nually?

Habakkuk

1 1 The burden which the prophetHabakkuk saw.

2O LORD, how long shall I cry, AndYou will not hear? Even cry out to You,"Violence!" And You will not save.3Why do You show me iniquity, Andcause me to see trouble? For plunderingand violence are before me; There isstrife, and conten on arises.4 Therefore the law is powerless, Andjus ce never goes forth. For the wickedsurround the righteous; Thereforeperverse judgment proceeds.5 "Look among the na ons and watch––Be u erly astounded! For I will work awork in your days Which you would notbelieve, though it were told you.

HABAKKUK 1 26 For indeed I am raising up theChaldeans, A bi er and hasty na onWhich marches through the breadth ofthe earth, To possess dwelling placesthat are not theirs.7 They are terrible and dreadful; Theirjudgment and their dignity proceed fromthemselves.8 Their horses also are swi er thanleopards, And more fierce than eveningwolves. Their chargers charge ahead;Their cavalry comes from afar; They flyas the eagle that hastens to eat.9 "They all come for violence; Theirfaces are set like the east wind. Theygather cap ves like sand.10 They scoff at kings, And princes arescorned by them. They deride everystronghold, For they heap up earthenmounds and seize it.

HABAKKUK 1 311 Then his mind changes, and hetransgresses; He commits offense,Ascribing this power to his god."12Are You not from everlas ng, O LORDmy God, my Holy One? We shall notdie. O LORD, You have appointed themfor judgment; O Rock, You have markedthem for correc on.13 You are of purer eyes than to beholdevil, And cannot look on wickedness.Why do You look on those who dealtreacherously, And hold Your tonguewhen the wicked devours A person morerighteous than he?14Why do You make men like fish of thesea, Like creeping things that have noruler over them?15 They take up all of them with a hook,They catch them in their net, And gatherthem in their dragnet. Therefore theyrejoice and are glad.

HABAKKUK 1–2 416 Therefore they sacrifice to theirnet, And burn incense to their dragnet;Because by them their share issumptuous And their food plen ful.17 Shall they therefore empty their net,And con nue to slay na ons withoutpity?

2 1 I will standmywatch And set myselfon the rampart, And watch to see

what He will say to me, And what I willanswer when I am corrected.2 Then the LORD answered me and said:"Write the vision And make it plain ontablets, That he may run who reads it.3 For the vision is yet for an appointedme; But at the end it will speak, and it

will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it;Because it will surely come, It will nottarry.4 "Behold the proud, His soul is notupright in him; But the just shall live byhis faith.

HABAKKUK 2 55 "Indeed, because he transgresses bywine, He is a proud man, And he doesnot stay at home. Because he enlargeshis desire as hell, And he is like death,and cannot be sa sfied, He gathers tohimself all na ons And heaps up forhimself all peoples.6 "Will not all these take up a proverbagainst him, And a taun ng riddleagainst him, and say, ‘Woe to him whoincreases What is not his––how long?And to him who loads himself with manypledges’?7Will not your creditors rise upsuddenly? Will they not awaken whooppress you? And you will become theirbooty.8 Because you have plundered manyna ons, All the remnant of the peopleshall plunder you, Because of men’sblood And the violence of the land andthe city, And of all who dwell in it.

HABAKKUK 2 69 "Woe to him who covets evil gain forhis house, That he may set his nest onhigh, That he may be delivered from thepower of disaster!10 You give shameful counsel to yourhouse, Cu ng off many peoples, And sinagainst your soul.11 For the stone will cry out from thewall, And the beam from the mbers willanswer it.12 "Woe to him who builds a town withbloodshed, Who establishes a city byiniquity!13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hostsThat the peoples labor to feed the fire,And na ons weary themselves in vain?14 For the earth will be filled With theknowledge of the glory of the LORD, Asthe waters cover the sea.15 "Woe to him who gives drink to hisneighbor, Pressing him to your bo le,

HABAKKUK 2 7Even to make him drunk, That you maylook on his nakedness!16 You are filled with shame instead ofglory. You also––drink! And be exposedas uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD’Sright hand will be turned against you,And u er shame will be on your glory.17 For the violence done to Lebanonwill cover you, And the plunder of beastswhich made them afraid, Because ofmen’s blood And the violence of the landand the city, And of all who dwell in it.18 "What profit is the image, that itsmaker should carve it, The moldedimage, a teacher of lies, That the makerof its mold should trust in it, To makemute idols?19Woe to him who says to wood,‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shallteach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with goldand silver, Yet in it there is no breath atall.

HABAKKUK 2–3 820 But the LORD is in His holy temple.Let all the earth keep silence beforeHim."

3 1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet,on Shigionoth.

2O LORD, I have heard your speech andwas afraid; O LORD, revive Your workin the midst of the years! In the midstof the years make it known; In wrathremember mercy.3God came from Teman, The HolyOne from Mount Paran. Selah His glorycovered the heavens, And the earth wasfull of His praise.4His brightness was like the light; Hehad rays flashing from His hand, Andthere His power was hidden.5 Before Him went pes lence, And feverfollowed at His feet.6He stood and measured the earth; Helooked and startled the na ons. And theeverlas ng mountains were sca ered,

HABAKKUK 3 9The perpetual hills bowed. His ways areeverlas ng.7 I saw the tents of Cushan in afflic on;The curtains of the land of Midiantrembled.8O LORD, were You displeased with therivers, Was Your anger against the rivers,Was Your wrath against the sea, ThatYou rode on Your horses, Your chariotsof salva on?9 Your bow was made quite ready;Oaths were sworn over Your arrows.Selah You divided the earth with rivers.10 The mountains saw You andtrembled; The overflowing of the waterpassed by. The deep u ered its voice,And li ed its hands on high.11 The sun and moon stood s ll intheir habita on; At the light of Yourarrows they went, At the shining of Yourgli ering spear.

HABAKKUK 3 1012 You marched through the land inindigna on; You trampled the na ons inanger.13 You went forth for the salva on ofYour people, For salva on with YourAnointed. You struck the head from thehouse of the wicked, By laying bare fromfounda on to neck. Selah14 You thrust through with his ownarrows The head of his villages. Theycame out like a whirlwind to sca er me;Their rejoicing was like feas ng on thepoor in secret.15 You walked through the sea withYour horses, Through the heap of greatwaters.16When I heard, my body trembled; Mylips quivered at the voice; Ro ennessentered my bones; And I trembled inmyself, That I might rest in the dayof trouble. When he comes up to the

HABAKKUK 3 11people, He will invade them with histroops.17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,Nor fruit be on the vines; Though thelabor of the olive may fail, And the fieldsyield no food; Though the flock may becut off from the fold, And there be noherd in the stalls––18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joyin the God of my salva on.19 The LORD God is my strength; He willmake my feet like deer’s feet, And Hewill make me walk on my high hills. Tothe Chief Musician. With my stringedinstruments.

Zephaniah

1 1 The word of the LORD which cameto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the

son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, theson of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah theson of Amon, king of Judah.2 "I will u erly consume everythingFrom the face of the land," Says theLORD;3 "I will consume man and beast; I willconsume the birds of the heavens, Thefish of the sea, And the stumbling blocksalong with the wicked. I will cut off manfrom the face of the land," Says theLORD.4 "I will stretch out My hand againstJudah, And against all the inhabitantsof Jerusalem. I will cut off every traceof Baal from this place, The names of

ZEPHANIAH 1 2the idolatrous priests with the paganpriests––5 Those whoworship the host of heavenon the housetops; Those who worshipand swear oaths by the LORD, But whoalso swear by Milcom;6 Those who have turned back fromfollowing the LORD, And have not soughtthe LORD, nor inquired of Him."7 Be silent in the presence of the LordGOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand,For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice;He has invited His guests.8 "And it shall be, In the day of theLORD’S sacrifice, That I will punish theprinces and the king’s children, And allsuch as are clothed with foreign apparel.9 In the same day I will punish All thosewho leap over the threshold, Who filltheir masters’ houses with violence anddeceit.

ZEPHANIAH 1 310 "And there shall be on that day," saysthe LORD, "The sound of a mournful cryfrom the Fish Gate, A wailing from theSecond Quarter, And a loud crashingfrom the hills.11Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! Forall the merchant people are cut down;All those who handle money are cut off.12 "And it shall come to pass at thatme That I will search Jerusalem with

lamps, And punish the men Who arese led in complacency, Who say in theirheart, ‘The LORD will not do good, Norwill He do evil.’13 Therefore their goods shall becomebooty, And their houses a desola on;They shall build houses, but not inhabitthem; They shall plant vineyards, but notdrink their wine."14 The great day of the LORD is near; Itis near and hastens quickly. The noise of

ZEPHANIAH 1 4the day of the LORD is bi er; There themighty men shall cry out.15 That day is a day of wrath, A day oftrouble and distress, A day of devasta onand desola on, A day of darkness andgloominess, A day of clouds and thickdarkness,16A day of trumpet and alarm Againstthe for fied ci es And against the hightowers.17 "I will bring distress upon men, Andthey shall walk like blind men, Becausethey have sinned against the LORD; Theirblood shall be poured out like dust, Andtheir flesh like refuse."18Neither their silver nor their goldShall be able to deliver them In the dayof the LORD’S wrath; But the wholeland shall be devoured By the fire ofHis jealousy, For He will make speedyriddance Of all those who dwell in theland.

ZEPHANIAH 2 5

2 1Gather yourselves together, yes,gather together, O undesirable

na on,2 Before the decree is issued, Or theday passes like chaff, Before the LORD’Sfierce anger comes upon you, Before theday of the LORD’S anger comes uponyou!3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of theearth, Who have upheld His jus ce. Seekrighteousness, seek humility. It may bethat you will be hidden In the day of theLORD’S anger.4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, AndAshkelon desolate; They shall drive outAshdod at noonday, And Ekron shall beuprooted.5Woe to the inhabitants of theseacoast, The na on of the Cherethites!The word of the LORD is against you,O Canaan, land of the Philis nes: "I

ZEPHANIAH 2 6will destroy you; So there shall be noinhabitant."6 The seacoast shall be pastures, Withshelters for shepherds and folds forflocks.7 The coast shall be for the remnant ofthe house of Judah; They shall feed theirflocks there; In the houses of Ashkelonthey shall lie down at evening. For theLORD their God will intervene for them,And return their cap ves.8 "I have heard the reproach of Moab,And the insults of the people of Ammon,With which they have reproached Mypeople, And made arrogant threatsagainst their borders.9 Therefore, as I live," Says the LORD ofhosts, the God of Israel, "Surely Moabshall be like Sodom, And the people ofAmmon like Gomorrah––Overrun withweeds and saltpits, And a perpetualdesola on. The residue of My people

ZEPHANIAH 2 7shall plunder them, And the remnant ofMy people shall possess them."10 This they shall have for their pride,Because they have reproached andmade arrogant threats Against thepeople of the LORD of hosts.11 The LORD will be awesome to them,For He will reduce to nothing all the godsof the earth; People shall worship Him,Each one from his place, Indeed all theshores of the na ons.12 "You Ethiopians also, You shall beslain by My sword."13And He will stretch out His handagainst the north, Destroy Assyria, Andmake Nineveh a desola on, As dry asthe wilderness.14 The herds shall lie down in her midst,Every beast of the na on. Both thepelican and the bi ern Shall lodge onthe capitals of her pillars; Their voiceshall sing in the windows; Desola on

ZEPHANIAH 2–3 8shall be at the threshold; For He will laybare the cedar work.15 This is the rejoicing city That dweltsecurely, That said in her heart, "I amit, and there is none besides me." Howhas she become a desola on, A place forbeasts to lie down! Everyone who passesby her Shall hiss and shake his fist.

3 1Woe to her who is rebellious andpolluted, To the oppressing city!

2 She has not obeyed His voice, Shehas not received correc on; She has nottrusted in the LORD, She has not drawnnear to her God.3Her princes in her midst are roaringlions; Her judges are evening wolvesThat leave not a bone ll morning.4Her prophets are insolent, treacherouspeople; Her priests have polluted thesanctuary, They have done violence tothe law.

ZEPHANIAH 3 95 The LORD is righteous in her midst,He will do no unrighteousness. Everymorning He brings His jus ce to light;He never fails, But the unjust knows noshame.6 "I have cut off na ons, Their fortressesare devastated; I have made their streetsdesolate, With none passing by. Theirci es are destroyed; There is no one, noinhabitant.7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, Youwill receive instruc on’ ––So that herdwelling would not be cut off, Despiteeverything for which I punished her. Butthey rose early and corrupted all theirdeeds.8 "Therefore wait for Me," says theLORD, "Un l the day I rise up forplunder; My determina on is to gatherthe na ons ToMy assembly of kingdoms,To pour on them My indigna on, All

ZEPHANIAH 3 10my fierce anger; All the earth shall bedevoured With the fire of My jealousy.9 "For then I will restore to the peoplesa pure language, That they all may callon the name of the LORD, To serve Himwith one accord.10 From beyond the rivers of EthiopiaMy worshipers, The daughter of Mydispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.11 In that day you shall not be shamedfor any of your deeds In which youtransgress against Me; For then I willtake away from your midst Those whorejoice in your pride, And you shall nolonger be haughty In My holy mountain.12 I will leave in your midst A meek andhumble people, And they shall trust inthe name of the LORD.13 The remnant of Israel shall do nounrighteousness And speak no lies, Norshall a decei ul tongue be found in theirmouth; For they shall feed their flocks

ZEPHANIAH 3 11and lie down, And no one shall makethem afraid."14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, OIsrael! Be glad and rejoice with all yourheart, O daughter of Jerusalem!15 The LORD has taken away yourjudgments, He has cast out your enemy.The King of Israel, the LORD, is in yourmidst; You shall see disaster no more.16 In that day it shall be said toJerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let notyour hands be weak.17 The LORD your God in your midst,The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoiceover you with gladness, He will quiet youwith His love, He will rejoice over youwith singing."18 "I will gather those who sorrow overthe appointed assembly, Who are amongyou, To whom its reproach is a burden.19 Behold, at that me I will deal withall who afflict you; I will save the lame,

ZEPHANIAH 3 12And gather those who were driven out;I will appoint them for praise and fameIn every land where they were put toshame.20At that me I will bring you back,Even at the me I gather you; For I willgive you fame and praise Among all thepeoples of the earth, When I return yourcap ves before your eyes," Says theLORD.

Haggai

1 1 In the second year of King Darius,in the sixth month, on the first day of

the month, the word of the LORD cameby Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel theson of Sheal el, governor of Judah, andto Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the highpriest, saying,2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts,saying: ‘This people says, "The me hasnot come, the me that the LORD’Shouse should be built."’"3 Then the word of the LORD came byHaggai the prophet, saying,4 "Is it me for you yourselves to dwellin your paneled houses, and this templeto lie in ruins?"5Now therefore, thus says the LORD ofhosts: "Consider your ways!

HAGGAI 1 26 "You have sown much, and bring inli le; You eat, but do not have enough;You drink, but you are not filled withdrink; You clothe yourselves, but no oneis warm; And he who earns wages, Earnswages to put into a bag with holes."7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consideryour ways!8 "Go up to the mountains and bringwood and build the temple, that I maytake pleasure in it and be glorified," saysthe LORD.9 "You looked for much, but indeed itcame to li le; and when you brought ithome, I blew it away. Why?" says theLORD of hosts. "Because of My housethat is in ruins, while every one of youruns to his own house.10 "Therefore the heavens aboveyou withhold the dew, and the earthwithholds its fruit.

HAGGAI 1 311 "For I called for a drought on the landand the mountains, on the grain andthe new wine and the oil, on whateverthe ground brings forth, on men andlivestock, and on all the labor of yourhands."12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Sheal el,and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, thehigh priest, with all the remnant of thepeople, obeyed the voice of the LORDtheir God, and the words of Haggai theprophet, as the LORD their God had senthim; and the people feared the presenceof the LORD.13 Then Haggai, the LORD’S messenger,spoke the LORD’S message to thepeople, saying, "I am with you, says theLORD."14 So the LORD s rred up the spiritof Zerubbabel the son of Sheal el,governor of Judah, and the spirit ofJoshua the son of Jehozadak, the high

HAGGAI 1–2 4priest, and the spirit of all the remnant ofthe people; and they came and workedon the house of the LORD of hosts, theirGod,15 on the twenty–fourth day of thesixth month, in the second year of KingDarius.

2 1 In the seventh month, on thetwenty–first of the month, the

word of the LORD came by Haggai theprophet, saying:2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the sonof Sheal el, governor of Judah, and toJoshua the son of Jehozadak, the highpriest, and to the remnant of the people,saying:3 ‘Who is le among you who saw thistemple in its former glory? And how doyou see it now? In comparison with it, isthis not in your eyes as nothing?4 ‘Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ saysthe LORD; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son

HAGGAI 2 5of Jehozadak, the high priest; and bestrong, all you people of the land,’ saysthe LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’says the LORD of hosts.5 ‘According to the word that Icovenanted with you when you cameout of Egypt, soMy Spirit remains amongyou; do not fear!’6 "For thus says the LORD of hosts:‘Once more (it is a li le while) I willshake heaven and earth, the sea and dryland;7 ‘and I will shake all na ons, and theyshall come to the Desire of All Na ons,and I will fill this temple with glory,’ saysthe LORD of hosts.8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold isMine,’ says the LORD of hosts.9 ‘The glory of this la er temple shallbe greater than the former,’ says theLORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I willgive peace,’ says the LORD of hosts."

HAGGAI 2 610On the twenty–fourth day of theninth month, in the second year ofDarius, the word of the LORD came byHaggai the prophet, saying,11 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Now,ask the priests concerning the law,saying,12 "If one carries holy meat in the foldof his garment, and with the edge hetouches bread or stew, wine or oil, orany food, will it become holy?"’" Thenthe priests answered and said, "No."13And Haggai said, "If one who isunclean because of a dead body touchesany of these, will it be unclean?" So thepriests answered and said, "It shall beunclean."14 Then Haggai answered and said,"‘So is this people, and so is this na onbefore Me,’ says the LORD, ‘and so isevery work of their hands; and whatthey offer there is unclean.

HAGGAI 2 715 ‘And now, carefully consider from thisday forward: from before stone was laidupon stone in the temple of the LORD––16 ‘since those days, when one cameto a heap of twenty ephahs, there werebut ten; when one came to the wine vatto draw out fi y baths from the press,there were but twenty.17 ‘I struck you with blight and mildewand hail in all the labors of your hands;yet you did not turn to Me,’ says theLORD.18 ‘Consider now from this day forward,from the twenty–fourth day of the ninthmonth, from the day that the founda onof the LORD’S temple was laid––considerit:19 ‘Is the seed s ll in the barn? As yetthe vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate,and the olive tree have not yielded fruit.But from this day I will bless you.’"

HAGGAI 2 820And again the word of the LORDcame to Haggai on the twenty–fourthday of the month, saying,21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor ofJudah, saying: ‘I will shake heaven andearth.22 I will overthrow the throne ofkingdoms; I will destroy the strength ofthe Gen le kingdoms. I will overthrowthe chariots And those who ride in them;The horses and their riders shall comedown, Every one by the sword of hisbrother.23 ‘In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts,‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant,the son of Sheal el,’ says the LORD, ‘andwill make you like a signet ring; for I havechosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts."

Zechariah

1 1 In the eighth month of the secondyear of Darius, the word of the LORD

came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah,the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,2 "The LORD has been very angry withyour fathers.3 "Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says theLORD of hosts: "Return to Me," says theLORD of hosts, "and I will return to you,"says the LORD of hosts.4 "Do not be like your fathers, to whomthe former prophets preached, saying,‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Turnnow from your evil ways and your evildeeds."’ But they did not hear nor heedMe," says the LORD.5 "Your fathers, where are they? Andthe prophets, do they live forever?

ZECHARIAH 1 26 Yet surely My words and My statutes,Which I commanded My servants theprophets, Did they not overtake yourfathers? "So they returned and said:‘Just as the LORD of hosts determinedto do to us, According to our ways andaccording to our deeds, So He has dealtwith us.’"’"7On the twenty–fourth day of theeleventh month, which is the monthShebat, in the second year of Darius, theword of the LORD came to Zechariah theson of Berechiah, the son of Iddo theprophet:8 I saw by night, and behold, a manriding on a red horse, and it stood amongthe myrtle trees in the hollow; andbehind him were horses: red, sorrel, andwhite.9 Then I said, "My lord, what are these?"So the angel who talked with me said tome, "I will show you what they are."

ZECHARIAH 1 310And the man who stood among themyrtle trees answered and said, "Theseare the ones whom the LORD has sent towalk to and fro throughout the earth."11 So they answered the Angel of theLORD, who stood among the myrtletrees, and said, "We have walked to andfro throughout the earth, and behold, allthe earth is res ng quietly."12 Then the Angel of the LORD answeredand said, "O LORD of hosts, how longwill You not have mercy on Jerusalemand on the ci es of Judah, against whichYou were angry these seventy years?"13And the LORD answered the angelwho talked to me, with good andcomfor ng words.14 So the angel who spoke with mesaid to me, "Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus saysthe LORD of hosts: "I am zealous forJerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.

ZECHARIAH 1 415 I am exceedingly angry with thena ons at ease; For I was a li le angry,And they helped––but with evil intent."16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: "I amreturning to Jerusalem with mercy; Myhouse shall be built in it," says the LORDof hosts, "And a surveyor’s line shall bestretched out over Jerusalem."’17 "Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus saysthe LORD of hosts: "My ci es shall againspread out through prosperity; TheLORD will again comfort Zion, And willagain choose Jerusalem."’"18 Then I raised my eyes and looked,and there were four horns.19And I said to the angel who talkedwith me, "What are these?" So heanswered me, "These are the hornsthat have sca ered Judah, Israel, andJerusalem."20 Then the LORD showed me fourcra smen.

ZECHARIAH 1–2 521And I said, "What are these comingto do?" So he said, "These are the hornsthat sca ered Judah, so that no onecould li up his head; but the cra smenare coming to terrify them, to cast outthe horns of the na ons that li ed uptheir horn against the land of Judah tosca er it."

2 1 Then I raised my eyes and looked,and behold, a man with a measuring

line in his hand.2 So I said, "Where are you going?" Andhe said to me, "To measure Jerusalem,to see what is its width and what is itslength."3And there was the angel who talkedwith me, going out; and another angelwas coming out to meet him,4who said to him, "Run, speak to thisyoung man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shallbe inhabited as towns without walls,

ZECHARIAH 2 6because of the mul tude of men andlivestock in it.5 ‘For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall offire all around her, and I will be the gloryin her midst.’"6 "Up, up! Flee from the land of thenorth," says the LORD; "for I havespread you abroad like the four winds ofheaven," says the LORD.7 "Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell withthe daughter of Babylon."8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Hesent Me a er glory, to the na ons whichplunder you; for he who touches youtouches the apple of His eye.9 "For surely I will shake My handagainst them, and they shall becomespoil for their servants. Then you willknow that the LORD of hosts has sentMe.

ZECHARIAH 2–3 710 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion!For behold, I am coming and I will dwellin your midst," says the LORD.11 "Many na ons shall be joined to theLORD in that day, and they shall becomeMy people. And I will dwell in yourmidst. Then you will know that the LORDof hosts has sent Me to you.12 "And the LORD will take possessionof Judah as His inheritance in the HolyLand, and will again choose Jerusalem.13 "Be silent, all flesh, before theLORD, for He is aroused from His holyhabita on!"

3 1 Then he showed me Joshua thehigh priest standing before the Angel

of the LORD, and Satan standing at hisright hand to oppose him.2And the LORD said to Satan, "TheLORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD whohas chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is thisnot a brand plucked from the fire?"

ZECHARIAH 3 83Now Joshua was clothed with filthygarments, and was standing before theAngel.4 Then He answered and spoke to thosewho stood before Him, saying, "Takeaway the filthy garments from him." Andto him He said, "See, I have removedyour iniquity from you, and I will clotheyou with rich robes."5And I said, "Let them put a cleanturban on his head." So they put a cleanturban on his head, and they put theclothes on him. And the Angel of theLORD stood by.6 Then the Angel of the LORDadmonished Joshua, saying,7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If youwill walk in My ways, And if you will keepMy command, Then you shall also judgeMy house, And likewise have charge ofMy courts; I will give you places to walkAmong these who stand here.

ZECHARIAH 3–4 98 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, Youand your companions who sit beforeyou, For they are a wondrous sign; Forbehold, I am bringing forth My Servantthe BRANCH.9 For behold, the stone That I havelaid before Joshua: Upon the stone areseven eyes. Behold, I will engrave itsinscrip on,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘AndI will remove the iniquity of that land inone day.10 In that day,’ says the LORD of hosts,‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Underhis vine and under his fig tree.’"

4 1Now the angel who talked with mecame back and wakened me, as a

man who is wakened out of his sleep.2And he said to me, "What do yousee?" So I said, "I am looking, and thereis a lampstand of solid gold with a bowlon top of it, and on the stand seven

ZECHARIAH 4 10lamps with seven pipes to the sevenlamps.3 "Two olive trees are by it, one at theright of the bowl and the other at itsle ."4 So I answered and spoke to the angelwho talked with me, saying, "What arethese, my lord?"5 Then the angel who talked with meanswered and said to me, "Do you notknow what these are?" And I said, "No,my lord."6 So he answered and said to me: "Thisis the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:‘Not by might nor by power, but by MySpirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain?Before Zerubbabel you shall becomea plain! And he shall bring forth thecapstone With shouts of "Grace, graceto it!"’"

ZECHARIAH 4 118Moreover the word of the LORD cameto me, saying:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laidthe founda on of this temple; His handsshall also finish it. Then you will knowThat the LORD of hosts has sent Me toyou.10 For who has despised the day ofsmall things? For these seven rejoiceto see The plumb line in the hand ofZerubbabel. They are the eyes of theLORD, Which scan to and fro throughoutthe whole earth."11 Then I answered and said to him,"What are these two olive trees––at theright of the lampstand and at its le ?"12And I further answered and said tohim, "What are these two olive branchesthat drip into the receptacles of the twogold pipes from which the golden oildrains?"

ZECHARIAH 4–5 1213 Then he answered me and said, "Doyou not know what these are?" And Isaid, "No, my lord."14 So he said, "These are the twoanointed ones, who stand beside theLord of the whole earth."

5 1 Then I turned and raised my eyes,and saw there a flying scroll.

2And he said to me, "What do yousee?" So I answered, "I see a flying scroll.Its length is twenty cubits and its widthten cubits."3 Then he said to me, "This is the cursethat goes out over the face of the wholeearth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’according to this side of the scroll;and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’according to that side of it."4 "I will send out the curse," says theLORD of hosts; "It shall enter the houseof the thief And the house of the onewho swears falsely by My name. It shall

ZECHARIAH 5 13remain in the midst of his house Andconsume it, with its mber and stones."5 Then the angel who talked with mecame out and said to me, "Li youreyes now, and see what this is that goesforth."6 So I asked, "What is it?" And he said,"It is a basket that is going forth." Healso said, "This is their resemblancethroughout the earth:7 "Here is a lead disc li ed up, and thisis a woman si ng inside the basket";8 then he said, "This is Wickedness!"And he thrust her down into the basket,and threw the lead cover over its mouth.9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, andthere were two women, coming withthe wind in their wings; for they hadwings like the wings of a stork, and theyli ed up the basket between earth andheaven.

ZECHARIAH 5–6 1410 So I said to the angel who talkedwith me, "Where are they carrying thebasket?"11And he said to me, "To build a housefor it in the land of Shinar; when it isready, the basket will be set there on itsbase."

6 1 Then I turned and raised myeyes and looked, and behold, four

chariots were coming from between twomountains, and the mountains weremountains of bronze.2With the first chariot were red horses,with the second chariot black horses,3with the third chariot white horses,and with the fourth chariot dappledhorses––strong steeds.4 Then I answered and said to the angelwho talked with me, "What are these,my lord?"5And the angel answered and said tome, "These are four spirits of heaven,

ZECHARIAH 6 15who go out from their sta on before theLord of all the earth.6 "The one with the black horses isgoing to the north country, the white aregoing a er them, and the dappled aregoing toward the south country."7 Then the strong steeds went out,eager to go, that they might walk toand fro throughout the earth. And Hesaid, "Go, walk to and fro throughoutthe earth." So they walked to and frothroughout the earth.8And He called to me, and spoke tome, saying, "See, those who go towardthe north country have given rest to MySpirit in the north country."9 Then the word of the LORD came tome, saying:10 "Receive the gi from the cap ves––from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, whohave come from Babylon––and go the

ZECHARIAH 6 16same day and enter the house of Josiahthe son of Zephaniah.11 "Take the silver and gold, make anelaborate crown, and set it on the headof Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the highpriest.12 "Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thussays the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold,the Man whose name is the BRANCH!From His place He shall branch out, AndHe shall build the temple of the LORD;13 Yes, He shall build the temple of theLORD. He shall bear the glory, And shallsit and rule on His throne; So He shall bea priest on His throne, And the counselof peace shall be between them both."’14 "Now the elaborate crown shall befor a memorial in the temple of theLORD for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, andHen the son of Zephaniah.15 "Even those from afar shall come andbuild the temple of the LORD. Then you

ZECHARIAH 7 17shall know that the LORD of hosts hassent Me to you. And this shall come topass if you diligently obey the voice ofthe LORD your God."

7 1Now in the fourth year of KingDarius it came to pass that the word

of the LORD came to Zechariah, on thefourth day of the ninth month, Chislev,2when the people sent Sherezer, withRegem–Melech and his men, to thehouse of God, to pray before the LORD,3 and to ask the priests who were inthe house of the LORD of hosts, and theprophets, saying, "Should I weep in thefi h month and fast as I have done for somany years?"4 Then the word of the LORD of hostscame to me, saying,5 "Say to all the people of the land,and to the priests: ‘When you fastedand mourned in the fi h and seventh

ZECHARIAH 7 18months during those seventy years, didyou really fast for Me––for Me?6 ‘When you eat and when you drink,do you not eat and drink for yourselves?7 ‘Should you not have obeyed thewords which the LORD proclaimedthrough the former prophets whenJerusalem and the ci es around it wereinhabited and prosperous, and the Southand the Lowland were inhabited?’"8 Then the word of the LORD came toZechariah, saying,9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:‘Execute true jus ce, Show mercy andcompassion Everyone to his brother.10Do not oppress the widow or thefatherless, The alien or the poor. Letnone of you plan evil in his heart Againsthis brother.’11 "But they refused to heed, shruggedtheir shoulders, and stopped their earsso that they could not hear.

ZECHARIAH 7–8 1912 "Yes, they made their hearts like flint,refusing to hear the law and the wordswhich the LORD of hosts had sent byHis Spirit through the former prophets.Thus great wrath came from the LORD ofhosts.13 "Therefore it happened, that justas He proclaimed and they would nothear, so they called out and I would notlisten," says the LORD of hosts.14 "But I sca ered them with awhirlwind among all the na ons whichthey had not known. Thus the landbecame desolate a er them, so thatno one passed through or returned; forthey made the pleasant land desolate."

8 1Again the word of the LORD ofhosts came, saying,

2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I amzealous for Zion with great zeal; Withgreat fervor I am zealous for her.’

ZECHARIAH 8 203 "Thus says the LORD: ‘I will returnto Zion, And dwell in the midst ofJerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called theCity of Truth, The Mountain of the LORDof hosts, The Holy Mountain.’4 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Oldmen and old women shall again sit In thestreets of Jerusalem, Each one with hisstaff in his hand Because of great age.5 The streets of the city Shall be full ofboys and girls Playing in its streets.’6 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If it ismarvelous in the eyes of the remnant ofthis people in these days, Will it also bemarvelous in My eyes?’ Says the LORDof hosts.7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold,I will save My people from the land ofthe east And from the land of the west;8 I will bring them back, And they shalldwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They

ZECHARIAH 8 21shall be My people And I will be theirGod, In truth and righteousness.’9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Letyour hands be strong, You who havebeen hearing in these days These wordsby the mouth of the prophets, Whospoke in the day the founda on was laidFor the house of the LORD of hosts, Thatthe temple might be built.10 For before these days There were nowages for man nor any hire for beast;There was no peace from the enemy forwhoever went out or came in; For I setall men, everyone, against his neighbor.11 ‘But now I will not treat the remnantof this people as in the former days,’ saysthe LORD of hosts.12 ‘For the seed shall be prosperous,The vine shall give its fruit, The groundshall give her increase, And the heavensshall give their dew––I will cause the

ZECHARIAH 8 22remnant of this people To possess allthese.13And it shall come to pass That just asyou were a curse among the na ons, Ohouse of Judah and house of Israel, So Iwill save you, and you shall be a blessing.Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.’14 "For thus says the LORD of hosts:‘Just as I determined to punish youWhenyour fathers provoked Me to wrath,’Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I would notrelent,15 So again in these days I amdetermined to do good To Jerusalem andto the house of Judah. Do not fear.16 These are the things you shalldo: Speak each man the truth to hisneighbor; Give judgment in your gatesfor truth, jus ce, and peace;17 Let none of you think evil in yourheart against your neighbor; And do not

ZECHARIAH 8 23love a false oath. For all these are thingsthat I hate,’ Says the LORD."18 Then the word of the LORD of hostscame to me, saying,19 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Thefast of the fourth month, The fast ofthe fi h, The fast of the seventh, Andthe fast of the tenth, Shall be joy andgladness and cheerful feasts For thehouse of Judah. Therefore love truth andpeace.’20 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants ofmany ci es;21 The inhabitants of one city shall go toanother, saying, "Let us con nue to goand pray before the LORD, And seek theLORD of hosts. I myself will go also."22 Yes, many peoples and strong na onsShall come to seek the LORD of hosts inJerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.’

ZECHARIAH 8–9 2423 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Inthose days ten men from every languageof the na ons shall grasp the sleeve ofa Jewish man, saying, "Let us go withyou, for we have heard that God is withyou."’"

9 1 The burden of the word of theLORD Against the land of Hadrach,

And Damascus its res ng place (For theeyes of men And all the tribes of IsraelAre on the LORD);2Also against Hamath, which borderson it, And against Tyre and Sidon, thoughthey are very wise.3 For Tyre built herself a tower, Heapedup silver like the dust, And gold like themire of the streets.4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out; Hewill destroy her power in the sea, Andshe will be devoured by fire.5Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gazaalso shall be very sorrowful; And Ekron,

ZECHARIAH 9 25for He dried up her expecta on. The kingshall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelonshall not be inhabited.6 "A mixed race shall se le in Ashdod,And I will cut off the pride of thePhilis nes.7 I will take away the blood from hismouth, And the abomina ons frombetween his teeth. But he who remains,even he shall be for our God, And shallbe like a leader in Judah, And Ekron likea Jebusite.8 I will camp around My house Becauseof the army, Because of him who passesby and him who returns. No more shallan oppressor pass through them, Fornow I have seen with My eyes.9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold,your King is coming to you; He is just andhaving salva on, Lowly and riding on adonkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

ZECHARIAH 9 2610 I will cut off the chariot from EphraimAnd the horse from Jerusalem; Theba le bow shall be cut off. He shall speakpeace to the na ons; His dominion shallbe ‘from sea to sea, And from the Riverto the ends of the earth.’11 "As for you also, Because of theblood of your covenant, I will set yourprisoners free from the waterless pit.12 Return to the stronghold, Youprisoners of hope. Even today I declareThat I will restore double to you.13 For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fi edthe bow with Ephraim, And raised upyour sons, O Zion, Against your sons, OGreece, And made you like the sword ofa mighty man."14 Then the LORD will be seen overthem, And His arrow will go forth likelightning. The Lord GOD will blow thetrumpet, And go with whirlwinds fromthe south.

ZECHARIAH 9–10 2715 The LORD of hosts will defend them;They shall devour and subdue withslingstones. They shall drink and roaras if with wine; They shall be filled withblood like basins, Like the corners of thealtar.16 The LORD their God will save them inthat day, As the flock of His people. Forthey shall be like the jewels of a crown,Li ed like a banner over His land––17 For how great is its goodness Andhow great its beauty! Grain shall makethe young men thrive, And new wine theyoung women.

10 1Ask the LORD for rain In theme of the la er rain. The LORD

will make flashing clouds; He will givethem showers of rain, Grass in the fieldfor everyone.2 For the idols speak delusion; Thediviners envision lies, And tell falsedreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore

ZECHARIAH 10 28the people wend their way like sheep;They are in trouble because there is noshepherd.3 "My anger is kindled against theshepherds, And I will punish thegoatherds. For the LORD of hosts willvisit His flock, The house of Judah, Andwill make them as His royal horse in theba le.4 From him comes the cornerstone,From him the tent peg, From himthe ba le bow, From him every rulertogether.5 They shall be like mighty men, Whotread down their enemies In the mire ofthe streets in the ba le. They shall fightbecause the LORD is with them, And theriders on horses shall be put to shame.6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah,And I will save the house of Joseph. I willbring them back, Because I have mercyon them. They shall be as though I had

ZECHARIAH 10 29not cast them aside; For I am the LORDtheir God, And I will hear them.7 Those of Ephraim shall be like amightyman, And their heart shall rejoice as ifwith wine. Yes, their children shall see itand be glad; Their heart shall rejoice inthe LORD.8 I will whistle for them and gatherthem, For I will redeem them; And theyshall increase as they once increased.9 "I will sow them among the peoples,And they shall remember Me in farcountries; They shall live, together withtheir children, And they shall return.10 I will also bring them back from theland of Egypt, And gather them fromAssyria. I will bring them into the land ofGilead and Lebanon, Un l no more roomis found for them.11He shall pass through the sea withafflic on, And strike the waves of thesea: All the depths of the River shall dry

ZECHARIAH 10–11 30up. Then the pride of Assyria shall bebrought down, And the scepter of Egyptshall depart.12 "So I will strengthen them in theLORD, And they shall walk up and downin His name," Says the LORD.

11 1Open your doors, O Lebanon,That fire may devour your cedars.

2Wail, O cypress, for the cedar hasfallen, Because the mighty trees areruined. Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For thethick forest has come down.3 There is the sound of wailingshepherds! For their glory is in ruins.There is the sound of roaring lions! Forthe pride of the Jordan is in ruins.4 Thus says the LORD my God, "Feedthe flock for slaughter,5 "whose owners slaughter them andfeel no guilt; those who sell them say,‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich’; andtheir shepherds do not pity them.

ZECHARIAH 11 316 "For I will no longer pity theinhabitants of the land," says the LORD."But indeed I will give everyone into hisneighbor’s hand and into the hand of hisking. They shall a ack the land, and I willnot deliver them from their hand."7 So I fed the flock for slaughter, inpar cular the poor of the flock. I tookfor myself two staffs: the one I calledBeauty, and the other I called Bonds;and I fed the flock.8 I dismissed the three shepherds inone month. My soul loathed them, andtheir soul also abhorred me.9 Then I said, "I will not feed you. Letwhat is dying die, and what is perishingperish. Let those that are le eat eachother’s flesh."10And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut itin two, that I might break the covenantwhich I had made with all the peoples.

ZECHARIAH 11 3211 So it was broken on that day. Thusthe poor of the flock, who were watchingme, knew that it was the word of theLORD.12 Then I said to them, "If it is agreeableto you, give me my wages; and if not,refrain." So they weighed out for mywages thirty pieces of silver.13And the LORD said to me, "Throw itto the po er" ––that princely price theyset on me. So I took the thirty pieces ofsilver and threw them into the house ofthe LORD for the po er.14 Then I cut in two my otherstaff, Bonds, that I might break thebrotherhood between Judah and Israel.15And the LORD said to me, "Next, takefor yourself the implements of a foolishshepherd.16 "For indeed I will raise up a shepherdin the land who will not care for thosewho are cut off, nor seek the young,

ZECHARIAH 11–12 33nor heal those that are broken, nor feedthose that s ll stand. But he will eat theflesh of the fat and tear their hooves inpieces.17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd,Who leaves the flock! A sword shall beagainst his arm And against his right eye;His arm shall completely wither, And hisright eye shall be totally blinded."

12 1 The burden of the word of theLORD against Israel. Thus says the

LORD, who stretches out the heavens,lays the founda on of the earth, andforms the spirit of man within him:2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cupof drunkenness to all the surroundingpeoples, when they lay siege againstJudah and Jerusalem.3 "And it shall happen in that day that Iwill make Jerusalem a very heavy stonefor all peoples; all who would heave itaway will surely be cut in pieces, though

ZECHARIAH 12 34all na ons of the earth are gatheredagainst it.4 "In that day," says the LORD, "I willstrike every horse with confusion, andits rider with madness; I will open Myeyes on the house of Judah, and willstrike every horse of the peoples withblindness.5 "And the governors of Judah shallsay in their heart, ‘The inhabitants ofJerusalem are my strength in the LORDof hosts, their God.’6 "In that day I will make the governorsof Judah like a firepan in the woodpile,and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; theyshall devour all the surrounding peopleson the right hand and on the le , butJerusalem shall be inhabited again in herown place––Jerusalem.7 "The LORD will save the tents of Judahfirst, so that the glory of the house ofDavid and the glory of the inhabitants of

ZECHARIAH 12 35Jerusalem shall not become greater thanthat of Judah.8 "In that day the LORD will defend theinhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who isfeeble among them in that day shall belike David, and the house of David shallbe like God, like the Angel of the LORDbefore them.9 "It shall be in that day that I will seekto destroy all the na ons that comeagainst Jerusalem.10 "And I will pour on the house of Davidand on the inhabitants of Jerusalem theSpirit of grace and supplica on; thenthey will look on Me whom they pierced.Yes, they will mourn for Him as onemourns for his only son, and grieve forHim as one grieves for a firstborn.11 "In that day there shall be agreat mourning in Jerusalem, like themourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plainof Megiddo.

ZECHARIAH 12–13 3612 "And the land shall mourn, everyfamily by itself: the family of the houseof David by itself, and their wives bythemselves; the family of the houseof Nathan by itself, and their wives bythemselves;13 "the family of the house of Levi byitself, and their wives by themselves; thefamily of Shimei by itself, and their wivesby themselves;14 "all the families that remain, everyfamily by itself, and their wives bythemselves.

13 1 "In that day a fountain shall beopened for the house of David

and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, forsin and for uncleanness.2 "It shall be in that day," says the LORDof hosts, "that I will cut off the names ofthe idols from the land, and they shall nolonger be remembered. I will also cause

ZECHARIAH 13 37the prophets and the unclean spirit todepart from the land.3 "It shall come to pass that if anyones ll prophesies, then his father andmother who begot him will say to him,‘You shall not live, because you havespoken lies in the name of the LORD.’And his father and mother who begothim shall thrust him through when heprophesies.4 "And it shall be in that day that everyprophet will be ashamed of his visionwhen he prophesies; they will not weara robe of coarse hair to deceive.5 "But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I ama farmer; for a man taught me to keepca le from my youth.’6 "And one will say to him, ‘What arethese wounds between your arms?’Then he will answer, ‘Those with whichI was wounded in the house of myfriends.’

ZECHARIAH 13–14 387 "Awake, O sword, against MyShepherd, Against the Man who is MyCompanion," Says the LORD of hosts."Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep willbe sca ered; Then I will turn My handagainst the li le ones.8And it shall come to pass in all theland," Says the LORD, "That two–thirds init shall be cut off and die, But one–thirdshall be le in it:9 I will bring the one–third through thefire, Will refine them as silver is refined,And test them as gold is tested. Theywill call on My name, And I will answerthem. I will say, ‘This is My people’; Andeach one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’"

14 1 Behold, the day of the LORD iscoming, And your spoil will be

divided in your midst.2 For I will gather all the na ons toba le against Jerusalem; The city shallbe taken, The houses rifled, And the

ZECHARIAH 14 39women ravished. Half of the city shallgo into cap vity, But the remnant of thepeople shall not be cut off from the city.3 Then the LORD will go forth And fightagainst those na ons, As He fights in theday of ba le.4And in that day His feet will standon the Mount of Olives, Which facesJerusalem on the east. And the Mountof Olives shall be split in two, From eastto west, Making a very large valley; Halfof the mountain shall move toward thenorth And half of it toward the south.5 Then you shall flee through Mymountain valley, For the mountain valleyshall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee Asyou fled from the earthquake In the daysof Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORDmy God will come, And all the saints withYou.

ZECHARIAH 14 406 It shall come to pass in that day Thatthere will be no light; The lights willdiminish.7 It shall be one day Which is known tothe LORD––Neither day nor night. But atevening me it shall happen That it willbe light.8And in that day it shall be That livingwaters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half ofthem toward the eastern sea And half ofthem toward the western sea; In bothsummer and winter it shall occur.9And the LORD shall be King over allthe earth. In that day it shall be––"TheLORD is one," And His name one.10All the land shall be turned into aplain from Geba to Rimmon south ofJerusalem. Jerusalem shall be raisedup and inhabited in her place fromBenjamin’s Gate to the place of the FirstGate and the Corner Gate, and from

ZECHARIAH 14 41the Tower of Hananeel to the king’swinepresses.11 The people shall dwell in it; And nolonger shall there be u er destruc on,But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.12And this shall be the plague withwhich the LORD will strike all the peoplewho fought against Jerusalem: Theirflesh shall dissolve while they stand ontheir feet, Their eyes shall dissolve intheir sockets, And their tongues shalldissolve in their mouths.13 It shall come to pass in that day Thata great panic from the LORD will beamong them. Everyone will seize thehand of his neighbor, And raise his handagainst his neighbor’s hand;14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem.And the wealth of all the surroundingna ons Shall be gathered together: Gold,silver, and apparel in great abundance.

ZECHARIAH 14 4215 Such also shall be the plague On thehorse and the mule, On the camel andthe donkey, And on all the ca le that willbe in those camps. So shall this plaguebe.16And it shall come to pass thateveryone who is le of all the na onswhich came against Jerusalem shall goup from year to year to worship the King,the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feastof Tabernacles.17And it shall be that whichever of thefamilies of the earth do not come up toJerusalem to worship the King, the LORDof hosts, on them there will be no rain.18 If the family of Egypt will not comeup and enter in, they shall have norain; they shall receive the plague withwhich the LORD strikes the na ons whodo not come up to keep the Feast ofTabernacles.

ZECHARIAH 14 4319 This shall be the punishment of Egyptand the punishment of all the na onsthat do not come up to keep the Feast ofTabernacles.20 In that day "HOLINESS TO THE LORD"shall be engraved on the bells of thehorses. The pots in the LORD’S houseshall be like the bowls before the altar.21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judahshall be holiness to the LORD of hosts.Everyone who sacrifices shall come andtake them and cook in them. In that daythere shall no longer be a Canaanite inthe house of the LORD of hosts.

Malachi

1 1 The burden of the word of theLORD to Israel by Malachi.

2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yetyou say, ‘In what way have You lovedus?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?" Saysthe LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved;3 But Esau I have hated, And laid wastehis mountains and his heritage For thejackals of the wilderness."4 Even though Edom has said, "We havebeen impoverished, But we will returnand build the desolate places," Thus saysthe LORD of hosts: "They may build, butI will throw down; They shall be calledthe Territory of Wickedness, And thepeople against whom the LORD will haveindigna on forever.

MALACHI 1 25 Your eyes shall see, And you shallsay, ‘The LORD is magnified beyond theborder of Israel.’6 "A son honors his father, And aservant his master. If then I am theFather, Where is My honor? And if I ama Master, Where is My reverence? Saysthe LORD of hosts To you priests whodespise My name. Yet you say, ‘In whatway have we despised Your name?’7 "You offer defiled food on My altar.But say, ‘In what way have we defiledYou?’ By saying, ‘The table of the LORDis contemp ble.’8And when you offer the blind as asacrifice, Is it not evil? And when youoffer the lame and sick, Is it not evil?Offer it then to your governor! Would hebe pleased with you? Would he acceptyou favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts.9 "But now entreat God’s favor, That Hemay be gracious to us. While this is being

MALACHI 1 3done by your hands, Will He accept youfavorably?" Says the LORD of hosts.10 "Who is there even among you whowould shut the doors, So that you wouldnot kindle fire on My altar in vain? I haveno pleasure in you," Says the LORD ofhosts, "Nor will I accept an offering fromyour hands.11 For from the rising of the sun, evento its going down, My name shall begreat among the Gen les; In every placeincense shall be offered to My name,And a pure offering; For My name shallbe great among the na ons," Says theLORD of hosts.12 "But you profane it, In that you say,‘The table of the LORD is defiled; And itsfruit, its food, is contemp ble.’13 You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’And you sneer at it," Says the LORD ofhosts. "And you bring the stolen, thelame, and the sick; Thus you bring an

MALACHI 1–2 4offering! Should I accept this from yourhand?" Says the LORD.14 "But cursed be the deceiver Whohas in his flock a male, And takes avow, But sacrifices to the Lord what isblemished––For I am a great King," Saysthe LORD of hosts, "And My name is tobe feared among the na ons.

2 1 "And now, O priests, thiscommandment is for you.

2 If you will not hear, And if you willnot take it to heart, To give glory to Myname," Says the LORD of hosts, "I willsend a curse upon you, And I will curseyour blessings. Yes, I have cursed themalready, Because you do not take it toheart.3 "Behold, I will rebuke yourdescendants And spread refuse onyour faces, The refuse of your solemnfeasts; And one will take you away withit.

MALACHI 2 54 Then you shall know that I have sentthis commandment to you, That Mycovenant with Levi may con nue," Saysthe LORD of hosts.5 "My covenant was with him, one oflife and peace, And I gave them to himthat he might fear Me; So he feared MeAnd was reverent before My name.6 The law of truth was in his mouth,And injus ce was not found on his lips.He walked with Me in peace and equity,And turned many away from iniquity.7 "For the lips of a priest should keepknowledge, And people should seekthe law from his mouth; For he is themessenger of the LORD of hosts.8 But you have departed from the way;You have caused many to stumble at thelaw. You have corrupted the covenant ofLevi," Says the LORD of hosts.9 "Therefore I also have made youcontemp ble and base Before all the

MALACHI 2 6people, Because you have not kept Myways But have shown par ality in thelaw."10Have we not all one Father? Hasnot one God created us? Why do wedeal treacherously with one another Byprofaning the covenant of the fathers?11 Judah has dealt treacherously, Andan abomina on has been commi ed inIsrael and in Jerusalem, For Judah hasprofaned The LORD’S holy ins tu onwhich He loves: He has married thedaughter of a foreign god.12May the LORD cut off from the tentsof Jacob The man who does this, beingawake and aware, Yet who brings anoffering to the LORD of hosts!13And this is the second thing you do:You cover the altar of the LORD withtears, With weeping and crying; So Hedoes not regard the offering anymore,

MALACHI 2 7Nor receive it with goodwill from yourhands.14 Yet you say, "For what reason?"Because the LORD has been witnessBetween you and the wife of youryouth, With whom you have dealttreacherously; Yet she is your companionAnd your wife by covenant.15 But did He not make them one,Having a remnant of the Spirit? And whyone? He seeks godly offspring. Thereforetake heed to your spirit, And let nonedeal treacherously with the wife of hisyouth.16 "For the LORD God of Israel saysThat He hates divorce, For it coversone’s garment with violence," Says theLORD of hosts. "Therefore take heedto your spirit, That you do not dealtreacherously."17 You have wearied the LORD withyour words; Yet you say, "In what way

MALACHI 3 8have we wearied Him?" In that you say,"Everyone who does evil Is good in thesight of the LORD, And He delights inthem," Or, "Where is the God of jus ce?"

3 1 "Behold, I send My messenger,And he will prepare the way before

Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Willsuddenly come to His temple, Even theMessenger of the covenant, In whomyou delight. Behold, He is coming," Saysthe LORD of hosts.2 "But who can endure the day of Hiscoming? And who can stand when Heappears? For He is like a refiner’s fireAnd like launderer’s soap.3He will sit as a refiner and a purifierof silver; He will purify the sons of Levi,And purge them as gold and silver, Thatthey may offer to the LORD An offeringin righteousness.

MALACHI 3 94 "Then the offering of Judah andJerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD,As in the days of old, As in former years.5And I will come near you for judgment;I will be a swi witness Against sorcerers,Against adulterers, Against perjurers,Against those who exploit wage earnersand widows and orphans, And againstthose who turn away an alien––Becausethey do not fear Me," Says the LORD ofhosts.6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change;Therefore you are not consumed, O sonsof Jacob.7 Yet from the days of your fathers Youhave gone away from My ordinancesAnd have not kept them. Return to Me,and I will return to you," Says the LORDof hosts. "But you said, ‘In what wayshall we return?’8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you haverobbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way

MALACHI 3 10have we robbed You?’ In thes andofferings.9 You are cursed with a curse, For youhave robbedMe, Even this whole na on.10 Bring all the thes into thestorehouse, That there may be food inMy house, And try Me now in this," Saysthe LORD of hosts, "If I will not open foryou the windows of heaven And pourout for you such blessing That there willnot be room enough to receive it.11 "And I will rebuke the devourer foryour sakes, So that he will not destroythe fruit of your ground, Nor shall thevine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,"Says the LORD of hosts;12 "And all na ons will call you blessed,For you will be a deligh ul land," Saysthe LORD of hosts.13 "Your words have been harsh againstMe," Says the LORD, "Yet you say, ‘Whathave we spoken against You?’

MALACHI 3 1114 You have said, ‘It is useless to serveGod; What profit is it that we have keptHis ordinance, And that we have walkedas mourners Before the LORD of hosts?15 So now we call the proud blessed,For those who do wickedness are raisedup; They even tempt God and go free.’"16 Then those who feared the LORDspoke to one another, And the LORDlistened and heard them; So a book ofremembrance was wri en before HimFor those who fear the LORD And whomeditate on His name.17 "They shall be Mine," says the LORDof hosts, "On the day that I make themMy jewels. And I will spare them As aman spares his own son who serveshim."18 Then you shall again discern Betweenthe righteous and the wicked, Betweenone who serves God And one who doesnot serve Him.

MALACHI 4 12

4 1 "For behold, the day is coming,Burning like an oven, And all the

proud, yes, all who do wickedly will bestubble. And the day which is comingshall burn them up," Says the LORD ofhosts, "That will leave them neither rootnor branch.2 But to you who fear My name The Sunof Righteousness shall arise With healingin His wings; And you shall go out Andgrow fat like stall–fed calves.3 You shall trample the wicked, For theyshall be ashes under the soles of yourfeet On the day that I do this," Says theLORD of hosts.4 "Remember the Law of Moses, Myservant, Which I commanded him inHoreb for all Israel, With the statutesand judgments.5 Behold, I will send you Elijah theprophet Before the coming of the greatand dreadful day of the LORD.

MALACHI 4 136And he will turn The hearts of thefathers to the children, And the hearts ofthe children to their fathers, Lest I comeand strike the earth with a curse."

Ma hew

1 1 The book of the genealogy of JesusChrist, the Son of David, the Son of

Abraham:2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begotJacob, and Jacob begot Judah and hisbrothers.3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah byTamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezronbegot Ram.4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadabbegot Nahshon, and Nahshon begotSalmon.5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boazbegot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,6 and Jesse begot David the king. Davidthe king begot Solomon by her who hadbeen the wife of Uriah.

MATTHEW 1 27 Solomonbegot Rehoboam, Rehoboambegot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.8Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphatbegot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begotAhaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.10Hezekiah begotManasseh,Manassehbegot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.11 Josiah begot Jeconiah and hisbrothers about the me they werecarried away to Babylon.12And a er they were brought toBabylon, Jeconiah begot Sheal el, andSheal el begot Zerubbabel.13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begotEliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.14Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begotAchim, and Achim begot Eliud.15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begotMa han, and Ma han begot Jacob.

MATTHEW 1 316And Jacob begot Joseph the husbandof Mary, of whom was born Jesus who iscalled Christ.17 So all the genera ons from Abrahamto David are fourteen genera ons, fromDavid un l the cap vity in Babylon arefourteen genera ons, and from thecap vity in Babylon un l the Christ arefourteen genera ons.18Now the birth of Jesus Christ wasas follows: A er His mother Mary wasbetrothed to Joseph, before they cametogether, she was found with child of theHoly Spirit.19 Then Joseph her husband, being ajust man, and not wan ng to make her apublic example, was minded to put heraway secretly.20 But while he thought about thesethings, behold, an angel of the Lordappeared to him in a dream, saying,"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid

MATTHEW 1–2 4to take to you Mary your wife, for thatwhich is conceived in her is of the HolySpirit.21 "And she will bring forth a Son, andyou shall call His name JESUS, for He willsave His people from their sins."22 So all this was done that it might befulfilled which was spoken by the Lordthrough the prophet, saying:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child,and bear a Son, and they shall call Hisname Immanuel," which is translated,"God with us."24 Then Joseph, being aroused fromsleep, did as the angel of the Lordcommanded him and took to him hiswife,25 and did not know her ll she hadbrought forth her firstborn Son. And hecalled His name JESUS.

2 1Now a er Jesus was born inBethlehem of Judea in the days of

MATTHEW 2 5Herod the king, behold, wise men fromthe East came to Jerusalem,2 saying, "Where is He who has beenborn King of the Jews? For we have seenHis star in the East and have come toworship Him."3When Herod the king heard this, hewas troubled, and all Jerusalem withhim.4And when he had gathered all thechief priests and scribes of the peopletogether, he inquired of them where theChrist was to be born.5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehemof Judea, for thus it is wri en by theprophet:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land ofJudah, Are not the least among therulers of Judah; For out of you shall comea Ruler Who will shepherd My peopleIsrael.’"

MATTHEW 2 67 Then Herod, when he had secretlycalled the wise men, determined fromthem what me the star appeared.8And he sent them to Bethlehem andsaid, "Go and search carefully for theyoung Child, and when you have foundHim, bring back word to me, that I maycome and worship Him also."9When they heard the king, theydeparted; and behold, the star whichthey had seen in the East went beforethem, ll it came and stood over wherethe young Child was.10When they saw the star, they rejoicedwith exceedingly great joy.11And when they had come into thehouse, they saw the young Child withMary His mother, and fell down andworshiped Him. And when they hadopened their treasures, they presentedgi s to Him: gold, frankincense, andmyrrh.

MATTHEW 2 712 Then, being divinely warned in adream that they should not return toHerod, they departed for their owncountry another way.13Now when they had departed,behold, an angel of the Lord appearedto Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise,take the young Child and His mother,flee to Egypt, and stay there un l I bringyou word; for Herod will seek the youngChild to destroy Him."14When he arose, he took the youngChild and His mother by night anddeparted for Egypt,15 and was there un l the death ofHerod, that it might be fulfilled whichwas spoken by the Lord through theprophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I calledMy Son."16 Then Herod, when he saw that hewas deceived by the wise men, wasexceedingly angry; and he sent forth and

MATTHEW 2 8put to death all the male children whowere in Bethlehem and in all its districts,from two years old and under, accordingto the me which he had determinedfrom the wise men.17 Then was fulfilled what was spokenby Jeremiah the prophet, saying:18 "A voice was heard in Ramah,Lamenta on, weeping, and greatmourning, Rachel weeping for herchildren, Refusing to be comforted,Because they are no more."19 But when Herod was dead, behold,an angel of the Lord appeared in a dreamto Joseph in Egypt,20 saying, "Arise, take the young Childand His mother, and go to the land ofIsrael, for those who sought the youngChild’s life are dead."21 Then he arose, took the young Childand His mother, and came into the landof Israel.

MATTHEW 2–3 922 But when he heard that Archelauswas reigning over Judea instead of hisfather Herod, he was afraid to go there.And being warned by God in a dream, heturned aside into the region of Galilee.23And he came and dwelt in a citycalled Nazareth, that it might be fulfilledwhich was spoken by the prophets, "Heshall be called a Nazarene."

3 1 In those days John the Bap st camepreaching in the wilderness of Judea,

2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdomof heaven is at hand!"3 For this is he who was spoken of bythe prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice ofone crying in the wilderness: ‘Preparethe way of the LORD; Make His pathsstraight.’"4And John himself was clothed incamel’s hair, with a leather belt aroundhis waist; and his food was locusts andwild honey.

MATTHEW 3 105 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all theregion around the Jordan went out tohim6 and were bap zed by him in theJordan, confessing their sins.7 But when he saw many of thePharisees and Sadducees coming to hisbap sm, he said to them, "Brood ofvipers! Who warned you to flee from thewrath to come?8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy ofrepentance,9 "and do not think to say to yourselves,‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For Isay to you that God is able to raise upchildren to Abraham from these stones.10 "And even now the ax is laid to theroot of the trees. Therefore every treewhich does not bear good fruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire.11 "I indeed bap ze you with water untorepentance, but He who is coming a er

MATTHEW 3 11me is migh er than I, whose sandals Iam not worthy to carry. He will bap zeyou with the Holy Spirit and fire.12 "His winnowing fan is in His hand,and He will thoroughly clean out Histhreshing floor, and gather His wheatinto the barn; but He will burn up thechaff with unquenchable fire."13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to Johnat the Jordan to be bap zed by him.14And John tried to prevent Him,saying, "I need to be bap zed by You,and are You coming to me?"15 But Jesus answered and said to him,"Permit it to be so now, for thus it isfi ng for us to fulfill all righteousness."Then he allowed Him.16When He had been bap zed, Jesuscame up immediately from the water;and behold, the heavens were openedto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God

MATTHEW 3–4 12descending like a dove and aligh ngupon Him.17And suddenly a voice came fromheaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son,in whom I am well pleased."

4 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spiritinto the wilderness to be tempted by

the devil.2And when He had fasted forty daysand forty nights, a erward He washungry.3Now when the tempter came to Him,he said, "If You are the Son of God,command that these stones becomebread."4 But He answered and said, "It iswri en, ‘Man shall not live by breadalone, but by every word that proceedsfrom the mouth of God.’"5 Then the devil took Him up into theholy city, set Him on the pinnacle of thetemple,

MATTHEW 4 136 and said to Him, "If You are the Sonof God, throw Yourself down. For it iswri en: ‘He shall give His angels chargeover you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shallbear you up, Lest you dash your footagainst a stone.’"7 Jesus said to him, "It is wri en again,‘You shall not tempt the LORD yourGod.’"8Again, the devil took Him up on anexceedingly high mountain, and showedHim all the kingdoms of the world andtheir glory.9And he said to Him, "All these thingsI will give You if You will fall down andworship me."10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away withyou, Satan! For it is wri en, ‘You shallworship the LORD your God, and Himonly you shall serve.’"11 Then the devil le Him, and behold,angels came and ministered to Him.

MATTHEW 4 1412Now when Jesus heard that Johnhad been put in prison, He departed toGalilee.13And leaving Nazareth, He came anddwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea,in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,14 that it might be fulfilled which wasspoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:15 "The land of Zebulun and the land ofNaphtali, By the way of the sea, beyondthe Jordan, Galilee of the Gen les:16 The people who sat in darkness haveseen a great light, And upon those whosat in the region and shadow of deathLight has dawned."17 From that me Jesus began to preachand to say, "Repent, for the kingdom ofheaven is at hand."18And Jesus, walking by the Seaof Galilee, saw two brothers, Simoncalled Peter, and Andrew his brother,

MATTHEW 4 15cas ng a net into the sea; for they werefishermen.19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me,and I will make you fishers of men."20 They immediately le their nets andfollowed Him.21Going on from there, He saw twoother brothers, James the son ofZebedee, and John his brother, in theboat with Zebedee their father, mendingtheir nets. He called them,22 and immediately they le the boatand their father, and followed Him.23And Jesus went about all Galilee,teaching in their synagogues, preachingthe gospel of the kingdom, and healingall kinds of sickness and all kinds ofdisease among the people.24 Then His fame went throughout allSyria; and they brought to Him all sickpeople who were afflicted with variousdiseases and torments, and those who

MATTHEW 4–5 16were demon–possessed, epilep cs, andparaly cs; and He healed them.25Great mul tudes followed Him––from Galilee, and from Decapolis,Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond theJordan.

5 1And seeing the mul tudes, He wentup on a mountain, and when He was

seated His disciples came to Him.2 Then He opened His mouth andtaught them, saying:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, Fortheirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are those who mourn, Forthey shall be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek, For they shallinherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger andthirst for righteousness, For they shall befilled.7 Blessed are the merciful, For theyshall obtain mercy.

MATTHEW 5 178 Blessed are the pure in heart, For theyshall see God.9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For theyshall be called sons of God.10 Blessed are thosewho are persecutedfor righteousness’ sake, For theirs is thekingdom of heaven.11 "Blessed are you when they revileand persecute you, and say all kinds ofevil against you falsely for My sake.12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, forgreat is your reward in heaven, for sothey persecuted the prophets who werebefore you.13 "You are the salt of the earth; but ifthe salt loses its flavor, how shall it beseasoned? It is then good for nothingbut to be thrown out and trampledunderfoot by men.14 "You are the light of the world. A citythat is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

MATTHEW 5 1815 "Nor do they light a lamp and put itunder a basket, but on a lampstand, andit gives light to all who are in the house.16 "Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works andglorify your Father in heaven.17 "Do not think that I came to destroythe Law or the Prophets. I did not cometo destroy but to fulfill.18 "For assuredly, I say to you, llheaven and earth pass away, one jot orone le will by no means pass from thelaw ll all is fulfilled.19 "Whoever therefore breaks one ofthe least of these commandments, andteaches men so, shall be called least inthe kingdom of heaven; but whoeverdoes and teaches them, he shall becalled great in the kingdom of heaven.20 "For I say to you, that unless yourrighteousness exceeds the righteousness

MATTHEW 5 19of the scribes and Pharisees, you will byno means enter the kingdom of heaven.21 "You have heard that it was said tothose of old, ‘You shall not murder, andwhoever murders will be in danger ofthe judgment.’22 "But I say to you that whoever isangry with his brother without a causeshall be in danger of the judgment. Andwhoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shallbe in danger of the council. But whoeversays, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hellfire.23 "Therefore if you bring your gi tothe altar, and there remember that yourbrother has something against you,24 "leave your gi there before the altar,and go your way. First be reconciled toyour brother, and then come and offeryour gi .25 "Agree with your adversary quickly,while you are on the way with him, lest

MATTHEW 5 20your adversary deliver you to the judge,the judge hand you over to the officer,and you be thrown into prison.26 "Assuredly, I say to you, you will byno means get out of there ll you havepaid the last penny.27 "You have heard that it was saidto those of old, ‘You shall not commitadultery.’28 "But I say to you that whoever looksat a woman to lust for her has alreadycommi ed adultery with her in his heart.29 "If your right eye causes you to sin,pluck it out and cast it from you; for it ismore profitable for you that one of yourmembers perish, than for your wholebody to be cast into hell.30 "And if your right hand causes you tosin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it ismore profitable for you that one of yourmembers perish, than for your wholebody to be cast into hell.

MATTHEW 5 2131 "Furthermore it has been said,‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him giveher a cer ficate of divorce.’32 "But I say to you that whoeverdivorces his wife for any reason exceptsexual immorality causes her to commitadultery; and whoever marries a womanwho is divorced commits adultery.33 "Again you have heard that it wassaid to those of old, ‘You shall not swearfalsely, but shall perform your oaths tothe Lord.’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 Hisfootstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is thecity of the great King.36 "Nor shall you swear by your head,because you cannot make one hair whiteor black.

MATTHEW 5 2237 "But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more thanthese is from the evil one.38 "You have heard that it was said, ‘Aneye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 "But I tell you not to resist an evilperson. But whoever slaps you on yourright cheek, turn the other to him also.40 "If anyone wants to sue you and takeaway your tunic, let him have your cloakalso.41 "And whoever compels you to go onemile, go with him two.42 "Give to him who asks you, and fromhim who wants to borrow from you donot turn away.43 "You have heard that it was said, ‘Youshall love your neighbor and hate yourenemy.’44 "But I say to you, love your enemies,bless those who curse you, do good tothose who hate you, and pray for those

MATTHEW 5–6 23who spitefully use you and persecuteyou,45 "that you may be sons of your Fatherin heaven; for He makes His sun rise onthe evil and on the good, and sends rainon the just and on the unjust.46 "For if you love those who love you,what reward have you? Do not even thetax collectors do the same?47 "And if you greet your brethren only,what do you do more than others? Donot even the tax collectors do so?48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, justas your Father in heaven is perfect.

6 1 "Take heed that you do not do yourcharitable deeds before men, to be

seen by them. Otherwise you have noreward from your Father in heaven.2 "Therefore, when you do a charitabledeed, do not sound a trumpet before youas the hypocrites do in the synagoguesand in the streets, that they may have

MATTHEW 6 24glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you,they have their reward.3 "But when you do a charitable deed,do not let your le hand know what yourright hand is doing,4 "that your charitable deed may bein secret; and your Father who sees insecret will Himself reward you openly.5 "And when you pray, you shall not belike the hypocrites. For they love to praystanding in the synagogues and on thecorners of the streets, that they may beseen by men. Assuredly, I say to you,they have their reward.6 "But you, when you pray, go into yourroom, and when you have shut yourdoor, pray to your Father who is in thesecret place; and your Father who seesin secret will reward you openly.7 "And when you pray, do not use vainrepe ons as the heathen do. For they

MATTHEW 6 25think that they will be heard for theirmany words.8 "Therefore do not be like them. Foryour Father knows the things you haveneed of before you ask Him.9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: OurFather in heaven, Hallowed be Yourname.10 Your kingdom come. Your will bedone On earth as it is in heaven.11Give us this day our daily bread.12And forgive us our debts, As weforgive our debtors.13And do not lead us into tempta on,But deliver us from the evil one. ForYours is the kingdom and the power andthe glory forever. Amen.14 "For if you forgive men theirtrespasses, your heavenly Father willalso forgive you.

MATTHEW 6 2615 "But if you do not forgive men theirtrespasses, neither will your Fatherforgive your trespasses.16 "Moreover, when you fast, do notbe like the hypocrites, with a sadcountenance. For they disfigure theirfaces that they may appear to men to befas ng. Assuredly, I say to you, they havetheir reward.17 "But you, when you fast, anoint yourhead and wash your face,18 "so that you do not appear to men tobe fas ng, but to your Father who is inthe secret place; and your Father whosees in secret will reward you openly.19 "Do not lay up for yourselvestreasures on earth, where moth and rustdestroy and where thieves break in andsteal;20 "but lay up for yourselves treasuresin heaven, where neither moth nor rust

MATTHEW 6 27destroys and where thieves do not breakin and steal.21 "For where your treasure is, thereyour heart will be also.22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. Iftherefore your eye is good, your wholebody will be full of light.23 "But if your eye is bad, your wholebody will be full of darkness. If thereforethe light that is in you is darkness, howgreat is that darkness!24 "No one can serve two masters; foreither he will hate the one and love theother, or else he will be loyal to the oneand despise the other. You cannot serveGod and mammon.25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worryabout your life, what you will eat orwhat you will drink; nor about yourbody, what you will put on. Is not lifemore than food and the body more thanclothing?

MATTHEW 6 2826 "Look at the birds of the air, for theyneither sow nor reap nor gather intobarns; yet your heavenly Father feedsthem. Are you not of more value thanthey?27 "Which of you by worrying can addone cubit to his stature?28 "So why do you worry aboutclothing? Consider the lilies of the field,how they grow: they neither toil norspin;29 "and yet I say to you that evenSolomon in all his glory was not arrayedlike one of these.30 "Now if God so clothes the grass ofthe field, which today is, and tomorrowis thrown into the oven, will He notmuch more clothe you, O you of li lefaith?31 "Therefore do not worry, saying,‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall wedrink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

MATTHEW 6–7 2932 "For a er all these things the Gen lesseek. For your heavenly Father knowsthat you need all these things.33 "But seek first the kingdom of Godand His righteousness, and all thesethings shall be added to you.34 "Therefore do not worry abouttomorrow, for tomorrow will worryabout its own things. Sufficient for theday is its own trouble.

7 1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.2 "For with what judgment you

judge, you will be judged; and with themeasure you use, it will be measuredback to you.3 "And why do you look at the speck inyour brother’s eye, but do not considerthe plank in your own eye?4 "Or how can you say to your brother,‘Let me remove the speck from youreye’; and look, a plank is in your owneye?

MATTHEW 7 305 "Hypocrite! First remove the plankfrom your own eye, and then you willsee clearly to remove the speck fromyour brother’s eye.6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs;nor cast your pearls before swine, lestthey trample them under their feet, andturn and tear you in pieces.7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek,and you will find; knock, and it will beopened to you.8 "For everyone who asks receives, andhe who seeks finds, and to him whoknocks it will be opened.9 "Or what man is there among youwho, if his son asks for bread, will givehim a stone?10 "Or if he asks for a fish, will he givehim a serpent?11 "If you then, being evil, know howto give good gi s to your children, howmuch more will your Father who is in

MATTHEW 7 31heaven give good things to those whoask Him!12 "Therefore, whatever you want mento do to you, do also to them, for this isthe Law and the Prophets.13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide isthe gate and broad is the way that leadsto destruc on, and there are many whogo in by it.14 "Because narrow is the gate anddifficult is the way which leads to life,and there are few who find it.15 "Beware of false prophets, who cometo you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardlythey are ravenous wolves.16 "You will know them by their fruits.Do men gather grapes from thornbushesor figs from thistles?17 "Even so, every good tree bears goodfruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

MATTHEW 7 3219 "Every tree that does not bear goodfruit is cut down and thrown into thefire.20 "Therefore by their fruits you willknow them.21 "Not everyone who says toMe, ‘Lord,Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,but he who does the will of My Father inheaven.22 "Many will say to Me in that day,‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied inYour name, cast out demons in Yourname, and done many wonders in Yourname?’23 "And then I will declare to them, ‘Inever knew you; depart from Me, youwho prac ce lawlessness!’24 "Therefore whoever hears thesesayings of Mine, and does them, I willliken him to a wise man who built hishouse on the rock:

MATTHEW 7–8 3325 "and the rain descended, the floodscame, and the winds blew and beat onthat house; and it did not fall, for it wasfounded on the rock.26 "But everyone who hears thesesayings of Mine, and does not do them,will be like a foolish man who built hishouse on the sand:27 "and the rain descended, the floodscame, and the winds blew and beat onthat house; and it fell. And great was itsfall."28And so it was, when Jesus had endedthese sayings, that the people wereastonished at His teaching,29 for He taught them as one havingauthority, and not as the scribes.

8 1When He had come down from themountain, great mul tudes followed

Him.

MATTHEW 8 342And behold, a leper came andworshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You arewilling, You can make me clean."3 Then Jesus put out His hand andtouched him, saying, "I am willing; becleansed." Immediately his leprosy wascleansed.4And Jesus said to him, "See that youtell no one; but go your way, showyourself to the priest, and offer the githat Moses commanded, as a tes monyto them."5Now when Jesus had enteredCapernaum, a centurion came to Him,pleading with Him,6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying athome paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."7And Jesus said to him, "I will comeand heal him."8 The centurion answered and said,"Lord, I am not worthy that You should

MATTHEW 8 35come under my roof. But only speak aword, and my servant will be healed.9 "For I also am a man under authority,having soldiers under me. And I sayto this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and toanother, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tomy servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."10When Jesus heard it, He marveled,and said to those who followed,"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not foundsuch great faith, not even in Israel!11 "And I say to you that many willcome from east and west, and sit downwith Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in thekingdom of heaven.12 "But the sons of the kingdom will becast out into outer darkness. There willbe weeping and gnashing of teeth."13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Goyour way; and as you have believed, solet it be done for you." And his servantwas healed that same hour.

MATTHEW 8 3614Now when Jesus had come intoPeter’s house, He saw his wife’s motherlying sick with a fever.15 So He touched her hand, and thefever le her. And she arose and servedthem.16When evening had come, theybrought to Him many who were demon–possessed. And He cast out the spiritswith a word, and healed all who weresick,17 that it might be fulfilled which wasspoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:"He Himself took our infirmi es Andbore our sicknesses."18And when Jesus saw great mul tudesabout Him, He gave a command todepart to the other side.19 Then a certain scribe came andsaid to Him, "Teacher, I will follow Youwherever You go."

MATTHEW 8 3720And Jesus said to him, "Foxes haveholes and birds of the air have nests, butthe Son of Man has nowhere to lay Hishead."21 Then another of His disciples said toHim, "Lord, let me first go and bury myfather."22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me,and let the dead bury their own dead."23Now when He got into a boat, Hisdisciples followed Him.24And suddenly a great tempest aroseon the sea, so that the boat was coveredwith the waves. But He was asleep.25 Then His disciples came to Him andawoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! Weare perishing!"26 But He said to them, "Why are youfearful, O you of li le faith?" Then Hearose and rebuked the winds and thesea, and there was a great calm.

MATTHEW 8 3827 So the men marveled, saying, "Whocan this be, that even the winds and thesea obey Him?"28When He had come to the other side,to the country of the Gergesenes, theremet Him two demon–possessed men,coming out of the tombs, exceedinglyfierce, so that no one could pass thatway.29And suddenly they cried out, saying,"What have we to do with You, Jesus,You Son of God? Have You come here totorment us before the me?"30Now a good way off from them therewas a herd of many swine feeding.31 So the demons begged Him, saying,"If You cast us out, permit us to go awayinto the herd of swine."32And He said to them, "Go." So whenthey had come out, they went into theherd of swine. And suddenly the wholeherd of swine ran violently down the

MATTHEW 8–9 39steep place into the sea, and perished inthe water.33 Then those who kept them fled;and they went away into the city andtold everything, including what hadhappened to the demon–possessedmen.34And behold, the whole city came outto meet Jesus. And when they saw Him,they begged Him to depart from theirregion.

9 1 So He got into a boat, crossed over,and came to His own city.

2 Then behold, they brought to Him aparaly c lying on a bed. When Jesus sawtheir faith, He said to the paraly c, "Son,be of good cheer; your sins are forgivenyou."3And at once some of the scribessaid within themselves, "This Manblasphemes!"

MATTHEW 9 404 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts,said, "Why do you think evil in yourhearts?5 "For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sinsare forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise andwalk’?6 "But that you may know that the Sonof Man has power on earth to forgivesins" ––then He said to the paraly c,"Arise, take up your bed, and go to yourhouse."7And he arose and departed to hishouse.8Now when the mul tudes saw it, theymarveled and glorified God, who hadgiven such power to men.9As Jesus passed on from there, He sawa man named Ma hew si ng at the taxoffice. And He said to him, "Follow Me."So he arose and followed Him.10Now it happened, as Jesus sat at thetable in the house, that behold, many

MATTHEW 9 41tax collectors and sinners came and satdown with Him and His disciples.11And when the Pharisees saw it, theysaid to His disciples, "Why does yourTeacher eat with tax collectors andsinners?"12When Jesus heard that, He said tothem, "Those who are well have no needof a physician, but those who are sick.13 "But go and learn what this means:‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For Idid not come to call the righteous, butsinners, to repentance."14 Then the disciples of John cameto Him, saying, "Why do we and thePharisees fast o en, but Your disciplesdo not fast?"15And Jesus said to them, "Can thefriends of the bridegroom mourn as longas the bridegroom is with them? But thedays will come when the bridegroom

MATTHEW 9 42will be taken away from them, and thenthey will fast.16 "No one puts a piece of unshrunkcloth on an old garment; for the patchpulls away from the garment, and thetear is made worse.17 "Nor do they put new wine into oldwineskins, or else the wineskins break,the wine is spilled, and the wineskins areruined. But they put new wine into newwineskins, and both are preserved."18While He spoke these things to them,behold, a ruler came and worshipedHim, saying, "My daughter has just died,but come and lay Your hand on her andshe will live."19 So Jesus arose and followed him, andso did His disciples.20And suddenly, a woman who hada flow of blood for twelve years camefrom behind and touched the hem of Hisgarment.

MATTHEW 9 4321 For she said to herself, "If only I maytouch His garment, I shall be made well."22 But Jesus turned around, and whenHe saw her He said, "Be of good cheer,daughter; your faith has made you well."And the woman was made well fromthat hour.23When Jesus came into the ruler’shouse, and saw the flute players and thenoisy crowd wailing,24He said to them, "Make room, for thegirl is not dead, but sleeping." And theyridiculed Him.25 But when the crowd was put outside,He went in and took her by the hand,and the girl arose.26And the report of this went out intoall that land.27When Jesus departed from there,two blind men followed Him, crying outand saying, "Son of David, have mercyon us!"

MATTHEW 9 4428And when He had come into thehouse, the blind men came to Him. AndJesus said to them, "Do you believe thatI am able to do this?" They said to Him,"Yes, Lord."29 Then He touched their eyes, saying,"According to your faith let it be to you."30And their eyes were opened. AndJesus sternly warned them, saying, "Seethat no one knows it."31 But when they had departed, theyspread the news about Him in all thatcountry.32As they went out, behold, theybrought to Him a man, mute anddemon–possessed.33And when the demon was cast out,the mute spoke. And the mul tudesmarveled, saying, "It was never seen likethis in Israel!"34 But the Pharisees said, "He casts outdemons by the ruler of the demons."

MATTHEW 9–10 4535 Then Jesus went about all theci es and villages, teaching in theirsynagogues, preaching the gospel of thekingdom, and healing every sickness andevery disease among the people.36 But when He saw the mul tudes, Hewas moved with compassion for them,because they were weary and sca ered,like sheep having no shepherd.37 Then He said to His disciples, "Theharvest truly is plen ful, but the laborersare few.38 "Therefore pray the Lord of theharvest to send out laborers into Hisharvest."

10 1And when He had called Histwelve disciples to Him, He gave

them power over unclean spirits, tocast them out, and to heal all kinds ofsickness and all kinds of disease.2Now the names of the twelve apostlesare these: first, Simon, who is called

MATTHEW 10 46Peter, and Andrew his brother; James theson of Zebedee, and John his brother;3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas andMa hew the tax collector; James theson of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whosesurname was Thaddaeus;4 Simon the Canaanite, and JudasIscariot, who also betrayed Him.5 These twelve Jesus sent out andcommanded them, saying: "Do not gointo the way of the Gen les, and do notenter a city of the Samaritans.6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of thehouse of Israel.7 "And as you go, preach, saying, ‘Thekingdom of heaven is at hand.’8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,raise the dead, cast out demons. Freelyyou have received, freely give.9 "Provide neither gold nor silver norcopper in your money belts,

MATTHEW 10 4710 "nor bag for your journey, nor twotunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for aworker is worthy of his food.11 "Now whatever city or town youenter, inquire who in it is worthy, andstay there ll you go out.12 "And when you go into a household,greet it.13 "If the household is worthy, let yourpeace come upon it. But if it is notworthy, let your peace return to you.14 "And whoever will not receive younor hear your words, when you departfrom that house or city, shake off thedust from your feet.15 "Assuredly, I say to you, it will bemore tolerable for the land of Sodomand Gomorrah in the day of judgmentthan for that city!16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep inthe midst of wolves. Therefore be wiseas serpents and harmless as doves.

MATTHEW 10 4817 "But beware of men, for they willdeliver you up to councils and scourgeyou in their synagogues.18 "Youwill be brought before governorsand kings for My sake, as a tes mony tothem and to the Gen les.19 "But when they deliver you up, donot worry about how or what you shouldspeak. For it will be given to you in thathour what you should speak;20 "for it is not you who speak, but theSpirit of your Father who speaks in you.21 "Now brother will deliver up brotherto death, and a father his child; andchildren will rise up against parents andcause them to be put to death.22 "And you will be hated by all for Myname’s sake. But he who endures to theend will be saved.23 "When they persecute you in thiscity, flee to another. For assuredly, I sayto you, you will not have gone through

MATTHEW 10 49the ci es of Israel before the Son of Mancomes.24 "A disciple is not above his teacher,nor a servant above his master.25 "It is enough for a disciple that he belike his teacher, and a servant like hismaster. If they have called the master ofthe house Beelzebub, how much morewill they call those of his household!26 "Therefore do not fear them. Forthere is nothing covered that will not berevealed, and hidden that will not beknown.27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark,speak in the light; and what you hear inthe ear, preach on the housetops.28 "And do not fear those who kill thebody but cannot kill the soul. But ratherfear Him who is able to destroy both souland body in hell.29 "Are not two sparrows sold for acopper coin? And not one of them falls

MATTHEW 10 50to the ground apart from your Father’swill.30 "But the very hairs of your head areall numbered.31 "Do not fear therefore; you are ofmore value than many sparrows.32 "Therefore whoever confesses Mebefore men, him I will also confessbefore My Father who is in heaven.33 "But whoever denies Me before men,him I will also deny before My Fatherwho is in heaven.34 "Do not think that I came to bringpeace on earth. I did not come to bringpeace but a sword.35 "For I have come to ‘set a managainst his father, a daughter against hermother, and a daughter–in–law againsther mother–in–law’;36 "and ‘a man’s enemies will be thoseof his own household.’

MATTHEW 10 5137 "He who loves father or mother morethan Me is not worthy of Me. And hewho loves son or daughter more thanMe is not worthy of Me.38 "And he who does not take his crossand follow a er Me is not worthy of Me.39 "He who finds his life will lose it, andhe who loses his life for My sake will findit.40 "He who receives you receives Me,and he who receives Me receives Himwho sent Me.41 "He who receives a prophet inthe name of a prophet shall receive aprophet’s reward. And he who receivesa righteous man in the name of arighteous man shall receive a righteousman’s reward.42 "And whoever gives one of theseli le ones only a cup of cold water inthe name of a disciple, assuredly, I say

MATTHEW 11 52to you, he shall by no means lose hisreward."

11 1Now it came to pass, when Jesusfinished commanding His twelve

disciples, that He departed from there toteach and to preach in their ci es.2And when John had heard in prisonabout the works of Christ, he sent two ofhis disciples3 and said to Him, "Are You the ComingOne, or do we look for another?"4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Goand tell John the things which you hearand see:5 "The blind see and the lame walk; thelepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;the dead are raised up and the poorhave the gospel preached to them.6 "And blessed is he who is not offendedbecause of Me."7As they departed, Jesus began tosay to the mul tudes concerning John:

MATTHEW 11 53"What did you go out into the wildernessto see? A reed shaken by the wind?8 "But what did you go out to see? Aman clothed in so garments? Indeed,those who wear so clothing are inkings’ houses.9 "But what did you go out to see? Aprophet? Yes, I say to you, and morethan a prophet.10 "For this is he of whom it is wri en:‘Behold, I send My messenger beforeYour face, Who will prepare Your waybefore You.’11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among thoseborn of women there has not risen onegreater than John the Bap st; but hewho is least in the kingdom of heaven isgreater than he.12 "And from the days of John theBap st un l now the kingdom of heavensuffers violence, and the violent take itby force.

MATTHEW 11 5413 "For all the prophets and the lawprophesied un l John.14 "And if you are willing to receive it,he is Elijah who is to come.15 "He who has ears to hear, let himhear!16 "But to what shall I liken thisgenera on? It is like children si ng inthe marketplaces and calling to theircompanions,17 "and saying: ‘We played the flutefor you, And you did not dance; Wemourned to you, And you did notlament.’18 "For John came neither ea ng nordrinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’19 "The Son of Man came ea ngand drinking, and they say, ‘Look, aglu on and a winebibber, a friend of taxcollectors and sinners!’ But wisdom isjus fied by her children."

MATTHEW 11 5520 Then He began to rebuke the ci esin which most of His mighty works hadbeen done, because they did not repent:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,Bethsaida! For if the mighty works whichwere done in you had been done in Tyreand Sidon, they would have repentedlong ago in sackcloth and ashes.22 "But I say to you, it will be moretolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day ofjudgment than for you.23 "And you, Capernaum, who areexalted to heaven, will be brought downto Hades; for if the mighty works whichwere done in you had been done inSodom, it would have remained un lthis day.24 "But I say to you that it shall be moretolerable for the land of Sodom in theday of judgment than for you."25At that me Jesus answered and said,"I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and

MATTHEW 11–12 56earth, that You have hidden these thingsfrom the wise and prudent and haverevealed them to babes.26 "Even so, Father, for so it seemedgood in Your sight.27 "All things have been delivered toMe by My Father, and no one knows theSon except the Father. Nor does anyoneknow the Father except the Son, and theone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.28 "Come to Me, all you who labor andare heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 "Take My yoke upon you and learnfrom Me, for I am gentle and lowly inheart, and you will find rest for yoursouls.30 "For My yoke is easy and My burdenis light."

12 1At that me Jesus went throughthe grainfields on the Sabbath.

And His disciples were hungry, andbegan to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

MATTHEW 12 572And when the Pharisees saw it, theysaid to Him, "Look, Your disciples aredoing what is not lawful to do on theSabbath!"3 But He said to them, "Have younot read what David did when he washungry, he and those who were withhim:4 "how he entered the house of Godand ate the showbread which was notlawful for him to eat, nor for those whowere with him, but only for the priests?5 "Or have you not read in the law thaton the Sabbath the priests in the templeprofane the Sabbath, and are blameless?6 "Yet I say to you that in this placethere is One greater than the temple.7 "But if you had known what thismeans, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned theguiltless.

MATTHEW 12 588 "For the Son of Man is Lord even ofthe Sabbath."9Now when He had departed fromthere, He went into their synagogue.10And behold, there was a man whohad a withered hand. And they askedHim, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on theSabbath?" ––that they might accuseHim.11 Then He said to them, "What man isthere among you who has one sheep,and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath,will not lay hold of it and li it out?12 "Of how much more value then is aman than a sheep? Therefore it is lawfulto do good on the Sabbath."13 Then He said to the man, "Stretch outyour hand." And he stretched it out, andit was restored as whole as the other.14 Then the Pharisees went out andplo ed against Him, how they mightdestroy Him.

MATTHEW 12 5915 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrewfrom there. And great mul tudesfollowed Him, and He healed them all.16 Yet He warned them not to makeHim known,17 that it might be fulfilled which wasspoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:18 "Behold! My Servant whom I havechosen, My Beloved in whom My soul iswell pleased! I will put My Spirit uponHim, And He will declare jus ce to theGen les.19He will not quarrel nor cry out, Norwill anyone hear His voice in the streets.20A bruised reed He will not break, Andsmoking flax He will not quench, Till Hesends forth jus ce to victory;21And in His name Gen les will trust."22 Then one was brought to Him whowas demon–possessed, blind and mute;and He healed him, so that the blind andmute man both spoke and saw.

MATTHEW 12 6023And all the mul tudes were amazedand said, "Could this be the Son ofDavid?"24Now when the Pharisees heard itthey said, "This fellow does not cast outdemons except by Beelzebub, the rulerof the demons."25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, andsaid to them: "Every kingdom dividedagainst itself is brought to desola on,and every city or house divided againstitself will not stand.26 "If Satan casts out Satan, he isdivided against himself. How then willhis kingdom stand?27 "And if I cast out demons byBeelzebub, by whom do your sons castthem out? Therefore they shall be yourjudges.28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spiritof God, surely the kingdom of God hascome upon you.

MATTHEW 12 6129 "Or how can one enter a strongman’shouse and plunder his goods, unless hefirst binds the strong man? And then hewill plunder his house.30 "He who is not with Me is againstMe, and he who does not gather withMe sca ers abroad.31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin andblasphemy will be forgiven men, but theblasphemy against the Spirit will not beforgiven men.32 "Anyone who speaks a word againstthe Son of Man, it will be forgiven him;but whoever speaks against the HolySpirit, it will not be forgiven him, eitherin this age or in the age to come.33 "Either make the tree good and itsfruit good, or else make the tree badand its fruit bad; for a tree is known byits fruit.34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, beingevil, speak good things? For out of the

MATTHEW 12 62abundance of the heart the mouthspeaks.35 "A goodman out of the good treasureof his heart brings forth good things,and an evil man out of the evil treasurebrings forth evil things.36 "But I say to you that for every idleword men may speak, they will giveaccount of it in the day of judgment.37 "For by your words you will bejus fied, and by your words you will becondemned."38 Then some of the scribes andPharisees answered, saying, "Teacher,we want to see a sign from You."39 But He answered and said to them,"An evil and adulterous genera on seeksa er a sign, and no sign will be given toit except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40 "For as Jonah was three days andthree nights in the belly of the great fish,

MATTHEW 12 63so will the Son of Man be three days andthree nights in the heart of the earth.41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up inthe judgment with this genera on andcondemn it, because they repented atthe preaching of Jonah; and indeed agreater than Jonah is here.42 "The queen of the South will rise upin the judgment with this genera onand condemn it, for she came from theends of the earth to hear the wisdomof Solomon; and indeed a greater thanSolomon is here.43 "When an unclean spirit goes outof a man, he goes through dry places,seeking rest, and finds none.44 "Then he says, ‘I will return to myhouse from which I came.’ And when hecomes, he finds it empty, swept, and putin order.45 "Then he goes and takes with himseven other spirits more wicked than

MATTHEW 12–13 64himself, and they enter and dwell there;and the last state of that man is worsethan the first. So shall it also be with thiswicked genera on."46While He was s ll talking to themul tudes, behold, His mother andbrothers stood outside, seeking to speakwith Him.47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Yourmother and Your brothers are standingoutside, seeking to speak with You."48 But He answered and said to the onewho told Him, "Who is My mother andwho are My brothers?"49And He stretched out His handtoward His disciples and said, "Here areMy mother and My brothers!50 "For whoever does the will of MyFather in heaven is My brother and sisterand mother."

13 1On the same day Jesus went outof the house and sat by the sea.

MATTHEW 13 652And great mul tudes were gatheredtogether to Him, so that He got into aboat and sat; and the whole mul tudestood on the shore.3 Then He spoke many things to them inparables, saying: "Behold, a sower wentout to sow.4 "And as he sowed, some seed fell bythe wayside; and the birds came anddevoured them.5 "Some fell on stony places, wherethey did not have much earth; and theyimmediately sprang up because theyhad no depth of earth.6 "But when the sun was up they werescorched, and because they had no rootthey withered away.7 "And some fell among thorns, and thethorns sprang up and choked them.8 "But others fell on good ground andyielded a crop: some a hundredfold,some sixty, some thirty.

MATTHEW 13 669 "He who has ears to hear, let himhear!"10And the disciples came and said toHim, "Why do You speak to them inparables?"11He answered and said to them,"Because it has been given to you toknow the mysteries of the kingdom ofheaven, but to them it has not beengiven.12 "For whoever has, to him more willbe given, and he will have abundance;but whoever does not have, even whathe has will be taken away from him.13 "Therefore I speak to them inparables, because seeing they do notsee, and hearing they do not hear, nordo they understand.14 "And in them the prophecy of Isaiahis fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing youwill hear and shall not understand, Andseeing you will see and not perceive;

MATTHEW 13 6715 For the hearts of this people havegrown dull. Their ears are hard ofhearing, And their eyes they have closed,Lest they should see with their eyes andhear with their ears, Lest they shouldunderstand with their hearts and turn,So that I should heal them.’16 "But blessed are your eyes for theysee, and your ears for they hear;17 "for assuredly, I say to you that manyprophets and righteous men desired tosee what you see, and did not see it, andto hear what you hear, and did not hearit.18 "Therefore hear the parable of thesower:19 "When anyone hears the word of thekingdom, and does not understand it,then the wicked one comes and snatchesaway what was sown in his heart. This ishe who received seed by the wayside.

MATTHEW 13 6820 "But he who received the seed onstony places, this is he who hears theword and immediately receives it withjoy;21 "yet he has no root in himself, butendures only for a while. For whentribula on or persecu on arises becauseof the word, immediately he stumbles.22 "Now he who received seed amongthe thorns is he who hears the word,and the cares of this world and thedecei ulness of riches choke the word,and he becomes unfrui ul.23 "But he who received seed on thegood ground is he who hears the wordand understands it, who indeed bearsfruit and produces: some a hundredfold,some sixty, some thirty."24Another parable He put forth tothem, saying: "The kingdom of heaven islike a man who sowed good seed in hisfield;

MATTHEW 13 6925 "but while men slept, his enemycame and sowed tares among the wheatand went his way.26 "But when the grain had sproutedand produced a crop, then the tares alsoappeared.27 "So the servants of the owner cameand said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sowgood seed in your field? How then doesit have tares?’28 "He said to them, ‘An enemy hasdone this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Doyou want us then to go and gather themup?’29 "But he said, ‘No, lest while yougather up the tares you also uproot thewheat with them.30 ‘Let both grow together un l theharvest, and at the me of harvest I willsay to the reapers, "First gather togetherthe tares and bind them in bundles to

MATTHEW 13 70burn them, but gather the wheat intomy barn."’"31Another parable He put forth tothem, saying: "The kingdom of heaven islike a mustard seed, which a man tookand sowed in his field,32 "which indeed is the least of all theseeds; but when it is grown it is greaterthan the herbs and becomes a tree, sothat the birds of the air come and nest inits branches."33Another parable He spoke to them:"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven,which a woman took and hid in threemeasures of meal ll it was all leavened."34All these things Jesus spoke to themul tude in parables; and without aparable He did not speak to them,35 that it might be fulfilled which wasspoken by the prophet, saying: "I willopen My mouth in parables; I will u er

MATTHEW 13 71things kept secret from the founda onof the world."36 Then Jesus sent the mul tude awayand went into the house. And Hisdisciples came to Him, saying, "Explainto us the parable of the tares of thefield."37He answered and said to them: "Hewho sows the good seed is the Son ofMan.38 "The field is the world, the goodseeds are the sons of the kingdom, butthe tares are the sons of the wicked one.39 "The enemy who sowed them is thedevil, the harvest is the end of the age,and the reapers are the angels.40 "Therefore as the tares are gatheredand burned in the fire, so it will be at theend of this age.41 "The Son of Man will send out Hisangels, and they will gather out of His

MATTHEW 13 72kingdom all things that offend, and thosewho prac ce lawlessness,42 "and will cast them into the furnaceof fire. Therewill be wailing and gnashingof teeth.43 "Then the righteous will shine forthas the sun in the kingdom of their Father.He who has ears to hear, let him hear!44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is liketreasure hidden in a field, which a manfound and hid; and for joy over it he goesand sells all that he has and buys thatfield.45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is likea merchant seeking beau ful pearls,46 "who, when he had found one pearlof great price, went and sold all that hehad and bought it.47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is likea dragnet that was cast into the sea andgathered some of every kind,

MATTHEW 13 7348 "which, when it was full, they drew toshore; and they sat down and gatheredthe good into vessels, but threw the badaway.49 "So it will be at the end of the age.The angels will come forth, separate thewicked from among the just,50 "and cast them into the furnace offire. There will be wailing and gnashingof teeth."51 Jesus said to them, "Have youunderstood all these things?" They saidto Him, "Yes, Lord."52 Then He said to them, "Thereforeevery scribe instructed concerning thekingdom of heaven is like a householderwho brings out of his treasure thingsnew and old."53Now it came to pass, when Jesushad finished these parables, that Hedeparted from there.

MATTHEW 13–14 7454And when He had come to Hisown country, He taught them in theirsynagogue, so that they were astonishedand said, "Where did this Man get thiswisdom and these mighty works?55 "Is this not the carpenter’s son?Is not His mother called Mary? AndHis brothers James, Joses, Simon, andJudas?56 "And His sisters, are they not all withus? Where then did this Man get allthese things?"57 So they were offended at Him. ButJesus said to them, "A prophet is notwithout honor except in his own countryand in his own house."58Now He did not do many mightyworks there because of their unbelief.

14 1At that me Herod the tetrarchheard the report about Jesus

2 and said to his servants, "This is Johnthe Bap st; he is risen from the dead,

MATTHEW 14 75and therefore these powers are at workin him."3 For Herod had laid hold of John andbound him, and put him in prison forthe sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’swife.4 Because John had said to him, "It isnot lawful for you to have her."5And although he wanted to put him todeath, he feared the mul tude, becausethey counted him as a prophet.6 But when Herod’s birthday wascelebrated, the daughter of Herodiasdanced before them and pleased Herod.7 Therefore he promised with an oathto give her whatever she might ask.8 So she, having been prompted by hermother, said, "Give me John the Bap st’shead here on a pla er."9And the king was sorry; nevertheless,because of the oaths and because of

MATTHEW 14 76those who sat with him, he commandedit to be given to her.10 So he sent and had John beheaded inprison.11And his head was brought on apla er and given to the girl, and shebrought it to her mother.12 Then his disciples came and tookaway the body and buried it, and wentand told Jesus.13When Jesus heard it, He departedfrom there by boat to a deserted placeby Himself. But when the mul tudesheard it, they followed Him on foot fromthe ci es.14And when Jesus went out He saw agreat mul tude; and He was moved withcompassion for them, and healed theirsick.15When it was evening, His disciplescame to Him, saying, "This is a desertedplace, and the hour is already late. Send

MATTHEW 14 77the mul tudes away, that they may gointo the villages and buy themselvesfood."16 But Jesus said to them, "They donot need to go away. You give themsomething to eat."17And they said to Him, "We have hereonly five loaves and two fish."18He said, "Bring them here to Me."19 Then He commanded the mul tudesto sit down on the grass. And He took thefive loaves and the two fish, and lookingup to heaven, He blessed and broke andgave the loaves to the disciples; and thedisciples gave to the mul tudes.20 So they all ate and were filled, andthey took up twelve baskets full of thefragments that remained.21Now those who had eaten wereabout five thousand men, besideswomen and children.

MATTHEW 14 7822 Immediately Jesus made His disciplesget into the boat and go before Himto the other side, while He sent themul tudes away.23Andwhen He had sent themul tudesaway, He went up on the mountain byHimself to pray. Now when eveningcame, He was alone there.24 But the boat was now in the middleof the sea, tossed by the waves, for thewind was contrary.25Now in the fourth watch of the nightJesus went to them, walking on the sea.26And when the disciples saw Himwalking on the sea, they were troubled,saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried outfor fear.27 But immediately Jesus spoke tothem, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I;do not be afraid."

MATTHEW 14 7928And Peter answered Him and said,"Lord, if it is You, command me to cometo You on the water."29 So He said, "Come." And when Peterhad come down out of the boat, hewalked on the water to go to Jesus.30 But when he saw that the wind wasboisterous, he was afraid; and beginningto sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, saveme!"31And immediately Jesus stretched outHis hand and caught him, and said tohim, "O you of li le faith, why did youdoubt?"32And when they got into the boat, thewind ceased.33 Then those who were in the boatcame and worshiped Him, saying, "TrulyYou are the Son of God."34When they had crossed over, theycame to the land of Gennesaret.

MATTHEW 14–15 8035And when the men of that placerecognized Him, they sent out into allthat surrounding region, brought to Himall who were sick,36 and begged Him that they might onlytouch the hem of His garment. And asmany as touched it were made perfectlywell.

15 1 Then the scribes and Phariseeswho were from Jerusalem came

to Jesus, saying,2 "Why do Your disciples transgress thetradi on of the elders? For they do notwash their hands when they eat bread."3He answered and said to them,"Why do you also transgress thecommandment of God because of yourtradi on?4 "For God commanded, saying, ‘Honoryour father and your mother’; and, ‘Hewho curses father or mother, let him beput to death.’

MATTHEW 15 815 "But you say, ‘Whoever says to hisfather or mother, "Whatever profit youmight have received from me is a gi toGod" ––6 ‘then he need not honor his fatheror mother.’ Thus you have made thecommandment of God of no effect byyour tradi on.7 "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesyabout you, saying:8 ‘These people draw near to Me withtheir mouth, And honor Me with theirlips, But their heart is far from Me.9And in vain they worship Me, Teachingas doctrines the commandments ofmen.’"10When He had called the mul tudeto Himself, He said to them, "Hear andunderstand:11 "Not what goes into the mouthdefiles a man; but what comes out ofthe mouth, this defiles a man."

MATTHEW 15 8212 Then His disciples came and said toHim, "Do You know that the Phariseeswere offended when they heard thissaying?"13 But He answered and said, "Everyplant which My heavenly Father has notplanted will be uprooted.14 "Let them alone. They are blindleaders of the blind. And if the blindleads the blind, both will fall into aditch."15 Then Peter answered and said toHim, "Explain this parable to us."16 So Jesus said, "Are you also s llwithout understanding?17 "Do you not yet understand thatwhatever enters the mouth goes intothe stomach and is eliminated?18 "But those things which proceed outof the mouth come from the heart, andthey defile a man.

MATTHEW 15 8319 "For out of the heart proceedevil thoughts, murders, adulteries,fornica ons, the s, false witness,blasphemies.20 "These are the things which defile aman, but to eat with unwashed handsdoes not defile a man."21 Then Jesus went out from there anddeparted to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22And behold, a woman of Canaancame from that region and cried out toHim, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord,Son of David! My daughter is severelydemon–possessed."23 But He answered her not a word.And His disciples came and urged Him,saying, "Send her away, for she cries outa er us."24 But He answered and said, "I wasnot sent except to the lost sheep of thehouse of Israel."

MATTHEW 15 8425 Then she came and worshiped Him,saying, "Lord, help me!"26 But He answered and said, "It is notgood to take the children’s bread andthrow it to the li le dogs."27And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even theli le dogs eat the crumbs which fall fromtheir masters’ table."28 Then Jesus answered and said to her,"O woman, great is your faith! Let it beto you as you desire." And her daughterwas healed from that very hour.29 Jesus departed from there, skirtedthe Sea of Galilee, and went up on themountain and sat down there.30 Then great mul tudes came to Him,having with them the lame, blind, mute,maimed, and many others; and they laidthem down at Jesus’ feet, and He healedthem.31 So the mul tude marveled whenthey saw themute speaking, themaimed

MATTHEW 15 85made whole, the lame walking, and theblind seeing; and they glorified the Godof Israel.32Now Jesus called His disciples toHimself and said, "I have compassion onthe mul tude, because they have nowcon nued with Me three days and havenothing to eat. And I do not want tosend them away hungry, lest they fainton the way."33 Then His disciples said to Him,"Where could we get enough breadin the wilderness to fill such a greatmul tude?"34 Jesus said to them, "How manyloaves do you have?" And they said,"Seven, and a few li le fish."35 So He commanded the mul tude tosit down on the ground.36And He took the seven loaves andthe fish and gave thanks, broke them

MATTHEW 15–16 86and gave them to His disciples; and thedisciples gave to the mul tude.37 So they all ate and were filled, andthey took up seven large baskets full ofthe fragments that were le .38Now those who ate were fourthousand men, besides women andchildren.39And He sent away the mul tude, gotinto the boat, and came to the region ofMagdala.

16 1 Then the Pharisees andSadducees came, and tes ng Him

asked that He would show them a signfrom heaven.2He answered and said to them, "Whenit is evening you say, ‘It will be fairweather, for the sky is red’;3 "and in the morning, ‘It will be foulweather today, for the sky is red andthreatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how

MATTHEW 16 87to discern the face of the sky, but youcannot discern the signs of the mes.4 "A wicked and adulterous genera onseeks a er a sign, and no sign shall begiven to it except the sign of the prophetJonah." And He le them and departed.5Now when His disciples had come tothe other side, they had forgo en totake bread.6 Then Jesus said to them, "Takeheed and beware of the leaven of thePharisees and the Sadducees."7And they reasoned amongthemselves, saying, "It is becausewe have taken no bread."8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said tothem, "O you of li le faith, why do youreason among yourselves because youhave brought no bread?9 "Do you not yet understand, orremember the five loaves of the five

MATTHEW 16 88thousand and how many baskets youtook up?10 "Nor the seven loaves of the fourthousand and how many large basketsyou took up?11 "How is it you do not understandthat I did not speak to you concerningbread? ––but to beware of the leaven ofthe Pharisees and Sadducees."12 Then they understood that He didnot tell them to beware of the leavenof bread, but of the doctrine of thePharisees and Sadducees.13When Jesus came into the region ofCaesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples,saying, "Who do men say that I, the Sonof Man, am?"14 So they said, "Some say John theBap st, some Elijah, and others Jeremiahor one of the prophets."15He said to them, "But who do you saythat I am?"

MATTHEW 16 8916 Simon Peter answered and said, "Youare the Christ, the Son of the living God."17 Jesus answered and said to him,"Blessed are you, Simon Bar–Jonah, forflesh and blood has not revealed this toyou, but My Father who is in heaven.18 "And I also say to you that you arePeter, and on this rock I will build Mychurch, and the gates of Hades shall notprevail against it.19 "And I will give you the keys of thekingdom of heaven, and whatever youbind on earth will be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth will beloosed in heaven."20 Then He commanded His disciplesthat they should tell no one that He wasJesus the Christ.21 From that me Jesus began to showto His disciples that He must go toJerusalem, and suffer many things fromthe elders and chief priests and scribes,

MATTHEW 16 90and be killed, and be raised the thirdday.22 Then Peter took Him aside and beganto rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it fromYou, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Getbehind Me, Satan! You are an offense toMe, for you are not mindful of the thingsof God, but the things of men."24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Ifanyone desires to come a er Me, lethim deny himself, and take up his cross,and follow Me.25 "For whoever desires to save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life forMy sake will find it.26 "For what profit is it to a man if hegains the whole world, and loses hisown soul? Or what will a man give inexchange for his soul?27 "For the Son of Man will come in theglory of His Father with His angels, and

MATTHEW 16–17 91then He will reward each according tohis works.28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there aresome standing here who shall not tastedeath ll they see the Son of Mancoming in His kingdom."

17 1Now a er six days Jesus tookPeter, James, and John his

brother, led them up on a high mountainby themselves;2 and He was transfigured before them.His face shone like the sun, and Hisclothes became as white as the light.3And behold, Moses and Elijahappeared to them, talking with Him.4 Then Peter answered and said toJesus, "Lord, it is good for us to behere; if You wish, let us make here threetabernacles: one for You, one for Moses,and one for Elijah."5While he was s ll speaking, behold, abright cloud overshadowed them; and

MATTHEW 17 92suddenly a voice came out of the cloud,saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whomI am well pleased. Hear Him!"6And when the disciples heard it, theyfell on their faces and were greatlyafraid.7 But Jesus came and touched themand said, "Arise, and do not be afraid."8When they had li ed up their eyes,they saw no one but Jesus only.9Now as they came down from themountain, Jesus commanded them,saying, "Tell the vision to no one un lthe Son of Man is risen from the dead."10And His disciples asked Him, saying,"Why then do the scribes say that Elijahmust come first?"11 Jesus answered and said to them,"Indeed, Elijah is coming first and willrestore all things.12 "But I say to you that Elijah has comealready, and they did not know him

MATTHEW 17 93but did to him whatever they wished.Likewise the Son of Man is also about tosuffer at their hands."13 Then the disciples understood thatHe spoke to them of John the Bap st.14And when they had come to themul tude, a man came to Him, kneelingdown to Him and saying,15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for heis an epilep c and suffers severely; forhe o en falls into the fire and o en intothe water.16 "So I brought him to Your disciples,but they could not cure him."17 Then Jesus answered and said, "Ofaithless and perverse genera on, howlong shall I be with you? How long shall Ibear with you? Bring him here to Me."18And Jesus rebuked the demon, andit came out of him; and the child wascured from that very hour.

MATTHEW 17 9419 Then the disciples came to Jesusprivately and said, "Why could we notcast it out?"20 So Jesus said to them, "Because ofyour unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you,if you have faith as a mustard seed, youwill say to this mountain, ‘Move fromhere to there,’ and it will move; andnothing will be impossible for you.21 "However, this kind does not go outexcept by prayer and fas ng."22Now while they were staying inGalilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son ofMan is about to be betrayed into thehands of men,23 "and they will kill Him, and the thirdday He will be raised up." And they wereexceedingly sorrowful.24When they had come to Capernaum,those who received the temple tax cameto Peter and said, "Does your Teachernot pay the temple tax?"

MATTHEW 17–18 9525He said, "Yes." And when he hadcome into the house, Jesus an cipatedhim, saying, "What do you think, Simon?From whom do the kings of the earthtake customs or taxes, from their sons orfrom strangers?"26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers."Jesus said to him, "Then the sons arefree.27 "Nevertheless, lest we offend them,go to the sea, cast in a hook, and takethe fish that comes up first. And whenyou have opened its mouth, you will finda piece of money; take that and give it tothem for Me and you."

18 1At that me the disciples cameto Jesus, saying, "Who then is

greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"2 Then Jesus called a li le child to Him,set him in the midst of them,3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you,unless you are converted and become

MATTHEW 18 96as li le children, you will by no meansenter the kingdom of heaven.4 "Therefore whoever humbles himselfas this li le child is the greatest in thekingdom of heaven.5 "Whoever receives one li le child likethis in My name receives Me.6 "But whoever causes one of theseli le ones who believe in Me to sin, itwould be be er for him if a millstonewere hung around his neck, and he weredrowned in the depth of the sea.7 "Woe to the world because ofoffenses! For offenses must come, butwoe to that man by whom the offensecomes!8 "If your hand or foot causes you tosin, cut it off and cast it from you. It isbe er for you to enter into life lameor maimed, rather than having twohands or two feet, to be cast into theeverlas ng fire.

MATTHEW 18 979 "And if your eye causes you to sin,pluck it out and cast it from you. It isbe er for you to enter into life with oneeye, rather than having two eyes, to becast into hell fire.10 "Take heed that you do not despiseone of these li le ones, for I say to youthat in heaven their angels always seethe face of My Father who is in heaven.11 "For the Son of Man has come tosave that which was lost.12 "What do you think? If a man has ahundred sheep, and one of them goesastray, does he not leave the ninety–nineand go to the mountains to seek the onethat is straying?13 "And if he should find it, assuredly, Isay to you, he rejoices more over thatsheep than over the ninety–nine thatdid not go astray.

MATTHEW 18 9814 "Even so it is not the will of yourFather who is in heaven that one ofthese li le ones should perish.15 "Moreover if your brother sinsagainst you, go and tell him his faultbetween you and him alone. If he hearsyou, you have gained your brother.16 "But if he will not hear, take with youone or two more, that ‘by the mouth oftwo or three witnesses every word maybe established.’17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tellit to the church. But if he refuses even tohear the church, let him be to you like aheathen and a tax collector.18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever youbind on earth will be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth will beloosed in heaven.19 "Again I say to you that if two of youagree on earth concerning anything that

MATTHEW 18 99they ask, it will be done for them by MyFather in heaven.20 "For where two or three are gatheredtogether in My name, I am there in themidst of them."21 Then Peter came to Him and said,"Lord, how o en shall my brother sinagainst me, and I forgive him? Up toseven mes?"22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say toyou, up to seven mes, but up to seventymes seven.23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven islike a certain king who wanted to se leaccounts with his servants.24 "And when he had begun to se leaccounts, one was brought to him whoowed him ten thousand talents.25 "But as he was not able to pay, hismaster commanded that he be sold,with his wife and children and all that hehad, and that payment be made.

MATTHEW 18 10026 "The servant therefore fell downbefore him, saying, ‘Master, havepa ence with me, and I will pay you all.’27 "Then the master of that servant wasmoved with compassion, released him,and forgave him the debt.28 "But that servant went out and foundone of his fellow servants who owed hima hundred denarii; and he laid hands onhim and took him by the throat, saying,‘Pay me what you owe!’29 "So his fellow servant fell down athis feet and begged him, saying, ‘Havepa ence with me, and I will pay you all.’30 "And he would not, but went andthrew him into prison ll he should paythe debt.31 "So when his fellow servants sawwhat had been done, they were verygrieved, and came and told their masterall that had been done.

MATTHEW 18–19 10132 "Then his master, a er he had calledhim, said to him, ‘You wicked servant!I forgave you all that debt because youbegged me.33 ‘Should you not also have hadcompassion on your fellow servant, justas I had pity on you?’34 "And his master was angry, anddelivered him to the torturers un l heshould pay all that was due to him.35 "So My heavenly Father also will doto you if each of you, from his heart, doesnot forgive his brother his trespasses."

19 1Now it came to pass, when Jesushad finished these sayings, that

He departed from Galilee and came tothe region of Judea beyond the Jordan.2And great mul tudes followed Him,and He healed them there.3 The Pharisees also came to Him,tes ng Him, and saying to Him, "Is it

MATTHEW 19 102lawful for a man to divorce his wife forjust any reason?"4And He answered and said to them,"Have you not read that He who madethem at the beginning ‘made them maleand female,’5 "and said, ‘For this reason a manshall leave his father and mother andbe joined to his wife, and the two shallbecome one flesh’?6 "So then, they are no longer twobut one flesh. Therefore what God hasjoined together, let not man separate."7 They said to Him, "Why then didMoses command to give a cer ficate ofdivorce, and to put her away?"8He said to them, "Moses, because ofthe hardness of your hearts, permi edyou to divorce your wives, but from thebeginning it was not so.9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces hiswife, except for sexual immorality, and

MATTHEW 19 103marries another, commits adultery; andwhoever marries her who is divorcedcommits adultery."10His disciples said to Him, "If such isthe case of the man with his wife, it isbe er not to marry."11 But He said to them, "All cannotaccept this saying, but only those towhom it has been given:12 "For there are eunuchs who wereborn thus from their mother’s womb,and there are eunuchs who were madeeunuchs by men, and there are eunuchswho have made themselves eunuchs forthe kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who isable to accept it, let him accept it."13 Then li le children were brought toHim that He might put His hands onthem and pray, but the disciples rebukedthem.

MATTHEW 19 10414 But Jesus said, "Let the li le childrencome to Me, and do not forbid them; forof such is the kingdom of heaven."15And He laid His hands on them anddeparted from there.16Now behold, one came and said toHim, "Good Teacher, what good thingshall I do that I may have eternal life?"17 So He said to him, "Why do you callMe good? No one is good but One, thatis, God. But if you want to enter into life,keep the commandments."18He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesussaid, "‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shallnot commit adultery,’ ‘You shall notsteal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘You shall love your neighbor asyourself.’"20 The young man said to Him, "Allthese things I have kept from my youth.What do I s ll lack?"

MATTHEW 19 10521 Jesus said to him, "If you want to beperfect, go, sell what you have and giveto the poor, and you will have treasurein heaven; and come, follow Me."22 But when the young man heard thatsaying, he went away sorrowful, for hehad great possessions.23 Then Jesus said to His disciples,"Assuredly, I say to you that it is hardfor a rich man to enter the kingdom ofheaven.24 "And again I say to you, it is easierfor a camel to go through the eye of aneedle than for a rich man to enter thekingdom of God."25When His disciples heard it, theywere greatly astonished, saying, "Whothen can be saved?"26 But Jesus looked at them and said tothem, "With men this is impossible, butwith God all things are possible."

MATTHEW 19–20 10627 Then Peter answered and said toHim, "See, we have le all and followedYou. Therefore what shall we have?"28 So Jesus said to them, "AssuredlyI say to you, that in the regenera on,when the Son of Man sits on the throneof His glory, you who have followed Mewill also sit on twelve thrones, judgingthe twelve tribes of Israel.29 "And everyone who has le housesor brothers or sisters or father or motheror wife or children or lands, for Myname’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold,and inherit eternal life.30 "But many who are first will be last,and the last first.

20 1 "For the kingdom of heaven islike a landowner who went out

early in the morning to hire laborers forhis vineyard.

MATTHEW 20 1072 "Now when he had agreed with thelaborers for a denarius a day, he sentthem into his vineyard.3 "And he went out about the thirdhour and saw others standing idle in themarketplace,4 "and said to them, ‘You also go intothe vineyard, and whatever is right I willgive you.’ So they went.5 "Again he went out about the sixthand the ninth hour, and did likewise.6 "And about the eleventh hour hewent out and found others standing idle,and said to them, ‘Why have you beenstanding here idle all day?’7 "They said to him, ‘Because no onehired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also gointo the vineyard, and whatever is rightyou will receive.’8 "So when evening had come, theowner of the vineyard said to hissteward, ‘Call the laborers and give them

MATTHEW 20 108their wages, beginning with the last tothe first.’9 "And when those came who werehired about the eleventh hour, they eachreceived a denarius.10 "But when the first came, theysupposed that they would receivemore; and they likewise received each adenarius.11 "And when they had received it, theycomplained against the landowner,12 "saying, ‘These last men have workedonly one hour, and youmade them equalto us who have borne the burden andthe heat of the day.’13 "But he answered one of themand said, ‘Friend, I am doing you nowrong. Did you not agree with me for adenarius?14 ‘Take what is yours and go your way.I wish to give to this last man the sameas to you.

MATTHEW 20 10915 ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what Iwish with my own things? Or is your eyeevil because I am good?’16 "So the last will be first, and thefirst last. For many are called, but fewchosen."17Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem,took the twelve disciples aside on theroad and said to them,18 "Behold, we are going up toJerusalem, and the Son of Man will bebetrayed to the chief priests and to thescribes; and they will condemn Him todeath,19 "and deliver Him to the Gen les tomock and to scourge and to crucify. Andthe third day He will rise again."20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sonscame to Him with her sons, kneelingdown and asking something from Him.21And He said to her, "What do youwish?" She said to Him, "Grant that

MATTHEW 20 110these two sons of mine may sit, one onYour right hand and the other on thele , in Your kingdom."22 But Jesus answered and said, "You donot know what you ask. Are you able todrink the cup that I am about to drink,and be bap zed with the bap sm thatI am bap zed with?" They said to Him,"We are able."23 So He said to them, "You will indeeddrink My cup, and be bap zed with thebap sm that I am bap zed with; but tosit on My right hand and on My le isnot Mine to give, but it is for those forwhom it is prepared by My Father."24And when the ten heard it, theywere greatly displeased with the twobrothers.25 But Jesus called them to Himself andsaid, "You know that the rulers of theGen les lord it over them, and those

MATTHEW 20 111who are great exercise authority overthem.26 "Yet it shall not be so among you; butwhoever desires to become great amongyou, let him be your servant.27 "And whoever desires to be firstamong you, let him be your slave––28 "just as the Son of Man did not cometo be served, but to serve, and to giveHis life a ransom for many."29Now as they went out of Jericho, agreat mul tude followed Him.30And behold, two blind men si ngby the road, when they heard that Jesuswas passing by, cried out, saying, "Havemercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"31 Then the mul tude warned themthat they should be quiet; but they criedout all the more, saying, "Have mercy onus, O Lord, Son of David!"

MATTHEW 20–21 11232 So Jesus stood s ll and called them,and said, "What do you want Me to dofor you?"33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyesmay be opened."34 So Jesus had compassion andtouched their eyes. And immediatelytheir eyes received sight, and theyfollowed Him.

21 1Now when they drew nearJerusalem, and came to

Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, thenJesus sent two disciples,2 saying to them, "Go into the villageopposite you, and immediately you willfind a donkey ed, and a colt with her.Loose them and bring them to Me.3 "And if anyone says anything to you,you shall say, ‘The Lord has need ofthem,’ and immediately he will sendthem."

MATTHEW 21 1134All this was done that it might befulfilled which was spoken by theprophet, saying:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold,your King is coming to you, Lowly, andsi ng on a donkey, A colt, the foal of adonkey.’"6 So the disciples went and did as Jesuscommanded them.7 They brought the donkey and the colt,laid their clothes on them, and set Himon them.8And a very great mul tude spreadtheir clothes on the road; others cutdown branches from the trees andspread them on the road.9 Then the mul tudes who went beforeand those who followed cried out,saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David!‘Blessed is He who comes in the name ofthe LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!"

MATTHEW 21 11410And when He had come intoJerusalem, all the city was moved,saying, "Who is this?"11 So the mul tudes said, "This is Jesus,the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."12 Then Jesus went into the temple ofGod and drove out all those who boughtand sold in the temple, and overturnedthe tables of the money changers andthe seats of those who sold doves.13And He said to them, "It is wri en,‘My house shall be called a house ofprayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den ofthieves.’"14 Then the blind and the lame came toHim in the temple, and He healed them.15 But when the chief priests andscribes saw the wonderful things that Hedid, and the children crying out in thetemple and saying, "Hosanna to the Sonof David!" they were indignant

MATTHEW 21 11516 and said to Him, "Do You hear whatthese are saying?" And Jesus said tothem, "Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out ofthe mouth of babes and nursing infantsYou have perfected praise’?"17 Then He le them and went out ofthe city to Bethany, and He lodged there.18Now in the morning, as He returnedto the city, He was hungry.19And seeing a fig tree by the road, Hecame to it and found nothing on it butleaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit growon you ever again." Immediately the figtree withered away.20And when the disciples saw it, theymarveled, saying, "How did the fig treewither away so soon?"21 So Jesus answered and said to them,"Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faithand do not doubt, you will not only dowhat was done to the fig tree, but also

MATTHEW 21 116if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removedand be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.22 "And whatever things you ask inprayer, believing, you will receive."23Now when He came into the temple,the chief priests and the elders ofthe people confronted Him as He wasteaching, and said, "By what authorityare You doing these things? And whogave You this authority?"24 But Jesus answered and said to them,"I also will ask you one thing, which ifyou tell Me, I likewise will tell you bywhat authority I do these things:25 "The bap sm of John––where wasit from? From heaven or from men?"And they reasoned among themselves,saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He willsay to us, ‘Why then did you not believehim?’

MATTHEW 21 11726 "But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fearthe mul tude, for all count John as aprophet."27 So they answered Jesus and said,"We do not know." And He said to them,"Neither will I tell you by what authorityI do these things.28 "But what do you think? A manhad two sons, and he came to the firstand said, ‘Son, go, work today in myvineyard.’29 "He answered and said, ‘I will not,’but a erward he regre ed it and went.30 "Then he came to the second andsaid likewise. And he answered and said,‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.31 "Which of the two did the will of hisfather?" They said to Him, "The first."Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say toyou that tax collectors and harlots enterthe kingdom of God before you.

MATTHEW 21 11832 "For John came to you in the way ofrighteousness, and you did not believehim; but tax collectors and harlotsbelieved him; and when you saw it, youdid not a erward relent and believe him.33 "Hear another parable: There wasa certain landowner who planted avineyard and set a hedge around it, duga winepress in it and built a tower. Andhe leased it to vinedressers and wentinto a far country.34 "Now when vintage– me drew near,he sent his servants to the vinedressers,that they might receive its fruit.35 "And the vinedressers took hisservants, beat one, killed one, andstoned another.36 "Again he sent other servants, morethan the first, and they did likewise tothem.37 "Then last of all he sent his son tothem, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

MATTHEW 21 11938 "But when the vinedressers saw theson, they said among themselves, ‘Thisis the heir. Come, let us kill him and seizehis inheritance.’39 "So they took him and cast him outof the vineyard and killed him.40 "Therefore, when the owner of thevineyard comes, what will he do to thosevinedressers?"41 They said to Him, "He will destroythose wicked men miserably, and leasehis vineyard to other vinedressers whowill render to him the fruits in theirseasons."42 Jesus said to them, "Have you neverread in the Scriptures: ‘The stone whichthe builders rejected Has become thechief cornerstone. This was the LORD’Sdoing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdomof God will be taken from you and givento a na on bearing the fruits of it.

MATTHEW 21–22 12044 "And whoever falls on this stone willbe broken; but on whomever it falls, itwill grind him to powder."45Now when the chief priests andPharisees heard His parables, theyperceived that He was speaking of them.46 But when they sought to lay handson Him, they feared the mul tudes,because they took Him for a prophet.

22 1And Jesus answered and spoketo them again by parables and

said:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like acertain king who arranged a marriage forhis son,3 "and sent out his servants to call thosewho were invited to the wedding; andthey were not willing to come.4 "Again, he sent out other servants,saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, "See,I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and

MATTHEW 22 121fa ed ca le are killed, and all things areready. Come to the wedding."’5 "But they made light of it and wenttheir ways, one to his own farm, anotherto his business.6 "And the rest seized his servants,treated them spitefully, and killed them.7 "But when the king heard about it, hewas furious. And he sent out his armies,destroyed those murderers, and burnedup their city.8 "Then he said to his servants, ‘Thewedding is ready, but those who wereinvited were not worthy.9 ‘Therefore go into the highways,and as many as you find, invite to thewedding.’10 "So those servants went out intothe highways and gathered together allwhom they found, both bad and good.And the wedding hall was filled withguests.

MATTHEW 22 12211 "But when the king came in to seethe guests, he saw a man there who didnot have on a wedding garment.12 "So he said to him, ‘Friend, how didyou come in here without a weddinggarment?’ And he was speechless.13 "Then the king said to the servants,‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away,and cast him into outer darkness; therewill be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’14 "For many are called, but few arechosen."15 Then the Pharisees went and plo edhow they might entangle Him in His talk.16And they sent to Him their discipleswith the Herodians, saying, "Teacher,we know that You are true, and teachthe way of God in truth; nor do You careabout anyone, for You do not regard theperson of men.

MATTHEW 22 12317 "Tell us, therefore, what do Youthink? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,or not?"18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness,and said, "Why do you test Me, youhypocrites?19 "Show Me the tax money." So theybrought Him a denarius.20And He said to them, "Whose imageand inscrip on is this?"21 They said to Him, "Caesar’s." AndHe said to them, "Render therefore toCaesar the things that are Caesar’s, andto God the things that are God’s."22When they had heard these words,they marveled, and le Him and wenttheir way.23 The same day the Sadducees, whosay there is no resurrec on, came toHim and asked Him,24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said thatif a man dies, having no children, his

MATTHEW 22 124brother shall marry his wife and raise upoffspring for his brother.25 "Now there were with us sevenbrothers. The first died a er he hadmarried, and having no offspring, le hiswife to his brother.26 "Likewise the second also, and thethird, even to the seventh.27 "Last of all the woman died also.28 "Therefore, in the resurrec on,whose wife of the seven will she be? Forthey all had her."29 Jesus answered and said to them,"You are mistaken, not knowing theScriptures nor the power of God.30 "For in the resurrec on they neithermarry nor are given in marriage, but arelike angels of God in heaven.31 "But concerning the resurrec on ofthe dead, have you not read what wasspoken to you by God, saying,

MATTHEW 22 12532 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God ofIsaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is notthe God of the dead, but of the living."33And when the mul tudes heard this,they were astonished at His teaching.34 But when the Pharisees heard thatHe had silenced the Sadducees, theygathered together.35 Then one of them, a lawyer, askedHim a ques on, tes ng Him, and saying,36 "Teacher, which is the greatcommandment in the law?"37 Jesus said to him, "‘You shall love theLORD your God with all your heart, withall your soul, and with all your mind.’38 "This is the first and greatcommandment.39 "And the second is like it: ‘You shalllove your neighbor as yourself.’40 "On these two commandments hangall the Law and the Prophets."

MATTHEW 22–23 12641While the Pharisees were gatheredtogether, Jesus asked them,42 saying, "What do you think about theChrist? Whose Son is He?" They said toHim, "The Son of David."43He said to them, "How then doesDavid in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:44 ‘The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at Myright hand, Till I make Your enemies Yourfootstool"’?45 "If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how isHe his Son?"46And no one was able to answer Hima word, nor from that day on did anyonedare ques on Him anymore.

23 1 Then Jesus spoke to themul tudes and to His disciples,

2 saying: "The scribes and the Phariseessit in Moses’ seat.3 "Therefore whatever they tell you toobserve, that observe and do, but do not

MATTHEW 23 127do according to their works; for they say,and do not do.4 "For they bind heavy burdens, hard tobear, and lay them on men’s shoulders;but they themselves will not move themwith one of their fingers.5 "But all their works they do to be seenby men. They make their phylacteriesbroad and enlarge the borders of theirgarments.6 "They love the best places at feasts,the best seats in the synagogues,7 "gree ngs in the marketplaces, and tobe called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’8 "But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; forOne is your Teacher, the Christ, and youare all brethren.9 "Do not call anyone on earth yourfather; for One is your Father, He who isin heaven.10 "And do not be called teachers; forOne is your Teacher, the Christ.

MATTHEW 23 12811 "But he who is greatest among youshall be your servant.12 "And whoever exalts himself will behumbled, and he who humbles himselfwill be exalted.13 "But woe to you, scribes andPharisees, hypocrites! For you shut upthe kingdom of heaven against men; foryou neither go in yourselves, nor do youallow 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 longprayers. Therefore you will receivegreater condemna on.15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,hypocrites! For you travel land and seato win one proselyte, and when he iswon, you make him twice as much a sonof hell as yourselves.16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say,‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is

MATTHEW 23 129nothing; but whoever swears by the goldof the temple, he is obliged to performit.’17 "Fools and blind! For which is greater,the gold or the temple that sanc fies thegold?18 "And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar,it is nothing; but whoever swears by thegi that is on it, he is obliged to performit.’19 "Fools and blind! For which is greater,the gi or the altar that sanc fies thegi ?20 "Therefore he who swears by thealtar, swears by it and by all things on it.21 "He who 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 Himwho sits on it.23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,hypocrites! For you pay the of mint and

MATTHEW 23 130anise and cummin, and have neglectedthe weigh er ma ers of the law: jus ceand mercy and faith. These you ought tohave done, without leaving the othersundone.24 "Blind guides, who strain out a gnatand swallow a camel!25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,hypocrites! For you cleanse the outsideof the cup and dish, but inside they arefull of extor on and self–indulgence.26 "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse theinside of the cup and dish, that theoutside of them may be clean also.27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,hypocrites! For you are like whitewashedtombs which indeed appear beau fuloutwardly, but inside are full of deadmen’s bones and all uncleanness.28 "Even so you also outwardly appearrighteous to men, but inside you are fullof hypocrisy and lawlessness.

MATTHEW 23 13129 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,hypocrites! Because you build thetombs of the prophets and adorn themonuments of the righteous,30 "and say, ‘If we had lived in the daysof our fathers, we would not have beenpartakers with them in the blood of theprophets.’31 "Therefore you are witnesses againstyourselves that you are sons of thosewho murdered the prophets.32 "Fill up, then, the measure of yourfathers’ guilt.33 "Serpents, brood of vipers! How canyou escape the condemna on of hell?34 "Therefore, indeed, I send youprophets, wise men, and scribes: someof them you will kill and crucify, andsome of them you will scourge in yoursynagogues and persecute from city tocity,

MATTHEW 23–24 13235 "that on you may come all therighteous blood shed on the earth, fromthe blood of righteous Abel to the bloodof Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whomyou murdered between the temple andthe altar.36 "Assuredly, I say to you, all thesethings will come upon this genera on.37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the onewho kills the prophets and stones thosewho are sent to her! How o en I wantedto gather your children together, as ahen gathers her chicks under her wings,but you were not willing!38 "See! Your house is le to youdesolate;39 "for I say to you, you shall see Meno more ll you say, ‘Blessed is He whocomes in the name of the LORD!’"

24 1 Then Jesus went out anddeparted from the temple, and

MATTHEW 24 133His disciples came up to show Him thebuildings of the temple.2And Jesus said to them, "Do you notsee all these things? Assuredly, I sayto you, not one stone shall be le hereupon another, that shall not be throwndown."3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives,the disciples came to Him privately,saying, "Tell us, when will these thingsbe? And what will be the sign of Yourcoming, and of the end of the age?"4And Jesus answered and said to them:"Take heed that no one deceives you.5 "For many will come in My name,saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceivemany.6 "And you will hear of wars and rumorsof wars. See that you are not troubled;for all these things must come to pass,but the end is not yet.

MATTHEW 24 1347 "For na on will rise against na on,and kingdom against kingdom. Andthere will be famines, pes lences, andearthquakes in various places.8 "All these are the beginning ofsorrows.9 "Then they will deliver you up totribula on and kill you, and you will behated by all na ons for My name’s sake.10 "And then many will be offended,will betray one another, and will hateone another.11 "Then many false prophets will riseup and deceive many.12 "And because lawlessness willabound, the love of many will grow cold.13 "But he who endures to the end shallbe saved.14 "And this gospel of the kingdom willbe preached in all the world as a witnessto all the na ons, and then the end willcome.

MATTHEW 24 13515 "Therefore when you see the‘abomina on of desola on,’ spoken ofby Daniel the prophet, standing in theholy place" (whoever reads, let himunderstand),16 "then let those who are in Judea fleeto the mountains.17 "Let him who is on the housetopnot go down to take anything out of hishouse.18 "And let him who is in the field notgo back to get his clothes.19 "But woe to those who are pregnantand to those who are nursing babies inthose days!20 "And pray that your flight may not bein winter or on the Sabbath.21 "For then there will be greattribula on, such as has not been sincethe beginning of the world un l thisme, no, nor ever shall be.

MATTHEW 24 13622 "And unless those days wereshortened, no flesh would be saved; butfor the elect’s sake those days will beshortened.23 "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look,here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do notbelieve it.24 "For false christs and false prophetswill rise and show great signs andwonders to deceive, if possible, even theelect.25 "See, I have told you beforehand.26 "Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look,He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do notbelieve it.27 "For as the lightning comes from theeast and flashes to the west, so also willthe coming of the Son of Man be.28 "For wherever the carcass is, therethe eagles will be gathered together.

MATTHEW 24 13729 "Immediately a er the tribula on ofthose days the sun will be darkened, andthe moon will not give its light; the starswill fall from heaven, and the powers ofthe heavens will be shaken.30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man willappear in heaven, and then all the tribesof the earth will mourn, and they will seethe Son of Man coming on the clouds ofheaven with power and great glory.31 "And He will send His angels with agreat sound of a trumpet, and they willgather together His elect from the fourwinds, from one end of heaven to theother.32 "Now learn this parable from thefig tree: When its branch has alreadybecome tender and puts forth leaves,you know that summer is near.33 "So you also, when you see all thesethings, know that it is near––at thedoors!

MATTHEW 24 13834 "Assuredly, I say to you, thisgenera on will by no means pass awayll all these things take place.35 "Heaven and earth will pass away,but My words will by no means passaway.36 "But of that day and hour no oneknows, not even the angels of heaven,but My Father only.37 "But as the days of Noah were, soalso will the coming of the Son of Manbe.38 "For as in the days before the flood,they were ea ng and drinking, marryingand giving in marriage, un l the day thatNoah entered the ark,39 "and did not know un l the floodcame and took them all away, so alsowill the coming of the Son of Man be.40 "Then two men will be in the field:one will be taken and the other le .

MATTHEW 24 13941 "Two women will be grinding at themill: one will be taken and the other le .42 "Watch therefore, for you do notknow what hour your Lord is coming.43 "But know this, that if the masterof the house had known what hourthe thief would come, he would havewatched and not allowed his house tobe broken into.44 "Therefore you also be ready, for theSon of Man is coming at an hour you donot expect.45 "Who then is a faithful and wiseservant, whom his master made rulerover his household, to give them food indue season?46 "Blessed is that servant whom hismaster, when he comes, will find sodoing.47 "Assuredly, I say to you that he willmake him ruler over all his goods.

MATTHEW 24–25 14048 "But if that evil servant says in hisheart, ‘Mymaster is delaying his coming,’49 "and begins to beat his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with thedrunkards,50 "the master of that servant will comeon a day when he is not looking for himand at an hour that he is not aware of,51 "and will cut him in two and appointhim his por on with the hypocrites.There shall be weeping and gnashing ofteeth.

25 1 "Then the kingdom of heavenshall be likened to ten virgins who

took their lamps and went out to meetthe bridegroom.2 "Now five of them were wise, and fivewere foolish.3 "Those who were foolish took theirlamps and took no oil with them,4 "but the wise took oil in their vesselswith their lamps.

MATTHEW 25 1415 "But while the bridegroom wasdelayed, they all slumbered and slept.6 "And at midnight a cry was heard:‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; goout to meet him!’7 "Then all those virgins arose andtrimmed their lamps.8 "And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Giveus some of your oil, for our lamps aregoing out.’9 "But the wise answered, saying, ‘No,lest there should not be enough for usand you; but go rather to those who sell,and buy for yourselves.’10 "And while they went to buy, thebridegroom came, and those who wereready went in with him to the wedding;and the door was shut.11 "A erward the other virgins camealso, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’

MATTHEW 25 14212 "But he answered and said,‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not knowyou.’13 "Watch therefore, for you knowneither the day nor the hour in whichthe Son of Man is coming.14 "For the kingdom of heaven is likea man traveling to a far country, whocalled his own servants and delivered hisgoods to them.15 "And to one he gave five talents, toanother two, and to another one, toeach according to his own ability; andimmediately he went on a journey.16 "Then he who had received the fivetalents went and traded with them, andmade another five talents.17 "And likewise he who had receivedtwo gained two more also.18 "But he who had received one wentand dug in the ground, and hid his lord’smoney.

MATTHEW 25 14319 "A er a long me the lord of thoseservants came and se led accounts withthem.20 "So he who had received five talentscame and brought five other talents,saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me fivetalents; look, I have gained five moretalents besides them.’21 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done,good and faithful servant; you werefaithful over a few things, I will make youruler over many things. Enter into thejoy of your lord.’22 "He also who had received twotalents came and said, ‘Lord, youdelivered to me two talents; look, I havegained two more talents besides them.’23 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done,good and faithful servant; you have beenfaithful over a few things, I will make youruler over many things. Enter into thejoy of your lord.’

MATTHEW 25 14424 "Then he who had received the onetalent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew youto be a hard man, reaping where youhave not sown, and gathering where youhave not sca ered seed.25 ‘And I was afraid, and went and hidyour talent in the ground. Look, thereyou have what is yours.’26 "But his lord answered and said tohim, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, youknew that I reap where I have not sown,and gather where I have not sca eredseed.27 ‘So you ought to have depositedmy money with the bankers, and at mycoming I would have received back myown with interest.28 ‘Therefore take the talent from him,and give it to him who has ten talents.29 ‘For to everyone who has, more willbe given, and he will have abundance;

MATTHEW 25 145but from him who does not have, evenwhat he has will be taken away.30 ‘And cast the unprofitable servantinto the outer darkness. There will beweeping and gnashing of teeth.’31 "When the Son of Man comes in Hisglory, and all the holy angels with Him,then He will sit on the throne of Hisglory.32 "All the na ons will be gatheredbefore Him, and He will separate themone from another, as a shepherd divideshis sheep from the goats.33 "And He will set the sheep on Hisright hand, but the goats on the le .34 "Then the King will say to those onHis right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of MyFather, inherit the kingdom prepared foryou from the founda on of the world:35 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Mefood; I was thirsty and you gave Me

MATTHEW 25 146drink; I was a stranger and you took Mein;36 ‘I was naked and you clothed Me;I was sick and you visited Me; I was inprison and you came to Me.’37 "Then the righteous will answerHim, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see Youhungry and feed You, or thirsty and giveYou drink?38 ‘When did we see You a stranger andtake You in, or naked and clothe You?39 ‘Or when did we see You sick, or inprison, and come to You?’40 "And the King will answer and say tothem, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuchas you did it to one of the least of theseMy brethren, you did it to Me.’41 "Then He will also say to those on thele hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed,into the everlas ng fire prepared for thedevil and his angels:

MATTHEW 25–26 14742 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me nofood; I was thirsty and you gave Me nodrink;43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not takeMe in, naked and you did not clothe Me,sick and in prison and you did not visitMe.’44 "Then they also will answer Him,saying, ‘Lord, when did we see Youhungry or thirsty or a stranger or nakedor sick or in prison, and did not ministerto You?’45 "Then He will answer them, saying,‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as youdid not do it to one of the least of these,you did not do it to Me.’46 "And these will go away intoeverlas ng punishment, but therighteous into eternal life."

26 1Now it came to pass, when Jesushad finished all these sayings,

that He said to His disciples,

MATTHEW 26 1482 "You know that a er two days is thePassover, and the Son of Man will bedelivered up to be crucified."3 Then the chief priests, the scribes,and the elders of the people assembledat the palace of the high priest, who wascalled Caiaphas,4 and plo ed to take Jesus by trickeryand kill Him.5 But they said, "Not during the feast,lest there be an uproar among thepeople."6And when Jesus was in Bethany at thehouse of Simon the leper,7 a woman came to Him having analabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil,and she poured it on His head as He satat the table.8 But when His disciples saw it, theywere indignant, saying, "Why this waste?9 "For this fragrant oil might have beensold for much and given to the poor."

MATTHEW 26 14910 But when Jesus was aware of it, Hesaid to them, "Why do you trouble thewoman? For she has done a good workfor Me.11 "For you have the poor with youalways, but Me you do not have always.12 "For in pouring this fragrant oil onMy body, she did it for My burial.13 "Assuredly, I say to you, whereverthis gospel is preached in the wholeworld, what this woman has done willalso be told as a memorial to her."14 Then one of the twelve, called JudasIscariot, went to the chief priests15 and said, "What are you willing togive me if I deliver Him to you?" Andthey counted out to him thirty pieces ofsilver.16 So from that me he soughtopportunity to betray Him.17Now on the first day of the Feastof the Unleavened Bread the disciples

MATTHEW 26 150came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where doYou want us to prepare for You to eat thePassover?"18And He said, "Go into the city toa certain man, and say to him, ‘TheTeacher says, "My me is at hand; I willkeep the Passover at your house withMy disciples."’"19 So the disciples did as Jesus haddirected them; and they prepared thePassover.20When evening had come, He satdown with the twelve.21Now as they were ea ng, He said,"Assuredly, I say to you, one of you willbetray Me."22And they were exceedingly sorrowful,and each of them began to say to Him,"Lord, is it I?"23He answered and said, "He whodipped his hand with Me in the dish willbetray Me.

MATTHEW 26 15124 "The Son of Man indeed goes just asit is wri en of Him, but woe to that manby whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Itwould have been good for that man if hehad not been born."25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him,answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" Hesaid to him, "You have said it."26And as they were ea ng, Jesus tookbread, blessed and broke it, and gave itto the disciples and said, "Take, eat; thisis My body."27 Then He took the cup, and gavethanks, and gave it to them, saying,"Drink from it, all of you.28 "For this is My blood of the newcovenant, which is shed for many for theremission of sins.29 "But I say to you, I will not drink ofthis fruit of the vine from now on un lthat day when I drink it new with you inMy Father’s kingdom."

MATTHEW 26 15230And when they had sung a hymn,they went out to the Mount of Olives.31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of youwill be made to stumble because of Methis night, for it is wri en: ‘I will strikethe Shepherd, And the sheep of the flockwill be sca ered.’32 "But a er I have been raised, I will gobefore you to Galilee."33 Peter answered and said to Him,"Even if all are made to stumble becauseof You, I will never be made to stumble."34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say toyou that this night, before the roostercrows, you will deny Me three mes."35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have todie with You, I will not deny You!" And sosaid all the disciples.36 Then Jesus came with them to aplace called Gethsemane, and said tothe disciples, "Sit here while I go andpray over there."

MATTHEW 26 15337And He took with Him Peter and thetwo sons of Zebedee, and He began tobe sorrowful and deeply distressed.38 Then He said to them, "My soul isexceedingly sorrowful, even to death.Stay here and watch with Me."39He went a li le farther and fell on Hisface, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, ifit is possible, let this cup pass from Me;nevertheless, not as I will, but as Youwill."40 Then He came to the disciples andfound them asleep, and said to Peter,"What? Could you not watch with Meone hour?41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter intotempta on. The spirit indeed is willing,but the flesh is weak."42Again, a second me, He went awayand prayed, saying, "O My Father, if thiscup cannot pass away from Me unless Idrink it, Your will be done."

MATTHEW 26 15443And He came and found them asleepagain, for their eyes were heavy.44 So He le them, went away again,and prayed the third me, saying thesame words.45 Then He came to His disciples andsaid to them, "Are you s ll sleeping andres ng? Behold, the hour is at hand, andthe Son of Man is being betrayed intothe hands of sinners.46 "Rise, let us be going. See, Mybetrayer is at hand."47And while He was s ll speaking,behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with agreat mul tude with swords and clubs,came from the chief priests and eldersof the people.48Now His betrayer had given them asign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is theOne; seize Him."49 Immediately he went up to Jesus andsaid, "Gree ngs, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

MATTHEW 26 15550 But Jesus said to him, "Friend, whyhave you come?" Then they came andlaid hands on Jesus and took Him.51And suddenly, one of those whowere with Jesus stretched out his handand drew his sword, struck the servantof the high priest, and cut off his ear.52 But Jesus said to him, "Put yoursword in its place, for all who take thesword will perish by the sword.53 "Or do you think that I cannot nowpray to My Father, and He will provideMe with more than twelve legions ofangels?54 "How then could the Scriptures befulfilled, that it must happen thus?"55 In that hour Jesus said to themul tudes, "Have you come out, asagainst a robber, with swords and clubsto take Me? I sat daily with you, teachingin the temple, and you did not seize Me.

MATTHEW 26 15656 "But all this was done that theScriptures of the prophets might befulfilled." Then all the disciples forsookHim and fled.57And those who had laid hold ofJesus led Him away to Caiaphas the highpriest, where the scribes and the elderswere assembled.58 But Peter followed Him at a distanceto the high priest’s courtyard. And hewent in and sat with the servants to seethe end.59Now the chief priests, the elders, andall the council sought false tes monyagainst Jesus to put Him to death,60 but found none. Even though manyfalse witnesses came forward, theyfound none. But at last two falsewitnesses came forward61 and said, "This fellow said, ‘I am ableto destroy the temple of God and tobuild it in three days.’"

MATTHEW 26 15762And the high priest arose and said toHim, "Do You answer nothing? What is itthese men tes fy against You?"63 But Jesus kept silent. And the highpriest answered and said to Him, "I putYou under oath by the living God: Tell usif You are the Christ, the Son of God!"64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said.Nevertheless, I say to you, herea er youwill see the Son of Man si ng at theright hand of the Power, and coming onthe clouds of heaven."65 Then the high priest tore his clothes,saying, "He has spoken blasphemy!What further need do we have ofwitnesses? Look, now you have heardHis blasphemy!66 "What do you think?" They answeredand said, "He is deserving of death."67 Then they spat in His face and beatHim; and others struck Him with thepalms of their hands,

MATTHEW 26 15868 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Whois the one who struck You?"69Now Peter sat outside in thecourtyard. And a servant girl came tohim, saying, "You also were with Jesus ofGalilee."70 But he denied it before them all,saying, "I do not know what you aresaying."71And when he had gone out to thegateway, another girl saw him and saidto those who were there, "This fellowalso was with Jesus of Nazareth."72 But again he denied with an oath, "Ido not know the Man!"73And a li le later those who stood bycame up and said to Peter, "Surely youalso are one of them, for your speechbetrays you."74 Then he began to curse and swear,saying, "I do not know the Man!"Immediately a rooster crowed.

MATTHEW 26–27 15975And Peter remembered the word ofJesus who had said to him, "Before therooster crows, you will deny Me threemes." So he went out and wept bi erly.

27 1When morning came, all thechief priests and elders of the

people plo ed against Jesus to put Himto death.2And when they had bound Him, theyled Him away and delivered Him toPon us Pilate the governor.3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeingthat He had been condemned, wasremorseful and brought back the thirtypieces of silver to the chief priests andelders,4 saying, "I have sinned by betrayinginnocent blood." And they said, "What isthat to us? You see to it!"5 Then he threw down the pieces ofsilver in the temple and departed, andwent and hanged himself.

MATTHEW 27 1606 But the chief priests took the silverpieces and said, "It is not lawful to putthem into the treasury, because they arethe price of blood."7And they consulted together andbought with them the po er’s field, tobury strangers in.8 Therefore that field has been calledthe Field of Blood to this day.9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken byJeremiah the prophet, saying, "And theytook the thirty pieces of silver, the valueof Him who was priced, whom they ofthe children of Israel priced,10 "and gave them for the po er’s field,as the LORD directed me."11Now Jesus stood before the governor.And the governor asked Him, saying,"Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesussaid to him, "It is as you say."

MATTHEW 27 16112And while He was being accused bythe chief priests and elders, He answerednothing.13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do Younot hear how many things they tes fyagainst You?"14 But He answered him not one word,so that the governor marveled greatly.15Now at the feast the governorwas accustomed to releasing to themul tude one prisoner whom theywished.16And at that me they had a notoriousprisoner called Barabbas.17 Therefore, when they had gatheredtogether, Pilate said to them, "Whomdo you want me to release to you?Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"18 For he knew that they had handedHim over because of envy.19While he was si ng on the judgmentseat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have

MATTHEW 27 162nothing to do with that just Man, forI have suffered many things today in adream because of Him."20 But the chief priests and elderspersuaded the mul tudes that theyshould ask for Barabbas and destroyJesus.21 The governor answered and saidto them, "Which of the two do youwant me to release to you?" They said,"Barabbas!"22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall Ido with Jesus who is called Christ?" Theyall said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"23 Then the governor said, "Why, whatevil has He done?" But they cried out allthe more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"24When Pilate saw that he could notprevail at all, but rather that a tumultwas rising, he took water and washedhis hands before the mul tude, saying,

MATTHEW 27 163"I am innocent of the blood of this justPerson. You see to it."25And all the people answered andsaid, "His blood be on us and on ourchildren."26 Then he released Barabbas to them;and when he had scourged Jesus, hedelivered Him to be crucified.27 Then the soldiers of the governortook Jesus into the Praetorium andgathered the whole garrison aroundHim.28And they stripped Him and put ascarlet robe on Him.29When they had twisted a crown ofthorns, they put it on His head, and areed in His right hand. And they bowedthe knee before Him and mocked Him,saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"30 Then they spat on Him, and took thereed and struck Him on the head.

MATTHEW 27 16431And when they had mocked Him,they took the robe off Him, put His ownclothes on Him, and led Him away to becrucified.32Now as they came out, they founda man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Himthey compelled to bear His cross.33And when they had come to a placecalled Golgotha, that is to say, Place of aSkull,34 they gave Him sour wine mingledwith gall to drink. But when He hadtasted it, He would not drink.35 Then they crucified Him, and dividedHis garments, cas ng lots, that it mightbe fulfilled which was spoken by theprophet: "They divided My garmentsamong them, And for My clothing theycast lots."36 Si ng down, they kept watch overHim there.

MATTHEW 27 16537And they put up over His head theaccusa on wri en against Him: THIS ISJESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.38 Then two robbers were crucified withHim, one on the right and another onthe le .39And those who passed byblasphemed Him, wagging theirheads40 and saying, "You who destroy thetemple and build it in three days, saveYourself! If You are the Son of God, comedown from the cross."41 Likewise the chief priests also,mocking with the scribes and elders,said,42 "He saved others; Himself He cannotsave. If He is the King of Israel, let Himnow come down from the cross, and wewill believe Him.

MATTHEW 27 16643 "He trusted in God; let Him deliverHim now if He will have Him; for He said,‘I am the Son of God.’"44 Even the robbers who were crucifiedwith Him reviled Him with the samething.45Now from the sixth hour un l theninth hour there was darkness over allthe land.46And about the ninth hour Jesus criedout with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli,lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, MyGod, why have You forsaken Me?"47 Some of those who stood there,when they heard that, said, "This Man iscalling for Elijah!"48 Immediately one of them ran andtook a sponge, filled it with sour wineand put it on a reed, and offered it toHim to drink.49 The rest said, "Let Him alone; let ussee if Elijah will come to save Him."

MATTHEW 27 16750And Jesus cried out again with a loudvoice, and yielded up His spirit.51 Then, behold, the veil of the templewas torn in two from top to bo om; andthe earth quaked, and the rocks weresplit,52 and the graves were opened; andmany bodies of the saints who had fallenasleep were raised;53 and coming out of the graves a erHis resurrec on, they went into the holycity and appeared to many.54 So when the centurion and thosewith him, who were guarding Jesus, sawthe earthquake and the things that hadhappened, they feared greatly, saying,"Truly this was the Son of God!"55And many women who followedJesus from Galilee, ministering to Him,were there looking on from afar,

MATTHEW 27 16856 amongwhomwereMaryMagdalene,Mary the mother of James and Joses,and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.57Now when evening had come, therecame a rich man from Arimathea, namedJoseph, who himself had also become adisciple of Jesus.58 This man went to Pilate and askedfor the body of Jesus. Then Pilatecommanded the body to be given tohim.59When Joseph had taken the body, hewrapped it in a clean linen cloth,60 and laid it in his new tomb which hehad hewn out of the rock; and he rolleda large stone against the door of thetomb, and departed.61And Mary Magdalene was there,and the other Mary, si ng opposite thetomb.

MATTHEW 27–28 16962On the next day, which followed theDay of Prepara on, the chief priests andPharisees gathered together to Pilate,63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while Hewas s ll alive, how that deceiver said,‘A er three days I will rise.’64 "Therefore command that the tombbe made secure un l the third day, lestHis disciples come by night and stealHim away, and say to the people, ‘Hehas risen from the dead.’ So the lastdecep on will be worse than the first."65 Pilate said to them, "You have aguard; go your way, make it as secure asyou know how."66 So they went and made the tombsecure, sealing the stone and se ng theguard.

28 1Now a er the Sabbath, as thefirst day of the week began to

dawn, Mary Magdalene and the otherMary came to see the tomb.

MATTHEW 28 1702And behold, there was a greatearthquake; for an angel of the Lorddescended from heaven, and came androlled back the stone from the door, andsat on it.3His countenance was like lightning,and his clothing as white as snow.4And the guards shook for fear of him,and became like dead men.5 But the angel answered and said tothe women, "Do not be afraid, for I knowthat you seek Jesus who was crucified.6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as Hesaid. Come, see the place where theLord lay.7 "And go quickly and tell His disciplesthat He is risen from the dead, andindeed He is going before you intoGalilee; there you will see Him. Behold, Ihave told you."

MATTHEW 28 1718 So they went out quickly from thetomb with fear and great joy, and ran tobring His disciples word.9And as they went to tell His disciples,behold, Jesus met them, saying,"Rejoice!" So they came and held Him bythe feet and worshiped Him.10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not beafraid. Go and tell My brethren to go toGalilee, and there they will see Me."11Now while they were going, behold,some of the guard came into the cityand reported to the chief priests all thethings that had happened.12When they had assembled with theelders and consulted together, they gavea large sum of money to the soldiers,13 saying, "Tell them, ‘His disciples cameat night and stole Him away while weslept.’

MATTHEW 28 17214 "And if this comes to the governor’sears, we will appease him and make yousecure."15 So they took the money and did asthey were instructed; and this sayingis commonly reported among the Jewsun l this day.16 Then the eleven disciples went awayinto Galilee, to the mountain whichJesus had appointed for them.17When they saw Him, they worshipedHim; but some doubted.18And Jesus came and spoke to them,saying, "All authority has been given toMe in heaven and on earth.19 "Go therefore and make disciples ofall the na ons, bap zing them in thename of the Father and of the Son andof the Holy Spirit,20 "teaching them to observe all thingsthat I have commanded you; and lo, I am

MATTHEW 28 173with you always, even to the end of theage." Amen.

Mark

1 1 The beginning of the gospel ofJesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is wri en in the Prophets:"Behold, I send My messenger beforeYour face, Who will prepare Your waybefore You."3 "The voice of one crying in thewilderness: ‘Prepare the way of theLORD; Make His paths straight.’"4 John came bap zing in the wildernessand preaching a bap sm of repentancefor the remission of sins.5 Then all the land of Judea, and thosefrom Jerusalem, went out to him andwere all bap zed by him in the JordanRiver, confessing their sins.

MARK 1 26Now John was clothed with camel’shair and with a leather belt around hiswaist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.7And he preached, saying, "Therecomes One a er me who is migh erthan I, whose sandal strap I am notworthy to stoop down and loose.8 "I indeed bap zed you with water, butHe will bap ze you with the Holy Spirit."9 It came to pass in those days thatJesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,and was bap zed by John in the Jordan.10And immediately, coming up fromthe water, He saw the heavens par ngand the Spirit descending upon Him likea dove.11 Then a voice came from heaven, "Youare My beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased."12 Immediately the Spirit drove Himinto the wilderness.

MARK 1 313And He was there in the wildernessforty days, tempted by Satan, and waswith the wild beasts; and the angelsministered to Him.14Now a er John was put in prison,Jesus came to Galilee, preaching thegospel of the kingdom of God,15 and saying, "The me is fulfilled, andthe kingdom of God is at hand. Repent,and believe in the gospel."16And as He walked by the Sea ofGalilee, He saw Simon and Andrew hisbrother cas ng a net into the sea; forthey were fishermen.17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me,and I will make you become fishers ofmen."18 They immediately le their nets andfollowed Him.19When He had gone a li le fartherfrom there, He saw James the son of

MARK 1 4Zebedee, and John his brother, who alsowere in the boat mending their nets.20And immediately He called them,and they le their father Zebedee in theboat with the hired servants, and wenta er Him.21 Then they went into Capernaum, andimmediately on the Sabbath He enteredthe synagogue and taught.22And they were astonished at Histeaching, for He taught them as onehaving authority, and not as the scribes.23Now there was a man in theirsynagogue with an unclean spirit. Andhe cried out,24 saying, "Let us alone! What have weto do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? DidYou come to destroy us? I know who Youare––the Holy One of God!"25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Bequiet, and come out of him!"

MARK 1 526And when the unclean spirit hadconvulsed him and cried out with a loudvoice, he came out of him.27 Then they were all amazed, so thatthey ques oned among themselves,saying, "What is this?What new doctrineis this? For with authority He commandseven the unclean spirits, and they obeyHim."28And immediately His fame spreadthroughout all the region around Galilee.29Now as soon as they had come out ofthe synagogue, they entered the houseof Simon and Andrew, with James andJohn.30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sickwith a fever, and they told Him abouther at once.31 So He came and took her by the handand li ed her up, and immediately thefever le her. And she served them.

MARK 1 632At evening, when the sun had set,they brought to Him all who were sickand those who were demon–possessed.33And the whole city was gatheredtogether at the door.34 Then He healed many who weresick with various diseases, and cast outmany demons; and He did not allow thedemons to speak, because they knewHim.35Now in the morning, having risen along while before daylight, He went outand departed to a solitary place; andthere He prayed.36And Simon and those who were withHim searched for Him.37When they found Him, they said toHim, "Everyone is looking for You."38 But He said to them, "Let us go intothe next towns, that I may preach therealso, because for this purpose I havecome forth."

MARK 1 739And He was preaching in theirsynagogues throughout all Galilee, andcas ng out demons.40Now a leper came to Him, imploringHim, kneeling down to Him and sayingto Him, "If You are willing, You can makeme clean."41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion,stretched out His hand and touchedhim, and said to him, "I am willing; becleansed."42As soon as He had spoken,immediately the leprosy le him, and hewas cleansed.43And He strictly warned him and senthim away at once,44 and said to him, "See that you saynothing to anyone; but go your way,show yourself to the priest, and offer foryour cleansing those things which Mosescommanded, as a tes mony to them."

MARK 1–2 845However, he went out and beganto proclaim it freely, and to spread thema er, so that Jesus could no longeropenly enter the city, but was outside indeserted places; and they came to Himfrom every direc on.

2 1And again He entered Capernauma er some days, and it was heard

that He was in the house.2 Immediately many gathered together,so that there was no longer room toreceive them, not even near the door.And He preached the word to them.3 Then they came to Him, bringing aparaly c who was carried by four men.4And when they could not comenear Him because of the crowd, theyuncovered the roof where He was. Sowhen they had broken through, they letdown the bed on which the paraly cwas lying.

MARK 2 95When Jesus saw their faith, He said tothe paraly c, "Son, your sins are forgivenyou."6And some of the scribes were si ngthere and reasoning in their hearts,7 "Why does this Man speakblasphemies like this? Who canforgive sins but God alone?"8 But immediately, when Jesusperceived in His spirit that they reasonedthus within themselves, He said to them,"Why do you reason about these thingsin your hearts?9 "Which is easier, to say to theparaly c, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed andwalk’?10 "But that you may know that the Sonof Man has power on earth to forgivesins" ––He said to the paraly c,11 "I say to you, arise, take up your bed,and go to your house."

MARK 2 1012 Immediately he arose, took up thebed, and went out in the presence ofthem all, so that all were amazed andglorified God, saying, "We never sawanything like this!"13 Then He went out again by the sea;and all the mul tude came to Him, andHe taught them.14As He passed by, He saw Levi the sonof Alphaeus si ng at the tax office. AndHe said to him, "Follow Me." So he aroseand followed Him.15Now it happened, as He was diningin Levi’s house, that many tax collectorsand sinners also sat together with Jesusand His disciples; for there were many,and they followed Him.16And when the scribes and Phariseessaw Him ea ng with the tax collectorsand sinners, they said to His disciples,"How is it that He eats and drinks withtax collectors and sinners?"

MARK 2 1117When Jesus heard it, He said tothem, "Those who are well have no needof a physician, but those who are sick. Idid not come to call the righteous, butsinners, to repentance."18 The disciples of John and of thePharisees were fas ng. Then they cameand said to Him, "Why do the disciplesof John and of the Pharisees fast, butYour disciples do not fast?"19And Jesus said to them, "Can thefriends of the bridegroom fast while thebridegroom is with them? As long asthey have the bridegroom with themthey cannot fast.20 "But the days will come when thebridegroom will be taken away fromthem, and then they will fast in thosedays.21 "No one sews a piece of unshrunkcloth on an old garment; or else the new

MARK 2 12piece pulls away from the old, and thetear is made worse.22 "And no one puts new wine into oldwineskins; or else the new wine burststhe wineskins, the wine is spilled, andthe wineskins are ruined. But new winemust be put into new wineskins."23Now it happened that He wentthrough the grainfields on the Sabbath;and as they went His disciples began topluck the heads of grain.24And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look,why do they do what is not lawful on theSabbath?"25 But He said to them, "Have you neverread what David did when he was inneed and hungry, he and those with him:26 "how he went into the house of Godin the days of Abiathar the high priest,and ate the showbread, which is notlawful to eat, except for the priests, and

MARK 2–3 13also gave some to those who were withhim?"27And He said to them, "The Sabbathwas made for man, and not man for theSabbath.28 "Therefore the Son of Man is alsoLord of the Sabbath."

3 1And He entered the synagogueagain, and a man was there who had

a withered hand.2 So they watched Him closely, whetherHe would heal him on the Sabbath, sothat they might accuse Him.3And He said to the man who had thewithered hand, "Step forward."4 Then He said to them, "Is it lawful onthe Sabbath to do good or to do evil, tosave life or to kill?" But they kept silent.5And when He had looked around atthem with anger, being grieved by thehardness of their hearts, He said tothe man, "Stretch out your hand." And

MARK 3 14he stretched it out, and his hand wasrestored as whole as the other.6 Then the Pharisees went out andimmediately plo ed with the Herodiansagainst Him, how they might destroyHim.7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciplesto the sea. And a great mul tude fromGalilee followed Him, and from Judea8 and Jerusalem and Idumea andbeyond the Jordan; and those from Tyreand Sidon, a great mul tude, when theyheard how many things He was doing,came to Him.9 So He told His disciples that a smallboat should be kept ready for Himbecause of the mul tude, lest theyshould crush Him.10 For He healed many, so that as manyas had afflic ons pressed about Him totouch Him.

MARK 3 1511And the unclean spirits, wheneverthey saw Him, fell down before Him andcried out, saying, "You are the Son ofGod."12 But He sternly warned them thatthey should not make Him known.13And He went up on the mountain andcalled to Him those He Himself wanted.And they came to Him.14 Then He appointed twelve, that theymight be with Him and that He mightsend them out to preach,15 and to have power to heal sicknessesand to cast out demons:16 Simon, to whom He gave the namePeter;17 James the son of Zebedee and Johnthe brother of James, to whom He gavethe name Boanerges, that is, "Sons ofThunder";18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,Ma hew, Thomas, James the son

MARK 3 16of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon theCananite;19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayedHim. And they went into a house.20 Then the mul tude came togetheragain, so that they could not so much aseat bread.21 But when His own people heardabout this, they went out to lay holdof Him, for they said, "He is out of Hismind."22And the scribes who came down fromJerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub,"and, "By the ruler of the demons Hecasts out demons."23 So He called them to Himself andsaid to them in parables: "How can Satancast out Satan?24 "If a kingdom is divided against itself,that kingdom cannot stand.25 "And if a house is divided againstitself, that house cannot stand.

MARK 3 1726 "And if Satan has risen up againsthimself, and is divided, he cannot stand,but has an end.27 "No one can enter a strong man’shouse and plunder his goods, unless hefirst binds the strong man. And then hewill plunder his house.28 "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will beforgiven the sons of men, and whateverblasphemies they may u er;29 "but he who blasphemes against theHoly Spirit never has forgiveness, but issubject to eternal condemna on" ––30 because they said, "He has anunclean spirit."31 Then His brothers and His mothercame, and standing outside they sent toHim, calling Him.32And a mul tude was si ng aroundHim; and they said to Him, "Look, Yourmother and Your brothers are outsideseeking You."

MARK 3–4 1833 But He answered them, saying, "Whois My mother, or My brothers?"34And He looked around in a circleat those who sat about Him, and said,"Here are My mother and My brothers!35 "For whoever does the will of God isMy brother and My sister and mother."

4 1And again He began to teach bythe sea. And a great mul tude was

gathered to Him, so that He got into aboat and sat in it on the sea; and thewhole mul tude was on the land facingthe sea.2 Then He taught them many thingsby parables, and said to them in Histeaching:3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out tosow.4 "And it happened, as he sowed, thatsome seed fell by the wayside; and thebirds of the air came and devoured it.

MARK 4 195 "Some fell on stony ground, whereit did not have much earth; andimmediately it sprang up because it hadno depth of earth.6 "But when the sun was up it wasscorched, and because it had no root itwithered away.7 "And some seed fell among thorns;and the thorns grew up and choked it,and it yielded no crop.8 "But other seed fell on goodground and yielded a crop that sprangup, increased and produced: somethirtyfold, some sixty, and some ahundred."9And He said to them, "He who hasears to hear, let him hear!"10 But when He was alone, thosearound Him with the twelve asked Himabout the parable.11And He said to them, "To you it hasbeen given to know the mystery of the

MARK 4 20kingdom of God; but to those who areoutside, all things come in parables,12 "so that ‘Seeing they may see andnot perceive, And hearing they may hearand not understand; Lest they shouldturn, And their sins be forgiven them.’"13And He said to them, "Do you notunderstand this parable? How then willyou understand all the parables?14 "The sower sows the word.15 "And these are the ones by thewayside where the word is sown. Whenthey hear, Satan comes immediately andtakes away the word that was sown intheir hearts.16 "These likewise are the ones sownon stony ground who, when they hearthe word, immediately receive it withgladness;17 "and they have no root in themselves,and so endure only for a me. A erward,when tribula on or persecu on arises

MARK 4 21for the word’s sake, immediately theystumble.18 "Now these are the ones sownamong thorns; they are the ones whohear the word,19 "and the cares of this world, thedecei ulness of riches, and the desiresfor other things entering in choke theword, and it becomes unfrui ul.20 "But these are the ones sown ongood ground, those who hear the word,accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold,some sixty, and some a hundred."21Also He said to them, "Is a lampbrought to be put under a basket orunder a bed? Is it not to be set on alampstand?22 "For there is nothing hidden whichwill not be revealed, nor has anythingbeen kept secret but that it should cometo light.

MARK 4 2223 "If anyone has ears to hear, let himhear."24 Then He said to them, "Take heedwhat you hear. With the same measureyou use, it will be measured to you; andto you who hear, more will be given.25 "For whoever has, to him more willbe given; but whoever does not have,even what he has will be taken awayfrom him."26And He said, "The kingdom of God isas if a man should sca er seed on theground,27 "and should sleep by night and riseby day, and the seed should sprout andgrow, he himself does not know how.28 "For the earth yields crops by itself:first the blade, then the head, a er thatthe full grain in the head.29 "But when the grain ripens,immediately he puts in the sickle,because the harvest has come."

MARK 4 2330 Then He said, "To what shall weliken the kingdom of God? Or with whatparable shall we picture it?31 "It is like a mustard seed which, whenit is sown on the ground, is smaller thanall the seeds on earth;32 "but when it is sown, it grows upand becomes greater than all herbs,and shoots out large branches, so thatthe birds of the air may nest under itsshade."33And with many such parables Hespoke the word to them as they wereable to hear it.34 But without a parable He did notspeak to them. And when they werealone, He explained all things to Hisdisciples.35On the same day, when evening hadcome, He said to them, "Let us crossover to the other side."

MARK 4 2436Now when they had le themul tude, they took Him along in theboat as He was. And other li le boatswere also with Him.37And a great windstorm arose, andthe waves beat into the boat, so that itwas already filling.38 But He was in the stern, asleep on apillow. And they awoke Him and said toHim, "Teacher, do You not care that weare perishing?"39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind,and said to the sea, "Peace, be s ll!" Andthe wind ceased and there was a greatcalm.40 But He said to them, "Why are youso fearful? How is it that you have nofaith?"41And they feared exceedingly, and saidto one another, "Who can this be, thateven the wind and the sea obey Him!"

MARK 5 25

5 1 Then they came to the other sideof the sea, to the country of the

Gadarenes.2And when He had come out of theboat, immediately there met Him out ofthe tombs a man with an unclean spirit,3who had his dwelling among thetombs; and no one could bind him, noteven with chains,4 because he had o en been boundwith shackles and chains. And the chainshad been pulled apart by him, and theshackles broken in pieces; neither couldanyone tame him.5And always, night and day, he was inthe mountains and in the tombs, cryingout and cu ng himself with stones.6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ranand worshiped Him.7And he cried out with a loud voice andsaid, "What have I to do with You, Jesus,

MARK 5 26Son of the Most High God? I implore Youby God that You do not torment me."8 For He said to him, "Come out of theman, unclean spirit!"9 Then He asked him, "What is yourname?" And he answered, saying, "Myname is Legion; for we are many."10Also he begged Him earnestly that Hewould not send them out of the country.11Now a large herd of swine wasfeeding there near the mountains.12 So all the demons begged Him,saying, "Send us to the swine, that wemay enter them."13And at once Jesus gave thempermission. Then the unclean spiritswent out and entered the swine (therewere about two thousand); and the herdran violently down the steep place intothe sea, and drowned in the sea.14 So those who fed the swine fled, andthey told it in the city and in the country.

MARK 5 27And they went out to see what it wasthat had happened.15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw theone who had been demon–possessedand had the legion, si ng and clothedand in his right mind. And they wereafraid.16And those who saw it told themhow it happened to him who had beendemon–possessed, and about the swine.17 Then they began to plead with Himto depart from their region.18And when He got into the boat,he who had been demon–possessedbegged Him that he might be with Him.19However, Jesus did not permit him,but said to him, "Go home to yourfriends, and tell them what great thingsthe Lord has done for you, and how Hehas had compassion on you."

MARK 5 2820And he departed and began toproclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus haddone for him; and all marveled.21Now when Jesus had crossed overagain by boat to the other side, a greatmul tude gathered to Him; and He wasby the sea.22And behold, one of the rulers of thesynagogue came, Jairus by name. Andwhen he saw Him, he fell at His feet23 and begged Him earnestly, saying,"My li le daughter lies at the point ofdeath. Come and lay Your hands on her,that she may be healed, and she willlive."24 So Jesus went with him, and a greatmul tude followed Him and throngedHim.25Now a certain woman had a flow ofblood for twelve years,26 and had suffered many things frommany physicians. She had spent all that

MARK 5 29she had and was no be er, but rathergrew worse.27When she heard about Jesus, shecame behind Him in the crowd andtouched His garment.28 For she said, "If only I may touch Hisclothes, I shall be made well."29 Immediately the fountain of herblood was dried up, and she felt inher body that she was healed of theafflic on.30And Jesus, immediately knowing inHimself that power had gone out of Him,turned around in the crowd and said,"Who touched My clothes?"31 But His disciples said to Him, "Yousee the mul tude thronging You, andYou say, ‘Who touched Me?’"32And He looked around to see herwho had done this thing.33 But the woman, fearing andtrembling, knowing what had happened

MARK 5 30to her, came and fell down before Himand told Him the whole truth.34And He said to her, "Daughter, yourfaith has made you well. Go in peace,and be healed of your afflic on."35While He was s ll speaking, somecame from the ruler of the synagogue’shouse who said, "Your daughter is dead.Why trouble the Teacher any further?"36As soon as Jesus heard the wordthat was spoken, He said to the ruler ofthe synagogue, "Do not be afraid; onlybelieve."37And He permi ed no one to followHim except Peter, James, and John thebrother of James.38 Then He came to the house of theruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumultand those who wept and wailed loudly.39When He came in, He said to them,"Why make this commo on and weep?The child is not dead, but sleeping."

MARK 5–6 3140And they ridiculed Him. But when Hehad put them all outside, He took thefather and the mother of the child, andthose who were with Him, and enteredwhere the child was lying.41 Then He took the child by the hand,and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which istranslated, "Li le girl, I say to you, arise."42 Immediately the girl arose andwalked, for she was twelve years of age.And they were overcome with greatamazement.43 But He commanded them strictlythat no one should know it, and said thatsomething should be given her to eat.

6 1 Then He went out from there andcame to His own country, and His

disciples followed Him.2And when the Sabbath had come, Hebegan to teach in the synagogue. Andmany hearing Him were astonished,saying, "Where did this Man get these

MARK 6 32things? And what wisdom is this whichis given to Him, that such mighty worksare performed by His hands!3 "Is this not the carpenter, the Sonof Mary, and brother of James, Joses,Judas, and Simon? And are not His sistershere with us?" And they were offendedat Him.4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophetis not without honor except in his owncountry, among his own rela ves, and inhis own house."5Now He could do no mighty workthere, except that He laid His hands on afew sick people and healed them.6And He marveled because of theirunbelief. Then He went about thevillages in a circuit, teaching.7And He called the twelve to Himself,and began to send them out two bytwo, and gave them power over uncleanspirits.

MARK 6 338He commanded them to take nothingfor the journey except a staff––no bag,no bread, no copper in their moneybelts––9 but to wear sandals, and not to put ontwo tunics.10Also He said to them, "In whateverplace you enter a house, stay there llyou depart from that place.11 "And whoever will not receive younor hear you, when you depart fromthere, shake off the dust under your feetas a tes mony against them. Assuredly,I say to you, it will be more tolerablefor Sodom and Gomorrah in the day ofjudgment than for that city!"12 So they went out and preached thatpeople should repent.13And they cast out many demons, andanointed with oil many who were sick,and healed them.

MARK 6 3414Now King Herod heard of Him, for Hisname had become well known. And hesaid, "John the Bap st is risen from thedead, and therefore these powers are atwork in him."15Others said, "It is Elijah." And otherssaid, "It is the Prophet, or like one of theprophets."16 But when Herod heard, he said, "Thisis John, whom I beheaded; he has beenraised from the dead!"17 For Herod himself had sent and laidhold of John, and bound him in prisonfor the sake of Herodias, his brotherPhilip’s wife; for he had married her.18 For John had said to Herod, "It is notlawful for you to have your brother’swife."19 Therefore Herodias held it againsthim and wanted to kill him, but shecould not;

MARK 6 3520 for Herod feared John, knowingthat he was a just and holy man, andhe protected him. And when he heardhim, he did many things, and heard himgladly.21 Then an opportune day came whenHerod on his birthday gave a feast for hisnobles, the high officers, and the chiefmen of Galilee.22And when Herodias’ daughter herselfcame in and danced, and pleased Herodand those who sat with him, the kingsaid to the girl, "Ask me whatever youwant, and I will give it to you."23He also swore to her, "Whatever youask me, I will give you, up to half of mykingdom."24 So she went out and said to hermother, "What shall I ask?" And she said,"The head of John the Bap st!"25 Immediately she came in with hasteto the king and asked, saying, "I want

MARK 6 36you to give me at once the head of Johnthe Bap st on a pla er."26And the king was exceedingly sorry;yet, because of the oaths and because ofthose who sat with him, he did not wantto refuse her.27 Immediately the king sent anexecu oner and commanded his head tobe brought. And he went and beheadedhim in prison,28 brought his head on a pla er, andgave it to the girl; and the girl gave it toher mother.29When his disciples heard of it, theycame and took away his corpse and laidit in a tomb.30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesusand told Him all things, both what theyhad done and what they had taught.31And He said to them, "Come aside byyourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile." For there were many coming and

MARK 6 37going, and they did not even have meto eat.32 So they departed to a deserted placein the boat by themselves.33 But the mul tudes saw themdepar ng, and many knew Him and ranthere on foot from all the ci es. Theyarrived before them and came togetherto Him.34And Jesus, when He came out, sawa great mul tude and was moved withcompassion for them, because theywere like sheep not having a shepherd.So He began to teach them many things.35When the day was now far spent, Hisdisciples came to Him and said, "This is adeserted place, and already the hour islate.36 "Send them away, that they may gointo the surrounding country and villagesand buy themselves bread; for they havenothing to eat."

MARK 6 3837 But He answered and said to them,"You give them something to eat." Andthey said to Him, "Shall we go and buytwo hundred denarii worth of bread andgive them something to eat?"38 But He said to them, "How manyloaves do you have? Go and see." Andwhen they found out they said, "Five,and two fish."39 Then He commanded them to makethem all sit down in groups on the greengrass.40 So they sat down in ranks, inhundreds and in fi ies.41And when He had taken the fiveloaves and the two fish, He looked up toheaven, blessed and broke the loaves,and gave them to His disciples to setbefore them; and the two fish He dividedamong them all.42 So they all ate and were filled.

MARK 6 3943And they took up twelve baskets fullof fragments and of the fish.44Now those who had eaten the loaveswere about five thousand men.45 Immediately He made His disciplesget into the boat and go before Him tothe other side, to Bethsaida, while Hesent the mul tude away.46And when He had sent them away,He departed to the mountain to pray.47Now when evening came, the boatwas in the middle of the sea; and He wasalone on the land.48 Then He saw them straining atrowing, for the wind was against them.Now about the fourth watch of the nightHe came to them, walking on the sea,and would have passed them by.49And when they saw Him walking onthe sea, they supposed it was a ghost,and cried out;

MARK 6 4050 for they all saw Him and weretroubled. But immediately He talkedwith them and said to them, "Be of goodcheer! It is I; do not be afraid."51 Then He went up into the boat tothem, and the wind ceased. And theywere greatly amazed in themselvesbeyond measure, and marveled.52 For they had not understood aboutthe loaves, because their heart washardened.53When they had crossed over, theycame to the land of Gennesaret andanchored there.54And when they came out of the boat,immediately the people recognized Him,55 ran through that whole surroundingregion, and began to carry about onbeds those who were sick to whereverthey heard He was.56Wherever He entered into villages,ci es, or in the country, they laid the

MARK 7 41sick in the marketplaces, and beggedHim that they might just touch the hemof His garment. And as many as touchedHim were made well.

7 1 Then the Pharisees and some ofthe scribes came together to Him,

having come from Jerusalem.2Now when they saw some of Hisdisciples eat bread with defiled, that is,with unwashed hands, they found fault.3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews donot eat unless they wash their hands in aspecial way, holding the tradi on of theelders.4When they come from themarketplace, they do not eat unless theywash. And there are many other thingswhich they have received and hold, likethe washing of cups, pitchers, coppervessels, and couches.5 Then the Pharisees and scribes askedHim, "Why do Your disciples not walk

MARK 7 42according to the tradi on of the elders,but eat bread with unwashed hands?"6He answered and said to them, "Welldid Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites,as it is wri en: ‘This people honors Mewith their lips, But their heart is far fromMe.7And in vain they worship Me, Teachingas doctrines the commandments ofmen.’8 "For laying aside the commandmentof God, you hold the tradi on ofmen––the washing of pitchers and cups,and many other such things you do."9He said to them, "All too well youreject the commandment of God, thatyou may keep your tradi on.10 "For Moses said, ‘Honor your fatherand your mother’; and, ‘He who cursesfather or mother, let him be put todeath.’

MARK 7 4311 "But you say, ‘If a man says to hisfather or mother, "Whatever profit youmight have received from me is Corban"––’(that is, a gi to God),12 "then you no longer let him doanything for his father or his mother,13 "making the word of God of no effectthrough your tradi on which you havehanded down. And many such thingsyou do."14When He had called all the mul tudeto Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me,everyone, and understand:15 "There is nothing that enters a manfrom outside which can defile him; butthe things which come out of him, thoseare the things that defile a man.16 "If anyone has ears to hear, let himhear!"17When He had entered a house awayfrom the crowd, His disciples asked Himconcerning the parable.

MARK 7 4418 So He said to them, "Are you thuswithout understanding also? Do you notperceive that whatever enters a manfrom outside cannot defile him,19 "because it does not enter his heartbut his stomach, and is eliminated, thuspurifying all foods?"20And He said, "What comes out of aman, that defiles a man.21 "For from within, out of the heart ofmen, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,fornica ons, murders,22 "the s, covetousness, wickedness,deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy,pride, foolishness.23 "All these evil things come fromwithin and defile a man."24 From there He arose and went tothe region of Tyre and Sidon. And Heentered a house and wanted no one toknow it, but He could not be hidden.

MARK 7 4525 For a woman whose young daughterhad an unclean spirit heard about Him,and she came and fell at His feet.26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro–Phoenician by birth, and she kept askingHim to cast the demon out of herdaughter.27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the childrenbe filled first, for it is not good to takethe children’s bread and throw it to theli le dogs."28And she answered and said to Him,"Yes, Lord, yet even the li le dogsunder the table eat from the children’scrumbs."29 Then He said to her, "For this sayinggo your way; the demon has gone out ofyour daughter."30And when she had come to herhouse, she found the demon gone out,and her daughter lying on the bed.

MARK 7 4631Again, depar ng from the region ofTyre and Sidon, He came through themidst of the region of Decapolis to theSea of Galilee.32 Then they brought to Him one whowas deaf and had an impediment in hisspeech, and they begged Him to put Hishand on him.33And He took him aside from themul tude, and put His fingers in his ears,and He spat and touched his tongue.34 Then, looking up to heaven, Hesighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha,"that is, "Be opened."35 Immediately his ears were opened,and the impediment of his tongue wasloosed, and he spoke plainly.36 Then He commanded them that theyshould tell no one; but the more Hecommanded them, the more widely theyproclaimed it.

MARK 7–8 4737And they were astonished beyondmeasure, saying, "He has done all thingswell. He makes both the deaf to hearand the mute to speak."

8 1 In those days, the mul tude beingvery great and having nothing to eat,

Jesus called His disciples to Him and saidto them,2 "I have compassion on the mul tude,because they have now con nued withMe three days and have nothing to eat.3 "And if I send them away hungry totheir own houses, they will faint on theway; for some of them have come fromafar."4 Then His disciples answered Him,"How can one sa sfy these people withbread here in the wilderness?"5He asked them, "How many loaves doyou have?" And they said, "Seven."6 So He commanded the mul tude tosit down on the ground. And He took

MARK 8 48the seven loaves and gave thanks, brokethem and gave them to His disciplesto set before them; and they set thembefore the mul tude.7 They also had a few small fish; andhaving blessed them, He said to set themalso before them.8 So they ate and were filled, and theytook up seven large baskets of le overfragments.9Now those who had eaten were aboutfour thousand. And He sent them away,10 immediately got into the boat withHis disciples, and came to the region ofDalmanutha.11 Then the Pharisees came out andbegan to dispute with Him, seeking fromHim a sign from heaven, tes ng Him.12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit,and said, "Why does this genera onseek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, nosign shall be given to this genera on."

MARK 8 4913And He le them, and ge ng intothe boat again, departed to the otherside.14Now the disciples had forgo en totake bread, and they did not have morethan one loaf with them in the boat.15 Then He charged them, saying,"Take heed, beware of the leaven of thePharisees and the leaven of Herod."16And they reasoned amongthemselves, saying, "It is because wehave no bread."17 But Jesus, being aware of it, saidto them, "Why do you reason becauseyou have no bread? Do you not yetperceive nor understand? Is your hearts ll hardened?18 "Having eyes, do you not see? Andhaving ears, do you not hear? And doyou not remember?19 "When I broke the five loaves for thefive thousand, how many baskets full of

MARK 8 50fragments did you take up?" They said toHim, "Twelve."20 "Also, when I broke the seven for thefour thousand, how many large basketsfull of fragments did you take up?" Andthey said, "Seven."21 So He said to them, "How is it you donot understand?"22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and theybrought a blind man to Him, and beggedHim to touch him.23 So He took the blind man by thehand and led him out of the town. Andwhen He had spit on his eyes and put Hishands on him, He asked him if he sawanything.24And he looked up and said, "I seemen like trees, walking."25 Then He put His hands on his eyesagain and made him look up. And he wasrestored and saw everyone clearly.

MARK 8 5126 Then He sent him away to his house,saying, "Neither go into the town, nortell anyone in the town."27Now Jesus and His disciples went outto the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and onthe road He asked His disciples, saying tothem, "Who do men say that I am?"28 So they answered, "John the Bap st;but some say, Elijah; and others, one ofthe prophets."29He said to them, "But who do you saythat I am?" Peter answered and said toHim, "You are the Christ."30 Then He strictly warned them thatthey should tell no one about Him.31And He began to teach them that theSon of Man must suffer many things,and be rejected by the elders and chiefpriests and scribes, and be killed, anda er three days rise again.

MARK 8 5232He spoke this word openly. And Petertook Him aside and began to rebukeHim.33 But when He had turned around andlooked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter,saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For youare not mindful of the things of God, butthe things of men."34When He had called the people toHimself, with His disciples also, He saidto them, "Whoever desires to come a erMe, let him deny himself, and take uphis cross, and follow Me.35 "For whoever desires to save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life forMy sake and the gospel’s will save it.36 "For what will it profit a man if hegains the whole world, and loses his ownsoul?37 "Or what will a man give in exchangefor his soul?

MARK 8–9 5338 "For whoever is ashamed of Me andMy words in this adulterous and sinfulgenera on, of him the Son of Man alsowill be ashamed when He comes in theglory of His Father with the holy angels."

9 1And He said to them, "Assuredly,I say to you that there are some

standing here who will not taste deathll they see the kingdom of God present

with power."2Now a er six days Jesus took Peter,James, and John, and led them up on ahigh mountain apart by themselves; andHe was transfigured before them.3His clothes became shining,exceedingly white, like snow, such as nolaunderer on earth can whiten them.4And Elijah appeared to them withMoses, and they were talking with Jesus.5 Then Peter answered and said toJesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to behere; and let us make three tabernacles:

MARK 9 54one for You, one for Moses, and one forElijah" ––6 because he did not know what to say,for they were greatly afraid.7And a cloud came and overshadowedthem; and a voice came out of the cloud,saying, "This is My beloved Son. HearHim!"8 Suddenly, when they had lookedaround, they saw no one anymore, butonly Jesus with themselves.9Now as they came down from themountain, He commanded them thatthey should tell no one the things theyhad seen, ll the Son of Man had risenfrom the dead.10 So they kept this word to themselves,ques oning what the rising from thedead meant.11And they asked Him, saying, "Whydo the scribes say that Elijah must comefirst?"

MARK 9 5512 Then He answered and told them,"Indeed, Elijah is coming first andrestores all things. And how is it wri enconcerning the Son of Man, that Hemust suffer many things and be treatedwith contempt?13 "But I say to you that Elijah has alsocome, and they did to him whateverthey wished, as it is wri en of him."14And when He came to the disciples,He saw a great mul tude around them,and scribes dispu ng with them.15 Immediately, when they saw Him, allthe people were greatly amazed, andrunning to Him, greeted Him.16And He asked the scribes, "What areyou discussing with them?"17 Then one of the crowd answered andsaid, "Teacher, I brought You my son,who has a mute spirit.18 "And wherever it seizes him, itthrows him down; he foams at the

MARK 9 56mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomesrigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, thatthey should cast it out, but they couldnot."19He answered him and said, "Ofaithless genera on, how long shall I bewith you? How long shall I bear withyou? Bring him to Me."20 Then they brought him to Him. Andwhen he saw Him, immediately the spiritconvulsed him, and he fell on the groundand wallowed, foaming at the mouth.21 So He asked his father, "How long hasthis been happening to him?" And hesaid, "From childhood.22 "And o en he has thrown him bothinto the fire and into the water todestroy 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 whobelieves."

MARK 9 5724 Immediately the father of the childcried out and said with tears, "Lord, Ibelieve; help my unbelief!"25When Jesus saw that the peoplecame running together, He rebuked theunclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf anddumb spirit, I command you, come outof him and enter him no more!"26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsedhim greatly, and came out of him. Andhe became as one dead, so that manysaid, "He is dead."27 But Jesus took him by the hand andli ed him up, and he arose.28And when He had come into thehouse, His disciples asked Him privately,"Why could we not cast it out?"29 So He said to them, "This kind cancome out by nothing but prayer andfas ng."

MARK 9 5830 Then they departed from there andpassed through Galilee, and He did notwant anyone to know it.31 For He taught His disciples and said tothem, "The Son of Man is being betrayedinto the hands of men, and they will killHim. And a er He is killed, He will risethe third day."32 But they did not understand thissaying, and were afraid to ask Him.33 Then He came to Capernaum. Andwhen He was in the house He askedthem, "What was it you disputed amongyourselves on the road?"34 But they kept silent, for on the roadthey had disputed among themselveswho would be the greatest.35And He sat down, called the twelve,and said to them, "If anyone desires tobe first, he shall be last of all and servantof all."

MARK 9 5936 Then He took a li le child and set himin the midst of them. And when He hadtaken him in His arms, He said to them,37 "Whoever receives one of these li lechildren in My name receives Me; andwhoever receives Me, receives not Mebut Him who sent Me."38Now John answered Him, saying,"Teacher, we saw someone who doesnot follow us cas ng out demons in Yourname, and we forbade him because hedoes not follow us."39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him,for no one who works a miracle in Myname can soon a erward speak evil ofMe.40 "For he who is not against us is onour side.41 "For whoever gives you a cup ofwater to drink in My name, because youbelong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you,he will by no means lose his reward.

MARK 9 6042 "But whoever causes one of theseli le ones who believe in Me to stumble,it would be be er for him if a millstonewere hung around his neck, and he werethrown into the sea.43 "If your hand causes you to sin, cut itoff. It is be er for you to enter into lifemaimed, rather than having two hands,to go to hell, into the fire that shall neverbe quenched––44 "where ‘Their worm does not die,And the fire is not quenched.’45 "And if your foot causes you to sin,cut it off. It is be er for you to enter lifelame, rather than having two feet, tobe cast into hell, into the fire that shallnever be quenched––46 "where ‘Their worm does not die,And the fire is not quenched.’47 "And if your eye causes you to sin,pluck it out. It is be er for you to enterthe kingdom of God with one eye, rather

MARK 9–10 61than having two eyes, to be cast into hellfire––48 "where ‘Their worm does not die,And the fire is not quenched.’49 "For everyone will be seasoned withfire, and every sacrifice will be seasonedwith salt.50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses itsflavor, how will you season it? Have saltin yourselves, and have peace with oneanother."

10 1 Then He arose from there andcame to the region of Judea

by the other side of the Jordan. Andmul tudes gathered to Him again, andas He was accustomed, He taught themagain.2 The Pharisees came and asked Him,"Is it lawful for a man to divorce hiswife?" tes ng Him.3And He answered and said to them,"What did Moses command you?"

MARK 10 624 They said, "Moses permi ed a manto write a cer ficate of divorce, and todismiss her."5And Jesus answered and said to them,"Because of the hardness of your hearthe wrote you this precept.6 "But from the beginning of thecrea on, God ‘made them male andfemale.’7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave hisfather and mother and be joined to hiswife,8 ‘and the two shall become one flesh’;so then they are no longer two, but oneflesh.9 "Therefore what God has joinedtogether, let not man separate."10 In the house His disciples also askedHim again about the same ma er.11 So He said to them, "Whoeverdivorces his wife and marries anothercommits adultery against her.

MARK 10 6312 "And if a woman divorces herhusband and marries another, shecommits adultery."13 Then they brought li le children toHim, that He might touch them; but thedisciples rebuked those who broughtthem.14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatlydispleased and said to them, "Let theli le children come to Me, and do notforbid them; for of such is the kingdomof God.15 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoeverdoes not receive the kingdom of God asa li le child will by no means enter it."16And He took them up in His arms, putHis hands on them, and blessed them.17Now as He was going out on theroad, one came running, knelt beforeHim, and asked Him, "Good Teacher,what shall I do that I may inherit eternallife?"

MARK 10 6418 So Jesus said to him, "Why do youcall Me good? No one is good but One,that is, God.19 "You know the commandments: ‘Donot commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father andyour mother.’"20And he answered and said to Him,"Teacher, all these things I have keptfrom my youth."21 Then Jesus, looking at him, lovedhim, and said to him, "One thing youlack: Go your way, sell whatever youhave and give to the poor, and you willhave treasure in heaven; and come, takeup the cross, and follow Me."22 But he was sad at this word, andwent away sorrowful, for he had greatpossessions.23 Then Jesus looked around and saidto His disciples, "How hard it is for those

MARK 10 65who have riches to enter the kingdom ofGod!"24And the disciples were astonished atHis words. But Jesus answered again andsaid to them, "Children, how hard it isfor those who trust in riches to enter thekingdom of God!25 "It is easier for a camel to go throughthe eye of a needle than for a rich manto enter the kingdom of God."26And they were greatly astonished,saying among themselves, "Who thencan be saved?"27 But Jesus looked at them and said,"With men it is impossible, but notwith God; for with God all things arepossible."28 Then Peter began to say to Him, "See,we have le all and followed You."29 So Jesus answered and said,"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no onewho has le house or brothers or sisters

MARK 10 66or father or mother or wife or childrenor lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,30 "who shall not receive a hundredfoldnow in this me––houses and brothersand sisters and mothers and childrenand lands, with persecu ons––and inthe age to come, eternal life.31 "But many who are first will be last,and the last first."32Now they were on the road, goingup to Jerusalem, and Jesus was goingbefore them; and they were amazed.And as they followed they were afraid.Then He took the twelve aside again andbegan to tell them the things that wouldhappen to Him:33 "Behold, we are going up toJerusalem, and the Son of Man will bebetrayed to the chief priests and to thescribes; and they will condemn Him todeath and deliver Him to the Gen les;

MARK 10 6734 "and they will mock Him, and scourgeHim, and spit on Him, and kill Him. Andthe third day He will rise again."35 Then James and John, the sons ofZebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher,we want You to do for us whatever weask."36And He said to them, "What do youwant Me to do for you?"37 They said to Him, "Grant us that wemay sit, one on Your right hand and theother on Your le , in Your glory."38 But Jesus said to them, "You do notknowwhat you ask. Are you able to drinkthe cup that I drink, and be bap zed withthe bap sm that I am bap zed with?"39 They said to Him, "We are able." SoJesus said to them, "You will indeeddrink the cup that I drink, and with thebap sm I am bap zed with you will bebap zed;

MARK 10 6840 "but to sit on My right hand and onMy le is not Mine to give, but it is forthose for whom it is prepared."41And when the ten heard it, theybegan to be greatly displeased withJames and John.42 But Jesus called them to Himself andsaid to them, "You know that those whoare considered rulers over the Gen leslord it over them, and their great onesexercise authority over them.43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; butwhoever desires to become great amongyou shall be your servant.44 "And whoever of you desires to befirst shall be slave of all.45 "For even the Son of Man did notcome to be served, but to serve, and togive His life a ransom for many."46Now they came to Jericho. As Hewent out of Jericho with His disciplesand a great mul tude, blind Bar maeus,

MARK 10 69the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadbegging.47And when he heard that it was Jesusof Nazareth, he began to cry out andsay, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy onme!"48 Then many warned him to be quiet;but he cried out all the more, "Son ofDavid, have mercy on me!"49 So Jesus stood s ll and commandedhim to be called. Then they called theblind man, saying to him, "Be of goodcheer. Rise, He is calling you."50And throwing aside his garment, herose and came to Jesus.51 So Jesus answered and said to him,"What do you want Me to do for you?"The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni,that I may receive my sight."52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go yourway; your faith has made you well." And

MARK 11 70immediately he received his sight andfollowed Jesus on the road.

11 1Now when they drew nearJerusalem, to Bethphage and

Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He senttwo of His disciples;2 and He said to them, "Go into thevillage opposite you; and as soon as youhave entered it you will find a colt ed,on which no one has sat. Loose it andbring it.3 "And if anyone says to you, ‘Why areyou doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has needof it,’ and immediately he will send ithere."4 So they went their way, and foundthe colt ed by the door outside on thestreet, and they loosed it.5 But some of those who stood theresaid to them, "What are you doing,loosing the colt?"

MARK 11 716And they spoke to them just as Jesushad commanded. So they let them go.7 Then they brought the colt to Jesusand threw their clothes on it, and He saton it.8And many spread their clothes onthe road, and others cut down leafybranches from the trees and spreadthem on the road.9 Then those who went before andthose who followed cried out, saying:"Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes inthe name of the LORD!’10 Blessed is the kingdom of our fatherDavid That comes in the name of theLord! Hosanna in the highest!"11And Jesus went into Jerusalem andinto the temple. So when He had lookedaround at all things, as the hour wasalready late, He went out to Bethanywith the twelve.

MARK 11 7212Now the next day, when they hadcome out from Bethany, He was hungry.13And seeing from afar a fig tree havingleaves, He went to see if perhaps Hewould find something on it. When Hecame to it, He found nothing but leaves,for it was not the season for figs.14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let noone eat fruit from you ever again." AndHis disciples heard it.15 So they came to Jerusalem. ThenJesus went into the temple and began todrive out those who bought and sold inthe temple, and overturned the tablesof the money changers and the seats ofthose who sold doves.16And He would not allow anyone tocarry wares through the temple.17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is itnot wri en, ‘My house shall be called ahouse of prayer for all na ons’? But youhave made it a ‘den of thieves.’"

MARK 11 7318And the scribes and chief priestsheard it and sought how they mightdestroy Him; for they feared Him,because all the people were astonishedat His teaching.19When evening had come, He wentout of the city.20Now in the morning, as they passedby, they saw the fig tree dried up fromthe roots.21And Peter, remembering, said toHim, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which Youcursed has withered away."22 So Jesus answered and said to them,"Have faith in God.23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoeversays to this mountain, ‘Be removed andbe cast into the sea,’ and does not doubtin his heart, but believes that thosethings he says will be done, he will havewhatever he says.

MARK 11 7424 "Therefore I say to you, whateverthings you ask when you pray, believethat you receive them, and you will havethem.25 "And whenever you stand praying,if you have anything against anyone,forgive him, that your Father in heavenmay also forgive you your trespasses.26 "But if you do not forgive, neitherwill your Father in heaven forgive yourtrespasses."27 Then they came again to Jerusalem.And as He was walking in the temple,the chief priests, the scribes, and theelders came to Him.28And they said to Him, "By whatauthority are You doing these things?And who gave You this authority to dothese things?"29 But Jesus answered and said to them,"I also will ask you one ques on; then

MARK 11–12 75answer Me, and I will tell you by whatauthority I do these things:30 "The bap sm of John––was it fromheaven or from men? Answer Me."31And they reasoned amongthemselves, saying, "If we say, ‘Fromheaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did younot believe him?’32 "But if we say, ‘From men’" ––theyfeared the people, for all counted Johnto have been a prophet indeed.33 So they answered and said to Jesus,"We do not know." And Jesus answeredand said to them, "Neither will I tell youby what authority I do these things."

12 1 Then He began to speak to themin parables: "A man planted a

vineyard and set a hedge around it,dug a place for the wine vat and built atower. And he leased it to vinedressersand went into a far country.

MARK 12 762 "Now at vintage– me he sent aservant to the vinedressers, that hemight receive some of the fruit of thevineyard from the vinedressers.3 "And they took him and beat him andsent him away empty–handed.4 "Again he sent them another servant,and at him they threw stones, woundedhim in the head, and sent him awayshamefully treated.5 "And again he sent another, and himthey killed; and many others, bea ngsome and killing some.6 "Therefore s ll having one son, hisbeloved, he also sent him to them last,saying, ‘They will respect my son.’7 "But those vinedressers said amongthemselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, letus kill him, and the inheritance will beours.’8 "So they took him and killed him andcast him out of the vineyard.

MARK 12 779 "Therefore what will the owner of thevineyard do? He will come and destroythe vinedressers, and give the vineyardto others.10 "Have you not even read thisScripture: ‘The stone which thebuilders rejected Has become the chiefcornerstone.11 This was the LORD’S doing, And it ismarvelous in our eyes’?"12And they sought to lay hands on Him,but feared the mul tude, for they knewHe had spoken the parable against them.So they le Him and went away.13 Then they sent to Him some of thePharisees and the Herodians, to catchHim in His words.14When they had come, they said toHim, "Teacher, we know that You aretrue, and care about no one; for You donot regard the person of men, but teach

MARK 12 78the way of God in truth. Is it lawful topay taxes to Caesar, or not?15 "Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?"But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said tothem, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me adenarius that I may see it."16 So they brought it. And He said tothem, "Whose image and inscrip on isthis?" They said to Him, "Caesar’s."17And Jesus answered and said tothem, "Render to Caesar the things thatare Caesar’s, and to God the things thatare God’s." And they marveled at Him.18 Then some Sadducees, who say thereis no resurrec on, came to Him; andthey asked Him, saying:19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us thatif a man’s brother dies, and leaves hiswife behind, and leaves no children, hisbrother should take his wife and raise upoffspring for his brother.

MARK 12 7920 "Now there were seven brothers.The first took a wife; and dying, he leno offspring.21 "And the second took her, and hedied; nor did he leave any offspring. Andthe third likewise.22 "So the seven had her and le nooffspring. Last of all the woman diedalso.23 "Therefore, in the resurrec on, whenthey rise, whose wife will she be? For allseven had her as wife."24 Jesus answered and said to them,"Are you not therefore mistaken,because you do not know the Scripturesnor the power of God?25 "For when they rise from the dead,they neither marry nor are given inmarriage, but are like angels in heaven.26 "But concerning the dead, that theyrise, have you not read in the book ofMoses, in the burning bush passage,

MARK 12 80how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am theGod of Abraham, the God of Isaac, andthe God of Jacob’?27 "He is not the God of the dead, butthe God of the living. You are thereforegreatly mistaken."28 Then one of the scribes came, andhaving heard them reasoning together,perceiving that He had answered themwell, asked Him, "Which is the firstcommandment of all?"29 Jesus answered him, "The first of allthe commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel,the LORD our God, the LORD is one.30 ‘And you shall love the LORD yourGod with all your heart, with all yoursoul, with all your mind, and with all yourstrength.’ This is the first commandment.31 "And the second, like it, is this: ‘Youshall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greaterthan these."

MARK 12 8132 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said,Teacher. You have spoken the truth, forthere is one God, and there is no otherbut He.33 "And to love Him with all the heart,with all the understanding, with all thesoul, and with all the strength, and tolove one’s neighbor as oneself, is morethan all the whole burnt offerings andsacrifices."34Now when Jesus saw that heanswered wisely, He said to him, "Youare not far from the kingdom of God."But a er that no one dared ques onHim.35 Then Jesus answered and said, whileHe taught in the temple, "How is it thatthe scribes say that the Christ is the Sonof David?36 "For David himself said by the HolySpirit: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at

MARK 12 82My right hand, Till I make Your enemiesYour footstool."’37 "Therefore David himself calls Him‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?" And thecommon people heard Him gladly.38 Then He said to them in His teaching,"Beware of the scribes, who desire to goaround in long robes, love gree ngs inthe marketplaces,39 "the best seats in the synagogues,and the best places at feasts,40 "who devour widows’ houses, andfor a pretense make long prayers. Thesewill receive greater condemna on."41Now Jesus sat opposite the treasuryand saw how the people put money intothe treasury. And many who were richput in much.42 Then one poor widow came andthrew in two mites, which make aquadrans.

MARK 12–13 8343 So He called His disciples to Himselfand said to them, "Assuredly, I say to youthat this poor widow has put in morethan all those who have given to thetreasury;44 "for they all put in out of theirabundance, but she out of her povertyput in all that she had, her wholelivelihood."

13 1 Then as He went out of thetemple, one of His disciples said

to Him, "Teacher, see what manner ofstones and what buildings are here!"2And Jesus answered and said to him,"Do you see these great buildings? Notone stone shall be le upon another,that shall not be thrown down."3Now as He sat on the Mount of Olivesopposite the temple, Peter, James, John,and Andrew asked Him privately,

MARK 13 844 "Tell us, when will these things be?And what will be the sign when all thesethings will be fulfilled?"5And Jesus, answering them, began tosay: "Take heed that no one deceivesyou.6 "For many will come in My name,saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.7 "But when you hear of wars andrumors of wars, do not be troubled; forsuch things must happen, but the end isnot yet.8 "For na on will rise against na on,and kingdom against kingdom. And therewill be earthquakes in various places,and there will be famines and troubles.These are the beginnings of sorrows.9 "But watch out for yourselves, for theywill deliver you up to councils, and youwill be beaten in the synagogues. Youwill be brought before rulers and kingsfor My sake, for a tes mony to them.

MARK 13 8510 "And the gospel must first bepreached to all the na ons.11 "But when they arrest you and deliveryou up, do not worry beforehand, orpremeditate what you will speak. Butwhatever is given you in that hour, speakthat; for it is not you who speak, but theHoly Spirit.12 "Now brother will betray brotherto death, and a father his child; andchildren will rise up against parents andcause them to be put to death.13 "And you will be hated by all for Myname’s sake. But he who endures to theend shall be saved.14 "So when you see the ‘abomina onof desola on,’ spoken of by Daniel theprophet, standing where it ought not"(let the reader understand), "then letthose who are in Judea flee to themountains.

MARK 13 8615 "Let him who is on the housetop notgo down into the house, nor enter totake anything out of his house.16 "And let him who is in the field notgo back to get his clothes.17 "But woe to those who are pregnantand to those who are nursing babies inthose days!18 "And pray that your flight may not bein winter.19 "For in those days there will betribula on, such as has not been sincethe beginning of the crea on which Godcreated un l this me, nor ever shall be.20 "And unless the Lord had shortenedthose days, no flesh would be saved; butfor the elect’s sake, whom He chose, Heshortened the days.21 "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look,here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’do not believe it.

MARK 13 8722 "For false christs and false prophetswill rise and show signs and wonders todeceive, if possible, even the elect.23 "But take heed; see, I have told youall things beforehand.24 "But in those days, a er thattribula on, the sun will be darkened,and the moon will not give its light;25 "the stars of heaven will fall, and thepowers in the heavens will be shaken.26 "Then they will see the Son of Mancoming in the clouds with great powerand glory.27 "And then He will send His angels,and gather together His elect from thefour winds, from the farthest part ofearth to the farthest part of heaven.28 "Now learn this parable from thefig tree: When its branch has alreadybecome tender, and puts forth leaves,you know that summer is near.

MARK 13 8829 "So you also, when you see thesethings happening, know that it isnear––at the doors!30 "Assuredly, I say to you, thisgenera on will by no means pass awayll all these things take place.31 "Heaven and earth will pass away,but My words will by no means passaway.32 "But of that day and hour no oneknows, not even the angels in heaven,nor the Son, but only the Father.33 "Take heed, watch and pray; for youdo not know when the me is.34 "It is like a man going to a far country,who le his house and gave authority tohis servants, and to each his work, andcommanded the doorkeeper to watch.35 "Watch therefore, for you do notknow when the master of the house iscoming––in the evening, at midnight,

MARK 13–14 89at the crowing of the rooster, or in themorning––36 "lest, coming suddenly, he find yousleeping.37 "And what I say to you, I say to all:Watch!"

14 1A er two days it was thePassover and the Feast of

Unleavened Bread. And the chief priestsand the scribes sought how they mighttake Him by trickery and put Him todeath.2 But they said, "Not during the feast,lest there be an uproar of the people."3And being in Bethany at the house ofSimon the leper, as He sat at the table,a woman came having an alabaster flaskof very costly oil of spikenard. Then shebroke the flask and poured it on Hishead.

MARK 14 904 But there were some who wereindignant among themselves, and said,"Why was this fragrant oil wasted?5 "For it might have been sold for morethan three hundred denarii and givento the poor." And they cri cized hersharply.6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why doyou trouble her? She has done a goodwork for Me.7 "For you have the poor with youalways, and whenever you wish you maydo them good; but Me you do not havealways.8 "She has done what she could. Shehas come beforehand to anoint My bodyfor burial.9 "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever thisgospel is preached in the whole world,what this woman has done will also betold as a memorial to her."

MARK 14 9110 Then Judas Iscariot, one of thetwelve, went to the chief priests tobetray Him to them.11And when they heard it, they wereglad, and promised to give him money.So he sought how he might convenientlybetray Him.12Now on the first day of UnleavenedBread, when they killed the Passoverlamb, His disciples said to Him, "Wheredo You want us to go and prepare, thatYou may eat the Passover?"13And He sent out two of His disciplesand said to them, "Go into the city, and aman will meet you carrying a pitcher ofwater; follow him.14 "Wherever he goes in, say to themaster of the house, ‘The Teacher says,"Where is the guest room in which I mayeat the Passover with My disciples?"’

MARK 14 9215 "Then he will show you a large upperroom, furnished and prepared; theremake ready for us."16 So His disciples went out, and cameinto the city, and found it just as He hadsaid to them; and they prepared thePassover.17 In the evening He came with thetwelve.18Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said,"Assuredly, I say to you, one of you whoeats with Me will betray Me."19And they began to be sorrowful, andto say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" Andanother said, "Is it I?"20He answered and said to them, "It isone of the twelve, who dips with Me inthe dish.21 "The Son of Man indeed goes just asit is wri en of Him, but woe to that manby whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It

MARK 14 93would have been good for that man if hehad never been born."22And as they were ea ng, Jesus tookbread, blessed and broke it, and gave itto them and said, "Take, eat; this is Mybody."23 Then He took the cup, and when Hehad given thanks He gave it to them, andthey all drank from it.24And He said to them, "This is Myblood of the new covenant, which isshed for many.25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will nolonger drink of the fruit of the vineun l that day when I drink it new in thekingdom of God."26And when they had sung a hymn,they went out to the Mount of Olives.27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of youwill be made to stumble because of Methis night, for it is wri en: ‘I will strike

MARK 14 94the Shepherd, And the sheep will besca ered.’28 "But a er I have been raised, I will gobefore you to Galilee."29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all aremade to stumble, yet I will not be."30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say toyou that today, even this night, beforethe rooster crows twice, you will denyMe three mes."31 But he spoke more vehemently, "IfI have to die with You, I will not denyYou!" And they all said likewise.32 Then they came to a place which wasnamed Gethsemane; and He said to Hisdisciples, "Sit here while I pray."33And He took Peter, James, and Johnwith Him, and He began to be troubledand deeply distressed.34 Then He said to them, "My soul isexceedingly sorrowful, even to death.Stay here and watch."

MARK 14 9535He went a li le farther, and fell onthe ground, and prayed that if it werepossible, the hour might pass from Him.36And He said, "Abba, Father, all thingsare possible for You. Take this cup awayfrom Me; nevertheless, not what I will,but what You will."37 Then He came and found themsleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, areyou sleeping? Could you not watch onehour?38 "Watch and pray, lest you enter intotempta on. The spirit indeed is willing,but the flesh is weak."39Again He went away and prayed, andspoke the same words.40And when He returned, He foundthem asleep again, for their eyes wereheavy; and they did not know what toanswer Him.41 Then He came the third me andsaid to them, "Are you s ll sleeping

MARK 14 96and res ng? It is enough! The hour hascome; behold, the Son of Man is beingbetrayed into the hands of sinners.42 "Rise, let us be going. See, Mybetrayer is at hand."43And immediately, while He was s llspeaking, Judas, one of the twelve, witha great mul tude with swords and clubs,came from the chief priests and thescribes and the elders.44Now His betrayer had given them asignal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He isthe One; seize Him and lead Him awaysafely."45As soon as He had come, immediatelyhe went up to Him and said to Him,"Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.46 Then they laid their hands on Himand took Him.47And one of those who stood by drewhis sword and struck the servant of thehigh priest, and cut off his ear.

MARK 14 9748 Then Jesus answered and said tothem, "Have you come out, as againsta robber, with swords and clubs to takeMe?49 "I was daily with you in the templeteaching, and you did not seize Me. Butthe Scriptures must be fulfilled."50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.51Now a certain young man followedHim, having a linen cloth thrown aroundhis naked body. And the young men laidhold of him,52 and he le the linen cloth and fledfrom them naked.53And they led Jesus away to the highpriest; and with him were assembledall the chief priests, the elders, and thescribes.54 But Peter followed Him at a distance,right into the courtyard of the highpriest. And he sat with the servants andwarmed himself at the fire.

MARK 14 9855Now the chief priests and all thecouncil sought tes mony against Jesusto put Him to death, but found none.56 For many bore false witness againstHim, but their tes monies did not agree.57 Then some rose up and bore falsewitness against Him, saying,58 "We heard Him say, ‘I will destroythis temple made with hands, and withinthree days I will build another madewithout hands.’"59 But not even then did their tes monyagree.60And the high priest stood up in themidst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do Youanswer nothing? What is it these mentes fy against You?"61 But He kept silent and answerednothing. Again the high priest askedHim, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ,the Son of the Blessed?"

MARK 14 9962 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see theSon of Man si ng at the right hand ofthe Power, and coming with the cloudsof heaven."63 Then the high priest tore his clothesand said, "What further need do wehave of witnesses?64 "You have heard the blasphemy!What do you think?" And they allcondemned Him to be deserving ofdeath.65 Then some began to spit on Him,and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him,and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And theofficers struck Him with the palms oftheir hands.66Now as Peter was below in thecourtyard, one of the servant girls of thehigh priest came.67And when she saw Peter warminghimself, she looked at him and said, "Youalso were with Jesus of Nazareth."

MARK 14 10068 But he denied it, saying, "I neitherknow nor understand what you aresaying." And he went out on the porch,and a rooster crowed.69And the servant girl saw him again,and began to say to those who stood by,"This is one of them."70 But he denied it again. And a li lelater those who stood by said to Peteragain, "Surely you are one of them; foryou are a Galilean, and your speechshows it."71 Then he began to curse and swear,"I do not know this Man of whom youspeak!"72A second me the rooster crowed.Then Peter called to mind the wordthat Jesus had said to him, "Before therooster crows twice, you will deny Methree mes." And when he thoughtabout it, he wept.

MARK 15 101

15 1 Immediately, in themorning, thechief priests held a consulta on

with the elders and scribes and thewhole council; and they bound Jesus, ledHim away, and delivered Him to Pilate.2 Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You theKing of the Jews?" He answered and saidto him, "It is as you say."3And the chief priests accused Him ofmany things, but He answered nothing.4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying,"Do You answer nothing? See how manythings they tes fy against You!"5 But Jesus s ll answered nothing, sothat Pilate marveled.6Now at the feast he was accustomedto releasing one prisoner to them,whomever they requested.7And there was one named Barabbas,who was chained with his fellow rebels;they had commi ed murder in therebellion.

MARK 15 1028 Then the mul tude, crying aloud,began to ask him to do just as he hadalways done for them.9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Doyou want me to release to you the Kingof the Jews?"10 For he knew that the chief priestshad handed Him over because of envy.11 But the chief priests s rred up thecrowd, so that he should rather releaseBarabbas to them.12 Pilate answered and said to themagain, "What then do you want me to dowith Him whom you call the King of theJews?"13 So they cried out again, "CrucifyHim!"14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, whatevil has He done?" But they cried out allthe more, "Crucify Him!"15 So Pilate, wan ng to gra fy thecrowd, released Barabbas to them; and

MARK 15 103he delivered Jesus, a er he had scourgedHim, to be crucified.16 Then the soldiers led Him away intothe hall called Praetorium, and theycalled together the whole garrison.17And they clothed Him with purple;and they twisted a crown of thorns, putit on His head,18 and began to salute Him, "Hail, Kingof the Jews!"19 Then they struck Him on the headwith a reed and spat on Him; and bowingthe knee, they worshiped Him.20And when they had mocked Him,they took the purple off Him, put Hisown clothes on Him, and led Him out tocrucify Him.21 Then they compelled a certainman, Simon a Cyrenian, the father ofAlexander and Rufus, as he was comingout of the country and passing by, tobear His cross.

MARK 15 10422And they brought Him to the placeGolgotha, which is translated, Place of aSkull.23 Then they gave Him wine mingledwith myrrh to drink, but He did not takeit.24And when they crucified Him, theydivided His garments, cas ng lots forthem to determine what every manshould take.25Now it was the third hour, and theycrucified Him.26And the inscrip on of His accusa onwas wri en above: THE KING OF THEJEWS.27With Him they also crucified tworobbers, one on His right and the otheron His le .28 So the Scripture was fulfilled whichsays, "And He was numbered with thetransgressors."

MARK 15 10529And those who passed byblasphemed Him, wagging theirheads and saying, "Aha! You who destroythe temple and build it in three days,30 "save Yourself, and come down fromthe cross!"31 Likewise the chief priests also,mocking among themselves with thescribes, said, "He saved others; HimselfHe cannot save.32 "Let the Christ, the King of Israel,descend now from the cross, that wemay see and believe." Even those whowere crucified with Him reviled Him.33Now when the sixth hour had come,there was darkness over the whole landun l the ninth hour.34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried outwith a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lamasabachthani?" which is translated, "MyGod, My God, why have You forsakenMe?"

MARK 15 10635 Some of those who stood by, whenthey heard that, said, "Look, He is callingfor Elijah!"36 Then someone ran and filled asponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed,and offered it to Him to drink, saying,"Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah willcome to take Him down."37And Jesus cried out with a loud voice,and breathed His last.38 Then the veil of the temple was tornin two from top to bo om.39 So when the centurion, who stoodopposite Him, saw that He cried out likethis and breathed His last, he said, "Trulythis Man was the Son of God!"40 There were also women looking onfrom afar, among whom were MaryMagdalene, Mary the mother of Jamesthe Less and of Joses, and Salome,41who also followed Him andministered to Him when He was in

MARK 15 107Galilee, and many other women whocame up with Him to Jerusalem.42Now when evening had come,because it was the Prepara on Day, thatis, the day before the Sabbath,43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominentcouncil member, who was himselfwai ng for the kingdom of God, comingand taking courage, went in to Pilate andasked for the body of Jesus.44 Pilate marveled that He was alreadydead; and summoning the centurion, heasked him if He had been dead for someme.45 So when he found out from thecenturion, he granted the body toJoseph.46 Then he bought fine linen, took Himdown, and wrapped Him in the linen.And he laid Him in a tomb which hadbeen hewn out of the rock, and rolled astone against the door of the tomb.

MARK 15–16 10847And Mary Magdalene and Mary themother of Joses observed where He waslaid.

16 1Now when the Sabbath waspast, Mary Magdalene, Mary the

mother of James, and Salome boughtspices, that they might come and anointHim.2Very early in the morning, on the firstday of the week, they came to the tombwhen the sun had risen.3And they said among themselves,"Who will roll away the stone from thedoor of the tomb for us?"4 But when they looked up, theysaw that the stone had been rolledaway––for it was very large.5And entering the tomb, they saw ayoung man clothed in a long white robesi ng on the right side; and they werealarmed.

MARK 16 1096 But he said to them, "Do not bealarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth,who was crucified. He is risen! He is nothere. See the place where they laid Him.7 "But go, tell His disciples––andPeter––that He is going before you intoGalilee; there you will see Him, as Hesaid to you."8 So they went out quickly and fledfrom the tomb, for they trembled andwere amazed. And they said nothing toanyone, for they were afraid.9Now when He rose early on the firstday of the week, He appeared first toMary Magdalene, out of whom He hadcast seven demons.10 She went and told those who hadbeen with Him, as they mourned andwept.11And when they heard that He wasalive and had been seen by her, they didnot believe.

MARK 16 11012A er that, He appeared in anotherform to two of them as they walked andwent into the country.13And they went and told it to the rest,but they did not believe them either.14 Later He appeared to the eleven asthey sat at the table; and He rebukedtheir unbelief and hardness of heart,because they did not believe those whohad seen Him a er He had risen.15And He said to them, "Go into all theworld and preach the gospel to everycreature.16 "He who believes and is bap zed willbe saved; but he who does not believewill be condemned.17 "And these signs will follow thosewho believe: In My name they will castout demons; they will speak with newtongues;18 "they will take up serpents; and ifthey drink anything deadly, it will by no

MARK 16 111means hurt them; they will lay hands onthe sick, and they will recover."19 So then, a er the Lord had spoken tothem, He was received up into heaven,and sat down at the right hand of God.20And they went out and preachedeverywhere, the Lord working with themand confirming the word through theaccompanying signs. Amen.

Luke

1 1 Inasmuch as many have taken inhand to set in order a narra ve of

those things which have been fulfilledamong us,2 just as those who from the beginningwere eyewitnesses and ministers of theword delivered them to us,3 it seemed good to me also, having hadperfect understanding of all things fromthe very first, to write to you an orderlyaccount, most excellent Theophilus,4 that you may know the certaintyof those things in which you wereinstructed.5 There was in the days of Herod, theking of Judea, a certain priest namedZacharias, of the division of Abijah. His

LUKE 1 2wife was of the daughters of Aaron, andher name was Elizabeth.6And they were both righteous beforeGod, walking in all the commandmentsand ordinances of the Lord blameless.7 But they had no child, becauseElizabeth was barren, and they wereboth well advanced in years.8 So it was, that while he was servingas priest before God in the order of hisdivision,9 according to the custom of thepriesthood, his lot fell to burn incensewhen he went into the temple of theLord.10And the whole mul tude of thepeople was praying outside at the hourof incense.11 Then an angel of the Lord appearedto him, standing on the right side of thealtar of incense.

LUKE 1 312And when Zacharias saw him, he wastroubled, and fear fell upon him.13 But the angel said to him, "Do notbe afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer isheard; and your wife Elizabeth will bearyou a son, and you shall call his nameJohn.14 "And you will have joy and gladness,and many will rejoice at his birth.15 "For he will be great in the sightof the Lord, and shall drink neitherwine nor strong drink. He will also befilled with the Holy Spirit, even from hismother’s womb.16 "And he will turn many of thechildren of Israel to the Lord their God.17 "He will also go before Him in thespirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn thehearts of the fathers to the children,’ andthe disobedient to the wisdom of thejust, to make ready a people preparedfor the Lord."

LUKE 1 418And Zacharias said to the angel,"How shall I know this? For I am an oldman, and my wife is well advanced inyears."19And the angel answered and said tohim, "I am Gabriel, who stands in thepresence of God, and was sent to speakto you and bring you these glad dings.20 "But behold, you will be mute andnot able to speak un l the day thesethings take place, because you did notbelieve my words which will be fulfilledin their own me."21And the people waited for Zacharias,and marveled that he lingered so long inthe temple.22 But when he came out, he couldnot speak to them; and they perceivedthat he had seen a vision in the temple,for he beckoned to them and remainedspeechless.

LUKE 1 523And so it was, as soon as the daysof his service were completed, that hedeparted to his own house.24Now a er those days his wifeElizabeth conceived; and she hid herselffive months, saying,25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, inthe days when He looked on me, to takeaway my reproach among people."26Now in the sixth month the angelGabriel was sent by God to a city ofGalilee named Nazareth,27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whosename was Joseph, of the house of David.The virgin’s name was Mary.28And having come in, the angel saidto her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, theLord is with you; blessed are you amongwomen!"29 But when she saw him, she wastroubled at his saying, and consideredwhat manner of gree ng this was.

LUKE 1 630 Then the angel said to her, "Do notbe afraid, Mary, for you have found favorwith God.31 "And behold, you will conceive inyour womb and bring forth a Son, andshall call His name JESUS.32 "He will be great, and will be calledthe Son of the Highest; and the Lord Godwill give Him the throne of His fatherDavid.33 "And He will reign over the house ofJacob forever, and of His kingdom therewill be no end."34 Then Mary said to the angel, "Howcan this be, since I do not know a man?"35And the angel answered and saidto her, "The Holy Spirit will come uponyou, and the power of the Highest willovershadow you; therefore, also, thatHoly One who is to be born will be calledthe Son of God.

LUKE 1 736 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your rela vehas also conceived a son in her old age;and this is now the sixth month for herwho was called barren.37 "For with God nothing will beimpossible."38 Then Mary said, "Behold themaidservant of the Lord! Let it be to meaccording to your word." And the angeldeparted from her.39Now Mary arose in those days andwent into the hill country with haste, toa city of Judah,40 and entered the house of Zachariasand greeted Elizabeth.41And it happened, when Elizabethheard the gree ng of Mary, that thebabe leaped in her womb; and Elizabethwas filled with the Holy Spirit.42 Then she spoke out with a loudvoice and said, "Blessed are you among

LUKE 1 8women, and blessed is the fruit of yourwomb!43 "But why is this granted to me, thatthe mother of my Lord should come tome?44 "For indeed, as soon as the voice ofyour gree ng sounded in my ears, thebabe leaped in my womb for joy.45 "Blessed is she who believed, forthere will be a fulfillment of those thingswhich were told her from the Lord."46And Mary said: "My soul magnifiesthe Lord,47And my spirit has rejoiced in God mySavior.48 For He has regarded the lowly state ofHis maidservant; For behold, henceforthall genera ons will call me blessed.49 For He who is mighty has done greatthings for me, And holy is His name.50And His mercy is on those who fearHim From genera on to genera on.

LUKE 1 951He has shown strength with Hisarm; He has sca ered the proud in theimagina on of their hearts.52He has put down the mighty fromtheir thrones, And exalted the lowly.53He has filled the hungry with goodthings, And the rich He has sent awayempty.54He has helped His servant Israel, Inremembrance of His mercy,55As He spoke to our fathers, ToAbraham and to his seed forever."56And Mary remained with her aboutthree months, and returned to herhouse.57Now Elizabeth’s full me came forher to be delivered, and she broughtforth a son.58When her neighbors and rela vesheard how the Lord had shown greatmercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

LUKE 1 1059 So it was, on the eighth day, that theycame to circumcise the child; and theywould have called him by the name ofhis father, Zacharias.60His mother answered and said, "No;he shall be called John."61 But they said to her, "There is no oneamong your rela ves who is called bythis name."62 So they made signs to his father––what he would have him called.63And he asked for a wri ng tablet, andwrote, saying, "His name is John." Sothey all marveled.64 Immediately his mouth was openedand his tongue loosed, and he spoke,praising God.65 Then fear came on all who dweltaround them; and all these sayings werediscussed throughout all the hill countryof Judea.

LUKE 1 1166And all those who heard them keptthem in their hearts, saying, "What kindof child will this be?" And the hand ofthe Lord was with him.67Now his father Zacharias was filledwith the Holy Spirit, and prophesied,saying:68 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, ForHe has visited and redeemed His people,69And has raised up a horn of salva onfor us In the house of His servant David,70As He spoke by the mouth of Hisholy prophets, Who have been since theworld began,71 That we should be saved from ourenemies And from the hand of all whohate us,72 To perform the mercy promised toour fathers And to remember His holycovenant,73 The oath which He swore to ourfather Abraham:

LUKE 1–2 1274 To grant us that we, Being deliveredfrom the hand of our enemies, Mightserve Him without fear,75 In holiness and righteousness beforeHim all the days of our life.76 "And you, child, will be called theprophet of the Highest; For you will gobefore the face of the Lord to prepareHis ways,77 To give knowledge of salva on to Hispeople By the remission of their sins,78 Through the tender mercy of ourGod, With which the Dayspring from onhigh has visited us;79 To give light to those who sit indarkness and the shadow of death, Toguide our feet into the way of peace."80 So the child grew and became strongin spirit, and was in the deserts ll theday of his manifesta on to Israel.

2 1And it came to pass in those daysthat a decree went out from Caesar

LUKE 2 13Augustus that all the world should beregistered.2 This census first took place whileQuirinius was governing Syria.3 So all went to be registered, everyoneto his own city.4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, outof the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to thecity of David, which is called Bethlehem,because he was of the house and lineageof David,5 to be registered with Mary, hisbetrothed wife, who was with child.6 So it was, that while they were there,the days were completed for her to bedelivered.7And she brought forth her firstbornSon, and wrapped Him in swaddlingcloths, and laid Him in amanger, becausethere was no room for them in the inn.

LUKE 2 148Now there were in the same countryshepherds living out in the fields,keeping watch over their flock by night.9And behold, an angel of the Lordstood before them, and the glory of theLord shone around them, and they weregreatly afraid.10 Then the angel said to them, "Do notbe afraid, for behold, I bring you gooddings of great joy which will be to all

people.11 "For there is born to you this day inthe city of David a Savior, who is Christthe Lord.12 "And this will be the sign to you: Youwill find a Babe wrapped in swaddlingcloths, lying in a manger."13And suddenly there was with theangel a mul tude of the heavenly hostpraising God and saying:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And onearth peace, goodwill toward men!"

LUKE 2 1515 So it was, when the angels had goneaway from them into heaven, that theshepherds said to one another, "Let usnow go to Bethlehem and see this thingthat has come to pass, which the Lordhas made known to us."16And they came with haste and foundMary and Joseph, and the Babe lying ina manger.17Now when they had seen Him, theymade widely known the saying whichwas told them concerning this Child.18And all those who heard it marveledat those things which were told them bythe shepherds.19 But Mary kept all these things andpondered them in her heart.20 Then the shepherds returned,glorifying and praising God for all thethings that they had heard and seen, asit was told them.

LUKE 2 1621And when eight days were completedfor the circumcision of the Child, Hisname was called JESUS, the name givenby the angel before He was conceived inthe womb.22Now when the days of herpurifica on according to the law ofMoses were completed, they broughtHim to Jerusalem to present Him to theLord23 (as it is wri en in the law of the Lord,"Every male who opens the womb shallbe called holy to the LORD"),24 and to offer a sacrifice accordingto what is said in the law of the Lord,"A pair of turtledoves or two youngpigeons."25And behold, there was a man inJerusalem whose name was Simeon, andthis man was just and devout, wai ngfor the Consola on of Israel, and theHoly Spirit was upon him.

LUKE 2 1726And it had been revealed to him bythe Holy Spirit that he would not seedeath before he had seen the Lord’sChrist.27 So he came by the Spirit into thetemple. And when the parents broughtin the Child Jesus, to do for Himaccording to the custom of the law,28 he took Him up in his arms andblessed God and said:29 "Lord, now You are le ng Yourservant depart in peace, According toYour word;30 For my eyes have seen Your salva on31Which You have prepared before theface of all peoples,32A light to bring revela on to theGen les, And the glory of Your peopleIsrael."33And Joseph and His mother marveledat those things which were spoken ofHim.

LUKE 2 1834 Then Simeon blessed them, and saidto Mary His mother, "Behold, this Childis des ned for the fall and rising of manyin Israel, and for a sign which will bespoken against35 "(yes, a sword will pierce throughyour own soul also), that the thoughts ofmany hearts may be revealed."36Now there was one, Anna, aprophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, ofthe tribe of Asher. She was of a greatage, and had lived with a husband sevenyears from her virginity;37 and this woman was a widow ofabout eighty–four years, who did notdepart from the temple, but served Godwith fas ngs and prayers night and day.38And coming in that instant she gavethanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him toall those who looked for redemp on inJerusalem.

LUKE 2 1939 So when they had performed allthings according to the law of the Lord,they returned to Galilee, to their owncity, Nazareth.40And the Child grew and becamestrong in spirit, filled with wisdom; andthe grace of God was upon Him.41His parents went to Jerusalem everyyear at the Feast of the Passover.42And when He was twelve years old,they went up to Jerusalem according tothe custom of the feast.43When they had finished the days, asthey returned, the Boy Jesus lingeredbehind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and Hismother did not know it;44 but supposing Him to have been inthe company, they went a day’s journey,and sought Him among their rela vesand acquaintances.45 So when they did not find Him, theyreturned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

LUKE 2 2046Now so it was that a er three daysthey found Him in the temple, si ng inthe midst of the teachers, both listeningto them and asking them ques ons.47And all who heard Him wereastonished at His understanding andanswers.48 So when they saw Him, they wereamazed; and His mother said to Him,"Son, why have You done this to us?Look, Your father and I have sought Youanxiously."49And He said to them, "Why did youseek Me? Did you not know that I mustbe about My Father’s business?"50 But they did not understand thestatement which He spoke to them.51 Then He went down with them andcame to Nazareth, and was subject tothem, but His mother kept all thesethings in her heart.

LUKE 2–3 2152And Jesus increased in wisdom andstature, and in favor with God and men.

3 1Now in the fi eenth year of thereign of Tiberius Caesar, Pon us

Pilate being governor of Judea, Herodbeing tetrarch of Galilee, his brotherPhilip tetrarch of Iturea and the regionof Trachoni s, and Lysanias tetrarch ofAbilene,2while Annas and Caiaphas were highpriests, the word of God came to Johnthe son of Zacharias in the wilderness.3And he went into all the region aroundthe Jordan, preaching a bap sm ofrepentance for the remission of sins,4 as it is wri en in the book of thewords of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "Thevoice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make Hispaths straight.5 Every valley shall be filled And everymountain and hill brought low; The

LUKE 3 22crooked places shall be made straightAnd the rough ways smooth;6And all flesh shall see the salva on ofGod.’"7 Then he said to the mul tudes thatcame out to be bap zed by him, "Broodof vipers! Who warned you to flee fromthe wrath to come?8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy ofrepentance, and do not begin to say toyourselves, ‘We have Abraham as ourfather.’ For I say to you that God is ableto raise up children to Abraham fromthese stones.9 "And even now the ax is laid to theroot of the trees. Therefore every treewhich does not bear good fruit is cutdown and thrown into the fire."10 So the people asked him, saying,"What shall we do then?"11He answered and said to them, "Hewho has two tunics, let him give to him

LUKE 3 23who has none; and he who has food, lethim do likewise."12 Then tax collectors also came to bebap zed, and said to him, "Teacher,what shall we do?"13And he said to them, "Collect nomore than what is appointed for you."14 Likewise the soldiers asked him,saying, "And what shall we do?" So hesaid to them, "Do not in midate anyoneor accuse falsely, and be content withyour wages."15Now as the people were inexpecta on, and all reasoned in theirhearts about John, whether he was theChrist or not,16 John answered, saying to all, "Iindeed bap ze you with water; but Onemigh er than I is coming, whose sandalstrap I am not worthy to loose. He willbap ze you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

LUKE 3 2417 "His winnowing fan is in His hand,and He will thoroughly clean out Histhreshing floor, and gather the wheatinto His barn; but the chaff He will burnwith unquenchable fire."18And with many other exhorta ons hepreached to the people.19 But Herod the tetrarch, beingrebuked by him concerning Herodias, hisbrother Philip’s wife, and for all the evilswhich Herod had done,20 also added this, above all, that heshut John up in prison.21When all the people were bap zed,it came to pass that Jesus also wasbap zed; and while He prayed, theheaven was opened.22And the Holy Spirit descended inbodily form like a dove upon Him, anda voice came from heaven which said,"You are My beloved Son; in You I amwell pleased."

LUKE 3 2523Now Jesus Himself began His ministryat about thirty years of age, being (aswas supposed) the son of Joseph, theson of Heli,24 the son of Ma hat, the son of Levi,the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, theson of Joseph,25 the son of Ma athiah, the son ofAmos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,the son of Naggai,26 the son of Maath, the son ofMa athiah, the son of Semei, the son ofJoseph, the son of Judah,27 the son of Joannas, the son ofRhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son ofSheal el, the son of Neri,28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi,the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam,the son of Er,29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, theson of Jorim, the son of Ma hat, the sonof Levi,

LUKE 3 2630 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah,the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, theson of Eliakim,31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan,the son of Ma athah, the son of Nathan,the son of David,32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, theson of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the sonof Nahshon,33 the son of Amminadab, the son ofRam, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,the son of Judah,34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, theson of Abraham, the son of Terah, theson of Nahor,35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, theson of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son ofShelah,36 the son of Cainan, the son ofArphaxad, the son of Shem, the son ofNoah, the son of Lamech,

LUKE 3–4 2737 the son of Methuselah, the sonof Enoch, the son of Jared, the son ofMahalalel, the son of Cainan,38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, theson of Adam, the son of God.

4 1 Then Jesus, being filled with theHoly Spirit, returned from the

Jordan and was led by the Spirit into thewilderness,2 being tempted for forty days by thedevil. And in those days He ate nothing,and a erward, when they had ended,He was hungry.3And the devil said to Him, "If You arethe Son of God, command this stone tobecome bread."4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "Itis wri en, ‘Man shall not live by breadalone, but by every word of God.’"5 Then the devil, taking Him up ona high mountain, showed Him all the

LUKE 4 28kingdoms of the world in a moment ofme.6And the devil said to Him, "All thisauthority I will give You, and their glory;for this has been delivered to me, and Igive it to whomever I wish.7 "Therefore, if You will worship beforeme, all will be Yours."8And Jesus answered and said to him,"Get behind Me, Satan! For it is wri en,‘You shall worship the LORD your God,and Him only you shall serve.’"9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem,set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,and said to Him, "If You are the Son ofGod, throw Yourself down from here.10 "For it is wri en: ‘He shall give Hisangels charge over you, To keep you,’11 "and, ‘In their hands they shall bearyou up, Lest you dash your foot against astone.’"

LUKE 4 2912And Jesus answered and said to him,"It has been said, ‘You shall not temptthe LORD your God.’"13Now when the devil had ended everytempta on, he departed from Him un lan opportune me.14 Then Jesus returned in the power ofthe Spirit to Galilee, and news of Himwent out through all the surroundingregion.15And He taught in their synagogues,being glorified by all.16 So He came to Nazareth, where Hehad been brought up. And as His customwas, He went into the synagogue on theSabbath day, and stood up to read.17And He was handed the book ofthe prophet Isaiah. And when He hadopened the book, He found the placewhere it was wri en:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,Because He has anointed Me To preach

LUKE 4 30the gospel to the poor; He has sent Meto heal the brokenhearted, To proclaimliberty to the cap ves And recovery ofsight to the blind, To set at liberty thosewho are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year ofthe LORD."20 Then He closed the book, and gaveit back to the a endant and sat down.And the eyes of all who were in thesynagogue were fixed on Him.21And He began to say to them, "Todaythis Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."22 So all bore witness to Him, andmarveled at the gracious words whichproceeded out of His mouth. And theysaid, "Is this not Joseph’s son?"23He said to them, "You will surelysay this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, healyourself! Whatever we have heard donein Capernaum, do also here in Yourcountry.’"

LUKE 4 3124 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say toyou, no prophet is accepted in his owncountry.25 "But I tell you truly, many widowswere in Israel in the days of Elijah, whenthe heaven was shut up three years andsix months, and there was a great faminethroughout all the land;26 "but to none of them was Elijah sentexcept to Zarephath, in the region ofSidon, to a woman who was a widow.27 "And many lepers were in Israel inthe me of Elisha the prophet, and noneof them was cleansed except Naamanthe Syrian."28 So all those in the synagogue, whenthey heard these things, were filled withwrath,29 and rose up and thrust Him out ofthe city; and they led Him to the browof the hill on which their city was built,

LUKE 4 32that they might throw Him down overthe cliff.30 Then passing through the midst ofthem, He went His way.31 Then He went down to Capernaum,a city of Galilee, and was teaching themon the Sabbaths.32And they were astonished atHis teaching, for His word was withauthority.33Now in the synagogue there wasa man who had a spirit of an uncleandemon. And he cried out with a loudvoice,34 saying, "Let us alone! What have weto do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? DidYou come to destroy us? I know who Youare––the Holy One of God!"35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Bequiet, and come out of him!" And whenthe demon had thrown him in their

LUKE 4 33midst, it came out of him and did nothurt him.36 Then they were all amazed andspoke among themselves, saying, "Whata word this is! For with authority andpower He commands the unclean spirits,and they come out."37And the report about Him went outinto every place in the surroundingregion.38Now He arose from the synagogueand entered Simon’s house. But Simon’swife’s mother was sick with a highfever, and they made request of Himconcerning her.39 So He stood over her and rebuked thefever, and it le her. And immediatelyshe arose and served them.40When the sun was se ng, all thosewho had any that were sick with variousdiseases brought them to Him; and He

LUKE 4–5 34laid His hands on every one of them andhealed them.41And demons also came out ofmany, crying out and saying, "You arethe Christ, the Son of God!" And He,rebuking them, did not allow them tospeak, for they knew that He was theChrist.42Now when it was day, He departedand went into a deserted place. And thecrowd sought Him and came to Him, andtried to keep Him from leaving them;43 but He said to them, "I must preachthe kingdom of God to the other ci esalso, because for this purpose I havebeen sent."44And He was preaching in thesynagogues of Galilee.

5 1 So it was, as the mul tude pressedabout Him to hear the word of God,

that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,

LUKE 5 352 and saw two boats standing by thelake; but the fishermen had gone fromthem and were washing their nets.3 Then He got into one of the boats,which was Simon’s, and asked him toput out a li le from the land. And He satdown and taught the mul tudes fromthe boat.4When He had stopped speaking, Hesaid to Simon, "Launch out into the deepand let down your nets for a catch."5 But Simon answered and said to Him,"Master, we have toiled all night andcaught nothing; nevertheless at Yourword I will let down the net."6And when they had done this, theycaught a great number of fish, and theirnet was breaking.7 So they signaled to their partners inthe other boat to come and help them.And they came and filled both the boats,so that they began to sink.

LUKE 5 368When Simon Peter saw it, he fell downat Jesus’ knees, saying, "Depart fromme, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"9 For he and all who were with himwere astonished at the catch of fishwhich they had taken;10 and so also were James and John,the sons of Zebedee, who were partnerswith Simon. And Jesus said to Simon,"Do not be afraid. From now on you willcatch men."11 So when they had brought theirboats to land, they forsook all andfollowed Him.12And it happened when He was ina certain city, that behold, a man whowas full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fellon his face and implored Him, saying,"Lord, if You are willing, You can makeme clean."13 Then He put out His hand andtouched him, saying, "I am willing; be

LUKE 5 37cleansed." Immediately the leprosy lehim.14And He charged him to tell no one,"But go and show yourself to the priest,and make an offering for your cleansing,as a tes mony to them, just as Mosescommanded."15However, the report went aroundconcerning Him all the more; and greatmul tudes came together to hear, andto be healed by Him of their infirmi es.16 So He Himself o en withdrew intothe wilderness and prayed.17Now it happened on a certain day,as He was teaching, that there werePharisees and teachers of the law si ngby, who had come out of every town ofGalilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And thepower of the Lord was present to healthem.

LUKE 5 3818 Then behold, men brought on a beda man who was paralyzed, whom theysought to bring in and lay before Him.19And when they could not find howthey might bring him in, because of thecrowd, they went up on the housetopand let him down with his bed throughthe ling into the midst before Jesus.20When He saw their faith, He said tohim, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."21And the scribes and the Phariseesbegan to reason, saying, "Who is thiswho speaks blasphemies? Who canforgive sins but God alone?"22 But when Jesus perceived theirthoughts, He answered and said tothem, "Why are you reasoning in yourhearts?23 "Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sinsare forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up andwalk’?

LUKE 5 3924 "But that you may know that the Sonof Man has power on earth to forgivesins" ––He said to the man who wasparalyzed, "I say to you, arise, take upyour bed, and go to your house."25 Immediately he rose up before them,took up what he had been lying on, anddeparted to his own house, glorifyingGod.26And they were all amazed, and theyglorified God and were filled with fear,saying, "We have seen strange thingstoday!"27A er these things He went out andsaw a tax collector named Levi, si ngat the tax office. And He said to him,"Follow Me."28 So he le all, rose up, and followedHim.29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast inhis own house. And there were a great

LUKE 5 40number of tax collectors and others whosat down with them.30And their scribes and the Phariseescomplained against His disciples, saying,"Why do You eat and drink with taxcollectors and sinners?"31 Jesus answered and said to them,"Those who are well have no need of aphysician, but those who are sick.32 "I have not come to call the righteous,but sinners, to repentance."33 Then they said to Him, "Why dothe disciples of John fast o en andmake prayers, and likewise those of thePharisees, but Yours eat and drink?"34And He said to them, "Can you makethe friends of the bridegroom fast whilethe bridegroom is with them?35 "But the days will come when thebridegroom will be taken away fromthem; then they will fast in those days."

LUKE 5–6 4136 Then He spoke a parable to them:"No one puts a piece from a newgarment on an old one; otherwise thenew makes a tear, and also the piecethat was taken out of the new does notmatch the old.37 "And no one puts new wine into oldwineskins; or else the new wine willburst the wineskins and be spilled, andthe wineskins will be ruined.38 "But new wine must be put into newwineskins, and both are preserved.39 "And no one, having drunk old wine,immediately desires new; for he says,‘The old is be er.’"

6 1Now it happened on the secondSabbath a er the first that He went

through the grainfields. And His disciplesplucked the heads of grain and ate them,rubbing them in their hands.

LUKE 6 422And some of the Pharisees said tothem, "Why are you doing what is notlawful to do on the Sabbath?"3 But Jesus answering them said, "Haveyou not even read this, what David didwhen he was hungry, he and those whowere with him:4 "how he went into the house of God,took and ate the showbread, and alsogave some to those with him, whichis not lawful for any but the priests toeat?"5And He said to them, "The Son of Manis also Lord of the Sabbath."6Now it happened on another Sabbath,also, that He entered the synagogue andtaught. And a man was there whoseright hand was withered.7 So the scribes and Pharisees watchedHim closely, whether He would heal onthe Sabbath, that they might find anaccusa on against Him.

LUKE 6 438 But He knew their thoughts, and saidto the man who had the withered hand,"Arise and stand here." And he aroseand stood.9 Then Jesus said to them, "I will askyou one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbathto do good or to do evil, to save life or todestroy?"10And when He had looked around atthem all, He said to the man, "Stretchout your hand." And he did so, and hishand was restored as whole as the other.11 But they were filled with rage, anddiscussed with one another what theymight do to Jesus.12Now it came to pass in those daysthat He went out to the mountain topray, and con nued all night in prayer toGod.13And when it was day, He called Hisdisciples to Himself; and from them

LUKE 6 44He chose twelve whom He also namedapostles:14 Simon, whom He also named Peter,and Andrew his brother; James andJohn; Philip and Bartholomew;15Ma hew and Thomas; James theson of Alphaeus, and Simon called theZealot;16 Judas the son of James, and JudasIscariot who also became a traitor.17And He came down with them andstood on a level place with a crowd ofHis disciples and a great mul tude ofpeople from all Judea and Jerusalem,and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,who came to hear Him and be healed oftheir diseases,18 as well as those who were tormentedwith unclean spirits. And they werehealed.

LUKE 6 4519And the whole mul tude sought totouch Him, for power went out from Himand healed them all.20 Then He li ed up His eyes towardHis disciples, and said: "Blessed are youpoor, For yours is the kingdom of God.21 Blessed are you who hunger now, Foryou shall be filled. Blessed are you whoweep now, For you shall laugh.22 Blessed are you when men hate you,And when they exclude you, And revileyou, and cast out your name as evil, Forthe Son of Man’s sake.23 Rejoice in that day and leap forjoy! For indeed your reward is great inheaven, For in like manner their fathersdid to the prophets.24 "But woe to you who are rich, Foryou have received your consola on.25Woe to you who are full, For you shallhunger. Woe to you who laugh now, Foryou shall mourn and weep.

LUKE 6 4626Woe to you when all men speak wellof you, For so did their fathers to thefalse prophets.27 "But I say to you who hear: Love yourenemies, do good to those who hateyou,28 "bless those who curse you, and prayfor those who spitefully use you.29 "To him who strikes you on the onecheek, offer the other also. And fromhim who takes away your cloak, do notwithhold your tunic either.30 "Give to everyone who asks of you.And from him who takes away yourgoods do not ask them back.31 "And just as you want men to do toyou, you also do to them likewise.32 "But if you love those who love you,what credit is that to you? For evensinners love those who love them.

LUKE 6 4733 "And if you do good to those who dogood to you, what credit is that to you?For even sinners do the same.34 "And if you lend to those from whomyou hope to receive back, what creditis that to you? For even sinners lend tosinners to receive as much back.35 "But love your enemies, do good,and lend, hoping for nothing in return;and your reward will be great, and youwill be sons of the Most High. For He iskind to the unthankful and evil.36 "Therefore be merciful, just as yourFather also is merciful.37 "Judge not, and you shall not bejudged. Condemn not, and you shall notbe condemned. Forgive, and you will beforgiven.38 "Give, and it will be given to you:good measure, pressed down, shakentogether, and running over will beput into your bosom. For with the

LUKE 6 48same measure that you use, it will bemeasured back to you."39And He spoke a parable to them:"Can the blind lead the blind? Will theynot both fall into the ditch?40 "A disciple is not above his teacher,but everyone who is perfectly trainedwill be like his teacher.41 "And why do you look at the speck inyour brother’s eye, but do not perceivethe plank in your own eye?42 "Or how can you say to your brother,‘Brother, let me remove the speck thatis in your eye,’ when you yourself donot see the plank that is in your owneye? Hypocrite! First remove the plankfrom your own eye, and then you willsee clearly to remove the speck that is inyour brother’s eye.43 "For a good tree does not bear badfruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

LUKE 6 4944 "For every tree is known by its ownfruit. For men do not gather figs fromthorns, nor do they gather grapes from abramble bush.45 "A good man out of the goodtreasure of his heart brings forth good;and an evil man out of the evil treasureof his heart brings forth evil. For out ofthe abundance of the heart his mouthspeaks.46 "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’and do not do the things which I say?47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hearsMy sayings and does them, I will showyou whom he is like:48 "He is like a man building a house,who dug deep and laid the founda onon the rock. And when the flood arose,the stream beat vehemently against thathouse, and could not shake it, for it wasfounded on the rock.

LUKE 6–7 5049 "But he who heard and did nothingis like a man who built a house on theearth without a founda on, againstwhich the stream beat vehemently; andimmediately it fell. And the ruin of thathouse was great."

7 1Now when He concluded all Hissayings in the hearing of the people,

He entered Capernaum.2And a certain centurion’s servant, whowas dear to him, was sick and ready todie.3 So when he heard about Jesus, hesent elders of the Jews to Him, pleadingwith Him to come and heal his servant.4And when they came to Jesus, theybegged Him earnestly, saying that theone for whom He should do this wasdeserving,5 "for he loves our na on, and has builtus a synagogue."

LUKE 7 516 Then Jesus went with them. And whenHe was already not far from the house,the centurion sent friends to Him, sayingto Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself,for I am not worthy that You shouldenter under my roof.7 "Therefore I did not even think myselfworthy to come to You. But say theword, and my servant will be healed.8 "For I also am a man placed underauthority, having soldiers under me. AndI say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and toanother, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tomy servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."9When Jesus heard these things, Hemarveled at him, and turned around andsaid to the crowd that followed Him, "Isay to you, I have not found such greatfaith, not even in Israel!"10And those who were sent, returningto the house, found the servant wellwho had been sick.

LUKE 7 5211Now it happened, the day a er, thatHe went into a city called Nain; andmany of His disciples went with Him, anda large crowd.12And when He came near the gate ofthe city, behold, a dead man was beingcarried out, the only son of his mother;and she was a widow. And a large crowdfrom the city was with her.13When the Lord saw her, He hadcompassion on her and said to her, "Donot weep."14 Then He came and touched the opencoffin, and those who carried him stoods ll. And He said, "Young man, I say toyou, arise."15 So he who was dead sat up andbegan to speak. And He presented himto his mother.16 Then fear came upon all, and theyglorified God, saying, "A great prophet

LUKE 7 53has risen up among us"; and, "God hasvisited His people."17And this report about Him wentthroughout all Judea and all thesurrounding region.18 Then the disciples of John reportedto him concerning all these things.19And John, calling two of his disciplesto him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "AreYou the Coming One, or do we look foranother?"20When the men had come to Him,they said, "John the Bap st has sent usto You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One,or do we look for another?’"21And that very hour He cured manyof infirmi es, afflic ons, and evil spirits;and to many blind He gave sight.22 Jesus answered and said to them,"Go and tell John the things you haveseen and heard: that the blind see, thelame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the

LUKE 7 54deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poorhave the gospel preached to them.23 "And blessed is he who is notoffended because of Me."24When the messengers of John haddeparted, He began to speak to themul tudes concerning John: "What didyou go out into the wilderness to see? Areed shaken by the wind?25 "But what did you go out to see? Aman clothed in so garments? Indeedthose who are gorgeously appareled andlive in luxury are in kings’ courts.26 "But what did you go out to see? Aprophet? Yes, I say to you, and morethan a prophet.27 "This is he of whom it is wri en:‘Behold, I send My messenger beforeYour face, Who will prepare Your waybefore You.’28 "For I say to you, among those bornof women there is not a greater prophet

LUKE 7 55than John the Bap st; but he who isleast in the kingdom of God is greaterthan he."29And when all the people heard Him,even the tax collectors jus fied God,having been bap zed with the bap smof John.30 But the Pharisees and lawyersrejected the will of God for themselves,not having been bap zed by him.31And the Lord said, "To what thenshall I liken the men of this genera on,and what are they like?32 "They are like children si ng in themarketplace and calling to one another,saying: ‘We played the flute for you, Andyou did not dance; We mourned to you,And you did not weep.’33 "For John the Bap st came neitherea ng bread nor drinking wine, and yousay, ‘He has a demon.’

LUKE 7 5634 "The Son of Man has come ea ngand drinking, and you say, ‘Look, aglu on and a winebibber, a friend of taxcollectors and sinners!’35 "But wisdom is jus fied by all herchildren."36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Himto eat with him. And He went to thePharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.37And behold, a woman in the city whowas a sinner, when she knew that Jesussat at the table in the Pharisee’s house,brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,38 and stood at His feet behind Himweeping; and she began to wash His feetwith her tears, and wiped them with thehair of her head; and she kissed His feetand anointed them with the fragrant oil.39Now when the Pharisee who hadinvited Him saw this, he spoke to himself,saying, "This man, if He were a prophet,would know who and what manner of

LUKE 7 57woman this is who is touching Him, forshe is a sinner."40And Jesus answered and said to him,"Simon, I have something to say to you."So he said, "Teacher, say it."41 "There was a certain creditor whohad two debtors. One owed five hundreddenarii, and the other fi y.42 "And when they had nothing withwhich to repay, he freely forgave themboth. Tell Me, therefore, which of themwill love him more?"43 Simon answered and said, "I supposethe one whom he forgave more." And Hesaid to him, "You have rightly judged."44 Then He turned to the woman andsaid to Simon, "Do you see this woman?I entered your house; you gave Me nowater for My feet, but she has washedMy feet with her tears and wiped themwith the hair of her head.

LUKE 7–8 5845 "You gaveMe no kiss, but this womanhas not ceased to kiss My feet since theme I came in.46 "You did not anoint My head with oil,but this woman has anointed My feetwith fragrant oil.47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins,which are many, are forgiven, for sheloved much. But to whom li le isforgiven, the same loves li le."48 Then He said to her, "Your sins areforgiven."49And those who sat at the table withHim began to say to themselves, "Who isthis who even forgives sins?"50 Then He said to the woman, "Yourfaith has saved you. Go in peace."

8 1Now it came to pass, a erward,that He went through every city and

village, preaching and bringing the gladdings of the kingdom of God. And the

twelve were with Him,

LUKE 8 592 and certain women who had beenhealed of evil spirits and infirmi es––Mary called Magdalene, out of whomhad come seven demons,3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’ssteward, and Susanna, and manyothers who provided for Him from theirsubstance.4And when a great mul tude hadgathered, and they had come to Himfrom every city, He spoke by a parable:5 "A sower went out to sow his seed.And as he sowed, some fell by thewayside; and it was trampled down, andthe birds of the air devoured it.6 "Some fell on rock; and as soon as itsprang up, it withered away because itlacked moisture.7 "And some fell among thorns, and thethorns sprang up with it and choked it.8 "But others fell on good ground,sprang up, and yielded a crop a

LUKE 8 60hundredfold." When He had said thesethings He cried, "He who has ears tohear, let him hear!"9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying,"What does this parable mean?"10And He said, "To you it has been givento know the mysteries of the kingdomof God, but to the rest it is given inparables, that ‘Seeing they may not see,And hearing they may not understand.’11 "Now the parable is this: The seed isthe word of God.12 "Those by the wayside are the oneswho hear; then the devil comes andtakes away the word out of their hearts,lest they should believe and be saved.13 "But the ones on the rock are thosewho, when they hear, receive theword with joy; and these have no root,who believe for a while and in me oftempta on fall away.

LUKE 8 6114 "Now the ones that fell among thornsare those who, when they have heard,go out and are choked with cares, riches,and pleasures of life, and bring no fruitto maturity.15 "But the ones that fell on the goodground are those who, having heard theword with a noble and good heart, keepit and bear fruit with pa ence.16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp,covers it with a vessel or puts it undera bed, but sets it on a lampstand, thatthose who enter may see the light.17 "For nothing is secret that will not berevealed, nor anything hidden that willnot be known and come to light.18 "Therefore take heed how you hear.For whoever has, to him more will begiven; and whoever does not have, evenwhat he seems to have will be takenfrom him."

LUKE 8 6219 Then His mother and brothers cameto Him, and could not approach Himbecause of the crowd.20And it was told Him by some, whosaid, "Your mother and Your brothers arestanding outside, desiring to see You."21 But He answered and said to them,"My mother and My brothers are thesewho hear the word of God and do it."22Now it happened, on a certain day,that He got into a boat with His disciples.And He said to them, "Let us cross overto the other side of the lake." And theylaunched out.23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. Anda windstorm came down on the lake,and they were filling with water, andwere in jeopardy.24And they came to Him and awokeHim, saying, "Master, Master, we areperishing!" Then He arose and rebuked

LUKE 8 63the wind and the raging of the water.And they ceased, and there was a calm.25 But He said to them, "Where isyour faith?" And they were afraid, andmarveled, saying to one another, "Whocan this be? For He commands even thewinds and water, and they obey Him!"26 Then they sailed to the country of theGadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.27And when He stepped out on theland, there met Him a certain man fromthe city who had demons for a long me.And he wore no clothes, nor did he livein a house but in the tombs.28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, felldown before Him, and with a loud voicesaid, "What have I to do with You, Jesus,Son of the Most High God? I beg You, donot torment me!"29 For He had commanded the uncleanspirit to come out of the man. For it hado en seized him, and he was kept under

LUKE 8 64guard, bound with chains and shackles;and he broke the bonds and was drivenby the demon into the wilderness.30 Jesus asked him, saying, "What isyour name?" And he said, "Legion,"because many demons had entered him.31And they begged Him that He wouldnot command them to go out into theabyss.32Now a herd of many swine wasfeeding there on the mountain. So theybegged Him that He would permit themto enter them. And He permi ed them.33 Then the demons went out of theman and entered the swine, and theherd ran violently down the steep placeinto the lake and drowned.34When those who fed them saw whathad happened, they fled and told it inthe city and in the country.35 Then they went out to see what hadhappened, and came to Jesus, and found

LUKE 8 65the man from whom the demons haddeparted, si ng at the feet of Jesus,clothed and in his right mind. And theywere afraid.36 They also who had seen it toldthem by what means he who had beendemon–possessed was healed.37 Then the whole mul tude of thesurrounding region of the Gadarenesasked Him to depart from them, for theywere seized with great fear. And He gotinto the boat and returned.38Now the man from whom thedemons had departed begged Him thathe might be with Him. But Jesus senthim away, saying,39 "Return to your own house, and tellwhat great things God has done for you."And he went his way and proclaimedthroughout the whole city what greatthings Jesus had done for him.

LUKE 8 6640 So it was, when Jesus returned, thatthe mul tude welcomed Him, for theywere all wai ng for Him.41And behold, there came a mannamed Jairus, and he was a ruler of thesynagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’feet and begged Him to come to hishouse,42 for he had an only daughter abouttwelve years of age, and she was dying.But as He went, the mul tudes throngedHim.43Now a woman, having a flow of bloodfor twelve years, who had spent all herlivelihood on physicians and could notbe healed by any,44 came from behind and touched theborder of His garment. And immediatelyher flow of blood stopped.45And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?"When all denied it, Peter and thosewith him said, "Master, the mul tudes

LUKE 8 67throng and press You, and You say, ‘Whotouched Me?’"46 But Jesus said, "Somebody touchedMe, for I perceived power going outfrom Me."47Now when the woman saw that shewas not hidden, she came trembling; andfalling down before Him, she declared toHim in the presence of all the people thereason she had touched Him and howshe was healed immediately.48And He said to her, "Daughter, be ofgood cheer; your faith has made youwell. Go in peace."49While He was s ll speaking, someonecame from the ruler of the synagogue’shouse, saying to him, "Your daughter isdead. Do not trouble the Teacher."50 But when Jesus heard it, He answeredhim, saying, "Do not be afraid; onlybelieve, and she will be made well."

LUKE 8–9 6851When He came into the house, Hepermi ed no one to go in except Peter,James, and John, and the father andmother of the girl.52Now all wept and mourned for her;but He said, "Do not weep; she is notdead, but sleeping."53And they ridiculed Him, knowing thatshe was dead.54 But He put them all outside, took herby the hand and called, saying, "Li legirl, arise."55 Then her spirit returned, and shearose immediately. And He commandedthat she be given something to eat.56And her parents were astonished,but He charged them to tell no one whathad happened.

9 1 Then He called His twelve disciplestogether and gave them power and

authority over all demons, and to curediseases.

LUKE 9 692He sent them to preach the kingdomof God and to heal the sick.3And He said to them, "Take nothingfor the journey, neither staffs nor bagnor bread nor money; and do not havetwo tunics apiece.4 "Whatever house you enter, staythere, and from there depart.5 "And whoever will not receive you,when you go out of that city, shakeoff the very dust from your feet as ates mony against them."6 So they departed and went throughthe towns, preaching the gospel andhealing everywhere.7Now Herod the tetrarch heard ofall that was done by Him; and he wasperplexed, because it was said by somethat John had risen from the dead,8 and by some that Elijah had appeared,and by others that one of the oldprophets had risen again.

LUKE 9 709Herod said, "John I have beheaded,but who is this of whom I hear suchthings?" So he sought to see Him.10And the apostles, when they hadreturned, told Him all that they haddone. Then He took them and wentaside privately into a deserted placebelonging to the city called Bethsaida.11 But when the mul tudes knew it,they followed Him; and He receivedthem and spoke to them about thekingdom of God, and healed those whohad need of healing.12When the day began to wear away,the twelve came and said to Him, "Sendthe mul tude away, that they may gointo the surrounding towns and country,and lodge and get provisions; for we arein a deserted place here."13 But He said to them, "You give themsomething to eat." And they said, "Wehave no more than five loaves and two

LUKE 9 71fish, unless we go and buy food for allthese people."14 For there were about five thousandmen. Then He said to His disciples,"Make them sit down in groups of fi y."15And they did so, and made them allsit down.16 Then He took the five loaves andthe two fish, and looking up to heaven,He blessed and broke them, and gavethem to the disciples to set before themul tude.17 So they all ate and were filled, andtwelve baskets of the le over fragmentswere taken up by them.18And it happened, as He was alonepraying, that His disciples joined Him,and He asked them, saying, "Who do thecrowds say that I am?"19 So they answered and said, "John theBap st, but some say Elijah; and others

LUKE 9 72say that one of the old prophets hasrisen again."20He said to them, "But who do yousay that I am?" Peter answered and said,"The Christ of God."21And He strictly warned andcommanded them to tell this to no one,22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffermany things, and be rejected by theelders and chief priests and scribes, andbe killed, and be raised the third day."23 Then He said to them all, "If anyonedesires to come a er Me, let him denyhimself, and take up his cross daily, andfollow Me.24 "For whoever desires to save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life forMy sake will save it.25 "For what profit is it to a man if hegains the whole world, and is himselfdestroyed or lost?

LUKE 9 7326 "For whoever is ashamed of Me andMy words, of him the Son of Man willbe ashamed when He comes in His ownglory, and in His Father’s, and of the holyangels.27 "But I tell you truly, there are somestanding here who shall not taste deathll they see the kingdom of God."28Now it came to pass, about eightdays a er these sayings, that He tookPeter, John, and James and went up onthe mountain to pray.29As He prayed, the appearance of Hisface was altered, and His robe becamewhite and glistening.30And behold, two men talked withHim, who were Moses and Elijah,31who appeared in glory and spokeof His decease which He was about toaccomplish at Jerusalem.32 But Peter and those with him wereheavy with sleep; and when they were

LUKE 9 74fully awake, they saw His glory and thetwo men who stood with Him.33 Then it happened, as they werepar ng from Him, that Peter said toJesus, "Master, it is good for us to behere; and let us make three tabernacles:one for You, one for Moses, and one forElijah" ––not knowing what he said.34While he was saying this, a cloudcame and overshadowed them; and theywere fearful as they entered the cloud.35And a voice came out of the cloud,saying, "This is My beloved Son. HearHim!"36When the voice had ceased, Jesuswas found alone. But they kept quiet,and told no one in those days any of thethings they had seen.37Now it happened on the next day,when they had come down from themountain, that a great mul tude metHim.

LUKE 9 7538 Suddenly a man from the mul tudecried out, saying, "Teacher, I implore You,look on my son, for he is my only child.39 "And behold, a spirit seizes him, andhe suddenly cries out; it convulses himso that he foams at the mouth, and itdeparts from him with great difficulty,bruising him.40 "So I implored Your disciples to castit out, but they could not."41 Then Jesus answered and said, "Ofaithless and perverse genera on, howlong shall I be with you and bear withyou? Bring your son here."42And as he was s ll coming, thedemon threw him down and convulsedhim. Then Jesus rebuked the uncleanspirit, healed the child, and gave himback to his father.43And they were all amazed at themajesty of God. But while everyone

LUKE 9 76marveled at all the things which Jesusdid, He said to His disciples,44 "Let these words sink down into yourears, for the Son of Man is about to bebetrayed into the hands of men."45 But they did not understand thissaying, and it was hidden from them sothat they did not perceive it; and theywere afraid to ask Him about this saying.46 Then a dispute arose among them asto which of them would be greatest.47And Jesus, perceiving the thought oftheir heart, took a li le child and set himby Him,48 and said to them, "Whoever receivesthis li le child in My name receives Me;and whoever receives Me receives Himwho sent Me. For he who is least amongyou all will be great."49Now John answered and said,"Master, we saw someone cas ng outdemons in Your name, and we forbade

LUKE 9 77him because he does not follow withus."50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbidhim, for he who is not against us is onour side."51Now it came to pass, when the mehad come for Him to be received up,that He steadfastly set His face to go toJerusalem,52 and sent messengers before His face.And as they went, they entered a villageof the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.53 But they did not receive Him,because His face was set for the journeyto Jerusalem.54And when His disciples James andJohn saw this, they said, "Lord, do Youwant us to command fire to come downfrom heaven and consume them, just asElijah did?"

LUKE 9 7855 But He turned and rebuked them,and said, "You do not knowwhat mannerof spirit you are of.56 "For the Son of Man did not come todestroy men’s lives but to save them."And they went to another village.57Now it happened as they journeyedon the road, that someone said to Him,"Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes haveholes and birds of the air have nests, butthe Son of Man has nowhere to lay Hishead."59 Then He said to another, "FollowMe." But he said, "Lord, let me first goand bury my father."60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead burytheir own dead, but you go and preachthe kingdom of God."61And another also said, "Lord, I willfollow You, but let me first go and bidthem farewell who are at my house."

LUKE 9–10 7962 But Jesus said to him, "No one,having put his hand to the plow, andlooking back, is fit for the kingdom ofGod."

10 1A er these things the Lordappointed seventy others also,

and sent them two by two before Hisface into every city and place where HeHimself was about to go.2 Then He said to them, "The harvesttruly is great, but the laborers are few;therefore pray the Lord of the harvest tosend out laborers into His harvest.3 "Go your way; behold, I send you outas lambs among wolves.4 "Carry neither money bag, knapsack,nor sandals; and greet no one along theroad.5 "But whatever house you enter, firstsay, ‘Peace to this house.’

LUKE 10 806 "And if a son of peace is there, yourpeace will rest on it; if not, it will returnto you.7 "And remain in the same house,ea ng and drinking such things as theygive, for the laborer is worthy of hiswages. Do not go from house to house.8 "Whatever city you enter, and theyreceive you, eat such things as are setbefore you.9 "And heal the sick there, and say tothem, ‘The kingdom of God has comenear to you.’10 "But whatever city you enter, andthey do not receive you, go out into itsstreets and say,11 ‘The very dust of your city whichclings to us we wipe off against you.Nevertheless know this, that thekingdom of God has come near you.’

LUKE 10 8112 "But I say to you that it will be moretolerable in that Day for Sodom than forthat city.13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,Bethsaida! For if the mighty works whichwere done in you had been done in Tyreand Sidon, they would have repentedlong ago, si ng in sackcloth and ashes.14 "But it will be more tolerable for Tyreand Sidon at the judgment than for you.15 "And you, Capernaum, who areexalted to heaven, will be brought downto Hades.16 "He who hears you hears Me, hewho rejects you rejects Me, and he whorejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."17 Then the seventy returned with joy,saying, "Lord, even the demons aresubject to us in Your name."18And He said to them, "I saw Satan falllike lightning from heaven.

LUKE 10 8219 "Behold, I give you the authority totrample on serpents and scorpions, andover all the power of the enemy, andnothing shall by any means hurt you.20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this,that the spirits are subject to you, butrather rejoice because your names arewri en in heaven."21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in theSpirit and said, "I thank You, Father,Lord of heaven and earth, that You havehidden these things from the wise andprudent and revealed them to babes.Even so, Father, for so it seemed good inYour sight.22 "All things have been delivered to Meby My Father, and no one knows whothe Son is except the Father, and whothe Father is except the Son, and the oneto whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

LUKE 10 8323 Then He turned to His disciples andsaid privately, "Blessed are the eyeswhich see the things you see;24 "for I tell you that many prophetsand kings have desired to see what yousee, and have not seen it, and to hearwhat you hear, and have not heard it."25And behold, a certain lawyer stoodup and tested Him, saying, "Teacher,what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"26He said to him, "What is wri en inthe law? What is your reading of it?"27 So he answered and said, "‘You shalllove the LORD your God with all yourheart, with all your soul, with all yourstrength, and with all your mind,’ and‘your neighbor as yourself.’"28And He said to him, "You haveanswered rightly; do this and you willlive."29 But he, wan ng to jus fy himself,said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

LUKE 10 8430 Then Jesus answered and said: "Acertain man went down from Jerusalemto Jericho, and fell among thieves, whostripped him of his clothing, woundedhim, and departed, leaving him halfdead.31 "Now by chance a certain priestcame down that road. And when he sawhim, he passed by on the other side.32 "Likewise a Levite, when he arrived atthe place, came and looked, and passedby on the other side.33 "But a certain Samaritan, as hejourneyed, came where he was. Andwhen he saw him, he had compassion.34 "So he went to him and bandaged hiswounds, pouring on oil and wine; and heset him on his own animal, brought himto an inn, and took care of him.35 "On the next day, when he departed,he took out two denarii, gave them tothe innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take

LUKE 10 85care of him; and whatever more youspend, when I come again, I will repayyou.’36 "So which of these three do you thinkwas neighbor to him who fell among thethieves?"37And he said, "He who showed mercyon him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go anddo likewise."38Now it happened as they wentthat He entered a certain village;and a certain woman named Marthawelcomed Him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary,who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard Hisword.40 But Martha was distracted withmuch serving, and she approached Himand said, "Lord, do You not care thatmy sister has le me to serve alone?Therefore tell her to help me."

LUKE 10–11 8641And Jesus answered and said to her,"Martha, Martha, you are worried andtroubled about many things.42 "But one thing is needed, and Maryhas chosen that good part, which willnot be taken away from her."

11 1Now it came to pass, as He waspraying in a certain place, when

He ceased, that one of His disciples saidto Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as Johnalso taught his disciples."2 So He said to them, "When you pray,say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed beYour name. Your kingdom come. Yourwill be done On earth as it is in heaven.3Give us day by day our daily bread.4And forgive us our sins, For we alsoforgive everyone who is indebted to us.And do not lead us into tempta on, Butdeliver us from the evil one."5And He said to them, "Which of youshall have a friend, and go to him at

LUKE 11 87midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lendme three loaves;6 ‘for a friend of mine has come to meon his journey, and I have nothing to setbefore him’;7 "and he will answer from within andsay, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is nowshut, and my children are with me inbed; I cannot rise and give to you’?8 "I say to you, though he will not riseand give to him because he is his friend,yet because of his persistence he willrise and give him as many as he needs.9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will begiven to you; seek, and you will find;knock, and it will be opened to you.10 "For everyone who asks receives,and he who seeks finds, and to him whoknocks it will be opened.11 "If a son asks for bread from anyfather among you, will he give him a

LUKE 11 88stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he givehim a serpent instead of a fish?12 "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offerhim a scorpion?13 "If you then, being evil, know howto give good gi s to your children, howmuch more will your heavenly Fathergive the Holy Spirit to those who askHim!"14And He was cas ng out a demon, andit was mute. So it was, when the demonhad gone out, that the mute spoke; andthe mul tudes marveled.15 But some of them said, "He casts outdemons by Beelzebub, the ruler of thedemons."16Others, tes ng Him, sought from Hima sign from heaven.17 But He, knowing their thoughts, saidto them: "Every kingdom divided againstitself is brought to desola on, and ahouse divided against a house falls.

LUKE 11 8918 "If Satan also is divided againsthimself, how will his kingdom stand?Because you say I cast out demons byBeelzebub.19 "And if I cast out demons byBeelzebub, by whom do your sons castthem out? Therefore they will be yourjudges.20 "But if I cast out demons with thefinger of God, surely the kingdom of Godhas come upon you.21 "When a strong man, fully armed,guards his own palace, his goods are inpeace.22 "But when a stronger than he comesupon him and overcomes him, he takesfrom him all his armor in which hetrusted, and divides his spoils.23 "He who is not with Me is againstMe, and he who does not gather withMe sca ers.

LUKE 11 9024 "When an unclean spirit goes outof a man, he goes through dry places,seeking rest; and finding none, he says,‘I will return to my house from which Icame.’25 "And when he comes, he finds itswept and put in order.26 "Then he goes and takes with himseven other spirits more wicked thanhimself, and they enter and dwell there;and the last state of that man is worsethan the first."27And it happened, as He spoke thesethings, that a certain woman from thecrowd raised her voice and said to Him,"Blessed is the womb that bore You, andthe breasts which nursed You!"28 But He said, "More than that, blessedare those who hear the word of God andkeep it!"29And while the crowds were thicklygathered together, He began to say, "This

LUKE 11 91is an evil genera on. It seeks a sign, andno sign will be given to it except the signof Jonah the prophet.30 "For as Jonah became a sign to theNinevites, so also the Son of Man will beto this genera on.31 "The queen of the South will rise upin the judgment with the men of thisgenera on and condemn them, for shecame from the ends of the earth to hearthe wisdom of Solomon; and indeed agreater than Solomon is here.32 "The men of Nineveh will rise up inthe judgment with this genera on andcondemn it, for they repented at thepreaching of Jonah; and indeed a greaterthan Jonah is here.33 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, putsit in a secret place or under a basket, buton a lampstand, that those who come inmay see the light.

LUKE 11 9234 "The lamp of the body is the eye.Therefore, when your eye is good, yourwhole body also is full of light. But whenyour eye is bad, your body also is full ofdarkness.35 "Therefore take heed that the lightwhich is in you is not darkness.36 "If then your whole body is full oflight, having no part dark, the wholebody will be full of light, as when thebright shining of a lamp gives you light."37And as He spoke, a certain Phariseeasked Him to dine with him. So He wentin and sat down to eat.38When the Pharisee saw it, hemarveled that He had not first washedbefore dinner.39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now youPharisees make the outside of the cupand dish clean, but your inward part isfull of greed and wickedness.

LUKE 11 9340 "Foolish ones! Did not He who madethe outside make the inside also?41 "But rather give alms of such thingsas you have; then indeed all things areclean to you.42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For youthe mint and rue and all manner of

herbs, and pass by jus ce and the loveof God. These you ought to have done,without leaving the others undone.43 "Woe to you Pharisees! For you lovethe best seats in the synagogues andgree ngs in the marketplaces.44 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,hypocrites! For you are like graves whichare not seen, and the men who walkover them are not aware of them."45 Then one of the lawyers answeredand said to Him, "Teacher, by sayingthese things You reproach us also."46And He said, "Woe to you also,lawyers! For you load men with burdens

LUKE 11 94hard to bear, and you yourselves donot touch the burdens with one of yourfingers.47 "Woe to you! For you build the tombsof the prophets, and your fathers killedthem.48 "In fact, you bear witness that youapprove the deeds of your fathers; forthey indeed killed them, and you buildtheir tombs.49 "Therefore the wisdom of God alsosaid, ‘I will send them prophets andapostles, and some of them they will killand persecute,’50 "that the blood of all the prophetswhich was shed from the founda onof the world may be required of thisgenera on,51 "from the blood of Abel to the bloodof Zechariah who perished between thealtar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, itshall be required of this genera on.

LUKE 11–12 9552 "Woe to you lawyers! For you havetaken away the key of knowledge. Youdid not enter in yourselves, and thosewho were entering in you hindered."53And as He said these things tothem, the scribes and the Phariseesbegan to assail Him vehemently, and tocross–examine Him about many things,54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking tocatch Him in something He might say,that they might accuse Him.

12 1 In the mean me, when aninnumerable mul tude of people

had gathered together, so that theytrampled one another, He began to sayto His disciples first of all, "Beware ofthe leaven of the Pharisees, which ishypocrisy.2 "For there is nothing covered that willnot be revealed, nor hidden that will notbe known.

LUKE 12 963 "Therefore whatever you have spokenin the dark will be heard in the light,and what you have spoken in the ear ininner rooms will be proclaimed on thehousetops.4 "And I say to you, My friends, do notbe afraid of those who kill the body, anda er that have no more that they cando.5 "But I will show you whom you shouldfear: Fear Him who, a er He has killed,has power to cast into hell; yes, I say toyou, fear Him!6 "Are not five sparrows sold for twocopper coins? And not one of them isforgo en before God.7 "But the very hairs of your head areall numbered. Do not fear therefore; youare of more value than many sparrows.8 "Also I say to you, whoever confessesMe before men, him the Son of Man alsowill confess before the angels of God.

LUKE 12 979 "But he who denies Me before menwill be denied before the angels of God.10 "And anyone who speaks a wordagainst the Son ofMan, it will be forgivenhim; but to him who blasphemes againstthe Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.11 "Now when they bring you tothe synagogues and magistrates andauthori es, do not worry about how orwhat you should answer, or what youshould say.12 "For the Holy Spirit will teach you inthat very hour what you ought to say."13 Then one from the crowd said toHim, "Teacher, tell my brother to dividethe inheritance with me."14 But He said to him, "Man, who madeMe a judge or an arbitrator over you?"15And He said to them, "Take heed andbeware of covetousness, for one’s lifedoes not consist in the abundance of thethings he possesses."

LUKE 12 9816 Then He spoke a parable to them,saying: "The ground of a certain rich manyielded plen fully.17 "And he thought within himself,saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have noroom to store my crops?’18 "So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pulldown my barns and build greater, andthere I will store all my crops and mygoods.19 ‘And I will say to my soul, "Soul,you have many goods laid up for manyyears; take your ease; eat, drink, and bemerry."’20 "But God said to him, ‘Fool! Thisnight your soul will be required of you;then whose will those things be whichyou have provided?’21 "So is he who lays up treasure forhimself, and is not rich toward God."22 Then He said to His disciples,"Therefore I say to you, do not worry

LUKE 12 99about your life, what you will eat; norabout the body, what you will put on.23 "Life is more than food, and the bodyis more than clothing.24 "Consider the ravens, for theyneither sow nor reap, which haveneither storehouse nor barn; and Godfeeds them. Of how much more valueare you than the birds?25 "And which of you by worrying canadd one cubit to his stature?26 "If you then are not able to do theleast, why are you anxious for the rest?27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow:they neither toil nor spin; and yet I sayto you, even Solomon in all his glory wasnot arrayed like one of these.28 "If then God so clothes the grass,which today is in the field and tomorrowis thrown into the oven, how much morewill He clothe you, O you of li le faith?

LUKE 12 10029 "And do not seek what you shouldeat or what you should drink, nor havean anxious mind.30 "For all these things the na ons ofthe world seek a er, and your Fatherknows that you need these things.31 "But seek the kingdom of God, andall these things shall be added to you.32 "Do not fear, li le flock, for it is yourFather’s good pleasure to give you thekingdom.33 "Sell what you have and give alms;provide yourselves money bags whichdo not grow old, a treasure in theheavens that does not fail, where nothief approaches nor moth destroys.34 "For where your treasure is, thereyour heart will be also.35 "Let your waist be girded and yourlamps burning;36 "and you yourselves be like menwho wait for their master, when he will

LUKE 12 101return from the wedding, that when hecomes and knocks they may open to himimmediately.37 "Blessed are those servants whomthe master, when he comes, will findwatching. Assuredly, I say to you that hewill gird himself and have them sit downto eat, and will come and serve them.38 "And if he should come in the secondwatch, or come in the third watch, andfind them so, blessed are those servants.39 "But know this, that if the masterof the house had known what hourthe thief would come, he would havewatched and not allowed his house tobe broken into.40 "Therefore you also be ready, for theSon of Man is coming at an hour you donot expect."41 Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do Youspeak this parable only to us, or to allpeople?"

LUKE 12 10242And the Lord said, "Who then isthat faithful and wise steward, whomhis master will make ruler over hishousehold, to give them their por on offood in due season?43 "Blessed is that servant whom hismaster will find so doing when he comes.44 "Truly, I say to you that he will makehim ruler over all that he has.45 "But if that servant says in his heart,‘My master is delaying his coming,’ andbegins to beat the male and femaleservants, and to eat and drink and bedrunk,46 "the master of that servant will comeon a day when he is not looking for him,and at an hour when he is not aware,and will cut him in two and appoint himhis por on with the unbelievers.47 "And that servant who knew hismaster’s will, and did not prepare

LUKE 12 103himself or do according to his will, shallbe beaten with many stripes.48 "But he who did not know, yetcommi ed things deserving of stripes,shall be beaten with few. For everyoneto whom much is given, from him muchwill be required; and to whom much hasbeen commi ed, of him they will ask themore.49 "I came to send fire on the earth, andhow I wish it were already kindled!50 "But I have a bap sm to be bap zedwith, and how distressed I am ll it isaccomplished!51 "Do you suppose that I came to givepeace on earth? I tell you, not at all, butrather division.52 "For from now on five in one housewill be divided: three against two, andtwo against three.53 "Father will be divided againstson and son against father, mother

LUKE 12 104against daughter and daughter againstmother, mother–in–law against herdaughter–in–law and daughter–in–lawagainst her mother–in–law."54 Then He also said to the mul tudes,"Whenever you see a cloud rising out ofthe west, immediately you say, ‘A showeris coming’; and so it is.55 "And when you see the southwind blow, you say, ‘There will be hotweather’; and there is.56 "Hypocrites! You can discern the faceof the sky and of the earth, but how is ityou do not discern this me?57 "Yes, and why, even of yourselves, doyou not judge what is right?58 "When you go with your adversary tothe magistrate, make every effort alongthe way to se le with him, lest he dragyou to the judge, the judge deliver youto the officer, and the officer throw youinto prison.

LUKE 12–13 10559 "I tell you, you shall not depart fromthere ll you have paid the very lastmite."

13 1 There were present at thatseason some who told Him about

the Galileans whose blood Pilate hadmingled with their sacrifices.2And Jesus answered and said to them,"Do you suppose that these Galileanswere worse sinners than all otherGalileans, because they suffered suchthings?3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repentyou will all likewise perish.4 "Or those eighteen on whom thetower in Siloam fell and killed them,do you think that they were worsesinners than all other men who dwelt inJerusalem?5 "I tell you, no; but unless you repentyou will all likewise perish."

LUKE 13 1066He also spoke this parable: "A certainman had a fig tree planted in hisvineyard, and he came seeking fruit on itand found none.7 "Then he said to the keeper of hisvineyard, ‘Look, for three years I havecome seeking fruit on this fig tree andfind none. Cut it down; why does it useup the ground?’8 "But he answered and said to him,‘Sir, let it alone this year also, un l I digaround it and fer lize it.9 ‘And if it bears fruit, well. But if not,a er that you can cut it down.’"10Now He was teaching in one of thesynagogues on the Sabbath.11And behold, there was a woman whohad a spirit of infirmity eighteen years,and was bent over and could in no wayraise herself up.

LUKE 13 10712 But when Jesus saw her, He calledher to Him and said to her, "Woman, youare loosed from your infirmity."13And He laid His hands on her, andimmediately she was made straight, andglorified God.14 But the ruler of the synagogueanswered with indigna on, becauseJesus had healed on the Sabbath; andhe said to the crowd, "There are six dayson which men ought to work; thereforecome and be healed on them, and noton the Sabbath day."15 The Lord then answered him andsaid, "Hypocrite! Does not each oneof you on the Sabbath loose his ox ordonkey from the stall, and lead it awayto water it?16 "So ought not this woman, beinga daughter of Abraham, whom Satanhas bound––think of it––for eighteen

LUKE 13 108years, be loosed from this bond on theSabbath?"17And when He said these things, allHis adversaries were put to shame; andall the mul tude rejoiced for all theglorious things that were done by Him.18 Then He said, "What is the kingdomof God like? And to what shall I compareit?19 "It is like a mustard seed, which aman took and put in his garden; and itgrew and became a large tree, and thebirds of the air nested in its branches."20And again He said, "To what shall Iliken the kingdom of God?21 "It is like leaven, which a woman tookand hid in three measures of meal ll itwas all leavened."22And He went through the ci es andvillages, teaching, and journeying towardJerusalem.

LUKE 13 10923 Then one said to Him, "Lord, arethere few who are saved?" And He saidto them,24 "Strive to enter through the narrowgate, for many, I say to you, will seek toenter and will not be able.25 "When once the Master of the househas risen up and shut the door, and youbegin to stand outside and knock at thedoor, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’and He will answer and say to you, ‘I donot know you, where you are from,’26 "then you will begin to say, ‘We ateand drank in Your presence, and Youtaught in our streets.’27 "But He will say, ‘I tell you I do notknow you, where you are from. Departfrom Me, all you workers of iniquity.’28 "There will be weeping and gnashingof teeth, when you see Abraham andIsaac and Jacob and all the prophets

LUKE 13 110in the kingdom of God, and yourselvesthrust out.29 "They will come from the east andthe west, from the north and the south,and sit down in the kingdom of God.30 "And indeed there are last who willbe first, and there are first who will belast."31On that very day some Phariseescame, saying to Him, "Get out anddepart from here, for Herod wants to killYou."32And He said to them, "Go, tell thatfox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons andperform cures today and tomorrow, andthe third day I shall be perfected.’33 "Nevertheless I must journey today,tomorrow, and the day following; for itcannot be that a prophet should perishoutside of Jerusalem.34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the onewho kills the prophets and stones those

LUKE 13–14 111who are sent to her! How o en I wantedto gather your children together, as ahen gathers her brood under her wings,but you were not willing!35 "See! Your house is le to youdesolate; and assuredly, I say to you, youshall not see Me un l the me comeswhen you say, ‘Blessed is He who comesin the name of the LORD!’"

14 1Now it happened, as He wentinto the house of one of the rulers

of the Pharisees to eat bread on theSabbath, that they watched Him closely.2And behold, there was a certain manbefore Him who had dropsy.3And Jesus, answering, spoke to thelawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is itlawful to heal on the Sabbath?"4 But they kept silent. And He took himand healed him, and let him go.5 Then He answered them, saying,"Which of you, having a donkey or an

LUKE 14 112ox that has fallen into a pit, will notimmediately pull him out on the Sabbathday?"6And they could not answer Himregarding these things.7 So He told a parable to those whowere invited, when He noted how theychose the best places, saying to them:8 "When you are invited by anyone toa wedding feast, do not sit down in thebest place, lest one more honorablethan you be invited by him;9 "and he who invited you and himcome and say to you, ‘Give place to thisman,’ and then you begin with shame totake the lowest place.10 "But when you are invited, go and sitdown in the lowest place, so that whenhe who invited you comes he may say toyou, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you willhave glory in the presence of those whosit at the table with you.

LUKE 14 11311 "For whoever exalts himself will behumbled, and he who humbles himselfwill be exalted."12 Then He also said to him whoinvited Him, "When you give a dinneror a supper, do not ask your friends,your brothers, your rela ves, nor richneighbors, lest they also invite you back,and you be repaid.13 "But when you give a feast, invite thepoor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.14 "And you will be blessed, becausethey cannot repay you; for you shall berepaid at the resurrec on of the just."15Now when one of those who sat atthe table with Him heard these things,he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shalleat bread in the kingdom of God!"16 Then He said to him, "A certain mangave a great supper and invited many,

LUKE 14 11417 "and sent his servant at supper meto say to those who were invited, ‘Come,for all things are now ready.’18 "But they all with one accord beganto make excuses. The first said to him,‘I have bought a piece of ground, and Imust go and see it. I ask you to have meexcused.’19 "And another said, ‘I have boughtfive yoke of oxen, and I am going to testthem. I ask you to have me excused.’20 "S ll another said, ‘I have married awife, and therefore I cannot come.’21 "So that servant came and reportedthese things to his master. Then themaster of the house, being angry, saidto his servant, ‘Go out quickly into thestreets and lanes of the city, and bring inhere the poor and the maimed and thelame and the blind.’

LUKE 14 11522 "And the servant said, ‘Master, it isdone as you commanded, and s ll thereis room.’23 "Then the master said to the servant,‘Go out into the highways and hedges,and compel them to come in, that myhouse may be filled.24 ‘For I say to you that none of thosemen who were invited shall taste mysupper.’"25Now great mul tudes went withHim. And He turned and said to them,26 "If anyone comes to Me and doesnot hate his father and mother, wifeand children, brothers and sisters, yes,and his own life also, he cannot be Mydisciple.27 "And whoever does not bear hiscross and come a er Me cannot be Mydisciple.28 "For which of you, intending to builda tower, does not sit down first and

LUKE 14 116count the cost, whether he has enoughto finish it ––29 "lest, a er he has laid the founda on,and is not able to finish, all who see itbegin to mock him,30 "saying, ‘This man began to build andwas not able to finish.’31 "Or what king, going to make waragainst another king, does not sit downfirst and consider whether he is able withten thousand to meet him who comesagainst him with twenty thousand?32 "Or else, while the other is s ll agreat way off, he sends a delega on andasks condi ons of peace.33 "So likewise, whoever of you doesnot forsake all that he has cannot be Mydisciple.34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lostits flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

LUKE 14–15 11735 "It is neither fit for the land nor forthe dunghill, but men throw it out. Hewho has ears to hear, let him hear!"

15 1 Then all the tax collectors andthe sinners drew near to Him to

hear Him.2And the Pharisees and scribescomplained, saying, "This Man receivessinners and eats with them."3 So He spoke this parable to them,saying:4 "What man of you, having a hundredsheep, if he loses one of them, does notleave the ninety–nine in the wilderness,and go a er the one which is lost un lhe finds it?5 "And when he has found it, he lays iton his shoulders, rejoicing.6 "And when he comes home, he callstogether his friends and neighbors,saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for Ihave found my sheep which was lost!’

LUKE 15 1187 "I say to you that likewise there willbe more joy in heaven over one sinnerwho repents than over ninety–nine justpersons who need no repentance.8 "Or what woman, having ten silvercoins, if she loses one coin, does not lighta lamp, sweep the house, and searchcarefully un l she finds it?9 "And when she has found it, she callsher friends and neighbors together,saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have foundthe piece which I lost!’10 "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy inthe presence of the angels of God overone sinner who repents."11 Then He said: "A certain man hadtwo sons.12 "And the younger of them said to hisfather, ‘Father, give me the por on ofgoods that falls to me.’ So he divided tothem his livelihood.

LUKE 15 11913 "And not many days a er, theyounger son gathered all together,journeyed to a far country, and therewasted his possessions with prodigalliving.14 "But when he had spent all, therearose a severe famine in that land, andhe began to be in want.15 "Then he went and joined himself toa ci zen of that country, and he sent himinto his fields to feed swine.16 "And he would gladly have filled hisstomach with the pods that the swineate, and no one gave him anything.17 "But when he came to himself, hesaid, ‘How many of my father’s hiredservants have bread enough and tospare, and I perish with hunger!18 ‘I will arise and go to my father, andwill say to him, "Father, I have sinnedagainst heaven and before you,

LUKE 15 12019 "and I am no longer worthy to becalled your son. Make me like one ofyour hired servants."’20 "And he arose and came to his father.But when he was s ll a great way off, hisfather saw him and had compassion, andran and fell on his neck and kissed him.21 "And the son said to him, ‘Father, Ihave sinned against heaven and in yoursight, and am no longer worthy to becalled your son.’22 "But the father said to his servants,‘Bring out the best robe and put it onhim, and put a ring on his hand andsandals on his feet.23 ‘And bring the fa ed calf here and killit, and let us eat and be merry;24 ‘for this my son was dead and is aliveagain; he was lost and is found.’ Andthey began to be merry.

LUKE 15 12125 "Now his older son was in the field.And as he came and drew near to thehouse, he heard music and dancing.26 "So he called one of the servants andasked what these things meant.27 "And he said to him, ‘Your brotherhas come, and because he has receivedhim safe and sound, your father haskilled the fa ed calf.’28 "But he was angry and would not goin. Therefore his father came out andpleaded with him.29 "So he answered and said to hisfather, ‘Lo, these many years I have beenserving you; I never transgressed yourcommandment at any me; and yet younever gave me a young goat, that I mightmake merry with my friends.30 ‘But as soon as this son of yourscame, who has devoured your livelihoodwith harlots, you killed the fa ed calf forhim.’

LUKE 15–16 12231 "And he said to him, ‘Son, you arealways with me, and all that I have isyours.32 ‘It was right that we should makemerry and be glad, for your brother wasdead and is alive again, and was lost andis found.’"

16 1He also said to His disciples:"There was a certain rich man

who had a steward, and an accusa onwas brought to him that this man waswas ng his goods.2 "So he called him and said to him,‘What is this I hear about you? Give anaccount of your stewardship, for you canno longer be steward.’3 "Then the steward said within himself,‘What shall I do? For my master is takingthe stewardship away from me. I cannotdig; I am ashamed to beg.

LUKE 16 1234 ‘I have resolved what to do, that whenI am put out of the stewardship, theymay receive me into their houses.’5 "So he called every one of his master’sdebtors to him, and said to the first,‘How much do you owe my master?’6 "And he said, ‘A hundred measuresof oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill,and sit down quickly and write fi y.’7 "Then he said to another, ‘And howmuch do you owe?’ So he said, ‘Ahundred measures of wheat.’ And hesaid to him, ‘Take your bill, and writeeighty.’8 "So the master commended theunjust steward because he had dealtshrewdly. For the sons of this world aremore shrewd in their genera on thanthe sons of light.9 "And I say to you, make friends foryourselves by unrighteous mammon,

LUKE 16 124that when you fail, they may receive youinto an everlas ng home.10 "He who is faithful in what is leastis faithful also in much; and he who isunjust in what is least is unjust also inmuch.11 "Therefore if you have not beenfaithful in the unrighteous mammon,who will commit to your trust the trueriches?12 "And if you have not been faithful inwhat is another man’s, who will give youwhat is your own?13 "No servant can serve two masters;for either he will hate the one and lovethe other, or else he will be loyal to theone and despise the other. You cannotserve God and mammon."14Now the Pharisees, who were loversof money, also heard all these things,and they derided Him.

LUKE 16 12515And He said to them, "You are thosewho jus fy yourselves before men,but God knows your hearts. For whatis highly esteemed among men is anabomina on in the sight of God.16 "The law and the prophets were un lJohn. Since that me the kingdom ofGod has been preached, and everyone ispressing into it.17 "And it is easier for heaven and earthto pass away than for one le of thelaw to fail.18 "Whoever divorces his wife andmarries another commits adultery; andwhoever marries her who is divorcedfrom her husband commits adultery.19 "There was a certain rich man whowas clothed in purple and fine linen andfared sumptuously every day.20 "But there was a certain beggarnamed Lazarus, full of sores, who waslaid at his gate,

LUKE 16 12621 "desiring to be fed with the crumbswhich fell from the rich man’s table.Moreover the dogs came and licked hissores.22 "So it was that the beggar died, andwas carried by the angels to Abraham’sbosom. The rich man also died and wasburied.23 "And being in torments in Hades, heli ed up his eyes and saw Abraham afaroff, and Lazarus in his bosom.24 "Then he cried and said, ‘FatherAbraham, have mercy on me, and sendLazarus that he may dip the p of hisfinger in water and cool my tongue; for Iam tormented in this flame.’25 "But Abraham said, ‘Son, rememberthat in your life me you received yourgood things, and likewise Lazarus evilthings; but now he is comforted and youare tormented.

LUKE 16 12726 ‘And besides all this, between us andyou there is a great gulf fixed, so thatthose who want to pass from here toyou cannot, nor can those from therepass to us.’27 "Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore,father, that you would send him to myfather’s house,28 ‘for I have five brothers, that he maytes fy to them, lest they also come tothis place of torment.’29 "Abraham said to him, ‘They haveMoses and the prophets; let them hearthem.’30 "And he said, ‘No, father Abraham;but if one goes to them from the dead,they will repent.’31 "But he said to him, ‘If they do nothear Moses and the prophets, neitherwill they be persuaded though one risefrom the dead.’"

LUKE 17 128

17 1 Then He said to the disciples,"It is impossible that no offenses

should come, but woe to him throughwhom they do come!2 "It would be be er for him if amillstone were hung around his neck,and he were thrown into the sea, thanthat he should offend one of these li leones.3 "Take heed to yourselves. If yourbrother sins against you, rebuke him;and if he repents, forgive him.4 "And if he sins against you sevenmes in a day, and seven mes in a day

returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ youshall forgive him."5And the apostles said to the Lord,"Increase our faith."6 So the Lord said, "If you have faithas a mustard seed, you can say to thismulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots

LUKE 17 129and be planted in the sea,’ and it wouldobey you.7 "And which of you, having a servantplowing or tending sheep, will say tohim when he has come in from the field,‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?8 "But will he not rather say to him,‘Prepare something for my supper, andgird yourself and serve me ll I haveeaten and drunk, and a erward you willeat and drink’?9 "Does he thank that servant becausehe did the things that were commandedhim? I think not.10 "So likewise you, when you havedone all those things which you arecommanded, say, ‘We are unprofitableservants. We have done what was ourduty to do.’"11Now it happened as He went toJerusalem that He passed through themidst of Samaria and Galilee.

LUKE 17 13012 Then as He entered a certain village,theremet Him tenmenwhowere lepers,who stood afar off.13And they li ed up their voices andsaid, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"14 So when He saw them, He said tothem, "Go, show yourselves to thepriests." And so it was that as they went,they were cleansed.15And one of them, when he saw thathe was healed, returned, and with a loudvoice glorified God,16 and fell down on his face at Hisfeet, giving Him thanks. And he was aSamaritan.17 So Jesus answered and said, "Werethere not ten cleansed? But where arethe nine?18 "Were there not any found whoreturned to give glory to God except thisforeigner?"

LUKE 17 13119And He said to him, "Arise, go yourway. Your faith has made you well."20Now when He was asked by thePharisees when the kingdom of Godwould come, He answered them andsaid, "The kingdom of God does notcome with observa on;21 "nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘Seethere!’ For indeed, the kingdom of Godis within you."22 Then He said to the disciples, "Thedays will come when you will desire tosee one of the days of the Son of Man,and you will not see it.23 "And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’or ‘Look there!’ Do not go a er them orfollow them.24 "For as the lightning that flashes outof one part under heaven shines to theother part under heaven, so also the Sonof Man will be in His day.

LUKE 17 13225 "But first He must suffer many thingsand be rejected by this genera on.26 "And as it was in the days of Noah, soit will be also in the days of the Son ofMan:27 "They ate, they drank, they marriedwives, they were given in marriage, un lthe day that Noah entered the ark, andthe flood came and destroyed them all.28 "Likewise as it was also in the days ofLot: They ate, they drank, they bought,they sold, they planted, they built;29 "but on the day that Lot went out ofSodom it rained fire and brimstone fromheaven and destroyed them all.30 "Even so will it be in the day whenthe Son of Man is revealed.31 "In that day, he who is on thehousetop, and his goods are in thehouse, let him not come down to takethem away. And likewise the one who isin the field, let him not turn back.

LUKE 17–18 13332 "Remember Lot’s wife.33 "Whoever seeks to save his life willlose it, and whoever loses his life willpreserve it.34 "I tell you, in that night there willbe two men in one bed: the one will betaken and the other will be le .35 "Two women will be grindingtogether: the one will be taken and theother le .36 "Two men will be in the field: the onewill be taken and the other le ."37And they answered and said to Him,"Where, Lord?" So He said to them,"Wherever the body is, there the eagleswill be gathered together."

18 1 Then He spoke a parable tothem, that men always ought to

pray and not lose heart,2 saying: "There was in a certain city ajudge who did not fear God nor regardman.

LUKE 18 1343 "Now there was a widow in that city;and she came to him, saying, ‘Get jus cefor me from my adversary.’4 "And he would not for a while;but a erward he said within himself,‘Though I do not fear God nor regardman,5 ‘yet because this widow troubles meI will avenge her, lest by her con nualcoming she weary me.’"6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what theunjust judge said.7 "And shall God not avenge His ownelect who cry out day and night to Him,though He bears long with them?8 "I tell you that He will avenge themspeedily. Nevertheless, when the Son ofMan comes, will He really find faith onthe earth?"9Also He spoke this parable to somewho trusted in themselves that theywere righteous, and despised others:

LUKE 18 13510 "Two men went up to the temple topray, one a Pharisee and the other a taxcollector.11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thuswith himself, ‘God, I thank You that Iam not like other men––extor oners,unjust, adulterers, or even as this taxcollector.12 ‘I fast twice a week; I give thes of allthat I possess.’13 "And the tax collector, standing afaroff, would not so much as raise his eyesto heaven, but beat his breast, saying,‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’14 "I tell you, this man went down tohis house jus fied rather than the other;for everyone who exalts himself will behumbled, and he who humbles himselfwill be exalted."15 Then they also brought infants toHim that He might touch them; but

LUKE 18 136when the disciples saw it, they rebukedthem.16 But Jesus called them to Him andsaid, "Let the li le children come to Me,and do not forbid them; for of such isthe kingdom of God.17 "Assuredly, I say to you, whoeverdoes not receive the kingdom of God asa li le child will by no means enter it."18Now a certain ruler asked Him,saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do toinherit eternal life?"19 So Jesus said to him, "Why do youcall Me good? No one is good but One,that is, God.20 "You know the commandments: ‘Donot commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’‘Honor your father and your mother.’"21And he said, "All these things I havekept from my youth."

LUKE 18 13722 So when Jesus heard these things,He said to him, "You s ll lack one thing.Sell all that you have and distribute tothe poor, and you will have treasure inheaven; and come, follow Me."23 But when he heard this, he becamevery sorrowful, for he was very rich.24And when Jesus saw that he becamevery sorrowful, He said, "How hard it isfor those who have riches to enter thekingdom of God!25 "For it is easier for a camel to gothrough the eye of a needle than for arich man to enter the kingdom of God."26And those who heard it said, "Whothen can be saved?"27 But He said, "The things which areimpossible with men are possible withGod."28 Then Peter said, "See, we have le alland followed You."

LUKE 18 13829 So He said to them, "Assuredly, Isay to you, there is no one who has lehouse or parents or brothers or wife orchildren, for the sake of the kingdom ofGod,30 "who shall not receive many mesmore in this present me, and in the ageto come eternal life."31 Then He took the twelve aside andsaid to them, "Behold, we are going upto Jerusalem, and all things that arewri en by the prophets concerning theSon of Man will be accomplished.32 "For He will be delivered to theGen les and will be mocked and insultedand spit upon.33 "They will scourge Him and kill Him.And the third day He will rise again."34 But they understood none of thesethings; this saying was hidden fromthem, and they did not know the thingswhich were spoken.

LUKE 18 13935 Then it happened, as He was comingnear Jericho, that a certain blind man satby the road begging.36And hearing a mul tude passing by,he asked what it meant.37 So they told him that Jesus ofNazareth was passing by.38And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Sonof David, have mercy on me!"39 Then those who went before warnedhim that he should be quiet; but he criedout all the more, "Son of David, havemercy on me!"40 So Jesus stood s ll and commandedhim to be brought to Him. And when hehad come near, He asked him,41 saying, "What do you want Me todo for you?" He said, "Lord, that I mayreceive my sight."42 Then Jesus said to him, "Receive yoursight; your faith has made you well."

LUKE 18–19 14043And immediately he received hissight, and followed Him, glorifying God.And all the people, when they saw it,gave praise to God.

19 1 Then Jesus entered and passedthrough Jericho.

2Now behold, there was a man namedZacchaeus who was a chief tax collector,and he was rich.3And he sought to see who Jesus was,but could not because of the crowd, forhe was of short stature.4 So he ran ahead and climbed up intoa sycamore tree to see Him, for He wasgoing to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place,He looked up and saw him, and saidto him, "Zacchaeus, make haste andcome down, for today I must stay at yourhouse."6 So he made haste and came down,and received Him joyfully.

LUKE 19 1417 But when they saw it, they allcomplained, saying, "He has gone to bea guest with a man who is a sinner."8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to theLord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goodsto the poor; and if I have taken anythingfrom anyone by false accusa on, Irestore fourfold."9And Jesus said to him, "Today salva onhas come to this house, because he alsois a son of Abraham;10 "for the Son of Man has come to seekand to save that which was lost."11Now as they heard these things,He spoke another parable, because Hewas near Jerusalem and because theythought the kingdom of God wouldappear immediately.12 Therefore He said: "A certainnobleman went into a far country toreceive for himself a kingdom and toreturn.

LUKE 19 14213 "So he called ten of his servants,delivered to them ten minas, and said tothem, ‘Do business ll I come.’14 "But his ci zens hated him, and senta delega on a er him, saying, ‘We willnot have this man to reign over us.’15 "And so it was that when he returned,having received the kingdom, he thencommanded these servants, to whomhe had given the money, to be calledto him, that he might know how muchevery man had gained by trading.16 "Then came the first, saying, ‘Master,your mina has earned ten minas.’17 "And he said to him, ‘Well done,good servant; because you were faithfulin a very li le, have authority over tenci es.’18 "And the second came, saying,‘Master, your mina has earned fiveminas.’

LUKE 19 14319 "Likewise he said to him, ‘You also beover five ci es.’20 "Then another came, saying, ‘Master,here is your mina, which I have kept putaway in a handkerchief.21 ‘For I feared you, because you are anaustere man. You collect what you didnot deposit, and reap what you did notsow.’22 "And he said to him, ‘Out of yourown mouth I will judge you, you wickedservant. You knew that I was an austereman, collec ng what I did not depositand reaping what I did not sow.23 ‘Why then did you not put my moneyin the bank, that at my coming I mighthave collected it with interest?’24 "And he said to those who stood by,‘Take the mina from him, and give it tohim who has ten minas.’25 ("But they said to him, ‘Master, hehas ten minas.’)

LUKE 19 14426 ‘For I say to you, that to everyonewho has will be given; and from him whodoes not have, even what he has will betaken away from him.27 ‘But bring here those enemies ofmine, who did not want me to reign overthem, and slay them before me.’"28When He had said this, He went onahead, going up to Jerusalem.29And it came to pass, when He camenear to Bethphage and Bethany, at themountain called Olivet, that He sent twoof His disciples,30 saying, "Go into the village oppositeyou, where as you enter you will find acolt ed, on which no one has ever sat.Loose it and bring it here.31 "And if anyone asks you, ‘Why areyou loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him,‘Because the Lord has need of it.’"

LUKE 19 14532 So those who were sent went theirway and found it just as He had said tothem.33 But as they were loosing the colt, theowners of it said to them, "Why are youloosing the colt?"34And they said, "The Lord has need ofhim."35 Then they brought him to Jesus. Andthey threw their own clothes on the colt,and they set Jesus on him.36And as He went, many spread theirclothes on the road.37 Then, as He was now drawing nearthe descent of the Mount of Olives, thewhole mul tude of the disciples beganto rejoice and praise God with a loudvoice for all the mighty works they hadseen,38 saying: "‘Blessed is the King whocomes in the name of the LORD!’ Peacein heaven and glory in the highest!"

LUKE 19 14639And some of the Pharisees called toHim from the crowd, "Teacher, rebukeYour disciples."40 But He answered and said to them, "Itell you that if these should keep silent,the stones would immediately cry out."41Now as He drew near, He saw the cityand wept over it,42 saying, "If you had known, even you,especially in this your day, the thingsthat make for your peace! But now theyare hidden from your eyes.43 "For days will come upon you whenyour enemies will build an embankmentaround you, surround you and close youin on every side,44 "and level you, and your childrenwithin you, to the ground; and they willnot leave in you one stone upon another,because you did not know the me ofyour visita on."

LUKE 19–20 14745 Then He went into the temple andbegan to drive out those who boughtand sold in it,46 saying to them, "It is wri en, ‘Myhouse is a house of prayer,’ but you havemade it a ‘den of thieves.’"47And He was teaching daily in thetemple. But the chief priests, the scribes,and the leaders of the people sought todestroy Him,48 and were unable to do anything; forall the people were very a en ve tohear Him.

20 1Now it happened on one ofthose days, as He taught the

people in the temple and preachedthe gospel, that the chief priests andthe scribes, together with the elders,confronted Him2 and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us,by what authority are You doing these

LUKE 20 148things? Or who is he who gave You thisauthority?"3 But He answered and said to them, "Ialso will ask you one thing, and answerMe:4 "The bap sm of John––was it fromheaven or from men?"5And they reasoned amongthemselves, saying, "If we say,‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why thendid you not believe him?’6 "But if we say, ‘From men,’ all thepeople will stone us, for they arepersuaded that John was a prophet."7 So they answered that they did notknow where it was from.8And Jesus said to them, "Neither willI tell you by what authority I do thesethings."9 Then He began to tell the peoplethis parable: "A certain man planted a

LUKE 20 149vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, andwent into a far country for a long me.10 "Now at vintage– me he sent aservant to the vinedressers, that theymight give him some of the fruit of thevineyard. But the vinedressers beat himand sent him away empty–handed.11 "Again he sent another servant;and they beat him also, treatedhim shamefully, and sent him awayempty–handed.12 "And again he sent a third; and theywounded him also and cast him out.13 "Then the owner of the vineyardsaid, ‘What shall I do? I will send mybeloved son. Probably they will respecthim when they see him.’14 "But when the vinedressers sawhim, they reasoned among themselves,saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us killhim, that the inheritance may be ours.’

LUKE 20 15015 "So they cast him out of the vineyardand killed him. Therefore what will theowner of the vineyard do to them?16 "He will come and destroy thosevinedressers and give the vineyard toothers." And when they heard it theysaid, "Certainly not!"17 Then He looked at them and said,"What then is this that is wri en: ‘Thestone which the builders rejected Hasbecome the chief cornerstone’?18 "Whoever falls on that stone will bebroken; but on whomever it falls, it willgrind him to powder."19And the chief priests and the scribesthat very hour sought to lay hands onHim, but they feared the people––forthey knew He had spoken this parableagainst them.20 So they watched Him, and sent spieswho pretended to be righteous, thatthey might seize on His words, in order

LUKE 20 151to deliver Him to the power and theauthority of the governor.21 Then they asked Him, saying,"Teacher, we know that You say andteach rightly, and You do not showpersonal favori sm, but teach the wayof God in truth:22 "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes toCaesar or not?"23 But He perceived their cra iness,and said to them, "Why do you test Me?24 "Show Me a denarius. Whose imageand inscrip on does it have?" Theyanswered and said, "Caesar’s."25And He said to them, "Rendertherefore to Caesar the things that areCaesar’s, and to God the things that areGod’s."26 But they could not catch Him in Hiswords in the presence of the people.And they marveled at His answer andkept silent.

LUKE 20 15227 Then some of the Sadducees, whodeny that there is a resurrec on, cameto Him and asked Him,28 saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to usthat if a man’s brother dies, having awife, and he dies without children, hisbrother should take his wife and raise upoffspring for his brother.29 "Now there were seven brothers.And the first took a wife, and diedwithout children.30 "And the second took her as wife,and he died childless.31 "Then the third took her, and in likemanner the seven also; and they le nochildren, and died.32 "Last of all the woman died also.33 "Therefore, in the resurrec on,whose wife does she become? For allseven had her as wife."

LUKE 20 15334And Jesus answered and said tothem, "The sons of this age marry andare given in marriage.35 "But those who are counted worthyto a ain that age, and the resurrec onfrom the dead, neither marry nor aregiven in marriage;36 "nor can they die anymore, for theyare equal to the angels and are sons ofGod, being sons of the resurrec on.37 "But even Moses showed in theburning bush passage that the dead areraised, when he called the Lord ‘the Godof Abraham, the God of Isaac, and theGod of Jacob.’38 "For He is not the God of the deadbut of the living, for all live to Him."39 Then some of the scribes answeredand said, "Teacher, You have spokenwell."40 But a er that they dared notques on Him anymore.

LUKE 20–21 15441And He said to them, "How can theysay that the Christ is the Son of David?42 "Now David himself said in the Bookof Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord,"Sit at My right hand,43 Till I make Your enemies Yourfootstool."’44 "Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’;how is He then his Son?"45 Then, in the hearing of all the people,He said to His disciples,46 "Beware of the scribes, who desire togo around in long robes, love gree ngsin the marketplaces, the best seats inthe synagogues, and the best places atfeasts,47 "who devour widows’ houses, andfor a pretense make long prayers. Thesewill receive greater condemna on."

21 1And He looked up and saw therich pu ng their gi s into the

treasury,

LUKE 21 1552 and He saw also a certain poor widowpu ng in two mites.3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that thispoor widow has put in more than all;4 "for all these out of their abundancehave put in offerings for God, but she outof her poverty put in all the livelihoodthat she had."5 Then, as some spoke of the temple,how it was adorned with beau fulstones and dona ons, He said,6 "These things which you see––thedays will come in which not one stoneshall be le upon another that shall notbe thrown down."7 So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher,but when will these things be? And whatsign will there be when these things areabout to take place?"8And He said: "Take heed that you notbe deceived. For many will come in Myname, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The me

LUKE 21 156has drawn near.’ Therefore do not goa er them.9 "But when you hear of wars andcommo ons, do not be terrified; forthese things must come to pass first, butthe end will not come immediately."10 Then He said to them, "Na on willrise against na on, and kingdom againstkingdom.11 "And there will be great earthquakesin various places, and famines andpes lences; and there will be fearfulsights and great signs from heaven.12 "But before all these things, they willlay their hands on you and persecuteyou, delivering you up to the synagoguesand prisons. You will be brought beforekings and rulers for My name’s sake.13 "But it will turn out for you as anoccasion for tes mony.

LUKE 21 15714 "Therefore se le it in your hearts notto meditate beforehand on what you willanswer;15 "for I will give you a mouth andwisdom which all your adversaries willnot be able to contradict or resist.16 "You will be betrayed even by parentsand brothers, rela ves and friends; andthey will put some of you to death.17 "And you will be hated by all for Myname’s sake.18 "But not a hair of your head shall belost.19 "By your pa ence possess your souls.20 "But when you see Jerusalemsurrounded by armies, then know thatits desola on is near.21 "Then let those who are in Judeaflee to the mountains, let those who arein the midst of her depart, and let notthose who are in the country enter her.

LUKE 21 15822 "For these are the days of vengeance,that all things which are wri en may befulfilled.23 "But woe to those who are pregnantand to those who are nursing babiesin those days! For there will be greatdistress in the land and wrath upon thispeople.24 "And they will fall by the edge ofthe sword, and be led away cap veinto all na ons. And Jerusalem will betrampled by Gen les un l the mes ofthe Gen les are fulfilled.25 "And there will be signs in the sun, inthe moon, and in the stars; and on theearth distress of na ons, with perplexity,the sea and the waves roaring;26 "men’s hearts failing them from fearand the expecta on of those thingswhich are coming on the earth, for thepowers of heaven will be shaken.

LUKE 21 15927 "Then they will see the Son of Mancoming in a cloud with power and greatglory.28 "Now when these things begin tohappen, look up and li up your heads,because your redemp on draws near."29 Then He spoke to them a parable:"Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.30 "When they are already budding,you see and know for yourselves thatsummer is now near.31 "So you also, when you see thesethings happening, know that thekingdom of God is near.32 "Assuredly, I say to you, thisgenera on will by no means pass awayll all things take place.33 "Heaven and earth will pass away,but My words will by no means passaway.34 "But take heed to yourselves, lestyour hearts be weighed down with

LUKE 21–22 160carousing, drunkenness, and cares ofthis life, and that Day come on youunexpectedly.35 "For it will come as a snare on allthose who dwell on the face of thewhole earth.36 "Watch therefore, and pray alwaysthat you may be counted worthy toescape all these things that will cometo pass, and to stand before the Son ofMan."37And in the day me He was teachingin the temple, but at night He wentout and stayed on the mountain calledOlivet.38 Then early in the morning all thepeople came to Him in the temple tohear Him.

22 1Now the Feast of UnleavenedBread drew near, which is called

Passover.

LUKE 22 1612And the chief priests and the scribessought how they might kill Him, for theyfeared the people.3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamedIscariot, who was numbered among thetwelve.4 So he went his way and conferredwith the chief priests and captains, howhe might betray Him to them.5And they were glad, and agreed togive him money.6 So he promised and soughtopportunity to betray Him to them inthe absence of the mul tude.7 Then came the Day of UnleavenedBread, when the Passover must be killed.8And He sent Peter and John, saying,"Go and prepare the Passover for us,that we may eat."9 So they said to Him, "Where do Youwant us to prepare?"

LUKE 22 16210And He said to them, "Behold, whenyou have entered the city, a man willmeet you carrying a pitcher of water;follow him into the house which heenters.11 "Then you shall say to the masterof the house, ‘The Teacher says to you,"Where is the guest room where I mayeat the Passover with My disciples?"’12 "Then he will show you a large,furnished upper room; there makeready."13 So they went and found it just as Hehad said to them, and they prepared thePassover.14When the hour had come, He satdown, and the twelve apostles with Him.15 Then He said to them, "With ferventdesire I have desired to eat this Passoverwith you before I suffer;

LUKE 22 16316 "for I say to you, I will no longer eatof it un l it is fulfilled in the kingdom ofGod."17 Then He took the cup, and gavethanks, and said, "Take this and divide itamong yourselves;18 "for I say to you, I will not drink ofthe fruit of the vine un l the kingdom ofGod comes."19And He took bread, gave thanks andbroke 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 also took the cup a ersupper, saying, "This cup is the newcovenant in My blood, which is shed foryou.21 "But behold, the hand of My betrayeris with Me on the table.22 "And truly the Son of Man goes as ithas been determined, but woe to thatman by whom He is betrayed!"

LUKE 22 16423 Then they began to ques on amongthemselves, which of them it was whowould do this thing.24Now there was also a dispute amongthem, as to which of them should beconsidered the greatest.25And He said to them, "The kings ofthe Gen les exercise lordship over them,and those who exercise authority overthem are called ‘benefactors.’26 "But not so among you; on thecontrary, he who is greatest among you,let him be as the younger, and he whogoverns as he who serves.27 "For who is greater, he who sits atthe table, or he who serves? Is it not hewho sits at the table? Yet I am amongyou as the One who serves.28 "But you are those who havecon nued with Me in My trials.

LUKE 22 16529 "And I bestow upon you a kingdom,just as My Father bestowed one uponMe,30 "that you may eat and drink at Mytable in My kingdom, and sit on thronesjudging the twelve tribes of Israel."31And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon!Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that hemay si you as wheat.32 "But I have prayed for you, that yourfaith should not fail; and when youhave returned to Me, strengthen yourbrethren."33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am readyto go with You, both to prison and todeath."34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, therooster shall not crow this day beforeyou will deny three mes that you knowMe."35And He said to them, "When I sentyou without money bag, knapsack, and

LUKE 22 166sandals, did you lack anything?" So theysaid, "Nothing."36 Then He said to them, "But now, hewho has a money bag, let him take it,and likewise a knapsack; and he who hasno sword, let him sell his garment andbuy one.37 "For I say to you that this which iswri en must s ll be accomplished inMe: ‘And He was numbered with thetransgressors.’ For the things concerningMe have an end."38 So they said, "Lord, look, here aretwo swords." And He said to them, "It isenough."39 Coming out, He went to the Mountof Olives, as He was accustomed, and Hisdisciples also followed Him.40When He came to the place, He saidto them, "Pray that you may not enterinto tempta on."

LUKE 22 16741And He was withdrawn from themabout a stone’s throw, and He kneltdown and prayed,42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, takethis cup away fromMe; nevertheless notMy will, but Yours, be done."43 Then an angel appeared to Him fromheaven, strengthening Him.44And being in agony, He prayed moreearnestly. Then His sweat became likegreat drops of blood falling down to theground.45When He rose up from prayer, andhad come to His disciples, He foundthem sleeping from sorrow.46 Then He said to them, "Why do yousleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter intotempta on."47And while He was s ll speaking,behold, a mul tude; and he who wascalled Judas, one of the twelve, went

LUKE 22 168before them and drew near to Jesus tokiss Him.48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are youbetraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"49When those around Him saw whatwas going to happen, they said to Him,"Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"50And one of them struck the servantof the high priest and cut off his rightear.51 But Jesus answered and said, "Permiteven this." And He touched his ear andhealed him.52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests,captains of the temple, and the elderswho had come to Him, "Have you comeout, as against a robber, with swords andclubs?53 "When I was with you daily in thetemple, you did not try to seize Me.But this is your hour, and the power ofdarkness."

LUKE 22 16954Having arrested Him, they led Himand brought Him into the high priest’shouse. But Peter followed at a distance.55Now when they had kindled a fire inthe midst of the courtyard and sat downtogether, Peter sat among them.56And a certain servant girl, seeing himas he sat by the fire, looked intently athim and said, "This man was also withHim."57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman,I do not know Him."58And a er a li le while another sawhim and said, "You also are of them." ButPeter said, "Man, I am not!"59 Then a er about an hour had passed,another confidently affirmed, saying,"Surely this fellow also was with Him, forhe is a Galilean."60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not knowwhat you are saying!" Immediately,

LUKE 22 170while he was s ll speaking, the roostercrowed.61And the Lord turned and looked atPeter. And Peter remembered the wordof the Lord, how He had said to him,"Before the rooster crows, you will denyMe three mes."62 So Peter went out and wept bi erly.63Now themen who held Jesus mockedHim and beat Him.64And having blindfolded Him, theystruck Him on the face and asked Him,saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one whostruck You?"65And many other things theyblasphemously spoke against Him.66As soon as it was day, the eldersof the people, both chief priests andscribes, came together and led Him intotheir council, saying,

LUKE 22–23 17167 "If You are the Christ, tell us." But Hesaid to them, "If I tell you, you will by nomeans believe.68 "And if I also ask you, you will by nomeans answer Me or let Me go.69 "Herea er the Son of Man will sit onthe right hand of the power of God."70 Then they all said, "Are You then theSon of God?" So He said to them, "Yourightly say that I am."71And they said, "What furthertes mony do we need? For we haveheard it ourselves from His own mouth."

23 1 Then the whole mul tude ofthem arose and led Him to Pilate.

2And they began to accuse Him, saying,"We found this fellow perver ng thena on, and forbidding to pay taxes toCaesar, saying that He Himself is Christ,a King."

LUKE 23 1723 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "AreYou the King of the Jews?" He answeredhim and said, "It is as you say."4 So Pilate said to the chief priests andthe crowd, "I find no fault in this Man."5 But they were the more fierce,saying, "He s rs up the people, teachingthroughout all Judea, beginning fromGalilee to this place."6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he askedif the Man were a Galilean.7And as soon as he knew that Hebelonged to Herod’s jurisdic on, he sentHim to Herod, who was also in Jerusalemat that me.8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he wasexceedingly glad; for he had desired fora long me to see Him, because he hadheard many things about Him, and hehoped to see some miracle done by Him.9 Then he ques oned Him with manywords, but He answered him nothing.

LUKE 23 17310And the chief priests and scribesstood and vehemently accused Him.11 Then Herod, with his men of war,treated Him with contempt and mockedHim, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe,and sent Him back to Pilate.12 That very day Pilate and Herodbecame friends with each other, forpreviously they had been at enmity witheach other.13 Then Pilate, when he had calledtogether the chief priests, the rulers, andthe people,14 said to them, "You have brought thisMan to me, as one who misleads thepeople. And indeed, having examinedHim in your presence, I have found nofault in this Man concerning those thingsof which you accuse Him;15 "no, neither did Herod, for I sentyou back to him; and indeed nothing

LUKE 23 174deserving of death has been done byHim.16 "I will therefore chas se Him andrelease Him"17 (for it was necessary for him torelease one to them at the feast).18And they all cried out at once, saying,"Away with this Man, and release to usBarabbas" ––19who had been thrown into prison fora certain rebellion made in the city, andfor murder.20 Pilate, therefore, wishing to releaseJesus, again called out to them.21 But they shouted, saying, "CrucifyHim, crucify Him!"22 Then he said to them the third me,"Why, what evil has He done? I havefound no reason for death in Him. I willtherefore chas se Him and let Him go."23 But they were insistent, demandingwith loud voices that He be crucified.

LUKE 23 175And the voices of these men and of thechief priests prevailed.24 So Pilate gave sentence that it shouldbe as they requested.25And he released to them the onethey requested, who for rebellion andmurder had been thrown into prison;but he delivered Jesus to their will.26Now as they led Him away, they laidhold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian,who was coming from the country, andon him they laid the cross that he mightbear it a er Jesus.27And a great mul tude of the peoplefollowed Him, and women who alsomourned and lamented Him.28 But Jesus, turning to them, said,"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weepfor Me, but weep for yourselves and foryour children.29 "For indeed the days are coming inwhich they will say, ‘Blessed are the

LUKE 23 176barren, wombs that never bore, andbreasts which never nursed!’30 "Then they will begin ‘to say to themountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills,"Cover us!"’31 "For if they do these things in thegreen wood, what will be done in thedry?"32 There were also two others,criminals, led with Him to be put todeath.33And when they had come to theplace called Calvary, there they crucifiedHim, and the criminals, one on the righthand and the other on the le .34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgivethem, for they do not know what theydo." And they divided His garments andcast lots.35And the people stood looking on.But even the rulers with them sneered,saying, "He saved others; let Him save

LUKE 23 177Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen ofGod."36 The soldiers also mocked Him,coming and offering Him sour wine,37 and saying, "If You are the King of theJews, save Yourself."38And an inscrip on also was wri enover Him in le ers of Greek, La n, andHebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.39 Then one of the criminals who werehanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If Youare the Christ, save Yourself and us."40 But the other, answering, rebukedhim, saying, "Do you not even fearGod, seeing you are under the samecondemna on?41 "And we indeed justly, for we receivethe due reward of our deeds; but thisMan has done nothing wrong."42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord,remember me when You come into Yourkingdom."

LUKE 23 17843And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, Isay to you, today you will be with Me inParadise."44Now it was about the sixth hour, andthere was darkness over all the earthun l the ninth hour.45 Then the sun was darkened, and theveil of the temple was torn in two.46And when Jesus had cried out with aloud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Yourhands I commit My spirit.’" Having saidthis, He breathed His last.47 So when the centurion saw whathad happened, he glorified God, saying,"Certainly this was a righteous Man!"48And the whole crowd who cametogether to that sight, seeing whathad been done, beat their breasts andreturned.49 But all His acquaintances, and thewomen who followed Him from Galilee,

LUKE 23 179stood at a distance, watching thesethings.50Now behold, there was a man namedJoseph, a council member, a good andjust man.51He had not consented to theirdecision and deed. He was fromArimathea, a city of the Jews, whohimself was also wai ng for the kingdomof God.52 This man went to Pilate and asked forthe body of Jesus.53 Then he took it down, wrapped itin linen, and laid it in a tomb that washewn out of the rock, where no one hadever lain before.54 That day was the Prepara on, andthe Sabbath drew near.55And the women who had come withHim from Galilee followed a er, andthey observed the tomb and how Hisbody was laid.

LUKE 23–24 18056 Then they returned and preparedspices and fragrant oils. And theyrested on the Sabbath according to thecommandment.

24 1Now on the first day of theweek, very early in the morning,

they, and certain other women withthem, came to the tomb bringing thespices which they had prepared.2 But they found the stone rolled awayfrom the tomb.3 Then they went in and did not find thebody of the Lord Jesus.4And it happened, as they were greatlyperplexed about this, that behold, twomen stood by them in shining garments.5 Then, as they were afraid and bowedtheir faces to the earth, they said tothem, "Why do you seek the livingamong the dead?

LUKE 24 1816 "He is not here, but is risen!Remember how He spoke to you whenHe was s ll in Galilee,7 "saying, ‘The Son of Man must bedelivered into the hands of sinful men,and be crucified, and the third day riseagain.’"8And they remembered His words.9 Then they returned from the tomband told all these things to the elevenand to all the rest.10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna,Mary the mother of James, and theother women with them, who told thesethings to the apostles.11And their words seemed to them likeidle tales, and they did not believe them.12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb;and stooping down, he saw the linencloths lying by themselves; and hedeparted, marveling to himself at whathad happened.

LUKE 24 18213Now behold, two of them weretraveling that same day to a village calledEmmaus, which was seven miles fromJerusalem.14And they talked together of all thesethings which had happened.15 So it was, while they conversed andreasoned, that Jesus Himself drew nearand went with them.16 But their eyes were restrained, sothat they did not know Him.17And He said to them, "What kind ofconversa on is this that you have withone another as you walk and are sad?"18 Then the one whose name wasCleopas answered and said to Him, "AreYou the only stranger in Jerusalem, andhave You not known the things whichhappened there in these days?"19And He said to them, "What things?"So they said to Him, "The thingsconcerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a

LUKE 24 183Prophet mighty in deed and word beforeGod and all the people,20 "and how the chief priests and ourrulers delivered Him to be condemnedto death, and crucified Him.21 "But we were hoping that it was Hewho was going to redeem Israel. Indeed,besides all this, today is the third daysince these things happened.22 "Yes, and certain women of ourcompany, who arrived at the tomb early,astonished us.23 "When they did not find His body,they came saying that they had also seena vision of angels who said He was alive.24 "And certain of those who were withus went to the tomb and found it just asthe women had said; but Him they didnot see."25 Then He said to them, "O foolishones, and slow of heart to believe in allthat the prophets have spoken!

LUKE 24 18426 "Ought not the Christ to havesuffered these things and to enter intoHis glory?"27And beginning at Moses and all theProphets, He expounded to them in allthe Scriptures the things concerningHimself.28 Then they drew near to the villagewhere they were going, and He indicatedthat He would have gone farther.29 But they constrained Him, saying,"Abide with us, for it is toward evening,and the day is far spent." And He went into stay with them.30Now it came to pass, as He sat at thetable with them, that He took bread,blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.31 Then their eyes were opened andthey knew Him; and He vanished fromtheir sight.32And they said to one another, "Didnot our heart burn within us while He

LUKE 24 185talked with us on the road, and while Heopened the Scriptures to us?"33 So they rose up that very hour andreturned to Jerusalem, and found theeleven and those who were with themgathered together,34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, andhas appeared to Simon!"35And they told about the things thathad happened on the road, and how Hewas known to them in the breaking ofbread.36Now as they said these things, JesusHimself stood in the midst of them, andsaid to them, "Peace to you."37 But they were terrified andfrightened, and supposed they had seena spirit.38And He said to them, "Why are youtroubled? And why do doubts arise inyour hearts?

LUKE 24 18639 "Behold My hands and My feet, thatit is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for aspirit does not have flesh and bones asyou see I have."40When He had said this, He showedthem His hands and His feet.41 But while they s ll did not believefor joy, and marveled, He said to them,"Have you any food here?"42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiledfish and some honeycomb.43And He took it and ate in theirpresence.44 Then He said to them, "These arethe words which I spoke to you while Iwas s ll with you, that all things must befulfilled which were wri en in the Law ofMoses and the Prophets and the Psalmsconcerning Me."45And He opened their understanding,that they might comprehend theScriptures.

LUKE 24 18746 Then He said to them, "Thus it iswri en, and thus it was necessary forthe Christ to suffer and to rise from thedead the third day,47 "and that repentance and remissionof sins should be preached in His nameto all na ons, beginning at Jerusalem.48 "And you are witnesses of thesethings.49 "Behold, I send the Promise of MyFather upon you; but tarry in the cityof Jerusalem un l you are endued withpower from on high."50And He led them out as far asBethany, and He li ed up His hands andblessed them.51Now it came to pass, while Heblessed them, that He was parted fromthem and carried up into heaven.52And they worshiped Him, andreturned to Jerusalem with great joy,

LUKE 24 18853 and were con nually in the templepraising and blessing God. Amen.

John

1 1 In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God, and the

Word was God.2He was in the beginning with God.3All things were made through Him,and without Him nothing was made thatwas made.4 In Him was life, and the life was thelight of men.5And the light shines in the darkness,and the darkness did not comprehend it.6 There was a man sent from God,whose name was John.7 This man came for a witness, to bearwitness of the Light, that all through himmight believe.8He was not that Light, but was sent tobear witness of that Light.

JOHN 1 29 That was the true Light which giveslight to every man coming into theworld.10He was in the world, and the worldwas made through Him, and the worlddid not know Him.11He came to His own, and His own didnot receive Him.12 But as many as received Him, to themHe gave the right to become children ofGod, to those who believe in His name:13who were born, not of blood, nor ofthe will of the flesh, nor of the will ofman, but of God.14And the Word became flesh anddwelt among us, and we beheld Hisglory, the glory as of the only bego enof the Father, full of grace and truth.15 John bore witness of Him and criedout, saying, "This was He of whom I said,‘He who comes a er me is preferredbefore me, for He was before me.’"

JOHN 1 316And of His fullness we have allreceived, and grace for grace.17 For the lawwas given throughMoses,but grace and truth came through JesusChrist.18No one has seen God at any me.The only bego en Son, who is in thebosom of the Father, He has declaredHim.19Now this is the tes mony of John,when the Jews sent priests and Levitesfrom Jerusalem to ask him, "Who areyou?"20He confessed, and did not deny, butconfessed, "I am not the Christ."21And they asked him, "What then?Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Areyou the Prophet?" And he answered,"No."22 Then they said to him, "Who are you,that we may give an answer to those

JOHN 1 4who sent us? What do you say aboutyourself?"23He said: "I am ‘The voice of onecrying in the wilderness: "Make straightthe way of the LORD,"’ as the prophetIsaiah said."24Now those who were sent were fromthe Pharisees.25And they asked him, saying, "Whythen do you bap ze if you are not theChrist, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"26 John answered them, saying, "Ibap ze with water, but there stands Oneamong you whom you do not know.27 "It is He who, coming a er me, ispreferred before me, whose sandal strapI am not worthy to loose."28 These things were done in Bethabarabeyond the Jordan, where John wasbap zing.29 The next day John saw Jesus comingtoward him, and said, "Behold! The

JOHN 1 5Lamb of God who takes away the sin ofthe world!30 "This is He of whom I said, ‘A er mecomes a Man who is preferred beforeme, for He was before me.’31 "I did not know Him; but that Heshould be revealed to Israel, therefore Icame bap zing with water."32And John bore witness, saying, "I sawthe Spirit descending from heaven like adove, and He remained upon Him.33 "I did not know Him, but He whosent me to bap ze with water said tome, ‘Upon whom you see the Spiritdescending, and remaining on Him, thisis He who bap zes with the Holy Spirit.’34 "And I have seen and tes fied thatthis is the Son of God."35Again, the next day, John stood withtwo of his disciples.36And looking at Jesus as He walked,he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

JOHN 1 637 The two disciples heard him speak,and they followed Jesus.38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing themfollowing, said to them, "What do youseek? " They said to Him, "Rabbi" (whichis to say, when translated, Teacher),"where are You staying?"39He said to them, "Come and see."They came and saw where He wasstaying, and remained with Him that day(now it was about the tenth hour).40One of the two who heard Johnspeak, and followed Him, was Andrew,Simon Peter’s brother.41He first found his own brotherSimon, and said to him, "We have foundthe Messiah" (which is translated, theChrist).42And he brought him to Jesus. Nowwhen Jesus looked at him, He said, "Youare Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be

JOHN 1 7called Cephas" (which is translated, AStone).43 The following day Jesus wanted to goto Galilee, and He found Philip and saidto him, "Follow Me."44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, thecity of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said tohim, "We have found Him of whomMoses in the law, and also the prophets,wrote––Jesus of Nazareth, the son ofJoseph."46And Nathanael said to him, "Cananything good come out of Nazareth?"Philip said to him, "Come and see."47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming towardHim, and said of him, "Behold, anIsraelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"48Nathanael said to Him, "How do Youknow me?" Jesus answered and said tohim, "Before Philip called you, when youwere under the fig tree, I saw you."

JOHN 1–2 849Nathanael answered and said to Him,"Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You arethe King of Israel!"50 Jesus answered and said to him,"Because I said to you, ‘I saw you underthe fig tree,’ do you believe? You will seegreater things than these."51And He said to him, "Most assuredly,I say to you, herea er you shall seeheaven open, and the angels of Godascending and descending upon the Sonof Man."

2 1On the third day there was awedding in Cana of Galilee, and the

mother of Jesus was there.2Now both Jesus and His disciples wereinvited to the wedding.3And when they ran out of wine, themother of Jesus said to Him, "They haveno wine."

JOHN 2 94 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what doesyour concern have to do with Me? Myhour has not yet come."5His mother said to the servants,"Whatever He says to you, do it."6Now there were set there sixwaterpots of stone, according to themanner of purifica on of the Jews,containing twenty or thirty gallonsapiece.7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpotswith water." And they filled them up tothe brim.8And He said to them, "Draw some outnow, and take it to the master of thefeast." And they took it.9When the master of the feast hadtasted the water that was made wine,and did not know where it came from(but the servants who had drawn thewater knew), the master of the feastcalled the bridegroom.

JOHN 2 1010And he said to him, "Every man atthe beginning sets out the good wine,and when the guests have well drunk,then the inferior. You have kept the goodwine un l now!"11 This beginning of signs Jesus did inCana of Galilee, and manifested Hisglory; and His disciples believed in Him.12A er this He went down toCapernaum, He, His mother, Hisbrothers, and His disciples; and they didnot stay there many days.13Now the Passover of the Jews was athand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14And He found in the temple thosewho sold oxen and sheep and doves, andthe moneychangers doing business.15When He had made a whip of cords,He drove them all out of the temple,with the sheep and the oxen, and pouredout the changers’ money and overturnedthe tables.

JOHN 2 1116And He said to those who solddoves, "Take these things away! Do notmake My Father’s house a house ofmerchandise!"17 Then His disciples remembered thatit was wri en, "Zeal for Your house haseaten Me up."18 So the Jews answered and said toHim, "What sign do You show to us, sinceYou do these things?"19 Jesus answered and said to them,"Destroy this temple, and in three days Iwill raise it up."20 Then the Jews said, "It has takenforty–six years to build this temple, andwill You raise it up in three days?"21 But He was speaking of the temple ofHis body.22 Therefore, when He had risen fromthe dead, His disciples rememberedthat He had said this to them; and they

JOHN 2–3 12believed the Scripture and the wordwhich Jesus had said.23Now when He was in Jerusalem atthe Passover, during the feast, manybelieved in His name when they saw thesigns which He did.24 But Jesus did not commit Himself tothem, because He knew all men,25 and had no need that anyone shouldtes fy of man, for He knew what was inman.

3 1 There was a man of the Phariseesnamed Nicodemus, a ruler of the

Jews.2 This man came to Jesus by night andsaid to Him, "Rabbi, we know that Youare a teacher come from God; for no onecan do these signs that You do unlessGod is with him."3 Jesus answered and said to him,"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one

JOHN 3 13is born again, he cannot see the kingdomof God."4Nicodemus said to Him, "How can aman be born when he is old? Can heenter a second me into his mother’swomb and be born?"5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I sayto you, unless one is born of water andthe Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdomof God.6 "That which is born of the flesh isflesh, and that which is born of the Spiritis spirit.7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘Youmust be born again.’8 "The wind blows where it wishes, andyou hear the sound of it, but cannot tellwhere it comes from and where it goes.So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."9Nicodemus answered and said to Him,"How can these things be?"

JOHN 3 1410 Jesus answered and said to him, "Areyou the teacher of Israel, and do notknow these things?11 "Most assuredly, I say to you, Wespeak what We know and tes fy whatWe have seen, and you do not receiveOur witness.12 "If I have told you earthly things andyou do not believe, how will you believeif I tell you heavenly things?13 "No one has ascended to heaven butHe who came down from heaven, thatis, the Son of Man who is in heaven.14 "And as Moses li ed up the serpentin the wilderness, even so must the Sonof Man be li ed up,15 "that whoever believes in Him shouldnot perish but have eternal life.16 "For God so loved the world thatHe gave His only bego en Son, thatwhoever believes in Him should notperish but have everlas ng life.

JOHN 3 1517 "For God did not send His Son intothe world to condemn the world, butthat the world through Him might besaved.18 "He who believes in Him is notcondemned; but he who does notbelieve is condemned already, becausehe has not believed in the name of theonly bego en Son of God.19 "And this is the condemna on, thatthe light has come into the world, andmen loved darkness rather than light,because their deeds were evil.20 "For everyone prac cing evil hatesthe light and does not come to the light,lest his deeds should be exposed.21 "But he who does the truth comes tothe light, that his deeds may be clearlyseen, that they have been done in God."22A er these things Jesus and Hisdisciples came into the land of Judea,

JOHN 3 16and there He remained with them andbap zed.23Now John also was bap zing inAenon near Salim, because there wasmuch water there. And they came andwere bap zed.24 For John had not yet been throwninto prison.25 Then there arose a dispute betweensome of John’s disciples and the Jewsabout purifica on.26And they came to John and saidto him, "Rabbi, He who was with youbeyond the Jordan, to whom you havetes fied––behold, He is bap zing, andall are coming to Him!"27 John answered and said, "A man canreceive nothing unless it has been givento him from heaven.28 "You yourselves bear me witness,that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘Ihave been sent before Him.’

JOHN 3 1729 "He who has the bride is thebridegroom; but the friend of thebridegroom, who stands and hearshim, rejoices greatly because of thebridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy ofmine is fulfilled.30 "He must increase, but I mustdecrease.31 "He who comes from above is aboveall; he who is of the earth is earthly andspeaks of the earth. He who comes fromheaven is above all.32 "And what He has seen and heard,that He tes fies; and no one receives Histes mony.33 "He who has received His tes monyhas cer fied that God is true.34 "For He whom God has sent speaksthe words of God, for God does not givethe Spirit by measure.35 "The Father loves the Son, and hasgiven all things into His hand.

JOHN 3–4 1836 "He who believes in the Son haseverlas ng life; and he who does notbelieve the Son shall not see life, but thewrath of God abides on him."

4 1 Therefore, when the Lord knewthat the Pharisees had heard that

Jesus made and bap zed more disciplesthan John2 (though Jesus Himself did not bap ze,but His disciples),3He le Judea and departed again toGalilee.4 But He needed to go through Samaria.5 So He came to a city of Samaria whichis called Sychar, near the plot of groundthat Jacob gave to his son Joseph.6Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesustherefore, being wearied from Hisjourney, sat thus by the well. It wasabout the sixth hour.

JOHN 4 197A woman of Samaria came to drawwater. Jesus said to her, "Give Me adrink."8 For His disciples had gone away intothe city to buy food.9 Then the woman of Samaria saidto Him, "How is it that You, being aJew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritanwoman?" For Jews have no dealings withSamaritans.10 Jesus answered and said to her, "Ifyou knew the gi of God, and who it iswho says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ youwould have asked Him, and He wouldhave given you living water."11 The woman said to Him, "Sir, Youhave nothing to draw with, and the wellis deep. Where then do You get thatliving water?12 "Are You greater than our fatherJacob, who gave us the well, and drank

JOHN 4 20from it himself, as well as his sons andhis livestock?"13 Jesus answered and said to her,"Whoever drinks of this water will thirstagain,14 "but whoever drinks of the waterthat I shall give him will never thirst.But the water that I shall give him willbecome in him a fountain of waterspringing up into everlas ng life."15 The woman said to Him, "Sir, giveme this water, that I may not thirst, norcome here to draw."16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call yourhusband, and come here."17 The woman answered and said, "Ihave no husband." Jesus said to her,"You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’18 "for you have had five husbands, andthe one whom you now have is not yourhusband; in that you spoke truly."

JOHN 4 2119 The woman said to Him, "Sir, Iperceive that You are a prophet.20 "Our fathers worshiped on thismountain, and you Jews say that inJerusalem is the place where one oughtto worship."21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believeMe, the hour is coming when youwill neither on this mountain, nor inJerusalem, worship the Father.22 "You worship what you do not know;we know what we worship, for salva onis of the Jews.23 "But the hour is coming, and now is,when the true worshipers will worshipthe Father in spirit and truth; for theFather is seeking such to worship Him.24 "God is Spirit, and those who worshipHim must worship in spirit and truth."25 The woman said to Him, "I knowthat Messiah is coming" (who is called

JOHN 4 22Christ). "When He comes, He will tell usall things."26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to youam He."27And at this point His disciples came,and they marveled that He talked witha woman; yet no one said, "What doYou seek?" or, "Why are You talking withher?"28 The woman then le her waterpot,went her way into the city, and said tothe men,29 "Come, see a Man who told me allthings that I ever did. Could this be theChrist?"30 Then they went out of the city andcame to Him.31 In the mean me His disciples urgedHim, saying, "Rabbi, eat."32 But He said to them, "I have food toeat of which you do not know."

JOHN 4 2333 Therefore the disciples said to oneanother, "Has anyone brought Himanything to eat?"34 Jesus said to them, "My food is todo the will of Him who sent Me, and tofinish His work.35 "Do you not say, ‘There are s ll fourmonths and then comes the harvest’?Behold, I say to you, li up your eyes andlook at the fields, for they are alreadywhite for harvest!36 "And he who reaps receives wages,and gathers fruit for eternal life, thatboth he who sows and he who reapsmay rejoice together.37 "For in this the saying is true: ‘Onesows and another reaps.’38 "I sent you to reap that for which youhave not labored; others have labored,and you have entered into their labors."39And many of the Samaritans of thatcity believed in Him because of the word

JOHN 4 24of the woman who tes fied, "He told meall that I ever did."40 So when the Samaritans had come toHim, they urged Him to stay with them;and He stayed there two days.41And many more believed because ofHis own word.42 Then they said to the woman, "Nowwe believe, not because of what yousaid, for we ourselves have heard Himand we know that this is indeed theChrist, the Savior of the world."43Now a er the two days He departedfrom there and went to Galilee.44 For Jesus Himself tes fied that aprophet has no honor in his own country.45 So when He came to Galilee, theGalileans received Him, having seen allthe things He did in Jerusalem at thefeast; for they also had gone to the feast.46 So Jesus came again to Cana ofGalilee where He had made the water

JOHN 4 25wine. And there was a certain noblemanwhose son was sick at Capernaum.47When he heard that Jesus had comeout of Judea into Galilee, he went to Himand implored Him to come down andheal his son, for he was at the point ofdeath.48 Then Jesus said to him, "Unless youpeople see signs and wonders, you willby no means believe."49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, comedown before my child dies!"50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; yourson lives." So the man believed the wordthat Jesus spoke to him, and he went hisway.51And as he was now going down, hisservants met him and told him, saying,"Your son lives!"52 Then he inquired of them the hourwhen he got be er. And they said to

JOHN 4–5 26him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour thefever le him."53 So the father knew that it was atthe same hour in which Jesus said tohim, "Your son lives." And he himselfbelieved, and his whole household.54 This again is the second sign Jesusdid when He had come out of Judea intoGalilee.

5 1A er this there was a feast ofthe Jews, and Jesus went up to

Jerusalem.2Now there is in Jerusalem by theSheep Gate a pool, which is called inHebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.3 In these lay a great mul tude of sickpeople, blind, lame, paralyzed, wai ngfor the moving of the water.4 For an angel went down at a certainme into the pool and s rred up the

water; then whoever stepped in first,

JOHN 5 27a er the s rring of the water, was madewell of whatever disease he had.5Now a certain man was there whohad an infirmity thirty–eight years.6When Jesus saw him lying there, andknew that he already had been in thatcondi on a long me, He said to him,"Do you want to be made well?"7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, Ihave no man to put me into the poolwhen the water is s rred up; but while Iam coming, another steps down beforeme."8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up yourbed and walk."9And immediately the man was madewell, took up his bed, and walked. Andthat day was the Sabbath.10 The Jews therefore said to him whowas cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is notlawful for you to carry your bed."

JOHN 5 2811He answered them, "He who mademe well said to me, ‘Take up your bedand walk.’"12 Then they asked him, "Who is theMan who said to you, ‘Take up your bedand walk’?"13 But the one who was healed didnot know who it was, for Jesus hadwithdrawn, a mul tude being in thatplace.14A erward Jesus found him in thetemple, and said to him, "See, you havebeen made well. Sin no more, lest aworse thing come upon you."15 The man departed and told the Jewsthat it was Jesus who had made himwell.16 For this reason the Jews persecutedJesus, and sought to kill Him, because Hehad done these things on the Sabbath.

JOHN 5 2917 But Jesus answered them, "MyFather has been working un l now, and Ihave been working."18 Therefore the Jews sought all themore to kill Him, because He not onlybroke the Sabbath, but also said thatGod was His Father, making Himselfequal with God.19 Then Jesus answered and said tothem, "Most assuredly, I say to you, theSon can do nothing of Himself, but whatHe sees the Father do; for whatever Hedoes, the Son also does in like manner.20 "For the Father loves the Son, andshows Him all things that He Himselfdoes; and He will show Him greaterworks than these, that you may marvel.21 "For as the Father raises the deadand gives life to them, even so the Songives life to whom He will.22 "For the Father judges no one, buthas commi ed all judgment to the Son,

JOHN 5 3023 "that all should honor the Son justas they honor the Father. He who doesnot honor the Son does not honor theFather who sent Him.24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he whohears My word and believes in Him whosent Me has everlas ng life, and shallnot come into judgment, but has passedfrom death into life.25 "Most assuredly, I say to you, thehour is coming, and now is, when thedead will hear the voice of the Son ofGod; and those who hear will live.26 "For as the Father has life in Himself,so He has granted the Son to have life inHimself,27 "and has given Him authority toexecute judgment also, because He isthe Son of Man.28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour iscoming in which all who are in the graveswill hear His voice

JOHN 5 3129 "and come forth––those who havedone good, to the resurrec on of life,and those who have done evil, to theresurrec on of condemna on.30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear,I judge; and My judgment is righteous,because I do not seek My own will butthe will of the Father who sent Me.31 "If I bear witness of Myself, Mywitness is not true.32 "There is another who bears witnessof Me, and I know that the witnesswhich He witnesses of Me is true.33 "You have sent to John, and he hasborne witness to the truth.34 "Yet I do not receive tes mony fromman, but I say these things that you maybe saved.35 "He was the burning and shininglamp, and you were willing for a me torejoice in his light.

JOHN 5 3236 "But I have a greater witness thanJohn’s; for the works which the Fatherhas given Me to finish––the very worksthat I do––bear witness of Me, that theFather has sent Me.37 "And the Father Himself, who sentMe, has tes fied of Me. You have neitherheard His voice at any me, nor seen Hisform.38 "But you do not have His wordabiding in you, because whom He sent,Him you do not believe.39 "You search the Scriptures, for inthem you think you have eternal life;and these are they which tes fy of Me.40 "But you are not willing to come toMe that you may have life.41 "I do not receive honor from men.42 "But I know you, that you do nothave the love of God in you.43 "I have come in My Father’s name,and you do not receive Me; if another

JOHN 5–6 33comes in his own name, him you willreceive.44 "How can you believe, who receivehonor from one another, and do notseek the honor that comes from the onlyGod?45 "Do not think that I shall accuse youto the Father; there is one who accusesyou––Moses, in whom you trust.46 "For if you believed Moses, youwould believe Me; for he wrote aboutMe.47 "But if you do not believe his wri ngs,how will you believe My words?"

6 1A er these things Jesus went overthe Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea

of Tiberias.2 Then a great mul tude followed Him,because they saw His signs which Heperformed on those who were diseased.3And Jesus went up on the mountain,and there He sat with His disciples.

JOHN 6 344Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews,was near.5 Then Jesus li ed up His eyes, andseeing a great mul tude coming towardHim, He said to Philip, "Where shall webuy bread, that these may eat?"6 But this He said to test him, for HeHimself knew what He would do.7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundreddenarii worth of bread is not sufficientfor them, that every one of them mayhave a li le."8One of His disciples, Andrew, SimonPeter’s brother, said to Him,9 "There is a lad here who has fivebarley loaves and two small fish, butwhat are they among so many?"10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sitdown." Now there was much grass in theplace. So the men sat down, in numberabout five thousand.

JOHN 6 3511And Jesus took the loaves, and whenHe had given thanks He distributed themto the disciples, and the disciples tothose si ng down; and likewise of thefish, as much as they wanted.12 So when they were filled, He said toHis disciples, "Gather up the fragmentsthat remain, so that nothing is lost."13 Therefore they gathered them up,and filled twelve baskets with thefragments of the five barley loaves whichwere le over by those who had eaten.14 Then those men, when they hadseen the sign that Jesus did, said, "Thisis truly the Prophet who is to come intothe world."15 Therefore when Jesus perceived thatthey were about to come and take Himby force to make Him king, He departedagain to the mountain by Himself alone.16Now when evening came, Hisdisciples went down to the sea,

JOHN 6 3617 got into the boat, and went overthe sea toward Capernaum. And it wasalready dark, and Jesus had not come tothem.18 Then the sea arose because a greatwind was blowing.19 So when they had rowed about threeor four miles, they saw Jesus walking onthe sea and drawing near the boat; andthey were afraid.20 But He said to them, "It is I; do not beafraid."21 Then they willingly received Him intothe boat, and immediately the boat wasat the land where they were going.22On the following day, when thepeople who were standing on the otherside of the sea saw that there was noother boat there, except that one whichHis disciples had entered, and thatJesus had not entered the boat with

JOHN 6 37His disciples, but His disciples had goneaway alone––23 however, other boats came fromTiberias, near the place where they atebread a er the Lord had given thanks––24when the people therefore saw thatJesus was not there, nor His disciples,they also got into boats and came toCapernaum, seeking Jesus.25And when they found Him on theother side of the sea, they said to Him,"Rabbi, when did You come here?"26 Jesus answered them and said, "Mostassuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, notbecause you saw the signs, but becauseyou ate of the loaves and were filled.27 "Do not labor for the food whichperishes, but for the food which enduresto everlas ng life, which the Son of Manwill give you, because God the Fatherhas set His seal on Him."

JOHN 6 3828 Then they said to Him, "What shallwe do, that we may work the works ofGod?"29 Jesus answered and said to them,"This is the work of God, that you believein Him whom He sent."30 Therefore they said to Him, "Whatsign will You perform then, that we maysee it and believe You? What work willYou do?31 "Our fathers ate the manna in thedesert; as it is wri en, ‘He gave thembread from heaven to eat.’"32 Then Jesus said to them, "Mostassuredly, I say to you, Moses did notgive you the bread from heaven, but MyFather gives you the true bread fromheaven.33 "For the bread of God is He whocomes down from heaven and gives lifeto the world."

JOHN 6 3934 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give usthis bread always."35And Jesus said to them, "I am thebread of life. He who comes to Me shallnever hunger, and he who believes inMe shall never thirst.36 "But I said to you that you have seenMe and yet do not believe.37 "All that the Father gives Me willcome to Me, and the one who comes toMe I will by no means cast out.38 "For I have come down from heaven,not to do My own will, but the will ofHim who sent Me.39 "This is the will of the Father whosent Me, that of all He has given Me Ishould lose nothing, but should raise itup at the last day.40 "And this is the will of Him who sentMe, that everyone who sees the Son andbelieves in Himmay have everlas ng life;and I will raise him up at the last day."

JOHN 6 4041 The Jews then complained aboutHim, because He said, "I am the breadwhich came down from heaven."42And they said, "Is not this Jesus, theson of Joseph, whose father and motherwe know? How is it then that He says, ‘Ihave come down from heaven’?"43 Jesus therefore answered and saidto them, "Do not murmur amongyourselves.44 "No one can come to Me unless theFather who sent Me draws him; and Iwill raise him up at the last day.45 "It is wri en in the prophets,‘And they shall all be taught by God.’Therefore everyone who has heard andlearned from the Father comes to Me.46 "Not that anyone has seen the Father,except He who is from God; He has seenthe Father.47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he whobelieves in Me has everlas ng life.

JOHN 6 4148 "I am the bread of life.49 "Your fathers ate the manna in thewilderness, and are dead.50 "This is the bread which comes downfrom heaven, that one may eat of it andnot die.51 "I am the living bread which camedown from heaven. If anyone eats of thisbread, he will live forever; and the breadthat I shall give is My flesh, which I shallgive for the life of the world."52 The Jews therefore quarreled amongthemselves, saying, "How can this Mangive us His flesh to eat?"53 Then Jesus said to them, "Mostassuredly, I say to you, unless you eatthe flesh of the Son of Man and drink Hisblood, you have no life in you.54 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinksMy blood has eternal life, and I will raisehim up at the last day.

JOHN 6 4255 "For My flesh is food indeed, and Myblood is drink indeed.56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks Myblood abides in Me, and I in him.57 "As the living Father sent Me, andI live because of the Father, so he whofeeds on Me will live because of Me.58 "This is the bread which came downfrom heaven––not as your fathers atethe manna, and are dead. He who eatsthis bread will live forever."59 These things He said in the synagogueas He taught in Capernaum.60 Therefore many of His disciples,when they heard this, said, "This is ahard saying; who can understand it?"61When Jesus knew in Himself that Hisdisciples complained about this, He saidto them, "Does this offend you?62 "What then if you should see the Sonof Man ascend where He was before?

JOHN 6 4363 "It is the Spirit who gives life; theflesh profits nothing. The words that Ispeak to you are spirit, and they are life.64 "But there are some of you who donot believe." For Jesus knew from thebeginning who they were who did notbelieve, and who would betray Him.65And He said, "Therefore I have saidto you that no one can come to Meunless it has been granted to him by MyFather."66 From that me many of His discipleswent back and walked with Him nomore.67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Doyou also want to go away?"68 But Simon Peter answered Him,"Lord, to whom shall we go? You havethe words of eternal life.69 "Also we have come to believe andknow that You are the Christ, the Son ofthe living God."

JOHN 6–7 4470 Jesus answered them, "Did I notchoose you, the twelve, and one of youis a devil?"71He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son ofSimon, for it was he who would betrayHim, being one of the twelve.

7 1A er these things Jesus walked inGalilee; for He did not want to walk

in Judea, because the Jews sought to killHim.2Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacleswas at hand.3His brothers therefore said to Him,"Depart from here and go into Judea,that Your disciples also may see theworks that You are doing.4 "For no one does anything in secretwhile he himself seeks to be knownopenly. If You do these things, showYourself to the world."5 For even His brothers did not believein Him.

JOHN 7 456 Then Jesus said to them, "My me hasnot yet come, but your me is alwaysready.7 "The world cannot hate you, but ithates Me because I tes fy of it that itsworks are evil.8 "You go up to this feast. I am not yetgoing up to this feast, for My me hasnot yet fully come."9When He had said these things tothem, He remained in Galilee.10 But when His brothers had gone up,then He also went up to the feast, notopenly, but as it were in secret.11 Then the Jews sought Him at thefeast, and said, "Where is He?"12And there was much complainingamong the people concerning Him.Some said, "He is good"; others said,"No, on the contrary, He deceives thepeople."

JOHN 7 4613However, no one spoke openly ofHim for fear of the Jews.14Now about the middle of the feastJesus went up into the temple andtaught.15And the Jews marveled, saying, "Howdoes this Man know le ers, having neverstudied?"16 Jesus answered them and said, "Mydoctrine is not Mine, but His who sentMe.17 "If anyone wants to do His will, heshall know concerning the doctrine,whether it is from God or whether Ispeak on My own authority.18 "He who speaks from himself seekshis own glory; but He who seeks theglory of the One who sent Him is true,and no unrighteousness is in Him.19 "Did not Moses give you the law, yetnone of you keeps the law? Why do youseek to kill Me?"

JOHN 7 4720 The people answered and said, "Youhave a demon. Who is seeking to killYou?"21 Jesus answered and said to them, "Idid one work, and you all marvel.22 "Moses therefore gave youcircumcision (not that it is from Moses,but from the fathers), and you circumcisea man on the Sabbath.23 "If a man receives circumcision onthe Sabbath, so that the law of Mosesshould not be broken, are you angry withMe because I made a man completelywell on the Sabbath?24 "Do not judge according toappearance, but judge with righteousjudgment."25Now some of them from Jerusalemsaid, "Is this not He whom they seek tokill?

JOHN 7 4826 "But look! He speaks boldly, and theysay nothing to Him. Do the rulers knowindeed that this is truly the Christ?27 "However, we know where this Manis from; but when the Christ comes, noone knows where He is from."28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taughtin the temple, saying, "You both knowMe, and you know where I am from; andI have not come of Myself, but He whosent Me is true, whom you do not know.29 "But I know Him, for I am from Him,and He sent Me."30 Therefore they sought to take Him;but no one laid a hand on Him, becauseHis hour had not yet come.31And many of the people believed inHim, and said, "When the Christ comes,will He do more signs than these whichthis Man has done?"32 The Pharisees heard the crowdmurmuring these things concerning Him,

JOHN 7 49and the Pharisees and the chief priestssent officers to take Him.33 Then Jesus said to them, "I shall bewith you a li le while longer, and then Igo to Him who sent Me.34 "You will seek Me and not find Me,and where I am you cannot come."35 Then the Jews said amongthemselves, "Where does He intend togo that we shall not find Him? Does Heintend to go to the Dispersion amongthe Greeks and teach the Greeks?36 "What is this thing that He said, ‘Youwill seek Me and not find Me, and whereI am you cannot come’?"37On the last day, that great day of thefeast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Meand drink.38 "He who believes in Me, as theScripture has said, out of his heart willflow rivers of living water."

JOHN 7 5039 But this He spoke concerning theSpirit, whom those believing in Himwould receive; for the Holy Spirit wasnot yet given, because Jesus was not yetglorified.40 Therefore many from the crowd,when they heard this saying, said, "Trulythis is the Prophet."41Others said, "This is the Christ." Butsome said, "Will the Christ come out ofGalilee?42 "Has not the Scripture said that theChrist comes from the seed of Davidand from the town of Bethlehem, whereDavid was?"43 So there was a division among thepeople because of Him.44Now some of them wanted to takeHim, but no one laid hands on Him.45 Then the officers came to the chiefpriests and Pharisees, who said to them,"Why have you not brought Him?"

JOHN 7–8 5146 The officers answered, "No man everspoke like this Man!"47 Then the Pharisees answered them,"Are you also deceived?48 "Have any of the rulers or thePharisees believed in Him?49 "But this crowd that does not knowthe law is accursed."50Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus bynight, being one of them) said to them,51 "Does our law judge a man before ithears him and knows what he is doing?"52 They answered and said to him, "Areyou also from Galilee? Search and look,for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."53And everyone went to his own house.

8 1 But Jesus went to the Mount ofOlives.

2Now early in the morning He cameagain into the temple, and all the peoplecame to Him; and He sat down andtaught them.

JOHN 8 523 Then the scribes and Phariseesbrought to Him a woman caught inadultery. And when they had set her inthe midst,4 they said to Him, "Teacher, thiswoman was caught in adultery, in thevery act.5 "Now Moses, in the law, commandedus that such should be stoned. But whatdo You say?"6 This they said, tes ng Him, that theymight have something of which toaccuse Him. But Jesus stooped downand wrote on the ground with His finger,as though He did not hear.7 So when they con nued asking Him,He raised Himself up and said to them,"He who is without sin among you, lethim throw a stone at her first."8And again He stooped down andwrote on the ground.

JOHN 8 539 Then those who heard it, beingconvicted by their conscience, went outone by one, beginning with the oldesteven to the last. And Jesus was lealone, and the woman standing in themidst.10When Jesus had raised Himselfup and saw no one but the woman,He said to her, "Woman, where arethose accusers of yours? Has no onecondemned you?"11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesussaid to her, "Neither do I condemn you;go and sin no more."12 Then Jesus spoke to them again,saying, "I am the light of the world.He who follows Me shall not walk indarkness, but have the light of life."13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him,"You bear witness of Yourself; Yourwitness is not true."

JOHN 8 5414 Jesus answered and said to them,"Even if I bear witness of Myself, Mywitness is true, for I know where I camefrom and where I am going; but you donot know where I come from and whereI am going.15 "You judge according to the flesh; Ijudge no one.16 "And yet if I do judge, My judgmentis true; for I am not alone, but I am withthe Father who sent Me.17 "It is also wri en in your law that thetes mony of two men is true.18 "I am One who bears witness ofMyself, and the Father who sent Mebears witness of Me."19 Then they said to Him, "Where isYour Father?" Jesus answered, "Youknow neither Me nor My Father. If youhad known Me, you would have knownMy Father also."

JOHN 8 5520 These words Jesus spoke in thetreasury, as He taught in the temple; andno one laid hands on Him, for His hourhad not yet come.21 Then Jesus said to them again, "Iam going away, and you will seek Me,and will die in your sin. Where I go youcannot come."22 So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself,because He says, ‘Where I go you cannotcome’?"23And He said to them, "You are frombeneath; I am from above. You are ofthis world; I am not of this world.24 "Therefore I said to you that you willdie in your sins; for if you do not believethat I am He, you will die in your sins."25 Then they said to Him, "Who areYou?" And Jesus said to them, "Justwhat I have been saying to you from thebeginning.

JOHN 8 5626 "I have many things to say and tojudge concerning you, but He who sentMe is true; and I speak to the worldthose things which I heard from Him."27 They did not understand that Hespoke to them of the Father.28 Then Jesus said to them, "When youli up the Son of Man, then you willknow that I am He, and that I do nothingof Myself; but as My Father taught Me, Ispeak these things.29 "And He who sent Me is with Me.The Father has not le Me alone, for Ialways do those things that please Him."30As He spoke these words, manybelieved in Him.31 Then Jesus said to those Jews whobelieved Him, "If you abide in My word,you are My disciples indeed.32 "And you shall know the truth, andthe truth shall make you free."

JOHN 8 5733 They answered Him, "We areAbraham’s descendants, and have neverbeen in bondage to anyone. How canyou say, ‘You will be made free’?"34 Jesus answered them, "Mostassuredly, I say to you, whoever commitssin is a slave of sin.35 "And a slave does not abide in thehouse forever, but a son abides forever.36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free,you shall be free indeed.37 "I know that you are Abraham’sdescendants, but you seek to kill Me,because My word has no place in you.38 "I speak what I have seen with MyFather, and you do what you have seenwith your father."39 They answered and said to Him,"Abraham is our father." Jesus said tothem, "If you were Abraham’s children,you would do the works of Abraham.

JOHN 8 5840 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Manwho has told you the truth which I heardfrom God. Abraham did not do this.41 "You do the deeds of your father."Then they said to Him, "We werenot born of fornica on; we have oneFather––God."42 Jesus said to them, "If God wereyour Father, you would love Me, for Iproceeded forth and came from God;nor have I come of Myself, but He sentMe.43 "Why do you not understand Myspeech? Because you are not able tolisten to My word.44 "You are of your father the devil,and the desires of your father you wantto do. He was a murderer from thebeginning, and does not stand in thetruth, because there is no truth in him.When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his

JOHN 8 59own resources, for he is a liar and thefather of it.45 "But because I tell the truth, you donot believe Me.46 "Which of you convicts Me of sin?And if I tell the truth, why do you notbelieve Me?47 "He who is of God hears God’s words;therefore you do not hear, because youare not of God."48 Then the Jews answered and said toHim, "Do we not say rightly that You area Samaritan and have a demon?"49 Jesus answered, "I do not have ademon; but I honor My Father, and youdishonor Me.50 "And I do not seek My own glory;there is One who seeks and judges.51 "Most assuredly, I say to you, ifanyone keeps My word he shall neversee death."

JOHN 8 6052 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now weknow that You have a demon! Abrahamis dead, and the prophets; and You say,‘If anyone keeps My word he shall nevertaste death.’53 "Are You greater than our fatherAbraham, who is dead? And theprophets are dead. Whom do You makeYourself out to be?"54 Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself,My honor is nothing. It is My Father whohonors Me, of whom you say that He isyour God.55 "Yet you have not known Him, but Iknow Him. And if I say, ‘I do not knowHim,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I doknow Him and keep His word.56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to seeMy day, and he saw it and was glad."57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You arenot yet fi y years old, and have You seenAbraham?"

JOHN 8–9 6158 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, Isay to you, before Abraham was, I AM."59 Then they took up stones to throw atHim; but Jesus hid Himself and went outof the temple, going through the midstof them, and so passed by.

9 1Now as Jesus passed by, He saw aman who was blind from birth.

2And His disciples asked Him, saying,"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or hisparents, that he was born blind?"3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man norhis parents sinned, but that the works ofGod should be revealed in him.4 "I must work the works of Him whosent Me while it is day; the night iscoming when no one can work.5 "As long as I am in the world, I am thelight of the world."6When He had said these things, Hespat on the ground and made clay with

JOHN 9 62the saliva; and He anointed the eyes ofthe blind man with the clay.7And He said to him, "Go, wash in thepool of Siloam" (which is translated,Sent). So he went and washed, and cameback seeing.8 Therefore the neighbors and thosewho previously had seen that he wasblind said, "Is not this he who sat andbegged?"9 Some said, "This is he. " Others said,"He is like him." He said, "I am he."10 Therefore they said to him, "Howwere your eyes opened?"11He answered and said, "A Man calledJesus made clay and anointed my eyesand said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloamand wash.’ So I went and washed, and Ireceived sight."12 Then they said to him, "Where isHe?" He said, "I do not know."

JOHN 9 6313 They brought him who formerly wasblind to the Pharisees.14Now it was a Sabbath when Jesusmade the clay and opened his eyes.15 Then the Pharisees also asked himagain how he had received his sight. Hesaid to them, "He put clay on my eyes,and I washed, and I see."16 Therefore some of the Phariseessaid, "This Man is not from God, becauseHe does not keep the Sabbath." Otherssaid, "How can a man who is a sinner dosuch signs?" And there was a divisionamong them.17 They said to the blind man again,"What do you say about Him becauseHe opened your eyes?" He said, "He is aprophet."18 But the Jews did not believeconcerning him, that he had been blindand received his sight, un l they called

JOHN 9 64the parents of him who had received hissight.19And they asked them, saying, "Is thisyour son, who you say was born blind?How then does he now see?"20His parents answered them and said,"We know that this is our son, and thathe was born blind;21 "but by what means he now sees wedo not know, or who opened his eyes wedo not know. He is of age; ask him. Hewill speak for himself."22His parents said these things becausethey feared the Jews, for the Jews hadagreed already that if anyone confessedthat He was Christ, he would be put outof the synagogue.23 Therefore his parents said, "He is ofage; ask him."24 So they again called the man whowas blind, and said to him, "Give God

JOHN 9 65the glory! We know that this Man is asinner."25He answered and said, "Whether Heis a sinner or not I do not know. Onething I know: that though I was blind,now I see."26 Then they said to him again, "Whatdid He do to you? How did He open youreyes?"27He answered them, "I told youalready, and you did not listen. Why doyou want to hear it again? Do you alsowant to become His disciples?"28 Then they reviled him and said,"You are His disciple, but we are Moses’disciples.29 "We know that God spoke to Moses;as for this fellow, we do not know whereHe is from."30 The man answered and said to them,"Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you

JOHN 9 66do not know where He is from; yet Hehas opened my eyes!31 "Now we know that God does nothear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiperof God and does His will, He hears him.32 "Since the world began it has beenunheard of that anyone opened the eyesof one who was born blind.33 "If this Man were not from God, Hecould do nothing."34 They answered and said to him, "Youwere completely born in sins, and areyou teaching us?" And they cast him out.35 Jesus heard that they had cast himout; and when He had found him, Hesaid to him, "Do you believe in the Sonof God?"36He answered and said, "Who is He,Lord, that I may believe in Him?"37And Jesus said to him, "You haveboth seen Him and it is He who is talkingwith you."

JOHN 9–10 6738 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" Andhe worshiped Him.39And Jesus said, "For judgment I havecome into this world, that those who donot see may see, and that those who seemay be made blind."40 Then some of the Pharisees whowere with Him heard these words, andsaid to Him, "Are we blind also?"41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind,you would have no sin; but now you say,‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

10 1 "Most assuredly, I say to you, hewho does not enter the sheepfold

by the door, but climbs up some otherway, the same is a thief and a robber.2 "But he who enters by the door is theshepherd of the sheep.3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, andthe sheep hear his voice; and he calls hisown sheep by name and leads them out.

JOHN 10 684 "And when he brings out his ownsheep, he goes before them; and thesheep follow him, for they know hisvoice.5 "Yet they will by no means follow astranger, but will flee from him, for theydo not know the voice of strangers."6 Jesus used this illustra on, but theydid not understand the things which Hespoke to them.7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Mostassuredly, I say to you, I am the door ofthe sheep.8 "All who ever came before Me arethieves and robbers, but the sheep didnot hear them.9 "I am the door. If anyone enters byMe, he will be saved, and will go in andout and find pasture.10 "The thief does not come except tosteal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have

JOHN 10 69come that they may have life, and thatthey may have it more abundantly.11 "I am the good shepherd. The goodshepherd gives His life for the sheep.12 "But a hireling, he who is not theshepherd, one who does not ownthe sheep, sees the wolf coming andleaves the sheep and flees; and the wolfcatches the sheep and sca ers them.13 "The hireling flees because he is ahireling and does not care about thesheep.14 "I am the good shepherd; and I knowMy sheep, and am known by My own.15 "As the Father knows Me, even so Iknow the Father; and I lay down My lifefor the sheep.16 "And other sheep I have which arenot of this fold; them also I must bring,and they will hear My voice; and therewill be one flock and one shepherd.

JOHN 10 7017 "Therefore My Father loves Me,because I lay down My life that I maytake it again.18 "No one takes it from Me, but I layit down of Myself. I have power to lay itdown, and I have power to take it again.This command I have received from MyFather."19 Therefore there was a division againamong the Jews because of thesesayings.20And many of them said, "He has ademon and is mad. Why do you listen toHim?"21Others said, "These are not the wordsof one who has a demon. Can a demonopen the eyes of the blind?"22Now it was the Feast of Dedica on inJerusalem, and it was winter.23And Jesus walked in the temple, inSolomon’s porch.

JOHN 10 7124 Then the Jews surrounded Him andsaid to Him, "How long do You keep usin doubt? If You are the Christ, tell usplainly."25 Jesus answered them, "I told you,and you do not believe. The works thatI do in My Father’s name, they bearwitness of Me.26 "But you do not believe, because youare not of My sheep, as I said to you.27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I knowthem, and they follow Me.28 "And I give them eternal life, andthey shall never perish; neither shallanyone snatch them out of My hand.29 "My Father, who has given them toMe, is greater than all; and no one isable to snatch them out of My Father’shand.30 "I and My Father are one."31 Then the Jews took up stones againto stone Him.

JOHN 10 7232 Jesus answered them, "Many goodworks I have shown you from My Father.For which of those works do you stoneMe?"33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "Fora good work we do not stone You, butfor blasphemy, and because You, being aMan, make Yourself God."34 Jesus answered them, "Is it notwri en in your law, ‘I said, "You aregods"’?35 "If He called them gods, to whom theword of God came (and the Scripturecannot be broken),36 "do you say of Him whom the Fathersanc fied and sent into the world, ‘Youare blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I amthe 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 notbelieve Me, believe the works, that you

JOHN 10–11 73may know and believe that the Father isin Me, and I in Him."39 Therefore they sought again to seizeHim, but He escaped out of their hand.40And He went away again beyondthe Jordan to the place where John wasbap zing at first, and there He stayed.41 Then many came to Him and said,"John performed no sign, but all thethings that John spoke about this Manwere true."42And many believed in Him there.

11 1Now a certain man was sick,Lazarus of Bethany, the town of

Mary and her sister Martha.2 It was that Mary who anointed theLord with fragrant oil and wiped His feetwith her hair, whose brother Lazaruswas sick.3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him,saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You loveis sick."

JOHN 11 744When Jesus heard that, He said, "Thissickness is not unto death, but for theglory of God, that the Son of God may beglorified through it."5Now Jesus lovedMartha and her sisterand Lazarus.6 So, when He heard that he was sick,He stayed two more days in the placewhere He was.7 Then a er this He said to the disciples,"Let us go to Judea again."8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi,lately the Jews sought to stone You, andare You going there again?"9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelvehours in the day? If anyone walks in theday, he does not stumble, because hesees the light of this world.10 "But if one walks in the night, hestumbles, because the light is not inhim."

JOHN 11 7511 These things He said, and a er thatHe said to them, "Our friend Lazarussleeps, but I go that I may wake him up."12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if hesleeps he will get well."13However, Jesus spoke of his death,but they thought that He was speakingabout taking rest in sleep.14 Then Jesus said to them plainly,"Lazarus is dead.15 "And I am glad for your sakes thatI was not there, that you may believe.Nevertheless let us go to him."16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin,said to his fellow disciples, "Let us alsogo, that we may die with Him."17 So when Jesus came, He found thathe had already been in the tomb fourdays.18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem,about two miles away.

JOHN 11 7619And many of the Jews had joined thewomen around Martha and Mary, tocomfort them concerning their brother.20 Then Martha, as soon as she heardthat Jesus was coming, went and metHim, but Mary was si ng in the house.21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, ifYou had been here, my brother wouldnot have died.22 "But even now I know that whateverYou ask of God, God will give You."23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother willrise again."24Martha said to Him, "I know that hewill rise again in the resurrec on at thelast day."25 Jesus said to her, "I am theresurrec on and the life. He whobelieves in Me, though he may die, heshall live.26 "And whoever lives and believes inMe shall never die. Do you believe this?"

JOHN 11 7727 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believethat You are the Christ, the Son of God,who is to come into the world."28And when she had said these things,she went her way and secretly calledMary her sister, saying, "The Teacher hascome and is calling for you."29As soon as she heard that, she arosequickly and came to Him.30Now Jesus had not yet come intothe town, but was in the place whereMartha met Him.31 Then the Jews who were with her inthe house, and comfor ng her, whenthey saw that Mary rose up quickly andwent out, followed her, saying, "She isgoing to the tomb to weep there."32 Then, when Mary came where Jesuswas, and saw Him, she fell down at Hisfeet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You hadbeen here, my brother would not havedied."

JOHN 11 7833 Therefore, when Jesus saw herweeping, and the Jews who came withher weeping, He groaned in the spiritand was troubled.34And He said, "Where have you laidhim?" They said to Him, "Lord, come andsee."35 Jesus wept.36 Then the Jews said, "See how Heloved him!"37And some of them said, "Could notthis Man, who opened the eyes of theblind, also have kept this man fromdying?"38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself,came to the tomb. It was a cave, and astone lay against it.39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."Martha, the sister of him who was dead,said to Him, "Lord, by this me there is astench, for he has been dead four days."

JOHN 11 7940 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to youthat if you would believe you would seethe glory of God?"41 Then they took away the stone fromthe place where the dead man was lying.And Jesus li ed up His eyes and said,"Father, I thank You that You have heardMe.42 "And I know that You always hearMe, but because of the people who arestanding by I said this, that they maybelieve that You sent Me."43Now when He had said these things,He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus,come forth!"44And he who had died came outbound hand and foot with graveclothes,and his face was wrapped with a cloth.Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and lethim go."

JOHN 11 8045 Then many of the Jews who hadcome to Mary, and had seen the thingsJesus did, believed in Him.46 But some of them went away to thePharisees and told them the things Jesusdid.47 Then the chief priests and thePharisees gathered a council and said,"What shall we do? For this Man worksmany signs.48 "If we let Him alone like this,everyone will believe in Him, and theRomans will come and take away bothour place and na on."49And one of them, Caiaphas, beinghigh priest that year, said to them, "Youknow nothing at all,50 "nor do you consider that it isexpedient for us that one man shoulddie for the people, and not that thewhole na on should perish."

JOHN 11 8151Now this he did not say on his ownauthority; but being high priest that yearhe prophesied that Jesus would die forthe na on,52 and not for that na on only, but alsothat He would gather together in onethe children of God who were sca eredabroad.53 Then, from that day on, they plo edto put Him to death.54 Therefore Jesus no longer walkedopenly among the Jews, but wentfrom there into the country near thewilderness, to a city called Ephraim, andthere remained with His disciples.55And the Passover of the Jews wasnear, and many went from the countryup to Jerusalem before the Passover, topurify themselves.56 Then they sought Jesus, and spokeamong themselves as they stood in the

JOHN 11–12 82temple, "What do you think––that Hewill not come to the feast?"57Now both the chief priests and thePharisees had given a command, that ifanyone knew where He was, he shouldreport it, that they might seize Him.

12 1 Then, six days before thePassover, Jesus came to Bethany,

where Lazarus was who had been dead,whom He had raised from the dead.2 There they made Him a supper; andMartha served, but Lazarus was one ofthose who sat at the table with Him.3 Then Mary took a pound of verycostly oil of spikenard, anointed the feetof Jesus, and wiped His feet with herhair. And the house was filled with thefragrance of the oil.4 Then one of His disciples, JudasIscariot, Simon’s son, who would betrayHim, said,

JOHN 12 835 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold forthree hundred denarii and given to thepoor?"6 This he said, not that he cared for thepoor, but because he was a thief, andhad the money box; and he used to takewhat was put in it.7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she haskept this for the day of My burial.8 "For the poor you have with youalways, but Me you do not have always."9Now a great many of the Jews knewthat He was there; and they came, notfor Jesus’ sake only, but that they mightalso see Lazarus, whom He had raisedfrom the dead.10 But the chief priests plo ed to putLazarus to death also,11 because on account of him manyof the Jews went away and believed inJesus.

JOHN 12 8412 The next day a great mul tude thathad come to the feast, when they heardthat Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,13 took branches of palm trees andwent out to meet Him, and cried out:"Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comesin the name of the LORD!’ The King ofIsrael!"14 Then Jesus, when He had found ayoung donkey, sat on it; as it is wri en:15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold,your King is coming, Si ng on a donkey’scolt."16His disciples did not understandthese things at first; but when Jesus wasglorified, then they remembered thatthese things were wri en about Him andthat they had done these things to Him.17 Therefore the people, who were withHim when He called Lazarus out of histomb and raised him from the dead,bore witness.

JOHN 12 8518 For this reason the people also metHim, because they heard that He haddone this sign.19 The Pharisees therefore said amongthemselves, "You see that you areaccomplishing nothing. Look, the worldhas gone a er Him!"20Now there were certain Greeksamong those who came up to worship atthe feast.21 Then they came to Philip, who wasfrom Bethsaida of Galilee, and askedhim, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."22 Philip came and told Andrew, and inturn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.23 But Jesus answered them, saying,"The hour has come that the Son of Manshould be glorified.24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unlessa grain of wheat falls into the groundand dies, it remains alone; but if it dies,it produces much grain.

JOHN 12 8625 "He who loves his life will lose it, andhe who hates his life in this world willkeep it for eternal life.26 "If anyone serves Me, let him followMe; and where I am, there My servantwill be also. If anyone serves Me, himMy Father will honor.27 "Now My soul is troubled, and whatshall I say? ‘Father, save Me from thishour’? But for this purpose I came to thishour.28 "Father, glorify Your name." Then avoice came from heaven, saying, "I haveboth glorified it and will glorify it again."29 Therefore the people who stood byand heard it said that it had thundered.Others said, "An angel has spoken toHim."30 Jesus answered and said, "This voicedid not come because of Me, but foryour sake.

JOHN 12 8731 "Now is the judgment of this world;now the ruler of this world will be castout.32 "And I, if I am li ed up from theearth, will draw all peoples to Myself."33 This He said, signifying by what deathHe would die.34 The people answered Him, "Wehave heard from the law that the Christremains forever; and how can You say,‘The Son of Manmust be li ed up’? Whois this Son of Man?"35 Then Jesus said to them, "A li lewhile longer the light is with you. Walkwhile you have the light, lest darknessovertake you; he who walks in darknessdoes not know where he is going.36 "While you have the light, believein the light, that you may become sonsof light." These things Jesus spoke, anddeparted, and was hidden from them.

JOHN 12 8837 But although He had done so manysigns before them, they did not believein Him,38 that the word of Isaiah the prophetmight be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord,who has believed our report? And towhom has the arm of the LORD beenrevealed?"39 Therefore they could not believe,because Isaiah said again:40 "He has blinded their eyes andhardened their hearts, Lest they shouldsee with their eyes, Lest they shouldunderstand with their hearts and turn,So that I should heal them."41 These things Isaiah said when he sawHis glory and spoke of Him.42Nevertheless even among the rulersmany believed in Him, but becauseof the Pharisees they did not confessHim, lest they should be put out of thesynagogue;

JOHN 12 8943 for they loved the praise of menmore than the praise of God.44 Then Jesus cried out and said, "Hewho believes in Me, believes not in Mebut in Him who sent Me.45 "And he who sees Me sees Him whosent Me.46 "I have come as a light into the world,that whoever believes in Me should notabide in darkness.47 "And if anyone hears My words anddoes not believe, I do not judge him; forI did not come to judge the world but tosave the world.48 "He who rejects Me, and does notreceive My words, has that which judgeshim––the word that I have spoken willjudge him in the last day.49 "For I have not spoken on My ownauthority; but the Father who sent Megave Me a command, what I should sayand what I should speak.

JOHN 12–13 9050 "And I know that His command iseverlas ng life. Therefore, whatever Ispeak, just as the Father has told Me, soI speak."

13 1Now before the feast of thePassover, when Jesus knew that

His hour had come that He should departfrom this world to the Father, havingloved His own who were in the world,He loved them to the end.2And supper being ended, the devilhaving already put it into the heart ofJudas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betrayHim,3 Jesus, knowing that the Father hadgiven all things into His hands, and thatHe had come from God and was going toGod,4 rose from supper and laid aside Hisgarments, took a towel and girdedHimself.

JOHN 13 915A er that, He poured water into abasin and began to wash the disciples’feet, and to wipe them with the towelwith which He was girded.6 Then He came to Simon Peter. AndPeter said to Him, "Lord, are You washingmy feet?"7 Jesus answered and said to him,"What I am doing you do not understandnow, but you will know a er this."8 Peter said to Him, "You shall neverwash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If Ido not wash you, you have no part withMe."9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, notmy feet only, but also my hands and myhead!"10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathedneeds only to wash his feet, but iscompletely clean; and you are clean, butnot all of you."

JOHN 13 9211 For He knew who would betray Him;therefore He said, "You are not all clean."12 So when He had washed their feet,taken His garments, and sat down again,He said to them, "Do you know what Ihave done to you?13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, andyou say well, for so I am.14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher,have washed your feet, you also oughtto wash one another’s feet.15 "For I have given you an example,that you should do as I have done to you.16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, aservant is not greater than his master;nor is he who is sent greater than hewho sent him.17 "If you know these things, blessedare you if you do them.18 "I do not speak concerning all of you.I know whom I have chosen; but thatthe Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who

JOHN 13 93eats bread with Me has li ed up his heelagainst Me.’19 "Now I tell you before it comes, thatwhen it does come to pass, you maybelieve that I am He.20 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he whoreceives whomever I send receives Me;and he who receives Me receives Himwho sent Me."21When Jesus had said these things, Hewas troubled in spirit, and tes fied andsaid, "Most assuredly, I say to you, oneof you will betray Me."22 Then the disciples looked at oneanother, perplexed about whom Hespoke.23Now there was leaning on Jesus’bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesusloved.24 Simon Peter therefore mo onedto him to ask who it was of whom Hespoke.

JOHN 13 9425 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast,he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom Ishall give a piece of bread when I havedipped it." And having dipped the bread,He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son ofSimon.27Now a er the piece of bread, Satanentered him. Then Jesus said to him,"What you do, do quickly."28 But no one at the table knew forwhat reason He said this to him.29 For some thought, because Judas hadthe money box, that Jesus had said tohim, "Buy those things we need for thefeast," or that he should give somethingto the poor.30Having received the piece of bread,he then went out immediately. And itwas night.

JOHN 13 9531 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said,"Now the Son of Man is glorified, andGod is glorified in Him.32 "If God is glorified in Him, God willalso glorify Him in Himself, and glorifyHim immediately.33 "Li le children, I shall be with you ali le while longer. You will seek Me; andas I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going,you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.34 "A new commandment I give toyou, that you love one another; as Ihave loved you, that you also love oneanother.35 "By this all will know that you areMy disciples, if you have love for oneanother."36 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord,where are You going?" Jesus answeredhim, "Where I am going you cannotfollow Me now, but you shall follow Mea erward."

JOHN 13–14 9637 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can Inot follow You now? I will lay down mylife for Your sake."38 Jesus answered him, "Will you laydown your life for My sake? Mostassuredly, I say to you, the rooster shallnot crow ll you have denied Me threemes.

14 1 "Let not your heart be troubled;you believe in God, believe also in

Me.2 "In My Father’s house are manymansions; if it were not so, I would havetold you. I go to prepare a place for you.3 "And if I go and prepare a place foryou, I will come again and receive you toMyself; that where I am, there you maybe also.4 "And where I go you know, and theway you know."

JOHN 14 975 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do notknow where You are going, and how canwe know the way?"6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, thetruth, and the life. No one comes to theFather except through Me.7 "If you had known Me, you wouldhave known My Father also; and fromnow on you know Him and have seenHim."8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us theFather, and it is sufficient for us."9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been withyou so long, and yet you have not knownMe, Philip? He who has seen Me hasseen the Father; so how can you say,‘Show us the Father’?10 "Do you not believe that I am in theFather, and the Father in Me? The wordsthat I speak to you I do not speak onMy own authority; but the Father whodwells in Me does the works.

JOHN 14 9811 "Believe Me that I am in the Fatherand the Father in Me, or else believe Mefor the sake of the works themselves.12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he whobelieves in Me, the works that I do hewill do also; and greater works thanthese he will do, because I go to MyFather.13 "And whatever you ask in My name,that I will do, that the Father may beglorified in the Son.14 "If you ask anything in My name, Iwill do it.15 "If you love Me, keep Mycommandments.16 "And I will pray the Father, and Hewill give you another Helper, that Hemay abide with you forever––17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the worldcannot receive, because it neither seesHim nor knows Him; but you know Him,for He dwells with you and will be in you.

JOHN 14 9918 "I will not leave you orphans; I willcome to you.19 "A li le while longer and the worldwill see Me no more, but you will seeMe. Because I live, you will live also.20 "At that day you will know that I aminMy Father, and you in Me, and I in you.21 "He who hasMy commandments andkeeps them, it is he who loves Me. Andhe who loves Me will be loved by MyFather, and I will love him and manifestMyself to him."22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him,"Lord, how is it that You will manifestYourself to us, and not to the world?"23 Jesus answered and said to him, "Ifanyone loves Me, he will keep My word;and My Father will love him, and We willcome to him and make Our home withhim.24 "He who does not love Me does notkeep My words; and the word which you

JOHN 14 100hear is not Mine but the Father’s whosent Me.25 "These things I have spoken to youwhile being present with you.26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in My name,He will teach you all things, and bring toyour remembrance all things that I saidto you.27 "Peace I leave with you, My peaceI give to you; not as the world givesdo I give to you. Let not your heart betroubled, neither let it be afraid.28 "You have heard Me say to you, ‘Iam going away and coming back toyou.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoicebecause I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’for My Father is greater than I.29 "And now I have told you before itcomes, that when it does come to pass,you may believe.

JOHN 14–15 10130 "I will no longer talk much with you,for the ruler of this world is coming, andhe has nothing in Me.31 "But that the world may know that Ilove the Father, and as the Father gaveMe commandment, so I do. Arise, let usgo from here.

15 1 "I am the true vine, and MyFather is the vinedresser.

2 "Every branch in Me that does notbear fruit He takes away; and everybranch that bears fruit He prunes, that itmay bear more fruit.3 "You are already clean because of theword which I have spoken to you.4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As thebranch cannot bear fruit of itself, unlessit abides in the vine, neither 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, bears

JOHN 15 102much fruit; for without Me you can donothing.6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he iscast out as a branch and is withered; andthey gather them and throw them intothe fire, and they are burned.7 "If you abide in Me, and My wordsabide in you, you will ask what youdesire, and it shall be done for you.8 "By this My Father is glorified, thatyou bear much fruit; so you will be Mydisciples.9 "As the Father loved Me, I also haveloved you; abide in My love.10 "If you keep My commandments, youwill abide in My love, just as I have keptMy Father’s commandments and abidein His love.11 "These things I have spoken to you,that My joy may remain in you, and thatyour joy may be full.

JOHN 15 10312 "This is My commandment, that youlove one another as I have loved you.13 "Greater love has no one than this,than to lay down one’s life for his friends.14 "You are My friends if you dowhatever I command you.15 "No longer do I call you servants, fora servant does not know what his masteris doing; but I have called you friends,for all things that I heard fromMy FatherI have made known to you.16 "You did not choose Me, but I choseyou and appointed you that you shouldgo and bear fruit, and that your fruitshould remain, that whatever you askthe Father in My name He may give you.17 "These things I command you, thatyou love one another.18 "If the world hates you, you knowthat it hated Me before it hated you.19 "If you were of the world, the worldwould love its own. Yet because you are

JOHN 15 104not of the world, but I chose you outof the world, therefore the world hatesyou.20 "Remember the word that I said toyou, ‘A servant is not greater than hismaster.’ If they persecuted Me, theywill also persecute you. If they kept Myword, they will keep yours also.21 "But all these things they will do toyou for My name’s sake, because theydo not know Him who sent Me.22 "If I had not come and spoken tothem, they would have no sin, but nowthey have no excuse for their sin.23 "He who hates Me hates My Fatheralso.24 "If I had not done among them theworks which no one else did, they wouldhave no sin; but now they have seen andalso hated both Me and My Father.

JOHN 15–16 10525 "But this happened that the wordmight be fulfilled which is wri en in theirlaw, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’26 "But when the Helper comes, whomI shall send to you from the Father, theSpirit of truth who proceeds from theFather, He will tes fy of Me.27 "And you also will bear witness,because you have been with Me fromthe beginning.

16 1 "These things I have spoken toyou, that you should not be made

to stumble.2 "They will put you out of thesynagogues; yes, the me is coming thatwhoever kills you will think that he offersGod service.3 "And these things they will do to youbecause they have not known the Fathernor Me.4 "But these things I have told you,that when the me comes, you may

JOHN 16 106remember that I told you of them. Andthese things I did not say to you at thebeginning, because I was with you.5 "But now I go away to Him who sentMe, and none of you asks Me, ‘Whereare You going?’6 "But because I have said these thingsto you, sorrow has filled your heart.7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. Itis to your advantage that I go away; forif I do not go away, the Helper will notcome to you; but if I depart, I will sendHim to you.8 "And when He has come, He willconvict the world of sin, and ofrighteousness, and of judgment:9 "of sin, because they do not believe inMe;10 "of righteousness, because I go to MyFather and you see Me no more;11 "of judgment, because the ruler ofthis world is judged.

JOHN 16 10712 "I s ll have many things to say to you,but you cannot bear them now.13 "However, when He, the Spirit oftruth, has come, He will guide you intoall truth; for He will not speak on Hisown authority, but whatever He hearsHe will speak; and He will tell you thingsto come.14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take ofwhat is Mine and declare it to you.15 "All things that the Father has areMine. Therefore I said that He will takeof Mine and declare it to you.16 "A li le while, and you will not seeMe; and again a li le while, and you willsee Me, because I go to the Father."17 Then some of His disciples saidamong themselves, "What is this that Hesays to us, ‘A li le while, and you will notsee Me; and again a li le while, and youwill see Me’; and, ‘because I go to theFather’?"

JOHN 16 10818 They said therefore, "What is thisthat He says, ‘A li le while’? We do notknow what He is saying."19Now Jesus knew that they desired toask Him, and He said to them, "Are youinquiring among yourselves about what Isaid, ‘A li le while, and you will not seeMe; and again a li le while, and you willsee Me’?20 "Most assuredly, I say to you that youwill weep and lament, but the world willrejoice; and you will be sorrowful, butyour sorrow will be turned into joy.21 "A woman, when she is in labor, hassorrow because her hour has come;but as soon as she has given birth tothe child, she no longer remembers theanguish, for joy that a human being hasbeen born into the world.22 "Therefore you now have sorrow;but I will see you again and your heart

JOHN 16 109will rejoice, and your joy no one will takefrom you.23 "And in that day you will ask Menothing. Most assuredly, I say to you,whatever you ask the Father in My nameHe will give you.24 "Un l now you have asked nothing inMy name. Ask, and you will receive, thatyour joy may be full.25 "These things I have spoken to youin figura ve language; but the me iscoming when I will no longer speak toyou in figura ve language, but I will tellyou plainly about the Father.26 "In that day you will ask in My name,and I do not say to you that I shall praythe Father for you;27 "for the Father Himself loves you,because you have loved Me, and havebelieved that I came forth from God.

JOHN 16 11028 "I came forth from the Father andhave come into the world. Again, I leavethe world and go to the Father."29His disciples said to Him, "See, nowYou are speaking plainly, and using nofigure of speech!30 "Now we are sure that You know allthings, and have no need that anyoneshould ques on You. By this we believethat You came forth from God."31 Jesus answered them, "Do you nowbelieve?32 "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, hasnow come, that you will be sca ered,each to his own, and will leave Me alone.And yet I am not alone, because theFather is with Me.33 "These things I have spoken to you,that in Me you may have peace. In theworld you will have tribula on; but be ofgood cheer, I have overcome the world."

JOHN 17 111

17 1 Jesus spoke these words, li edup His eyes to heaven, and said:

"Father, the hour has come. Glorify YourSon, that Your Son also may glorify You,2 "as You have given Him authority overall flesh, that He should give eternal lifeto as many as You have given Him.3 "And this is eternal life, that they mayknow You, the only true God, and JesusChrist whom You have sent.4 "I have glorified You on the earth. Ihave finished the work which You havegiven Me to do.5 "And now, O Father, glorify Metogether with Yourself, with the glorywhich I had with You before the worldwas.6 "I have manifested Your name to themen whom You have givenMe out of theworld. They were Yours, You gave themto Me, and they have kept Your word.

JOHN 17 1127 "Now they have known that all thingswhich You have given Me are from You.8 "For I have given to them the wordswhich You have given Me; and they havereceived them, and have known surelythat I came forth from You; and theyhave believed that You sent Me.9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for theworld but for those whom You havegiven Me, for they are Yours.10 "And all Mine are Yours, and Yoursare Mine, and I am glorified in them.11 "Now I am no longer in the world,but these are in the world, and I cometo You. Holy Father, keep through Yourname those whom You have given Me,that they may be one as We are.12 "While I was with them in the world,I kept them in Your name. Those whomYou gave Me I have kept; and none ofthem is lost except the son of perdi on,that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

JOHN 17 11313 "But now I come to You, and thesethings I speak in the world, that theymay have My joy fulfilled in themselves.14 "I have given them Your word; andthe world has hated them because theyare not of the world, just as I am not ofthe world.15 "I do not pray that You should takethem out of the world, but that Youshould keep them from the evil one.16 "They are not of the world, just as Iam not of the world.17 "Sanc fy them by Your truth. Yourword is truth.18 "As You sent Me into the world, I alsohave sent them into the world.19 "And for their sakes I sanc fy Myself,that they also may be sanc fied by thetruth.20 "I do not pray for these alone, butalso for those who will believe in Methrough their word;

JOHN 17 11421 "that they all may be one, as You,Father, are in Me, and I in You; that theyalso may be one in Us, that the worldmay believe that You sent Me.22 "And the glory which You gave Me Ihave given them, that they may be onejust as We are one:23 "I in them, and You in Me; that theymay be made perfect in one, and thatthe world may know that You have sentMe, and have loved them as You haveloved Me.24 "Father, I desire that they also whomYou gave Me may be with Me whereI am, that they may behold My glorywhich You have given Me; for You lovedMe before the founda on of the world.25 "O righteous Father! The world hasnot known You, but I have known You;and these have known that You sent Me.26 "And I have declared to them Yourname, and will declare it, that the love

JOHN 18 115with which You loved Me may be inthem, and I in them."

18 1When Jesus had spoken thesewords, He went out with His

disciples over the Brook Kidron, wherethere was a garden, which He and Hisdisciples entered.2And Judas, who betrayed Him, alsoknew the place; for Jesus o en metthere with His disciples.3 Then Judas, having received adetachment of troops, and officersfrom the chief priests and Pharisees,came there with lanterns, torches, andweapons.4 Jesus therefore, knowing all thingsthat would come upon Him, wentforward and said to them, "Whom areyou seeking?"5 They answered Him, "Jesus ofNazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am

JOHN 18 116He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, alsostood with them.6Nowwhen He said to them, "I am He,"they drew back and fell to the ground.7 Then He asked them again, "Whomare you seeking?" And they said, "Jesusof Nazareth."8 Jesus answered, "I have told you thatI am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, letthese go their way,"9 that the saying might be fulfilledwhich He spoke, "Of those whom Yougave Me I have lost none."10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword,drew it and struck the high priest’sservant, and cut off his right ear. Theservant’s name was Malchus.11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put yoursword into the sheath. Shall I not drinkthe cup which My Father has given Me?"

JOHN 18 11712 Then the detachment of troops andthe captain and the officers of the Jewsarrested Jesus and bound Him.13And they led Him away to Annas first,for he was the father–in–law of Caiaphaswho was high priest that year.14Now it was Caiaphas who advisedthe Jews that it was expedient that oneman should die for the people.15And Simon Peter followed Jesus,and so did another disciple. Now thatdisciple was known to the high priest,and went with Jesus into the courtyardof the high priest.16 But Peter stood at the door outside.Then the other disciple, who was knownto the high priest, went out and spoketo her who kept the door, and broughtPeter in.17 Then the servant girl who kept thedoor said to Peter, "You are not also one

JOHN 18 118of this Man’s disciples, are you?" Hesaid, "I am not."18Now the servants and officers whohad made a fire of coals stood there,for it was cold, and they warmedthemselves. And Peter stood with themand warmed himself.19 The high priest then asked Jesusabout His disciples and His doctrine.20 Jesus answered him, "I spokeopenly to the world. I always taught insynagogues and in the temple, wherethe Jews always meet, and in secret Ihave said nothing.21 "Why do you ask Me? Ask those whohave heard Me what I said to them.Indeed they know what I said."22And when He had said these things,one of the officers who stood by struckJesus with the palm of his hand, saying,"Do You answer the high priest likethat?"

JOHN 18 11923 Jesus answered him, "If I have spokenevil, bear witness of the evil; but if well,why do you strike Me?"24 Then Annas sent Him bound toCaiaphas the high priest.25Now Simon Peter stood and warmedhimself. Therefore they said to him, "Youare not also one of His disciples, areyou?" He denied it and said, "I am not!"26One of the servants of the highpriest, a rela ve of him whose ear Petercut off, said, "Did I not see you in thegarden with Him?"27 Peter then denied again; andimmediately a rooster crowed.28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphasto the Praetorium, and it was earlymorning. But they themselves did notgo into the Praetorium, lest they shouldbe defiled, but that they might eat thePassover.

JOHN 18 12029 Pilate then went out to them andsaid, "What accusa on do you bringagainst this Man?"30 They answered and said to him, "IfHe were not an evildoer, we would nothave delivered Him up to you."31 Then Pilate said to them, "You takeHim and judge Him according to yourlaw." Therefore the Jews said to him,"It is not lawful for us to put anyone todeath,"32 that the saying of Jesus might befulfilled which He spoke, signifying bywhat death He would die.33 Then Pilate entered the Praetoriumagain, called Jesus, and said to Him, "AreYou the King of the Jews?"34 Jesus answered him, "Are youspeaking for yourself about this, or didothers tell you this concerning Me?"35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Yourown na on and the chief priests have

JOHN 18 121delivered You to me. What have Youdone?"36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is notof this world. If My kingdom were of thisworld, My servants would fight, so that Ishould not be delivered to the Jews; butnow My kingdom is not from here."37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are Youa king then?" Jesus answered, "You sayrightly that I am a king. For this causeI was born, and for this cause I havecome into the world, that I should bearwitness to the truth. Everyone who is ofthe truth hears My voice."38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"And when he had said this, he went outagain to the Jews, and said to them, "Ifind no fault in Him at all.39 "But you have a custom that I shouldrelease someone to you at the Passover.Do you therefore want me to release toyou the King of the Jews?"

JOHN 18–19 12240 Then they all cried again, saying, "Notthis Man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbaswas a robber.

19 1 So then Pilate took Jesus andscourged Him.

2And the soldiers twisted a crown ofthorns and put it on His head, and theyput on Him a purple robe.3 Then they said, "Hail, King of theJews!" And they struck Him with theirhands.4 Pilate then went out again, and saidto them, "Behold, I am bringing Him outto you, that you may know that I find nofault in Him."5 Then Jesus came out, wearing thecrown of thorns and the purple robe.And Pilate said to them, "Behold theMan!"6 Therefore, when the chief priests andofficers saw Him, they cried out, saying,"Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to

JOHN 19 123them, "You take Him and crucify Him, forI find no fault in Him."7 The Jews answered him, "We have alaw, and according to our law He oughtto die, because He made Himself the Sonof God."8 Therefore, when Pilate heard thatsaying, he was the more afraid,9 and went again into the Praetorium,and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?"But Jesus gave him no answer.10 Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You notspeaking to me? Do You not know that Ihave power to crucify You, and power torelease You?"11 Jesus answered, "You could have nopower at all against Me unless it hadbeen given you from above. Thereforethe one who delivered Me to you hasthe greater sin."12 From then on Pilate sought to releaseHim, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If

JOHN 19 124you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’sfriend. Whoever makes himself a kingspeaks against Caesar."13When Pilate therefore heard thatsaying, he brought Jesus out and satdown in the judgment seat in a placethat is called The Pavement, but inHebrew, Gabbatha.14Now it was the Prepara on Day ofthe Passover, and about the sixth hour.And he said to the Jews, "Behold yourKing!"15 But they cried out, "Away with Him,away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate saidto them, "Shall I crucify your King?" Thechief priests answered, "We have noking but Caesar!"16 Then he delivered Him to them to becrucified. So they took Jesus and led Himaway.

JOHN 19 12517And He, bearing His cross, went outto a place called the Place of a Skull,which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,18where they crucified Him, and twoothers with Him, one on either side, andJesus in the center.19Now Pilate wrote a tle and put it onthe cross. And the wri ng was: JESUS OFNAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.20 Then many of the Jews read this tle,for the place where Jesus was crucifiedwas near the city; and it was wri en inHebrew, Greek, and La n.21 Therefore the chief priests of theJews said to Pilate, "Do not write, ‘TheKing of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, "I am theKing of the Jews."’"22 Pilate answered, "What I havewri en, I have wri en."23 Then the soldiers, when they hadcrucified Jesus, took His garments andmade four parts, to each soldier a part,

JOHN 19 126and also the tunic. Now the tunic waswithout seam, woven from the top inone piece.24 They said therefore amongthemselves, "Let us not tear it, but castlots for it, whose it shall be," that theScripture might be fulfilled which says:"They divided My garments amongthem, And for My clothing they castlots." Therefore the soldiers did thesethings.25Now there stood by the cross ofJesus His mother, and His mother’ssister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and MaryMagdalene.26When Jesus therefore saw Hismother, and the disciple whom He lovedstanding by, He said to His mother,"Woman, behold your son!"27 Then He said to the disciple, "Beholdyour mother!" And from that hour thatdisciple took her to his own home.

JOHN 19 12728A er this, Jesus, knowing that allthings were now accomplished, thatthe Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "Ithirst!"29Now a vessel full of sour wine wassi ng there; and they filled a spongewith sour wine, put it on hyssop, and putit to His mouth.30 So when Jesus had received thesour wine, He said, "It is finished!" Andbowing His head, He gave up His spirit.31 Therefore, because it was thePrepara on Day, that the bodies shouldnot remain on the cross on the Sabbath(for that Sabbath was a high day), theJews asked Pilate that their legs mightbe broken, and that they might be takenaway.32 Then the soldiers came and brokethe legs of the first and of the other whowas crucified with Him.

JOHN 19 12833 But when they came to Jesus andsaw that He was already dead, they didnot break His legs.34 But one of the soldiers pierced Hisside with a spear, and immediately bloodand water came out.35And he who has seen has tes fied,and his tes mony is true; and he knowsthat he is telling the truth, so that youmay believe.36 For these things were done that theScripture should be fulfilled, "Not one ofHis bones shall be broken."37And again another Scripture says,"They shall look on Him whom theypierced."38A er this, Joseph of Arimathea,being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly,for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that hemight take away the body of Jesus; andPilate gave him permission. So he cameand took the body of Jesus.

JOHN 19–20 12939And Nicodemus, who at first cameto Jesus by night, also came, bringinga mixture of myrrh and aloes, about ahundred pounds.40 Then they took the body of Jesus,and bound it in strips of linen with thespices, as the custom of the Jews is tobury.41Now in the place where He wascrucified there was a garden, and in thegarden a new tomb in which no one hadyet been laid.42 So there they laid Jesus, because ofthe Jews’ Prepara on Day, for the tombwas nearby.

20 1Now on the first day of the weekMary Magdalene went to the

tomb early, while it was s ll dark, andsaw that the stone had been taken awayfrom the tomb.2 Then she ran and came to SimonPeter, and to the other disciple, whom

JOHN 20 130Jesus loved, and said to them, "Theyhave taken away the Lord out of thetomb, and we do not know where theyhave laid Him."3 Peter therefore went out, and theother disciple, and were going to thetomb.4 So they both ran together, and theother disciple outran Peter and came tothe tomb first.5And he, stooping down and looking in,saw the linen cloths lying there; yet hedid not go in.6 Then Simon Peter came, followinghim, and went into the tomb; and hesaw the linen cloths lying there,7 and the handkerchief that had beenaround His head, not lying with the linencloths, but folded together in a place byitself.

JOHN 20 1318 Then the other disciple, who came tothe tomb first, went in also; and he sawand believed.9 For as yet they did not know theScripture, that He must rise again fromthe dead.10 Then the disciples went away againto their own homes.11 But Mary stood outside by the tombweeping, and as she wept she stoopeddown and looked into the tomb.12And she saw two angels in whitesi ng, one at the head and the other atthe feet, where the body of Jesus hadlain.13 Then they said to her, "Woman, whyare you weeping?" She said to them,"Because they have taken away my Lord,and I do not know where they have laidHim."14Now when she had said this, sheturned around and saw Jesus standing

JOHN 20 132there, and did not know that it wasJesus.15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why areyou weeping? Whom are you seeking?"She, supposing Him to be the gardener,said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Himaway, tell me where You have laid Him,and I will take Him away."16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turnedand said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is tosay, Teacher).17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me,for I have not yet ascended toMy Father;but go to My brethren and say to them,‘I am ascending to My Father and yourFather, and to My God and your God.’"18Mary Magdalene came and told thedisciples that she had seen the Lord, andthat He had spoken these things to her.19 Then, the same day at evening, beingthe first day of the week, when the doorswere shut where the disciples were

JOHN 20 133assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesuscame and stood in the midst, and said tothem, "Peace be with you."20When He had said this, He showedthem His hands and His side. Then thedisciples were glad when they saw theLord.21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peaceto you! As the Father has sent Me, I alsosend you."22And when He had said this, Hebreathed on them, and said to them,"Receive the Holy Spirit.23 "If you forgive the sins of any, theyare forgiven them; if you retain the sinsof any, they are retained."24Now Thomas, called the Twin, oneof the twelve, was not with them whenJesus came.25 The other disciples therefore said tohim, "We have seen the Lord." So he saidto them, "Unless I see in His hands the

JOHN 20 134print of the nails, and put my finger intothe print of the nails, and put my handinto His side, I will not believe."26And a er eight days His discipleswere again inside, and Thomas withthem. Jesus came, the doors being shut,and stood in the midst, and said, "Peaceto you!"27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach yourfinger here, and look at My hands; andreach your hand here, and put it intoMy side. Do not be unbelieving, butbelieving."28And Thomas answered and said toHim, "My Lord and my God!"29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, becauseyou have seen Me, you have believed.Blessed are those who have not seenand yet have believed."30And truly Jesus did many other signsin the presence of His disciples, whichare not wri en in this book;

JOHN 20–21 13531 but these are wri en that you maybelieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Sonof God, and that believing you may havelife in His name.

21 1A er these things Jesus showedHimself again to the disciples at

the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way Heshowed Himself:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin,Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons ofZebedee, and two others of His discipleswere together.3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am goingfishing." They said to him, "We aregoing with you also." They went out andimmediately got into the boat, and thatnight they caught nothing.4 But when the morning had nowcome, Jesus stood on the shore; yet thedisciples did not know that it was Jesus.

JOHN 21 1365 Then Jesus said to them, "Children,have you any food?" They answeredHim, "No."6And He said to them, "Cast the net onthe right side of the boat, and you willfind some." So they cast, and now theywere not able to draw it in because ofthe mul tude of fish.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesusloved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Nowwhen Simon Peter heard that it was theLord, he put on his outer garment (for hehad removed it), and plunged into thesea.8 But the other disciples came in theli le boat (for they were not far fromland, but about two hundred cubits),dragging the net with fish.9 Then, as soon as they had come toland, they saw a fire of coals there, andfish laid on it, and bread.

JOHN 21 13710 Jesus said to them, "Bring some ofthe fish which you have just caught."11 Simon Peter went up and draggedthe net to land, full of large fish, onehundred and fi y–three; and althoughthere were so many, the net was notbroken.12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eatbreakfast." Yet none of the disciplesdared ask Him, "Who are You?"––knowing that it was the Lord.13 Jesus then came and took the breadand gave it to them, and likewise thefish.14 This is now the third me Jesusshowed Himself to His disciples a er Hewas raised from the dead.15 So when they had eaten breakfast,Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, sonof Jonah, do you love Me more thanthese?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You

JOHN 21 138know that I love You." He said to him,"Feed My lambs."16He said to him again a second me,"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You knowthat I love You." He said to him, "TendMy sheep."17He said to him the third me, "Simon,son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peterwas grieved because He said to him thethird me, "Do you love Me?" And hesaid to Him, "Lord, You know all things;You know that I love You." Jesus said tohim, "Feed My sheep.18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, whenyou were younger, you girded yourselfand walked where you wished; but whenyou are old, you will stretch out yourhands, and another will gird you andcarry you where you do not wish."19 This He spoke, signifying by whatdeath he would glorify God. And when

JOHN 21 139He had spoken this, He said to him,"Follow Me."20 Then Peter, turning around, saw thedisciple whom Jesus loved following,who also had leaned on His breast at thesupper, and said, "Lord, who is the onewho betrays You?"21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "ButLord, what about this man?"22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that heremain ll I come, what is that to you?You follow Me."23 Then this saying went out among thebrethren that this disciple would notdie. Yet Jesus did not say to him thathe would not die, but, "If I will that heremain ll I come, what is that to you?"24 This is the disciple who tes fies ofthese things, and wrote these things;and we know that his tes mony is true.25And there are also many other thingsthat Jesus did, which if they were wri en

JOHN 21 140one by one, I suppose that even theworld itself could not contain the booksthat would be wri en. Amen.

Acts of the Apostles

1 1 The former account I made, OTheophilus, of all that Jesus began

both to do and teach,2 un l the day in which He was takenup, a er He through the Holy Spirit hadgiven commandments to the apostleswhom He had chosen,3 to whom He also presented Himselfalive a er His suffering by many infallibleproofs, being seen by them duringforty days and speaking of the thingspertaining to the kingdom of God.4And being assembled together withthem, He commanded them not todepart from Jerusalem, but to wait forthe Promise of the Father, "which," Hesaid, "you have heard from Me;

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1 25 "for John truly bap zed with water,but you shall be bap zed with the HolySpirit not many days from now."6 Therefore, when they had cometogether, they asked Him, saying, "Lord,will You at this me restore the kingdomto Israel?"7And He said to them, "It is not foryou to know mes or seasons which theFather has put in His own authority.8 "But you shall receive power when theHoly Spirit has come upon you; and youshall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,and in all Judea and Samaria, and to theend of the earth."9Now when He had spoken thesethings, while they watched, He wastaken up, and a cloud received Him outof their sight.10And while they looked steadfastlytoward heaven as He went up, behold,twomen stood by them in white apparel,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1 311who also said, "Men of Galilee, whydo you stand gazing up into heaven? Thissame Jesus, who was taken up from youinto heaven, will so come in like manneras you saw Him go into heaven."12 Then they returned to Jerusalemfrom the mount called Olivet, which isnear Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.13And when they had entered, theywent up into the upper room wherethey were staying: Peter, James, John,and Andrew; Philip and Thomas;Bartholomew and Ma hew; James theson of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot;and Judas the son of James.14 These all con nued with one accordin prayer and supplica on, with thewomen and Mary the mother of Jesus,and with His brothers.15And in those days Peter stood up inthe midst of the disciples (altogether the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1 4number of names was about a hundredand twenty), and said,16 "Men and brethren, this Scripturehad to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spiritspoke before by the mouth of Davidconcerning Judas, who became a guideto those who arrested Jesus;17 "for he was numbered with us andobtained a part in this ministry."18 (Now this man purchased a fieldwith the wages of iniquity; and fallingheadlong, he burst open in the middleand all his entrails gushed out.19And it became known to all thosedwelling in Jerusalem; so that field iscalled in their own language, Akel Dama,that is, Field of Blood.)20 "For it is wri en in the book ofPsalms: ‘Let his dwelling place bedesolate, And let no one live in it’; and,‘Let another take his office.’

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1 521 "Therefore, of these men who haveaccompanied us all the me that theLord Jesus went in and out among us,22 "beginning from the bap sm of Johnto that day when He was taken up fromus, one of these must become a witnesswith us of His resurrec on."23And they proposed two: Josephcalled Barsabas, who was surnamedJustus, and Ma hias.24And they prayed and said, "You, OLord, who know the hearts of all, showwhich of these two You have chosen25 "to take part in this ministry andapostleship from which Judas bytransgression fell, that he might go to hisown place."26And they cast their lots, and the lotfell on Ma hias. And he was numberedwith the eleven apostles.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 6

2 1When the Day of Pentecost hadfully come, they were all with one

accord in one place.2And suddenly there came a soundfrom heaven, as of a rushing mightywind, and it filled the whole housewhere they were si ng.3 Then there appeared to them dividedtongues, as of fire, and one sat uponeach of them.4And they were all filled with theHoly Spirit and began to speak withother tongues, as the Spirit gave themu erance.5And there were dwelling in JerusalemJews, devout men, from every na onunder heaven.6And when this sound occurred, themul tude came together, and wereconfused, because everyone heard themspeak in his own language.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 77 Then they were all amazed andmarveled, saying to one another, "Look,are not all these who speak Galileans?8 "And how is it that we hear, each inour own language in which we wereborn?9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites,those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judeaand Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 "Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt andthe parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene,visitors from Rome, both Jews andproselytes,11 "Cretans and Arabs––we hear themspeaking in our own tongues thewonderful works of God."12 So they were all amazed andperplexed, saying to one another,"Whatever could this mean?"13Others mocking said, "They are fullof new wine."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 814 But Peter, standing up with theeleven, raised his voice and said to them,"Men of Judea and all who dwell inJerusalem, let this be known to you, andheed my words.15 "For these are not drunk, as yousuppose, since it is only the third hour ofthe day.16 "But this is what was spoken by theprophet Joel:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the lastdays, says God, That I will pour out ofMy Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and yourdaughters shall prophesy, Your youngmen shall see visions, Your old men shalldream dreams.18And on My menservants and on Mymaidservants I will pour out My Spirit inthose days; And they shall prophesy.19 I will show wonders in heaven aboveAnd signs in the earth beneath: Bloodand fire and vapor of smoke.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 920 The sun shall be turned into darkness,And the moon into blood, Before thecoming of the great and awesome day ofthe LORD.21And it shall come to pass Thatwhoever calls on the name of the LORDShall be saved.’22 "Men of Israel, hear these words:Jesus of Nazareth, a Man a ested byGod to you by miracles, wonders, andsigns which God did through Him in yourmidst, as you yourselves also know––23 "Him, being delivered by thedetermined purpose and foreknowledgeof God, you have taken by lawless hands,have crucified, and put to death;24 "whom God raised up, having loosedthe pains of death, because it was notpossible that He should be held by it.25 "For David says concerning Him: ‘Iforesaw the LORD always before my

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 10face, For He is at my right hand, that Imay not be shaken.26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and mytongue was glad; Moreover my flesh alsowill rest in hope.27 For You will not leave my soul inHades, Nor will You allow Your Holy Oneto see corrup on.28 You have made known to me theways of life; You will make me full of joyin Your presence.’29 "Men and brethren, let me speakfreely to you of the patriarch David, thathe is both dead and buried, and his tombis with us to this day.30 "Therefore, being a prophet, andknowing that God had sworn with anoath to him that of the fruit of his body,according to the flesh, He would raise upthe Christ to sit on his throne,31 "he, foreseeing this, spokeconcerning the resurrec on of the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 11Christ, that His soul was not le inHades, nor did His flesh see corrup on.32 "This Jesus God has raised up, ofwhich we are all witnesses.33 "Therefore being exalted to the righthand of God, and having received fromthe Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,He poured out this which you now seeand hear.34 "For David did not ascend into theheavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORDsaid to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,35 Till I make Your enemies Yourfootstool."’36 "Therefore let all the house of Israelknow assuredly that God has made thisJesus, whom you crucified, both Lordand Christ."37Now when they heard this, theywere cut to the heart, and said to Peterand the rest of the apostles, "Men andbrethren, what shall we do?"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 1238 Then Peter said to them, "Repent,and let every one of you be bap zedin the name of Jesus Christ for theremission of sins; and you shall receivethe gi of the Holy Spirit.39 "For the promise is to you and toyour children, and to all who are afar off,as many as the Lord our God will call."40And with many other words hetes fied and exhorted them, saying, "Besaved from this perverse genera on."41 Then those who gladly received hisword were bap zed; and that day aboutthree thousand souls were added tothem.42And they con nued steadfastly in theapostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in thebreaking of bread, and in prayers.43 Then fear came upon every soul,and many wonders and signs were donethrough the apostles.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2–3 1344Now all who believed were together,and had all things in common,45 and sold their possessions and goods,and divided them among all, as anyonehad need.46 So con nuing daily with one accordin the temple, and breaking bread fromhouse to house, they ate their food withgladness and simplicity of heart,47 praising God and having favor withall the people. And the Lord added tothe church daily those who were beingsaved.

3 1Now Peter and John went uptogether to the temple at the hour

of prayer, the ninth hour.2And a certain man lame from hismother’s womb was carried, whom theylaid daily at the gate of the temple whichis called Beau ful, to ask alms fromthose who entered the temple;

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 3 143who, seeing Peter and John about togo into the temple, asked for alms.4And fixing his eyes on him, with John,Peter said, "Look at us."5 So he gave them his a en on,expec ng to receive something fromthem.6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I donot have, but what I do have I give you:In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,rise up and walk."7And he took him by the right handand li ed him up, and immediately hisfeet and ankle bones received strength.8 So he, leaping up, stood andwalked and entered the temple withthem––walking, leaping, and praisingGod.9And all the people saw him walkingand praising God.10 Then they knew that it was he whosat begging alms at the Beau ful Gate

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 3 15of the temple; and they were filled withwonder and amazement at what hadhappened to him.11Now as the lame man who washealed held on to Peter and John, allthe people ran together to them in theporch which is called Solomon’s, greatlyamazed.12 So when Peter saw it, he respondedto the people: "Men of Israel, why doyou marvel at this? Or why look sointently at us, as though by our ownpower or godliness we had made thisman walk?13 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, andJacob, the God of our fathers, glorifiedHis Servant Jesus, whom you deliveredup and denied in the presence of Pilate,when he was determined to let Him go.14 "But you denied the Holy One andthe Just, and asked for a murderer to begranted to you,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 3 1615 "and killed the Prince of life, whomGod raised from the dead, of which weare witnesses.16 "And His name, through faith in Hisname, has made this man strong, whomyou see and know. Yes, the faith whichcomes through Him has given him thisperfect soundness in the presence ofyou all.17 "Yet now, brethren, I know that youdid it in ignorance, as did also yourrulers.18 "But those things which God foretoldby the mouth of all His prophets, thatthe Christ would suffer, He has thusfulfilled.19 "Repent therefore and be converted,that your sins may be blo ed out, sothat mes of refreshing may come fromthe presence of the Lord,20 "and that He may send Jesus Christ,who was preached to you before,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 3 1721 "whom heaven must receive un l themes of restora on of all things, which

God has spoken by the mouth of all Hisholy prophets since the world began.22 "For Moses truly said to the fathers,‘The LORD your God will raise up for youa Prophet like me from your brethren.Him you shall hear in all things, whateverHe says to you.23 ‘And it shall be that every soul whowill not hear that Prophet shall be u erlydestroyed from among the people.’24 "Yes, and all the prophets, fromSamuel and those who follow, as manyas have spoken, have also foretold thesedays.25 "You are sons of the prophets, and ofthe covenant which God made with ourfathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in yourseed all the families of the earth shall beblessed.’

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 3–4 1826 "To you first, God, having raised upHis Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you,in turning away every one of you fromyour iniqui es."

4 1Now as they spoke to the people,the priests, the captain of the

temple, and the Sadducees came uponthem,2 being greatly disturbed that theytaught the people and preached in Jesusthe resurrec on from the dead.3And they laid hands on them, and putthem in custody un l the next day, for itwas already evening.4However, many of those who heardthe word believed; and the number ofthemen came to be about five thousand.5And it came to pass, on the next day,that their rulers, elders, and scribes,6 as well as Annas the high priest,Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, andas many as were of the family of the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4 19high priest, were gathered together atJerusalem.7And when they had set them in themidst, they asked, "By what power or bywhat name have you done this?"8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,said to them, "Rulers of the people andelders of Israel:9 "If we this day are judged for a gooddeed done to a helpless man, by whatmeans he has been made well,10 "let it be known to you all, and to allthe people of Israel, that by the nameof Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom youcrucified, whom God raised from thedead, by Him this man stands herebefore you whole.11 "This is the ‘stone which was rejectedby you builders, which has become thechief cornerstone.’12 "Nor is there salva on in any other,for there is no other name under heaven

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4 20given among men by which we must besaved."13Now when they saw the boldness ofPeter and John, and perceived that theywere uneducated and untrained men,they marveled. And they realized thatthey had been with Jesus.14And seeing the man who had beenhealed standing with them, they couldsay nothing against it.15 But when they had commandedthem to go aside out of the council, theyconferred among themselves,16 saying, "What shall we do to thesemen? For, indeed, that a notable miraclehas been done through them is evidentto all who dwell in Jerusalem, and wecannot deny it.17 "But so that it spreads no furtheramong the people, let us severelythreaten them, that from now on theyspeak to no man in this name."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4 2118And they called them andcommanded them not to speak atall nor teach in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered andsaid to them, "Whether it is right in thesight of God to listen to you more thanto God, you judge.20 "For we cannot but speak the thingswhich we have seen and heard."21 So when they had further threatenedthem, they let them go, finding no way ofpunishing them, because of the people,since they all glorified God for what hadbeen done.22 For the man was over forty years oldon whom this miracle of healing hadbeen performed.23And being let go, they went to theirown companions and reported all thatthe chief priests and elders had said tothem.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4 2224 So when they heard that, they raisedtheir voice to God with one accord andsaid: "Lord, You are God, who madeheaven and earth and the sea, and allthat is in them,25 "who by the mouth of Your servantDavid have said: ‘Why did the na onsrage, And the people plot vain things?26 The kings of the earth took theirstand, And the rulers were gatheredtogether Against the LORD and againstHis Christ.’27 "For truly against Your holy ServantJesus, whom You anointed, both Herodand Pon us Pilate, with the Gen lesand the people of Israel, were gatheredtogether28 "to do whatever Your hand and Yourpurpose determined before to be done.29 "Now, Lord, look on their threats,and grant to Your servants that with allboldness they may speak Your word,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4 2330 "by stretching out Your hand to heal,and that signs and wonders may be donethrough the name of Your holy ServantJesus."31And when they had prayed, the placewhere they were assembled togetherwas shaken; and they were all filled withthe Holy Spirit, and they spoke the wordof God with boldness.32Now the mul tude of those whobelieved were of one heart and one soul;neither did anyone say that any of thethings he possessed was his own, butthey had all things in common.33And with great power the apostlesgave witness to the resurrec on of theLord Jesus. And great grace was uponthem all.34Nor was there anyone among themwho lacked; for all who were possessorsof lands or houses sold them, and

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4–5 24brought the proceeds of the things thatwere sold,35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet;and they distributed to each as anyonehad need.36And Joses, who was also namedBarnabas by the apostles (which istranslated Son of Encouragement), aLevite of the country of Cyprus,37 having land, sold it, and brought themoney and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

5 1 But a certain man named Ananias,with Sapphira his wife, sold a

possession.2And he kept back part of theproceeds, his wife also being aware of it,and brought a certain part and laid it atthe apostles’ feet.3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why hasSatan filled your heart to lie to the HolySpirit and keep back part of the price ofthe land for yourself?

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5 254 "While it remained, was it not yourown? And a er it was sold, was it notin your own control? Why have youconceived this thing in your heart? Youhave not lied to men but to God."5 Then Ananias, hearing these words,fell down and breathed his last. So greatfear came upon all those who heardthese things.6And the young men arose andwrapped him up, carried him out, andburied him.7Now it was about three hours laterwhen his wife came in, not knowingwhat had happened.8And Peter answered her, "Tell mewhether you sold the land for so much?"She said, "Yes, for so much."9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it thatyou have agreed together to test theSpirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5 26who have buried your husband are atthe door, and they will carry you out."10 Then immediately she fell down athis feet and breathed her last. And theyoung men came in and found her dead,and carrying her out, buried her by herhusband.11 So great fear came upon all thechurch and upon all who heard thesethings.12And through the hands of theapostles many signs and wonders weredone among the people. And they wereall with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.13 Yet none of the rest dared join them,but the people esteemed them highly.14And believers were increasinglyadded to the Lord, mul tudes of bothmen and women,15 so that they brought the sick out intothe streets and laid them on beds andcouches, that at least the shadow of

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5 27Peter passing by might fall on some ofthem.16Also a mul tude gathered fromthe surrounding ci es to Jerusalem,bringing sick people and those who weretormented by unclean spirits, and theywere all healed.17 Then the high priest rose up, and allthose who were with him (which is thesect of the Sadducees), and they werefilled with indigna on,18 and laid their hands on the apostlesand put them in the common prison.19 But at night an angel of the Lordopened the prison doors and broughtthem out, and said,20 "Go, stand in the temple and speakto the people all the words of this life."21And when they heard that, theyentered the temple early in the morningand taught. But the high priest andthose with him came and called the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5 28council together, with all the elders ofthe children of Israel, and sent to theprison to have them brought.22 But when the officers came anddid not find them in the prison, theyreturned and reported,23 saying, "Indeed we found the prisonshut securely, and the guards standingoutside before the doors; but when weopened them, we found no one inside!"24Now when the high priest, thecaptain of the temple, and the chiefpriests heard these things, theywondered what the outcome would be.25 So one came and told them, saying,"Look, the men whom you put in prisonare standing in the temple and teachingthe people!"26 Then the captain went with theofficers and brought them withoutviolence, for they feared the people, lestthey should be stoned.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5 2927And when they had brought them,they set them before the council. Andthe high priest asked them,28 saying, "Did we not strictly commandyou not to teach in this name? And look,you have filled Jerusalem with yourdoctrine, and intend to bring this Man’sblood on us!"29 But Peter and the other apostlesanswered and said: "We ought to obeyGod rather than men.30 "The God of our fathers raised upJesus whom you murdered by hangingon a tree.31 "Him God has exalted to His righthand to be Prince and Savior, to giverepentance to Israel and forgiveness ofsins.32 "And we are His witnesses to thesethings, and so also is the Holy Spiritwhom God has given to those who obeyHim."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5 3033When they heard this, they werefurious and plo ed to kill them.34 Then one in the council stood up,a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacherof the law held in respect by all thepeople, and commanded them to putthe apostles outside for a li le while.35And he said to them: "Men of Israel,take heed to yourselves what you intendto do regarding these men.36 "For some me ago Theudas rose up,claiming to be somebody. A number ofmen, about four hundred, joined him.He was slain, and all who obeyed himwere sca ered and came to nothing.37 "A er this man, Judas of Galilee roseup in the days of the census, and drewaway many people a er him. He alsoperished, and all who obeyed him weredispersed.38 "And now I say to you, keep awayfrom these men and let them alone; for

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5–6 31if this plan or this work is of men, it willcome to nothing;39 "but if it is of God, you cannotoverthrow it––lest you even be found tofight against God."40And they agreed with him, and whenthey had called for the apostles andbeaten them, they commanded thatthey should not speak in the name ofJesus, and let them go.41 So they departed from the presenceof the council, rejoicing that they werecounted worthy to suffer shame for Hisname.42And daily in the temple, and in everyhouse, they did not cease teaching andpreaching Jesus as the Christ.

6 1Now in those days, when thenumber of the disciples was

mul plying, there arose a complaintagainst the Hebrews by the Hellenists,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6 32because their widows were neglected inthe daily distribu on.2 Then the twelve summoned themul tude of the disciples and said, "It isnot desirable that we should leave theword of God and serve tables.3 "Therefore, brethren, seek outfrom among you seven men of goodreputa on, full of the Holy Spirit andwisdom, whom we may appoint overthis business;4 "but we will give ourselves con nuallyto prayer and to the ministry of theword."5And the saying pleased the wholemul tude. And they chose Stephen, aman full of faith and the Holy Spirit,and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte fromAn och,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6 336whom they set before the apostles;and when they had prayed, they laidhands on them.7 Then the word of God spread, andthe number of the disciples mul pliedgreatly in Jerusalem, and a great manyof the priests were obedient to the faith.8And Stephen, full of faith and power,did great wonders and signs among thepeople.9 Then there arose some from what iscalled the Synagogue of the Freedmen(Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and thosefrom Cilicia and Asia), dispu ng withStephen.10And they were not able to resistthe wisdom and the Spirit by which hespoke.11 Then they secretly induced mento say, "We have heard him speakblasphemous words against Moses andGod."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 6–7 3412And they s rred up the people, theelders, and the scribes; and they cameupon him, seized him, and brought himto the council.13 They also set up false witnesses whosaid, "This man does not cease to speakblasphemous words against this holyplace and the law;14 "for we have heard him say that thisJesus of Nazareth will destroy this placeand change the customs which Mosesdelivered to us."15And all who sat in the council, lookingsteadfastly at him, saw his face as theface of an angel.

7 1 Then the high priest said, "Arethese things so?"

2And he said, "Brethren and fathers,listen: The God of glory appeared toour father Abraham when he was inMesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 353 "and said to him, ‘Get out of yourcountry and from your rela ves, andcome to a land that I will show you.’4 "Then he came out of the land ofthe Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. Andfrom there, when his father was dead,He moved him to this land in which younow dwell.5 "And God gave him no inheritancein it, not even enough to set his footon. But even when Abraham had nochild, He promised to give it to him for apossession, and to his descendants a erhim.6 "But God spoke in this way: that hisdescendants would dwell in a foreignland, and that they would bring theminto bondage and oppress them fourhundred years.7 ‘And the na on to whom they will bein bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 36a er that they shall come out and serveMe in this place.’8 "Then He gave him the covenant ofcircumcision; and so Abraham begotIsaac and circumcised him on the eighthday; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacobbegot the twelve patriarchs.9 "And the patriarchs, becomingenvious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But Godwas with him10 "and delivered him out of all histroubles, and gave him favor and wisdomin the presence of Pharaoh, king ofEgypt; and he made him governor overEgypt and all his house.11 "Now a famine and great troublecame over all the land of Egypt andCanaan, and our fathers found nosustenance.12 "But when Jacob heard that therewas grain in Egypt, he sent out ourfathers first.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 3713 "And the second me Joseph wasmade known to his brothers, andJoseph’s family became known to thePharaoh.14 "Then Joseph sent and called hisfather Jacob and all his rela ves to him,seventy–five people.15 "So Jacob went down to Egypt; andhe died, he and our fathers.16 "And they were carried back toShechem and laid in the tomb thatAbraham bought for a sum of moneyfrom the sons of Hamor, the father ofShechem.17 "But when the me of the promisedrew near which God had swornto Abraham, the people grew andmul plied in Egypt18 " ll another king arose who did notknow Joseph.19 "This man dealt treacherouslywith our people, and oppressed our

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 38forefathers, making them expose theirbabies, so that they might not live.20 "At this me Moses was born, andwas well pleasing to God; and he wasbrought up in his father’s house for threemonths.21 "But when he was set out, Pharaoh’sdaughter took him away and broughthim up as her own son.22 "And Moses was learned in all thewisdom of the Egyp ans, and wasmighty in words and deeds.23 "Now when he was forty years old, itcame into his heart to visit his brethren,the children of Israel.24 "And seeing one of them sufferwrong, he defended and avenged himwho was oppressed, and struck downthe Egyp an.25 "For he supposed that his brethrenwould have understood that God would

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 39deliver them by his hand, but they didnot understand.26 "And the next day he appeared totwo of them as they were figh ng, andtried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men,you are brethren; why do you wrong oneanother?’27 "But he who did his neighbor wrongpushed him away, saying, ‘Who madeyou a ruler and a judge over us?28 ‘Do you want to kill me as you did theEgyp an yesterday?’29 "Then, at this saying, Moses fled andbecame a dweller in the land of Midian,where he had two sons.30 "Andwhen forty years had passed, anAngel of the Lord appeared to him in aflame of fire in a bush, in the wildernessof Mount Sinai.31 "When Moses saw it, he marveledat the sight; and as he drew near to

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 40observe, the voice of the Lord came tohim,32 "saying, ‘I am the God of yourfathers––the God of Abraham, the Godof Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ AndMoses trembled and dared not look.33 ‘Then the LORD said to him, "Takeyour sandals off your feet, for the placewhere you stand is holy ground.34 "I have surely seen the oppressionof my people who are in Egypt; I haveheard their groaning and have comedown to deliver them. And now come, Iwill send you to Egypt."’35 "This Moses whom they rejected,saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and ajudge?’ is the one God sent to be a rulerand a deliverer by the hand of the Angelwho appeared to him in the bush.36 "He brought them out, a er he hadshown wonders and signs in the land of

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 41Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in thewilderness forty years.37 "This is that Moses who said to thechildren of Israel, ‘The LORD your Godwill raise up for you a Prophet like mefrom your brethren. Him you shall hear.’38 "This is he who was in thecongrega on in the wilderness withthe Angel who spoke to him on MountSinai, and with our fathers, the one whoreceived the living oracles to give to us,39 "whom our fathers would not obey,but rejected. And in their hearts theyturned back to Egypt,40 "saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to gobefore us; as for this Moses who broughtus out of the land of Egypt, we do notknow what has become of him.’41 "And they made a calf in thosedays, offered sacrifices to the idol, andrejoiced in the works of their own hands.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 4242 "Then God turned and gave themup to worship the host of heaven, as itis wri en in the book of the Prophets:‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animalsand sacrifices during forty years in thewilderness, O house of Israel?43 You also took up the tabernacleof Moloch, And the star of your godRemphan, Images which you madeto worship; And I will carry you awaybeyond Babylon.’44 "Our fathers had the tabernacleof witness in the wilderness, as Heappointed, instruc ng Moses to makeit according to the pa ern that he hadseen,45 "which our fathers, having receivedit in turn, also brought with Joshua intothe land possessed by the Gen les,whom God drove out before the face ofour fathers un l the days of David,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 4346 "who found favor before God andasked to find a dwelling for the God ofJacob.47 "But Solomon built Him a house.48 "However, the Most High does notdwell in temples made with hands, asthe prophet says:49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth isMy footstool. What house will you buildfor Me? says the LORD, Or what is theplace of My rest?50Has My hand not made all thesethings?’51 "You s ffnecked and uncircumcisedin heart and ears! You always resist theHoly Spirit; as your fathers did, so doyou.52 "Which of the prophets did yourfathers not persecute? And they killedthose who foretold the coming ofthe Just One, of whom you now havebecome the betrayers and murderers,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7 4453 "who have received the law by thedirec on of angels and have not kept it."54When they heard these things theywere cut to the heart, and they gnashedat him with their teeth.55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit,gazed into heaven and saw the gloryof God, and Jesus standing at the righthand of God,56 and said, "Look! I see the heavensopened and the Son of Man standing atthe right hand of God!"57 Then they cried out with a loud voice,stopped their ears, and ran at him withone accord;58 and they cast him out of the cityand stoned him. And the witnesses laiddown their clothes at the feet of a youngman named Saul.59And they stoned Stephen as he wascalling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus,receive my spirit."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7–8 4560 Then he knelt down and cried outwith a loud voice, "Lord, do not chargethem with this sin." And when he hadsaid this, he fell asleep.

8 1Now Saul was consen ng tohis death. At that me a great

persecu on arose against the churchwhich was at Jerusalem; and they wereall sca ered throughout the regions ofJudea and Samaria, except the apostles.2And devout men carried Stephen tohis burial, and made great lamenta onover him.3As for Saul, he made havoc ofthe church, entering every house,and dragging off men and women,commi ng them to prison.4 Therefore those who were sca eredwent everywhere preaching the word.5 Then Philip went down to the city ofSamaria and preached Christ to them.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8 466And the mul tudes with one accordheeded the things spoken by Philip,hearing and seeing the miracles whichhe did.7 For unclean spirits, crying with aloud voice, came out of many whowere possessed; and many who wereparalyzed and lame were healed.8And there was great joy in that city.9 But there was a certain man calledSimon, who previously prac ced sorceryin the city and astonished the people ofSamaria, claiming that he was someonegreat,10 to whom they all gave heed, from theleast to the greatest, saying, "This man isthe great power of God."11And they heeded him because hehad astonished them with his sorceriesfor a long me.12 But when they believed Philip ashe preached the things concerning the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8 47kingdom of God and the name of JesusChrist, both men and women werebap zed.13 Then Simon himself also believed;and when he was bap zed he con nuedwith Philip, and was amazed, seeing themiracles and signs which were done.14Now when the apostles who wereat Jerusalem heard that Samaria hadreceived the word of God, they sentPeter and John to them,15who, when they had come down,prayed for them that they might receivethe Holy Spirit.16 For as yet He had fallen upon none ofthem. They had only been bap zed inthe name of the Lord Jesus.17 Then they laid hands on them, andthey received the Holy Spirit.18And when Simon saw that throughthe laying on of the apostles’ hands the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8 48Holy Spirit was given, he offered themmoney,19 saying, "Give me this power also,that anyone on whom I lay hands mayreceive the Holy Spirit."20 But Peter said to him, "Your moneyperish with you, because you thoughtthat the gi of God could be purchasedwith money!21 "You have neither part nor por on inthis ma er, for your heart is not right inthe sight of God.22 "Repent therefore of this yourwickedness, and pray God if perhaps thethought of your heart may be forgivenyou.23 "For I see that you are poisoned bybi erness and bound by iniquity."24 Then Simon answered and said, "Prayto the Lord for me, that none of thethings which you have spoken may comeupon me."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8 4925 So when they had tes fied andpreached the word of the Lord, theyreturned to Jerusalem, preachingthe gospel in many villages of theSamaritans.26Now an angel of the Lord spoke toPhilip, saying, "Arise and go toward thesouth along the road which goes downfrom Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.27 So he arose and went. And behold,a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of greatauthority under Candace the queen ofthe Ethiopians, who had charge of all hertreasury, and had come to Jerusalem toworship,28was returning. And si ng in hischariot, he was reading Isaiah theprophet.29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Gonear and overtake this chariot."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8 5030 So Philip ran to him, and heard himreading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Doyou understand what you are reading?"31And he said, "How can I, unlesssomeone guides me?" And he askedPhilip to come up and sit with him.32 The place in the Scripture which heread was this: "He was led as a sheep tothe slaughter; And as a lamb before itsshearer is silent, So He opened not Hismouth.33 In His humilia on His jus ce wastaken away, And who will declare Hisgenera on? For His life is taken from theearth."34 So the eunuch answered Philip andsaid, "I ask you, of whom does theprophet say this, of himself or of someother man?"35 Then Philip opened his mouth, andbeginning at this Scripture, preachedJesus to him.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8–9 5136Now as they went down the road,they came to some water. And theeunuch said, "See, here is water. Whathinders me from being bap zed?"37 Then Philip said, "If you believewith all your heart, you may." And heanswered and said, "I believe that JesusChrist is the Son of God."38 So he commanded the chariot tostand s ll. And both Philip and theeunuch went down into the water, andhe bap zed him.39Now when they came up out of thewater, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philipaway, so that the eunuch saw him nomore; and he went on his way rejoicing.40 But Philip was found at Azotus. Andpassing through, he preached in all theci es ll he came to Caesarea.

9 1 Then Saul, s ll breathing threatsand murder against the disciples of

the Lord, went to the high priest

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 522 and asked le ers from him to thesynagogues of Damascus, so that ifhe found any who were of the Way,whether men or women, he might bringthem bound to Jerusalem.3As he journeyed he came nearDamascus, and suddenly a light shonearound him from heaven.4 Then he fell to the ground, and hearda voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, whyare you persecu ng Me?"5And he said, "Who are You, Lord?"Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whomyou are persecu ng. It is hard for you tokick against the goads."6 So he, trembling and astonished, said,"Lord, what do You want me to do?"Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and gointo the city, and you will be told whatyou must do."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 537And the men who journeyed with himstood speechless, hearing a voice butseeing no one.8 Then Saul arose from the ground, andwhen his eyes were opened he saw noone. But they led him by the hand andbrought him into Damascus.9And he was three days without sight,and neither ate nor drank.10Now there was a certain disciple atDamascus named Ananias; and to himthe Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." Andhe said, "Here I am, Lord."11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and goto the street called Straight, and inquireat the house of Judas for one called Saulof Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.12 "And in a vision he has seen a mannamed Ananias coming in and pu nghis hand on him, so that hemight receivehis sight."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 5413 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I haveheard from many about this man, howmuch harm he has done to Your saints inJerusalem.14 "And here he has authority from thechief priests to bind all who call on Yourname."15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for heis a chosen vessel of Mine to bear Myname before Gen les, kings, and thechildren of Israel.16 "For I will show him how many thingshe must suffer for My name’s sake."17And Ananias went his way andentered the house; and laying his handson him he said, "Brother Saul, the LordJesus, who appeared to you on the roadas you came, has sent me that you mayreceive your sight and be filled with theHoly Spirit."18 Immediately there fell from his eyessomething like scales, and he received

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 55his sight at once; and he arose and wasbap zed.19 So when he had received food, hewas strengthened. Then Saul spent somedays with the disciples at Damascus.20 Immediately he preached the Christin the synagogues, that He is the Son ofGod.21 Then all who heard were amazed,and said, "Is this not he who destroyedthose who called on this name inJerusalem, and has come here for thatpurpose, so that he might bring thembound to the chief priests?"22 But Saul increased all the more instrength, and confounded the Jews whodwelt in Damascus, proving that thisJesus is the Christ.23Now a er many days were past, theJews plo ed to kill him.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 5624 But their plot became known to Saul.And they watched the gates day andnight, to kill him.25 Then the disciples took him by nightand let him down through the wall in alarge basket.26And when Saul had come toJerusalem, he tried to join the disciples;but they were all afraid of him, and didnot believe that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him and broughthim to the apostles. And he declaredto them how he had seen the Lord onthe road, and that He had spoken tohim, and how he had preached boldly atDamascus in the name of Jesus.28 So he was with them at Jerusalem,coming in and going out.29And he spoke boldly in the name ofthe Lord Jesus and disputed against theHellenists, but they a empted to killhim.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 5730When the brethren found out, theybrought him down to Caesarea and senthim out to Tarsus.31 Then the churches throughout allJudea, Galilee, and Samaria had peaceand were edified. And walking in thefear of the Lord and in the comfort ofthe Holy Spirit, they were mul plied.32Now it came to pass, as Peter wentthrough all parts of the country, that healso came down to the saints who dweltin Lydda.33 There he found a certain man namedAeneas, who had been bedridden eightyears and was paralyzed.34And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesusthe Christ heals you. Arise and makeyour bed." Then he arose immediately.35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharonsaw him and turned to the Lord.36At Joppa there was a certain disciplenamed Tabitha, which is translated

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9 58Dorcas. This woman was full of goodworks and charitable deeds which shedid.37 But it happened in those days thatshe became sick and died. When theyhad washed her, they laid her in anupper room.38And since Lydda was near Joppa,and the disciples had heard that Peterwas there, they sent two men to him,imploring him not to delay in coming tothem.39 Then Peter arose and went withthem. When he had come, they broughthim to the upper room. And all thewidows stood by him weeping, showingthe tunics and garments which Dorcashad made while she was with them.40 But Peter put them all out, and kneltdown and prayed. And turning to thebody he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 9–10 59opened her eyes, and when she sawPeter she sat up.41 Then he gave her his hand and li edher up; and when he had called thesaints and widows, he presented heralive.42And it became known throughout allJoppa, and many believed on the Lord.43 So it was that he stayed many days inJoppa with Simon, a tanner.

10 1 There was a certain man inCaesarea called Cornelius, a

centurion of what was called the ItalianRegiment,2 a devout man and one who fearedGod with all his household, who gavealms generously to the people, andprayed to God always.3About the ninth hour of the day hesaw clearly in a vision an angel of Godcoming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 604And when he observed him, he wasafraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So hesaid to him, "Your prayers and your almshave come up for a memorial beforeGod.5 "Now send men to Joppa, and sendfor Simon whose surname is Peter.6 "He is lodging with Simon, a tanner,whose house is by the sea. He will tellyou what you must do."7And when the angel who spoke to himhad departed, Cornelius called two of hishousehold servants and a devout soldierfrom among those who waited on himcon nually.8 So when he had explained all thesethings to them, he sent them to Joppa.9 The next day, as they went on theirjourney and drew near the city, Peterwent up on the housetop to pray, aboutthe sixth hour.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 6110 Then he became very hungry andwanted to eat; but while they madeready, he fell into a trance11 and saw heaven opened and anobject like a great sheet bound at thefour corners, descending to him and letdown to the earth.12 In it were all kinds of four–footedanimals of the earth, wild beasts,creeping things, and birds of the air.13And a voice came to him, "Rise,Peter; kill and eat."14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For Ihave never eaten anything common orunclean."15And a voice spoke to him again thesecond me, "What God has cleansedyou must not call common."16 This was done three mes. And theobject was taken up into heaven again.17Now while Peter wondered withinhimself what this vision which he had

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 62seen meant, behold, the men who hadbeen sent from Cornelius had madeinquiry for Simon’s house, and stoodbefore the gate.18And they called and asked whetherSimon, whose surname was Peter, waslodging there.19While Peter thought about the vision,the Spirit said to him, "Behold, threemen are seeking you.20 "Arise therefore, go down and gowith them, doub ng nothing; for I havesent them."21 Then Peter went down to themen who had been sent to him fromCornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whomyou seek. For what reason have youcome?"22And they said, "Cornelius thecenturion, a just man, one who fearsGod and has a good reputa on amongall the na on of the Jews, was divinely

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 63instructed by a holy angel to summonyou to his house, and to hear words fromyou."23 Then he invited them in and lodgedthem. On the next day Peter went awaywith them, and some brethren fromJoppa accompanied him.24And the following day they enteredCaesarea. Now Cornelius was wai ngfor them, and had called together hisrela ves and close friends.25As Peter was coming in, Corneliusmet him and fell down at his feet andworshiped him.26 But Peter li ed him up, saying,"Stand up; I myself am also a man."27And as he talked with him, he went inand foundmany who had come together.28 Then he said to them, "You knowhow unlawful it is for a Jewish man tokeep company with or go to one ofanother na on. But God has shown me

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 64that I should not call any man commonor unclean.29 "Therefore I came without objec onas soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, forwhat reason have you sent for me?"30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago Iwas fas ng un l this hour; and at theninth hour I prayed in my house, andbehold, a man stood before me in brightclothing,31 "and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayerhas been heard, and your alms areremembered in the sight of God.32 ‘Send therefore to Joppa and callSimon here, whose surname is Peter.He is lodging in the house of Simon, atanner, by the sea. When he comes, hewill speak to you.’33 "So I sent to you immediately, andyou have done well to come. Nowtherefore, we are all present before God,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 65to hear all the things commanded youby God."34 Then Peter opened his mouth andsaid: "In truth I perceive that God showsno par ality.35 "But in every na on whoever fearsHim andworks righteousness is acceptedby Him.36 "The word which God sent to thechildren of Israel, preaching peacethrough Jesus Christ––He is Lord of all––37 "that word you know, which wasproclaimed throughout all Judea, andbegan from Galilee a er the bap smwhich John preached:38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and with power, whowent about doing good and healing allwho were oppressed by the devil, forGod was with Him.39 "And we are witnesses of all thingswhich He did both in the land of the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10 66Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killedby hanging on a tree.40 "Him God raised up on the third day,and showed Him openly,41 "not to all the people, but towitnesses chosen before by God, evento us who ate and drank with Him a erHe arose from the dead.42 "And He commanded us to preachto the people, and to tes fy that it is Hewho was ordained by God to be Judge ofthe living and the dead.43 "To Him all the prophets witness that,through His name, whoever believes inHim will receive remission of sins."44While Peter was s ll speaking thesewords, the Holy Spirit fell upon all thosewho heard the word.45And those of the circumcision whobelieved were astonished, as many ascame with Peter, because the gi of the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10–11 67Holy Spirit had been poured out on theGen les also.46 For they heard them speak withtongues and magnify God. Then Peteranswered,47 "Can anyone forbid water, thatthese should not be bap zed who havereceived the Holy Spirit just as we have?"48And he commanded them to bebap zed in the name of the Lord. Thenthey asked him to stay a few days.

11 1Now the apostles and brethrenwho were in Judea heard that the

Gen les had also received the word ofGod.2Andwhen Peter came up to Jerusalem,those of the circumcision contendedwith him,3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcisedmen and ate with them!"4 But Peter explained it to them in orderfrom the beginning, saying:

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 11 685 "I was in the city of Joppa praying;and in a trance I saw a vision, an objectdescending like a great sheet, let downfrom heaven by four corners; and itcame to me.6 "When I observed it intently andconsidered, I saw four–footed animals ofthe earth, wild beasts, creeping things,and birds of the air.7 "And I heard a voice saying to me,‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’8 "But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothingcommon or unclean has at any meentered my mouth.’9 "But the voice answered me againfrom heaven, ‘What God has cleansedyou must not call common.’10 "Now this was done three mes, andall were drawn up again into heaven.11 "At that very moment, three menstood before the house where I was,having been sent to me from Caesarea.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 11 6912 "Then the Spirit told me to go withthem, doub ng nothing. Moreoverthese six brethren accompanied me, andwe entered the man’s house.13 "And he told us how he had seen anangel standing in his house, who said tohim, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call forSimon whose surname is Peter,14 ‘who will tell you words by which youand all your household will be saved.’15 "And as I began to speak, the HolySpirit fell upon them, as upon us at thebeginning.16 "Then I remembered the word of theLord, how He said, ‘John indeed bap zedwith water, but you shall be bap zedwith the Holy Spirit.’17 "If therefore God gave them the samegi as He gave us when we believed onthe Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that Icould withstand God?"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 11 7018When they heard these things theybecame silent; and they glorified God,saying, "Then God has also granted tothe Gen les repentance to life."19Now those who were sca ered a erthe persecu on that arose over Stephentraveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, andAn och, preaching the word to no onebut the Jews only.20 But some of them were men fromCyprus and Cyrene, who, when they hadcome to An och, spoke to the Hellenists,preaching the Lord Jesus.21And the hand of the Lord was withthem, and a great number believed andturned to the Lord.22 Then news of these things came tothe ears of the church in Jerusalem, andthey sent out Barnabas to go as far asAn och.23When he came and had seenthe grace of God, he was glad, and

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 11 71encouraged them all that with purposeof heart they should con nue with theLord.24 For he was a good man, full of theHoly Spirit and of faith. And a great manypeople were added to the Lord.25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsusto seek Saul.26And when he had found him, hebrought him to An och. So it was thatfor a whole year they assembled withthe church and taught a great manypeople. And the disciples were firstcalled Chris ans in An och.27And in these days prophets camefrom Jerusalem to An och.28 Then one of them, named Agabus,stood up and showed by the Spirit thatthere was going to be a great faminethroughout all the world, which alsohappened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 11–12 7229 Then the disciples, each according tohis ability, determined to send relief tothe brethren dwelling in Judea.30 This they also did, and sent it to theelders by the hands of Barnabas andSaul.

12 1Now about that me Herod theking stretched out his hand to

harass some from the church.2 Then he killed James the brother ofJohn with the sword.3And because he saw that it pleasedthe Jews, he proceeded further to seizePeter also. Now it was during the Days ofUnleavened Bread.4 So when he had arrested him, he puthim in prison, and delivered him to foursquads of soldiers to keep him, intendingto bring him before the people a erPassover.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12 735 Peter was therefore kept in prison,but constant prayer was offered to Godfor him by the church.6And when Herod was about to bringhim out, that night Peter was sleeping,bound with two chains between twosoldiers; and the guards before the doorwere keeping the prison.7Now behold, an angel of the Lordstood by him, and a light shone inthe prison; and he struck Peter on theside and raised him up, saying, "Arisequickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.8 Then the angel said to him, "Girdyourself and e on your sandals"; and sohe did. And he said to him, "Put on yourgarment and follow me."9 So he went out and followed him, anddid not know that what was done bythe angel was real, but thought he wasseeing a vision.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12 7410When they were past the first andthe second guard posts, they came tothe iron gate that leads to the city, whichopened to them of its own accord;and they went out and went downone street, and immediately the angeldeparted from him.11And when Peter had come to himself,he said, "Now I know for certain thatthe Lord has sent His angel, and hasdelivered me from the hand of Herodand from all the expecta on of theJewish people."12 So, when he had considered this, hecame to the house of Mary, the motherof John whose surname was Mark,where many were gathered togetherpraying.13And as Peter knocked at the door ofthe gate, a girl named Rhoda came toanswer.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12 7514When she recognized Peter’s voice,because of her gladness she did notopen the gate, but ran in and announcedthat Peter stood before the gate.15 But they said to her, "You are besideyourself!" Yet she kept insis ng that itwas so. So they said, "It is his angel."16Now Peter con nued knocking; andwhen they opened the door and sawhim, they were astonished.17 But mo oning to them with his handto keep silent, he declared to them howthe Lord had brought him out of theprison. And he said, "Go, tell these thingsto James and to the brethren." And hedeparted and went to another place.18 Then, as soon as it was day, there wasno small s r among the soldiers aboutwhat had become of Peter.19 But when Herod had searched forhim and not found him, he examinedthe guards and commanded that they

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12 76should be put to death. And he wentdown from Judea to Caesarea, andstayed there.20Now Herod had been very angrywith the people of Tyre and Sidon; butthey came to him with one accord, andhaving made Blastus the king’s personalaide their friend, they asked for peace,because their country was supplied withfood by the king’s country.21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed inroyal apparel, sat on his throne and gavean ora on to them.22And the people kept shou ng, "Thevoice of a god and not of a man!"23 Then immediately an angel of theLord struck him, because he did notgive glory to God. And he was eaten byworms and died.24 But the word of God grew andmul plied.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12–13 7725And Barnabas and Saul returnedfrom Jerusalem when they had fulfilledtheir ministry, and they also took withthem John whose surname was Mark.

13 1Now in the church that wasat An och there were certain

prophets and teachers: Barnabas,Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius ofCyrene, Manaen who had been broughtup with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.2As they ministered to the Lord andfasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Nowseparate to Me Barnabas and Saul forthe work to which I have called them."3 Then, having fasted and prayed, andlaid hands on them, they sent themaway.4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit,they went down to Seleucia, and fromthere they sailed to Cyprus.5And when they arrived in Salamis,they preached the word of God in the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 78synagogues of the Jews. They also hadJohn as their assistant.6Now when they had gone through theisland to Paphos, they found a certainsorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whosename was Bar–Jesus,7who was with the proconsul, SergiusPaulus, an intelligent man. This mancalled for Barnabas and Saul and soughtto hear the word of God.8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so hisname is translated) withstood them,seeking to turn the proconsul away fromthe faith.9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul,filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intentlyat him10 and said, "O full of all deceit and allfraud, you son of the devil, you enemyof all righteousness, will you not ceaseperver ng the straight ways of the Lord?

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 7911 "And now, indeed, the hand of theLord is upon you, and you shall be blind,not seeing the sun for a me." Andimmediately a dark mist fell on him, andhe went around seeking someone tolead him by the hand.12 Then the proconsul believed, whenhe saw what had been done, beingastonished at the teaching of the Lord.13Now when Paul and his party setsail from Paphos, they came to Pergain Pamphylia; and John, depar ng fromthem, returned to Jerusalem.14 But when they departed from Perga,they came to An och in Pisidia, andwent into the synagogue on the Sabbathday and sat down.15And a er the reading of the Lawand the Prophets, the rulers of thesynagogue sent to them, saying, "Menand brethren, if you have any word ofexhorta on for the people, say on."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 8016 Then Paul stood up, and mo oningwith his hand said, "Men of Israel, andyou who fear God, listen:17 "The God of this people Israel choseour fathers, and exalted the peoplewhen they dwelt as strangers in the landof Egypt, and with an upli ed arm Hebrought them out of it.18 "Now for a me of about fortyyears He put up with their ways in thewilderness.19 "And when He had destroyedseven na ons in the land of Canaan,He distributed their land to them byallotment.20 "A er that He gave them judges forabout four hundred and fi y years, un lSamuel the prophet.21 "And a erward they asked for a king;so God gave them Saul the son of Kish,a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for fortyyears.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 8122 "And when He had removed him,He raised up for them David as king, towhom also He gave tes mony and said,‘I have found David the son of Jesse, aman a er My own heart, who will do allMy will.’23 "From this man’s seed, according tothe promise, God raised up for Israel aSavior––Jesus––24 "a er John had first preached, beforeHis coming, the bap sm of repentanceto all the people of Israel.25 "And as John was finishing his course,he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I amnot He. But behold, there comes Onea er me, the sandals of whose feet I amnot worthy to loose.’26 "Men and brethren, sons of thefamily of Abraham, and those amongyou who fear God, to you the word ofthis salva on has been sent.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 8227 "For those who dwell in Jerusalem,and their rulers, because they did notknow Him, nor even the voices of theProphets which are read every Sabbath,have fulfilled them in condemning Him.28 "And though they found no cause fordeath in Him, they asked Pilate that Heshould be put to death.29 "Now when they had fulfilled all thatwas wri en concerning Him, they tookHim down from the tree and laid Him ina tomb.30 "But God raised Him from the dead.31 "He was seen for many days by thosewho came up with Him from Galilee toJerusalem, who are His witnesses to thepeople.32 "And we declare to you glad dings––that promise which was made to thefathers.33 "God has fulfilled this for us theirchildren, in that He has raised up Jesus.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 83As it is also wri en in the second Psalm:‘You are My Son, Today I have bego enYou.’34 "And that He raised Him from thedead, no more to return to corrup on,He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you thesure mercies of David.’35 "Therefore He also says in anotherPsalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy Oneto see corrup on.’36 "For David, a er he had served hisown genera on by the will of God, fellasleep, was buried with his fathers, andsaw corrup on;37 "but He whom God raised up saw nocorrup on.38 "Therefore let it be known to you,brethren, that through this Man ispreached to you the forgiveness of sins;39 "and by Him everyone who believesis jus fied from all things from which

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 84you could not be jus fied by the law ofMoses.40 "Beware therefore, lest what hasbeen spoken in the prophets come uponyou:41 "Behold, you despisers, Marvel andperish! For I work a work in your days,A work which you will by no meansbelieve, Though one were to declare itto you.’"42 So when the Jews went out of thesynagogue, the Gen les begged thatthese words might be preached to themthe next Sabbath.43Now when the congrega on hadbroken up, many of the Jews and devoutproselytes followed Paul and Barnabas,who, speaking to them, persuaded themto con nue in the grace of God.44On the next Sabbath almost thewhole city came together to hear theword of God.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13 8545 But when the Jews saw themul tudes, they were filled with envy;and contradic ng and blaspheming, theyopposed the things spoken by Paul.46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew boldand said, "It was necessary that the wordof God should be spoken to you first; butsince you reject it, and judge yourselvesunworthy of everlas ng life, behold, weturn to the Gen les.47 "For so the Lord has commanded us:‘I have set you as a light to the Gen les,That you should be for salva on to theends of the earth.’"48Now when the Gen les heard this,they were glad and glorified the wordof the Lord. And as many as had beenappointed to eternal life believed.49And the word of the Lord was beingspread throughout all the region.50 But the Jews s rred up the devoutand prominent women and the chief

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 13–14 86men of the city, raised up persecu onagainst Paul and Barnabas, and expelledthem from their region.51 But they shook off the dust fromtheir feet against them, and came toIconium.52And the disciples were filled with joyand with the Holy Spirit.

14 1Now it happened in Iconiumthat they went together to the

synagogue of the Jews, and so spokethat a great mul tude both of the Jewsand of the Greeks believed.2 But the unbelieving Jews s rred upthe Gen les and poisoned their mindsagainst the brethren.3 Therefore they stayed there a longme, speaking boldly in the Lord, who

was bearing witness to the word of Hisgrace, gran ng signs and wonders to bedone by their hands.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14 874 But the mul tude of the city wasdivided: part sided with the Jews, andpart with the apostles.5And when a violent a empt was madeby both the Gen les and Jews, with theirrulers, to abuse and stone them,6 they became aware of it and fled toLystra and Derbe, ci es of Lycaonia, andto the surrounding region.7And they were preaching the gospelthere.8And in Lystra a certain man withoutstrength in his feet was si ng, a cripplefrom his mother’s womb, who had neverwalked.9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul,observing him intently and seeing thathe had faith to be healed,10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upstraight on your feet!" And he leapedand walked.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14 8811Now when the people saw what Paulhad done, they raised their voices, sayingin the Lycaonian language, "The godshave come down to us in the likeness ofmen!"12And Barnabas they called Zeus, andPaul, Hermes, because he was the chiefspeaker.13 Then the priest of Zeus, whosetemple was in front of their city, broughtoxen and garlands to the gates, intendingto sacrifice with the mul tudes.14 But when the apostles Barnabas andPaul heard this, they tore their clothesand ran in among the mul tude, cryingout15 and saying, "Men, why are you doingthese things? We also are men with thesame nature as you, and preach to youthat you should turn from these uselessthings to the living God, who made the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14 89heaven, the earth, the sea, and all thingsthat are in them,16 "who in bygone genera ons allowedall na ons to walk in their own ways.17 "Nevertheless He did not leaveHimself without witness, in that He didgood, gave us rain from heaven andfrui ul seasons, filling our hearts withfood and gladness."18And with these sayings they couldscarcely restrain the mul tudes fromsacrificing to them.19 Then Jews from An och and Iconiumcame there; and having persuadedthe mul tudes, they stoned Paul anddragged him out of the city, supposinghim to be dead.20However, when the disciplesgathered around him, he rose up andwent into the city. And the next day hedeparted with Barnabas to Derbe.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14 9021And when they had preached thegospel to that city and made manydisciples, they returned to Lystra,Iconium, and An och,22 strengthening the souls of thedisciples, exhor ng them to con nue inthe faith, and saying, "We must throughmany tribula ons enter the kingdom ofGod."23 So when they had appointed eldersin every church, and prayed with fas ng,they commended them to the Lord inwhom they had believed.24And a er they had passed throughPisidia, they came to Pamphylia.25Now when they had preached theword in Perga, they went down toA alia.26 From there they sailed to An och,where they had been commended tothe grace of God for the work which theyhad completed.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 14–15 9127Now when they had come andgathered the church together, theyreported all that God had done withthem, and that He had opened the doorof faith to the Gen les.28 So they stayed there a long me withthe disciples.

15 1And certain men came downfrom Judea and taught the

brethren, "Unless you are circumcisedaccording to the custom of Moses, youcannot be saved."2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabashad no small dissension and disputewith them, they determined that Pauland Barnabas and certain others ofthem should go up to Jerusalem, to theapostles and elders, about this ques on.3 So, being sent on their way by thechurch, they passed through Phoeniciaand Samaria, describing the conversion

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15 92of the Gen les; and they caused greatjoy to all the brethren.4And when they had come toJerusalem, they were received by thechurch and the apostles and the elders;and they reported all things that Godhad done with them.5 But some of the sect of the Phariseeswho believed rose up, saying, "It isnecessary to circumcise them, and tocommand them to keep the law ofMoses."6Now the apostles and elders cametogether to consider this ma er.7And when there had been muchdispute, Peter rose up and said to them:"Men and brethren, you know that agood while ago God chose among us,that by my mouth the Gen les shouldhear the word of the gospel and believe.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15 938 "So God, who knows the heart,acknowledged them by giving them theHoly Spirit, just as He did to us,9 "and made no dis nc on between usand them, purifying their hearts by faith.10 "Now therefore, why do you test Godby pu ng a yoke on the neck of thedisciples which neither our fathers norwe were able to bear?11 "But we believe that through thegrace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall besaved in the same manner as they."12 Then all the mul tude kept silent andlistened to Barnabas and Paul declaringhow many miracles and wonders Godhad worked through them among theGen les.13And a er they had become silent,James answered, saying, "Men andbrethren, listen to me:

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15 9414 "Simon has declared how God at thefirst visited the Gen les to take out ofthem a people for His name.15 "And with this the words of theprophets agree, just as it is wri en:16 ‘A er this I will return Andwill rebuildthe tabernacle of David, which has fallendown; I will rebuild its ruins, And I willset it up;17 So that the rest of mankind may seekthe LORD, Even all the Gen les who arecalled by My name, Says the LORD whodoes all these things.’18 "Known to God from eternity are allHis works.19 "Therefore I judge that we should nottrouble those from among the Gen leswho are turning to God,20 "but that we write to them to abstainfrom things polluted by idols, fromsexual immorality, from things strangled,and from blood.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15 9521 "For Moses has had throughoutmany genera ons those who preachhim in every city, being read in thesynagogues every Sabbath."22 Then it pleased the apostles andelders, with the whole church, to sendchosen men of their own companyto An och with Paul and Barnabas,namely, Judas who was also namedBarsabas, and Silas, leading men amongthe brethren.23 They wrote this le er by them: Theapostles, the elders, and the brethren,To the brethren who are of the Gen lesin An och, Syria, and Cilicia: Gree ngs.24 Since we have heard that some whowent out from us have troubled you withwords, unse ling your souls, saying,"You must be circumcised and keepthe law" ––to whom we gave no suchcommandment––

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15 9625 it seemed good to us, beingassembled with one accord, to sendchosen men to you with our belovedBarnabas and Paul,26men who have risked their lives forthe name of our Lord Jesus Christ.27We have therefore sent Judas andSilas, who will also report the samethings by word of mouth.28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit,and to us, to lay upon you no greaterburden than these necessary things:29 that you abstain from things offeredto idols, from blood, from thingsstrangled, and from sexual immorality. Ifyou keep yourselves from these, you willdo well. Farewell.30 So when they were sent off, theycame to An och; and when they hadgathered the mul tude together, theydelivered the le er.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15 9731When they had read it, they rejoicedover its encouragement.32Now Judas and Silas, themselvesbeing prophets also, exhorted andstrengthened the brethren with manywords.33And a er they had stayed there for ame, they were sent back with gree ngs

from the brethren to the apostles.34However, it seemed good to Silas toremain there.35 Paul and Barnabas also remainedin An och, teaching and preaching theword of the Lord, with many others also.36 Then a er some days Paul said toBarnabas, "Let us now go back and visitour brethren in every city where wehave preached the word of the Lord, andsee how they are doing."37Now Barnabas was determined totake with them John called Mark.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 15–16 9838 But Paul insisted that they shouldnot take with them the one who haddeparted from them in Pamphylia, andhad not gone with them to the work.39 Then the conten on became sosharp that they parted from one another.And so Barnabas took Mark and sailedto Cyprus;40 but Paul chose Silas and departed,being commended by the brethren tothe grace of God.41And he went through Syria andCilicia, strengthening the churches.

16 1 Then he came to Derbe andLystra. And behold, a certain

disciple was there, named Timothy, theson of a certain Jewish woman whobelieved, but his father was Greek.2He was well spoken of by the brethrenwho were at Lystra and Iconium.3 Paul wanted to have him go on withhim. And he took him and circumcised

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16 99him because of the Jews who were inthat region, for they all knew that hisfather was Greek.4And as they went through the ci es,they delivered to them the decrees tokeep, which were determined by theapostles and elders at Jerusalem.5 So the churches were strengthened inthe faith, and increased in number daily.6Now when they had gone throughPhrygia and the region of Gala a, theywere forbidden by the Holy Spirit topreach the word in Asia.7A er they had come to Mysia, theytried to go into Bithynia, but the Spiritdid not permit them.8 So passing by Mysia, they came downto Troas.9And a vision appeared to Paul in thenight. A man of Macedonia stood andpleaded with him, saying, "Come over toMacedonia and help us."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16 10010Now a er he had seen the vision,immediately we sought to go toMacedonia, concluding that the Lordhad called us to preach the gospel tothem.11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we rana straight course to Samothrace, and thenext day came to Neapolis,12 and from there to Philippi, whichis the foremost city of that part ofMacedonia, a colony. And we werestaying in that city for some days.13And on the Sabbath day we went outof the city to the riverside, where prayerwas customarily made; and we sat downand spoke to the women who met there.14Now a certain woman named Lydiaheard us. She was a seller of purple fromthe city of Thya ra, who worshiped God.The Lord opened her heart to heed thethings spoken by Paul.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16 10115And when she and her householdwere bap zed, she begged us, saying, "Ifyou have judged me to be faithful to theLord, come to my house and stay." Soshe persuaded us.16Now it happened, as we went toprayer, that a certain slave girl possessedwith a spirit of divina on met us, whobrought her masters much profit byfortune–telling.17 This girl followed Paul and us, andcried out, saying, "These men are theservants of the Most High God, whoproclaim to us the way of salva on."18And this she did for many days. ButPaul, greatly annoyed, turned and said tothe spirit, "I command you in the nameof Jesus Christ to come out of her." Andhe came out that very hour.19 But when her masters saw that theirhope of profit was gone, they seized

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16 102Paul and Silas and dragged them into themarketplace to the authori es.20And they brought them to themagistrates, and said, "These men, beingJews, exceedingly trouble our city;21 "and they teach customs which arenot lawful for us, being Romans, toreceive or observe."22 Then the mul tude rose up togetheragainst them; and the magistrates toreoff their clothes and commanded themto be beaten with rods.23And when they had laid many stripeson them, they threw them into prison,commanding the jailer to keep themsecurely.24Having received such a charge, he putthem into the inner prison and fastenedtheir feet in the stocks.25 But at midnight Paul and Silas werepraying and singing hymns to God, andthe prisoners were listening to them.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16 10326 Suddenly there was a greatearthquake, so that the founda onsof the prison were shaken; andimmediately all the doors were openedand everyone’s chains were loosed.27And the keeper of the prison,awaking from sleep and seeing theprison doors open, supposing theprisoners had fled, drew his sword andwas about to kill himself.28 But Paul called with a loud voice,saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we areall here."29 Then he called for a light, ran in, andfell down trembling before Paul andSilas.30And he brought them out and said,"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"31 So they said, "Believe on the LordJesus Christ, and you will be saved, youand your household."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16 10432 Then they spoke the word of the Lordto him and to all who were in his house.33And he took them the same hour ofthe night and washed their stripes. Andimmediately he and all his family werebap zed.34Now when he had brought them intohis house, he set food before them; andhe rejoiced, having believed in God withall his household.35And when it was day, the magistratessent the officers, saying, "Let those mengo."36 So the keeper of the prison reportedthese words to Paul, saying, "Themagistrates have sent to let you go. Nowtherefore depart, and go in peace."37 But Paul said to them, "They havebeaten us openly, uncondemnedRomans, and have thrown us into prison.And now do they put us out secretly? No

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 16–17 105indeed! Let them come themselves andget us out."38And the officers told these wordsto the magistrates, and they wereafraid when they heard that they wereRomans.39 Then they came and pleaded withthem and brought them out, and askedthem to depart from the city.40 So they went out of the prisonand entered the house of Lydia; andwhen they had seen the brethren, theyencouraged them and departed.

17 1Now when they had passedthrough Amphipolis and

Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,where there was a synagogue of theJews.2 Then Paul, as his custom was, wentin to them, and for three Sabbathsreasoned with them from the Scriptures,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17 1063 explaining and demonstra ng that theChrist had to suffer and rise again fromthe dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom Ipreach to you is the Christ."4And some of them were persuaded;and a great mul tude of the devoutGreeks, and not a few of the leadingwomen, joined Paul and Silas.5 But the Jewswhowere not persuaded,becoming envious, took some of theevil men from the marketplace, andgathering a mob, set all the city in anuproar and a acked the house of Jason,and sought to bring them out to thepeople.6 But when they did not find them, theydragged Jason and some brethren tothe rulers of the city, crying out, "Thesewho have turned the world upside downhave come here too.7 "Jason has harbored them, and theseare all ac ng contrary to the decrees

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17 107of Caesar, saying there is anotherking––Jesus."8And they troubled the crowd and therulers of the city when they heard thesethings.9 So when they had taken security fromJason and the rest, they let them go.10 Then the brethren immediately sentPaul and Silas away by night to Berea.When they arrived, they went into thesynagogue of the Jews.11 These were more fair–minded thanthose in Thessalonica, in that theyreceived the word with all readiness,and searched the Scriptures daily to findout whether these things were so.12 Therefore many of them believed,and also not a few of the Greeks,prominent women as well as men.13 But when the Jews from Thessalonicalearned that the word of God was

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17 108preached by Paul at Berea, they camethere also and s rred up the crowds.14 Then immediately the brethren sentPaul away, to go to the sea; but bothSilas and Timothy remained there.15 So those who conducted Paulbrought him to Athens; and receiving acommand for Silas and Timothy to cometo him with all speed, they departed.16Now while Paul waited for them atAthens, his spirit was provoked withinhim when he saw that the city was givenover to idols.17 Therefore he reasoned in thesynagogue with the Jews and withthe Gen le worshipers, and in themarketplace daily with those whohappened to be there.18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoicphilosophers encountered him. Andsome said, "What does this babblerwant to say?" Others said, "He seems

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17 109to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,"because he preached to them Jesus andthe resurrec on.19And they took him and brought himto the Areopagus, saying, "May we knowwhat this new doctrine is of which youspeak?20 "For you are bringing some strangethings to our ears. Therefore we want toknow what these things mean."21 For all the Athenians and theforeigners who were there spent theirme in nothing else but either to tell or

to hear some new thing.22 Then Paul stood in the midst of theAreopagus and said, "Men of Athens, Iperceive that in all things you are veryreligious;23 "for as I was passing through andconsidering the objects of your worship, Ieven found an altar with this inscrip on:TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17 110the One whom you worship withoutknowing, Him I proclaim to you:24 "God, who made the world andeverything in it, since He is Lord ofheaven and earth, does not dwell intemples made with hands.25 "Nor is He worshiped with men’shands, as though He needed anything,since He gives to all life, breath, and allthings.26 "And He has made from one bloodevery na on of men to dwell on all theface of the earth, and has determinedtheir preappointed mes and theboundaries of their dwellings,27 "so that they should seek the Lord, inthe hope that they might grope for Himand find Him, though He is not far fromeach one of us;28 "for in Him we live and move andhave our being, as also some of your

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17 111own poets have said, ‘For we are also Hisoffspring.’29 "Therefore, since we are the offspringof God, we ought not to think that theDivine Nature is like gold or silver orstone, something shaped by art andman’s devising.30 "Truly, these mes of ignorance Godoverlooked, but now commands all meneverywhere to repent,31 "because He has appointed a dayon which He will judge the world inrighteousness by the Man whom He hasordained. He has given assurance of thisto all by raising Him from the dead."32And when they heard of theresurrec on of the dead, some mocked,while others said, "We will hear youagain on this ma er."33 So Paul departed from among them.34However, some men joined him andbelieved, among them Dionysius the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18 112Areopagite, a woman named Damaris,and others with them.

18 1A er these things Paul departedfrom Athens and went to Corinth.

2And he found a certain Jew namedAquila, born in Pontus, who had recentlycome from Italy with his wife Priscilla(because Claudius had commanded allthe Jews to depart from Rome); and hecame to them.3 So, because he was of the same trade,he stayed with them and worked; for byoccupa on they were tentmakers.4And he reasoned in the synagogueevery Sabbath, and persuaded both Jewsand Greeks.5When Silas and Timothy had comefrom Macedonia, Paul was compelled bythe Spirit, and tes fied to the Jews thatJesus is the Christ.6 But when they opposed him andblasphemed, he shook his garments and

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18 113said to them, "Your blood be upon yourown heads; I am clean. From now on Iwill go to the Gen les."7And he departed from there andentered the house of a certain mannamed Justus, one who worshiped God,whose house was next door to thesynagogue.8 Then Crispus, the ruler of thesynagogue, believed on the Lord withall his household. And many of theCorinthians, hearing, believed and werebap zed.9Now the Lord spoke to Paul in thenight by a vision, "Do not be afraid, butspeak, and do not keep silent;10 "for I am with you, and no one willa ack you to hurt you; for I have manypeople in this city."11And he con nued there a year andsix months, teaching the word of Godamong them.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18 11412When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia,the Jews with one accord rose up againstPaul and brought him to the judgmentseat,13 saying, "This fellow persuades mento worship God contrary to the law."14And when Paul was about to openhis mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If itwere a ma er of wrongdoing or wickedcrimes, O Jews, there would be reasonwhy I should bear with you.15 "But if it is a ques on of words andnames and your own law, look to ityourselves; for I do not want to be ajudge of such ma ers."16And he drove them from thejudgment seat.17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes,the ruler of the synagogue, and beathim before the judgment seat. But Galliotook no no ce of these things.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18 11518 So Paul s ll remained a good while.Then he took leave of the brethren andsailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquilawere with him. He had his hair cut off atCenchrea, for he had taken a vow.19And he came to Ephesus, and lethem there; but he himself entered thesynagogue and reasoned with the Jews.20When they asked him to stay a longerme with them, he did not consent,21 but took leave of them, saying, "Imust by all means keep this coming feastin Jerusalem; but I will return again toyou, God willing." And he sailed fromEphesus.22Andwhen he had landed at Caesarea,and gone up and greeted the church, hewent down to An och.23A er he had spent some methere, he departed and went over theregion of Gala a and Phrygia in order,strengthening all the disciples.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 18 11624Now a certain Jew named Apollos,born at Alexandria, an eloquent manand mighty in the Scriptures, came toEphesus.25 This man had been instructed in theway of the Lord; and being fervent inspirit, he spoke and taught accuratelythe things of the Lord, though he knewonly the bap sm of John.26 So he began to speak boldly in thesynagogue. When Aquila and Priscillaheard him, they took him aside andexplained to him the way of God moreaccurately.27And when he desired to cross toAchaia, the brethren wrote, exhor ngthe disciples to receive him; and whenhe arrived, he greatly helped those whohad believed through grace;28 for he vigorously refuted the Jewspublicly, showing from the Scripturesthat Jesus is the Christ.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 117

19 1And it happened, while Apolloswas at Corinth, that Paul, having

passed through the upper regions, cameto Ephesus. And finding some disciples2 he said to them, "Did you receive theHoly Spirit when you believed?" So theysaid to him, "We have not so much asheard whether there is a Holy Spirit."3And he said to them, "Into what thenwere you bap zed?" So they said, "IntoJohn’s bap sm."4 Then Paul said, "John indeed bap zedwith a bap sm of repentance, saying tothe people that they should believe onHim who would come a er him, that is,on Christ Jesus."5When they heard this, they werebap zed in the name of the Lord Jesus.6And when Paul had laid hands onthem, the Holy Spirit came upon them,and they spoke with tongues andprophesied.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 1187Now the men were about twelve inall.8And he went into the synagogue andspoke boldly for threemonths, reasoningand persuading concerning the things ofthe kingdom of God.9 But when some were hardened anddid not believe, but spoke evil of theWay before the mul tude, he departedfrom them and withdrew the disciples,reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.10And this con nued for two years, sothat all who dwelt in Asia heard the wordof the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.11Now God worked unusual miraclesby the hands of Paul,12 so that even handkerchiefs or apronswere brought from his body to the sick,and the diseases le them and the evilspirits went out of them.13 Then some of the i nerant Jewishexorcists took it upon themselves to call

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 119the name of the Lord Jesus over thosewho had evil spirits, saying, "We exorciseyou by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."14Also there were seven sons of Sceva,a Jewish chief priest, who did so.15And the evil spirit answered and said,"Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but whoare you?"16 Then the man in whom the evilspirit was leaped on them, overpoweredthem, and prevailed against them, sothat they fled out of that house nakedand wounded.17 This became known both to all Jewsand Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fearfell on them all, and the name of theLord Jesus was magnified.18And many who had believed cameconfessing and telling their deeds.19Also, many of those who hadprac ced magic brought their bookstogether and burned them in the sight

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 120of all. And they counted up the valueof them, and it totaled fi y thousandpieces of silver.20 So the word of the Lord grewmigh lyand prevailed.21When these things wereaccomplished, Paul purposed inthe Spirit, when he had passed throughMacedonia and Achaia, to go toJerusalem, saying, "A er I have beenthere, I must also see Rome."22 So he sent into Macedonia two ofthose who ministered to him, Timothyand Erastus, but he himself stayed inAsia for a me.23And about that me there arose agreat commo on about the Way.24 For a certain man named Demetrius,a silversmith, who made silver shrinesof Diana, brought no small profit to thecra smen.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 12125He called them together with theworkers of similar occupa on, andsaid: "Men, you know that we have ourprosperity by this trade.26 "Moreover you see and hear that notonly at Ephesus, but throughout almostall Asia, this Paul has persuaded andturned away many people, saying thatthey are not gods which are made withhands.27 "So not only is this trade of ours indanger of falling into disrepute, but alsothe temple of the great goddess Dianamay be despised and her magnificencedestroyed, whom all Asia and the worldworship."28Now when they heard this, theywere full of wrath and cried out, saying,"Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"29 So the whole city was filled withconfusion, and rushed into the theaterwith one accord, having seized Gaius and

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 122Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travelcompanions.30And when Paul wanted to go in to thepeople, the disciples would not allowhim.31 Then some of the officials of Asia,who were his friends, sent to himpleading that he would not venture intothe theater.32 Some therefore cried one thing andsome another, for the assembly wasconfused, and most of them did notknow why they had come together.33And they drew Alexander out of themul tude, the Jews pu ng him forward.And Alexander mo oned with his hand,and wanted to make his defense to thepeople.34 But when they found out that he wasa Jew, all with one voice cried out forabout two hours, "Great is Diana of theEphesians!"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19 12335And when the city clerk had quietedthe crowd, he said: "Men of Ephesus,what man is there who does not knowthat the city of the Ephesians is templeguardian of the great goddess Diana,and of the image which fell down fromZeus?36 "Therefore, since these things cannotbe denied, you ought to be quiet and donothing rashly.37 "For you have brought these menhere who are neither robbers of templesnor blasphemers of your goddess.38 "Therefore, if Demetrius and hisfellow cra smen have a case againstanyone, the courts are open and thereare proconsuls. Let them bring chargesagainst one another.39 "But if you have any other inquiryto make, it shall be determined in thelawful assembly.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19–20 12440 "For we are in danger of being calledin ques on for today’s uproar, therebeing no reason which we may give toaccount for this disorderly gathering."41And when he had said these things,he dismissed the assembly.

20 1A er the uproar had ceased,Paul called the disciples to

himself, embraced them, and departedto go to Macedonia.2Now when he had gone over thatregion and encouraged them with manywords, he came to Greece3 and stayed three months. And whenthe Jews plo ed against him as he wasabout to sail to Syria, he decided toreturn through Macedonia.4And Sopater of Berea accompaniedhim to Asia––also Aristarchus andSecundus of the Thessalonians, andGaius of Derbe, and Timothy, andTychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20 1255 These men, going ahead, waited forus at Troas.6 But we sailed away from Philippi a erthe Days of Unleavened Bread, and infive days joined them at Troas, where westayed seven days.7Now on the first day of the week,when the disciples came together tobreak bread, Paul, ready to depart thenext day, spoke to them and con nuedhis message un l midnight.8 There were many lamps in theupper room where they were gatheredtogether.9And in a window sat a certain youngman named Eutychus, who was sinkinginto a deep sleep. He was overcome bysleep; and as Paul con nued speaking,he fell down from the third story andwas taken up dead.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20 12610 But Paul went down, fell on him, andembracing him said, "Do not troubleyourselves, for his life is in him."11Now when he had come up, hadbroken bread and eaten, and talkeda long while, even ll daybreak, hedeparted.12And they brought the young manin alive, and they were not a li lecomforted.13 Then we went ahead to the shipand sailed to Assos, there intending totake Paul on board; for so he had givenorders, intending himself to go on foot.14And when he met us at Assos,we took him on board and came toMitylene.15We sailed from there, and the nextday came opposite Chios. The followingday we arrived at Samos and stayed atTrogyllium. The next day we came toMiletus.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20 12716 For Paul had decided to sail pastEphesus, so that he would not have tospend me in Asia; for he was hurryingto be at Jerusalem, if possible, on theDay of Pentecost.17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus andcalled for the elders of the church.18And when they had come to him, hesaid to them: "You know, from the firstday that I came to Asia, in what mannerI always lived among you,19 "serving the Lord with all humility,with many tears and trials whichhappened to me by the plo ng of theJews;20 "how I kept back nothing that washelpful, but proclaimed it to you, andtaught you publicly and from house tohouse,21 "tes fying to Jews, and also toGreeks, repentance toward God andfaith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20 12822 "And see, now I go bound in the spiritto Jerusalem, not knowing the thingsthat will happen to me there,23 "except that the Holy Spirit tes fiesin every city, saying that chains andtribula ons await me.24 "But none of these things move me;nor do I count my life dear to myself, sothat I may finish my race with joy, andthe ministry which I received from theLord Jesus, to tes fy to the gospel of thegrace of God.25 "And indeed, now I know that youall, among whom I have gone preachingthe kingdom of God, will see my face nomore.26 "Therefore I tes fy to you this daythat I am innocent of the blood of allmen.27 "For I have not shunned to declare toyou the whole counsel of God.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20 12928 "Therefore take heed to yourselvesand to all the flock, among which theHoly Spirit has made you overseers, toshepherd the church of God which Hepurchased with His own blood.29 "For I know this, that a er mydeparture savage wolves will come inamong you, not sparing the flock.30 "Also from among yourselvesmen will rise up, speaking perversethings, to draw away the disciples a erthemselves.31 "Therefore watch, and rememberthat for three years I did not cease towarn everyone night and day with tears.32 "So now, brethren, I commend you toGod and to the word of His grace, whichis able to build you up and give you aninheritance among all those who aresanc fied.33 "I have coveted no one’s silver orgold or apparel.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 20–21 13034 "Yes, you yourselves know that thesehands have provided for my necessi es,and for those who were with me.35 "I have shown you in every way, bylaboring like this, that you must supportthe weak. And remember the words ofthe Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is moreblessed to give than to receive.’"36And when he had said these things,he knelt down and prayed with them all.37 Then they all wept freely, and fell onPaul’s neck and kissed him,38 sorrowing most of all for the wordswhich he spoke, that they would see hisface no more. And they accompaniedhim to the ship.

21 1Now it came to pass, that whenwe had departed from them

and set sail, running a straight coursewe came to Cos, the following day toRhodes, and from there to Patara.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 1312And finding a ship sailing over toPhoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.3When we had sighted Cyprus, wepassed it on the le , sailed to Syria, andlanded at Tyre; for there the ship was tounload her cargo.4And finding disciples, we stayed thereseven days. They told Paul through theSpirit not to go up to Jerusalem.5When we had come to the end ofthose days, we departed and went onour way; and they all accompanied us,with wives and children, ll we were outof the city. And we knelt down on theshore and prayed.6When we had taken our leave of oneanother, we boarded the ship, and theyreturned home.7And when we had finished our voyagefrom Tyre, we came to Ptolemais,greeted the brethren, and stayed withthem one day.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 1328On the next day we who were Paul’scompanions departed and came toCaesarea, and entered the house ofPhilip the evangelist, who was one of theseven, and stayed with him.9Now this man had four virgindaughters who prophesied.10And as we stayed many days, acertain prophet named Agabus camedown from Judea.11When he had come to us, he tookPaul’s belt, bound his own hands andfeet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit,‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind theman who owns this belt, and deliver himinto the hands of the Gen les.’"12Now when we heard these things,both we and those from that placepleaded with him not to go up toJerusalem.13 Then Paul answered, "What do youmean by weeping and breaking my

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 133heart? For I am ready not only to bebound, but also to die at Jerusalem forthe name of the Lord Jesus."14 So when he would not be persuaded,we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lordbe done."15And a er those days we packed andwent up to Jerusalem.16Also some of the disciples fromCaesarea went with us and brought withthem a certain Mnason of Cyprus, anearly disciple, with whom we were tolodge.17Andwhenwe had come to Jerusalem,the brethren received us gladly.18On the following day Paul went inwith us to James, and all the elders werepresent.19When he had greeted them, he toldin detail those things which God haddone among the Gen les through hisministry.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 13420And when they heard it, theyglorified the Lord. And they said to him,"You see, brother, how many myriads ofJews there are who have believed, andthey are all zealous for the law;21 "but they have been informed aboutyou that you teach all the Jews who areamong the Gen les to forsake Moses,saying that they ought not to circumcisetheir children nor to walk according tothe customs.22 "What then? The assembly mustcertainly meet, for they will hear thatyou have come.23 "Therefore do what we tell you: Wehave four men who have taken a vow.24 "Take them and be purified withthem, and pay their expenses so thatthey may shave their heads, and that allmay know that those things of whichthey were informed concerning you are

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 135nothing, but that you yourself also walkorderly and keep the law.25 "But concerning the Gen les whobelieve, we have wri en and decidedthat they should observe no such thing,except that they should keep themselvesfrom things offered to idols, from blood,from things strangled, and from sexualimmorality."26 Then Paul took the men, and the nextday, having been purified with them,entered the temple to announce theexpira on of the days of purifica on, atwhich me an offering should be madefor each one of them.27Now when the seven days werealmost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeinghim in the temple, s rred up the wholecrowd and laid hands on him,28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help!This is the man who teaches all meneverywhere against the people, the law,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 136and this place; and furthermore he alsobrought Greeks into the temple and hasdefiled this holy place."29 (For they had previously seenTrophimus the Ephesian with him in thecity, whom they supposed that Paul hadbrought into the temple.)30And all the city was disturbed; andthe people ran together, seized Paul,and dragged him out of the temple; andimmediately the doors were shut.31Now as they were seeking to kill him,news came to the commander of thegarrison that all Jerusalem was in anuproar.32He immediately took soldiers andcenturions, and ran down to them. Andwhen they saw the commander and thesoldiers, they stopped bea ng Paul.33 Then the commander came near andtook him, and commanded him to be

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21 137bound with two chains; and he askedwho he was and what he had done.34And some among the mul tude criedone thing and some another. So whenhe could not ascertain the truth becauseof the tumult, he commanded him to betaken into the barracks.35When he reached the stairs, he hadto be carried by the soldiers because ofthe violence of the mob.36 For the mul tude of the peoplefollowed a er, crying out, "Away withhim!"37 Then as Paul was about to be led intothe barracks, he said to the commander,"May I speak to you?" He replied, "Canyou speak Greek?38 "Are you not the Egyp an who someme ago s rred up a rebellion and led

the four thousand assassins out into thewilderness?"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 21–22 13839 But Paul said, "I am a Jew fromTarsus, in Cilicia, a ci zen of no meancity; and I implore you, permit me tospeak to the people."40 So when he had given himpermission, Paul stood on the stairs andmo oned with his hand to the people.And when there was a great silence, hespoke to them in the Hebrew language,saying,

22 1 "Brethren and fathers, hear mydefense before you now."

2And when they heard that he spoke tothem in the Hebrew language, they keptall the more silent. Then he said:3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus ofCilicia, but brought up in this city at thefeet of Gamaliel, taught according to thestrictness of our fathers’ law, and waszealous toward God as you all are today.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22 1394 "I persecuted this Way to the death,binding and delivering into prisons bothmen and women,5 "as also the high priest bears mewitness, and all the council of the elders,from whom I also received le ers tothe brethren, and went to Damascus tobring in chains even those who werethere to Jerusalem to be punished.6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed andcame near Damascus at about noon,suddenly a great light from heavenshone around me.7 "And I fell to the ground and heard avoice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why areyou persecu ng Me?’8 "So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus ofNazareth, whom you are persecu ng.’9 "And those who were with me indeedsaw the light and were afraid, but they

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22 140did not hear the voice of Him who spoketo me.10 "So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and gointo Damascus, and there you will betold all things which are appointed foryou to do.’11 "And since I could not see for theglory of that light, being led by the handof those who were with me, I came intoDamascus.12 "Then a certain Ananias, a devoutman according to the law, having a goodtes mony with all the Jews who dweltthere,13 "came to me; and he stood and saidto me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’And at that same hour I looked up athim.14 "Then he said, ‘The God of ourfathers has chosen you that you should

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22 141know His will, and see the Just One, andhear the voice of His mouth.15 ‘For you will be His witness to all menof what you have seen and heard.16 ‘And now why are you wai ng? Ariseand be bap zed, and wash away yoursins, calling on the name of the Lord.’17 "Now it happened, when I returnedto Jerusalem and was praying in thetemple, that I was in a trance18 "and saw Him saying to me, ‘Makehaste and get out of Jerusalem quickly,for they will not receive your tes monyconcerning Me.’19 "So I said, ‘Lord, they know that inevery synagogue I imprisoned and beatthose who believe on You.20 ‘And when the blood of Your martyrStephen was shed, I also was standingby consen ng to his death, and guardingthe clothes of those who were killinghim.’

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22 14221 "Then He said to me, ‘Depart, forI will send you far from here to theGen les.’"22And they listened to him un l thisword, and then they raised their voicesand said, "Away with such a fellow fromthe earth, for he is not fit to live!"23 Then, as they cried out and tore offtheir clothes and threw dust into the air,24 the commander ordered him to bebrought into the barracks, and said thathe should be examined under scourging,so that he might know why they shoutedso against him.25And as they bound him with thongs,Paul said to the centurion who stood by,"Is it lawful for you to scourge a manwho is a Roman, and uncondemned?"26When the centurion heard that, hewent and told the commander, saying,"Take care what you do, for this man is aRoman."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 22–23 14327 Then the commander came and saidto him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" Hesaid, "Yes."28 The commander answered, "With alarge sum I obtained this ci zenship."And Paul said, "But I was born a ci zen."29 Then immediately those who wereabout to examine him withdrew fromhim; and the commander was also afraida er he found out that he was a Roman,and because he had bound him.30 The next day, because he wanted toknow for certain why he was accusedby the Jews, he released him from hisbonds, and commanded the chief priestsand all their council to appear, andbrought Paul down and set him beforethem.

23 1 Then Paul, looking earnestlyat the council, said, "Men and

brethren, I have lived in all goodconscience before God un l this day."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23 1442And the high priest Ananiascommanded those who stood by him tostrike him on the mouth.3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strikeyou, you whitewashed wall! For you sitto judge me according to the law, and doyou command me to be struck contraryto the law?"4And those who stood by said, "Do yourevile God’s high priest?"5 Then Paul said, "I did not know,brethren, that he was the high priest; forit is wri en, ‘You shall not speak evil of aruler of your people.’"6 But when Paul perceived that onepart were Sadducees and the otherPharisees, he cried out in the council,"Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, theson of a Pharisee; concerning the hopeand resurrec on of the dead I am beingjudged!"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23 1457And when he had said this, adissension arose between the Phariseesand the Sadducees; and the assemblywas divided.8 For Sadducees say that there is noresurrec on––and no angel or spirit; butthe Pharisees confess both.9 Then there arose a loud outcry. Andthe scribes of the Pharisees’ party aroseand protested, saying, "We find no evilin this man; but if a spirit or an angel hasspoken to him, let us not fight againstGod."10Now when there arose a greatdissension, the commander, fearing lestPaul might be pulled to pieces by them,commanded the soldiers to go down andtake him by force from among them, andbring him into the barracks.11 But the following night the Lordstood by him and said, "Be of goodcheer, Paul; for as you have tes fied for

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23 146Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bearwitness at Rome."12And when it was day, some ofthe Jews banded together and boundthemselves under an oath, saying thatthey would neither eat nor drink ll theyhad killed Paul.13Now there were more than forty whohad formed this conspiracy.14 They came to the chief priests andelders, and said, "We have boundourselves under a great oath that we willeat nothing un l we have killed Paul.15 "Now you, therefore, together withthe council, suggest to the commanderthat he be brought down to youtomorrow, as though you were going tomake further inquiries concerning him;but we are ready to kill him before hecomes near."

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23 14716 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard oftheir ambush, he went and entered thebarracks and told Paul.17 Then Paul called one of thecenturions to him and said, "Take thisyoung man to the commander, for hehas something to tell him."18 So he took him and brought himto the commander and said, "Paul theprisoner called me to him and asked meto bring this young man to you. He hassomething to say to you."19 Then the commander took him bythe hand, went aside and asked privately,"What is it that you have to tell me?"20And he said, "The Jews have agreedto ask that you bring Paul down to thecouncil tomorrow, as though they weregoing to inquire more fully about him.21 "But do not yield to them, for morethan forty of them lie in wait for him,men who have bound themselves by an

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23 148oath that they will neither eat nor drinkll they have killed him; and now they

are ready, wai ng for the promise fromyou."22 So the commander let the youngman depart, and commanded him, "Tellno one that you have revealed thesethings to me."23And he called for two centurions,saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers,seventy horsemen, and two hundredspearmen to go to Caesarea at the thirdhour of the night;24 "and provide mounts to set Paulon, and bring him safely to Felix thegovernor."25He wrote a le er in the followingmanner:26 Claudius Lysias, to the most excellentgovernor Felix: Gree ngs.27 This man was seized by the Jews andwas about to be killed by them. Coming

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23 149with the troops I rescued him, havinglearned that he was a Roman.28And when I wanted to know thereason they accused him, I brought himbefore their council.29 I found out that he was accusedconcerning ques ons of their law,but had nothing charged against himdeserving of death or chains.30And when it was told me that theJews lay in wait for the man, I senthim immediately to you, and alsocommanded his accusers to state beforeyou the charges against him. Farewell.31 Then the soldiers, as they werecommanded, took Paul and brought himby night to An patris.32 The next day they le the horsemento go on with him, and returned to thebarracks.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23–24 15033When they came to Caesarea andhad delivered the le er to the governor,they also presented Paul to him.34And when the governor had read it,he asked what province he was from.And when he understood that he wasfrom Cilicia,35 he said, "I will hear you when youraccusers also have come." And hecommanded him to be kept in Herod’sPraetorium.

24 1Now a er five days Ananiasthe high priest came down with

the elders and a certain orator namedTertullus. These gave evidence to thegovernor against Paul.2And when he was called upon,Tertullus began his accusa on, saying:"Seeing that through you we enjoy greatpeace, and prosperity is being broughtto this na on by your foresight,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24 1513 "we accept it always and in all places,most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.4 "Nevertheless, not to be tedious toyou any further, I beg you to hear, byyour courtesy, a few words from us.5 "For we have found this man a plague,a creator of dissension among all theJews throughout the world, and aringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.6 "He even tried to profane the temple,and we seized him, and wanted to judgehim according to our law.7 "But the commander Lysias came byand with great violence took him out ofour hands,8 "commanding his accusers to come toyou. By examining him yourself you mayascertain all these things of which weaccuse him."9And the Jews also assented,maintaining that these things were so.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24 15210 Then Paul, a er the governor hadnodded to him to speak, answered:"Inasmuch as I know that you have beenfor many years a judge of this na on, I dothe more cheerfully answer for myself,11 "because you may ascertain that it isno more than twelve days since I wentup to Jerusalem to worship.12 "And they neither found me inthe temple dispu ng with anyonenor inci ng the crowd, either in thesynagogues or in the city.13 "Nor can they prove the things ofwhich they now accuse me.14 "But this I confess to you, thataccording to the Way which they call asect, so I worship the God of my fathers,believing all things which are wri en inthe Law and in the Prophets.15 "I have hope in God, which theythemselves also accept, that there will

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24 153be a resurrec on of the dead, both ofthe just and the unjust.16 "This being so, I myself always striveto have a conscience without offensetoward God and men.17 "Now a er many years I came tobring alms and offerings to my na on,18 "in the midst of which some Jewsfrom Asia found me purified in thetemple, neither with a mob nor withtumult.19 "They ought to have been herebefore you to object if they had anythingagainst me.20 "Or else let those who are herethemselves say if they found anywrongdoing in me while I stood beforethe council,21 "unless it is for this one statementwhich I cried out, standing among them,‘Concerning the resurrec on of the deadI am being judged by you this day.’"

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24 15422 But when Felix heard these things,having more accurate knowledge ofthe Way, he adjourned the proceedingsand said, "When Lysias the commandercomes down, I will make a decision onyour case."23 So he commanded the centurion tokeep Paul and to let him have liberty,and told him not to forbid any of hisfriends to provide for or visit him.24And a er some days, when Felixcame with his wife Drusilla, who wasJewish, he sent for Paul and heard himconcerning the faith in Christ.25Now as he reasoned aboutrighteousness, self–control, and thejudgment to come, Felix was afraid andanswered, "Go away for now; when Ihave a convenient me I will call foryou."26Meanwhile he also hoped thatmoney would be given him by Paul, that

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 24–25 155he might release him. Therefore he sentfor him more o en and conversed withhim.27 But a er two years Porcius Festussucceeded Felix; and Felix, wan ng to dothe Jews a favor, le Paul bound.

25 1Now when Festus had come tothe province, a er three days he

went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.2 Then the high priest and the chiefmen of the Jews informed him againstPaul; and they pe oned him,3 asking a favor against him, that hewould summon him to Jerusalem––whilethey lay in ambush along the road to killhim.4 But Festus answered that Paul shouldbe kept at Caesarea, and that he himselfwas going there shortly.5 "Therefore," he said, "let those whohave authority among you go down with

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 25 156me and accuse this man, to see if thereis any fault in him."6And when he had remained amongthemmore than ten days, he went downto Caesarea. And the next day, si ng onthe judgment seat, he commanded Paulto be brought.7When he had come, the Jews who hadcome down from Jerusalem stood aboutand laid many serious complaints againstPaul, which they could not prove,8while he answered for himself,"Neither against the law of the Jews, noragainst the temple, nor against Caesarhave I offended in anything at all."9 But Festus, wan ng to do the Jews afavor, answered Paul and said, "Are youwilling to go up to Jerusalem and therebe judged before me concerning thesethings?"10 So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar’sjudgment seat, where I ought to be

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 25 157judged. To the Jews I have done nowrong, as you very well know.11 "For if I am an offender, or havecommi ed anything deserving of death,I do not object to dying; but if there isnothing in these things of which thesemen accuse me, no one can deliver meto them. I appeal to Caesar."12 Then Festus, when he had conferredwith the council, answered, "You haveappealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shallgo!"13And a er some days King Agrippaand Bernice came to Caesarea to greetFestus.14When they had been there manydays, Festus laid Paul’s case before theking, saying: "There is a certain man lea prisoner by Felix,15 "about whom the chief priests andthe elders of the Jews informed me,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 25 158when I was in Jerusalem, asking for ajudgment against him.16 "To them I answered, ‘It is not thecustom of the Romans to deliver anyman to destruc on before the accusedmeets the accusers face to face, andhas opportunity to answer for himselfconcerning the charge against him.’17 "Therefore when they had cometogether, without any delay, the nextday I sat on the judgment seat andcommanded the man to be brought in.18 "When the accusers stood up, theybrought no accusa on against him ofsuch things as I supposed,19 "but had some ques ons against himabout their own religion and about acertain Jesus, who had died, whom Paulaffirmed to be alive.20 "And because I was uncertain ofsuch ques ons, I asked whether he was

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 25 159willing to go to Jerusalem and there bejudged concerning these ma ers.21 "But when Paul appealed to bereserved for the decision of Augustus, Icommanded him to be kept ll I couldsend him to Caesar."22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I alsowould like to hear the man myself.""Tomorrow, " he said, "you shall hearhim."23 So the next day, when Agrippa andBernice had come with great pomp, andhad entered the auditorium with thecommanders and the prominent men ofthe city, at Festus’ command Paul wasbrought in.24And Festus said: "King Agrippa andall the men who are here present withus, you see this man about whom thewhole assembly of the Jews pe onedme, both at Jerusalem and here, cryingout that he was not fit to live any longer.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 25–26 16025 "But when I found that he hadcommi ed nothing deserving of death,and that he himself had appealed toAugustus, I decided to send him.26 "I have nothing certain to write tomy lord concerning him. Therefore Ihave brought him out before you, andespecially before you, King Agrippa, sothat a er the examina on has takenplace I may have something to write.27 "For it seems to me unreasonable tosend a prisoner and not to specify thecharges against him."

26 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul,"You are permi ed to speak for

yourself." So Paul stretched out his handand answered for himself:2 "I think myself happy, King Agrippa,because today I shall answer for myselfbefore you concerning all the things ofwhich I am accused by the Jews,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26 1613 "especially because you are expert inall customs and ques ons which have todo with the Jews. Therefore I beg you tohear me pa ently.4 "My manner of life from my youth,which was spent from the beginningamong my own na on at Jerusalem, allthe Jews know.5 "They knew me from the first, if theywere willing to tes fy, that according tothe strictest sect of our religion I lived aPharisee.6 "And now I stand and am judged forthe hope of the promise made by God toour fathers.7 "To this promise our twelve tribes,earnestly serving God night and day,hope to a ain. For this hope’s sake, KingAgrippa, I am accused by the Jews.8 "Why should it be thought incredibleby you that God raises the dead?

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26 1629 "Indeed, I myself thought I must domany things contrary to the name ofJesus of Nazareth.10 "This I also did in Jerusalem, andmany of the saints I shut up in prison,having received authority from the chiefpriests; and when they were put todeath, I cast my vote against them.11 "And I punished them o en inevery synagogue and compelled themto blaspheme; and being exceedinglyenraged against them, I persecutedthem even to foreign ci es.12 "While thus occupied, as I journeyedto Damascus with authority andcommission from the chief priests,13 "at midday, O king, along the road Isaw a light from heaven, brighter thanthe sun, shining around me and thosewho journeyed with me.14 "And when we all had fallen to theground, I heard a voice speaking to me

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26 163and saying in the Hebrew language,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecu ngMe? It is hard for you to kick against thegoads.’15 "So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ AndHe said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you arepersecu ng.16 ‘But rise and stand on your feet; for Ihave appeared to you for this purpose,to make you a minister and a witnessboth of the things which you have seenand of the things which I will yet revealto you.17 ‘I will deliver you from the Jewishpeople, as well as from the Gen les, towhom I now send you,18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turnthem from darkness to light, and fromthe power of Satan to God, that theymay receive forgiveness of sins andan inheritance among those who aresanc fied by faith in Me.’

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26 16419 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was notdisobedient to the heavenly vision,20 "but declared first to those inDamascus and in Jerusalem, andthroughout all the region of Judea, andthen to the Gen les, that they shouldrepent, turn to God, and do worksbefi ng repentance.21 "For these reasons the Jews seizedme in the temple and tried to kill me.22 "Therefore, having obtained helpfrom God, to this day I stand, witnessingboth to small and great, saying no otherthings than those which the prophetsand Moses said would come––23 "that the Christ would suffer, that Hewould be the first to rise from the dead,and would proclaim light to the Jewishpeople and to the Gen les."24Now as he thus made his defense,Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26 165are beside yourself! Much learning isdriving you mad!"25 But he said, "I am not mad, mostnoble Festus, but speak the words oftruth and reason.26 "For the king, before whom I alsospeak freely, knows these things; for Iam convinced that none of these thingsescapes his a en on, since this thingwas not done in a corner.27 "King Agrippa, do you believe theprophets? I know that you do believe."28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Youalmost persuade me to become aChris an."29And Paul said, "I would to God thatnot only you, but also all who hear metoday, might become both almost andaltogether such as I am, except for thesechains."30When he had said these things, theking stood up, as well as the governor

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26–27 166and Bernice and those who sat withthem;31 and when they had gone aside, theytalked among themselves, saying, "Thisman is doing nothing deserving of deathor chains."32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "Thisman might have been set free if he hadnot appealed to Caesar."

27 1And when it was decided thatwe should sail to Italy, they

delivered Paul and some other prisonersto one named Julius, a centurion of theAugustan Regiment.2 So, entering a ship of Adramy um,we put to sea, meaning to sail alongthe coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, aMacedonian of Thessalonica, was withus.3And the next day we landed at Sidon.And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 167him liberty to go to his friends andreceive care.4When we had put to sea from there,we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus,because the winds were contrary.5And when we had sailed over the seawhich is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, wecame to Myra, a city of Lycia.6 There the centurion found anAlexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and heput us on board.7When we had sailed slowly manydays, and arrived with difficulty offCnidus, the wind not permi ng us toproceed, we sailed under the shelter ofCrete off Salmone.8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to aplace called Fair Havens, near the city ofLasea.9Now when much me had beenspent, and sailing was now dangerous

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 168because the Fast was already over, Pauladvised them,10 saying, "Men, I perceive that thisvoyage will end with disaster and muchloss, not only of the cargo and ship, butalso our lives."11Nevertheless the centurion wasmore persuaded by the helmsman andthe owner of the ship than by the thingsspoken by Paul.12And because the harbor was notsuitable to winter in, the majorityadvised to set sail from there also, if byany means they could reach Phoenix,a harbor of Crete opening toward thesouthwest and northwest, and winterthere.13When the south wind blew so ly,supposing that they had obtained theirdesire, pu ng out to sea, they sailedclose by Crete.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 16914 But not long a er, a tempestuoushead wind arose, called Euroclydon.15 So when the ship was caught, andcould not head into the wind, we let herdrive.16And running under the shelter of anisland called Clauda, we secured the skiffwith difficulty.17When they had taken it on board,they used cables to undergird the ship;and fearing lest they should run agroundon the Syr s Sands, they struck sail andso were driven.18And because we were exceedinglytempest–tossed, the next day theylightened the ship.19On the third day we threw the ship’stackle overboard with our own hands.20Now when neither sun nor starsappeared for many days, and no smalltempest beat on us, all hope that wewould be saved was finally given up.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 17021 But a er long abs nence from food,then Paul stood in the midst of them andsaid, "Men, you should have listened tome, and not have sailed from Crete andincurred this disaster and loss.22 "And now I urge you to take heart,for there will be no loss of life amongyou, but only of the ship.23 "For there stood by me this night anangel of the God to whom I belong andwhom I serve,24 "saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; youmust be brought before Caesar; andindeed God has granted you all thosewho sail with you.’25 "Therefore take heart, men, for Ibelieve God that it will be just as it wastold me.26 "However, we must run aground on acertain island."27Now when the fourteenth night hadcome, as we were driven up and down

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 171in the Adria c Sea, about midnight thesailors sensed that they were drawingnear some land.28And they took soundings and foundit to be twenty fathoms; and whenthey had gone a li le farther, they tooksoundings again and found it to befi een fathoms.29 Then, fearing lest we should runaground on the rocks, they dropped fouranchors from the stern, and prayed forday to come.30And as the sailors were seeking toescape from the ship, when they hadlet down the skiff into the sea, underpretense of pu ng out anchors from theprow,31 Paul said to the centurion and thesoldiers, "Unless these men stay in theship, you cannot be saved."32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropesof the skiff and let it fall off.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 17233And as day was about to dawn, Paulimplored them all to take food, saying,"Today is the fourteenth day you havewaited and con nued without food, andeaten nothing.34 "Therefore I urge you to takenourishment, for this is for your survival,since not a hair will fall from the head ofany of you."35And when he had said these things,he took bread and gave thanks to God inthe presence of them all; and when hehad broken it he began to eat.36 Then they were all encouraged, andalso took food themselves.37And in all we were two hundred andseventy–six persons on the ship.38 So when they had eaten enough,they lightened the ship and threw outthe wheat into the sea.39When it was day, they did notrecognize the land; but they observed

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 27 173a bay with a beach, onto which theyplanned to run the ship if possible.40And they let go the anchors and lethem in the sea, meanwhile loosingthe rudder ropes; and they hoisted themainsail to the wind andmade for shore.41 But striking a place where twoseas met, they ran the ship aground;and the prow stuck fast and remainedimmovable, but the stern was beingbroken up by the violence of the waves.42And the soldiers’ plan was to kill theprisoners, lest any of them should swimaway and escape.43 But the centurion, wan ng to savePaul, kept them from their purpose, andcommanded that those who could swimshould jump overboard first and get toland,44 and the rest, some on boards andsome on parts of the ship. And so it wasthat they all escaped safely to land.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 174

28 1Now when they had escaped,they then found out that the

island was called Malta.2And the na ves showed us unusualkindness; for they kindled a fire andmade us all welcome, because of therain that was falling and because of thecold.3 But when Paul had gathered a bundleof s cks and laid them on the fire, aviper came out because of the heat, andfastened on his hand.4 So when the na ves saw the creaturehanging from his hand, they said toone another, "No doubt this man is amurderer, whom, though he has escapedthe sea, yet jus ce does not allow tolive."5 But he shook off the creature into thefire and suffered no harm.6However, they were expec ng that hewould swell up or suddenly fall down

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 175dead. But a er they had looked for along me and saw no harm come to him,they changed their minds and said thathe was a god.7 In that region there was an estate ofthe leading ci zen of the island, whosename was Publius, who received us andentertained us courteously for threedays.8And it happened that the father ofPublius lay sick of a fever and dysentery.Paul went in to him and prayed, and helaid his hands on him and healed him.9 So when this was done, the rest ofthose on the island who had diseasesalso came and were healed.10 They also honored us in many ways;and when we departed, they providedsuch things as were necessary.11A er three months we sailed in anAlexandrian ship whose figurehead was

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 176the Twin Brothers, which had winteredat the island.12And landing at Syracuse, we stayedthree days.13 From there we circled round andreached Rhegium. And a er one day thesouth wind blew; and the next day wecame to Puteoli,14where we found brethren, and wereinvited to stay with them seven days.And so we went toward Rome.15And from there, when the brethrenheard about us, they came to meet usas far as Appii Forum and Three Inns.When Paul saw them, he thanked Godand took courage.16Now when we came to Rome, thecenturion delivered the prisoners tothe captain of the guard; but Paul waspermi ed to dwell by himself with thesoldier who guarded him.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 17717And it came to pass a er threedays that Paul called the leaders of theJews together. So when they had cometogether, he said to them: "Men andbrethren, though I have done nothingagainst our people or the customs of ourfathers, yet I was delivered as a prisonerfrom Jerusalem into the hands of theRomans,18 "who, when they had examined me,wanted to let me go, because there wasno cause for pu ng me to death.19 "But when the Jews spoke against it,I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, notthat I had anything of which to accusemy na on.20 "For this reason therefore I havecalled for you, to see you and speak withyou, because for the hope of Israel I ambound with this chain."21 Then they said to him, "We neitherreceived le ers from Judea concerning

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 178you, nor have any of the brethren whocame reported or spoken any evil of you.22 "But we desire to hear from youwhat you think; for concerning thissect, we know that it is spoken againsteverywhere."23 So when they had appointed him aday, many came to him at his lodging,to whom he explained and solemnlytes fied of the kingdom of God,persuading them concerning Jesus fromboth the Law ofMoses and the Prophets,from morning ll evening.24And some were persuaded by thethings which were spoken, and somedisbelieved.25 So when they did not agree amongthemselves, they departed a er Paulhad said one word: "The Holy Spiritspoke rightly through Isaiah the prophetto our fathers,

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 17926 "saying, ‘Go to this people and say:"Hearing you will hear, and shall notunderstand; And seeing you will see, andnot perceive;27 For the hearts of this people havegrown dull. Their ears are hard ofhearing, And their eyes they have closed,Lest they should see with their eyes andhear with their ears, Lest they shouldunderstand with their hearts and turn,So that I should heal them."’28 "Therefore let it be known to youthat the salva on of God has been sentto the Gen les, and they will hear it!"29And when he had said these words,the Jews departed and had a greatdispute among themselves.30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years inhis own rented house, and received allwho came to him,31 preaching the kingdom of God andteaching the things which concern the

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 28 180Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, noone forbidding him.

Romans

1 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,called to be an apostle, separated to

the gospel of God2which He promised before throughHis prophets in the Holy Scriptures,3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ ourLord, who was born of the seed of Davidaccording to the flesh,4 and declared to be the Son of Godwith power according to the Spirit ofholiness, by the resurrec on from thedead.5 Through Him we have received graceand apostleship for obedience to thefaith among all na ons for His name,6 among whom you also are the calledof Jesus Christ;

ROMANS 1 27 To all who are in Rome, beloved ofGod, called to be saints: Grace to youand peace from God our Father and theLord Jesus Christ.8 First, I thank my God through JesusChrist for you all, that your faith isspoken of throughout the whole world.9 For God is my witness, whom I servewith my spirit in the gospel of His Son,that without ceasing I make men on ofyou always in my prayers,10making request if, by some means,now at last I may find a way in the will ofGod to come to you.11 For I long to see you, that I mayimpart to you some spiritual gi , so thatyou may be established––12 that is, that I may be encouragedtogether with you by the mutual faithboth of you and me.13Now I do not want you to beunaware, brethren, that I o en planned

ROMANS 1 3to come to you (but was hindered un lnow), that I might have some fruitamong you also, just as among the otherGen les.14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and tobarbarians, both to wise and to unwise.15 So, as much as is in me, I am readyto preach the gospel to you who are inRome also.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospelof Christ, for it is the power of God tosalva on for everyone who believes, forthe Jew first and also for the Greek.17 For in it the righteousness of Godis revealed from faith to faith; as it iswri en, "The just shall live by faith."18 For the wrath of God is revealedfrom heaven against all ungodliness andunrighteousness of men, who suppressthe truth in unrighteousness,

ROMANS 1 419 because what may be known of Godis manifest in them, for God has shownit to them.20 For since the crea on of the worldHis invisible a ributes are clearly seen,being understood by the things thatare made, even His eternal power andGodhead, so that they are withoutexcuse,21 because, although they knew God,they did not glorify Him as God, norwere thankful, but became fu le in theirthoughts, and their foolish hearts weredarkened.22 Professing to be wise, they becamefools,23 and changed the glory of theincorrup ble God into an image madelike corrup ble man––and birds andfour–footed animals and creepingthings.

ROMANS 1 524 Therefore God also gave them upto uncleanness, in the lusts of theirhearts, to dishonor their bodies amongthemselves,25who exchanged the truth of God forthe lie, and worshiped and served thecreature rather than the Creator, who isblessed forever. Amen.26 For this reason God gave them upto vile passions. For even their womenexchanged the natural use for what isagainst nature.27 Likewise also the men, leaving thenatural use of the woman, burned intheir lust for one another, men withmen commi ng what is shameful, andreceiving in themselves the penalty oftheir error which was due.28And even as they did not like to retainGod in their knowledge, God gave themover to a debased mind, to do thosethings which are not fi ng;

ROMANS 1–2 629 being filled with all unrighteousness,sexual immorality, wickedness,covetousness, maliciousness; full ofenvy, murder, strife, deceit, evil–mindedness; they are whisperers,30 backbiters, haters of God, violent,proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,disobedient to parents,31 undiscerning, untrustworthy,unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;32who, knowing the righteousjudgment of God, that those whoprac ce such things are deserving ofdeath, not only do the same but alsoapprove of those who prac ce them.

2 1 Therefore you are inexcusable, Oman, whoever you are who judge,

for in whatever you judge another youcondemn yourself; for you who judgeprac ce the same things.

ROMANS 2 72 But we know that the judgment ofGod is according to truth against thosewho prac ce such things.3And do you think this, O man, youwho judge those prac cing such things,and doing the same, that you will escapethe judgment of God?4Or do you despise the riches ofHis goodness, forbearance, andlongsuffering, not knowing thatthe goodness of God leads you torepentance?5 But in accordance with your hardnessand your impenitent heart you aretreasuring up for yourself wrath inthe day of wrath and revela on of therighteous judgment of God,6who "will render to each oneaccording to his deeds":7 eternal life to those who by pa entcon nuance in doing good seek for glory,honor, and immortality;

ROMANS 2 88 but to those who are self–seekingand do not obey the truth, but obeyunrighteousness––indigna on andwrath,9 tribula on and anguish, on every soulof man who does evil, of the Jew firstand also of the Greek;10 but glory, honor, and peace toeveryone who works what is good, tothe Jew first and also to the Greek.11 For there is no par ality with God.12 For as many as have sinned withoutlaw will also perish without law, and asmany as have sinned in the law will bejudged by the law13 (for not the hearers of the law arejust in the sight of God, but the doers ofthe law will be jus fied;14 for when Gen les, who do not havethe law, by nature do the things in thelaw, these, although not having the law,are a law to themselves,

ROMANS 2 915who show the work of the lawwri en in their hearts, their consciencealso bearing witness, and betweenthemselves their thoughts accusing orelse excusing them)16 in the day when God will judge thesecrets of men by Jesus Christ, accordingto my gospel.17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and reston the law, and make your boast in God,18 and know His will, and approvethe things that are excellent, beinginstructed out of the law,19 and are confident that you yourselfare a guide to the blind, a light to thosewho are in darkness,20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacherof babes, having the form of knowledgeand truth in the law.21 You, therefore, who teach another,do you not teach yourself? You who

ROMANS 2 10preach that a man should not steal, doyou steal?22 You who say, "Do not commitadultery," do you commit adultery? Youwho abhor idols, do you rob temples?23 You who make your boast in the law,do you dishonor God through breakingthe law?24 For "the name of God is blasphemedamong the Gen les because of you," asit is wri en.25 For circumcision is indeed profitableif you keep the law; but if you are abreaker of the law, your circumcision hasbecome uncircumcision.26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised mankeeps the righteous requirements ofthe law, will not his uncircumcision becounted as circumcision?27And will not the physicallyuncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judgeyou who, even with your wri en code

ROMANS 2–3 11and circumcision, are a transgressor ofthe law?28 For he is not a Jew who is oneoutwardly, nor is circumcision that whichis outward in the flesh;29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly;and circumcision is that of the heart, inthe Spirit, not in the le er; whose praiseis not from men but from God.

3 1What advantage then has the Jew,or what is the profit of circumcision?

2Much in every way! Chiefly becauseto them were commi ed the oracles ofGod.3 For what if some did not believe? Willtheir unbelief make the faithfulness ofGod without effect?4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be truebut every man a liar. As it is wri en:"That You may be jus fied in Yourwords, And may overcome when You arejudged."

ROMANS 3 125 But if our unrighteousnessdemonstrates the righteousness ofGod, what shall we say? Is God unjustwho inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)6 Certainly not! For then how will Godjudge the world?7 For if the truth of God has increasedthrough my lie to His glory, why am I alsos ll judged as a sinner?8And why not say, "Let us do evilthat good may come"? ––as we areslanderously reported and as someaffirm that we say. Their condemna onis just.9What then? Are we be er thanthey? Not at all. For we have previouslycharged both Jews and Greeks that theyare all under sin.10As it is wri en: "There is nonerighteous, no, not one;11 There is none who understands;There is none who seeks a er God.

ROMANS 3 1312 They have all turned aside; They havetogether become unprofitable; There isnone who does good, no, not one."13 "Their throat is an open tomb;With their tongues they have prac ceddeceit"; "The poison of asps is undertheir lips";14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing andbi erness."15 "Their feet are swi to shed blood;16Destruc on and misery are in theirways;17And the way of peace they have notknown."18 "There is no fear of God before theireyes."19Now we know that whatever the lawsays, it says to those who are under thelaw, that every mouth may be stopped,and all the world may become guiltybefore God.

ROMANS 3 1420 Therefore by the deeds of the law noflesh will be jus fied in His sight, for bythe law is the knowledge of sin.21 But now the righteousness of Godapart from the law is revealed, beingwitnessed by the Law and the Prophets,22 even the righteousness of God,through faith in Jesus Christ, to alland on all who believe. For there is nodifference;23 for all have sinned and fall short ofthe glory of God,24 being jus fied freely by His gracethrough the redemp on that is in ChristJesus,25whom God set forth as a propi a onby His blood, through faith, todemonstrate His righteousness, becausein His forbearance God had passed overthe sins that were previously commi ed,26 to demonstrate at the present meHis righteousness, that He might be just

ROMANS 3–4 15and the jus fier of the one who has faithin Jesus.27Where is boas ng then? It isexcluded. By what law? Of works? No,but by the law of faith.28 Therefore we conclude that a man isjus fied by faith apart from the deeds ofthe law.29Or is He the God of the Jews only? IsHe not also the God of the Gen les? Yes,of the Gen les also,30 since there is one God who willjus fy the circumcised by faith and theuncircumcised through faith.31Do we then make void the lawthrough faith? Certainly not! On thecontrary, we establish the law.

4 1What then shall we say thatAbraham our father has found

according to the flesh?

ROMANS 4 162 For if Abraham was jus fied by works,he has something to boast about, butnot before God.3 For what does the Scripture say?"Abraham believed God, and it wasaccounted to him for righteousness."4Now to him who works, the wages arenot counted as grace but as debt.5 But to him who does not workbut believes on Him who jus fies theungodly, his faith is accounted forrighteousness,6 just as David also describes theblessedness of the man to whom Godimputes righteousness apart fromworks:7 "Blessed are those whose lawlessdeeds are forgiven, And whose sins arecovered;8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORDshall not impute sin."9Does this blessedness then comeupon the circumcised only, or upon the

ROMANS 4 17uncircumcised also? For we say thatfaith was accounted to Abraham forrighteousness.10How then was it accounted? Whilehe was circumcised, or uncircumcised?Not while circumcised, but whileuncircumcised.11And he received the sign ofcircumcision, a seal of the righteousnessof the faith which he had while s lluncircumcised, that he might bethe father of all those who believe,though they are uncircumcised, thatrighteousness might be imputed to themalso,12 and the father of circumcisionto those who not only are of thecircumcision, but who also walk inthe steps of the faith which our fatherAbraham had while s ll uncircumcised.13 For the promise that he would be theheir of the world was not to Abraham or

ROMANS 4 18to his seed through the law, but throughthe righteousness of faith.14 For if those who are of the law areheirs, faith is made void and the promisemade of no effect,15 because the law brings about wrath;for where there is no law there is notransgression.16 Therefore it is of faith that it might beaccording to grace, so that the promisemight be sure to all the seed, not onlyto those who are of the law, but also tothose who are of the faith of Abraham,who is the father of us all17 (as it is wri en, "I have made you afather of many na ons") in the presenceof Him whom he believed––God, whogives life to the dead and calls thosethings which do not exist as though theydid;18who, contrary to hope, in hopebelieved, so that he became the father

ROMANS 4 19of many na ons, according to what wasspoken, "So shall your descendants be."19And not being weak in faith, he didnot consider his own body, already dead(since he was about a hundred yearsold), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.20He did not waver at the promiseof God through unbelief, but wasstrengthened in faith, giving glory toGod,21 and being fully convinced that whatHe had promised He was also able toperform.22And therefore "it was accounted tohim for righteousness."23Now it was not wri en for his sakealone that it was imputed to him,24 but also for us. It shall be imputedto us who believe in Him who raised upJesus our Lord from the dead,

ROMANS 4–5 2025who was delivered up because of ouroffenses, and was raised because of ourjus fica on.

5 1 Therefore, having been jus fiedby faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,2 through whom also we have access byfaith into this grace in which we stand,and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3And not only that, but we also gloryin tribula ons, knowing that tribula onproduces perseverance;4 and perseverance, character; andcharacter, hope.5Now hope does not disappoint,because the love of God has beenpoured out in our hearts by the HolySpirit who was given to us.6 For when we were s ll withoutstrength, in due me Christ died for theungodly.

ROMANS 5 217 For scarcely for a righteous man willone die; yet perhaps for a good mansomeone would even dare to die.8 But God demonstrates His own lovetoward us, in that while we were s llsinners, Christ died for us.9Much more then, having now beenjus fied by His blood, we shall be savedfrom wrath through Him.10 For if when we were enemies wewere reconciled to God through thedeath of His Son, much more, havingbeen reconciled, we shall be saved byHis life.11And not only that, but we also rejoicein God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have now receivedthe reconcilia on.12 Therefore, just as through oneman sin entered the world, and deaththrough sin, and thus death spread to allmen, because all sinned––

ROMANS 5 2213 (For un l the law sin was in theworld, but sin is not imputed when thereis no law.14Nevertheless death reigned fromAdam to Moses, even over those whohad not sinned according to the likenessof the transgression of Adam, who is atype of Him who was to come.15 But the free gi is not like theoffense. For if by the one man’s offensemany died, much more the grace of Godand the gi by the grace of the one Man,Jesus Christ, abounded to many.16And the gi is not like that whichcame through the one who sinned. Forthe judgment which came from oneoffense resulted in condemna on, butthe free gi which came from manyoffenses resulted in jus fica on.17 For if by the one man’s offense deathreigned through the one, much morethose who receive abundance of grace

ROMANS 5–6 23and of the gi of righteousness will reignin life through the One, Jesus Christ.)18 Therefore, as through one man’soffense judgment came to all men,resul ng in condemna on, even sothrough one Man’s righteous act thefree gi came to all men, resul ng injus fica on of life.19 For as by one man’s disobediencemany were made sinners, so also by oneMan’s obedience many will be maderighteous.20Moreover the law entered that theoffense might abound. But where sinabounded, grace abounded much more,21 so that as sin reigned in death,even so grace might reign throughrighteousness to eternal life throughJesus Christ our Lord.

6 1What shall we say then? Shallwe con nue in sin that grace may

abound?

ROMANS 6 242 Certainly not! How shall we who diedto sin live any longer in it?3Or do you not know that as many of usas were bap zed into Christ Jesus werebap zed into His death?4 Therefore we were buried with Himthrough bap sm into death, that justas Christ was raised from the dead bythe glory of the Father, even so we alsoshould walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united togetherin the likeness of His death, certainlywe also shall be in the likeness of Hisresurrec on,6 knowing this, that our old man wascrucified with Him, that the body ofsin might be done away with, that weshould no longer be slaves of sin.7 For he who has died has been freedfrom sin.8Now if we died with Christ, we believethat we shall also live with Him,

ROMANS 6 259 knowing that Christ, having beenraised from the dead, dies no more.Death no longer has dominion over Him.10 For the death that He died, He diedto sin once for all; but the life that Helives, He lives to God.11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselvesto be dead indeed to sin, but alive toGod in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in yourmortal body, that you should obey it inits lusts.13And do not present your members asinstruments of unrighteousness to sin,but present yourselves to God as beingalive from the dead, and your membersas instruments of righteousness to God.14 For sin shall not have dominion overyou, for you are not under law but undergrace.

ROMANS 6 2615What then? Shall we sin becausewe are not under law but under grace?Certainly not!16Do you not know that to whom youpresent yourselves slaves to obey, youare that one’s slaves whom you obey,whether of sin leading to death, or ofobedience leading to righteousness?17 But God be thanked that though youwere slaves of sin, yet you obeyed fromthe heart that form of doctrine to whichyou were delivered.18And having been set free from sin,you became slaves of righteousness.19 I speak in human terms because ofthe weakness of your flesh. For just asyou presented your members as slavesof uncleanness, and of lawlessnessleading to more lawlessness, so nowpresent your members as slaves ofrighteousness for holiness.

ROMANS 6–7 2720 For when you were slaves of sin, youwere free in regard to righteousness.21What fruit did you have then in thethings of which you are now ashamed?For the end of those things is death.22 But now having been set free fromsin, and having become slaves of God,you have your fruit to holiness, and theend, everlas ng life.23 For the wages of sin is death, but thegi of God is eternal life in Christ Jesusour Lord.

7 1Or do you not know, brethren (forI speak to those who know the law),

that the law has dominion over a man aslong as he lives?2 For the woman who has a husband isbound by the law to her husband as longas he lives. But if the husband dies, sheis released from the law of her husband.3 So then if, while her husband lives, shemarries another man, she will be called

ROMANS 7 28an adulteress; but if her husband dies,she is free from that law, so that she isno adulteress, though she has marriedanother man.4 Therefore, my brethren, you also havebecome dead to the law through thebody of Christ, that you may be marriedto another––to Him who was raisedfrom the dead, that we should bear fruitto God.5 For when we were in the flesh, thesinful passions which were aroused bythe law were at work in our members tobear fruit to death.6 But now we have been delivered fromthe law, having died to what we wereheld by, so that we should serve in thenewness of the Spirit and not in theoldness of the le er.7What shall we say then? Is the lawsin? Certainly not! On the contrary,I would not have known sin except

ROMANS 7 29through the law. For I would not haveknown covetousness unless the law hadsaid, "You shall not covet."8 But sin, taking opportunity by thecommandment, produced in me allmanner of evil desire. For apart from thelaw sin was dead.9 I was alive once without the law, butwhen the commandment came, sinrevived and I died.10And the commandment, which wasto bring life, I found to bring death.11 For sin, taking occasion by thecommandment, deceived me, and by itkilled me.12 Therefore the law is holy, and thecommandment holy and just and good.13Has then what is good become deathto me? Certainly not! But sin, that itmight appear sin, was producing deathin me through what is good, so that

ROMANS 7 30sin through the commandment mightbecome exceedingly sinful.14 For we know that the law is spiritual,but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For what I am doing, I do notunderstand. For what I will to do, that Ido not prac ce; but what I hate, that Ido.16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, Iagree with the law that it is good.17 But now, it is no longer I who do it,but sin that dwells in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in myflesh) nothing good dwells; for to will ispresent with me, but how to performwhat is good I do not find.19 For the good that I will to do, I do notdo; but the evil I will not to do, that Iprac ce.20Now if I do what I will not to do, it isno longer I who do it, but sin that dwellsin me.

ROMANS 7–8 3121 I find then a law, that evil is presentwith me, the one who wills to do good.22 For I delight in the law of Godaccording to the inward man.23 But I see another law inmymembers,warring against the law of my mind, andbringing me into cap vity to the law ofsin which is in my members.24O wretched man that I am! Who willdeliver me from this body of death?25 I thank God––through Jesus Christour Lord! So then, with the mind I myselfserve the law of God, but with the fleshthe law of sin.

8 1 There is therefore now nocondemna on to those who are in

Christ Jesus, who do not walk accordingto the flesh, but according to the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in ChristJesus has made me free from the law ofsin and death.

ROMANS 8 323 For what the law could not do in thatit was weak through the flesh, God didby sending His own Son in the likenessof sinful flesh, on account of sin: Hecondemned sin in the flesh,4 that the righteous requirement of thelaw might be fulfilled in us who do notwalk according to the flesh but accordingto the Spirit.5 For those who live according to theflesh set their minds on the things of theflesh, but those who live according tothe Spirit, the things of the Spirit.6 For to be carnally minded is death, butto be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmityagainst God; for it is not subject to thelaw of God, nor indeed can be.8 So then, those who are in the fleshcannot please God.9 But you are not in the flesh but in theSpirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells

ROMANS 8 33in you. Now if anyone does not have theSpirit of Christ, he is not His.10And if Christ is in you, the body isdead because of sin, but the Spirit is lifebecause of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of Him who raisedJesus from the dead dwells in you, Hewho raised Christ from the dead will alsogive life to your mortal bodies throughHis Spirit who dwells in you.12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors––not to the flesh, to live according to theflesh.13 For if you live according to the fleshyou will die; but if by the Spirit you putto death the deeds of the body, you willlive.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit ofGod, these are sons of God.15 For you did not receive the spirit ofbondage again to fear, but you received

ROMANS 8 34the Spirit of adop on by whom we cryout, "Abba, Father."16 The Spirit Himself bears witness withour spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs––heirs ofGod and joint heirs with Christ, if indeedwe suffer with Him, that we may also beglorified together.18 For I consider that the sufferings ofthis present me are not worthy to becompared with the glory which shall berevealed in us.19 For the earnest expecta on of thecrea on eagerly waits for the revealingof the sons of God.20 For the crea on was subjected tofu lity, not willingly, but because of Himwho subjected it in hope;21 because the crea on itself alsowill be delivered from the bondage ofcorrup on into the glorious liberty ofthe children of God.

ROMANS 8 3522 For we know that the whole crea ongroans and labors with birth pangstogether un l now.23Not only that, but we also whohave the firs ruits of the Spirit, evenwe ourselves groan within ourselves,eagerly wai ng for the adop on, theredemp on of our body.24 For we were saved in this hope, buthope that is seen is not hope; for whydoes one s ll hope for what he sees?25 But if we hope for what we donot see, we eagerly wait for it withperseverance.26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in ourweaknesses. For we do not know whatwe should pray for as we ought, but theSpirit Himself makes intercession for uswith groanings which cannot be u ered.27Now He who searches the heartsknows what the mind of the Spirit is,

ROMANS 8 36because He makes intercession for thesaints according to the will of God.28And we know that all things worktogether for good to thosewho love God,to those who are the called according toHis purpose.29 For whom He foreknew, He alsopredes ned to be conformed to theimage of His Son, that He might be thefirstborn among many brethren.30Moreover whom He predes ned,these He also called; whom He called,these He also jus fied; and whom Hejus fied, these He also glorified.31What then shall we say to thesethings? If God is for us, who can beagainst us?32He who did not spare His own Son,but delivered Him up for us all, how shallHe not with Him also freely give us allthings?

ROMANS 8 3733Who shall bring a charge againstGod’s elect? It is God who jus fies.34Who is he who condemns? It is Christwho died, and furthermore is also risen,who is even at the right hand of God,who also makes intercession for us.35Who shall separate us from the loveof Christ? Shall tribula on, or distress, orpersecu on, or famine, or nakedness, orperil, or sword?36As it is wri en: "For Your sake we arekilled all day long; We are accounted assheep for the slaughter."37 Yet in all these things we are morethan conquerors through Him who lovedus.38 For I ampersuaded that neither deathnor life, nor angels nor principali es norpowers, nor things present nor things tocome,39 nor height nor depth, nor any othercreated thing, shall be able to separate

ROMANS 9 38us from the love of God which is in ChristJesus our Lord.

9 1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am notlying, my conscience also bearing me

witness in the Holy Spirit,2 that I have great sorrow and con nualgrief in my heart.3 For I could wish that I myself wereaccursed from Christ for my brethren,my countrymen according to the flesh,4who are Israelites, to whom pertainthe adop on, the glory, the covenants,the giving of the law, the service of God,and the promises;5 of whom are the fathers and fromwhom, according to the flesh, Christcame, who is over all, the eternallyblessed God. Amen.6 But it is not that the word of God hastaken no effect. For they are not all Israelwho are of Israel,

ROMANS 9 397 nor are they all children because theyare the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaacyour seed shall be called."8 That is, those who are the children ofthe flesh, these are not the children ofGod; but the children of the promise arecounted as the seed.9 For this is the word of promise: "Atthis me I will come and Sarah shall havea son."10And not only this, but when Rebeccaalso had conceived by one man, even byour father Isaac11 (for the children not yet being born,nor having done any good or evil, thatthe purpose of God according to elec onmight stand, not of works but of Himwho calls),12 it was said to her, "The older shallserve the younger."13As it is wri en, "Jacob I have loved,but Esau I have hated."

ROMANS 9 4014What shall we say then? Is thereunrighteousness with God? Certainlynot!15 For He says to Moses, "I will havemercy on whomever I will have mercy,and I will have compassion on whomeverI will have compassion."16 So then it is not of him who wills, norof him who runs, but of God who showsmercy.17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh,"For this very purpose I have raised youup, that I may show My power in you,and that My name may be declared in allthe earth."18 Therefore He has mercy on whom Hewills, and whom He wills He hardens.19 You will say to me then, "Why doesHe s ll find fault? For who has resistedHis will?"20 But indeed, O man, who are you toreply against God? Will the thing formed

ROMANS 9 41say to him who formed it, "Why haveyou made me like this?"21Does not the po er have power overthe clay, from the same lump to makeone vessel for honor and another fordishonor?22What if God, wan ng to show Hiswrath and to make His power known,endured with much longsufferingthe vessels of wrath prepared fordestruc on,23 and that He might make knownthe riches of His glory on the vesselsof mercy, which He had preparedbeforehand for glory,24 even us whom He called, not of theJews only, but also of the Gen les?25As He says also in Hosea: "I will callthem My people, who were not Mypeople, And her beloved, who was notbeloved."

ROMANS 9 4226 "And it shall come to pass in theplace where it was said to them, ‘Youare not My people,’ There they shall becalled sons of the living God."27 Isaiah also cries out concerningIsrael: "Though the number of thechildren of Israel be as the sand of thesea, The remnant will be saved.28 For He will finish the work and cutit short in righteousness, Because theLORD will make a short work upon theearth."29And as Isaiah said before: "Unless theLORD of Sabaoth had le us a seed, Wewould have become like Sodom, And wewould have been made like Gomorrah."30What shall we say then? ThatGen les, who did not pursuerighteousness, have a ained torighteousness, even the righteousnessof faith;

ROMANS 9–10 4331 but Israel, pursuing the law ofrighteousness, has not a ained to thelaw of righteousness.32Why? Because they did not seek it byfaith, but as it were, by the works of thelaw. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.33As it is wri en: "Behold, I lay in Ziona stumbling stone and rock of offense,And whoever believes on Him will not beput to shame."

10 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire andprayer to God for Israel is that

they may be saved.2 For I bear them witness that theyhave a zeal for God, but not according toknowledge.3 For they being ignorant of God’srighteousness, and seeking to establishtheir own righteousness, have notsubmi ed to the righteousness of God.

ROMANS 10 444 For Christ is the end of the law forrighteousness to everyone who believes.5 For Moses writes about therighteousness which is of the law, "Theman who does those things shall live bythem."6 But the righteousness of faith speaksin this way, "Do not say in your heart,‘Who will ascend into heaven?’" (that is,to bring Christ down from above)7 or, "‘Who will descend into theabyss?’" (that is, to bring Christ up fromthe dead).8 But what does it say? "The word isnear you, in your mouth and in yourheart" (that is, the word of faith whichwe preach):9 that if you confess with your mouththe Lord Jesus and believe in your heartthat God has raised Him from the dead,you will be saved.

ROMANS 10 4510 For with the heart one believes untorighteousness, and with the mouthconfession is made unto salva on.11 For the Scripture says, "Whoeverbelieves on Him will not be put toshame."12 For there is no dis nc on betweenJew and Greek, for the same Lord overall is rich to all who call upon Him.13 For "whoever calls on the name ofthe LORD shall be saved."14How then shall they call on Him inwhom they have not believed? And howshall they believe in Him of whom theyhave not heard? And how shall they hearwithout a preacher?15And how shall they preach unlessthey are sent? As it is wri en: "Howbeau ful are the feet of those whopreach the gospel of peace, Who bringglad dings of good things!"

ROMANS 10 4616 But they have not all obeyed thegospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who hasbelieved our report?"17 So then faith comes by hearing, andhearing by the word of God.18 But I say, have they not heard? Yesindeed: "Their sound has gone out to allthe earth, And their words to the endsof the world."19 But I say, did Israel not know? FirstMoses says: "I will provoke you tojealousy by those who are not a na on,I will move you to anger by a foolishna on."20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: "Iwas found by those who did not seekMe; I was made manifest to those whodid not ask for Me."21 But to Israel he says: "All day longI have stretched out My hands To adisobedient and contrary people."

ROMANS 11 47

11 1 I say then, has God cast away Hispeople? Certainly not! For I also

am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham,of the tribe of Benjamin.2God has not cast away His peoplewhom He foreknew. Or do you not knowwhat the Scripture says of Elijah, how hepleads with God against Israel, saying,3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophetsand torn down Your altars, and I aloneam le , and they seek my life"?4 But what does the divine responsesay to him? "I have reserved for Myselfseven thousand men who have notbowed the knee to Baal."5 Even so then, at this present methere is a remnant according to theelec on of grace.6And if by grace, then it is no longerof works; otherwise grace is no longergrace. But if it is of works, it is no longergrace; otherwise work is no longer work.

ROMANS 11 487What then? Israel has not obtainedwhat it seeks; but the elect haveobtained it, and the rest were blinded.8 Just as it is wri en: "God has giventhem a spirit of stupor, Eyes that theyshould not see And ears that they shouldnot hear, To this very day."9And David says: "Let their tablebecome a snare and a trap, A stumblingblock and a recompense to them.10 Let their eyes be darkened, so thatthey do not see, and bow down theirback always."11 I say then, have they stumbled thatthey should fall? Certainly not! Butthrough their fall, to provoke themto jealousy, salva on has come to theGen les.12Now if their fall is riches for theworld, and their failure riches for theGen les, how much more their fullness!

ROMANS 11 4913 For I speak to you Gen les; inasmuchas I am an apostle to the Gen les, Imagnify my ministry,14 if by any means I may provoke tojealousy those who are my flesh andsave some of them.15 For if their being cast away is thereconciling of the world, what will theiracceptance be but life from the dead?16 For if the firs ruit is holy, the lump isalso holy; and if the root is holy, so arethe branches.17And if some of the branches werebroken off, and you, being a wild olivetree, were gra ed in among them, andwith them became a partaker of the rootand fatness of the olive tree,18 do not boast against the branches.But if you do boast, remember that youdo not support the root, but the rootsupports you.

ROMANS 11 5019 You will say then, "Branches werebroken off that I might be gra ed in."20Well said. Because of unbelief theywere broken off, and you stand by faith.Do not be haughty, but fear.21 For if God did not spare the naturalbranches, He may not spare you either.22 Therefore consider the goodnessand severity of God: on those who fell,severity; but toward you, goodness, ifyou con nue in His goodness. Otherwiseyou also will be cut off.23And they also, if they do not con nuein unbelief, will be gra ed in, for God isable to gra them in again.24 For if you were cut out of theolive tree which is wild by nature, andwere gra ed contrary to nature into acul vated olive tree, how much morewill these, who are natural branches, begra ed into their own olive tree?

ROMANS 11 5125 For I do not desire, brethren, that youshould be ignorant of this mystery, lestyou should be wise in your own opinion,that blindness in part has happened toIsrael un l the fullness of the Gen leshas come in.26And so all Israel will be saved, as it iswri en: "The Deliverer will come out ofZion, And He will turn away ungodlinessfrom Jacob;27 For this is My covenant with them,When I take away their sins."28 Concerning the gospel they areenemies for your sake, but concerningthe elec on they are beloved for thesake of the fathers.29 For the gi s and the calling of Godare irrevocable.30 For as you were once disobedientto God, yet have now obtained mercythrough their disobedience,

ROMANS 11–12 5231 even so these also have now beendisobedient, that through the mercyshown you they also may obtain mercy.32 For God has commi ed them all todisobedience, that He might have mercyon all.33Oh, the depth of the riches both ofthe wisdom and knowledge of God! Howunsearchable are His judgments and Hisways past finding out!34 "For who has known the mind ofthe LORD? Or who has become Hiscounselor?"35 "Or who has first given to Him And itshall be repaid to him?"36 For of Him and through Him and toHim are all things, to whom be gloryforever. Amen.

12 1 I beseech you therefore,brethren, by the mercies of God,

that you present your bodies a living

ROMANS 12 53sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, whichis your reasonable service.2And do not be conformed to thisworld, but be transformed by therenewing of your mind, that you mayprove what is that good and acceptableand perfect will of God.3 For I say, through the grace given tome, to everyone who is among you, notto think of himself more highly than heought to think, but to think soberly, asGod has dealt to each one a measure offaith.4 For as we have many members in onebody, but all the members do not havethe same func on,5 so we, being many, are one body inChrist, and individually members of oneanother.6Having then gi s differing accordingto the grace that is given to us, let us

ROMANS 12 54use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy inpropor on to our faith;7 or ministry, let us use it in ourministering; he who teaches, in teaching;8 he who exhorts, in exhorta on; hewho gives, with liberality; he who leads,with diligence; he who shows mercy,with cheerfulness.9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhorwhat is evil. Cling to what is good.10 Be kindly affec onate to one anotherwith brotherly love, in honor givingpreference to one another;11 not lagging in diligence, fervent inspirit, serving the Lord;12 rejoicing in hope, pa ent intribula on, con nuing steadfastly inprayer;13 distribu ng to the needs of thesaints, given to hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; blessand do not curse.

ROMANS 12 5515 Rejoice with those who rejoice, andweep with those who weep.16 Be of the same mind toward oneanother. Do not set your mind on highthings, but associate with the humble.Do not be wise in your own opinion.17 Repay no one evil for evil. Haveregard for good things in the sight of allmen.18 If it is possible, as much as dependson you, live peaceably with all men.19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves,but rather give place to wrath; for itis wri en, "Vengeance is Mine, I willrepay," says the Lord.20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry,feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fireon his head."21Do not be overcome by evil, butovercome evil with good.

ROMANS 13 56

13 1 Let every soul be subject to thegoverning authori es. For there

is no authority except from God, and theauthori es that exist are appointed byGod.2 Therefore whoever resists theauthority resists the ordinance of God,and those who resist will bring judgmenton themselves.3 For rulers are not a terror to goodworks, but to evil. Do you want to beunafraid of the authority? Do what isgood, and you will have praise from thesame.4 For he is God’s minister to you forgood. But if you do evil, be afraid; for hedoes not bear the sword in vain; for heis God’s minister, an avenger to executewrath on him who prac ces evil.5 Therefore you must be subject, notonly because of wrath but also forconscience’ sake.

ROMANS 13 576 For because of this you also pay taxes,for they are God’s ministers a endingcon nually to this very thing.7 Render therefore to all their due:taxes to whom taxes are due, customsto whom customs, fear to whom fear,honor to whom honor.8Owe no one anything except to loveone another, for he who loves anotherhas fulfilled the law.9 For the commandments, "You shallnot commit adultery," "You shall notmurder," "You shall not steal," "Youshall not bear false witness," "You shallnot covet," and if there is any othercommandment, are all summed up inthis saying, namely, "You shall love yourneighbor as yourself."10 Love does no harm to a neighbor;therefore love is the fulfillment of thelaw.

ROMANS 13–14 5811And do this, knowing the me, thatnow it is high me to awake out of sleep;for now our salva on is nearer thanwhen we first believed.12 The night is far spent, the day is athand. Therefore let us cast off the worksof darkness, and let us put on the armorof light.13 Let us walk properly, as in the day,not in revelry and drunkenness, not inlewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, andmake no provision for the flesh, to fulfillits lusts.

14 1 Receive one who is weak in thefaith, but not to disputes over

doub ul things.2 For one believes he may eat all things,but he who is weak eats only vegetables.3 Let not him who eats despise him whodoes not eat, and let not him who does

ROMANS 14 59not eat judge him who eats; for God hasreceived him.4Who are you to judge another’sservant? To his own master he stands orfalls. Indeed, he will be made to stand,for God is able to make him stand.5One person esteems one day aboveanother; another esteems every dayalike. Let each be fully convinced in hisown mind.6He who observes the day, observesit to the Lord; and he who does notobserve the day, to the Lord he doesnot observe it. He who eats, eats to theLord, for he gives God thanks; and hewho does not eat, to the Lord he doesnot eat, and gives God thanks.7 For none of us lives to himself, and noone dies to himself.8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; andif we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore,whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

ROMANS 14 609 For to this end Christ died and roseand lived again, that He might be Lord ofboth the dead and the living.10 But why do you judge your brother?Or why do you show contempt for yourbrother? For we shall all stand beforethe judgment seat of Christ.11 For it is wri en: "As I live, says theLORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, Andevery tongue shall confess to God."12 So then each of us shall give accountof himself to God.13 Therefore let us not judge oneanother anymore, but rather resolvethis, not to put a stumbling block or acause to fall in our brother’s way.14 I know and am convinced by the LordJesus that there is nothing unclean ofitself; but to him who considers anythingto be unclean, to him it is unclean.15 Yet if your brother is grieved becauseof your food, you are no longer walking

ROMANS 14 61in love. Do not destroy with your foodthe one for whom Christ died.16 Therefore do not let your good bespoken of as evil;17 for the kingdom of God is not ea ngand drinking, but righteousness andpeace and joy in the Holy Spirit.18 For he who serves Christ in thesethings is acceptable to God and approvedby men.19 Therefore let us pursue the thingswhich make for peace and the things bywhich one may edify another.20Do not destroy the work of God forthe sake of food. All things indeed arepure, but it is evil for the man who eatswith offense.21 It is good neither to eat meat nordrink wine nor do anything by whichyour brother stumbles or is offended oris made weak.

ROMANS 14–15 6222Do you have faith? Have it to yourselfbefore God. Happy is he who does notcondemn himself in what he approves.23 But he who doubts is condemned ifhe eats, because he does not eat fromfaith; for whatever is not from faith issin.

15 1We then who are strong oughtto bear with the scruples of the

weak, and not to please ourselves.2 Let each of us please his neighbor forhis good, leading to edifica on.3 For even Christ did not please Himself;but as it is wri en, "The reproaches ofthose who reproached You fell on Me."4 For whatever things were wri enbefore were wri en for our learning,that we through the pa ence andcomfort of the Scriptures might havehope.5Now may the God of pa ence andcomfort grant you to be like–minded

ROMANS 15 63toward one another, according to ChristJesus,6 that you may with one mind and onemouth glorify the God and Father of ourLord Jesus Christ.7 Therefore receive one another, just asChrist also received us, to the glory ofGod.8Now I say that Jesus Christ hasbecome a servant to the circumcisionfor the truth of God, to confirm thepromises made to the fathers,9 and that the Gen les might glorifyGod for His mercy, as it is wri en: "Forthis reason I will confess to You amongthe Gen les, And sing to Your name."10And again he says: "Rejoice, OGen les, with His people!"11And again: "Praise the LORD, all youGen les! Laud Him, all you peoples!"12And again, Isaiah says: "There shallbe a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise

ROMANS 15 64to reign over the Gen les, In Him theGen les shall hope."13Now may the God of hope fill youwith all joy and peace in believing, thatyou may abound in hope by the powerof the Holy Spirit.14Now I myself am confidentconcerning you, my brethren, that youalso are full of goodness, filled with allknowledge, able also to admonish oneanother.15Nevertheless, brethren, I havewri en more boldly to you on somepoints, as reminding you, because of thegrace given to me by God,16 that I might be a minister of JesusChrist to the Gen les, ministering thegospel of God, that the offering of theGen les might be acceptable, sanc fiedby the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 15 6517 Therefore I have reason to glory inChrist Jesus in the things which pertainto God.18 For I will not dare to speak of anyof those things which Christ has notaccomplished through me, in word anddeed, to make the Gen les obedient––19 in mighty signs and wonders, by thepower of the Spirit of God, so that fromJerusalem and round about to Illyricum Ihave fully preached the gospel of Christ.20And so I have made it my aim topreach the gospel, not where Christ wasnamed, lest I should build on anotherman’s founda on,21 but as it is wri en: "To whom Hewas not announced, they shall see;And those who have not heard shallunderstand."22 For this reason I also have been muchhindered from coming to you.

ROMANS 15 6623 But now no longer having a place inthese parts, and having a great desirethese many years to come to you,24whenever I journey to Spain, I shallcome to you. For I hope to see you onmy journey, and to be helped on my waythere by you, if first I may enjoy yourcompany for a while.25 But now I am going to Jerusalem tominister to the saints.26 For it pleased those from Macedoniaand Achaia to make a certaincontribu on for the poor amongthe saints who are in Jerusalem.27 It pleased them indeed, and they aretheir debtors. For if the Gen les havebeen partakers of their spiritual things,their duty is also to minister to them inmaterial things.28 Therefore, when I have performedthis and have sealed to them this fruit, Ishall go by way of you to Spain.

ROMANS 15–16 6729 But I know that when I come to you, Ishall come in the fullness of the blessingof the gospel of Christ.30Now I beg you, brethren, through theLord Jesus Christ, and through the loveof the Spirit, that you strive togetherwith me in prayers to God for me,31 that I may be delivered from those inJudea who do not believe, and that myservice for Jerusalem may be acceptableto the saints,32 that I may come to you with joy bythe will of God, and may be refreshedtogether with you.33Now the God of peace be with youall. Amen.

16 1 I commend to you Phoebe oursister, who is a servant of the

church in Cenchrea,2 that you may receive her in the Lordin a manner worthy of the saints, andassist her in whatever business she has

ROMANS 16 68need of you; for indeed she has been ahelper of many and of myself also.3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellowworkers in Christ Jesus,4who risked their own necks for my life,to whom not only I give thanks, but alsoall the churches of the Gen les.5 Likewise greet the church that isin their house. Greet my belovedEpaenetus, who is the firs ruits ofAchaia to Christ.6Greet Mary, who labored much for us.7Greet Andronicus and Junia, mycountrymen and my fellow prisoners,who are of note among the apostles,who also were in Christ before me.8Greet Amplias, my beloved in theLord.9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker inChrist, and Stachys, my beloved.

ROMANS 16 6910Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.Greet those who are of the household ofAristobulus.11Greet Herodion, my countryman.Greet those who are of the household ofNarcissus who are in the Lord.12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, whohave labored in the Lord. Greet thebeloved Persis, who labored much in theLord.13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, andhis mother and mine.14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas,Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren whoare with them.15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereusand his sister, and Olympas, and all thesaints who are with them.16Greet one another with a holy kiss.The churches of Christ greet you.17Now I urge you, brethren, notethose who cause divisions and offenses,

ROMANS 16 70contrary to the doctrine which youlearned, and avoid them.18 For those who are such do not serveour Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly,and by smooth words and fla eringspeech deceive the hearts of the simple.19 For your obedience has becomeknown to all. Therefore I am glad on yourbehalf; but I want you to be wise in whatis good, and simple concerning evil.20And the God of peace will crushSatan under your feet shortly. The graceof our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.Amen.21 Timothy, my fellow worker, andLucius, Jason, and Sosipater, mycountrymen, greet you.22 I, Ter us, who wrote this epistle,greet you in the Lord.23Gaius, my host and the host of thewhole church, greets you. Erastus, the

ROMANS 16 71treasurer of the city, greets you, andQuartus, a brother.24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you all. Amen.25Now to Him who is able to establishyou according to my gospel and thepreaching of Jesus Christ, according tothe revela on of the mystery kept secretsince the world began26 but now made manifest, and by theprophe c Scriptures made known to allna ons, according to the commandmentof the everlas ng God, for obedience tothe faith––27 to God, alone wise, be glory throughJesus Christ forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians

1 1 Paul, called to be an apostle ofJesus Christ through the will of God,

and Sosthenes our brother,2 To the church of God which is atCorinth, to those who are sanc fied inChrist Jesus, called to be saints, with allwho in every place call on the name ofJesus Christ our Lord, both theirs andours:3Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I thank my God always concerning youfor the grace of God which was given toyou by Christ Jesus,5 that you were enriched in everythingbyHim in all u erance and all knowledge,6 even as the tes mony of Christ wasconfirmed in you,

1 CORINTHIANS 1 27 so that you come short in no gi ,eagerly wai ng for the revela on of ourLord Jesus Christ,8who will also confirm you to the end,that you may be blameless in the day ofour Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, by whom you werecalled into the fellowship of His Son,Jesus Christ our Lord.10Now I plead with you, brethren, bythe name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatyou all speak the same thing, and thatthere be no divisions among you, butthat you be perfectly joined togetherin the same mind and in the samejudgment.11 For it has been declared to meconcerning you, my brethren, by thoseof Chloe’s household, that there areconten ons among you.

1 CORINTHIANS 1 312Now I say this, that each of you says,"I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "Iam of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucifiedfor you? Or were you bap zed in thename of Paul?14 I thank God that I bap zed none ofyou except Crispus and Gaius,15 lest anyone should say that I hadbap zed in my own name.16 Yes, I also bap zed the householdof Stephanas. Besides, I do not knowwhether I bap zed any other.17 For Christ did not send me to bap ze,but to preach the gospel, not withwisdom of words, lest the cross of Christshould be made of no effect.18 For the message of the cross isfoolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is thepower of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 1 419 For it is wri en: "I will destroy thewisdom of the wise, And bring to nothingthe understanding of the prudent."20Where is the wise? Where is thescribe? Where is the disputer of thisage? Has not God made foolish thewisdom of this world?21 For since, in the wisdom of God,the world through wisdom did notknow God, it pleased God through thefoolishness of the message preached tosave those who believe.22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeksseek a er wisdom;23 but we preach Christ crucified, tothe Jews a stumbling block and to theGreeks foolishness,24 but to those who are called, bothJews and Greeks, Christ the power ofGod and the wisdom of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 1 525 Because the foolishness of God iswiser than men, and the weakness ofGod is stronger than men.26 For you see your calling, brethren,that not many wise according to theflesh, not many mighty, not many noble,are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish thingsof the world to put to shame the wise,and God has chosen the weak things ofthe world to put to shame the thingswhich are mighty;28 and the base things of the world andthe things which are despised God haschosen, and the things which are not, tobring to nothing the things that are,29 that no flesh should glory in Hispresence.30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus,who became for us wisdom from God––and righteousness and sanc fica on andredemp on––

1 CORINTHIANS 1–2 631 that, as it is wri en, "He who glories,let him glory in the LORD."

2 1And I, brethren, when I came toyou, did not come with excellence

of speech or of wisdom declaring to youthe tes mony of God.2 For I determined not to know anythingamong you except Jesus Christ and Himcrucified.3 I was with you in weakness, in fear,and in much trembling.4And my speech and my preachingwere not with persuasive words ofhuman wisdom, but in demonstra on ofthe Spirit and of power,5 that your faith should not be in thewisdom of men but in the power of God.6However, we speak wisdom amongthose who are mature, yet not thewisdom of this age, nor of the rulers ofthis age, who are coming to nothing.

1 CORINTHIANS 2 77 But we speak the wisdom of God in amystery, the hidden wisdom which Godordained before the ages for our glory,8which none of the rulers of this ageknew; for had they known, they wouldnot have crucified the Lord of glory.9 But as it is wri en: "Eye has not seen,nor ear heard, Nor have entered into theheart of man The things which God hasprepared for those who love Him."10 But God has revealed them to usthrough His Spirit. For the Spirit searchesall things, yes, the deep things of God.11 For what man knows the things of aman except the spirit of the man whichis in him? Even so no one knows thethings of God except the Spirit of God.12Now we have received, not the spiritof the world, but the Spirit who is fromGod, that we might know the things thathave been freely given to us by God.

1 CORINTHIANS 2–3 813 These things we also speak, not inwords which man’s wisdom teaches butwhich the Holy Spirit teaches, comparingspiritual things with spiritual.14 But the natural man does not receivethe things of the Spirit of God, forthey are foolishness to him; nor can heknow them, because they are spirituallydiscerned.15 But he who is spiritual judges allthings, yet he himself is rightly judged byno one.16 For "who has known the mind of theLORD that he may instruct Him?" But wehave the mind of Christ.

3 1And I, brethren, could not speak toyou as to spiritual people but as to

carnal, as to babes in Christ.2 I fed you with milk and not with solidfood; for un l now you were not able toreceive it, and even now you are s ll notable;

1 CORINTHIANS 3 93 for you are s ll carnal. For where thereare envy, strife, and divisions amongyou, are you not carnal and behaving likemere men?4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," andanother, "I am of Apollos," are you notcarnal?5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,but ministers through whom youbelieved, as the Lord gave to each one?6 I planted, Apollos watered, but Godgave the increase.7 So then neither he who plants isanything, nor he who waters, but Godwho gives the increase.8Now hewho plants and hewhowatersare one, and each one will receive hisown reward according to his own labor.9 For we are God’s fellow workers; youare God’s field, you are God’s building.10According to the grace of God whichwas given to me, as a wise master

1 CORINTHIANS 3 10builder I have laid the founda on, andanother builds on it. But let each onetake heed how he builds on it.11 For no other founda on can anyonelay than that which is laid, which is JesusChrist.12Now if anyone builds on thisfounda on with gold, silver, preciousstones, wood, hay, straw,13 each one’s work will become clear;for the Day will declare it, because it willbe revealed by fire; and the fire will testeach one’s work, of what sort it is.14 If anyone’s work which he has builton it endures, he will receive a reward.15 If anyone’s work is burned, he willsuffer loss; but he himself will be saved,yet so as through fire.16Do you not know that you are thetemple of God and that the Spirit of Goddwells in you?

1 CORINTHIANS 3 1117 If anyone defiles the temple of God,God will destroy him. For the temple ofGod is holy, which temple you are.18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyoneamong you seems to be wise in thisage, let him become a fool that he maybecome wise.19 For the wisdom of this world isfoolishness with God. For it is wri en,"He catches the wise in their owncra iness";20 and again, "The LORD knows thethoughts of the wise, that they arefu le."21 Therefore let no one boast in men.For all things are yours:22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas,or the world or life or death, or thingspresent or things to come––all are yours.23And you are Christ’s, and Christ isGod’s.

1 CORINTHIANS 4 12

4 1 Let a man so consider us, asservants of Christ and stewards of

the mysteries of God.2Moreover it is required in stewardsthat one be found faithful.3 But with me it is a very small thingthat I should be judged by you or by ahuman court. In fact, I do not even judgemyself.4 For I know nothing against myself, yetI am not jus fied by this; but He whojudges me is the Lord.5 Therefore judge nothing before theme, un l the Lord comes, who will

both bring to light the hidden things ofdarkness and reveal the counsels of thehearts. Then each one’s praise will comefrom God.6Now these things, brethren, I havefigura vely transferred to myself andApollos for your sakes, that you maylearn in us not to think beyond what is

1 CORINTHIANS 4 13wri en, that none of you may be puffedup on behalf of one against the other.7 For who makes you differ fromanother? And what do you have that youdid not receive? Now if you did indeedreceive it, why do you boast as if you hadnot received it?8 You are already full! You are alreadyrich! You have reigned as kings withoutus––and indeed I could wish you didreign, that we also might reign with you!9 For I think that God has displayed us,the apostles, last, as men condemnedto death; for we have been made aspectacle to the world, both to angelsand to men.10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but youare wise in Christ! We are weak, but youare strong! You are dis nguished, but weare dishonored!

1 CORINTHIANS 4 1411 To the present hour we both hungerand thirst, and we are poorly clothed,and beaten, and homeless.12And we labor, working with our ownhands. Being reviled, we bless; beingpersecuted, we endure;13 being defamed, we entreat. We havebeen made as the filth of the world, theoffscouring of all things un l now.14 I do not write these things to shameyou, but as my beloved children I warnyou.15 For though you might have tenthousand instructors in Christ, yet youdo not have many fathers; for in ChristJesus I have bego en you through thegospel.16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.17 For this reason I have sent Timothyto you, who is my beloved and faithfulson in the Lord, who will remind you of

1 CORINTHIANS 4–5 15my ways in Christ, as I teach everywherein every church.18Now some are puffed up, as though Iwere not coming to you.19 But I will come to you shortly, if theLord wills, and I will know, not the wordof those who are puffed up, but thepower.20 For the kingdom of God is not inword but in power.21What do you want? Shall I come toyou with a rod, or in love and a spirit ofgentleness?

5 1 It is actually reported that there issexual immorality among you, and

such sexual immorality as is not evennamed among the Gen les––that a manhas his father’s wife!2And you are puffed up, and have notrather mourned, that he who has donethis deed might be taken away fromamong you.

1 CORINTHIANS 5 163 For I indeed, as absent in body butpresent in spirit, have already judged (asthough I were present) him who has sodone this deed.4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,when you are gathered together, alongwith my spirit, with the power of ourLord Jesus Christ,5 deliver such a one to Satan for thedestruc on of the flesh, that his spiritmay be saved in the day of the LordJesus.6 Your glorying is not good. Do you notknow that a li le leaven leavens thewhole lump?7 Therefore purge out the old leaven,that you may be a new lump, since youtruly are unleavened. For indeed Christ,our Passover, was sacrificed for us.8 Therefore let us keep the feast, notwith old leaven, nor with the leaven of

1 CORINTHIANS 5 17malice and wickedness, but with theunleavened bread of sincerity and truth.9 I wrote to you in my epistle not tokeep company with sexually immoralpeople.10 Yet I certainly did not mean with thesexually immoral people of this world,or with the covetous, or extor oners, oridolaters, since then you would need togo out of the world.11 But now I have wri en to you notto keep company with anyone nameda brother, who is sexually immoral, orcovetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, ora drunkard, or an extor oner––not evento eat with such a person.12 For what have I to do with judgingthose also who are outside? Do you notjudge those who are inside?13 But those who are outside Godjudges. Therefore "put away fromyourselves the evil person."

1 CORINTHIANS 6 18

6 1Dare any of you, having a ma eragainst another, go to law before the

unrighteous, and not before the saints?2Do you not know that the saints willjudge the world? And if the world willbe judged by you, are you unworthy tojudge the smallest ma ers?3Do you not know that we shall judgeangels? How much more, things thatpertain to this life?4 If then you have judgments concerningthings pertaining to this life, do youappoint those who are least esteemedby the church to judge?5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, thatthere is not a wise man among you,not even one, who will be able to judgebetween his brethren?6 But brother goes to law againstbrother, and that before unbelievers!7Now therefore, it is already an u erfailure for you that you go to law against

1 CORINTHIANS 6 19one another. Why do you not ratheraccept wrong? Why do you not ratherlet yourselves be cheated?8No, you yourselves do wrong andcheat, and you do these things to yourbrethren!9Do you not know that the unrighteouswill not inherit the kingdom of God? Donot be deceived. Neither fornicators,nor idolaters, nor adulterers, norhomosexuals, nor sodomites,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nordrunkards, nor revilers, nor extor onerswill inherit the kingdom of God.11And such were some of you. But youwere washed, but you were sanc fied,but you were jus fied in the name of theLord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.12All things are lawful for me, but allthings are not helpful. All things arelawful for me, but I will not be broughtunder the power of any.

1 CORINTHIANS 6 2013 Foods for the stomach and thestomach for foods, but God will destroyboth it and them. Now the body is notfor sexual immorality but for the Lord,and the Lord for the body.14And God both raised up the Lord andwill also raise us up by His power.15Do you not know that your bodiesare members of Christ? Shall I then takethe members of Christ and make themmembers of a harlot? Certainly not!16Or do you not know that he who isjoined to a harlot is one body with her?For "the two," He says, "shall becomeone flesh."17 But he who is joined to the Lord isone spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin thata man does is outside the body, but hewho commits sexual immorality sinsagainst his own body.

1 CORINTHIANS 6–7 2119Or do you not know that your bodyis the temple of the Holy Spirit who is inyou, whom you have from God, and youare not your own?20 For you were bought at a price;therefore glorify God in your body and inyour spirit, which are God’s.

7 1Now concerning the things ofwhich you wrote to me: It is good for

a man not to touch a woman.2Nevertheless, because of sexualimmorality, let each man have his ownwife, and let each woman have her ownhusband.3 Let the husband render to his wife theaffec on due her, and likewise also thewife to her husband.4 The wife does not have authority overher own body, but the husband does.And likewise the husband does not haveauthority over his own body, but thewife does.

1 CORINTHIANS 7 225Do not deprive one another exceptwith consent for a me, that you maygive yourselves to fas ng and prayer;and come together again so that Satandoes not tempt you because of your lackof self–control.6 But I say this as a concession, not as acommandment.7 For I wish that all men were evenas I myself. But each one has his owngi from God, one in this manner andanother in that.8 But I say to the unmarried and tothe widows: It is good for them if theyremain even as I am;9 but if they cannot exercise self–control, let them marry. For it is be erto marry than to burn with passion.10Now to the married I command, yetnot I but the Lord: A wife is not to departfrom her husband.

1 CORINTHIANS 7 2311 But even if she does depart, let herremain unmarried or be reconciled toher husband. And a husband is not todivorce his wife.12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say:If any brother has a wife who does notbelieve, and she is willing to live withhim, let him not divorce her.13And a woman who has a husbandwho does not believe, if he is willing tolive with her, let her not divorce him.14 For the unbelieving husbandis sanc fied by the wife, and theunbelieving wife is sanc fied by thehusband; otherwise your children wouldbe unclean, but now they are holy.15 But if the unbeliever departs, let himdepart; a brother or a sister is not underbondage in such cases. But God hascalled us to peace.16 For how do you know, O wife,whether you will save your husband? Or

1 CORINTHIANS 7 24how do you know, O husband, whetheryou will save your wife?17 But as God has distributed to eachone, as the Lord has called each one, solet him walk. And so I ordain in all thechurches.18Was anyone called whilecircumcised? Let him not becomeuncircumcised. Was anyone calledwhile uncircumcised? Let him not becircumcised.19 Circumcision is nothing anduncircumcision is nothing, but keepingthe commandments of God is whatma ers.20 Let each one remain in the samecalling in which he was called.21Were you called while a slave? Donot be concerned about it; but if you canbe made free, rather use it.22 For he who is called in the Lord whilea slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise

1 CORINTHIANS 7 25he who is called while free is Christ’sslave.23 You were bought at a price; do notbecome slaves of men.24 Brethren, let each one remain withGod in that state in which he was called.25Now concerning virgins: I have nocommandment from the Lord; yet I givejudgment as one whom the Lord in Hismercy has made trustworthy.26 I suppose therefore that this is goodbecause of the present distress––that itis good for a man to remain as he is:27Are you bound to a wife? Do notseek to be loosed. Are you loosed from awife? Do not seek a wife.28 But even if you do marry, you havenot sinned; and if a virgin marries, shehas not sinned. Nevertheless such willhave trouble in the flesh, but I wouldspare you.

1 CORINTHIANS 7 2629 But this I say, brethren, the me isshort, so that from now on even thosewho have wives should be as thoughthey had none,30 those who weep as though they didnot weep, those who rejoice as thoughthey did not rejoice, those who buy asthough they did not possess,31 and those who use this world as notmisusing it. For the form of this world ispassing away.32 But I want you to be without care. Hewho is unmarried cares for the things ofthe Lord––how he may please the Lord.33 But he who is married cares aboutthe things of the world––how he mayplease his wife.34 There is a difference between a wifeand a virgin. The unmarried womancares about the things of the Lord, thatshe may be holy both in body and inspirit. But she who is married cares

1 CORINTHIANS 7 27about the things of the world––how shemay please her husband.35And this I say for your own profit, notthat I may put a leash on you, but forwhat is proper, and that you may servethe Lord without distrac on.36 But if any man thinks he is behavingimproperly toward his virgin, if she ispast the flower of youth, and thus itmust be, let him do what he wishes. Hedoes not sin; let them marry.37Nevertheless hewho stands steadfastin his heart, having no necessity, buthas power over his own will, and has sodetermined in his heart that he will keephis virgin, does well.38 So then he who gives her in marriagedoes well, but he who does not give herin marriage does be er.39A wife is bound by law as long as herhusband lives; but if her husband dies,

1 CORINTHIANS 7–8 28she is at liberty to be married to whomshe wishes, only in the Lord.40 But she is happier if she remains asshe is, according to my judgment––and Ithink I also have the Spirit of God.

8 1Now concerning things offeredto idols: We know that we all have

knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, butlove edifies.2And if anyone thinks that he knowsanything, he knows nothing yet as heought to know.3 But if anyone loves God, this one isknown by Him.4 Therefore concerning the ea ng ofthings offered to idols, we know that anidol is nothing in the world, and thatthere is no other God but one.5 For even if there are so–called gods,whether in heaven or on earth (as thereare many gods and many lords),

1 CORINTHIANS 8 296 yet for us there is one God, the Father,of whom are all things, and we forHim; and one Lord Jesus Christ, throughwhom are all things, and through whomwe live.7However, there is not in everyonethat knowledge; for some, withconsciousness of the idol, un l now eatit as a thing offered to an idol; and theirconscience, being weak, is defiled.8 But food does not commend us toGod; for neither if we eat are we thebe er, nor if we do not eat are we theworse.9 But beware lest somehow this libertyof yours become a stumbling block tothose who are weak.10 For if anyone sees you who haveknowledge ea ng in an idol’s temple,will not the conscience of him who isweak be emboldened to eat those thingsoffered to idols?

1 CORINTHIANS 8–9 3011And because of your knowledgeshall the weak brother perish, for whomChrist died?12 But when you thus sin againstthe brethren, and wound their weakconscience, you sin against Christ.13 Therefore, if food makes my brotherstumble, I will never again eat meat, lestI make my brother stumble.

9 1Am 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, yetdoubtless I am to you. For you are theseal of my apostleship in the Lord.3My defense to those who examine meis this:4Do we have no right to eat and drink?5Do we have no right to take alonga believing wife, as do also the otherapostles, the brothers of the Lord, andCephas?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 316Or is it only Barnabas and I who haveno right to refrain from working?7Who ever goes to war at his ownexpense? Who plants a vineyard anddoes not eat of its fruit? Or who tends aflock and does not drink of the milk ofthe flock?8Do I say these things as a mere man?Or does not the law say the same also?9 For it is wri en in the law of Moses,"You shall not muzzle an ox while ittreads out the grain." Is it oxen God isconcerned about?10Or does He say it altogether for oursakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this iswri en, that he who plows should plowin hope, and he who threshes in hopeshould be partaker of his hope.11 If we have sown spiritual things foryou, is it a great thing if we reap yourmaterial things?

1 CORINTHIANS 9 3212 If others are partakers of this rightover you, are we not even more?Nevertheless we have not used thisright, but endure all things lest we hinderthe gospel of Christ.13Do you not know that those whominister the holy things eat of the thingsof the temple, and those who serve atthe altar partake of the offerings of thealtar?14 Even so the Lord has commandedthat those who preach the gospel shouldlive from the gospel.15 But I have used none of these things,nor have I wri en these things that itshould be done so to me; for it would bebe er for me to die than that anyoneshould make my boas ng void.16 For if I preach the gospel, I havenothing to boast of, for necessity is laidupon me; yes, woe is me if I do notpreach the gospel!

1 CORINTHIANS 9 3317 For if I do this willingly, I have areward; but if against my will, I havebeen entrusted with a stewardship.18What is my reward then? That whenI preach the gospel, I may present thegospel of Christ without charge, thatI may not abuse my authority in thegospel.19 For though I am free from all men, Ihave made myself a servant to all, that Imight win the more;20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew,that I might win Jews; to those who areunder the law, as under the law, that Imight win those who are under the law;21 to those who are without law, aswithout law (not being without lawtoward God, but under law towardChrist), that I might win those who arewithout law;22 to the weak I became as weak, thatI might win the weak. I have become

1 CORINTHIANS 9–10 34all things to all men, that I might by allmeans save some.23Now this I do for the gospel’s sake,that I may be partaker of it with you.24Do you not know that those who runin a race all run, but one receives theprize? Run in such a way that you mayobtain it.25And everyone who competes for theprize is temperate in all things. Now theydo it to obtain a perishable crown, butwe for an imperishable crown.26 Therefore I run thus: not withuncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one whobeats the air.27 But I discipline my body and bringit into subjec on, lest, when I havepreached to others, I myself shouldbecome disqualified.

10 1Moreover, brethren, I do notwant you to be unaware that all

1 CORINTHIANS 10 35our fathers were under the cloud, allpassed through the sea,2 all were bap zed into Moses in thecloud and in the sea,3 all ate the same spiritual food,4 and all drank the same spiritual drink.For they drank of that spiritual Rock thatfollowed them, and that Rock was Christ.5 But with most of them God was notwell pleased, for their bodies weresca ered in the wilderness.6Now these things became ourexamples, to the intent that we shouldnot lust a er evil things as they alsolusted.7And do not become idolaters as weresome of them. As it is wri en, "Thepeople sat down to eat and drink, androse up to play."8Nor let us commit sexual immorality,as some of them did, and in one daytwenty–three thousand fell;

1 CORINTHIANS 10 369 nor let us tempt Christ, as some ofthem also tempted, and were destroyedby serpents;10 nor complain, as some of them alsocomplained, and were destroyed by thedestroyer.11Now all these things happenedto them as examples, and they werewri en for our admoni on, upon whomthe ends of the ages have come.12 Therefore let him who thinks hestands take heed lest he fall.13No tempta on has overtaken youexcept such as is common to man; butGod is faithful, who will not allow you tobe tempted beyond what you are able,but with the tempta on will also makethe way of escape, that you may be ableto bear it.14 Therefore, my beloved, flee fromidolatry.

1 CORINTHIANS 10 3715 I speak as to wise men; judge foryourselves what I say.16 The cup of blessing which we bless,is it not the communion of the bloodof Christ? The bread which we break,is it not the communion of the body ofChrist?17 For we, though many, are one breadand one body; for we all partake of thatone bread.18Observe Israel a er the flesh: Are notthose who eat of the sacrifices partakersof the altar?19What am I saying then? That an idolis anything, or what is offered to idols isanything?20 Rather, that the things which theGen les sacrifice they sacrifice todemons and not to God, and I donot want you to have fellowship withdemons.

1 CORINTHIANS 10 3821 You cannot drink the cup of the Lordand the cup of demons; you cannotpartake of the Lord’s table and of thetable of demons.22Or do we provoke the Lord tojealousy? Are we stronger than He?23All things are lawful for me, but notall things are helpful; all things are lawfulfor me, but not all things edify.24 Let no one seek his own, but eachone the other’s well–being.25 Eat whatever is sold in the meatmarket, asking no ques ons forconscience’ sake;26 for "the earth is the LORD’S, and allits fullness."27 If any of those who do not believeinvites you to dinner, and you desireto go, eat whatever is set before you,asking no ques on for conscience’ sake.28 But if anyone says to you, "This wasoffered to idols," do not eat it for the

1 CORINTHIANS 10–11 39sake of the one who told you, and forconscience’ sake; for "the earth is theLORD’S, and all its fullness."29 "Conscience, " I say, not yourown, but that of the other. For why ismy liberty judged by another man’sconscience?30 But if I partake with thanks, why am Ievil spoken of for the food over which Igive thanks?31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink,or whatever you do, do all to the glory ofGod.32Give no offense, either to the Jews orto the Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I also please all men in allthings, not seeking my own profit, butthe profit of many, that they may besaved.

11 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitateChrist.

1 CORINTHIANS 11 402Now I praise you, brethren, that youremember me in all things and keep thetradi ons just as I delivered them to you.3 But I want you to know that the headof every man is Christ, the head ofwoman is man, and the head of Christ isGod.4 Every man praying or prophesying,having his head covered, dishonors hishead.5 But every woman who prays orprophesies with her head uncovereddishonors her head, for that is one andthe same as if her head were shaved.6 For if a woman is not covered, let heralso be shorn. But if it is shameful for awoman to be shorn or shaved, let her becovered.7 For a man indeed ought not to coverhis head, since he is the image and gloryof God; but woman is the glory of man.

1 CORINTHIANS 11 418 For man is not from woman, butwoman from man.9Nor was man created for the woman,but woman for the man.10 For this reason the woman ought tohave a symbol of authority on her head,because of the angels.11Nevertheless, neither is manindependent of woman, nor womanindependent of man, in the Lord.12 For as woman came from man, evenso man also comes through woman; butall things are from God.13 Judge among yourselves. Is it properfor a woman to pray to God with herhead uncovered?14Does not even nature itself teachyou that if a man has long hair, it is adishonor to him?15 But if a woman has long hair, it is aglory to her; for her hair is given to herfor a covering.

1 CORINTHIANS 11 4216 But if anyone seems to beconten ous, we have no such custom,nor do the churches of God.17Now in giving these instruc ons I donot praise you, since you come togethernot for the be er but for the worse.18 For first of all, when you cometogether as a church, I hear that thereare divisions among you, and in part Ibelieve it.19 For there must also be fac onsamong you, that those who areapproved may be recognized amongyou.20 Therefore when you come togetherin one place, it is not to eat the Lord’sSupper.21 For in ea ng, each one takes hisown supper ahead of others; and one ishungry and another is drunk.22What! Do you not have houses toeat and drink in? Or do you despise the

1 CORINTHIANS 11 43church of God and shame those whohave nothing? What shall I say to you?Shall I praise you in this? I do not praiseyou.23 For I received from the Lord thatwhich I also delivered to you: that theLord Jesus on the same night in whichHe was betrayed took bread;24 and when He had given thanks, Hebroke it and said, "Take, eat; this is Mybody which is broken for you; do this inremembrance of Me."25 In the same manner He also took thecup a er supper, saying, "This cup is thenew covenant in My blood. This do, aso en as you drink it, in remembrance ofMe."26 For as o en as you eat this bread anddrink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’sdeath ll He comes.27 Therefore whoever eats this breador drinks this cup of the Lord in an

1 CORINTHIANS 11 44unworthy manner will be guilty of thebody and blood of the Lord.28 But let a man examine himself, andso let him eat of the bread and drink ofthe cup.29 For he who eats and drinks in anunworthy manner eats and drinksjudgment to himself, not discerning theLord’s body.30 For this reason many are weak andsick among you, and many sleep.31 For if we would judge ourselves, wewould not be judged.32 But when we are judged, we arechastened by the Lord, that we may notbe condemned with the world.33 Therefore, my brethren, when youcome together to eat, wait for oneanother.34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eatat home, lest you come together for

1 CORINTHIANS 12 45judgment. And the rest I will set in orderwhen I come.

12 1Now concerning spiritual gi s,brethren, I do not want you to be

ignorant:2 You know that you were Gen les,carried away to these dumb idols,however you were led.3 Therefore I make known to you thatno one speaking by the Spirit of God callsJesus accursed, and no one can say thatJesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are diversi es of gi s, but thesame Spirit.5 There are differences of ministries,but the same Lord.6And there are diversi es of ac vi es,but it is the same God who works all inall.7 But the manifesta on of the Spirit isgiven to each one for the profit of all:

1 CORINTHIANS 12 468 for to one is given the word of wisdomthrough the Spirit, to another the wordof knowledge through the same Spirit,9 to another faith by the same Spirit,to another gi s of healings by the sameSpirit,10 to another theworking ofmiracles, toanother prophecy, to another discerningof spirits, to another different kinds oftongues, to another the interpreta onof tongues.11 But one and the same Spirit worksall these things, distribu ng to each oneindividually as He wills.12 For as the body is one and has manymembers, but all the members of thatone body, being many, are one body, soalso is Christ.13 For by one Spirit we were all bap zedinto one body––whether Jews or Greeks,whether slaves or free––and have allbeen made to drink into one Spirit.

1 CORINTHIANS 12 4714 For in fact the body is not onemember but many.15 If the foot should say, "Because I amnot a hand, I am not of the body," is ittherefore not of the body?16And if the ear should say, "Because Iam not an eye, I am not of the body," isit therefore not of the body?17 If the whole body were an eye, wherewould be the hearing? If the whole werehearing, where would be the smelling?18 But now God has set the members,each one of them, in the body just as Hepleased.19And if they were all one member,where would the body be?20 But now indeed there are manymembers, yet one body.21And the eye cannot say to the hand,"I have no need of you"; nor again thehead to the feet, "I have no need ofyou."

1 CORINTHIANS 12 4822No, much rather, those members ofthe body which seem to be weaker arenecessary.23And those members of the bodywhich we think to be less honorable,on these we bestow greater honor; andour unpresentable parts have greatermodesty,24 but our presentable parts have noneed. But God composed the body,having given greater honor to that partwhich lacks it,25 that there should be no schism in thebody, but that the members should havethe same care for one another.26And if one member suffers, allthe members suffer with it; or if onemember is honored, all the membersrejoice with it.27Now you are the body of Christ, andmembers individually.

1 CORINTHIANS 12–13 4928And God has appointed these in thechurch: first apostles, second prophets,third teachers, a er that miracles, thengi s of healings, helps, administra ons,varie es of tongues.29Are all apostles? Are all prophets?Are all teachers? Are all workers ofmiracles?30Do all have gi s of healings? Do allspeak with tongues? Do all interpret?31 But earnestly desire the best gi s.And yet I show you a more excellent way.

13 1 Though I speak with the tonguesof men and of angels, but have

not love, I have become sounding brassor a clanging cymbal.2And though I have the gi of prophecy,and understand all mysteries and allknowledge, and though I have all faith,so that I could remove mountains, buthave not love, I am nothing.

1 CORINTHIANS 13 503And though I bestow all my goodsto feed the poor, and though I give mybody to be burned, but have not love, itprofits me nothing.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love doesnot envy; love does not parade itself, isnot puffed up;5 does not behave rudely, does not seekits own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;6 does not rejoice in iniquity, butrejoices in the truth;7 bears all things, believes all things,hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. But whether thereare prophecies, they will fail; whetherthere are tongues, they will cease;whether there is knowledge, it willvanish away.9 For we know in part and we prophesyin part.

1 CORINTHIANS 13–14 5110 But when that which is perfect hascome, then that which is in part will bedone away.11When I was a child, I spoke as a child,I understood as a child, I thought as achild; but when I became a man, I putaway childish things.12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, butthen face to face. Now I know in part,but then I shall know just as I also amknown.13And now abide faith, hope, love,these three; but the greatest of these islove.

14 1 Pursue love, and desire spiritualgi s, but especially that you may

prophesy.2 For he who speaks in a tongue doesnot speak to men but to God, for no oneunderstands him; however, in the spirithe speaks mysteries.

1 CORINTHIANS 14 523 But he who prophesies speaksedifica on and exhorta on and comfortto men.4He who speaks in a tongue edifieshimself, but he who prophesies edifiesthe church.5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, buteven more that you prophesied; for hewho prophesies is greater than he whospeaks with tongues, unless indeed heinterprets, that the church may receiveedifica on.6 But now, brethren, if I come to youspeaking with tongues, what shallI profit you unless I speak to youeither by revela on, by knowledge, byprophesying, or by teaching?7 Even things without life, whether fluteor harp, when they make a sound, unlessthey make a dis nc on in the sounds,how will it be known what is piped orplayed?

1 CORINTHIANS 14 538 For if the trumpet makes an uncertainsound, who will prepare himself forba le?9 So likewise you, unless you u er bythe tongue words easy to understand,how will it be known what is spoken?For you will be speaking into the air.10 There are, it may be, so many kindsof languages in the world, and none ofthem is without significance.11 Therefore, if I do not know themeaning of the language, I shall be aforeigner to him who speaks, and hewho speaks will be a foreigner to me.12 Even so you, since you are zealous forspiritual gi s, let it be for the edifica onof the church that you seek to excel.13 Therefore let him who speaks in atongue pray that he may interpret.14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spiritprays, butmy understanding is unfrui ul.

1 CORINTHIANS 14 5415What is the conclusion then? I willpray with the spirit, and I will also praywith the understanding. I will sing withthe spirit, and I will also sing with theunderstanding.16Otherwise, if you bless with thespirit, how will he who occupies theplace of the uninformed say "Amen" atyour giving of thanks, since he does notunderstand what you say?17 For you indeed give thanks well, butthe other is not edified.18 I thank my God I speak with tonguesmore than you all;19 yet in the church I would ratherspeak five words with my understanding,that I may teach others also, than tenthousand words in a tongue.20 Brethren, do not be children inunderstanding; however, in malice bebabes, but in understanding be mature.

1 CORINTHIANS 14 5521 In the law it is wri en: "With men ofother tongues and other lips I will speakto this people; And yet, for all that, theywill not hear Me," says the Lord.22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, notto those who believe but to unbelievers;but prophesying is not for unbelieversbut for those who believe.23 Therefore if the whole church comestogether in one place, and all speak withtongues, and there come in those whoare uninformed or unbelievers, will theynot say that you are out of your mind?24 But if all prophesy, and an unbelieveror an uninformed person comes in, he isconvinced by all, he is convicted by all.25And thus the secrets of his heart arerevealed; and so, falling down on hisface, he will worship God and report thatGod is truly among you.26How is it then, brethren? Wheneveryou come together, each of you has a

1 CORINTHIANS 14 56psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, hasa revela on, has an interpreta on. Letall things be done for edifica on.27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, letthere be two or at the most three, eachin turn, and let one interpret.28 But if there is no interpreter, let himkeep silent in church, and let him speakto himself and to God.29 Let two or three prophets speak, andlet the others judge.30 But if anything is revealed to anotherwho sits by, let the first keep silent.31 For you can all prophesy one byone, that all may learn and all may beencouraged.32And the spirits of the prophets aresubject to the prophets.33 For God is not the author of confusionbut of peace, as in all the churches ofthe saints.

1 CORINTHIANS 14 5734 Let your women keep silent in thechurches, for they are not permi ed tospeak; but they are to be submissive, asthe law also says.35And if they want to learn something,let them ask their own husbands athome; for it is shameful for women tospeak in church.36Or did the word of God comeoriginally from you? Or was it you onlythat it reached?37 If anyone thinks himself tobe a prophet or spiritual, let himacknowledge that the things which Iwrite to you are the commandments ofthe Lord.38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him beignorant.39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestlyto prophesy, and do not forbid to speakwith tongues.

1 CORINTHIANS 14–15 5840 Let all things be done decently and inorder.

15 1Moreover, brethren, I declare toyou the gospel which I preached

to you, which also you received and inwhich you stand,2 by which also you are saved, if youhold fast that word which I preached toyou––unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you first of all thatwhich I also received: that Christ died forour sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that Herose again the third day according to theScriptures,5 and that He was seen by Cephas, thenby the twelve.6A er that He was seen by over fivehundred brethren at once, of whom thegreater part remain to the present, butsome have fallen asleep.

1 CORINTHIANS 15 597A er that He was seen by James, thenby all the apostles.8 Then last of all He was seen by mealso, as by one born out of due me.9 For I am the least of the apostles, whoam not worthy to be called an apostle,because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am whatI am, and His grace toward me was notin vain; but I labored more abundantlythan they all, yet not I, but the grace ofGod which was with me.11 Therefore, whether it was I or they,so we preach and so you believed.12Now if Christ is preached that Hehas been raised from the dead, how dosome among you say that there is noresurrec on of the dead?13 But if there is no resurrec on of thedead, then Christ is not risen.

1 CORINTHIANS 15 6014And if Christ is not risen, then ourpreaching is empty and your faith is alsoempty.15 Yes, and we are found false witnessesof God, because we have tes fied of Godthat He raised up Christ, whom He didnot raise up––if in fact the dead do notrise.16 For if the dead do not rise, thenChrist is not risen.17And if Christ is not risen, your faith isfu le; you are s ll in your sins!18 Then also those who have fallenasleep in Christ have perished.19 If in this life only we have hopein Christ, we are of all men the mostpi able.20 But now Christ is risen from the dead,and has become the firs ruits of thosewho have fallen asleep.

1 CORINTHIANS 15 6121 For since by man came death, byMan also came the resurrec on of thedead.22 For as in Adam all die, even so inChrist all shall be made alive.23 But each one in his own order: Christthe firs ruits, a erward those who areChrist’s at His coming.24 Then comes the end, when Hedelivers the kingdom to God the Father,when He puts an end to all rule and allauthority and power.25 For He must reign ll He has put allenemies under His feet.26 The last enemy that will be destroyedis death.27 For "He has put all things under Hisfeet." But when He says "all things areput under Him," it is evident that He whoput all things under Him is excepted.28Now when all things are madesubject to Him, then the Son Himself will

1 CORINTHIANS 15 62also be subject to Him who put all thingsunder Him, that God may be all in all.29Otherwise, what will they do who arebap zed for the dead, if the dead do notrise at all? Why then are they bap zedfor the dead?30And why do we stand in jeopardyevery hour?31 I affirm, by the boas ng in you whichI have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32 If, in the manner of men, I havefought with beasts at Ephesus, whatadvantage is it to me? If the dead do notrise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrowwe die!"33Do not be deceived: "Evil companycorrupts good habits."34Awake to righteousness, and do notsin; for some do not have the knowledgeof God. I speak this to your shame.

1 CORINTHIANS 15 6335 But someone will say, "How are thedead raised up? And with what body dothey come?"36 Foolish one, what you sow is notmade alive unless it dies.37And what you sow, you do notsow that body that shall be, but meregrain––perhaps wheat or some othergrain.38 But God gives it a body as He pleases,and to each seed its own body.39All flesh is not the same flesh, butthere is one kind of flesh of men, anotherflesh of animals, another of fish, andanother of birds.40 There are also celes al bodies andterrestrial bodies; but the glory of theceles al is one, and the glory of theterrestrial is another.41 There is one glory of the sun, anotherglory of the moon, and another glory

1 CORINTHIANS 15 64of the stars; for one star differs fromanother star in glory.42 So also is the resurrec on of thedead. The body is sown in corrup on, itis raised in incorrup on.43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised inglory. It is sown in weakness, it is raisedin power.44 It is sown a natural body, it is raiseda spiritual body. There is a natural body,and there is a spiritual body.45And so it is wri en, "The first manAdam became a living being." The lastAdam became a life–giving spirit.46However, the spiritual is not first, butthe natural, and a erward the spiritual.47 The first man was of the earth, madeof dust; the second Man is the Lord fromheaven.48As was the man of dust, so also arethose who are made of dust; and as is

1 CORINTHIANS 15 65the heavenly Man, so also are those whoare heavenly.49And as we have borne the image ofthe man of dust, we shall also bear theimage of the heavenly Man.50Now this I say, brethren, that fleshand blood cannot inherit the kingdomof God; nor does corrup on inheritincorrup on.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: Weshall not all sleep, but we shall all bechanged––52 in a moment, in the twinkling of aneye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpetwill sound, and the dead will be raisedincorrup ble, and we shall be changed.53 For this corrup ble must put onincorrup on, and this mortal must puton immortality.54 So when this corrup ble has put onincorrup on, and this mortal has puton immortality, then shall be brought to

1 CORINTHIANS 15–16 66pass the saying that is wri en: "Death isswallowed up in victory."55 "O Death, where is your s ng? OHades, where is your victory?"56 The s ng of death is sin, and thestrength of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, who gives usthe victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, besteadfast, immovable, always aboundingin the work of the Lord, knowing thatyour labor is not in vain in the Lord.

16 1Now concerning the collec onfor the saints, as I have given

orders to the churches of Gala a, so youmust do also:2On the first day of the week let eachone of you lay something aside, storingup as he may prosper, that there be nocollec ons when I come.

1 CORINTHIANS 16 673And when I come, whomever youapprove by your le ers I will send tobear your gi to Jerusalem.4 But if it is fi ng that I go also, theywill go with me.5Now I will come to you when I passthrough Macedonia (for I am passingthrough Macedonia).6And it may be that I will remain, oreven spend the winter with you, that youmay send me on my journey, wherever Igo.7 For I do not wish to see you now onthe way; but I hope to stay a while withyou, if the Lord permits.8 But I will tarry in Ephesus un lPentecost.9 For a great and effec ve door hasopened to me, and there are manyadversaries.

1 CORINTHIANS 16 6810Now if Timothy comes, see that hemay be with you without fear; for hedoes the work of the Lord, as I also do.11 Therefore let no one despise him. Butsend him on his journey in peace, thathe may come to me; for I am wai ng forhim with the brethren.12Now concerning our brother Apollos,I strongly urged him to come to you withthe brethren, but he was quite unwillingto come at this me; however, he willcome when he has a convenient me.13Watch, stand fast in the faith, bebrave, be strong.14 Let all that you do be done with love.15 I urge you, brethren––you know thehousehold of Stephanas, that it is thefirs ruits of Achaia, and that they havedevoted themselves to the ministry ofthe saints––16 that you also submit to such, and toeveryone who works and labors with us.

1 CORINTHIANS 16 6917 I am glad about the coming ofStephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus,for what was lacking on your part theysupplied.18 For they refreshed my spirit andyours. Therefore acknowledge suchmen.19 The churches of Asia greet you.Aquila and Priscilla greet you hear ly inthe Lord, with the church that is in theirhouse.20All the brethren greet you. Greet oneanother with a holy kiss.21 The saluta on with my ownhand––Paul’s.22 If anyone does not love the LordJesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord,come!23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you.24My love be with you all in ChristJesus. Amen.

2 Corinthians

1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ bythe will of God, and Timothy our

brother, To the church of God which is atCorinth, with all the saints who are in allAchaia:2Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Blessed be the God and Father of ourLord Jesus Christ, the Father of merciesand God of all comfort,4who comforts us in all our tribula on,that we may be able to comfort thosewho are in any trouble, with the comfortwith which we ourselves are comfortedby God.5 For as the sufferings of Christ aboundin us, so our consola on also aboundsthrough Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 1 26Now if we are afflicted, it is foryour consola on and salva on, whichis effec ve for enduring the samesufferings which we also suffer. Or if weare comforted, it is for your consola onand salva on.7And our hope for you is steadfast,because we know that as you arepartakers of the sufferings, so also youwill partake of the consola on.8 For we do not want you to be ignorant,brethren, of our trouble which cameto us in Asia: that we were burdenedbeyond measure, above strength, sothat we despaired even of life.9 Yes, we had the sentence of deathin ourselves, that we should not trustin ourselves but in God who raises thedead,10who delivered us from so great adeath, and does deliver us; in whom wetrust that He will s ll deliver us,

2 CORINTHIANS 1 311 you also helping together in prayerfor us, that thanks may be given bymany persons on our behalf for the gigranted to us through many.12 For our boas ng is this: the tes monyof our conscience that we conductedourselves in the world in simplicity andgodly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdombut by the grace of God, and moreabundantly toward you.13 For we are not wri ng any otherthings to you than what you reador understand. Now I trust you willunderstand, even to the end14 (as also you have understood us inpart), that we are your boast as you alsoare ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.15And in this confidence I intended tocome to you before, that you might havea second benefit––16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia,to come again from Macedonia to you,

2 CORINTHIANS 1 4and be helped by you on my way toJudea.17 Therefore, when I was planning this,did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, doI plan according to the flesh, that withme there should be Yes, Yes, and No,No?18 But as God is faithful, our word toyou was not Yes and No.19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whowas preached among you by us––by me,Silvanus, and Timothy––was not Yes andNo, but in Him was Yes.20 For all the promises of God in Himare Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory ofGod through us.21Now He who establishes us with youin Christ and has anointed us is God,22who also has sealed us and given usthe Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

2 CORINTHIANS 1–2 523Moreover I call God as witnessagainst my soul, that to spare you I cameno more to Corinth.24Not that we have dominion over yourfaith, but are fellow workers for your joy;for by faith you stand.

2 1 But I determined this within myself,that I would not come again to you

in sorrow.2 For if I make you sorrowful, then whois he who makes me glad but the onewho is made sorrowful by me?3And I wrote this very thing to you,lest, when I came, I should have sorrowover those from whom I ought to havejoy, having confidence in you all that myjoy is the joy of you all.4 For out of much afflic on and anguishof heart I wrote to you, with many tears,not that you should be grieved, but thatyou might know the love which I have soabundantly for you.

2 CORINTHIANS 2 65 But if anyone has caused grief, he hasnot grieved me, but all of you to someextent––not to be too severe.6 This punishment which was inflictedby the majority is sufficient for such aman,7 so that, on the contrary, you oughtrather to forgive and comfort him, lestperhaps such a one be swallowed upwith too much sorrow.8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm yourlove to him.9 For to this end I also wrote, that Imight put you to the test, whether youare obedient in all things.10Now whom you forgive anything, Ialso forgive. For if indeed I have forgivenanything, I have forgiven that one foryour sakes in the presence of Christ,11 lest Satan should take advantage ofus; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 CORINTHIANS 2 712 Furthermore, when I came to Troasto preach Christ’s gospel, and a door wasopened to me by the Lord,13 I had no rest in my spirit, becauseI did not find Titus my brother; buttaking my leave of them, I departed forMacedonia.14Now thanks be to God who alwaysleads us in triumph in Christ, andthrough us diffuses the fragrance of Hisknowledge in every place.15 For we are to God the fragrance ofChrist among those who are being savedand among those who are perishing.16 To the one we are the aroma of deathleading to death, and to the other thearoma of life leading to life. And who issufficient for these things?17 For we are not, as so many, peddlingthe word of God; but as of sincerity, butas from God, we speak in the sight ofGod in Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 3 8

3 1Do we begin again to commendourselves? Or do we need, as some

others, epistles of commenda on to youor le ers of commenda on from you?2 You are our epistle wri en in ourhearts, known and read by all men;3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ,ministered by us, wri en not with inkbut by the Spirit of the living God, not ontablets of stone but on tablets of flesh,that is, of the heart.4And we have such trust through Christtoward God.5Not that we are sufficient of ourselvesto think of anything as being fromourselves, but our sufficiency is fromGod,6who also made us sufficient asministers of the new covenant, not ofthe le er but of the Spirit; for the le erkills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 CORINTHIANS 3 97 But if the ministry of death, wri enand engraved on stones, was glorious, sothat the children of Israel could not looksteadily at the face of Moses becauseof the glory of his countenance, whichglory was passing away,8 how will the ministry of the Spirit notbe more glorious?9 For if the ministry of condemna onhad glory, the ministry of righteousnessexceeds much more in glory.10 For even what was made glorioushad no glory in this respect, because ofthe glory that excels.11 For if what is passing away wasglorious, what remains is much moreglorious.12 Therefore, since we have such hope,we use great boldness of speech––13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over hisface so that the children of Israel could

2 CORINTHIANS 3–4 10not look steadily at the end of what waspassing away.14 But their minds were blinded. Forun l this day the same veil remainsunli ed in the reading of the OldTestament, because the veil is takenaway in Christ.15 But even to this day, when Moses isread, a veil lies on their heart.16Nevertheless when one turns to theLord, the veil is taken away.17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and wherethe Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.18 But we all, with unveiled face,beholding as in a mirror the glory of theLord, are being transformed into thesame image from glory to glory, just asby the Spirit of the Lord.

4 1 Therefore, since we have thisministry, as we have received mercy,

we do not lose heart.

2 CORINTHIANS 4 112 But we have renounced the hiddenthings of shame, not walking in cra inessnor handling the word of God decei ully,but by manifesta on of the truthcommending ourselves to every man’sconscience in the sight of God.3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it isveiled to those who are perishing,4whose minds the god of this age hasblinded, who do not believe, lest thelight of the gospel of the glory of Christ,who is the image of God, should shineon them.5 For we do not preach ourselves, butChrist Jesus the Lord, and ourselves yourbondservants for Jesus’ sake.6 For it is the God who commandedlight to shine out of darkness, who hasshone in our hearts to give the light ofthe knowledge of the glory of God in theface of Jesus Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 4 127 But we have this treasure in earthenvessels, that the excellence of the powermay be of God and not of us.8We are hard pressed on every side,yet not crushed; we are perplexed, butnot in despair;9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struckdown, but not destroyed––10 always carrying about in the bodythe dying of the Lord Jesus, that the lifeof Jesus also may be manifested in ourbody.11 For we who live are always deliveredto death for Jesus’ sake, that the lifeof Jesus also may be manifested in ourmortal flesh.12 So then death is working in us, butlife in you.13And since we have the same spiritof faith, according to what is wri en, "Ibelieved and therefore I spoke," we alsobelieve and therefore speak,

2 CORINTHIANS 4–5 1314 knowing that He who raised up theLord Jesus will also raise us up withJesus, and will present us with you.15 For all things are for your sakes, thatgrace, having spread through the many,may cause thanksgiving to abound tothe glory of God.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Eventhough our outward man is perishing,yet the inward man is being renewedday by day.17 For our light afflic on, which is butfor a moment, is working for us a farmore exceeding and eternal weight ofglory,18while we do not look at the thingswhich are seen, but at the things whichare not seen. For the things which areseen are temporary, but the things whichare not seen are eternal.

5 1 For we know that if our earthlyhouse, this tent, is destroyed, we

2 CORINTHIANS 5 14have a building from God, a housenot made with hands, eternal in theheavens.2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiringto be clothed with our habita on whichis from heaven,3 if indeed, having been clothed, weshall not be found naked.4 For we who are in this tent groan,being burdened, not because we want tobe unclothed, but further clothed, thatmortality may be swallowed up by life.5Now He who has prepared us for thisvery thing is God, who also has given usthe Spirit as a guarantee.6 So we are always confident, knowingthat while we are at home in the bodywe are absent from the Lord.7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.8We are confident, yes, well pleasedrather to be absent from the body andto be present with the Lord.

2 CORINTHIANS 5 159 Therefore we make it our aim,whether present or absent, to be wellpleasing to Him.10 For we must all appear before thejudgment seat of Christ, that each onemay receive the things done in the body,according to what he has done, whethergood or bad.11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of theLord, we persuade men; but we are wellknown to God, and I also trust are wellknown in your consciences.12 For we do not commend ourselvesagain to you, but give you opportunityto boast on our behalf, that you mayhave an answer for those who boast inappearance and not in heart.13 For if we are beside ourselves, it isfor God; or if we are of sound mind, it isfor you.

2 CORINTHIANS 5 1614 For the love of Christ compels us,because we judge thus: that if One diedfor all, then all died;15 and He died for all, that those wholive should live no longer for themselves,but for Him who died for them and roseagain.16 Therefore, from now on, we regardno one according to the flesh. Eventhough we have known Christ accordingto the flesh, yet now we know Him thusno longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he isa new crea on; old things have passedaway; behold, all things have becomenew.18Now all things are of God, who hasreconciled us to Himself through JesusChrist, and has given us the ministry ofreconcilia on,19 that is, that God was in Christreconciling the world to Himself, not

2 CORINTHIANS 5–6 17impu ng their trespasses to them,and has commi ed to us the word ofreconcilia on.20Now then, we are ambassadors forChrist, as though God were pleadingthrough us: we implore you on Christ’sbehalf, be reconciled to God.21 For He made Him who knew no sin tobe sin for us, that we might become therighteousness of God in Him.

6 1We then, as workers togetherwith Him also plead with you not to

receive the grace of God in vain.2 For He says: "In an acceptable meI have heard you, And in the day ofsalva on I have helped you." Behold,now is the accepted me; behold, nowis the day of salva on.3We give no offense in anything, thatour ministry may not be blamed.4 But in all things we commendourselves as ministers of God: in much

2 CORINTHIANS 6 18pa ence, in tribula ons, in needs, indistresses,5 in stripes, in imprisonments, intumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, infas ngs;6 by purity, by knowledge, bylongsuffering, by kindness, by the HolySpirit, by sincere love,7 by the word of truth, by the power ofGod, by the armor of righteousness onthe right hand and on the le ,8 by honor and dishonor, by evil reportand good report; as deceivers, and yettrue;9 as unknown, and yet well known; asdying, and behold we live; as chastened,and yet not killed;10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; aspoor, yet making many rich; as havingnothing, and yet possessing all things.11O Corinthians! We have spokenopenly to you, our heart is wide open.

2 CORINTHIANS 6 1912 You are not restricted by us, but youare restricted by your own affec ons.13Now in return for the same (I speakas to children), you also be open.14Do not be unequally yoked togetherwith unbelievers. For what fellowshiphas righteousness with lawlessness?And what communion has light withdarkness?15And what accord has Christ withBelial? Or what part has a believer withan unbeliever?16And what agreement has the templeof God with idols? For you are thetemple of the living God. As God hassaid: "I will dwell in them And walkamong them. I will be their God, Andthey shall be My people."17 Therefore "Come out from amongthem And be separate, says the Lord.Do not touch what is unclean, And I willreceive you."

2 CORINTHIANS 6–7 2018 "I will be a Father to you, And youshall be My sons and daughters, Says theLORD Almighty."

7 1 Therefore, having these promises,beloved, let us cleanse ourselves

from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,perfec ng holiness in the fear of God.2Open your hearts to us. We havewronged no one, we have corrupted noone, we have cheated no one.3 I do not say this to condemn; for I havesaid before that you are in our hearts, todie together and to live together.4Great is my boldness of speech towardyou, great is my boas ng on your behalf.I am filled with comfort. I am exceedinglyjoyful in all our tribula on.5 For indeed, when we came toMacedonia, our bodies had no rest, butwe were troubled on every side. Outsidewere conflicts, inside were fears.

2 CORINTHIANS 7 216Nevertheless God, who comforts thedowncast, comforted us by the comingof Titus,7 and not only by his coming, but alsoby the consola on with which he wascomforted in you, when he told us ofyour earnest desire, your mourning,your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced evenmore.8 For even if I made you sorry with myle er, I do not regret it; though I didregret it. For I perceive that the sameepistle made you sorry, though only fora while.9Now I rejoice, not that you weremade sorry, but that your sorrow led torepentance. For you were made sorry ina godly manner, that you might sufferloss from us in nothing.10 For godly sorrow producesrepentance leading to salva on, not

2 CORINTHIANS 7 22to be regre ed; but the sorrow of theworld produces death.11 For observe this very thing, thatyou sorrowed in a godly manner: Whatdiligence it produced in you, whatclearing of yourselves, what indigna on,what fear, what vehement desire, whatzeal, what vindica on! In all things youproved yourselves to be clear in thisma er.12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, Idid not do it for the sake of him who haddone the wrong, nor for the sake of himwho suffered wrong, but that our carefor you in the sight of God might appearto you.13 Therefore we have been comfortedin your comfort. And we rejoicedexceedingly more for the joy of Titus,because his spirit has been refreshed byyou all.

2 CORINTHIANS 7–8 2314 For if in anything I have boasted tohim about you, I am not ashamed. But aswe spoke all things to you in truth, evenso our boas ng to Titus was found true.15And his affec ons are greater for youas he remembers the obedience of youall, how with fear and trembling youreceived him.16 Therefore I rejoice that I haveconfidence in you in everything.

8 1Moreover, brethren, we makeknown to you the grace of

God bestowed on the churches ofMacedonia:2 that in a great trial of afflic on theabundance of their joy and their deeppoverty abounded in the riches of theirliberality.3 For I bear witness that accordingto their ability, yes, and beyond theirability, they were freely willing,

2 CORINTHIANS 8 244 imploring us with much urgencythat we would receive the gi and thefellowship of the ministering to thesaints.5And not only as we had hoped, butthey first gave themselves to the Lord,and then to us by the will of God.6 So we urged Titus, that as he hadbegun, so he would also complete thisgrace in you as well.7 But as you abound in everything––infaith, in speech, in knowledge, in alldiligence, and in your love for us––seethat you abound in this grace also.8 I speak not by commandment, but Iam tes ng the sincerity of your love bythe diligence of others.9 For you know the grace of our LordJesus Christ, that though He was rich, yetfor your sakes He became poor, that youthrough His poverty might become rich.

2 CORINTHIANS 8 2510And in this I give advice: It is to youradvantage not only to be doing what youbegan and were desiring to do a yearago;11 but now you also must complete thedoing of it; that as there was a readinessto desire it, so there also may be acomple on out of what you have.12 For if there is first a willing mind, it isaccepted according to what one has, andnot according to what he does not have.13 For I do not mean that others shouldbe eased and you burdened;14 but by an equality, that now at thisme your abundance may supply their

lack, that their abundance also maysupply your lack––that there may beequality.15As it is wri en, "He who gatheredmuch had nothing le over, and he whogathered li le had no lack."

2 CORINTHIANS 8 2616 But thanks be to God who puts thesame earnest care for you into the heartof Titus.17 For he not only accepted theexhorta on, but being more diligent, hewent to you of his own accord.18And we have sent with him thebrother whose praise is in the gospelthroughout all the churches,19 and not only that, but who was alsochosen by the churches to travel with uswith this gi , which is administered byus to the glory of the Lord Himself andto show your ready mind,20 avoiding this: that anyone shouldblame us in this lavish gi which isadministered by us––21 providing honorable things, not onlyin the sight of the Lord, but also in thesight of men.22And we have sent with them ourbrother whom we have o en proved

2 CORINTHIANS 8–9 27diligent in many things, but now muchmore diligent, because of the greatconfidence which we have in you.23 If anyone inquires about Titus,he is my partner and fellow workerconcerning you. Or if our brethren areinquired about, they are messengers ofthe churches, the glory of Christ.24 Therefore show to them, and beforethe churches the proof of your love andof our boas ng on your behalf.

9 1Now concerning the ministering tothe saints, it is superfluous for me to

write to you;2 for I know your willingness, aboutwhich I boast of you to theMacedonians,that Achaia was ready a year ago; andyour zeal has s rred up the majority.3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest ourboas ng of you should be in vain inthis respect, that, as I said, you may beready;

2 CORINTHIANS 9 284 lest if some Macedonians come withme and find you unprepared, we (notto men on you!) should be ashamed ofthis confident boas ng.5 Therefore I thought it necessary toexhort the brethren to go to you aheadof me, and prepare your generous gibeforehand, which you had previouslypromised, that it may be ready asa ma er of generosity and not as agrudging obliga on.6 But this I say: He who sows sparinglywill also reap sparingly, and he who sowsboun fully will also reap boun fully.7 So let each one give as he purposes inhis heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;for God loves a cheerful giver.8And God is able to make all graceabound toward you, that you, alwayshaving all sufficiency in all things, mayhave an abundance for every good work.

2 CORINTHIANS 9 299As it is wri en: "He has dispersedabroad, He has given to the poor; Hisrighteousness endures forever."10Now may He who supplies seed tothe sower, and bread for food, supplyandmul ply the seed you have sown andincrease the fruits of your righteousness,11while you are enriched in everythingfor all liberality, which causesthanksgiving through us to God.12 For the administra on of this servicenot only supplies the needs of the saints,but also is abounding through manythanksgivings to God,13while, through the proof of thisministry, they glorify God for theobedience of your confession to thegospel of Christ, and for your liberalsharing with them and all men,14 and by their prayer for you, who longfor you because of the exceeding graceof God in you.

2 CORINTHIANS 9–10 3015 Thanks be to God for Hisindescribable gi !

10 1Now I, Paul, myself am pleadingwith you by the meekness and

gentleness of Christ––who in presenceam lowly among you, but being absentam bold toward you.2 But I beg you that when I am presentI may not be bold with that confidenceby which I intend to be bold againstsome, who think of us as if we walkedaccording to the flesh.3 For though we walk in the flesh, wedo not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare arenot carnal but mighty in God for pullingdown strongholds,5 cas ng down arguments and everyhigh thing that exalts itself againstthe knowledge of God, bringing everythought into cap vity to the obedienceof Christ,

2 CORINTHIANS 10 316 and being ready to punish alldisobedience when your obedience isfulfilled.7Do you look at things according tothe outward appearance? If anyone isconvinced in himself that he is Christ’s,let him again consider this in himself,that just as he is Christ’s, even so we areChrist’s.8 For even if I should boast somewhatmore about our authority, which theLord gave us for edifica on and notfor your destruc on, I shall not beashamed––9 lest I seem to terrify you by le ers.10 "For his le ers," they say, "areweighty and powerful, but his bodilypresence is weak, and his speechcontemp ble."11 Let such a person consider this, thatwhat we are in word by le ers when we

2 CORINTHIANS 10 32are absent, such we will also be in deedwhen we are present.12 For we dare not class ourselvesor compare ourselves with thosewho commend themselves. But they,measuring themselves by themselves,and comparing themselves amongthemselves, are not wise.13We, however, will not boast beyondmeasure, but within the limits of thesphere which God appointed us––asphere which especially includes you.14 For we are not overextendingourselves (as though our authority didnot extend to you), for it was to you thatwe came with the gospel of Christ;15 not boas ng of things beyondmeasure, that is, in other men’s labors,but having hope, that as your faith isincreased, we shall be greatly enlargedby you in our sphere,

2 CORINTHIANS 10–11 3316 to preach the gospel in the regionsbeyond you, and not to boast in anotherman’s sphere of accomplishment.17 But "he who glories, let him glory inthe LORD."18 For not he who commends himselfis approved, but whom the Lordcommends.

11 1Oh, that you would bear withme in a li le folly––and indeed

you do bear with me.2 For I am jealous for you with godlyjealousy. For I have betrothed you to onehusband, that I may present you as achaste virgin to Christ.3 But I fear, lest somehow, as theserpent deceived Eve by his cra iness,so your minds may be corrupted fromthe simplicity that is in Christ.4 For if he who comes preaches anotherJesus whom we have not preached, or ifyou receive a different spirit which you

2 CORINTHIANS 11 34have not received, or a different gospelwhich you have not accepted––you maywell put up with it!5 For I consider that I am not at allinferior to the most eminent apostles.6 Even though I am untrained in speech,yet I am not in knowledge. But we havebeen thoroughly manifested among youin all things.7Did I commit sin in humbling myselfthat you might be exalted, because Ipreached the gospel of God to you freeof charge?8 I robbed other churches, taking wagesfrom them to minister to you.9And when I was present with you,and in need, I was a burden to no one,for what I lacked the brethren whocame from Macedonia supplied. Andin everything I kept myself from beingburdensome to you, and so I will keepmyself.

2 CORINTHIANS 11 3510As the truth of Christ is in me, no oneshall stop me from this boas ng in theregions of Achaia.11Why? Because I do not love you? Godknows!12 But what I do, I will also con nue todo, that I may cut off the opportunityfrom those who desire an opportunity tobe regarded just as we are in the thingsof which they boast.13 For such are false apostles, decei ulworkers, transforming themselves intoapostles of Christ.14And no wonder! For Satan himselftransforms himself into an angel of light.15 Therefore it is no great thing if hisministers also transform themselves intoministers of righteousness, whose endwill be according to their works.16 I say again, let no one think me afool. If otherwise, at least receive me asa fool, that I also may boast a li le.

2 CORINTHIANS 11 3617What I speak, I speak not accordingto the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, inthis confidence of boas ng.18 Seeing that many boast according tothe flesh, I also will boast.19 For you put up with fools gladly, sinceyou yourselves are wise!20 For you put up with it if one bringsyou into bondage, if one devours you, ifone takes from you, if one exalts himself,if one strikes you on the face.21 To our shame, I say that we were tooweak for that! But in whatever anyone isbold––I speak foolishly––I am bold also.22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are theyIsraelites? So am I. Are they the seed ofAbraham? So am I.23Are they ministers of Christ? ––Ispeak as a fool––I am more: in laborsmore abundant, in stripes abovemeasure, in prisons more frequently, indeaths o en.

2 CORINTHIANS 11 3724 From the Jews five mes I receivedforty stripes minus one.25 Three mes I was beaten with rods;once I was stoned; three mes I wasshipwrecked; a night and a day I havebeen in the deep;26 in journeys o en, in perils of waters,in perils of robbers, in perils of my owncountrymen, in perils of the Gen les,in perils in the city, in perils in thewilderness, in perils in the sea, in perilsamong false brethren;27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessnesso en, in hunger and thirst, in fas ngso en, in cold and nakedness––28 besides the other things, what comesupon me daily: my deep concern for allthe churches.29Who is weak, and I am not weak?Who is made to stumble, and I do notburn with indigna on?

2 CORINTHIANS 11–12 3830 If I must boast, I will boast in thethings which concern my infirmity.31 The God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, who is blessed forever, knowsthat I am not lying.32 In Damascus the governor, underAretas the king, was guarding the city ofthe Damascenes with a garrison, desiringto arrest me;33 but I was let down in a basket througha window in the wall, and escaped fromhis hands.

12 1 It is doubtless not profitable forme to boast. I will come to visions

and revela ons of the Lord:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteenyears ago––whether in the body I do notknow, or whether out of the body I donot know, God knows––such a one wascaught up to the third heaven.

2 CORINTHIANS 12 393And I know such a man––whetherin the body or out of the body I do notknow, God knows––4 how he was caught up into Paradiseand heard inexpressible words, which itis not lawful for a man to u er.5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myselfI will not boast, except in my infirmi es.6 For though I might desire to boast,I will not be a fool; for I will speak thetruth. But I refrain, lest anyone shouldthink of me above what he sees me tobe or hears from me.7And lest I should be exalted abovemeasure by the abundance of therevela ons, a thorn in the flesh wasgiven to me, a messenger of Satanto buffet me, lest I be exalted abovemeasure.8 Concerning this thing I pleaded withthe Lord three mes that it might departfrom me.

2 CORINTHIANS 12 409And He said to me, "My grace issufficient for you, for My strength ismade perfect in weakness." Thereforemost gladly I will rather boast in myinfirmi es, that the power of Christ mayrest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure ininfirmi es, in reproaches, in needs, inpersecu ons, in distresses, for Christ’ssake. For when I am weak, then I amstrong.11 I have become a fool in boas ng; youhave compelled me. For I ought to havebeen commended by you; for in nothingwas I behind the most eminent apostles,though I am nothing.12 Truly the signs of an apostle wereaccomplished among you with allperseverance, in signs and wonders andmighty deeds.13 For what is it in which you wereinferior to other churches, except that

2 CORINTHIANS 12 41I myself was not burdensome to you?Forgive me this wrong!14Now for the third me I am readyto come to you. And I will not beburdensome to you; for I do not seekyours, but you. For the children oughtnot to lay up for the parents, but theparents for the children.15And I will very gladly spend and bespent for your souls; though the moreabundantly I love you, the less I amloved.16 But be that as it may, I did not burdenyou. Nevertheless, being cra y, I caughtyou by cunning!17Did I take advantage of you by any ofthose whom I sent to you?18 I urged Titus, and sent our brotherwith him. Did Titus take advantage ofyou? Did we not walk in the same spirit?Did we not walk in the same steps?

2 CORINTHIANS 12–13 4219Again, do you think that we excuseourselves to you? We speak before Godin Christ. But we do all things, beloved,for your edifica on.20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shallnot find you such as I wish, and that Ishall be found by you such as you donot wish; lest there be conten ons,jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfishambi ons, backbi ngs, whisperings,conceits, tumults;21 lest, when I come again, my Godwill humble me among you, and I shallmourn for many who have sinnedbefore and have not repented of theuncleanness, fornica on, and lewdnesswhich they have prac ced.

13 1 This will be the third me I amcoming to you. "By the mouth of

two or three witnesses every word shallbe established."

2 CORINTHIANS 13 432 I have told you before, and foretell asif I were present the second me, andnow being absent I write to those whohave sinned before, and to all the rest,that if I come again I will not spare––3 since you seek a proof of Christspeaking in me, who is not weak towardyou, but mighty in you.4 For though He was crucified inweakness, yet He lives by the power ofGod. For we also are weak in Him, butwe shall live with Him by the power ofGod toward you.5 Examine yourselves as to whetheryou are in the faith. Test yourselves. Doyou not know yourselves, that JesusChrist is in you? ––unless indeed you aredisqualified.6 But I trust that you will know that weare not disqualified.7Now I pray to God that you do no evil,not that we should appear approved, but

2 CORINTHIANS 13 44that you should do what is honorable,though we may seem disqualified.8 For we can do nothing against thetruth, but for the truth.9 For we are glad when we are weakand you are strong. And this also wepray, that you may be made complete.10 Therefore I write these things beingabsent, lest being present I should usesharpness, according to the authoritywhich the Lord has given me foredifica on and not for destruc on.11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Becomecomplete. Be of good comfort, be of onemind, live in peace; and the God of loveand peace will be with you.12Greet one another with a holy kiss.13All the saints greet you.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,and the love of God, and the communionof the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Gala ans

1 1 Paul, an apostle (not from mennor through man, but through Jesus

Christ and God the Father who raisedHim from the dead),2 and all the brethren who are with me,To the churches of Gala a:3Grace to you and peace from God theFather and our Lord Jesus Christ,4who gave Himself for our sins, that Hemight deliver us from this present evilage, according to the will of our God andFather,5 to whom be glory forever and ever.Amen.6 I marvel that you are turning away sosoon from Him who called you in thegrace of Christ, to a different gospel,

GALATIANS 1 27which is not another; but there aresome who trouble you and want topervert the gospel of Christ.8 But even if we, or an angel fromheaven, preach any other gospel to youthan what we have preached to you, lethim be accursed.9As we have said before, so now I sayagain, if anyone preaches any othergospel to you than what you havereceived, let him be accursed.10 For do I now persuade men, orGod? Or do I seek to please men? Forif I s ll pleased men, I would not be abondservant of Christ.11 But I make known to you, brethren,that the gospel which was preached byme is not according to man.12 For I neither received it from man,nor was I taught it, but it came throughthe revela on of Jesus Christ.

GALATIANS 1 313 For you have heard of my formerconduct in Judaism, how I persecutedthe church of God beyond measure andtried to destroy it.14And I advanced in Judaism beyondmany of my contemporaries in my ownna on, being more exceedingly zealousfor the tradi ons of my fathers.15 But when it pleased God, whoseparated me from my mother’s womband called me through His grace,16 to reveal His Son in me, that I mightpreach Him among the Gen les, I didnot immediately confer with flesh andblood,17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to thosewho were apostles before me; but Iwent to Arabia, and returned again toDamascus.18 Then a er three years I went up toJerusalem to see Peter, and remainedwith him fi een days.

GALATIANS 1–2 419 But I saw none of the other apostlesexcept James, the Lord’s brother.20 (Now concerning the things which Iwrite to you, indeed, before God, I donot lie.)21A erward I went into the regions ofSyria and Cilicia.22And I was unknown by face to thechurches of Judea which were in Christ.23 But they were hearing only, "He whoformerly persecuted us now preachesthe faith which he once tried to destroy."24And they glorified God in me.

2 1 Then a er fourteen years I went upagain to Jerusalem with Barnabas,

and also took Titus with me.2And I went up by revela on, andcommunicated to them that gospelwhich I preach among the Gen les,but privately to those who were ofreputa on, lest by any means I mightrun, or had run, in vain.

GALATIANS 2 53 Yet not even Titus who was with me,being a Greek, was compelled to becircumcised.4And this occurred because of falsebrethren secretly brought in (who camein by stealth to spy out our liberty whichwe have in Christ Jesus, that they mightbring us into bondage),5 to whom we did not yield submissioneven for an hour, that the truth of thegospel might con nue with you.6 But from those who seemed to besomething––whatever they were, itmakes no difference to me; God showspersonal favori sm to no man––forthose who seemed to be somethingadded nothing to me.7 But on the contrary, when they sawthat the gospel for the uncircumcisedhad been commi ed to me, as thegospel for the circumcised was to Peter

GALATIANS 2 68 (for He who worked effec velyin Peter for the apostleship to thecircumcised also worked effec vely inme toward the Gen les),9 and when James, Cephas, and John,who seemed to be pillars, perceived thegrace that had been given to me, theygave me and Barnabas the right handof fellowship, that we should go to theGen les and they to the circumcised.10 They desired only that we shouldremember the poor, the very thingwhich I also was eager to do.11Now when Peter had come toAn och, I withstood him to his face,because he was to be blamed;12 for before certain men came fromJames, he would eat with the Gen les;but when they came, he withdrew andseparated himself, fearing those whowere of the circumcision.

GALATIANS 2 713And the rest of the Jews also playedthe hypocrite with him, so that evenBarnabas was carried away with theirhypocrisy.14 But when I saw that they were notstraigh orward about the truth of thegospel, I said to Peter before them all,"If you, being a Jew, live in the mannerof Gen les and not as the Jews, why doyou compel Gen les to live as Jews?15 "We who are Jews by nature, and notsinners of the Gen les,16 "knowing that a man is not jus fiedby the works of the law but by faith inJesus Christ, even we have believed inChrist Jesus, that we might be jus fiedby faith in Christ and not by the works ofthe law; for by the works of the law noflesh shall be jus fied.17 "But if, while we seek to be jus fiedby Christ, we ourselves also are found

GALATIANS 2–3 8sinners, is Christ therefore a minister ofsin? Certainly not!18 "For if I build again those thingswhich I destroyed, I make myself atransgressor.19 "For I through the law died to the lawthat I might live to God.20 "I have been crucified with Christ; itis no longer I who live, but Christ livesin me; and the life which I now live inthe flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave Himself for me.21 "I do not set aside the grace of God;for if righteousness comes through thelaw, then Christ died in vain."

3 1O foolish Gala ans! Who hasbewitched you that you should not

obey the truth, before whose eyes JesusChrist was clearly portrayed among youas crucified?

GALATIANS 3 92 This only I want to learn from you: Didyou receive the Spirit by the works ofthe law, or by the hearing of faith?3Are you so foolish? Having begunin the Spirit, are you now being madeperfect by the flesh?4Have you suffered so many things invain––if indeed it was in vain?5 Therefore He who supplies the Spiritto you and works miracles among you,does He do it by the works of the law, orby the hearing of faith? ––6 just as Abraham "believed God,and it was accounted to him forrighteousness."7 Therefore know that only those whoare of faith are sons of Abraham.8And the Scripture, foreseeing thatGod would jus fy the Gen les byfaith, preached the gospel to Abrahambeforehand, saying, "In you all thena ons shall be blessed."

GALATIANS 3 109 So then those who are of faith areblessed with believing Abraham.10 For as many as are of the works ofthe law are under the curse; for it iswri en, "Cursed is everyone who doesnot con nue in all things which arewri en in the book of the law, to dothem."11 But that no one is jus fied by the lawin the sight of God is evident, for "thejust shall live by faith."12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "theman who does them shall live by them."13 Christ has redeemed us from thecurse of the law, having become acurse for us (for it is wri en, "Cursed iseveryone who hangs on a tree"),14 that the blessing of Abraham mightcome upon the Gen les in Christ Jesus,that we might receive the promise of theSpirit through faith.

GALATIANS 3 1115 Brethren, I speak in the manner ofmen: Though it is only a man’s covenant,yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls oradds to it.16Now to Abraham and his Seed werethe promises made. He does not say,"And to seeds," as of many, but as ofone, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.17And this I say, that the law, whichwas four hundred and thirty years later,cannot annul the covenant that wasconfirmed before by God in Christ, thatit should make the promise of no effect.18 For if the inheritance is of the law, itis no longer of promise; but God gave itto Abraham by promise.19What purpose then does thelaw serve? It was added because oftransgressions, ll the Seed should cometo whom the promise was made; andit was appointed through angels by thehand of a mediator.

GALATIANS 3 1220Now a mediator does not mediatefor one only, but God is one.21 Is the law then against the promisesof God? Certainly not! For if there hadbeen a law given which could have givenlife, truly righteousness would have beenby the law.22 But the Scripture has confined allunder sin, that the promise by faith inJesus Christ might be given to those whobelieve.23 But before faith came, we were keptunder guard by the law, kept for the faithwhich would a erward be revealed.24 Therefore the law was our tutor tobring us to Christ, that we might bejus fied by faith.25 But a er faith has come, we are nolonger under a tutor.26 For you are all sons of God throughfaith in Christ Jesus.

GALATIANS 3–4 1327 For as many of you as were bap zedinto Christ have put on Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, thereis neither slave nor free, there is neithermale nor female; for you are all one inChrist Jesus.29And if you are Christ’s, then you areAbraham’s seed, and heirs according tothe promise.

4 1Now I say that the heir, as long ashe is a child, does not differ at all

from a slave, though he is master of all,2 but is under guardians and stewardsun l the me appointed by the father.3 Even so we, when we were children,were in bondage under the elements ofthe world.4 But when the fullness of the me hadcome, God sent forth His Son, born of awoman, born under the law,

GALATIANS 4 145 to redeem those who were under thelaw, that we might receive the adop onas sons.6And because you are sons, God hassent forth the Spirit of His Son into yourhearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"7 Therefore you are no longer a slavebut a son, and if a son, then an heir ofGod through Christ.8 But then, indeed, when you did notknow God, you served those which bynature are not gods.9 But now a er you have known God, orrather are known by God, how is it thatyou turn again to the weak and beggarlyelements, to which you desire again tobe in bondage?10 You observe days and months andseasons and years.11 I am afraid for you, lest I have laboredfor you in vain.

GALATIANS 4 1512 Brethren, I urge you to become likeme, for I became like you. You have notinjured me at all.13 You know that because of physicalinfirmity I preached the gospel to you atthe first.14And my trial which was in my fleshyou did not despise or reject, but youreceived me as an angel of God, even asChrist Jesus.15What then was the blessing youenjoyed? For I bear you witness that, ifpossible, you would have plucked outyour own eyes and given them to me.16Have I therefore become your enemybecause I tell you the truth?17 They zealously court you, but for nogood; yes, they want to exclude you,that you may be zealous for them.18 But it is good to be zealous in a goodthing always, and not only when I ampresent with you.

GALATIANS 4 1619My li le children, for whom I labor inbirth again un l Christ is formed in you,20 I would like to be present with younow and to change my tone; for I havedoubts about you.21 Tell me, you who desire to be underthe law, do you not hear the law?22 For it is wri en that Abraham hadtwo sons: the one by a bondwoman, theother by a freewoman.23 But he who was of the bondwomanwas born according to the flesh, and heof the freewoman through promise,24which things are symbolic. Forthese are the two covenants: the onefrom Mount Sinai which gives birth tobondage, which is Hagar––25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai inArabia, and corresponds to Jerusalemwhich now is, and is in bondage with herchildren––

GALATIANS 4 1726 but the Jerusalem above is free,which is the mother of us all.27 For it is wri en: "Rejoice, O barren,You who do not bear! Break forth andshout, You who are not in labor! For thedesolate has many more children Thanshe who has a husband."28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, arechildren of promise.29 But, as he who was born according tothe flesh then persecuted him who wasborn according to the Spirit, even so it isnow.30Nevertheless what does the Scripturesay? "Cast out the bondwoman andher son, for the son of the bondwomanshall not be heir with the son of thefreewoman."31 So then, brethren, we are notchildren of the bondwoman but of thefree.

GALATIANS 5 18

5 1 Stand fast therefore in the libertyby which Christ has made us free,

and do not be entangled again with ayoke of bondage.2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if youbecome circumcised, Christ will profityou nothing.3And I tes fy again to every man whobecomes circumcised that he is a debtorto keep the whole law.4 You have become estranged fromChrist, you who a empt to be jus fiedby law; you have fallen from grace.5 For we through the Spirit eagerly waitfor the hope of righteousness by faith.6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcisionnor uncircumcision avails anything, butfaith working through love.7 You ran well. Who hindered you fromobeying the truth?8 This persuasion does not come fromHim who calls you.

GALATIANS 5 199A li le leaven leavens the whole lump.10 I have confidence in you, in theLord, that you will have no other mind;but he who troubles you shall bear hisjudgment, whoever he is.11And I, brethren, if I s ll preachcircumcision, why do I s ll sufferpersecu on? Then the offense of thecross has ceased.12 I could wish that those who troubleyou would even cut themselves off!13 For you, brethren, have been calledto liberty; only do not use liberty as anopportunity for the flesh, but throughlove serve one another.14 For all the law is fulfilled in oneword, even in this: "You shall love yourneighbor as yourself."15 But if you bite and devour oneanother, beware lest you be consumedby one another!

GALATIANS 5 2016 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and youshall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,and the Spirit against the flesh; andthese are contrary to one another, sothat you do not do the things that youwish.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, youare not under the law.19Now the works of the flesh areevident, which are: adultery, fornica on,uncleanness, lewdness,20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, conten ons,jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfishambi ons, dissensions, heresies,21 envy, murders, drunkenness,revelries, and the like; of which I tell youbeforehand, just as I also told you in mepast, that those who prac ce such thingswill not inherit the kingdom of God.

GALATIANS 5–6 2122 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self–control. Against suchthere is no law.24And those who are Christ’s havecrucified the flesh with its passions anddesires.25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walkin the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited,provoking one another, envying oneanother.

6 1 Brethren, if a man is overtakenin any trespass, you who are

spiritual restore such a one in a spirit ofgentleness, considering yourself lest youalso be tempted.2 Bear one another’s burdens, and sofulfill the law of Christ.

GALATIANS 6 223 For if anyone thinks himself to besomething, when he is nothing, hedeceives himself.4 But let each one examine his ownwork, and then he will have rejoicing inhimself alone, and not in another.5 For each one shall bear his own load.6 Let him who is taught the word sharein all good things with him who teaches.7Do not be deceived, God is notmocked; for whatever a man sows, thathe will also reap.8 For he who sows to his flesh will ofthe flesh reap corrup on, but he whosows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reapeverlas ng life.9And let us not grow weary while doinggood, for in due season we shall reap ifwe do not lose heart.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity,let us do good to all, especially to thosewho are of the household of faith.

GALATIANS 6 2311 See with what large le ers I havewri en to you with my own hand!12As many as desire to make a goodshowing in the flesh, these wouldcompel you to be circumcised, only thatthey may not suffer persecu on for thecross of Christ.13 For not even those who arecircumcised keep the law, but theydesire to have you circumcised that theymay boast in your flesh.14 But God forbid that I should boastexcept in the cross of our Lord JesusChrist, by whom the world has beencrucified to me, and I to the world.15 For in Christ Jesus neithercircumcision nor uncircumcisionavails anything, but a new crea on.16And as many as walk according to thisrule, peace and mercy be upon them,and upon the Israel of God.

GALATIANS 6 2417 From now on let no one trouble me,for I bear in my body the marks of theLord Jesus.18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord JesusChrist be with your spirit. Amen.

Ephesians

1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ bythe will of God, To the saints who are

in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:2Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Blessed be the God and Father ofour Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessedus with every spiritual blessing in theheavenly places in Christ,4 just as He chose us in Him before thefounda on of the world, that we shouldbe holy and without blame before Himin love,5 having predes ned us to adop on assons by Jesus Christ to Himself, accordingto the good pleasure of His will,

EPHESIANS 1 26 to the praise of the glory of His grace,by which He has made us accepted inthe Beloved.7 In Him we have redemp on throughHis blood, the forgiveness of sins,according to the riches of His grace8which He made to abound toward usin all wisdom and prudence,9 having made known to us the mysteryof His will, according to His goodpleasure which He purposed in Himself,10 that in the dispensa on of thefullness of the mes He might gathertogether in one all things in Christ, bothwhich are in heaven and which are onearth––in Him.11 In Him also we have obtained aninheritance, being predes ned accordingto the purpose of Him who works allthings according to the counsel of Hiswill,

EPHESIANS 1 312 that we who first trusted in Christshould be to the praise of His glory.13 In Him you also trusted, a er youheard the word of truth, the gospel ofyour salva on; in whom also, havingbelieved, you were sealed with the HolySpirit of promise,14who is the guarantee of ourinheritance un l the redemp on of thepurchased possession, to the praise ofHis glory.15 Therefore I also, a er I heard of yourfaith in the Lord Jesus and your love forall the saints,16 do not cease to give thanks for you,making men on of you in my prayers:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,the Father of glory, may give to you thespirit of wisdom and revela on in theknowledge of Him,18 the eyes of your understanding beingenlightened; that you may know what

EPHESIANS 1–2 4is the hope of His calling, what are theriches of the glory of His inheritance inthe saints,19 and what is the exceeding greatnessof His power toward us who believe,according to the working of His mightypower20which He worked in Christ when Heraised Him from the dead and seatedHim at His right hand in the heavenlyplaces,21 far above all principality and powerand might and dominion, and everyname that is named, not only in this agebut also in that which is to come.22And He put all things under His feet,and gave Him to be head over all thingsto the church,23which is His body, the fullness of Himwho fills all in all.

2 1And you He made alive, who weredead in trespasses and sins,

EPHESIANS 2 52 in which you once walked accordingto the course of this world, accordingto the prince of the power of the air,the spirit who now works in the sons ofdisobedience,3 among whom also we all onceconducted ourselves in the lusts of ourflesh, fulfilling the desires of the fleshand of the mind, and were by naturechildren of wrath, just as the others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, becauseof His great love with which He loved us,5 even when we were dead intrespasses, made us alive together withChrist (by grace you have been saved),6 and raised us up together, and madeus sit together in the heavenly places inChrist Jesus,7 that in the ages to come He mightshow the exceeding riches of His gracein His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

EPHESIANS 2 68 For by grace you have been savedthrough faith, and that not of yourselves;it is the gi of God,9 not of works, lest anyone shouldboast.10 For we are His workmanship, createdin Christ Jesus for good works, whichGod prepared beforehand that weshould walk in them.11 Therefore remember that you, onceGen les in the flesh––who are calledUncircumcision by what is called theCircumcision made in the flesh byhands––12 that at that me you werewithout Christ, being aliens from thecommonwealth of Israel and strangersfrom the covenants of promise, havingno hope and without God in the world.13 But now in Christ Jesus you who oncewere far off have been brought near bythe blood of Christ.

EPHESIANS 2 714 For He Himself is our peace, who hasmade both one, and has broken downthe middle wall of separa on,15 having abolished in His fleshthe enmity, that is, the lawof commandments contained inordinances, so as to create in Himselfone new man from the two, thus makingpeace,16 and that He might reconcile themboth to God in one body through thecross, thereby pu ng to death theenmity.17And He came and preached peace toyou who were afar off and to those whowere near.18 For through Him we both have accessby one Spirit to the Father.19Now, therefore, you are no longerstrangers and foreigners, but fellowci zens with the saints and members ofthe household of God,

EPHESIANS 2–3 820 having been built on the founda onof the apostles and prophets, Jesus ChristHimself being the chief cornerstone,21 in whom the whole building, beingjoined together, grows into a holy templein the Lord,22 in whom you also are being builttogether for a dwelling place of God inthe Spirit.

3 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisonerof Christ Jesus for you Gen les––

2 if indeed you have heard of thedispensa on of the grace of God whichwas given to me for you,3 how that by revela on He madeknown to me the mystery (as I havebriefly wri en already,4 by which, when you read, you mayunderstand my knowledge in themystery of Christ),5which in other ages was not madeknown to the sons of men, as it has now

EPHESIANS 3 9been revealed by the Spirit to His holyapostles and prophets:6 that the Gen les should be fellowheirs, of the same body, and partakers ofHis promise in Christ through the gospel,7 ofwhich I became aminister accordingto the gi of the grace of God givento me by the effec ve working of Hispower.8 To me, who am less than the least ofall the saints, this grace was given, thatI should preach among the Gen les theunsearchable riches of Christ,9 and to make all see what is thefellowship of the mystery, which fromthe beginning of the ages has beenhidden in God who created all thingsthrough Jesus Christ;10 to the intent that now the manifoldwisdom of God might be made knownby the church to the principali es andpowers in the heavenly places,

EPHESIANS 3 1011 according to the eternal purposewhich He accomplished in Christ Jesusour Lord,12 in whom we have boldness andaccess with confidence through faith inHim.13 Therefore I ask that you do not loseheart at my tribula ons for you, which isyour glory.14 For this reason I bow my knees to theFather of our Lord Jesus Christ,15 from whom the whole family inheaven and earth is named,16 that He would grant you, accordingto the riches of His glory, to bestrengthened with might through HisSpirit in the inner man,17 that Christ may dwell in your heartsthrough faith; that you, being rootedand grounded in love,

EPHESIANS 3–4 1118may be able to comprehend with allthe saints what is the width and lengthand depth and height––19 to know the love of Christ whichpasses knowledge; that you may be filledwith all the fullness of God.20Now to Him who is able to doexceedingly abundantly above all thatwe ask or think, according to the powerthat works in us,21 to Him be glory in the church byChrist Jesus to all genera ons, foreverand ever. Amen.

4 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of theLord, beseech you to walk worthy of

the calling with which you were called,2with all lowliness and gentleness, withlongsuffering, bearing with one anotherin love,3 endeavoring to keep the unity of theSpirit in the bond of peace.

EPHESIANS 4 124 There is one body and one Spirit, justas you were called in one hope of yourcalling;5 one Lord, one faith, one bap sm;6 one God and Father of all, who isabove all, and through all, and in you all.7 But to each one of us grace was givenaccording to the measure of Christ’s gi .8 Therefore He says: "When Heascended on high, He led cap vitycap ve, And gave gi s to men."9 (Now this, "He ascended" ––whatdoes it mean but that He also firstdescended into the lower parts of theearth?10He who descended is also the Onewho ascended far above all the heavens,that He might fill all things.)11And He Himself gave some tobe apostles, some prophets, someevangelists, and some pastors andteachers,

EPHESIANS 4 1312 for the equipping of the saints for thework of ministry, for the edifying of thebody of Christ,13 ll we all come to the unity of thefaith and of the knowledge of the Son ofGod, to a perfect man, to the measure ofthe stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we should no longer be children,tossed to and fro and carried about withevery wind of doctrine, by the trickeryof men, in the cunning cra iness ofdecei ul plo ng,15 but, speaking the truth in love, maygrow up in all things into Him who is thehead––Christ––16 from whom the whole body, joinedand knit together by what every jointsupplies, according to the effec veworking by which every part does itsshare, causes growth of the body for theedifying of itself in love.

EPHESIANS 4 1417 This I say, therefore, and tes fy inthe Lord, that you should no longer walkas the rest of the Gen les walk, in thefu lity of their mind,18 having their understanding darkened,being alienated from the life of God,because of the ignorance that is in them,because of the blindness of their heart;19who, being past feeling, have giventhemselves over to lewdness, to work alluncleanness with greediness.20 But you have not so learned Christ,21 if indeed you have heard Him andhave been taught by Him, as the truth isin Jesus:22 that you put off, concerning yourformer conduct, the old man whichgrows corrupt according to the decei ullusts,23 and be renewed in the spirit of yourmind,

EPHESIANS 4 1524 and that you put on the new manwhich was created according to God, intrue righteousness and holiness.25 Therefore, pu ng away lying, "Leteach one of you speak truth with hisneighbor," for we are members of oneanother.26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not letthe sun go down on your wrath,27 nor give place to the devil.28 Let him who stole steal no longer,but rather let him labor, working with hishands what is good, that he may havesomething to give him who has need.29 Let no corrupt word proceed outof your mouth, but what is good fornecessary edifica on, that it may impartgrace to the hearers.30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit ofGod, by whom you were sealed for theday of redemp on.

EPHESIANS 4–5 1631 Let all bi erness, wrath, anger,clamor, and evil speaking be put awayfrom you, with all malice.32And be kind to one another,tenderhearted, forgiving one another,just as God in Christ forgave you.

5 1 Therefore be imitators of God asdear children.

2And walk in love, as Christ also hasloved us and given Himself for us, anoffering and a sacrifice to God for asweet–smelling aroma.3 But fornica on and all uncleanness orcovetousness, let it not even be namedamong you, as is fi ng for saints;4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking,nor coarse jes ng, which are not fi ng,but rather giving of thanks.5 For this you know, that no fornicator,unclean person, nor covetous man, whois an idolater, has any inheritance in thekingdom of Christ and God.

EPHESIANS 5 176 Let no one deceive you with emptywords, for because of these things thewrath of God comes upon the sons ofdisobedience.7 Therefore do not be partakers withthem.8 For you were once darkness, but nowyou are light in the Lord. Walk as childrenof light9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in allgoodness, righteousness, and truth),10 finding out what is acceptable to theLord.11And have no fellowship with theunfrui ul works of darkness, but ratherexpose them.12 For it is shameful even to speak ofthose things which are done by them insecret.13 But all things that are exposed aremade manifest by the light, for whatevermakes manifest is light.

EPHESIANS 5 1814 Therefore He says: "Awake, you whosleep, Arise from the dead, And Christwill give you light."15 See then that you walk circumspectly,not as fools but as wise,16 redeeming the me, because thedays are evil.17 Therefore do not be unwise, butunderstand what the will of the Lord is.18And do not be drunk with wine, inwhich is dissipa on; but be filled withthe Spirit,19 speaking to one another in psalmsand hymns and spiritual songs, singingand making melody in your heart to theLord,20 giving thanks always for all things toGod the Father in the name of our LordJesus Christ,21 submi ng to one another in the fearof God.

EPHESIANS 5 1922Wives, submit to your own husbands,as to the Lord.23 For the husband is head of the wife,as also Christ is head of the church; andHe is the Savior of the body.24 Therefore, just as the church issubject to Christ, so let the wives be totheir own husbands in everything.25Husbands, love your wives, just asChrist also loved the church and gaveHimself for her,26 that He might sanc fy and cleanseher with the washing of water by theword,27 that He might present her to Himselfa glorious church, not having spot orwrinkle or any such thing, but that sheshould be holy and without blemish.28 So husbands ought to love their ownwives as their own bodies; he who loveshis wife loves himself.

EPHESIANS 5–6 2029 For no one ever hated his own flesh,but nourishes and cherishes it, just asthe Lord does the church.30 For we are members of His body, ofHis flesh and of His bones.31 "For this reason a man shall leavehis father and mother and be joined tohis wife, and the two shall become oneflesh."32 This is a great mystery, but I speakconcerning Christ and the church.33Nevertheless let each one of youin par cular so love his own wife ashimself, and let the wife see that sherespects her husband.

6 1 Children, obey your parents in theLord, for this is right.

2 "Honor your father and mother,"which is the first commandment withpromise:3 "that it may be well with you and youmay live long on the earth."

EPHESIANS 6 214And you, fathers, do not provoke yourchildren to wrath, but bring them up inthe training and admoni on of the Lord.5 Bondservants, be obedient to thosewho are your masters according tothe flesh, with fear and trembling, insincerity of heart, as to Christ;6 not with eyeservice, as men–pleasers,but as bondservants of Christ, doing thewill of God from the heart,7with goodwill doing service, as to theLord, and not to men,8 knowing that whatever good anyonedoes, he will receive the same from theLord, whether he is a slave or free.9And you, masters, do the same thingsto them, giving up threatening, knowingthat your own Master also is in heaven,and there is no par ality with Him.10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in theLord and in the power of His might.

EPHESIANS 6 2211 Put on the whole armor of God, thatyou may be able to stand against thewiles of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against fleshand blood, but against principali es,against powers, against the rulers of thedarkness of this age, against spiritualhosts of wickedness in the heavenlyplaces.13 Therefore take up the whole armor ofGod, that you may be able to withstandin the evil day, and having done all, tostand.14 Stand therefore, having girded yourwaist with truth, having put on thebreastplate of righteousness,15 and having shod your feet with theprepara on of the gospel of peace;16 above all, taking the shield of faithwith which you will be able to quench allthe fiery darts of the wicked one.

EPHESIANS 6 2317And take the helmet of salva on,and the sword of the Spirit, which is theword of God;18 praying always with all prayer andsupplica on in the Spirit, being watchfulto this end with all perseverance andsupplica on for all the saints––19 and for me, that u erance may begiven to me, that I may open my mouthboldly to make known the mystery ofthe gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador inchains; that in it I may speak boldly, as Iought to speak.21 But that you also may know myaffairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, abeloved brother and faithful minister inthe Lord, will make all things known toyou;22whom I have sent to you for this verypurpose, that you may know our affairs,and that he may comfort your hearts.

EPHESIANS 6 2423 Peace to the brethren, and love withfaith, from God the Father and the LordJesus Christ.24Grace be with all those who love ourLord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Philippians

1 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservantsof Jesus Christ, To all the saints in

Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with thebishops and deacons:2Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 I thank my God upon everyremembrance of you,4 always in every prayer of mine makingrequest for you all with joy,5 for your fellowship in the gospel fromthe first day un l now,6 being confident of this very thing, thatHe who has begun a good work in youwill complete it un l the day of JesusChrist;7 just as it is right for me to think this ofyou all, because I have you in my heart,

PHILIPPIANS 1 2inasmuch as both in my chains and in thedefense and confirma on of the gospel,you all are partakers with me of grace.8 For God is my witness, how greatlyI long for you all with the affec on ofJesus Christ.9And this I pray, that your lovemay abound s ll more and more inknowledge and all discernment,10 that you may approve the things thatare excellent, that you may be sincereand without offense ll the day of Christ,11 being filled with the fruits ofrighteousness which are by Jesus Christ,to the glory and praise of God.12 But I want you to know, brethren,that the things which happened tome have actually turned out for thefurtherance of the gospel,13 so that it has become evident to thewhole palace guard, and to all the rest,that my chains are in Christ;

PHILIPPIANS 1 314 and most of the brethren in the Lord,having become confident by my chains,are much more bold to speak the wordwithout fear.15 Some indeed preach Christ evenfrom envy and strife, and some also fromgood will:16 The former preach Christ from selfishambi on, not sincerely, supposing toadd afflic on to my chains;17 but the la er out of love, knowingthat I am appointed for the defense ofthe gospel.18What then? Only that in every way,whether in pretense or in truth, Christ ispreached; and in this I rejoice, yes, andwill rejoice.19 For I know that this will turn out formy deliverance through your prayer andthe supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,20 according to my earnest expecta onand hope that in nothing I shall be

PHILIPPIANS 1 4ashamed, but with all boldness, asalways, so now also Christ will bemagnified in my body, whether by life orby death.21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to dieis gain.22 But if I live on in the flesh, this willmean fruit from my labor; yet what Ishall choose I cannot tell.23 For I am hard pressed between thetwo, having a desire to depart and bewith Christ, which is far be er.24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh ismore needful for you.25And being confident of this, I knowthat I shall remain and con nue with youall for your progress and joy of faith,26 that your rejoicing for me may bemore abundant in Jesus Christ by mycoming to you again.27Only let your conduct be worthy ofthe gospel of Christ, so that whether I

PHILIPPIANS 1–2 5come and see you or am absent, I mayhear of your affairs, that you stand fastin one spirit, with one mind strivingtogether for the faith of the gospel,28 and not in any way terrified by youradversaries, which is to them a proof ofperdi on, but to you of salva on, andthat from God.29 For to you it has been granted onbehalf of Christ, not only to believe inHim, but also to suffer for His sake,30 having the same conflict which yousaw in me and now hear is in me.

2 1 Therefore if there is any consola onin Christ, if any comfort of love, if any

fellowship of the Spirit, if any affec onand mercy,2 fulfill my joy by being like–minded,having the same love, being of oneaccord, of one mind.3 Let nothing be done through selfishambi on or conceit, but in lowliness of

PHILIPPIANS 2 6mind let each esteem others be er thanhimself.4 Let each of you look out not onlyfor his own interests, but also for theinterests of others.5 Let this mind be in you which was alsoin Christ Jesus,6who, being in the form of God, didnot consider it robbery to be equal withGod,7 but made Himself of no reputa on,taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men.8And being found in appearance as aman, He humbled Himself and becameobedient to the point of death, even thedeath of the cross.9 Therefore God also has highly exaltedHim and given Him the name which isabove every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every kneeshould bow, of those in heaven, and of

PHILIPPIANS 2 7those on earth, and of those under theearth,11 and that every tongue should confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory ofGod the Father.12 Therefore, my beloved, as you havealways obeyed, not as in my presenceonly, but nowmuch more in my absence,work out your own salva on with fearand trembling;13 for it is God who works in you bothto will and to do for His good pleasure.14Do all things without complainingand dispu ng,15 that you may become blameless andharmless, children of God without faultin the midst of a crooked and perversegenera on, among whom you shine aslights in the world,16 holding fast the word of life, so thatI may rejoice in the day of Christ that Ihave not run in vain or labored in vain.

PHILIPPIANS 2 817 Yes, and if I am being poured outas a drink offering on the sacrifice andservice of your faith, I am glad andrejoice with you all.18 For the same reason you also be gladand rejoice with me.19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to sendTimothy to you shortly, that I also maybe encouraged when I know your state.20 For I have no one like–minded, whowill sincerely care for your state.21 For all seek their own, not the thingswhich are of Christ Jesus.22 But you know his proven character,that as a son with his father he servedwith me in the gospel.23 Therefore I hope to send him at once,as soon as I see how it goes with me.24 But I trust in the Lord that I myselfshall also come shortly.25 Yet I considered it necessary to sendto you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow

PHILIPPIANS 2 9worker, and fellow soldier, but yourmessenger and the one who ministeredto my need;26 since he was longing for you all, andwas distressed because you had heardthat he was sick.27 For indeed he was sick almost untodeath; but God had mercy on him, andnot only on him but on me also, lest Ishould have sorrow upon sorrow.28 Therefore I sent him the moreeagerly, that when you see him againyou may rejoice, and I may be lesssorrowful.29 Receive him therefore in the Lordwith all gladness, and hold such men inesteem;30 because for the work of Christ hecame close to death, not regarding hislife, to supply what was lacking in yourservice toward me.

PHILIPPIANS 3 10

3 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice inthe Lord. For me to write the same

things to you is not tedious, but for youit is safe.2 Beware of dogs, beware of evilworkers, beware of the mu la on!3 For we are the circumcision, whoworship God in the Spirit, rejoice inChrist Jesus, and have no confidence inthe flesh,4 though I also might have confidencein the flesh. If anyone else thinks he mayhave confidence in the flesh, I more so:5 circumcised the eighth day, of thestock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerningthe law, a Pharisee;6 concerning zeal, persecu ng thechurch; concerning the righteousnesswhich is in the law, blameless.7 But what things were gain to me,these I have counted loss for Christ.

PHILIPPIANS 3 118 Yet indeed I also count all things lossfor the excellence of the knowledge ofChrist Jesus my Lord, for whom I havesuffered the loss of all things, and countthem as rubbish, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in Him, not having myown righteousness, which is from thelaw, but that which is through faith inChrist, the righteousness which is fromGod by faith;10 that I may know Him and the powerof His resurrec on, and the fellowship ofHis sufferings, being conformed to Hisdeath,11 if, by any means, I may a ain to theresurrec on from the dead.12Not that I have already a ained, oram already perfected; but I press on,that I may lay hold of that for whichChrist Jesus has also laid hold of me.13 Brethren, I do not count myself tohave apprehended; but one thing I do,

PHILIPPIANS 3 12forge ng those things which are behindand reaching forward to those thingswhich are ahead,14 I press toward the goal for the prizeof the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.15 Therefore let us, as many as aremature, have this mind; and if inanything you think otherwise, God willreveal even this to you.16Nevertheless, to the degree that wehave already a ained, let us walk by thesame rule, let us be of the same mind.17 Brethren, join in following myexample, and note those who so walk,as you have us for a pa ern.18 For many walk, of whom I havetold you o en, and now tell you evenweeping, that they are the enemies ofthe cross of Christ:19whose end is destruc on, whose godis their belly, and whose glory is in their

PHILIPPIANS 3–4 13shame––who set their mind on earthlythings.20 For our ci zenship is in heaven, fromwhich we also eagerly wait for the Savior,the Lord Jesus Christ,21who will transform our lowly bodythat it may be conformed to His gloriousbody, according to the working by whichHe is able even to subdue all things toHimself.

4 1 Therefore, my beloved and longed–for brethren, my joy and crown, so

stand fast in the Lord, beloved.2 I implore Euodia and I imploreSyntyche to be of the same mind in theLord.3And I urge you also, true companion,help these women who labored with mein the gospel, with Clement also, and therest of my fellow workers, whose namesare in the Book of Life.

PHILIPPIANS 4 144 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I willsay, rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be known to allmen. The Lord is at hand.6 Be anxious for nothing, but ineverything by prayer and supplica on,with thanksgiving, let your requests bemade known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpassesall understanding, will guard your heartsand minds through Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brethren, whatever thingsare true, whatever things are noble,whatever things are just, whateverthings are pure, whatever things arelovely, whatever things are of goodreport, if there is any virtue and if thereis anything praiseworthy––meditate onthese things.9 The things which you learned andreceived and heard and saw in me, these

PHILIPPIANS 4 15do, and the God of peace will be withyou.10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatlythat now at last your care for me hasflourished again; though you surely didcare, but you lacked opportunity.11Not that I speak in regard to need,for I have learned in whatever state I am,to be content:12 I know how to be abased, and I knowhow to abound. Everywhere and in allthings I have learned both to be full andto be hungry, both to abound and tosuffer need.13 I can do all things through Christ whostrengthens me.14Nevertheless you have done wellthat you shared in my distress.15Now you Philippians know also thatin the beginning of the gospel, when Ideparted from Macedonia, no church

PHILIPPIANS 4 16shared with me concerning giving andreceiving but you only.16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aidonce and again for my necessi es.17Not that I seek the gi , but I seek thefruit that abounds to your account.18 Indeed I have all and abound. I amfull, having received from Epaphroditusthe things sent from you, a sweet–smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,well pleasing to God.19And my God shall supply all yourneed according to His riches in glory byChrist Jesus.20Now to our God and Father be gloryforever and ever. Amen.21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Thebrethren who are with me greet you.22All the saints greet you, but especiallythose who are of Caesar’s household.23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you all. Amen.

Colossians

1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ bythe will of God, and Timothy our

brother,2 To the saints and faithful brethren inChrist who are in Colosse: Grace to youand peace from God our Father and theLord Jesus Christ.3We give thanks to the God and Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ, praying alwaysfor you,4 since we heard of your faith in ChristJesus and of your love for all the saints;5 because of the hope which is laid upfor you in heaven, of which you heardbefore in the word of the truth of thegospel,6which has come to you, as it has alsoin all the world, and is bringing forth

COLOSSIANS 1 2fruit, as it is also among you since theday you heard and knew the grace ofGod in truth;7 as you also learned from Epaphras,our dear fellow servant, who is a faithfulminister of Christ on your behalf,8who also declared to us your love inthe Spirit.9 For this reason we also, since the daywe heard it, do not cease to pray for you,and to ask that you may be filled withthe knowledge of His will in all wisdomand spiritual understanding;10 that you may walk worthy of theLord, fully pleasing Him, being frui ul inevery good work and increasing in theknowledge of God;11 strengthened with all might,according to His glorious power, for allpa ence and longsuffering with joy;

COLOSSIANS 1 312 giving thanks to the Father whohas qualified us to be partakers of theinheritance of the saints in the light.13He has delivered us from the powerof darkness and conveyed us into thekingdom of the Son of His love,14 in whom we have redemp onthrough His blood, the forgiveness ofsins.15He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn over all crea on.16 For by Him all things were createdthat are in heaven and that are on earth,visible and invisible, whether thrones ordominions or principali es or powers.All things were created through Him andfor Him.17And He is before all things, and inHim all things consist.18And He is the head of the body,the church, who is the beginning, the

COLOSSIANS 1 4firstborn from the dead, that in all thingsHe may have the preeminence.19 For it pleased the Father that in Himall the fullness should dwell,20 and by Him to reconcile all thingsto Himself, by Him, whether things onearth or things in heaven, having madepeace through the blood of His cross.21And you, who once were alienatedand enemies in your mind by wickedworks, yet now He has reconciled22 in the body of His flesh throughdeath, to present you holy, andblameless, and above reproach in Hissight––23 if indeed you con nue in the faith,grounded and steadfast, and are notmoved away from the hope of the gospelwhich you heard, which was preached toevery creature under heaven, of which I,Paul, became a minister.

COLOSSIANS 1 524 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you,and fill up in my flesh what is lacking inthe afflic ons of Christ, for the sake ofHis body, which is the church,25 of which I became a ministeraccording to the stewardship from Godwhich was given to me for you, to fulfillthe word of God,26 the mystery which has been hiddenfrom ages and from genera ons, butnow has been revealed to His saints.27 To them God willed to make knownwhat are the riches of the glory of thismystery among the Gen les: which isChrist in you, the hope of glory.28Him we preach, warning every manand teaching every man in all wisdom,that we may present every man perfectin Christ Jesus.29 To this end I also labor, strivingaccording to His working which works inme migh ly.

COLOSSIANS 2 6

2 1 For I want you to knowwhat a greatconflict I have for you and those in

Laodicea, and for as many as have notseen my face in the flesh,2 that their hearts may be encouraged,being knit together in love, and a ainingto all riches of the full assurance ofunderstanding, to the knowledge of themystery of God, both of the Father andof Christ,3 in whom are hidden all the treasuresof wisdom and knowledge.4Now this I say lest anyone shoulddeceive you with persuasive words.5 For though I am absent in the flesh,yet I amwith you in spirit, rejoicing to seeyour good order and the steadfastnessof your faith in Christ.6As you have therefore received ChristJesus the Lord, so walk in Him,7 rooted and built up in Him andestablished in the faith, as you have

COLOSSIANS 2 7been taught, abounding in it withthanksgiving.8 Beware lest anyone cheat you throughphilosophy and empty deceit, accordingto the tradi on of men, according to thebasic principles of the world, and notaccording to Christ.9 For in Him dwells all the fullness ofthe Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who isthe head of all principality and power.11 In Him you were also circumcisedwith the circumcision made withouthands, by pu ng off the body of thesins of the flesh, by the circumcision ofChrist,12 buried with Him in bap sm, in whichyou also were raised with Him throughfaith in the working of God, who raisedHim from the dead.13And you, being dead in yourtrespasses and the uncircumcision of

COLOSSIANS 2 8your flesh, He has made alive togetherwith Him, having forgiven you alltrespasses,14 having wiped out the handwri ng ofrequirements that was against us, whichwas contrary to us. And He has taken itout of the way, having nailed it to thecross.15Having disarmed principali es andpowers, He made a public spectacle ofthem, triumphing over them in it.16 So let no one judge you in food or indrink, or regarding a fes val or a newmoon or sabbaths,17which are a shadow of things tocome, but the substance is of Christ.18 Let no one cheat you of your reward,taking delight in false humility andworship of angels, intruding into thosethings which he has not seen, vainlypuffed up by his fleshly mind,

COLOSSIANS 2–3 919 and not holding fast to the Head,from whom all the body, nourished andknit together by joints and ligaments,grows with the increase that is fromGod.20 Therefore, if you died with Christfrom the basic principles of the world,why, as though living in the world, doyou subject yourselves to regula ons––21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do nothandle,"22which all concern things whichperish with the using––according to thecommandments and doctrines of men?23 These things indeed have anappearance of wisdom in self–imposedreligion, false humility, and neglect ofthe body, but are of no value against theindulgence of the flesh.

3 1 If then you were raised with Christ,seek those things which are above,

COLOSSIANS 3 10where Christ is, si ng at the right handof God.2 Set your mind on things above, not onthings on the earth.3 For you died, and your life is hiddenwith Christ in God.4When Christ who is our life appears,then you also will appear with Him inglory.5 Therefore put to death your memberswhich are on the earth: fornica on,uncleanness, passion, evil desire, andcovetousness, which is idolatry.6 Because of these things the wrathof God is coming upon the sons ofdisobedience,7 in which you yourselves once walkedwhen you lived in them.8 But now you yourselves are to putoff all these: anger, wrath, malice,blasphemy, filthy language out of yourmouth.

COLOSSIANS 3 119Do not lie to one another, since youhave put off the old man with his deeds,10 and have put on the new man who isrenewed in knowledge according to theimage of Him who created him,11where there is neither Greek norJew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, butChrist is all and in all.12 Therefore, as the elect of God,holy and beloved, put on tendermercies, kindness, humility, meekness,longsuffering;13 bearing with one another, andforgiving one another, if anyone hasa complaint against another; even asChrist forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put onlove, which is the bond of perfec on.15And let the peace of God rule in yourhearts, to which also you were called inone body; and be thankful.

COLOSSIANS 3 1216 Let the word of Christ dwell inyou richly in all wisdom, teaching andadmonishing one another in psalms andhymns and spiritual songs, singing withgrace in your hearts to the Lord.17And whatever you do in word ordeed, do all in the name of the LordJesus, giving thanks to God the Fatherthrough Him.18Wives, submit to your own husbands,as is fi ng in the Lord.19Husbands, love your wives and donot be bi er toward them.20 Children, obey your parents in allthings, for this is well pleasing to theLord.21 Fathers, do not provoke yourchildren, lest they become discouraged.22 Bondservants, obey in all things yourmasters according to the flesh, not witheyeservice, as men–pleasers, but insincerity of heart, fearing God.

COLOSSIANS 3–4 1323And whatever you do, do it hear ly,as to the Lord and not to men,24 knowing that from the Lord you willreceive the reward of the inheritance;for you serve the Lord Christ.25 But he who does wrong will be repaidfor what he has done, and there is nopar ality.

4 1Masters, give your bondservantswhat is just and fair, knowing that

you also have a Master in heaven.2 Con nue earnestly in prayer, beingvigilant in it with thanksgiving;3meanwhile praying also for us, thatGod would open to us a door for theword, to speak the mystery of Christ, forwhich I am also in chains,4 that I may make it manifest, as I oughtto speak.5Walk in wisdom toward those who areoutside, redeeming the me.

COLOSSIANS 4 146 Let your speech always be with grace,seasoned with salt, that you may knowhow you ought to answer each one.7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithfulminister, and fellow servant in the Lord,will tell you all the news about me.8 I am sending him to you for thisvery purpose, that he may know yourcircumstances and comfort your hearts,9with Onesimus, a faithful and belovedbrother, who is one of you. They willmake known to you all things which arehappening here.10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greetsyou, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas(about whom you received instruc ons:if he comes to you, welcome him),11 and Jesus who is called Justus.These are my only fellow workers forthe kingdom of God who are of thecircumcision; they have proved to be acomfort to me.

COLOSSIANS 4 1512 Epaphras, who is one of you, abondservant of Christ, greets you,always laboring fervently for you inprayers, that you may stand perfect andcomplete in all the will of God.13 For I bear him witness that he has agreat zeal for you, and those who are inLaodicea, and those in Hierapolis.14 Luke the beloved physician andDemas greet you.15Greet the brethren who are inLaodicea, and Nymphas and the churchthat is in his house.16Now when this epistle is read amongyou, see that it is read also in the churchof the Laodiceans, and that you likewiseread the epistle from Laodicea.17And say to Archippus, "Take heed tothe ministry which you have received inthe Lord, that you may fulfill it."

COLOSSIANS 4 1618 This saluta on by my own hand––Paul. Remember my chains. Grace bewith you. Amen.

1 Thessalonians

1 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To thechurch of the Thessalonians in God

the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.2We give thanks to God always foryou all, making men on of you in ourprayers,3 remembering without ceasing yourwork of faith, labor of love, and pa enceof hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in thesight of our God and Father,4 knowing, beloved brethren, yourelec on by God.5 For our gospel did not come to youin word only, but also in power, and inthe Holy Spirit and in much assurance,

1 THESSALONIANS 1 2as you know what kind of men we wereamong you for your sake.6And you became followers of us andof the Lord, having received the wordin much afflic on, with joy of the HolySpirit,7 so that you became examples to all inMacedonia and Achaia who believe.8 For from you the word of the Lord hassounded forth, not only in Macedoniaand Achaia, but also in every place. Yourfaith toward God has gone out, so thatwe do not need to say anything.9 For they themselves declareconcerning us what manner of entry wehad to you, and how you turned to Godfrom idols to serve the living and trueGod,10 and to wait for His Son from heaven,whom He raised from the dead, evenJesus who delivers us from the wrath tocome.

1 THESSALONIANS 2 3

2 1 For you yourselves know, brethren,that our coming to you was not in

vain.2 But even a er we had suffered beforeand were spitefully treated at Philippi,as you know, we were bold in our God tospeak to you the gospel of God in muchconflict.3 For our exhorta on did not comefrom error or uncleanness, nor was it indeceit.4 But as we have been approved by Godto be entrusted with the gospel, even sowe speak, not as pleasing men, but Godwho tests our hearts.5 For neither at any me did we usefla ering words, as you know, nor acloak for covetousness––God is witness.6Nor did we seek glory from men,either from you or from others, when wemight have made demands as apostlesof Christ.

1 THESSALONIANS 2 47 But we were gentle among you, justas a nursing mother cherishes her ownchildren.8 So, affec onately longing for you, wewere well pleased to impart to you notonly the gospel of God, but also our ownlives, because you had become dear tous.9 For you remember, brethren, ourlabor and toil; for laboring night and day,that we might not be a burden to any ofyou, we preached to you the gospel ofGod.10 You are witnesses, and God also,how devoutly and justly and blamelesslywe behaved ourselves among you whobelieve;11 as you know how we exhorted, andcomforted, and charged every one ofyou, as a father does his own children,

1 THESSALONIANS 2 512 that you would walk worthy of Godwho calls you into His own kingdom andglory.13 For this reason we also thank Godwithout ceasing, because when youreceived the word of God which youheard from us, you welcomed it not asthe word of men, but as it is in truth,the word of God, which also effec velyworks in you who believe.14 For you, brethren, became imitatorsof the churches of God which are inJudea in Christ Jesus. For you alsosuffered the same things from your owncountrymen, just as they did from theJudeans,15who killed both the Lord Jesusand their own prophets, and havepersecuted us; and they do not pleaseGod and are contrary to all men,16 forbidding us to speak to the Gen lesthat they may be saved, so as always

1 THESSALONIANS 2–3 6to fill up the measure of their sins;but wrath has come upon them to theu ermost.17 But we, brethren, having beentaken away from you for a short mein presence, not in heart, endeavoredmore eagerly to see your face with greatdesire.18 Therefore we wanted to come toyou––even I, Paul, me and again––butSatan hindered us.19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crownof rejoicing? Is it not even you in thepresence of our Lord Jesus Christ at Hiscoming?20 For you are our glory and joy.

3 1 Therefore, when we could nolonger endure it, we thought it good

to be le in Athens alone,2 and sent Timothy, our brother andminister of God, and our fellow laborerin the gospel of Christ, to establish you

1 THESSALONIANS 3 7and encourage you concerning yourfaith,3 that no one should be shaken by theseafflic ons; for you yourselves know thatwe are appointed to this.4 For, in fact, we told you before whenwe were with you that we would suffertribula on, just as it happened, and youknow.5 For this reason, when I could nolonger endure it, I sent to know yourfaith, lest by some means the tempterhad tempted you, and our labor mightbe in vain.6 But now that Timothy has come to usfrom you, and brought us good news ofyour faith and love, and that you alwayshave good remembrance of us, greatlydesiring to see us, as we also to seeyou––

1 THESSALONIANS 3 87 therefore, brethren, in all ourafflic on and distress we werecomforted concerning you by your faith.8 For now we live, if you stand fast inthe Lord.9 For what thanks can we render to Godfor you, for all the joy with which werejoice for your sake before our God,10 night and day praying exceedinglythat we may see your face and perfectwhat is lacking in your faith?11Now may our God and FatherHimself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, directour way to you.12And may the Lord make you increaseand abound in love to one another andto all, just as we do to you,13 so that He may establish your heartsblameless in holiness before our Godand Father at the coming of our LordJesus Christ with all His saints.

1 THESSALONIANS 4 9

4 1 Finally then, brethren, we urge andexhort in the Lord Jesus that you

should abound more and more, just asyou received from us how you ought towalk and to please God;2 for you know what commandmentswe gave you through the Lord Jesus.3 For this is the will of God, yoursanc fica on: that you should abstainfrom sexual immorality;4 that each of you should know how topossess his own vessel in sanc fica onand honor,5 not in passion of lust, like the Gen leswho do not know God;6 that no one should take advantage ofand defraud his brother in this ma er,because the Lord is the avenger of allsuch, as we also forewarned you andtes fied.7 For God did not call us to uncleanness,but in holiness.

1 THESSALONIANS 4 108 Therefore he who rejects this doesnot reject man, but God, who has alsogiven us His Holy Spirit.9 But concerning brotherly love youhave no need that I should write to you,for you yourselves are taught by God tolove one another;10 and indeed you do so toward all thebrethren who are in all Macedonia. Butwe urge you, brethren, that you increasemore and more;11 that you also aspire to lead a quietlife, to mind your own business, andto work with your own hands, as wecommanded you,12 that you may walk properly towardthose who are outside, and that you maylack nothing.13 But I do not want you to be ignorant,brethren, concerning those who havefallen asleep, lest you sorrow as otherswho have no hope.

1 THESSALONIANS 4–5 1114 For if we believe that Jesus died androse again, even so God will bring withHim those who sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the wordof the Lord, that we who are alive andremain un l the coming of the Lord willby no means precede those who areasleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descendfrom heaven with a shout, with the voiceof an archangel, and with the trumpet ofGod. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remainshall be caught up together with them inthe clouds to meet the Lord in the air.And thus we shall always be with theLord.18 Therefore comfort one another withthese words.

5 1 But concerning the mes and theseasons, brethren, you have no need

that I should write to you.

1 THESSALONIANS 5 122 For you yourselves know perfectlythat the day of the Lord so comes as athief in the night.3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!"then sudden destruc on comes uponthem, as labor pains upon a pregnantwoman. And they shall not escape.4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness,so that this Day should overtake you as athief.5 You are all sons of light and sons ofthe day. We are not of the night nor ofdarkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as othersdo, but let us watch and be sober.7 For those who sleep, sleep at night,and those who get drunk are drunk atnight.8 But let us who are of the day besober, pu ng on the breastplate of faithand love, and as a helmet the hope ofsalva on.

1 THESSALONIANS 5 139 For God did not appoint us to wrath,but to obtain salva on through our LordJesus Christ,10who died for us, that whether wewake or sleep, we should live togetherwith Him.11 Therefore comfort each other andedify one another, just as you also aredoing.12And we urge you, brethren, torecognize those who labor amongyou, and are over you in the Lord andadmonish you,13 and to esteem them very highly inlove for their work’s sake. Be at peaceamong yourselves.14Now we exhort you, brethren,warn those who are unruly, comfortthe fainthearted, uphold the weak, bepa ent with all.

1 THESSALONIANS 5 1415 See that no one renders evil for evilto anyone, but always pursue what isgood both for yourselves and for all.16 Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 in everything give thanks; for this isthe will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19Do not quench the Spirit.20Do not despise prophecies.21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.22Abstain from every form of evil.23Now may the God of peace Himselfsanc fy you completely; and may yourwhole spirit, soul, and body be preservedblameless at the coming of our LordJesus Christ.24He who calls you is faithful, who alsowill do it.25 Brethren, pray for us.26Greet all the brethren with a holykiss.

1 THESSALONIANS 5 1527 I charge you by the Lord that thisepistle be read to all the holy brethren.28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you. Amen.

2 Thessalonians

1 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To thechurch of the Thessalonians in God

our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:2Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.3We are bound to thank God alwaysfor you, brethren, as it is fi ng, becauseyour faith grows exceedingly, and thelove of every one of you all aboundstoward each other,4 so that we ourselves boast ofyou among the churches of God foryour pa ence and faith in all yourpersecu ons and tribula ons that youendure,5which is manifest evidence of therighteous judgment of God, that you

2 THESSALONIANS 1 2may be counted worthy of the kingdomof God, for which you also suffer;6 since it is a righteous thing with Godto repay with tribula on those whotrouble you,7 and to give you who are troubled restwith us when the Lord Jesus is revealedfrom heaven with His mighty angels,8 in flaming fire taking vengeance onthose who do not know God, and onthose who do not obey the gospel of ourLord Jesus Christ.9 These shall be punished witheverlas ng destruc on from thepresence of the Lord and from the gloryof His power,10when He comes, in that Day, to beglorified in His saints and to be admiredamong all those who believe, becauseour tes mony among you was believed.11 Therefore we also pray always for youthat our God would count you worthy

2 THESSALONIANS 1–2 3of this calling, and fulfill all the goodpleasure of His goodness and the workof faith with power,12 that the name of our Lord JesusChrist may be glorified in you, and you inHim, according to the grace of our Godand the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 1Now, brethren, concerning thecoming of our Lord Jesus Christ and

our gathering together to Him, we askyou,2 not to be soon shaken in mind ortroubled, either by spirit or by word orby le er, as if from us, as though the dayof Christ had come.3 Let no one deceive you by any means;for that Day will not come unless thefalling away comes first, and the man ofsin is revealed, the son of perdi on,4who opposes and exalts himself aboveall that is called God or that is worshiped,

2 THESSALONIANS 2 4so that he sits as God in the temple ofGod, showing himself that he is God.5Do you not remember that when I wass ll with you I told you these things?6And now you knowwhat is restraining,that he may be revealed in his own me.7 For the mystery of lawlessness isalready at work; only He who nowrestrains will do so un l He is taken outof the way.8And then the lawless one will berevealed, whom the Lord will consumewith the breath of His mouth and destroywith the brightness of His coming.9 The coming of the lawless one isaccording to the working of Satan, withall power, signs, and lying wonders,10 and with all unrighteous decep onamong those who perish, because theydid not receive the love of the truth, thatthey might be saved.

2 THESSALONIANS 2 511And for this reason God will sendthem strong delusion, that they shouldbelieve the lie,12 that they all may be condemnedwho did not believe the truth but hadpleasure in unrighteousness.13 But we are bound to give thanks toGod always for you, brethren belovedby the Lord, because God from thebeginning chose you for salva onthrough sanc fica on by the Spirit andbelief in the truth,14 to which He called you by our gospel,for the obtaining of the glory of our LordJesus Christ.15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast andhold the tradi ons which you weretaught, whether by word or our epistle.16Now may our Lord Jesus ChristHimself, and our God and Father, whohas loved us and given us everlas ngconsola on and good hope by grace,

2 THESSALONIANS 2–3 617 comfort your hearts and establishyou in every good word and work.

3 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, thatthe word of the Lord may run swi ly

and be glorified, just as it is with you,2 and that we may be delivered fromunreasonable and wicked men; for notall have faith.3 But the Lord is faithful, who willestablish you and guard you from theevil one.4And we have confidence in the Lordconcerning you, both that you do andwill do the things we command you.5Now may the Lord direct your heartsinto the love of God and into thepa ence of Christ.6 But we command you, brethren, inthe name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thatyou withdraw from every brother whowalks disorderly and not according tothe tradi on which he received from us.

2 THESSALONIANS 3 77 For you yourselves know how youought to follow us, for we were notdisorderly among you;8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free ofcharge, but worked with labor and toilnight and day, that we might not be aburden to any of you,9 not because we do not have authority,but to make ourselves an example ofhow you should follow us.10 For even when we were with you, wecommanded you this: If anyone will notwork, neither shall he eat.11 For we hear that there are some whowalk among you in a disorderly manner,not working at all, but are busybodies.12Now those who are such wecommand and exhort through our LordJesus Christ that they work in quietnessand eat their own bread.13 But as for you, brethren, do not growweary in doing good.

2 THESSALONIANS 3 814And if anyone does not obey ourword in this epistle, note that personand do not keep company with him, thathe may be ashamed.15 Yet do not count him as an enemy,but admonish him as a brother.16Now may the Lord of peace Himselfgive you peace always in every way. TheLord be with you all.17 The saluta on of Paul with my ownhand, which is a sign in every epistle; soI write.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you all. Amen.

1 Timothy

1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, bythe commandment of God our Savior

and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:Grace, mercy, and peace from God ourFather and Jesus Christ our Lord.3As I urged you when I went intoMacedonia––remain in Ephesus thatyou may charge some that they teach noother doctrine,4 nor give heed to fables and endlessgenealogies, which cause disputes ratherthan godly edifica on which is in faith.5Now the purpose of thecommandment is love from a pureheart, from a good conscience, and fromsincere faith,

1 TIMOTHY 1 26 from which some, having strayed,have turned aside to idle talk,7 desiring to be teachers of the law,understanding neither what they say northe things which they affirm.8 But we know that the law is good ifone uses it lawfully,9 knowing this: that the law is notmade for a righteous person, but forthe lawless and insubordinate, forthe ungodly and for sinners, for theunholy and profane, for murderers offathers and murderers of mothers, formanslayers,10 for fornicators, for sodomites, forkidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and ifthere is any other thing that is contraryto sound doctrine,11 according to the glorious gospel ofthe blessed God which was commi edto my trust.

1 TIMOTHY 1 312And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord whohas enabled me, because He countedme faithful, pu ng me into the ministry,13 although I was formerly ablasphemer, a persecutor, and aninsolent man; but I obtained mercybecause I did it ignorantly in unbelief.14And the grace of our Lord wasexceedingly abundant, with faith andlove which are in Christ Jesus.15 This is a faithful saying and worthyof all acceptance, that Christ Jesus cameinto the world to save sinners, of whom Iam chief.16However, for this reason I obtainedmercy, that in me first Jesus Christ mightshow all longsuffering, as a pa ern tothose who are going to believe on Himfor everlas ng life.17Now to the King eternal, immortal,invisible, to God who alone is wise, behonor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 TIMOTHY 1–2 418 This charge I commit to you, sonTimothy, according to the propheciespreviously made concerning you, that bythem you may wage the good warfare,19 having faith and a good conscience,which some having rejected, concerningthe faith have suffered shipwreck,20 of whom are Hymenaeus andAlexander, whom I delivered to Satanthat they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 1 Therefore I exhort first of all thatsupplica ons, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks be made for allmen,2 for kings and all who are in authority,that we may lead a quiet and peaceablelife in all godliness and reverence.3 For this is good and acceptable in thesight of God our Savior,4who desires all men to be saved andto come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 TIMOTHY 2 55 For there is one God and oneMediatorbetween God and men, the Man ChristJesus,6who gave Himself a ransom for all, tobe tes fied in due me,7 for which I was appointed a preacherand an apostle––I am speaking the truthin Christ and not lying––a teacher of theGen les in faith and truth.8 I desire therefore that the men prayeverywhere, li ing up holy hands,without wrath and doub ng;9 in like manner also, that the womenadorn themselves in modest apparel,with propriety and modera on, not withbraided hair or gold or pearls or costlyclothing,10 but, which is proper for womenprofessing godliness, with good works.11 Let a woman learn in silence with allsubmission.

1 TIMOTHY 2–3 612And I do not permit a woman toteach or to have authority over a man,but to be in silence.13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.14And Adam was not deceived, butthe woman being deceived, fell intotransgression.15Nevertheless she will be saved inchildbearing if they con nue in faith,love, and holiness, with self–control.

3 1 This is a faithful saying: If a mandesires the posi on of a bishop, he

desires a good work.2A bishop then must be blameless,the husband of one wife, temperate,sober–minded, of good behavior,hospitable, able to teach;3 not given to wine, not violent, notgreedy for money, but gentle, notquarrelsome, not covetous;

1 TIMOTHY 3 74 one who rules his own house well,having his children in submission with allreverence5 (for if a man does not know how torule his own house, how will he take careof the church of God?);6 not a novice, lest being puffed up withpride he fall into the same condemna onas the devil.7Moreover he must have a goodtes mony among those who are outside,lest he fall into reproach and the snareof the devil.8 Likewise deacons must be reverent,not double–tongued, not given to muchwine, not greedy for money,9 holding the mystery of the faith with apure conscience.10 But let these also first be tested; thenlet them serve as deacons, being foundblameless.

1 TIMOTHY 3 811 Likewise their wives must bereverent, not slanderers, temperate,faithful in all things.12 Let deacons be the husbands of onewife, ruling their children and their ownhouses well.13 For those who have served well asdeacons obtain for themselves a goodstanding and great boldness in the faithwhich is in Christ Jesus.14 These things I write to you, though Ihope to come to you shortly;15 but if I am delayed, I write so that youmay know how you ought to conductyourself in the house of God, which isthe church of the living God, the pillarand ground of the truth.16And without controversy great isthe mystery of godliness: God wasmanifested in the flesh, Jus fied in theSpirit, Seen by angels, Preached among

1 TIMOTHY 4 9the Gen les, Believed on in the world,Received up in glory.

4 1Now the Spirit expressly says thatin la er mes some will depart from

the faith, giving heed to deceiving spiritsand doctrines of demons,2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having theirown conscience seared with a hot iron,3 forbidding to marry, and commandingto abstain from foods which God createdto be received with thanksgiving bythose who believe and know the truth.4 For every creature of God is good, andnothing is to be refused if it is receivedwith thanksgiving;5 for it is sanc fied by the word of Godand prayer.6 If you instruct the brethren in thesethings, you will be a good minister ofJesus Christ, nourished in the words offaith and of the good doctrine which youhave carefully followed.

1 TIMOTHY 4 107 But reject profane and old wives’fables, and exercise yourself towardgodliness.8 For bodily exercise profits a li le, butgodliness is profitable for all things,having promise of the life that now isand of that which is to come.9 This is a faithful saying and worthy ofall acceptance.10 For to this end we both labor andsuffer reproach, because we trust in theliving God, who is the Savior of all men,especially of those who believe.11 These things command and teach.12 Let no one despise your youth, butbe an example to the believers in word,in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, inpurity.13 Till I come, give a en on to reading,to exhorta on, to doctrine.14Do not neglect the gi that is in you,which was given to you by prophecy

1 TIMOTHY 4–5 11with the laying on of the hands of theeldership.15Meditate on these things; giveyourself en rely to them, that yourprogress may be evident to all.16 Take heed to yourself and to thedoctrine. Con nue in them, for in doingthis you will save both yourself andthose who hear you.

5 1Do not rebuke an older man, butexhort him as a father, younger men

as brothers,2 older women as mothers, younger assisters, with all purity.3Honor widows who are really widows.4 But if any widow has children orgrandchildren, let them first learn toshow piety at home and to repay theirparents; for this is good and acceptablebefore God.

1 TIMOTHY 5 125Now she who is really a widow, andle alone, trusts in God and con nues insupplica ons and prayers night and day.6 But she who lives in pleasure is deadwhile she lives.7And these things command, that theymay be blameless.8 But if anyone does not provide forhis own, and especially for those of hishousehold, he has denied the faith andis worse than an unbeliever.9Do not let a widow under sixty yearsold be taken into the number, and notunless she has been the wife of oneman,10well reported for good works: ifshe has brought up children, if she haslodged strangers, if she has washedthe saints’ feet, if she has relieved theafflicted, if she has diligently followedevery good work.

1 TIMOTHY 5 1311 But refuse the younger widows; forwhen they have begun to grow wantonagainst Christ, they desire to marry,12 having condemna on because theyhave cast off their first faith.13And besides they learn to be idle,wandering about from house to house,and not only idle but also gossips andbusybodies, saying things which theyought not.14 Therefore I desire that the youngerwidows marry, bear children, managethe house, give no opportunity to theadversary to speak reproachfully.15 For some have already turned asidea er Satan.16 If any believing man or woman haswidows, let them relieve them, anddo not let the church be burdened,that it may relieve those who are reallywidows.

1 TIMOTHY 5 1417 Let the elders who rule well becounted worthy of double honor,especially those who labor in the wordand doctrine.18 For the Scripture says, "You shall notmuzzle an ox while it treads out thegrain," and, "The laborer is worthy of hiswages."19Do not receive an accusa on againstan elder except from two or threewitnesses.20 Those who are sinning rebuke in thepresence of all, that the rest also mayfear.21 I charge you before God and the LordJesus Christ and the elect angels that youobserve these things without prejudice,doing nothing with par ality.22Do not lay hands on anyone has ly,nor share in other people’s sins; keepyourself pure.

1 TIMOTHY 5–6 1523No longer drink only water, but use ali le wine for your stomach’s sake andyour frequent infirmi es.24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident,preceding them to judgment, but thoseof some men follow later.25 Likewise, the good works of someare clearly evident, and those that areotherwise cannot be hidden.

6 1 Let as many bondservants as areunder the yoke count their own

masters worthy of all honor, so that thename of God and His doctrine may notbe blasphemed.2And those who have believingmasters, let them not despise thembecause they are brethren, but ratherserve them because those who arebenefited are believers and beloved.Teach and exhort these things.3 If anyone teaches otherwise anddoes not consent to wholesome words,

1 TIMOTHY 6 16even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,and to the doctrine which accords withgodliness,4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but isobsessed with disputes and argumentsover words, from which come envy,strife, reviling, evil suspicions,5 useless wranglings of men of corruptminds and des tute of the truth, whosuppose that godliness is a means ofgain. From such withdraw yourself.6Now godliness with contentment isgreat gain.7 For we brought nothing into thisworld, and it is certain we can carrynothing out.8And having food and clothing, withthese we shall be content.9 But those who desire to be rich fallinto tempta on and a snare, and intomany foolish and harmful lusts whichdrown men in destruc on and perdi on.

1 TIMOTHY 6 1710 For the love of money is a rootof all kinds of evil, for which somehave strayed from the faith in theirgreediness, and pierced themselvesthrough with many sorrows.11 But you, O man of God, flee thesethings and pursue righteousness,godliness, faith, love, pa ence,gentleness.12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay holdon eternal life, to which you were alsocalled and have confessed the goodconfession in the presence of manywitnesses.13 I urge you in the sight of God whogives life to all things, and beforeChrist Jesus who witnessed the goodconfession before Pon us Pilate,14 that you keep this commandmentwithout spot, blameless un l our LordJesus Christ’s appearing,

1 TIMOTHY 6 1815which He will manifest in His ownme, He who is the blessed and only

Potentate, the King of kings and Lord oflords,16who alone has immortality, dwellingin unapproachable light, whom no manhas seen or can see, to whom be honorand everlas ng power. Amen.17 Command those who are rich in thispresent age not to be haughty, nor totrust in uncertain riches but in the livingGod, who gives us richly all things toenjoy.18 Let them do good, that they be richin good works, ready to give, willing toshare,19 storing up for themselves a goodfounda on for the me to come, thatthey may lay hold on eternal life.20O Timothy! Guard what wascommi ed to your trust, avoidingthe profane and idle babblings and

1 TIMOTHY 6 19contradic ons of what is falsely calledknowledge––21 by professing it some have strayedconcerning the faith. Grace be with you.Amen.

2 Timothy

1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ bythe will of God, according to the

promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace,mercy, and peace from God the Fatherand Christ Jesus our Lord.3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pureconscience, as my forefathers did, aswithout ceasing I remember you in myprayers night and day,4 greatly desiring to see you, beingmindful of your tears, that I may be filledwith joy,5when I call to remembrance thegenuine faith that is in you, which dweltfirst in your grandmother Lois and yourmother Eunice, and I am persuaded is inyou also.

2 TIMOTHY 1 26 Therefore I remind you to s r up thegi of God which is in you through thelaying on of my hands.7 For God has not given us a spirit offear, but of power and of love and of asound mind.8 Therefore do not be ashamed ofthe tes mony of our Lord, nor of meHis prisoner, but share with me in thesufferings for the gospel according to thepower of God,9who has saved us and called us with aholy calling, not according to our works,but according to His own purpose andgrace which was given to us in ChristJesus before me began,10 but has now been revealed by theappearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, whohas abolished death and brought life andimmortality to light through the gospel,11 to which I was appointed a preacher,an apostle, and a teacher of the Gen les.

2 TIMOTHY 1 312 For this reason I also suffer thesethings; nevertheless I am not ashamed,for I know whom I have believed and ampersuaded that He is able to keep what Ihave commi ed to Him un l that Day.13Hold fast the pa ern of sound wordswhich you have heard from me, in faithand love which are in Christ Jesus.14 That good thing which wascommi ed to you, keep by the HolySpirit who dwells in us.15 This you know, that all those in Asiahave turned away from me, amongwhom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.16 The Lord grant mercy to thehousehold of Onesiphorus, for he o enrefreshed me, and was not ashamed ofmy chain;17 but when he arrived in Rome, hesought me out very zealously and foundme.

2 TIMOTHY 1–2 418 The Lord grant to him that hemay find mercy from the Lord in thatDay––and you know very well how manyways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

2 1 You therefore, my son, be strong inthe grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2And the things that you have heardfrom me among many witnesses,commit these to faithful men who willbe able to teach others also.3 You therefore must endure hardshipas a good soldier of Jesus Christ.4No one engaged in warfare entangleshimself with the affairs of this life, thathe may please him who enlisted him asa soldier.5And also if anyone competes inathle cs, he is not crowned unless hecompetes according to the rules.6 The hard–working farmer must befirst to partake of the crops.

2 TIMOTHY 2 57 Consider what I say, and may the Lordgive you understanding in all things.8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of theseed of David, was raised from the deadaccording to my gospel,9 for which I suffer trouble as anevildoer, even to the point of chains; butthe word of God is not chained.10 Therefore I endure all things for thesake of the elect, that they also mayobtain the salva on which is in ChristJesus with eternal glory.11 This is a faithful saying: For if we diedwith Him, We shall also live with Him.12 If we endure, We shall also reign withHim. If we deny Him, He also will denyus.13 If we are faithless, He remainsfaithful; He cannot deny Himself.14 Remind them of these things,charging them before the Lord not to

2 TIMOTHY 2 6strive about words to no profit, to theruin of the hearers.15 Be diligent to present yourselfapproved to God, a worker who doesnot need to be ashamed, rightly dividingthe word of truth.16 But shun profane and idle babblings,for they will increase to moreungodliness.17And their message will spread likecancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are ofthis sort,18who have strayed concerning thetruth, saying that the resurrec on isalready past; and they overthrow thefaith of some.19Nevertheless the solid founda on ofGod stands, having this seal: "The Lordknows those who are His," and, "Leteveryone who names the name of Christdepart from iniquity."

2 TIMOTHY 2 720 But in a great house there are notonly vessels of gold and silver, but alsoof wood and clay, some for honor andsome for dishonor.21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himselffrom the la er, he will be a vessel forhonor, sanc fied and useful for theMaster, prepared for every good work.22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursuerighteousness, faith, love, peace withthose who call on the Lord out of a pureheart.23 But avoid foolish and ignorantdisputes, knowing that they generatestrife.24And a servant of the Lord must notquarrel but be gentle to all, able toteach, pa ent,25 in humility correc ng those who arein opposi on, if God perhaps will grantthem repentance, so that they mayknow the truth,

2 TIMOTHY 2–3 826 and that they may come to theirsenses and escape the snare of the devil,having been taken cap ve by him to dohis will.

3 1 But know this, that in the last daysperilous mes will come:

2 For men will be lovers of themselves,lovers of money, boasters, proud,blasphemers, disobedient to parents,unthankful, unholy,3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,without self–control, brutal, despisers ofgood,4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, loversof pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 having a form of godliness but denyingits power. And from such people turnaway!6 For of this sort are those who creepinto households and make cap ves ofgullible women loaded down with sins,led away by various lusts,

2 TIMOTHY 3 97 always learning and never able tocome to the knowledge of the truth.8Now as Jannes and Jambres resistedMoses, so do these also resist the truth:men of corrupt minds, disapprovedconcerning the faith;9 but they will progress no further, fortheir folly will be manifest to all, as theirsalso was.10 But you have carefully followed mydoctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,longsuffering, love, perseverance,11 persecu ons, afflic ons, whichhappened to me at An och, at Iconium,at Lystra––what persecu ons I endured.And out of them all the Lord deliveredme.12 Yes, and all who desire to live godlyin Christ Jesus will suffer persecu on.13 But evil men and impostors will growworse and worse, deceiving and beingdeceived.

2 TIMOTHY 3–4 1014 But you must con nue in the thingswhich you have learned and beenassured of, knowing from whom youhave learned them,15 and that from childhood you haveknown the Holy Scriptures, which areable to make you wise for salva onthrough faith which is in Christ Jesus.16All Scripture is given by inspira on ofGod, and is profitable for doctrine, forreproof, for correc on, for instruc on inrighteousness,17 that the man of God may becomplete, thoroughly equipped forevery good work.

4 1 I charge you therefore before Godand the Lord Jesus Christ, who will

judge the living and the dead at Hisappearing and His kingdom:2 Preach the word! Be ready in seasonand out of season. Convince, rebuke,

2 TIMOTHY 4 11exhort, with all longsuffering andteaching.3 For the me will come when theywill not endure sound doctrine, butaccording to their own desires, becausethey have itching ears, they will heap upfor themselves teachers;4 and they will turn their ears awayfrom the truth, and be turned aside tofables.5 But you be watchful in all things,endure afflic ons, do the work of anevangelist, fulfill your ministry.6 For I am already being poured outas a drink offering, and the me of mydeparture is at hand.7 I have fought the good fight, I havefinished the race, I have kept the faith.8 Finally, there is laid up for me thecrown of righteousness, which the Lord,the righteous Judge, will give to me on

2 TIMOTHY 4 12that Day, and not to me only but also toall who have loved His appearing.9 Be diligent to come to me quickly;10 for Demas has forsaken me, havingloved this present world, and hasdeparted for Thessalonica––Crescens forGala a, Titus for Dalma a.11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark andbring him with you, for he is useful to mefor ministry.12And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.13 Bring the cloak that I le with Carpusat Troas when you come––and thebooks, especially the parchments.14Alexander the coppersmith did memuch harm. May the Lord repay himaccording to his works.15 You also must beware of him, for hehas greatly resisted our words.16At my first defense no one stood withme, but all forsook me. May it not becharged against them.

2 TIMOTHY 4 1317 But the Lord stood with me andstrengthened me, so that the messagemight be preached fully through me,and that all the Gen les might hear. AndI was delivered out of the mouth of thelion.18And the Lord will deliver me fromevery evil work and preserve me forHis heavenly kingdom. To Him be gloryforever and ever. Amen!19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and thehousehold of Onesiphorus.20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, butTrophimus I have le in Miletus sick.21Do your utmost to come beforewinter. Eubulus greets you, as wellas Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all thebrethren.22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with yourspirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Titus

1 1 Paul, a bondservant of God andan apostle of Jesus Christ, according

to the faith of God’s elect and theacknowledgment of the truth whichaccords with godliness,2 in hope of eternal life which God, whocannot lie, promised before me began,3 but has in due me manifested Hisword through preaching, which wascommi ed to me according to thecommandment of God our Savior;4 To Titus, a true son in our commonfaith: Grace, mercy, and peace from Godthe Father and the Lord Jesus Christ ourSavior.5 For this reason I le you in Crete, thatyou should set in order the things that

TITUS 1 2are lacking, and appoint elders in everycity as I commanded you––6 if a man is blameless, the husband ofone wife, having faithful childrennot accused of dissipa on orinsubordina on.7 For a bishop must be blameless, asa steward of God, not self–willed, notquick–tempered, not given to wine, notviolent, not greedy for money,8 but hospitable, a lover of whatis good, sober–minded, just, holy,self–controlled,9 holding fast the faithful word as hehas been taught, that he may be able,by sound doctrine, both to exhort andconvict those who contradict.10 For there are many insubordinate,both idle talkers and deceivers, especiallythose of the circumcision,11whosemouths must be stopped, whosubvert whole households, teaching

TITUS 1–2 3things which they ought not, for the sakeof dishonest gain.12One of them, a prophet of theirown, said, "Cretans are always liars, evilbeasts, lazy glu ons."13 This tes mony is true. Thereforerebuke them sharply, that they may besound in the faith,14 not giving heed to Jewish fables andcommandments of men who turn fromthe truth.15 To the pure all things are pure, but tothose who are defiled and unbelievingnothing is pure; but even their mind andconscience are defiled.16 They profess to know God, but inworks they deny Him, being abominable,disobedient, and disqualified for everygood work.

2 1 But as for you, speak the thingswhich are proper for sound doctrine:

TITUS 2 42 that the older men be sober, reverent,temperate, sound in faith, in love, inpa ence;3 the older women likewise, that theybe reverent in behavior, not slanderers,not given to much wine, teachers ofgood things––4 that they admonish the young womento love their husbands, to love theirchildren,5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers,good, obedient to their own husbands,that the word of God may not beblasphemed.6 Likewise exhort the young men to besober–minded,7 in all things showing yourselfto be a pa ern of good works; indoctrine showing integrity, reverence,incorrup bility,8 sound speech that cannot becondemned, that one who is an

TITUS 2 5opponent may be ashamed, havingnothing evil to say of you.9 Exhort bondservants to be obedientto their own masters, to be well pleasingin all things, not answering back,10 not pilfering, but showing all goodfidelity, that theymay adorn the doctrineof God our Savior in all things.11 For the grace of God that bringssalva on has appeared to all men,12 teaching us that, denying ungodlinessand worldly lusts, we should live soberly,righteously, and godly in the presentage,13 looking for the blessed hope andglorious appearing of our great God andSavior Jesus Christ,14who gave Himself for us, that Hemight redeem us from every lawlessdeed and purify for Himself His ownspecial people, zealous for good works.

TITUS 2–3 615 Speak these things, exhort, andrebuke with all authority. Let no onedespise you.

3 1 Remind them to be subject to rulersand authori es, to obey, to be ready

for every good work,2 to speak evil of no one, to bepeaceable, gentle, showing all humilityto all men.3 For we ourselves were also oncefoolish, disobedient, deceived, servingvarious lusts and pleasures, living inmalice and envy, hateful and ha ng oneanother.4 But when the kindness and the love ofGod our Savior toward man appeared,5 not by works of righteousness whichwe have done, but according to Hismercy He saved us, through the washingof regenera on and renewing of theHoly Spirit,

TITUS 3 76whom He poured out on usabundantly through Jesus Christ ourSavior,7 that having been jus fied by His gracewe should become heirs according tothe hope of eternal life.8 This is a faithful saying, and thesethings I want you to affirm constantly,that those who have believed in Godshould be careful to maintain goodworks. These things are good andprofitable to men.9 But avoid foolish disputes,genealogies, conten ons, and strivingsabout the law; for they are unprofitableand useless.10 Reject a divisive man a er the firstand second admoni on,11 knowing that such a person is warpedand sinning, being self–condemned.12When I send Artemas to you, orTychicus, be diligent to come to me at

TITUS 3 8Nicopolis, for I have decided to spendthe winter there.13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apolloson their journey with haste, that theymay lack nothing.14And let our people also learn tomaintain good works, to meet urgentneeds, that they may not be unfrui ul.15All who are with me greet you. Greetthose who love us in the faith. Grace bewith you all. Amen.

Philemon

1 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, andTimothy our brother, To Philemon

our beloved friend and fellow laborer,2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus ourfellow soldier, and to the church in yourhouse:3Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I thank my God, making men on ofyou always in my prayers,5 hearing of your love and faith whichyou have toward the Lord Jesus andtoward all the saints,6 that the sharing of your faithmay become effec ve by theacknowledgment of every goodthing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

PHILEMON 1 27 For we have great joy and consola onin your love, because the hearts ofthe saints have been refreshed by you,brother.8 Therefore, though I might be verybold in Christ to command you what isfi ng,9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal toyou ––being such a one as Paul, theaged, and now also a prisoner of JesusChrist––10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,whom I have bego en while in mychains,11who once was unprofitable to you,but now is profitable to you and to me.12 I am sending him back. You thereforereceive him, that is, my own heart,13whom I wished to keep with me, thaton your behalf he might minister to mein my chains for the gospel.

PHILEMON 1 314 But without your consent I wanted todo nothing, that your good deed mightnot be by compulsion, as it were, butvoluntary.15 For perhaps he departed for a whilefor this purpose, that you might receivehim forever,16 no longer as a slave but more than aslave––a beloved brother, especially tome but how much more to you, both inthe flesh and in the Lord.17 If then you count me as a partner,receive him as you would me.18 But if he has wronged you or owesanything, put that on my account.19 I, Paul, amwri ng with my own hand.I will repay––not to men on to you thatyou owe me even your own self besides.20 Yes, brother, let me have joy fromyou in the Lord; refresh my heart in theLord.

PHILEMON 1 421Having confidence in your obedience,I write to you, knowing that you will doeven more than I say.22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guestroom for me, for I trust that throughyour prayers I shall be granted to you.23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner inChrist Jesus, greets you,24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas,Luke, my fellow laborers.25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith your spirit. Amen.

Hebrews

1 1God, who at various mes and invarious ways spoke in me past to

the fathers by the prophets,2 has in these last days spoken to us byHis Son, whom He has appointed heir ofall things, through whom also He madethe worlds;3who being the brightness of His gloryand the express image of His person, andupholding all things by the word of Hispower, when He had by Himself purgedour sins, sat down at the right hand ofthe Majesty on high,4 having become so much be er thanthe angels, as He has by inheritanceobtained a more excellent name thanthey.

HEBREWS 1 25 For to which of the angels did Heever say: "You are My Son, Today I havebego en You"? And again: "I will be toHim a Father, And He shall be to Me aSon"?6 But when He again brings the firstborninto the world, He says: "Let all theangels of God worship Him."7And of the angels He says: "Whomakes His angels spirits AndHisministersa flame of fire."8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne,O God, is forever and ever; A scepterof righteousness is the scepter of YourKingdom.9 You have loved righteousness andhated lawlessness; Therefore God, YourGod, has anointed You With the oil ofgladness more than Your companions."10And: "You, LORD, in the beginninglaid the founda on of the earth, And theheavens are the work of Your hands.

HEBREWS 1–2 311 They will perish, but You remain; Andthey will all grow old like a garment;12 Like a cloak You will fold them up,And they will be changed. But You arethe same, And Your years will not fail."13 But to which of the angels has Heever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till Imake Your enemies Your footstool"?14Are they not all ministering spiritssent forth to minister for those who willinherit salva on?

2 1 Therefore we must give the moreearnest heed to the things we have

heard, lest we dri away.2 For if the word spoken throughangels proved steadfast, and everytransgression and disobedience receiveda just reward,3 how shall we escape if we neglectso great a salva on, which at the firstbegan to be spoken by the Lord, and

HEBREWS 2 4was confirmed to us by those who heardHim,4God also bearing witness bothwith signs and wonders, with variousmiracles, and gi s of the Holy Spirit,according to His own will?5 For He has not put the world to come,of which we speak, in subjec on toangels.6 But one tes fied in a certain place,saying: "What is man that You aremindful of him, Or the son of man thatYou take care of him?7 You have made him a li le lower thanthe angels; You have crowned him withglory and honor, And set him over theworks of Your hands.8 You have put all things in subjec onunder his feet." For in that He put all insubjec on under him, He le nothingthat is not put under him. But now wedo not yet see all things put under him.

HEBREWS 2 59 But we see Jesus, who was madea li le lower than the angels, for thesuffering of death crowned with gloryand honor, that He, by the grace of God,might taste death for everyone.10 For it was fi ng for Him, for whomare all things and by whom are all things,in bringing many sons to glory, to makethe captain of their salva on perfectthrough sufferings.11 For both He who sanc fies and thosewho are being sanc fied are all of one,for which reason He is not ashamed tocall them brethren,12 saying: "I will declare Your nameto My brethren; In the midst of theassembly I will sing praise to You."13And again: "I will put My trust inHim." And again: "Here am I and thechildren whom God has given Me."14 Inasmuch then as the children havepartaken of flesh and blood, He Himself

HEBREWS 2–3 6likewise shared in the same, that throughdeath He might destroy him who hadthe power of death, that is, the devil,15 and release those who through fearof death were all their life me subject tobondage.16 For indeed He does not give aid toangels, but He does give aid to the seedof Abraham.17 Therefore, in all things He had to bemade like His brethren, that He mightbe a merciful and faithful High Priestin things pertaining to God, to makepropi a on for the sins of the people.18 For in that He Himself has suffered,being tempted, He is able to aid thosewho are tempted.

3 1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakersof the heavenly calling, consider

the Apostle and High Priest of ourconfession, Christ Jesus,

HEBREWS 3 72who was faithful to Him whoappointed Him, as Moses also wasfaithful in all His house.3 For this One has been counted worthyof more glory than Moses, inasmuch asHe who built the house has more honorthan the house.4 For every house is built by someone,but He who built all things is God.5And Moses indeed was faithful in allHis house as a servant, for a tes monyof those things which would be spokena erward,6 but Christ as a Son over His ownhouse, whose house we are if we holdfast the confidence and the rejoicing ofthe hope firm to the end.7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:"Today, if you will hear His voice,8Do not harden your hearts as inthe rebellion, In the day of trial in thewilderness,

HEBREWS 3 89Where your fathers tested Me, triedMe, And saw My works forty years.10 Therefore I was angry with thatgenera on, And said, ‘They always goastray in their heart, And they have notknown My ways.’11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shallnot enter My rest.’"12 Beware, brethren, lest there be inany of you an evil heart of unbelief indepar ng from the living God;13 but exhort one another daily, whileit is called "Today," lest any of you behardened through the decei ulness ofsin.14 For we have become partakers ofChrist if we hold the beginning of ourconfidence steadfast to the end,15while it is said: "Today, if you will hearHis voice, Do not harden your hearts asin the rebellion."

HEBREWS 3–4 916 For who, having heard, rebelled?Indeed, was it not all who came out ofEgypt, led by Moses?17Now with whom was He angry fortyyears?Was it not with those who sinned,whose corpses fell in the wilderness?18And to whom did He swear that theywould not enter His rest, but to thosewho did not obey?19 So we see that they could not enterin because of unbelief.

4 1 Therefore, since a promise remainsof entering His rest, let us fear lest

any of you seem to have come short ofit.2 For indeed the gospel was preachedto us as well as to them; but the wordwhich they heard did not profit them,not being mixed with faith in those whoheard it.3 For we who have believed do enterthat rest, as He has said: "So I swore

HEBREWS 4 10in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter Myrest,’" although the works were finishedfrom the founda on of the world.4 For He has spoken in a certain placeof the seventh day in this way: "And Godrested on the seventh day from all Hisworks";5 and again in this place: "They shall notenter My rest."6 Since therefore it remains that somemust enter it, and those to whom it wasfirst preached did not enter because ofdisobedience,7 again He designates a certain day,saying in David, "Today," a er such along me, as it has been said: "Today, ifyou will hear His voice, Do not hardenyour hearts."8 For if Joshua had given them rest, thenHe would not a erward have spoken ofanother day.

HEBREWS 4 119 There remains therefore a rest for thepeople of God.10 For he who has entered His rest hashimself also ceased from his works asGod did from His.11 Let us therefore be diligent to enterthat rest, lest anyone fall according tothe same example of disobedience.12 For the word of God is livingand powerful, and sharper than anytwo–edged sword, piercing even to thedivision of soul and spirit, and of jointsand marrow, and is a discerner of thethoughts and intents of the heart.13And there is no creature hidden fromHis sight, but all things are naked andopen to the eyes of Him to whom wemust give account.14 Seeing then that we have a greatHigh Priest who has passed through theheavens, Jesus the Son of God, let ushold fast our confession.

HEBREWS 4–5 1215 For we do not have a High Priest whocannot sympathize with our weaknesses,but was in all points tempted as we are,yet without sin.16 Let us therefore come boldly to thethrone of grace, that we may obtainmercy and find grace to help in me ofneed.

5 1 For every high priest taken fromamong men is appointed for men in

things pertaining to God, that he mayoffer both gi s and sacrifices for sins.2He can have compassion on thosewho are ignorant and going astray, sincehe himself is also subject to weakness.3 Because of this he is required as forthe people, so also for himself, to offersacrifices for sins.4And no man takes this honor tohimself, but he who is called by God, justas Aaron was.

HEBREWS 5 135 So also Christ did not glorify Himselfto become High Priest, but it was Hewho said to Him: "You are My Son, TodayI have bego en You."6As He also says in another place: "Youare a priest forever According to theorder of Melchizedek";7who, in the days of His flesh, when Hehad offered up prayers and supplica ons,with vehement cries and tears to Himwho was able to save Him from death,and was heard because of His godly fear,8 though He was a Son, yet He learnedobedience by the things which Hesuffered.9And having been perfected, Hebecame the author of eternal salva onto all who obey Him,10 called by God as High Priest"according to the order of Melchizedek,"

HEBREWS 5–6 1411 of whom we have much to say, andhard to explain, since you have becomedull of hearing.12 For though by this me you oughtto be teachers, you need someone toteach you again the first principles of theoracles of God; and you have come toneed milk and not solid food.13 For everyone who partakes onlyof milk is unskilled in the word ofrighteousness, for he is a babe.14 But solid food belongs to those whoare of full age, that is, those who byreason of use have their senses exercisedto discern both good and evil.

6 1 Therefore, leaving the discussion ofthe elementary principles of Christ,

let us go on to perfec on, not layingagain the founda on of repentance fromdead works and of faith toward God,

HEBREWS 6 152 of the doctrine of bap sms, of layingon of hands, of resurrec on of the dead,and of eternal judgment.3And this we will do if God permits.4 For it is impossible for those whowere once enlightened, and have tastedthe heavenly gi , and have becomepartakers of the Holy Spirit,5 and have tasted the good word of Godand the powers of the age to come,6 if they fall away, to renew them againto repentance, since they crucify againfor themselves the Son of God, and putHim to an open shame.7 For the earth which drinks in the rainthat o en comes upon it, and bearsherbs useful for those by whom it iscul vated, receives blessing from God;8 but if it bears thorns and briars, itis rejected and near to being cursed,whose end is to be burned.

HEBREWS 6 169 But, beloved, we are confident ofbe er things concerning you, yes, thingsthat accompany salva on, though wespeak in this manner.10 For God is not unjust to forget yourwork and labor of love which you haveshown toward His name, in that youhave ministered to the saints, and dominister.11And we desire that each one of youshow the same diligence to the fullassurance of hope un l the end,12 that you do not become sluggish,but imitate those who through faith andpa ence inherit the promises.13 For when God made a promise toAbraham, because He could swear by noone greater, He swore by Himself,14 saying, "Surely blessing I will blessyou, and mul plying I will mul ply you."15And so, a er he had pa entlyendured, he obtained the promise.

HEBREWS 6–7 1716 For men indeed swear by the greater,and an oath for confirma on is for theman end of all dispute.17 Thus God, determining to show moreabundantly to the heirs of promise theimmutability of His counsel, confirmed itby an oath,18 that by two immutable things, inwhich it is impossible for God to lie, wemight have strong consola on, who havefled for refuge to lay hold of the hope setbefore us.19 This hope we have as an anchor ofthe soul, both sure and steadfast, andwhich enters the Presence behind theveil,20where the forerunner has enteredfor us, even Jesus, having become HighPriest forever according to the order ofMelchizedek.

7 1 For this Melchizedek, king ofSalem, priest of the Most High God,

HEBREWS 7 18who met Abraham returning from theslaughter of the kings and blessed him,2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenthpart of all, first being translated "kingof righteousness," and then also king ofSalem, meaning "king of peace,"3without father, without mother,without genealogy, having neitherbeginning of days nor end of life, butmade like the Son of God, remains apriest con nually.4Now consider how great this man was,to whom even the patriarch Abrahamgave a tenth of the spoils.5And indeed those who are of the sonsof Levi, who receive the priesthood,have a commandment to receive thesfrom the people according to the law,that is, from their brethren, though theyhave come from the loins of Abraham;

HEBREWS 7 196 but he whose genealogy is not derivedfrom them received thes fromAbrahamand blessed him who had the promises.7Now beyond all contradic on thelesser is blessed by the be er.8Here mortal men receive thes, butthere he receives them, of whom it iswitnessed that he lives.9 Even Levi, who receives thes, paidthes through Abraham, so to speak,10 for he was s ll in the loins of hisfather when Melchizedek met him.11 Therefore, if perfec on were throughthe Levi cal priesthood (for under itthe people received the law), whatfurther need was there that anotherpriest should rise according to theorder of Melchizedek, and not be calledaccording to the order of Aaron?12 For the priesthood being changed, ofnecessity there is also a change of thelaw.

HEBREWS 7 2013 For He of whom these things arespoken belongs to another tribe, fromwhich no man has officiated at the altar.14 For it is evident that our Lord arosefrom Judah, of which tribe Moses spokenothing concerning priesthood.15And it is yet far more evident if, inthe likeness of Melchizedek, there arisesanother priest16who has come, not according to thelaw of a fleshly commandment, butaccording to the power of an endlesslife.17 For He tes fies: "You are a priestforever According to the order ofMelchizedek."18 For on the one hand thereis an annulling of the formercommandment because of its weaknessand unprofitableness,19 for the law made nothing perfect; onthe other hand, there is the bringing in

HEBREWS 7 21of a be er hope, through which we drawnear to God.20And inasmuch as He was not madepriest without an oath21 (for they have become priestswithout an oath, but He with an oathby Him who said to Him: "The LORD hassworn And will not relent, ‘You are apriest forever According to the order ofMelchizedek’ "),22 by so much more Jesus has become asurety of a be er covenant.23Also there were many priests,because they were prevented by deathfrom con nuing.24 But He, becauseHe con nues forever,has an unchangeable priesthood.25 Therefore He is also able to save tothe u ermost those who come to Godthrough Him, since He always lives tomake intercession for them.

HEBREWS 7–8 2226 For such a High Priest was fi ng forus, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,separate from sinners, and has becomehigher than the heavens;27who does not need daily, as thosehigh priests, to offer up sacrifices,first for His own sins and then for thepeople’s, for this He did once for allwhen He offered up Himself.28 For the law appoints as high priestsmen who have weakness, but the wordof the oath, which came a er thelaw, appoints the Son who has beenperfected forever.

8 1Now this is the main point of thethings we are saying: We have such

a High Priest, who is seated at the righthand of the throne of the Majesty in theheavens,2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of thetrue tabernacle which the Lord erected,and not man.

HEBREWS 8 233 For every high priest is appointed tooffer both gi s and sacrifices. Thereforeit is necessary that this One also havesomething to offer.4 For if He were on earth, He would notbe a priest, since there are priests whooffer the gi s according to the law;5who serve the copy and shadow of theheavenly things, as Moses was divinelyinstructed when he was about to makethe tabernacle. For He said, "See thatyou make all things according to thepa ern shown you on the mountain."6 But now He has obtained a moreexcellent ministry, inasmuch as He is alsoMediator of a be er covenant, whichwas established on be er promises.7 For if that first covenant had beenfaultless, then no place would have beensought for a second.8 Because finding fault with them, Hesays: "Behold, the days are coming,

HEBREWS 8 24says the LORD, when I will make a newcovenant with the house of Israel andwith the house of Judah––9 "not according to the covenant that Imade with their fathers in the day whenI took them by the hand to lead themout of the land of Egypt; because theydid not con nue in My covenant, and Idisregarded them, says the LORD.10 "For this is the covenant that I willmake with the house of Israel a er thosedays, says the LORD: I will put My lawsin their mind and write them on theirhearts; and I will be their God, and theyshall be My people.11 "None of them shall teach hisneighbor, and none his brother, saying,‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me,from the least of them to the greatest ofthem.

HEBREWS 8–9 2512 "For I will be merciful to theirunrighteousness, and their sins and theirlawless deeds I will remember no more."13 In that He says, "A new covenant,"He has made the first obsolete. Nowwhat is becoming obsolete and growingold is ready to vanish away.

9 1 Then indeed, even the firstcovenant had ordinances of divine

service and the earthly sanctuary.2 For a tabernacle was prepared: thefirst part, in which was the lampstand,the table, and the showbread, which iscalled the sanctuary;3 and behind the second veil, the partof the tabernacle which is called theHoliest of All,4which had the golden censer and theark of the covenant overlaid on all sideswith gold, in which were the golden potthat had the manna, Aaron’s rod thatbudded, and the tablets of the covenant;

HEBREWS 9 265 and above it were the cherubim ofglory overshadowing the mercy seat. Ofthese things we cannot now speak indetail.6Now when these things had beenthus prepared, the priests always wentinto the first part of the tabernacle,performing the services.7 But into the second part the highpriest went alone once a year, notwithout blood, which he offered forhimself and for the people’s sinscommi ed in ignorance;8 the Holy Spirit indica ng this, that theway into the Holiest of All was not yetmade manifest while the first tabernaclewas s ll standing.9 It was symbolic for the present mein which both gi s and sacrifices areoffered which cannot make him whoperformed the service perfect in regardto the conscience––

HEBREWS 9 2710 concerned only with foods anddrinks, various washings, and fleshlyordinances imposed un l the me ofreforma on.11 But Christ came as High Priest of thegood things to come, with the greaterand more perfect tabernacle not madewith hands, that is, not of this crea on.12Not with the blood of goats andcalves, but with His own blood Heentered the Most Holy Place once for all,having obtained eternal redemp on.13 For if the blood of bulls and goatsand the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling theunclean, sanc fies for the purifying ofthe flesh,14 how much more shall the blood ofChrist, who through the eternal Spiritoffered Himself without spot to God,cleanse your conscience from deadworks to serve the living God?

HEBREWS 9 2815And for this reasonHe is theMediatorof the new covenant, by means of death,for the redemp on of the transgressionsunder the first covenant, that those whoare called may receive the promise ofthe eternal inheritance.16 For where there is a testament, theremust also of necessity be the death ofthe testator.17 For a testament is in force a er menare dead, since it has no power at allwhile the testator lives.18 Therefore not even the first covenantwas dedicated without blood.19 For when Moses had spoken everyprecept to all the people according tothe law, he took the blood of calvesand goats, with water, scarlet wool, andhyssop, and sprinkled both the bookitself and all the people,

HEBREWS 9 2920 saying, "This is the blood of thecovenant which God has commandedyou."21 Then likewise he sprinkled with bloodboth the tabernacle and all the vesselsof the ministry.22And according to the law almostall things are purified with blood, andwithout shedding of blood there is noremission.23 Therefore it was necessary that thecopies of the things in the heavensshould be purified with these, but theheavenly things themselves with be ersacrifices than these.24 For Christ has not entered the holyplaces made with hands, which arecopies of the true, but into heaven itself,now to appear in the presence of Godfor us;25 not that He should offer Himselfo en, as the high priest enters the Most

HEBREWS 9–10 30Holy Place every year with blood ofanother––26He then would have had to suffero en since the founda on of the world;but now, once at the end of the ages,He has appeared to put away sin by thesacrifice of Himself.27And as it is appointed for men to dieonce, but a er this the judgment,28 so Christ was offered once to bearthe sins of many. To those who eagerlywait for Him He will appear a secondme, apart from sin, for salva on.

10 1 For the law, having a shadowof the good things to come, and

not the very image of the things, cannever with these same sacrifices, whichthey offer con nually year by year, makethose who approach perfect.2 For then would they not have ceasedto be offered? For the worshipers,

HEBREWS 10 31once purified, would have had no moreconsciousness of sins.3 But in those sacrifices there is areminder of sins every year.4 For it is not possible that the blood ofbulls and goats could take away sins.5 Therefore, when He came into theworld, He said: "Sacrifice and offeringYou did not desire, But a body You haveprepared for Me.6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sinYou had no pleasure.7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come––Inthe volume of the book it is wri en ofMe––To do Your will, O God.’"8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice andoffering, burnt offerings, and offeringsfor sin You did not desire, nor hadpleasure in them" (which are offeredaccording to the law),

HEBREWS 10 329 then He said, "Behold, I have come todo Your will, O God." He takes away thefirst that He may establish the second.10 By that will we have been sanc fiedthrough the offering of the body of JesusChrist once for all.11And every priest stands ministeringdaily and offering repeatedly the samesacrifices, which can never take awaysins.12 But this Man, a er He had offeredone sacrifice for sins forever, sat down atthe right hand of God,13 from that me wai ng ll Hisenemies are made His footstool.14 For by one offering He has perfectedforever those who are being sanc fied.15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses tous; for a er He had said before,16 "This is the covenant that I willmake with them a er those days, saysthe LORD: I will put My laws into their

HEBREWS 10 33hearts, and in their minds I will writethem,"17 then He adds, "Their sins and theirlawless deeds I will remember no more."18Now where there is remission ofthese, there is no longer an offering forsin.19 Therefore, brethren, having boldnessto enter the Holiest by the blood ofJesus,20 by a new and living way which Heconsecrated for us, through the veil, thatis, His flesh,21 and having a High Priest over thehouse of God,22 let us draw near with a true heart infull assurance of faith, having our heartssprinkled from an evil conscience andour bodies washed with pure water.23 Let us hold fast the confession ofour hope without wavering, for He whopromised is faithful.

HEBREWS 10 3424And let us consider one another inorder to s r up love and good works,25 not forsaking the assembling ofourselves together, as is the manner ofsome, but exhor ng one another, andso much the more as you see the Dayapproaching.26 For if we sin willfully a er we havereceived the knowledge of the truth,there no longer remains a sacrifice forsins,27 but a certain fearful expecta on ofjudgment, and fiery indigna on whichwill devour the adversaries.28Anyone who has rejected Moses’ lawdies without mercy on the tes mony oftwo or three witnesses.29Of how much worse punishment,do you suppose, will he be thoughtworthy who has trampled the Son ofGod underfoot, counted the blood ofthe covenant by which he was sanc fied

HEBREWS 10 35a common thing, and insulted the Spiritof grace?30 For we know Him who said,"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," saysthe Lord. And again, "The LORD willjudge His people."31 It is a fearful thing to fall into thehands of the living God.32 But recall the former days in which,a er you were illuminated, you endureda great struggle with sufferings:33 partly while you were made aspectacle both by reproaches andtribula ons, and partly while youbecame companions of those who wereso treated;34 for you had compassion on me inmy chains, and joyfully accepted theplundering of your goods, knowingthat you have a be er and an enduringpossession for yourselves in heaven.

HEBREWS 10–11 3635 Therefore do not cast away yourconfidence, which has great reward.36 For you have need of endurance, sothat a er you have done the will of God,you may receive the promise:37 "For yet a li le while, And He who iscoming will come and will not tarry.38Now the just shall live by faith; Butif anyone draws back, My soul has nopleasure in him."39 But we are not of those who drawback to perdi on, but of those whobelieve to the saving of the soul.

11 1Now faith is the substance ofthings hoped for, the evidence of

things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a goodtes mony.3 By faith we understand that theworlds were framed by the word of God,so that the things which are seen werenot made of things which are visible.

HEBREWS 11 374 By faith Abel offered to God a moreexcellent sacrifice than Cain, throughwhich he obtained witness that he wasrighteous, God tes fying of his gi s; andthrough it he being dead s ll speaks.5 By faith Enoch was taken away sothat he did not see death, "and was notfound, because God had taken him";for before he was taken he had thistes mony, that he pleased God.6 But without faith it is impossible toplease Him, for he who comes to Godmust believe that He is, and that He isa rewarder of those who diligently seekHim.7 By faith Noah, being divinely warnedof things not yet seen, moved withgodly fear, prepared an ark for thesaving of his household, by which hecondemned the world and became heirof the righteousness which is accordingto faith.

HEBREWS 11 388 By faith Abraham obeyed when hewas called to go out to the place whichhe would receive as an inheritance. Andhe went out, not knowing where he wasgoing.9 By faith he dwelt in the land ofpromise as in a foreign country, dwellingin tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirswith him of the same promise;10 for he waited for the city which hasfounda ons, whose builder and maker isGod.11 By faith Sarah herself also receivedstrength to conceive seed, and she borea child when she was past the age,because she judged Him faithful whohad promised.12 Therefore from one man, and himas good as dead, were born as manyas the stars of the sky in mul tude––innumerable as the sand which is by theseashore.

HEBREWS 11 3913 These all died in faith, not havingreceived the promises, but having seenthem afar off were assured of them,embraced them and confessed thatthey were strangers and pilgrims on theearth.14 For those who say such things declareplainly that they seek a homeland.15And truly if they had called to mindthat country from which they had comeout, they would have had opportunity toreturn.16 But now they desire a be er, that is,a heavenly country. Therefore God is notashamed to be called their God, for Hehas prepared a city for them.17 By faith Abraham, when he wastested, offered up Isaac, and he who hadreceived the promises offered up hisonly bego en son,18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac yourseed shall be called,"

HEBREWS 11 4019 concluding that God was able to raisehim up, even from the dead, from whichhe also received him in a figura vesense.20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esauconcerning things to come.21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying,blessed each of the sons of Joseph, andworshiped, leaning on the top of hisstaff.22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying,made men on of the departure of thechildren of Israel, and gave instruc onsconcerning his bones.23 By faith Moses, when he was born,was hidden three months by his parents,because they saw he was a beau fulchild; and they were not afraid of theking’s command.24 By faith Moses, when he becameof age, refused to be called the son ofPharaoh’s daughter,

HEBREWS 11 4125 choosing rather to suffer afflic onwith the people of God than to enjoy thepassing pleasures of sin,26 esteeming the reproach of Christgreater riches than the treasures inEgypt; for he looked to the reward.27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearingthe wrath of the king; for he endured asseeing Him who is invisible.28 By faith he kept the Passover andthe sprinkling of blood, lest he whodestroyed the firstborn should touchthem.29 By faith they passed through theRed Sea as by dry land, whereas theEgyp ans, a emp ng to do so, weredrowned.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell downa er they were encircled for seven days.31 By faith the harlot Rahab did notperish with those who did not believe,

HEBREWS 11 42when she had received the spies withpeace.32And what more shall I say? For theme would fail me to tell of Gideon and

Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also ofDavid and Samuel and the prophets:33who through faith subduedkingdoms, worked righteousness,obtained promises, stopped the mouthsof lions,34 quenched the violence of fire,escaped the edge of the sword, out ofweakness were made strong, becamevaliant in ba le, turned to flight thearmies of the aliens.35Women received their dead raised tolife again. And others were tortured, notaccep ng deliverance, that they mightobtain a be er resurrec on.36 S ll others had trial of mockingsand scourgings, yes, and of chains andimprisonment.

HEBREWS 11–12 4337 They were stoned, they were sawnin two, were tempted, were slainwith the sword. They wandered aboutin sheepskins and goatskins, beingdes tute, afflicted, tormented––38 of whom the world was notworthy. They wandered in deserts andmountains, in dens and caves of theearth.39And all these, having obtained a goodtes mony through faith, did not receivethe promise,40God having provided somethingbe er for us, that they should not bemade perfect apart from us.

12 1 Therefore we also, since we aresurrounded by so great a cloud of

witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,and the sin which so easily ensnares us,and let us run with endurance the racethat is set before us,

HEBREWS 12 442 looking unto Jesus, the author andfinisher of our faith, who for the joy thatwas set before Him endured the cross,despising the shame, and has sat downat the right hand of the throne of God.3 For consider Him who endured suchhos lity from sinners against Himself,lest you become weary and discouragedin your souls.4 You have not yet resisted tobloodshed, striving against sin.5And you have forgo en theexhorta on which speaks to you asto sons: "My son, do not despisethe chastening of the LORD, Nor bediscouraged when you are rebuked byHim;6 For whom the LORD loves Hechastens, And scourges every son whomHe receives."

HEBREWS 12 457 If you endure chastening, God dealswith you as with sons; for what son isthere whom a father does not chasten?8 But if you are without chastening, ofwhich all have become partakers, thenyou are illegi mate and not sons.9 Furthermore, we have had humanfathers who corrected us, and we paidthem respect. Shall we not much morereadily be in subjec on to the Father ofspirits and live?10 For they indeed for a few dayschastened us as seemed best to them,but He for our profit, that we may bepartakers of His holiness.11Now no chastening seems to bejoyful for the present, but painful;nevertheless, a erward it yields thepeaceable fruit of righteousness to thosewho have been trained by it.12 Therefore strengthen the handswhich hang down, and the feeble knees,

HEBREWS 12 4613 and make straight paths for yourfeet, so that what is lame may not bedislocated, but rather be healed.14 Pursue peace with all people, andholiness, without which no one will seethe Lord:15 looking carefully lest anyone fallshort of the grace of God; lest any rootof bi erness springing up cause trouble,and by this many become defiled;16 lest there be any fornicator orprofane person like Esau, who for onemorsel of food sold his birthright.17 For you know that a erward, whenhe wanted to inherit the blessing, hewas rejected, for he found no placefor repentance, though he sought itdiligently with tears.18 For you have not come to themountain that may be touched and thatburned with fire, and to blackness anddarkness and tempest,

HEBREWS 12 4719 and the sound of a trumpet and thevoice of words, so that those who heardit begged that the word should not bespoken to them anymore.20 (For they could not endure what wascommanded: "And if so much as a beasttouches the mountain, it shall be stonedor shot with an arrow."21And so terrifying was the sight thatMoses said, "I am exceedingly afraid andtrembling.")22 But you have come to Mount Zionand to the city of the living God, theheavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerablecompany of angels,23 to the general assembly and churchof the firstborn who are registered inheaven, to God the Judge of all, to thespirits of just men made perfect,24 to Jesus the Mediator of the newcovenant, and to the blood of sprinkling

HEBREWS 12 48that speaks be er things than that ofAbel.25 See that you do not refuse Him whospeaks. For if they did not escape whorefused Him who spoke on earth, muchmore shall we not escape if we turn awayfrom Him who speaks from heaven,26whose voice then shook the earth;but now He has promised, saying, "Yetonce more I shake not only the earth,but also heaven."27Now this, "Yet once more," indicatesthe removal of those things that arebeing shaken, as of things that are made,that the things which cannot be shakenmay remain.28 Therefore, since we are receiving akingdom which cannot be shaken, let ushave grace, by which we may serve Godacceptably with reverence and godlyfear.29 For our God is a consuming fire.

HEBREWS 13 49

13 1 Let brotherly love con nue.2Do not forget to entertain

strangers, for by so doing some haveunwi ngly entertained angels.3 Remember the prisoners as if chainedwith them––those who are mistreated––since you yourselves are in the bodyalso.4Marriage is honorable among all, andthe bed undefiled; but fornicators andadulterers God will judge.5 Let your conduct be withoutcovetousness; be content with suchthings as you have. For He Himself hassaid, "I will never leave you nor forsakeyou."6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD ismy helper; I will not fear. What can mando to me?"7 Remember those who rule over you,who have spoken the word of God to

HEBREWS 13 50you, whose faith follow, considering theoutcome of their conduct.8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,today, and forever.9Do not be carried about with variousand strange doctrines. For it is good thatthe heart be established by grace, notwith foods which have not profited thosewho have been occupied with them.10We have an altar from which thosewho serve the tabernacle have no rightto eat.11 For the bodies of those animals,whose blood is brought into thesanctuary by the high priest for sin, areburned outside the camp.12 Therefore Jesus also, that He mightsanc fy the people with His own blood,suffered outside the gate.13 Therefore let us go forth to Him,outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

HEBREWS 13 5114 For here we have no con nuing city,but we seek the one to come.15 Therefore by Him let us con nuallyoffer the sacrifice of praise to God, thatis, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks toHis name.16 But do not forget to do good and toshare, for with such sacrifices God is wellpleased.17Obey those who rule over you, andbe submissive, for they watch out foryour souls, as those who must giveaccount. Let them do so with joy and notwith grief, for that would be unprofitablefor you.18 Pray for us; for we are confident thatwe have a good conscience, in all thingsdesiring to live honorably.19 But I especially urge you to do this,that I may be restored to you the sooner.20Now may the God of peace whobrought up our Lord Jesus from the

HEBREWS 13 52dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep,through the blood of the everlas ngcovenant,21make you complete in every goodwork to do His will, working in you whatis well pleasing in His sight, throughJesus Christ, to whom be glory foreverand ever. Amen.22And I appeal to you, brethren, bearwith the word of exhorta on, for I havewri en to you in few words.23 Know that our brother Timothy hasbeen set free, with whom I shall see youif he comes shortly.24Greet all those who rule over you,and all the saints. Those from Italy greetyou.25Grace be with you all. Amen.

James

1 1 James, a bondservant of God and ofthe Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve

tribes which are sca ered abroad:Gree ngs.2My brethren, count it all joy when youfall into various trials,3 knowing that the tes ng of your faithproduces pa ence.4 But let pa ence have its perfect work,that you may be perfect and complete,lacking nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let himask of God, who gives to all liberally andwithout reproach, and it will be given tohim.6 But let him ask in faith, with nodoub ng, for he who doubts is like a

JAMES 1 2wave of the sea driven and tossed by thewind.7 For let not that man suppose that hewill receive anything from the Lord;8 he is a double–minded man, unstablein all his ways.9 Let the lowly brother glory in hisexalta on,10 but the rich in his humilia on,because as a flower of the field he willpass away.11 For no sooner has the sun risenwith a burning heat than it withers thegrass; its flower falls, and its beau fulappearance perishes. So the rich manalso will fade away in his pursuits.12 Blessed is the man who endurestempta on; for when he has beenapproved, he will receive the crownof life which the Lord has promised tothose who love Him.

JAMES 1 313 Let no one say when he is tempted,"I am tempted by God"; for God cannotbe tempted by evil, nor does He Himselftempt anyone.14 But each one is tempted when heis drawn away by his own desires anden ced.15 Then, when desire has conceived,it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it isfull–grown, brings forth death.16Do not be deceived, my belovedbrethren.17 Every good gi and every perfect giis from above, and comes down fromthe Father of lights, with whom there isno varia on or shadow of turning.18Of His own will He brought us forthby the word of truth, that we might be akind of firs ruits of His creatures.19 So then, my beloved brethren, letevery man be swi to hear, slow tospeak, slow to wrath;

JAMES 1 420 for the wrath of man does notproduce the righteousness of God.21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness andoverflow of wickedness, and receivewith meekness the implanted word,which is able to save your souls.22 But be doers of the word, and nothearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the wordand not a doer, he is like a man observinghis natural face in a mirror;24 for he observes himself, goes away,and immediately forgets what kind ofman he was.25 But he who looks into the perfect lawof liberty and con nues in it, and is not aforge ul hearer but a doer of the work,this one will be blessed in what he does.26 If anyone among you thinks he isreligious, and does not bridle his tonguebut deceives his own heart, this one’sreligion is useless.

JAMES 1–2 527 Pure and undefiled religion beforeGod and the Father is this: to visitorphans and widows in their trouble,and to keep oneself unspo ed from theworld.

2 1My brethren, do not hold the faithof our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of

glory, with par ality.2 For if there should come into yourassembly a man with gold rings, in fineapparel, and there should also come in apoor man in filthy clothes,3 and you pay a en on to the onewearing the fine clothes and say to him,"You sit here in a good place," and say tothe poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sithere at my footstool,"4 have you not shown par ality amongyourselves, and become judges with evilthoughts?5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has Godnot chosen the poor of this world to be

JAMES 2 6rich in faith and heirs of the kingdomwhich He promised to those who loveHim?6 But you have dishonored the poorman. Do not the rich oppress you anddrag you into the courts?7Do they not blaspheme that noblename by which you are called?8 If you really fulfill the royal lawaccording to the Scripture, "You shalllove your neighbor as yourself," you dowell;9 but if you show par ality, you commitsin, and are convicted by the law astransgressors.10 For whoever shall keep the wholelaw, and yet stumble in one point, he isguilty of all.11 For He who said, "Do not commitadultery," also said, "Do not murder."Now if you do not commit adultery,

JAMES 2 7but you do murder, you have become atransgressor of the law.12 So speak and so do as those who willbe judged by the law of liberty.13 For judgment is without mercy to theone who has shown no mercy. Mercytriumphs over judgment.14What does it profit, my brethren, ifsomeone says he has faith but does nothave works? Can faith save him?15 If a brother or sister is naked anddes tute of daily food,16 and one of you says to them, "Departin peace, be warmed and filled," but youdo not give them the things which areneeded for the body, what does it profit?17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does nothave works, is dead.18 But someone will say, "You havefaith, and I have works." Show me yourfaith without your works, and I will showyou my faith by my works.

JAMES 2 819 You believe that there is one God. Youdo well. Even the demons believe––andtremble!20 But do you want to know, O foolishman, that faith without works is dead?21Was not Abraham our father jus fiedby works when he offered Isaac his sonon the altar?22Do you see that faith was workingtogether with his works, and by worksfaith was made perfect?23And the Scripture was fulfilled whichsays, "Abraham believed God, and it wasaccounted to him for righteousness."And he was called the friend of God.24 You see then that a man is jus fiedby works, and not by faith only.25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlotalso jus fied by works when shereceived the messengers and sent themout another way?

JAMES 2–3 926 For as the body without the spiritis dead, so faith without works is deadalso.

3 1My brethren, let not many of youbecome teachers, knowing that we

shall receive a stricter judgment.2 For we all stumble in many things. Ifanyone does not stumble in word, heis a perfect man, able also to bridle thewhole body.3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouthsthat they may obey us, and we turn theirwhole body.4 Look also at ships: although they areso large and are driven by fierce winds,they are turned by a very small rudderwherever the pilot desires.5 Even so the tongue is a li le memberand boasts great things. See how great aforest a li le fire kindles!6And the tongue is a fire, a world ofiniquity. The tongue is so set among our

JAMES 3 10members that it defiles the whole body,and sets on fire the course of nature;and it is set on fire by hell.7 For every kind of beast and bird, ofrep le and creature of the sea, is tamedand has been tamed by mankind.8 But no man can tame the tongue. It isan unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9With it we bless our God and Father,and with it we curse men, who havebeen made in the similitude of God.10Out of the same mouth proceedblessing and cursing. My brethren, thesethings ought not to be so.11Does a spring send forth fresh waterand bi er from the same opening?12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bearolives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus nospring yields both salt water and fresh.13Who is wise and understandingamong you? Let him show by good

JAMES 3–4 11conduct that his works are done in themeekness of wisdom.14 But if you have bi er envy andself–seeking in your hearts, do not boastand lie against the truth.15 This wisdom does not descend fromabove, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.16 For where envy and self–seekingexist, confusion and every evil thing arethere.17 But the wisdom that is from above isfirst pure, then peaceable, gentle, willingto yield, full of mercy and good fruits,without par ality and without hypocrisy.18Now the fruit of righteousness issown in peace by those who makepeace.

4 1Where do wars and fights comefrom among you? Do they not come

from your desires for pleasure that warin your members?

JAMES 4 122 You lust and do not have. You murderand covet and cannot obtain. You fightand war. Yet you do not have becauseyou do not ask.3 You ask and do not receive, becauseyou ask amiss, that you may spend it onyour pleasures.4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do younot know that friendship with the worldis enmity with God? Whoever thereforewants to be a friend of the world makeshimself an enemy of God.5Or do you think that the Scripturesays in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in usyearns jealously"?6 But He gives more grace. Therefore Hesays: "God resists the proud, But givesgrace to the humble."7 Therefore submit to God. Resist thedevil and he will flee from you.8Draw near to God and He will drawnear to you. Cleanse your hands, you

JAMES 4 13sinners; and purify your hearts, youdouble–minded.9 Lament and mourn and weep! Letyour laughter be turned to mourningand your joy to gloom.10Humble yourselves in the sight of theLord, and He will li you up.11Do not speak evil of one another,brethren. He who speaks evil of abrother and judges his brother, speaksevil of the law and judges the law. But ifyou judge the law, you are not a doer ofthe law but a judge.12 There is one Lawgiver, who is ableto save and to destroy. Who are you tojudge another?13 Come now, you who say, "Today ortomorrow we will go to such and sucha city, spend a year there, buy and sell,and make a profit";14whereas you do not know what willhappen tomorrow. For what is your life?

JAMES 4–5 14It is even a vapor that appears for a li leme and then vanishes away.15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lordwills, we shall live and do this or that."16 But now you boast in your arrogance.All such boas ng is evil.17 Therefore, to him who knows to dogood and does not do it, to him it is sin.

5 1 Come now, you rich, weep andhowl for your miseries that are

coming upon you!2 Your riches are corrupted, and yourgarments are moth–eaten.3 Your gold and silver are corroded, andtheir corrosion will be a witness againstyou and will eat your flesh like fire. Youhave heaped up treasure in the last days.4 Indeed the wages of the laborers whomowed your fields, which you kept backby fraud, cry out; and the cries of thereapers have reached the ears of theLord of Sabaoth.

JAMES 5 155 You have lived on the earth in pleasureand luxury; you have fa ened yourhearts as in a day of slaughter.6 You have condemned, you havemurdered the just; he does not resistyou.7 Therefore be pa ent, brethren, un lthe coming of the Lord. See how thefarmer waits for the precious fruit ofthe earth, wai ng pa ently for it un l itreceives the early and la er rain.8 You also be pa ent. Establish yourhearts, for the coming of the Lord is athand.9Do not grumble against one another,brethren, lest you be condemned.Behold, the Judge is standing at thedoor!10My brethren, take the prophets, whospoke in the name of the Lord, as anexample of suffering and pa ence.

JAMES 5 1611 Indeed we count them blessedwho endure. You have heard of theperseverance of Job and seen the endintended by the Lord––that the Lord isvery compassionate and merciful.12 But above all, my brethren, do notswear, either by heaven or by earth orwith any other oath. But let your "Yes,"be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest youfall into judgment.13 Is anyone among you suffering? Lethim pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let himsing psalms.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let himcall for the elders of the church, and letthem pray over him, anoin ng him withoil in the name of the Lord.15And the prayer of faith will save thesick, and the Lord will raise him up. Andif he has commi ed sins, he will beforgiven.

JAMES 5 1716 Confess your trespasses to oneanother, and pray for one another,that you may be healed. The effec ve,fervent prayer of a righteous man availsmuch.17 Elijah was a man with a nature likeours, and he prayed earnestly that itwould not rain; and it did not rain on theland for three years and six months.18And he prayed again, and the heavengave rain, and the earth produced itsfruit.19 Brethren, if anyone among youwanders from the truth, and someoneturns him back,20 let him know that he who turns asinner from the error of his way will savea soul from death and cover a mul tudeof sins.

1 Peter

1 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in

Pontus, Gala a, Cappadocia, Asia, andBithynia,2 elect according to the foreknowledgeof God the Father, in sanc fica on of theSpirit, for obedience and sprinkling ofthe blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to youand peace be mul plied.3 Blessed be the God and Father of ourLord Jesus Christ, who according to Hisabundant mercy has bego en us againto a living hope through the resurrec onof Jesus Christ from the dead,4 to an inheritance incorrup ble andundefiled and that does not fade away,reserved in heaven for you,

1 PETER 1 25who are kept by the power of Godthrough faith for salva on ready to berevealed in the last me.6 In this you greatly rejoice, though nowfor a li le while, if need be, you havebeen grieved by various trials,7 that the genuineness of your faith,being much more precious than goldthat perishes, though it is tested by fire,may be found to praise, honor, and gloryat the revela on of Jesus Christ,8whom having not seen you love.Though now you do not see Him,yet believing, you rejoice with joyinexpressible and full of glory,9 receiving the end of your faith––thesalva on of your souls.10Of this salva on the prophets haveinquired and searched carefully, whoprophesied of the grace that wouldcome to you,

1 PETER 1 311 searching what, or what manner ofme, the Spirit of Christ who was in

them was indica ng when He tes fiedbeforehand the sufferings of Christ andthe glories that would follow.12 To them it was revealed that, notto themselves, but to us they wereministering the things which now havebeen reported to you through those whohave preached the gospel to you by theHoly Spirit sent from heaven––thingswhich angels desire to look into.13 Therefore gird up the loins of yourmind, be sober, and rest your hope fullyupon the grace that is to be brought toyou at the revela on of Jesus Christ;14 as obedient children, not conformingyourselves to the former lusts, as in yourignorance;15 but as He who called you is holy, youalso be holy in all your conduct,

1 PETER 1 416 because it is wri en, "Be holy, for Iam holy."17And if you call on the Father, whowithout par ality judges according toeach one’s work, conduct yourselvesthroughout the me of your stay here infear;18 knowing that youwere not redeemedwith corrup ble things, like silver orgold, from your aimless conduct receivedby tradi on from your fathers,19 but with the precious blood ofChrist, as of a lamb without blemish andwithout spot.20He indeed was foreordained beforethe founda on of the world, but wasmanifest in these last mes for you21who through Him believe in God,who raised Him from the dead and gaveHim glory, so that your faith and hopeare in God.

1 PETER 1–2 522 Since you have purified your souls inobeying the truth through the Spirit insincere love of the brethren, love oneanother fervently with a pure heart,23 having been born again, not ofcorrup ble seed but incorrup ble,through the word of God which lives andabides forever,24 because "All flesh is as grass, And allthe glory of man as the flower of thegrass. The grass withers, And its flowerfalls away,25 But the word of the LORD enduresforever." Now this is the word which bythe gospel was preached to you.

2 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice,all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil

speaking,2 as newborn babes, desire the puremilk of the word, that you may growthereby,

1 PETER 2 63 if indeed you have tasted that theLord is gracious.4 Coming to Him as to a living stone,rejected indeed by men, but chosen byGod and precious,5 you also, as living stones, are beingbuilt up a spiritual house, a holypriesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrificesacceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Therefore it is also contained in theScripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chiefcornerstone, elect, precious, And hewho believes on Him will by no meansbe put to shame."7 Therefore, to you who believe, Heis precious; but to those who aredisobedient, "The stone which thebuilders rejected Has become the chiefcornerstone,"8 and "A stone of stumbling And arock of offense." They stumble, being

1 PETER 2 7disobedient to the word, to which theyalso were appointed.9 But you are a chosen genera on, aroyal priesthood, a holy na on, His ownspecial people, that you may proclaimthe praises of Him who called you out ofdarkness into His marvelous light;10who once were not a people but arenow the people of God, who had notobtained mercy but now have obtainedmercy.11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners andpilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts whichwar against the soul,12 having your conduct honorableamong the Gen les, that when theyspeak against you as evildoers, they may,by your good works which they observe,glorify God in the day of visita on.13 Therefore submit yourselves to everyordinance of man for the Lord’s sake,whether to the king as supreme,

1 PETER 2 814 or to governors, as to those whoare sent by him for the punishment ofevildoers and for the praise of those whodo good.15 For this is the will of God, that bydoing good you may put to silence theignorance of foolish men––16 as free, yet not using liberty as acloak for vice, but as bondservants ofGod.17Honor all people. Love thebrotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.18 Servants, be submissive to yourmasters with all fear, not only to thegood and gentle, but also to the harsh.19 For this is commendable, if becauseof conscience toward God one enduresgrief, suffering wrongfully.20 For what credit is it if, when youare beaten for your faults, you take itpa ently? But when you do good and

1 PETER 2–3 9suffer, if you take it pa ently, this iscommendable before God.21 For to this you were called, becauseChrist also suffered for us, leaving usan example, that you should follow Hissteps:22 "Who commi ed no sin, Nor wasdeceit found in His mouth";23who, when He was reviled, did notrevile in return; when He suffered, Hedid not threaten, but commi ed Himselfto Him who judges righteously;24who Himself bore our sins in His ownbody on the tree, that we, having diedto sins, might live for righteousness––bywhose stripes you were healed.25 For you were like sheep going astray,but have now returned to the Shepherdand Overseer of your souls.

3 1Wives, likewise, be submissiveto your own husbands, that even

if some do not obey the word, they,

1 PETER 3 10without a word, may be won by theconduct of their wives,2when they observe your chasteconduct accompanied by fear.3Do not let your adornment be merelyoutward––arranging the hair, wearinggold, or pu ng on fine apparel––4 rather let it be the hidden person ofthe heart, with the incorrup ble beautyof a gentle and quiet spirit, which is veryprecious in the sight of God.5 For in this manner, in former mes,the holy women who trusted in God alsoadorned themselves, being submissiveto their own husbands,6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling himlord, whose daughters you are if you dogood and are not afraid with any terror.7Husbands, likewise, dwell with themwith understanding, giving honor to thewife, as to the weaker vessel, and as

1 PETER 3 11being heirs together of the grace of life,that your prayers may not be hindered.8 Finally, all of you be of one mind,having compassion for one another;love as brothers, be tenderhearted, becourteous;9 not returning evil for evil or revilingfor reviling, but on the contrary blessing,knowing that you were called to this,that you may inherit a blessing.10 For "He who would love life And seegood days, Let him refrain his tonguefrom evil, And his lips from speakingdeceit.11 Let him turn away from evil and dogood; Let him seek peace and pursue it.12 For the eyes of the LORD are on therighteous, And His ears are open to theirprayers; But the face of the LORD isagainst those who do evil."13And who is he who will harm you ifyou become followers of what is good?

1 PETER 3 1214 But even if you should suffer forrighteousness’ sake, you are blessed."And do not be afraid of their threats,nor be troubled."15 But sanc fy the Lord God in yourhearts, and always be ready to give adefense to everyone who asks you areason for the hope that is in you, withmeekness and fear;16 having a good conscience, that whenthey defame you as evildoers, those whorevile your good conduct in Christ maybe ashamed.17 For it is be er, if it is the will of God,to suffer for doing good than for doingevil.18 For Christ also suffered once for sins,the just for the unjust, that He mightbring us to God, being put to death inthe flesh but made alive by the Spirit,19 by whom also He went and preachedto the spirits in prison,

1 PETER 3–4 1320who formerly were disobedient,when once the Divine longsufferingwaited in the days of Noah, while theark was being prepared, in which a few,that is, eight souls, were saved throughwater.21 There is also an an type which nowsaves us––bap sm (not the removal ofthe filth of the flesh, but the answer of agood conscience toward God), throughthe resurrec on of Jesus Christ,22who has gone into heaven and isat the right hand of God, angels andauthori es and powers having beenmade subject to Him.

4 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered forus in the flesh, arm yourselves also

with the same mind, for he who hassuffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,2 that he no longer should live the restof his me in the flesh for the lusts ofmen, but for the will of God.

1 PETER 4 143 For we have spent enough of ourpast life me in doing the will of theGen les––when we walked in lewdness,lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinkingpar es, and abominable idolatries.4 In regard to these, they think itstrange that you do not run with them inthe same flood of dissipa on, speakingevil of you.5 They will give an account to Him whois ready to judge the living and the dead.6 For this reason the gospel waspreached also to those who are dead,that they might be judged according tomen in the flesh, but live according toGod in the spirit.7 But the end of all things is at hand;therefore be serious and watchful inyour prayers.8And above all things have fervent lovefor one another, for "love will cover amul tude of sins."

1 PETER 4 159 Be hospitable to one another withoutgrumbling.10As each one has received a gi ,minister it to one another, as goodstewards of the manifold grace of God.11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as theoracles of God. If anyone ministers, lethim do it as with the ability which Godsupplies, that in all things God may beglorified through Jesus Christ, to whombelong the glory and the dominionforever and ever. Amen.12 Beloved, do not think it strangeconcerning the fiery trial which is totry you, as though some strange thinghappened to you;13 but rejoice to the extent that youpartake of Christ’s sufferings, that whenHis glory is revealed, you may also beglad with exceeding joy.14 If you are reproached for the nameof Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit

1 PETER 4 16of glory and of God rests upon you. Ontheir part He is blasphemed, but on yourpart He is glorified.15 But let none of you suffer as amurderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as abusybody in other people’s ma ers.16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Chris an, lethim not be ashamed, but let him glorifyGod in this ma er.17 For the me has come for judgmentto begin at the house of God; and if itbegins with us first, what will be the endof those who do not obey the gospel ofGod?18Now "If the righteous one is scarcelysaved, Where will the ungodly and thesinner appear?"19 Therefore let those who sufferaccording to the will of God committheir souls to Him in doing good, as to afaithful Creator.

1 PETER 5 17

5 1 The elders who are among you Iexhort, I who am a fellow elder and

a witness of the sufferings of Christ, andalso a partaker of the glory that will berevealed:2 Shepherd the flock of God which isamong you, serving as overseers, notby compulsion but willingly, not fordishonest gain but eagerly;3 nor as being lords over thoseentrusted to you, but being examples tothe flock;4 andwhen the Chief Shepherd appears,you will receive the crown of glory thatdoes not fade away.5 Likewise you younger people, submityourselves to your elders. Yes, all ofyou be submissive to one another,and be clothed with humility, for "Godresists the proud, But gives grace to thehumble."

1 PETER 5 186 Therefore humble yourselves underthe mighty hand of God, that He mayexalt you in due me,7 cas ng all your care upon Him, for Hecares for you.8 Be sober, be vigilant; because youradversary the devil walks about likea roaring lion, seeking whom he maydevour.9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith,knowing that the same sufferings areexperienced by your brotherhood in theworld.10 But may the God of all grace, whocalled us to His eternal glory by ChristJesus, a er you have suffered a while,perfect, establish, strengthen, and se leyou.11 To Him be the glory and the dominionforever and ever. Amen.12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother asI consider him, I have wri en to you

1 PETER 5 19briefly, exhor ng and tes fying that thisis the true grace of God in which youstand.13 She who is in Babylon, elect togetherwith you, greets you; and so does Markmy son.14Greet one another with a kiss of love.Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus.Amen.

2 Peter

1 1 Simon Peter, a bondservant andapostle of Jesus Christ, To those who

have obtained like precious faith withus by the righteousness of our God andSavior Jesus Christ:2Grace and peace be mul plied to youin the knowledge of God and of Jesusour Lord,3 as His divine power has given to us allthings that pertain to life and godliness,through the knowledge of Him whocalled us by glory and virtue,4 by which have been given tous exceedingly great and preciouspromises, that through these you maybe partakers of the divine nature, havingescaped the corrup on that is in theworld through lust.

2 PETER 1 25 But also for this very reason, givingall diligence, add to your faith virtue, tovirtue knowledge,6 to knowledge self–control, to self–control perseverance, to perseverancegodliness,7 to godliness brotherly kindness, andto brotherly kindness love.8 For if these things are yours andabound, you will be neither barren norunfrui ul in the knowledge of our LordJesus Christ.9 For he who lacks these things isshortsighted, even to blindness, and hasforgo en that he was cleansed from hisold sins.10 Therefore, brethren, be even morediligent to make your call and elec onsure, for if you do these things you willnever stumble;11 for so an entrance will be suppliedto you abundantly into the everlas ng

2 PETER 1 3kingdom of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist.12 For this reason I will not be negligentto remind you always of these things,though you know and are established inthe present truth.13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I amin this tent, to s r you up by remindingyou,14 knowing that shortly I must put offmy tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christshowed me.15Moreover I will be careful to ensurethat you always have a reminder of thesethings a er my decease.16 For we did not follow cunninglydevised fables when we made known toyou the power and coming of our LordJesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses ofHis majesty.17 For He received from God the Fatherhonor and glory when such a voice came

2 PETER 1–2 4to Him from the Excellent Glory: "Thisis My beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased."18And we heard this voice which camefrom heaven when we were with Him onthe holy mountain.19And so we have the prophe c wordconfirmed, which you do well to heed asa light that shines in a dark place, un lthe day dawns and the morning starrises in your hearts;20 knowing this first, that no prophecy ofScripture is of any private interpreta on,21 for prophecy never came by the willof man, but holy men of God spoke asthey were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 1 But there were also false prophetsamong the people, even as there will

be false teachers among you, who willsecretly bring in destruc ve heresies,even denying the Lord who bought

2 PETER 2 5them, and bring on themselves swidestruc on.2And many will follow their destruc veways, because of whom the way of truthwill be blasphemed.3 By covetousness they will exploit youwith decep ve words; for a long metheir judgment has not been idle, andtheir destruc on does not slumber.4 For if God did not spare the angelswho sinned, but cast them down tohell and delivered them into chains ofdarkness, to be reserved for judgment;5 and did not spare the ancient world,but saved Noah, one of eight people, apreacher of righteousness, bringing inthe flood on the world of the ungodly;6 and turning the ci es of Sodom andGomorrah into ashes, condemned themto destruc on, making them an exampleto those who a erward would liveungodly;

2 PETER 2 67 and delivered righteous Lot, who wasoppressed by the filthy conduct of thewicked8 (for that righteous man, dwellingamong them, tormented his righteoussoul from day to day by seeing andhearing their lawless deeds) ––9 then the Lord knows how to deliverthe godly out of tempta ons and toreserve the unjust under punishment forthe day of judgment,10 and especially those who walkaccording to the flesh in the lust ofuncleanness and despise authority. Theyare presumptuous, self–willed. They arenot afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,11whereas angels, who are greater inpower and might, do not bring a revilingaccusa on against them before the Lord.12 But these, like natural brute beastsmade to be caught and destroyed,speak evil of the things they do not

2 PETER 2 7understand, and will u erly perish intheir own corrup on,13 and will receive the wages ofunrighteousness, as those who count itpleasure to carouse in the day me. Theyare spots and blemishes, carousing intheir own decep ons while they feastwith you,14 having eyes full of adultery and thatcannot cease from sin, en cing unstablesouls. They have a heart trained incovetous prac ces, and are accursedchildren.15 They have forsaken the right way andgone astray, following the way of Balaamthe son of Beor, who loved the wages ofunrighteousness;16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity:a dumb donkey speaking with a man’svoice restrained the madness of theprophet.

2 PETER 2 817 These are wells without water,clouds carried by a tempest, for whomis reserved the blackness of darknessforever.18 For when they speak great swellingwords of emp ness, they allure throughthe lusts of the flesh, through lewdness,the ones who have actually escapedfrom those who live in error.19While they promise them liberty,they themselves are slaves of corrup on;for by whom a person is overcome, byhim also he is brought into bondage.20 For if, a er they have escaped thepollu ons of the world through theknowledge of the Lord and Savior JesusChrist, they are again entangled in themand overcome, the la er end is worsefor them than the beginning.21 For it would have been be er forthem not to have known the way ofrighteousness, than having known it,

2 PETER 2–3 9to turn from the holy commandmentdelivered to them.22 But it has happened to themaccording to the true proverb: "A dogreturns to his own vomit," and, "a sow,having washed, to her wallowing in themire."

3 1 Beloved, I now write to you thissecond epistle (in both of which I s r

up your pure minds by way of reminder),2 that you may be mindful of the wordswhich were spoken before by the holyprophets, and of the commandment ofus, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,3 knowing this first: that scoffers willcome in the last days, walking accordingto their own lusts,4 and saying, "Where is the promise ofHis coming? For since the fathers fellasleep, all things con nue as they werefrom the beginning of crea on."

2 PETER 3 105 For this they willfully forget: that bythe word of God the heavens were ofold, and the earth standing out of waterand in the water,6 by which the world that then existedperished, being flooded with water.7 But the heavens and the earth whichare now preserved by the same word,are reserved for fire un l the day ofjudgment and perdi on of ungodly men.8 But, beloved, do not forget this onething, that with the Lord one day is as athousand years, and a thousand years asone day.9 The Lord is not slack concerning Hispromise, as some count slackness, but islongsuffering toward us, not willing thatany should perish but that all shouldcome to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come asa thief in the night, in which the heavenswill pass away with a great noise, and

2 PETER 3 11the elements will melt with fervent heat;both the earth and the works that are init will be burned up.11 Therefore, since all these things willbe dissolved, what manner of personsought you to be in holy conduct andgodliness,12 looking for and hastening the comingof the day of God, because of which theheavens will be dissolved, being on fire,and the elements will melt with ferventheat?13Nevertheless we, according to Hispromise, look for new heavens anda new earth in which righteousnessdwells.14 Therefore, beloved, looking forwardto these things, be diligent to be foundby Him in peace, without spot andblameless;15 and consider that the longsufferingof our Lord is salva on––as also our

2 PETER 3 12beloved brother Paul, according to thewisdom given to him, has wri en to you,16 as also in all his epistles, speakingin them of these things, in which aresome things hard to understand, whichuntaught and unstable people twist totheir own destruc on, as they do alsothe rest of the Scriptures.17 You therefore, beloved, since youknow this beforehand, beware lest youalso fall from your own steadfastness,being led away with the error of thewicked;18 but grow in the grace and knowledgeof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ToHim be the glory both now and forever.Amen.

1 John

1 1 That which was from the beginning,which we have heard, which we

have seen with our eyes, which wehave looked upon, and our hands havehandled, concerning the Word of life––2 the life was manifested, and we haveseen, and bear witness, and declare toyou that eternal life which was with theFather and was manifested to us––3 that which we have seen and heardwe declare to you, that you also mayhave fellowship with us; and truly ourfellowship is with the Father and withHis Son Jesus Christ.4And these things we write to you thatyour joy may be full.5 This is the message which we haveheard from Him and declare to you, that

1 JOHN 1–2 2God is light and in Him is no darkness atall.6 If we say that we have fellowship withHim, and walk in darkness, we lie and donot prac ce the truth.7 But if we walk in the light as He is inthe light, we have fellowship with oneanother, and the blood of Jesus ChristHis Son cleanses us from all sin.8 If we say that we have no sin, wedeceive ourselves, and the truth is not inus.9 If we confess our sins, He is faithfuland just to forgive us our sins and tocleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, wemake Him a liar, and His word is not inus.

2 1My li le children, these things Iwrite to you, so that you may not

sin. And if anyone sins, we have an

1 JOHN 2 3Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christthe righteous.2And He Himself is the propi a on forour sins, and not for ours only but alsofor the whole world.3Now by this we know that we knowHim, if we keep His commandments.4He who says, "I know Him," and doesnot keep His commandments, is a liar,and the truth is not in him.5 But whoever keeps His word, truly thelove of God is perfected in him. By thiswe know that we are in Him.6He who says he abides in Him oughthimself also to walk just as He walked.7 Brethren, I write no newcommandment to you, but an oldcommandment which you havehad from the beginning. The oldcommandment is the word which youheard from the beginning.

1 JOHN 2 48Again, a new commandment I writeto you, which thing is true in Him andin you, because the darkness is passingaway, and the true light is alreadyshining.9He who says he is in the light, andhates his brother, is in darkness un lnow.10He who loves his brother abidesin the light, and there is no cause forstumbling in him.11 But he who hates his brother isin darkness and walks in darkness,and does not know where he is going,because the darkness has blinded hiseyes.12 I write to you, li le children, Becauseyour sins are forgiven you for His name’ssake.13 I write to you, fathers, Becauseyou have known Him who is from thebeginning. I write to you, young men,

1 JOHN 2 5Because you have overcome the wickedone. I write to you, li le children,Because you have known the Father.14 I have wri en to you, fathers,Because you have known Him who isfrom the beginning. I have wri en toyou, young men, Because you are strong,and the word of God abides in you, Andyou have overcome the wicked one.15Do not love the world or the things inthe world. If anyone loves the world, thelove of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world––the lustof the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and thepride of life––is not of the Father but isof the world.17And the world is passing away, andthe lust of it; but he who does the will ofGod abides forever.18 Li le children, it is the last hour; andas you have heard that the An christ iscoming, even now many an christs have

1 JOHN 2 6come, by which we know that it is thelast hour.19 They went out from us, but theywere not of us; for if they had been ofus, they would have con nued with us;but they went out that they might bemade manifest, that none of them wereof us.20 But you have an anoin ng from theHoly One, and you know all things.21 I have not wri en to you because youdo not know the truth, but because youknow it, and that no lie is of the truth.22Who is a liar but he who denies thatJesus is the Christ? He is an christ whodenies the Father and the Son.23Whoever denies the Son doesnot have the Father either; he whoacknowledges the Son has the Fatheralso.24 Therefore let that abide in you whichyou heard from the beginning. If what

1 JOHN 2 7you heard from the beginning abides inyou, you also will abide in the Son and inthe Father.25And this is the promise that He haspromised us––eternal life.26 These things I have wri en to youconcerning those who try to deceiveyou.27 But the anoin ng which you havereceived from Him abides in you, andyou do not need that anyone teach you;but as the same anoin ng teaches youconcerning all things, and is true, and isnot a lie, and just as it has taught you,you will abide in Him.28And now, li le children, abide in Him,that when He appears, we may haveconfidence and not be ashamed beforeHim at His coming.29 If you know that He is righteous,you know that everyone who prac cesrighteousness is born of Him.

1 JOHN 3 8

3 1 Behold what manner of love theFather has bestowed on us, that

we should be called children of God!Therefore the world does not know us,because it did not know Him.2 Beloved, now we are children of God;and it has not yet been revealed whatwe shall be, but we know that when Heis revealed, we shall be like Him, for weshall see Him as He is.3And everyone who has this hope inHim purifies himself, just as He is pure.4Whoever commits sin also commitslawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.5And you know that He was manifestedto take away our sins, and in Him thereis no sin.6Whoever abides in Him does not sin.Whoever sins has neither seen Him norknown Him.

1 JOHN 3 97 Li le children, let no one deceiveyou. He who prac ces righteousness isrighteous, just as He is righteous.8He who sins is of the devil, for thedevil has sinned from the beginning.For this purpose the Son of God wasmanifested, that He might destroy theworks of the devil.9Whoever has been born of God doesnot sin, for His seed remains in him; andhe cannot sin, because he has been bornof God.10 In this the children of Godand the children of the devil aremanifest: Whoever does not prac cerighteousness is not of God, nor is hewho does not love his brother.11 For this is the message that youheard from the beginning, that weshould love one another,12 not as Cain who was of the wickedone and murdered his brother. And why

1 JOHN 3 10did he murder him? Because his workswere evil and his brother’s righteous.13Do not marvel, my brethren, if theworld hates you.14We know that we have passed fromdeath to life, because we love thebrethren. He who does not love hisbrother abides in death.15Whoever hates his brother is amurderer, and you know that nomurderer has eternal life abiding in him.16 By this we know love, because He laiddown His life for us. And we also oughtto lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But whoever has this world’s goods,and sees his brother in need, and shutsup his heart from him, how does thelove of God abide in him?18My li le children, let us not love inword or in tongue, but in deed and intruth.

1 JOHN 3 1119And by this we know that we are ofthe truth, and shall assure our heartsbefore Him.20 For if our heart condemns us, God isgreater than our heart, and knows allthings.21 Beloved, if our heart does notcondemn us, we have confidence towardGod.22And whatever we ask we receivefrom Him, because we keep Hiscommandments and do those thingsthat are pleasing in His sight.23And this is His commandment: thatwe should believe on the name of HisSon Jesus Christ and love one another,as He gave us commandment.24Now he who keeps Hiscommandments abides in Him,and He in him. And by this we know thatHe abides in us, by the Spirit whom Hehas given us.

1 JOHN 4 12

4 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit,but test the spirits, whether they are

of God; because many false prophetshave gone out into the world.2 By this you know the Spirit of God:Every spirit that confesses that JesusChrist has come in the flesh is of God,3 and every spirit that does not confessthat Jesus Christ has come in the flesh isnot of God. And this is the spirit of theAn christ, which you have heard wascoming, and is now already in the world.4 You are of God, li le children, andhave overcome them, because He whois in you is greater than he who is in theworld.5 They are of the world. Therefore theyspeak as of the world, and the worldhears them.6We are of God. He who knows Godhears us; he who is not of God does not

1 JOHN 4 13hear us. By this we know the spirit oftruth and the spirit of error.7 Beloved, let us love one another, forlove is of God; and everyone who lovesis born of God and knows God.8He who does not love does not knowGod, for God is love.9 In this the love of God was manifestedtoward us, that God has sent His onlybego en Son into the world, that wemight live through Him.10 In this is love, not that we loved God,but that He loved us and sent His Son tobe the propi a on for our sins.11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we alsoought to love one another.12No one has seen God at any me. Ifwe love one another, God abides in us,and His love has been perfected in us.13 By this we know that we abide inHim, and He in us, because He has givenus of His Spirit.

1 JOHN 4 1414And we have seen and tes fy thatthe Father has sent the Son as Savior ofthe world.15Whoever confesses that Jesus is theSon of God, God abides in him, and he inGod.16And we have known and believed thelove that God has for us. God is love, andhe who abides in love abides in God, andGod in him.17 Love has been perfected among us inthis: that we may have boldness in theday of judgment; because as He is, soare we in this world.18 There is no fear in love; but perfectlove casts out fear, because fear involvestorment. But he who fears has not beenmade perfect in love.19We love Him because He first lovedus.20 If someone says, "I love God," andhates his brother, he is a liar; for he who

1 JOHN 4–5 15does not love his brother whom he hasseen, how can he love God whom he hasnot seen?21And this commandment we havefrom Him: that he who loves God mustlove his brother also.

5 1Whoever believes that Jesus is theChrist is born of God, and everyone

who loves Him who begot also loves himwho is bego en of Him.2 By this we know that we love thechildren of God, when we love God andkeep His commandments.3 For this is the love of God, that wekeep His commandments. And Hiscommandments are not burdensome.4 For whatever is born of Godovercomes the world. And this isthe victory that has overcome theworld––our faith.

1 JOHN 5 165Who is he who overcomes the world,but he who believes that Jesus is the Sonof God?6 This is He who came by water andblood––Jesus Christ; not only by water,but by water and blood. And it is theSpirit who bears witness, because theSpirit is truth.7 For there are three that bear witnessin heaven: the Father, the Word, and theHoly Spirit; and these three are one.8And there are three that bear witnesson earth: the Spirit, the water, and theblood; and these three agree as one.9 If we receive the witness of men, thewitness of God is greater; for this is thewitness of God which He has tes fied ofHis Son.10He who believes in the Son of Godhas the witness in himself; he whodoes not believe God has made Him a

1 JOHN 5 17liar, because he has not believed thetes mony that God has given of His Son.11And this is the tes mony: that Godhas given us eternal life, and this life is inHis Son.12He who has the Son has life; he whodoes not have the Son of God does nothave life.13 These things I have wri en to youwho believe in the name of the Son ofGod, that you may know that you haveeternal life, and that you may con nueto believe in the name of the Son of God.14Now this is the confidence that wehave in Him, that if we ask anythingaccording to His will, He hears us.15And if we know that He hears us,whatever we ask, we know that we havethe pe ons that we have asked of Him.16 If anyone sees his brother sinning asin which does not lead to death, he willask, and He will give him life for those

1 JOHN 5 18who commit sin not leading to death.There is sin leading to death. I do not saythat he should pray about that.17All unrighteousness is sin, and thereis sin not leading to death.18We know that whoever is born ofGod does not sin; but he who has beenborn of God keeps himself, and thewicked one does not touch him.19We know that we are of God, and thewhole world lies under the sway of thewicked one.20And we know that the Son of God hascome and has given us an understanding,that we may know Him who is true; andwe are in Him who is true, in His SonJesus Christ. This is the true God andeternal life.21 Li le children, keep yourselves fromidols. Amen.

2 John

1 1 THE ELDER, To the elect lady andher children, whom I love in truth,

and not only I, but also all those whohave known the truth,2 because of the truth which abides inus and will be with us forever:3Grace, mercy, and peace will be withyou from God the Father and from theLord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father,in truth and love.4 I rejoiced greatly that I have foundsome of your children walking in truth,as we received commandment from theFather.5And now I plead with you, lady, not asthough I wrote a new commandment toyou, but that which we have had fromthe beginning: that we love one another.

2 JOHN 1 26 This is love, that we walk accordingto His commandments. This is thecommandment, that as you have heardfrom the beginning, you should walk init.7 For many deceivers have gone outinto the world who do not confess JesusChrist as coming in the flesh. This is adeceiver and an an christ.8 Look to yourselves, that we do notlose those things we worked for, but thatwe may receive a full reward.9Whoever transgresses and does notabide in the doctrine of Christ does nothave God. He who abides in the doctrineof Christ has both the Father and theSon.10 If anyone comes to you and does notbring this doctrine, do not receive himinto your house nor greet him;11 for he who greets him shares in hisevil deeds.

2 JOHN 1 312Having many things to write to you,I did not wish to do so with paper andink; but I hope to come to you and speakface to face, that our joy may be full.13 The children of your elect sister greetyou. Amen.

3 John

1 1 THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius,whom I love in truth:

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosperin all things and be in health, just as yoursoul prospers.3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethrencame and tes fied of the truth that is inyou, just as you walk in the truth.4 I have no greater joy than to hear thatmy children walk in truth.5 Beloved, you do faithfully whateveryou do for the brethren and forstrangers,6who have borne witness of your lovebefore the church. If you send themforward on their journey in a mannerworthy of God, you will do well,

3 JOHN 1 27 because they went forth for Hisname’s sake, taking nothing from theGen les.8We therefore ought to receive such,that we may become fellow workers forthe truth.9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes,who loves to have the preeminenceamong them, does not receive us.10 Therefore, if I come, I will call tomind his deeds which he does, pra ngagainst us with malicious words. And notcontent with that, he himself does notreceive the brethren, and forbids thosewho wish to, pu ng them out of thechurch.11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil,but what is good. He who does good isof God, but he who does evil has notseen God.12Demetrius has a good tes monyfrom all, and from the truth itself. And

3 JOHN 1 3we also bear witness, and you know thatour tes mony is true.13 I had many things to write, but I donot wish to write to you with pen andink;14 but I hope to see you shortly, and weshall speak face to face. Peace to you.Our friends greet you. Greet the friendsby name.

Jude

1 1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,and brother of James, To those who

are called, sanc fied by God the Father,and preserved in Jesus Christ:2Mercy, peace, and love be mul pliedto you.3 Beloved, while I was very diligent towrite to you concerning our commonsalva on, I found it necessary to write toyou exhor ng you to contend earnestlyfor the faith which was once for alldelivered to the saints.4 For certain men have crept inunno ced, who long ago were markedout for this condemna on, ungodlymen, who turn the grace of our God intolewdness and deny the only Lord Godand our Lord Jesus Christ.

JUDE 1 25 But I want to remind you, though youonce knew this, that the Lord, havingsaved the people out of the land ofEgypt, a erward destroyed those whodid not believe.6And the angels who did not keeptheir proper domain, but le their ownabode, He has reserved in everlas ngchains under darkness for the judgmentof the great day;7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and theci es around them in a similar manner tothese, having given themselves over tosexual immorality and gone a er strangeflesh, are set forth as an example,suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.8 Likewise also these dreamers defilethe flesh, reject authority, and speak evilof dignitaries.9 Yet Michael the archangel, incontending with the devil, when hedisputed about the body of Moses,

JUDE 1 3dared not bring against him a revilingaccusa on, but said, "The Lord rebukeyou!"10 But these speak evil of whatever theydo not know; and whatever they knownaturally, like brute beasts, in thesethings they corrupt themselves.11Woe to them! For they have gone inthe way of Cain, have run greedily in theerror of Balaam for profit, and perishedin the rebellion of Korah.12 These are spots in your love feasts,while they feast with you without fear,serving only themselves. They are cloudswithout water, carried about by thewinds; late autumn trees without fruit,twice dead, pulled up by the roots;13 raging waves of the sea, foamingup their own shame; wandering starsfor whom is reserved the blackness ofdarkness forever.

JUDE 1 414Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam,prophesied about these men also,saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with tenthousands of His saints,15 "to execute judgment on all, toconvict all who are ungodly among themof all their ungodly deeds which theyhave commi ed in an ungodly way, andof all the harsh things which ungodlysinners have spoken against Him."16 These are grumblers, complainers,walking according to their own lusts;and they mouth great swelling words,fla ering people to gain advantage.17 But you, beloved, remember thewords which were spoken before by theapostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:18 how they told you that there wouldbe mockers in the last me who wouldwalk according to their own ungodlylusts.

JUDE 1 519 These are sensual persons, whocause divisions, not having the Spirit.20 But you, beloved, building yourselvesup on your most holy faith, praying inthe Holy Spirit,21 keep yourselves in the love of God,looking for the mercy of our Lord JesusChrist unto eternal life.22And on some have compassion,making a dis nc on;23 but others save with fear, pullingthem out of the fire, ha ng even thegarment defiled by the flesh.24Now to Him who is able to keep youfrom stumbling, And to present youfaultless Before the presence of His glorywith exceeding joy,25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise,Be glory and majesty, Dominion andpower, Both now and forever. Amen.

Revela on

1 1 The Revela on of Jesus Christ,which God gave Him to show His

servants––things which must shortlytake place. And He sent and signified itby His angel to His servant John,2who bore witness to the word of God,and to the tes mony of Jesus Christ, toall things that he saw.3 Blessed is he who reads and thosewho hear the words of this prophecy,and keep those things which are wri enin it; for the me is near.4 John, to the seven churches which arein Asia: Grace to you and peace fromHim who is and who was and who is tocome, and from the seven Spirits whoare before His throne,

REVELATION 1 25 and from Jesus Christ, the faithfulwitness, the firstborn from the dead,and the ruler over the kings of the earth.To Him who loved us and washed usfrom our sins in His own blood,6 and has made us kings and priests toHis God and Father, to Him be glory anddominion forever and ever. Amen.7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, andevery eye will see Him, even they whopierced Him. And all the tribes of theearth will mourn because of Him. Evenso, Amen.8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, theBeginning and the End," says the Lord,"who is and who was and who is tocome, the Almighty."9 I, John, both your brother andcompanion in the tribula on andkingdom and pa ence of Jesus Christ,was on the island that is called Patmos

REVELATION 1 3for the word of God and for thetes mony of Jesus Christ.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day,and I heard behind me a loud voice, asof a trumpet,11 saying, "I am the Alpha and theOmega, the First and the Last," and,"What you see, write in a book andsend it to the seven churches whichare in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, toPergamos, to Thya ra, to Sardis, toPhiladelphia, and to Laodicea."12 Then I turned to see the voice thatspoke with me. And having turned I sawseven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the sevenlampstands One like the Son of Man,clothed with a garment down to the feetand girded about the chest with a goldenband.

REVELATION 1 414His head and hair were white likewool, as white as snow, and His eyes likea flame of fire;15His feet were like fine brass, as ifrefined in a furnace, and His voice as thesound of many waters;16He had in His right hand sevenstars, out of His mouth went a sharptwo–edged sword, and His countenancewas like the sun shining in its strength.17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feetas dead. But He laid His right hand onme, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I amthe First and the Last.18 "I am He who lives, and was dead,and behold, I am alive forevermore.Amen. And I have the keys of Hades andof Death.19 "Write the things which you haveseen, and the things which are, and thethings which will take place a er this.

REVELATION 1–2 520 "Themystery of the seven stars whichyou saw in My right hand, and the sevengolden lampstands: The seven stars arethe angels of the seven churches, andthe seven lampstands which you saw arethe seven churches.

2 1 "To the angel of the church ofEphesus write, ‘These things says He

who holds the seven stars in His righthand, who walks in the midst of theseven golden lampstands:2 "I know your works, your labor, yourpa ence, and that you cannot bearthose who are evil. And you have testedthose who say they are apostles and arenot, and have found them liars;3 "and you have persevered and havepa ence, and have labored for Myname’s sake and have not becomeweary.4 "Nevertheless I have this against you,that you have le your first love.

REVELATION 2 65 "Remember therefore from whereyou have fallen; repent and do the firstworks, or else I will come to you quicklyand remove your lampstand from itsplace––unless you repent.6 "But this you have, that you hate thedeeds of the Nicolaitans, which I alsohate.7 "He who has an ear, let him hear whatthe Spirit says to the churches. To himwho overcomes I will give to eat fromthe tree of life, which is in the midst ofthe Paradise of God."’8 "And to the angel of the church inSmyrna write, ‘These things says theFirst and the Last, who was dead, andcame to life:9 "I know your works, tribula on, andpoverty (but you are rich); and I knowthe blasphemy of those who say they areJews and are not, but are a synagogue ofSatan.

REVELATION 2 710 "Do not fear any of those thingswhich you are about to suffer. Indeed,the devil is about to throw some of youinto prison, that you may be tested, andyou will have tribula on ten days. Befaithful un l death, and I will give youthe crown of life.11 "He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches. Hewho overcomes shall not be hurt by thesecond death."’12 "And to the angel of the church inPergamos write, ‘These things says Hewho has the sharp two–edged sword:13 "I know your works, and where youdwell, where Satan’s throne is. Andyou hold fast to My name, and did notdeny My faith even in the days in whichAn pas was My faithful martyr, who waskilled among you, where Satan dwells.14 "But I have a few things against you,because you have there those who hold

REVELATION 2 8the doctrine of Balaam, who taughtBalak to put a stumbling block beforethe children of Israel, to eat thingssacrificed to idols, and to commit sexualimmorality.15 "Thus you also have those who holdthe doctrine of the Nicolaitans, whichthing I hate.16 ‘Repent, or else I will come to youquickly and will fight against them withthe sword of My mouth.17 "He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches. Tohim who overcomes I will give some ofthe hidden manna to eat. And I will givehim a white stone, and on the stone anew name wri en which no one knowsexcept him who receives it."’18 "And to the angel of the church inThya ra write, ‘These things says theSon of God, who has eyes like a flame offire, and His feet like fine brass:

REVELATION 2 919 "I know your works, love, service,faith, and your pa ence; and as for yourworks, the last are more than the first.20 "Nevertheless I have a few thingsagainst you, because you allow thatwoman Jezebel, who calls herself aprophetess, to teach and seduce Myservants to commit sexual immoralityand eat things sacrificed to idols.21 "And I gave her me to repent ofher sexual immorality, and she did notrepent.22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed,and those who commit adultery with herinto great tribula on, unless they repentof their deeds.23 "I will kill her children with death,and all the churches shall know thatI am He who searches the minds andhearts. And I will give to each one of youaccording to your works.

REVELATION 2–3 1024 "Now to you I say, and to the restin Thya ra, as many as do not havethis doctrine, who have not known thedepths of Satan, as they say, I will put onyou no other burden.25 "But hold fast what you have ll Icome.26 "And he who overcomes, and keepsMy works un l the end, to him I will givepower over the na ons––27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod ofiron; They shall be dashed to pieces likethe po er’s vessels’ –– as I also havereceived from My Father;28 "and I will give him the morning star.29 "He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches."’

3 1 "And to the angel of the church inSardis write, ‘These things says He

who has the seven Spirits of God andthe seven stars: "I know your works, that

REVELATION 3 11you have a name that you are alive, butyou are dead.2 "Be watchful, and strengthen thethings which remain, that are ready todie, for I have not found your worksperfect before God.3 "Remember therefore how you havereceived and heard; hold fast and repent.Therefore if you will not watch, I willcome upon you as a thief, and you willnot know what hour I will come uponyou.4 "You have a few names even in Sardiswho have not defiled their garments;and they shall walk with Me in white, forthey are worthy.5 "He who overcomes shall be clothedin white garments, and I will not blot outhis name from the Book of Life; but I willconfess his name before My Father andbefore His angels.

REVELATION 3 126 "He who has an ear, let him hear whatthe Spirit says to the churches."’7 "And to the angel of the church inPhiladelphia write, ‘These things says Hewho is holy, He who is true, "He who hasthe key of David, He who opens and noone shuts, and shuts and no one opens":8 "I know your works. See, I have setbefore you an open door, and no onecan shut it; for you have a li le strength,have kept My word, and have not deniedMy name.9 "Indeed I will make those of thesynagogue of Satan, who say they areJews and are not, but lie––indeed I willmake them come and worship beforeyour feet, and to know that I have lovedyou.10 "Because you have kept Mycommand to persevere, I also will keepyou from the hour of trial which shall

REVELATION 3 13come upon the whole world, to testthose who dwell on the earth.11 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Holdfast what you have, that no one maytake your crown.12 "He who overcomes, I will make hima pillar in the temple of My God, and heshall go out no more. And I will writeon him the name of My God and thename of the city of My God, the NewJerusalem, which comes down out ofheaven from My God. And I will write onhim My new name.13 "He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches."’14 "And to the angel of the church ofthe Laodiceans write, ‘These things saysthe Amen, the Faithful and TrueWitness,the Beginning of the crea on of God:15 "I know your works, that you areneither cold nor hot. I could wish youwere cold or hot.

REVELATION 3 1416 "So then, because you are lukewarm,and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit youout of My mouth.17 "Because you say, ‘I am rich, havebecome wealthy, and have need ofnothing’ ––and do not know that youare wretched, miserable, poor, blind,and naked––18 "I counsel you to buy from Me goldrefined in the fire, that you may berich; and white garments, that you maybe clothed, that the shame of yournakedness may not be revealed; andanoint your eyes with eye salve, that youmay see.19 "As many as I love, I rebuke andchasten. Therefore be zealous andrepent.20 "Behold, I stand at the door andknock. If anyone hears My voice andopens the door, I will come in to him anddine with him, and he with Me.

REVELATION 3–4 1521 "To him who overcomes I will grantto sit with Me on My throne, as I alsoovercame and sat down with My Fatheron His throne.22 "He who has an ear, let him hearwhat the Spirit says to the churches."’"

4 1A er these things I looked, andbehold, a door standing open in

heaven. And the first voice which I heardwas like a trumpet speaking with me,saying, "Come up here, and I will showyou things which must take place a erthis."2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; andbehold, a throne set in heaven, and Onesat on the throne.3And He who sat there was like a jasperand a sardius stone in appearance; andthere was a rainbow around the throne,in appearance like an emerald.4Around the throne were twenty–fourthrones, and on the thrones I saw

REVELATION 4 16twenty–four elders si ng, clothed inwhite robes; and they had crowns ofgold on their heads.5And from the throne proceededlightnings, thunderings, and voices.Seven lamps of fire were burning beforethe throne, which are the seven Spiritsof God.6 Before the throne there was a sea ofglass, like crystal. And in the midst of thethrone, and around the throne, werefour living creatures full of eyes in frontand in back.7 The first living creature was like a lion,the second living creature like a calf, thethird living creature had a face like aman, and the fourth living creature waslike a flying eagle.8 The four living creatures, each havingsix wings, were full of eyes around andwithin. And they do not rest day ornight, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord

REVELATION 4–5 17God Almighty, Who was and is and is tocome!"9Whenever the living creatures giveglory and honor and thanks to Him whosits on the throne, who lives forever andever,10 the twenty–four elders fall downbefore Him who sits on the throne andworship Him who lives forever and ever,and cast their crowns before the throne,saying:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receiveglory and honor and power; For Youcreated all things, And by Your will theyexist and were created."

5 1And I saw in the right hand ofHim who sat on the throne a scroll

wri en inside and on the back, sealedwith seven seals.2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaimingwith a loud voice, "Who is worthy toopen the scroll and to loose its seals?"

REVELATION 5 183And no one in heaven or on the earthor under the earth was able to open thescroll, or to look at it.4 So I wept much, because no one wasfound worthy to open and read thescroll, or to look at it.5 But one of the elders said to me,"Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of thetribe of Judah, the Root of David, hasprevailed to open the scroll and to looseits seven seals."6And I looked, and behold, in the midstof the throne and of the four livingcreatures, and in the midst of the elders,stood a Lamb as though it had beenslain, having seven horns and seveneyes, which are the seven Spirits of Godsent out into all the earth.7 Then He came and took the scroll outof the right hand of Him who sat on thethrone.

REVELATION 5 198Nowwhen He had taken the scroll, thefour living creatures and the twenty–fourelders fell down before the Lamb, eachhaving a harp, and golden bowls full ofincense, which are the prayers of thesaints.9And they sang a new song, saying:"You are worthy to take the scroll, Andto open its seals; For You were slain,And have redeemed us to God by Yourblood Out of every tribe and tongue andpeople and na on,10And have made us kings and prieststo our God; And we shall reign on theearth."11 Then I looked, and I heard the voiceof many angels around the throne, theliving creatures, and the elders; andthe number of them was ten thousandmes ten thousand, and thousands of

thousands,

REVELATION 5–6 2012 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy isthe Lambwhowas slain To receive powerand riches and wisdom, And strengthand honor and glory and blessing!"13And every creaturewhich is in heavenand on the earth and under the earthand such as are in the sea, and all thatare in them, I heard saying: "Blessingand honor and glory and power Be toHim who sits on the throne, And to theLamb, forever and ever!"14 Then the four living creatures said,"Amen!" And the twenty–four eldersfell down and worshiped Him who livesforever and ever.

6 1Now I saw when the Lamb openedone of the seals; and I heard one of

the four living creatures saying with avoice like thunder, "Come and see."2And I looked, and behold, a whitehorse. He who sat on it had a bow; and

REVELATION 6 21a crown was given to him, and he wentout conquering and to conquer.3When He opened the second seal, Iheard the second living creature saying,"Come and see."4Another horse, fiery red, went out.And it was granted to the one who saton it to take peace from the earth, andthat people should kill one another; andthere was given to him a great sword.5When He opened the third seal,I heard the third living creature say,"Come and see." So I looked, and behold,a black horse, and he who sat on it had apair of scales in his hand.6And I heard a voice in the midst of thefour living creatures saying, "A quart ofwheat for a denarius, and three quartsof barley for a denarius; and do not harmthe oil and the wine."

REVELATION 6 227When He opened the fourth seal,I heard the voice of the fourth livingcreature saying, "Come and see."8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse.And the name of him who sat on it wasDeath, and Hades followed with him.And power was given to them over afourth of the earth, to kill with sword,with hunger, with death, and by thebeasts of the earth.9When He opened the fi h seal, I sawunder the altar the souls of those whohad been slain for the word of God andfor the tes mony which they held.10And they cried with a loud voice,saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true,un l You judge and avenge our blood onthose who dwell on the earth?"11 Then a white robe was given to eachof them; and it was said to them thatthey should rest a li le while longer,un l both the number of their fellow

REVELATION 6 23servants and their brethren, who wouldbe killed as they were, was completed.12 I looked when He opened the sixthseal, and behold, there was a greatearthquake; and the sun became blackas sackcloth of hair, and the moonbecame like blood.13And the stars of heaven fell to theearth, as a fig tree drops its late figswhen it is shaken by a mighty wind.14 Then the sky receded as a scroll whenit is rolled up, and every mountain andisland was moved out of its place.15And the kings of the earth, the greatmen, the rich men, the commanders,the mighty men, every slave and everyfree man, hid themselves in the cavesand in the rocks of the mountains,16 and said to the mountains and rocks,"Fall on us and hide us from the face ofHim who sits on the throne and from thewrath of the Lamb!

REVELATION 6–7 2417 "For the great day of His wrath hascome, and who is able to stand?"

7 1A er these things I saw four angelsstanding at the four corners of the

earth, holding the four winds of theearth, that the wind should not blow onthe earth, on the sea, or on any tree.2 Then I saw another angel ascendingfrom the east, having the seal of theliving God. And he cried with a loudvoice to the four angels to whom it wasgranted to harm the earth and the sea,3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, thesea, or the trees ll we have sealed theservants of our God on their foreheads."4And I heard the number of thosewho were sealed. One hundred andforty–four thousand of all the tribes ofthe children of Israel were sealed:5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousandwere sealed; of the tribe of Reubentwelve thousand were sealed; of the

REVELATION 7 25tribe of Gad twelve thousand weresealed;6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousandwere sealed; of the tribe of Naphtalitwelve thousand were sealed; of thetribe of Manasseh twelve thousand weresealed;7 of the tribe of Simeon twelvethousand were sealed; of the tribe ofLevi twelve thousand were sealed; of thetribe of Issachar twelve thousand weresealed;8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelvethousand were sealed; of the tribe ofJoseph twelve thousand were sealed; ofthe tribe of Benjamin twelve thousandwere sealed.9A er these things I looked, andbehold, a great mul tude which no onecould number, of all na ons, tribes,peoples, and tongues, standing beforethe throne and before the Lamb, clothed

REVELATION 7 26with white robes, with palm branches intheir hands,10 and crying out with a loud voice,saying, "Salva on belongs to our Godwho sits on the throne, and to theLamb!"11All the angels stood around thethrone and the elders and the four livingcreatures, and fell on their faces beforethe throne and worshiped God,12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and gloryand wisdom, Thanksgiving and honorand power and might, Be to our Godforever and ever. Amen."13 Then one of the elders answered,saying to me, "Who are these arrayed inwhite robes, and where did they comefrom?"14And I said to him, "Sir, you know."So he said to me, "These are the oneswho come out of the great tribula on,

REVELATION 7–8 27and washed their robes and made themwhite in the blood of the Lamb.15 "Therefore they are before thethrone of God, and serve Him day andnight in His temple. And He who sits onthe throne will dwell among them.16 "They shall neither hunger anymorenor thirst anymore; the sun shall notstrike them, nor any heat;17 "for the Lamb who is in the midst ofthe throne will shepherd them and leadthem to living fountains of waters. AndGod will wipe away every tear from theireyes."

8 1When He opened the seventhseal, there was silence in heaven for

about half an hour.2And I saw the seven angels who standbefore God, and to them were givenseven trumpets.3 Then another angel, having a goldencenser, came and stood at the altar. He

REVELATION 8 28was given much incense, that he shouldoffer it with the prayers of all the saintsupon the golden altar which was beforethe throne.4And the smoke of the incense, withthe prayers of the saints, ascendedbefore God from the angel’s hand.5 Then the angel took the censer,filled it with fire from the altar, andthrew it to the earth. And there werenoises, thunderings, lightnings, and anearthquake.6 So the seven angels who had theseven trumpets prepared themselves tosound.7 The first angel sounded: And hail andfire followed, mingled with blood, andthey were thrown to the earth. And athird of the trees were burned up, andall green grass was burned up.8 Then the second angel sounded: Andsomething like a great mountain burning

REVELATION 8 29with fire was thrown into the sea, and athird of the sea became blood.9And a third of the living creatures inthe sea died, and a third of the shipswere destroyed.10 Then the third angel sounded: And agreat star fell from heaven, burning likea torch, and it fell on a third of the riversand on the springs of water.11 The name of the star isWormwood. Athird of the waters became wormwood,and many men died from the water,because it was made bi er.12 Then the fourth angel sounded: Anda third of the sun was struck, a thirdof the moon, and a third of the stars,so that a third of them were darkened.A third of the day did not shine, andlikewise the night.13And I looked, and I heard an angelflying through the midst of heaven,saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe,

REVELATION 9 30woe to the inhabitants of the earth,because of the remaining blasts of thetrumpet of the three angels who areabout to sound!"

9 1 Then the fi h angel sounded: AndI saw a star fallen from heaven to the

earth. To him was given the key to thebo omless pit.2And he opened the bo omless pit,and smoke arose out of the pit like thesmoke of a great furnace. So the sun andthe air were darkened because of thesmoke of the pit.3 Then out of the smoke locusts cameupon the earth. And to them was givenpower, as the scorpions of the earthhave power.4 They were commanded not to harmthe grass of the earth, or any greenthing, or any tree, but only those menwho do not have the seal of God on theirforeheads.

REVELATION 9 315And they were not given authorityto kill them, but to torment them forfive months. Their torment was like thetorment of a scorpion when it strikes aman.6 In those days men will seek death andwill not find it; they will desire to die,and death will flee from them.7 The shape of the locusts was likehorses prepared for ba le. On theirheads were crowns of something likegold, and their faces were like the facesof men.8 They had hair like women’s hair, andtheir teeth were like lions’ teeth.9And they had breastplates likebreastplates of iron, and the sound oftheir wings was like the sound of chariotswith many horses running into ba le.10 They had tails like scorpions, andthere were s ngs in their tails. Theirpower was to hurt men five months.

REVELATION 9 3211And they had as king over them theangel of the bo omless pit, whose namein Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek hehas the name Apollyon.12One woe is past. Behold, s ll twomore woes are coming a er thesethings.13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And Iheard a voice from the four horns of thegolden altar which is before God,14 saying to the sixth angel who had thetrumpet, "Release the four angels whoare bound at the great river Euphrates."15 So the four angels, who had beenprepared for the hour and day andmonth and year, were released to kill athird of mankind.16Now the number of the army of thehorsemen was two hundred million; Iheard the number of them.17And thus I saw the horses in thevision: those who sat on them had

REVELATION 9 33breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue,and sulfur yellow; and the heads of thehorses were like the heads of lions; andout of their mouths came fire, smoke,and brimstone.18 By these three plagues a third ofmankind was killed––by the fire and thesmoke and the brimstone which cameout of their mouths.19 For their power is in their mouthand in their tails; for their tails are likeserpents, having heads; and with themthey do harm.20 But the rest of mankind, who werenot killed by these plagues, did notrepent of the works of their hands, thatthey should not worship demons, andidols of gold, silver, brass, stone, andwood, which can neither see nor hearnor walk.

REVELATION 9–10 3421And they did not repent of theirmurders or their sorceries or their sexualimmorality or their the s.

10 1 I saw s ll another mighty angelcoming down from heaven,

clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow wason his head, his face was like the sun,and his feet like pillars of fire.2He had a li le book open in his hand.And he set his right foot on the sea andhis le foot on the land,3 and cried with a loud voice, as whena lion roars. When he cried out, seventhunders u ered their voices.4Nowwhen the seven thunders u eredtheir voices, I was about to write; butI heard a voice from heaven saying tome, "Seal up the things which the seventhunders u ered, and do not writethem."

REVELATION 10 355 The angel whom I saw standing on thesea and on the land raised up his handto heaven6 and swore by Him who lives foreverand ever, who created heaven and thethings that are in it, the earth and thethings that are in it, and the sea and thethings that are in it, that there should bedelay no longer,7 but in the days of the sounding ofthe seventh angel, when he is about tosound, the mystery of God would befinished, as He declared to His servantsthe prophets.8 Then the voice which I heard fromheaven spoke to me again and said, "Go,take the li le book which is open in thehand of the angel who stands on the seaand on the earth."9 So I went to the angel and said tohim, "Give me the li le book." And hesaid to me, "Take and eat it; and it will

REVELATION 10–11 36make your stomach bi er, but it will beas sweet as honey in your mouth."10 Then I took the li le book out of theangel’s hand and ate it, and it was assweet as honey in my mouth. But when Ihad eaten it, my stomach became bi er.11And he said to me, "You mustprophesy again about many peoples,na ons, tongues, and kings."

11 1 Then I was given a reed like ameasuring rod. And the angel

stood, saying, "Rise and measure thetemple of God, the altar, and those whoworship there.2 "But leave out the court whichis outside the temple, and do notmeasure it, for it has been given to theGen les. And they will tread the holycity underfoot for forty–two months.3 "And I will give power to my twowitnesses, and they will prophesy one

REVELATION 11 37thousand two hundred and sixty days,clothed in sackcloth."4 These are the two olive trees and thetwo lampstands standing before the Godof the earth.5And if anyone wants to harm them,fire proceeds from their mouth anddevours their enemies. And if anyonewants to harm them, he must be killedin this manner.6 These have power to shut heaven,so that no rain falls in the days of theirprophecy; and they have power overwaters to turn them to blood, and tostrike the earth with all plagues, as o enas they desire.7When they finish their tes mony,the beast that ascends out of thebo omless pit will make war againstthem, overcome them, and kill them.8And their dead bodies will lie in thestreet of the great city which spiritually

REVELATION 11 38is called Sodom and Egypt, where alsoour Lord was crucified.9 Then those from the peoples, tribes,tongues, and na ons will see their deadbodies three–and–a–half days, and notallow their dead bodies to be put intograves.10And those who dwell on the earthwill rejoice over them, make merry, andsend gi s to one another, because thesetwo prophets tormented those whodwell on the earth.11Now a er the three–and–a–half daysthe breath of life from God enteredthem, and they stood on their feet, andgreat fear fell on those who saw them.12And they heard a loud voice fromheaven saying to them, "Come up here."And they ascended to heaven in a cloud,and their enemies saw them.13 In the same hour there was a greatearthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In

REVELATION 11 39the earthquake seven thousand peoplewere killed, and the rest were afraid andgave glory to the God of heaven.14 The second woe is past. Behold, thethird woe is coming quickly.15 Then the seventh angel sounded:And there were loud voices in heaven,saying, "The kingdoms of this world havebecome the kingdoms of our Lord and ofHis Christ, and He shall reign forever andever!"16And the twenty–four elders who satbefore God on their thrones fell on theirfaces and worshiped God,17 saying: "We give You thanks, O LordGod Almighty, The One who is andwho was and who is to come, BecauseYou have taken Your great power andreigned.18 The na ons were angry, and Yourwrath has come, And the me of thedead, that they should be judged, And

REVELATION 11–12 40that You should reward Your servantsthe prophets and the saints, And thosewho fear Your name, small and great,And should destroy those who destroythe earth."19 Then the temple of God was openedin heaven, and the ark of His covenantwas seen in His temple. And therewere lightnings, noises, thunderings, anearthquake, and great hail.

12 1Now a great sign appeared inheaven: a woman clothed with

the sun, with the moon under her feet,and on her head a garland of twelvestars.2 Then being with child, she cried out inlabor and in pain to give birth.3And another sign appeared in heaven:behold, a great, fiery red dragon havingseven heads and ten horns, and sevendiadems on his heads.

REVELATION 12 414His tail drew a third of the stars ofheaven and threw them to the earth.And the dragon stood before the womanwho was ready to give birth, to devourher Child as soon as it was born.5 She bore a male Child who was torule all na ons with a rod of iron. Andher Child was caught up to God and Histhrone.6 Then the woman fled into thewilderness, where she has a placeprepared by God, that they should feedher there one thousand two hundredand sixty days.7And war broke out in heaven: Michaeland his angels fought with the dragon;and the dragon and his angels fought,8 but they did not prevail, nor was aplace found for them in heaven anylonger.9 So the great dragon was cast out,that serpent of old, called the Devil and

REVELATION 12 42Satan, who deceives the whole world;he was cast to the earth, and his angelswere cast out with him.10 Then I heard a loud voice saying inheaven, "Now salva on, and strength,and the kingdom of our God, and thepower of His Christ have come, for theaccuser of our brethren, who accusedthem before our God day and night, hasbeen cast down.11 "And they overcame him by theblood of the Lamb and by the word oftheir tes mony, and they did not lovetheir lives to the death.12 "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, andyou who dwell in them! Woe to theinhabitants of the earth and the sea! Forthe devil has come down to you, havinggreat wrath, because he knows that hehas a short me."13Now when the dragon saw thathe had been cast to the earth, he

REVELATION 12 43persecuted the woman who gave birthto the male Child.14 But the woman was given two wingsof a great eagle, that she might fly intothe wilderness to her place, where sheis nourished for a me and mes andhalf a me, from the presence of theserpent.15 So the serpent spewed water out ofhis mouth like a flood a er the woman,that he might cause her to be carriedaway by the flood.16 But the earth helped the woman,and the earth opened its mouth andswallowed up the flood which thedragon had spewed out of his mouth.17And the dragon was enraged withthe woman, and he went to make warwith the rest of her offspring, who keepthe commandments of God and havethe tes mony of Jesus Christ.

REVELATION 13 44

13 1 Then I stood on the sand of thesea. And I saw a beast rising up

out of the sea, having seven heads andten horns, and on his horns ten crowns,and on his heads a blasphemous name.2Now the beast which I saw was like aleopard, his feet were like the feet of abear, and his mouth like the mouth of alion. The dragon gave him his power, histhrone, and great authority.3And I saw one of his heads as if it hadbeen mortally wounded, and his deadlywound was healed. And all the worldmarveled and followed the beast.4 So they worshiped the dragon whogave authority to the beast; and theyworshiped the beast, saying, "Who is likethe beast? Who is able to make war withhim?"5And he was given a mouth speakinggreat things and blasphemies, and he

REVELATION 13 45was given authority to con nue forforty–two months.6 Then he opened his mouth inblasphemy against God, to blasphemeHis name, His tabernacle, and those whodwell in heaven.7 It was granted to him to make warwith the saints and to overcome them.And authority was given him over everytribe, tongue, and na on.8All who dwell on the earth willworship him, whose names have notbeen wri en in the Book of Life of theLamb slain from the founda on of theworld.9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.10He who leads into cap vity shallgo into cap vity; he who kills with thesword must be killed with the sword.Here is the pa ence and the faith of thesaints.

REVELATION 13 4611 Then I saw another beast coming upout of the earth, and he had two hornslike a lamb and spoke like a dragon.12And he exercises all the authorityof the first beast in his presence, andcauses the earth and those who dwellin it to worship the first beast, whosedeadly wound was healed.13He performs great signs, so thathe even makes fire come down fromheaven on the earth in the sight of men.14And he deceives those who dwell onthe earth by those signs which he wasgranted to do in the sight of the beast,telling those who dwell on the earth tomake an image to the beast who waswounded by the sword and lived.15He was granted power to give breathto the image of the beast, that the imageof the beast should both speak andcause as many as would not worship theimage of the beast to be killed.

REVELATION 13–14 4716He causes all, both small and great,rich and poor, free and slave, to receivea mark on their right hand or on theirforeheads,17 and that no one may buy or sellexcept one who has the mark or thename of the beast, or the number of hisname.18Here is wisdom. Let him who hasunderstanding calculate the number ofthe beast, for it is the number of a man:His number is 666.

14 1 Then I looked, and behold,a Lamb standing on Mount

Zion, and with Him one hundred andforty–four thousand, having His Father’sname wri en on their foreheads.2And I heard a voice from heaven, likethe voice of many waters, and like thevoice of loud thunder. And I heard thesound of harpists playing their harps.

REVELATION 14 483 They sang as it were a new songbefore the throne, before the fourliving creatures, and the elders; and noone could learn that song except thehundred and forty–four thousand whowere redeemed from the earth.4 These are the ones who were notdefiled with women, for they are virgins.These are the ones who follow theLamb wherever He goes. These wereredeemed from among men, beingfirs ruits to God and to the Lamb.5And in their mouth was found nodeceit, for they are without fault beforethe throne of God.6 Then I saw another angel flying in themidst of heaven, having the everlas nggospel to preach to those who dwellon the earth––to every na on, tribe,tongue, and people––7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear Godand give glory to Him, for the hour of His

REVELATION 14 49judgment has come; and worship Himwho made heaven and earth, the seaand springs of water."8And another angel followed, saying,"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that greatcity, because she has made all na onsdrink of the wine of the wrath of herfornica on."9 Then a third angel followed them,saying with a loud voice, "If anyoneworships the beast and his image, andreceives his mark on his forehead or onhis hand,10 "he himself shall also drink of thewine of the wrath of God, which ispoured out full strength into the cup ofHis indigna on. He shall be tormentedwith fire and brimstone in the presenceof the holy angels and in the presence ofthe Lamb.11 "And the smoke of their tormentascends forever and ever; and they

REVELATION 14 50have no rest day or night, who worshipthe beast and his image, and whoeverreceives the mark of his name."12Here is the pa ence of thesaints; here are those who keep thecommandments of God and the faith ofJesus.13 Then I heard a voice from heavensaying to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are thedead who die in the Lord from now on.’""Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may restfrom their labors, and their works followthem."14 Then I looked, and behold, a whitecloud, and on the cloud sat One like theSon of Man, having on His head a goldencrown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.15And another angel came out of thetemple, crying with a loud voice to Himwho sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Yoursickle and reap, for the me has come

REVELATION 14 51for You to reap, for the harvest of theearth is ripe."16 So He who sat on the cloud thrustin His sickle on the earth, and the earthwas reaped.17 Then another angel came out ofthe temple which is in heaven, he alsohaving a sharp sickle.18And another angel came out fromthe altar, who had power over fire, andhe cried with a loud cry to him who hadthe sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in yoursharp sickle and gather the clusters ofthe vine of the earth, for her grapes arefully ripe."19 So the angel thrust his sickle into theearth and gathered the vine of the earth,and threw it into the great winepress ofthe wrath of God.20And the winepress was trampledoutside the city, and blood came out of

REVELATION 15 52the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles,for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

15 1 Then I saw another sign inheaven, great and marvelous:

seven angels having the seven lastplagues, for in them the wrath of God iscomplete.2And I saw something like a sea ofglass mingled with fire, and those whohave the victory over the beast, over hisimage and over his mark and over thenumber of his name, standing on the seaof glass, having harps of God.3 They sing the song of Moses, theservant of God, and the song of theLamb, saying: "Great and marvelous areYour works, Lord God Almighty! Just andtrue are Your ways, O King of the saints!4Who shall not fear You, O Lord, andglorify Your name? For You alone areholy. For all na ons shall come and

REVELATION 15–16 53worship before You, For Your judgmentshave been manifested."5A er these things I looked, andbehold, the temple of the tabernacle ofthe tes mony in heaven was opened.6And out of the temple came the sevenangels having the seven plagues, clothedin pure bright linen, and having theirchests girded with golden bands.7 Then one of the four living creaturesgave to the seven angels seven goldenbowls full of the wrath of God who livesforever and ever.8 The temple was filled with smokefrom the glory of God and from Hispower, and no one was able to enterthe temple ll the seven plagues of theseven angels were completed.

16 1 Then I heard a loud voice fromthe temple saying to the seven

angels, "Go and pour out the bowls ofthe wrath of God on the earth."

REVELATION 16 542 So the first went and poured out hisbowl upon the earth, and a foul andloathsome sore came upon the men whohad the mark of the beast and thosewho worshiped his image.3 Then the second angel poured out hisbowl on the sea, and it became blood asof a dead man; and every living creaturein the sea died.4 Then the third angel poured out hisbowl on the rivers and springs of water,and they became blood.5And I heard the angel of the waterssaying: "You are righteous, O Lord, TheOne who is and who was and who isto be, Because You have judged thesethings.6 For they have shed the blood of saintsand prophets, And You have given themblood to drink. For it is their just due."

REVELATION 16 557And I heard another from the altarsaying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, trueand righteous are Your judgments."8 Then the fourth angel poured out hisbowl on the sun, and power was givento him to scorch men with fire.9And men were scorched with greatheat, and they blasphemed the name ofGod who has power over these plagues;and they did not repent and give Himglory.10 Then the fi h angel poured out hisbowl on the throne of the beast, and hiskingdom became full of darkness; andthey gnawed their tongues because ofthe pain.11 They blasphemed the God of heavenbecause of their pains and their sores,and did not repent of their deeds.12 Then the sixth angel poured out hisbowl on the great river Euphrates, andits water was dried up, so that the way

REVELATION 16 56of the kings from the east might beprepared.13And I saw three unclean spiritslike frogs coming out of the mouth ofthe dragon, out of the mouth of thebeast, and out of the mouth of the falseprophet.14 For they are spirits of demons,performing signs, which go out to thekings of the earth and of the wholeworld, to gather them to the ba le ofthat great day of God Almighty.15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief.Blessed is he who watches, and keepshis garments, lest he walk naked andthey see his shame."16And they gathered them together tothe place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.17 Then the seventh angel poured outhis bowl into the air, and a loud voicecame out of the temple of heaven, fromthe throne, saying, "It is done!"

REVELATION 16–17 5718And there were noises andthunderings and lightnings; and therewas a great earthquake, such a mightyand great earthquake as had notoccurred since men were on the earth.19Now the great city was divided intothree parts, and the ci es of the na onsfell. And great Babylon was rememberedbefore God, to give her the cup of thewine of the fierceness of His wrath.20 Then every island fled away, and themountains were not found.21And great hail from heaven fell uponmen, each hailstone about the weight ofa talent. Men blasphemed God becauseof the plague of the hail, since thatplague was exceedingly great.

17 1 Then one of the seven angelswho had the seven bowls came

and talked with me, saying to me,"Come, I will show you the judgment

REVELATION 17 58of the great harlot who sits on manywaters,2 "with whom the kings of theearth commi ed fornica on, and theinhabitants of the earth were madedrunk with the wine of her fornica on."3 So he carried me away in the Spiritinto the wilderness. And I saw a womansi ng on a scarlet beast which was fullof names of blasphemy, having sevenheads and ten horns.4 The woman was arrayed in purpleand scarlet, and adorned with gold andprecious stones and pearls, having in herhand a golden cup full of abomina onsand the filthiness of her fornica on.5And on her forehead a name waswri en: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THEABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.6 I saw the woman, drunk with theblood of the saints and with the blood

REVELATION 17 59of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I sawher, I marveled with great amazement.7 But the angel said to me, "Why didyou marvel? I will tell you the mystery ofthe woman and of the beast that carriesher, which has the seven heads and theten horns.8 "The beast that you saw was, andis not, and will ascend out of thebo omless pit and go to perdi on.And those who dwell on the earth willmarvel, whose names are not wri en inthe Book of Life from the founda on ofthe world, when they see the beast thatwas, and is not, and yet is.9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom:The seven heads are seven mountainson which the woman sits.10 "There are also seven kings. Fivehave fallen, one is, and the other has notyet come. And when he comes, he mustcon nue a short me.

REVELATION 17 6011 "And the beast that was, and is not,is himself also the eighth, and is of theseven, and is going to perdi on.12 "The ten horns which you saw areten kings who have received no kingdomas yet, but they receive authority for onehour as kings with the beast.13 "These are of one mind, and they willgive their power and authority to thebeast.14 "These will make war with the Lamb,and the Lamb will overcome them, forHe is Lord of lords and King of kings;and those who are with Him are called,chosen, and faithful."15 Then he said to me, "The waterswhich you saw, where the harlot sits,are peoples, mul tudes, na ons, andtongues.16 "And the ten horns which you sawon the beast, these will hate the harlot,

REVELATION 17–18 61make her desolate and naked, eat herflesh and burn her with fire.17 "For God has put it into their heartsto fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind,and to give their kingdom to the beast,un l the words of God are fulfilled.18 "And the woman whom you saw isthat great city which reigns over thekings of the earth."

18 1A er these things I saw anotherangel coming down from heaven,

having great authority, and the earthwas illuminated with his glory.2And he cried migh ly with a loudvoice, saying, "Babylon the great isfallen, is fallen, and has become adwelling place of demons, a prison forevery foul spirit, and a cage for everyunclean and hated bird!3 "For all the na ons have drunk of thewine of the wrath of her fornica on,the kings of the earth have commi ed

REVELATION 18 62fornica on with her, and the merchantsof the earth have become rich throughthe abundance of her luxury."4And I heard another voice fromheaven saying, "Come out of her, mypeople, lest you share in her sins, andlest you receive of her plagues.5 "For her sins have reached to heaven,and God has remembered her iniqui es.6 "Render to her just as she renderedto you, and repay her double accordingto her works; in the cup which she hasmixed, mix double for her.7 "In the measure that she glorifiedherself and lived luxuriously, in the samemeasure give her torment and sorrow;for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen,and am no widow, and will not seesorrow.’8 "Therefore her plagues will comein one day––death and mourning andfamine. And she will be u erly burned

REVELATION 18 63with fire, for strong is the Lord God whojudges her.9 "The kings of the earthwho commi edfornica on and lived luxuriously with herwill weep and lament for her, when theysee the smoke of her burning,10 "standing at a distance for fear of hertorment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that greatcity Babylon, that mighty city! For in onehour your judgment has come.’11 "And the merchants of the earth willweep and mourn over her, for no onebuys their merchandise anymore:12 "merchandise of gold and silver,precious stones and pearls, fine linenand purple, silk and scarlet, every kindof citron wood, every kind of objectof ivory, every kind of object of mostprecious wood, bronze, iron, andmarble;13 "and cinnamon and incense, fragrantoil and frankincense, wine and oil, fineflour and wheat, ca le and sheep,

REVELATION 18 64horses and chariots, and bodies andsouls of men.14 "The fruit that your soul longed forhas gone from you, and all the thingswhich are rich and splendid have gonefrom you, and you shall find them nomore at all.15 "The merchants of these things,who became rich by her, will standat a distance for fear of her torment,weeping and wailing,16 "and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great citythat was clothed in fine linen, purple,and scarlet, and adorned with gold andprecious stones and pearls!17 ‘For in one hour such great richescame to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, allwho travel by ship, sailors, and as manyas trade on the sea, stood at a distance18 "and cried out when they saw thesmoke of her burning, saying, ‘What islike this great city?’

REVELATION 18 6519 "They threw dust on their headsand cried out, weeping and wailing,and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city,in which all who had ships on the seabecame rich by her wealth! For in onehour she is made desolate.’20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and youholy apostles and prophets, for God hasavenged you on her!"21 Then a mighty angel took up a stonelike a great millstone and threw it intothe sea, saying, "Thus with violence thegreat city Babylon shall be thrown down,and shall not be found anymore.22 "The sound of harpists, musicians,flu sts, and trumpeters shall not beheard in you anymore. No cra sman ofany cra shall be found in you anymore,and the sound of a millstone shall not beheard in you anymore.23 "The light of a lamp shall not shinein you anymore, and the voice of

REVELATION 18–19 66bridegroom and bride shall not be heardin you anymore. For your merchantswere the great men of the earth, forby your sorcery all the na ons weredeceived.24 "And in her was found the blood ofprophets and saints, and of all who wereslain on the earth."

19 1A er these things I heard aloud voice of a great mul tude in

heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salva on andglory and honor and power belong tothe Lord our God!2 "For true and righteous are Hisjudgments, because He has judged thegreat harlot who corrupted the earthwith her fornica on; and He has avengedon her the blood of His servants shed byher."3Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smokerises up forever and ever!"

REVELATION 19 674And the twenty–four elders andthe four living creatures fell down andworshiped God who sat on the throne,saying, "Amen! Alleluia!"5 Then a voice came from the throne,saying, "Praise our God, all you Hisservants and those who fear Him, bothsmall and great!"6And I heard, as it were, the voiceof a great mul tude, as the sound ofmany waters and as the sound of mightythunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For theLord God Omnipotent reigns!7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and giveHim glory, for the marriage of the Lambhas come, and His wife has made herselfready."8And to her it was granted to bearrayed in fine linen, clean and bright,for the fine linen is the righteous acts ofthe saints.

REVELATION 19 689 Then he said to me, "Write: ‘Blessedare those who are called to the marriagesupper of the Lamb!’" And he said tome, "These are the true sayings of God."10And I fell at his feet to worship him.But he said to me, "See that you do notdo that! I am your fellow servant, and ofyour brethren who have the tes monyof Jesus. Worship God! For the tes monyof Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."11Now I saw heaven opened, andbehold, a white horse. And He who saton him was called Faithful and True, andin righteousness He judges and makeswar.12His eyes were like a flame of fire, andon His head were many crowns. He hada name wri en that no one knew exceptHimself.13He was clothed with a robe dipped inblood, and His name is called The Wordof God.

REVELATION 19 6914And the armies in heaven, clothed infine linen, white and clean, followed Himon white horses.15Now out of His mouth goes a sharpsword, that with it He should strike thena ons. And He Himself will rule themwith a rod of iron. He Himself treads thewinepress of the fierceness and wrath ofAlmighty God.16And He has on His robe and on Histhigh a name wri en: KING OF KINGSAND LORD OF LORDS.17 Then I saw an angel standing in thesun; and he cried with a loud voice,saying to all the birds that fly in the midstof heaven, "Come and gather togetherfor the supper of the great God,18 "that you may eat the flesh of kings,the flesh of captains, the flesh of mightymen, the flesh of horses and of thosewho sit on them, and the flesh of all

REVELATION 19–20 70people, free and slave, both small andgreat."19And I saw the beast, the kings ofthe earth, and their armies, gatheredtogether to make war against Him whosat on the horse and against His army.20 Then the beast was captured, andwith him the false prophet who workedsigns in his presence, by which hedeceived those who received the markof the beast and those who worshipedhis image. These two were cast alive intothe lake of fire burning with brimstone.21And the rest were killed with thesword which proceeded from the mouthof Him who sat on the horse. And all thebirds were filled with their flesh.

20 1 Then I saw an angel comingdown from heaven, having the

key to the bo omless pit and a greatchain in his hand.

REVELATION 20 712He laid hold of the dragon, thatserpent of old, who is the Devil andSatan, and bound him for a thousandyears;3 and he cast him into the bo omlesspit, and shut him up, and set a sealon him, so that he should deceive thena ons no more ll the thousand yearswere finished. But a er these things hemust be released for a li le while.4And I saw thrones, and they sat onthem, and judgment was commi ed tothem. Then I saw the souls of those whohad been beheaded for their witnessto Jesus and for the word of God, whohad not worshiped the beast or hisimage, and had not received his mark ontheir foreheads or on their hands. Andthey lived and reigned with Christ for athousand years.

REVELATION 20 725 But the rest of the dead did not liveagain un l the thousand years werefinished. This is the first resurrec on.6 Blessed and holy is he who has partin the first resurrec on. Over such thesecond death has no power, but theyshall be priests of God and of Christ, andshall reign with Him a thousand years.7Now when the thousand years haveexpired, Satan will be released from hisprison8 and will go out to deceive the na onswhich are in the four corners of theearth, Gog and Magog, to gather themtogether to ba le, whose number is asthe sand of the sea.9 They went up on the breadth of theearth and surrounded the camp of thesaints and the beloved city. And firecame down from God out of heaven anddevoured them.

REVELATION 20 7310 The devil, who deceived them, wascast into the lake of fire and brimstonewhere the beast and the false prophetare. And they will be tormented day andnight forever and ever.11 Then I saw a great white throne andHim who sat on it, from whose face theearth and the heaven fled away. Andthere was found no place for them.12And I saw the dead, small and great,standing before God, and books wereopened. And another book was opened,which is the Book of Life. And the deadwere judged according to their works,by the things which were wri en in thebooks.13 The sea gave up the dead who werein it, and Death and Hades delivered upthe dead who were in them. And theywere judged, each one according to hisworks.

REVELATION 20–21 7414 Then Death and Hades were cast intothe lake of fire. This is the second death.15And anyone not found wri en in theBook of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

21 1Now I saw a new heaven anda new earth, for the first heaven

and the first earth had passed away. Alsothere was no more sea.2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, NewJerusalem, coming down out of heavenfrom God, prepared as a bride adornedfor her husband.3And I heard a loud voice from heavensaying, "Behold, the tabernacle of Godis with men, and He will dwell withthem, and they shall be His people. GodHimself will be with them and be theirGod.4 "And God will wipe away every tearfrom their eyes; there shall be no moredeath, nor sorrow, nor crying. There

REVELATION 21 75shall be no more pain, for the formerthings have passed away."5 Then He who sat on the throne said,"Behold, I make all things new." And Hesaid to me, "Write, for these words aretrue and faithful."6And He said to me, "It is done! I amthe Alpha and the Omega, the Beginningand the End. I will give of the fountainof the water of life freely to him whothirsts.7 "He who overcomes shall inherit allthings, and I will be his God and he shallbe My son.8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving,abominable, murderers, sexuallyimmoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and allliars shall have their part in the lakewhich burns with fire and brimstone,which is the second death."9 Then one of the seven angels who hadthe seven bowls filled with the seven last

REVELATION 21 76plagues came to me and talked with me,saying, "Come, I will show you the bride,the Lamb’s wife."10And he carried me away in theSpirit to a great and high mountain,and showed me the great city, the holyJerusalem, descending out of heavenfrom God,11 having the glory of God. Her light waslike a most precious stone, like a jasperstone, clear as crystal.12Also she had a great and high wallwith twelve gates, and twelve angels atthe gates, and names wri en on them,which are the names of the twelve tribesof the children of Israel:13 three gates on the east, three gateson the north, three gates on the south,and three gates on the west.14Now the wall of the city had twelvefounda ons, and on them were the

REVELATION 21 77names of the twelve apostles of theLamb.15And he who talked with me had agold reed to measure the city, its gates,and its wall.16 The city is laid out as a square; itslength is as great as its breadth. And hemeasured the city with the reed: twelvethousand furlongs. Its length, breadth,and height are equal.17 Then he measured its wall: onehundred and forty–four cubits,according to the measure of a man, thatis, of an angel.18 The construc on of its wall was ofjasper; and the city was pure gold, likeclear glass.19 The founda ons of the wall of thecity were adorned with all kinds ofprecious stones: the first founda on wasjasper, the second sapphire, the thirdchalcedony, the fourth emerald,

REVELATION 21 7820 the fi h sardonyx, the sixth sardius,the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl,the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,the eleventh jacinth, and the twel hamethyst.21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls:each individual gate was of one pearl.And the street of the city was pure gold,like transparent glass.22 But I saw no temple in it, for theLord God Almighty and the Lamb are itstemple.23 The city had no need of the sun or ofthe moon to shine in it, for the glory ofGod illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.24And the na ons of those who aresaved shall walk in its light, and the kingsof the earth bring their glory and honorinto it.25 Its gates shall not be shut at all byday (there shall be no night there).

REVELATION 21–22 7926And they shall bring the glory and thehonor of the na ons into it.27 But there shall by no means enterit anything that defiles, or causes anabomina on or a lie, but only those whoare wri en in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

22 1And he showed me a pure riverof water of life, clear as crystal,

proceeding from the throne of God andof the Lamb.2 In the middle of its street, and oneither side of the river, was the tree oflife, which bore twelve fruits, each treeyielding its fruit every month. The leavesof the tree were for the healing of thena ons.3And there shall be no more curse, butthe throne of God and of the Lamb shallbe in it, and His servants shall serve Him.4 They shall see His face, and His nameshall be on their foreheads.

REVELATION 22 805 There shall be no night there: Theyneed no lamp nor light of the sun, forthe Lord God gives them light. And theyshall reign forever and ever.6 Then he said to me, "These wordsare faithful and true." And the Lord Godof the holy prophets sent His angel toshow His servants the things which mustshortly take place.7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessedis he who keeps the words of theprophecy of this book."8Now I, John, saw and heard thesethings. And when I heard and saw, I felldown to worship before the feet of theangel who showed me these things.9 Then he said to me, "See that you donot do that. For I am your fellow servant,and of your brethren the prophets, andof those who keep the words of thisbook. Worship God."

REVELATION 22 8110And he said to me, "Do not seal thewords of the prophecy of this book, forthe me is at hand.11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjusts ll; he who is filthy, let him be filthy s ll;he who is righteous, let him be righteouss ll; he who is holy, let him be holy s ll."12 "And behold, I am coming quickly,and My reward is with Me, to give toevery one according to his work.13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, theBeginning and the End, the First and theLast."14 Blessed are those who do Hiscommandments, that they may have theright to the tree of life, and may enterthrough the gates into the city.15 But outside are dogs and sorcerersand sexually immoral and murderersand idolaters, and whoever loves andprac ces a lie.

REVELATION 22 8216 "I, Jesus, have sentMy angel to tes fyto you these things in the churches. I amthe Root and the Offspring of David, theBright and Morning Star."17And the Spirit and the bride say,"Come!" And let him who hears say,"Come!" And let him who thirsts come.Whoever desires, let him take the waterof life freely.18 For I tes fy to everyone who hearsthe words of the prophecy of this book:If anyone adds to these things, God willadd to him the plagues that are wri enin this book;19 and if anyone takes away from thewords of the book of this prophecy, Godshall take away his part from the Bookof Life, from the holy city, and from thethings which are wri en in this book.20He who tes fies to these things says,"Surely I am coming quickly." Amen.Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

REVELATION 22 8321 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bewith you all. Amen.

New King James Version

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